Repost: A Look At WrestleMania And Predictions From The Webmaster
Note: This is a repost of an article printed here on Wednesday.
Hello, it's been awhile since I've written a column, but look for my old column The Wrestling Gazette to be returning next month on this site.
In this column I take a look at WrestleMania and offer my predictions. Please beware that this article contains spoilers pertaining to this Friday's Smackdown.
This WrestleMania was special before a single match was announced as it is the 20th anniversary of WrestleMania III, which featured perhaps the most famous wrestling match in U.S. pro wrestling history with Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant, and also featured a classic match pitting Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat vs. 'Macho Man' Randy Savage. Originally this WrestleMania was going to pay homage to that show. Original plans were for Hulk Hogan to be involved in some sort of match involving the Big Show or the Great Khali which would feature Hogan bodyslamming them to recreate the WrestleMania bodyslam of Andre the Giant. Of course, Hogan got drunk, gave away the list of potential candidates for the Hall of Fame this year and pissed off Vince McMahon so badly that he's not part of this show at all. As a matter of fact, the only tie in to WrestleMania III and this years WrestleMania is Aretha Franklin singing American the Beautiful (even though she publicly stated she regretted doing it after WrestleMania III).
The WWE has had a bad habit of giving away the finishes to their main event matches via their booking the week of their PPV's. I would say 70-80% of the time the person who is left laying or jobbing on the Raw or Smackdown before a PPV ends up winning at the PPV. And that appears to be the case for this PPV also. That being said, let's look at the matches:
United States Champion Chris Benoit vs. MVP: This has probably been the most underhyped match on the card. Benoit is rumored to be heading to Raw shortly, so I pick MVP walking away with the championship. Prediction: MVP
Women's Champion Melina vs. Ashley: My theory about the one who gets left laying always winning at the PPV is tested here. Ashley has gotten the better of Melina with practically every exchange they've had over the last few weeks. However, Ashley also is the Playboy cover girl and Melina has a lot of heat on her, so this might be the exception. I'm going to stick with my theory however, and pick Melina to retain. Prediction: Melina
Kane vs. The Great Khali: Kane got the better of the Great Khali this past week, chasing him off on Raw. That, and Kane is supposed to be taking some time off (which he's been planning for awhile now) leads me to go with Khali. Prediction: The Great Khali
ECW Originals vs. New Breed: The Originals got the best of the New Breed this past Tuesday with Rob Van Dam pinning Elijah Burke, so I'm going with the New Breed with Burke probably getting the win for the New Breed. Prediction: New Breed
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: With 8 competitors, this one is tough to predict. The ones who realistically have a chance to win are Edge, Randy Orton, King Booker and Mr. Kennedy. These matches both times have gone to people who have never held the title (with Edge and RVD), which would leave Mr. Kennedy. I see this match getting the ball rolling with the Edge / Orton feud and Mr. Kennedy coming out on top. Prediction: Mr. Kennedy
Battle of the Billionaires: Easily the most hyped match on the show and, in my opinion, the easiest to predict. I would have to say that there is no way that Donald Trump would ever have his head shaved publicly on a WWE show (although that would generate an enormous amount of media pub). Also, Vince McMahon pinning Bobby Lashley on Raw would indicate a Lashley win. Not to mention that despite always putting himself over on TV, McMahon has never won a match at a WrestleMania. Prediction: Bobby Lashley with Vince McMahon getting his head shaved.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels: I felt that the WWE got it wrong with how this match was pushed. This has the potential to be the best match on the show, and there is a great natural story here that was never touched on. You have Michaels, towards the end of his career, and Cena, who despite being on top for so long, has not been accepted by many as being a top tier player like a Rock, Austin, Hogan or Flair. The story simply could have been Michaels needing one last run with the title to cement his legacy while Cena needs to be accepted by the fans as a top tier superstar and the only way he can do that is by beating Michaels, similar to the story of Rocky Balboa. Instead we have the two of them teasing using their finishers on each other for 6 weeks. Michaels got the better of Cena on Raw, laying him out with the superkick and Cena getting pinned for their team, so Cena's walking away retaining the title. Prediction: John Cena
World Heavyweight Champion Batista vs. Undertaker: Probably the most intriguing match on the show as you have the Undertaker's streak, which has been pushed for so long that it really means something and is almost like a title in itself, and Batista who has been a dominant World Champion. However, since returning from his injury last summer, Batista has been a disappointment in the ring. This match has been planned for WrestleMania since last summer, far longer than any of the other matches on the show. When it was originally planned (during Batista's injury) it was originally thought that Batista would go over, ending the Undertaker's streak. However, with Batista's disappointing matches since his return, that has likely changed. In addition, it was Batista who won the match for his team on Raw and he lays out the Undertaker on Smackdown, which leads me to pick The Undertaker winning the World Title. Prediction: The Undertaker