This is the official thread for placing your WWE WrestleMania 22 predictions. State the person(s) who you think will win their match and how you think they will win (i.e. DQ, pinfall, submission). As more matches are announced, they will be added to this thread. Results of how everyone did will be posted after the show. Predictions will primarily be ranked based on predicted winner(s). The extra information (how they won) will be used only in the event of a tie.
John Cena vs. Triple H for the WWE Championship
Since prior to the Royal Rumble, Triple H has targeted WrestleMania 22 in Chicago as the time and place for the “King of Kings” to regain his throne. To get there, the 10-time world champion had to battle through the Road to WrestleMania Tournament, last dispatching of Rob Van Dam and Big Show in the Triple Threat finals.
In doing so, The Game accomplished the first of his goals: securing a main event, WWE Championship Match at WrestleMania. Next, the Cerebral Assassin will have to devise a way to defeat resilient champion John Cena.
While Triple H settled scores with the likes of Ric Flair and Big Show, John Cena battled against all odds — week after week — for almost a year to hold onto his gold. That run was finally stopped by Edge’s well-timed “money in the bank,” but Cena bounced back with more intensity and desire than ever and immediately recaptured the WWE Championship. Cena carries that momentum and fire into his WWE Championship defense against Triple H on April 2.
Will the “King of Kings” come through on bold declaration and be crowned an 11-time world champion, or will The Champ once again rise to the occasion on the biggest stage of them all?
World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton
At WrestleMania 22, the World Heavyweight Championship will be decided in a Triple Threat Match.
At the Royal Rumble, Rey Mysterio last eliminated Randy Orton to win the Royal Rumble Match, earning a championship match in the main event at WrestleMania. Rey dedicated the victory to Eddie Guerrero, and this dedication would ultimately lead to him losing his opportunity.
Randy Orton made some disparaging comments about Guerrero, but it was all a ploy. The Legend Killer wanted Rey’s main event slot all along, and challenged Mysterio to a match for the opportunity. Because of Orton’s slander of Guerrero, Rey accepted. However, at No Way Out, a handful of ropes helped Orton defeat Mysterio, claiming the prize Rey had won in the Royal Rumble Match.
The following Friday night, Rey apologized to everyone for letting them down by losing the opportunity. However, General Manager Theodore Long interrupted his speech; he told Rey that while he couldn’t take Orton out of the main event, he could add to it, and announced that the main event of WrestleMania 22 would be a Triple Threat Match, with both the Legend Killer and Mysterio challenging the World Heavyweight Champion.
As for the final slot in the match, it will be Kurt Angle. Kurt Angle faced Undertaker in a No Way Out rematch on the March 3 edition of SmackDown. After missing a moonsault, Undertaker was able to connect with a Tombstone and it looked like the Deadman would be the new World Heavyweight Champion. But Mark Henry stormed the ring and broke up the pin. The itnerference gave Undertaker the win, but Angle retained the gold since the Championship cannot change hands via diqualification.
Who will emerge from Chicago as the World Heavyweight Champion? Can Orton fulfill his proclaimed destiny and regain the gold? Can Rey take home the gold in memory of his beloved friend? Or will the Olympic Gold Medalist stay golden through April 2?
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Last year at WrestleMania 21, Edge defeated five other RAW Superstars to win the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match, earning a contract to face the WWE Champion anytime in the next year. This year, Money in the Bank returns to WrestleMania, and another Superstar will walk out of Chicago on April 2 with a guaranteed championship opportunity.
On the Feb. 20 edition of RAW, Carlito announced during his match that he had an idea for WrestleMania that was “Money in the Bank.” The next week, Carlito announced that he pitched the idea to Mr. McMahon, who approved it and sanctioned another Money in the Bank Ladder Match for WrestleMania 22.
On the Feb. 27 RAW, three qualifying matches were held to determine who would go on to WrestleMania, but no one knew who their opponent would be until the match began. In the first qualifier, Rob Van Dam defeated Trevor Murdoch with the Five-Star Frog Splash. In the second match, Intercontinental Champion and 2005 Money in the Bank participant Shelton Benjamin qualified when he pinned Chavo Guerrero after Randy Orton nailed Chavo with an RKO.
