The Hardy Boyz vs. MNM
PK: Hardyz won at ECW, No winner at Armageddon, MNM gets this one. Hopefully they’ll have a TLC match at WM, involving the other 2 brands Tag Champs…but I think we all know that won’t actually happen.
Winners – MNM
Widro: this has been the best thing going on both (all) wwe shows, and if this is the last meeting, you’d think the faces would go over. you never know with the matt hardy hatred.
Winner – Hardyz
Matthew Michaels: I have a feeling the Hardyz will end up back together, but MNM won’t — and shouldn’t — stay a team. Nitro’s proven himself as a singles star, as has Melina, and Mercury’s been treated like a jobber since his return from rehab. In fact, I’d love to see Mercury get pinned, kicked out of MNM, and then come back to Smackdown as a sympathetic, babyface, cruiserweight title contender. Then I want Matt & Jeff to win BOTH tag titles and bring them to ECW, but I never get what I want anyway…
Winner – Hardyz
Eric Szulczewski: This will almost certainly be the opener, since it’s the only match with nothing on the line. Besides, it’s a good choice for a hot opener, since it appeals to the mentally damaged proportion of the audience (read: the majority). Unfortunately, Booking 101 reveals the ending, as MNM have been on the giving end of the beatdowns. I’d expect a last-second stip to crop up, except that they can’t do a Ladder Match and they’ve already blown their wad on TLC.
Winners – The Faerie Princes
Vinny Truncellito: This has the potential to be a good storyline that rides the Road to WrestleMania. It’s already started with a bang, and so far they’re handling it just right. I’d give MNM the duke here, then have them extract a little too much revenge on the Hardyz post-match, and give one of them a little payback in kind. This leads to the Hardyz now seeking revenge and another match at No Way Out, before the final, ultra-violent gimmick match blow off at WM23.
Winner – MNM
GRUT: I dunno. I both like and hate this feud. The two best teams in the WWE have members on different rosters. If this is the blowoff match I see the only person of the four with a real future getting the pin over the person with the most depressing future. If they’re going to keep feuding to Wrestlemania, look for a Hardy victory.
Winner – MNM (Nitro pins Matt)
FLEA: I hope I’m not the only one that comments how inhuman it is to have this match so soon after JM’s face was mangled. Of course, it was insane to have JM come back, lay out Matt, etc…in two shows! – like there is real plan for anyone, except Nitro, maybe. What was the rush? What’s after this? The only way I can enjoy the match is knowing that TNA, the luckiest promotion in the world, continues to give away 3 years worth of matches and sure-fire growth on a weekly basis. 2 of the 4 are curtain-jerking masochists. Nitro is on the move. And Matt Hardy is still a chump
Winner – Hardy Boyz. Because Mercury will be fired in two weeks. “Nothing for Him”
Iain Burnside: Isn’t it wonderful how WWE can have two tag team divisions so healthy, vibrant and renowned that they can happily overlook both of them in order to concoct a feud between two teams that are a part of neither division, with neither team’s members on the same brand, with neither tag titles on the line, with no particular benefit to anybody, and no idea as to why it is happening or how it will end? The winners don’t matter but we might as well have some heels winning somewhere.
Winners – eeny meeny miney, MNM
Pulse Glazer: The Hardyz seem practically unbeatable. Them winning with MNM chasing for revenge until the ‘mania ladder match works.
Winner – Hardyz
David Brashear: I’ve got to say that I’m surprised to see Mercury back in the ring so quickly. But, hey, Brother Bruti didn’t take long to start wearing his mask either. Oh, yeah, I’m supposed to be picking a winner. I’ll go with the Hardys. They’re over, and if they could move the IC belt off Jeff, Raw would have quite a decent tag division between the Hardys, MNM, the Highlanders, and the World’s Greatest Tag Team. (And as far as Matt and Mercury not being on Raw, well, you can’t tell me the WWE couldn’t figure a way to move them.)
Winners – Hardys
Troy Hepple: So there have been combinations of these two teams on every pay per view since Cyber Sunday and with one likely at No Way Out between Mercury and Matt Hardy. Count it: that’s six pay per views if No Way Out involves Matt vs. Mercury. Is there any end in sight? Let’s just give MNM the win and end the feud.
Winners – MNM
Danny Cox: Hardyz got the upper hand at December To Forget, and it’s been back and forth ever since. But the way Mercury got straight up squashed on RAW this past Monday, then I have to say that by hook, by crook, or by Melina’s boobies MNM will win this one.
