My Ridiculously Early Wrestlemania 27 Lineup

With Wrestlemania 26 now behind us and as others continue to analyze the matches, their quality, their outcome, and the ongoing implications, I decided to look to the future and give my "fantasy" card for Wrestlemania 27.

The benefit of doing this now rather than in 2011 is there are currently no storylines that are inevitably leading to Wrestlemania 27 matches to influence my picks. For this I have assumed that the roster will stay as it currently is apart from one "celebrity" appearance.

Also, I accept that some of the storylines and matches I present are much more realistic than others, this is a "fantasy" card which includes some genuinely possible matches.

There are three superstars than some may say are noticeable absentees:

Batista—I expect Batista to retire possibly within the year and he just didnt fit into my card anyway.

Kane—I could not think of an interesting story for him, and can you imagine the impact of a long hiatus followed by the return of the mask for an Undertaker retirement angle?!

MVP—Just simply did not fit on the card which is full of main-eventers and young up-and-comers, he is neither.

Cruiserweight Title: Rey vs JTG vs Bourne vs Rhodes vs Bryan vs R-Truth

Many are suggesting that as Money In The Bank now has its own PPV that it will no longer be on the Wrestlemania card, and I for one would agree; two Money in the Bank winners in a year just does not seem right.

Therefore Wrestlemania 27 needs a high-paced, exciting, multi-person opening match to warm up the crowd and what better way to achieve this than a six-man elimination match for the returning Criuserweight Championship?

All of these men are very talented in-ring performers but may struggle to be truly legitimate world title winners due to their size, even Rey comes under that banner for me. They need this title and this match could really excite the crowd.

I would have Daniel Bryan go over here as I think he is the perfect man to build a young, new Cruiserweight division around.

US Championship Match: HHH vs The Miz (c)

This match may seem very odd but let me explain. I hope that Wrestlemania 26 is the start of HHH using Mania to help youngsters progress rather than to challenge for the title, contrary to some I believe Sheamus did benefit from their match and will continue to in this building feud. The background to this match would be something like:

The Miz has become the Straightedge Preacher, condemning all others and reminding us that only the Straightedge Saviour and Society are AWESOME! He is Punk's right hand man and almost but not quite an equal, rather than a simple follower. He also happens to have been US Champion for well over the year, through genius trickery and outside interference.

HHH has seen it all, the best in the business are retiring and he is sick and tired of the new breed being arrogant, non-workers with a mouth bigger than their biceps. In The Miz he sees a little boy jumping on the Straightedge bandwagon and who used to do anything just to get on TV. It is time for The Miz to shut up and play the Game!

I would have The Miz go over one more time by cheating after a royal beating from HHH. Would this win make him think that he deserves better than to be Punk's lackey and that people like the Game can teach him much more going forward? Face turn!

Trio of Contenders: John Morrison vs Ted Dibiase vs Dolph Ziggler

This match is not about titles. Or women, or tag-team breakups, or No. 1 contendership. It is quite simply three of the company's biggest young stars who are bored of being the next generation, and believe their time is NOW!

All three men want to prove a point and show that they are the breakthrough star that the bosses are looking for and surely the best way to do that is comprehensively beating two of their biggest rivals on the Grandest Stage of them all.

Its the Shaman of Sexy vs Million Dollar Son vs Mr Perfection in a Falls Count Anywhere No Disqualification match, a fight between three of the last four competitors in the Royal Rumble match.

I would give this match a good period of time to allow all three to show their talents, then Dolph would get the win as I believe he will be the one needing the most help in being built to the main event.

Hart Dynasty vs Straightedge Society (c) vs United Kings vs Kofi and Zeke

Just like their fellow Society members, the Straightedge Society (Big Show and Luke Gallows) have been dominating, beating allcomers ever since Miz was told to give Gallows his Unified Tag Team Title so he can focus on singles competition.

The tag team has been revitalized by young exciting teams but no one has been able to break the dominance of these two giants.

Lets see if that continues in a match much like the one at Wrestlemania XIX with four teams and only one pinfall or submission required, the opponents?

Hart Dynasty—Now popular babyface duo showing the ever-increasing popularity and technical ability each and every week.

United Kings—Managed by William Regal it is the most valuable import from the British and Irish shores for years, the rampaging Drew McIntyre and Sheamus.

Kofi and Zeke—One brings raw Guyanese strength and the other brings passionate Ghanian speed and strength, together this new partnership has just about everything attribute you could ever need for success in this industry.

I would have the United Kings win here to begin that stable's reign of terror, after all the Straightedge's monopoly can't last forever...can it? I would keep Kofi and Zeke together though because I think they could help each other recover from their halted pushes.

Streak vs All-American: The Undertaker vs Jack Swagger

It is no longer a spoiler to write Jack Swagger: New World Heavyweight Champion! Now many feel that he is the second person in six months to be given a World Title wildly prematurely and I certainly agree that there has been a noticeable lack of build for this title reign.