Carlito then came out for the final qualifier of the night, and “Nature Boy” Ric Flair was announced as his opponent. Late in the match, Carlito appeared to have the berth secured when he went to ringside looking for an apple. As he climbed back inside the ring and prepared to spit in Flair’s face, the Nature Boy kicked Carlito, forcing him to choke on the apple. Flair then rolled Carlito up, and with the help of the ropes, pinned him to become the third entrant into the match.
On WWE.com Unlimited during the March 6 RAW, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long interrupted an interview with Rob Van Dam to make a shocking announcement. Long said that the Money in the Bank Match will be an inter-promotional one, and he set the qualifying matches to begin on the March 10 edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
Mr. McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels
Since the night after Christmas, Mr. McMahon has made it his mission to make Shawn Michaels’ life a living hell. At WrestleMania 22, HBK will get a chance to get some retribution when he meets the WWE Chairman one on one.
On the Dec. 26, 2005 edition of RAW, HBK told Mr. McMahon to get over the Montreal Incident; Shawn’s comments irked the WWE chairman, who told HBK that if he didn’t watch his step, he’d get screwed worse than Bret Hart ever did.
Over the next few weeks, Mr. McMahon did everything he could to throw HBK off his game, including banning Sweet Chin Music during one match. However, the biggest blow came at the Royal Rumble, when Shane McMahon made a surprise appearance and eliminated HBK from the Royal Rumble Match. Shane struck again the next night on RAW, attacking HBK with a chair as he jawed with his father.
In subsequent weeks, Mr. McMahon continued to toy with Shawn, taking him out of the Road to WrestleMania Tournament and announcing a mandatory Shawn Michaels Retirement Party, where HBK would be forced to walk away from WWE forever. Instead of signing his retirement papers, though, HBK ripped them up and threw them in McMahon’s face.
The next week, Mr. McMahon made Michaels take on four members of the Spirit Squad in a Handicap Match. After the Spirit Squad got disqualified, HBK’s former partner Marty Jannetty made a surprising return to help Shawn fend off a 5-on-1 attack. Mr. McMahon announced later that night that he would offer Jannetty a full-time WWE contract, but Marty would have to kiss his ass to get it.
On the Feb. 27 edition of RAW, the WWE Chairman offered Marty the contract. When Marty wouldn’t kiss his ass, he called out Chris Masters, telling Jannetty that he would get the contract if he could escape the Master Lock. As the Masterpiece had the hold locked on, Mr. McMahon made him bring Marty down to kiss his ass. HBK interrupted, hitting Masters with Sweet Chin Music and stalking the WWE Chairman, whose pants were still around his ankles. Before he got to him, however, Shane McMahon attacked HBK from behind and laid him out with a chairshot.
As Mr. McMahon berated an unconscious HBK, he announced that Michaels would take on Shane in a Street Fight at Saturday Night’s Main Event. After Shane made the defenseless HBK kiss his father’s ass, Mr. McMahon then said he would kick Shawn’s ass at WrestleMania as well.
The following week, HBK tried to attack the McMahons during a speech. Instead, Mr. McMahon announced that HBK would meet Shane that night on RAW. Prior to the match, Stephanie McMahon set up HBK, slipping something in his drink that caused him to become ill. This made him easy prey for Shane, who easily pinned Michaels. To add insult to injury, Mr. McMahon then made and won a match against HBK immediately afterward.
Will Michaels finally get the best of the McMahons at WrestleMania, or will the WWE Chairman triumph on April 2?
Edge vs. Mick Foley (Hardcore Match)
In his WWE career, Edge has been involved in some of the most memorable WrestleMania matches, and has won them all. At WrestleMania 22, he hopes to continue that trend when he steps into Mick Foley’s domain, taking on the Hardcore Legend in a Hardcore Match.
On the Feb. 16 edition of RAW, Foley was the referee for Edge’s WWE Championship Match against John Cena. After the Rated R Superstar was defeated, he blamed the Hardcore Legend for the loss, spearing him in the middle of the ring. The next week, after defeating “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan on RAW, Edge issued a WrestleMania challenge to Foley, saying he would go to Foley’s home to get an answer if he didn’t show up the next week.
