First off, let’s go through who is writing for this roundtable (in mostly alphabetical order):
-David Brashear (Great-ing Gimmicks of the Past)
-Iain Burnside (What’s Shipping, Wrestling News, and The Anti-Pulse/Reviews )
-Raul Colon (Break Point)
– Dan Hevia (He Runs Things)
-Scott Keith (SmarK Retro Rants)
-Patrick Kellenberger ( Saturday A.M. Raw Report)
-M.L. Kennedy (Contradicting Popular Opinion and Add Homonym Attacks)
-Troy Hepple (Smackdown Reports and Velocity Reports)
-Jeremy Lambert (TNA at Ringside and TNA iMPACT! Reports)
-Andy McIntyre aka Big Andy Mac (Moments Ago and Wrestle Radio: Fridays at 6 PM)
-Matthew Michaels (Wrestling Editor)
-Steve Murray (Live Smackdown Coverage and Sopranos Recaps)
-Tom Pandich (Gaming Zen,Live Raw Coverage,Movie and TV reviews)
-Steve Price (Happy Hour, NASCAR news and opinions, and NHL news and opinions)
-Randy “Dwayne” Ragsdale ( Inside Pulse’s #1 Fan)
-Eric Szulczewski ( Wrestling, News, Opinions, Etc and The Short Form)
-Vinny Truncellito aka Vin Tastic (Alternate Reality)
-Danny Wallace ( Looking Ahead and Your Complete Bar Steward!)
-Bambi Weavil (Make Movement and The Big E Sports Show: Tuesdays at 7 PM)
WWE Championship
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Triple H
Troy Hepple: The current trend with the WWE Championship is long running champions. JBL and John Cena have (with the exception of Eddie and Edge) held the Championship for almost an entire two year’s between the two of them. Here’s the current trend: only people whose name begins with J can hold the Championship, with people whose name begins with Ed having the only chance to defeat him. This may just be the first time that Triple H has no chance in hell of winning the Championship! Yes, I know, stupid idea. But just remember that I figured it out before anyone else . . However, should the WWE figure out this current trend, then bring on HHH.
Winner And NEW Champion: Triple H
ML Kennedy: Insert trite “keeping the belt warm” joke here.
Winner: HHH
Eric Szulczewski: Man, they went so far out of their way on Raw to get it into everyone’s head that Cena’s going to win this. Sorry, fat chance. This match is sponsored by the letter “H” and the number “11”, and everyone’s going to be happy about it.
Winner and New Champion – The DNA donator for McMahon: The Next Generation
Big Andy Mac: Triple H should win, and many are predicting a double turn which would be interesting but for one thing. Triple H’s character has made everyone in the audience completely unable to feel sympathy for him. Triple H will win though.
Winner: The King of Kings returns to his throne
Iain Burnside: “It’s a town full of losers / And I’m pulling out of here to win.” Thanks, Boss. Yes, the apparent main event sees the (lower-case) boss’s son-in-law trying not-so-very-hard to get people to cheer the cash cow as he tries to drag a decent match out of it. Regardless of the result here, we already know that the traditional rematch is set for Backlash. The question is, what do they want to do with the championship after that? There are a couple of ready-made feuds for Triple H should Flair or RVD win MITB, with the latter tying in especially well for One Night Stand 2. Cena retaining the title means coming up with a random opponent for Vengeance and staggering on to once again drop the belt to Edge at SummerSlam, this time for more than a few weeks. In either case the people it is generally believed should have a championship reign are going to have to wait until this necessary and plodding step is over and done with. The cynic in me doesn’t really know what to say about it, since it genuinely doesn’t care about having either of these guys as champion. Deprived of my beloved cynicism, I’ll just fall back on the old favourite of picking the guy that got beaten up the worst on the last TV show before the PPV.
Winner – John Cena
Steve Murray: It seems rather inevitable that HHH will be taking this one, since Trip is already burying Cena in his promos. Plus, Cena is much better as the scrappy guy chasing the title, then as the guy who continuously gets his ass kicked in title matches but keeps getting up.
Winner: Triple H
David Brashear: Looks like Cena’s going to be needing new entrance music. It’s Wrestlemania and he’s facing HHH with the belt on the line. Remind me again – who’s the crowd behind here?
Winner – HHH
Jeremy Lambert: Even though Rey won the Rumble, most of us expect this to close the show because HHH is invovled. The question is, do they close the show with the heel winning or does HHH wait a month to regain the title? The answer is simple. The face goes over to close WM. Which means, HHH goes over. That’s right, when HHH beats Cena the Chicago crowd will go crazy. They’ll praise HHH like he’s Mike Dikta and they’ll boo Cena like he’s Steve Bartman. I also love how Cena is the underdog in this match and has been praising HHH in every interview he’s done this week. HHH on the other hand bashes Cena and questions his ability. The backstage food chain at its best my friends.
