411 PPV Roundtable Preview: WWE Extreme Rules 2009

Posted by Stephen Randle on 06.06.2009

Three World title match, the IC and US belts, and the prestigious Miss WrestleMania crown are all on the line, on the night where Extreme Rules come into play, and the 411 Staff has all their predictions for the PPV!



Introduction:

What originally started as a throwback PPV to honor the contributions of ECW to professional wrestling is now WWE's most extreme Pay-Per-View, as every match that will take place in New Orleans this Sunday will contain some sort of stipulation that takes the power to end the match out of the hands of the referee and into the abilities of the wrestlers. So it only makes sense that WWE changed the name away from a veiled sexual reference to protect the children who would watch this, the most violent, explicit and possibly bloodiest of all WWE PPV's. I guess.

This time around, WWE provides us with three World title matches, plus two secondary belts on the line at the same PPV for the first time in…a long time. Throw in another stop in the long-running grudge feud between the biggest star in WWE and the biggest athlete in the world, and you've got a card primed to feature some excellent wrestling and possibly even some MOTY candidates.

And while this month's card is mostly stacked with rematches from Judgment Day, and is the third WWE PPV in the last nine weeks, the 411 Staff is still around, representing for wrestling fans everywhere, providing our picks for the former One Night Stand PPV.

The Staff

Stephen Randle, The Wrestling News Experience

Julian Bond, Against The Grain

Dan Torkel, Brooklyn Brawlin'

Andy Clark, The Shimmy

Robert S. Leighty, From The Bowery

Andy Critchell…um…does he even work here?

Jeremy Thomas, 411 Movies/TV Hush-Hush News Report

Rob McNew, live Raw recapper

Michael Weyer, Shining A Spotlight

Ring the bell, let's get to the card.

WWE EXTREME RULES 2009

Vickie Guerrero © vs Santina Marella - Winner Is "Miss WrestleMania" - Hog Pen Match

Stephen Randle: And so we've just about hit that inevitable point every time WWE creates a comedy character that's actually funny. You know what I mean, it's the point between "hey, that's funny" and "hey, that used to be funny, but then you put it on TV every week to diminishing returns and made it a centerpiece of the show when at its core it's a one-note comedy bit that should never have been taken this seriously". See: Eugene, Ron Simmons, The Boogeyman, Hornswoggle…and the list goes on. Anyway, this will be painful, and really, nobody wins.

Winner: Santina

Julian Bond: Hehe…some people may call this match pure crap…but I think that it's the funniest stuff I've seen in wrestling in a long time. I believe that Santina will go wild on Guerrero and take his…oh…I mean her Ms. Wrestlemania title back.

Winner: Santina

Dan Torkel: I do NOT care about anything dealing with Raw at this point. Thank god they included the Fatal 4-way. I really don't care and hope they both lose, but on ppv, I think the paying audience wants to see Vicky get abused so I'll go with Santina.

Winner: Santina

Andy Clark: OK, I'm been pretty bored with most of the Santina stuff (save WrestleMania) but this could actually be somewhat entertaining. Or completely awful. One of the two. Anyhow, Santina needs to stay alive so she can win the Diva's Title and feud with "Chavita" over the belt.

Winner and NEW Miss WrestleMania: Santina Marella

Robert S. Leighty: The crowd will eat this up as they do with just about anything involving Santino. The man is gold in these types of segments and on the mic. I expect a bigger payoff to the Santina angle, so I guess it continues a while longer.

Winner: Santina

Andy Critchell: Obviously this is only here for comedy and while some people hate paying for comedy in PPV matches, the comedy is not usually up to the level of Santino/Santina. Basically, the guy is money. And besides, people will enjoy seeing Vickie get pushed around in the mud. It is also likely to be very quick so in the grand scheme it's no harm, no foul.

