It's that time of year again.

Awesome. The 3 out of 12 months of the year when WWE is actually good.

You DID see that Observer post outlining the supposed main matches. That DOES NOT look good. If they fuck up what seems like a clear cut road to Mania, I'm gonna be a little pissed.

They can sell me on Michaels/Cena alone, if they just try, even a little bit.

I won't get ultra-pumped about Micheals/ Cena, but I will be interested to see what HBK gets out of him.

Or Vice-Versa

To me, HBK could really make Cena if he wants to. I'm no HBK fan, but he's proven time and again that he can put on a classic match on the big stage. If he decides to, he coud give Cena his first classic match, and a little more respect from me.

So it's pretty much a given now that we will get some combination of Michaels, Undertaker, Cena, and Batista in the top 2 matches. Considering how 'Taker and HBK consistantly deliver at 'Mania, we should be alright anyway you slice it. However, whoever is saddled with Batista will have much more work to do. If you run Michaels/Cena you get one great match and then most likely an "ugh" Title vs. Streak match with Batista and 'Taker. Cena/Taker and Batista/HBK would both be pretty good I would think, but neither would be on the level of HBK/Cena.

By the way, it'll be interesting to see what the rest of the card shapes up like...

Is Triple H out for 'Mania for sure then?

I could see them running Edge/Orton, but I don't know who would turn. Finlay/Boogeyman is a possibility and waste of Finlay. MVP/Kane and Benoit/Kennedy as well could be possibilities, plus the ECW matches and some more stuff from Raw using guys like Umaga and Carlito...

Triple H isn't expected back until around Summerslam, so save for a non-wrestling cameo, there won't be any Triple H at this Wrestlemania.

You know, WWE's at the state right now, where they really need to launch some ground breaking angle at Mania this year. I know it won't happen, because the competition isn't making them desperate, but with things going like they are now, that seems like only a matter of time.

What did you have in mind?

I'm thinking we're gonna get the majority of the guys that can really go are gonna get thrown into a Money in the Bank match. Guys like Benoit, Finlay, Kennedy, and Carlito for sure. Other than that I can see them throwing in guys like MVP and Masters into the match as well. I guess time will tell on that.

I definately think Orton/Edge is in order, with probably Edge working heel.

Also, I think that we'll see a four way tag match or something for the tag belts, and absolutely nothing with the Cruiserweight title either.

I guess I could see them doing another Money in the Bank. I was thinking more along the lines of MNM vs. the Hardys in a ladder/TLC match, though...

I wouldn't be surprised if the Money in the Bank match this year was MNM and the Hardyz along with two ECW guys (that way each brand would have two reps).

Assuming they didn't want RVD to be the one challenging Lashley at Wrestlemania, RVD and CM Punk would be the two best fits for the MITB match.

Well we have participant number one for the MITB. EDGE.

Meltzer is now reporting that Trump will pick Lashley to be his guy vs. Vince's guy Umaga at Mania.

So thus far we have...
WWE Title Match: Shawn Michaels vs John Cena ©
World Title Match: The Undertaker vs Batista ©
Battle of the Billionaires: Umaga (w/ Vince McMahon) vs Donald Trump's Guy (supposedly Bobby Lashley)
Money in the Bank: Edge vs CM Punk vs King Booker vs ??? vs ??? vs ???

I'm not happy that Umaga is going to job to Lashley. The Money in the Bank is making not a lot of sense. If Edge is in I'd imagine Orton is going to be the other Raw guy. I'll go out on a limb and say the other SmackDown guy is Ken Kennedy and the other ECW guy is Rob Van Dam. Of course this is assuming they do two from each.

I could see Benoit vs MVP for the US Title here.

Hardyz and MNM have to do a blow off, but the gimme TLC match probably won't be done because they're running Money in the Bank. Hell in a Cell, maybe? I personally wouldn't mind another TLC match on the show, maybe make this one a pin/submit format instead of grab the titles. Throw Londrick and D&D out there as well. Or maybe change the MITB to an elimination format.

Flair vs Carlito seems to be getting built, too.

I'll be honest, I can see them putting Holly or Monty in the MITB match before RVD.

Possible, but I don't think they'd fuck around at WrestleMania. Nobody is gonna care if Holly or Brown aren't on the card, but there will be people wondering where the fuck RVD is.

