The Piledriver Report 02.04.10: Booking WrestleMania
Posted by Ronny Sarnecky on 02.04.2010
The Royal Rumble left us with several questions as to what path this road to WrestleMania will take us down. What better way to look towards WrestleMania than to answer these questions ourselves, as The Piledriver Report books WrestleMania XXVI!
This past Sunday night, the WWE presented the Royal Rumble pay per view from Atlanta, Georgia. In what is typically seen as the start of the Road to WrestleMania, the WWE kicked things off in an intriguing manner. There are more questions surrounding the potential WrestleMania line-up now then there was before the show.
The rumors of what this year's WrestleMania card would look like is:
WWE World Champion Sheamus vs. Triple H
World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Chris Jericho vs. Edge
Rey Mysterio, Jr. vs. CM Punk
John Cena vs. Batista
Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase, Jr.
Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon
Money in the Bank
It seemed that the odds on favorite to win the Rumble would be either Triple H to set up his match against Sheamus, or Shawn Michaels to set up a rematch against the Undertaker. After all, the biggest storyline heading into the Rumble was that the only way for Shawn Michaels to receive a WrestleMania rematch against the Undertaker was for the "Heartbreak Kid" to win the Royal Rumble. If the WWE wanted this match to happen, a Michaels Rumble victory seemed to be the most logical choice.
A week before the show, there were Internet reports that stated the WWE was going to have Triple H win the Royal Rumble. However, Shawn would still get his shot at the Undertaker by beating Batista for SmackDown's #1 contender spot. Of course, when it comes to the WWE, plans change on a daily basis.
Listening to the "Wrestling Observer Live" radio show following the Royal Rumble, the hosts were wondering how the WWE was going to be able to book their way into their original WrestleMania line-up. They thought that Edge's victory threw a monkey wrench into the WWE's game plan. However, I think Edge's victory adds just the right amount of spice into the path leading to the 26th installment of WrestleMania.
If the WWE would have named Triple H or Shawn Michaels as the Rumble winner, this year's Road to WrestleMania would have been predictably boring. Instead, even though we know where the road would lead, there is greater interest in the trip that will get us to our final destination.
BOOKINGWRESTLEMANIAXXVI
Assuming that the WWE is still going with their original WrestleMania card, we can easily book the same card despite the "surprise" Rumble victory by Edge. Of course, with a tweak here and there. Let's take the Money in the Bank match, and Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon out of our booking equation for a moment. After all, neither match was effected by who won the Royal Rumble. CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. is also another match-up not effected by the Royal Rumble winner.
Before we discuss the booking of WrestleMania, I just want to talk about CM Punk for a moment. If the WWE gave away a Most Valuable Player award for a Royal Rumble participant, CM Punk would have won this year's award without question. Punk has been doing an awesome job in his "straight edge savior" role. The 2009-2010 CM Punk reminds me of the job that Chris Jericho has done since 2008. Punk has took his game from one level and brought it to a totally different stratosphere. I loved how Punk would grab the mic after each elimination and tell the crowd that he will "save" the other Royal Rumble entrants. I expected Jeff Hardy to be a surprise entrant who eliminated Punk. I guess either Hardy's "short term deal" is more then a one shot deal, or the WWE/Jeff Hardy didn't try to strike a deal yet. I was hoping that Punk would be the iron man of the Rumble, since his performance was so entertaining. Unfortunately, there was no "iron man" this year. Because of this, Punk had the strongest showing of the night. Hopefully, the WWE will make sure Punk is firmly entrenched in the main event scene for years to come. He deserves to be there.
THEENDOFALEGACY
Since before SummerSlam, the plan was to always turn Ted DiBiase, Jr. into a babyface. Originally, the idea was to turn him around the Survivor Series in order to coincide with the release of the "Marine II" DVD that starred DiBiase. The WWE has teased dissension over the past few months, but a full-blown explosion never transpired. Finally, at the Royal Rumble, it looks like a Randy Orton/Legacy break-up was about to transpire due to Cody Rhodes' failed interference in Orton's WWE title match against Sheamus.
In RAW's upcoming Elimination Chamber match, both Ted DiBiase, Jr. and Randy Orton are two of the participants. An easy way to start off a DiBiase-Orton feud would be for DiBiase to pin Orton inside the chamber. The question is "who turns face?" It was always assumed that Ted DiBiase, Jr. would be the one to turn. However, it seems that Randy Orton has been getting cheers as of late.
If the WWE were to turn Orton face, then a DiBiase pin of the "viper" inside the chamber would have to be either one where he steals a pin on a downed Orton, he somehow cheats in pinning Orton, or he turns his back on Orton when Randy needs his help. If the WWE were to turn DiBiase face, then this could be accomplished by a clean pinfall of Orton by DiBiase. This would be followed up by a brutal beat down of DiBiase by Orton, either before leaving the cage, or the next night on RAW.
There are several questions that will need to be answered in the breakup of Legacy. First, where does Cody Rhodes fit into all of this? Does he side with DiBiase, Orton, or does he go it alone? If it's Orton that the WWE decides to turn face, you must question whether this is a wise move. After all, the last time Orton was super over as a heel, the WWE turned him into a babyface too quickly, and he failed miserably as a face. It took him years to regain his momentum. Should the WWE turn DiBiase face? Like Orton before him, it may be too soon to turn DiBiase. At least when Orton turned face, he was red hot as a heel. I don't think DiBiase is at the level yet where the fans are clamoring for a babyface DiBiase. I think the way to play this is to have all three members of Legacy have friction, where not one member is a face. Set up a Triple Threat match at WrestleMania XXVI, where two of the three members turn on the final member towards the end of the match to create one face who will feud with the other two. How does the WWE decide which member turns face? Easy, just listen to the crowd in the month that the WWE builds up the match. Whomever the fans get behind, the WWE makes the babyface.
ALLTIEDTOGETHER
The remaining matches on the WrestleMania card would come together due to a domino effect they all have with these wrestlers Elimination Chamber match outcomes. Due to Batista eliminating Shawn Michaels at the Rumble, the "Heartbreak Kid" challenges the "Animal" to battle for a shot at the Undertaker at WrestleMania. Since Batista isn't in the SmackDown! World title match at Elimination Chamber, he agrees.
There are two ways that I see this match going. Either Shawn Michaels wins thanks to interference by John Cena, or both men battle to a no contest. Here's the rationale on each scenario.