Winner and NEW Miss Wrestlemania: Santina

Jeremy Thomas: The crowd may love this whole Santina thing, and bless the man for making it work as well as it has, but I absolutely hate it. Originally I was sure that Vickie would walk away with the win as it would mean that this whole Santina bullshit was finally over, but as strongly as Vick's been put over I'm afraid that was probably wishful thinking on my part. Instead, Santina gets the win and this whole thing keeps going. You know, since they wouldn't want to give Santino a chance to wrestle as a MAN and gain credibility. What sickens me most is that Santina will probably win with a fluke roll-up (it might as well be his finisher by now) and thus he won't even get a dominating win over a non-wrestler who's been in and out of a wheelchair for the past year-plus.

Winner: Santina Marella (fluke roll-up: NEW Miss WrestleMania, gods help us all)

Rob McNew: I absolutely love this kind of stuff. Sue me. This has been arguably the most entertaining part of an admittedly lackluster product on Raw the past month or so. I think here the outcome is quite obvious, and that's Vickie wallowing in the slop.

Winner: NEW Miss Wrestlemania - Santina Marella

Michael Weyer: Just...let it be quick.

WINNER: Santina

Umaga vs. CM Punk - Samoan Strap Match

Stephen Randle: Fool me once (vs Kane at Backlash), shame on you. Fool me twice (vs Umaga at Judgment Day), shame on me. Then you go and give away the match on Smackdown, featuring Punk getting his ass kicked around the ring and hitting a lucky GTS for a win, and I know, you won't be fooling me thrice.

Winner: Umaga

Julian Bond: This should hopefully be a sick bout and hopefully end up being the sleeper match of the night. I think that Punk puts on one hell of a fight and BARELY gets the win to push him further up the ranks.

Winner: CM Punk

Dan Torkel: Now I do NOT get this but according to SD spoilers, Punk beats Umaga with GTS clean. Two days before the ppv? I guess they figure even the score and make the ppv the tie-breaker. Punk has a two-ppv losing streak, and holds the briefcase, thus being the defacto # 1 contender. Punk really has to go over here and the gimmick shouldn't hurt Umaga's monster status.

Winner: CM Punk

Andy Clark: After SmackDown we are tied 1-1 with these two. If Jeff Hardy wins the title, which I think he might, I see a Hardy-Umaga feud, especially after their brief staredown last week. I also see Edge possibly ending up with Punk's MITB briefcase to try and help save Raw. With that being said Umaga should get the win here in what I guess will be considered his specialty match.

Winner: Umaga

Robert S. Leighty: It would be sweet if they tried to pull off a Sting/Vader vibe here. Punk needs to get a PPV win, and this seems like a good place. This could be a sleeper match of the night if they are given time to tell their story.

Winner: CM Punk

Andy Critchell: I have actually found this feud to be fun (just like everything else on the Blue Brand) and something tells me that this match isn't going to be the end of it. Besides, WWE still wants to get Umaga over as an unstoppable monster heel and what better way to accomplish that than in a brutal strap match?

Winner: Umaga

Jeremy Thomas: Punk lost at Judgment Day, so he has to win here. No, really...when I say he has to win, I mean he HAS to win. If he's to have any credibility in time to cash in that Money in the Bank shot by WrestleMania, they've got to stop giving him high-profile losses. The good news is that we should get a pretty good match out of this and beating Umaga in a strap match will elevate Punk a few more steps toward the main event.

Winner: CM Punk

Rob McNew: Sounds like this is the lamer touch all four corners type of strap match rather than the much better "beat the shit out of your opponent then pin him" strap match. Hopefully the lights from Great American Bash '04 stay in the warehouse. These matches all end the same way. Heel drags face around the ring touching the corners, but the face is also touching them as they go around. They get to number four, and through various means the face is able to touch first. This one will be no different.

Winner: CM Punk

Michael Weyer: These two are capable of a real hard-hitting battle and the strap makes it even better.That the stip is in his name might give the edge to Umaga but I think Punk gets the win to keep his streak going en route to cashing in MITB.

WINNER: CM PUNK BABY!

The Big Show vs. John Cena - Submission Match

Stephen Randle: Really not sure why they bothered giving Cena the win last month if there was a rematch in the works, because they even had an injury angle to explain the loss. Quite frankly, if my guess is true and we're just killing time until Triple H returns to take the belt from Orton, Cena's going to need some way to kill time, and I'm not sure that they can get any more blood from this stone. Of course, I'm not sure there's anyone else for him to bother with that could be considered a credible threat (I'll believe in Miz when he actually wins a match on Raw), but maybe WWE knows something I don't. Maybe.

