Wrestlemania 21

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

We are now 40 days away from WrestleMania XXI live from Staples Center in "Hollywood", and last night we got our first two official WrestleMania XXI matches confirmed and they are each the respective world championships for each brand

 

Batistia Vs Triple H was officially signed tonight for the World Heavyweight Championship and by virture of winning a 8 man tournament; United States Champion John Cena fresh off his victory over former multiple time wwe champion Kurt Angle at No Way Out claimed his stake to appear in his first wrestlemania "main event" against the reigning champion of over 8 months, John Bradshaw Layfield, also competing in what will be his first wrestlemania "Main Event".

 

Those two matches are confirmed, while the rest of the card while still in the process of being officially set up has left us a overall confident idea of what can be expected.

 

Kurt Angle and The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels have made it clear they aren't exactly friends and would revel at the chance to face each other and eariler tonight, The showstopper himself made a open challenge to the gold medalist, to face him at Wrestlemania. This match though not "official" is a lock for Mania. Although don't forget that Edge hasn't taken his sights off Shawn just yet.

 

Also; though hardly touched on yet save for a motivational speech from legendary mania performer, Shawn Michaels, we have seen what should be the inital branch to set up the youngster and former world champion Randy Orton against the legendary Undertaker. HBK told Randy Orton that "This is wrestlemania. you cant just be handed it, you have to go get it". while not confirmed nor has been directly hinted, this match is assured to occur at Wrestlemania and would actually be first time other then WMX7 where Undertaker's streak was legitmately up in the air.

 

With the four upper tier "Main Events" etched, it's the mid-card that becomes a little murkier.

 

Rey Mysterio and Eddy Guerrero have been at odds despite being partners and recently winning the WWE Tag Team Titles over The Bashams just last sunday. However it's not sure if they plan on using them in a tag match or if they will simply hotshot the titles back to the bashams simply to finalize the set up to the long rumored singles showdown between the two highly popular superstars. While certaintly it wouldn't be the first time these two men squared off against each other in their long careers much less this last year alone; it would be at it's highest stage ever @ Wrestlemania. However; the speculation or rather hopeful desire of the 'net has been that these two will hold off on the singles showdown until a later date to set up another attractive Raw Vs Smackdown encounter against fellow smark idols, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit, despite no real connection or foreshadowing has shown the aptly nicknamed Canadian Violence Connection will be working together @ WrestleMania despite the unresolved issue of their split series of matches in 2005 and occasional tag match. In all likihood, the much desired tag match will not occur.

 

As for Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit, it would almost appear to be a MUST that they are aligned one way or another @ Mania be it in a 3rd and "deciding" battle or as tag team against either the aforementioned Guerrero and Mysterio or perhaps against even against former multiple time wwe tag team champions Edge and Christian. Edge, a upper card heel with no clear face to challenge(It would appear the ROCK would be the ideal challenger here but alas, vince's ego played a hand there), its only seeming that they would lock these four into a match that certaintly very few people if any would have a problem seeing. Would it be a step down from the amazing climax of WMXX for Benoit? Certaintly but it's not a complete collaspe. However; it certaintly wouldn't surprise anyone to see one of them end up involved with Muhammad Hassan instead

 

The I.C championship belt; held by Shelton Benjamin whom is a "fighting" champion has recently been toiled in a DQ war against Snitsky. While it's certaintly not a match that the fans would be thrilled to see as opposed to perhaps Benjamin Vs Edge or someone of his calibar but it is an amusing match nontheless. It would appear after two weeks of DQ finishes, they would be headed to a NO DQ stipulation should they collide @ Mania.

 

The World Tag Title is currently held by Tajiri and William Regal but you probably didn't know that because it appears 2 weeks into their reign, they have along with the belts as usual been forgotten. It would appear that we're going to see either them drop the titles to Edge and Christian to set up the aforementioned potential showdown with the cvc or just settle for the heat spot against Le Resistance.

