FROM NOW UNTILL THE END OF THE YEAR I WILL BE HOLDING A PREDICTIONS THREAD ON EVERY WWE PPV AND KEEP THE RESULTS IN A LEAGUE TABLE THE THREAD WILL BE LOCKED JUST BEFORE THE PPV STARTS AND I WILL ADD UP THE SCORES THE DAY AFTER Batista vs The Undertaker - World Heavyweight Championship To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It’s the streak versus the title – and something has to give when Undertaker challenges Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 23.
The Phenom won the right to challenge for a world championship with his incredible victory at the 30-man Royal Rumble in January. He could have chosen WWE Champion John Cena or ECW World Champ Bobby Lashley, but with a thunderous chokeslam on the Feb. 5 edition of Raw, he let the world know he wanted World Heavyweight Champion Batista.
The tension between two of SmackDown’s greatest Superstars has only escalated since then, as Batista paid back the Deadman with a sudden spinebuster during a tag team match that pitted them against Cena and Shawn Michaels (who is challenging the WWE champ for his title at WrestleMania) at No Way Out.
With a 14-0 record at WrestleMania, Undertaker’s success at sports-entertainment’s grandest stage is unprecedented. But Batista has insisted he is not intimidated by the Phenom and has vowed to walk out of WrestleMania 23 with his championship. For The Animal, WrestleMania 23 is the latest – and greatest – challenge in an odyssey where he was forced to relinquish the championship and miss last year’s WrestleMania because of injury and recapture the title after a long struggle at the Survivor Series.
Will Batista do what no other WWE Superstar has been able to accomplish at Wrestlemania – victory over the Deadman? Will Undertaker capture his first World Heavyweight Championship in his long and illustrious career? Watch WrestleMania 23, live from Detroit, to see it all unfold for yourself.
John Cena vs Shawn Micheals - WWE Championship To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Thanks to his victory in a Triple Threat Match on the Feb. 5 Raw, Shawn Michaels will challenge WWE Champion John Cena for the gold at WrestleMania 23.
On the last Raw before the Royal Rumble, HBK said that no mortal man would stop him from headlining WrestleMania 23. However, in the Rumble Match itself, he ran into 28 mortal men…and Undertaker. Despite his best effort, HBK was the last man eliminated as the Deadman won the match and the guaranteed WrestleMania title opportunity.
The following night, HBK eagerly awaited Undertaker’s decision of which champion to face, telling Cena that he wanted a piece of the WWE Champion if he wasn’t the Deadman’s choice. Randy Orton and Edge both interjected, and the aftermath saw Cena & HBK defeat Edge & Orton to become World Tag Team Champions.
When Feb. 5 rolled around, Undertaker made his decision and chose Batista as his WrestleMania opponent. Once again, HBK, Orton and Edge all lobbied to challenge Cena at WrestleMania. Mr. McMahon, tired of the bickering, ordered a Triple Threat Match later that night, with the winner to challenge for the WWE Title at WrestleMania.
In the Triple Threat Match, HBK took advantage of a miscue to claim victory. Edge intended to spear Michaels, but HBK sidestepped him, sending the Rated-R Superstar crashing into Orton. After nailing Edge with Sweet Chin Music, Michaels pinned the still-prone Orton to win the match and earn the title opportunity. As he celebrated, though, Cena entered the ring, and the two had an uneasy staredown.
Now, HBK has the opportunity he has craved for, and will face Cena on April 1. Last year at WrestleMania, Cena made HBK’s fellow DX member Triple H tap out to the STFU; will he make it 2-for-2 against the degenerates on April 1, or will Michaels leave Detroit as a five-time World Champion?
Umaga vs Bobby Lashley - Battle of the Billionaires To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
There will be a high-stakes Battle of the Billionaires between Donald Trump and Mr. McMahon at WrestleMania 23. ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley (representing Trump) will take on Intercontinental Champion Umaga (representing Mr. McMahon) with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee. But bragging rights aren't the only thing at stake; it will also be a bad hair day for either Trump or McMahon, as the winning billionaire will get to shave the losing billionaire's precious hair.
The challenge was laid out on the Raw Thursday Night special. Trump challenged McMahon to a match, but the WWE Chairman cited that injuries suffered at Unforgiven months ago would prevent him from any further in-ring combat. Instead, he made Trump an offer of his own:
“I have a proposal for you,” muttered the Chairman. “Why don't I find someone to represent me, and you find someone to represent you?”
“You’re on!” responded Trump. “But let’s make this a little more interesting. As you know, I have quite possibly the most famous head of hair in the world, and for years, people have questioned if yours is even real!”
Seemingly driven by the encouraging pleas of Portland’s WWE fanatics, Trump continued.