Winner – MNM
Charlie Marsh: I like MNM in this one, probably winning through nefarious means but still gaining revenge for Mercury’s broken face.
Winner – MNM
Kace: I guess home state bias pretty much sways me towards the Hardy Brothers on this one. Plus, I don’t want the comic book store guys givin’ me crap for pickin’ the other guys when I show up later in the week.
Winners – Hardyz
Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Test – ECW Title
PK: With 3 face Champs, one has to think a heel will win this weekend. And I think the heel will be Test. Nothing will make ECW fans hate Test more then him winning the title, and that is a step in the right direction for once with ECW. (The next step, of course, is to push CM as the top face to challenge Test at WM).
Winner – Test
Widro: i can’t get over putting lashley over test on ecw this week
Winner – lashley
Matthew Michaels: How do you explain Test getting his ass HANDED to him on the last free ECW TV show? Does the “person who looked bad most recently will win on PPV” rule apply here? Could they actually be thinking about putting the ECW Title on ANDREW F’N MARTIN? Ya know what? I think they will. NO ONE will get more heel heat than Test at ECW shows, and WWE’s already pissing off ECW lifers; might as well go all the way with it. Oh, that plus there’s TWO babyface champs already likely defending their belts at Mania… let’s give it to a heel and see if it works.
Winner – TEST
Eric Szulczewski: As I said in the Double-Team Short Form earlier this week about their match on ECW, “Do I really have to say ‘Who cares?’ at this point?” The only question is whether or not they would blow Lashley’s win over TBS on a short reign. The thing is, if they want something interesting for Wrestlemania coming from ECW, they’re going to have to. Test has no shortage of opponents on that show to pass the time (Sandman, Dreamer, etc.). However, will Punk have enough time to get out of bad odor with the road agents to become Test’s WM opponent? I’ll bet that he will. Punk/Test is the only real money match ECW has for WM, and it has to be set up here.
Winner – Test
Vinny Truncellito: Tough call. Before Tuesday night, I’d have said Lashley in a hearbeat. But what’s with him mopping the floor with his challenger that close to the ppv? Makes me think the match at the Rumble will somehow be changed – perhaps via the addition of a second challenger (Holly?). Odd booking, this. Guess I’ll go with the champ.
Winner – Bobby Lashley
GRUT: Test vs. Lashley? E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W! SUCKS!
Winner – Test, but who gives a shit?
FLEA: Test. Because Foley is going to make him at WM.
Winner – Test
Iain Burnside: The sole reason for people buying the show.
Winner – not a founding member of The Kinks, BOBBY LASHLEY
Pulse Glazer: They just had this on free TV with a clean finish…
Winner – Lashley
David Brashear: Ouch. This is reminiscent of that Holly/Lesnar title match they booked a couple of years ago. I’d say that the winner would be me (who won’t be watching this live and can therefore fastforward through this mess), but to have a shot at bettering my RT stats, I’ll say that Lashley retains.
Winner – Bobby Lashley
Troy Hepple: Test as ECW Champion? Well, hey, weirder things have been a lot more successful than they should’ve been. And if Bobby Lashley can satisfy as ECW Champion, then why can’t Test? He has a lot more charisma than Lashley does, he’s a lot better known to WWE audiences – and neither of these are a fresh breath to WWE fans, so why can’t Test be champion? For starters: Bobby Lashley is still rather new as ECW Champion, and small title reigns are horrible. And secondly: the Royal Rumble is just the place for the Champion to get a legitimate win heading into Mania. Maybe this time next year Test will be ECW Champion, depending on whether or not the bookers are bored of Lashley by then.
Winner – Bobby Lashley
Danny Cox: Black Lesnar Vs. Backne (back acne), I cannot WAIT to see this match. Hold on, I just did see this match on ECW Tuesday with a clean finish even. I really don’t get what the point of that was unless they are planning on adding someone else to this match to make a 3-way or fatal 4-way. And I would gladly see anyone at all as ECW champion over theses two. Man, combined they have the charisma of a shoe.
Winner – Backne
Charlie Marsh: Well, Lashley already won this match on Tuesday, clean, fair and square, so I can see Test winning (and somewhere, Terry Funk will cry) with help from Hardcore Holly, setting up a feud between Lashley and Holly and freeing Test to defend the title at Mania against either Punk or RVD.
