How The Wrestlemania 26 Card Is Shaping Up

With Wrestlemania very close on the horizon the card for the biggest show of the year appears to be taking form.  This is how it will all look in my opinion when all is said and done.

Money In The Bank Ladder Match

Ezekial Jackon vs Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston vs Drew McIntyre vs Christian vs John Morrison vs R-Truth vs Shelton Benjamin

Why?: It is no surprise, but it is being reported that qualifying matches for MITB will begin this coming week so this match is essentially confirmed.  While my lineup is no guarantee I feel like at least 6 of the 8 I've mentioned will have to be in it.  There seem to be a lot of floating midcarders at the moment so its difficult to say definitively who will be in cause I could also see any of Jack Swagger, Christian, MVP, Kane, Mark Henry, Evan Bourne, Yoshi Tatsu, and Matt Hardy in there depending on the rest of the card.  My prediction would be Kofi Kingston to win.

Hair vs Mask

CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio

Why?: This feud seems to have begun taking form on the past episode of Smackdown when the SES beatdown Mysterio.  I am a huge fan of CM Punk and the angle they are running with him, if anything I think they should keep growing his faction with new people every couple weeks joining for a while.  This feud is fairly simply set out there that it seems sort of inevitable.  Should be a great match and I think Mysterio will win.

Unified Tag Team Title Match

Big Show & The Miz(c) vs MVP & Mark Henry vs Matt Hardy & Great Khali vs Hart Dynasty or Cryme Tyme

Why?:  Besides disbanding DX I dont see why they would put the titles on ShoMiz right now unless they planned to use them as a team at Wrestlemania.  Again with so many midcarders not involved with much, I could see this match being used to get a lot of guys in there who arent being used in the MITB match.  It doesnt interest me much but at least it gets a bunch of fan favorites out there I guess.  My prediction would be ShoMiz retain.

Three Way Match

Randy Orton vs Ted Dibiase vs Cody Rhodes

Why?: Ortons quickly gaining steam as a face whether intended.  It would seem negligent to choose one guy and leave the other out in a match with this building feud.  I dont know which way they plan on going with it but it has been interesting and I think both Rhodes and Dibiase have bright futures if used properly.I would see Orton winning but I could also see Dibiase somehow pulling it off as I think WWE has more confidence in him at this point in time.

Grudge Match

John Cena w/ Bret Hart vs Batista w/ Vince Mcmahon

Why?:  I think with how closely intertwined these storylines have been they are clearly aiming for something connected between them as opposed to two seperate singles matches.  I think they were playing it as they went and after seeing how limited Bret looked physically so far, they went with the injury angle on this past RAW to set this up where he wouldnt have to participate in a match.  I guess I could see it turning into a tag match, but I dont see Bret being able to have a singles match.  I think either way pretty obviously Cena will win and Bret will get a sharpshooter on Vince as a measure of revenge.

Womens Championship Match

Mickie James(c) vs Beth Phoenix vs Michelle McCool

Why?:  While criticism for the weight angle was high, I think they have actually done a good job of building a women's feud for once between James and McCool and Beth Phoenix has been involved here and there as a tweener that this is the most interesting women's matchup I can think of.  On the RAW side they seem to be showing less and less focus on the women, which is why if there is gonna be one match I think it would be this.  I predict Beth Phoenix would win.

Streak vs Destiny

HBK vs The Undertaker

Why?: Cause this is clearly where its headed and honestly to start with I wasn't too thrilled on a rematch as good as last years matchup had been.  I was more looking forward to Cena challenging Taker, but the story theyve laid out with HBK has been real good and its got me hooked so Im looking forward to this now.  I dont see this being for the title as Ill explain in a second.  I still cant see HBK winning as theres too much money in a match next year with Cena I feel and putting over HBK after all these years accomplishes very little.

WWE Championship Match

Sheamus(c) vs HHH

Why?:  While I am not interested in this match whatsoever I just dont see where else either guy could go.  Im not a big HHH fan and I could never see them including him in MITB and he always seems to need to be involved in the title match, so this just seems logical.  I dont know whether itll be Sheamus or HHH who goes in as champ after the EC PPV but it really doesnt matter much to me.  Seems like a boring main event feud to me but what other option is there?  I guess I see Sheamus winning somehow, idk or care really.

World Heavyweight Championship

Chris Jericho(c) vs Edge

Why:?  It was a feud most were looking forward to a ton with Edge's return and most thought it dead with Edge winning the rumble but I think it is just getting started.  I think HBK will manage to cost Undertaker the title at the EC PPV setting up their match and allowing Jericho to win the title setting up Edge choosing him for their Wrestlemania match to get the ultimate revenge.  This should be an awesome build and match Im really looking forward to as Edge has brought some life back to the WWE.  I think Edge will win the title here.  

Well theres 9 match I can see happening and it looks like a pretty solid card in my opinion.  I could see the tag title match not happening or being a preshow match or see an IC title match replace it but I dont know where they can really fit so many guys on the card.  They seem to be going a different route than the last couple years where there is usually an upper card triple threat but that could still happen.  Besides the HHH/Sheamus match I think every match has some sort of intrigue especially with MITB always being good, Cena/Batista should be exciting, HBK/Taker obviously, and Edge/Jericho shapes up for what could be an awesome Wrestlemania.  Let me know if you agree or disagree on how the Wrestlemania card is going to come together or what you would like to see instead as anything is still possible at this point.

Random Thoughts:

-  I actually found the Jerry Springer skit on raw pretty damn funny.  It may have gone a bit long, but I think people need to lighten up a bit sometimes and just enjoy it for what it is.  Santinos comments were hilarious as usual and springer played his role well and looked like he enjoyed himself.  Please stop with the Mae Young stuff though, as that hasnt been funny really ever and its a decade past that point.

-  They should stop with the Chris Master pec dance thing.  Thats not a way to build a superstar by just having him do that constantly.  It was funny once, its had no use since.  They always seem to do that where they find one little thing that got a reaction and just make a guy all about that little thing.  Characters need depth.

-  RVD looks like hes gonna sign with TNA soon enough.  He says its because of their higher interest and less straining travel schedule.  Does their lenient drug testing as compared to the WWE have any to do with that as well?

- TNA is officially moving head to head with Raw on March 8th.  Many people are saying this will be the death of TNA.  I think actually this is a smart move by TNA as they really have nothing to lose.  WWE is as vulnerable as ever with an unsatisfied fanbase and lackluster product.  I dont see TNA pulling ratings any less than they do right now and if SpikeTV is content with that I think TNA will be more than fine in that slot.  They are not gonna beat RAW anytime soon but providing an actual alternative against it should do nothing but add to their own audience.

-  Looking forward to the NXT show much more than I ever did for ECW.  Good riddance to ECW it should have never been brought back.  The new show is genius if done properly in terms of building a background for new guys coming up.  Like I said giving characters some depth.

- It was funny on RAW hearing jerry lawler say something along the lines of, "did you ever think wed be seeing John Cena and HHH facing off on RAW!?!?"  Give me a fucking break, build up the match all you want, but Id be surprised if they didnt face at least 3 times just last year on Raw.  If you want matchups to be fresh and significant then stop giving them away so frequently.

-  People are complaining about the guest host concept running stale but if its used in the way it has lately where they have a segment or two and largely stay out of the way and focus more on the build to the PPV then I dont see how it could really be such a bad thing.  They need to start getting some bigger names though or it just looks sort of like they couldnt get anyone significant.