humanoid92

Most of you seem to be forgetting about the amount of money they're allowed to spend. It's not like they can just stack up Eddie Jones, Kittles, Penny, Walker, etc. I forget the exact number, but I'm pretty sure theeir salary cap is somewhere in the $25-30 million range. So if they were to take either Walker at 14 mill or Houston at 17 mill, that would leave them with 10-15 million dollars to spend on 13 other guys... or, 1 million per player. And as you can see, there aren't thirteen good players on that list that make 1 million or less. Try picking 14 guys from that list that make a combined $30 million. This team will NOT be good next year; they'll be quite terrible. It's tough to be an expansion team in the NBA... just look at how long it took the Grizzlies to make the playoffs.

Does anyone else see this coming a mile away? Benoit and Edge will lose their match with La Resistance due to some sort of miscommunication (or if they want to be cool, something similar to Harts/Quebecers at RR 94). Edge will be pissed off afterwards, turn heel and beat the shit out of Benoit, leaving his status for the Title match later in question. They tease it along with updates on his condition throughout the show, and Bischoff even threatens to award the Title to Kane via forefit if Benoit doesn't wrestle. So the Title match comes along and Benoit's music starts and after a minute or so of drama he finally appears and Kane destroys him. Then either Benoit makes the superman comeback, somehow winning clean or Matt Hardy interferes and knocks out Kane at some point (which wouldn't even come across as that cheap, given Benoit's condition). Either way, Benoit goes over, Edge is heel, and there's an instant start to the Benoit/Edge program. I don't think it's a bad idea or anything; I just think that scenario (or something similar to it) is predictable.

With the revival of Raw recently, I got to thinking; seeing a tournament with all their top guys would be interesting, not only from a workrate standpoint, but from a booking perspective as well. I think mixing and matching these eight guys would make for a great tournament, regardless of the pairings: Benoit, HHH, HBK, Orton, Benjamin, Edge, Jericho, Christian. To me, that's an awesome eight. If you make it a sixteen man tourney, you can expand it to include Flair, Batista, Kane, Hardy, Tajiri, etc. So here's what I'd do for a sixteen man Raw tournament: First Round: HHH vs. Tajiri Rhyno vs. Edge Orton vs. Eugene A-Train vs. Benjamin Batista vs. Benoit Christian vs. Hardy Flair vs. Jericho Kane vs. Michaels Some notes: - With these brackets, all four Evolution members have a chance at making the final four. - It's a positive for the likes of A-Train and Rhyno to merely be in the tournament. - HHH can do his "tease-the-upset special". - Benoit going over Batista would help both guys. - After initally taking Eugene lightly, Orton would go over. - The way Jericho has been going, people wouldn't suspect an automatic win. - Christian/Hardy could be a great match. - Kane/HBK is a toss-up, main event match, and allows HBK to do what he does best; drag good matches out of big lugs. So HHH, Edge, Orton, Benjamin, Benoit, Christian, Jericho, and Michaels win in the first round. No major surprises, but some good matches. Quarterfinals: HHH vs. Edge Orton vs. Benjamin Christian vs. Benoit Michaels vs. Jericho Notes: - All four of these should be really good matches. - There's a huge Orton vs. HHH tease in the next round if both win. With Batista and Flair out, this is the last chance of Evolution colliding. - There's the Benjamin/HHH tease as well. - There's the possibility of: Benoit/Michaels, Jericho/Christian, and Jericho/Benoit. Results: - Orton steals one from Benjamin, ultimately setting up the blowoff in their feud, where Benjamin wins the IC Title. - HHH puts Edge over big time, as Edge scores the huge upset, planting the seeds for a rivalry later. - Benoit outlasts Christian in a great match. - Jericho beats HBK in a potential classic. Semifinals: Edge vs. Orton Benoit vs. Jericho Notes: - Four guys left. It would be huge for any of these guys to win it all. It would cement Benoit as the Champion, and would be a huge step up for the other three. Results: - Orton beats Edge, the guy that beat HHH, leading to a possible rift between he and HHH. - Jericho goes over Benoit, which automatically makes him the number one contender. Finals: Jericho vs. Orton Notes: - I like this match-up. They've never had a big match with each other before. Both are credible, and both are helped out a lot by being in this spot. And it's unpredicatble. Either could easily win. After all the possibilites for the final (HHH/HBK, HHH/Benoit, HHH/Flair, Edge/Christian, etc.) it's come down to this. I'd put Jericho over. He needs it badly. There's no reason he shouldn't be a main eventer right now. This would all lead to a Jericho/Benoit Title program, which would be great for both guys. As for Orton, simply making it that far is huge for him at this point in his career, and he already furthered his programs with Benjamin and Edge, and created some possible tension with HHH down the line. But no matter how you book it with those last eight guys, I think it would be an awesome tournament.

It's all about the Owen drop toehold followed up with the big Yokozuna leg drop on the back of the guy's head.

Saves The Day- "At Your Funeral" Duh.

The way the previews made it sound, it looks like someone's getting killed off in a car accident at the end of the season. So if someone dies, I say it's gotta be Luke. There's just nothing left for his character to do. He's burned all his bridges.

Brand New- Seventy Times Seven

D'oh

ok Trying Something Just for the hell of it be cause I feel the need to be daring and cause a stir I hope this song starts a craze.

Anyone else having serious problems with hotmail?? I can't get the page to come up at all. It would be one thing if their server was down, but it's been all day now. Anyone else having the same problem?

Thanks for the reply. I'm even more confused now though... I really don't think my computer or connection is at fault because every other site works perfectly fine. Hotmail just will not come up. I can even go to msn.com and that will work fine, but then I'll click on hotmail from there and nothing will happen. I guess I'm screwed.

How I would have booked WM XX: Benoit vs. HHH HBK vs. The Rock Foley & Flair vs. Orton & Batista Jericho vs. Christian RVD vs. Matt Hardy Women's Title Match Eddie vs. Angle Cena vs. Show Crusierweight Open Brock vs. Goldberg Undertaker vs. Kane Dudleys vs. Haas & Benjamin 20 Man Battle Royale http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?...0entry1259725

1: Studd/Andre 2: Funks/Tito & JYD 3: Can-Ams/Orton & Muraco 4: Steamboat/Valentine 5: Blazer/Perfect 6: DiBiase/Roberts (Million $ Title) 7: LOD/Power & Glory 8: Flair/Savage (WWF Title) 9: Steiners/Shrinkers 10: Razor/Shawn (IC Title) 11: LT/Bigelow 12: Undertaker/Diesel 13: Bret/Austin 14: Taka/Aguila (Light Heavyweight Title) 15: Shane/X-Pac (European Title) 16: Dudleys/E & C/Hardyz (Tag Titles) 17: Benoit/Angle 18: Rock/Hogan 19: HHH/Booker ("World" Title) 20 hasn't occured yet, and depending on how it turns out, I might have to do some shifting, but on paper Brock/Goldberg seems to be a good fit. I think this card is pretty good, with 8, 10, 13, 16, and 17 all approaching ****. 5 out of 20 isn't bad. The only total crap that's on there is really short. Sure there's no Piper, Foley, etc. but you can't have everything. It's really interesting because the major parts of the card revolve pretty much around the same key guys (Bret, Michaels, Savage and I guess Austin). It's a given (to me anyway) that the IC match come from either 3 or 10, but if you pick 3, that eliminates Savage/Flair, and if you pick 10, that eliminates Bret/Owen. But even if you do pick Savage/Steamboat AND Bret/Owen, then you're shafted out of Bret/Austin from 13. And just forget using Bret/Michaels from 12 because that eats up two of the best guys AND the WWF Title Match. As for the WWF Title match, it's basically between 8, 12, 17, and 19, and I'm not as much as a fan of Rock/Austin as a lot of people are. Besides, using that eliminates Rock/Hogan (memorable match from a very lackluster card) as well as Bret/Austin (just as using Bret/Shawn would eliminate both Bret/Austin and Shawn/Razor). In other words, each of the 2 of the most lucrative WWF Title matches takes out TWO potential other greats. That's why I like Savage/Flair in there so much. And with Savage/Flair... that makes the other choices fall into place. With Savage gone, the IC from 10 gets in, and with 10 gone, that makes Bret/Austin the easy choice... then with Austin gone and the WWF Title gone, Hogan/Rock falls in nicely. Either way I don't see how you can't go with the Tag Titles from 16. No one in the match has done anything notable, great Tag Title matches have been few and far between, and there's not much else to choose from on that card. I know it's Wrestlemania season but you guys should try this for Summerslam too. I've done it before and it's damn near impossible for a few reasons: 1) Generally shorter cards which means fewer matches/people to choose from. 2) From '89-'94 Bret Hart absolutely owned Summerslam and to leave any of those matches off is a shame. Just think about it- either way, either Bret/Bulldog or Bret/Owen gets left off. After the major matches, it basically comes down to the depth of the cards and a lot of Summerslams have a whole lot of crap once you eliminate the most reliable names and the title matches.

Haven't ever seen this album mentioned here, so I just wanted to see if anyone else is a fan. I think it's incredible. Anyone agree? Disagree?

Well maybe "squash" was the wrong word to use, but I do think they should keep it relatively short (6-8 minutes tops). Let Show control the meat of the match, but when it comes down to it, I think Cena should be the decisive winner. Have him make the big comeback, hit the FU and get the clean pin. The pop would be huge.

I almost think it should be somewhat of an extended squash (5 or 6 minutes) with Cena going over strong and clean. It's the Garden, WM XX, the biggest stage there is- put Cena over huge and give him some serious momentum. Show will always be able to recover later. It's time to see what they have with Cena.

"I can't really distinguish these guys from Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, Matchbook Romance, and a miriad of other bands that sound exactly the same." At first glance (or listen) it's easy to try to group bands together like that, but if you listen to the whole album I doubt you'll feel the same way. Listen to songs like 'The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot' or 'Tommy Gun' and I think it will be hard to make Taking Back Sunday/Thursday comparisons.

