WrestleMania XXV: The Silver Anniversary

WWE WrestleMania XXV will take place on April 5, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Tex. The event will mark the silver anniversary of the advent of the biggest stage in all of sports entertainment. One of the event's current theme songs is Kid Rock's "Cowboy," which was used in the first promotional advertisement for the event. The other theme song will be performed live by AC/DC. 

This should be an extraordinary event and the WWE will put on the best show of the year. I composed this article right after the Royal Rumble, so the following is my opinion of the road to come.

The Card

Dark Match: 25-Man Battle Royal—Winner receives ECW Championship shot later on in the night
Participants: Vladimir Kozlov, The Great Khali, Evan Bourne, Paul Burchill, Mark Henry, The Miz, Charlie Haas, JTG, Shad, William Regal, Goldust, Dolph Ziggler, Manu, Sim Snuka, Mike Knox, R-Truth, Carlito, Primo, Festus, Hurricane Helms, Kung Fu Naki, Zach Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Ricky Ortiz and Tommy Dreamer.

Opening Match: Mr. Kennedy vs. MVP

They've been slowly building this rivalry over the past several weeks and it should turn out to be a decent opener. Both wrestlers are over with the fans, both can talk, and their in-ring work isn't that bad either. Both of these men need the win. I for one am glad that MVP's ill-conceived losing streak is over. Kennedy, on the other hand, will be returning from injury soon and this should make for a pretty interesting match. I predict that Mr. Kennedy will win via roll up.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Participants: Kane, Finlay, Umaga, Shelton Benjamin, Kofi Kingston, The Brian Kendrick, John Morrison, Christian

This match will be awesome. It is stacked up and down. You have the monsters: Kane and Umaga. You have the athletes: Benjamin, Kingston, Kendrick, and Morrison. And you have the vets: Christian and Finlay. There will be big spot after big spot, and this match won't disappoint. It seems to me every other year a heel wins, with Edge coming out on top in 2005 followed by face Rob Van Dam in 2006, heel Kennedy in 2007, face C.M. Punk  in 2008. This being 2009, expect yet another villain to come out on top. I predict Christian. Look for a lot of heated, exciting action that will have you on the edge of your seats, just like every year.

World Tag Team Championship: Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase (c) vs. Rey Mysterio and CM Punk

Team Priceless will win the straps after Miz and Morrison break up in the coming months. Then Mysterio and Punk will face the champs. There will probably a 3-on-3 tag match between The Legacy and Cena/Mysterio/Punk in the weeks leading up to ‘Mania. I am predicting that Mysterio and Punk will do well together and have a solid match, but will come up short against Rhodes and DiBiase.

Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy

At the Royal Rumble, Matt cost Jeff the WWE Championship in a match with Edge. The following week, Matt will reveal that he was responsible for the Survivor Series attack and the hit-and-run. Jeff then loses his title rematch on SmackDown! because of Matt again. At No Way Out, Jeff fails to win the Elimination Chamber match, and his championship hopes are dashed again. He then sets his sights on his brother, and challenges him to a match at 'Mania. I predict Jeff Hardy to win in a close one, and the feud to continue on after the event.

ECW Championship: Jack Swagger (c) vs. Evan Bourne

Swagger retained at the Rumble against Hardy and started his reign of dominance in ECW. When Bourne returns, he will be thrown into the mix, but eventually will emerge from the battle royal. Swagger will become a better heel over the next two months, and should really shine in the spotlight with Bourne portraying the babyface. I predict that Bourne will win as a huge upset in this darkhorse contender for Match of the Night.

Interpromotional Match: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (w/ John Bradshaw Layfield)

At the Rumble, we saw ‘Taker and HBK cross paths and we saw Cena beat JBL despite HBK’s interference. This JBL/HBK feud will continue to build through No Way Out and beyond. The Undertaker will become involved when JBL wants HBK to end his career. JBL becomes frustrated at Michael's futile job performance, which leads to a beatdown for the ages that Michaels refuses to resist. JBL then offers HBK a way out: end Undertaker's WrestleMania streak and earn a wealthy sum of money. Lose, and Michaels must continue working for JBL. This will be a classic match. I predict that Undertaker will go 17-0 at 'Mania and Michaels will stand up to his boss and give him some Sweet Chin Music.

Diva Lumberjill Match: Beth Phoenix and Michelle McCool (w/ Santino Marella) vs. Trish Stratus and Melina

Stratus returns and brings a spark to the women’s division. This should be a pretty good match as far as the ladies go, but should be kept short and sweet. I am glad that Santino Marella will provide the much-needed comedic relief. I predict the bad girls to go over with a catfight at the end.

Chris Jericho vs. Mickey Rourke

I don’t want to see this. I would much rather have Rourke just serve as a guest, rather than a competitor. I have no idea how this will evolve or even take place, so … give me your best guess. My take: it's just a big publicity match, and that’s all. The Wrestler was an amazing movie, and Rourke should definitely win an Oscar for his performance, but he is 56 years old! Jericho deserves better, but he is the best person to carry this match and at least make it half-way decent. This will draw huge numbers as Rourke is pretty big name now, and may even bring some new fans in. I predict Rourke wins the match just because everybody loves him and hates Y2J.

WWE Championship: Edge (c) vs. Triple H

At No Way Out, Edge retains the strap in the Elimination Chamber, and Triple H beats The Big Show to earn a WWE title match at ‘Mania. HHH and Vickie Guerrero will continue to have verbal altercations, stacking the deck against Hunter. But the Cerebral Assassin will ultimately overcome the odds and win the match at WrestleMania. (Could be a triple threat w/ Big Show or Christian)

The Main Event

World Heavyweight Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton
Special Guest Referee: Stone Cold Steve Austin

Randy Orton wins the 2009 Royal Rumble and Cena retains the title at No Way Out. This should have a huge, huge build. It’s the top face in the company versus the anti-hero. The McMahon’s will be involved, which will add another dimension to this match. Steve Austin will be sworn in to be the Special Guest Ref, since he most likely won’t be wrestling again, and he will have a crucial part in the match.

We will learn that Stephanie was the mastermind behind the angles wereby Orton took Vince out of commission in order to leave RAW to be run by Stephanie herself. Shane McMahon will start the War of the McMahons, so look for the whole clan to get involved. Cena and The Legacy will wage war in the weeks leading up to 'Mania, and that in itself should be an excellent match if and when it takes place. I predict Orton wins the championship, but Austin is the last one left standing at the end of the night.

2009 WWE Hall of Fame

Vincent K. McMahon
Stone Cold Steve Austin
"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
Bill Watts

Howard Finkel

Jake 'The Snake' Roberts
Yokozuna
The Ultimate Warrior

Dory and Terry Funk