Break It Down: Looking at WWE's Judgment Day 2009

It's that time of year in the WWE's Pay-Per-View schedule: Wrestlemania has come and gone, the WWE Draft is over and the big-money Summer PPVs are still a month off in the distance.

Which makes it the perfect time to unveil the introductory article in what will hopefully be a continuing, monthly preview of every upcoming WWE Pay-Per View... this month's PPV: WWE Judgment Day 2009.

Let's take a look at the matches, shall we?

First up: WWE Championship - Randy Orton (c) vs. Batista

As of earlier this week, the Internet wrestling community was abuzz with the news that Triple H himself might be making a special appearance in this match and (advertently or inadvertently) costing Batista his shot at the WWE Championship. 

This would certainly makes sense as Batista could be blamed for Triple H simultaneously losing his title and being injured at the hands (or, more accurately, foot) of Randy Orton at Backlash.

Also, Orton only won the title last month, and the WWE has made it pretty clear that he's going to be the No. 1 heel (bad guy) on the RAW brand, so a 1-month reign would certainly dent that credibility. 

Furthermore, the next WWE Champion will be someone who is seen as the No. 1 face (good guy) on RAW, a designation that Batista doesn't hold.

My guess: Orton wins via RKO/Punt after Batista is (advertently or inadvertently) distracted by Triple H.

Next up: World Heavyweight Championship - Edge (c) vs. Jeff Hardy

The World Heavyweight Championship has seen its fair share of changes over the past year (nine in the past 10 months) with its current holder, Edge, having just won the title last month at Backlash.

The run-up to this match mainly focuses on the history between Edge and Hardy, namely the feud the two shared over the WWE Championship in late 2008/early 2009.

Hardy doesn't appear to be a similar threat to Edge's title for the same reason Batista won't be beating Orton...Edge is the No. 1 heel on the SmackDown! brand and needs to be defeated by someone recognized as the clear No. 1 face on the same show.

My guess: Edge wins with a spear on Hardy.  The real question is: Will CM Punk cash in his Money in the Bank title shot before, during or even after the match?

Third up: ECW Championship - Christian (c) vs. Jack Swagger

This match, for me, is the hardest match on the entire card to call.  On one hand, Jack Swagger has proven himself to be a valuable ECW Champion, as evidenced by his 100+ day reign as ECW Champion.

A reign ended, coincidentally, by the same man he'll be squaring off against on Sunday.

On the other hand, Christian will have been ECW Champion for 3 weeks as of Sunday.  If Christian is meant to stay on ECW and be the top superstar of the brand, he can't be seen as a simple "transitional" champion.

Further complicating issues is the impending "drop dead" date of Tommy Dreamer.  Dreamer has promised to retire from ECW, and conversely from the WWE, if he doesn't win the ECW Championship before the Extreme Rules PPV in June.

My guess: Hard to say.  I think the result of this match goes a long way as to ultimately setting up how Christian's ECW career is going to play out... if Christian wins, expect to see him still holding the ECW Title after facing off with Dreamer in June as well. 

If Swagger wins, don't be surprised to see a talent exchange which gets Christian off of ECW and on to either Smackdown! or RAW.

D. WWE Intercontinental Championship - Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Chris Jericho

Speculation on the internet is that Rey Mysterio is injured... again.  This would explain the sudden realization from the WWE that Jericho has the most WWE Intercontinental Championship wins in history and is angling for his unprecedented 9th title.

My guess: Jericho wins after countering Mysterio's Eagle Splash with the Codebreaker.

E. Singles Match - The Big Show vs. John Cena

Two things tell us how this match will turn out:

1. Big Show choke-slammed John Cena through a spotlight three weeks ago, costing Cena the World Championship.
2. John Cena is Superman.

My guess: John Cena shows why he's superman, again, after he gives the Big Show an "Attitude Adjustment" and thus becomes the No. 1 Contender to Randy Orton's WWE Championship.

F. Singles Match - CM Punk vs. Umaga

You know what "filler" is?  This match.  It's basically a feud built around the fact that Umaga has stolen CM Punk's Money in the Bank briefcase the last 2 weeks on Smackdown!, thus preventing Punk from cashing in his "anytime, anywhere" shot at Edge's World Championship. 

Not that I'm complaining, mind you... I've loved CM Punk since his days in Ring of Honor, but I think this match was just the WWE needing a reason to get CM Punk on the card in his hometown, Chicago, Illinois (wink, wink)

My guess: CM Punk makes Umaga "Go 2 Sleep".  The length and physicality of this match will have a lot to do with whether or not Punk cashes in his MITB shot.  If he wins in quick fashion and doesn't get too beaten up, expect to hear CM Punk's theme song being played at the end of the night as he cashes in his Money in the Bank shot.

Well, that brings an end to the first-ever Break It Down column here on Bleacher Report, hopefully I get enough feedback to justify doing it again in the future.

Also, if you'd like to test your match-guessing abilities against me, go ahead!

Register using your email at http://www.stablewars.com/ppv/registration.php?fed=WWE and track your progress against mine, username Naturally Aivaz, live and in real time!

Thanks for reading, please play and join me the next time I Break It Down!