Why would John Cena interfere? In the storyline between Bret Hart and Vince McMahon, John Cena basically threatened Vince to bring back Bret. When Vince did, he had Batista attack the "Hitman." This can't sit well with Cena, so he makes sure to make Batista's life a living hell. Cena costs Batista a shot at the Undertaker thanks to his interference. Enraged, Batista wants a shot at Cena. Since Cena doesn't win the RAW Elimination Chamber, he has time on his hands at WrestleMania.
The other scenario of a no contest leads to this. Batista is ticked off that he doesn't get to fight the Undertaker, but should have been able to if his Rumble victory wasn't taken away from him at the hands of John Cena when Cena eliminated him from the battle royal. Sure, it's a little thin, but Batista seems to be blaming everybody for his failure to win the title during this heel run.
At the same time, Shawn Michaels is distraught over the no contest. He doesn't know how he can possibly get a WrestleMania match with the Undertaker now. Towards the final stages of the SmackDown! Elimination Chamber, the final two contestants, the Undertaker and Chris Jericho do battle. From the backstage area, Shawn Michaels runs to the ring, and lays out the Undertaker causing Chris Jericho to capture the World Heavyweight title. Since Michaels cost the Undertaker the title, the "Deadman" now has a reason to be angry enough to want to get his hands on Shawn Michaels. Like Triple H has been saying for weeks, Shawn will find another way to get his match against the Undertaker. At Elimination Chamber, he finally does.
When Edge first went on the disabled list in mid-2009, the WWE was hoping to book Edge vs. Chris Jericho at WrestleMania XXVI. When I heard this news, I was hoping that it would be for the World title. After all, Chris Jericho was coming off his best year ever as a wrestler. Edge, who was one of the top guys in the industry, was SmackDown's top star. They deserved to dance in the main event at the biggest show of the year. To keep with the storyline of "Who will Edge face at WrestleMania?," once Chris Jericho won the World Heavyweight championship at Elimination Chamber, the choice was easy. Edge gets his hands on Chris Jericho, and the fans get to a World title match they deserve.
This leaves us with one match left to book, the WWE World title contest. With the WWE no longer needing to have the Undertaker/Shawn Michaels match a World title match, since they now could insert Jericho/Edge in that spot, the WWE World title match becomes the secondary title match. Usually, at WrestleMania, at least one World title changes hands. If Taker faced Michaels for the World Heavyweight title, there was no way that title would change hands. That means that the WWE World title would switch. However, with Edge probably beating Chris Jericho for the World title at WrestleMania, the WWE World title doesn't need to change hands.
Therefore, at Elimination Chamber, Triple H will dethrone Sheamus for the WWE World title, but in a way where Sheamus can argue that he should have never lost the belt. Sheamus would invoke his rematch clause to face Triple H for the WWE World title at WrestleMania XXVI.
Well, that's how I would book it. With WrestleMania over fifty days away, it will be interesting to see how the WWE books the show. Whatever they decide, one thing is certain. It will be an interesting ride.
Agreed. I thought Jeff Hardy was going eliminate Punk every time the clock ticked down with Punk preaching.
Plus, I read Jeff was in town, but maybe it was just visiting, as he does reside in nearby North Carolina.
Posted By: Jackson from Jackson (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Brilliant booking. If it plays out like that, then we are on for a superb Wrestlemania.
Posted By: TheMan (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:15 PM
I agree with your presumed match with Edge challenging new champion Jericho, but wouldn't it be predictable for Edge to defeat Jericho? Why not swerve everything and have Jericho retain? There hasn't been a heel walking out the champion in the MAIN-EVENT since HHH in 2000. I know Orton retained in '08 but the triple threat wasn't the main-event.
So I say why not?
Posted By: Brent (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:35 PM
this is pretty muchthe logical way it will go how it stands at the moment. i like it.
but remember last year when the whole edge deal threw a spanner in the works?
the whole rumble to mania period really is the best time to be a wrestling fan, WWE seems to forget how rubbish they are the rest of the year and deliver great in ring action and storylines.
can't wait to see what happens!
Posted By: thelambster420 (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:37 PM
I'm still holding out hope that it ends up being Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H at 'Mania. Michaels is my all-time favorite wrestler, and Taker is another huge favorite of mine. Last year's match was awesome. And the only match worth remembering from WM25. But that was last year, and I'd love to see them mix it up again... just not at WM26. I love Triple H, but not so sure I want to see him with the WWE title right now, but I'm pulling for him to win at Elimination Chamber, so it's Triple H vs. Michaels for the WWE title. That'd be a great main event. I can't imagine nor do I want to see Sheamus going into 'Mania with the title. The Undertaker vs. Sheamus at 'Mania is an OK way to go. Sheamus sucks, bottom line. But Taker is used to facing big goofs at 'Mania. Examples being Giant Gonzalez, King Kong Bundy, and Mark Henry. And Sheamus can dominate him up until 'Mania. That'd be an interpromotional match, obviously. And Taker goes 18-0.
Jericho should win the World title at Elimination Chamber and face Edge. I don't know what Bret can do physically. Not much I'd imagine. So if it's not Cena with Bret in his corner vs. Batista with Vince in his corner, I can see a tag match of Bret & Cena vs. Vince & Batista, with the "wrestlers" doing most of the work. And one way or another, Bret will lock McMahon in the Sharpshooter. So this is the card I'd like to see...
WWE Championship:
Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels
World Heavyweight Championship:
Chris Jericho vs. Edge
Bret Hart & John Cena vs. Mr. McMahon & Batista (but Bret and Vince will most likely end up being in the corners of the other two)
Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase, Jr. vs. Cody Rhodes (I'd rather see this than a one-on-one with Orton and DiBiase. I don't like how most people count Rhodes out. He's much better than DiBiase, in my opinion. Better wrestler and a better talker, even with a lisp.)
Money In The Bank Ladder Match:
I don't care who's in it, but I am hoping John Morrison ends up the winner. Although I would like to see Evan Bourne and Jack Swagger in this match. If they're going to hype a Morrison DVD, he needs a high profile win, and this is the way to go.
CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio (it's been rumored anyway, and I wouldn't mind it. Although I don't like the rumored Hair vs. Mask stipulation. You know they won't unmask Rey due to his popularity with kids, and I don't want to see a bald Punk, but unfortunately I think we probably will.)
