They wanted Bray to have a chance, Malu worked with him to get that chance and Bray lost. This suddenly makes Malu the bad guy we've hand picked? No. He's the guy that beat the guy you wanted to have a chance, to earn that chance.
Big Ed... Big Ed got protected then the first time he faced someone that was looking to win, he lost, and complained about not being protected enough. Big Ed is also in a storyline, should we disrupt what he's doing now because you think he should get a shot?
Hell, no one complained when B-17 RP'D his way into two matches, the second of which I didn't really see any point in him having other than to finish off a storyline.
People took breaks, plans got made, people came back early from their breaks and got added to these plans.
Malu beat Bray in a number one contender match. I fully believe Malu didn't go as hard as he could have against Bray the first time so that there would be something for people to watch, I don't even think he went as hard as he usually would against Jackson when they met.
So yeah, Malu has actually earned it, by beating Bray and being a complete gentleman on Turmoil, and saving the Seth situation when called upon by myself, oh and it was me that said to use Bray.