On the Feb. 27 RAW, Foley declined Edge’s challenge of a traditional match, instead offering a Hardcore Match on April 2. Foley then rushed the ring with a barbed-wire baseball bat, sending Edge & Lita scurrying from the ring. The following week, as Edge was prepared to spear Maria, Foley ran in to brawl with the Rated R Superstar. Edge was able to come out on top, spearing Foley and delivering a one-man Conchairto. As Foley lay beaten in the ring, Edge then announced that he accepted Foley’s Hardcore challenge.
Last year at WrestleMania 21, Edge became Mr. Money in the Bank. Can he come out on top at WrestleMania once again, or will Foley prove that he’s still the only Hardcore Legend in WWE?
United States Champion Chris Benoit vs. JBL
Chris Benoit and JBL are two of the toughest Superstars in WWE history. The Rabid Wolverine has shown time and time again that he has ruthless aggression, and JBL has proven that he can trade blows with the best of them. Add Benoit’s United States Championship to the equation and you have all the makings of a brutal brawl. And that was before things became personal.
On the Feb. 24 edition of SmackDown, Chris Benoit teamed up with Lashley and Rey Mysterio to take on JBL, Lashley and Randy Orton. Benoit and JBL ended up on the outside of the ring, and the Rabid Wolverine went in for the kill. He sandwiched JBL’s hand in between the ring steps and the ring post. Then he backed up, gathered a head of steam and smashed the steps into JBL’s hand, crushing it against the post. To make sure he had done enough damage, Benoit geared up and slammed the steps once again as JBL screamed out in pain. Not only did Benoit’s team end up picking up the win, but JBL landed on the operating table due to a broken hand.
JBL is on the mend, though, and has vowed to beat Chris Benoit on the grandest stage of them all. Can JBL get some revenge on the Rabid Wolverine and win his first United States Championship as a result?
Big Show & Kane vs. Chris Masters & Carlito for the World Tag Team Championship
In recent months, Kane & Big Show have had issues with Chris Masters & Carlito. At WrestleMania 22, the World Tag Team Champions will put their gold on the line against the two young lions.
This past February, Kane defeated Masters in a singles match on RAW. After the bout, however, Masters attacked the Big Red Monster from behind, cinching in the Master Lock. It was also Masters & Carlito who teamed up to eliminate Kane in the Elimination Chamber Match at New Year’s Revolution.
On the March 6 edition of RAW, Mr. McMahon gave Masters & Carlito this opportunity as a reward for Masters helping him with Marty Jannetty the week before on RAW. That night, they responded by attacking Kane during his WrestleMania rewind match with Triple H; after Carlito spit his apple in the Big Red Monster’s face, he & Masters ran him into the steel ring post. They tried to attack Big Show later in the night, but Kane ran out to stop them before they could reach his partner.
This won’t be the first time the two teams have met for the gold; on RAW the night after the Royal Rumble, Kane & Show beat Carlito & Masters to retain the World Tag Team Championship. Can they do it again at WrestleMania 22, or will “The Masterpiece” & Carlito become the “coolest” champions on RAW? Watch WrestleMania 22 to find out.
Undertaker vs. Mark Henry (Casket Match)
The Deadman’s WrestleMania streak is well-documented. The most successful Superstar in WrestleMania history is an astounding 13-0 on the grandest stage of them all. But that can all change at WrestleMania 22. Year after year, Superstar after Superstar tries to bring the amazing streak to an end, but this could finally be the year as the World’s Strongest Man takes on Undertaker in a Casket Match.
At first glance, it might appear that Undertaker has an enormous advantage heading into the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. He is undefeated after all, and this is one of his signature matches. It’s as if he has the home field advantage. But he’s not facing any ordinary opponent. He’s facing the human wrecking machine, Mark Henry.
Henry burst back onto the scene in December, attacking then-World Heavyweight Champion Batista. Within weeks he had brutalized the Champion so badly, he knocked him out of commission with a triceps injury. He then came within inches of defeating Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight Championship. The Wrestling Machine needed a steel chair and exposed turnbuckle to fend off the World’s Strongest Man. After such an impressive showing, Henry felt he deserved a rematch. But that match went to Undertaker instead.