I'd like to see a really good Diva's match. So any combination of Gail Kim, Beth Phoenix, Katie Lea, and Natalya is good with me. Sticking The Hart Dynasty in a tag title match isn't a bad idea either.
Posted By: Norm Peterson (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Cena/Batista 2 should be for a title.. UT/HBK if they have it should be for a title as well.. the Title is needed to make the feuds interesting and better than the previous encounters. Otherwise the matches may turn out to be bland.
Posted By: sdmcc (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:50 PM
Cena/Batista 2 should be for a title.. UT/HBK if they have it should be for a title as well.. the Title is needed to make the feuds interesting and better than the previous encounters. Otherwise the matches may turn out to be bland.
Posted By: sdmcc (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Ted needs to PUNT Randy. Simple as that. Have Randy pin Sheamus and then have Ted punt and pin Orton. Orton rolls out of the ring and Ted gets pinned by the winner of the Chamber match. Post match we see a foggy Orton and pissed off Ted who shows concern about the gamble he took.
Posted By: ROH Commish (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:53 PM
I still don't understand why everyone wants HBK/UNDERTAKER II. If they do anything less than five stars, it will be a let down.
Posted By: Cactus (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:55 PM
WrestleMania in my mind, should look like this.
World Heavyweight Championship
Batista (C) vs. Edge
WWE Championship
HHH (C) vs. Shawn Michaels
Undertaker vs. John Cena
Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon
Randy Orton vs. Ted Dibiase vs. Cody Rhodes
Money In the Bank
(Ft. Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, evan Bourne, john Morrison,Christian, Chris Jericho, Drew McIntyre, The Miz)
*Chris Jericho SHOULD finally win the match he is SUPPOSED to have created
**John Morrison would probably win, and SHOULD cash it in, at the end of the Michaels/HHH match
Sheamus vs. Big Show
Posted By: Damian (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:56 PM
great column. i wish you were booking for the 'e. i loved all of it and thought it was brilliant, except for the part about sheamus wrestling for the wwe title at 'mania. but that's not exactly your fault.
Posted By: Csonkamaniac III (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:57 PM
All you people saying Big Show will be left off the Mania card/put in the Money in the Bank match are seriously stupid.
Posted By: Miz fan (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Maybe I'm in the minority, but Michaels and Undertaker have so few years left, they should try to have some fresh Wrestlemania matchups. I don't think they should do a rematch, it would just disappoint.
I would have prefered HBK v. HHH and Cena v. Undertaker instead. Doesn't look like its in the cards. Alas.
Posted By: Heyyo (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Logical all the way around, but there is one problem in this proposed HBK-Batista match: Edge. How do you have Michaels and Batista fight over the right to face Undertaker when theoretically Edge still has first dibs. We all know he won't pick Taker, and betting money is on Jericho to win the title as you said, but so long as Taker is still champion he isn't really in a position to be looking for other WrestleMania opponents.
Posted By: Master of the Posse (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Didn't Jeff sign a TNA contract?
Posted By: Guest#0625 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:16 AM
Your forgetting the unshown card of either the ECW/Whatever title or Unified Tag Belts Match, not to mention 50 minutes of commercials and 25 minutes of Kid Rock ass clown show. Other than that pretty spot on.
Posted By: Truff (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:29 AM
MARK HENRY should be in at least the co-main event.
Posted By: Vic Tomato (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:46 AM
Logical all the way around, but there is one problem in this proposed HBK-Batista match: Edge. How do you have Michaels and Batista fight over the right to face Undertaker when theoretically Edge still has first dibs. We all know he won't pick Taker, and betting money is on Jericho to win the title as you said, but so long as Taker is still champion he isn't really in a position to be looking for other WrestleMania opponents.
Posted By: Master of the Posse (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Exactly....if they say 'just to face The Undertaker, belt or not' that would mean that the WWE is revealing something to us. I still think its gonna be HHH vs HBK
Posted By: Guest#4319 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 01:44 AM
I agree with your presumed match with Edge challenging new champion Jericho, but wouldn't it be predictable for Edge to defeat Jericho? Why not swerve everything and have Jericho retain? There hasn't been a heel walking out the champion in the MAIN-EVENT since HHH in 2000. I know Orton retained in '08 but the triple threat wasn't the main-event.
So I say why not?
Posted By: Brent (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 11:35 PM
This is the IWC in a nutshell. Swerve everything? Too predictable? Jericho dropping the strap to Edge is the most logical and 'right' choice, so no reason to over-think it all.
Plus, nice article, but Sheamus is walking into Mania as champion. Get over it people - Sheamus is main eventing WrestleMania 26!!!!!
Posted By: JUSTIN (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 01:54 AM
that's certainly looking like the way it will go, so 2 months out it's looking fairly predictable. it's disappointing that long gone are the days that some wrestlemania feuds would begin as early as survivor series. batista vs mysterio should've gone to wrestlemania in my opinion.
i don't want punk vs mysterio, i'd prefer punk in the money in the bank. have him win his third in a row.
have hhh win at chamber, retain against sheamus, and stand tall to end wrestlemania (put them on last). send out gallows and one more guy who will be saved in the next 2 months to put a beating on him. and have punk play the money in the bank the way that i've clamoured for it for 5 years - at the end of wrestlemania. have punk beat hhh (and their recent storyline lends a back story), and have mania go off the air with a heel standing tall, promising to save us all.
tell me it wouldn't be epic...
Posted By: Andy (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 02:14 AM
Hate to say it but your Cena fueding with Batista scenario is a little too convoluted for the majority of the wrestling crowd to understand. Plus, why would Cena care that much about Bret Hart?
Posted By: JamesC (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 03:31 AM
Ok, first off. Nice "arm-chair booking" here. Interesting take on the PRECIEVED RtWM...But let me reinterate PRECIEVED.
The WWE has a tendancy to swerve things. But it WILL be a good WM (2 bad I'm deployed...F'n deployments (Although I'm GOING to be there for WM in the ATL!)).
But if I could do a little "arm-chair booking" of my own here, as it reserves to the Legacy thing (Mainly the Orton-Dibiase turn angle).
Wouldn't it be interesting if the went the old Sting before War Games route with it (Albeit a VERY modified version of it).
Let's say that those two are the last 3 in the ring at the end of Raw's Elim Chamber...
Debiase Face Turn-
They are the last 3 in the ring, Orton is is vehimet about DiBiase-Orton teaming up against, let's say HHH (We'll go with the projected card rumored), and Orton is getting livit with DeBiase, because he wants to use DeBiase to eliminate HHH, and then destroy DeBiase afterwards.
