Why Vince McMahon Nixed A Four-Way From RAW, More On The Intercontinental Tournament

- As noted earlier today, a tournament to crown a new #1 contender to Big E's Intercontinental Title was not the original plan. The original idea for Monday's RAW was to do a four-way match with Big Show vs. Jack Swagger vs. Cesaro vs. possibly Christian, where the winner would face Big E at Extreme Rules.

Vince McMahon felt that the four-way did nothing to elevate a strong contender for the Intercontinental Title and felt that a tournament would create a stronger contender. Christian not being cleared due to the concussion was going to change the match, but was said to be a non-factor in the decision from changing it from a four-way to a tournament.

Show obviously did not end up in the tournament but that was probably because he wasn't going to win and they didn't want to pin him or cheaply disqualify him in a tournament, when he could have just lost without getting pinned in the four-way.

Cesaro was scheduled to win that four-way and go on to face Big E at Extreme Rules.

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Subscribe to The Wrestling Observer by clicking here. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus history pieces. New subscribers can also receive free classic issues.