 

The WWE Tag Titles are held by Rey Mysterio and Eddy Guerrero and either they keep the titles going into their potential one on one matchup or they drop it right back to the Bashams or perhaps the tandem of Jindrak and Reigns. Which leaves a question of who challenges the potential new heel champions? Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas? hardly a real "established" team even though that rarely stops wwe before, which leads me to an idea...Booker T and The Big Show. Two men with prior beef to both sets of heel teams, The Bashams and The Reigns/Jindrak tandem. Yes another thrown together team but considering the lack of value and stock the title and the divison has...does it matter? Each of these men been involved with the WWE Title scene lately, it would seem wrong to see them not used in a more constructive manner. So unless they want to do a "big" return of the Dudleyz at Mania, Booker/TBS Vs Bashams and/or Jindrak/Reigns would be the better way to go.

 

The Cruiserweight Title has long meant nothing in the WWE and despite the possibility of them being more open to it now by signing new talent, it's still questionable how much they are wanting to put into it. Currently the champion is Chavo Guerrero, back to his primo heel character which he never should have stopped doing. The clear challenger due to a myraid of victories over the last month on Velocity over a large chunk of the "divison" and his performence sunday night eliminating the former champion and the other competitors save for Chavo Guerrero who resorted to cheap tactics to win is, Paul London. It would appear that it's a straight up one on one match and honestly it should be that way. They already did the elimination gauntlet at No Way Out and there's only one clear challenger anyways. The defining question is; will it get time? It's highly doubtful considering in XIX with a 4 hour show, Mysterio, one of vince's biggest names and merch movers against "bigger" Matt Hardy barely got 5 minutes of match time. It would be nice to see 10-12 minutes but the reality is...we're setting up for a 4-7 minute match.

 

The Woman's title match has basically been sadly set in stone for "the greatest champion ever" Trish Stratus against non wrestler and diva search contest winner and recently playboy model, Christy Hemme. Match will suck, build up should be fun however. Sadly the non-wrestler will go over here to coicide with her upcoming playboy pictorial.

 

This leaves a good size of the company out of the show including Kane, it appears there's nothing for him(save for a return of Matt Hardy to continue that deal) I wouldn't discount a Battle Royal between each side which would be potentially a 24 man battle royal(12 per side)

 

That makes 12 matches overall and likely a match on heat, so Eleven overall for The PPV telecast which is about par for the normal Mania amount. Is it perfect? Not at all. But if they can do the way they appear to be setting it up, it certaintly wouldn't be the worst card ever.

[Guest Stress Truck]

Kurt Angle and The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels have made it clear they aren't exactly friends

If by "made it clear" you mean "have almost completely ignored each other, have only mentioned the others names in throw away comments and have had no face to face interaction" yes, they've made it abundently clear.

 

 

The rest of the card, save for the world title matches and Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker (ugh) is completely up in the air. A LOT of people can be doing A LOT of different things at this point. If this was December, that would be a pretty good thing. Considering that we're almost in March, it's a really bad thing, because the company is giving me the impression that they don't have this card completely booked yet.

[JoeDirt 0]

Good writeup. I was thinking for a while we might get a dream partner tag match with Benoit/Guerrero vs. Rey/Jericho, but now I'm not so sure. I could see Shelton vs. Snitsky going until Mania, as Shelton really needs a match with SOMEBODY, though it's too bad it has to be Snitsky. Edge is really a wild card here, as he seems to be the odd man out at the moment, unless they want to do something with him and his former tag team champion partner Hulk Hogan or something.

 

I also think we could see a RAW and SD battle royal with the winner getting a title shot on whichever show he ends up on or something like that.

[iggymcfly 0]

I was just thinking, remember when everybody was all pissed that they "jumped the gun" on the Orton turn, and should have saved it for Wrestlemania. Well, boy am I glad that they didn't. Rather than hold the business back for six months with an angle that may or may not work, they tried it, and found out that Orton was better suited for the upper midcard.