Winner: John Cena

Julian Bond: I honestly was surprised that Cena got the win last month with his whole sold injury. But I think that it was ultimately the case to have him now be absolutely destroyed by Show here. If Cena wins, then I personally think that it would take a little bit away from Show's "indestructible" look he's been excellently sporting in the last few months.

Winner: Big Show

Dan Torkel: OK, I was SURE Show would win at Judgment Day with Cena's injuries, and Super-Cena prevailed. Now ALL COMMON SENSE AND LOGIC has Big Show going over strong here, or else they risk destroying any credibility he has left. But... we are talking about Cena here. And the story this last month has been that Cena just cannot get the STFU on Big Show and thus "has no way to win." As we all know, when Cena has no way to win, he ALWAYS WINS! I hope I'm wrong.

Winner: John Cena

Andy Clark: John Cena works so much better as the champion, and until they get him back in the title picture most of these matches will be boring. Add in the fact that it probably won't be very good and you have one hell of a double threat. Cena finally locks in the STF(U) and gets the big man to tap.

Winner: John Cena

Robert S. Leighty: I'm kind of torn here because Cena won the last meeting a month ago. I'll take Cena just because it's Cena. As for the match it could be horrible or it could be decent. A short match where both men go balls out could be entertaining, but a longer match with each man selling submission holds may bore me to tears. The crowd will probably be hot for this though.

Winner: John Cena

Andy Critchell: This feud has been largely boring in my eyes. I like Cena and I like Show but they don't seem to have any chemistry at all. I'd like to see them work to pull out a great match but this stipulation is going to make that very difficult. Anyway, it makes sense for Cena to go over here as I think he is next in line for a shot at Orton and Cena needs to look strong for that.

Winner: Cena

Jeremy Thomas: They've built this one really well between Cena and Show coming off Cena's win at Judgment Day. The big story has been "Can Cena put a guy as big as Show in a submission h0ld?" and it's been booked to seem like a challenge Cena can't overcome. This, of course, means he will overcome it and somehow he'll put Show into the STFU. However--and I know this is a long shot--I see the Miz coming out at that point and distracting Cena, which will cause Show to escape the hold, after which he hits Cena with the knock-out punch and camel clutches him for the win. Even if it doesn't happen, that would be the way to book this finish that makes sense.

Winner: Big Show (Camel Clutch following Miz-erference)

Rob McNew: I was all set to pick Cena in this one just based on the obvious way the feud has been booked, but then something occurred to me. Someone is going to eventually take the title off Orton. Either Cena, Batista, or Trips most likely. Once this occurs they will need heel challengers other than just Orton. Who is left? Miz? Show needs to be kept strong, so my guess is in a mild upset he chokes Cena out in the camel clutch thing that he's been using.

Winner: The Big Show

Michael Weyer: They've done a good job showing how Cena has trouble getting Show in the STFU and build it up as a real threat match. The odds seem to be for Cena to win but with Kennedy gone, they need someone to elevate for Orton and Cena just came off the main event program so maybe Show manages to get Cena in a choke hold of some sort to make him pass out and elevate him.

WINNER: Big Show


Kofi Kingston © vs. MVP vs. William Regal vs. Matt Hardy - Fatal Four Way

Stephen Randle: I'm not sure why we had to suddenly change the title on Raw, but good for Kofi, who has really flown under the radar as a guy who has come really far in very little time. Hopefully, this means MVP moves up to the main event while Kofi matches up with Matt and Regal and…I'm sure there's someone else.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Julian Bond: Thank God!!! Both the US and International title look like they're finally getting some value and time again. This match should be awesome as hell, especially after the showing MVP and Kofi put on this past Monday. Kofi should make for a great US champ and gets through his first defense here.

