411 PPV Roundtable Preview: WWE Fatal Four Way 2010

Introduction:

This Sunday, a new theme PPV concept will be introduced to the WWE Universe, as WWE presents the Fatal 4-Way PPV. In three title matches, the champion will defend their belt against three opponents, where the first pinfall or submission claims the title and the champion does not necessarily need to be involved in the decision. WWE announcers claim this means that the champ only has a 25% chance of retaining, but unless WWE started deciding victors through random draw (and sometimes you have to wonder), that’s not actually true. But still, there is a lot on the line for everyone this Sunday, as a whopping five titles will be on the line in highly competitive matchups.

In addition, with his brother The Undertaker still in a vegetative state, Kane has been rampaging through Smackdown in search of the culprit, and he promised at the end of Friday’s show that somebody would definitely pay at Fatal 4-Way. That was an unfortunate rhyme, but the fact remains that everyone must be wary of the Big Red Monster’s wrath in addition to their opponents in the ring.

And Kane is not the only one who will have to be watched out for, as the NXT Season 1 rookies want their demands to be met, and after attacking Raw GM Bret Hart as Raw went off the air, they promised that they would get their answers, and potentially WWE contracts, at the PPV. While the Raw roster seems united against these outsiders, they have so far been unable to fully prevent their hit-and-run tactics, and with many of the top Superstars on the show focussed on their matches, will NXT manage to slip in through the cracks?

As always, the 411 Staff is here with their thoughts on the events that might take place at the PPV, so let’s see who sat around the Roundtable to present their thoughts this month.

The Staff

Stephen Randle, The Wrestling News Experience

Aaron Hubbard, The Contentious Ten

Ronnie LaFianza, 411 live Raw and TNA recapper

Chad Nevett, High Road/Low Road

Michael Weyer, Shining A Spotlight

Steve Cook, lush

Eve © vs Gail Kim vs Maryse vs Alicia Fox
Fatal Four-Way Match

Stephen Randle: Nobody really cares, but I assume Maryse is eventually getting the belt back anyway, so it might as well be here.

Winner: Maryse

Aaron Hubbard: Blech. This hurts my brain. I do have to say, it’s weird that there’s a four-way women’s match in WWE and only one white blonde girl. And she’s Canadian! Anyway, Eve’s had her little run, time to put it back on the only one anybody cares about.

Winner and NEW Women’s Champion: Maryse

Ronnie LaFianza: I’m not expecting anything from this match, other than Eve retaining. Whatever.

Winner: Eve

Chad Nevett: Don’t care. I want to care. I want to be wowwed by great wrestling from the Divas. I rarely am. Eve’s run has been… there. This match seems thrown together and could end with almost any of these women getting the belt, because the WWE clearly doesn’t care who has it. So I’ll say Alicia Fox only because what the hell she hasn’t had the strap yet.

Winner and NEW WWE Divas Champion: Alicia Fox

Michael Weyer: It’d be great to see Gail Kim win but I doubt that’s happening. I guess I’ll be safe and pick Eve retaining which will just show how the Divas need some fresh blood in things.

Winner and STILL Divas Champion: Eve

Steve Cook: The Divas division has been dominated by Eve recently…Alicia Fox seems to be coming on as her top competition while Maryse does Maryse things and Gail Kim wrestles on Superstars. I think Eve keeps the title here, but look for Fox to be her next main rival.

Winner: Eve

Kofi Kingston © vs Drew McIntyre

Stephen Randle: Drew is in the de-push phase (one can only hope, because Kofi’s much more interesting), and tied up with the suspended Matt Hardy, plus there are many more feud options if Kofi maintains the belt. Only way McIntyre takes the belt back is if WWE decides they’re going to elevate Kofi through the upcoming Money in the Bank PPV instead, where he’d be a decided favourite to walk away with the briefcase. Assuming that the second MITB will indeed offer another briefcase. I guess we’ll see. I still like Kofi to walk away with the belt here, though.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Aaron Hubbard: I went back and forth on this one, but I decided that based on Kofi’s picture being on the Money in the Bank PPV and thus likely to be in the Money in the Bank match (which I assume will be an interpromotional main event with top guys like Jericho and Mysterio), that he doesn’t need the IC Title going into it. Drew really kind of needs the IC Strap in order to have any sort of credibility, and Kofi belongs higher up on the Smackdown! totem. Where is Christian anyway?

Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Drew McIntyre

Ronnie LaFianza: This has the potential to be good, but what I’m expecting is mainly just an average match between these two with some Matt Hardy interference in the end. I don’t know why they didn’t just change this to a Four Way and add Matt Hardy and either Christian/Ziggler, but that’s just me. Anyways, expect Kingston to retain.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Chad Nevett: I’ve liked this story. You know something is coming to bite Drew on the ass since Vince will only cover him for so long. I think he needs to lose here to bring things to a head, while Kofi Kingston can move on to a new feud with Dolph Ziggler or someone else. This could be a good match. McIntyre still needs to have a really great match and this could be his chance.

Winner and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: Kofi Kingston

Michael Weyer: This should be a pretty good match between these two, they’ll do their best to steal some of the card here. Drew could be a good IC champ but I get the sense Kofi keeps onto the belt a bit longer as he’s doing a good job as champion.

Winner and STILL IC Champion: Kofi Kingston

Steve Cook: Drew got put over pretty strongly on Smackdown, so I’d expect Kofi to get the victory here as WWE likes to keep people on this level of the card pretty equal. Besides, McIntyre can just have the loss expunged from the record book anyway.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

The Miz © vs R-Truth – WWE United States Championship

Stephen Randle: This has been the very definition of writing yourself into a corner. See, they wanted Bret Hart to “go out” in Canada on a high note, so they had him win the US Title from Miz in a non-match in Toronto. But Bret can’t wrestle (clearly), so they have him vacate the title. One problem, they hadn’t built any serious US Title contenders or feuds for Miz (other than that guy they fired) since he’d been involved as the Tag champs for several months instead. So, you pick a guy at random and have him face Miz for the belt. But since it’s only been one week, giving the belt back to Miz makes the previous title change cheap and meaningless (which it was, but you can’t be too obvious about it), so R-Truth wins the belt. But you really want to keep pushing Miz, so he has to win the belt back. Why you do this the Raw before the PPV and not on the show (or actually create a feud between Truth and Miz that has the benefit of pushing both guys and giving you a couple months of free PPV undercard matches), I have no clue, but here we are. Bottom line, Miz ain’t losing.

Winner: The Miz

Aaron Hubbard: R-Truth’s run was already made completely inconsequential. Doing another title change serves no purpose, and since Miz probably won’t care too much about the NXT invasion since Danielson is gone, he’s got to have something to do on RAW.

Winner: The Miz

Ronnie LaFianza: Again, why this isn’t a Four Way is beyond me. Either this or the IC title should be a Four Way, but that’s just me. Anyways, I don’t agree with giving Miz the title back on Raw, as him winning it back on this PPV would have been better. Still, with Miz only just having won the belt back, expect him to retain.

Winner: The Miz

Chad Nevett: I was amazed that they gave the belt to R-Truth at all. The Miz having it just works and there are more midcard faces to feud with than heels. I’m surprised they have the fourway match on Raw instead of saving it for the PPV, though, since it would have made a lot more sense here.

Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: The Miz

Michael Weyer: Truth’s run was really brief so tempting that he could get it back. But then, giving him the belt was a surprise and he didn’t really click so I don’t see them repeating that here.

Winner and STILL US Champion: The Miz

Steve Cook: It wouldn’t make much sense for Miz to lose the title here after just winning it on Monday. What the hell, I’ll go with it because I can’t think of many other titles changing hands here.

Winner: R-Truth

Jack Swagger © vs Big Show vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk
Fatal Four-Way Match

Stephen Randle: I’d imagine that it’s clear to anyone that if it was not, in fact, Kane who vegetablised his brother (and that’s always possible), then one of these four men was most likely responsible (and I’m putting my money on Punk). Thus, the spectre of the Big Red Machine will hang over this match, much like the NXT will hang over the Raw main event. For a winner, it only makes sense for Swagger to retain with another cheap victory, if only because, to me, everyone else could be doing better things if the match did not require the Fatal 4-Way stipulation.

Winner: Jack Swagger

Aaron Hubbard: Rey’s not winning this, considering he wasn’t even supposed to be in it. Punk’s not winning this while he has that mask on. Which means it’s either Swagger or Show. I’m pretty sure the Swagger experiment has been a failure (more because WWE keeps booking him to lose than any fault of Jack’s), and Big Show is being featured pretty heavily lately. I think Show will win it here, which will lead to a program with Kane (shudder). Swagger, meanwhile, can try to win MITB twice in one year.

