No Way Out. . .sigh.

[The Optimist]

What's our lineup so far?

Main Event: Undertaker and Batista vs. Cena and Micheals(c) for the World Tag Team Titles
I love how great McMahon thinks this match is, and conversely how bad it actually is all around. It simultaneously is a bad match, a non-sensical match, and makes the WWE worse as a whole. I'd have put Taker against Cena and Micheals vs. Batista for each other's titles, but that's just me.

Four Way Ladder Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. Taylor and Regal vs. MNM vs. London and Kendrick(c)
Yeah, the match will be fun. But I already know who wins. . .unless I don't in which case I'll probably be pissed. Re-hashing old matches never goes good with me, marks will love it though. :Y:

Kane vs. King Booker
I would have loved this match had they continued with the "Booker is pissed at Kane for eliminating him from the Rumble" logic, that's apparently been turned on its ear in favor of "Booker, much like everyone else shits himself because Kane is a face and thats the way heels do things". It might be pretty good, I personally love Booker and enjoy some Kane matches, if they can work together I should like it. Too bad WWE has a knack for sucking.

Fit Finlay vs. The Boogeyman
Boogeyman is out for "revenge" for one of his first losses ever(to my recollection) and looks to even the score against Finlay and Little Bastard. I mark out for Boogeyman pretty easily so don't expect to get a biased opinion. I like almost everything he does in the ring and fueding with Fit will only get him more experienced.

Anything else I'm forgetting?, I'm sure there is. Any thoughts?

[Loose Cannon]

it actually doesn't look bad so far

[Jeritron]

Yea, really doesn't look bad. Febuary ppvs aren't usually anything to write home about anyways, especially since the brand split.

[KingofOldSchool]

So has it been confirmed that the ME is for the Raw tag titles? If so I see Batista turning on Taker and costing them the match.

[Jeritron]

It'd make sense to make it that way. I see it ending in one big mess anyways, someone will walk out on the other, there'll be all kinds of turmoil. Wouldn't be suprised if we didn't even get a clean finish since they prob want to keep both teams and all 4 of them equally strong.

Though it'd be nice to see Batista and Taker disentegrate, while Cena and Shawn stayed cohesive. Then have them fall apart the next night on Raw and drop the tag titles to WGTT or The Hardys.

If Bats Batistabombed Taker and left him for dead with the wolves by walking out (on his terms) that'd be a nice way to get him some heel heat going into mania.

[KingofOldSchool]

Well on Raw Batista said that he'd get Taker back on his own terms and that would be the perfect set up for No Way Out.

[ron the dial]

I may actually watch this PPV, if only for the ladder match.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'd love to see Batista & The Undertaker win the World Tag Team Championship, then lose the belts to Deuce N' Domino, or something. Then at Saturday Night's Main Event, have London & Kendrick defeat D&D for the World Tag Team Championship, unifying it with the WWE Tag Team Championship. Then have London & Kendrick defend their belts against The World's Greatest Tag Team at WrestleMania. :drool:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure John Cena & Shawn Michaels will go over, though, just to give the RAW main event a little nudge.

I think you can also add Gregory Helms vs. Daivari to the card, and Benoit will probably face Finlay, Mr. Kennedy or MVP (or any combination of the four) for the United States Championship.

Don't ask me why, but I also get the idea we'll see MVP face Bobby Lashley, probably just Theodore Long punishing MVP. You've got the other World Champions on the show, and apparently ECW is meant as a show to get Lashley over. I can see him defeating MVP in the opening contest, or something.

[Jeritron]

I got the Rumble, which was the first ppv I've ordered since ONS. I'm just gonna wait for Mania and save myself the 30 dollars. I really do wanna see the ladder match and how the tag match plays out, but with 50 dollar mania coming up I'd rather hold onto the cash.

[Jeritron]

I'd love to see Batista & The Undertaker win the World Tag Team Championship, then lose the belts to Deuce N' Domino, or something.

Regardless of the finish, I don't think jobbing your main event matchup to Duece and Domino is a good idea.

It'd make more sense to have a more semi ME level team like WGTT or The Hardys pick up the belts on the brand they belong on, even if its a cheap finish (one member abandoning the other).

It's also not beyond the realm of possibility that one of the ME matchups goes into mania the tag champs. After all, its the Raw titles and its not like you need to have both sets of tag titles on the card.

