A revised look ahead to WrestleMania 25
I didn’t agree with some of the booking decisions at last night’s No Way Out pay-per-view, but I will say this much: WWE is anything but predictable heading into WrestleMania 25, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Three weeks ago, I listed six matches that I thought would take place at WrestleMania on April 5. It looks like I’ll be wrong on at least half of them.
I said in my review of No Way Out this morning that I would withhold final judgment on last night’s moves until watching Raw tonight. Obviously, Edge winning the world heavyweight title last night complicates things, as Smackdown now has two world champs and Raw has none.
Hopefully, the creative team will come up with a plausible explanation as to why Edge was allowed to insert himself in the Raw elimination chamber match. As one reader pointed out, what is the point of having qualifying matches to get into the chamber if someone can just attack one of the participants and take his spot? I know the idea is to get heat (the right kind) on Edge for being the ultimate opportunist, but if the angle defies logic, then the heat (wrong kind) is on the bookers.
Here’s my idea as to how this could play out: No one stopped Edge from competing in the match last night because Raw general manager Stephanie McMahon had left the building to go to the hospital with her brother Shane. Tonight, Stephanie tells Smackdown general manager Vickie Guerrero that she will allow the title change to stand on one condition – that Vickie agrees to let Triple H jump to Raw (thus revealing that Stephanie and Triple H are married) in exchange for John Cena moving to Smackdown to challenge Edge for the title that Cena should never have lost.
So here’s a post-No Way Out look at what the WrestleMania card might look like:
WWE title: Triple H vs. Randy Orton
World heavyweight title: Edge vs. John Cena
Chris Jericho in a match involving any or all of the following: Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Ric Flair
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy
ECW title: Jack Swagger vs. Christian
Money in the Bank ladder match: Shelton Benjamin, Evan Bourne, Mr. Kennedy, Kofi Kingston, MVP, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk and R-Truth
Also: A women’s match, some comedy with Santino Marella and possibly a battle royal involving guys such as The Big Show, JBL, Kane, Vladimir Kozlov, Mike Knox, John Morrison, The Miz, etc.
Note: A lot of you have been predicting an Undertaker-Michaels match, but I had a feeling that WWE was going to hold that off until next year’s WrestleMania (which has been rumored to possibly be Michaels’ final WrestleMania match). It now seems very likely that I was wrong.
Comments
I'm confident your explanation for tonight's RAW makes much more sense than anything the writers have come up with independently. Thanks.
I'd like to see Flair ask Michaels to him the favor of upholding his honor by taking on Jericho at Mania. Maybe instead of Michaels, Undertaker can take on Big Show and Kane (yes, it's been done but what hasn't in WWE's main event tier?). That three way match can add a little intrigue to Taker's streak in the sense that the streak can be protected even if he doesn't win. If the Battle of the Giants doesn't have enough sizzle, make it a #1 contender's match with the title on the line for the next week's Smackdown.
Keep up the good work, Kevin.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: At one point I was thinking about an Undertaker-Big Show-Kozlov three-way at Mania for the exact same reason -- the intrigue being that Undertaker's streak could end without him being involved in the finish. That match would have the potential to be awful, though.
Posted by: TP | February 16, 2009 6:32 PM
I hope you are right on that card Kev, because it is a good one! (Especially Undertaker vs Micheals)
The only thing I'd argue with you on is that they should put Morrison in Money in the Bank instead of Mr Kennedy. I like Kennedy, but he hasn't done anything since returning and his Promos promoting his movie have been horrible and that Obama thing....???? They should not have Dibiase and Rhodes in there - after the past few weeks, they belong in a dark tag match with Hawkins and Ryder!! (wouldn't have said that a month ago)
After WM, they really need to work on elevlating Morrison, Benjamin, Kingston, Punk and R truth - and Mysterio - he's been stealing the show with his moves a lot lately!
I'm not sure that the ECW title match should be on the card (or any card - should be a dark match) I mean, at last year WM and summer slam, it was a farce - less than a minute in both cases. Why bother wasting any time on it at all? And with speculation about only having one world title, it makes even less sense to have the ECW belt on the card.
Looks like they've dropped the ball on the intercontinental title "regaining it's prestige", even though Punk, if booked properly, could have been the man to do it.
If they put Undetaker with Koslov, it must mean that Vince has a niece that Koslov has started an affair with. There is no other explanation for trying to keep him in the upper level.
Posted by: Rob | February 16, 2009 6:37 PM
There are only two circumstances under which I could be happy about The Undertaker's Wrestlemania streak ending:
A) 'Taker is competing against the business' next megastar
B) he is competing against a top star who is having his retirement match.
