WrestleMania XXIII Main Event (RAW)

[benn 0]

I'd like Edge/HHH but Cena will undoubtedly be in there unless he gets injured somehow. Its also difficult to see HHH jobbing at WM for another year in a row and I'm an Edge mark so I'd want to see him go over.

 

On SD I think Lashley (after winning the Rumble) should win the title from either Taker or Batista or Benoit in a respect-based feud.

 

For ECW, RVD/Angle or RVD/Punk or Angle/Punk.

 

And I'm only interested in Austin/Hogan if Austin wins.

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

July 29, 20002 to be exact.

 

Rock/Flair would actually hurt WrestleMania's buyrate, since mainstream America doesn't want to see Flair wrestle ever again, and other fans are embarassed when he "wrestles" now some 10 years after he should've retired. Plus, Rock and Flair did their lone spot of chemistry, the "Flair Strut" and "People's Elbow" combo at WM XX.

 

Hogan Vs. Austin build should've already started. I won't be looking forward to it unless it's billed as both wrestlers Last Match Ever.

 

That might not be the case of Austin, as maybe he'll pull an HBK and comeback full time?

 

As for Rock, I think the ideal fued for him would be either Heel Cena or HBK. His movies have not excatly had blockbuster sucess, so I can certainly see him coming back to the WWE in the future. Maybe a fued with HHH since WWE likes to do throwback angles.

No way Austin can come back and wrestle full time, he's too screwed up, that's why they had him be a co GM

[ChrisMWaters 0]

If Rock comes back, he has to do one exchange with AAE.

 

"My NAAAAAAME...es Arrrmando..."

 

"IT DOESN"T MATERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR WHAT YOURRRRRRR NAME IS!"

[Mecca 0]

I read that Triple H made it pretty clear he didn't want to work a program with Edge........maybe that was a false report but if that's true Edge probably won't be anywhere near the mainevent by Mania.

[foleyfanforever88 0]

Cena vs Carlito vs Triple H vs Edge

 

Batista vs Undertaker

 

Austin vs Hogan

 

Benoit vs Lashley

 

HBK vs Foley

 

The Rock vs Umaga

 

Hardy Boyz vs Highlanders?

 

Punk vs Angle

 

RVD vs Sabu

 

 

I left out Orton, SS, Kane, Nitro, and some others but that's a start to what could be an awesome card.

[Guest Princess Leena]

If Rock comes back, he has to do one exchange with AAE.

 

"My NAAAAAAME...es Arrrmando..."

 

"IT DOESN"T MATERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR WHAT YOURRRRRRR NAME IS!"

 

Gold.

 

Damn, I miss Rocky.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

July 29, 20002 to be exact.

 

Rock/Flair would actually hurt WrestleMania's buyrate, since mainstream America doesn't want to see Flair wrestle ever again, and other fans are embarassed when he "wrestles" now some 10 years after he should've retired. Plus, Rock and Flair did their lone spot of chemistry, the "Flair Strut" and "People's Elbow" combo at WM XX.

 

Hogan Vs. Austin build should've already started. I won't be looking forward to it unless it's billed as both wrestlers Last Match Ever.

 

That might not be the case of Austin, as maybe he'll pull an HBK and comeback full time?

 

As for Rock, I think the ideal fued for him would be either Heel Cena or HBK. His movies have not excatly had blockbuster sucess, so I can certainly see him coming back to the WWE in the future. Maybe a fued with HHH since WWE likes to do throwback angles.

No way Austin can come back and wrestle full time, he's too screwed up, that's why they had him be a co GM

 

That's what was thought of Michaels during the time he retired. Everyone thought he was "too screwed up" to wrestle full time.

 

I honestly wouldn't be suprised if Austin comes back full time. It's not like he's in the condition Bret Hart is in.

[benn 0]

I think the reports were that Hunter didn't want to work with Edge "yet". So take that however you want. Edge is over and a good worker and just coming into the prime of his career now, it would be sad to see him added to the list of should-have-beens like Jericho.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

I'm seriously pondering this question: Does the WWE have a main event to sell out Ford Field? I know its WM and will probably sell out anyway but aside from Austin-Hogan do they really have a unique money match?

 

Batista / Undertaker

 

Dream match:

 

Rock / Michaels or Rock / Cena

[benn 0]

Has there been any Austin/Cena matches before?

