Wrestlemania hard to predict
It’s time for the Super Bowl of professional wrestling as Wrestlemania 24 comes to us from Orlando, Fla., this Sunday with what I believe is one of the most unpredictable cards in recent history.
Normally, you can pretty much pick all the winners before the matches begin; however, this year the outcomes are not as cut and dried as there’s many ways the story lines could go and I’m sure Vince McMahon has a few swerves waiting for us. With that said, here’s my predictions for this Sunday night. Take them with a grain of salt because as you’re reading this, even the powers that be may not have determined how some of these matches will finish.
Undertaker defeats Edge. If there’s a lock of the night, I think the Taker bringing home the World Heavyweight championship is it. I just don’t see any way the Dead Man does not extend his streak to 16 consecutive WM wins, especially seeing that Edge really doesn’t need a big push as he is already one of the top heels in the business. The Taker is getting on up in years and is due another decent title reign as his last reign was cut short by a torn biceps which caused him to drop his strap to none other than Edge last year.
Ric Flair defeats the Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels. I’m going with the upset here as most people believe Sunday will be Flair’s swan song via sweet chin music from HBK. Myself, I believe the hoopla of the Nature Boy’s retirement would be lost on a very busy Wrestlemania night. And, given the fact HBK is 5-7-2 at WM’s, he has shown he will put people over. I look for Flair to win and then possibly lose to a heel the next night at RAW.
Chris Jericho wins money in the bank. This is a very tough one to call and is really a shot in the dark. I take Jericho just slightly over MVP because there’s so many ways they can go. In getting himself disqualified last week against the Big Show, Jericho hinted at a heel turn so there’s a chance he may go that route, especially when you consider the rumor that Umaga may be going to Smackdown after WM leaving a big void in heels there. Also, MVP and Jericho have gone at it recently on Smackdown leading me to believe they may have a ready-made feud if they decide to keep Y2J a face. And, one last point to make is that there is usually eight competitors in Money in the Bank so there could be a surprise late entry like a Matt Hardy who could throw everything out of whack.
Umaga and Batista to a no contest. I don’t think they want to weaken either of these monsters. If there is a winner then it will be by something spectacular. Rumor has it Umaga will go to Smackdown to feud with Undertaker this summer culminating with a title shot at SummerSlam, while Batista needs to re-invent himself to the Animal he was prior to his last injury.
Big Show and Floyd Money Mayweather to a no contest. Celebrities versus wrestlers are always a train wreck waiting to happen. While they are selling this as something that could get out of hand and become real, this has been carefully planned and is mainly set to garner mainstream media attention. This will be all flash and no substance likely ending in a real-looking entourage brawl as WWE doesn’t want to make one of it’s top wrestlers look weak by losing to a comparative shrimp and Mayweather has his undefeated reputation to worry about.
JBL over Findlay. Who cares? This is a hastily prepared feud where they are basically throwing the Hornswoggle story line under the bus. The only interesting way I can see this ending is that the little guy turns heel and betrays ‘his father’ Findlay, siding with the McMahon power and money.
Cena over Triple H and Orton for the WWE gold. Next to Taker, Cena has the longest undefeated WM streak at four wins, and, despite the boos, Cena is a cash cow in merchandising. While Trips may be the fan favorite, WWE still gets to put the strap on a face by giving it back to Cena. And, let’s remember that the Royal Rumble winner has won a belt the past seven years, and that a face almost always wins the belts at Wrestlemania.
And to make my WM week complete, I’m heading up to Cookeville this Saturday night to catch FTW at the armory headlined by Promo versus Rock Dogg for the title in a barbed wire match. I’ve seen these two before, they’re crazy. Bell time is 7 p.m.