Winner – Test
Kace: Oh, why not? Let’s go with Test on this one. ‘Sides, we gotta have a heel World Champion somewhere, so it might as well be in WWE Extreme.
Winner – Test
Batista (c) vs. Mr. Kennedy – World Heavyweight Title
PK: Ya………..no shot Kennedy wins.
Winner – Batista
Widro: as much as i like kennedy, it’s not the time. this feels like the brock/holly match from a few rumbles ago where you knew the challenger had no chance
Winner – batista
Matthew Michaels: Yeah, no way Kennedy’s winning here, as awesome as such as surprise would be. Totally counterproductive to have Batista drop it here when “title vs. streak” is such a powerful match to book for Detroit.
Winner – DAVE
Eric Szulczewski: I care not. I just want a reappearance of the old DAVE and this trumped-up little piece of shit turned into a smear on the mat. Besides, we all know what’s coming, and a title change here would go against that. That only leaves open the issue of a DQ and an extension of this little putrid feud. I’ll say no, because I have a better plan (which I expressed in the Smackdown Short Form).
Winner – DAVE
Vinny Truncellito: Obviously, Kennedy isn’t really in the title scene at this point. He’s in a placeholder spot to give Batista something to do on the show. I assume there will be a stare-down between a victorious World Champ and a Rumble-winning Undertaker at some point before they go off the air
Winner – Batista
GRUT: I for one would like to see a Mr. Kennedy vs. Undertaker Wrestlemania main event and a King Booker vs. Batista grudge match. More likely we’re going to see Undertaker fight Batista and Mr. Kennedy win Money in the Bank. Still sounds like a party. Look for a sobbing wife in a pink dress by the time this one is over.
Winner – Batista. He is SOOO jacked up. I’m creaming my pants at the thought of doing a cycle with him.
FLEA: Warm Up squash for Batista before WM. Just for my delight, I hope some asshole (JBL) used some “backstage politics” to make this one go 20 minutes. Just so some asshole (JBL) can CROW on commentary how much they both SUCK. The only thing better would be a run-in by Slvain and The Miz. I love JBL
Winner – Batista
Iain Burnside: I smell like coffee and leather.
Winner – the one who smelt it and dealt it, BATISTA
Pulse Glazer: Batista will win since we all know the plan, but I’d really prefer to see Kennedy elevated.
Winner – Kennedy
David Brashear: And now we come to the main titles. As far as the world belts are concerned, I think that we’re going to be marking time until Wrestlemania.
Winner – Batista
Troy Hepple: These two can pull out a good match. That’s pretty much all we need to know about this match. Batista’s set to take on Undertaker at WM, with Kennedy probably distracting Undertaker at No Way Out and King Booker probably getting his rematch for the title there as well. So basically all we’ve got here is a match because they needed a match, but it’s a match which has been built up rather well. We all know that Batista will remain Champion; I’m thinking that this match will feature Undertaker inference, maybe disqualifying Kennedy.
Winner – Mr. Kennedy
Danny Cox: If Kennedy were to win the title here, he wouldn’t hold it up until Mania with No Way Out still to come in February. But as it seems that we are heading towards Batista and Taker at Mania, and I think it will be for the title I see Taker costing Batista the win here and letting Kennedy hold the belt for about 3 weeks until he wins it back.
Winner – MISSSTTTTEEERRRRR Kennedy!
Charlie Marsh: I hate Kennedy and his super amazing ability to say his name twice with a fiery passion and would like this match to be a squash by Batista ala Lesnar-Holly from 2004.
Winner – DAVE
Kace: I’m sensing Batista Vs Undertaker at WrestleMania for some reason, so with that in mind…
Winner – Batista
John Cena (c) vs. Umaga – WWE Title – Last Man Standing
PK: New Year’s Rev was Umaga’s shot at the title. I don’t see him outlasting Cena in this one.
Winner – Cena
Widro: it’s hard to see this ending with umaga winning the title, but the other two matches are likely not switches and umaga is severely damaged if he can’t answer a 10 count
Winner – umaga (why not)
Matthew Michaels: Ya know, I wonder sometimes. WWE’s totally been putting Cena over as the “against all odds” Champion. They even went so far as to have WWE.com report that he “refused medical treatment” and was questionable for the match at the Rumble. I can see this going one of two ways: Cena gets killed all match and then SOMEhow comes back and wins… or Cena loses the title, then enters the Rumble. Cena vs. Umaga at Mania? Sounds DECENT, but having John drop the belt at NYR and keeping Umaga undefeated would have made the build-up to that a lot better. I’m going with Cena keeping it here.
