[Fire-Babe]

Okay, I'm making the pool for the party, and I'm trying to figure out who all is in the 24-man battle royal. WWE can't be bothered to put that on their web page, so I'm trying to figureo ut from the graphic they showed on ECW Tuesday night. I recognize all but two people. Here's what I got:

Bob Holly
Festus
Kane
Tommy Dreamer
Cody Rhodes
Jesse
Kofi Kingston
Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Jamie Noble
Jimmy Wang Yang
Val Venus
Shnitsky
Cade
Murdoch
Mark Henry
Great Khali
Elijah Burke
Deuce
Domino
Chuck Polumbo
Miz
Brian Kendrick

Anyone figure out the other two?

Normally, I'd just have folks fill in the blank, but there will be about 4 non-wrestling fans there, so they can at least pick based upon what name they think is the best.

ETAOkay, I think the other two are Matt Striker and Shannon Moore, but if anyone sees anything glarlingly wrong, just let me know.

[Lucky]

Striker and Moore were definitely in that match on ECW. Everyone else on your list looks familiar too.

[Mr. Dashbee]

Does anyone know what Kendrick is in & London isn't? And I think I read somewhere that the WWE confirmed Big Daddy V was in, even though he wasn't in the huge ECW match.

My picks?
1. Matt Hardy returns to win the battle royal & win the ECW title
2. Val Venis wins the battle royal and has a run as ECW champion (hey, I feel like Val deserves a shot to run with it).
3. Tommy Dreamer wins he battle royal and wins the ECW title. Probably the last ECW original who can spend some time as ECW champ.

At least there are some matches that have some intrigue...

- HBK-Flair - I really think Flair can win and go out on top.
- MITB.
- Battle Royal/ECW title situation.
- Umaga-Batista - just to see if they actually let Umaga win.

Okay, I said SOME intrigue. The two big title matches seem to be foregone conclusions for 'Taker and Cena. I think Mayweather gets to put up a fight, but collects $20 million for passing Go and jobbing out. Bunnymania is crap without Mickie (I'm biased, I know), and JBL-Finlay would have been better as JBL/McMahon vs. Finlay/Hornswaggle, although I'm sure they will all be involved.

But it's still WrestleMania, and I'm still excited about it!

[Lucky]

London's been hurt so I don't know what his deal is. He wrestled a tag match a month or so back but he didn't do much and some said he was still hurt and was just available. He got squashed by Umaga but maybe he's just not ready to do more? Or maybe he's selling the Umaga squash? I think Kendrick may have turned heel and broken up the team on RAW in one of the many reasons why I hate WWE. He was in the heel side of the tag match on ECW.

Yeah, I haven't seen V anywhere. Maybe he's magic 25? Because I keep thinking its odd that we have 24. Matt Hardy would be an interesting 25 but Viscera would be a depressingly obvious one.

As I grow closer my interests in this show are clear. I will be rooting my heart out for Flair to win. And MitB should be fun, even if Kennedy wins.

And for all I am bored by Cena, Orton, and HHH. The guys can deliver matches so it should be ok if I'm still sober enough to enjoy it.

[jetskid48]

I know this might sound dumb and everything considering they've been burying Team Spanky for about a year, but I wonder if they had to go with the breakup thing because London is more hurt than we know. For all I know (and think) he's more than likely fired in the next few weeks than anything else, but he's had about 3 false starts, coming back and then disappearing for a few weeks while we hear about a new injury. I wonder if they need to shut him down for a month or two and wanted to keep Kendrick on tv. All I know is that Kendricks tights very much do not make me think EEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL....like they should.

Also with the Battle Royal, I wouldn't say it's above WWE to scrap a few of the guys that were in the tag match on Tuesday and throw in a couple others they'd rather have in the match. It doesn't really seem to make sense to have Mark Henry and Khali, as well as a guy like Hacksaw, and not have a guy they've been building for what seems forever in Big Fatty V. Plus, you would think Colin Delaney is finding his way into this match somehow. I always feel like these Battle Royal---->Championship match things are hot points for surprise entrants who win the match and the belt. Usually its for a lesser belt like Cruiserweight or Hardcore where an exciting quick title change wouldn't matter in the long run, but who are we kidding here...does it even matter who ECW champion is if were supposed to consider Chavo Guerrerro a WORLD CHAMPION?