Winner and STILL US Champion: Kofi Kingston

Dan Torkel: Thank god they put this on PPV. They have sweetly built this feud over the past few weeks, and despite an inexplicable title change on Raw, this should be a fun 10 minute match. I sincerely doubt they change the title twice in one week, but who knows. I am just glad this is on PPV.

Winner and Still US Champion - Kofi Kingston

Andy Clark: This match should be really good but I wonder why they didn't just save the title change for the PPV. Kofi wins since he just got the belt but if I were going to be wrong with that selection then I might pick Matt Hardy as the second favorite. If given time this match could be the second best of the night.

Winner and STILL United States Champion: Kofi Kingston

Robert S. Leighty: I see no reason to have Kofi drop the strap only 6 days after winning it. This should be a fun match and these four have been the best part of RAW since the Draft. MVP seems to be on his way to the Main Event, and Regal seems to be playing the Finlay role of badass to throw out there with the young guys. That leaves Hardy and Kofi, and I'll go with Kofi.

Winner and STILL US Champion: Kofi Kingston

Andy Critchell: This has potential to be a sneaker MOTN. All 4 guys bring something different to the match and all 4 guys should mesh very well together. That being said, this match could be hurt by the fact that Kofi as the winner seems like a foregone conclusion as he just won the belt on Monday and a 6 day title reign would look pretty shabby for the young guy. I don't think WWE would undercut Kofi like that.

Winner and STILL US Champion: Kofi

Jeremy Thomas: This has potential to be a show-stealer if given enough time. Also, can I just say how much I love that both the Intercontinental and United States Titles are on the line in the same Pay-Per-View? All four of these guys have shown they can work well together, and I'm seriously digging the possibilities here. Kofi just won the title so there's no reason to hot-shot it to someone else yet; I say Kofi pins one of the heels and then feuds with the other in the following weeks.

Winner: Kofi Kingston (Trouble in Paradise on Hardy; STILL WWE United States Champion)

Rob McNew: While the match on Raw was outstanding I'm not sure why they just didn't do the title change here. Kofi didn't win on Monday just to drop the strap on Sunday, so its pretty obvious he picks up the victory here to retain.

Winner: STILL WWE United States Champion - Kofi Kingston

Michael Weyer: I like Kofi as champion and am surprised they did the switch on RAW.I dont' see them being so crazy as to have him drop it only a week and all four guys should make this a terrific match. In the end, they'll help Kofi go over and retain and build himself up again as a rising star.

WINNER and STILL US Champion: Kofi Kingston


Rey Mysterio © vs. Chris Jericho - No Holds Barred

Stephen Randle: This one could go either way, but I just think there's more options for feuds with Jericho holding the belt, plus the possibility of a "title vs mask" match at the next PPV. So, can we get Jericho to help book more feuds than just his own?

Winner: Chris Jericho

Julian Bond: This match should be a very good one judging from what was seen last month. I think that here Jericho, despite not needing the belt at all and being at the top of the card, takes the strap here to create what I believe a great chase for Mysterio. I think that by having one of the top heels carry the formerly disregard IC belt, it will automatically raise the profile of the title even more than before. Hopefully this leads to a "mask vs. title" match at the next PPV.

Winner and NEW IC Champion: Chris Jericho

Dan Torkel: Another well built feud coming off a very good PPV match. I think another loss by Jericho may actually start to hurt his credibility, and Rey is super popular and thus does not need the title. I love that Jericho and Rey are putting a focus back on the once prestigious IC Title.

Winner and NEW IC Champion - Chris Jericho

Andy Clark: This match should be an awful lot of fun. This feud has been good so far and after watching Jericho's out-of-the-crowd beatdown on Rey last week I'm more stoked for this match. I was originally going to pick Rey to retain, but if they plan on getting Rey's mask involved in all this then Jericho would have to have something to put up against the mask, so I suppose the title could be it.

Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Chris Jericho

Robert S. Leighty: They stole the show at the last PPV, and they could very well do the same thing here. I like the stip because it adds to the match and gives Jericho a chance to show a violent streak. I think Jericho is above the IC Title, but no man has held the title more and a title win is a title win.