 

While the execution of the Batista turn was obviously done much better, you have to admit that Dave fits the part better too. The subtle gestures and calm quiet manner contrast really strongly with the way that Orton just runs off at the mouth and seems to have no idea whatsoever what he's going to say.

 

They say that all the really good stars or made by the fans rather than the WWE force-feeding someone. Well, they tried Orton, the fans pretty much rejected him, and they actually listened to the fans and moved Batista in instead. Sorry, if I'm kind of rambling, but I'm really excited that the WWE's actually doing something right for a change.

 

One more thing. Remember how the whole front office thought Batista was too old to even bother training in OVW and JR kept pushing him through until he finally got on TV? I guess crazy old Jim Ross actually knew what he was talking about. It's kind of crazy to think that Batista is looking like he'll be the most over face the WWE has created since The Rock.

[Guest JRE]

The best opponent for Shelton is Haas and thats a scientific fact.

[cbacon 0]

I would have thought Benjamin/Hassan would be the obvious IC title match at Mania.

[Guest Loss]

The buildup to HHH/Batista has been handled exceptionally well. I worry about Batista in the long run with the precedent the company has set for burying guys who get over and the lack of strong heels to go against him, but for now, he's set. The key now is to not put "sympathy" on him. I don't think the two should touch again until Wrestlemania and they should go the Rock/Brock route of training videos. Batista getting sneak-attacked by HHH in the coming weeks could jeopardize what they have going, and they need to avoid that.

 

As for the rest of the card, there's nothing they can give Edge that's good enough for him at this point, really. A tag match is too low on the card for him, a feud with Benoit and Jericho just typecasts him in the same boat with him, and most of the upper card tends to be going in a different direction.

 

Benoit, Jericho, Kane, Christian and Benjamin are sort of screwed here, especially the last three. Benoit and Jericho will most likely either face each other or the Eddy/Rey team, so they'll at least be in a good match either way if nothing else. Benjamin seems to be headed toward a Snitsky feud, but that seems a little beneath him at this point. I'd program Benjamin and HHH together for a while after Mania and put the IC belt on someone like Christian who has been working hard lately and putting on good matches. Reward him for it.

 

Kane's long-brewing storyline has already been blown off. It wouldn't surprise me to see him get put with someone like Hassan who needs an angle, unless they're going to do Benoit/Jericho v Hassan/Daivari, and please God and Allah, let's hope they're not. Regal and Taijiri are without opponents, as is La Res, and WWE typically tries to find a place for as many people as they can on the show, so expect them to be in an inconsequential three-way or something.

 

On Smackdown, JBL/Cena is a lock, and they really should have started building this before now. Eddy and Rey have no opponents if they don't do a match against a RAW team, unless they face each other and they shoot an angle between now and then. Booker T is directionless, but will probably find a spot on the show. The undercard isn't as stacked as that on RAW, so I'm thinking there will be more RAW matches than SD matches on the PPV.

 

This is seriously being thrown together at the last minute, unlike last year, and I worry that the numbers are going to show that, unless they're willing to pay whatever obscene amount WWE is charging this year for just one match in HHH/Batista.

[CBright7831 0]

I think the Smackdown! main event is going t o be a triple threat match between JBL, Big Show, and John Cena.

 

They are advertisding that match for the Smackdown! show coming to Knoxville.

[Guest Loss]

Well THAT would make Show the HBK of 2004. Keep losing in title matches repeatedly, but keep getting title shots anyway.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

I think the Smackdown! main event is going t o be a triple threat match between JBL, Big Show, and John Cena.

 

They are advertisding that match for the Smackdown! show coming to Knoxville.

Or they could just be putting Cena in the main event slot, and putting Show in there to do the job and not give away the WM SD main event.

[CBright7831 0]

I think the Smackdown! main event is going t o be a triple threat match between JBL, Big Show, and John Cena.

 

They are advertisding that match for the Smackdown! show coming to Knoxville.

