*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Friday night's episode of Smackdown**
When Jack Swagger overcame nine other Superstars to win this year's Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania, I wasn't the only one that was surprised to see him grab the briefcase.
After all, winning the Money in the Bank match has virtually guaranteed a world title reign. Mr. Kennedy, the match's only winner NOT to win a world title, had to give up the briefcase because of an injury.
By all accounts, he was well on his way to a world title reign and major push before the injury and eventual departure from the company.
Then came Tuesday night's Smackdown tapings. The show opened with Chris Jericho and Edge arguing before Edge speared the world champion.
Enter Swagger, who took out Edge before taking advantage of a wounded Jericho to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Edge's mega-push started with his MITB victory. Rob Van Dam finally reached main-event level on the big stage after his victory.
And CM Punk started his road to the top with two MITB victories. Will Swagger be the next MITB success story?
Swagger's push can go one of two ways ...
The wrong way: From what I've read about plans for a long-term Edge/Jericho feud, and the way things began building on Smackdown, I fear this is the road we're headed down.
The worst thing WWE could do is throw Swagger into a match against either Edge or Jericho at Extreme Rules and have Swagger lose.
CM Punk's title reigns were never terribly long after he cashed in the MITB contract, but they were also never that short.
If Swagger drops the belt at Extreme Rules and were to lose his return match, the momentum his character took out of Wrestlemania would be nullified. Edge, Rob Van Dam and CM Punk all rode their MITB momentum to the top.
WWE needs to stick with Swagger's push this time around. If not, Swagger is in line to become the next Kane—a footnote on the long list of former WWE/World Heavyweight champions and a future jobber to the stars.
The right way: In short, Swagger gets a decent run with the title.
It can really happen any number of ways. If I were in charge of the angle, either Edge or Chris Jericho (whoever doesn't face Swagger) would get involved in the main event at Extreme Rules, costing the challenger the title. This would further fuel the Edge/Jericho rivalry while keeping the belt on Swagger.
Under the assumption John Cena doesn't switch to Smackdown in the annual draft, Swagger appears to be headed for a permanent stay on Friday nights.
WWE could parade any of the faces we're used to seeing out to challenge Swagger after Extreme Rules. The solution, however, may not be on Smackdown...yet.
Two men, in particular, stick out for Swagger's post-Extreme Rules feud.
Rey Mysterio would be the guy for WWE to push if they were looking to validate Swagger as a champion. A win over Mysterio at Over the Limit, in May, would further extend Swagger's reign.
Mysterio could then go over at Fatal Four Way, in June, giving the Ultimate Underdog one more world title reign before his career tails off.
If all goes well and the push carries, Swagger could regain the title at Summerslam, for example, giving him a win over an established star at a marquee event.
Multiple Internet reports point toward a lengthy feud between Mysterio and CM Punk. I highly doubt WWE is going to bail on those plans if they entered Wrestlemania with eyes on a long-term feud.
Two young stars in the making seem perfect for the opportunity to enter a main event feud: Kofi Kingston and John Morrison.
Morrison could be the perfect answer. His program as R-Truth's tag team partner may have reached a dead end, and Morrison is more than deserving of a big push. A Swagger/Morrison feud could last for the majority of the year, finally culminating in the fall or winter months.
Since Kingston is currently a Raw superstar, he would likely have to switch brands before a feud with Swagger could happen.
Kingston's gimmick could help him identify with the demographic Smackdown normally targets.
He could also hone his skills as a top-level face for the next year or two before returning to Raw once Triple H's in-ring career winds to an end.
Finally, it would complete a push WWE has been teasing since the Kingston/Randy Orton feud.
As a Swagger mark, I really hope WWE doesn't throw in the towel on this push. Smackdown is in need of a young main event-level heel, and Swagger can be just that.
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