Winner – HHH
Patrick Kellenberger: So it’s the son-in-law verses the pet project, with the winner getting the honor of being crucified by every wrestling website on the Internet. From the build-up alone I would have to go with John Cena, especially since it looks to be the last match of the night. Whether or not that will “send the crowd home happy” is up for interpretation. Of course, they may be doing this by the seat of their pants, putting Cena in front of the crowd earlier in the evening to gauge the reaction. If it’s poor, then they can switch it to the H Game. Let’s just go with what looks to be WWE’s original plan.
Winner: John Cena
Steve Price: I smell a swerve, here. Triple H got the upper hand on Raw this week, which would usually indicate that Cena wins. But after all, this is the biggest stage in the year, and Mr. Levesque hasn’t slept with his title in over a year. Trips regains the title here, and Cena gets plugged into the “face chases the heel champion” program, because that’s how Creative rolls.
Winner: Terra Ryzin
Scott Keith: Seems like an obvious HHH win, but the nagging voice in my head says that HHH might want to reserve his glorious return to the throne for Backlash, when he won’t have to share the spotlight with everyone else. If Backlash is a Smackdown show this year, then disregard that, because he goes over by pinfall.
Winner: Triple H
Bambi Weavil: I believe the crowd reaction will play a big part of this main event, more so than any other match at WrestleMania. The build up for “the match everyone’s been waiting for” hasn’t been as strong as Michaels versus McMahon but the video packages and the energy of Chicago should do wonders for this match. I predict Triple H to get turned face by the crowd response and Cena will get the mixed-to-boos reaction, either leading to a total heel turn during the match or the night after with Vince McMahon.
Winner: Triple H, the King of Kings
Danny Wallace: I’m going with Triple H, because him winning makes more sense seeing as how his “10 World Title Wins” thing is being made a big deal of by the WWE. I’m looking forward to the crowd reaction towards Cena. Should be fun.
Winner: Triple H
Vinny Truncellito: I can’t imagine the booking strategy through SummerSlam if HHH doesn’t win this one. Cena’s not over as a face champ, and the biggest pops he’s heard recently were when he was chasing Edge for the belt after New Year’s Revolution. Perhaps chasing champ HHH will give Cena back his heat. The “King of Kings” will reclaim his throne.
Winner: Hunter McMahon
Raul Colon: Triple H needs to win this match because Cena cannot hold the title and be a face at the same time like Vince wants him to. It’s quite obvious that Cena gets more cheers chasing the champion than when he is the champion. Plus, if this is the last match, it sends fans home happy because Cena will not be cheered in the Windy City.
Winner: HHH (New Champion)
Matthew Michaels: The crowd will at least go home happy if they end with this one… A shame really, since all of the booking seems to be pointing towards a successful title defense.
Winner: HHH
Dan Hevia: The jig is up for Cena. As much as WWE has tried to have people carry him to good matches time and time again, the fans have caught on. To be honest, the guy is more entertaining on “5 Questions With The Champ” then anywhere else. Oh, also, Triple H is married to the McMahons…but he actually deserves the title this time.
Winner: Triple H
Dwayne: Do we even need to discuss this”¦?
WINNER: Triple H
Tom Pandich: I’m the one who spent two hours formatting this damn thing, my picks go last. The crowd has been pretty brutal with Cena recently and ever since Edge took the title off of him. The WWE will never, ever, turn Triple H so a double switch is out of the question. The E has been struggling as much as possible to make him look like a legit champ. Most people are picking Triple H to win this, but I see Cena needing to go over here to have some credit for the eventual, inevitable heel turn. He keeps the belt and goes over at Backlash too turning heel soon after that.
Winner and still champ: John Cena
World Heavyweight Championship
World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio
Troy Hepple: One of the few matches on this card that’s difficult to predict. On one hand I like Orton. On the same hand, Mysterio is a cruiser weight and this is for the Heavy Weight Championship. So if Mysterio wins then the WWE finishes off one hell of a stellar year (cough) by having the most ignorant title change at thier biggest Pay Per View of the year. AND if it Main Events, then it’s the biggest match of the year. And chances are that the Champion won’t retain at Mania, and that’s the way I like it. However having a heel win the Main Event of Mania is rare. RARE. And it only happens if the WWE wants to bring something better to the table to the Champion. You know what this means.
Winner And NEW Champion: Randy Orton
ML Kennedy: Rey will win. The crowd will chant for Eddy. Eddy won’t show.
Winner: Rey
Eric Szulczewski: As I said, they never let Angle go over if there’s something on the line. So that leaves a choice between the Lesser Of Two Evils: Orton with another title reign, or rewarding the most abominable push in recent memory, perhaps in history. They’re cynical enough to give it to Rey-Rey thinking that it’s what the audience wants, and there’s a substantial portion of the audience (what’s known to you and me as “the stupid”, like Hatton’s buddies) that want it. I just can’t imagine it. I don’t want to. I still have a shred of faith in the inherent goodness of humanity. Rey-Rey winning will eradicate that. So I’m going with the Lesser Evil.