[Loose Cannon]

yea, I definately think Cena and HBK are going to drop the Titles to WGTT. Cena will hit HBK by accident or vice versa or HBK turns heel and pulls a Sid and purposely does not tag Cena after Cena is getting destroyed. a la Tuesay in Texas 1992.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Anyway, here's how I would book the card, but this is just me:

Opening Match: Chavo Guerrero vs. Jimmy Wang Yang

Story: Guerrero defeats Yang next week on SmackDown!, and then cuts a promo on Rey Mysterio, saying that if he shows up on his brand, Chavo will force him out again. Yang then attacks Guerrero from behind, just as sort of a rushed build-up to a No Way Out match.

Match: Chavo Guerrero is about to defeat Yang again, when Rey Mysterio's music hits. Chavo is distracted long enough for Yang to capitalise and hurricanrana Chavo off the top, and follow it up with a Moonsault for three.

Match #2: MVP vs. Mystery Opponent

Story: This match is just punishment for MVP constantly complaining about Long's mistreatment of him. Theodore Long comes out and stage and personally introduces MVP's opponet...the ECW World Champion, Bobby Lashley!

Match: Lashley dominates from the get-go, but then Snitsky makes an entrance. Michael Cole and JBL question how he knew Lashley would be here (this is used to establish a story where Snitsky is stalking the ECW World Champ, and watching his every move). Snitsky attacks Lashley, causing the DQ, but he and MVP beat down Lashley together getting the last laugh.

Match #3: Ladder Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship

Story: Basically the rematch from the Armadeddon match. On SmackDown!, Paul London & Brian Kendrick attend Ashley's unveiling of her Playboy magazine cover, which is interrupted by Deuce N' Domino, who inform London & Kendrick that they better retain the WWE Tag Team Titles, because Deuce N' Domino want to win them.

Match: Please let Paul London hit a London Calling off the ladder. PLEASE! I'd have Brian Kendrick grab the belts down this time, and make this match longer than the last. Fill it to the brim with insanity. They should probably do a scene with Shawn Michaels congratulating his boys in the back, seeing as he will be on the show later.

Match #4: Mr. Kennedy issues an Open Challenge

Story: This would just be used to add intrigue to the show. Have Kennedy claim that he is the best in the world, and he wants to prove it at No Way Out. His challenge can be answered by anyone, but this might be the ideal time for a surprise. Not an epic one, just an interesting "Hey, it's that guy!" surprise. Paul Burchill? Chuck Palumbo? Little Guido returning to SmackDown!?

Match: I'd have the face take Kennedy to the limit, only for Mr. Kennedy to just get fed-up and leave the ring, setting up a feud for the two heading into WrestleMania. The challenger wins this match via countout. Unless it is Guido, I like the guy and all, but he should probably just put up a good and willing fight against Kennedy, only to be defeated.

Match #5: Gregory Helms vs. Davari for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Story: Next week, I'd have Chris Benoit & Gregory Helms face Finlay & Daivari in a tag team match, with Finlay and Daivari winning. Let Daivari pin Benoit with the Magic Carpet after taking an illegal shot from Finlay. It sets things up pretty well.

Match: I'd have Helms retain the belt here. I think he has potential as a face, and I think cutting his reign off now could be fatal. It's not that he hasn't held the belt long enough (he's held it longer than anyone else in history), it's just that he hasn't defended the belt in enough memorable matches for that to mean anything. It's catch-up time for Helms and his reign.

Match #6: Kane vs. King Booker

Story: I like this feud, Booker lost it in the Rumble, and now it's coming back to haunt him.

Match: I'm a Kane mark, so I'd like to see him win. I don't know what the plans for these two at Mania are, but this match shouldn't really affect them. You might as well give the win to the babyface.

Match #7: Chris Benoit vs. Finlay for the WWE United States Championship

Story: This is set up very similarly to the Cruiserweight Title Match. Finlay is the first man to pin The Boogeyman, I don't think a US Title shot is out of the question.

Match: Once again, this match could go either way. Benoit has had an impressive run with the US Title, and he's got to be one of the greatest US Champs in history, but he won't lose anything if he dropped the Title (besides the belt itself). What does Finlay gain from winning? Nothing really, but the match would be good, he is a little more decorated, and he can then go on to feud with Kane, or the guy who accepts Kennedy's challenge for the US Title. Maybe even have Finlay vs. Benoit vs. Kennedy vs. Burchill at WrestleMania? Worse and stranger things have happened.

Main Event: John Cena & Shawn Michaels vs. Batista & The Undertaker

Story: I'm not really interested.

Match: I like KoOS' idea, and having Batista turn on Undertaker, allowing John Cena to pin the Phenom. Maybe have HBK deliver a Sweet Chin Music to John Cena after the match?

[Jeritron]

For a second I thought that was your WM card, and I was ready to tear it to shreds.

[The Optimist]

Edited with Boogeyman match added.

