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View Full Version : The Critics' No Way Out Thread


Mr. Nerfect
02-19-2006, 02:46 AM
We have a Tipsters thread predicting what we think we happen when the WWE brings us No Way Out, so why not a thread discussion what we think SHOULD happen?

This thread can discuss anything from what you think of the card, to how you think things should turn out.

Here is the current (and possibly final) No Way Out card:

-Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship
-Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton for the Royal Rumble Title Shot
-Booker T vs. Chris Benoit for the WWE United States Championship
-Bobby Lashley vs. JBL
-MNM vs. Matt Hardy & Mystery Partner for the WWE Tag Team Championship
-Nine-Man Cruiserweight Free For All for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

*The WWE is usually inefficient when it comes to timing things on their PPVs, so let's assume the show finishes 20:00 early. Assuming that PPVs are around 75% wrestling and 25% backstage development, we are left with around two hours for these matches to take place.*

Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker should be given around 20:00. Anything less and it may not live up to its potential, anything more and it might get boring. Kurt Angle should probably be given the win via submission, so he looks strong heading into WrestleMania. A title switch here isn't out of the picture, but I think it would be a tad predictable Taker's streak is ending, and I'm not sure the Dead Man wants that. There is no way he should successfully hold the belt through WrestleMania, though.

Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton could use roughly the same time period as Angle vs. Taker. Maybe make it a bit quicker, though. I'm going to round up and say it should be given 20:00, but in reality it should probably be something more like 18:00. Mysterio should win. Orton winning does nothing for the WWE.

Chris Benoit vs. Booker T is an odd case. I actually think they should not have this match take place. Have Booker worm his way out via forfeit, and then have Benoit claim he came to Baltimore to wrestle, and have him issue an open challenge for the United States Championship. It would be something unpredictable. The blow-off to their feud does not need to happen here. I don't care who faces Benoit. Doug Basham, William Regal & Jamie Noble are good suggestions. Have Benoit retain the US Title in a 20:00 match with the Crippler Crossface. Have his opponent look like a million bucks.

Bobby Lashley vs. JBL should go around 10:00. I'd have JBL lose when Orlando Jordan gets involved to try and help Layfield, but he ends up costing him the match. JBL vs. Orlando Jordan may not be anything stellar, but it would be the best way to push OJ as a face (which I think he is better as). It also allows some shade to be cast on the JBL/Lashley situation.

I still think Matt Hardy's mystery partner should be, you know, a surpirse. CM Punk was rumoured to be teaming with Hardy for a bit, but that idea was apparently scrapped. Hardy & Punk together would be awesome, especially considering WrestleMania is in Chicago. Hardy & Punk take the titles here when CM Punk has Nitro or Mercury in the Anaconda Vice and the other member of MNM tries to break it up, but Hardy catches him with the side effect which forces the MNM member in the submission hold to tap. Give this match 10:00 to develop.

The Cruiserweight Free For All should feature a title change, in my opinion. If not, who is Gregory Helms going to defend the belt against next? Helms should not be involved in the decision, though. Nunzio, Funaki & Scotty 2 Hotty can pretty much be ruled out as Helms as pinned them over the last few weeks. Kid Kash has just held the belt, so having him win is a bit redundant. That leaves us Paul London, Brian Kendrick, Super Crazy or Psicosis as possible candidates for WWE Cruiserweight Champion. Logically this should lead to a partner vs. partner match at WrestleMania. I say give the win to Paul London, and have Brian Kendrick challenge at either WrestleMania or Saturday's Night Main Event. The Mexicools are more critical to the Tag Team Division at the present time. This match should get around 15:00.

So that gives us a total of 1:35:00 in-ring action (give or take), which means we have time for another match on the card. My suggestion is Paul Burchill vs. Finlay. Use the excuse Finlay thinks Burchill is a joke, he tries to teach Burchill a lesson. Give these guys a good 10:00. A nice spot would be Burchill catching Finlay in the ring apron off a baseball slide (something which Finlay usually does to his opponents). Just try and show Burchill as a wise competitor here. Give PB the win with a flying knee drop or a nice moonsault.

There is still around 10:00 to shill out, so have the Cruiserweight Match go on five minutes longer, as well as maybe giving the WWE Tag Team Championship match more time to develop.

No Way Out could be a great PPV, in my opinion, I just hope they give their talent time, and don't rush things with the cruiserweights, and don't have Road Warrior Animal revealed as Matt Hardy's "mystery" tag team partner.

Mr. Nerfect
02-19-2006, 02:58 AM
The match order of this card is important as well. Some cards can go in any way, shape or form, but I think No Way Out could be greatly improved by the order its matches take place in.

I think the WWE should have the United States Championship Match go on first. Benoit is over with the crowd, and the title has been established as meaningful in recent weeks. The CW Match seems logical to warm up the crowd, but I think they should get a higher billing so the Cruiserweight Title looks more important.

I'd have Bobby Lashley vs. JBL go on next. There is not much story here, but if this match goes on first it will look unimportant.

MNM vs. Matt Hardy & Mystery Partner next. Should be an OK-Good match (depending on who the partner is). If you're introducing us to someone, or whoever is teaming with Hardy is unknown, it could put people out of the mood to watch, so it shouldn't be on first. A fair way in, people will be more willing to accept.

The next match could be a bonus match. So something like Paul Burchill vs. Finlay or a Battle Royal to decide the #1 Contender for the US Championship.

The next match should be the first main event, Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton.

The second highest billing goes to the Cruiserweight Clusterfuck, to give some attention to the title, so people can actually care about the cruisers heading into WrestleMania (and think the company cares as well).

Finally we get Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship.

So hopefully we get a well-paced technical match first, a solid big-man match second, a great tag team match third, a fun match fourth, a main event level match on fifth, a fast-paced cruiserweight match on sixth and a World Title Match on last.

St. Jimmy
02-19-2006, 05:03 PM
20 minutes early unless someone magically busts ass to make one of their matches a clinic.

Angle would, but Taker is jobbing to him - so no.
Rey/Orton could be a really good match if Orton is on the ball.
Lashley/JBL could be good, if Lashley could carry bradshaw. Doubtful.
Greg Helms <3. Period. Best clusterfuck on the card. <3

Innovator
02-19-2006, 06:15 PM
I picked Orton to win, and I hope I'm wrong

Innovator
02-19-2006, 06:16 PM
20 minutes in an Orton match means 15 minutes of rest holds with a blank expression on his face

.44 Magdalene
02-20-2006, 06:47 PM
This is NOT the Critic's thread.

.44 Magdalene
02-20-2006, 06:51 PM
:shifty: