Jericho WILL retain at WrestleMania

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

It's been bothering me that there is non buildup to the title match at WrestleMania.  I mean there is more buildup to Angle vs. Kane and Booker T vs. Edge and those matches aren't even on the card yet.

 

Then it occured to me why...

 

HHH isn't winning.

 

Deep down we all know that if HHH was going to win, the match would have an incredible buildup to make HHH's win seem more important.

 

Hell, at WrestleMania.com they even moved the match from the top of the card to second.  (Which wasn't the case until 2 days ago)

 

I can't help but feel that HHH is going to lose...since the match has the feeling of a throwaway and a forgettable title match.

 

HHH would NEVER win a match with this buildup.

 

The importance is all on HHH vs. Steph.

 

So the match will end up being all about HHH vs. Steph.

 

Jericho is a bystandered in the two of their glory hogging.

 

But he isn't going to lose at Mania...he'll lose at Backlash.

 

In a match that will have FAR more buildup.

[Guest Tony149]

It would make sense since I've read Jericho is going to Flairs WWF. HHH gets the belt at Backlash and becomes the only guy who can appear on both feds.

[Guest Sakura]

I don't know, you're probably right, but I wouldn't be so sure. Maybe the reason Jericho is the 3rd man in the "feud" is because they don't want his heat killed when HHH beats him. There's plenty of build up to HHH actually winning the title, that's the entire point of Steph teaming up with Chris.

 

Or maybe the booking team just sucks.

[Guest TheDames7]

Seeing as how the match is now second on the card, and the WWF likes to send their fans home happy, this is what I see happening.  

 

HHH and Jericho, Jericho retains and HHH finally Pedigrees Steph....keeps the Canadians happy, and the PPV audience is appeased.  The buildup seems more to HHH pedigreeing Steph than him winning the title.  

 

That means that Rock V Hogan - Rock comes out on top, keep the fans happy in general.  

 

Then again, I could be wrong.  

 

Dames

[Guest The Vanilla Midget]

that would be good on all counts, also trips isnt ready for the title yet.  his attempts to be both serious and funny in recent weeks havent really worked too well, and has not really gotten any further over with the fans.  pedigreeing steph would help him, and his in-ring work needs to be more fluid, it is *far* too stop start at the moment.

[Guest mastermind]

This is all nice because the booking does look like its heading that way, but Jericho STILL looks like a punk ass to Stephanie. Just saying. Since HBK seems to be a memory to Vince and the brass make him out like HBK's character in 1992. Cowardly heel, but backs it when needed in certain parts of the match and wins through cheating. I really don't want Trips winning the damn belt at Backlash. I hate that booking idea. If Jericho retains at Mania just keep the damn belt on the guy already. If you haven't seen the effect that booking has all I got to say is WrestleMania 2000 and the few months later when Rock's heat died off. Vince learning from mistakes. That's a funny one(deja vu?).

 

I still say if Trips had enough energy to fight for his main event spot I can bet he is lobbying for the title still. This Mania is reminding me of WM 8. A lot of people thought Flair would win with Hogan at top, but Flair lost. Just saying.  I do see how Steph taking the heat for Jericho's loss as to save ass for Jericho which I think is good for all parties involved.

[Guest TheDames7]

I've got an idea that i'm tinkering around with regarding the split and I want your feedback on this.  

 

Lets say that what I said about the HHH-Jericho match at Mania takes place, and the natural rematch were to occur at Backlash, like it usually does.  HHH wins the title at Backlash and all is good in the world...or so it seems.  

 

Steph and Jericho come out smiling on Raw and no one understands why.  They cut a promo stating that in the contract signed for the re-match, only Jericho's WWF title was on the line, and so Jericho is still the "World" champion, and is the rightful owner of the Big Gold Belt.  This would be the way the WWF would split the titles before the split itself and Jericho would still be the top heel of the new promotion, and wouldn't lose much heat because of it.  Steph and Jericho can split there ways, because Steph did what she wanted to do, which was preventing HHH from winning the UNDISPUTED title....and she'd rather stay in Vince's WWF where she can make HHH's life a living hell.  

 

The new promotion with Jericho as the champ, supposedly will feature a cruiser division....and we know how well Jericho works with some of those guys.  

 

Just a suggestion, what do you think?

 

Dames

[Guest Sakura]

I doubt the placement on the card on the site means anything.

 

They've made it quite clear the match is for the Undisputed Championship, so I don't see how they could explain Jericho only lost the WWF Title.

[Guest TheDames7]

I doubt the placement on the card on the site means anything.