Given what we've seen up to this point, here's my fantasy booking for Wrestlemania XX. Pre-show: Hosted by The Coach and Al Snow. Usual WM fluff pieces, recap of the weekend in NYC, a few interviews, and video packages for the big matches (HHH vs. Benoit, Lesnar vs. Goldberg, Kane vs. Undertaker, Michaels vs. Rocky, Angle vs. Guerrero, Foley & Flair vs. Orton & Batista, Christian vs. Jericho, Cena vs. Big Show). Wrestlemania XX hits the air with a video with random footage from all the past Wrestlemanias. JR & Lawler welcome us to the show and send it down to ringside for the National Anthem. *Insert current popular singer here* sings the National Anthem. JR introduces a clip of the original Wrestlemania (Andre The Giant bodyslamming Big John Studd, then passing out money to the crowd). The Big Show's music hits, and now Michael Cole & Tazz are our announcers. - US Title Match: Big Show © vs. John Cena Cena tears Show apart with a rap on his way to the ring, causing Show to charge him, but Cena fights him off and dominates him for the first few minutes, clearing him of the ring twice. The second time, Show dares Cena to come fight him on the floor, so Cena obliges and gets the upper-hand before Show dodges a charge and chokeslams him on the floor. Show now is in full control. Cena mounts a brief comeback, but goes for a bodyslam and Show collapses on him for a near fall. Cena is done. Show goes for another chokeslam, which would surely make a pinfall academic, but Cena fights out of it and hits him with the FU. Cena goes for the cover and scores the win and the US Title at 6:47. Not a typical opener, but a good one to get the crowd into it. - Clip of Wrestlemania 2 (The British Bulldogs defeating The Dream Team). - Backstage interview with Chris Jericho. - Christian vs. Chris Jericho JR & Lawler are back on commentary now, for Raw's first match of the night. This is a contrast from the last match. They begin with a few basic wrestling exchanges, allowing Jericho the opportunity to do the famous "Owen Hart wristlock counter". Long back and forth match. After the inital mat exchanges, Christian runs through his offense, but Jericho keeps countering. Jericho, the face, actually controls a good portion of the match with his trademark stuff until Christian suckers him into missing a high-risk move. Christian controls, but Jericho pulls some pinning combinations out of nowhere to show that he's still in it. Christian goes for a small package but only gets a two count before Jericho reverses it and gets a two count of his own. The finish comes when Jericho scores a quick sunset flip out of the corner to get the three count at 18:04. Great match. - Wrestlemania III (Steamboat vs. Savage and Hogan vs. Andre) - Backstage interview with WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero. - Some celebrities are shown in the crowd (whichever current ones they can get plus some still-relevant ones from WM-past; Donald Trump, Regis Philbin, Bob Uecker, just to suggest a few). - Women's Title Match: Trish vs. Victoria vs. Lita vs. Jazz vs. Gail vs. Molly Cluster of a match. It starts with two in the ring and one on each corner, but quickly disintegrates into a brawl. I don't really pay attention to the women's division, but I guess it would make sense to put Trish over. 3:43. - Wrestlemania IV (Randy Savage wins the WWF Title) - Backstage interview with Kurt Angle, who is serious about taking care of business. Last year he left Wrestlemania a loser. This year he guarantees he will leave with the Title. - Intercontinental Title Match: RVD © vs. Matt Hardy Several weeks before this, Foley cost Orton the IC Title to RVD on Raw. Quick, exciting match that ends when RVD misses the frog splash and Hardy hits the Twist of Fate for the pin at 10:25. - Wrestlemania V (Rick Martel leaves Tito Santana high and dry) - Backstage interview with The Rock. - 20 Man Battle Royal This is to get a lot of guys on the show and allow a guest commentary spot, preferrably by Uecker. Raw Participants: Test, Val Venis, Lance Storm, Rene Dupree, Rob Conway, Rico, Hurricane, Spike Dudley, Booker T, Jerry Lawler. Smackdown Participants: A-Train, Rikishi, Matt Morgan, Hardcore Holly, Rhyno, Doug Basham, Danny Basham, Billy Gunn, Bradshaw, Scott Taylor. Lawler's inclusion came about because he's never actively participated at a Wrestlemania before... so here he is. After he's eliminated, he slaps some hands at ringside and spends the rest of the show in the back, leaving us with a three man announce team of JR, Cole, and Tazz later on. Standard battle royale. The end comes down to Test, Storm, Val, and Rhyno, but Rhyno endures the Canadian Raw triple team, ducks a double clothesline attempt and gores Test. Rhyno tosses all three to win the match at 7:10. - Wrestlemania VI (Jake The Snake hands out Ted DiBiase's money at ringside) - Backstage interview with new US Champion John Cena. - Wrestlemania VII (The Undertaker's Wrestlemania debut) - JR throws it to Howard Finkel and Mean Gene Okerlund in the ring for the Legends Ceremony. - The Legends Ceremony is to honor twenty stars from Wrestlemania past. Here to help Mean Gene introduce them is Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. First to be introduced is a man who was at the first Wrestlemania in MSG, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Next up is long-time fan favorite "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. Each guy gets a brief 20-30 second introduction, as they enter the ring and wave to the crowd. Next is Tito Santana, followed by Honky Tonk Man, Road Warrior Animal, Marty Jannetty, and Bam Bam Bigelow. A lot of the guys shake hands and pose for the crowd as everyone is introduced. Bob Backlund, Ricky Steamboat, Earthquake, Sgt. Slaughter, and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Piper takes the mic and does a short speech. Next up is Rick Martel, then Randy Savage, who also gives a short speech. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine is next out, followed by the Iron Sheik, then Hulk Hogan, who gets mic time to address the crowd. Mr. Fuji is the 18th guy out, followed by the Big Boss Man. The crowd gets antsy for the final legend. Gene reads the card, and introduces the next man as part of the original Hart Foundation. The crowd goes insane, as Okerlund announces... Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. The crowd doesn't know what to make of it, so they jeer the Anvil. Neidhart motions for them to calm down, takes the mic, and introduces his former tag team partner, Bret "Hitman" Hart. Bret Hart makes his entrance and the crowd goes insane. The other wrestlers applaud, shake his hand, and leave the ring, leaving Bret alone with the crowd. Bret finally gets to give his farewell speech, and its at Wrestlemania, at MSG, ten years after he won the Title there. It's too perfect. The crowd gives him a standing ovation when he's done. - Wrestlemania VIII (Bret vs. Piper) - Video package of Wrestlemania weekend in New York City. - Michael Cole & Tazz take over announcing duties and talk about the Bret Hart appearance we just saw. - Wrestlemania IX (Umm... Double Doinks, I guess) - The bell rings and the camera focuses on Howard Finkel... "The following contest scheduled for one fall... is for the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship." Here we go... - WWE Title Match: Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero © The story of the match is that Angle is determined to outwrestle Eddie for the Title, but Guerrero, much to the delight of the fans, cheats at every available opportunity, doing everything he can to keep the Title. Angle finally snaps mid-match, and from there it's a battle of subtle cheating, with each man trying to gain every advantage possible, no matter how minor (using ropes for leverage, pulling hair/tights, etc.). The ref is bumped, so Angle, already with the upper-hand, goes to get a steel chair. He tries to use it, but Eddie ducks, dropkicks him, then levels Angle with the chair himself. Eddie plays dead as the ref awakens, sees the chair, and both men down, and doesn't know what to think. Eddie slowly crawls over to cover Angle, but only gets a two count. Both men get to their feet and end up double clotheslining each other. This time it's Angle that makes the slow crawl, and gets a two count. Kurt gets in the ref's face, demanding a faster count, but really he's still upset about Eddie using the chair earlier. Angle goes off on the ref, telling him about the chair... and Eddie sneaks up, pulls Kurt's tights and rolls him up for three at 20:38. Kurt can't believe it. He completely snaps, and levels Eddie with the chair. The ref tries to stop him and gets punched in the face. Kurt dismantles Eddie with the chair, and nails him repeatedly in the Ankle before putting him in the Anklelock, as officials try to pry him off. They finally get him off, and Kurt spits on him and heads back to the locker room. The officials tend to Guerrero. - Backstage interview with an irate Kurt Angle. He gives a great ranting and raving promo about morality and cheating, conveniently overlooking the dozens of times he cheated himself in the match. He says we should be ashamed for cheering Eddie and what he represents because he is nothing but a cheater. Kurt earned every Title he is ever won because he is the best wrestler in the world today. He never cheated to get a thing. Cheating may have gotten Eddie the WWE Title, but it also got him a broken ankle. - Wrestlemania X (Bret Hart wins the WWF Title). - Backstage interview with the Dudley Boys. - Dudley Boys vs. World's Greatest Tag Team This match came about simply because each GM touted their respective teams as the best (one calls themselves the greatest; one has the history of gold to back it up). Both teams are their brand's Champions here, but neither Title is on the line (leading many to believe the match will simply be a draw). Fairly typical tag match that ends with Haas & Benjamin going over at 11:20. - Wrestlemania XI (LT vs. Bam Bam) - Update on Eddie Guerrero's condition. Not much is known yet about the extent of his injuries. - Backstage interview with Chris Benoit. - Wrestlemania XII (Hart vs. Michaels) - Cruiserweight Title Battle Royal: The participants are Rey Mysterio ©, Tajiri, Jamie Noble, Chavo Guerrero, Billy Kidman, Paul London, Akio, Sakoda, Ultimo Dragon, Funaki Eliminations occur via pinfall. Lots of high-risk offense as expected. Akio and Sakoda try to work as a team, so eventually Rey and Kidman team up to defeat them. I don't know how to go about booking this one in detail, so we'll just say Rey goes over in the end at 10:05. - Wrestlemania XIII (Hart vs. Austin) - Backstage interview with Brock Lesnar. - Wrestlemania XIV (Pete Rose gets Tombstoned) - Howard Finkel announces the attendance and then they air a Tribute video dedicated to all the Wrestlemania performers that have passed away, including Gorilla Monsoon, Rick Rude, Owen Hart, Mr. Perfect, British Bulldog, Road Warrior Hawk, Miss Elizabeth, etc. - Wrestlemania XV (Rock vs. Austin) - Now we're into the meat of the card. JR asks Cole and Tazz to join him, and we have a three man commentary team for the rest of the show. - Video on the Taker/Kane feud. - The Undertaker vs. Kane The bell tolls and the Undertaker returns as the dead man, complete with Paul Bearer as his manager. Strong power match. Taker no-sells a lot at the beginning to drive home the point that he's the old Undertaker. Kane tombstones him, but he kicks out. Kane tries again, but Taker reverses it. Kane kicks out of that, but one more puts him down for the count at 12:49. - Wrestlemania 2000 (The Triangle Ladder Match) - Video on the Foley & Flair/Orton & Batista feud. - Backstage interview with Mick Foley. Revenge is sweet. - Mick Foley & Ric Flair vs. Randy Orton & Batista This one came about after Flair tried to give Orton advice about his match with Foley, but Orton, cocky as he is, dismissed it. Flair was ticked off that the younger guys these days have no respect for veterans, and Orton responded with some choice words. Tempers flared and when they got in each other's faces, Batista separated them... and powerbombed Flair. A beatdown ensued and Foley made the save. The match is a solid brawl, with Foley destroying Orton until Batista makes the save. Flair then takes some punishment, but Foley eventually gets the hot tag and all hell breaks loose. Batista powerbombs Flair through the Spanish announce table, leaving Foley one-on-two. At that point, the heels make short work of him at 15:16. - Wrestlemania X-7 (Benoit vs. Angle) - Video on the Rock/HBK match. This was built up as a legend vs. legend type match. The big name of one era ('94-'98) vs. the big name of another ('99-'02). Between them they have tons of Wrestlemania experience, but they've never wrestled one another. - Backstage interview with Shawn Michaels. These are the big moments he lives for. - Shawn Michaels vs. The Rock Great back and forth match. Several near falls at the end, but the Rock ends up picking up the win at 19:34. They shake hands and share the spotlight at the end, though Shawn is visibly irritated with himself. - Wrestlemania X-8 (Hogan vs. Rock- similar ending to what we just saw, what with the handshake and all). - Backstage interview with Brock Lesnar. - Video on the Goldberg/Lesnar feud. - Backstage interview with Goldberg. - Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg Good power match. Brock kicks out of the spear. Goldberg goes for a jackhammer, but Brock floats over and plants him with an F-5, and it's see ya later Goldberg at 13:31. -Wrestlemania XIX (Brock vs. Angle) - Backstage interview with World Champion, Triple H. HHH talks about how Benoit's dreams and accomplishments win nothing because until he's won the Title, he hasn't accomplished a damn thing. HHH is standing in the way of his dreams. HHH has dreams too. He's one of the best World Champions of all time, and he's going to cement himself as the best of all time by winning the main event of the biggest show of all time. Benoit has had a hell of a run to get to this point, but this is where it ends. - Video on HHH/Benoit. - World Title: Chris Benoit vs. Triple H © They feel each other out to begin with, then really start to get into it, as Benoit subtly tries to set HHH up for the crossface. Benoit goes for a few different submissions early, but HHH is able to counter. HHH finally gains the firm offensive advantage, but Benoit keeps the crowd alive with hopespots, including a quick small package that everyone thought might be the finish. HHH goes for the Pedigree and hooks Benoit's arm, but Benoit reverses, takes him down and slaps on the Crossface, but HHH is in the ropes. That may have been Benoit's big chance; HHH is too smart to let him get close enough to put on that Crossface again. HHH misses a charge, and Benoit snap suplexes him. Sensing his big moment, Benoit heads up top to drop the headbutt... but HHH moves and Benoit's head smacks the canvas, and he appears to be out cold. It looks like HHH's pinfall will be academic. HHH slowly gets to his feet, but instead of covering, slowly sets him up for the Pedigree... and hits it. Benoit is out. HHH covers. 1-2-... somehow Benoit kicks out. HHH can't believe it. He starts to put the boots to him, then sends him off the ropes but Benoit ducks a clothesline, and they collide with a double clothesline. Benoit lands in such a way that he is able to pull a classic move out of nowhere (think Bret/Bulldog Summerslam '92). While down, Benoit grapevines HHH's legs and suddenly turns him over into the Sharpshooter. HHH is trapped in it in the middle of the ring, but refuses to submit. He uses every ounce of strength he has to slowly drag his way to the ropes to break the hold. He finally does, but Benoit keeps on the attack. He hits a backbreaker for a close two count. HHH's shoulder is messed up from earlier in the match, and now his back is injured too. Benoit whips HHH into the corner, but misses a charge, and HHH hits a high knee for a near fall. HHH goes for the Pedigree, but Benoit backdrops out; HHH holds on to try a sunset flip, but Benoit sits down on him for a close two count. They reach their feet at the same time, and HHH goes to pick him up for a slam, but Benoit floats over and takes him down into the crossface out of nowhere. They're in the center of the ring. HHH is trapped. He's drained and can't work his way towards the ropes. Every time he tries, Benoit cinches down more. HHH has no choice but to submit, and an exhausted Chris Benoit wins the World Title at 22:55. Benoit is announced as the Champion and holds the belt. After a minute, many of the faces come out to congratulate him (a la Bret at Wrestlemania X). Jericho is the first one out, followed by Rey, Kidman, Dean Malenko, Storm, Val, Hurricane, Rikishi, Scotty, etc. Then some of the old-timers hit the ring, including Steamboat, Piper, and Bret Hart himself. ---- ---- ---- ---- - I know it's a long card, but remember, this is a five hour event. Considering that, I think the total of the match times is pretty realistic. - I tried to come up with realistic names to participate in the "Legends Ceremony", which is why I left off people like Jake Roberts, Ted DiBiase, Ultimate Warrior, etc. It's doubtful that BOTH Hogan and Savage would agree to appear, and also doubtful that Hogan would do it when the clear focus of the segment is about someone other than himself (Bret), but I suppose it's possible. - I like the outline Scott Keith had for Backlash. I'd have HBK get his attitude back, turn on HHH, and have HBK and Evolution do a beatdown on him to put him out of action for a month. Then have HBK talking about how it should have been his Title shot at Wrestlemania to begin with. Align HBK with Bischoff, and have Eric give him the Title shot at Benoit in Edmonton, then start playing up HBK's efforts in Canada in '97. With Bischoff firmly on his side, it will appear like HBK is going to screw Benoit out of the Title. Then of course, Bret Hart gets involved at the PPV, whether it be as a Special Guest Referree or as a run-in. Shawn goes for the Sharpshooter, and Bischoff (or even Vince himself if they want to go that far) tells the timekeeper to ring the bell, but Bret decks him, Benoit reverses, the match keeps going and Benoit gets a sharpshooter of his own to force HBK to tap out, thus finally blowing off the screwjob and vindicating Bret. Then Bret can go home to Calgary and rest peacefully, and Benoit can continue with his Title reign. When HHH returns, he still has the rematch with Benoit, and a beef with Evolution, be it Shawn, Orton, or even Batista (I'd go with Orton). (Other Backlash matches: Rock vs. Christian, Foley vs. Orton, Jericho vs. Batista).

