Other than WrestleMania, which always gathers a buzz based on name value alone, this has to be the most talked about WWE pay-per-view of the year amongst the online community. So far the card stands at six matches, so another match or two could be added. For now let’s take a look at what we have.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. CM Punk
This would be the main reason that so many are excited to see this show. The CM Punk angle has been written on by so many writers, so I assume if you’re reading this you’ve already seen and read all about it. Punk has been so unbelievable on the microphone lately that he’s crossed the line from Awesome to Special. This is easily the most interesting angle the WWE has put together in years, even if they essentially stole it from 2005 Ring of Honor (thanks Gabe!). The match is taking place in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, and with several different options for an outcome, the wrestling world is abuzz with an excitement rarely seen these days. This is why I love wrestling.
WINNER – CM Punk
World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs. Christian
This has been an outstanding feud, and the way they’ve been able to extend it month to month has been quite clever. I see some complaints that Orton has been too dominant and it’s gone on too long, but the same people often complain when titles are changed to quickly or feuds are over too soon. These two have had three excellent matches and a legitimate reason for feuding, and I’ve enjoyed it all the way through. This match has an added stipulation that if Orton is disqualified he will lose the title, so expect that to play into the finish somehow.
WINNER – Christian
Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match
This year’s participants are Alberto Del Rio, R-Truth, Jack Swagger, The Miz, Evan Bourne, Rey Mysterio, Alex Riley and Kofi Kingston. That’s a solid crop of guys and I think it should be a really entertaining spectacle. Del Rio is already the #1 Contender so I don’t see him winning this one. Swagger and Miz have already won it and successfully cashed in, so unless they have a unique plan for them I don’t see either of them winning. Bourne and Kingston don’t seem likely, although I think it would be a great time to start building up Kingston toward the main event. That leaves Truth, Mysterio, and Riley as the likely candidates. I can see Riley winning it and hanging on to it for a while, waiting to get more experience before taking his title shot. I would even like to see him announce it ahead of time just as a change of pace.
WINNER – Alex Riley
SmackDown Money in the Bank Ladder Match
On the SmackDown side of things we have Justin Gabriel, Sheamus, Heath Slater, Cody Rhodes, Kane, Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan, and Wade Barrett competing for the title shot. Gabriel and Slater are essentially jobbers, so they’re out. Cara and Bryan are stronger than those two, but they still seem unlikely. Kane and Sheamus have gotten enough title shots, especially since Kane just won this last year. That leaves Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett. Rhodes looks poised to challenge Ezekiel Jackson for the Intercontinental Title, and then be in a position to challenge for the World Heavyweight Title later in the year. Barrett has been aimless since losing the title to Jackson, but he has already challenged for the WWE Title and it’s clear that WWE brass have some faith in him, so I see this as the perfect chance to start building him back up.
WINNER – Wade Barrett
Big Show vs. Mark Henry
While I’m not exactly juicing to see this match, at least WWE has gone through the trouble of building a feud between them. Sure there really is no clear motivation, but at least they’re Mad At Each Other. If they keep it around eight minutes I think it could be decent.
WINNER – Mark Henry
Divas Champion Kelly Kelly vs. Brie Bella
Uh, bathroom break match.
WINNER – Kelly Kelly
Join me on Sunday for the Live Coverage, starting at 8 p.m. EST!
