As I’m writing this there’s 4 hours to go until Wrestlemania. I am surprised how excited I about the show because the build up with many of the feuds was sub-par. But I’m hooked, I have it ordered and I can’t wait. I cannot begin to tell you how much difficulty I have had in predicting some of the outcomes. But it’s been fun and I have really enjoyed all the predictions that I have gotten from so many of you. Hey before I start let me just add that I really liked the HOF last night. I started with the show on WWE.com and then of course watched the USA special with Ricky Steamboat and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Every inductee came off so well, so honored, but the man that had tears running down my eyes was, you got it, Steve Austin. I read his whole speech prior to what the USA show, and I’m so upset that so much was edited. If you get a chance check out his speech, I know it’s on many sites. Austin said so many wonderful things. But I want to go back to his appearance on TV. This man came off so sincere, and so genuine about his love for the business and fans. The ending when he said that his wrestling career is over and he’s moving into movies got the tears flowing. You could just see that this was emotional for him as well. It’s too bad that the USA network made this one hour show more about commercials than showing to class acts, Steamboat and Austin. Okay enough, here we go, and I think I will at least get one right, but more would be even better.
25-Diva Battle Royal
It’s impossible for me to really have some kind of idea who will win the Miss Wrestlemania title. So I just came up with Sunny. I’m going with Sunny, but it would not surprise me if Santino got in here and won the match. I hope this comes off better than it all sounds. I would have preferred the rumored match of Trish Stratus returning to take on either Natalya, or Beth Phoenix. I think that would have been so much better than throwing this match out there. But again who knows this could turn out to be a fun match to watch.
Winner: Sunny
Intercontinental Champion JBL vs. Rey Mysterio
There is a big rumor that JBL will lose and then go back to announcing on Smackdown. And I could really see that happening, BUT, Rey got that win on Raw this past Monday night, and I just don’t see that happening again. Why give us that match for free and then give to us all over again with the same ending? I’m glad that Mysterio is on this card since he has missed two Wrestlemania’s in a row, but honestly this match isn’t exactly on the top of my “must see” list.
Winner: JBL
Chris Jericho vs. WWE Legends
Listen hopefully this won’t be as bad as it was this past Monday night. I would think the match will be kept short, and the Legends will have the fan’s support and Jericho will get heat like crazy. This might not be the match of the night, but I really want to see it. With Mickey Rourke sitting in the front row I would think he’s going to be the deciding factor in who wins. I guess it would make sense with Rourke there for the legends to win. I was going with Jericho, but I forgot about Rourke’s appearance, and I’m counting on his help to give the Legends a big win against Jericho.
Winners: The Legends
WWE Tag Team Champions vs. World Tag Team Champions (Unified Tag Team Championship Lumberjack Match)
This was a match that I was really looking forward too and I still am, but I think something was taken away by making it a Lumber Jack match. I realize it’s a way to get some of the guys on the show, but I’m not a Lumberjack Match fan, I think it takes away from what’s going on in the ring. With that said, this still should be a good match, I’m a little worried that this won’t be given much time, I hope I’m wrong about that. These four have done a very nice job in and out of the ring. I think it’s cool that this is being done to unify the tag titles and I see the Miz and Morrison as the new Unified Champions.
Winners: The Miz and Morrison
Money in the Bank Ladder Match – Kane vs. CM Punk vs. MVP vs. Christian vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Mark Henry vs. Finlay
Okay it’s easy for me to rule out a few guys immediately. Punk is DEFINITELY not going to win this one again, no way will Kofi Kingston, Mark Henry, Finlay or Kane get the honors. So that leaves MVP, Christian, and Shelton Benjamin. Originally I was going with MVP, but then Christian came back and I figured he would only be on ECW for a short time and then probably get drafted to Smackdown and why not have him move to that show with the MIB contract? But then, I started reading rumors where Vince isn’t a big fan of Christian, and that made me feel that maybe Christian isn’t in line for a big push. So when MVP beat Benjamin for the U.S. title, my thinking was and is this gives Shelton the opening for him to win the match and have that major contract. Yet, it seems weird to me that after all these years Benjamin is going to get this huge push. This is one hard decision for me. I’m going with Benjamin, with my second choice being Christian. Again I think we will get a very good match with a lot of frightening moves.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy (Extreme Rules Match)
I have a feeling that this is going to be a HOT match, and it’s too bad that these guys didn’t get a decent buildup leading up to this match. This feud had so much promise, but the ball was dropped and unfortunately not much was put into this family feud. But this is going to be something to see and this should be a real crowd pleaser. I’m going with Matt for the win, only because he really hasn’t done much lately in the ring. On the other hand, Jeff has been out there wrestling and winning. So I’ll give the win to Matt and if this feud continues, I’m hoping that so much more will be done to make this a top storyline.
Winner: Matt Hardy
Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker
Finally a match that I know I will get right. There is no way at all that Shawn Michaels will beat Taker and break the streak. AND, there is no reason why that streak should be broken after all this time. Taker has a 16-0 Wrestlemania win streak and why end it now? I think that would be a crime. So Taker wins, and finally gets revenge on a very smug HBK. Michaels has had the upper hand since this feud started, and now Taker is going to get even and defeat the Heartbreak Kid. I really believe this could be the match of the night; this is one match that I have been waiting to see for a long time.
Winner: The Undertaker
World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs. John Cena vs. Big Show (Triple Threat Match) Both title matches are really tough for me to pick a winner. Just like the MITB match I can rule out one guy right away. And I’m talking about Big Show immediately, I never saw him winning at Mania, and his got his glory Monday night against Cena. And even though Edge cut a fantastic promo on Smackdown, I just don’t see him hanging on as champion. So that leaves John Cena. I think Cena will win, although if Orton wins and Cena wins that leaves Smackdown title-less. That’s why I’m not really confident with my choice. While I hated the lack of build up for this match and the over hype of the “love triangle” I see this match coming off very well. I don’t think these three guys will disappoint the fans at all.
Winner: John Cena
WWE Champion Triple H vs. Randy Orton
Just like the World title match I really haven’t a clue who will leave with the belt. Yes this could go either way. We could get a Triple H win with the help of the McMahons, or even without their help. Or we could get an Orton win with help from DiBiase and Rhodes and who knows, maybe a McMahon will turn and cost Triple H a victory. I mean we could get Stephanie turning on her husband, although I don’t want to see that happen this soon, but it’s possible. Okay while I might be unsure of the winner, I’m more than sure that this will be a very good match; I think this will be one of those matches that tells one hell of a story. This could turn out to be one of the top matches of the show. Okay without further stalling I’m going to go with Randy for the win. And maybe Triple H getting an Orton punt to the head. Anything can happen with this match.
Winner: Randy Orton
Well I did it, and even though I feel less that secure with my picks I always love doing this. I will try my best to have something tomorrow about the show, if not then I will combine my thoughts in my Raw column. I want to thank some of my readers that are I Houston and have been emailing me updates; I get so excited reading them. And to my friend Fiona who is also there, thank you so much for all the pictures and it sounds like she and her nephew Mike are really have a great time. I was with them here in Chicago, and I’m sure they miss me not being with them this weekend, yeah right. Okay enjoy the show and here’s hoping this Wrestlemania 25 will ROCK!
Email lindarobin3@yahoo.com
