Possible plans for Wrestlemania
 

The Taker/Batista match is a double-edged sword. I don't want Taker's streak to end (ESPECIALLY to Batista), but I really don't want the title on him either. I've heard that the plan is for Batista to go over, and Batista is in no way worthy of ending Taker's streak.

Lashley face and RVD heel? Vince really has lost it...

That lineup does not exactly excite me. Hogan/Big Show will be a train wreck, and we just saw Cena/HHH last year.

It doesn't make sense in the short run, but considering that it seems that Vince is high on Lashley and wants him to be the next big face I understand WHY he's doing it.

Vince may be big on Lashley, but the fans aren't, and that's what Vince doesn't get these days. It's all about what HE wants, not the fans. And he wonders why ratings are so low? Hmmm...

Im all for Taker/Batista as long as Taker wins. HHH/Cena isn't a great idea.

HHH/Cena/Orton would make more sense. Put Edge in the money in the bank match.

Heel Cena vs babyface HHH. CMON

So HHH or Taker will win the Rumble then?

No HHH/Cena at Wrestlemania again. At least throw Orton into the mix. And maybe have Cena lose the fucking title.

I really dislike the Taker/Batista match. I definitely don't want to see the title on Undertaker, but his streak is something that I don't feel should be ended.

I hope that they keep it Lashley/RVD, no matter who is the heel/face. Stick Punk into the MITB.

No don't put Edge in the money in bank. Been there, won that...2 years ago. He needs to be in something high profile.

Triple H vs Cena vs Orton vs Edge

Shawn Michaels vs Ken Kennedy

It'd be nice if they could keep Rated RKO together longer than six months, though. So why have Edge and Orton facing each other? Just put Edge and Shawn Michaels in a match against each other. I bet that they could put on a damn good show.

RVD vs Lashley (heel) is the best idea for ECW.

Punk should either be in the MITB match, or wrestle someone more established than him.
Wouldnt be bad if ECW started a tournament for the TV title sometime in early 07 and had Punk go to the finals against someone else at mania. (I know I've been pushing the TV title on these boards a lot)

Vince might be making a challenge to himself to topple Mania IX as worst ever.

Rated RKO is just the two top heels paired together for the purposes of one fued with DX, to help put them over further.

They won't stay together much longer, and they shouldn't because its the company's top two heels.

Fuck that. Stick Dykstra with them, and start a stable. We could use a solid stable these days. So what if they're the top two heels? That's all the more reason to stick them together. They can stir up shit as a unit. Sure, there would eventually be a conflict over the WWE Title, but that doesn't have to be for a while.

I've been worrying for a while now that this wrestlemania is doomed.
There's no logical matchups for the main event really. Someone is inevitably left out, something is rehashed, or its just flat out boring in all possible scenarios.

I think they messed up by booking the Cena/Edge title fued in the summer instead of letting Edge run with the belt for a while. That way they could have saved that rivalry for a Wrestlemania program.
Not that I think its the best match but its their top two young stars who have great chemistry and it would have been something fresh.

The only way to save this years WM is to end the roster split. Seriously.

Balboa/Hogan would do it.

I just don't understand why they just don't turn him heel. Are they afraid that if they turn him, he will be cheered?

Cena should be the guy ending Taker's streak as a heel. I think it could be an awesome program if done right.

I agree. I actually got kind of a sense of this happening a few weeks ago but it didn't pan out. I saw the Batista Cena pairing as a way to turn Bats heel and fued with Cena in a title for title program leading up to mania.

If you ended the brand spllit you could really do a lot with interpromotion. Granted you dont want to overdo the crossfueds and ditch existing or foreshadowed ones. But there's a lot of possibilites to choose from:

DX vs Brothers of Destruction

Cena vs Batista

Batista vs Edge

Batista vs Orton

Edge vs Benoit

Hardys vs London and Kendrick

Kennedy vs Michaels (other top Raw names)

Rey Mysterio vs Jeff Hardy

Diesel, I would assume that Taker will win it.