I've always wondered what it would have been like had Ric Flair spent more years in the WWF earlier in his career. So here's a fantasy booking of Ric Flair jumping to the WWF from the NWA in late 1987/early 1988. There are only two other things I'm going to change as far as the roster is concerned: 1) Ricky Steamboat sticks around after Wrestlemania IV (this could have easily happened had it not been for Vince's non-sensical feelings towards him). 2) Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard stick around longer than they did as well (this could have easily happened with Flair in the WWF). ----- In late 1987, Flair enters the WWF claiming to be the "Real World's Champion", as he really did in 1991 (minus the big gold belt). Flair is built up as having dominated every other company he's ever been in, and he immediately targets WWF Champion Hulk Hogan in promos, claiming that Hogan is a fraud and Flair is the real World's Champion. Bobby Heenan sucks up to Flair and sets up all his interviews, but Flair doesn't actually wrestle. Hogan responds by saying that Flair isn't even in his league and until he's accomplished something in the WWF, he's accomplished nothing at all. Flair challenges Hogan for the Title, but Hogan refuses because Flair has done nothing to earn a shot. As a result, Flair decides to make things personal. After Hogan retains the Title in a huge match against Andre The Giant on Saturday Night's Main Event, Hogan's celebration is interrupted by Bobby Heenan. While Hogan is distracted by the Brain, Flair attacks Hogan from behind, taking his knee out with a lead pipe. Flair does a brutal number on Hogan's knee. Hogan is left with a semi-serious knee injury, but is so angered that he accepts Flair's challenge, and the match is made for Wrestlemania IV. Wrestlemania IV: Ultimate Warrior d. Hercules Hart Foundation d. Islanders Rick Rude d. Jake The Snake Jim Duggan d. Harley Race 20 Man Battle Royale (Winner: Bad News Brown) Brutus Beefcake d. Greg Valentine Intercontinental Title: Randy Savage d. Honky Tonk Man © via DQ Tag Team Titles: Demolition d. Strike Force © Ricky Steamboat d. Ted DiBiase WWF Title: Ric Flair d. Hulk Hogan © In the IC Title Match, Savage is again screwed by Honky Tonk Man, as the ref rules for the DQ ending. Savage is incensed and goes crazy, giving both Honky and Jimmy Hart Flying Elbow Drops. Ranting and raving, he finally heads backstage and gives a ballistic interview. In the WWF Title Match, Flair absolutely destroys Hogan's knee and uses every trick in the book to cheat. After being in the Figure Four Leglock for several minutes, Hogan finally passes out from the pain and Flair is awarded the victory and the Title (it's ruled a submission). Hogan hulks up after the bell and beats up Flair, but a Heenan distraction allows Flair to recover and clip his knee. Flair starts going to work on the knee again, and goes for a chair, but a crazed Randy Savage runs out from the dressing room and makes the save for his buddy with a chair of his own. Savage helps Hogan up to his feet to end the show, but Flair has the belt. After Wrestlemania, Hogan is out of action for awhile, the kayfabe reason being he has to have knee surgery. Hogan vows to work hard to recover and get the Title back from Flair. Meanwhile, Savage is pissed at the WWF for allowing all the screwjobs, and Flair is pissed at Savage for ruining his big moment. Savage and Flair start a program leading into Summerslam. Two weeks before the show, Savage tells Flair he'll have a big surprise for him, but Heenan convinces Flair, Savage is just trying to psych him out. Summerslam 1988: British Bulldogs and Fabulous Rougeaus wrestle to a Time Limit Draw Dino Bravo d. Don Muraco Intercontinental Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Honky Tonk Man © Tag Team Titles: Demolition © d. Hart Foundation Ted DiBiase d. Ricky Steamboat Big Boss Man d. Koko B. Ware Jake The Snake d. Rick Rude WWF Title: Ric Flair © d. Randy Savage In the WWF Title match, Flair uses his usual treating, as Bobby Heenan adds extra leverage to Flair's Figure Four. As Savage writhes in pain on the mat, the crowd goes nuts, as Hulk Hogan walks to the ring with no crutches. Hogan confronts Heenan and the Brain walks away, allowing Savage to gain momentum and reverse the Figure Four. The hold is broken, and Flair yells at Hogan from the ring, allowing Savage to roll him up... for two. Flair stomps him down, then Heenan slides a pair of brass knuckles in to Flair. Hogan sees this, and goes to chase Heenan around the ring on the outside. Flair goes to use the knucks, but Savage ducks a punch and suplexes Flair. Savage limps up top and hits the Elbow, just as Hogan catches Heenan and starts to get ready to pound on him. Savage covers, but the ref is on the outside, trying to restrain Hogan. Savage gets up and sees what's going on, and this allows Flair to nail him with the brass knuckles and knock him out cold. The ref rolls in and counts the three, as Ric Flair retains. The Megapowers have been out-cheated and out-smarted again. They both want Flair at Survivor Series, so Flair recruits other Hogan and Savage rivals to join his team, namely Andre The Giant, Ted DiBiase, Akeem, and Big Boss Man. Savage's old rival Ricky Steamboat joins the Megapowers to oppose DiBiase, and Hogan gets his buddies Hillbilly Jim and Koko B. Ware to round out the squad. Survivor Series 1988: Ultimate Warrior, Brutus Beefcake, Jim Duggan, Blue Blazer & Sam Houston vs. Honky Tonk Man, Greg Valentine, Harley Race, Bad News Brown & Ron Bass (Survivor: Ultimate Warrior) Hart Foundation, British Bulldogs, Rockers, Powers of Pain & Young Stallions vs. Demolition, Brainbusters, Fabulous Rougeaus, Conquistadors, Bolsheviks (Survivors: Hart Foundation) Jake The Snake, Tito Santana, Hercules, Don Muraco & Scott Casey vs. Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, Dino Bravo, Haku & Red Rooster (Survivors: Rick Rude & Mr. Perfect) Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Koko B. Ware & Hillbilly Jim vs. Ric Flair, Andre The Giant, Ted DiBiase, Akeem & Big Boss Man (Survivors: Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage) Hogan and Savage are able to extract a small amount of revenge on Flair by beating him (Hogan gets the pinfall), but Flair is still Champion. Hulk and Savage both enter the Royal Rumble, but Flair takes a break and welcomes a challenge by Ricky Steamboat to a non-Title match at the Rumble. Royal Rumble 1989: 2 out of 3 Falls: Hart Foundation d. Rougeau Brothers Super Posedown: Ultimate Warrior d. Rick Rude Non-Title match: Ricky Steamboat d. WWF Champion Ric Flair 30 Man Royal Rumble Winner: Hulk Hogan No one had been expecting much of the Flair/Stemboat match, but there ended up being a huge upset and a ***** match. Steamer becomes the first man in the WWF to beat Flair in a one on one match. Flair can't believe it. As for the Rumble match, Hogan drew a high number, prompting Ted DiBiase to try to buy his number. Hogan, man of integrity, of course rejects the offer, and DiBiase has Andre jump him as a result. After the Rumble, Hogan and Savage continue to feud with DiBiase and Andre, and the two main events for Wrestlemania V are set up: Hogan & Savage vs. DiBiase & Andre, and Flair vs. Steamboat. Flair, perhaps feeling a little insecure after his loss, recruits a group of technical wrestlers to surround himself with. The WWF version of the Four Horsemen is born, as Flair (via Heenan) joins up with Mr. Perfect, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard. The new group shows their cohesiveness by organizing a beatdown on Steamboat during an edition of the Brother Love show. Wrestlemania V: Hart Foundation d. Rockers Hercules d. Haku Mr. Perfect d. Brutus Beefcake Tag Team Titles: Demolition © d. Twin Towers Jake The Snake d. Honky Tonk Man Brainbusters d. Strike Force Blue Blazer d. Red Rooster WWF Title: Ric Flair © d. Ricky Steamboat Bushwackers d. Rougeaus Intercontinental Title: Ultimate Warrior © d. Rick Rude Jim Duggan and Bad News Brown wrestle to a double DQ Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage d. Ted DiBiase & Andre The Giant Steamboat and Flair have another ***** match, this time with Flair going over and retaining the Title. He has now succesfully kept the belt for over a year and is established right along with Hogan and Savage as being one of the elite guys. Now that Wrestlemania is over, new programs begin, including Mr. Perfect and the Warrior, the Busters and Harts, and Steamboat and Rude. On a huge Saturday Night's Main Event, Hogan, Savage & Steamboat beat Flair, DiBiase, and Andre in a six man tag, when Savage pins Flair. Savage is granted a Title shot at Summerslam, and Hogan continues his feud with DiBiase. The Brainbusters beat Demolition on a different SNME to win the Tag Team Titles. Summerslam 1989: Jimmy Snuka, Blue Blazer & Brutus Beefcake d. Honky Tonk Man, Greg Valentine & Red Rooster Dusty Rhodes (w/ Jim Duggan) d. Big Boss Man (w/ Akeem) via DQ Rick Martel d. Tito Santana Rockers d. Rougeaus Rick Rude d. Ricky Steamboat Tag Team Titles: Brainbusters © d. Hart Foundation Hulk Hogan d. Ted DiBiase Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect d. Ultimate Warrior © Jake The Snake and Andre The Giant wrestle to a Double DQ WWF Title: Randy Savage d. Ric Flair © Savage finally gets it done and beats Flair to become WWF Champion. Hulk Hogan comes out to congratulate him after the fact. After Mr. Perfect won the IC Title, the Horesmen breifly held all the Titles, and gave a backstage interview with all the belts. But their joy was shortlived, as Flair lost the Title less than hour later. Perfect won the Title with a Perfect-Plex (Heenan held down Warrior's other leg from the outside, so it was impossible to kick out. The Rockers/Rougeau match and Busters/Harts both hit ****+. Survivor Series 1989: Tito Santana, Brutus Beefcake, Jimmy Snuka & Blue Blazer vs. Rick Martel, Earthquake, Honky Tonk Man & Greg Valentine (Survivors: Rick Martel & Earthquake) Dusty Rhodes, Jim Duggan & Demolition vs. Big Boss Man, Akeem, Barbarian & Warlord (Survivors: Dusty Rhodes & Smash) Ultimate Warrior, Ricky Steamboat & Rockers vs. Rick Rude, Andre The Giant & Rougeaus (Survivors: Ultimate Warrior & Ricky Steamboat) Jake The Snake, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Hercules & Terry Taylor vs. Ted DiBiase, Bad News Brown, Dino Bravo & Haku (Survivor: Ted DiBiase) Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage & Hart Foundation vs. Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (Survivor: Hulk Hogan) After Survivor Series, they can do the angle with Savage and Hogan, with Savage becoming paranoid that Hogan is jealous of his Title. They have a few disagreements but remain friends leading into the Royal Rumble. Royal Rumble 1990: Rockers d. Rougeaus Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect © d. Tito Santana Demolition d. Powers of Pain 30 Man Royal Rumble Winner: Hulk Hogan At the Rumble, Hogan eliminates Savage last, and Savage goes ballistic, attacking him during his celebration after the match and turning heel. Savage cuts a promo on Hogan and says Hogan has always been jealous of him since it was he and not Hogan who beat Flair to get the Title. Hogan/Savage is built up as the main event for Wrestlemania VI. Elsewhere, Roddy Piper and Ric Flair start a huge feud. Ricky Steamboat starts to gun for the undefeated Mr. Perfect and his IC Title. Jake and DiBiase feud as they really did at the time. Wrestlemania VI: Tito Santana d. Rick Martel Hart Foundation d. Demolition Jake The Snake d. Ted DiBiase Tag Team Titles: Brainbusters © d. Rockers Rick Rude d. Dusty Rhodes Intercontinental Title: Ricky Steamboat d. Mr. Perfect © Ultimate Warrior d. Earthquake Ric Flair d. Rowdy Roddy Piper Big Boss Man d. Akeem WWF Title: Hulk Hogan d. Randy Savage © Hogan finally regains the WWF Title after two years, and Steamboat hands Perfect his first loss en route to regainint the IC Title. The Busters remain Tag Champions, but their next challengers, the Harts, pick up a big win. Tito gets the upset win over Martel, and Jake beats DiBiase after a year of feuding. Flair steals a win over Piper, but Roddy gets the moral victory after the match. After Wrestlemania, the Savage/Hogan feud rages on and several feuds are built to be blown off at Summerslam. Summerslam 1990: Texas Tornado d. Rick Rude Tag Team Titles: Hart Foundation d. Brainbusters © Earthquake d. Big Boss Man Rockers d. Demolition Ultimate Warrior d. Ted DiBiase Ric Flair d. Jake The Snake Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect d. Ricky Steamboat © Dusty Rhodes & Jim Duggan d. Orient Express WWF Title: Hulk Hogan © d. Randy Savage Savage joins up with the Four Horsemen for Survivor Series. Survivor Series 1990: LOD, Texas Tornado & Tito Santana vs. Rick Rude & Demolition (all three) (Survivors: LOD) Jake Roberts, Dusty Rhodes & The Rockers vs. Ted DiBiase, Rick Martel & Power & Glory (Survivors: Ted DiBiase, Rick Martel, Hercules & Paul Roma) Big Boss Man, Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter & Tugboat vs. Earthquake, Dino Bravo, Haku & Barbarian (Survivor: Big Boss Man) Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Ricky Steamboat & Hart Foundation vs. Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect & Brainbusters (Survivor: Hulk Hogan & Ultimate Warrior) Royal Rumble 1991: Rockers d. Orient Express The Mountie d. Koko B. Ware Tag Team Titles (2 out of 3 Falls): Brainbusters d. Hart Foundation © 30 Man Royal Rumble Winner: Ric Flair Flair draws #3, lasts an hour and wins the Rumble, much to the joy of Bobby Heenan on commentary (sound familiar?). Warrior plays the role of Sid (setting up a Title match at Wrestlemania VII). After the Tag Title match, Bret Hart starts to wrestle singles matches and quickly racks up a bunch of wins. People start to call him the best technical wrestler in the WWF, which Mr. Perfect takes offense to. Ric Flair gets dragged into a feud with the very popular Big Boss Man, after months of Heenan insulting Boss Man's mother. If Boss Man wins, he gets five minutes with Heenan. Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage rekindle their old rivalry because Savage claims he's done everything there is to do in the WWF... but the one blemish on his career (other than losing to Hogan) was when he wrestled in front of 93,000 people at the Silverdome.... and lost. With everyone talking about Wrestlemania VII set to break the Wrestlemania III attendance record (WM 7 is set to be held in the LA Coliseum), Savage wants to beat Steamboat this time and re-write his legacy. Wrestlemania VII: LOD d. Nasty Boys Undertaker d. Dusty Rhodes Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect © d. Bret Hart British Bulldog d. Warlord Ric Flair d. Big Boss Man Jake Roberts d. Rick Martel Randy Savage d. Ricky Steamboat Ted DiBiase d. Virgil Tag Team Titles: Rockers d. Brainbusters © Earthquake d. Texas Tornado WWF Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Hulk Hogan © Flair feels he deserves a Title shot and plays the role he really played at Summerslam '92, but Hogan/Warrior ends in a clean finish, and Flair will get his Title shot at Summerslam. The Savage/Steamboat feud escalates and with the series tied at one apiece, they are set to have a Career ending match at Summerslam. Summerslam 1991: British Bulldog d. IRS Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart d. Mr. Perfect © LOD d. Brainbusters Million $ Title: Virgil d. Ted DiBiase © Jailhouse Match: Big Boss Man d. Mountie Tag Team Titles: Rockers © d. Nasty Boys WWF Title: Ric Flair d. Ultimate Warrior © Hulk Hogan d. Earthquake Career Match: Ricky Steamboat d. Randy Savage Steamboat offers a handshake after the match, and Savage accepts, turning face now that his career is over. Flair is now the Champion again, with Hogan eager to get it back. Hogan and Flair have always been rivals, opposing each other at Survivor Series each year but they haven't had a Title match on PPV since Wrestlemania IV. Hogan is now the clear cut #1 contender for the Title, and they start to built to an eventual match right away. In October, The Rockers lose the Tag Team Titles to the Natural Disasters. Meanwhile, Jake The Snake goes through with his heel turn, as he really did, and aligns himself with the Undertaker. Survivor Series 1991: Bret Hart, British Bulldog, Big Boss Man & Virgil vs. Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, IRS & Mountie (Survivor: Ric Flair) Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana, Texas Tornado & Sgt. Slaughter vs. Warlord, Hercules, Paul Roma & Skinner (Survivors: Steamboat, Santana, Tornado & Slaughter) Rockers & New Foundation vs. Nasty Boys & Beverly Brothers (Survivors: Jerry Sags & Beau Beverly) Hulk Hogan, Legion Of Doom & Jim Duggan vs. Undertaker, Jake The Snake & Natural Disasters (Survivor: Hulk Hogan) WWF President Jack Tunney declares for the first time that the winner of the Royal Rumble will earn a Title shot at Wrestlemania. Shortly after Survivor Series, they do the Jake/Savage angle, where Jake's snake bites Savage. Savage is granted a one-time match at the Royal Rumble to gain his revenge on Jake. Royal Rumble 1992: Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart © d. Mountie Randy Savage d. Jake The Snake New Foundation d. Orient Express WWF Title: Ric Flair © d. Ricky Steamboat 30 Man Royal Rumble Winner: Hulk Hogan Hogan/Flair is now set for Wrestlemania VIII. Jake/Savage was essentially the Tuesday In Texas match, as Savage beat him quickly, but Jake got his revenge after the match and slapped Elizabeth. Savage is irate, and Jack Tunney works out an agreement for a career match at Wrestlemania VIII- if Jake wins, Savage retires forever; if Savage wins, he's reinstated and Jake retires. Wrestlemania VIII: Shawn Michaels d. Ricky Steamboat British Bulldog d. Mountie Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart © d. Rowdy Roddy Piper Money Inc. d. Big Boss Man & Virgil Career Match: Randy Savage d. Jake The Snake Tatanka d. Rick Martel Undertaker d. Sid Justice Tag Team Titles: LOD d. Natural Disasters © WWF Title: Hulk Hogan d. Ric Flair © From there, Bret Hart becomes the next big star. I'd have Hogan, Flair, or Savage pass the belt on to him at Wrestlemania IX. So here's how the Title scene goes in my scenario as opposed to reality. WWF Title: Hulk Hogan > Ric Flair > Randy Savage > Hulk Hogan > Ultimate Warrior > Ric Flair > Hulk Hogan Randy Savage > Hulk Hogan > Ultimate Warrior > Sgt. Slaughter > Hulk Hogan > Undertaker > Hulk Hogan > Ric Flair > Randy Savage Intercontinental Title: Honky Tonk Man > Ultimate Warrior > Mr. Perfect > Ricky Steamboat > Mr. Perfect > Bret Hart Honky Tonk Man > Ultimate Warrior > Rick Rude > Ultimate Warrior > Mr. Perfect > Texas Tornado > Mr. Perfect > Bret Hart > Mountie > Rowdy Roddy Piper > Bret Hart Tag Team Titles: Demolition > Brainbusters > Hart Foundation > Brainbusters > Rockers > Natural Disasters > LOD Demolition > Brainbusters > Demolition > Collosal Connection > Demolition > Hart Foundation > Nasty Boys > LOD > Money Inc.