Winner and NEW IC Champion: Chris Jericho

Andy Critchell: This has a lot more obvious potential to be the MOTN. Both guys have worked really hard to make this feud matter. Neither guy really needs the belt to get over but the fact that two guys of their stature are fighting over it makes the belt seem all the more valuable. That being said, I think it makes more sense for Jericho to get the win here and then maybe move to a feud with MORRISON (or another young up and coming guy) than it would be for Rey to keep it.

Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Jericho

Jeremy Thomas: Pretty simple here, folks. Jericho doesn't need the Intercontinental Title, and Rey Rey's doing it a world of good since he's moved to SmackDown. These two will have a great match that will have some decent spots in it and probably some good psychology, but I think that Jericho's obsession with removing Rey Rey's mask will cause him to ultimately lose, letting Rey take the belt and move on to face Dolph Ziggler and other midcard-to-upper midcarders.

Winner: Rey Mysterio (619/West Coast Pop; STILL Intercontinental Champion)

Rob McNew: I think Jericho delivers a brutal beatdown of Mysterio here to take the strap, but somehow Mysterio keeps his mask because WWE isn't dumb enough to make that mistake…are they? Jericho takes the gold and forces Mysterio to put the mask on the line at The Bash to get his rematch.

Winner: NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion - Chris Jericho

Michael Weyer: We know these two can give some terrific matches and this should be no exception. I see the feud continuing with Rey's mask involved and thus Jericho can get the belt here to put something up for it. So expect wild action and Jericho using the stip to batter Rey down and get the belt one more time.

WINNER and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Chris Jericho


Christian © vs. Jack Swagger vs. Tommy Dreamer - Triple Threat - If Dreamer Loses, He Retires

Stephen Randle: Very few men have had more success in this business by losing than Tommy Dreamer. Hell, the centerpiece of the guy's career is a two-year feud in which he never, ever beat Raven until the final match. He came back from training in OVW for the ECW revival and stayed on far longer than anyone believed, and I'm pretty sure it's time for the last ECW Original to ride off into the sunset. Meanwhile, Swagger's time in the sun is over with the rise of the Hart Dynasty, and it's time for the traditional "cooling off period" that follows any rookie push.

Winner: Christian

Julian Bond: This should be an interesting bout since all three participants have been having some pretty good matches with each other as of late. At first I was thinking that Dreamer might get one last ride with the ECW Championship, but sadly I think that this PPV instead will be his final swan song for his retirement. Considering that he instead could have just left the sport sadly without even a mention makes him retiring at this PPV, which technically wouldn't had existed if not for his efforts in the original ECW, a pretty good thing.

Winner and STILL ECW Champion: Christian (with Dreamer retiring)

Dan Torkel: There is NO way Dreamer wins here. Despite that, I feel he will receive the stand alone in the ring farewell he deserves for his contributions to the industry and ECW. I think Christian pins Dreamer and shakes his hand, that allows for Swagger to still get another rematch.

Winner and Still Champion - Christian

Andy Clark: This is a tough one. Jack Swagger seems like he should get the title back, but the only fresh face for him to defend against would be Evan Bourne, unless Mark Henry turns. I don't see Dreamer retiring, but I really can't see him winning a World Title, regardless of whether it is the bastard World Title or not. Christian makes the most sense to retain as there are plenty of heels to defend against, but if he wins then that retires Dreamer and that's not a great thing for a face in his position. I think I'll go with Swagger to get some real heel heat on him for ending Dreamer's career and winning Christian's title, and we'll get a rehash of the Swagger-Finaly feud for at least a month.

Winner and NEW ECW Champion: Jack Swagger

Robert S. Leighty: I am a sucker for happy endings, so the sentimental sap inside me is picking the upset with Tommy Dreamer. Christian probably retains, but the ECW Title is the 3rd tier of Main Titles, and letting Dreamer have the strap for a few days won't hury anyone. Have Swagger murder the guy for the title a few days later, but give us a nice moment this Sunday.

Winner and New ECW Champion: Tommy Dreamer

Andy Critchell: Christian and Swagger have been really good as opponents this year and adding Dreamer to the mix should make the match a little more interesting. I still think Christian goes over for two reasons: 1. Dreamer has no value as champion and 2. when Swagger does eventually beat Christian it should be one-on-one.

