WrestleMania 25: How It Should Go Down!

This is my first posting on Bleacher, possibly thr first of many.  It's that time of year, and everyone is doing it, so this is how I would book WrestleMania 25.  Enjoy!

Opening Match for the ECW Championship

Jack Swagger vs. Evan Bourne

Swagger is not losing the belt back to Matt Hardy at Royal Rumble.  He retains, and continues to do so on a weekly basis on Sci-Fi.  He beats Finlay, then Boogeyman, then Mark Henry.

Fourth week he beats a motivated Tommy Dreamer and viciously (and I mean viciously) assaults him post-match (this will set Dreamer up for a big comeback with his ongoing retirement angle post-Mania). 

The save is made by the returning Evan Bourne.  Next week, he challenges Swagger to a match at WrestleMania.  Swagger agrees if Evan can beat all the people he has since becoming champion.  Evan beats Matt Hardy (with an assist from Jeff), then Finlay, Boogeyman and Mark Henry. 

He is going to beat Dreamer until Swagger interferes with a chair shot.  Dreamer won’t take the cheap win and walks away, getting counted out (again adding to his story arc), giving Bourne the title shot. 

At 'Mania, it’s important these guys are given over 10 minutes of ring time to showcase their skills. I’d go for a Bourne win, with him dropping the title back at Backlash, leaving Swagger to finish the retirement angle with Dreamer).

The Fifth Annual Money In The Bank Ladder Match

Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio vs. John Morrison vs. Big Show vs. Kofi Kingston vs. R-Truth vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Hurricane Helms

First off, I’m going to explain why these men are in this match.

Chris Jericho has been at a loose end since the Cena losses, and I would turn this into a storyline, having him turning up on RAW complaining and moaning as he has been.  I would have Rey Mysterio call him up on this, and remind him of the great wrestler he was and is.

Jericho faces Rey at No Way Out and loses a very close match.

This awakens his fire, and he vows to win Money In The Bank and earn a title shot.

Rey is in the match as a result of his feud with Jericho.  It also establishes him as being after a World title again, following his failed attempt to become IC Champion.

John Morrison breaks up with The Miz between Rumble and 'Mania, and beats him for a spot in the match. Big Show wins a battle royal for the last spot, eliminating almost everyone, establishing him as a threat.

Kofi Kingston deserves a spot on the card, but isn’t ready for a singles match, so he’s included here. R-Truth, Shelton, and Hurricane have a three-way feud over the U.S title.  This leads to them all being in this match.

On the night, I see some big moves being: a 619 using a ladder (Rey jumps off top rope onto ladder, grabbing it by hands and swinging legs round to knock someone off it), Kofi’s double leg drop off a ladder, Big Show being superplexed off a ladder by three people, Shelton doing the ladder propped between guardrail and ring spot, but with a moonsault. 

The win should go to John Morrison here.  I’d plan for him  to feud with HBK after Mania, before going on to main event SummerSlam in a World Title match.

Texas Street Fight: Shawn Michaels vs. JBL

We all know the story that’s been unfolding here.  As much as I would love to see Taker vs. HBK at 'Mania 25, I think this feud’s deserves a big blow off.  Plus, it will be two Texans fighting in their home state (hence the stipulation). I would wait as long as possible to pull the trigger with HBK’s turn on JBL.

Maybe have HBK accidentally cost JBL his title match with Cena at the Rumble, and then have HBK put in the Rumble at last minute and winning it. JBL plans to buy the main event spot at 'Mania but is stopped by Stephanie McMahon, and a match is made at No Way Out between HBK and JBL for the title shot.

At the event, HBK refuses to lie down and tears the contract up. JBL beats him to a bloody pulp, and then you build to the match at 'Mania. The match itself should be light on weapons until the very end.  I like the idea of HBK getting severely beaten up, but refusing to die, eventually overcoming the odds and pinning JBL.

WWE Women's Championship: Beth Phoenix vs. Trish Stratus

They have teased this with Stratus interviews and her brief RAW comeback. The most dominant Diva of the decade, taking on the current Women's champion. Easy to build, get Santino involved for some comedy.

I would actually have Trish win the match due to Santino’s botched interference. Then have Beth win a rematch at Backlash, before getting her to feud with Santino (how much fun would that be!).

Mr. Kennedy vs. MVP

They’ve been building this one up slowly for a while, with Kennedy’s appearances on SmackDown!  The verbal chemistry between these two is great, and it guarantees Kennedy a decent return match.  Either man could play the heel, or it could be a mix.  Doesn’t matter who wins as long as both men come out looking strong.

Randy Orton (with Stephanie McMahon) vs. CM Punk (with Mr. McMahon) – Special Guest Referee: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

Right. I think that Steph’s will be behind Orton’s attack on Vince, due to her wanting control of RAW for herself.  Shane McMahon reveals this and faces Orton at No Way Out.

Tease a bit of animosity between Orton and Punk leading up to this with occasional backstage skits, and references to Orton punting Punk last September.  At No Way Out, Orton beats Shane and goes to punt him, but Punk makes the save. They have a match next night on RAW, which Orton wins due to dodgy officiating (Stephanie threatens referees). 

Then Vince returns, announcing the one man who can keep order as guest referee for a match at Mania, Stone Cold.  At the event, Legacy get stunnered, Punk gets the win (cementing him as a main event player), but then Orton and Legacy beat him down afterwards, and Orton punts Austin (cementing himself as a super heel).

WWE Championship Triple Threat Match: Edge vs. Triple H vs. Christian

The explanation for this, and the match between the Hardy brothers, goes hand in hand. Everyone thinks Christian will be behind the Jeff Hardy attach, so it shouldn’t be him. Matt’s character is getting stale, and a heel turn on his brother would extend his character fully.  Edge wins the title at Rumble due to Jeff's weakened state.

Christian should come to the aid of Jeff once Matt has revealed that he is in cahoots with Edge and the two are beating down on Jeff. At No Way Out, Christian and Edge draw in their match for the title, and Triple H wins the elimination chamber to get a shot. 

The lead up to the match can build suspense by teasing an Edge/Christian alliance.  On the night, Christian doesn’t turn, but it’s Triple H who comes out with the gold.

Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy

Above explains a lot. This should be really heated and serious. Jeff should go right back to the depths he went to in his run up to becoming champion, and should get revenge in this match by getting the win, and afterwards, doing something extreme to Matt (the jumbo ladder could be involved).

World Heavyweight Championship versus Streak: John Cena vs. The Undertaker

John Cena has no match at No Way Out, but is present to find out whether he will face JBL or HBK at Mania. Next night on RAW, he comes out to say that he needs to defend his title at WrestleMania.

He is confronted by The Undertaker, who challenges him. The match is built by using every week to showcase the indestructible nature of both men. The match at Mania has to be long and close. 

I see taker locked in the STFU and refusing to tap, Cena kicking out of a tombstone, everything.  The shock ending should come with the return of Batista, who drills Cena with a spear and Batista Bomb, costing him the title. Batista is heel and the fabric of WWE has changed. 

'Taker is on RAW, and feels he needs to prove himself in beating Cena clean, Batista and Cena have a feud with some fire behind it, and eventually Cena could turn heel and join with Batista, becoming the most dominating duo in wrestling history (and eventually creating two new stars in whoever can topple them).