MATCH 1: Beth Phoenix/Melina V. Ashley/Maria
('Bunnymania Lumberjack Match')
This is, as usual with the WWE Women's division, a little bit of a nothing match. Especially seeing as Candice (who, after breaking her clavicle yet again) has been replaced at the last minute by Ashley. Maria is being pushed through the roof at the moment, especially because of her Playboy cover this month. Mickie James seems to have lost the push she was being given towards the women's title, as she never quite got close enough to Phoenix, and the WWE look set to run with Maria, as they're realising her drawing potential. Expect a Maria/Phoenix programme in the coming months. The most logical explanation for this would be the pushed Diva going over...but really, who cares?
Prediction: Maria/Ashley Win.
MATCH 2: Finlay V. John 'Bradshaw' Layfield
(Belfast Brawl)
The build up to this particular match has been played really well by Finlay. The passion he's shown has made the fans believe in this storyline all the more. It's a shame that it's all over the little bearded-midget, but it should make for entertaining viewing nonetheless. JBL has had the upper hand in the weekly shows, assaulting and brutalising the vulnerable Hornswoggle when Finlay was powerless to help, so it makes sense that Finlay will get his own back in a big way at Wrestlemania, closing up the storyline.
Prediction: Finlay Wins.
MATCH 3: 24-Man Battle Royal
(Winner faces ECW Champion)
This one could go one of many ways, and to be honest I haven't really thought about it at length, but with CM-Punk and John Morrison both tied up with the Money In The Bank match, I'm going to put my money on Kane. The other giants have a shot (Khali, Mark Henry and Daddy V were both in the match at last report), but Kane seems to be the experienced veteran who could run with the belt and possibly store credibility to the failing self-parody that is ECW...
Prediction: Kane Wins (...and goes on to take the strap).
MATCH 4: Batista V. Umaga
(Smackdown! V. Raw)
Please feel free to take a moment and ignore the old cynic, but the battle for brand supremacy seems to be a last minute rushed storyline, crammed in so that Big Dave has something to do. He's arguably smackdown's biggest draw, and didn't have a role in the run up to 'mania. I really could care less who wins, because I think this match is going to be a horror-fest of slow moving Big Daveness, but if I had to pick a winner I'd go with him. He had the greatest match of last year's show, and indeed of the year, with Taker (as stunning as that sounds), so I think they'll let him have a chance to steal the show again this year. Umaga is like a mercenary heel on Raw. They may as well change his name to 'A Mystery Opponent'. I'd like to be pleasantly surprised by this match.
Prediction: Batista Wins.
MATCH 5: John Morrison V. CM Punk V. Carlito V. Shelton Benjamin V. Mr Kennedy V. MVP V. Chris Jericho
(Money In The Bank Ladder Match- winner gets title shot)
Okay, let's look at this one logically. The ECW guys Punk, Morrison and Benjamin, although top-rate in their own class, are there as filler to this match. The concept of wasting such a big match for the sake of the ECW title just doesn't make sense, and the idea of one of these guys entering a main event programme makes even less. Punk will get his push someday...just not yet. Unfortunately. Carlito is still being subtly punished for trying to jump ship to TNA. He was persuaded to stay because the WWE sees a long term investment for him as they expand into south America. It's unlikely the company will go with him for a main event push, unless the latter means enough to them. Which it doesn't.
MVP is currently all over Smackdown restoring credability to the U.S. Championship, and is set (I hope) to enter the programme that he never had with Matt Hardy prior to Hardy's injury. It provided one of the best storylines of last year, and while it baffles me why Hardy isn't in the match, it's looking good in the long term for the pair of them. Speaking of currently holding belts, Chris Jericho (caretaker) has his newly acquired Intercontinental title to play with for now, and was rumoured to be on the verge of a long term feud with Jeff Hardy prior to his suspension. Creative are likely to pick it up and run with it on Hardy's return, so there's little need for Jericho to be climbing to the top again, so quickly after his return push with Randall K. Orton.
As you may have guessed by now, it's only Ken Kennedy for me in this match. Stripped of both his money in the bank win of 07', and of the main event storyline as Mr. McMahon's illegitimate son because of his Wellness Policy violations and subsequent mouthing off (all as a result of the Benoit tragedies), WWE looks ready (as the Finlay/Hornswoggle thing would indicate) to go with Ken again, and maybe even track back to the original plan. He's the most likely (and because Jeff's out for 60 days) only real possibility for Money In The Bank......Bank.
Prediction: Mr. Kennedy Wins.