DeBiase is reluctant to do this, and Orton gets all over DeBiase because of it.
So, Orton has HHH in a position for him and DeBiase to finish HHH off (weapon involvment though Cody), DeBiase has the weapon, and Orton is SCREAMING at DeBiase to destroy HHH with the weapon. But DeBiase, in a zoned state, walks out.
And as Orton tries to grab at DeBiase, he gets NAILED with the weapon (allowing HHH to Pedigree for his title shot), and walks out of the cage with Cody in shock.
DeBiase Heel turn-
To "flip the scrpit", have the last three in the ring Orton, DeBiase, and Shemus. Cody came down the ring, and passed DeBiase the weapon. DeBiase is in a confused state, in 1 hand he could nail Shemus, allowing Orton to get the pin-fall, but his prior experience has his train of thought that "I KNOW Orton will want me to loose this match", along of all of the prior mistreatment by Orton.
So, as Orton and Shemus get to thier feet, Orton sees DeBiase with the weapon, and he is pointing at DeBiase to nail Shemus, who is also getting to his feet.
DeBiase, has to make a decision, so with all the past misdeeds, turns into anger, and DeBiase DESTROYS Orton with the weapon, he drops the weapon on Orton, along with screaming at Orton and the crowd.
He then angerly walks out the cage, as Shemus reatains his title (Which would cause a double-turn because Orton just got pined by the Heel Champ b/c DeBiase).
You could also add a Cody beatdown to solidify the full Heel turn by DiBiase.
But either way, it WILL be interesting on the RtWM. I'll DEFINATELY look on these boards for news. Check!
Posted By: PJL (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 03:59 AM
If you look at the card in terms of who actually has a chance of ending Taker's streak, there are really only two choices--Cena and Sheamus. But Cena looks to be tangled up in the Bret v. Vince drama, leaving the Celtic Warrior. I know he's a newcomer, but he has already been given the title, so who's to say the E wouldn't choose him to end the streak.
That then gives us a payoff to the subtle contentiousness between DX in a match for Triple H's newly-won title, while Sheamus can challenge Taker by simply saying you may be undefeated at WrestleMania, Deadman, but I haven't been defeated by one man in months.
Then the only confusion comes from who participates in Money in the Bank. I hope the E carries the MVP v. Miz storyline all the way to 'Mania, which would open up some spots in MitB for guys like Big Show and Shelton Benjamin.
Posted By: Sam! (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 04:00 AM
" From the backstage area, Shawn Michaels runs to the ring, and lays out the Undertaker causing Chris Jericho to capture the World Heavyweight title."
But in Elimination Chamber matches, there's that thing to stop interference. What's it called? Oh yeah, the Elimination Chamber.
Posted By: Quimby (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 04:31 AM
Actually I wouldn't have both World Titles Change Hands at Elimination Chamber. I'd have Sheamus retain the title and still face HHH, just have Sheamus go into WM as the champion. Sheamus winning the chamber match would do more for him than HHH winning yet another CHamber Match, and Face it, if Sheamus loses to HHH in the Chamber, he's getting his legs cut out from under him. Sheamus losing in any way will cause some of his allure to be taken away. It's best for him to continue to lok unstoppable going into WM to buy him as a Main Eventer on that show so soon into his WWE career. They can just have HHH earn the title shot in the weeks heading into WM, gotta have a reason to get ppl to watch those shows right?
Posted By: Lonestarr022 (Registered) on February 04, 2010 at 05:03 AM
HBK should be in the MITB match, and then cash it in after Taker's match at Wrestlemania. That would be freakin' mental.
Posted By: Sailorman (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 05:44 AM
so... we're just IGNORING the DX friction for the fact that Shawn's stated goal is Undertaker? My god you're stupid...
Posted By: Guest#3019 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 06:31 AM
1. Miz (c) vs MVP vs Big Show = finally give MVP a title again
2. MITB = Kofi, Swagger, R Truth, Christian, Kane, Rey Mysterio, Jericho, Morrison = Jericho wins setting up the I will return to raw when i choose to fight edge for the title because im the best at what i do yada yada
3. Orton vs Rhodes vs Dibiase
4. Cena/ Hart vs Batista/McMahon
5. Micki James vs Beth Phoenix = longshot
6. HHH vs HBK
7. Sheamus (c) vs Edge
8. UT (c) vs Punk (brags about making him tap, after punk cheats and beats him in non title and the crew beats him down, make this No DQ, Crowd goes home happy on the 18-0.
May not happen but i made a card we dont KNOW for sure will happen. everyone can predict the UT HBKII and EDGE JERICHO but outside of HHH vs HBK, this is a different card as far as the 2 main titles go.
Posted By: fjuice02 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:04 AM
Any evidence that Ted DiBiase turning face was supposedly 'the plan'? I mean, other than fat nerds on the internet looking at his impending DVD release?
My predictions based on the "PRECIEVED", whatever that means, Road to Wrestlemania booking...
HHH v Sheamus, with Sheamus retaining.
Cena (Hart) v Batista (McMahon), with Cena winning.
Edge v Christian v Jericho, with Edge winning for Jericho's title.
HBK v Undertaker, with HBK winning.
Randy v Ted DiBiase, with Randy winning.
Beth Pheonix v Mickie James, with Beth winning.
MiTB, with CM Punk winning and cashing in that night against Sheamus. Or if the Smackdown main-event is Jericho-Edge, Christian winning to cash in on Jericho post-match.
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:14 AM
my card would look like
World Title
Edge Vs Chris Jericho
Undertaker Vs HBK
WWE title
HHH Vs Sheamus
Brett Hart & Cena Vs Vince & Batista
Randy Orton Vs Ted Jn with special ref Cody Rhodes
CM Punk promises to save Stone Cold, SCSA cuts a promo then brings out Jeff for
CM Punk Vs Jeff Hardy, with post match stunner/beer bath for punk
Raw Vs Smackdown match
Kofi Kingston Vs Rey Mysterio
Money in the bank
MVP Vs Evan Bourne Vs R Truth Vs Matt Hardy Vs Christian Vs Jack Swagger
Posted By: Chris Ede (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:23 AM
There's always the chance that we could see a tag title match between Punk and Gallows (c) vs. The Hardy Boyz....