[St. Jimmy]

I'd love to see Batista & The Undertaker win the World Tag Team Championship, then lose the belts to Deuce N' Domino, or something. Then at Saturday Night's Main Event, have London & Kendrick defeat D&D for the World Tag Team Championship, unifying it with the WWE Tag Team Championship. Then have London & Kendrick defend their belts against The World's Greatest Tag Team at WrestleMania. :drool:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure John Cena & Shawn Michaels will go over, though, just to give the RAW main event a little nudge.

I think you can also add Gregory Helms vs. Daivari to the card, and Benoit will probably face Finlay, Mr. Kennedy or MVP (or any combination of the four) for the United States Championship.

Don't ask me why, but I also get the idea we'll see MVP face Bobby Lashley, probably just Theodore Long punishing MVP. You've got the other World Champions on the show, and apparently ECW is meant as a show to get Lashley over. I can see him defeating MVP in the opening contest, or something.

Not being an ass or anything, but how long have you been pitching the Tag Title unification idea. Has to be atleast a consecutive amount adding up to about 2-3 months straight?

[Fignuts]

I don't see anything wrong with the main event. It will be a great way to build heat for their matches at wrestlemania. Unconventional, but it will still work, and at the same time be fairly unpredictable.

[M-A-G]

I like it.

[Kane Knight]

So wait. Whoa re the tag title holders right now?

[M-A-G]

Raw: Cena and HBK
SmackDown!: Kendrick and London

[M-A-G]

Vince Russo would've had Batista and Undertaker win the WWE Tag Team Titles like 3 weeks ago already.

[Jeritron]

I just checked, the match hasn't been made for the titles. Not to say it can't be, but as of now its non-title.

[Loose Cannon]

I'd rather it stay non-title. HBK and Cena will most likely drop them a little before No Way Out. And then we'll most likely get a Tag Title match on Heat before Mania.

btw, this thread seems to be in good hands. ;)

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'd rather it stay non-title. HBK and Cena will most likely drop them a little before No Way Out. And then we'll most likely get a Tag Title match on Heat before Mania.

btw, this thread seems to be in good hands. ;)

I actually think that is the most realistic outcome.

Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin win the World Tag Team Championship on RAW, showing perfect chemistry while Cena and HBK tease dissention. Taker and Batista then lose at No Way Out, when 'Tista turns on 'Taker, adding fuel to all WrestleMania fires.

On the Heat prior to Mania, Haas and Benjamin retain the Titles against Cryme Tyme, Undertaker defeats Batista for the World Heavyweight Title and John Cena defends successfully against HBK.

[The Optimist]

Ehhhhhhh. Shit. This sort of sickens me. Usually I think eveyone on TPWW is a bit cynical, but this whole thing just gives me nausea.

Everything else is speculation and I've already discussed the Ladder match, so I'll jump right to Kane vs. Booker. I really did like this when I saw Booker get pissed, it showed that Booker had the drive to still be King and that he would take on anyone who got in the way of his royalty, even the monster Kane. I didn't get to watch last week's Smackdown, so I didn't see the "Key to the City" fiasco. Again, I like King Booker yet seeing him leave at the sight of Kane makes him look weak and without drive or any courage. Again, on this week's Smackdown he bitched to Teddy Long, showing no strength at all. This makes him look like stereotypical weak cowardly (yet somehow bad, of course) heel and Kane look like an almost heroic over-dog face. Gay.


The Finlay/Boogeyman thing I see nothing wrong with, Finlay knows how to do things and could make Boogen less green, then when he actually does ascend to his place as the new monster in the buisness he will be just that much less of a shithead.

The tag team thing sickens me, as all "Let's stick two singles guys together and call them a tag-team" plans do. The fact that its both main event guys just shows the lack of caring they have for this pay-per-view. Micheals and Cena being any sort of Tag Team Champs sickens me down to my core at this point, since there is no respect for any tag teams on Raw. So, I'm sick of the main event. Maybe Batista will turn on Taker and Cena will FU Shawn and then will have Shawn and Undertaker duel for the pair of Tag Team Titles. Then we'd get HBK vs. Taker, it would mean something, be unpredictable as hell, and I wouldn't have to watch another reeeeeeeeaaaaalllly shitty "tag-team" main event. Not to mention the fact that it would get Cena at least some heel heat, which is always good.

[thedamndest]

I was thinking about something like that where the world champs both turn heel on their partners, resulting in Cena and HBK vacating the titles (HBK has a knack for vacating titles, doesn't he?). There's really no way team to drop the titles to now, who could credibly defend them. A tag tourney would be a step towards re-invigorating the RAW tag scene.

