How I Would Book 'Mania

[Guest Phoenix Fury Legdrop]

WWE Title: Angle vs. Lesnar

 

(This is the one match they HAVE to go with. If they do anything else with this spot, I will go to Titan Towers and smack someone around. It may be Rosie the Receptionist, but I'll smack someone around. I figure, tease it as slowly as Austin-Rock from WM17, as in have Angle win the Rumble, and Lesnar gets a bullcrap elimination, leading to Lesnar winning the WWE Title at No Way Out, and the night after, start the face-offs. Don't have them throw a single punch at each other until the Smackdown before Mania, where they have the big blow-up. They could also get the rights to Our Lady Peace's "Innocent", and put an awesome video to that for this feud. Start with their amateur careers, then hopefully they have footage of Angle training in Memphis and Lesnar training in Louisville to put after that. Follow their WWE careers in chronological order from there, leading to the break between the instrumental interlude and the last chorus, where they show the big blow-up.)

 

WWE World Title: Rob Van Dam vs. HHH

 

(Before you laugh at me, hear me out. They could save Steiner vs. Trips for a big buyrate at a lesser PPV later. But, they do this at 'Mania, and I say they could get almost as much interest (plus it spreads the star power out). They could play up RVD never getting the one big win over Trips, even having HHH feed his own ego and taunt Rob for it too. Have one of the road agents teach Rob how to drop the spot monkey style for one match to get him over as more serious about this match than ever. I smell money, but it could be the 5 bucks I put in the microwave.)

 

Unsanctioned Inter-Brand Ladder Match: Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy

 

(You're going to say, "they dropped the ball twice, why try a third time?" Well, here's why. Have Jim Ross start openly condeming Jeff on commentary on his lack of fire, especially when he screws up a move. Do skits where other Raw faces try to talk to Jeff about why he's out of it, and he just walks away. A few weeks after this starts, have Matt start making jokes about his brother's problems during promos and in the "Matt Facts Of The Week". Shannon Moore tries to get Matt to shut up, but is unsuccessful in his efforts to help defend his friend. Eventually, Jeff does an "unscheduled run-in" during one of his brother's matches on Smackdown, and gets fined boo-coo for it by Bischoff. Jeff then asks for a sit-down interview to explain his motives. He says that ever since Matt turned and Lita got hurt, he hasn't had anyone to say, "Hey, Jeff, keep your head up," or, "Good job out there, Jeff." He says that's the reason why he's so down and out-of-it. He then begs to both GM's to let him and Matt fight one last time in a ladder match. Both Bischoff and Steph say no, though Matt seems to be game. Chief Morley stops Jeff before a match and tells him that, since they've been friends for a while, he's willing to put something together so that they can personally rent time during the PPV to have their match. The Smackdown after, Vince McMahon makes a small cameo to confirm the match, saying that neither Raw or Smackdown is promoting it, so no one but the Hardys are responsible for any injuries. At 'Mania, have Matt & Jeff's dad sit at ringside, and show Lita watching in the back on a monitor. To put the final little touches on it, have Jeff hug his dad during his entrance, but Matt only flashes the "V-1" sign at him.)

 

I'd also do the following, but I can't seem to come up with point-by-point storylines for them at this moment:

 

Al Snow vs. Maven (Snow snaps at Maven for trying to be friendly, and turns heel for a month)

 

Kidman vs. Rey (Kidman turns on Rey)

 

Booker T. vs. Scott Steiner

 

Jericho vs. Christian (Christian turns face for Jericho being too demanding)

 

Trish vs. Victoria (Make it "Loser Can't Get Another Title Shot Until Summerslam)

 

Benoit & Rhyno vs. Los Guerreros (since Angle has to concern himself with Lesnar, Benoit's left without a partner. They hype a mystery partner, but also do a version of the "Millenium Countdown" for Rhyno's return, with the clock running out at the exact time he makes his entrance for the match)

 

If he's back, Austin vs. Edge in some sort of "face vs. face respect" match where there's no hate, but professional greed and jealousy over who the fans love more. Austin wins by a squeaker, but Edge gets pissed and attacks Austin with a chair after the match.

