Wrestlemania XXVI Prediction

 

I’m sure this site will be flooded with similar columns to this throughout the week, so here I’ll throw my two-cents into the pool. As redundant as many of these columns can be, they still remain interesting because by the nature of our existence as members of the Internet Wrestling Community, we think we know it all. So here are my analysis and predictions for the forthcoming Wrestlemania XXVI extravaganza.

 

Unified Tag Team Championships

ShoMiz © vs. John Morrison & R-Truth

While it’s slightly disappointing that none of Miz, Morrison or Truth could earn the Money in the Bank briefcase which has been used to rocket several mid-card performers into the upper echelon of the company the last few years, this is in reality a better slot on the card for all four men. Rather than get muddled in the everybody’s favorite annual spotfest where each performer only gets a minute or so to shine, these four will be showcased for what should be a good 10-12 minutes when factoring in entrances.

ShoMiz has a lot of potential and at this point in each of their careers, Big Show and Miz would get lost in the shuffled as midcard performers. When solo, Big Show needs to either be a bodyguard a la Luke Gallows in the Straight Edge Society, or a top title contender. With the efforts to make Sheamus the resident monster of Raw and Undertaker lording over Smackdown, there really isn’t a good place for Big Show right now.  He can be best utilized in the increased effort to continue to put over Miz, who (bold prediction here) will headline Wrestlemania sometime in the next 5 years. Morrison and Truth are a nice throw-together tag team, and hopefully they won’t fall the same way the last throw-together team to compete for the tag straps at Wrestlemania did (looking at you Carlito and Christ Masters). I’m feeling a Morrison heel turn out of this in the coming weeks to spark a nice mid-card feud between two talented performers that WWE seems pretty high on. Therefore, ShoMiz retains.

Winner(s): ShoMiz

 

CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio

If Punk wins, Mysterio must join the Straight Edge Society

A philosophical question here: If everybody that talks about this match says it’s a dark horse contender for Match of the Night, is it really a dark horse? Just wondering.

Punk has been fantastic in the lead-up to this match. He may not have been this over during his feud with Jeff Hardy, which shot him to the top of the company. These two are going to put on a classic. Set your DVRs for this one because it’s going to be special. If WWE Creative wants to prove it has the chops to carry out a successful storyline longer than a month for midcard wrestlers, this is the time and the result requires a CM Punk victory. It works on several levels. First, it would create compelling television to see Mysterio essentially forced into being Punk’s straight-edge slave. Mysterio could play the reluctant heel a la Shawn Michaels/JBL from last year. Second, is there anybody else in the company better today for the antagonist role in this storyline than Punk? Preaching away as Mysterio’s head hangs low, staring at his boots in a black T-shirt. This could go on for a month or so until Mysterio snaps and we get the Hair vs. Mask match that we’ve all anticipated for the last 6 months. It’s an obvious ending to a feud like this and one that would get over huge.

As I’ve said in past columns, the winner of a match often should be the person that needs it the most. In this case, Punk needs the victory more than Mysterio. Mysterio is permanently over with the crowd. He could eat pinfalls from now until Wrestlemania XXX and people would still mark out for him and the kiddies would pop like mad. If Punk wins this match, he’s helped a lot more than Mysterio is hurt and you continue to develop a new superstar.

Winner: CM Punk

 

Money in the Bank

Kofi Kingston vs. Christian vs. MVP vs. Kane vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Evan Bourne vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Matt Hardy

Ok, first lets remove the deadwood from this match. Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Hardy and Kane are not going to win. Bourne is there purely for a big spot or two, i.e. one huge shooting star press from a giant ladder. Hardy and Kane are there as the ring generals to keep everybody straight and the match moving. They will likely eat some of the big spots. Benjamin is a mix of these two roles as he will surely be involved in several big spots during the match.

The long-shots, in my opinion, are Jack Swagger and MVP. Ironically, it appeared last summer that these two would engage in a Rock vs. HHH type mid-card feud from 1997 that would launch both to the top of the card. Unfortunately, the rug got pulled out from under that rivalry and they are both here in this paragraph as likely also-rans in this year’s MITB. I’m still willing to bet Swagger will get a big push one of these days if he can improve on the mic. MVP, though, I think his ship has sailed.

The favorites are Kofi, Christian and Drew. Each has a legit claim to the briefcase. Kofi proved last fall that he can cut a great promo and engage in a jaw-dropping brawl. The crowd reacts when his music hits and he the potential to garner fans across all demographics. Christian is the veteran of the threesome and has most recently carried brand gold. He has a built in feud waiting for him with Edge or Jericho with their histories and he even feuded with John Cena back in the day before jumping to TNA. He’s the most sure-thing as far as work-rate is measured and is my personal preference to win the match. Drew McIntyre appears to be the choice by a number of pundits I’ve come across due to his favor with Vince McMahon. I don’t see this happening, though, considering he is currently the Intercontinental Champion. He’s the greenest, the least proficient on the mic and has the worst ring skills of the three. In fact, I’d put him behind Swagger and MVP in both regards, but he does have the ear of Vince, which is more important than any actual skill.

Now in this I didn’t categorize Dolph Ziggler because he’s the real wild card in all of this. It was a shock that he even made it into the match to begin with.  He defeated Morrison and Truth in a triple-threat on Smackdown in a surprise victory, and if he can go over two guys that I think most expect success out of, what does that mean for Ziggler? In the WWE Universe, it means nothing. Nonetheless, the former Spirit Squadder that oozes young Mr. Perfect tendencies and displays great skills and passion in the ring SHOULD get the chance at a midcard title run at some point in the future. Ziggler could be a real talent that I’d like to see get some attention in the future. 