Winner – John Cena
Eric Szulczewski: We’re in for yet another Rumblemania season of Cena As Champion. I’ll stock up on the acid blockers and anti-depressants. They’ll be in a candy jar on the table for all of you. Anyone with half a brain will understand how this stip benefits Cena, so I don’t have to lead many of you through the skeins of logic.
Winner – John Cena
Vinny Truncellito: A victory for Umaga gives Cena a chase (read: something to do) between now and ‘Mania, since we all know he’ll defend his title in Detroit, and the Feb show is SD-only. It’s also a good match stip in which to lose the title, since Cena won’t actually be pinned or made to submit. 42 hired guns could pummel him and hold him down so he can’t answer the 10-count, if that’s what they need to do to keep him strong.
Winner – Umaga
GRUT: How can John Cena beat this monster with his fake injury hurting him so? I dunno, but in my opinion Shawn Michaels vs. Umaga is one of the worst Wrestlemania title matches ever.
Winner – Umaga.
FLEA: Same deal as above, without (JBL). Cena needs a warm up, but at least this one means something. I think they have to give Cena a clean win, just for a Mania push (and Subway!). It would be stupid to give his Blow Off win (and Umaga’s loss first loss) away on free TV. But, they do have to turn HBK…not heel, but credible. As in “I still gots that fire”…I guess THIS will be the Rocky story – HBK’s chase for the belt. No heel turn for Cena or HBK, just let it play out. It’s not like HBK is going to let the match be an embarrassment in the ring and he knows how to…I’m dreaming. A loss here won’t hurt Umaga
Winner – Cena
Iain Burnside: Every single year there is some idiot harping on about the champion losing their title, then entering the Rumble and winning it. Put another dime in the jukebox, baby.
Winner – it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s JOHN CENA
Pulse Glazer: Maybe they finally move the belt off Cena until right before Wrestlemania. It’s old having him with the belt and a short Umaga run would freshen things up before the big one.
Winner – Umaga
David Brashear: Again, I don’t think that we’ll see another title change until Wrestlemania. Plus, the idea of Umaga as world champ does not work at all.
Winner – Cena
Troy Hepple: Cena retains and Umaga goes over to ECW, to maybe beat Lashley for the title at Mania. Yes, I know, Umaga and Taker both champions at the same time – it’s a weird thought, terrifying almost.
Winner – John Cena
Danny Cox: God I really want to stick to my prediction over the past 6-7 months that Umaga would hold the title by the end of 2006/early 2007. But if that wasn’t a total Cena victory prediction on Monday, then I don’t know what was. Cena got destroyed which is clue number 1. Then there’s the “ruptured spleen†rumor. That is simply going to allow JR to say, “John Cena! John Cena! John Cena! Even with a ruptured spleen and losing an arm and a foot has defeated the monster Umaga, look at that man’s courage!
Winner – Subway Jared’s Friend
Charlie Marsh: I can’t believe Cena is going to wrestle with a ruptured spleen, against Umaga no less! What a courageous champion! I should spend all my money on Cena merchandise to display my respect for him!
Winner – SuperCena
Kace: Honestly I wouldn’t mind being wrong here…
Winner – Cena
Royal Rumble Match
From Raw: Shelton Benjamin, Carlito, Kenny Dykstra, Edge, Ric Flair, Jeff Hardy, Chris Masters, Shawn Michaels, Johnny Nitro, Randy Orton, The Great Khali, Viscera, Super Crazy
From SmackDown: Chris Benoit, Finlay, Chavo Guerrero, Matt Hardy, Gregory Helms, Kane, King Booker, The Miz, Montel Vontavious Porter, The Undertaker
From ECW: Tommy Dreamer, Hardcore Holly, CM Punk, Sabu, The Sandman, Kevin Thorn, Rob Van Dam
PK: Everyone knows who the favorites are in this match. That being said, I’m picking Matt Hardy!
