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TORCH QUESTION OF THE WEEK REAX: Readers pick their WrestleMania Rewind matches
Mar 7, 2008 - 5:20:05 PM |
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By James Caldwell, Torch columnist
This week's Question of the Week is what WrestleMania re-matches you'd like to see on next week's Raw show. You can still send in your picks for this week's Question of the Week. One common theme I've seen from the feedback is that there are limited match-ups due to death, roster changes, and injuries. It's interesting to see how similar reader picks were as a result. Also, check out Terrie Neilson's picks at the end, as she breaks down virtually every possibility based on the current roster. On to the feedback...
John Kelly, 24-year-old graduate school/student teacher from Carmel, N.Y.: Simply put, with the exception of Angle-Benoit and Eddie-Test, let's just replay WrestleMania 17 so the whole WWE audience - a good portion of which started watching after that date - knows exactly what the apex of the Attitude era was really like.
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Rich Twilling: At first thought, the WrestleMania rewind concept seemed exciting. However, after thinking about it, there are not a whole lot of options. Furthermore, I am guessing they will pair up people who competed against each other in the Money in the Bank ladder matches, calling them "WrestleMania opponents." I also think we will see Triple H vs. John Cena, since Randy Orton is running the show next week.
Anyway, I would like to see the following matches (and I am not thinking about finishes here, since I am guessing most will end up in non-finishes):
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (WM 19)
Triple H vs. Batista (WM 21)
Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker (WM 21)
Edge vs. Jeff Hardy (WM 16 and 17)
Big Show vs. John Cena (WM 20)
Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage (WM 8)
Okay, I am kidding on the last one, although Flair could get his win back! It's hard to get Flair on this card with the lose-and-retire stipulation, plus his limited WM appearances. The other matches would be very good to great if given time. I tried to include Taker vs. Triple H or Batista vs. Taker, but that left Orton out.
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Marcus Lee, student from Phoenix, AZ: Since this will be a 3-hour show, I figure five or six matches would be enough, since this Raw special features lots of backstage business and promos. It will also be interesting to see how many non main-event matches can be made, considering all of the talent that is gone from past WrestleMania events (Angle, Christian, Guerrero, Benoit, etc). With that, here are my five or six choices.
1. Shawn Michaels vs. Y2J (WM 19). Both guys are heading into big matches at WM, and their match at WM 19 was arguably the best on the card that night. Michaels could use the match to follow up on his moniker as "Mr. WrestleMania" and continue to make his point to Ric Flair while Jericho can look to try and gain some momentum lost during the Highlight Reel. However, since Jericho beat Hardy a week ago, he can go down to Michaels (perhaps via figure four?).
2. The Great Khali vs. Kane (WM 23). I know this isn't a great match to look back on, but the key here is the post-match ordeal. Kane can be looking to finish off Khali, then Edge (or the Ryder Bros.) comes in and interferes on Khali's behalf., then Taker comes out to help his brother. That can lead to Smackdown having a big tag-team main event on Friday. If that does not happen, then it would be nice to see Kane get a big victory via a chokeslam when people are actually watching the show he's wrestling on.
3. John Cena vs. Big Show (WM 20). The only problem with this match is that you can't have a clear-cut loser. Big Show just came back and Cena is in the main event at WM 24. However, it would be good for Cena to be able to get Big Show up in the FU. Maybe a spot where Floyd "Money" Mayweather, Jr comes in to interfere.
4. Undertaker vs. Randy Orton (WM 21). If my scenario for my second match option doesn't work, then this is a perfect option. Orton is heading into WrestleMania as the WWE champ and the Undertaker is going for the World Heavyweight Title. Their match at WM 21 was pretty good. The ending can come where Undertaker chokeslams Orton, and while getting ready for a tombstone, he gets speared by Edge. They fight off to the back, Orton looks on and turns around, only to walk into an FU or STFU by Cena (revenge for the ending on Raw).
5. Triple H vs. Batista (WM 21). The announcers can call this a "Raw warm-up" for Batista's match against Umaga at WM24. These two are good friends and have put together a solid series of matches against each other. This, of course, won't probably be a clean finish either, although Triple H can win it and the announcers can build it up as Raw having the superior talent pool.
6. Melina vs. Ashley Massaro - Lumberjill Match (WM 23). The only reason to put this on here is because it wouldn't be a WWE event without any T&A. This could also be used to set up the Bunny Mania tag match.