The first show I remember watching was when I was 9 years old in early 1993. It was an episode of Superstars that ended with evil Doink the Clown squirting Big Boss Man in the eye with a green liquid. Boss Man and the announcers sold it as a terrible injury, and sure enough I think that was the end of Boss Man's original WWF stint. (Does anyone remember this?? No one else does whenever I bring it up.) So this got me hooked for whatever reason, and I was sucked in to the hype of Wrestlemania IX. We didn't have cable so I couldn't order the show but I remember hearing all the results at school the next day. Throughout the rest of 1993, I rented a crapload of old WWF PPV's and other tapes to catch myself up and learn about the past. My friend had been watching since the late 80's so he caught me up on some things too and we watched a lot of old tapes together. He also had old magazines, old figures, etc. So though I'd been watching for less than a year, I was already something of an expert on the "modern era WWF". The first live PPV I watched was Survivor Series 1993, at this same friend's house. The first feud that I loved and remains my favorite to this day was the Bret and Owen Hart storyline that started in late '93. I was always something of a smark in that I was never drawn to the big guys, but rather the guys that had the best matches. I enjoyed workrate even if I didn't know such a word existed. That first year, my favorite guys to watch were Bret, Perfect, Michaels, Jannetty, etc. On the old tapes, I was always drawn to guys like Savage, The Harts, Rockers, DiBiase, Steamboat, etc. far more than I was to the likes of Hogan, Sid, Duggan, etc. My friend was one of the first in our town to have the internet, and at some point (late 94?) we discovered something about wrestling... not sure what it was exactly, but they'd have recaps of TV shows and then there was something called the "Ring Report". This was pretty intriguing stuff because it listed real names and talked about which wrestlers would be changing promotions and stuff. So that combined with the occasional "insider magazine" I'd see at Barnes and Noble as well as the fact that the WWF would sometimes reference "dirt sheets" made me aware that such an underground community existed. Even back before each PPV when my friends and I talked about the potential outcomes of the matches, I would never argue for one wrestler being victorious "because he was better", but rather "because it seems like they'll have him win". I can even remember discussing the Undertaker/Undertaker match before Summerslam 1994 and saying "I wonder what they have up their sleeves." "They", meaning the bookers, even if I didn't know there was a term for such a thing. I don't know how I knew this. My dad did kind of hint to me that it was "fake" on Day 1 (when I was concerned about the Boss Man's eyes... I'm really squeemish when it comes to eye injuries), but somehow I was always just as fascinated with the scripting aspect of it as I was with the matches themselves. So in that regard, I guess I've been a smark since '94, but if you're going by when I got the internet and started checking news and rumor sites daily, then that date would change to late '98.

Bret Owen Steamboat Flair Jericho Malenko Benoit Jarrett Shawn Rey

Wrestlemania IX: IC Title: Shawn Michaels © d. Marty Jannetty Doink d. Crush Undertaker d. Bam Bam Bigelow Lex Luger d. Hulk Hogan Tag Titles: Money Inc. © d. Steiner Brothers Mr. Perfect d. Razor Ramon Yokozuna d. Tatanka World Title: Bret Hart © d. Ric Flair Wrestlemania VIII: Shawn Michaels d. Big Boss Man Natural Disasters d. Nasty Boys IC Title: Bret Hart d. Roddy Piper Undertaker d. Sid Justice Career Match: Randy Savage d. Jake Roberts Tatanka d. The Mountie Tag Titles: Money Inc d. LOD Owen Hart d. Rick Martel World Title: Hulk Hogan d. Ric Flair