Posted By: G (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:28 AM
Undetaker(c) vs Jericho vs Edge
Cena w/Bret Hart vs Batista w/Vince McMahon
HHH(c) vs Shawn Michaels
Orton vs Dibiase w/Cody Rhodes
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Kofi vs R Truth vs John Morrison vs Kane vs Big Show vs Jack Swagger vs Drew McIntyre vs MVP
Hair vs Mask
Punk vs Rey Mysterio
Plus ECW title
Christian(c) vs Miz
Posted By: Shane (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:34 AM
I'm pretty sure that I've been booking this card almost exactly as you laid out in the comments sections since before the Royal Rumble (the signs were just too obvious that Edge was coming back since he was known to be close, yet the WWE was not saying anything about his return - usually those returns are hyped for a month before the actual return unless they are keeping it quiet for a reason).
Jericho (c) vs. Edge
HHH (c) vs. Sheamus
Taker vs. Michaels
Orton vs. DiBiase vs. Rhodes
Cena vs. Batista (w/ Hart getting a shot at McMahon in a cage if Cena wins, Batista getting a MITB type title shot if he wins).
I wouldn't do a Punk/Mysterio match yet. There has been no build up yet and this match can be put off. Have Punk/Gallows win the WTTC next week.
Book Punk/Gallows and Show/Miz at WM to get both guys on the show.
MITB - MVP, Mysterio, Kane, Henry, Benjamin and Christian w/ Christian winning the MITB shot. Have him appear on both Raw and Smackdown playing up his "free agency" until the draft happens.
Posted By: SpankyHamm (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:42 AM
As long as the WWE title match is going to suck (and it will with Sheamus and Trips), they may as well throw the Big SHow in here and they can have a shit triple threat. Then we see the glory of all the other matches.
And I have to believe either Kofi or Morrison takes MitB. It'll probably be Kofi becasue they'd ratehr have it on a Raw guy.
Posted By: Quimby (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:48 AM
Love the no contest Idea with Michaels going on to cost Taker the title because it is exactly as I predicted.
Triple H unfortunately is a glory hog so I expect Sheamus to cheat somehow to beat him in the chamber and then they have a short tournament to decide a contender. Triple H wins and gets revenge and the title at Wrestlemania.
With Big show not in the world title scene I see him having a secondary title match at WM. A US Title match with MVP would be fine.
I see WWE giving the triple threat womens match with Beth, McCool, and Mickie at EC so it can be Beth/Mickie one on one at Wrestlemania since thats the real fued.
I like the idea better of a conflicted Cody Rhodes who doesn't know who to side with so he ends up being the special referee for Ted/Orton at mania.
My Wrestlemania card:
WWE Title: Sheamus (c) vs. Triple H
World Title: Jericho (c) vs. Edge
Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker II
Bret Hart/Cena vs. McMahon/Batista
Special Referee: Cody Rhodes
Randy Orton vs. Ted Dibiase
Hair vs. Mask: CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio
U.S. Title: MVP vs. Big Show
Womens Title: Mickie vs. Beth Phoenix
MITB ladder Match: Kofi Kingston vs. Evan Bourne vs.The Miz vs. Christian vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. john Morrison vs. Drew McIntyre
Posted By: JoeDan (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 08:18 AM
Hay giys we all kno it's goeng to be ME beting the strek at Wrestlemanea.
Not Bogeymen, Nt Shan Micheels, not Pal Roma, not Batestu... ME!
So sign this petitun to get ME rehirud by the WWF...E!
no im nt on staroeds
yes im smartu
yur name here:
Posted By: Sid Vicious (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 08:25 AM
The WWE is still after all these years working the marks.
Edge winning the RR was always planned, they just told you guys it was going to be HHH or HBK so that Edge would be a huge surprise and you would all mark out.
Posted By: Guest#7017 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 08:46 AM
Great booking.
The only thing I would change is HHH winning the title at EC, we know the Smackdown title is almost certainly changing hands so I would keep the title on Sheamus. He has been booked well as champ but I think it's too soon for him to drop the title. A win in the chamber, another month as champion and going into Mania as WWE champ in a high profile match would really cement his main event status.
In an ideal world, HHH would start the chamber match and battle all the way to the end where Sheamus comes out fresh last and beats an exhausted HHH to win the match, then does a beat down after the match. The feud writes itself from there, HHH's big title win will be a feel good moment at Mania (For casual fans, obviously not for most people on this site) and having a long title match on the big show with a guy like HHH will do wonders for Sheamus, also he wouldn't have too much pressure on him because this match will not go on last, Cena v Batista or the Taker-HBK rematch will.
Posted By: Guest#0395 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 09:03 AM
"Listening to the "Wrestling Observer Live" radio show following the Royal Rumble, the hosts were wondering how the WWE was going to be able to book their way into their original WrestleMania line-up. They thought that Edge's victory threw a monkey wrench into the WWE's game plan."
How does Edge's win throw a monkey wrench into the booking plans for WrestleMania? Isn't it the WWE that booked him to win the match in the first place? I can't believe people actually pay the Observer for their quality analysis by these "experts".
Posted By: Guest#5991 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 09:32 AM
I would like to argue that Orton "failed" as a babyface. I think most people were interested in Orton being a face, he was fresh and a new challenge to HHH. But the problem began when Orton began losing ALL THE TIME to HHH! No wonder people quit caring! I dont mean this to be a "I hate HHH" speech, because I dont, but whoever made the decision to CONSTANTLY put HHH over Orton, at the time, made the wrong decision, which, I believe is why they turned him heel again so quick.
Posted By: JWestmoreland (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 09:45 AM
I bring in Hogan and have him squash Taker and Cena back to back. HHH then runs out with the sledgehammer and Hulk leaves him laying too...as WM goes off the air.
Posted By: Joe Mastronardo (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 10:01 AM
I just hope Jericho wins the title in the chamber, if anyone deserves to walk into the big show as champion its him, i would expect a really good match with Edge aswell.
Im torn on who Shawn faces, on one hand another match v Taker would be cool to see but i also think him v HHH maybe even for the wwe title would seem more fresh if HBK plays the heel.
Posted By: jbardo (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 10:08 AM
I'm calling Big Show vs Miz for the US title.
Posted By: Jesushat (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 10:12 AM
What if Undertaker loses the title to Jericho at the elimination Chamber? Then Edge can face Jericho and Shawn can face Taker.
Posted By: Philly (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 10:19 AM
Maybe on the undercard -
McIntyre v Kane for the IC belt. Give the Scotsman a huge win on the big stage.