Other women's match possibilities:
*Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus (WM 22). Granted Trish is retired, but she can always come back for one night only, and their match is probably the best women's match in WrestleMania history.
*Candice Michelle vs. Torrie Wilson- Playboy Pillow Fight (WM 22). Since Maria is in Playboy, maybe there can be interference by her, Beth Phoenix, and the other Divas/Vixens. Then there can be tons of pillows flying and WWE can feature that T&A segment and also put over that Bunny Mania match.
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Terrie Neilson, Las Vegas, Nev.: This is actually a toughie, being that with the current rosters, many of the potential opponents are either injured, dead, or elsewhere. But here goes. The ones I would consider booking on the show are starred (**)
John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels - probably too recent and would come across as "been there done that", but could serve as Shawn's message to Flair about what happens when The Shopstopper is fully turned on. **
John Cena vs. Big Show - I like your idea about this one being a tough match for Cena (as well as something to help build up Show - something that storyline desperately needs). It's also fresher, as their match occurred four years ago. **
John Cena vs. Triple H - could kill the mystique of the triple threat. ... John Cena vs. JBL - Don't know if they'll go with this one, but with JBL on a vicious streak, and Randy rumored to be the one in charge next week, Randy could make this a street fight. **
Jeff Hardy vs. Edge - they are the only ones left (minus Matt Hardy currently on the DL) from those TLC matches, but they could always claim some unresolved issue from MITB at WrestleMania 23. ... Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels - set your VCRs for this one. Could be really good, and again, another message-maker from The Showstopper.
Kennedy vs. any or combination of opponents from MITB match at WrestleMania 23 - best bets Jeff Hardy, C.M. Punk, or Finlay (JBL could always get involved). ... Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H - Chris Benoit obviously can't be a part of it, but they haven't feuded in a while, making this a fresh match. **
Randy Orton vs. Undertaker - I don't think Randy would put himself in this position... Triple H vs. Undertaker- ...but he would do it to Triple H. A fairly fresh match-up. **
Vince McMahon vs. Shane McMahon-With the whole Hornswoggle thing in play, there is something to work with here.
Batista vs. Undertaker - Too much "been there, done that" could ruin the crowd reception. ... Batista vs. Triple H - As a face-face match, could work to tweak Triple H's character definition (Umaga could figure in since his only WM opponent, Lashley, is gone, and he has a match against Batista) **
Big Show or Kane vs. Carlito - Carlito's the only component of the tag match from WrestleMania 22. Kane could use a squash win, and Big Show could show dominance. ... Big Show vs. Triple H - What's left of the McMahons-in-every-corner match. Tough one to book for their respective circumstances. ... Big Show vs. Kane - before Backlash 2006, there was a triple threat for the Hardcore title, which Kane won in the end. ... Big Show vs. Undertaker - all kinds of booking problems could curse this one.
Edge vs. any or combination of opponents from MITB match at WrestleMania 21 -best bets would be Chris Jericho or Kane.
Ric Flair vs. Undertaker - could really add fuel to the retirement storyline, including the impetus for Shawn to accept once and for all. And, a potential Michaels-Undertaker angle to boot. ** ... Ric Flair vs. Chavo Guerrero - dark match at WM 23, but counts in my book. ... Ric Flair vs. Finlay - tough one to book due to storylines, but they did oppose each other in MITB at WrestleMania 22.
Mark Henry vs. Undertaker - not likely, as Henry's credibility is all but gone, and the new hold has been put on him. ... Kane vs. Undertaker - tough to book, as Kane's credibility is shaky right now. ... Kane vs. Khali - I don't think anyone wants to see that again.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Chavo Guerrero - remaining components of WWE tag title feuds, but heel-heel match won't get the crowd involved. It could give away too much for later. ** ... Shelton Benjamin vs. any or combination of opponents from MITB match at WrestleMania 22 - best bets would be Ric Flair or Finlay. ... Elijah Burke or Matt Striker vs. Tommy Dreamer - what's left of the New Breed-Originals feud; could be adjusted to be Burke/Striker vs. Dreamer/Delaney. Miz-Morrison could interfere setting up for ECW's possible Mania match(es). **
There turned out to be a lot more match-ups than I expected, but the question of which ones will make the cut will be interesting to see.
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