I believe the best way to build to a major card like Wrestlemania is to plan out your desired card first and then work backwards to set it up. So here's what I'd do, starting from now, to make Wrestlemania XX something special. (Note: I did this soon after the Unforgiven PPV so there are a few things I don't address like the Goldberg/bounty hunter storyline and the recent IC Title change. Given some more thought, I could incorporate those in, but these were my thoughts on what to do from right after Unforgiven. Also, I know injuries, singings, debuts, and everything else could easily screw up plans, but I can't plan for those, so here is what I would do with the current roster.) Following Unforgiven on Raw, with HHH out of action, lots of different heels try to take out Goldberg. Evolution (Orton and Flair) continues their feud with him. On a Raw in late October, Flair challenges Goldberg for the Title in the main event of Raw. Earlier in the show, Maven is cutting a promo backstage, and Orton interrupts him to talk about Flair's match instead. Orton verbally punks Maven out and cuts a promo on Goldberg, prompting Goldberg to jump Orton. A brawl erupts, and Flair comes out of nowhere and takes out Goldberg's knee with a lead pipe. Goldberg is left laid out- he can barely walk. Later on, in the match, Goldberg is able to overpower Flair, but it's clear his knee is shot. Flair and Orton blatantly cheat at every possible opportunity (think old school Flair-Hennig type cheating), and Flair eventually gets the Figure Four on Godlberg. After a long struggle, Goldberg is finally about to grab the bottom rope- and Orton pulls it away. Maven comes out with a steel chair, and the crowd pops crazy- finally someone is going to put an end to the cheating. Maven and Orton get into a shoving match on the floor and the ref goes to separate them. Goldberg is now holding the rope. The ref moves Orton out of the way, and behind his back, Maven turns heel and waffles Goldberg on the head with the chair. Goldberg is now out cold. Flair maintains the Figure Four. Orton tells the ref to get back in the ring, and Flair pins Goldberg (still in the Figure Four) to win the Heavyweight Title. Massive screwjob. Maven has now joined up with Orton and Flair. Meanwhile, Smackdown presents No Mercy in October. Brock will defend his new World Title against the Undertaker, and Benoit will settle his feud with Rhyno in an I Quit Match. Eddie Guerrero will pull double duty, defending the US Title against John Cena, and the Tag Titles with Chavo against Haas & Benjamin. Here are the No Mercy results: Cruiserweight Title: Tajiri defeats Rey Mysterio (14:09) Tag Titles: Los Guerreros defeat Haas & Benjamin (18:43) Matt Hardy defeats Jamie Noble (9:56) Benoit defeats Rhyno in an I Quit Match (19:12) Angle defeats A-Train (11:05) US Title: Eddie Guerrero defeats Cena (15:02) WWE Title: Lesnar defeats Undertaker (21:20) So Brock retains the Title, and Eddie retains both of his belts, cheating in the Tag Title match, and having Chavo aid him in the US Title match. A new Cruiserweight Champion is crowned, Benoit picks up a big singles win, as does Matt Hardy, and Angle is rebuilt after his job to Lesnar, by beating the massive A-Train. Back on Raw, Goldberg is out of action for a few weeks following the beating he took. Flair is enjoying a final run as Champion. The announcers speculate on how HHH will react to this when he returns. HHH comes back for to appear on Raw two weeks before Survivor Series, where Evolution is set to take on the team of Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash & Scott Steiner. HHH congratulates Flair on his win, but tells him to just remember who the leader of the group still is. Flair starts to take offense, but before anything can happen, Orton plays peacemaker. (Note: Some reports have HHH out until November- others till the end of the year. Either way, I figure he can appear on this one Raw and Survivor Series- two dates shouldn't be that hard to work out.) On Smackdown, Brock and Angle are set to do battle on opposite Survivor Series teams. Brock recruits Haas & Benjamin, former Angle proteges, to go against Kurt. So Angle counters with the team who beat them for their Titles, Eddie & Chavo Guerrero. John Cena develops a beef with Angle and joins team Brock, so Angle ends up finding someone from Brock's past- someone he's wronged in the past: Zach Gowen, who Brock pushed down the stairs in the summer. The Survivor Series main events are set. Also, the beginnings of a Taker/Vince feud go down, as it seems inevitable, and gives Taker something to do away from the main event scene. Survivor Series: RVD, Hurricane, Goldust & Val Venis vs. Jericho, Christian, Storm & Test Hurricane d. Test (7:57) Jericho d. Val (10:25) Goldust d. Storm (15:11) RVD d. Jericho (20:54) IC Champion Christian, left one against three, decides to take the countout (22:31) Survivors: RVD, Hurricane, Goldust Undertaker, Bradshaw, Faarooq & Rikishi vs. Big Show, A-Train, Sean O'Haire & Vince McMahon *Note: If Rikishi isn't back, use Funaki Show d. Faarooq (2:10) Train d. Rikishi (4:32) Train d. Bradshaw (6:20) Taker d. O'Haire (8:19) Taker d. Train (11:40) Vince d. Taker (14:16) (Show chokeslams Taker and presses Vince on top of him) Survivors: Show, Vince Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, Nash, Steiner vs. HHH, Flair, Orton & Maven HHH d. Steiner (5:22) Orton d. Nash (7:15) Goldberg d. Maven (8:06) Shawn d. Orton (13:17) Goldberg d. HHH (18:50) Shawn d. Flair (21:16) Survivors: Goldberg, Shawn Benoit, Rey, Kidman & Noble vs. Rhyno, Matt, Moore & Tajiri Noble d. Tajiri (4:18) Moore d. Kidman (6:31) Matt d. Noble (8:45) Rey d. Moore (11:16) Benoit d. Rhyno (15:58) Matt d. Rey (19:33) Benoit d. Matt (22:42) Survivor: Benoit Angle, Eddie, Chavo & Gowen vs. Brock, Haas, Benjamin & Cena Brock d. Chavo (7:09) Angle d. Brock (12:49) (in a shocker, the Champ is eliminated early by Angle. Brock is pissed.) Cena d. Eddie (18:01) Brock comes back out in a rage and takes his frustrations out on Angle, then Gowen. He beats down Gowen viciously and F5's him. Cena joins the beatdown, and when officials come to escort Brock back to the locker room, Cena is DQ'ed and forced to go with him. It's now down to essentially a tag match between Angle & Gowen and Haas & Benjamin, but it looks like Gowen is messed up pretty badly. Angle d. Haas (28:06) Gowen d. Benjamin (30:24) Survivors: Angle, Gowen Angle is able to take a pounding, but catch Haas in a german suplex and pin him. Gowen then gets the hot tag, and Benjamin gets the better of him, but Gowen outsmarts him with a rollup and scores the winning fall. So Angle and Gowen survive. I know a lot of people would be against that, but it doesn't hurt anyone. It really helps Gowen- winning the main event of a major PPV alongside Angle is just the kind of thing they need to really get people behind him. Angle's win helps him get back on top after losing the Title to Brock- and Brock's elimination doesn't hurt him because he's still the Champ and he and Angle have traded victories lots of times before so it's no big deal if Angle beats him. Cena gets a win over Eddie, and is protected by being DQ'ed. This also makes Haas & Benjamin look very good, as they last all the way until the end. I think this is my favorite bit of booking thus far. Armageddon looks like this: Intercontinental Title: Hurricane d. Christian (19:41) (Jericho botches interference and Christian loses) Tag Titles: Dudley Boys d. La Resistance (11:50) Kane d. Nash (9:04) Goldberg d. Orton (10:52) Women's Title: I don't book the women's division, but I will give them time (5:47) RVD d. Jericho (21:12) (Christian returns the favor and intentionally costs Jericho the match) World Title: Ric Flair d. Shawn Michaels (24:03) This begins the start of a face turn for Jericho. For the next month he becomes kind of a tweener- then just when the fans can't hold back anymore, he becomes a full-fledged face again. HHH returns in early January, and this time things between he and Flair blow up. Flair is turned face and tells HHH what he really thinks of him. They feud, leading up to HHH getting a Title shot at the Royal Rumble. Orton and Maven side with HHH in the matter, and Flair is ostracized from the group, but that doesn't matter now, because he has the fans on his side, not to mention the World Title. So at the Rumble, HHH is looking to win the Title, Orton is looking to win the Rumble, and Maven has an IC Title shot against Hurricane. How will things turn out for Evolution? Over on Smackdown, Eddie Guerrero decides he wants to be greedy and get ALL the gold there is... so he challenges Brock Lesnar to a Title match at the Royal Rumble. They start to feud and the match is made. But on the first Smackdown of the year, the new exciting team of Spanky and Paul London upset Los Guerreros for the Tag Titles. It just happens to come on a night where Eddie again pulled double duty and defended his US Title earlier in the night. Chavo accuses Eddie of not having his priorities straight and over the next several weeks, tries to cost Eddie the US Title to his various opponents. But Eddie, expecting the cheating, always one-ups him, and retains it. The week before the Rumble, Chavo finally challenges Eddie to a match on Smackdown, and out-cheats his way to victory. Now Eddie has no gold and realizes he's spent all this time worrying about the other gold when he has a World Title shot coming up on PPV. He vows to beat Lesnar at the Rumble. Taker and Vince continue to feud, and will have a match at the Rumble. The participants for the Rumble match are as follows: Raw: Goldberg, Michaels, Kane, Jericho, RVD, Nash, Orton, Booker (if healthy, otherwise Dreamer), Christian, Goldust, Test, Steiner, Storm, Goldust, Spike... Smackdown: Angle, Cena, Gowen, Big Show, A-Train, Benoit, Haas, Benjamin, Rikishi, Rey, Rhyno, Matt Hardy, Chavo, Tajiri, O'Haire Royal Rumble: Intercontinental Title: Hurricane d. Maven (7:42) WWE Title: Lesnar d. Guerrero (23:38) Taker d. Vince (14:25) World Title: HHH d. Flair (18:33) Rumble Match: 1) Goldust, 2) Chavo, 3) Benjamin, 4) Spike, 5) Benoit, 6) Booker, 7) Rhyno, 8) Storm, 9) Rikishi, 10) RVD, 11) Tajiri, 12) Angle, 13) Orton, 14) Val, 15) Jericho, 16) O'Haire, 17) Michaels, 18) Rey, 19) Christian, 20) Kane, 21) Cena, 22) Test, 23) Matt, 24) Goldberg, 25) Haas, 26) Show, 27) Steiner, 28) Nash, 29) A-Train, 30) Gowen The last eleven remaining are, in order of entrance, Benoit, RVD, Angle, Jericho, Shawn, Christian, Kane, Cena, Goldberg, Show, Gowen. Benoit goes first, then Goldberg dumps Show. Kane and Goldberg take care of each other, then Christian and RVD get tossed, followed by Gowen. Now it's Angle, Jericho, Shawn, and Cena. Will Wrestlemania be Angle/Brock, Cena/Brock, Jericho/HHH, or Shawn/HHH? Shawn is next to be eliminated, and Cena takes care of Angle, leaving Jericho and Cena... Jericho is finally able to get the win, earning a shot at HHH's Title at Wrestlemania XX. Now that the Rumble is over, Wrestlemania begins to take shape. On the Raw side, Jericho having just turned face, is hotter than ever. HHH, having just returned and regaining his Title is determined to keep it. They are the clear-cut top two guys on Raw. With all their back history, it's easy to build a feud here. Now that Flair has lost the Title, he remains a face, but has no gold and no stable. He starts to feud with Randy Orton, who is still a heel but has kind of branched off from HHH. Orton vs. Flair is booked for Wrestlemania, as Orton attempts to polish off one more legend. The Rock returns in time for his annual appearance and tragets the man he faced last time he was in the ring- Goldberg. Rock gets over as a face this time, and Rock/Goldberg is heavily promoted for Wrestlemania. (I'm thinking about making this a Career Match, since it would be the only such Career Match that would be unpredictable; neither is old, but neither will really be around very long. But Wrestlemania will draw well no matter what, so a match like this might be better served for a separate PPV. Also, Rocky still has the potential to put over a lot of other midcarders to build new stars.) Elsewhere on Raw, Christian wants Jericho (ever since their split at Armageddon), but Y2J is already in the Title match, so Christian does the next best thing and targets Shawn Michaels. Michaels vs. Christian is booked for Wrestlemania as well. Intercontinental Champion, The Hurricane, begins feuding with Lance Storm, and RVD and Kane renew their rivalry, since it was never really blown off the first time around. Kane has already ran through everyone else, including working a mini-program with Goldberg for a short time after the Rumble. Over on Smackdown, things are less clear, as Brock has no immediate challenger for Wrestlemania. (Note: I would have kept the Title on Angle from Summerslam through Wrestlemania XX, but since it's on Brock now, I think it should remain on him until Wrestlemania. So who should he face? If the Champ were Angle, I'd make the main event Angle/Cena, but Brock/Cena wouldn't be good because both are being pushed as heels. Also, it bombed the first time. So who should Brock face? Brock/Angle is played out.) Stephanie books a one night eight-man single elimination tournament for No Way Out to determine Brock’s Wrestlemania challenger. With King Of The Ring no longer existing, it would be cool to have a one-time tournament PPV like this. It could have an old school feel to it. And Smackdown has a roster with enough talent (workrate-wise) to pull it off. Here’s No Way Out: First Round: Kurt Angle d. Eddie Guerrero (13:31) (Chavo interferes) First Round: The Undertaker d. John Cena (12:10) First Round: Chris Benoit d. Matt Hardy (14:39) (Almost reaches the 15 min time limit) First Round: Rhyno d. Zach Gowen (8:04) Semifinals: Kurt Angle d. The Undertaker (11:38) Semifinals: Chris Benoit d. Rhyno (10:05) Cruiserweight Title: Tajiri d. Jamie Noble & Rey Mysterio (8:39) (Backstage, Angle and Benoit are jumped separately by Haas & Benjamin (hired by Lesnar to soften up both guys before their match) Tag Team Titles: Paul London & Spanky d. Big Show & A-Train (12:10) Finals: Chris Benoit d. Kurt Angle (20:57) So there it is: Brock vs. Benoit at Wrestlemania. Something fresh. Other Smackdown Wrestlemania matches include Angle vs. Cena, Eddie Guerrero vs. Matt Hardy, Undertaker vs. Rhyno, Rey Mysterio vs. (US Champion) Chavo Guerrero, and Haas & Benjamin vs. Paul London & Spanky (Tag Champions). Two weeks before the PPV, Rey defeats Tajiri on Smackdown to win the Cruiserweight Title, so his Wrestlemania match with Chavo becomes title for title. Wrestlemania XX: Intercontinental Title: Hurricane d. Lance Storm (8:44) Cruiserweight/US Title: Rey Mysterio d. Chavo Guerrero (9:38) Eddie Guerrero d. Matt Hardy (11:39) Randy Orton d. Ric Flair (9:44) No DQ: RVD d. Kane (8:40) WWE Title: Chris Benoit d. Brock Lesnar (20:52) -Intermission- Christian d. Shawn Michaels (17:14) Women’s Title: I don’t book the women’s division (2:17) Tag Team Titles: Haas & Benjamin d. Spanky & London (11:30) The Undertaker d. Rhyno (7:05) John Cena d. Kurt Angle (12:51) Rock d. Goldberg (11:45) World Title: Chris Jericho d. HHH (20:05) Wrestlemania should be a stacked card, and I think this is fitting. Jericho finally becomes THE guy on Raw, and a classic wrestler in Benoit is finally rewarded with his big win on the biggest stage of them all (a la Bret at Wrestlemania X). The Rock picks up a huge win against Goldberg (with Goldberg on his way out of the company, it makes sense to build up the Rock again so that when he puts over other people it means something). John Cena and Christian are taken to the next level with clean wins over Angle and Shawn respectively. Following Wrestlemania, there’s a solid list of main eventers and upper midcarders set for 2004: Brock, Angle, Edge, Benoit, Cena, Eddie, Jericho, HHH, Christian, Orton, Michaels, RVD, Matt Hardy, Rey, Rhyno, Benjamin, Haas, Kane, Hurricane, Storm. That’s not a bad top 20 list. There’s lots of new matches to try out at or near the top: Jericho vs. Orton, Jericho vs. Christian, Rock vs. Christian, Jericho vs. RVD, HHH vs. Orton, Benoit vs. Cena, Benoit vs. Edge, Edge vs. Brock, Benoit vs. Eddie, Edge vs. Cena. With this top twenty, 2004 should be a significant improvement over 2003.