[RP]

Theirs No Way Out! Unless you leave the ring and go back to the lockeroom and then get in your vehicle and travel to another arena for another show. But other then that... THEIRS NO WAY OUT!!!!

[The Optimist]

I thought they should have started a tag team title tournament before the Royal Rumble. It was one of my fondest memories of old WCW (Barry Whindam and Curt Henning fueding with Benoit and Malenko throughout a double elimination tournament) so I figured it could have worked again if they'd given it enough time.

Again the WCW Tag Team Title Tournament was double elimination and featured at least two segments on Nitro and Thunder each week. Time and space were all they needed to give.

People are saying they could just jump the belts on to WGTT and it'll be copasetic, but I don't think it'll fly. They haven't pushed them hardly at all except in matches against Cryme Time, which are matches they should easily win for a multitude of reasons.


I don't know what the fuck they could do to make people care about Raw tag teams anymore.

[Londoner]

You know since we've got wrestlers switching shows with ease like the brand split means nothing, and competing on the other brands show, why don't they just end the roster split??? It's common sense...which WWE lacks I guess.

[The Optimist]

You know since we've got wrestlers switching shows with ease like the brand split means nothing, and competing on the other brands show, why don't they just end the roster split??? It's common sense...which WWE lacks I guess.I like how you answered you're own question.

[Kane Knight]

Raw: Cena and HBK
SmackDown!: Kendrick and London

Cena and Michaels are tag champs? And Cena's still the champ, right?

What are they thinking?

[Avenger]

Main Event: Undertaker and Batista vs. Cena and Micheals(c) for the World Tag Team Titles
I love how great McMahon thinks this match is, and conversely how bad it actually is all around. It simultaneously is a bad match, a non-sensical match, and makes the WWE worse as a whole. I'd have put Taker against Cena and Micheals vs. Batista for each other's titles, but that's just me.


What the fuck? You idiot. Having Taker just get a WWE title shot and HBK get a World Title shot just like that undermines the WM main events more than anything. Tard.

[owenbrown]

When was the last time the WWE actually CARED about the legacy of ANY of their championships?

[tucsonspeed6]

I don't like the fact that the main event of the night is a hype match for Wrestlemania. Nobody cares about the tag titles, and this match could have been featured on a Raw or Smackdown the week before WM, and it still wouldn't garner much interest in the biggest PPV of the year. Nothing else you listed would interest me in the slightest. I definately won't even consider buying NWO.

[Kane Knight]

WWE is sure making the "no wrestling" thing easy.

TNA's not bad at it either, but this is a WWE PPV thread, so...

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think the Kane vs. King Booker feud has been handled perfectly, to be honest. I'd love a strong heel character every now and then, but King Booker was never meant to be a strong character. He's meant to be a delusional, chickenshit bastard. To have him become all brave and fierce against Kane would just fuck up Kane's atmosphere even more. The only thing this feud has been lacking is King Booker really regretting what he did to Kane at the Royal Rumble, and trying to cover up for it. I'd love to see a segment where he tried to make Kane his royal knight (If they actually said "Kane Knight", I would mark the fuck out), or even allow him to be a "co-King" with Booker.

A segment with Booker trying to make peace with Kane, presenting him with his own robe, and his own crown, and what have you, would be brilliant. Then have Kane just laugh maniacally at Booker's attempts to end the feud peacefully, and uppercut the shit out of him. :love:

I'm not too interested in Finlay vs. Boogeyman, especially considering they just blew Boogeyman's undefeated streak. I like the way Marty Wright moves in the ring. It almost seems delicate. If he actually had skills, he could be entertaining. He's only going to get better if he works with Finlay. For that reason alone, this match gets a pass.

The Diva Talent Invitational seems like a pile of shit, and I prefer hot women to be doing things that can help the male stars, or at least wrestling. If this leads to something, it could be interesting. This should just be a cool down period before or after the Ladder Match, so the bordering matches don't get shit on, necessarily. They should have Mickie James come out and make the Women's Title interpromotional in this, but I'll just be happy to see Melina...:love:

[BigDaddyCool]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Boogen!

[The Optimist]

Actually I'm starting to dig that Booker idea Alienoid. They would almost seem like they'd have to backtrack to do that now, but its not like they've never done that before.

Again, I like Boogen in the way that he's very entertaining in-ring. The fact that he has very little wrestling skill shouldn't deterr WWE from giving him a push since it never has anyone else, honestly. Fueding with Finlay will probably make him fear God, so it's all good.

The Diva Talent thing is pretty meh, the only entertaining females right now IMO are Jillian and Mickie James.

[Londoner]

I agree Alienoid, i see nothing wrong with this Kane/Booker feud, people just complain about anything though.