I would also assume that HHH gets in after winning a fatal four way between himself, HBK and Rated RKO.

This is how I would setup Wrestlemania.

A HEEL CENA VS A FACE HHH

SHAWN MICHAELS VS EDGE

ORTON VS KEN KENNEDY VS NITRO VS FINLAY VS KANE VS KENNY- MITB MATCH

CARLITO VS CHRIS MASTERS FOR THE IC TITLE

THE HARDYS VS MNM VS WGTT VS KENDRICK AND LONDON...FATAL FOUR WAY LADDER MATCH TO UNIFY THE WWE TAG TITLES. WINNING BRAND KEEPS THE BELTS.

TAKER VS BATISTA

LASHLEY VS CM PUNK

BIG SHOW VS HOGAN

UMAGA HAS AN OPEN CHALLENGE WHICH IS ACCEPTED BY THE GREAT KHALI.

SABU VS TEST VS TOMMY DREAMER VS KEVIN THORN VS BALLS MAHONEY VS RVD...6 MAN CHALLENGE FOR THE ECW TV TITLE WITH HARDCORE RULES...

RIC FLAIR VS AN UP AND COMER

Keep in mind Foley is planned to be on the card, against Vince or Nitro. Preferrably Nitro.

No offence but I wouln't buy that.

Yeah if Orton does'nt win the Rumble, have him win MITB.

I'm going by storylines right now, not how I would want it in my mind

I'm predicting Rey Mysterio will be a suprise entrant in the MITB, and win.
Unless of course he returns soon enough before to do a program, or waits until the weeks after.

By the looks of it, it seems that this year's WrestleMania is MAKE IT OR BREAK IT!!!

What a terrible terrible main event line-up that would be. Batista's 2nd successive main event, Cena's 3rd, and Bobby Lashley? Not one of them deserve to be there.

I thought RVD was leaving soon, or does his contract run out after Mania? If it does, seeing Little Voice crush him won't make me buy it. Cena/Haitch won't make me buy it either.

I guess we'll see Edge vs Orton at Mania then, perhaps in a double heel match like Benoit/Angle was.

God, I can't even be bothered to write about it, it's boring me already.

not to mention Triple H's 6th main event in a row

And just how in the hell is Vince planning on turning RVD heel? Have him turn on the fans? HOW? Heel behavior is not enough to turn RVD heel, because the fans cheer him no matter what...especially if he turns on Lashley because noone gives two fucks about him. The only way I see is for him to turn on the fans, but that would just make him look like a total retard given the common knowledge of his drug bust.

Unless.......during a Lashley/CM Punk match, RVD jumps both of them and bloodies them to a pulp with a chair...mostly Punk. Then let him cut a similar promo to his ECW days.

"Rob Van Dam is now worth MORE MONEY HERE and Rob Van Dam is now worth MORE MONEY ELSEWHERE.....because I'm DYING to work Thursday's again!"

THEN BRING BACK FONZIE! :love:

RVD couldn't be a heel now unless he had Heyman with him as a manager. He even kind of did in the summer and it didnt stop him from still getting face heat.
Lashley however could easily be a heel. VInce wants Lashley to be face because he wants Lashley to go over and bury RVD.
Is it possible that Lashley RVD will be RVDs last match in WWE? Damn I wish it would be punk.

If Cena isn't in the final main event it will be UNACCEPTABLE!

Also what is the status on Rey Mysterio? If he can make it back in time, he could face a heel CM Punk

Well, RVD jumping ship to TNA after getting burried by Lashley on WWE's biggest stage would make no sense for him in a business sense. Not exactly coming to TNA with any momentum, know what I mean. Seeing as how his contract is up early next year, I would be willing to bet that if he does go to TNA it will be before Mania. (But I don't have a crystal ball, so who knows.)