[The Buzz 0]

I think the big difference between Austin and HBK is it's Austin's back, neck, and knees that are all horrible. With HBK he didn't have the horrible neck, only a bad lower back and a few other nagging injuries. In Austin's case, his neck is worse than Angle's if he cut his comeback a few years back so short to being a non-wrestler.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

I think the reports were that Hunter didn't want to work with Edge "yet". So take that however you want. Edge is over and a good worker and just coming into the prime of his career now, it would be sad to see him added to the list of should-have-beens like Jericho.

 

He's already been booked better then Jericho has, when he was champion. Atleast Edge isn't walking Steph McMahon's dogs around.

[benn 0]

That's what I said, I hope Edge doesn't get to that stage.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

I honestly wouldn't be suprised if Austin comes back full time. It's not like he's in the condition Bret Hart is in.

Austin is never coming back full time. His neck is screwed up so much that he might have one match, maybe two, left, but that is it.

[Promoter 0]

Austin, Rock, and Hogan have to be on the card imo for this thing to fly. Those are the only combos that can work with some of today's stars which can have any lasting effect like WM 3.

 

They could do....

Hogan matches that can mean something

Hogan vs. Austin(Last match ever as someone said)

 

Hogan vs. Cena (champ of this era against old champ)

 

Hogan vs. Edge (Edge's undefeated streak against Hogan and Edge seeing Hogan at Mania 6 backstory)

 

Hogan vs. Khali playing off WM 3

 

Austin matches:

Austin vs. Hogan

 

Austin vs. Cena(I actually think this is the only match that can rival Hogan/Austin simply because of Cena's twisted heat)

 

Austin vs. Orton(you know the legend killer drill)

 

Rock Matches:

 

Rock vs. HBK

 

Rock vs. Cena

 

Rock vs. Orton (you know they are dying to do this and have pushed it back on purpose).

 

I don't see any combo of anything on the current roster than can have a chance in hell in comparing to the legend of WM 3. They must have Rock, Austin, Hogan in some capacity working with the newer guys. HHH does not need to be in the world title scene either. They could do DX against Rock/Austin for the tag title if need be.

[BigDawgCarl 0]

I'd love to see HHH/Angle at one of these Manias in the next 2 years (because only god knows how much more Angle's neck can take)...they are the two biggest legendstars of this, gah, (Brand Extension?) era.

[Guest Sykotic2002]

July 29, 20002 to be exact.

 

Rock/Flair would actually hurt WrestleMania's buyrate, since mainstream America doesn't want to see Flair wrestle ever again, and other fans are embarassed when he "wrestles" now some 10 years after he should've retired. Plus, Rock and Flair did their lone spot of chemistry, the "Flair Strut" and "People's Elbow" combo at WM XX.

 

Hogan Vs. Austin build should've already started. I won't be looking forward to it unless it's billed as both wrestlers Last Match Ever.

 

 

Where did this come from about people not wanting to see Flair?

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

July 29, 20002 to be exact.

 

Rock/Flair would actually hurt WrestleMania's buyrate, since mainstream America doesn't want to see Flair wrestle ever again, and other fans are embarassed when he "wrestles" now some 10 years after he should've retired. Plus, Rock and Flair did their lone spot of chemistry, the "Flair Strut" and "People's Elbow" combo at WM XX.

 

Hogan Vs. Austin build should've already started. I won't be looking forward to it unless it's billed as both wrestlers Last Match Ever.

 

 

Where did this come from about people not wanting to see Flair?

 

You're right in principle, Sykotic. But ultimately, with the amount of casual fans who come to see WM every year? People who watch wrestling once a month or five or six times a year, I'll agree, don't want to see Flair wrestle.

 

Can I also point out that I could stil theoretically become a father before WM23? I don't think it's quite necessary(even by WWE standards) to start writing the roster off as unsellable, and needing two or three (or more) retired stars to bail out the show.

[iggymcfly 0]

They don't need three retired stars, but they do need at least one that can sell the Raw main event, because neither Cena nor HHH will draw on their own enough to carry the show this year.

 

 

I think the only main events that would really draw well as huge matches are:

 

1. Rock vs. Cena: This is probably the best choice. They could cement a Cena heel turn instantly, and the match would have nuclear heat with all the people who have gotten sick of him over the last couple years. The superface of the past vs. the superface of the present would give it a real epic feel too.