MitB - Kofi, MVP, Miz, Christian, Shelton, Morrison, R-Truth and Ziggler. Should be an outstanding match with Christian taking the honours.
Mark Henry v Big Show v Zeke Jackson v Khali. Interbrand battle of the behemoths. Give Jackson an impressive win.
Posted By: hitmanstud (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Women's: Mickie (c)v Pheonix
Unified Tag Team Belts: Straight Edge Society v Heart Dynasty w/ Bret Heart.
Bret Heart and Cena v Batista and McMahon w/ Heart Dynasty run-in.
Posted By: Aaron in GR (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 11:17 AM
PERCEIVED - what sort of idiot caps up a word they can't even spell. Sweet jesus.
There's no way Shawn and Batista can have a who faces Undertaker match, that would involve Edge having picked his opponent prior to Elimination Chamber.
HBK costing Taker the title at EC seems to make perfect sense, but I say during SD's EC (which will main event) HBK comes out to interfere, but before he can pull it off Triple H, who lost earlier in the night, comes out and pedigrees HBK. We get snapped Michaels v heel Hunter at WM.
Taker caught up looking at the HBK v HHH altercation gets rolled up by Jericho, who becomes new champion.
Sheamus retains his title and then on Raw goes after Taker on the grounds that a) he walked out of his title at EC and Taker didn't, and b) Sheamus is completely undefeated, not just at Mania.
So my card
Cena/Bret v Batista/McMahon
World title: Edge v Jericho
WWE title: Taker v Sheamus
HBK v Triple H
Orton v Dibiase v Rhodes (where Orton emerges as a face)
Punk v Rey
MITB with Morrison, McIntyre, Kofi, R-Truth, Ziggler, Bourne, Miz, Swagger.
And I think this year should be the year that it gets cashed in on the night.
Have Morrison win the match, have Sheamus keep his title by getting DQd against the Undertaker, but then Morrison comes out and cashes in, new WWE champion.
Posted By: Guest#6353 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Wow, do any of you read what you are talking about?
Sheamus in the main event of a mania... hbk vs undertaker part 2... NOBODY IS GOING TO WANT TO BUY THAT.
It is obviously going to be HBK vs HHH. They MAY do a taker addition and have it a triple threat.
Also, why did nobody sugggest HBK coming out and grabbing the briefcase during the MITB to get a match with taker later in the show?
Posted By: A.G. Awesome (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 11:53 AM
What's with the "Rey Mysterio, Jr" bollocks He's not been called that for years
Posted By: Leones (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 11:59 AM
At first, I did not want to see a rematch between HBK and Taker. I thought that their once in a lifetime match at Mania should be left as just that... a once in a lifetime match at Wrestlemania. In addition, I wanted to see a kind of Andre vs Hogan like match between Taker and Cena where the fans might truly believe that the ultimate passing of the torch would take place with Taker losing.
However, WWE has done an INCREDIBLE job with HBK's character. The man is borderline maniacal at this point in wanting his rematch with Taker, and if he gets the match one would have to say he has at least a 50-50 shot of beating the Dead Man. Afterall, would HBK be willing to job two years in a row to the Demon of Death Valley? This possible matchup has me VERY intrigued.
My only complaint about the potential WM card is the obvious which many of you also find fault with...Sheamus vs. Triple H. I admire WWE for going with some new blood, I really do. But of all the people they could have gone with (Morrison, Christian, Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, Kofi Kingston, MVP, The Miz) Sheamus is the least talented overall. His mic skills are improving, but there is just no heat there. And as for his in-ring skills, Brock Lesnar he is NOT. Match him up with a man who has been in a World Title match at 8 of the last 10 Wrestlemania's, and my interest in seeing this is at a VERY low level. But... there might be hope!
Imagine this (this will never happen though because it would be too creative for WWE). For years people have complained that it makes NO SENSE for the winner of the Money in the Bank Match to not cash in his shot ASAP on the night of Wrestlemania. The only reason I could ever come up with is that the company does not want to take away any heat or momentum from the Champion who loses. For instance, imagine if right after Rey Misterio won the WHC at WM 22, RVD cashed in his shot and beat Misterio. It would turn Misterio into a joke. But... if you have a superstar like Triple H who has been on top for so long that he is past the point of being defined by a title reign, the last thing Triple H would turn into upon a quick defeat at WM by the MITB winner is a joke. In otherwords... he is about one of the only people who could afford to lose the WWE title at the hands of the MITB winner and not lose any steam. Imagine Christian, or John Morrison winning MITB, and then cashing it in following Sheamus and Triple H. Very interesting.
Thoughts???
Posted By: Chris (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Also, if you're suggesting that Sheamus main event Wrestlemania, you been hanging out with Jeff Hardy too much...
Posted By: Leones (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:05 PM
So, I have a random question: Do the guest hosts not have the power to make Wrestlemania matches? Seems like they have the power to make matches for next weeks RAW and matches for other PPV's...why doesn't Shawn just ask a guest host to book him and Undertaker at Wrestlemania? After Taker drops the title of course.
Posted By: D$ (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Sheamus is not going to be in the Main event at Wrestlemania. I see him in the Money in the Bank match. I could see Jericho taking the title at the Elimination Chamber. Setting up Edge vs Jericho. Trips could take the title in the Chamber, I could see either he or Cena. HBK vs Taker is a gimmie.
Posted By: Steve (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:12 PM
This is what I'm thinking it'll look like:
John Cena w/ Bret Hart vs Batista w/ Vince McMahon
Mickie James vs Maryse
World Heavyweight Title
Chris Jericho vs Edge
Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels
WWE Title
Sheamus vs Triple H
Randy Orton w/Rhodes vs Ted DiBiase
MitB:
MVP vs Miz vs Kofi vs R-Truth vs Kane vs Morrison vs McIntyre vs Christian
Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk w/ S.E.S.
Posted By: Mark (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:12 PM
You want booking? Here it goes..
I agree with the Jericho winning the Chamber scenario, but HBK will be IN the match to ensure Taker does not win. HBK gets eliminated by Jericho, and goes to retaliate after the pinfall. Instead he snaps and superkicks Taker, allowing Jericho to win. This sets up Edge v Jericho for the World Title, and HBK v Taker II, but HBK is full blown heel this time around.