Winner and New Champion – oh, God, I don’t believe I’m saying this…Randy Orton
Big Andy Mac: This may be the hardest match to predict. I predict Rey. All of you that say he is too small to be a believable champion: Screw You!!!
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Iain Burnside: From Batista/Orton to Angle/Mysterio to this. Perhaps Superboy Prime has been punching this title belt something silly. Anyway, the reasoning I used for the Raw title match doesn’t really do me any favours here since Angle nicely made both of the challengers into his bitches on Smackdown. He will obviously drop the title. The mystery lies in which direction it falls in. If it goes to the left then we get a feel-good memorable moment of closure that ties in nicely with everything that has happened on Smackdown in the past eight months or so, complete with a solid underdog champion, something that we have not seen in quite some time, someone popular enough to believably hold such a position, someone that sells plenty of merchandise, and someone who is more than capable of silencing the doubters by having an acceptable championship reign for a short period at least. If it goes to the right then we get an attempt at atonement from the WWE, a second chance at carving a chosen-yet-unproven commodity as an eternally credible champion, something that could quite easily be made to pass at any point on Smackdown in the coming year. Either way, Angle winds up another broken title reign and, according to the rumor mill, gets to feud with Test. It wouldn’t quite be down there with Bret Hart and The Patriot in terms of icons working below their means but it wouldn’t be that far from it. As far as the title is concerned… what the hell, give it to Mysterio. They f*cked up the build but that won’t matter if the end result is the same. Personally, I would keep it on him until Batista is back and healthy enough to compete for the title at SummerSlam. From there they can build up to that seemingly coveted Batista/Orton match for WrestleMania XXIII (or earlier, if they are understandably worried about it being postponed yet again). Also, let’s not forget that Mysterio is an ECW alumnus. All the talk of getting a WWE title match at One Night Stand 2 seems to revolve around Rob Van Dam, but what if Mysterio still held this belt and defended against Mr. Money In The Bank II, whoever that may be, on the ECW show? Far-fetched, I know, but fun to ponder. Realistically, Mysterio would be more likely to drop the belt to Orton at Judgement Day. Realistically, Orton would be more likely to win it here. Realistically, when it comes to WrestleMania, I and many others just want to see something that makes us feel.
Winner – Rey Mysterio
Steve Murray: Nobody that weighs less than me is allowed to be a World Champ (unless Russo is booking), so Rey’s out. I really wish they trusted Angle to make an extended run, but with all of his injuries, I don’t see it happening. So, welcome to the Randy Orton Experience, Part Deux. Thankfully, the crowd (especially live crowds) really do hate him, if my experience at the Washington DC show was any indication.
Winner: Orton
David Brashear: I’m going to go out on a limb and say this match has an incredible amount of potential. Angle’s a great wrestler. Mysterio can more than hold his own. And Orton seems to step it up at Wrestlemania with the great match he had last year against Taker. I don’t think Angle’s going to retain, but I’m not sure who’ll take it. I’ll guess Mysterio (because I think a short Rey title run could be fun) with Orton chasing him before he takes the belt.
Winner – Rey Mysterio
Jeremy Lambert: If you take Orton out of this match, it might be good. Sadly, Orton is in this match and thus the quality has already gone down. If Angle wins, we here in the IWC continue to praise Angle because he’s the man. If Rey wins, we are happy yet sad that they are giving him this push based on the death of a friend. If Orton wins, we are just pissed off. So what will Vince do? Piss us off of course.
Winner – Randy Orton
Patrick Kellenberger: I’m just going to go ahead and dedicate this Roundtable to Eddie Guerrero, before the WWE writing team can beat me to the punch. Well, I was all ready to say Rey would walk out with the title, hold it for a week, and then drop it to Orton on SmackDown, ala Foley at SummerSlam 99. However, since I am picking Cena/Trip as the last match of the night, I am going to have to say Orton walks out with the big gold belt. Gee, that means both the wrestlers labeled “the future of the WWE” walk out with world titles. Who’da thunk it? On a side note, does anyone actually think Angle has a snowball’s chance in hell of retaining?
Winner: Randy “STD Master” Orton
Steve Price: If there is justice in this world, then the Big Gold Belt gets to stay around the waist of the only deserving heavyweight champion in the promotion. I’d rather watch Scott Steiner vs. Triple H from the 2003 Rumble than an Orton match, if only because with the former, you’re guaranteed a suckfest so bad, it’s funny. With Orton, it’s just plain sucks. Vince’s big man fetish KO’s Mysterio, and Orton’s a joke, which leaves only one choice for a winner.
Winner: Randy Orton
Scott Keith: Everything I’ve heard all year says that Orton is the guy and Rey isn’t part of the plan, so I’m gonna have to go with Orton to make a heel-heel title winning combo at WM. Bummer.