Just as a closing to this whole thing, I realize that generally speaking I didn't provide a ton of insight into how a lot of feuds were started (ie Wrestler A starts a feud with Wrestler B and they have a match at the PPV). Since we're talking about such a long period of time, I didn't want to prolong it any more by going into detail about every midcard feud. But I think the general design of this, as far as how to elevate a lot more guys, is good. In this little alternate universe, Christian, Edge, A-Train, Mysterio, Matt Hardy, Haas, Benjamin, Spanky, London, Benoit, Jericho, etc were all elevated (some to more of an extent than others). And I like how it all came together; it's not that HHH & HBK were relegated to a tag team all year; it proved to be important because they ended up main eventing Wrestlemania as a team. That main event also served as a defining moment for Angle (winning the WM main event), as well as a fitting ending for Shawn Michaels. At the end of this fantasy Wrestlemania 21, WWE is left with essentially a few groups: The Veterans: HHH, Jericho, Benoit, Angle, Eddie, Booker, and Goldust, all of whom have enjoyed some degree of success, and can still be used to put over the guys that are right on the verge of taking their spots. The Future (superstars/upper midcard): Lesnar (already a solidified superstar), Cena, RVD, Edge, Christian, Matt Hardy, Orton, Benjamin, Haas, Mysterio, Rhyno, Storm, Hurricane, etc. The Monsters: Big Show, Batista, Kane, A-Train The Tag Teams: Dudley Boys, Cade & Jindrak, Spanky & London, Bashams, Maven & Nowinski, Chavo & Moore The midcard: Tajiri, Ultimo Dragon, Noble, Rico, Kanyon, Scotty, O'Haire, Gowen, Test, Morley, Rob Conway, etc. That's about all I have to say, so for those of you that didn't feel like reading the whole thing, I'll provide the Cliff Notes version below. Thanks for reading. No Mercy 2003: Cruiserweight Title: Tajiri defeats Rey Mysterio (14:09) ***3/4 Tag Titles: Los Guerreros defeat Haas & Benjamin (18:43) **** Matt Hardy defeats Jamie Noble (9:56) **3/4 Benoit defeats Rhyno in an I Quit Match (19:12) ***1/4 Angle defeats A-Train (11:05) **3/4 US Title: Eddie Guerrero defeats Cena (15:02) ***1/4 WWE Title: Lesnar defeats Undertaker (21:20) **1/2 Survivor Series 2003: RVD, Hurricane, Goldust & Val Venis vs. Jericho, Christian, Storm & Test ***1/2 Hurricane d. Test (7:57) Jericho d. Val (10:25) Goldust d. Storm (15:11) RVD d. Jericho (20:54) Christian is Co'ed (22:31) Survivors: RVD, Hurricane, Goldust Undertaker, Bradshaw, Faarooq & Funaki vs. Big Show, A-Train, Sean O'Haire & Vince McMahon 3/4* Show d. Faarooq (2:10) Train d. Funaki (3:42) Train d. Bradshaw (6:20) Taker d. O'Haire (8:19) Taker d. Train (11:40) Vince d. Taker (14:16) Survivors: Show, Vince Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, Nash, Steiner vs. HHH, Flair, Orton & Maven **1/2 HHH d. Steiner (5:22) Orton d. Nash (7:15) Goldberg d. Maven (8:06) Shawn d. Orton (13:17) Goldberg d. HHH (18:50) Shawn d. Flair (21:16) Survivors: Goldberg, Shawn Benoit, Rey, Kidman & Noble vs. Rhyno, Matt, Moore & Tajiri ***3/4 Noble d. Tajiri (4:18) Moore d. Kidman (6:31) Matt d. Noble (8:45) Rey d. Moore (11:16) Benoit d. Rhyno (15:58) Matt d. Rey (19:33) Benoit d. Matt (22:42) Survivor: Benoit Angle, Eddie, Chavo & Gowen vs. Brock, Haas, Benjamin & Cena ****1/4 Brock d. Chavo (7:09) Angle d. Brock (12:49) Cena d. Eddie (18:01) Cena is DQ'ed (21:30) Angle d. Haas (28:06) Gowen d. Benjamin (30:24) Survivors: Angle, Gowen Armageddon 2003: Intercontinental Title: Hurricane d. Christian (19:41) **** Tag Titles: Dudley Boys d. La Resistance (11:50) ** Kane d. Nash (9:04) 1/2* Goldberg d. Orton (10:52) *1/2 Women's Title: I don't book the women's division, but I will give them time (5:47) RVD d. Jericho (21:12) ****1/4 World Title: Ric Flair d. Shawn Michaels (24:03) **** Royal Rumble 2004: Intercontinental Title: Hurricane d. Maven (7:42) **1/4 WWE Title: Lesnar d. Guerrero (23:38) ***1/2 Taker d. Vince (14:25) * World Title: HHH d. Flair (18:33) ***1/4 Royal Rumble Match (order of entrance): 1) Goldust, 2) Chavo, 3) Benjamin, 4) Spike, 5) Benoit, 6) Booker, 7) Rhyno, 8) Storm, 9) Rikishi, 10) RVD, 11) Tajiri, 12) Angle, 13) Orton, 14) Val, 15) Jericho, 16) O'Haire, 17) Michaels, 18) Rey, 19) Christian, 20) Kane, 21) Cena, 22) Test, 23) Matt, 24) Goldberg, 25) Haas, 26) Show, 27) Steiner, 28) Nash, 29) A-Train, 30) Gowen Winner: Jericho (68:44) ****1/2 No Way Out 2004: First Round: Kurt Angle d. Eddie Guerrero (13:31) ***1/2 First Round: The Undertaker d. John Cena (12:10) **1/4 First Round: Chris Benoit d. Matt Hardy (14:39) **** First Round: Rhyno d. Zach Gowen (8:04) ** Semifinals: Kurt Angle d. The Undertaker (11:38) **1/2 Semifinals: Chris Benoit d. Rhyno (10:05) **3/4 Cruiserweight Title: Tajiri d. Jamie Noble & Rey Mysterio (8:39) ***1/4 Tag Team Titles: Paul London & Spanky d. Big Show & A-Train (12:10) *** Finals: Chris Benoit d. Kurt Angle (20:57) ****1/2 Wrestlemania XX: Intercontinental Title: Hurricane d. Lance Storm (8:44) *** Cruiserweight/US Title: Rey Mysterio d. Chavo Guerrero (9:38) ***1/4 Eddie Guerrero d. Matt Hardy (11:39) ***1/4 Randy Orton d. Ric Flair (9:44) **1/2 No DQ Match: RVD d. Kane (8:40) ** WWE Title: Chris Benoit d. Brock Lesnar (20:52) ****1/4 Christian d. Shawn Michaels (17:14) **** Women’s Title: I don’t book the women’s division (2:17) Tag Team Titles: Haas & Benjamin d. Spanky & London (11:30) ***3/4 The Undertaker d. Rhyno (7:05) ** John Cena d. Kurt Angle (12:51) ***1/4 Rock d. Goldberg (11:45) **1/2 World Title: Chris Jericho d. HHH (20:05) **** Backlash 2004: Tag Team Titles: Maven & Nowinski d. The Dudley Boys to win the Titles (11:31) **3/4 Kanyon d. Goldust (9:23) *** Women's Title: I don't book the women's division but I will give them time (5:02) Intercontinental Title: Lance Storm d. Hurricane to win the Title (16:37) **** HHH & HBK d. Orton & Batista (17:17) **1/2 Christian d. The Rock (22:06) ***1/2 World Title: Jericho d. RVD and Booker T in a Triple Threat match (22:55) ***3/4 Judgment Day 2004: Spanky, London & Kidman d. Tajiri, Chavo & Moore (9:59) ***1/2 US Title: Matt Hardy d. Mysterio to win the Title (14:00) **** Rhyno d. The Undertaker (11:25) **1/2 Cena d. Angle (16:06) ***1/2 Tag Team Titles: Haas & Benjamin d. Gowen & Noble (12:44) ***1/4 The Big Show d. A-Train (6:33) * Lesnar d. Edge (17:28) ***1/4 World Title: Benoit d. Guerrero (23:11) ****3/4 Bad Blood 2004: Rico d. Hurricane (9:31) *** Intercontinental Title: Storm d. Goldust (15:12) ***1/2 4 Team Elimination Match: D'Von & Spike d. Rosey & Henry (4:14) --------------------------------- Maven & Nowinski d. Cade & Jindrak (8:53) --------------------------------- Maven & Nowinski d. D'Von & Spike (11:35) **1/4 Scotty d. Kanyon (8:10) **1/2 Tag Team Titles: RVD & Booker d. HHH & HBK to win the Titles (19:32) ***1/4 Orton d. Morely (13:26) *** Women's Title: I don't book the women's division but I will give them time (2:58) Kane d. Batista (9:40) *1/2 World Title: Jericho d. Christian (23:04) ****1/4 Vengeance 2004: US Title: Matt Hardy d. Ultimo Dragon (13:57) ***3/4 Eddie d. Chavo (14:34) **** A-Train & Big Show d. Undertaker & Rey (10:25) ** Gowen d. Noble (8:13) **1/4 Angle d. Rhyno (11:39) ***1/4 Tag Team Titles: Haas & Benjamin d. Bashams (8:20) **1/2 Edge d. Brock (21:04) ***1/2 World Title: Benoit d. Cena (22:21) ***3/4 Summerslam 2004: Rey d. Big Show (8:12) **1/2 Tag Team Titles: Haas & Benjamin d. Chavo & Moore (10:30) *** Intercontinental Title: Storm d. Scotty (10:05) *** Edge, Angle & Eddie d. Brock, Cena & Rhyno (17:27) ***1/4 Orton d. HHH (14:52) **1/2 US Title: Gowen d. Matt Hardy (11:46) *** RVD d. Booker (13:39) **3/4 Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit wrestle to a double DQ (25:28) ****1/2 Unforgiven 2004: Kanyon d. Morely (9:13) *** Maven & Nowinski d. Cade & Jindrak (9:54) **1/2 Intercontinental Title: Scotty d. Storm (12:47) ***1/2 Test d. Booker (9:25) **1/4 Women's Title: I don't book the women's division but I will give them time (3:36) Batista d. Kane (10:51) ** Tag Team Titles: HHH & HBK d. D'Von & Spike (14:19) **3/4 RVD d. Orton (15:01) *** World Title: Christian d. Jericho to win the World Title (24:43) ****1/2 No Mercy 2004: Noble, Tajiri & Bashams d. Kidman, Orlando Jordan, Palumbo & Stamboli (7:19) **1/4 Rey d. Rhyno (8:24) *** US Title Tournament Final: Shelton Benjamin d. Ultimo Dragon to win the US Title (12:48) ***1/4 Cena d. O'Haire (5:55) *1/4 Matt Hardy d. Eddie Guerrero (15:08) ***3/4 Tag Team Titles: Chavo & Shannon Moore d. Spanky & London to win the Tag Titles (11:27) ***1/2 Brock d. Benoit (17:10) ***3/4 Undertaker d. A-Train (13:41) **1/4 World Title: Angle d. Edge (21:19) ****1/4 Survivor Series 2004: Eddie, Spanky, London, Ultimo Dragon & Gowen vs. Benjamin, Haas, Chavo, Moore & Matt Hardy **** Matt d. Spanky (6:02) Chavo d. Gowen (8:16) Eddie d. Matt (11:10) London d. Moore (13:55) Dragon d. Chavo (16:42) Benjamin d. Dragon (17:23) Haas d. London (21:40) Eddie d. Benjamin (23:51) Haas d. Eddie (25:11) Survivor: Haas Bubba, Hurricane, Scotty, Test & Morely vs. Storm, Orton, Batista, Kanyon & Rico **1/4 Batista d. Bubba (2:32) Orton d. Scotty (4:25) Hurricane d. Storm (7:03) Morely d. Kanyon (9:00) Batista d. Test (11:18) Batista d. Hurricane (12:37) Rico d. Morely (13:42) Survivors: Batista, Orton, Rico Undertaker, Rey, Bradshaw, Kidman & O. Jordan vs. Show, A-Train, Rhyno, Noble & Tajiri *** Kidman d. Tajiri (4:04) Rhyno d. Jordan (5:11) Taker d. Show (7:50) Rey d. Rhyno (11:16) A-Train d. Bradshaw (12:35) A-Train d. Kidman (13:33) Taker & A-Train brawl to a double DQ (15:54) Rey d. Noble (17:59) Survivor: Rey Kane, D'Von, Spike, Cade & Jindrak vs. Booker, Goldust, Maven, Nowinski & Richards **1/2 Spike d. Nowinski (0:49) Maven d. Cade (2:50) Kane d. Richards (3:38) Jindrak d. Maven (5:21) Goldust d. Jindrak (7:14) Booker d. D'Von (12:02) Goldust d. Spike (14:29) Booker d. Kane (16:45) Survivors: Booker & Goldust Main Event (Raw vs. Smackdown): Angle, Benoit, Brock, Edge, Cena vs. Christian, Jericho, HHH, HBK, RVD ****1/4 HHH d. Cena (11:09) Brock d. RVD (16:36) Edge d. HBK (22:57) Christian d. Edge (29:00) Angle d. Christian (34:35) Jericho d. Angle (36:12) Jericho & Benoit pin each other (german-suplex spot) (40:08) HHH d. Brock (46:54) Survivor: HHH Armageddon 2004: Morley d. Booker (10:40) *** Kane d. Richards (3:03) * Intercontinental Title: Storm d. Scotty (6:54) --------------------------- Hurricane d. Storm (10:12) --------------------------- Kanyon d. Hurricane (12:51) *** RVD d. Batista (10:25) **1/4 Cade & Jindrak d. Maven & Nowinski (9:59) *** Shawn d. Goldust (15:44) ***1/2 Jericho d. Orton (13:39) ***1/4 Women's Title: I don't book the women's division but I will give them time (4:12) World Title: Christian d. HHH (23:07) ***1/2 Royal Rumble 2005: Cade & Jindrak d. Maven & Nowinski (10:11) *** US Title: Benjamin d. Eddie Guerrero (12:34) ***1/4 World Title: Angle d. Cena (18:26) ***3/4 World Title: Jericho d. Christian (21:40) ****1/4 Royal Rumble Match (order of entrance): 1) Benoit, 2) RVD, 3) Storm, 4) Gowen, 5) O'Haire, 6) Scotty, 7) Test, 8) London, 9) A-Train, 10) Noble, 11) Kanyon, 12) Undertaker, 13) Rico, 14) Edge, 15) Orton, 16) Haas, 17) Hurricane, 18) Rey, 19) Kane, 20) Big Show, 21) HHH, 22) Booker, 23) Brock, 24) Goldust, 25) Michaels, 26) Rhyno, 27) Matt, 28) Batista, 29) Spanky, 30) Morely No Way Out 2005: Tajiri d. Noble (7:38) *** Big Show d. Edge (9:16) **1/2 US Title Match: Benjamin and Haas wrestle to a time limit draw (20:00) **** Bashams d. Spanky & London (9:27) **1/2 Matt d. Rhyno (10:34) **3/4 Cena d. Lesnar (14:49) (More on this later) ***1/4 World Title: Angle d. Benoit and Rey in a Triple Threat Match (16:18) ****1/4 Hell In A Cell (Taker's career on the line): A-Train d. Undertaker (20:26) ***1/4 Wrestlemania XXI: Rey Mysterio d. Hurricane (9:09) *** Lance Cade & Mark Jindrak d. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin (9:26) ***1/4 Dave Batista d. The Big Show (7:40) *1/2 Matt Hardy d. Randy Orton (10:55) *** Eddie Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero d. Booker T & Goldust (16:20) ***3/4 Rhyno wins a 20 Man Battle Royale (8:12) Chris Jericho d. Chris Benoit (20:11) ****3/4 Kane d. A-Train (8:19) ** Edge d. Christian (18:58) **** RVD vs. John Cena (11:09) ***1/4 Brock Lesnar & Kurt Angle d. Triple H & Shawn Michaels (23:52) ****3/4

