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WrestleMania 22 predictions

by Sean on March 29th, 2006

 It’s all happening this Sunday. Sports Entertainments biggest showcase…WrestleMania 22. Normally we have the WrestleMania party with all the fixin’s but due to a change (massive change) in household income I am praying we will be able to hold true to a household tradition.

Anyway I would like to drop my predictions. Even though those of us that are true followers of wrestling not the MARKS (Mark - A member of the audience, presumed gullible.) know all of the matches are preditermined but none the less fun to predict. So here is my 2 cents worth:

Torrie Wilson vs. Candice Michelle in a Playboy Pillow Fight

Who cares? It will be a whole lot of rolling around, T’s shaking and A’s bouncing. If Victoria stays out of it and Candice doesn’t try to use her wand I can see Torrie winning. But once again it doesn’t matter.

Boogeyman vs. Booker T & Sharmell

This one should be interesting. I am still trying to find out more on the guy that plays Boogeyman but if in fact Sharmell is not at ringside I think Booker T’s ring skill will be tested. Boogeyman’s style is more of power than technical and if he can keep Booker T grounded he could possibly win. Prediction: Boogeyman

Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James for the Women’s Championship

In watching both ladies wrestle Trish strikes me as having just a little more ring skill than Mickie does. In previous matches I have spotted Mickie over-running her spot or not hitting her move at the right time. Trish on the flipside of the coin executes the same moves but she gets the bigger POP (Pop - Sudden heat from a house as a response to a wrestler’s entry or hot move.) no matter what. This particular match has potential for a great ANGLE (Angle - A wrestling plot which may involve only one match or may continue over several matches for some time; the reason behind a feud or a turn.). But if I have to predict it will be Trish if there is no interference. Prediction: Trish

Big Show & Kane vs. Chris Masters & Carlito for the World Tag Team

Now this has been an interesting road for both teams. You have had both teams wrestling together as well as one-on-one. Looking at both Big Show & Kane they have both dominated a mass majority of their matches. But they are both slow. Carlito and Chris are smaller in size which makes the a little quicker on the moves. As individual wrestlers they both are very good technically and honestly they probably would do good as the Tag-Team Champions but they will resort to winning a matches anyway they can if the possibility of losing is there. That has been proven in the last 2 matches they have had. Prediction: Big Show & Kane

United States Champion Chris Benoit vs. JBL

Bar none Chris Benoit ranks up there with some of the best technical wrestler ever to grace the squared circle. JBL on the other hand is high ranking when it comes to power wrestlers. Not to mention the fact he is also a great bleeder. The disadvantage for Benoit is height and this could possess a challenge for him. JBL is also a dirty player when things are not in his favor. This is a hard one to call. I would like to see Benoit win but I see JBL on this one. Prediction: JBL

Edge vs. Mick Foley (Hardcore Match)

No doubt some of the best Hardcore matches have been given by Mick Foley. Personally his best were with Terry Funk but none the less he is known as the top Hardcore match specialist. Edge is known to have participated in the best TLC matches in WWE history and it has yet to be recreated. But let’s go back in time for a quick second. The last good somewhat of a hardcore match Mick Foley had was in the Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker at King of the Ring. He sustained some major injuries and if you ask me those injuries had an effect on his Hardcore matches from that point on.

In his “Loser must retire” match against Triple H it was clear his injuries had not totally healed. That to me was his last hardcore match. So now we come to this match against Edge. I see Mick giving his best (as he always does) but for some strange reason I am feeling Edge with the win. I am sure Edge will probably take the beating but in the end I just think he will win. Prediction: Edge

Undertaker vs. Mark Henry (Casket Match)