 

2. HHH vs. Brock Lesnar: Lesnar's kind of been overlooked here as someone that could carry the show, but he has instant credibility as a monster heel, and I think if he challenged HHH for the World title, it would sell pretty well.

 

3. Austin vs. Hogan: This is a weaker choice as far as I'm concerned, as it doesn't really accomplish anything, but at the least, it gives a big money match that people will pay to see.

 

Failing any of those, I think the best choice is probably HHH vs. RVD. If both men have been face champions for a while, I think a clash between the two of them could have a lot of heat. It would be a battle of the serious hardcore ECW style vs. the goofy entertainment gimmicks of the WWE, and fans on both sides could be pretty passionate. It might not set any attendance records, but it would at least feel like more than a typical Raw ME.

[The Amazing Rando 0]

But Rock, Lesnar, and to a slightly lesser extent Austin really don't want a thing to do with Vince and WWE right now. Rock is happy where he is, and is making good enough money to live without having to go back to Vince. Lesnar is apparently MMA training and will probably at least wait a good eight months before he decides he's a failure at it (if he even fails at all) and Austin and Hogan both enjoy their creative control and I doubt either would relinquish it enough to have a match, not withstanding the fact that both men are SEVERELY broken down. At least with Hogan in the ring with a younger guy (or at least one that isn't as broken down), the opponent can sell and bump around for him and give the fans at least a somewhat better match than Austin could, regardless of how good a wrestler Austin was even 4 years ago.

 

What *would* sell the show is if WWE's creative/writing/booking team(s) can figure out how to create much more compelling television in the vein of an actual prime-time drama. As it stands now, it's a rarity, and while I don't think it should be like every other show on TV, the fact that it is a LIVE event with so many characters involved multiple times a week should be enough of a differentiating factor to focus on creating some compelling characters that have some decent continuity, logic, and make people want to continue to tune in and talk to other fans about what is going on.

 

Right now everything is just so cookie cutter, bland, and borderline uninteresting, when just a few months ago at least there was a CHANCE at turning the tide what with the "revolution" of ECW, the possibility of dX coming back and maybe just maybe putting some young-ins over, and guys like Finlay and Booker T getting second chances on Smackdown.

 

Like so many other times in the history of the company, there is a great deal of potential, but they seem absolutely lost on how to utilize it.

[The Tino Standard 0]

With WM about a three-hour drive from where I live, I'm looking at all these main event ideas with one standard to go by: Would I drive to Detroit to see this match headline a WrestleMania?

 

Personally, I don't think there is a money match conceivable on the Raw side of the roster right now, and it would feel pretty stagnant to have Raw go on last again and even MORE redundant to have Triple H in the main event again. Having said that, we'll probably have both, and I'll kick myself for having bought a ticket 7 months in advance on the basis of it just being WM.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

At the time that it was announced WM 22 was gonna be in Chicago, I was in the process of moving there. I ended up not moving, but if I would have, then I would have went to Mania.

 

My point is, it's Wrestle Fuckin' Mania. If I ever get a chance to go to WM, then I will. Just 'cause, it's really more about the event and the spectacle it's self then the matches alot of the time.

 

If I would have made it to Mania 22 I'm sure I would have hade a helluva time. If I ever do get the chance to actually go, then I'll be there.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

I wouldn't be too hard on WM 23 though. I mean WM 22 didn't really have anything going for it, and I think it turned out better than most people thought.

[Black Lushus 0]

if I had the opportunity to go to a WM, I certainly would...even WM 9...

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

I bought the WM22 DVD set that came with the Rey DVD for real fuckin' cheap. I liked WM 22.

[Promoter 0]

Well, I think it's a good effort on the part of the wwe to try and create a new WM 3 for this era. I think the only event coming close to it was WM 17. WM 14 felt more like the original Mania in that there was a changing of the landscape of pro wrestling. From things I've read the wwe didn't even have the main event planned for Mania 3 until the fall of 1986. It was going to be either Hogan vs. Andre or Hogan vs. Orndorff in a steel cage(the match happened on SNME as we know).