Winner and STILL ECW Champion: Christian

Jeremy Thomas: Yes, I know this is a one-in-a-million chance, but I have to go with my heart here, and my heart wants to see Dreamer have the title for one last time. I know the guy never wanted the belt in ECW and I know what his role has always been in the companies he's worked for, but it would be a fitting send-off to see him pin Swagger to win the title, retire on ECW and put the belt up as a vacancy and let ECW have some sort of 4- or 8-man tournament for the belt. Is it going to happen? Hell no. But I can dream, and that's how I'm picking it.

Winner: Tommy Dreamer (DDT on Swagger; NEW ECW Champion)

Rob McNew: Tommy will put up a valiant effort in his swan song, but as always will come up just short. Christian retains the gold again, Swagger will whine, and Tommy will cry. Christian moves on to feuding with the Hart Dynasty, Dreamer moves on to indy bookings, and Swagger…well I don't know where they go with him from here except maybe a brand switch somehow.

Winner: STILL ECW Champion - Christian

Michael Weyer: This is one time where the retire stip will work as Dreamer just doesn't have the backing or in-ring ability to hang now. But he should do a good job helping Christian and Swagger out and while seeing Swagger get it back can help the feud, I think Christian retains.

WINNER and STILL ECW Champion: Christian


Edge © vs. Jeff Hardy - Ladder Match

Stephen Randle: It's also hard to predict this one, but I'm starting to believe that WWE has decided to stop with all the World title changes (and not ten or twelve moments too late). Plus, unless the Punk heel turn is imminent, and I don't see it, I don't think he'll be cashing against Jeff Hardy. Although that would be a matchup we haven't seen.

Winner: Edge

Julian Bond: Last month I was complaining that I really didn't care for this redo of this feud that was already done a few months ago, but now I'm honestly digging it especially with ladder match history between the two being a main focal point. I really don't know who to pick because this bout could do either way with Edge losing (and eventually regaining once again later) and Hardy winning the belt again or Hardy taking another loss more than likely due to his brother Matt interferening AGAIN (possibly dragging that feud all the way to Summerslam) and Edge winning to move on to a feud possibly with Jericho or Punk. I flip a coin and will go with Edge.

Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Edge

Dan Torkel: I do not think they are giving Hardy the title right now. Especially with a budding feud between Jericho and Edge brewing. Edge needs to keep the momentum here and winning his match helps that.

Winner and Still Champion - Edge

Andy Clark: This is another tough one. I feel like Jeff is going to win the title before his contract runs out, if only for a short run because the smarks won't suspect it, but Edge is the master of the heart-snatching victory. I was planning on going with Jeff to set up a Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga title program, but I'm reconsidering a bit at this point. I suppose I'll go with my gut, but I wouldn't be surprised to be wrong.

Winner and NEW World Heavyweight Champion: Jeff Hardy

Robert S. Leighty: Edge was finally involved in a PPV Title match where the title was defended successfully last month. This should be a sick match, and both men will go out there and kill themselves for my enjoyment. They are both extremely (pun intended) familiar with this type of environment, and I expect big things in this match. No reason to take the strap from Edge at this point though.

Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Edge

Andy Critchell: Now this is the match that I feel has the most potential to be MOTN, for obvious reasons. We all know how awesome both guys are in ladder matches so there is really no need to go into that. Hardy could win but with his contract status up in the air plus with WWE's desire to not hot-shot the titles around; I'm looking for Edge to retain here.

Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Edge

Jeremy Thomas: You know what? I don't think Hardy's leaving the company at this point, and I think any rumors to that effect are the 'E trying to work the IWC. And I think it was to set up this match. If there's ever been a more appropriate place for Day-Glo to win the belt it's at Extreme Rules, and Edge's title reign has been a long one when compared to his other reigns--after all, he actually made it past a Pay-Per-View. This will be a wild and crazy spotfest with both guys busting out their top moves, and in the end I see Jeff pulling out the victory.