At 13-0 in his WrestleMania matches the Undertaker is probably a favorite to win. Yeah okay because he beat Yokozuna who was his biggest opponent does not really warrant hin doing it this time. If I had to just logic for this match I would look at it this way…The Undertaker has gotten older. I mean for real it is expected. I applaud him for his run and even admire the fact he is well respected in the locker room but the younger cats are bringing it now. Mark Henry has had many runs with the WWE and in all of his runs “The World’s Strongest Man” has been the center of his image. Finally He has come back with a “Crash through the wall” type of style and having this match does something for his career. Mark is the younger guy in this. He may not be fast but between the two he just strikes me as being the stronger one. That alone says he should win but I do believe the hype around The Undertaker being 13-0 and him being the senior will be factors in him winning. Prediction: The Undertaker

Money in the Bank Ladder Match

This is a inter-promotional match that will consist of 3 Smackdown Superstars and 3 Raw Superstars. The Superstars representing Smackdown will be Bobby Lashley, Matt Hardy and Fit Finlay while representing Raw will be Shelton Benjamin (current Raw Intercontinental Champion), Rob Van Dam, and Ric Flair. Out of all 6 participants Matt Hardy & Rob Van Dam are seasoned Ladder Match veterans. If I am not mistaken this is Ric Flair’s second ladder match in his whole career. At his age I am not feeling much participation from him. Now when I say that I am saying I do not see him doing some of the “Off the ladder” moves that the other participants will try. I sense the same feeling for Lashley & Finlay also. Lashey being big as all out doors but not as agile and Finlay like Flair being up in age does not give me a good feeling when it come to utilizing the ladder for moves. Benjamin I am feeling somewhat of willing to try a move. I do not recall him being in a ladder match but he should be one to watch. Hardy & Van Dam I see taking it to the limit so they definately are my favorites for the crowd response on ladder moves. And as funny as this sounds I think Flair just might win this. Prediction: Ric Flair

Mr. McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels in a No Holds Barred Match

For all the MARKS out there yes Shawn should win considering everything Vince has done to him. And honestly just based upon crowd POPS he should win. But I can remember early Shawn and he is becoming a shadow of what he once was. This is not a personal attack on him the person but it is a harsh dose of reality when it comes to the countdown of a wrestlers “in ring” participation. Shawn has heart for continuing to wrestle with known back problems. At one point his career was threatened due to the severity of his back injuries. But GOD is good and saw it fit for him to return. But since coming back I noticed he is not as agile as he was before the injury, he moves a slight bit more gingerly in the ring, and if I can be honest he takes way too many beatings. He has put over lots of wrestlers since coming back and that is a good mark of a PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER. But the only way he will pull this off is if Vince thinks he should win. Prediction: Vince McMahon

World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton

All 3 wrestlers are great in the ring and all have a style of their own. When it comes to great acrobatic Lucha Libre moves Rey Mysterio represents well. Randy Orton is definatley today’s wrestler with stamina, great defensive moves, yet with a ole’ school flavor. I mean being a 2nd or 3rd generation wrestler why should he? And Mr. Kurt Angle…The technical wrestler’s, wrestler. I have been a fan of his since he came to the WWE. He has not disappointed me at all in the ring. This match will possess a lot of thrills. But I do see Angle winning this one. Prediction: Kurt Angle

John Cena vs. Triple H for the WWE Championship

Rock & Roll versus Hip-Hop, New School versus Ole’ School. Okay here we go…My mind is looking a Triple H’s resume in the WWE. He has hed the title 10 times and has survived some of the most grueling matches. He is truly a “Cerebral Assassin” as he is called. He has the true skill of mentally throwing opponents off their game. Now I can’t go without saying this…Being Vince’s son-in-law and soon to be father of Stephani McMahon’s baby I think that will definately be a factor. I say this because behind the scene and in front of the camera Vince looks out for those who are committed to him and the company. Triple H has been there when many others left. He carried the torch when there was no one else to do it. John Cena…the Hip-Hop wrestling thug. As much as will say he has skills & flow on the mic but as long as he has bee in the WWE his ring skills have not sharpened. I am not say he can’t wrestle but there have been times I have been afraid watching him wrestle. He does possess a smashmouth type of style and maybe in a hardcore match it might come in handy but against Triple H??? He needs to be just a bit more technical. Prediction: Triple H