 

So judging on what the company wants to do I think it's safe to say they want John Cena in the main event. Cena regaining the title in Boston(the same place where Austin won the wwe title in 1998) may be the start of a program that leads to Mania 23. If Cena's movie bombs at the box office I can see them turning the guy heel. Then they would have options for who he could face. HHH is a possibility as a babyface even though some would hate that, but I really think it could sell with either The Rock or Steve Austin. If they want it to be like the "passing of the torch" a la Hogan/Andre in 1987 then he NEEDS to face Rock or Austin. I would lean towards Austin since Austin hasn't really passed the torch to anyone, while Rock did the job to Brock. Brock Lesnar I forgot about too. He probably would be a face against Cena upon returning.

 

The question is would Rock or Austin come out of retirement and I think they would. Vince has the cash and I bet he would sell it like the way he sold it to Andre in 1986 about doing it for the business. If Andre could return to pass the torch in the condition he was in why can't Austin or Rock would be his argument. Lesnar is a bit more tricky with his attitude and whatnot in terms of workload and so on.

 

If the wwe gets their heads out of their asses they could also do a big interpromotional showdown between ECW vs. WWE with real ramifications. HHH vs. Kurt Angle is actually a good idea. I would also do UT vs. Edge in a battle of the undefeated playing off WM 3 Hogan/Andre backstory. I agree that all three retired guys don't have to be on the card, but it would help. One HAS to be on the card though as iggymcfly stated to help be a draw for either Cena or HHH. The thing is that the wwe wants Orton and Cena to be flagbearers of the future and I think they HAVE to be in a great feud with the staple stars of the attitude era in Rock and Austin. Cena went over HHH already and Orton was just not ready to go over HHH at the time of their feud. I'm doing "wwe think" here and they could build Orton up by having him go over Hogan at SummerSlam and continue to brag for months and then put him against either Rock or Austin at WM 23, while the other guy faces Cena.

That's if they want Mania 23 to have that sort of passing of the torch and changing of the guard type of feel to it.

 

I still think Cena should be in the main and title match more than HHH for the simple fact that HHH has beaten all of these guys unless they get Lesnar back. However Lesnar hypoethetically should really be on smackdown and do a feud with Batista to help smackdown's drawing power for the show. Vince wants Hogan on the show simply to pimp the 20th anniversary of Hogan/Andre. Hypothetically, if they want to try and proclaim something greater for Hogan at this event only Hogan/Austin would be credible, but the two guys are obviously on their last legs. If it were to be their last match the audience will be forgiving for the poor workrate knowing it was the last time they would see these two in the ring, but we know about retirements being for good in wrestling. Hogan could face Foley and play off the current feud with Flair with Foley wanting to go up against the wwf legend of the 80's after trashing the NWA 80's legend. The undercard will work itself out I think though. Carlito and the likes will obviously fit in well somehow.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Cena will almost certainly be in the main event, but the problem is that there is nobody he has left to face that is even remotely interesting beyond a heel-turned Shawn Michaels, and that isn't going to happen. Cena already will have beaten everybody by that point, except retired guys and Orton (who belongs in the main event about as much as Maurice Clarett belongs in church).

 

Edge/HHH would probably be the most interesting potential matchup, but they are going to find a way to get Cena in there. Guarantee it.

[Angle-plex 0]

Edge/Hunter would cause me not to order my first WrestleMania since WrestleMania X. Edge doesn't have the big time feel and Trips in a Mania main event again is beyond stale. Cena/Orton would be interesting if it didn't already happen. Cena/HBK face vs face match would be ok I guess....still not a WrestleMania main event match though. Without Austin, Rock or Hogan I would go with Cena vs Batista Title vs Title match, face vs face. Along the lines of Warrior vs Hogan I guess.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

I know WWE would love Cena vs. Orton, as that is their big future money match. Failing that, I can see them resorting to Cena vs. Batista, which would have the atmosphere but would suck donkey balls for quality.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

With WM about a three-hour drive from where I live, I'm looking at all these main event ideas with one standard to go by: Would I drive to Detroit to see this match headline a WrestleMania?

 

Personally, I don't think there is a money match conceivable on the Raw side of the roster right now, and it would feel pretty stagnant to have Raw go on last again and even MORE redundant to have Triple H in the main event again. Having said that, we'll probably have both, and I'll kick myself for having bought a ticket 7 months in advance on the basis of it just being WM.

 

If you have the oppurtunity to go to Wrestlemania, do it.

 

I went to WMX8, which is considered one of the weaker WM's, but it was still worth it because of Rock/Hogan. That was one of the best experences of my life, it's up their with losing my virgninity.