A Two-Pronged Look Ahead to WrestleMania 26

In two short days, the 26th installment of professional wrestling's biggest event, Wrestlemania, kicks off from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

With a strong card from top to bottom, Vince McMahon has the potential to make this year's Wrestlemania one of the most memorable.

But will he?

This week's Raw and Smackdown gave us a little hint into which direction McMahon will ultimately decide to go Sunday night.

Even though McMahon probably hasn't decided the outcome of every match, smart wrestling fans likely have an idea how things will go down.

Let's take a look at those potential outcomes, as well as the endings that would be best for the fans and wrestlers alike. Furthermore, the order of the matches would be the order I would arrange them in Sunday.

CM Punk v. Rey Mysterio

Likely outcome : In a match that should have good pace and plenty of exciting spots, interference by the Straight Edge Society seems too obvious to ignore. Mysterio likely sets up for a 619 before Luke Gallows gets involved, sending Mysterio into a Go To Sleep and giving Punk the victory.

Best outcome: I like the SES getting involved, but giving Mysterio the victory would maintain his "ultimate underdog" gimmick. A post-match beating by Punk and Gallows sends the heels out on top, furthering heat on their stable, while giving Mysterio the win.

Randy Orton v. Cody Rhodes v. Ted DiBiase

Likely outcome : Rhodes and DiBiase will likely hold the advantage from the outset, dominating their former mentor. The draw of a victory on wrestling's grandest stage will split Rhodes and DiBiase, who will begin battling with one another. This will open the door for Orton to deliver the RKO and "steal" the win.

Best outcome : If the creative team is serious about establishing Rhodes and DiBiase as legitimate singles competitors, now is the time to end the alliance. I would end the match with DiBiase pinning Orton.

After a back-to-back Crossroads/Dream Street on Orton, DiBiase can eliminate Rhodes in any number of ways, clearing the path for the clean pin on Orton.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match

I'm not going to bother harboring a guess as to who will win the most up-in-the-air MITB match in history. We all know Kane won't win.

Matt Hardy and Evan Bourne are in the match for high spots and likely will not come out on top. Much to the chagrin of WWE fans everywhere, this year (like every other year) probably isn't going to be Shelton Benjamin's shot.

That leaves six men with a realistic chance at grabbing the briefcase and a likely world title reign.

Christian: He seems to be the favorite amongst fans, but I don't see him taking it. Vince McMahon has never seen Christian as a main eventer, and unless that has changed, Christian won't be the winner Sunday night.

MVP: I'd really like to see MVP come out on top this year. He has the charisma, the mic skills and he is over. With that being said, I don't see it happening. MVP received his push a few months back and it didn't go anywhere, so I don't think he gets the rub here.

Jack Swagger: A carbon-copy of MVP. I'd love to see him win it, but he received a push a few months back and it didn't progress very well.

Dolph Ziggler: A huge wild card in the match. I could see Ziggler standing atop the ladder with the briefcase while his music pumps through University of Phoenix Stadium, and I could see him on the receiving end of an Evan Bourne high spot, rendering both useless for the remainder of the match.

Kofi Kingston: The writers have really been toying around with us since last summer with Kingston. One minute he hands Randy Orton his ass, the next, he's a filler in a mid-card match of little consequence. Kingston is the face most likely to win it.

Drew McIntyre: My gut is torn between McIntyre and Kingston. McIntyre is Smackdown's version of Sheamus, without a world title reign. Yet...

Triple H v. Sheamus

Likely outcome : Quite possibly the card's biggest toss-up, my gut tells me Triple H gets the win after a hard-fought battle with the company's newest main-eventer. The night's first true singles match ends with a clean victory for The Game.

Best outcome: I'm as big of a Triple H mark as there is out there, but I would give Sheamus a CLEAN victory over HHH.

Anyone who reads wrestling news sites knows about the confrontation between Shawn Michaels and Sheamus, and Wrestlemania is the perfect place for Sheamus to step up.

With the victory, Triple H's behind-the-scenes protege can take the steps toward becoming the company's top heel.

ShowMiz v. John Morrison/R-Truth

Likely outcome: Morrison and R-Truth are two superstars who use their agility and speed to defeat their opponents. Big Show nullifies such skills, and I can't get the idea out of my head that Show imposes his physical will to keep the belts with ShowMiz.

Best outcome: ShowMiz needs to win for one glaring reason: John Morrison needs to be taken out of the tag-team division and put into the main event level of Smackdown. Edge is the show's top face, but is susceptible to injury, and it's time Morrison gets the push he deserves.

Bret Hart v. Vince McMahon

Likely outcome: Fans will want Hart to maim McMahon, but that just won't be the case. Hart is not in the physical condition needed to complete a grueling no-holds-barred match.

Look for a succession of spots, with Hart taking as many low-impact bumps as possible. A run-in (possibly by the Hart Dynasty) will keep the pressure off Hart before McMahon falls victim to the Sharpshooter.

Best outcome: This match will be closure for fans and for Bret Hart. This one doesn't need to be long. Hart beats McMahon with the Sharpshooter, everyone leaves happy.

Chris Jericho v. Edge

Likely outcome: One heel will likely retain their title, and if it's anyone, it'll be Jericho. Internet reports say the Cena-Batista bout will end the show, and that makes plenty of sense. Heels don't usually close the show with the gold, which points to Jericho retaining.

Best outcome: The outcome of one world title match hinges directly on the outcome of the MITB match. If McIntyre grabs the briefcase, Edge continues his unbeaten Wrestlemania mark against guys not named The Undertaker...only to lose it to McIntyre upon the match's conclusion.

Shawn Michaels v. The Undertaker

Likely outcome: I've analyzed this match more than any match on the card, and I can't quite figure out what the writers have planned.

Internet reports have Michaels taking significant time off after Wrestlemania to work on a reality show focusing on his life after wrestling. But my gut tells me Mr. Wrestlemania won't lose to the Deadman twice.

Best outcome: This doesn't come down to storylines or backstage politics. It's a matter of rewarding the one guy who has been on top of the WWE for the past 20 years and is somehow never mentioned in the "Greatest WWE Superstar" discussion.

The Undertaker has never had a long-term WWE title reign, and he never left the company amidst the Monday Night Wars. He rarely headlined Wrestlemania despite being a main-event wrestler for nearly 20 years.

The Undertaker deserves to end his career with the accolade as being the only man to never lose at Wrestlemania, and that can't happen if he doesn't make it to 18-0.

Shawn Michaels has talked about putting people over and winding down his career for years now. Sunday is the time to make good on his word.

John Cena v. Batista

Likely outcome: We end another Wrestlemania with John Cena celebrating another world title victory. Batista is the typical coward heel, and I can't see any way he beats Cena, unless...

Best outcome : After Batista earns a cheap, but physically demanding, victory over Cena, he slowly prepares to leave the ring. Kofi Kingston, winner of the MITB match, hits the ring, taking out Batista with the briefcase.

Kingston signals the referee to start the match, hits a slowly rising Batista with Trouble in Paradise, and joins Edge, Rob Van Dam and CM Punk as MITB winners to successfully cash in the contract.

WWE programming has become largely predictable. That ending would send fans home happy (a face would be leaving Wrestlemania with the title) while establishing Kingston as one of the company's future main-event faces.