Or they could just be putting Cena in the main event slot, and putting Show in there to do the job and not give away the WM SD main event.

You're correct.

 

I hope it's JBL/Cena.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

TBS is basically stuck in either a Battle Royal or being slapped together with Booker T for a tag match of sorts.

[Guest Stupuss]

My Card:

 

World Title: HHH v Batista

WWE Title: JBL v John Cena

HBK v Kurt Angle

Randy Orton v The Undertaker

Benoit/Jericho v Edge/Christian

Rey Mysterio v Eddie Guerrero

IC Title: Benjamin v Hassan

Cruiserweight Title: Chavo v London

Women's Title: Trish v Christy

Battle Royal featuring everyone else

 

10 matches, four hours.

 

Maybe Cowboy Bob can help Randy to beat The Undertaker and end the streak, turning Orton heel in the process.

 

Flair could turn on HHH and play a part in Batista winning the title.

 

JBL should retain. Challengers after Mania should include Cena in a rematch, Rey, and HBK, after he and Angle swap shows. Plus RVD when he returns.

 

Angle can then be Batista's first challenger and lead him through a series of good matches to get Batista over as a fighting champion. Batista could also face Edge, Christian and a heel Chris Jericho until the inevitable HHH rematch and title switch.

[Guest Ransome]

One more thing. Remember how the whole front office thought Batista was too old to even bother training in OVW and JR kept pushing him through until he finally got on TV? I guess crazy old Jim Ross actually knew what he was talking about. It's kind of crazy to think that Batista is looking like he'll be the most over face the WWE has created since The Rock.

From Summerslam last year, it seemed like nothing in the world was gonna prevent Triple H vs Randy Orton happening at WM. Who'd have thought that everything they did wrong with Orton's megapush would be done right with Batista's megapush?

 

Everyone on the IWC seems to have forgotten, but just two and a half years ago Batista was in the unenviable Tyson Tomko position of being Reverend D-von's 'Deacon' Batista, and two years ago he was labelled 'Captain Fuckup' because of several extremely poor matches and botched powerbombs.

 

Yet in 2005, they've got a brand new star on their hands, and each week it seems Batista is solidifying his spot. I'm sure that when Batista is holding the World title at the end of WM 21 I'll be filled with optimism, even though I'll secretly know that all of the hard work will likely be undone post-WM when he's jobbed to HHH.

[Guest Teckneek]

Here is my updated WM21 card. I'm sure I'll have to change it again 'cause WWE is so inconsistant with their fueds. This is based on current fueds, fitting everyone on the card, and heightening up to the main event. This card seems to be the most logical if WWE was booking it.

 

World Heavyweight Championship:

Batista vs HHH

 

WWE Championship vs United States Championship:

JBL vs John Cena

 

Undertaker vs Orton(Raw announce team)

 

Kurt Angle vs HBK--HBK will win the Angle invitational on March 29 because Smackdown will be in Texas....or HBK will cost Angle the medals to some jobber on that date.(Smackdown announce team)

 

World Tag Team Championship:

Edge & Christian vs Benoit & Jericho vs Regal & Tajari

 

Eddie, Rey, & Big Show vs Orland Jordon & Bashums

 

Inferno Match:

Kane vs Snitsky

 

Cruiserweight Championship Ladder Match:

London vs Chavo

 

Women's Championship:

Trish vs Christie

 

Booker T vs Heidenrich

 

Intercontinental Championship:

Hassan vs Shelton Benjamin

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

You know, Orton has to be really pissed off. Two years in a row he's been meant to headline WM, and each time something has come along to stop it happening.

[SuperJerk 0]

You know, Orton has to be really pissed off. Two years in a row he's been meant to headline WM, and each time something has come along to stop it happening.

How was this supposed to occur last year?

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

You know, Orton has to be really pissed off. Two years in a row he's been meant to headline WM, and each time something has come along to stop it happening.

How was this supposed to occur last year?