Actually, putting Monty Brown on the card would increase my willingness to pay for WM. As it is I'm willing to watch it for free.

I just think that they are THAT down on RVD right now, and I don't see them having ANOTHER way for him to get in considering he already had a shot.

I think they might end up having a 8 man tag with the Originals vs. New Breed.

Yep. I could see them doing RVD, Sabu, Dreamer and Sandman vs. Burke, Monty, Striker, and Thorn in an "Extreme Rules" match. That'd leave room for Holly in the MITB. Has it been mentioned anywhere that they are actually doing 2 from each brand? Sure it makes sense to us, but this is WWE here...

Yea, I just made that logic up on my own. So don't take it as gospel or anything.

I think I might like the 8 man tag more just to get Sabu and Monty on there. Although I echo the sentiments in the ECW thread about having no desire to see Dreamer anymore.

Yeah, I see the 8 man happening, but honestly that leaves just about ONLY Bob Holly as the other MITB participant, again, assuming they'll do 2 from each.

Kennedy should be a lock, even though last week I thought he would win the ECW title and then go defend it at Mania v RVD or something -- so basically I could easily be way off.

Don't forget Kane v Khali, and Melina v Ashley (v Mickie also, I hope). Actually, let me make a counter here:

1. Cena v HBK
2. Batista v Taker
3. MITB (Edge, Orton, Punk, Holly, Booker, Kennedy) (Wow thats alot of heels)
4. Lashley v Umaga
5. Kane v Khali
6. MNM v Hardyz v London/Kendrick v Deuce & Domino (Maybe?)
7. Benoit v MVP
8. ECW 8 Man Tag
9. Flair v Carlito
10. Melina v Ashley v Mickie

Is that alot of fucking matches, or am I just out of touch with the Mania set up?

Jaime I'd say your money except for a couple of things. I think that Melina is just going to fight Ashley. I don't think Mickie is going to be in the match at all. Also, I think they are going to just do MNM vs. The Hardys and I doubt they'll be adding a team to that mix. They might do London/Kendrick vs. D&D themselves, but we'll see.

Jamie's card looks extremely likely, though I won't believe that London and Kendrick will be on Wrestlemania until they are actually in the fucking ring having a match on the show itself.

I know a lot of people are down on Dreamer right now, but how great would it be for him to be on a Wrestlemania card at least once?

I love Dreamer overall, he's just way past being useful at this point. He is the man, though.

And that Money in the Bank can't possibly have only one face, can it?

Kane vs. Khali... Jesus Christ.

I really hope that doesn't happen. I used to love Kane, but not in awhile. Khali is hilarious when he's squashing everyone, but in a real match he bloooooows.

Exactly. I have no idea why they wouldn't put him in there with someone that makes him look good.

Kane always makes people look good... he's booked as the most incompetant person in wrestling these days.

I was thinking more of a non hoss bumper actually.

Someone like Nitro comes to mind, although that match wouldn't make sense.

It's WWE. It makes perfect sense. ;)

He could squash the whole RAW tag division! They won't be busy at Mania!

Touche.

I'd be interested to see what Benoit could get out of Khali. Although that'd be a huge waste of Benoit at 'Mania, you just know he's gonna get wasted anyway against someone like MVP.

I don't think Benoit is being wasted if they put him in there with MVP. MVP has improved DRASTICALLY since his abyssmal debut, and he's clearly being groomed for bigger things. I'd like to see what Benoit could drag out of MVP, drop the title, and then turn heel shortly thereafter. There's a lot of heels on SD, but I don't think they're gonna do anything with face Benoit.

MVP is a pretty lame gimmick, considering he's not an established star. That's like a baseball team signing some random japanese pitcher to a $50 million contract after paying $51 million just to talk with him.

I think that's what they're going for with the MVP gimmick. Overhyped and doesn't deliver type of character, Terrell Owens like.

I agree MVP/Benoit wouldn't be bad, and also agree MVP has improved a lot since his debut, but it still feels like a waste. If they're gonna waste Benoit, they might as well do it by doing something different, like having him wrestle Khali.

He had to wrestle JBL last year. Hasn't the man suffered enough!? I sya Benoit/Kane sounds more promising.

So says the guy who's team is paying 25 million a year for A-Rod

The Rangers are still chipping in for that, so huzzah!