ECW One Night Stand - Predictions & Other Thoughts

Welcome to a very EXTREME edition of Wrestleblogger PPV predictions. To mark this special occasion I have wrapped my entire body in barbed wire and am ready to set myself on fire at a moment's notice. As For David, he's got razorblade in hand and is willing to juice Mass Transit-style at the drop of a hat. Also, since this is the EXTREME edition of Wrestleblogger predictions I have decided to temporarily relocate Wrestleblogger Command Central to high atop the roof of the site of ECW One Night Stand - The Hammerstein Ballroom in the heart of New York City.

Lets get to the preditions...

WWE Championship
John Cena (C) v. Rob Van Dam
I Say: All signs point towards RVD winning the WWE Title and renaming it the ECW Championship. I think that RVD winning the title from Cena would be a win-win situation with Cena not having the title anymore and RVD getting a well-deserved title run, but there is one reason that I think that John Cena should win. That reason being that he's da bomb! I'm only kidding - I actually despise him. Seriously, the WWE Title has a rich history and for that reason it should stay in the WWE - either RAW or Smackdown. Yeah, I know that ECW is part of the WWE, but they are billing it as more of a separate promotion and not as an extension of the WWE like RAW and SD are. Therefore I am picking John Cena to retain. I am going with the rule - Cena never loses. The thing with John Cena is that it always looks like he's guaranteed to lose and he somehow finds a way to win. I would normally say that RVD would win by DQ or something, but I am pretty sure that ECW doesn't use DQs (or countouts or rules of any kind). I find it strange that nobody has brought up the fact that back when Jerry Lawler initially invaded ECW in 1997 RVD and Sabu (with their manager Bill Alfonso) formed an alliance with him an turned their backs on ECW. After John Cena wins I expect to see a riot to start and the Hammerstein Ballroom to be burnt to the ground. Is it possible that after Cena wins that he will gain the respect of the ECW fans and that they will give him a standing ovation? As Vince would say - 'No Chance. No Chance In Hell'. One last bit of information - RVD was scheduled to win the ECW World Title during the promotion's original run, but he broke his leg and plans had to be scrapped.
David Says: I'm torn on this one. I always want John Cena to lose. I think the smart money would be on a title change for three reasons. First, it would give some legitimacy and interest to Vince McMahon's new ECW brand. Second, it would be the natural conclusion to Rob Van Dam's victory at WrestleMania. Third, hometown hero's always have the advantage and ECW is RVD's hometown. On the other hand John Cena is tough to bet against. The title was literally created for him and as bad as Cena is on the mic RVD is even worse and Van Dam just doesn't have that world champ feel to him. I'm going to go with RVD for a very short title reign.

World Championship
Rey Mysterio (C) v. Sabu
I Say: I would love to see Sabu beat Rey. Hell, I would love to see anybody beat Rey. Unfortunately, it's not going to happen. I am going with another rule and saying that Rey is going to win. I am actually looking forward to this match. From what I have seen Rey's ECW stuff is quite entertaining. His WWE stuff stinks....STINKS! Speaking of stinking - I don't think that Vince would ever put the World Title on a guy (Sabu) who still has the stink of TNA on him (Eventhough TNA didn't hesitate putting their World Title on Christian right after he arrived in TNA from WWE). I would be very happy to see Rey do a lot of high-flying extreme spots, but he would absolutely destroy his body. His body is so rundown at this point that any extreme spots here could end his career (Please Rey! Do some extreme spots! I'm begging you!). The only reason that he is still World Champion and on TV is that the WWE doesn't have a good angle to get the strap off of him. I can't believe that I am saying this, but I can't wait until Batista comes back. The sooner he comes back the sooner Rey loses and is taken off of TV. WWE.com has posted an article about how Paul E. offered Rey a ECW contract after the WWE v. ECW special. Therefore I see a small (very small) chance of Rey jumping ship so ECW can have a champion, but I see Rey staying loyal to the WWE brand. I would much rather see the World Championship go to ECW than the WWE Title. Since the World Championship is really the WCW belt I see no problem with it jumping to another 'promotion' (eventhough it's really a brand). Finally, rumor has it that Rey was very disappointed in his match at last year's ECW 1NS against Psicosis because he decided to do a West Coast Pop and a 619 . Basically, he felt that he did a WWE-style match at an ECW event and the crowd didn't go for it. So it should be interesting to see whether or not he does a WWE style match with his WWE trademark moves.
David Says: Please, this is the five star sure thing bet of the evening. Always go with Mysterio. Bookers seem to inexplicably love him. I certainly don't see ECW winning BOTH world titles and McMahon just has nothing invested in Sabu. Sabu is old and apparently botching spots badly. Unlike WCW I think that Vince McMahon still thinks of the world title as sacred and wouldn't throw it on Sabu just to create some brief interest. Unlike Sabu RVD has proven himself in the WWE and his win wouldn't seem at all absurd.