A match between Taker and HBK would fall under B, and if it would indeed be Shawn's last match, then I could accept the streak ending.
Posted by: Christopher | February 16, 2009 6:39 PM
Kev,
Have you seen the new poster for Wrestlemania 25? Interesting that Steve Austin is in the dead center with all the other stars around him in a circle around the logo. Could just be a nod to his induction in the HOF, or maybe (PLEASE!!!) he has one last match (OR MORE!!) left in him.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I had not heard about the poster until you just told me. I found it on a Google search. I'm skeptical as to whether it's authentic.
Posted by: Eric | February 16, 2009 6:48 PM
Why would Undertaker want to put his undefeated streak on the line against Mr. WrestleMania? Is he really that cocky/confident?
And, at this point in Shawn's career, I'm sure a last title run would be a lot higher on his list than ending a 'streak'.
Obviously, this would be a tremendous matchup, but how the story goes to make it actually happen is nearly impossible to create as they are both very popular.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: The story line is exactly what you said: The Streak vs. Mr. WrestleMania. Both guys can say that have done it all at Mania except wrestle each other. It would be for bragging rights.
Posted by: Bradley | February 16, 2009 7:15 PM
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: The story line is exactly what you said: The Streak vs. Mr. WrestleMania. Both guys can say that have done it all at Mania except wrestle each other. It would be for bragging rights.
I was skeptical about an HBK vs. Taker WM match, however, when you say it like that... I can see it happening like that. Kevin, do you think that there would be a show of respect between the two of them after the match, regardless of the outcome? That's something we haven't seen either.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I would fully expect a handshake after the match.
Posted by: Gwen | February 16, 2009 7:38 PM
Hey Kevin I have a question for you for perspective's sake.
With Triple H obviously gunning for Ric Flair's record of 16 World Titles, I was wondering how was Ric Flair perceived back when he was in the midst of winning these championships, basically the spot Triple H is in now?
Was he viewed with the same reverence for his accomplishments as he is today, or was he seen as a selfish self-promoter much like Trips is seen by many today. Do we look at Flair's accomplishments differently because we have the luxury of historical perspective or because his wins and subsequent reigns were that damn good, (pun intended) and were the right business decisions?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: That sounds like great blog fodder. I think I'll address it in a future post.
Posted by: Ceasar | February 16, 2009 7:39 PM
The poster you've found Kevin is real. WWE.com has it.
Kevin, I don't want to be a nuisance but I would like to know what could be the storyline justification to Taker vs HBK match. Because I would love to see that match, but I can't a reason to make it happen, since they are in different brands.
Your explanation about Edge winning the title makes sense. Surely much more than any other explanation that RAW can give us tonight.
So the WHC was won at No Way Out by a non official participant of the Title match. The last time i watched a program with a title being won like that, it was for the HArdcore title.
Isn't that funny and sad?
Posted by: Gaston | February 16, 2009 7:41 PM
I don't know if it was just me, but I hated the Orton/Hunter feud in 2008.
I found their matches to be excruciatingly slow.
Posted by: Elevation | February 16, 2009 7:42 PM
The Event Poster for WM 25 with AUSTIN dead center is very authentic as it is on the inside cover of WWE MAGAZINE! Always blows my mind that they put the event poster in there so early giving away what could be a great suprise!
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Thanks for the info.
Posted by: Tim | February 16, 2009 7:46 PM
I posted something similar to this in the other thread, but with Stephanie gone for the night, I don't see the problem with Edge winning Raw's title. With the GM out, the inmates tend to run the asylum. There was no one there to stop Edge last night. If Steph had been backstage and allowed it to happen, you'd have to question what is WWE thinking, but with her gone, why would the Ultimate Opportunist not try to find a way into someone else's title match?
Posted by: Rob | February 16, 2009 8:03 PM
Sorry, I hadn't yet read the next paragraph where your explanation is basically the same as mine. I was thinking that Edge was on Raw as the champ now and would be traded for HHH, but I guess Cena for HHH makes more sense, although I'd really appreciate Cena not being in a Mania title match. Of course, I'd like to see Hunter not in a title match either at this point:
WM 25 - Title match vs. ???
WM24 - Title match vs. Cena and Orton
WM23 - Injured
WM22 - Title match vs. Cena
WM 21 - Title match vs. Batista
WM20 - Title match vs. HBK and Benoit
WM19 - Title match vs. Booker T
WM 18 - Title match vs. Jericho
WM17 - Regular match vs. Undertaker
WM 16 - Title match vs. Foley, Big Show and Rock
I shouldn't be surprised at this point, but this is ridiculous. We'' see where things are going from here, but this is shaping up to be the first Mania I skip in a long, long time.