[gobshite]

Right, as this is the only WM thread I see, my predictions:

1) I will order this show against my better judgement, and not get much sleep Sunday.

2) Taker / Edge will be last.
3) Triple threat will be in the middle of the show, and HHH will turn heel in it. Cena will win the title.
4) Flair wins, turns heel, and sticks around as HHH's manager.
5) Jericho wins MitB
6) Mayweather loses.

I don't know why, but I'm really excited about this show. I havent thought much of the build up, but the show itself should be good.

[The Canadian Content]

gobshite said:

3) Triple threat will be in the middle of the show, and HHH will turn heel in it.

How does HHH turn heel in a match against Orton and Cena? Beat up Lilian Garcia?

[jetskid48]

Rape Cena's father's corpse of course.

[DevSop]

I'd mark out if HHH raped Cena's dad's corpse. I'm pretty sure at this point, there is nothing HHH could do, apart from walking through the TV and hitting me with a sledgehammer, to get me to boo him over the other two.

[bdbdbd]

The WrestleMania billboards have photoshopped out the wrestlers nipples.


It's the law.

[punk/core]

luckylopez said:

Maybe he's magic 25? Because I keep thinking its odd that we have 24.

It's because it's Wrestlemania 24.

And the battle royal is gonna blow. The only thing that intrigued me was the thought of Stevie Richards winning it and getting the title match... but he's not even part of the fucking thing. Dreamer winning it would be cool. I'd really like to see someone like Val win it though, but that'll never happen. We'll get either Kane or Khali winning it.

[Pun]

I want to try to pack the chat room for Wrestlemania Sunday night. Make sure you tell everyone you know about the chat room. Let's see if we can break some attendance records in there. (I think the most I counted before was around 30.)

[salmonjunkie]

My stupid question of the day is about Wrestlemania! Vote or die!

natecorbitt.proboards81.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1206733060&page=1

[raw announce table]

My Wrestlemania predictions:

1) Kennedy or Matt Hardy wins MITB (I belief Matt will get put in)

2) Colin Delaney wins ECW title

3) Apparently there will be a swerve happening in the Mayweather match.... don't know what it could be so I'm not even going to predict this one

4) Hornswoggle will be annoying

5) Santino will make Bunnymania insanely watchable

6) HHH wins if raw is the main event, Orton if smackdown is

7) Amazingly I predict Undertaker might actually win this year

There will be spray on tan everywhere

9) Umaga v Batista might not suck

10) An announce table will be broken for the fist time since No Mercy and I will cry

[jetskid48]

bd said:

The WrestleMania billboards have photoshopped out the wrestlers nipples.
URL]

It's the law.

I like how the moron who wrote the blog thinks its crazy a wrestling event sold that many tickets. It's not like last years event did 10,000 more ticket sales or anything. Research, the utopian Jesus freaks' kryptonite.




...and don't forget you can still enter your Wrestlemania Handicap Challenge picks, predictions with a spin:
natecorbitt.proboards81.com/index.cgi?board=games&action=display&thread=1206488722

[creepy]

So, I heard JR on Todd Wright Tonight* ummmm, tonight, and he said the UT/Edge match will go on last. He also said he's betting on UT.




*BTW, Todd Wright might be the worst radio media guy I've ever heard. How does this guy have a job?

[Fire-Babe]

Okay, my predictions:

Triple Threat Match Cena. I'd prefer that none of them win due to some sort of ridiculous shenanigans, because I'm tired of both Cena and HHH as champion, and I'll be damned if I ever write Young Randall's name down.

Heavyweight Championship Undertaker If the anviliicious foreshadowing of the past two weeks at Smackdown didn't telegraph it nicely, you're not paying attention.

Stupid Gimmick Match: Show/Mayweather Mayweather via shenanigans I'll bet, maybe involving Rey Mysterio. However, I think Show will have the last laugh and provide fan satisfaction by doing something nasty to Mayweather after the bell. And then in the fastest turn ever, doing something nasty to Rey that flips him from face to heel in all of about 3 seconds.

