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PREDICTING WRESTLEMANIA

One of my annual wrestling traditions is to write an article with my Wrestlemania Predictions. Wrestlemania is the only Pay Per View that I typically try to predict, primarily because the results are unique in their significance to the industry landscape. Wrestlemania usually results in the culmination of long time feuds, and creates sort of a “clean slate” with which the WWE can work from for the next 8-10 months. 

There are always a few surprises, but for the most part, Wrestlemania is also typical in that the results are rather easy to predict, at least for the main event matches. This year, however, I have to say that there is no clear, predictable, direction for either of the world title matches, which makes it all the more interesting. 

A few words about how I arrive at my predictions. I always ask for feedback on my Wrestlemania predictions, and every year I get angry E-Mails from people who disagree with me because: “No, Dude, Undertaker rules!”. My point here is that I never base my predictions on who I like, or don’t like. I never base my predictions on what I’d like to see happen, or what I wish the WWE would do with any particular match. 

I fully admit, I read the dirt sheets and the internet, so I know whatever anyone else “outside the business” can know about what’s going on behind the scenes. I make my predictions, (and I’ve been around long enough to discern the difference between a blatant internet rumor and a credible behind the scenes report), based on the direction I think the WWE is heading toward with each character and I use what has been televised, as well as any credible backstage knowledge, to do so. Basically, I use the “weatherman’s approach”. I don’t predict things that I wish would happen, I take all of the information I have available to me right before the event and try to read the direction of the WWE going into, and following, Wrestlemania. 

OK, enough with prefacing my predictions, let’s get to it. As always I welcome feedback and hate mail, so long as it’s constructive:

ECW Originals vs. New Breed 

I don’t watch the “New ECW” on a regular basis, but I do keep up on the storylines. From what I can tell, Vince really has it in for the ECW Originals, particularly Sabu and Sandman. RVD has been given the ball by Vince, and dropped it, not because of his talent or ability, but because of his out of ring antics. This isn’t the first time, and I think by now, Vince is skeptical of giving RVD another chance. By all accounts Tommy Dreamer is respected within WWE and will no doubt continue to serve with the company, even if it is an off-screen role. Overall, however, the days of the ECW Originals are numbered. Look for Sabu and Sandman to be released in the next month or so. WWE-ECW has not done a very good job of promoting the New Breed and making them seem a credible challenge for the ECW Originals. Because of all of this, I see this match as a toss up, but alas, I have to pick a winner. If they blow off the angle after Wrestlemania, as is rumored, I also see them blowing off most of the ECW Originals, so based on this, I am going to give this match to the New Breed. Winner: the New Breed

Women's Champion Melina vs. Ashley 

This match seems forced in order to coincide with, and capitalize on, Ashley’s Playboy appearance. The WWE had to get the belt off of Mickie James and give it to a heel in order for Ashley to win it at Wrestlemania. At the time, Melina seemed like a logical choice. On a card that is less predictable than previous years, this is the exception. Winner and new champion: Ashley

Kane vs. The Great Khali 

The WWE is in the process of trying to build Khali up as a monster. To have him lose now would ruin that push. I have also heard rumors that Kane is looking to take some time off after Wrestlemania to rehab some injuries. Kane and the Undertaker are the resident monster-killers in the WWE, so I have no doubt Kane will return in time for Summerslam to avenge his loss and slay the dragon. Winner: Khali

United States Champion Chris Benoit vs. MVP

WWE could surprise us here with an upset, but I sort of doubt it. MVP is not ready for prime time, as far as character development goes, and Chris Benoit is gold when it comes to putting on great matches at big Pay Per Views. I look forward to a great match, but no real surprises. Winner: Chris Benoit

Battle of the Billionaires 

Many think this could go either way, primarily because everyone thinks Trump’s hair looks silly and he needs to shave his head anyway. I am less skeptical. This is another in a long line of WWE Wrestlemania matches pitting a non-wrestling celebrity against a WWE figure. (Remember Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor, or Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper in a boxing match?) They always end the same way. The celebrity wins. Take Lashley and Umaga, (and even Steve Austin), out of the equation. What it really boils down to is, who is going to get their head shaved? It’s hard to believe that Trump, (although he is a bit crazy), would agree to participate in such an event AND agree to shave his head. I do think however, that Austin will stun just about everyone involved. Winner: Lashley and Trump