Man, WWE is missing the boat SO BAD by not running an RVD/Punk program. Fucking idiots. The story line practically wrote it's self and they STILL didn't do it. Noone really is watching ECW now, so why not have RVD win the belt from Big Show instead of Lashley? Yeah, he's in the doghouse, but I bet RVD with the ECW title draws higher ratings than Lashley. Vince's stubbornness is hurting his business. Even if WWE/Vince didn't want RVD to have the title long term, it would have put Punk over way more as a face to do an extended program with RVD to win the belt instead of Lashley IMO. There's nothing going on in ECW now anyway, so they could have slowly built the RVD/Punk feud for months leading up to Mania and given fans a reason to tune into the show on Tuesday's. Draw them into a decent storyline instead of throwing random shit every week at a "Monster" ECW champ that noone cares about and hope it sticks. IT'S NOT STICKING IDIOTS, CHECK THE RATINGS!

RVD vs. Punk at Mania in a Ladder Match for the ECW Title = :drool:

Lashley vs. anyone = me not giving a flying rats ass.

If you look at all three Brands right now, there's basically the same type of champion. Big muscle guys with limited in ring ability, thus putting on boring ass matches 9/10 times unless the heel is credible enough to make it a match the fans actually care about. Plus, all 3 champs are being rammed down peoples throats and aren't even 100% over as faces. People boo Cena, the crowd seems to have significantly lost support for Batista and Lashley in ECW speaks for itself.

If RVD doesn't re-sign, then I have more chance of being in the ECW 'main event' then he does.

Taker/Dancing Dave will just be awful. Simply awful. I've still not seen any evidence that Batista is a good enough worker, and although Taker is, the chances are that he'll hardly wrestle in the build up to it.

Cena/HHH, what spin (see what I did there?) could they put on it this time. Do they honestly, really truely believe that fans will view this match as face vs face. Cena against a 'DX' Trips wuld be booed out of the damn building. It's as simple as that. The one single saving grace is that it saves us from Orton/Cena.

What else is there? Edge/Michaels - done it. Michaels/Orton? Might be interesting.

And Kennedy vs the unretiring JBL? He's hardly the 'legend' required to put over Kennedy. Kennedy/Flair could be good.

All in all, I don't honestly think Vince knows what the fuck to do.

I'd kinda rather get shot in the nads with a pellet gun than watch that

I don't want to sound like I'm shitting on things for the sake of shitting on things, but the WWE could throw Paul London vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Doug Basham vs. Val Venis in a "Winner Becomes God" Ladder Match, and I still wouldn't order.

I hate to say it, but marks will probably eat it up, though. The rematch from last year, this time with Triple H in DX colours? I can see marks shitting themselves over it. The same goes for The Undertaker. How that guy gets no heat, unless he is in Toronto, is beyond me. I mean, the guy wears a fucking leotard and has the corniest shit surrounding him.

The Undertaker will probably win the Rumble, as he hasn't done that yet, but from a storyline perspective, I think Triple H winning makes more sense. I mean, you need to set up Cena vs. Triple H, and the Rumble is the easiest way to do it. Plus, the reason for the 'Tista vs. 'Taker match is the whole Title vs. Streak thing. Do you need to throw the Rumble story in there?

Retards and idiots will eat up WrestleMania 23. Some smarks will even probably buy into it because of Money in the Bank and because it's WrestleMania. This might be the final straw in the hat, though. I can't watch that shit.

I'd expect a low buyrate for a WrestleMania, though. Thus far, they're not exactly encouraging the smarks, and marks are dropping off.

WrestleMania usually gets the pop because the WWE regains focus, and puts together a Supershow, and stops with the shit that makes us want to turn off our TVs. It seems they're going full-throttle with the shit that makes us want to turn off our TVs, though. Bad mistake.

The WWE should just unify their Championships, and end the brand split at WrestleMania. It might make me watch.

There is no way to end the split without releasing at least half the roster. Combined, you'd have shows full of nothing but main eventers and one lower card match. They can't even book everyone on the shows WITH the split.