Jerry Lawler v. Taz
I Say: There has been so much talk between these two about choking-out that it's pretty safe to assume that Taz is going to choke-out Lawler. Let's face it - There's a very good chance that this could be the last match of Taz's career. I am sure that Lawler will wrestle again at some point. Therefore I'm picking Taz to win. Most likely via Tazmission. I am hoping that 'The Human Suplex Machine' Taz will do a lot of the suplexes that made him famous, but he's not really in ring shape any more so I don't know how likely that will be.
David Says: Despite his age and paunch Lawler almost never seems to lose. Lawler's wrestling skills are diminished and his r'epertoire of moves seems limited to slow moving heymakers. Taz is also notorious for losing. Lawler will win.

Kurt Angle v. Randy Orton
I Say: Kurt Angle is being built-up to be one of ECW's top-tier guys along with RVD. There is no way that he can come out of 1NS on the losing end. I have also read that Orton's attitude backstage has changed very little from what it was prior to his suspension and that can't be good for Orton's chances of winning. Angle isn't ECW alumni so he is going to have to pull out all of the stops to win over the rabid ECW crowd. I have to go with Angle to win. I am predicting that Orton will escape multiple ankle locks only to submit in the end. Big Shows involvement is a lock. Perhaps this whole defection to ECW is a trick and he'll realign with Raw, but I doubt it.
David Says: Kurt Angle is perhaps the best wrestler in the WWE and Orton is in the dog house. I see Angle winning in a very physical match. Orton may get a lesson for misbehaving from a stiff working Angle. Angle doesn't need to give people cheap shots to abuse them in the ring. This will be the match of the evening with Orton left battered and aching.

Mick Foley & Edge w/Lita v. Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer w/Beulah
I Say: A big question going into this match is whether or not Edge will be willing to take the level of punishment (or more) that he took at WM22. Foley, Funk, and Dreamer all have a track record of putting their bodies on the line and take extreme amounts of punishment. I think that Edge and Foley should win, but I am picking Dreamer and Funk to come out on top. I see a chance of Foley returning to his roots and turning on Edge. This whole thing with Edge could just be a big ruse so Foley can show him what true hardcore is about. Expect this match to be full of weapons and lots of blood - More blood than has been seen on WWE TV or PPV in a long time if not ever. This match will be the match of the night - I am really looking forward to seeing Terry Funk get beaten within an inch of his life. Just like every Ric Flair match consists of Flair doing a Front Face Flop, expect Funk to do one of his usual 'moves' where he stands in the middle of the ring with his legs spread apart while swinging his arms wildly . I am looking for Sandman to interfere and help team ECW in this match. I also would like to see thumbtacks play a role in this match. (I wonder if a special permit is needed to use explosives in the ring). Lita and Beulah will probably have a catfight of some sort during the match. BTW, why aren't they mentioning how Lita got her start in ECW?
David Says: Edge is the only legit wrestler in this match. Funk is ancient, Dreamer's a soupcan and Foley is just a glorified stuntman (just kidding). Funk and Dreamer will dominate the match with sissy punches and frequent tags until Edge spears Funk breaking his withered frame in half. Then Funk will do what Funk does best, get his ass royally kicked from pillar to post. Dreamer will receive some serious abuse too and a mandible claw will leave him weeping like a school girl who just got her Sunday dress all muddy.