Money in the Bank Ladder Match 

I love this concept, and I’ve correctly predicted the result of the first two MITB matches. This time, not so easy. I can’t see Edge, Matt Hardy or Jeff Hardy winning this. Edge has sufficiently messed with Orton over the last few weeks to where Orton will, no doubt, get his revenge and somehow prevent Edge from winning. Matt and Jeff just have no momentum. Booker T spent most of this past year on top and doesn’t need a MITB briefcase to get a title shot. CM Punk is in and out of the dog house lately, so I don’t see them going with him either. That leaves Mr. Kennedy and Randy Orton. For now, they are on different brands so the outcome of this match heavily depends on who wins the championship main events for each brand later in the show. I am going to go with Orton on this because Batista has already squashed Mr. Kennedy and the Undertaker has already had a long term feud with Mr. Kennedy. Because I think that the winner of MITB is figuring into post Wrestlemania plans more and more each year, I have to go with Orton. Winner: Randy Orton

World Heavyweight Champion Batista vs. Undertaker 

This is a tough one. Personally, I think the WWE should have ended Undertaker’s streak with Randy Orton, but they missed a golden opportunity to let the up-and-coming legend killer finally kill the legend, or at least put him into hiding for a few months. If I was convinced that the Undertaker was going to retire from in-ring action, I’d be more than happy to support one more run at the top of the company for him. A well deserved farewell. However, every time I think he’s going to retire, he ends up in the main event, again. This is going to be a case of what the WWE should do, versus what the WWE will probably do. If history has shown us anything, it’s that when the WWE fails to look to the future and create and build new superstars, it comes back to bite them in the form of ratings slumps. I take nothing away from the Undertaker. He’s been loyal, he’s drawn money, he deserves one more run with the title. To add to the quandary, Batista has been seen lately, behind the scenes, as a bit of a prima donna and his real life fight with Booker T this past year did not help his image, internally. It’s funny that Batista has been recently compared to the Ultimate Warrior, because that is exactly what the WWE did, very successfully, with the Warrior. They put him in a Wrestlemania match against a living legend and actually let him win in an upset. It made the Ultimate Warrior a household name and to this day, Wrestlemania VI is remembered among the top installments of the series for just that reason. For long term success, they should make Batista an instant Wrestlemania legend by allowing the streak to be broken. If they can do this with Batista, he’ll have the momentum to lead the WWE, or at least Smackdown, for the next two or three years, whereas, the Undertaker will not. Having said all of this, I think they will end up giving the match to the Undertaker. Batista will either continue to feud with Taker or end up in Vince’s dog house. Winner: Undertaker


WWE Champion John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels 

OK, in this case, forget what I just said about up-and-comers versus living legends. Why? Because Cena is no longer an up-and-comer. He’s a well established superstar. He’s held the title on and off for two years, he has a loyal fan base, as well as a hate club. He doesn’t really need to prove anything by winning this match. Fans will continue to love and hate him equally whether or not he has the title. Both of these guys have excellent skills on the mike, so actually neither of them need the title to get over or stay over with fans. Does HBK deserve one more run with the title? Absolutely. I don’t see it being a long run, and whether he loses the title before Summerslam to either Cena, Edge or Orton, he’ll stay over with fans. I don’t see them making HBK or Cena a heel in this match, since the top two heels on Raw, (Edge and Orton), need to feud with someone after they feud with each other. Basically I see some combination of these four wrestlers being matched up with each other all the way until Summerslam. Logically, Edge will feud with Orton and HBK will continue to feud with Cena, meaning that even if HBK wins the title, he’ll probably lose it back to Cena in the next month or two so they can build a feud between Orton and Cena at Summerslam. We’ve already seen Edge vs. Cena too many times and it’s now a little boring. The only really interesting long term feuds available are Cena/Orton and HBK/Orton. HBK and Cena both seem to be really high on Vince’s list. Taking all this into account, it’s still a toss up, but one more thing… With HHH being out for a few months, this is the perfect opportunity to give the title to HBK. HHH and HBK, when last seen together, were best friends in the storyline. If all of a sudden one of them had the title, it would change that dynamic, and while the two will no doubt feud again in the future, WWE needs to build up to that which will take time since HHH won’t return until Summerslam at the earliest. I guess what I’m saying is that if HBK is going to have another run on top, for continuity’s sake, it’s best to have it while HHH is out of the picture. For this reason, I’m going with HBK. Winner: Shawn Michaels

You can email me at ldbryant55@yahoo.com.

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