Career Ending Match Flair. And then he'll retire Monday.

Money in the Bank Kennedy. Yes, I know, you all thought I'd say Jericho. Well, I'm definitely rooting for him to win, but he doesn't need it, really. I can see them sticking with just the seven contestants, although it wouldn't surprise me to have Matt Hardy come out.

I'm with DevSop (a creepy thought) that it would be cool if Mickie was the eighth person. It would be even cooler if it came down to her and Kennedy and she lost via shenanigans. It'd be even coolest if she won. But that's just dreaming.

Smackdown v. Raw Batista Because I don't care isn't an option.

Battle Royale Kofi Kingston I'm reluctantly going with him because he's the newest guy in there, and they've been pushing him on ECW. I don't like it, but there it is.

I would like Tommy Dreamer, but I think we know that ain't happening. There's a merciful lack of Colin Delaney on the list, or else I'd be afraid it was him.

Belfast Brawl Fit Finley I have no logical reason, I just hate JBL. Maybe he can then go back to the announce table and I could mute him.

Bunnymania LumberJILL I refuse to call it a lumberJACK. And I don't see how it's 'Bunny Mania" when only 2 of the 4 women have been in Playboy. Shouldn't it be Playboy centerfold's only? Having said that, I must go with Glamazon/Melina as the winners. Cos they actually, you know, wrestle. Or at least Beth does.

[firebreakerchip]

Maybe he can then go back to the announce table and I could mute him.

BLASPHEMY~! JBL is a commentating GOD!

So does anybody have a clue if there is a bar in Ann Arbor playing Wrestlemania. I have been calling everywhere and keep getting this quizzical response of "Wrestlemania???". I can almost here the "you can't be seriously asking me this question, kid". I just want yell Ric Flair may be retiring you dumbass. I haven't ordered a PPV since Summerslam 2001, but I really want to see Flair's "last" match (I am still holding out that I will see Flair with Big Goldy). There is no PPV in dorms, but I might just have to order webcast. However, any help would be much obliged.

[jetskid48]

I guess it's time to make picks, so here we go. Gonna wind up being different than my other picks I'd guess.

ECW BR + Match
More than likely, this is the opening match. Most opening matches have face wins to get the crowd pumping. Other than Rey Mysterio losing a couple years ago, and when the MitB opened up, I can't remember many other heel wins. On top of this, gimmicks like this are full of special surprises or surprise face wins. Most people think this will be the match that ends ECW forever with Colin Delaney winning the belt. I think this going to instead be a career achievement award:

Winner, and New Champion: Tommy Dreamer

BunnieMania
I don't care what happens, as long as Ashley gets hurt.

Winners: Maria and Ashley

Belfast Brawl
Typical revenge match. Hornswoggle bites some ass, pretty good brawl aspeccts, Finlay gets his revenge.

Winner: Finlay

Raw v. Smackdown
Batista wins for sure, but even with zero storyline aspect to it, two have incredible brawl potential. And we know Umaga is running over the announce tables and putting Batista or himself through the third.

Winner: Batista.

MitB
Jeff Hardy fucked up. He was the unanimous man to win this thing. But suddenly, we now have a match where half the competitors could win. Kennedy failed to keep his MitB win from last year and could get a mulligan this year. MVP could be on the verge of hot shotting to the top. Matt Hardy should be in this match, and still could be, which has the surprise element that sometimes leads to big wins. Shelton Benjamin is on the verge of his 8th huge push. Punk could be using this match to skyrocket to Smackdown or Raw. Morrison and Carlito...well...they have no chance. But ultimately, the creator and the savior is going to finally win his creation...but will he save us before the night is over?

Winner: Jericho

Money v. Show
The input of the "there must be a winner" clause leads me to believe that there will be massive interference. The rumors out there are hot that there will be an unforgettable finish. I know it'll be unforgiveable if this match closes the show. But most importantly, there's no fucking way they made this match and have their guest getting a loss (real or imaginary) being put on his record.

