So I made up my “dream” card, but allow me to predict the results of WM XXIV based on what World Wrestling Entertainment actually is offering up to us on Sunday. I think the card is pretty final at this point, but given that the show is 4 hours and there’s only 9 matches, they could probably squeeze a match or two more onto the show, and if they do, I’ll be sure to get my predictions in on those as well.
Here we go…
WWE Title Match: Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena vs. Triple H
As I’ve said before, this just seems pretty lackluster as a WrestleMania match, though I’m sure it’ll main event the show. I can’t understand why HHH is here except for the obvious reasons. At least with HHH’s involvement, maybe they can raise this match above the quality that the Cena/Orton matches have had.
Who I Wanna See Win: John Cena, FU on Orton
Actual Predicted Winner: HHH, pedigree on Orton
World Title: Edge (c) vs. Undertaker
The 2nd year in a row that Smackdown has offered up Title vs. Streak at WM as their top match. ‘taker was victorious last year against Batista, can he keep the streak alive AND win the world title at ‘Mania two years in a row? On one hand, I think the streak SHOULD end at some point but, the more I think about it, the more I realize Edge is such a great heel he doesn’t really *need* to win here. I think I’d like to see someone a bit younger who hasn’t already been at the top of the mountain be the one to end the streak. Should be a really good match though. So…
Who I Wanna See Win: Undertaker with the tombstone
Actual Predicted Winner: Undertaker with the tombstone
Career Threatening Match: Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels
I gotta agree with Bryan & Vinny over at F4WOnline.com– either this is gonna be a disappointment or it’s gonna be a show stealer. I’m sure there’ll be a few Flair flubs, but I think HBK can hold it together to make this match at least “very good”.
Who I Wanna See Win: Flair, with the figure-four, who then retires the next night on Raw after saying there’s no way he could ever top the performance he gave at WM
Actual Predicted Winner: Flair, with the figure-four, who then retires the next night on Raw after saying there’s no way he could ever top the performance he gave at WM. C’mon, how lame would it be for him to actually LOSE? It wouldn’t make sense to have a face HBK end Flair’s career. It’s a rub HBK doesn’t need anyway.
Raw vs. Smackdown: Umaga vs. Batista
Hm. A pretty random match featuring two guys who appeared to have been afterthoughts for this year’s show. Batista has improved a lot in the last year and Umaga has shown himself to be a great brawler, can they deliver an entertaining brawl? Anything can happen in WWE. Regardless of the outcome, I hope the rumors of Umaga going to Smackdown are true because outside of a HBK/Umaga feud (which I would love to see), there’s nothing left for him on Raw. This is the match to start making that happen.
Who I Wanna See Win: Umaga, with the Samoan Spike and/or a foreign object of some kind. They need to get back to booking him as a true monster, the HHH feud did him no favors and he’s been in limbo ever since.
Actual Predicted Winner: Umaga, with the Samoan Spike and/or a foreign object of some kind.
Belfast Brawl: JBL vs. Finlay
Yeah, a match no one wants to see. JBL touting this match at the main drawing pointing for the show this past monday on Raw was pretty funny. Well, at least they’ll be hitting each other pretty hard, but I think this match is gonna be ugly.
Who I Wanna See Win: Eh. Let’s go with Finlay, thanks to the use of his irish beating stick and Hornswoggle’s interference.
Actual Predicted Winner: JBL, with help from Mr. McMahon, to further this feud (McMahon/JBL vs. Finlay/Hornswoggle @ Backlash?).
Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show
A wrestling match? A boxing match? Boxer vs. wrestler? Who the heck knows? I don’t think WWE does! Mayweather said it was going to be a “fight” on Larry King Live, so let’s go with that– it’s a “Fight Match”.
Who I Wanna See Win: Big Show, with the cobra clutch backbreaker (c’mon… please bring that move back, Show!).
Actual Predicted Winner: Mayweather, through some form of posse interference or use of weaponry. While I highly doubt Floyd is getting $20 million, I doubt that whatever he’s getting paid that he’s getting it to job, no matter what the crowd reaction is.
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: John Morrison vs. CM Punk vs. Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. MVP vs. Chris Jericho
Should be a pretty good spotfest, as MITB has proven itself to be at previous shows. My guess is Morrison takes the worst bumps here.
Who I Wanna See Win: CM Punk, so that he can use this open title shot as a chance to head on over to Smackdown when he decides to cash in.
Actual Predicted Winner: Mr. Kennedy, so that he can use this open title shot as a chance to head on over to Smackdown when he decides to cash in. Sure, Kennedy came from Smackdown to Raw less than a year ago, but Smackdown always needs more talent and another major heel besides Edge. His Raw run has been a disaster, he’s not a threat over there at all and has jobbed to just about everyone on the Raw roster. He’s a mid-carder on Raw, but could be an upper carder on Smackdown. A return to Smackdown could jumpstart his career again.
ECW Title Match: Chavo Guerrero (c) vs. The Winner of the 24-Man Battle Royal
Wow, how worthless is the ECW belt when the challenger is being determined through a WWE.com tri-brand battle royal featuring roster leftovers that couldn’t get on the show any other way?
Who I Wanna See Win: Whoever wins the battle royal. There’s no reason for Chavo to hold this belt.
Actual Predicted Winner: Whoever wins the battle royal. There’s no reason for Chavo to hold this belt.
BunnyMania Lumberjack Match: Beth Phoenix & Melina vs. Ashley & Maria
Who cares?
Who I Wanna See Win: Beth & Melina when Beth uses her chicken wing slam on Ashley
Actual Predicted Winner: The Playboy Cover Girls, Maria rolls up a distracted Melina for the pin when Santino Marella & then Jerry Lawler interfere
WWE.com Pre-Show Exclusive 24-Man Battle Royal (Winner Receives ECW Title Match @ WrestleMania)
According to a list floating around online, here’s the participants (WWE.com only lists a handful of names):
Brian Kendrick
Chuck Palumbo
Cody Rhodes
Deuce
Domino
Elijah Burke
Festus
Hacksaw Duggan
Hardcore Holly
Jamie Noble
Jesse
Jimmy Wang Yang
Kane
Kofi Kingston
Lance Cade
Mark Henry
Matt Striker
Shannon Moore
Snitsky
The Great Khali
The Miz
Tommy Dreamer
Trevor Murdoch
Val Venis
Where’s Big Daddy V? Perhaps they’ll make it a 25-Man Battle Royal in time for sunday.
Who I Wanna See Win: Tommy Dreamer (Can still deliver entertaining brawls, would be a decent ECW champ) or Kofi Kingston (hey, it’s the ECW title, who cares? Might as well try someone new).
Actual Predicted Winner: Kane, last eliminating the Great Khali. Kane goes on to become new ECW champ (he spends so much time on that show already anyway).
HORNSWOGGLE WON’T BE BACK AT WRESTLEMANIA BECAUSE HE’S IN A BLOODY HOSPITAL BED THANKS TO BLOODY JBL (loser)
I would kill to see Jimmy Wang Yang pull off the 24 man, and I fear that Undertaker will be losing the title to Edge – I don’t WANT him to, I don’t think he SHOULD and I think it’ll piss off a WHOLE LOT of people, but the introduction of a new Edge shirt recently, as well as a Big Show shirt, are kind of setting off warning signals.