Winner: Randy Orton
Bambi Weavil: I think the match is really between two people, Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio. For the sentimental reward of what will be a emotional night for the Hall of Fame, it would be wonderful if Mysterio is crowned champion, not only “for Eddy Guerrero” but for his legends of fans and for anyone who said that he wouldn’t make it in the business. Orton’s really the only heel in the match but I expect everyone to work hard because not only are they performing for their individual egos but representing Smackdown as a brand, when the WWE has been downplaying this match altogether.
Winner: Mysterio
Danny Wallace: Mysterio winning will probably create the ultimate “WrestleMania Moment”, so let’s go with that.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Vinny Truncellito: Considering the whole Eddie-push Rey has received and the fact that HHH will win the WWE championship, I think Vince will go all the way and put the big gold belt on Rey for a limited run. Angle’s monster-over with or without the belt, and Randy should win the title from Rey down the road.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Raul Colon: I’m fairly certain about Angle not retaining. However, a good case can be made for either Orton or Mysterio. A lot of it depends on the card, if this is the last match of the night, Rey takes the gold. If it isn’t, it’s a crapshoot between the two. Right now I’m seeing this as the last match giving Rey the emotional win and our “Big Time” moment of WM XXII.
Winner: Rey (New Champion)
Matthew Michaels: It all depends on when they air the match. According to the latest rumors, Vince keeps changing his mind about match finishes, so hopefully my prediction is listened to here…
Winner: REY
Dan Hevia: I have to agree with Double M above me. It all depends on the placement of this match. If Vince is changing his mind so much, Rey better not have problems with his mask like last year, because Vince will FLIP in the middle of the match.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Dwayne: This is a tough pick. Angle has done a great job with the title since filling in for the injured Mighty DAVE~! a few months back. He certainly doesn’t deserve to lose after two barnstormers against the Undertaker, arguably the best matches Taker has been in since before Attitude, and carrying Mark Henry’s fat ass to main event levels. That said Randy Orton is probably the most over heel in the WWE at the moment. He certainly merits a main event at Wrestlemania over even Triple H, Vince McMahon & Edge. He’s a jerk and it’s so easy to hate him. I’d certainly be pissed off if he won the title at Wrestlemania and that’s a very good thing. I can’t think of many people who’d irritate me to that level. Orton is just so smug, I want to bash him in the face. Then there’s Rey. He’s got everyone’s sympathy vote. He’s the hugely popular underdog who is fighting against all odds and if he won he’d be the smallest world champion, ever, by some distance. Will Vince take the risk of putting a title on someone so small? With Rey channeling the power of Eddie Guerrero from beyond the grave there’s a chance he might. A ‘small’ chance. HAHAHAHA. Small. Seeing as Rey winning is the only way we get a really memorable visual to end Wrestlemania on this year I’m saying that exactly what happens. Orton continues the feud though and gets the belt shortly afterwards.
Winner — Rey Mysterio.
Tom Pandich: I must be a complete idiot here. The whole feud has been between Rey Rey and Orton with Angle piping up every once in a while saying, “you know, I’m still the champ”. Orton’s the hot heel. Rey’s the emotionally great story and makes for the “Wrestlemania Moment”. Why am I going with Angle then? Two reasons. First off, Kurt Angle is really the most underappreciated champ in the past five years. He got the belt because of really, really bad circumstances, but he’s really stepped up and been delivering quality matches. Secondly, Kurt Angle is about the only believable tweener on either roster at the moment. Let Angle keep the belt and he can play face or heel against whoever comes up against him. With a roster as thin as Smackdown’s is right now, stick with the sure thing.
Winner and Still Champion: Kurt Angle
No Holds Barred Match
Mr. McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels
Troy Hepple: Anyone else notice how this is one of the few times in a Vince match that he’s known as Mister McMahon? Kennedy fever? Probably not. Vince lost to Austin. Vince lost to HHH. Vince lost to Hogan. The only times Vince wins is when it’s against a non-wrestler or against Zach Gowen. Vince loses here, easily.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
ML Kennedy: I imagine this will be the standard well-booked surprisingly watchable Vince match. I’m not sure who will be playing the role of “Roddy Piper” guest star.
Winner: HBK
Eric Szulczewski: What part of seeing Michaels handcuffed to the ring rope, bloody and beaten, don’t you understand? Yes, Overrated does get involved, and, yes, he knows who his greater enemy is. Besides, now Michaels has to live forever knowing that he couldn’t have defeated Vince without HIS help.
Winner – Shawn Michaels
Big Andy Mac: This match could be entertaining, or it could be terrible. Either way, I sincerely doubt Mr. McMahon will win.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
Iain Burnside: “My old man can’t get a beer because his old man won’t give a bear to another old man.” “Get him!” “Wait, why are we getting him?” “Who cares, let’s just get this guy instead.” This guy is Bret. Bret doesn’t want to be this guy. This guy’s in love with you. You are not me. I am not interested, or an intersection. I could be interspliced. As in, by the time I get around to watching this show, by the point that this match occurs, I hope to be completely and utterly interspliced with alcohol, to the extent that run-on, sentences, do, not, bother, me, much, at, all. Neither does the winner.