I would for once like to see Mania without HHH in a title match. Hopefully they go like this.. HHH pins Sheamus, and turns right into the AA from Cena and Cena walks out the Champion. The next night on Raw, as Bret Hart is in the ring with Cena, Batista attacks! Vince then announces that it's Batista v HHH v Sheamus for #1 contender, which Vince assists Batista for the win. Batista v Cena for the WWE Title now at Mania.
This opens up HHH and Sheamus to become a more blood fued and help to elevate Sheamus. HHH is his mentor, so I don't see a problem with this program at all.
WMXXVI:
Edge v Jericho [World Title]
Cena v Batista [WWE Title]
HHH v Sheamus
Taker v HBK II
CM Punk v Rey [Mask v Hair]
Vince v Bret Hart
Orton v DiBiase
Money In The Bank: Kofi Kingston, Shelton Benjamin, Cody Rhodes, Matt Hardy, R-Truth, Yoshi Tatsu, John Morrison, Drew McIntyre
Miz v MVP [US Title Stipulation Match]
Maryse v Mickie James [Champion v Champion]
Posted By: Skiddy (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:47 PM
a hair vs mask match between punk and misterio would work, and allow for someone to debut or get repackaged by sacrificing their hair in place of punk's, and feuding with misterio afterwards. Danielson anyone?
Posted By: jojo (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:50 PM
Good booking. But that leaves Bret Vs Vince. If Cena Vs Batista is booked like Umaga Vs Lashley a couple of years ago, this would be much better.
Posted By: SJ (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 12:52 PM
I agree with all of that up until the WWE World Title Elimination Chamber results. I would book Sheamus over Triple H to make him look even stronger heading into the Big Event.
Posted By: ffm (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 01:07 PM
So the only fresh face is DiBiase this yr...sigh...
Posted By: DDP (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 02:15 PM
I think having Batista vs. Cena for the title is actually a great idea but they need to put Vince and Bret in the corners. I would still prefer a tag match making Jericho/Edge the main event but i could work with this. It's obvious Bret just can't go in the ring one on one. Hell Batista's "beatdown" on raw consisted of nothing more than a few punches on Bret stomach because Bret can't take bumps. WWE DO NOT DO a one on one match with Bret and Vince. Make them cornermen or make it a tag. But for the love of all that is holy don't make it one on one.
Posted By: JoeDan (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 02:42 PM
I don't want hbk vs taker... been there done that. We all know taker must win anyway. But hhh getting his ass kicked against hbk at mania would be priceless!!! Like hogan says: I'm bored!!! That one is just for you triple loser (hhh). By the way, where is robbie v ?!
Posted By: dalpe (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 02:56 PM
I will win MITB and challenge the UT immediately after his first match. I'll superkick him back to hell!
Posted By: HBK (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 03:31 PM
How about this WrestleMania Card? Tell me what you think guys
WWE Championship Randy Orton(c) Vs. Edge--(Randy wins the title in the chamber and edge decides to cash it in on Orton and we get the long overdue Rated RKO blowoff feud much like what they did with HHH-RKO last year)
World Title Rey Mysterio(c) Vs. CM Punk
Triple H Vs HBK(HBK flips out due to not being able to face UT at Mania and turns on HHH for not supporting him and causing HHH to challenge HBK to a match at mania)
Undertaker Vs Sheamus (Sheamus wants to prove that his WWE title reign wasnt a fluke and therefore promises to end the streak to show us that he isnt a footnote in WWE history)
John Cena w/ Bret Hart Vs. Batista w/ Vince McMahon
Money In The Bank - JoMo Vs Kofi Vs Swagger Vs MVP Vs R-truth Vs Christian Vs Shelton Vs Evan Bourne
Divas Match
WWE Unified Tag Team Title Match -Miz/Big Show Vs Kane & Mark Henry
BOOK IT!!!!
Let me know what you guys think!
Posted By: chinta (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 03:33 PM
Shawn Michaels wins MitB, Undertaker beats Edge, and Shawn challenges him on the spot.
Posted By: Guest#9565 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 04:43 PM
Am I the only one who thinks it would be cool if Shawn wrestles someone other than the Undertaker, then is a surprise entrant into the MITB, wins, grabs the microphone to tell the Undertaker right there that he is in for a long night?
Posted By: Smitty (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 05:16 PM
An avenue that hasn't been explored is HBK winning Money in the Bank and then challenging the Undertaker later in the evening. Someone cashing in MITB the same night hasn't been done before and it could be seen at Shawn's last chance to get at UT during Wrestlemenia.
Posted By: Karatgold24 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 05:34 PM
..side note: You could also do a heel turn for HBK by having him cash in his MITB shot at WM. Have him superkick HHH after he wins the title from Shamus (and after a hellacious ass-whooping.)
Posted By: Karatgold24 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 05:38 PM
No more UT vs HBK!
Been done and it'll be worse this time.
You know they have to do Cena v. UT at WM sometime. And soon.
Posted By: Guest#3562 (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 06:29 PM
There is almost NO chance that we will see HHH-Sheamus and Taker-HBK. That would be an absolute let down.
They've been building to a DX split since Survivor Series and it needs to happen ASAP. The DX tag team is so stale right now that one needs to turn on the other setting up one last feud. Have HBK vs HHH at WM, rematch at Backlash then a gimmick at Extreme Rules.
Undertaker vs Sheamus WILL happen. They're both currently WWE/World Champions, they will both lose their titles at Elimination Chamber. They can have a backstage altercation saying that they will both retain their titles and when they dont Sheamus can attack Taker at the ppv or on smackdown.
My WM Card
World Title: Jericho (c) v Edge
WWE Title: HHH (c) v HBK
RAW v Smackdown: Cena w/ Bret v Batista w/ Vince
Streak On The Line: Taker v Sheamus
MITB: Kofi v Bourne v Morrison v Swagger v Ryder v Shelton v Kane v Christian
NXT Title: Ezekiel (c) vs Kozlov
Tag Titles: S.E.S. (c) v Rey & Matt
Randy v DiBiase vs Rhodes
Womens Title: Mickie (c) vs Beth
MVP, Henry & Truth v Show, Miz & Carlito
Posted By: Ryan Haseldine (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:13 PM
Couldnt agree more about Punk: the Jericho of '09.
Posted By: Scarry Larry (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:44 PM
Hands down turn Orton face and triple threat Legacy. Itll work this time if they dont book him like a metrosexual deuce. Keep him anti-hero with attitude.