Winner – Randy Orton
Widro: i’m a huge orton mark but i think this is taker’s year
Winner – undertaker
Matthew Michaels: The Undertaker or Shawn Michaels HAS to win this one right? I’ve talked enough about this, debated it, exhausted myself over it. I think I’m just gonna sit back and relax when the time comes to watch it. But first — there’s only four people I can see legitimately winning this and going on to get a title shot anyway (and no, none of them are on the ECW roster), unless they swerve us and throw Hogan or one of the people in other matches in this one, which I don’t feel like predicting… As stongly as I feel Taker should win this, something tells me Kennedy costs him the match, and we have Kennedy vs. Taker at No Way Out for #1 contender. Michaels will be the hometown favorite, but RAW ended with him too strong for me. Edge should be in there for much of the match, but… I just don’t think they’re gonna do Edge/Cena at Mania. Which leaves…
Final Four – Undertaker, Michaels, Edge and our last man left…
Winner – Randy Orton
Eric Szulczewski: I was the first person at this site to mention the possibility of Michaels winning the Rumble after Trip was injured. Then, everyone followed me like the Pied Piper I am. Then some of you became distracted and decided that the Undertaker was a better choice. I have seen nothing to alter my path. I only see electric shocks to the genitals for those who strayed. I’ve explained my reasoning already in order to minimize the length of this entry (see the Smackdown Short Form). Your Final Four will be Michaels, Orton, Finlay, and Van Dam, in case you were wondering.
Winner – Shawn Michaels
Vinny Truncellito: It doesn’t even seem possible that the ‘Taker has never won the Rumble. I think it’s the ideal way to formally push him to the title match without some forced heel turn from either himself or Batista. Let their ‘Mania match be about respect for each other, and the title versus the streak. Plus, I saw an “unofficial†poster for the SmackDown!-only ppv No Way Out featuring the Undertaker. Seems to jibe with my pick
Winner – The Undertaker
GRUT: This is the most unpredictable rumble in a long time if for no other reason than the WWE hasn’t beaten us over the head with the guy who is going to win the Rumble. I see 4 possible outcomes:
1. Shawn Michaels wins, setting up either Umaga vs. Michaels or Cena vs. Umaga vs. Michaels. This is the second best option.
2. The best option is the Undertaker wins and faces Batista in the main event.
3. John Cena loses his match vs. Umaga but finds the fake fortitude to enter and win the Rumble. 3rd best option.
4. I hope this doesn’t happen, but they’re trying to recreate Wrestlemania 3. Somehow, Cena wins vs. Umaga. And then, without any regard for the fans, The Great Khali wins the Rumble. I am scared, but I am hopeful this will not happen.
Final Four- Khali, Undertaker, Kane and Shawn Michaels.
Winner – Undertaker
FLEA: Probably HBK. Although he doesn’t really need it. That story is there. UT? He doesn’t need it either. He’ll get the match vs. Batista. No one else is getting a title shot(s) at Mania, so unless they do something screwy and make the Winner of the Rumble, the guy who wins a chance to compete for the (or “a” these days) Championship match at Wrestlemania, a cheap, fluke win, only to get the title shot taken away anyway, and thereby rendering the whole meaning of the Rumble nothing more than a showcase for Mid Card Talent, nostalgia and cheap pops, I say HBK.
Oops. We also have the ECW Belt! HAWR! Come to think of it, this is some Rumble. Here’s what I want: Mystery entrant – CACTUS JACK! Oh man. Seeing as Test is winning the belt and the Mania program will be Test vs. Cactus, it’s perfect. That way we have we have 8 weeks of Cactus calling Test a piece of shit, just like in all his books and interviews, which will make A DRAW / DUDE’S OVER FOR LIFE out of Test! A bad motherf*cker. Like they did with HHH. And tried to do with Orton. And did with Edge. Flair was a debacle, other than the promos, but what was the purpose? Let it never be said that both of them are marks for themselves. Just a ‘nother case of “there you are”‘
And that’s what will happen. It must. I should pull Foley’s quote in his book about Test winning the Hardcore Belt – “and in the distance, the sound you hear was Terry Funk crying”…or something like that. Now’s not the time, PK’s a busy man. With one less tooth
Winner – Cactus Jack
Iain Burnside: 27 no-hopers, plus The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton. In the name of statistics, Orton should win considering he’s a heel (last time a heel won was 1999) and he’s on Raw (post-brand extension they’ve won it once, Smackdown thrice), but in the name of Burnside, Orton should never win anything more substantial than a kick in the face. Hell, maybe they’ll get exceptionally creative and have Edge/Orton be joint winners. Picture it – they’re left with Michaels at the end, they get rid of him, they briefly spar before unspoken agreement overcomes them, they jump over the top rope onto the apron, they look at one another, then jump to the floor simultaneously. Later on Raw they explain they have a better chance of one of them getting the title at Mania if the other one is in the match too. Or do the same ending but have Michaels come back in and superkick one of them off the apron, giving the win to the other. And what of Michaels: old; small; hairily bald? The hometown boy with enough stroke to avoid Booker’s Patented Hometown Job Voodoo Curse. Of course, it would do more good in the long-run to use his hometown heat to get some exceptional heel heat on Orton for eliminating him, particularly as there is another Texan waiting in the wings to get the victory. That would be Taker: old; tall; surly. It would be an easy lead-in to a face-face match with Batista, particularly with outstanding Kennedy issues to be resolved at No Way Out, although they seem to have taken it upon themselves to start that build anyway. But then who says that the face-face match has to be Taker/Batista or Cena/Michaels? Why not Taker/Cena? At a time when the promotion is still giving serious thought to not firing Khali, who can say what will happen? The answer, as always, is not Eddie Murphy. It is not even LL Cool J. Hell, it’s barely even a Bow Wow. In that case, I can happily sleep through the whole thing and dream about inappropriate things that somehow become appropriate when backed by certain Prince songs.