Winner – Vince McMahon
Steve Murray: Could be the best match of the night, could be the worst match of the night. I’m not sure there’s any room inbetween, to be honest. Since I don’t see a face winning either of the title matches, I think they pretty much have to give the crowd something here to make them happy.
Winner: HBK
David Brashear: Just what everybody wants to see at Wrestlemania – Vince dragging himself into the middle of the show yet again. Still, HBK’s been beaten down enough. Time for him to get the big win.
Winner – Shawn Michaels
Jeremy Lambert: Rumor has it that Michaels will be taking time off after Mania so why not have him job to the owner before he leaves for a bit? Here’s why, because he’s Shawn Michaels. He’s the man that was forced to job to Hogan at SummerSlam when he had no right to lay down for him. I say Michaels puts Vince in the sharpshooter and Vince taps out. Thus Michaels wins and Bret bitches just a little bit more.
Winner – Shawn Michaels
Patrick Kellenberger: Does the WWE realize they have built this entire feud on the unsaid promise that Bret Hart is going to interfere in some way, shape or form? The fact that he just said in an interview he would walk out of the Hall of Fame ceremony if he even sees Shawn Michaels does not bode well for that little quasi-guarantee. Then again, this being wrestling, that could mean he has already accepted a cool hundred k for the spot. If Hart indeed refuses to play along, that leaves them with either throwing another special guest in there to interfere or just letting Michaels walk out with the win to put an end to this thing. The three options they have for run-ins that I can think of are Hogan, since he will be around of the HoF ceremony and to get vengeance against Shawn; the Rock, because the audience would pop like mad if he made a guest appearance; and none other than the YJ Stinger Champ himself, Cena. If it’s Cena, they can start that feud with Vince they are just itching to put on. Won’t THAT be fun?
Winner: HBK
Steve Price: Take Scott Keith’s rating from McMahon’s WrestleMania XIX match, add a snowflake on the end, then go out, get smashed and take up the finer points of lawnmower drag racing.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
Scott Keith: People have said that Vince doesn’t have the balls to put himself over, but I respectfully disagree. Vince by pinfall.
Winner: Vince McMahon
Bambi Weavil: It wouldn’t shock me if Shane McMahon made a appearance but to be quite honest, Bret Hart should go in long enough to screw them both and walk out. No explanation, that’s it. It would be a monstrous reaction and would get back at both of them. If that doesn’t happen, than I expect Michaels to win it anyway because he’s been screwed so much for months, that as the actual athlete he should win.
Winner: Michaels
Danny Wallace: To be perfectly honest, I don’t really care about this match. For me, the main focus is on whether or not Bret Hart will make an appearance of some description. I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t, but I’m not holding my breath. That’s just silly.
As for the winner… I’ll say HBK.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
Vinny Truncellito: Please just put this storyline to bed already, and let’s hope this is Vince’s last appearance as a wrestler (which he’s not) at the biggest wrestling show of the year.
Winner: HBK
Raul Colon: Loving the No Holds Barred stip. With it the two have a lot more creative freedom to have a passable match. Look for some interference from the Spirit Squad and Shane O’ Mac, but with Shane helping HBK and costing Vince the match. Reasoning being the way Vince has used Shane the last few weeks to get at HBK, and Shane’s reactions from being thrown into these situations.
Winner: HBK
Matthew Michaels: Vince can’t put himself over here… can he?
Winner: HBK
Dan Hevia: Ummm…Shawn screwed Shawn? Vince screwed Shawn? Vince screwed Bret? Stroke? Jeff Jarett? What? Stone Cold? Huh? Eugene?
Winner: HBK
Dwayne: Just like Vince McMahon did last year at Wrestlemaia 17 to ensure that he Shane had a good match, he’ll do the same thing this year. I’m looking forward to how Shawn Michaels is going to carry this match. I’m looking forward to this match but I just hope it doesn’t get overbooked with runins by Shane and/or the Spirit Squad. That being said, I’m sure it will be. Bret Hart WILL NOT be a part of this match because it makes no sense for him to help one or the other, but I still wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sharpshooter applied at one point. HBK should win this match and hopefully this can live up to the fun that was Vince-Hogan.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
Tom Pandich: If one thing is sure of this match, Vince will bust his ass to make it as entertaining as possible. The only way Vince wins this is if Bret Hart interferes, and his interference is one sided. My guess is that he does and Vince wins.
Winner: Vinnie Mac
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin vs. RVD vs. Ric Flair vs.
Finlay vs. Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley
Troy Hepple: Right off the bat we can cross out half of this match. Finlay, Flair, and Hardy won’t be winning. Finlay’s only been back for a handfull of matches, Flair’s always in the title run as a serious contender anyways, and Hardy’s teaming with Moore soon. Though it would be nice to see any of those win. That leaves Lashley, Van Dam, and Benjamin. Benjamin would make the best choice here, with known victories over future Champion Triple H. Then again, Lashley as the winner would bring a something certain to his feud with Finlay as well as SmackDown. And Van Dam just returned so, well, duh. I’m gonna go with Shelton just so we can see more of Momma B.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
ML Kennedy: RVD makes the most sense here.