“At WrestleMania, if my guy loses, you can shave my head,” said the fired-up billionaire. “But if your guy loses, I’m going to shave your head!”
McMahon rejected the offer, but after Trump questioned his guts, he accepted the match and the two shared a bitter handshake.
On the Feb. 19 Raw, McMahon announced Umaga as his choice. Moments later, the Samoan Bulldozer gave WWE fans a glimpse of how dangerous he can be by destroying Jeff Hardy to become Intercontinental Champion.
The following week, "The Donald" presented Lashley as his representative. The ECW World Champion and the Samoan Bulldozer stared down in the ring before igniting a massive brawl that took nearly two dozen security officers, referees and officials to break up. This prompted the WWE Board of Directors to get together and announce that they would appoint a special guest referee for the bout.
On March 5, Mr. McMahon thought he would hear his son Shane's name called to be the guest referee. But after Eric Bischoff, Mick Foley and Shane faked him out, none other than Stone Cold charged to the ring. Austin was in fact the WWE Board of Directors' choice, and he celebrated by giving Mr. McMahon an ice cold beer bath.
So at WrestleMania, it will be Champion vs. Champion, Extremist vs. Bulldozer, Billionaire vs. Billionaire. Which side will claim victory, and which billionaire will leave Ford Field with a new look?
Edge vs Randy Orton vs Mr. Kennedy vs King Booker vs CM Punk vs Finley vs Jeff Hrdy vs Matt Hardy - Money In The Bank Ladder Match To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
For the third consecutive year, WrestleMania will feature a Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Eight WWE and ECW Superstars will do battle on April 1, and the one who climbs the ladder and grabs the briefcase hanging from the ceiling of Ford Field will earn a guaranteed opportunity at the World Championship of his choice anytime over the next year.
On the Feb. 19 Raw, Edge became the first man to qualify for the match. In a battle pitting the winners of the first two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, the 2005 winner speared and pinned 2006 winner Rob Van Dam to gain his entry. With the win, the Rated-R Superstar guaranteed himself a slot at WrestleMania, an event at which he has never lost.
The following night on ECW on Sci Fi, CM Punk defeated Johnny Nitro to earn a place in the match, securing his participation in his first-ever WrestleMania. As he represents ECW on April 1, CM Punk now has a golden opportunity to reach the pinnacle of ECW and sports-entertainment.
That Friday, SmackDown saw King Booker qualify for the match by defeating Kane. With a hand from The Great Khali, King Booker stopped the Big Red Monster in a Falls Count Anywhere Match, putting himself one step closer to a potential WWE, ECW or World Heavyweight Championship Match.
Jeff Hardy qualified on the Feb. 26 Raw, defeating Shelton Benjamin. The win put Hardy into his third career WrestleMania Ladder Match, both of which have also featured Edge.
On Feb. 27, Mr. Kennedy qualified in the first-ever Extreme Rules Qualifying Match on ECW on Sci Fi. He defeated ECW Original Sabu to earn his ticket to WrestleMania, where he will bring with him an impressive seven-win record against World Champions.
March 2, on Friday Night SmackDown, Finlay and Matt Hardy qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 23. Hardy defeated Joey Mercury while Finlay was able to defeat Chris Benoit and MVP in the first-ever Triple Threat Qualifying Match.
Randy Orton claimed the final spot on the March 12 Raw, defeating Ric Flair and Carlito in a Triple Threat Elimination Match. Flair and Carlito had their first qualifying attempt interrupted by The Great Khali, but both fell victim to the RKO and were unable to make good on their second chance.
Who will claim the briefcase this year? Can Edge stay undefeated at WrestleMania by repeating and becoming Mr. Money in the Bank again, or will one of the other participants step up and seize the brass ring? Regardless of who wins, they will have some big footsteps to fill, as both Edge and Rob Van Dam won the WWE Championship the night they cashed in their Money in the Bank. Will this year’s winner make it a three-peat when he cashes in?
Rob Van Dam, Sabu, The Sandman & Tommy Dreamer vs Elijah Burke, Matt Stiker, Kevin Thorn and Marcus Cor Von - ECW Originals vs The New Breed To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
When Mr. McMahon visited ECW on Sci Fi for the first time in January, he immediately made it clear that he looked upon the pioneers of ECW – men like Tommy Dreamer, Sandman, Sabu and Rob Van Dam – with disdain. The key to ECW future, he said, was new blood, young, polished, smart athletes like Elijah Burke, Matt Striker, Marcus Cor Von and Kevin Thorn.