The original plan for WM XX was to headline with Hunter v Orton.

[justcoz 0]

Well, they tried Orton, the fans pretty much rejected him, and they actually listened to the fans and moved Batista in instead.

 

I wouldn't say ALL fans have rejected Orton as a babyface. He still gets huge pops with scattered boos. His pops remind me of someone from the 80's, like Magnum TA or Ricky Morton, who would get huge pops from females in the audience and scattered boos from the men. He's got a definite 80's face vibe. The same thing happened in the 90's, when they turned Shawn Michaels from a cool heel to a weak babyface around the Boyhood Dream theme. The women still went crazy for HBK but the guys even resorted to cheering Sid.

 

He played a much cooler heel and they could've went further with the Legend Killer angle that would have brought on more interesting television than his current head of the midcard role.

[SuperJerk 0]

You know, Orton has to be really pissed off. Two years in a row he's been meant to headline WM, and each time something has come along to stop it happening.

How was this supposed to occur last year?

The original plan for WM XX was to headline with Hunter v Orton.

I thought that was just a rumor, since Orton's program with Foley had been booked three months before WMXX.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

You know, Orton has to be really pissed off. Two years in a row he's been meant to headline WM, and each time something has come along to stop it happening.

How was this supposed to occur last year?

The original plan for WM XX was to headline with Hunter v Orton.

I thought that was just a rumor, since Orton's program with Foley had been booked three months before WMXX.

Not a rumor. Up until, I think November time, it was the plan. It finally got changed because it felt Orton wasn't ready.

[cbacon 0]

To shake up the interpromotional matches, they should do a 3 match triathalon.

 

Angle/HBK

Taker/Orton

Rey&Eddie/Benoit&Jericho

 

Whichever brand wins gets an extra round in the draft or something.

 

Add to that:

 

HHH/Batista

JBL/Cena

Benjamin/Hassan

London/Chavo

Kane/Hardy/Snitsky

Booker/Heidenriech

 

Still can't figure out what to do with Edge though

[Guest Trivia247]

As of right now, the Wrestlemania card is starting to take shape and aside from the two confirmed matches, there seems to be a bunch of matches that are all but confirmed by WWE. Below are a list of matches that are rumored to take place at the year's biggest event:

 

- It is heavily rumored that Chavo Guerrero will defend his newly won Cruiserweight Title against Paul London at Wrestlemania. Many backstage are pleased with this as many such as Eddie & Chavo Guerrero as well as Rey Mysterio have been pushing for the Cruiserweight since early 2004.

 

- Of course, it is pretty obvious to anyone that Kurt Angle will accept Shawn Michaels' challenge and we will have our first inter-promotional match of Wrestlemania. Many backstage are saying this could be the match of a lifetime and will definitly steal the show.

 

- As the reports lately confirm, it is being said that WWE is scraping its plans to go with Undertaker & Kane Vs. Heidenreich & Snitsky for Undertaker Vs. Randy Orton. This seems to be the better path to go as Orton seems to have no other big plans, and a high profile match-up could give Orton the momentum he needs. Many backstage are saying that Orton will defeat the Dead Man after turning heel in the match. On a side note, Undertaker is expected to retire from WWE competition by this summer.

 

- According to one backstage source, one agent backstage pitched the idea of Christian Vs. Edge at this year's Wrestlemania, with Christian playing the face and Edge playing the heel. This was only pitched by one agent and was met to mixed reviews by the creative team, so take that with a grain of salt as of now.

 

- Opponents for the WWE Tag Team, Word Tag Team, & Intercontinental champions are not yet known; however, it is expected that Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio will lose and Guerrero will turn heel on Mysterio thus setting up a big storyline and feud between the two.

 

- The Women's Championship is scheduled to be defended against Alexis Laree, an OVW Diva. WWE had plans last month to call Laree up by mid March for the match, and last this site heard on the subject, the plan was still going forward. Alexis Laree has been in OVW since mid-2003 and has appeared on many Dark, Velocity, & Heat matches in WWE.