There are a few things I didn't mention pertaining to Survivor Series, so here they are: Eddie, Spanky, London, Ultimo Dragon & Gowen vs. Benjamin, Haas, Chavo, Moore & Matt Hardy Matt d. Spanky (6:02) Chavo d. Gowen (8:16) Eddie d. Matt (11:10) London d. Moore (13:55) Dragon d. Chavo (16:42) Benjamin d. Dragon (17:23) Haas d. London (21:40) Eddie d. Benjamin (23:51) Haas d. Eddie (25:11) Survivor: Haas The setup: A ton of talent in this match. And it makes sense, as Eddie has feuded with Chavo, Matt, and (in tag teams) Haas & Benjamin. Spanky & London have feuded with Haas & Benjamin, and recently loss the Tag Titles to the MFers, Chavo & Moore. Dragon lost to Benjamin in the US Tourney Finals and Gowen and Matt Hardy met at Summerslam. The results: Gowen is eliminated early, as he's done squat since losing the US Title in early October. Matt Hardy gets in a token elimination before being defeated by Eddie. This doesn't hurt him much since it's Eddie that pins him, but Matt is eliminated before his buddies Chavo & Moore. Haas ends up winning the thing, his final pinfall coming against Eddie, to create symmetry with Benjamin. Benjamin may be US Champion, but Haas just became the sole survivor in their big PPV match. Bubba, Hurricane, Scotty, Test & Morely vs. Storm, Orton, Batista, Kanyon & Rico Batista d. Bubba (2:32) Orton d. Scotty (4:25) Hurricane d. Storm (7:03) Morely d. Kanyon (9:00) Batista d. Test (11:18) Batista d. Hurricane (12:37) Rico d. Morely (13:42) Survivors: Batista, Orton, Rico The setup: Orton and Batista have been flirting with the main event, but not enough to be in tonight's Raw vs. Smackdown main event. Orton has had an issue with Morely, and Batista and Test have been feuding. Hurricane and Scot Taylor have feuded with Storm for the better part of the year, and Bubba has challenged him several times. A few weeks prior to Survivor Series, on Raw, Kanyon defeated Scotty in a 13 minute match to become the new Intercontinental Champion. The results: Batista is made to look like a monster, Orton gets another PPV win, and Rico is along for the ride. Hurricane and Morely are made to look good on the face side. Morely's pinfall over IC Champ Kanyon gives them a side issue to have a few IC Title matches on Raw. Undertaker, Rey, Bradshaw, Kidman & O. Jordan vs. Show, A-Train, Rhyno, Noble & Tajiri Kidman d. Tajiri (4:04) Rhyno d. Jordan (5:11) Taker d. Show (7:50) Rey d. Rhyno (11:16) A-Train d. Bradshaw (12:35) A-Train d. Kidman (13:33) Taker & A-Train brawl to a double DQ (15:54) Rey d. Noble (17:59) Survivor: Rey The setup: Taker and A-Train have been in a hot feud that has escalated a lot since the summer. Show and Train are buddies again, after opposing each other briefly earlier in the year. Taker enlists Bradshaw's help to oppose the monsters. Rey upest Rhyno at No Mercy, and Noble & Tajiri and Kidman & Jordan are there to round out the teams. The results: Taker and A-Train both look strong and end up taking each other out of it, leaving an unlikely pair of Rey and Noble to go 1 on 1 to finish the match. Kane, D'Von, Spike, Cade & Jindrak vs. Booker, Goldust, Maven, Nowinski & Richards Spike d. Nowinski (0:49) Maven d. Cade (2:50) Kane d. Richards (3:38) Jindrak d. Maven (5:21) Goldust d. Jindrak (7:14) Booker d. D'Von (12:02) Goldust d. Spike (14:29) Booker d. Kane (16:45) Survivors: Booker & Goldust The setup: Booker T, now in full heel mode, and Kane have started a mini-feud of sorts. Book has convinced Goldust to join his team, resulting in a creepier heelish version of their original team. Spike & D'Von, Cade & Jindrak, and Maven & Nowinski are three major Raw tag teams. Richards is more or less of a lackey for Booker and Goldust, as Goldust seems to be able to manipulate him into doing their dirty work for them. The results: Spike's quick pin on Nowinski is a fluke. Kane is made to look strong, but the real stars are Booker and Goldust, who go through Jindrak, D'Von, Spike, and then Kane (via cheating) to get the win. Main Event (Raw vs. Smackdown): Angle, Benoit, Brock, Edge, Cena vs. Christian, Jericho, HHH, HBK, RVD HHH d. Cena (11:09) Brock d. RVD (16:36) Edge d. HBK (22:57) Christian d. Edge (29:00) Angle d. Christian (34:35) Jericho d. Angle (36:12) Jericho & Benoit pin each other (german-suplex spot) (40:08) HHH d. Brock (46:54) Survivor: HHH The setup: I've explained this one already. Jericho and Benoit wrestled at Summerslam, when Christian's interference sparked a 4 on 4 brawl between the rest of the participants. Angle and Christian are their brand's current Champions. The results: The start of the match sees quick tags, and lots of different quick match-ups. When a 5 on 5 brawl erupts, HHH pedigrees Cena and pins him (think the first elimination in the Series '91 opener). The same thing happens a bit later and Brock evens the score with the F5 and pin on RVD. Edge picks up a big win over Shawn Michaels, but the Raw team capitalizes him and won't let him get a hot tag, and Christian is able to eliminate him. We then get the Champ vs. Champ face off and Smackdown gets a huge boost as their Champ, Angle, beats Raw's Champ, Christian with the anklelock in the middle of the ring. Former Raw Champ, Jericho evens the score with a huge victory over Kurt. So now it's a tag match. Jericho & HHH (WM XX main event opponents) vs. Benoit & Brock (WM XX main event opponents). Jericho and Benoit go tooth and nail, and both pin each other in the infamous german suplex spot where both men's shoulders are down. This leaves HHH and Brock to go one on one, and after several attempts at their finishers, HHH finally Pedigrees Brock Lesnar to survive a greuling match and pick up a huge win for Raw. Now, the fallout from the show... On Raw, the mood is a good one because their team was victroious. As Raw's Champion, Christian takes a lot of the credit himself, even though he submitted to Kurt Angle during the match, and HHH and Jericho were the last two guys around on the Raw team. HHH takes exception to this since he's the guy that ended up winning the match. Bischoff rewards HHH with a Title shot against Christian at Armageddon. Other mini-programs that are started include RVD and Batista, Jericho and Orton (two cocky personalities), Morley and Booker, and a four-way IC Title match between Kanyon, Scotty, Storm, and Hurricane. Shawn and HHH wrestle a Tag Title main event against Booker & Goldust, and Christian interferes and knocks HHH out cold on the floor, leaving Shawn alone against two opponents. His comeback falls short, and they drop the Titles, thanks to Christian. Shawn and Goldust are now set to wrestle at the PPV. Meanwhile, on Smackdown, the post-Survivor Series shows were not as happy, as Paul Heyman flipped out on everyone for losing, especially Brock Lesnar, for getting beat by HHH. Paul sees HHH as the epitome of Raw; HHH stands for everything he hates about that show, and Brock lost to him. Heyman tells Brock to shape up; he needs him to be a huge part of Smackdown if they're going to be successful. The next joint PPV isn't until January's Royal Rumble, and Brock guarantees victory. Heyman says guarantees mean nothing... he has to DO something to help Smackdown. Actions speak louder than words. Brock pauses and lets that sink in... Here's Raw's Armageddon: Morley d. Booker (10:40) Kane d. Richards (3:03) Intercontinental Title: Storm d. Scotty (6:54) Hurricane d. Storm (10:12) Kanyon d. Hurricane (12:51) RVD d. Batista (10:25) Cade & Jindrak d. Maven & Nowinski (9:59) Shawn d. Goldust (15:44) Jericho d. Orton (13:39) Women's Title: I don't book the women's division but I will give them time (4:12) World Title: Christian d. HHH (23:07) In the main event, the ref is bumped late in the match, and HHH pedigrees Christian. He covers for would should be the Championship-winning pinfall, when Brock Lesnar comes out of the crowd out of nowhere and yanks HHH out of the ring. He gives him a ringpost F5 on the floor, thus knocking HHH out cold. Brock throws him back in the ring, and Christian crawls up, drops an elbow and pins HHH with a slow count to retain the Title. Brock has tarnished Raw's PPV. Actions speak louder than words. The next night, Bischoff is livid that a Smackdown wrestler interfered at a Raw brand PPV. He promises revenge. HHH is pissed at Brock for costing him the Title, and can't wait to get his hands on him at the Rumble. The Raw participants in the Rumble include: HHH, HBK, RVD, Orton, Batista, Booker, Goldust, Kane, Kanyon, Storm, Morely, Test, Rico, Scotty, and Hurricane. Christian will defend the Title in a rematch against Chris Jericho. The Smackdown participants will be: Brock, Benoit, Taker, Edge, Eddie, A-Train, Big Show, Haas, Matt Hardy, Rhyno, Gowen, Noble, Spanky, London, and O'Haire. Other developments on Smackdown since November: Cena, rapidly becoming very popular, has pretty much completed his face turn. In a Smackdown main event tag match, he and Edge beat Angle and Brock when Cena pinned Angle. Cena has beaten Angle every single time they've faced, and Angle knows it. Cena challenges him for the gold at the Royal Rumble, but Angle plays the cowardly heel and refuses until Bischoff forces him into it. Zach Gowen's losing streak continues, and he starts to become whiny, complaining about his handicap. He can't get his revenge against the Big Show for putting him out of action because every time they wrestle, Show squashes him. Gowen eventually wants no more and says he can't do this anymore. Gowen, only 21, is going to retire from the wrestling business. Kidman, also an underdog in the business, befriends Gowen and tells him not to give up. He convinces Gowen to try one more match and see what he's made of. So the match is made for Smackdown: Gowen vs. Tajiri.... and Tajiri wins clean. Kidman tries to congratulate Zach on a hard fought match, but Gowen will have none of it, and turns on Kidman, beating him down with his own prosthetic leg. Kidman wants revenge when he returns two weeks later, but from now on, Gowen says, he'll have someone else fight his battles for him. He has recruited Sean O'Haire to be his "bodyguard", and refuses to wrestle Kidman, having O'Haire do all the work instead. Chavo Guerrero & Shannon Moore keep rubbing their gold in Matt Hardy's face, as they're enjoying success as Tag Team Champions and Matt hasn't done much since losing his US Title at Summerslam. Matt finally gets a shot against Shelton Benjamin and tells the MFers he wants to do it alone, yet they come down to try to help anyway. They botch interference and cost Matt the match. Matt has had enough and officially relieves the MFers of their services (fires them), telling them that the only reason he ever had them around in the first place was because he needed someone stupid enough to take his orders. But he's through giving orders now. His whole life he's had people around him; first his brother Jeff, then Shannon and Chavo. That was fine, but it's his time alone now. He has one goal and that's to be a singles Champion and he wants to do that on his own. So now Matt is a huge face, though still very confident in his abilities. Taker and A-Train continue their heated feud, that's been going on for some time now. It's becoming apparent there will have to be some drastic measures taken to settle it. It's finally time for the Royal Rumble: Cade & Jindrak d. Maven & Nowinski (10:11) US Title: Benjamin d. Eddie Guerrero (12:34) World Title: Angle d. Cena (18:26) World Title: Jericho d. Christian (21:40) Royal Rumble Match (order of entrance): 1) Benoit, 2) RVD, 3) Storm, 4) Gowen, 5) O'Haire, 6) Scotty, 7) Test, 8) London, 9) A-Train, 10) Noble, 11) Kanyon, 12) Undertaker, 13) Rico, 14) Edge, 15) Orton, 16) Haas, 17) Hurricane, 18) Rey, 19) Kane, 20) Big Show, 21) HHH, 22) Booker, 23) Brock, 24) Goldust, 25) Michaels, 26) Rhyno, 27) Matt, 28) Batista, 29) Spanky, 30) Morely The last four men in the ring are RVD, Edge, HHH, and Brock. Edge is eliminated by HHH, and RVD by Brock. It's now HHH and Brock, left one on one, just like at the end of Survivor Series. They brawl for a few minutes, each coming within a hair of eliminating each other. Brock goes for the F5, but HHH punches his way out, and ends up standing on the ring apron. Brock nails him, and runs off the ropes to send him flying off the apron, but when he charges, HHH pulls down the top rope. They collide, and both men go tumbling to the floor at the same time. The Rumble, for the first time since 1994, has co-winners. Now there is controversy. According to the rules, it would seem the Wrestlemania main events should be Brock vs. Angle and HHH vs. Jericho. But neither HHH nor Brock really WON the Rumble. Besides, they want to wrestle each other more than they want any Title shot. The blood is getting bad between Bischoff and Heyman. Wrestlemania is the next joint-PPV, and they decide to make the entire card consist of Raw vs. Smackdown matches. (Note: Now if they want to end the brand extension, this Wrestlemania XXI scenario is the ideal way to do it. There will be 11 matches. Whichever brand wins more, will win. The two brands will be merged into one, with no guarantees that the winning brand will sign all the wrestlers from the losing brand. Which means, in every match, each wrestler is more or less fighting for his job. If they don't want to end the brand extension, the unique card can still be done; it just won't have the same huge repercussions.) But before Wrestlemania, Smackdown still has one more PPV, No Way Out. Wrestlers on both brands have been trying to talk their GM's into letting them onto the card, and on Smackdown, The Undertaker figures he's the best guy for Heyman to go with. He is, after all, undefeated at Wrestlemanias. Put him in the main event, and he tells Heyman he will not let him down. Paul is skeptical... he's been seeing the Undertaker's age. Taker says he's still on top of his game. So Heyman makes him prove it. At No Way Out, The Undertaker will settle his long feud with A-Train in a Hell In A Cell Match. If Taker wins, Paul will put him in the Wrestlemania main event. But if A-Train beats him... The Undertaker must retire. Taker accepts the stipulations. (Note: Now I know this sounds familiar; it's very similar to the HHH/Foley Title vs. Career, No Way Out, Hell In A Cell scenario. But this makes a lot of sense within the storyline, as A-Train has been feuding with Taker for six months now, and a match like this can finally make him into the legitimate big man star they've wanted him to be. And you have to remember, at this point it will have been five years since that HHH/Mick match. Five years is a long time.) Also at No Way Out, which is to take place relatively early in the month of February, only three weeks after the Rumble, Angle will defend his Title against Benoit and Rey Mysterio in a triple threat match (This was on TV in 2002 and I've always wanted to see the rematch). Rey has earned this shot, with wins at Summerslam, No Mercy, and Survivor Series. At first it seemed these wins were upsets, but he's been doing consistently well for six months now. The fans are behind him as the underdog. Benoit gets his rematch, and says the first thing he wants to do after he regains the Title is face Raw Champion Chris Jericho in a rematch at Wrestlemania to finally settle what should have been finished at Summerslam. The rest of the card is going to help Heyman evaluate who he should use in what roles at Wrestlemania. New babyface John Cena will be wrestling Brock Lesnar, Matt Hardy will be going against Rhyno, and Edge is set to face the Big Show. Spanky & London are set to wrestle the Bashams, but the Smackdown before the PPV, they beat Chavo & Moore to regain the Tag Titles. Since the match was signed before Spanky & London won the gold, the PPV match remains non-Title. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin are set to go at it for the US Title. Neither has turned on the other; Haas simply wants to prove he can outwrestle his partner and win the belt. In a minor angle, Tajiri turns face after teaming with Jamie Noble for a few weeks and finally tiring of Jamie bossing him around. Over on Raw, the major Rumble fallout, aside from Jericho regaining the Title, deals with HHH and his tie with Brock. HHH stresses that he wants Brock, he's beaten him once (Survivor Series), and he'll beat him again. Brock has never beaten him, but he did piss him off by costing him his match at Armageddon. HHH makes some not-so-subtle implications that he intends to show up at No Way Out and return the favor. He says that one way or another, he will get his revenge on Brock... No Way Out: Tajiri d. Noble (7:38) Big Show d. Edge (9:16) US Title Match: Benjamin and Haas wrestle to a time limit draw (20:00) Bashams d. Spanky & London (9:27) Matt d. Rhyno (10:34) Cena d. Lesnar (14:49) (More on this later) World Title: Angle d. Benoit and Rey in a Triple Threat Match (16:18) Hell In A Cell (Taker's career on the line): A-Train d. Undertaker (20:26) What No Way Out accomplishes: The Big Show is built up again (for his Wrestlemania role) with a win over Edge, but Edge is kept strong as it takes three chokeslams during the course of the match to put him away (with would be academic for anyone). Matt Hardy gets a big win to establish him as an upper card babyface. The Bashams earn a shot at the Tag Titles. Haas and Benjamin prove to be equals, as they go the distance in a partially mat-based encounter. This leaves the door open to another Haas Title shot down the line. Angle retrains in a classic triple threat match. He will remain Champion headed into Wrestlemania. The Undertaker is retired at the hands of A-Train. He had a good run- this is February 2005- it's his time to call it quits. The A-Train feud had been going on since the summer. They had traded wins, brawled constantly, etc. It was a very bitter rivalry, and A-Train put it all to an end here. It puts A-Train over huge, as the big star they want him to be. There are enough big monsters in the company between Big Show, Kane, Batista, and now A-Train. Train has established himself as a top level big man. The end of the show is all Undertaker, as he says a few brief words about thanking the fans for a hell of a career as the show goes off the air. WWE says goodbye to one of its legends... As for the Brock match... Throughout the PPV, the announcers speculated if and when HHH was going to show up to confront Lesnar. Just before Brock's match, during his ring entrance, HHH was shown making his way into the building (apparently having roughed up a few security guards in the process). HHH is shown being restrained by security and several officials, as the match gets underway. Brock and Cena have a hell of a match, with Brock periodically checking the big screen for updates on the HHH situation (first he's restrained,:during the next clip Heyman is seen giving orders for them to take HHH off the premises). The announcers constantly speculate about what's happening backstage as the match progresses. Cena mounts an offense, but Brock hits him with a chair on the outside. The ref warns Brock about a DQ, but Brock nails him again, almost daring the ref to DQ him, but the ref wants to see them finish the match in the ring. Brock stands in the ring and the ref begins the count on Cena, but the attention of both men is interuppted when the big screen shows police with HHH in handcuffs, stuffing up into the back of a police car. Brock takes this chance to watch and stands there pointing and laughing at HHH. Brock continues to watch the cop car pull away, as all of a sudden the crowd goes crazy... Shawn Michaels runs in out of the crowd, slides in the ring, and Brock walks right into an HBK superkick. Caught him right on the jaw. Brock is out. The ref saw the whole thing, but lets it go since Brock cheated himself earlier. Cena is back in the ring by now, and covers Brock for the 3 count. (No, it's not a clean win for Cena, but it still makes him look good... this is better than losing. And HHH has now gotten his revenge on Lesnar... he's one up on him. Furthermore, this has brought Shawn Michaels into the ordeal.) When Lesnar comes to, he's livid. So now Wrestlemania is about seven weeks away and Bischoff and Heyman have already agreed to make it entirely an interpromotional card. It's apparent that the Brock/HHH & HBK issue must be settled. Bischoff, HHH & HBK propose a tag team match at Wrestlemania with Brock and a partner of his choosing. Heyman is quick to make his decision for Brock; he convinces Brock that as GM of Smackdown, he wants the best available partner for Brock; someone he knows very well. And who's better than the current World Champion? Heyman proposes that Kurt Angle be Brock's partner. Angle and Brock are both skeptical, but Heyman convinces them to do it, and both agree that they are Smackdown's top two guys... Chris Benoit has previously challenged Chris Jericho, and even though Jericho is Raw Champion and Benoit is not Smackdown Champion, it's all the same to Y2J. Jericho accepts, and the Summerslam rematch is made for Wrestlemania... On Raw, Christian taunts Edge about how Edge must be so jealous that he has been World Champion, and Edge still hasn't been able to win it. Christian also beat Edge at Survivor Series. With all their history, it's easy to book an Edge vs. Christian Wrestlemania match as well... RVD and John Cena, the remaining Survivor Series team members, as well as two of the hottest faces on either show, are paired together for a match as well... Kane goes to Bischoff and requests a match with A-Train, the man that retired his brother just a month ago. Kane hates Train because Kane wanted to be the one to do that to Taker someday... The Big Show, having established himself as a force again, is eager to take on anyone on Raw. He says it doesn't matter who because he's bigger and stronger than anyone. Batista jumps on this one and accepts Show's open challenge... Heyman wants to use Haas & Benjamin as a tag team at Wrestlemania, calling them the best tag team he's seen in years, and they are willing to oblige despite being in heated competition over the US Title. Bischoff responds with Cade & Jindrak... Booker & Goldust volunteer their services as a team, and Heyman wants to counter with Spanky & London, but an injury to Spanky is going to keep them off the show. Heyman goes to Eddie Guerrero, one of his most valuable guys, who does not have a match yet. Eddie obliges, but London refuses to be in a tag team match without his partner. He thinks that would be wrong. So Eddie needs a tag team partner. Heyman pulls a miracle and somehow convinces Eddie and Chavo, who were one of the best tag teams to ever compete on Smackdown, to team up one more time just for this one night. He has to promise a bonus to Chavo in order to get him to accept, but Eddie will do it for free... Randy Orton and Matt Hardy both have something in common; they're both young, hungry, and on the verge of becoming superstars. They both have something to prove. So the GM's agree on a match between them... Heyman wants Rey Mysterio to represent Smackdown in a match, so he has Bischoff pick out his best high-flying wrestler. Bischoff responds by selecting The Hurricane... This leaves ten matches, an even number. They need an odd number in case both sides end up with the same number of victories. Lots of wrestlers from each roster approach them about wanting to partake in the show, so Bischoff and Heyman agree on a Battle Royale to round out the card. This would be an exciting few weeks of television. And those that normally only watch one show would have to watch both in order to follow along and see how each show responds to the other. Though there would be different guys on each show, the storyline involves both, so it would almost feel like one long string of the same show. The final week before the PPV, the Smackdown guys could find a way to break into Raw and a major roster vs. roster brawl could erupt. So now the time has finally come... Wrestlemania XXI... which brand will win more matches? (Note: As far as setting goes, I'd like to see two entrances on opposite sides of the arena for the two different locker rooms. I think that would be cool. And remember, this is Wrestlemania, so we get a four hour show, which is enough time for eleven matches of a solid length.) Wrestlemania XXI: - Hurricane vs. Rey Mysterio High-flying match, as expected. After a lot of pinfalls are traded, Rey hits the 6-1-9 to score the pin at 9:09. 1-0 Smackdown. - Cade & Jindrak vs. Haas & Benjamin A quick, short old school tag match, kind of like a Can-Am Connection match. Lots of quick double teams. They pack a lot into a short amount of time. Both teams breifly hold an advantage, until Jindrak gets a hot (lukewarm) tag and all four men end up in there. Benjamin is cleared out of the ring with a double clothesline. Haas ends up running the ropes with Cade, and when Cade leapfrogs him, he runs right into a Jindrak belly to belly suplex. Jindrak quickly hooks the leg and Cade dropkicks Benjamin to stop him from breaking up the pin. Jindrak gets the three count at 9:26. It's now tied at 1-1. - Batista vs. Big Show The battle of the giants is next. Fast-paced power match, that sees Batista bodyslam the Big Show on his second attempt. He goes for the powerbomb, but Show is too large. Show goes for the chokeslam, but Batista elbows out, clotheslines him, and then hits the powerbomb (not sure if this is realistic or not; Nash did once powerbomb Show but he was lighter back then... if unrealistic, have him finish him off with a top rope clothesline or something...). Batista wins at 7:40, giving Raw a 2-1 advantage. - Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy Important match, as Raw can go up 3-1 with a win. Good technical match at the beginning that turns ugly when Orton cheap shots Matt. Hardy fights back with a few hope spots but Orton controls the bulk of the match. Finish comes when Matt hits the Twist of Fate out of nowhere for the win at 10:55. 2-2 tie. - Booker T & Goldust vs. Eddie & Chavo Guerrero Great old-school extended tag match. The teams trade offense and double team moves at the start, but Eddie & Chavo work surprisingly well together, and soon they cheat to take over. They work over Goldust for the bulk of the match, until Booker finally gets the hot tag. A brawl erupts and Booker and Eddie end up fighting on the floor. In the ring, Goldust sets up Chavo for a Shattered Dreams, but the ref intervenes. Chavo coems out of the corner, and low-blows Goldust behind the ref's back. On the floor, Booker tries to whip Eddie into the post, but Guerrero reverses it and Booker goes down hard. Goldust is now down in the ring, and Eddie hops up to the top rope and hits the frog splash, giving his team the win at 16:20. 3-2 Smackdown. - Battle Royale The participants are: Maven, Nowinski, Rico, Bubba, D'Von, Scotty, Kanyon, Storm, Morley, Test, Bradshaw, London, Ultimo Dragon, Rhyno, Noble, Tajiri, Gowen, O'Haire, Kidman, Orlando Jordan Usual battle royale affair. The final four comes down to Nowinski, Storm, Morley, and Rhyno. three Raw guys vs. one Smackdown guy. The perfect opportunity for Raw to tie it up. They triple team Rhyno. Nowinski tries whipping him into a double clothesline, but Rhyno ducks it and takes them both out with a double clothesline of his own. Nowinski charges and is met with a monster gore. Rhyno gets up and tosses Morley over the top and out. Storm charges and Rhyno backdrops him out over the top, then charges Nowinski, who is just stumbling to his feet on the other side of the ring, and takes him out with a monster clothesline to win the battle royale at 8:12 and put Smackdown up 4-2. - Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit Must-win for Raw. If Jericho loses, they'll have to win every other match on the card to win. So this all hinges on their Champion, Y2J. Jericho and Benoit proceed to have a classic wrestling match in which Benoit works Jericho's shoulder and Jericho works Benoit's ribs. It ends in a complex sequence that sees Jericho playing possum and setting up a series of moves to sucker Benoit into attempting the diving headbutt off the top (on to Jericho's shoulder). Jericho moves, springs up and hits a quick Lionsault onto Benoit's injured ribs to get the win at 20:11. 4-3 Smackdown. Jericho has come through in the clutch. - Kane vs. A-Train Kane can tie it up for Raw; Train can make it so that they'd have to win their final three matches. Decent big man match. Kane finishes with a Tombstone (in tribute to Taker) to win at 8:19. 4-4 tie. - Christian vs. Edge It's now essentially a best of 3, so this match is huge. Classic match that peaks with both guys hitting all their signature moves. The story of the match is that no one knows them as well as they know each other, so they're great at anticipating the others' moves. The winner will be the one who can change their style enough to compensate for their opponent's knowledge. After a back and forth match, the end finally comes when Christian tries a sunset flip, but Edge is one step ahead of him and squats down to counter it (the Bret/Bulldog finish) for the win at 18:58. 5-4 Smackdown. - RVD vs. John Cena Cena can close it out for Smackdown here and make the result of the final match moot (a possibility since it will have heat because of the Brock/HHH issue anyway). RVD hits all his signature moves at the start of the match, but Cena takes over on offense and controls everything. RVD proves to be resilient, kicking out several times when the crowd thought it was over (for both Raw and RVD). The match looks to be in hand when RVD surprises Cena with a sharp kick to the face on the floor. RVD heads up top, in a tremendous risk. He finishes with the 5-Star Frogsplash at 11:09 to tie it up at 5-5. - Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs. Brock Lesnar & Kurt Angle This is for all the marbles. Both teams have been built up as faces. Your preference depends on personal taste and which show/team you want to win. Shawn asks HHH to let him start if off, and Angle starts for his team. When Angle and Shawn are in there, it's a ridiculously fast paced match (a la the 5/97 Shawn & Austin/Owen & Bulldog match). Brock tags into do his thing with Shawn, then Shawn slides under his legs and tags HHH. They do the staredown, and do their sequence. All four combinations tag in frequently and, as said, the pace is quick. After six or so minutes, Shawn goes up top to go for the flying elbow on Brock, but Kurt darts in, hops up, and belly-to-bellies him off the top rope. The ref gets him out of there, but the damage is done, and Shawn plays face-in-peril for quite a bit. The usual false tag spots are teased, as Brock and Kurt really work him over. Shawn finally reverses a whip on Lesnar, hits the ropes and nails him with a flying forearm. Both men crawl to their corners, and both are able to make the tag. All four men brawl, in the midst of which, the illegal man, Shawn, catches Angle with a superkick. The ref makes him get out of the ring, but HHH is still brawling with Brock. By the time the ref gets Brock out of there and HHH covers, he only gets a two count. But now Angle is the one playing Ricky Morton, as HHH and HBK go to work. Angle eventually makes the hot tag to Brock, and again a brawl breaks out. After a few minutes, Brock F5's HBK, but Shawn is the illegal man. Angle slaps the anklelock on Shawn anyway, but HHH breaks it up with a boot to the head. Angle gets up and trades shots with HHH. Angle goes for the Angle Slam, but HHH counters, landingon his feet... where he walks right into an F5 from Brock. Shawn gets a weak Superkick on Angle, and crawls over to cover him, but Brock is already covering HHH (Brock and HHH are legal anyway) and the ref counts that pin instead. Brock pins HHH at 23:52. Smackdown wins 6-5. I have an addendum to this whole thing, but I'm pressed for time now so I'll write that later. But the above is, in summary, my booking to Wrestlemania XXI. It's impossible to plan that far ahead, but I enjoyed writing it and if any of you are still actually reading it, I hope you enjoyed doing so.