The Quick Talkdown 2.24.07: Undertaker Loses Streak?
Posted by Phill Feltham on 02.24.2007
This week in the Quick Talkdown. Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon's on-again and off-again relationship. WrestleMania 23 predictions... so far! And condolences to Mike Awesome's family.
UNDERTAKER LOSES STREAK?
By Phill Feltham
Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon are having a quarrel over money again. It doesn't shock me. All it does is take away from WrestleMania 23's potential to be the biggest show. Now I know this is subject to opnion, and lord knows, I do have mine. I'm a sucker for nostalgia, especially at wrestling's Christmas time.
Another drawback is the Vince McMahon vs. Donald Trump feud. Now before you hit the reply button and send 20 angry emails, let me finish. The concept is great because it brings in the mainstream press and a wider audience. The drawback are the so-called representatives for McMahon and Trump. The WWE Mastermind has unveiled the newly crowned Intercontinental Champion Umaga as his representative. Donald Trump tentatively plans to unveil "Lindsay" or should I say, Lashley in the coming week. What's wrong with this picture?
First off, an Umaga/ Lashley WrestleMania match is gold, but not "the" major attraction. This is where nostalgia steps in. Bring Hogan in as Trump's rep and a big man, ideally, the Big Show, for McMahon. Of course, Hogan wants the big pay while the Big Show tries to recuperate from burnout. Not a good time. I can't imagine what Hogan's pay was like in the Ted Turner run WCW. One shudders to think.
CM Punk and Edge are candidates for this year's Money In The Bank match. Punk in this match is a good choice, but Edge I think, wouldn't be. Think about it. Edge has won the match. He's been the man. The Money In The Bank is to bring the next wrestler to the dance. Keep in mind that at WrestleMania 23, this could still happen but at that expense, Edge loses his flawless WrestleMania 23 record. It only increases the interest value to watch the show, I guess. Booker T has also been added to the match You can bet that Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy and other worthy WWE superstars might find their way into the last three spots.
I'm going to make a bold prediction -- the Undertaker will lose his winning streak at WrestleMania 23. If not, Batista will be moved to RAW and win the WWE World title from either Shawn Michaels or John Cena. I think it will be Shawn Michaels. A John Cena vs. Batista program is definitely a WrestleMania match. Maybe Cena will then make the move back to Smackdown.
Vince McMahon vows to save "the third brand". I don't know what to think here. This is where the internet press can contradict itself, or that Vince McMahon is back on the happy pills. In one reliable report, Vince vows to close the brand and push Lashley. Now it's the opposite. During a recent WWE Press Conference, Linda McMahon gave the impression that ECW is around for the long haul. Jim Ross reiterated this fact on his blog. Whatever the answer is, time will tell. I bet though, Paul Heyman, sitting at home must have at least some comfort that his brain child, ECW, will be on the WrestleMania PPV this year. Or will it.
AWESOME PASSES & VINCE PAYS
Mike Awesome died this past week. Early reports indicate suicide. First Bam Bam Bigelow and now Mike Awesome. It's kind of funny how so many wrestlers die so young. Awesome was 42. Bam Bam Bigelow was only three years older when he died. An interesting note, Wikipedia reports Vince McMahon paid for the big man's funeral. A second funeral in Florida was paid for by many local wrestlers.
That's it for this week. See you Quick Talkers next week!