 

- Finally, the only two matches so far that are confirmed are for the WWE & World Title. Triple H will defend his title against Batista, while John Cena will challenge John Bradshaw Layfield for the WWE title. It is not yet known if Cena will drop his US title before Wrestlemania or if the match will be a "title for title" match-up.

 

Wrestlemania is little more than a month away and with the way WWE operates, half of these matches could be re-packaged or scrapped by then. Most of the matches listed here are in-fact rumors and should be taken as such, and we will have more on Wrestlemania news as it comes.

 

Credit: PWInsider, Pro Wrestling Torch, Wrestling Observer, & 1Wrestling

 

Thanks to reader Sean Freeman for the following:

 

I just saw a pretty interesting commercial for Wrestlemania on the FX Network in Atlanta, GA. This new Wrestlemania commercial not only clearly stated what matches will take place but also who will make a "special" guest appearance.

 

The following matches, according to the commercial, are scheduled to take place:

 

1) Triple H vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Title

2) JBL vs. Cena for the WWE Title

3) Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle

4) Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker

 

Even though the first three matches seemed to be a lock for the card, we now can clearly add Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker to that list. I guess the rumors to the Randy Orton heel turn may actually have some truth to them.

 

Also, there will be a special guest appearance by none other than STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN! I guess that "movie" relationship had a little bit more to it.

 

As a loyal fan of WWE and wrestlezone.com, I felt it necessary to inform you guys of my finding first.

 

Thanks to several other readers who sent in the same information about this commercial.

 

 

 

Of course if this is all true about the Undertaker vs Orton and its outcome this will be rather sad that the man's legacy must be destroyed to make some Hack look better than what he was capable of On his own.

[Caliban 0]

http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?showtopic=67289

[The Metal Maniac 0]

Fuck Orton/Taker.

 

Orton's gotten HOW MANY rubs from legends? Let someone else break the streak - someone who hasn't already gotten a jillion rubs and a shitty world title reign.

[Guest Loss]

Many backstage are pleased with this as many such as Eddie & Chavo Guerrero as well as Rey Mysterio have been pushing for the Cruiserweight since early 2004.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what this means. What does "pushing for the title" mean? Does that mean they all think they deserve the belt and want to go after it? Or does that mean they think the belt should get more spotlighted? If so, how is this any different from the last two WMs, where the belt has been defended both times?

[AlaskanHero 0]

Many backstage are pleased with this as many such as Eddie & Chavo Guerrero as well as Rey Mysterio have been pushing for the Cruiserweight since early 2004.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what this means. What does "pushing for the title" mean? Does that mean they all think they deserve the belt and want to go after it? Or does that mean they think the belt should get more spotlighted? If so, how is this any different from the last two WMs, where the belt has been defended both times?

It means that they (Eddie, Chavo, and Rey) have been pushing for Paul London to get a bigger role in the Cruiserweight division since early 2004. I can't argue with that logic.

[Guest Loss]

Ah, so it was just poorly written. Sorry, not trying to nitpick, but that sentence didn't even mention London, only the cruiserweight belt, and I didn't understand what it meant.

[Guest thetrendsetter]

Let Paul London End Undertaker's streak...

 

 

*Slience, Ducks Chair*

 

Um... Let Muhaamad Hussan end his streak, by hitting undertaker with the persian clubs

[Guest Coffey]

Maybe Cowboy Bob can help Randy to beat The Undertaker and end the streak, turning Orton heel in the process.

That'd be cool. Have Randy Orton be the one to end The Undertaker's Wrestlemania win streak. "Cowboy" Bob Orton could interfere and hit The Undertaker with a cast...because you know he'll still have it on. Then Orton can "kill The Undertaker's legend." After the match, Orton could even RKO his father and get some more heat. Kill "Cowboy" Bob Orton's legend.

 

It would probably get some heat...and Orton definitely needs a new direction. I'd be happy with that.