Posted by: Rob | February 16, 2009 8:09 PM
They could say that Edge was left in the Raw Chamber because of the fact that he never tried to get back the WHC once Punk took it from him so he still had his rematch clause. Or if Edge did try to get it back I forgot about it.
Posted by: Martin | February 16, 2009 8:44 PM
How about a Legacy vs. HHH/Shane/Vince match with Stephanie being the wildcard? After the last couple performances do you still think Koslov will remain main event status?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I think Kozlov's performance at NWO sealed his fate -- at least for now.
Posted by: Benjamin | February 16, 2009 8:54 PM
WWE has pre-released event posters in the past that have turned out to be inaccurate—depicting wrestlers who don't appear in that PPV, or showing guys holding belts that they don't have or win at the event. (The posters are usually put onto Wikipedia by pajama people.) Just FYI, don't read too much into it.
Posted by: Stephen | February 16, 2009 9:30 PM
Hi Kevin, thanks for the blog, I look forward to reading your entries each week.
Just a quick question...is it just me or are the WWE and WHC belts currently worn by the champs looking a lot like the (ahem, cheap) replicas that are being sold to the fans? I find it hard to believe that the hardware being worn is anywhere near the genuine "10 pounds of gold" Flair wore back in 1986 (yes, I know he referred to both the old NWA belt and the current WWE championship versions as the 10 pounds of gold).
Thanks for the input.
Posted by: Phil | February 16, 2009 9:45 PM
Interest level in each of the proposed matches:
Orton-Hunter: 3/10 (all because of the possibility of Orton, who is sorta okay, winning the title)
Edge-Cena: 6/10 (I don't like Cena, but a feud between these two feels a bit fresher than Cena-Orton or Edge-Hunter)
Taker-Michaels: 9/10 (This could be great, only potential problem is the rationalization)
Jericho-Austin: 10/10 (It's STEVE AUSTIN)
Jericho-Flair: 1/10 (I do not want to see Flair wrestle again)
Jericho-Rourke: 1/10 (Mickey Rourke is not a wrestler)
Jeff Hardy-Matt Hardy: 8/10 (this really all depends on how Matt is booked, if he is nonexistent on Smackdown like he was at No Way Out, I will lose a lot of interest)
Jack Swagger-Christian: 5/10 (I like Christian a lot, and Swagger has limitless potential, but it's the ECW title and it's not Evan Bourne)
MITB: 9/10 (I love the MITB match. Any of those eight guys winning would be great, but I'd put John Morrison in there. He deserves it after probably the most memorable moment of last year's Mania, his moonsault off the top rope to the floor with a ladder)
Anything else: 2/10 (no interest in anything involving Vladimir Kozlov)
Posted by: James | February 16, 2009 10:02 PM
Shawn could walk out on RAW tonight and decare now that he is free and clear of JBL he can get back to doing what he does best "stealing the show" and "Being Mr.Wrestle Mania" and how he couldn't think of a better guy to do that with than The Undertaker!
Posted by: Andre the Midget | February 16, 2009 10:03 PM
I like the entrants you proposed for the MITB match, but I am curious as to who you think would win from that bunch. Assuming that the WWE would give the winner the expected title run at some point in 2009, I'm not sure who I could envision getting elevated for that run from the list of talent you made. Of course, I wouldn't have pictured CM Punk being a legit title contender before last year's MITB match with the way he was booked, but the WWE made it work.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I have someone in mind but I'll wait to see if he's even in the match officially before I reveal it.
Posted by: Glen | February 17, 2009 2:16 PM
Pre Show WWE.com FreeView 25-Man Battle Royal: Winner receives MITB Ladder Match Spot
Participants: The Big Show, Vladimir Kozlov, Finlay, The Great Khali, Mike Knox, Mark Henry, The Miz, Charlie Haas, JTG, Shad, William Regal, Dolph Ziggler, Manu, Sim Snuka, The Brian Kendrick, R-Truth, Carlito, Primo, Festus, Hurricane Helms, Ezekiel, Zach Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Ricky Ortiz and Tommy Dreamer.
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Participants: Kane, MVP, Mr. Kennedy, Kofi Kingston, John Morrison, Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin, and The Big Show
Intercontinental Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy
ECW Championship: Jack Swagger (c) vs. Christian
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Beth Phoenix and Michelle McCool vs. Trish Stratus and Melina
Chris Jericho vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
World Heavyweight Championship: Edge (c) vs. John Cena
Main Event WWE Championship: Triple H (c) vs. Randy Orton
Special Guest Ref: Batista
Posted by: Joe Rice | February 17, 2009 5:42 PM