 

Dave Bautista vs. Ric Flair (Bautista sees through Flair's crap, and turns face.)

 

Dudleys vs. 3MW (If Dudleys win, they get 5 minutes alone with Rico in the ring)

 

Oh, and, Howard, I know you're reading this. Tell Vince and co. to get OLP to play live if you're doing any live musical performances.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

I think the best idea you had was Hardy/Hardy.

[Guest Brian]

Personally, I don't understand the point of rewarding Jeff with a big Mania match and pay-off for his lackluster work and condition. I've worked this out a few times and here's my updated versio of the card:

 

WWE Championship*

Lesnar © vs. Angle

 

World Championship

HHH © vs. RVD

 

The Rock vs. Chris Jericho

 

Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit*

 

WWE Tag Team Championship*

Guerreros © vs. Edge & Christian

 

World tag Team Championships

The Minute Warning © vs. the Dudleys

 

Light Heavyweight Championship*

Jaime Noble © vs. Rey Mysterio

 

Scott Steiner vs. Booker T

 

Whichever side Undertaker stays on will have him jobbing to someone they want in a world title feud, finally breaking the streak. And maybe Hogan vs. Vince for SmackDown if they can find a way to write Vince back in, maybe through the Bischoff plot.

[Guest Brian]

Maybe Undertaker vs. Rhyno?

[Guest blachuuh_monkey]

I know this is wishful thinking but I would have

Steve Austin vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title. This is assuming he comes back to smackdown and if that is where he ends up they will have to move a couple of big names to Raw which would set up my next match

Kurt Angle vs Edge - World Heavyweight Title.

 

This isn't the best idea but I think it would be a pretty damn good o9ne.

 

By the way, I didn't put HHH in the Raw title match because I know he is going to wrestle Nash at WM and their is no way in hell I would ever consider having that as the title match for the biggest show of the year.

[Guest Anglesault]

I know this is wishful thinking but I would have

Steve Austin vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title. This is assuming he comes back to smackdown and if that is where he ends up they will have to move a couple of big names to Raw which would set up my next match

Kurt Angle vs Edge - World Heavyweight Title.

 

This isn't the best idea but I think it would be a pretty damn good o9ne.

 

By the way, I didn't put HHH in the Raw title match because I know he is going to wrestle Nash at WM and their is no way in hell I would ever consider having that as the title match for the biggest show of the year.

Keep Angle and Edge out of the cesspool.

[Guest HartFan86]

I'd love to see Angle vs. Edge match to blowoff their feud (it's really been on-going since the end of Mania last year). That way, they can save Brock/Angle for later.

 

Though AS really has me convinced on Austin/Angle again. That would fucking rule.

[Guest DiabloIIFreak1010]

I have a strange, strange feeling with the WWE's new "hip-hop" selection of music (EX: Trish Stratus' entrance, Billy Kidman's entrance) that they're going to use "8 Mile" or whatever it's called by Enimem as their theme song.

 

For some reason, "Innocent" by Our Lady Peace sounds too light for me for Wrestlemania.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

You have no idea how fucking cool "Loose Yourself" would be for a WrestleMania theme song, if only the chorus repeated over and over again...

[Guest Brian]

This isn't a match that should be saved. They're already teasing it at house shows to big reactions and they've put a lot of talk into it. This is close to dream match calibre. Use it at your big show, catapult Angle and seal his spot.