Prediction: Christian

 

Randy Orton vs. Ted Dibiase vs. Cody Rhodes

I wrote a column about Randy Orton with how I would book this match. Whether I’m on the same page as the WWE writers or not in how the match will be laid out, I do expect Orton to earn the victory here. At this point in his career, he has too much to lose by taking a pinfall to either of these Orton wannabes. I am a bigger Dibiase fan than I am of Rhodes, but I don’t see either of these two being anywhere near the level of performer that Randy was at this point in his career. If Orton were to lose this match, it would kill his momentum following his face-turn and only minimally help Dibiase or Rhodes who have already proven that they can beat Randy in a 2-on-1 match a few weeks ago on Raw. This match on its own will not have the same ramifications as others on the show that could really make some careers, however, the best possible outcome is to really put over Randy Orton in support of his face turn and we give him momentum going into a summer program yet to be determined.

Winner: Randy Orton

 

Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon

Predicting the conclusion of this match is easy. Bret Hart will win via Sharpshooter. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see other aspects of the Montreal Screwjob that would be mark out moments for old fans. No Earl Hebner. No Shawn Michaels. Will Bret spit in Vince’s face again? We can only hope. Since Vince will do anything for money, I wouldn’t put it past them. This feud feels like a money feud, but don’t expect much out of the match. I’m expecting some run-ins, a lot of stalling, and then Vince getting put in the sharpshooter to pop the crowd.

Winner: Bret Hart

 

Triple H vs. Sheamus

HHH is going to win this match. The big question is whether or not it’s a snooze like HHH vs. Orton last year or if HHH can successfully make Sheamus look like a star as he has done for John Cena and Batista in years past, neither of which are work-rate wunderkinds.

Sheamus has potential. I’m not as down on him as many people are. His thick accent makes it a bit difficult to understand him at times, but if you actually listen to what he says and the way he projects, he cuts a damn fine promo. He’s got the look and some impressive power moves. I’m glad to see the return of the Razor’s Edge, which I still don’t think has been given a name yet. I would say the Celtic Cross, which would be perfect, but that’s already been spoken for.

In the end, Sheamus needs a good showing in order to legitimize his push. In the end, though, HHH is going to win this match. I’d be shocked if it didn’t happen.

Winner: Triple H

 

Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker

The amazing part of all of this, and a real testament to the greatness of HBK, is that we actually are discussing who is going to win this match. For me, there is no real question that the Undertaker is going to move to 18-0. Taker is not going to lose the streak, and if he does, it won’t be to HBK or someone of his age. It will be John Cena next Wrestlemania, in my opinion.

This match will be great, though. Two of the all-time greats going at it again. I’m not going to elaborate on what everybody else has already said, which is simply that these two up their games every time Mania rolls around and this will be nothing less.

I figure HBK will “retire.” Notice the quotes, they are important. His body it beaten and, unlike Undertaker, Michaels can’t wrestle a Michaels match without taking a beating. It won’t last forever, though, as he will likely just take the summer off only to return surprisingly at SummerSlam to pop the buy-rate for what WWE is trying to build into a second Wrestlemania-esque show.

Winner: Undertaker

 

World Heavyweight Championship

Chris Jericho © vs. Edge

This match will not go on last, which means there is hope. It’s the same feeling that I got two years ago when we had the triple-threat between Cena-Orton-HHH. Everybody was confident Orton was going to drop the belt at this show to one of them, but when this match didn’t go on last, my boys and I looked at one another and thought “He’s gotta chance.” Despite being a less-than stellar match overall, Orton landed the punt kick, fell on for the pinfall and escaped champion. WWE likes to end Wrestlemania on a high note, which usually means the face overcomes the odds and vanquishes the dastardly villain. In this case, I’m hoping to see Jericho pull an Orton and retain.

Jericho is the quintessential transitional champion, as many expect he will be here. However, there is more mileage to be had from this feud and Jericho deserves a chance to walk out of Mania the champion. There is no shame in Jericho pulling out some heel tactics and winning this match. It’s the first time they’ll have squared off 1-on-1 since Edge’s return, so it’s not like the feud needs to be blown off before getting redundant and matches start looking too similar. Again, just my booking thoughts: Christian winning the Money in the Bank and Jericho winning at Mania followed by Christian being drafted to Smackdown could spell some interesting storylines. Foremost being Christian aligning himself with Edge, they buddy around and are good friends again. We get some funny classic E&C moments. In the end Christian helps Edge win the title and as soon as the bell rings, Christian cleans his clock with the briefcase and cashes it in on the Ultimate Opportunist.

Winner: Chris Jericho

 

WWE Heavyweight Championship

John Cena vs. Batista

This is your storybook match. It’s going to be compared repeatedly to Rock vs. Austin at WM X-7 and we all need to lower our expectations at this. Yes, the roof will blow off when the match begins and once again when Cena defeats Batista to end the night, but the energy, the anticipation and the work-rate will not match that of Rock vs. Austin. We need to not live in the past and draw comparisons that just can’t be equaled.

On its own, this match could really be strong. It’s not going to be Michaels vs. Angle or Steamboat vs. Savage. It’s two WWE main event power style wrestlers that will go to tell a story in the ring with a series of trademark moves.

Winner: John Cena