 

They've made it quite clear the match is for the Undisputed Championship, so I don't see how they could explain Jericho only lost the WWF Title.

I meant at Backlash, in the rematch.  HHH winning the Rumble automatically got him the shot at Mania, but to get a rematch that he didn't earn, it would have to be signed.  

 

Dames

[Guest tombstone]

I see that happening as there is remarkably NO HEAT between HHH and Jericho (especially when you consider their history, the phantom reign and the quality buildup to the match at Fully Loaded)

Jericho's lack of chemistry with Steph is hurting the feud, but she just gets worse and worse so hopefully after HHH Pedigrees her at WM, shell be off TV and leave them alone to work a better fued and a ***** match at Backlash.

We all know they can do it, but wont as long a Stephanie McFeedback is involved.

 

I also see Rock beating Hogan with the nip - up & Rock Bottom as Hoagn flexes his pythons.  He will of course be DESTROYED for his temerity but if he loses, hes a jobber for life and it balances out HHH losing.

[Guest converge241]

HHH not funny? But the car it was... wait for it..it was cut in half..**guffaw** cause stephanie wanted half of everything!

bwha-hahahahahahah

man that is just *too funny*

especially becasue even the average dolt always sees steph w the limo yest shes going to drive herself?

what did make me chuckle was the alarm going off when it was kicked cause it survived being cut in half but went off with a kick.

In more serious opinions, i have the feeling that the title match will have the Sports Entertainment finish.

[Guest mastermind]

I know this sounds ridiculous(nah it is the wwf), but maybe the wwf is playing up Steph and Trips because they will re-unite at Mania. I mean it is basically a lover's quarrel. This is the only way I see Jericho being put in the role he is now. Jericho comes out clean because fans would know he lost only because he got swerved by Steph and Trips. I think Jericho's a better heel, but I can see this. Especially, if the Kliq on Halls trunks means anything.

[Guest Brian]

That's what I've been thinking mastermind, because it makes sense since it's in Canada it would help a turn. The whole Jericho heel bit is better off when he's been put over credibly in the past.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

I doubt the placement on the card on the site means anything.

 

They've made it quite clear the match is for the Undisputed Championship, so I don't see how they could explain Jericho only lost the WWF Title.

I think they could explain a way for Jericho to only lose one title at Wrestlemania, actually.  I thought up a way they could probably do it.  First, you have Stephanie interfere, and Jericho get the victory.  Triple H is mad about this, so Ric Flair's music blares up, and Flair says that Jericho cheated, and he restarts the match.  Triple H then goes on to to get the victory.  Next, on Raw, Vince comes out and says it was a bad call because Jericho won the match, or it should have at least been a DQ.  Either way, Jericho keeps the title, so Vince names Jericho as "his" champion, while Flair names Triple H as "his" champion. Flair and McMahon quarrel for the next few weeks and, somehow, this leads to the split.  

 

Mind you, I am not saying that it is a good idea, just one I could see possibly happening.  I feel Wrestlemania will end with something setting up the split because it seems that the past three years the WWF has used the end of Wrestlemania, setting up the angle that was supposed to carry them through the year.  At WM 15, they ended with the whole Stephanie kidnapping, which led to the Undertaker wedding, which led to the higher power, which led to her and Test, which led to the McMahon-Helmesley(sp?) era.  At Wrestlemania 2000, I think they were trying to set up a Rock-McMahon feud at the end, but that sucked, so they blew it off at King of the Ring with Rock pinning Vince. And, of course, last year's Wrestlemania ended with the big Austin heel turn.  I figure they will do something at the end Wrestlemania to set up the split.  I just hope it is actually good.

[Guest Tony149]

Mind you, I am not saying that it is a good idea, just one I could see possibly happening.  I feel Wrestlemania will end with something setting up the split because it seems that the past three years the WWF has used the end of Wrestlemania, setting up the angle that was supposed to carry them through the year.  At WM 15, they ended with the whole Stephanie kidnapping, which led to the Undertaker wedding, which led to the higher power, which led to her and Test, which led to the McMahon-Helmesley(sp?) era.  At Wrestlemania 2000, I think they were trying to set up a Rock-McMahon feud at the end, but that sucked, so they blew it off at King of the Ring with Rock pinning Vince.

Since I'm one of the few who liked the WWF 1999. I should point out, The Undertaker kidnapped Steph after the Backlash '99 PPV.

 

As for The Rock/McMahon stuff was just rehash SCSA vs. McMahon this time with The Rock is Austin's role.

