Wrestlemania XXVI Possibilities and Results

Wrestlemania is quite simply the greatest wrestling spectacle on the planet. Unfortunately, spectacle does not always mean fantastic matches.

Having watched wrestling for a short time (since January 1999), I feel that Wrestlemania XXVI has the possibility to be the greatest of them all.

Below are both my predictions for what the WWE will probably do, compared to what my dream matches would look like. I've also added what the result would probably be. Enjoy.

Money in the Bank

I'll start with the opening match, which I feel will follow the path of last year's Wrestlemania; the Money in the Bank ladder match. This match usually gets the crowd into the action early, which is always important when formatting a pay-per-view.

John Morrison vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Matt Hardy vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Jack Swagger vs. Evan Bourne vs. Cody Rhodes*

[*I'll explain a little later why Rhodes might not be in this match]

Result: John Morrison climbs the ladder and gets the case. I could see Kingston or Rhodes getting the case as well, but I think Morrison's popularity and Main event status is brimming at the moment.

From reading comments on this site, I know there is a ton of Matt Hardy love (and I am a fan as well), but I just can't see the WWE giving him the chance, especially with the rumors he might join his brother in TNA.

The United States Championship

Match: The Miz (c) defeats Montel Vontavious Porter for the United States Championship

Dream Match: Same as above

The WWE has set this one up pretty well, and this one is pretty much a lock. The Miz has turned into a top 5 mic man in the company, and has played a great heel role.

If he can improve his in-ring work, I can see him main-eventing for years to come.

As for MVP, I can see him come into Wrestlemania the champ (after a victory at Elimination Chamber), but I think the WWE will let The Miz leave with the strap.

The Divas

Match: Beth Phoenix wins the 25-Diva Battle Royal to crown "Miss Wrestlemania"

Dream Match: Gail Kim pins Maryse for the WWE Diva's Championship and Beth Phoenix pins Mickie James for the WWE Women's Championship in a two-fall Fatal Four Way match for the Diva's Championship (first fall) and the Women's Championship (second-fall)

I think most will agree that the 25-Diva Battle Royal from last year's Wrestlemania was pretty stupid.

Not that I don't enjoy Santino Marella, but the match meant very little with a man being crowned "Miss Wrestlemania".

Beth Phoenix is probably the most dominant female wrestler in the WWE and I would see her take a Battle Royal.

However, I hold out hope that we get a match along the lines of what we saw at Wrestlemania 2000 (with Benoit, Angle and Jericho). I think that would be the most interesting match involving the WWE Divas.

The NXT Generation

Match: Zack Ryder defeats Christian(c) and Yoshi Tatsu in a triple-threat match for the NXT Championship

Dream: Brian Danielson defeats Christian(c) for the NXT Championship

I don't follow ECW (soon to be NXT) as closely as I do the other two WWE shows, but I see this as Christian's final match with ECW/NXT before moving on to Smackdown to start a rivalry with Edge.

I see one of the up-and-coming WWE Superstars winning this match, and it would probably be Tatsu or Ryder. Hopefully, though, Brian Danielson will arrive in the WWE shortly, after working out his ring rust in FCW.

I think the WWE is desperate for some new stars (e.g. the Sheamus situation), and a Danielson/Christian affair could bring the house down and make Danielson a star at the same time propelling Christian to a future World Heavyweight Championship reign.

The Streak Continues

Match: The Undertaker defeats Sheamus to push his streak to 18-0

Dream: The Undertaker defeats The Big Show to push his streak to 18-0

There is no way Sheamus walks into Wrestlemania the champ. No way. That being said, I think he's a pretty decent wrestler with an interesting look and a possibly bright future.

He also matches up well in terms of in-ring product and size with The Undertaker. A few articles on this site brought up this match as a possibility, and I am starting to see it as a definite possibility.

I would prefer the match to involve the Big Show, however. I think that he and The Undertaker have put on some great matches in the past, and I think they could put on one here.

Also, with The Undertaker's diminishing in-ring capabilities, this one would keep the action at a slower pace than a match with Sheamus.