Winner and by massive interference that may include an unintentional Rey Mysterio heel turn: Floyd Mayweather.

Triple Threat and World Championship Match
The result of these matches are completely linked with each other. Both do not have clear winners and both can easily be effected by their placement in the card. A heel finishing off the night as champion has happened, but the chances that the losing face can get their heat back has less of a chance this time around. Edge holding the belt at the night would make a huge statement to the future of the WWE and the centerpoint of interest in the future. Randy Orton holding the belt at the end of the night.......would make people cry. To me, John Cena and HHH basically have the same chance at winning this thing, with cynics believing that Cena can beat anything. I want to take Orton, I should take Cena, but I think this plan from the beginning was for HHH to finally get his win back against Cena, possibly leading to the WM rubber match at some Wrestlemania in the future.

Winner: HHH

In the other match, if there was anyone who could, and most importantly, should be the one to finally fall Undertaker at Wrestlemania, it should be someone who is as qualified, and has a streak like Edge. There possibly is no one outside of Jericho that is more over with fans than Edge is right now, and possibly no hotter heel around than Edge. The buildup seemed lagging a bit at first, but lately has gotten much stronger. The Undertaker got the upper hand at the last Smackdown, which is usually damning for anyone historically. So with everything as much on Edge's side as possible leading to the event, can he win it all? I picked him in the handicap, but to tell you the truth, I don't want to be added to the statistic to people who thought "this year is the year Undertaker finally loses":

Winner: Undertaker

Career Threatening Match
While the Flair retirement stuff has been weak, the buildup for this one has been full of emotion. At first, I wasn't too effected by the retirement of Flair, but the past week has really built up the realization that this could be the end of Flair. He's being inducted to the HoF tonight, it's Wrestlemania - the time where angles start and most importantly, end, and he's been on the reception of his family being in attendence and multiple music video packages. But he's not going out a loser. I think HBK lives up to himself putting everyone over now and having great matches at Wrestlemania. HBK doesn't need the rub of beating Flair, but would love to be part of the last match. I think the career ends, but because Flair wants to, everyone that means something to Flair comes out to congratuate him, we get a Double-A hug in there, and a great ending to a great career.

Winner: Flair.

[Lucky]

I know we disagree a lot but I gotta say man.

1) If you think Taker has a chance in hell of losing when this has been the prototypical Taker feud, there is no belief that Taker's career is ending soon so there will be at least one more chance to build the streak and end it if you want to give someone a rub, and Edge only has the belt because Taker couldn't do the title run they wanted him to... I think you're insane.
2) If you think this feud build has been anything but the drizzling shits I think you're insane.

Really, this feud has been HORRIBLE. Its hit every stupid Taker cliche in the book and is basically the same feud he's had with Mark Henry, Kennedy, Orton, and anyone else in the last few years (or really, ever). Some magic, some spookiness, heel hiding behind his lackies, a casket spot that made Edge look like the biggest fucking moron this side of Sting when he had spent the last few years building himself as a genius heel that constantly outsmarted people. And a bunch of stupid distractions in Flair and Vickie that had nothing to do with the feud and just took away from it.

I mean, seriously. They couldn't come up with anything better than having Taker hide in a casket that a heel uses to mock him? And Edge couldn't fucking see that coming from a mile away?

[jetskid48]

What I should have meant by much stronger is they went from zero interaction, to a lot of interaction over the past month. But what I wrote about Edge having momentum is basically all about it, and I still picked Taker. I just took Edge in the other thing because I think there's a slight chance (1%). Everyone knows Cena's going to end it next year anyway.




Edit:I'm glad your back to disagreeing with me again. Nice.

[jetskid48]

Sorry to double post, but I guess HoF stuff belongs in the WM Hype thread:

Watched both the streaming and tv versions of it (slow day around here) and it came off pretty well. For those who didn't see it, it started wayyyy late because apparently the Rock talked for about an hour straight. For what they showed on tv, he was pretty great and still had all the stuff left in him, taking some good shots at Jericho, Foley, Santino, and the Marine. I'd be really interested to listen to the rest that he had to say as I imagine they edited a ton out of it for tv.