[Guest cokedealer]

The fact that this match isn't even the main event at wrestlemania is a big testament to the fact that the wwf right now stinks more than this pair of boxers i have on! the truth is jericho retaining would make the most sense since the main focus rigt now is on steph and trips and you tend to forget that jericho is even in the picture. let the writers get this crap out of their system so hopefully they can build some semblance of a feud after WM going into backlash. maybe the loss at wrestlemania will turn hunter back into the psycho we all know and love at which point he'll put steph in a car drop her from a crane then proceed to run into the car with a semi at which point he can drag her out and beat her with a sledge hammer. this would all happen on the raw right after WM which means steph would be back on smackdown swearing revenge on triple h at which time he'd shoot her with a net gun of some type and drag her to the nearest river and proceed to throw her over! hopefully after all this steph could take 2 or 3 weeks off to allow hunter to focus on jericho and regain the title at backlash at which time we will be treated to a rousing desire video of steph as she rehabs from her injuries , goes to the doctor to get bigger implants, runs on a treadmill, spills coffee on lilian garcia, and applies lotion to her face! boy i just cant wait! oh and then she'll pin triple h for the title at the next pay per view. (if you cant tell i hate steph)well thats my take on that stupid and rambling as it may be

[Guest Will Scarlet]

Oops. I guess you are right, it was after Backlash.  I knew it was after a Rock-Austin match, but I seem to always completely forget about the Backlash match they had.  I guess they always seem to run together for me.  Sorry about that.

[Guest mastermind]

I was also thinking about the scenario of the title match being disputed leading to the splitting of the titles. I just think the wwf doesn't promote their world title matches in this manner. Not even for minor ppv shows do they generally promote the title match like this. The last time I really think the wwf had a storyline above the title so much was during the love triangle. Yet, Rock was still in a solid program with Benoit and the like. One thing for sure, the wwf has messed up of everyone with the timing of the split which makes things harder to predict. That's a good thing. I guess it's also good since we are debating this close to the event about the outcome of the title match. I don't think last year's title match was this hard to predict, but I also didn't think this year's title match wouldn't even be the second biggest draw of the card either.

[Guest RedJed]

Here's why logically Jericho really should win at Mania......

 

Quite simply, HHH owes him for Jericho jobbing to him on ppv once and also on TV numerous times here and there. HHH has been paying back Angle in jobs here and there too on the main shows, so why not Jericho? It really makes no sense for Jericho to job out again to HHH, especially after he has gotten the rub back from both Rock and Austin in last few months. It would be hypocritical for HHH to not go in this same direction, IMO. He is not bigger as either Austin or Rock right now.

 

What would be ideal would be for HHH and Steph to actually reveal they were swerving at Mania, BUT Jericho still wins the match. He could then really play up his craftiness in that he (Jericho) maybe even saw it coming by the way Steph was in the weeks leading to the match. Jericho, throughout it all, could still remain a heel if they played it right. I know it will never happen since it would make HHH look weak, but oh well.

 

Another scenario I might be able to handle is that HHH wins at Mania, but then loses at Backlash to Jericho in the blowoff.

[Guest goodhelmet]

I really had high hopes for this match....a year and a half ago.

 

I love the fact that Jericho is the World Champ but if they are going to continue his title reign then he HAS to be the focal point of the promotion. And he hasn't ben. I would almost venture to say that the low ratings as of late aren't entirely due to the NWO but also to the poor handling of Jericho's title reign.

 

The sad thing is we are all expecting something screwy or a swerve or a double cross. Not one person has predicted this match will end with the other guy pinning the loser cleanly in the middle of the ring. That's a damn shame.

[Guest Brian]

"What would be ideal would be for HHH and Steph to actually reveal they were swerving at Mania, BUT Jericho still wins the match. He could then really play up his craftiness in that he (Jericho) maybe even saw it coming by the way Steph was in the weeks leading to the match. Jericho, throughout it all, could still remain a heel if they played it right. I know it will never happen since it would make HHH look weak, but oh well."

 

That's the scenario I was pimping last week, but I re-thought it and decided that they need Jericho to go over, and then Backlash so they can focus on a re-match.

[Guest Flyboy]

The sad thing is we are all expecting something screwy or a swerve or a double cross. Not one person has predicted this match will end with the other guy pinning the loser cleanly in the middle of the ring. That's a damn shame.

Yep... it is sad.

 

But, with the direction the WWF has been going, do you think we REALLY will see a clean finish at WMX8?  I seriously doubt it...

[Guest claydude14]

why is everyone focusing on a hhh-jericho rematch at backlash? did we all forget that the splits coming up? didnt anyone read the ppv preview for backlash?!