The Straight-Edge Society vs. Rey Mysterio

Match: Rey Mysterio defeats CM Punk in a hair-vs-mask match w/ Stone Cold Steve Austin as guest referee

Dream: Stone Cold Steve Austin defeats CM Punk

I don't know how they are going to get it started, but the rumor is that Punk will face Mysterio in a hair-vs-mask match. I think it would be a great match, as both competitors are fantastic in the ring.

I think that CM Punk will get the Unified Tag Belts eventually so that he can be on Raw when Stone Cold hosts in March.

That possibility would be incredible, to see the redneck, beer-swilling brawler come face to face with the Straight Edge Society, and I think the WWE sees it too, which is why they are really pushing the SES.

If Austin were to come back to wrestle one more time, I think this is one match that could blow the roof off the building. The promos would be fantastic, and the WWE Universe would really be into the match.

Either way, I see Austin's Raw Guest Host Spot leading to him being involved with CM Punk at Wrestlemania.

The Grudge Match

Match: John Cena (w/ Bret Hart) defeats Batista (w/ Mr. McMahon)

Dream: Bret Hart defeats Mr. McMahon by submission in a Grudge Match

Based on last week's Raw, with the crowd chanting "Cena" as Batista beat on Bret Hart, I think this one is pretty inevitable as well. I think Cena and Batista could put on a decent match (despite their lack of in the ring talents) and naturally this one ends with Mr. McMahon tapping to a sharpshooter to the delight of the crowd.

As for my dream match, I would love to see Bret Hart back in a WWE ring, but I am just too worried for his health. I think Mr. McMahon could put on a decent match with Bret, but I think they'll let their emissaries handle the in-ring action for them.

The Degeneration of DX

Match: HHH defeats Shawn Michaels in a Street Fight

Dream: Shawn Michaels defeats HHH (c) for the WWE Championship

As with Edge/Jericho, I see this one as an almost certainty as well. A few months ago, I was all for Michaels/Undertaker II, but now I hope it doesn't come to pass. I just don't see them living up to last year's match.

As with most of the HHH/Michaels matches, I see this one being a street fight. If HHH takes the title at Elimination Chamber (which he very well might), he would probably walk out of Wrestlemania the champ, but I would love to see Michaels grab the belt one last time at the end of a hall-of-fame career.

The End of Legacy

Match: Ted DiBiase defeats Randy Orton (c) for the WWE Championship

Dream: Ted DiBiase defeats Randy Orton (c) and Cody Rhodes in a Triple-Threat match for the WWE Championship

I think we will see some form of a Legacy match at Wrestlemania. I think Ted DiBiase can be a star right now, as shown in the match he had with Orton on Raw a few months ago. The crowd was extremely into it, and he got a big pop when he shoved Orton.

I have heard rumblings of this match from all over the internet for months now, and I for one would love to see it. As for my Dream match, (explaining my asterisk from earlier in the slide-show) I would love a triple threat match for the title.

I think Cody Rhodes is also a future star, but I think he needs a few months to get completely over. He is a fantastic mic man, and he is only improving in the ring, but his look is holding him back a little.

He just isn't as marketable as DiBiase or Orton right now (in my opinion), but a program for the WWE Championship later this year would put him at the top of the sratosphere.

However this match happens, I see DiBiase winning it, because Orton doesn't need the Championship. That doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it, but Orton doesn't need the strap to be a main event A-lister.

The Rated R Champion

Match: Edge defeats Chris Jericho (c) for the World Heavyweight Championship

Dream: The same as above

This is almost a certainty. Anyone who reads an Wrestling article on Bleacher Report can see this one coming a mile away. I would make this Edge's first match back from injury (after the Rumble of course), to give him some extra time to recuperate and get back into in-ring shape.

I easily see this as one of the matches of the night. I would love to see Jericho walk out of Wrestlemania the champ, but I just don't see it in the cards.

With any luck, this match leads to a 2-3 month feud between the two for the title.

The End

There you have it. A 10-match card that could produce a fantastic Wrestlemania.

The possibilities are endless for this PPV, and I can only hope the WWE can produce a show to live up to the hype. I hope you enjoyed my first slideshow for Bleacher Report, and any comments are welcome.