And so the turf war between the ECW Originals and the New Breed – a clash between ECW’s past and present – began. The members of both teams may hate to admit it, but they may have more in common than they realize. Once upon a time, as Dreamer pointed out on ECW on Sci Fi, he and the other ECW Originals were young, innovative and considered brash upstarts, just like the New Breed. And the members of the New Breed are hungry, eager to make their mark and to show their opponents and the sports-entertainment world that they are the present and the future in the Land of the Extreme.
When ECW began in Philadelphia more than a decade ago, the ECW Originals were that hungry. Now, the New Breed may have reignited that fire in the Originals. We’ll know for sure only after the smoke clears following the clash between both factions at WrestleMania 23.
Both sides have traded victories in singles and tag team competition for months on ECW on Sci Fi and neither has been able to gain a decisive advantage. But their Eight-Man Tag Team showdown at WrestleMania 23 may decide once and for all who will rule today’s ECW and take it into the future.
Melina vs Ashley - WWE Womens Championship, Lumberjill Match
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In a match fueled by jealousy, two of the Sexiest Women on TV will battle it out at WrestleMania 23 when Playboy cover girl Ashley challenges Melina for the WWE Women's Championship. But this won't be just any old match; no, this will be a Lumberjill Match, with a dozen delicious Divas lurking at ringside.
Reigning champ Melina has been noticably bitter in recent weeks, upset over the fact that Ashley was chosen to represent the WWE Divas on the cover of Playboy magazine. You can also be sure that every bit as jealous Melina is of Ashley for appearing in Playboy, the cover girl is just as jealous of the gold that Melina wears around her waist.
On a recent episode of SmackDown, the rivalry was taken to the next level when a catfight broke out between the feisty Divas on the inaugural edition of Miz TV.
Just days before WrestleMania, it was announced that the Women's Championship Match would be contested as a Lumberjill Match; the match will have Lumberjack Match rules, but instead of burly Superstars, the WWE Divas will be surrounding the ring to keep the combatants in the squared circle.
Who will walk out of Detroit with the gold?
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The showdown between SmackDown’s Kane and Raw’s The Great Khali at WrestleMania 23 will be a true battle of WWE monsters.
The road to their WrestleMania encounter began when Khali complained on Raw that he wanted competition. Since his Raw debut, no Superstar has been able to budge the 7-foot -3 inch, 420-pound giant from India. He invaded SmackDown in search of a challenge and attacked Kane, costing him a victory against King Booker – and a potential opportunity at a World Championship – in their Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. The Big Red Monster retaliated the following week on Raw, surprising Khali and showing him that he could match his power. Khali then returned to SmackDown and attacked and bloodied Kane with headbutts following his match with World Heavyweight Champion Batista.
Kane and Khali have many similarities. They’re both creatures out of a horror film who intimidate their opponents with their sheer size and sadism. Fans watched in astonishment as a gleeful Big Red Monster laughed when he set MVP on fire last December in their Inferno Match at Armageddon. And since his memorable rivalry with Kane’s brother, Undertaker, last year, the Punjabi warrior has wreaked havoc on ECW on Sci Fi and on Raw.
Both Kane and Khali have come out of wars with Undertaker more sadistic – and hungry. In his matchup with Khali, Kane is at a size and strength disadvantage, a rarity for the former WWE Champion. In Kane, Khali has an opponent who is not intimidated by his presence and will going to any lengths to maim his foes.
Only an event like WrestleMania is big enough for these two giants. Who will be left standing? Order WrestleMania 23, live on pay-per-view and find out.
Chris Benoit vs MVP - United States Championship To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Montel Vontavious Porter – MVP – loves gold and has called himself a franchise player since signing sports-entertainment’s most lucrative contract ever with SmackDown last year. He will prove he is truly SmackDown’s most valuable player if he wrests the United States Championship from “The Crippler” Chris Benoit at WrestleMania 23.
Though he’s brash and cocky, it’s difficult to argue with MVP’s claim. Since debuting on SmackDown last September, he has scored a series of victories over some of SmackDown’s greatest Superstars. MVP believes the grandest stage in sports-entertainment would not be the same without him and that the Rabid Wolverine is “too boring and uncharismatic” to be the U.S. Champion.
Benoit is not as flashy as MVP. He is a man of few words – he prefers to do his talking in the ring. The five-time U.S. Champion and former World Champion is one of the greatest in-ring technicians in sports-entertainment history and dazzles his opponents with a treasure chest of moves. Benoit loves to make his foes tap out to the Crippler Crossface, which he attempted to place on MVP on a recent edition of SmackDown.
MVP and Benoit are proof-positive that opposites don’t always attract. Benoit will either extend his latest U.S. Title reign into its sixth month at WrestleMania 23 or MVP will win his first major title of what he believes will be a Hall of Fame career.
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