Undertaker and Angle went on to have a classic encounter at No Way Out. Undertaker seemed to have the World Heavyweight Champion down and out in a triangle choke, but Angle was able to reverse it into a pinning combination for the pin. While the Deadman and the Wrestling Machine were putting on a wrestling clinic, though, Mark Henry’s anger and frustration continued to build.
So, when Undertaker received a rematch two weeks later on Friday Night SmackDown, it was no surprise that all of Henry’s emotion finally erupted. Angle missed a moonsault, so Undertaker went in for the kill and hit the Tombstone. Before the referee could make a three-count, however, the World’s Strongest Man stormed the ring and attacked the Phenom.
Henry had cost Undertaker the World Heavyweight Championship, but he wasn’t done with the Deadman yet. He continued assaulting him outside the ring and set him up on the announce table. Henry then climbed up on the Spanish announce table, but it looked like he was having second thoughts. He backed away from the edge of the table, but it turned out that it was just to get a running start. With a head of steam, Henry leapt off the Spanish announce table onto Undertaker and through the SmackDown announce table.
One week later, Henry opened up SmackDown, exclaiming that he refuses to be forgotten. He called out Kurt Angle, wanting an opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship. Angle, never one to back down from a challenge, came to the ring. Within moments, Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio joined the fray, and General Manager Theodore Long threw them all in a tag team match later in the show. Henry showed his dominance once again…and his temper. As the match wore on, Henry grew frustrated and took it out on senior official Nick Patrick, flattening him with a thunderous avalanche. Daivari brought a table into the ring and Henry looked ready to squash Mysterio. Angle made the save, but then Orton caught him from behind and put the champ on the table. Henry knew what to do next and leapt off the middle rope, crashing down on Angle and threw the table. But almost immediately after Henry’s impressive splash, the lights went out and the gong sounded. Fog began to fill the arena and Undertaker’s ominous voice rang throughout. He simply stated, “You. Me. WrestleMania Casket Match.” Most men would tremble at fear at the thought of facing the Deadman in such a match, let alone at WrestleMania, but not Mark Henry. The World’s Strongest Man seemed ready for the challenge, and was not afraid of the Phenom.
Can Mark Henry bring Undertaker’s unprecedented WrestleMania winning streak to an end? Or will the Deadman make it an unbelievable 14-0? Don’t miss WrestleMania 22, April 2 at 7/6 CT only on pay-per-view.
Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James for the Women's Championship
For months, Mickie James claimed to be Trish Stratus’ biggest fan, going so far as to proclaim her love for Trish on several occasions. Thanks to a brutal attack on Saturday Night’s Main Event, it seems the love is gone, and now at WrestleMania 22, James will take on her idol for the Women’s Championship.
Last fall, James made her debut on RAW, helping Trish & Ashley fend off an attack from Victoria. (Watch video) She said she was Trish’s No. 1 fan, and did anything and everything to help Trish succeed, even seemingly sacrificing herself to help Trish win the Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal at Taboo Tuesday. James even dressed up as Trish for Halloween, complete with replica Women’s Championship. (Watch video)
Shortly before Christmas, Mickie decided to profess her love for Trish in the locker room. The two were standing underneath mistletoe, and Mickie tried to kiss Trish; the Women’s Champion seemed flustered and walked away, leaving Mickie confused. Mickie apologized, but for the first time it seemed there was something more to their relationship, at least in Mickie’s mind. (Watch video)
At New Year’s Revolution, Trish defeated Mickie to retain the Women’s Championship, but Mickie seemed happy just to have the opportunity to be in the ring with Trish. From there, her behavior became continually more aggressive until Trish had enough.
On the March 6 edition of RAW, Trish told Mickie that they needed to spend some time apart, because her behavior was too much to take. Mickie seemed crushed but agreed to Trish’s request. (Watch video) The next week, an attack on Torrie left Trish without a partner for Saturday Night’s Main Event. Mickie volunteered to fill in, saying she would respect Trish’s wishes to go their separate ways after the match.