Winner: RVD
Eric Szulczewski: “I’ll take The Fucking Obvious for $800, Alex…”
Winner – Rob Van Dam
Big Andy Mac: I am one of the few people that did not really like the first installment of Money in the Bank. One idea says that Flair wins and beats Triple H at the end of the show. That happens if this match is first and Triple H/Cena is last. I think RVD wins, although I will be rooting for Matt Hardy
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Iain Burnside: The last time Shelton’s belt was defended at WrestleMania was when RVD won it from William Regal in 2002. The last time RVD got a whiff of a main event opportunity was the aborted Royal Rumble title match between him and Chris Jericho in 2002. The last time Ric Flair had a meaningful world title program was back in 1994. Hardy faces stiff competition from only Jason “Pie Fucker” Biggs in terms of being the most popular loser that will only be remembered for something they would rather forget. Bobby Lashley is but the latest in a steady stream of young wrestlers to get too much, too soon. Finlay… well, Finlay should win this thing, just as Tony Blair should be locked up inside a freezer the size of a city that is filled with the grisly remains of all the people who have died by his sleight of hand. Still, we can’t have everything. They should probably give the win to somebody from Smackdown, if only to save a Raw winner from being overshadowed by Edge and the Raw audience from chronic deja vu. Unfortunately, Flair is the sentimental favourite and RVD is the sensible candidate. A post-Mania feud between RVD and Edge over bragging rights would not be without merit, nicely occupying time until ECW spontaneously combusts for at least the third time. Besides, if Shawn Michaels is ‘retiring’ then they need to elevate another popular face on Raw rather quickly, with Rob being a far more viable investment than a legally-challenged fifty-something.
Winner – Rob Van Dam
Steve Murray: RVD is, by far, the most qualified of the participants. But, the concept of this stipulation only works if a heel (or least a tweener) wins, since there’s no excuse for an actual face to not demand his title match right away. But a heel can wait until the champ is greatly weakened, and take advantage of it (exactly what they did with Edge). I don’t see Finlay getting involved in the championship picture anytime soon, so that really only leaves one choice – Shelton. (The only other possible outcome is that Hardy wins, but gets challenged for the MITB shot by Edge or some other upper card heel.)
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
David Brashear: Let’s do this by process of elimination. Lashley and Finlay don’t care about the title. They’ll be busy brawling with each other. Shelton’s got the IC belt to keep him occupied, so that leaves us with Matt Hardy, RVD, and Flair. They’re still working to bury Hardy, so Animal might show up and take him out. Smart money would be on RVD, but this is WWE, so they could decide that Flair’s got one more title hunt in him. Still, hope springs eternal…
Winner – RVD
Jeremy Lambert: This MITB doesn’t look as good as last years. Sure RVD, Shelton, and Hardy can do some good stuff but Lashley and Finlay are brawlers all the way, and Flair isn’t your typical spot machine. I expect RVD to come out and look to steal the show because he’s like that. I honestly don’t think 5 of these men deserve a World Title shot and Flair doesn’t need a title shot. Oh well, ECW PPV is coming up which means RVD cashes in.
Winner – Rob Van Dam
Patrick Kellenberger: I know it WON’T be anyone from SmackDown. I think it has to be Flair. They give him the win, let Triple H get the title at Backlash, and have Ric immediately take the title for one last moment. Sure, Flair would probably lose it the next night on Raw, but when has long term booking been a focus for the WWE? Now, if the question is who should win it, then you have to go with RVD. He is the most over outside of Flair in the match and could easily be plugged into a feud with heel champion HHH or Edge. Lashley would be a nice surprise, but he is still too green and will probably have to cut his teeth on the U.S. Title first. Then again, this is the WWE booking team…
Winner: Ric Flair
Steve Price: Finlay and Lashley have their bit going, so that cancels them out for the win, Matt Hardy in a world title match is like VD sweeping the Vatican, and Benjamin has the IC Title to worry about. That brings it down to RVD and Flair, and if it weren’t apparent before, my Charlotte bias points me to “the Man”.
Winner: Ric, by God WHOO, Flair
Scott Keith: This seems to be the setup for RVD v. HHH at One Night Stand, but then I have trouble picturing HHH dropping the title to RVD without cracking up. RVD is the safe choice, so we’ll stick with him.
Winner: RVD
Bambi Weavil: This could be the show-stealer of the night, giving the main event matches something to try to top. This could go to anyone, I think the Smackdown wrestlers will surprise people with their effort and athleticism but I predict that the winner will from the RAW brand. I don’t think Shelton Benjamin would benefit being IC Champion and the Money in the Bank winner, so I think this will end up being between RVD and Flair. Remembering what Flair did during his TLC match with Edge, I think he’s going to pull out all the bumps on his bump card, so I expect him to get a emotional win.