Masato Tanaka v. Balls Mahoney (Yet to be officially announced)
I Say: I have absolutely no interest in Balls Mahoney. I've always pictured him as a slightly less retarded version of 'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan - both in looks and intellegence. Add to that the fact that Tanaka's match against Mike Awesome at last year's 1NS stole the show and I have to pick Tanaka to win. For some reason Balls is way over and I can't explain why and for that reason I am sure that he'll win and I'll be wrong. Initially I would have picked Axl Rotten to interfere somehow, but he no-showed Raw and was nowhere to be seen at the WWE v. ECW special so I'm not sure if he's still going to be involved in the relaunch of ECW.
David Says: I haven't the slightest idea. Balls Mahoney wins.

Tajiri & Super Crazy w/Mikey Whipwreck v. The Full Blooded Italians (Yet to be officially announced)
*It should be noted that some online wrestling sites have Tajiri teaming with Mikey Whipwreck instead of with Super Crazy (with Mikey Whipwreck in their corner).
I Say: First off, I'm not really sure who the FBI is going to be. Did Terry Smothers agree to do the show? Is the WWE going to scrap the whole Vito dressing like a woman angle? Since Little Guido (Nunzio) and Tony Mamaluke are under WWE/ECW contract I am going under the assumption that they will be the FBI. I am unsure if Tajiri has inked a deal with ECW so it's a little hard for me to go with a team that isn't fully under contract. I have to pick the FBI (whoever they turn out being). I sure hope that they don't try to continue the Smackdown storyline by having Vito come down in a dress.
David Says: Agh, A match I totally don't care about. I'll pick Tajiri and Super Crazy.

Summary:
I picked: Cena, Rey, Taz, Kurt Angle, Funk/Dreamer, Tanaka, & The FBI.
David picked: RVD, Rey, Lawler, Kurt Angle, Edge/Foley, Balls, & Tajiri/Super Crazy.

It looks like we disagree on the RVD v. Cena, Lawler v. Taz, Edge/Foley v. Funk/Dreamer, Tanaka v. Balls, & Tajiri/Super Crazy v. FBI matches.

Other Thoughts:
Here's a list of talent that has been confirmed for the PPV, but have unknown involvement at this point: Sandman, Big Show, C.W. Anderson, Justin Credible, Al Snow, Stevie Richards, Danny Doring, Francine, Axl Rotten, Jazz, and Vito.

It was unfortunate that the much talked about Eddie Guererro tribute match between Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko doesn't look like it's going to happen, but in the unlikely event it does I am picking Benoit to win.

I think that Heyman, Dreamer, and whoever else is booking the PPV and promotion should bring in Blue Meanie and bring Simon Dean over to reform the bWo with Stevie Richards.

The WWE has signed Gangrel to be part of the ECW brand and from what I hear it's to appease the execs at Sci Fi Network. The network wants some sort of science fiction element to the show. Originally Sci Fi asked WWE to have an alien character, but the WWE declined. Both sides eventually agreed on a vampire; Gangrel. There may even be a entire faction of vampires in ECW. No word yet if Gangrel will be part of the PPV, but it looks doubtful.

No rumors of Steve Austin's involvement if any. I think he's filming a movie so I don't think he'll be appearing.

I am a little surprised that there has been absolutely no news regarding Kid Kash being part of the PPV or the ECW brand in general. The same thing goes for Bill Alfonso and Joel Gertner as well.

The WWE should put a match with the Impact Players (Justin Credible & Lance Storm w/Dawn Marie) on the card.

No announced involvement for Sandman as of yet. That's very surprising given that he is one of ECW's top guys of all time.

No matter what happens with the World Titles at least one of the brands (Raw, SD, & ECW) is going to be left without a champion. If my predictions are right then ECW will be left without a champion. What they could do then is start a tournament to determine the first world champion of the new ECW.

I hope that there will be a lot of high and extreme spots. I think that we will see at least one spot off of a balcony and at least one spot into the crowd.

Finally, I am looking to see a lot of blood on the PPV. I'm not talking about any stupid John Cena bleeding like when he has a single stream of blood running down his face. I'm talking the kind of bleeding the puts Ric Flair to shame. I think it goes without saying that I wouldn't want to see anyone lose enough blood to put their health or lives in danger. I want to see a lot of weapons too. Weapons like flaming baseball bats wrapped in electrified barbed wire.

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