Trish agreed, and when Saturday Night’s Main Event rolled around, the two were victorious over Candice & Victoria. After the match, Mickie wanted to say goodbye to Trish the proper way, and leaned in to try to kiss the Women’s Champion. After Trish pulled away, a crestfallen Mickie nailed her idol with a Mick Kick and laid her out with her own version of Stratusfaction. Later on WWE.com Unlimited, Mickie said she dedicated her life to Trish, but not once did Trish appreciate her. Mickie said Trish broke her heart, and now she would break Trish.
The following Monday on RAW, Mickie claimed to have a gift for Trish. As Trish came down to claim it, Mickie revealed a bound and gagged Ashley as the surprise. An angered Trish quickly attacked Mickie, but as the Women's Champion stopped to help her abducted friend, Mickie attacked from behind, leaving Trish laying in the ring after a vicious Tornado DDT. (Watch video)
So at WrestleMania 22, Mickie will get her chance to take the one thing Trish values most, the Women's Championship. Can she topple the most decorated Women’s Champion in history and walk out with the gold, or will Trish put Mickie in her place once and for all?
Boogeyman vs. Booker T
For weeks, Booker T and his wife Sharmell have been haunted by the bizarre Boogeyman. Everywhere Booker and Sharmell turn, the worm-eating Superstar is right behind them. Booker T demanded that General Manager Theodore Long put a stop to Boogeyman, but instead, Long left that up to Booker T and set up a match for Saturday Night’s Main Event.
The match, however, never even happened. While in the back receiving medical attention, Booker T explained to Long that he heard something pop in his knee earlier in the day. The only way to see what the real extent of the injury was would be with an MRI. The only problem, though, is that an MRI would take well over a few hours to obtain. So, going along with the doctor’s opinion, Long canceled the match. Booker T limped out of the room, but a smile briefly crept across his face in between yelps of pain.
Later on in the show, Booker T was getting out of the shower, and he and Sharmell were talking about how they had duped Long. Booker was never injured. He just wanted out of the match, and the five-time WCW Champion had gotten his way. Booker T even did a little dance, showing no signs of a knee injury. Then all of a sudden, Boogeyman’s music hit and the worm-eating Superstar lowered himself down from the ceiling. Booker T, only dressed in a towel, and Sharmell, who didn’t have a shirt on yet, screamed out in terror and ran out of the room.
Booker T may have gotten his way, but the satisfaction will only be momentary. Long decided that match will go on – at WrestleMania 22.
Torrie Wilson vs. Candice Michelle in a Playboy Pillow Fight
In recent weeks, the friendship between Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson has disintegrated. At WrestleMania 22, the current Playboy Magazine cover girl and the former two-time Playboy model will settle their differences in a Playboy Pillow Fight.
Tensions began to mount between the two on the Feb. 16 edition of RAW. After Torrie’s loss to Ashley, Candice attempted to cheer her up by announcing the upcoming release of her Playboy pictorial. (Watch video) Things were made worse two weeks later when Candice blamed Torrie for her loss to Women’s Champion Trish Stratus, even slapping Torrie in the face during WWE.com Unlimited. (Watch video) As the launch of Candice’s issue of Playboy came near, Candice became more and more arrogant, repeatedly telling Torrie that she was the hottest WWE Diva to ever pose in Playboy.
On the March 6 edition of RAW, Candice revealed her Playboy cover to the world. Then, in a shocking moment, after Torrie took offense to Candice’s statements, Candice had Victoria attack Torrie from behind. Victoria & Candice left Torrie beaten in the ring, breaking up their friendship for good. (Watch video)
It was announced the next week that Torrie would team with Trish Stratus to face Candice & Victoria at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but Torrie was mysteriously knocked out backstage on RAW. An autographed copy of Candice’s Playboy was found at the scene, and the attack left Torrie unable to participate in the scheduled match.
That Monday on RAW, Torrie took on Victoria. As the match began, Candice made a grand entrance, coming out on a bed caried by four men. She then proceeded to throw pillows at Torrie as a distraction; it worked, as Victoria was able to hit the Widow's Peak on Torrie for the quick victory. After the match, Candice hit Torrie with a pillow for good measure.
Regardless, Torrie will get a chance for revenge on April 2. Can Torrie shut Candice up once and for all, or will the Candy-licious Diva prove to be too hot for WrestleMania?
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