Same with Flair that I felt was very touching. They did a lot of editing, especially since the only people on tv he got to thank were HHH and HBK; I would bet anything there's a long Arn Anderson and 4 Horseman stuff to cover in the DVD version. The induction video they had for him was incredible.

In terms of what people may have missed if they missed the stream...JBL's induction speech for the Briscos was unbelievable in both delivery and comedy. Gerry Brisco had a nice speech himself, particularly the part where he was happy he could still be relevant to today's wrestlers.

Dusty Rhodes said much of the same in his speech for Eddie Graham that it's important today's wrestlers take advice from those who came before them and threw out John Cena's name as an example of those who have. Mike Graham pulled out an awesome picture of the first NWA conference during his speech.

Mae Young was lively for a person her age and vowed to be there when she's 100. She may have been a bit drunk though.

JR had a nice speech for Gordon Solie, whose son that actually spoke looked like a replica of him.

That's about it. Looking at the fact that next year Wrestlemania is more than likely at Relient Stadium, I'd guess Terry Funk and the Von Erich's in some fashion will be getting in if they do it sorta like they did this year with a local theme.

[Batman]

jetskid48 said:

Sorry to double post

We don't have a rule against double-posting.

[Batman]

However, we do have a rule against apologizing for double-posting.

(I just made this rule up; nonetheless, we have it now . . .)

Smite.

[Mr. Dashbee]

Okay, since I started this thing, I need to throw out some predictions of my own...

ECW Battle Royal - I'll go with sentimental pick here...Tommy Dreamer.

Winner - Tommy Dreamer

ECW Championship - Let's continue the sentiment and pick...Tommy Dreamer. But he loses the title on Tuesday, because, well, he's Tommy Dreamer.

Winner (and NEW ECW Champion) - Tommy Dreamer

Belfast Brawl - I like Finlay's chances in this one. JBL is such a great heel that everyone wants to see him lose. I suspect some Vince McMahon and Hornswaggle Finlay sightings in this one.

Winner - Finlay

BunnyMania - I'm sure the real winner is Snoop Dogg, the only guy involved. Well, until that Santino dude shows up! Faces go over, Snoop kicks Santino in the nuts.

Winners - Ashley & Maria

Inter-Brand War - This started out as a challenge between Regal and Long/Vickie, but I'm glad it became about Umaga & Batista. We've all heard the "controversial angle that sends Umaga to Smackdown" stuff. I sense a double turn in this one, where Umaga proves he really can beat Batista but still loses.

Winner - Batista

Money in the Bank - I see a (Matt) Hardy return, but not as an official participant as we all hoped. I see MVP ascending a ladder while everyone is out on the outside, only to be distracted by Matt Hardy's music & entrance video. As MVP watches the ramp, Hardy sneaks in the other side of the ring, and knocks the ladder down. The real potential winners are Jericho, Punk & Kennedy. Kennedy should be the odds-on favorite, but I'll go with Punk.

Winner - CM Punk

The Biggest vs. The Best - I'm interested, if only for the pageantry that is WM. Mayweather's entrance, plenty of extra-curriculars and a posse that could get out of hand lend itself to an atmosphere similar to Brock vs. Bill at WM20. I'll go with Show, as I think $20 mil was to do the job.

Winner - The Big Show

Flair's Last Match - I can't wait to see this, but I hoped it'd never happen. I know Flair's final match will be amazing. I really think HBK has no self-serving motives in this one (for once), and will put on the performance of a lifetime. I expect it all and then some. And to buck tradition, Flair gets to go out on top.

Winner (and still retiring) - Ric Flair

WWE Title Match - I see this in the middle of the card, and I see Orton retaining thanks to card placement. HHH or Cena goes over in the Backlash main event rematch, though.

Winner (and still WWE Champion) - Randy Orton

World Championship - I read that JR said it goes on last, and I really do hope so. 'Taker wins, obviously. Although I wish Edge would win and end the streak instead of Cena doing it in the next few years. I expect full-on druids for the entrance. It'll be interesting to see if Edge gets a cool/special entrance.

Winner (and NEW World Champion) - The Undertaker