Winner: Ric Flair
Danny Wallace: This will be something different, that’s for sure. You’ve got high-flyers, you’ve got mat technicians, and you’ve got brawlers. 3 elements that don’t exactly mesh well together in one-on-one matches, but by throwing six men together with contrasting styles you’re going to get either a complete f*ck up, or a highly enjoyable match. I’m hoping the latter.
I wanted Burchill in the match, but seeing as he’s not, I’m rooting for Finley.
Winner: Finley
Vinny Truncellito: I would have made this the match that competes with TNA’s X Division, and reminds us all of the great TLC matches of the past. I don’t see how guys like Flair, Lashley, and Finlay contribute to that style of match. Carlito, Paul London (along with several other cruisers from SmackDown!), or an unknown underdog like Jonny Swinger would have been better in this match than those three. Hardy, RVD and Benjamin will thrive in this environment if they’re allowed to leave the other three behind. I was thinking Hardy, but the way they pushed him as a favorite in the MITB Friday night made me think it’ll be RVD’s last shot at the main event.
Winner: An overdue, very deserving, and still-over-with-the-crowd Rob Van Dam
Raul Colon: While not offering up six believable contenders for Money in the Bank like last year, this match still meshes several styles. Let’s decide this by process of elimination. Hardy, next. Lashley, too soon. Finlay, too late. Shelton, has the IC Belt and he still needs to continue brushing up on his mike skills. That leaves RVD and Flair. They’ve been building Flair for one more run, and he proved his versatility in gimmick matches against Edge on Raw and the TLC match. Having Flair win would give him one last run.
Winner: Flair
Matthew Michaels: I’m sold on the latest rumor. RVD wins it, challenges HHH at ECW One Night Stand, and actually gets the belt. Well, for a month.
Winner: RVD
Dan Hevia: This match won’t be nearly as good as last years. But if they do the ramp spot again I’ll dig it.
Winner: RVD
Dwayne: Ok, first of all, lets look at who is involved in this match. We have Shelton Benjamin who is the Intercontinental Champion, so he doesn’t need to win this match. Lashley is too inexperienced to be even competing in this match, but it will be interesting to see how he fairs in this type of environment. Finlay is just there to help out. Matt Hardy’s only purpose
is to do some OMG spots, so that leaves the door open for Flair and RVD. I would love to see Flair win this match, and one more big run at the top once Ric Flair wins the title, but at the same time I’m a little worried about his health. Just because he survived one ladder match doesn’t mean he’ll survive another one. And then he Rob Van Dam, a guy who I think desperately needs the rub in this match. This should be pretty fun. It probably won’t be an MOTYC like last year’s was, but that’s what happens when you take out Benoit, Jericho & Christian and replace them with guys like Flair, Hardy and Lashley. It should still be a pretty fun outing though. I will be rooting for my man Finlay to take the victory, but I realize that he probably will not win because somebody on the “A show” (and I say that with an infinite amount of sarcasm) needs it. RVD seems as good a choice as any, so he can face Triple H at One Night Stand for the belt and lose.
Winner: RVD
Tom Pandich: I see Matt Hardy going over here… ok, I’m not that insane. Hardy won’t win because, well, he’s Matt Hardy. Lashley won’t win because he’s too green. Finlay has a shot at winning, but I feel like the E audience still doesn’t buy Finlay as a main eventer. Flair is a sexy choice as I think everyone wants him to get another title run, myself included. Still… this is a ladder match, not an escalator match. That leaves us with Rob and Shelton. Shelton seems like a better choice then Rob just because Money in the Bank seems like a great heel gimmick. Still though, I think that Rob has paid his dues and that its time for him to get a title shot.
Winner: RVD
Hardcore Match
Edge vs. Cactus Jack
Troy Hepple: Sure to be a highlight, if Edge goes all out with the hardcore. So long as we keep in mind this is just a way to put Edge over and have some hardcore fun, then we shouldn’t be disappointed.
Winner: Edge
ML Kennedy: Foley always puts the kids over right?
Winner: Edge
Eric Szulczewski: With all this talk of a Wrestlemania Moment for Foley, I have to calculate the possibilities. Edge is pretty selfless when it comes to in-ring stuff (yes, he’s a womanizer, but he’s a good co-worker). Foley’s definitely a person Edge would blow his undefeated WM stream on. They’ve booked this match into a position where Edge won’t be hurt by losing; after all, he’s facing Cactus Jack in a Hardcore Match, which is like Sister Mary Immaculata having a gang-bang contest with Jasmine St. Clair. Although you never know with those nuns…wait, back to the topic. The point is, Edge can lose here without losing any face. They’re going to need a mammoth pop to get the audiences out of their comas, and this match should be perfectly situated on the card to do so.
Winner – Mick Foley
Big Andy Mac: I have a feeling this match will be really disappointing. Foley gains nothing if he wins, Edge loses everything if he loses.