Man would a heel RVD be awesome.

I don't want to sound like I'm shitting on things for the sake of shitting on things, but the WWE could throw Paul London vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Doug Basham vs. Val Venis in a "Winner Becomes God" Ladder Match, and I still wouldn't order.

That's a lie and you know it...

No shit. A lot of families would go hungry.

But losing half the current roster wouldn't be much of a loss now would it?

If they started to book well, and that's not impossible, then yes, a lot of good guys would be gone and it would be a loss.

But that's the problem, it is impossible for the current creative team to book well.

:roll:

Okay, now you're just being a stubborn mark.

Yes, the writing's bad. Yes, they aren't booking as they should. Yes, I'll go as far as to say that a lot of it's shit, but you're going to tell me that there is ZERO impossibility that it turns around? Come the fuck on and get the fuck off your high horse.

Is it possible that the WWE is on an incline that ends in disaster? Absolutely, but there is an equal chance that this is a transitional period and they're trying to find their groove in the modern day mainstream. Yes, the WWE can be considered mainstream (fringe at worst) and when you're mainstream you have to conform to the casual viewer, and if that means isolating your core audience for a while (in example, see Nintendo's Wii) to find a new set of fans then so be it.

And even if this did end in disaster, it would take WWE at least 10 years from now to being close to selling off everything and shutting down. Fuck, they could close the WWE today and still be a multi-million dollar company by just selling the shit they have in the library on DVD and other media types.

WWE's talent pool is stretched too thin. And while I'm not going to dance around for the fact that a lot of guys are out of work, it's not WWE's responsibility to make sure as many wrestlers as possible are on the payroll. Personally, I would end the roster split. But I've been saying that since the day it happened.

Listen, i've sat and watched through so much shit that its lead me to think this way, unless they hire writers who know how to book a wrestling show, then i wont change my opinion.

I've come to the realization a while ago that they're NOT booking a "wrestling" show and never will again. In fact, there IS no "wrestling" show shown nationally, TNA's the same shit. Only thing that would come close is ROH.

"Wrestling" will never be mainstream, "Sports Entertainment" will.

Well if they're not booking a "wrestling" show then that backs up my point further. Things will not change aslong as they continue in this direction.

Ending the brand split will result in a lot of lost jobs, but its gotta be done sooner or later.
And with the state things are in, it should be sooner than later.

Perhaps end the brand split of Raw and Smackdown, and leave ECW. The roster of a twice a week show could be a little bigger than each is now. You'd still have production and everything on smackdown. The tag team and world titles would be unified and the cruiserweight and womens divisions would remain.

If ECW is extended an hour a lot of talent can be sent there, and with Raw and Smackdown united ala 2000, you'd have things be stronger..and I don't think that many jobs would be lost.

Depends on what people think is more important i guess, loss of jobs or loss of ratings? Consider the fact that WWE wrestlers get payed a lot anyway, and could easily find work somewhere else(tna for example), its not impossible to make a living in wrestling outside of WWE. And since when has WWE ever cared about wrestlers losing jobs anyway? It's a weak argument tbh.

TL, you bring up an interesting point..."..and could easily find work somewhere else(tna for example).."

Perhaps WWE is avoiding ending the brand split to avoid mass migration of unemployed talent to TNA?

If that was the case they wouldn't have let Angle go would they?

Doesn't quite work, as Angle =/= mass migration. As great as he is, he's still one man.

But he's still one of the best wrestlers around today, if not the best.

...which would make your point a great one, IF jeritron had said, "Perhaps WWE is avoiding ending the brand split to avoid ANY migration of unemployed talent to TNA?"

Plus they didnt think he was gonna go to TNA. Its not like they fired him or didnt resign him and he was out of a job. He asked to be released and they granted it, under the impression that he was just going to be taking indefinite time away from the ring.

yea pepsiman is right. I just meant, maybe they would want to avoid releasing large amounts of perfectly healthy, work-seeking wrestlers who they initially saw talent in and now can no longer employ. established/not established/old and young alike.

