I am concerned about this year's WrestleMania.
Not necessarily about the card because on paper it looks awesome. However, the build up has been lacking. Last night's "Go Home" (the last show before a big event) episode of RAW missed the mark on several angles. It didn't really do anything except add some new members to Teams Johnny and Teddy.
WWE Championship
CM Punk (c) vs. Chris Jericho
Where has Jericho been for the past THREE weeks? All he's done in the build-up to his WWE Title match with CM Punk is run down Punk's family via satellite with his Lite Brite jacket. No physical confrontations. Not even a chance for Punk to give a live rebuttal. Jericho hasn't done much since his return to prove that he's the best in the world. WWE could have had Jericho go on a prolonged win streak over the past month but instead have had had him on the bench. Is he nursing an injury we don't know about? Not that invested? Either way, without him showing any fire, I can't really see WWE taking the title off of Punk. Hopefully, they turn it up on Sunday.
Predicted percent chance of winning: CM Punk (85%) – Chris Jericho (15%)
World Heavyweight Championship
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Sheamus
Surprisingly, this is the World title match that has been getting a proper build. Daniel's too hot these days to take the belt off him and it looks like they're leaning towards giving AJ a run with the Divas Championship so they can play a "Golden Couple" angle. I expect Daniel Bryan to hang on to the title for a few more months. Sadly, if my predictions are good, then we'll go through another WrestleMania without any major title changes.
Percentage chance they win: Daniel Bryan (70%) – Sheamus (30%)
John Cena vs. The Rock
This lead in still leaves me cold. All talk, no action. I have no doubt that Rock and Cena will do their best to live up to the hype. I think the momentum swings back to Cena before WrestleMania if only because The Rock has gotten the better of him for the past year and there's no real reason to sacrifice WWE's biggest star for the sake of The Rock. Oh and Cena's comment last night about needing to win because "no one ever remembers second place"? Untrue at WrestleMania. Shawn Michaels was on the losing end of classic matches with Kurt Angle and the Undertaker and everyone remembers his efforts. But that's HBK.
Predicted percent chance of winning: John Cena (60%) – The Rock (40%)
Hell in a Cell - The End of an Era
Undertaker vs. Triple H
Special Guest Referee: Shawn Michaels
Just a promo this week for Undertaker vs. Triple H. We skipped it because we're probably going to have to watch it again on Sunday. Should be another good match.
Predicted percent chance of winning: Undertaker (100%) – Triple H (0%)
Intercontinental Championship
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Big Show
I hope they pay off this match with a feel good Big Show win. Show is often used as the special attraction at WrestleMania and seems to always take one for the team (thus leading to several losses). He almost never gets to shine and at the age of 40, he may not have that many years left as an active competitor. He deserves a win.
Predicted percent chance of winning: Cody Rhodes (30%) – Big Show (70%)
Kane vs. Randy Orton
The sooner his feud ends, the better. Not the worst, but definitely not the best. Orton needs a change of scenery. If drafted back to RAW, imagine feuds he could have with The Miz, del Rio, Ziggler, and Swagger?
Predicted percent chance of winning: Kane (30%) – Randy Orton (70%)
General Manager 12 Man Tag Team for Control of RAW and SmackDown
Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy
Team John Laurinitas: David Otunga (Captain), Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, The Miz, Drew McIntyre
Team Teddy Long: Santino Marella (Captain), R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, The Great Khali, Zack Ryder, Booker T
First, last night Christian was 'injured' by CM Punk, thus taking him off the card on Sunday. It appears that they were hoping that his ankle injury was healed enough to go, but apparently not. Taking his place on Team Johnny is Drew McIntyre. Does this mean that Drew is finally out of the WWE doghouse? He's been languishing in relative obscurity since the end of 2010. McIntyre has a lot of potential but seems to have struggled to take the next step.
Also added to Team Johnny is The Miz. You know, the same guy who headlined and won the main event of last year's WrestleMania. Quite a fall for the Awesome One, but not everyone can be pushed to the top all the time.
Team Teddy did the super terrible job of filling his team with Zack Ryder and The Great Khali. Also added to the mix was Booker T. The Zack Ryder experiment has run its course, Khali can barely move around in the ring, and Booker is semi retired. Team Teddy's captain is a comic relief act. The only good things about this team are Kofi and R-Truth. Not enough to overcome Laurinitas. Good luck, Teddy.
Side to side, Team Johnny should win on Sunday based on talent. Miz, Ziggler, and Swagger are the future of WWE. Mark Henry continues to be a convincing monster. Don't really have a read on Otunga yet. McIntyre is a bit of an afterthought.
Predicted percent chance of winning: Team Teddy (20%) – Team Johnny (80%)
Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounous vs. Beth Phoenix & Eve
Bathroom break match. Only interesting is Kharma gets involved.
Predicted percent chance of winning: Maria & Kelly (20%) – Beth & Eve (80%)
Overlooked this year is the Hall of Fame. Here are this year's inductees:
Edge - inducted by Christian
This will be the first WrestleMania since 2008 that Edge will not be involved a main event match due to his medical retirement. An obvious Hall of Famer though I'm surprised WWE didn't trot him out in the weeks leading to WM just to give him a little momentum.
The Four Horsemen - inducted by Dusty Rhodes
Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, & manager JJ Dillon. Flair will be on loan from TNA over WrestleMania weekend and becomes the first double inductee. The Four Horsemen were one of the top stables in wrestling history. Arn Anderson should be inducted on his own some day.
Ron Simmons - inducted by JBL
The first African American World champion. Multitime Tag Team champion with JBL as the APA. Also star Florida State football player.
Yokozuna - inducted by Jey & Jimmy Uso
A posthumous induction, this massive yet agile superstar won the WWE Championship twice besting Bret Hart at WrestleMania IX and banishing Hulk Hogan to WCW for nine years.
Mil Mascaras - inducted by Alberto del Rio
A legendary luchador in Mexico and also the uncle of Alberto del Rio
Mike Tyson (Celebrity Wing) - inducted by Shawn Michaels and Triple H
At WrestleMania XIV, he was the special enforcer for the Shawn Michaels/Stone Cold WWF Title match. Leading into WM, Tyson joined DX and HBK looked like he had the match all sewn up. Of course it wouldn't go down like that and Tyson would actually end up aligned with Austin in the end.
OK, that's it! Hopefully there are some unforgettable WrestleMania moments coming our way!
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