WWE Wrestlemania 22 Predictions

It's PPV time again and you know what that means, don't you? It's time for Wrestleblogger predictions. This time it's the 'Granddaddy of Them All' Wrestlemania! All of us here at Wrestleblogger World Headquarters are looking forward to what has the potential to be a great PPV. As always, I am joined here by David who will offer his predictions as well and he's even decided to explain some of the thinking behind his picks. It should also be noted that the amount of WWE television that David has seen in the past couple of months has been limited to a few RAW from a few weeks ago and he hasn't seen a Smackdown since it moved to Fridays.

On to the picks...

RAW Main Event - WWE Championship
John Cena (c) v. Triple H
I Say: As reported numerous places over the past few months, one of John Cena's biggest advocates backstage has been none other than Triple H. Triple H has done a lot to keep John Cena as a major star. Any do you want to know why? So Triple H can bring him down. I don't see any realistic chance of Cena retaining the title. Therefore I have to go with Triple H to become 11-time champion. Seeing as how most people see Triple H winning, the WWE could try a swerve and keep the title on Cena, but I doubt it. Also, with Triple H's repeated comments about John Cena having limited in-ring ability it looks likely that Cena may do some moves that he's never done before in a match. No matter what happens in this match expect to see a rematch and Backlash in late April.
David Says: The battle of two wrestlers I generally dislike. You never want to bet against Vince's son-in-law but John Cena is being pushed like hell and he is the face in the match. Cena beating Triple H is the natural WrestleMania conclusion and my pick. God help us all.

Smackdown Main Event - World Heavyweight Championship
Kurt Angle (c) v. Rey Mysterio v. Randy Orton
I Say: There has been so much build-up for both Rey and Orton that I see Angle keeping the title highly unlikely. With that in mind I would have no problem with Randy Orton getting another (and hopefully longer) title run. Unfortunately I don't see that being as likely as Rey winning the title. Not because he necessarily deserves it, but for the story end of it ; Rey dedicating to Eddie and winning the Royal Rumble, lose the title shot only to get it handed back to him, and ultimately winning the WWE championship. Add to that Eddie's induction into the Hall Of Fame and that the band P.O.D. will be live at the PPV performing Rey's theme and you have a very strong case for Rey. It's almost as if Rey has to win. Even if those things weren't the case, never pick against Rey. More often than not he's going to win. I hope that I'm wrong, but I'm going to have to go with Rey.
David Says: Rey Mysterio is the natural face and he has the death of Eddie to bolster his chances. Look for Mysterio to win, point to heaven, get showered in confetti and lose the title within a week.

No Holds Barred
Shawn Michaels v. Vincent K. McMahon
I Say: One thing is for sure - Shawn will be off TV for a little while after WM22. His wife is pregnant and he's going to spend the rest of her pregnancy with her. When someone is planning on taking some time off it usually means that some sort of injury angle is going to happen and that they're going to lose. I do think that some injury angle will happen, but I'm not picking against him. There is no point in Vince winning the match. I have to pick Shawn. I see him getting 'injured' either post-match or possibly on Raw the night after. Or maybe he'll beat Vince and Vince will suspend him as revenge. One other thing - This match could steal the show and will be so much better than a lot of people are expecting. Never underestimate a Shawn Michaels match. Shane's involvement is pretty much a lock as well. I'm also predicting that Vince will come to the ring looking even more oiled-up and blotchier (is that even a word?) than he was on this week's RAW.
David Says: I hate when great wrestlers job to the McMahons and they don't get any better than Shawn Michaels. Despite splashing Vince and Shane-o-mac in urine Shawn has generally been on the losing end of this angle. WrestleMania will be his revenge.