I dont mean singular examples either but mass amounts. You know, like when WCW or ECW folded. Maybe not that big but still, you get what I'm saying.

I'll order it if CM Punk is on the show.

Give me Hogan/Show, give me Boogeyman/Mark Henry in a 30 minute iron man match, I don't care. If CM Punk is just shown taking a crap on the toilet, I'm ordering it.

haha, well you'll most likely be ordering it because I highly doubt he'll be left off the card.

I'd really like to see him get a midcard singles match against someone who can help put him over. Maybe Benoit or Hardy for the IC or US strap (if they sent him to a brand) or else do something good for ECW, whatever that could be.
I also wouldn't mind seeing him in the Money in the Bank match. CM Punk is the type who could probably bring the house down in a ladder match.

CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Johnny Nitro - MITB

GODLY

But we'll probably see WGTT vs. The Hardys vs. MNM or something which would be good as well.

well if they did MITB and sent 2 from each brand I'd def like to see them send CM Punk and Sabu from ECW
Jeff Hardy and Shelton from Raw
Mysterio and someone else from SD!

But yea you're right. We'll probably see Hardys vs. WGTT for the tag belts.

And Nitro will probably get a match with Foley. I think everyones overlooking the fact that this match is almost certain.

Ok, I'll think like Vince and do the card that way instead of doing a dream card.

John Cena vs Triple H (WWE Title)

Batista vs Undertaker (WHC)

Edge vs Randy Orton (Mick Foley Special Ref)

Playboy Bunny Girls vs The Divas (Pillow Fight Battle Royal)

Chris Benoit vs Ken Kennedy (US Title)

CM Punk vs Johnny Nitro vs Kenny Dykstra vs Matt Hardy vs Booker T vs Jeff Hardy(MITB Ladder Match)

Bobby Lashley vs Test (ECW Title)

Rock/Metal band perform the first of Wrestlemania's 53 theme songs

The Big Show vs Hulk Hogan

Mickie James vs Melina (Womens Title)

Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman (WWE Tag Team Titles)


That keeps the majority of the ECW mob off the PPV without insulting the brand too much. Carlito and Masters would have no place on the show, and they never have an IC title match at Mania anymore.

It's been rumored for a while to be Foley/McMahon.

Yeah, pretty much since Foley was "fired".

They should have an IC title match for a change. It's one thing that really irks me about recent wrestlemanias.

19 it wasnt in contention (which was a disgrace in its own) so that doesn't count.
20 Orton was holding it, and he was in a higher profile match. fair enough.
21 Shelton was in the money in the bank and same for 22.

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for having been leaving it off the card, but its time for it to be back on it.

Same here. It's sad that one man is the deciding factor in whether I order Wrestlemania or not. We might be a couple of months out right now, but I don't see things coming together to the point that I care about ordering PPVs.

one draw for people to order this will be seeing this thing take place in the huge venue it's taking place in

I made a card awhile back, but that was my idea for a reasonable card. This is my "somewhat realistic" card for...

HOSS-A-MANIA MATCH
Umaga vs. Kane vs. The Great Khali
(Kane finally wins a WrestleMania match!)


Ummm....Kane won at WM 17 in a triple threat match for the Hardcore Title against Big Show and Raven :p

1 out of 9! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

No Shit :lol:

The roster split won't cause too many guys to lose jobs. Maybe Shannon Moore and Snitsky would be let go, and old guys like Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Jerry Lawler wouldn't need to wrestle all the time. It would allow for a strong as fuck Tag Team Division, and the mid-card could actually get past having two guys in it.

The green guys can work down in OVW/DSW, and perfect their skills, while the guys that have been hogging the spotlight can be phased out more effectively. Ending the brand split is the best thing for the WWE at the present, in my opinion.

Fixed.