Winner: Jeff Hardy (Ladder Grab; NEW World Heavyweight Champion)

Rob McNew: Edge couldn't possibly retain the title two pay per views in a row could he? Why yes he could. Edge pretty much owns Jeff, and they seem to be interested in giving him a legit run with the title for a change. The title is pretty much Edge's gimmick, and Hardy doesn't need it to be over.

Winner: STILL World Heavyweight Champion - Edge

Michael Weyer: This one should be a terrific match all around. It's tempting to go with Jeff here as it seems overdue but I just can't see it happening. Not just to give the belt more stability but it just seems to me like WWE has lost some faith in Jeff in the top spot. It should still be a great match with Edge retaining.

WINNER and STILL World Champion: Edge


Randy Orton © vs. Batista - Steel Cage Match

Stephen Randle: So, does the feud end here with an Orton win, or end with a Hell in the Cell once it becomes apparent that Steel Cages haven't stopped interference for well over twenty years. Anyway, not that it's a huge shock, but Batista's probably not winning a World title anytime soon.

Winner: Randy Orton

Julian Bond: Should be a good solid match here. Orton again retains here through notorious means and I believe then after, especially with Ric Flair's sudden return, will move onto an "Evolution" feud with a returning HHH.

Winner and STILL WWE Champion: Randy Orton

Dan Torkel: They better give Batista a rub soon, or else he will just be a complete joke. I think Flair and Triple H make their presence here to counter Legacy and thus give Batista another short title run. Orton can claim foul and set up the inevitable triple threat with him, Batista, and Triple H.

Winner and New Champion - Batista

Andy Clark: Well if Monday is any indication Orton shouldn't have to worry about Batista climbing out of the cage. Batista is the only man in WWE history to lose a World Title in a cage match, so he already has a dubious cage past. I'm hoping this Steel Cage Match can deliver the goods as well as Batista's match with Edge two years ago, and I'd be expecting a similar result. Orton's holding the belt until at least Night of Champions if not SummerSlam (depending on when Triple H returns or if they actually decide to use Cena) so Big Dave's luck runs out here.

Winner and STILL WWE Champion: Randy Orton

Robert S. Leighty: All we now need is Batista vs Flair in a cage match, and we will have every combination of Evolution in some kind of cage match at one time or another. This could be good, but they crowd could also shit all over this depending where it is placed on the card. I wouldn't let this match follow the Ladder match. As for a result, I expect Orton to retain and move on to MVP, or at least someone who wasn't in Evolution.

Winner and STILL WWE Champion: Randy Orton

Andy Critchell: Ugh. Talk about a feud gone wrong. Batista has brought almost nothing to the table against Orton and Randy is not at the stage yet when he can make chicken salad out of chicken shit. Look for Orton to retain simply because Batista hasn't done anything is this feud to inspire confidence in anyone that he'd be a good champ this time around.

Winner and STILL WWE Champion: Orton

Jeremy Thomas: Words can't describe how much I loathe the way this feud's been booked. Orton looks like shit and he can't even beat on a sixty year-old man without Legacy's help at this point. This is a Steel Cage match to keep people out, so of course interference will be involved. I think it's 'H, who comes back and nails Batista with his sledgehammer to cost Batista the belt so that the Game can be the one to take it from Randy and thus we can have our Three-Way Feud where Orton gets buried by BOTH Batista and Hunter. Who, me cynical? Why would you say that?

Winner: Randy Orton (Game-erference; STILL WWE Heavyweight Champion)

Rob McNew: Please god Randy just punt that oversized piece of garbage half way across the cage so we can end this brutally boring feud and move on. Is that too much to ask? I'm sure Orton wins, but I just hope he does so in a way that doesn't allow Batista to enter his cheat code and get another title shot next month.

Winner: STILL WWE Champion - Randy Orton

Michael Weyer: With Kennedy gone, the future of Orton's reign is a bit uncertain. It doesn't help this feud has been pretty badly booked and the crowds haven't responded well. The blowout here should be okay but nothing really special with Orton retaining and hopefully they've got something lined up for him afterward.

WINNER and STILL WWE Champion: Randy Orton

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