[Mr. Nerfect]

I think a lot of casual fans think Holly will win because of the way he's been successfully pushed. Hardcore, IMO, a great talent. He can work decent matches, some of his work just sounds stiff (it probably is, but I haven't heard anything on wrestler's complaining, so I'll assume he just makes it sound and look real), he's paid his dues. Sure he's injury prone, but he's been in some pretty bad predicaments in his career. Angle's moonsault, Lesnar dropping him on his head, etc. Sometimes things like that happen, and I hope this may be Holly's big chance.

The fans have been marking out for Hardcore Holly recently. He's been getting bigger reactions than Chris Benoit. He might be on par with Cena as far as his reactions go. The guy has been in the WWE for years, and has worked some really good spots in his career. The fans know him, like him, and respect him. That's what makes a marketable WWE Champion. Holly, IMO, is in the best place ever in his life, and can literally become one of the WWE's biggest stars. He goes in there every night to entertain and wrestle, sure he may not be Chris Benoit, but he isn't poor in the ring. I honestly see him with as much potential talent as a used right Booker T. They could build him up to be the SmackDown! version of Stone Cold Steve Austin no troubles. I think it's about time people cut Holly slack and stopped talking about how he is undeserving. If Holly doesn't become WWE Champion soon, I think it would be a safe bet to assume he will become WWE United States Champion. Holly is one of the hardest working guys in the entire WWE, I think he deserves this push to the top.

As far as storylines go, I think Lesnar will win at the Rumble, but I hope Holly does. It won't be an A-Class match, but the anticipation will be there. I hope they have Holly win the match and the title then having him defend it at No Way Out and maybe lose it to Chris Benoit or Kurt Angle, or Lesnar wins after Holly goes "Hardcore" at the Rumble and does one of his huge spots and smashes everything in site with a steel chair and his pattented garbage can lid windmill, thus leading to Holly getting disqualifyed. Lesnar takes time off to rest his nagging injuries and returns to action around No Way Out to build-up to his WrestleMania opponent. I personally wouldn't mind seeing Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle vs. Hardcore Holly vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, or the three faces having a No 1. Contender's Match at No Way Out. If Holly does win the title (which believe it or not, I think is very likely judging by the internet basically swaying 99.9% to Lesnar winning), I wouldn't be surprised to see him turn heel and face Benoit or Angle at WrestleMania.