Casket Match
Undertaker v. Mark Henry
I Say: It's the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Enough said. He has never lost at Wrestlemania and while I'm not saying that he will never lose at Wrestlemania I certainly don't see him doing it this time and to Mark Henry. I really don't expect a lot out of this match. 'Taker is getting slow and Henry has been slow, not to mention his poor in-ring skills. Undertaker wins. This is pretty much a guarantee.
David Says: Give me a break. Undertaker has never lost at WrestleMania and Mark Henry is a glorified jobber. If Mark Henry wins it will be the upset of the evening. Fit Finlay will win the Money in the Bank match before Mark Henry beats Undertaker.

Inter-Brand Money In The Bank Ladder Match for a title shot within the next 12 months
Matt Hardy (SD) v. Finlay (SD) v. Lashley (SD) v. Ric Flair (RAW) v. Shelton Benjamin (RAW) v. Rob Van Dam (RAW)
I Say: First I have to eliminate the ones that I am 100% sure won't win. That gets rid of Flair and Finlay. Even though the fans are behind him I can eliminate Matt Hardy as well. That leaves Lashley, RVD, and Benjamin. Benjamin’s the IC champ so I don't see him winning either. At one point it seemed like Lashley was getting a Goldberg and Lesnar type push so it would make sense for him to win, but his character needs some serious development. I'm going to have to pick RVD. He is very under-utilized to the point where it's not even funny and he deserves to get a title shot. If he doesn't win I'd say Lashley does, but I'm sticking with RVD. I expect to see RVD, Matt Hardy, and Shelton Benjamin do most of if not all of the major 'spots'. There is a minimal chance of Ric Flair taking a major spot involving the ladder. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Ric Flair's bones would crumble if he took a major spot. He will however wear the proverbial 'crimson mask'.
David Says: Matt Hardy is continually buried. Fit Finlay is Fit Finlay. Shelton Benjamin has shown a precipitous lack of mic skills. Rob Van Dam never gets title shots and Ric Flair is ancient. A Lashley win would at least give a sense of suspense given the fact that his intimidating bulk can be used to frighten whoever holds the title.

Hardcore Match
Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack?) v. Edge
I Say: As part of the build-up for this match they have been mentioning that Foley has never had his 'Wrestlemania Moment'; He's never taken a big bump at WM. Therefore, I'm going to predict that Foley will get his moment. However, he's not going to win the match. He's got nothing to gain and Edge has a lot to lose. Edge seems to be being groomed as a main-eventer in the future and having him beat Foley can only help accomplish that. The only question going into this match is whether or not Edge will be as willing to get hurt as Randy Orton was a few years ago when he landed flat on his back into a pile of thumbtacks in his match against Foley. I'm picking Edge to win.
David Says: Faces can't always win and Mick Foley has a record of jobbing in the big matches. He's also had a few weeks of getting the better of Edge. Foley juices, Edge wins and Lita probably gets some revenge for the mandible claw.

Playboy Pillow Fight
Torrie v. Candice
I Say: There has been no announcement as to how the winner of this match will be determined. Does somebody have to give up? Do they have to beat the other person with a pillow and then pin them? To be honest I think that this will go to a no-winner finish, but if one of these Divas actually wins the match I think that it'll be Candice. Probably with the help of Victoria. In the very, very likely event that this match goes to a no-winner ending I'm just going to throw it out. It all depends on how it's set up. No matter how it shapes up, Victoria's going to somehow get involved. I also see a chance that Victoria may in fact turn face and help Torrie instead. It would actually make sense since Mickie James turned heel and that leaves only Trish, Torrie, and Ashley as the only female faces on RAW. Especially since Torrie is a terrible wrestler and Ashley has a long way to go as well, but at least she's trying. Torrie looks really uninterested in the ring.
David Says: Candice

Women's Title Match
Trish v. Mickie James
I Say: This match actually might be pretty good. They are both trained wrestlers and actually know moves. I see both women having a serious chance of winning, but I'm going with Trish. Possibly by DQ. I see Mickie winning the title sometime in the near future though.
David Says: Trish

US Title Match
Chris Benoit (c) v. JBL
I Say: I am a big fan of both wrestlers so the only question is whether they will have a good match or not. Ever since Benoit won the title from Booker T, it's been a little ignored. As with the women's match, I can see this one going either way. I'll say that Benoit wins. Most likely by DQ.
David Says: Since I don't watch SmackDown I'm giving a total guess and going with Benoit.

