Random Thoughts and 2008 WWE Night Of Champions Predictions

How about some random thoughts before I get into the predictions...

Mr. McMahon's Million $ Giveaway
This was little more than a ploy to get ratings and it's more or less considered a failure. The same people who have been watching Raw are still watching Raw and the one's who weren't still probably aren't. A total of 3 million $ have been given away and the giveaway is seemingly done with Mr. McMahon being 'injured' due to the 'accident' at Raw's conclusion. The WWE was looking for a way out of this promotion and I think they found it.

Some of the more memorably moments have been

• Mr. McMahon giving away prizes of $2 and $16
• The person whose answering machine picked up
• The viewer who gave Vince the correct password only to have Vince claim that they got it wrong and tried to hang up on them only to have Kelly Kelly make the save and tell Vince that the password was right.
• The person who said 'Wrong Number' and hung up as soon and Vince called him.
• The person who happened to be in the arena at Raw in San Antonio (I'm suspicious of this one because the camera-shot went right to her near what looked to be far from the ring.)
  

WWE Draft Lottery - The Rich Get Richer (A Lot Richer)
There have been reports that ECW will no longer be taped with Smackdown and will instead be taped before (or after depending on the location) Raw. Because of that any pick that Raw or ECW gets means a pick for both brands esentially.

Raw Gets:
Rey Mysterio - He's injured, but will be coming back soon. I'm not a huge fan of this pick.

C.M. Punk - This was easily predicted. C.M. Punk is a rising star and it was only a matter of time before he went to Raw. Look for him to feud with Y2J over the IC Title in the not to distant future.

Batista - Rey & Batista on Raw? (sarcastically) It must be my lucky day.

Michael Cole - He'll be back on SD soon.

Kane - I'm pretty sure he'll be dropping the title this weekend, but you never know since Raw and ECW are going to be together.

Smackdown Gets:
Jim Ross - Obviously since Cole is on Raw. Don't be surprised if they turn this into an angle where Ross comes off very bitter during his commentary. At that point he will be put into a match where he can win his spot back on Raw.

Jeff Hardy - I'm a little surprised that they didn't keep him on Raw

Kennedy - Does this mean that he will be becoming a heel again?

Umanga - Yeah, he's become a little stale on Raw

Triple H - There's no way that this lasts for long. Remember last time when Trips was drafted to SD in 2004? He was traded back to Raw almost immediately for the Dudleyz and Booker T. There is a small chance that Trips stays on SD for around 8 months or so (see Edge v. Batista match below)

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On to the picks - I have the advantage (or disadvantage) here since I've seen the draft and I would imagine that the draft has A LOT to do with what's going to happen at Night Of Champions. Because of that these were probaby the hardest picks I've made in two and a half years of making them.

ECW Championship: Kane (c) vs. The Big Show
Dave Says: Wake me when this one is over. Big Show wins.
I Say: ECW moving to Raw makes me think that Kane may keep the belt since Big Show winning the belt would mean that Big Show would essentially be on all threee brands since he's currently a SD star. I'll go with Show to win. What the hell.

WWE Championship: Triple H (c) vs. John Cena
Dave Says: Y'know kids there was a time when a champion took on all comers. Now it's just the same two or three guys battling over and over and over... Trips wins. Snore.
I Say: Part of the build up for this match has been that it will be one of those huge WWE moments where you can always remember where you were when it happened. For me is was watching WM22 and Backlash - TWO YEARS AGO! Trips is probably going to be back on Raw so he can go on and beat Cena and then drop the title to him at Summerslam....or maybe not (see Edge v. Batista match below) . Either way Trips wins.

World Tag Team Championship: Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Ted DiBiase and TBA
Dave Says: The mysterious "J" has a great tendency to pick TBA and TBA always loses (he also always thinks TBA will be someone exciting and it never is) however in this case I'm picking Ted Jr. and TBA.
I Say: HA! I'm not going to pick TBA here! Well, I might. I am predicting that TBA will be a huge disappointment. Why? Because I have read that DiBiase has been telling people that it will be 'The Son of a Bulldog'. D.H. Smith? Are you kidding me? DiBiase and Smith will never be over and putting the titles on them isn't going to work. The WWE will try it anyways. I hope I'm wrong. DiBiase and TBA win.

WWE Diva's Championship: Natalya vs. TBA - This will be used to inaugurate the Diva's Championship by determining the first champion.
Dave Says: WTF??? I protest. I refuse to pick. If you want to count this as a loss fine. Here is where I make my stand.
I Say: 2 TBA's on on card? It must be my lucky day! I can't imagine who it will be. Either the WWE is planning a huge surprise like someone jumping over from TNA or maybe a returing Trish Stratus or Chyna (highly unlikely for both) or the WWE has no clue what they are going to do. It will probably be Cherry or Michelle McCool. Natalya wins. No, wait a minute TBA wins again. (when will I learn?).
Note: I am writing these picks before this week's SD tapings so if an opponent is revealed I will try to updat my pick.

World Heavyweight Championship: Edge (c) vs. Batista
Dave Says: I'm a die hard Edgehead and it broke my heart to see him switch brands. I pick Edge.
I Say: I'm could go with a scenario similar to what I said last PPV. Edge wins, Undertaker interferes with Edge and Vicki's wedding, regains the title at Summerslam and cruises to WM25 where his streak ends to........Triple H. Finally, it all makes sense. Wait a minute! Ok, here is what will really happen - Batista wins the title and takes it to Raw while Trips takes the WWE Title to SD. The WWE title is the top title in wrestling. That's the one that they want to put on 'Taker for his last run.

WWE United States Championship: Matt Hardy (c) vs. Chavo Guerrero
Dave Says: Ummmm, Matt Hardy I guess.
I Say: Hardy wins the match, but doesn't keep the title for long since he is going to ECW.

WWE Tag Team Championship: John Morrison and The Miz (c) vs. Finlay and Hornswoggle
Dave Says: Miz & Morrison.
I Say: I agree. M & M win. If Finlay and Hornswoggle do get the titles it's only so half of the tag team champs will be a little person

WWE Women's Championship: Mickie James (c) vs. Katie Lea Burchill
Dave Says: Wow. Two women I actually recognize. I don't think the WWE is going to give Burchill the title just yet. She seems kinda separated from the rest of the women. Mickie James keeps the title.
I Say: Yeah, Dave's right. It's too soon for Burchill to get the title. For that reason she'll probbaly win. My pick is James.

Dave Says: Big Show, Trips, DiBiase & TBA, No Pick, Edge, Hardy, Miz & Morrison, & Micki James.
I Say: Big Show, Trips, DiBiase & TBA, TBA, Batista, Hardy, Miz & Morrison, & Micki James.

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