Winner: Mick Foley
Iain Burnside: So who is the more outdated person being mistakenly used for promotional devices – Mick Foley or Peter Gabriel? Your answer will be determined by your age, plus the possibility that you might be German. I bet if Hitler was alive during the ’80s, he would have been whistling ‘Big Time’ as he strolled along the finest waterfront walkways on offer in Peru. Yes, he went to Peru. Offer me evidence otherwise, if you dare. TANGENT WARNING. Okay, so we can expect chairs, tables, bats, thumbtacks, 2x4s, barbed wire, fire, and a persistent nagging feeling somewhere inside that tells us we really should be enjoying this more. It comes from a little chip implanted in us in our sleep by Triple H. He will detonate it if you believe a word that comes out of Billy Gunn’s mouth. Billy Gunn? Mouth? Comes? Inappropriate? Genesis? TNA? Russo? Venom? Topher? Tofu? Stop.
Winner – Edge
Steve Murray: Should be the match of the night, if Edge is even remotely feeling it. Both will be battered, both will be bloody (I call about a 0.8 Muta on Foley, and 0.5 for Edge). Foley takes the biggest bumps, including at least one spot that will be added to his career highlights, but doesn’t get to win the match.
Winner: Edge
David Brashear: This one’s hard to call. Edge could benefit from going over Jack, but it’s Wrestlemania. I think they’ll choose to have the fans go home happy.
Winner – Cactus Jack
Jeremy Lambert: It’s Foleys moment vs. Edges push. The question is which one does WWE put over? Do they continue to push Edge back into the main event and back into a title picture that he should have never left or do they finally give Foley his moment at Mania by giving him the win? I say they continue to push Edge because he means more to the company at this moment. After seeing SNME, if Foley doesn’t go through a flaming table, I’m calling shenanigans on WWE.
Winner – Edge
Patrick Kellenberger: So Edge is going to win. The question is how. If Edge is going to climb back into the title picture, then Foley will have to do for Edge what he did for Hunter back in 2000. That means a vicious, brutal battle, with many a thumbtack and barbed wire bat to be found. Edge is going to have to take massive amounts of punishment, bleed like a stuck pig, and basically do double the damage to Foley. Maybe he can truly get to the top of the card if he puts Socko through a flaming table.
Winner: Mrs. Copeland’s baby boy
Steve Price: Is there any real chance that they are jobbing Edge out to a mostly-retired garbage wrestler? Unless there is some sort of screwy ending, Edge has to win, and three things must be present: a barbed wire 2×4, a bag of thumbtacks, and a steel chair. But not in that order, necessarily.
Winner: Edge
Scott Keith: Don’t care. Edge needs it, Mick doesn’t, so go with Edge.
Winner: Edge
Bambi Weavil: Cactus Jack actually has a lot more to prove than Edge does, even though he has more in-ring experience, especially in a Hardcore match. I don’t expect Jack to go through the motions as he’s often considered doing, and will end up getting his WrestleMania moment. I also expect Lita to get involved in the match and take a nice bump in the process, not benefiting Edge whatsoever.
Winner: Cactus Jack
Danny Wallace: When making predictions, I try not to over-think too much and just go with my gut. However, I’m torn between the two on this one. Assuming they put on a show-stealing performance (which I have every confidence they will do) they will both get something from this. Foley will get his WM Moment from either winning or loosing (a standing ovation might do the trick), and so will Edge, by either beating Cactus Jack at his own game, or even if he loses, by going toe-to-toe with Cactus and living to tell the tale.
Winner: Edge
Vinny Truncellito: There’s no sense in doing this whole thing unless Edge comes out on top.
Winner: The Rated R Superstar
Raul Colon: Everyone’s favorite “sleeper” match. I think we should just expect a great match. Edge always brings the goods in gimmick matches, and Foley looks motivated. Definitely not the best build, the last two weeks have drawn interest in this match. Edge needs the win, and Foley is growing accustomed to pushing superstars over and over again.
Winner: Edge
Matthew Michaels: I’m rooting for Foley here, but really it does nothing for him to get the win here. In fact, of all of his post-“retirement” matches, the only ones that have been any good are ones where he loses.
Winner: Edge
Dan Hevia: Mick has a certain amount of matches in his contract per year. He doesn’t like getting in shape so he should just bang them out in a few months, meaning this feud…MUST CONTINUE!
Winner: Dude Love
Dwayne: This match could possibly steal the show if Mick is feeling is and decides to work his ass off. I hope Foley’s getting some noteworthy wedge for this appearance. He has cemented himself as a legend enough for yet another pass the torch loss not to affect him, but he’s done it so often that it won’t really mean shit Edge winning. In terms of out-and-out entertainment this should be an even bigger riot than his Backlash 2004 loss to Orton, and I hope he wins this. He won’t though.
Winner: Edge
Tom Pandich: Yeah, yeah. Edge and Foley know each other well and are both willing to put each other over. Still, Edge is active roster, Foley is a “Legend”. That’s reason enough to put Edge over here.
Winner: Edge
