WrestleMania 25: The "Perfect" Plan

WrestleMania XXV will be live on Sunday, April 5 from the Relliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

The WWE will have to work overtime to top last year's event in Orlando, Florida and, it appears they are about to successfully do it.

Randy Orton has won the Royal Rumble and has the right to face any champion he chooses at Wrestlemania. 

But will that match take place or will the revenge of Shane McMahon take Orton in another direction, and ultmately his career to new heights?

I said on Jan. 1, 2009 that Orton would become the WWE 2009 Superstar of the Year, and I still believe this will be a reality come Dec. 31.

Orton is on top of his game. On TV, he has shown that the "voices" in his head clearly do talk to him and tell him to do some not so good things. He has stepped up his microphone skills and his in-ring psychology continues to amaze me. Not to mention, the mentor and leadership he brings to Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes.

This coming Monday on RAW, Orton will face the Undertaker, who is coming to RAW after his "brother" Kane called him at the bequest of Stephanie McMahon.

Orton will then go on to face Shane McMahon in a No Holds Barred Match at Now Way Out on Feb. 15th.

One would like to assume that it will be business as usual. Orton will either defeat the Undertaker or go to a no contest with the dead man after the other two members of legacy run in. Orton may or may not lose to Shane but regardless of what happens, he has a date with John Cena in Houston for the World Title.

That's what most people want to believe will happen. Me on the other hand, I believe things will play out differently.

Win or lose this Monday on RAW, just main eventing a show with the Undertaker is good for business. 

The fact that they are bringing the Undertaker to RAW tells me two things:

This is meant to be a special match on live television

One way or the other, Undertaker will end up starting a feud with HBK that will take them to Wrestlemania, where the undefeated streak of The Undertaker will be put on the line against the man known as "Mr. Wrestlemania."

But this match, and the one at No Way Out, are going to propel Randy Orton's career and status as a main event superstar to the next level.

But see, Shane is fighting for honor. He is fighting for his family and for the WWE locker room. After all, Orton did threaten to shut down Wrestlemania.

And once Stephanie turns on Shane at No Way Out, and she will. Shane will have no choice but to put Orton in a match at Wrestlemania. Not a world title match but a match against a former world champion. A Match against a rattlesnake. A match that will truly make Orton a legend.

That match: Randy Orton vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

I don't believe Austin will "do the job" for Orton but he doesn't have to for Orton to go to the next level.

Remember Wrestlemania 13?  Bret "Hitman" Hart vs "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in an "I Quit" match with Ken Shamrock as the special referee.  Austin and Hart put on an incredible match that I believe stole the show. 

Austin's career took off and he didn't even win the match.  Austin "passed out" due to a loss of blood and was unable to answer Shamrock and Ken stopped the match, declaring Bret Hart the winner.  Hart put Autin over without doing the job to him and Austin has the opportunity to do the same thing for Randy Orton.

It will indeed be a classic match for the ages.

Part Two of The "Perfect" Plan for Wrestlemania 25 involves Chris Jericho.

Jericho possesses amazing mic skills and he is very good a being a heel that a lot of fans like.

The original plan was for Mickey Rourke, the star of the movie The Wrestler, to come to Wrestlemania to face Jericho, first in a wrestling match, then later in an alternative match and now not at all.

Jericho being the talent he is, immediately comes up with a new plan.  Trash the older generation of superstars who paved the way for him to do what he does today, namely Ric Flair.

Flair, who retired after last year's wrestlemania in Orlando, parted ways with the WWE after they refused to allow him to make independant appearances at shows to sign autographs and essentially thank his fans for all their support for a 30+ year career.

But now the WWE appears to need Ric Flair more than Flair needs the WWE but this situation is no doubt good for everyone involved.

The fans, inclusing myself, obviously want Flair involved in the WWE again as an on screen character.

Jericho has a brilliant idea to trash Flair when Jericho, from a character perspective is the pot calling the kettle black with how Jericho holds on to the past.

This will bring in a lot of viewers for the WWE, this will get Ric Flair in the spotlight again and this will continue to build Jericho up as one of the greatest superstars ever.

It's a win-win for everyone.

Part Three of The "Perfect" Wrestlemania plan involves "Mr. Wrestlemania" "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.

Shawn is presently in a great storyline with JBL where Bradshaw "owns" HBK as an employee.  JBL has said if Shawn defeats him at No Way Out, he will pay him the money he owes him and HBK will be free and financially independant again.  Please note this is a kayfabe storyline and HBK is financially secure.

The WWE has obviously reached a point where they have done all they can do with this storyline and thus it will end at No Way Out.

Well what does one do with HBK for Wrestlemania 25, to be held in Michaels home state of Texas?

Enter The Deadman!

The Undertaker will show up on RAW this coming Monday to face Randy Orton, and while that is good for everyone, especially Orton and RAW fans, it is actually a side story for the Undertaker.

The Undertaker will enter into a storyline with HBK that will take them both to center stage at Wrestlemania, in a state both men call "home."

The Undertaker is undefeated at Wrestlemania.  A streak that I do not believe will ever end.  The WWE knows that fans know the streak will never end but the WWE wants to create a big storyline to make us believe that it is possible.

So in a match for the ages, larger than any title bout on the card; we have the phenom, The Undertaker and his undefeated streak, taking on "Mr. Wrestlemania" "The Show Stopper" "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.

It doesn't get any better or any more exciting than this.

Indeed Wrestlemania XXV is shaping up to be the greatest wresltemania of them all.