Winner – sing a song of six pence, RANDY ORTON
Pulse Glazer: There’s a few ways they can go with this. Check out my column for a full rundown.
Winner – HBK, but his title match becomes a four way.
David Brashear: Okay. Let’s start by removing everybody who doesn’t have a shot. That means that Raw keeps Edge, Flair, Michaels and Orton; Smackdown has Benoit, Finlay, Kane, King Booker, and Undertaker; and ECW has Punk, Sabu, and Van Dam. I don’t see Vince giving the win to an ECW guy, so there go those three. I think that they’ll want to save Taker’s Mania match for somebody else, so cross him off. Flair, Michaels, Orton, and Edge are going to be too concerned with each other, so they’re gone. I don’t see Benoit or Kane winning, and I also see Finlay being a guy who’s gloating about pitching somebody and gets pitched himself. That leaves just one person.
Winner – King Booker
Troy Hepple: Only one filler wrestler (Super Crazy) this year, with everyone else getting pushes or at least serving a purpose in the Rumble. That’s pretty good by Rumble standards, especially after last year’s abomination of a pay per view. While there’s only two men who have a shot of winning this (Taker and Michaels), there’s a few wrestlers who should be able to get quite the showcase from this year’s Rumble – look for Khali to eliminate a shit load including Kane, Edge and Orton will be a part of the final four, Punk to get a few guys tapping out in the Anaconda Vice and I’m thinking he’ll have an early number, and I’m hoping for Hardcore Holly to eliminate a fair few since the ECW guys could benefit a lot from this match if done properly. Anyways; Taker and Michaels are the real two wrestlers with a chance in this thing, and as much as I’d like to see Shawn Michaels win it (since Cena beating a Rumble winner would be fantastic for his image) it’s pretty much already set in stone for Mania; Batista vs. Taker. Get used to it, on the upside; it’s at least a lot bigger than any of the matches on last year’s WrestleMania.
Winner – The Undertaker
Danny Cox: First of all, Taker will end up facing Batista at Mania for the title, so that takes all Smackdown superstars from winning this thing. Vinnie Mac won’t have anyone from ECW win it period. Shawn Michaels has been defying all odds in facing Rated RKO all by himself and the Rumble is in his hometown. With Edge and Orton looking to be on a collision course since they’ve been a team at least a month and a half which is FAR too long by WWE standards, consider HBK the hometown hero winner. I’d still rather Benoit take it, challenge Cena, and destroy him at Mania. Bah!
Winner – HBK
Charlie Marsh: There are four guys that have been built up strong enough to win it: Shawn Michaels, Edge, Randy Orton, and The Undertaker. The Undertaker is already developing a feud with Batista, so that match doesn’t really need a Royal Rumble victory to justify it. Michaels is already in an established feud with Rated RKO that needs blowing off, with Edge more than Orton, so I see Orton winning the Rumble, giving us Michaels-Edge in some kind of gimmick match and Orton-Cena for the title at Mania.
Winner – Randy Orton
Kace: Wouldn’t surprise me if King Booker won and then transferred to Raw to feud with Cena over the WWE Heavyweight Title. I’d prefer it to be CM Punk winning, though.
Winner – King Booker