Posted By: Scarry Larry (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 07:45 PM
Shawn Michaels is my all time favorite wrestler, but it kind of annoys me how he hardly ever goes over anymore in really big matches. I realize wrestling is wrestling and there's no doubt under the table he's obviously probably the best going right now but a part of me still always wants to see him win the gold again just to vindicate everything he's done and all the AWESOME matches he's put on just since 2002 when he came back, which from then to now I consider a massive BONUS GIFT. Before he came back I was fully expecting never seeing him again.
That said, I will give you dream scenario for WM.
HBK vs HHH
At Elimination Chamber, during the match, Shawn appears on the walkway. Put aside HOW he would enter the EC, but he teases attacking Taker and costing him the title. He continues to start and stop making his way to the ring, only to head back to the locker room even more frustrated, the premise here being he was bigger than attacking Taker to get the shot. After the match, Taker retains, it cuts to a distraught Shawn in a promo like the ones with HHH we've seen recently where HHH keeps telling him to keep his head up. Then HHH goes on to win the EC, and he lets HBK face him at Mania. Shawn wins. Ultimate payoff being Shawn was the bigger man and ended up getting rewarded. (Ignore Sheamus' rematch clause)
I don't want Taker vs Shawn because no good result can come of it. An HBK win would be for no reason, and a crummy way to end the streak, while Shawn jobbing to Taker two years in a row would be completely lame no matter how far Shawn takes him.
Posted By: Mike (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 08:23 PM
Chris Ede-
Re: "CM Punk promises to save Stone Cold, SCSA cuts a promo then brings out Jeff for CM Punk Vs Jeff Hardy, with post match stunner/beer bath for punk".
I like it. I like it a lot! Better than Punk vs. Rey, and would be a great way to keep the "Punk as Savior" heat going big time. Nice!
Posted By: Jimbo (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 08:26 PM
Paul Roma vs Alex Wright in a 4 hour Iron Man match.
Posted By: Eric Pisschoff (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 08:42 PM
"PRECIEVED", oops, typo, I meant PERCIEVED.
Thanks Chungles.
Posted By: PJL (Guest) on February 05, 2010 at 12:08 AM
HBK should be in the MITB match, and then cash it in after Taker's match at Wrestlemania. That would be freakin' mental.
Posted By: Sailorman (Guest) on February 04, 2010 at 05:44 AM
----------------------------------------
Holy crap - am I alone in thinking this REALLY makes sense? Think about it:
Playing into the new, maniacal, heelish turn that Michaels is possibly starting to make, in his mind he egotistically believes that he is the only person who can defeat 'Taker at Wrestlemania, so he goes after the MITB briefcase. Meanwhile, at Elimination Chamber, Jericho wins the belt, leading to Teddy Long (naturally) declaring 'Taker #1 contender for the match at Wrestlemania. Michaels, meanwhile, now realizes that his only other shot at ending the streak would be to win Money In The Bank, so that he would get one last, desperate shot at this.
It even plays into making HBK look all the more desperate that he would be willing to challenge a weakened opponent just to satisfy his, well, mania. Also, the fun part is you don't even HAVE to have HBK win Money In The Bank; this could be used as the final straw that sends him into full-fledged heeldom, especially taking out his anger on the actual winner (Kingston, anyone?). There would be the potential feud that could really push Kofi to the main event, and give some strong matches as well.
Also, since we typically get a triple threat match as one of the big title matches now, you could have Edge follow through with what was teased last Monday by challenging Sheamus, who does manage to retain at EC in VERY shady fashion by last eliminating HHH, leading to Sheamus vs. HHH (#1 contender) vs. Edge (RR winner) for the WWE Title. The whole Edge vs. Jericho thing could be held over for the summer, with both Edge (new champion) and Jericho (Raw draft pick) in a nice, extended feud over the belt.
To me, this could really spice things up a bit, and improve the potential Raw main event for Mania (and beyond) as well. The fun thing is, if they go the route outlined above, it will still be entertaining.
Best time of the year, no doubt.
Posted By: Live from the 305 (Guest) on February 05, 2010 at 01:28 AM
Jericho (c) vs Edge
HHH (c) vs HBK
Undertaker vs Sheamus
Cena w/Bret Hart vs Batista w/Vince
Orton vs DiBiase vs Rhodes
Punk vs Mysterio
Miz vs Big Show vs MVP
MITB - Morrison, Kofi, Swagger, Bourne, Christian, R-Truth, Mark Henry, McIntyre
Divas Match champ vs champ
Posted By: Freeman (Guest) on February 05, 2010 at 06:22 AM
Call me crazy, but I still think we're headed towards Triple H VS Shawn Michaels for the Title at WrestleMania. Triple H wins the RAW Elimination Chamber, Jericho wins the SmackDown Elimination Chamber, then after WEEKS of tension in DX (and a Dusty Finish loss to Batista at Elimination Chamber) Shawn Michaels FINALLY SNAPS and realizes he wants the Title, not Taker. One misplaced Superkick to Stephanie McMahon later (who, along with Trip, is trying to talk sense into Shawn Michaels) and we've got a match.
As for Taker's WrestleMania opponent, SOMEONE will probably lay him out backstage at Elimination Chamber with Batista taking his spot in the Smackown EC Match (but losing). EVERYONE suspects Shawn Michaels (including Triple H), but it turns out he was ejected from the building after losing to Batista. The REAL person who took out Taker turns out to be Sheamus, who has a HUGE chip on his shoulder after losing HIS title (via a sequence of several different finishers) in the first EC Match. While Taker would probably squash Sheamus at WrestleMania, Sheamus is EXACTLY the type of "What If?" opponent that could lead people to believe that there's actually a chance The Streak could end. After all, McMahonagement is VERY HIGH on Sheamus, he already upset John Cena in a Title Match (where he was written off as a "flavor of the month"), he's had a longer Transitional Champion reign than many expected, and being THE PERSON to end The Streak would go a long way towards making Sheamus more than a glorified Midcarder. What if the REAL reason for Sheamus's improbable Title reign is to get him over enough to be viewed as a legitimate threat to Taker's WrestleMania Streak? Sure, Sheamus/Taker wouldn't exactly be a ****+ classic (like Taker/Michaels 2 would) and Taker would probably squash Sheamus in the end, but Sheamus might be the most intriguing threat to The Streak since Randy Orton at Mania XXI.
Posted By: Guest#0337 (Guest) on February 06, 2010 at 09:32 PM
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