Winner and NEW World Heavyweight Champion: The Big Show

Ronnie LaFianza: This match really only seems to come down to Swagger and Punk in terms of winners. Show and Mysterio will most likely never win the world title ever again. Swagger’s reign as champion really has only just begun while Punk is quite possibly the hottest heel in the WWE. My money’s on Punk, as this really seems like the best way to switch the belt from heel to heel.

Winner: CM Punk

Chad Nevett: I want to see Swagger retain the belt and actually get pushed a little more, but that doesn’t seem likely. The WWE doesn’t like to have their new world champs or heels look too strong, so Swagger barely looks like he belongs here. Mysterio and the Big Show don’t look like likely candidates. CM Punk getting the belt now would be interesting and signal a rise for the Straight Edge Society, but the idea of Swagger keeping the belt makes more sense. He’ll just have to lose at the TV tapings until the next PPV.

Winner and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Jack Swagger

Michael Weyer: Show is possible but he’s had more than enough runs for most fans. Rey’s run as champ never really clicked and it’s unlikely the passage of years can change that. That leaves us with Swagger and Punk. Having Swagger keep the belt makes sense and Punk’s masked gimmick seems to disqualify him. However, getting the belt would be a big turn on Punk’s character, make him more intense again and add to the masked fun.

Winner and NEW World Champion: CM PUNK BABY!

Steve Cook: This feud has mostly served as a backdrop to Undertaker being in a vegetative state and Kane wanting revenge. A no-contest seems like something they’d do here, even though after Swagger/Show’s no-contest at the last show it seems like really, really lazy booking. I think that’s what they’ll do, but either way, Swagger should retain.

Winner: Jack Swagger

John Cena © vs Edge vs Sheamus vs Randy Orton
Fatal Four-Way Match

Stephen Randle: Well, this match has many intriguing possibilities, especially with the potential for NXT interference. Is Orton able to go, or will he be replaced by, say, Wade Barrett? If so, all bets are off. If Orton’s in the match, I wouldn’t put it past them to transition the belt to Orton so they can extend the Orton-Edge feud and make it over the belt. But in the end, I have to feel that if the NXT angle is going to be serious, then the main target is going to be the face of the franchise, John Cena. And if you’re going to do that, he’s going to have to have the belt, too.

Winner: John Cena

Aaron Hubbard: I don’t generally bet against Cena. I don’t generally bet against the Champion in multi-man matches. Orton was my pick to win this before he got injured at Over the Limit, but since his health is suspect at this point, the champ is winning. Expect an NXT attack after this match though.

Winner: John Cena

Ronnie LaFianza: This is, without a doubt, the most unpredictable match of the night as it’s literally anyone’s game. There’s talk that Orton will get taken out by Edge before the match and be replaced with Bourne, but I doubt it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cena get another long reign with the belt, Orton could win it to capitalize on his recent turn, Sheamus is rumored to become champ and start feuding with Triple H… and then there’s Edge. Edge really seems like the odd man out in this one. Not in terms of wrestling ability, but in terms of who’s going to win. This could be a longshot, but expect Triple H to return and take out Sheamus, only to allow the Ultimate Opportunist to capitalize and win back the WWE Championship (BTW, Edge vs Cena at HIAC, I’m calling it).

Winner: Edge

Chad Nevett: My gut tells me Cena retains, but I wouldn’t be surprised if something happens to Orton with either Wade Barrett or Chris Jericho taking his place — and then maybe winning. Hell, Triple H making a return isn’t outside the realm of possibility given his past with Orton and his unfinished business with Sheamus. I just don’t see Edge or Orton winning, so that leaves Sheamus, Cena, or a possible surprise entrant. Out of those choices, the surprise entrant seems most likely, but given the numerous possibilities, I’ll play it safe and go with Cena to retain.

Winner and STILL WWE Champion: John Cena

Michael Weyer: Orton is iffy because of his injury so doubtful WWE would put the belt back on him. We all know Edge’s history of bad injuries so not sure if he’d be taking it either. Possible Sheamus might win to get another shot on the top but I’ll go with Cena retaining as they may want to build him up for the next PPV.

Winner and STILL WWE Champion: John Cena

Steve Cook: I think the NXT 7 just might show up here and cost Cena the title. The question is…who takes advantage of such a thing? Why, the man who takes advantage of everything and everyone, of course.

Winner: Edge

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