MATCH 6: Shawn Michaels V. Ric Flair
(Career Threatening Match)
It all seems to have boiled down to this one for the Nature Boy, and all indications point to him bowing out at Wrestlemania 24. He and Vince agreed to put their differences behind them and give Ric his last run as an active wrestler some time in the last year, and since then Ric has looked like he's been on his farewell tour. His tearful goodbye to MSG at this years Rumble should have been indication enough, but if it wasn't, how about his last Raw being in his home-state of Carolina. Not only that, but he got the pin...in the main event. Also worth noting, the small factor of Ric being inducted into the Hall of fame this year, on the eve of WM24.
Michaels has tried his best, and done well, at making a heel turn in time for this bout, but I think the fans are smart enough to know the score. However, JR has stated on a number of occasions that we should perhaps not take this match as a gimme. Don't put it past the WWE to throw the biggest curveballs into the most obvious of situations, but for me and for most, this is the end of Naitch.
Prediction: Shawn Michaels Wins (...and not a dry eye in the house).
MATCH 7: Big Show V. Floyd 'Money' Mayweather
(Boxer V. Wrestler...a.k.a the customary celebrity match)
Big Show and Mayweather is the Trump/McMahon of 2008...and asides from being the money match this year, I don't really think there will be a lot to endear this match to the more experienced wrestling fan. Now, tradition dictates that the Celebrity (especially in this case when his job is to fight...in real life) gets the win at Wrestlemania, and it wouldn't be a surprise this year, as Show has been ambling around the weeklies cutting promos and trying to make the fans care. I don't hold out much hope for this being spectacular.
Prediction: Mayweather Wins (...I'm just not sure how yet).
MATCH 8: Edge V. Undertaker
(World Heavyweight Championship Match)
This will be an interesting match. Both men have unbeaten streaks to preserve at Wrestlemania, and both men have pretty strong cases for going home with the Gold. My initial perspective was that the Undertaker was promised one last lengthy run with the title (i.e. his win at WM23), but injury prevented that. It makes logical sense then that he'd win it back this year and carry it until his retirement (rumoured to be next year). However, with Edge getting the upper hand on Smackdown last week, it leaves it wide open for Taker to end tomorrow night's Smackdown with the advantage (generally meaning that he would lose at Wrestlemania).
There's every possibility that this match can end in a curveball. Edge will sacrifice his unbeaten streak to save his title, going for the Disqualification and hence preserving Taker's 15-0 record. Taker can always win and close the storyline next month. It's a 50-50 for me, and because there has to be at least one great big screwover, I have a feeling this could be it. If I'm wrong, and I'd like to be, blame Con.
Prediction: Undertaker Wins by DQ- Edge retains.
MATCH 9: HHH V. Randy Orton V. John Cena
(WWE Championship Match)
The bottom line here is this, Randy Orton is losing his title at Wrestlemania. Those of you who have followed backstage goings-on for the past while will know that HHH has been booked, literally since he returned and humiliated Booker T at Summerslam 07', to win the WWE title at WM24. The late addition of the seemingly invincible John Cena has cast doubts over this for me though, because I think the man is still the only one worthy of carrying the company at the moment. That's maybe a personal view though. I'd love to see John win the title back. Watching the twentysomething male 'smarks' get all hot under the collar is enough to keep me tuning in every week.
With that said though, sometimes it's good for business to have a top babyface chasing a heel champion...and I still think HHH's turn is on the way. One thing is for sure, this will be an interesting match, and it's not unlike WWE to change their plans last minute. It's a 50/50 between the two contenders, but I'm going for Hunter...perhaps against the more logical approach.
Prediction: HHH Wins.
So, there you go. A quick overview of how I'm feeling as we countdown the last few days to the grandaddy of them all 08'. I will not be surprised if the majority of my predicitions are wrong, but that's how I'm feeling about the current state of things.
Wishful thinking is generally the opposite of reality when Vinnie Mac is involved. Expect something to happen.
1 comment:
Joel, you weren't too far wrong on some of your predictions.
Wrestlemania was pretty good this year I thought. The best match was easily the Flair v Heartbreak Kid (just for the emotional rollercoaster aspect). Money in the bank was not too bad but a little predictable. Kane winning the ECW championship was funny (memories of when it was a 24/7 championship and it changed hands 3 or 4 times on a night).
The Big Show fight was plain awful. Why do they do that? Reality is that a guy as big as The Big Show would crush someone that small like a bug.
I dislike Orton and can't believe that he is so popular in the business. I thought that HHH would have won but not this time. I'm sure he will be back to number one soon.
Post a Comment