[Guest DJ Jeff]

I can see Angle vs. Lesnar for the WWE Title taking place at Wrestlemania 19, with Angle getting the win. I'd have Lesnar win the title back from the Big Show at the Royal Rumble, and Angle win the Royal Rumble. Then, have Angle vs. Benoit, possibly for the #1 Contender's spot for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania take place at No Way Out, and have Lesnar defend the title against maybe Edge. Then, build up to Angle vs. Lesnar from there. As for the World Title, maybe have RVD defend it against Jericho, considering HHH can stay out of the World Title picture for longer than a week. If HHH is the World Champion, then hopefully he defends it against RVD, with RVD getting the win. I'd prefer RVD vs. Jericho for the title, and maybe HHH vs. HBK, with some kind of stipulation added. This could also be HBK's last match.

[Guest Cheech13]

WWE title:

Brock Lesnar v. Kurt Angle

 

Brock wins the belt back at the Rumble, while Angle wins the Rumble itself. Build from there, talking about amateur backgrounds and training. Match should be huge.

 

World title:

HHH v. RVD

 

I am thinking they will go with Steiner or even Nash in this spot, but I hope they come to their senses and finally put Van Dam over. Hopefully by doing it at Mania they can undo some of the damage already done in this feud.

 

Special attraction:

Hulk Hogan v. Vince McMahon

 

Not that I really want to see the match, but I think we are getting it nonetheless. Bill it as Hogan's final match and their should be at least some drama. I'd rather see a double retirement match w/ Flair, but I doubt we see it.

 

Edge v. Undertaker

 

I say you have Edge be the one to finally end Taker's undefeated streak at Mania. Hopefully it would be enough to put him over to next level. They could even use it to turn him heel, saying that he was the one that ended the streak and all.

 

Other than that, it's hard to predict what we would see because storylines have no long build anymore. But here is what I would like to see:

 

Austin v. Benoit - Assuming Austin is back, go with the match that they were planning last year.

 

Noble v. Misterio - Match loses its luster after the recent handling of Noble. Have him regain the belt with help of Nunzio and build him strong till this match. Run a storyline of seeing if Mysterio can still hang after knee surgery.

 

Jericho/Christian v. BookDust - Please once and for all, put Booker and Goldust over for the belts in big time fashion. Fans want this so bad. Hell if you aren't going all the way with Booker, at least let him get a secondary title.

 

Big Show v. Rhyno - Since we know we are getting the requisite hoss match in their somewhere. Show gets dumped by Heyman after losing title back to Brock, to the point where Rhyno is brought back and destroys him.

 

Throw in something with Rock if he is available (Steiner perhaps, because he will be heel by then) and a tag match with Los Guerreros, and you have yourself a Wrestlemania.

[moral suasion 0]

I like the Hardy/Hardy idea a lot. One last big spotfest could put Mattitude over big and jeff deserves it because he is over as hell. I even like the mom/dad idea. The problem is there is no belt for them to climb for. Would it just be a pinfall match where ladders are legal?

[Guest midnight_burn]

WWE Title

-> Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle

 

Fake Title

-> GOD vs Big Daddy Quad Tear (Holy Bible Kid involved somewhere)

 

Taker gets REVENGE~!

-> Undertaker vs Big Sloth

 

-> Steve Austin vs Chris Benoit

 

-> The Rock vs Chris Jericho

 

WWE Tag Titles

-> Los Guerreros vs Edge/Christian

 

World Tag Titles

-> 2 Fat Samoans vs the DUDley boys

 

WWE Cruiserweight Title

-> Jamie Knoble vs Rey Mysterio

 

-> DAVE~! Batista vs Rob Van Dam (It's gonna happen, and guess who wins clean)

 

-> Big Red Necro Machine vs Rhyno (I dunno, got to put em somewhere)

 

-> Big Poppa Roid vs Booker T

 

Add in some other leftovers, and there we go.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I predit that HHH won't headline MAnia this year for sure.

 

This is heading for the lowest MAnia buyrate EVER (yes...Mania 13 bad) he won't want to be attached to that.

 

...

 

Not that he ever gets blamed for anything anyway.

[Guest netslob]

wow, i read this whole thread and not ONE perfunctory post saying that this belongs in the 'Fantasy Booking' folder. i'm proud of you fellas.