However, the company needs new main-eventers and Swagger definitely has the look and in-ring ability required, he simply needs very careful work on his mic skills.

It is very unlikely he will be in Championship contention come Wrestlemania 27, so what he needs is a really strong feud to propel him to a new level, much like I believe Sheamus is getting at the hands of HHH.

Part of Swagger's problem is he has been seen as a comical character really lacking any feuds since leaving ECW. So to feud with the Phenom would really test his storyteller and feud-building skills and if successful would go a long way to shutting up the doubters.

The feud could be built by having Taker return at the Rumble and eliminate Swagger, then have a bitter Swagger injure Taker just before his Elimination Chamber qualifying match, kind of predictable but it is what it is.

Also, in the weeks leading up to Mania Swagger can keeping talking about how he is not scared as everyone has forgotten he has an undefeated streak (1-0) at Wrestlemania as well. This would give Swagger plenty of promo time.

In the match itself, to put over Swagger and to help the aging Taker I would have Swagger dominate the match, showing off all his holds, throws and grapple maneuvers, thus manhandling Taker in a way rarely seen in the WWE.

However, if Mr Wrestlemania fails twice, I cant even see an All-American American beating the streak, we all know how it ends...19-0 R.I.P Jack Swagger!

Swagger has much to achieve before deserving this match but he and the company have 12 months and a title reign to sufficiently build him up.

The streak match everyone is expecting I would save for 20-0!

Icon vs Icon: John Cena vs Dwayne Johnson

Attitude Era vs Post-Attitude Era!
Mainstream star vs Mainstream star!
The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment vs The Champ!
The Ro...Dwayne Johnson vs John Cena!

Whilst unlikely to ever happen this match would be hyped to epic proportions, this is the closest the company could get to Rock vs Hogan again.

The mainstream attention for this match would be incredible, can you imagine the kayfabe late night talk show interview promos these two could have, they kind of already had some. It is one of the few remaining dream matches that could ever actually happen.

The actual wrestling might not be quite Shawn vs Kurt but the electricity, intensity, and crowd involvement might make some believe they were in the Toronto Skydome in 2002 again. The mainstream attention could be increased by having a big time movie role on the line.

For me, the feud could build for months purely over promos and the perfect ending would be repeated chain shots to the head of Johnson with ref down, giving Cena the one-two-three and the villain lead movie role. Cena has to win the match for the sake of the company's legimitacy, so why not throw an incredible heel turn in there? Thus Dwayne can leave with head held high.

WWE Divas Title Match: Straightedge Serena (c) vs Beth Pheonix

Whilst it could be argued there are better Divas matches that could happen, this would fit well into other storylines and would be much better than the Divas garbage in recent years at Mania.

The match would have a striking resemblance to Chyna vs Ivory at Wrestlemania X7, after all Beth is according to herself the new Chyna. The Straightedge Serena won the title in her first one on one match up but has proved that she can wrestle by defending he title at every PPV for three-four months, of course Punk was close at hand each time.

However, the Glamazon has been on a role over the past year, going undefeated in singles competition against Divas, entering the Royal Rumble at No. 1 and lasting 20 minutes and she even had an unsuccessful Intercontinental Championship match.

I would let Serena surprise everyone by letting her dominate for about five minutes before turning this into a glorified squash match, there was only ever one winner.

World Heavyweight Title Match: Edge(c) vs Chris Jericho vs Christian

Some were predicting this match to occur at Wrestlemania 26 after Christian wins the MITB but that did not materialize. This match is very unlikely to occur as it would involve the Edge/Jericho angle lasting a year and an Edge and Christian reunion and split also occurring in the same 12 months.

However, this is just a match that I would love to see. Three amazing wrestlers, with great in ring skills, excellent mic skills, and can really excite the crowd, all of whom are still close to the peak, if not at the peak, of their careers.

There are so many storylines that could occur and so much history between these men that the back story I have not decided upon, whatever it would be would entertaining viewing. However, I cant help myself but make this a Triple Threat Ladder Match for the title.

I would give Edge the win as I think he deserves to leave Wrestlemania a champion.

WWE Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs Randy Orton

If this fued were to happen now it would be a very interesting one, but in 12 months time this really could be THE feud.

The Straightedge Saviour has been controlling the title and the entire company for months with the help of his powerful Society members, garnering pure hatred from the WWE Universe for his arrogant preaching, many have tried and failed to shut him up.

However, there is one man left, the new Anti-hero megastar Randy Orton. He may not say much but his words and stares come with such intensity that they terrify and inspire and the same time. He has spent the year running riot putting the top heels back in their place, now he goes after the Punk.

This match would be brilliant in terms of promos, in-ring ability and more than anything in terms of ring psychology. As a Wrestlemania finale the crowd would get sent home with the start of the Age of Face Orton.