Handicap Match
Booker T & Sharmell v. Boogeyman
I Say: As I wrote about in my predictions for Saturday Night's Main Event (and other times before), they really need to establish Boogeyman as a wrestler and not just a gimmick. The match that he had against JBL a little while back was a little short and was pretty much a squash match. I hope that this match is a little more give-and-take that the JBL match was. I predict that Boogeyman will win. Most likely by countout when Booker T & Sharmell run away. I expect Sharmell's actual involvement to be minimal. Expect a lot of comedic stuff from Booker T & Sharmell.
David Says: I'll pick Boogeyman despite never once having seen him on TV.

World Tag Team Championship
Kane & Big Show (c) v. Carlito & Chris Masters
I Say: Kane and Big Show rarely seem to be in tag matches as of late. The only reason that they have the titles is because the RAW tag division stinks, but that's a topic for another day. I'm predicting to see Carlito & Masters to pick up the titles. If they do win I expect that their title run to consist of a lot of bickering and arguments.
David Says: I think Carlito has all the skills to be a huge superstar. I think Chris Masters has all the skills to be a huge lunkhead. I see the two of them getting the win over the old and creaky tag team of Kane and Show.

There you have it - the complete Wrestlemania 22 card. For the 4th straight year there is no IC title match. Also, MNM, the WWE Tag Team Champs, aren't even on the card. That's really unfortunate since MNM are actually one of Smackdown's bright spots and the WWE's best tag team overall.

Summary
I Say: Triple H, Rey Mysterio, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, RVD, Edge, Candice (or no finish), Trish, Benoit, Boogeyman, & Carlito/Chris Masters
David Says: John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Lashley, Edge, Candice, Trish, Benoit, Boogeyman, & Carlito/Chris Masters

It looks like the WWE Championship Match and the MiTB match will decide who gets more matches right.

Final Thoughts
Typically the current Hall Of Fame class is introduced during the show. Don't be surprised if Bret Hart doesn't come out. He has openly stated that he is only staying in Chicago long enough to attend the HOF ceremony and if he saw Shawn Michaels at the ceremony he would turn around and fly home immediately. Therefore he probably doesn't even want to be in the same arena as him either. He has also said that he is expecting Vince to try to convince him to stay for the actual PPV so maybe Vince will be able to sell him on the idea and he'll decide to stay. Staying with Bret Hart, there is a lot of speculation that he may become part of TNA in the future and would appear on one of their PPVs to throw the WWE Hall Of Fame plaque into the trash. Also, Stacy has been absent from WWE television for a very long time (although she remains under contract) so there is the chance that she may make her farewell appearance at WM22. I think that she may be used during the Playboy Pillow Fight and try to get payback on Candice for her remarks a few weeks ago when she said that Stacy choked on Dancing With The Stars. It was also announced earlier this week that Joey Styles will not be the lead announcer on the RAW announce team for Wrestlemania. He will instead be replaced by former RAW play-by-play announcer Jim 'J.R.' Ross. Whether or not Styles is off the announce team for Wrestlemania is not clear, but I would assume that he won't be part of it.

Update: It is now being reported that Hulk Hogan will also not be attending at the actual Wrestlemania 22 PPV event and will only be in Chicago long enough to induct 'Mean' Gene Okerlund into the WWE Hall Of Fame on Saturday night. He has apparently stated in an interview that on Sunday he would be participating in some kind of race with his son in California. Hogan did say that he would be going back to Chicago in time for Monday's RAW in order to shoot an angle with 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin.

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