Professional Wrestling

[DennyMcLain]

I'm waiting for the day that Ric Flair becomes GM of one of the shows. I think the draft will be interesting next week. Pharoah give us an update or two before the draft so we know what is going on and what the new battles will be.

Obviously Batista is a major part of the Tripe H/Orton fued right now.

Can you imagine if Batista, HHH, and Flair join forces to re-invent The Four Horsemen? Flair can play the JJ Dillon role, HHH comes to Raw, and Batista goes to Smackdown. There's been so much cross-branding these days it wouldn't be inconceivable for the Horsemen to travel to each show (maybe even ECW) and give their teammates an assist.

Here's how I would have it:

Flair -- manager (Shane McMahon can also play this role)

HHH -- plays the Ric Flair "lead" role (Kennedy would fit better, but he's not big enough with the fans, IMO, to pull it off)

Batista -- Plays the heavy, and also can be the Smackdown champ.

The third wrestling member would be a toss up. Usually it was two solo wrestlers and a tag team, but I can't imagine a team that might fit the Anderson/Blanchard mold within the WWE. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

Another option would be to chuck the original mold and acquire Matt Morgan, and stick him in there. Can you imagine that threesome?

HHH
Batista
Morgan

The fourth wrestling member could be a middleweight-type, like Blanchard.

My brain is mush right now. I'll have to get back to it.

[Pharaoh]

I don't wanna see Triple H form a stable to combat Orton, DiBiase and Rhodes. I wanna see Batista turn on Triple H and join Legacy!

Imagine this shit ...

Triple H has Orton down in the middle of the ring, Shane McMahon is doing some crazy ass stunt off the top rope to the floor on DiBiase (frog splash through a table or a Moonsault through a table) while Batista and Rhodes are battling in a corner.

As HHH picks up Orton and prepares to deliver the Pedigree Batista rushes HHH and clotheslines him! Batista then helps Orton up. Orton tells Batista and Rhodes to go get a couple of sledgehammers (kept under the ring, naturally).

Shane sees what's going on and rushes the ring (DiBiase is now knocked out at ringside). Orton kicks him in the gut and delivers the RKO. Batista and Rhodes return with the sledgehammers.

HHH gets to his knees (it's taken too long to get the hammers - remember Batista only clotheslined him so he can't lay there all night) and ALL 3 bad guys nail him with a sledgehammer!!!

Orton, Batista and Rhodes stand over a bloody, beaten HHH. Medics and security rush the ring and HHH is put on a stretcher and wheeled out.

Oh shit - Orton MUST score the pin on HHH straight after the Batista closthesline so he can actually win the match and the title.

OK, so where was I...

HHH is now out of action for 2 months. This allows Raw to focus on Cena, Jericho, Christian who I would add to Raw, Punk and Legacy. Triple H gets some time off to be with his wife and kids.

In storyline HHH would be in hospital having to undergo surgery to reconstruct his face. The blows from the sledges destroying his cheekbones, nose etc (if he wanted a nose job now is the time lol)

But when he returns he'd have an ally that no one even expected ...

I will try to update you guys when the Draft is happening (I haven't checked my wrestling sites today) and I will try to get the 2nd half of Mania posted as it features the Undertaker/Shawn Michaels classic and the 2 title matches.

BTW, WWE did ZERO follow up to the Shawn/Taker match on RAW!!! WTF?

[Pharaoh]

PART II of Mania:

-A commercial aired for the the Legends of WrestleMania videogame.

-They went backstage to Randy Orton getting ready for his match. Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase were sitting off to the side. Lawler said he appeared very ready for tonight as the camera zoomed in on an intense expression on his face.

5 -- JBL vs. REY MYSTERIO -- IC Title match

JBL walked out, mic in hand, and said this is "the greatest day in JBL's great life." He said just as Julius Caesar returned to Rome the conquering hero, he would return to Texas champion. He held the IC Title belt in the air. He said Texas has no champions and no real men. "You sit around, you drink your little lattes, you do your pilates, lookin' through the Houston Chronicle looking for a job. At this point in life you need hope and along comes your hero, JBL." Rey Mysterio's ring intro them took place. He looked like he was wearing a Joker mask blended with a typical Rey mask. As the ref began instructions to the fighters, JBL surprised Rey with a big boot to the face. The ref yelled at JBL and insisted he respect his authority. He did a nice job telling JBL to back off as he checked on Rey. Usually when a heel jump-starts a match illegally, the ref rewards him by having him ring the bell right away. Rey said he was fine. He ducked a JBL clothesline and hit an enzuigiri. He then hit a sudden 619 and a top rope splash for the win. Lawler had to ask if the match even officially started. Cole said JBL predicted the most dominant win in WrestleMania history. He got that right, but the winner wrong. JBL weeped while sitting center ring.

WINNER: Rey in 0:21 to capture the Intercontinental Title.

STAR RATING: * -- The overall way everything played out was well done. Obviously, not much of a match as just 21 seconds, but satisfying for fans given JBL's cocky pre-match speech and cheapshot at the start.

-JBL stood up and looked around in shock. He said he had something to say. Lawler said he couldn't wait his excuse. Lawler suggested a camera flash got in his eyes. Ross suggested perhaps "Open Mouth Disease." JBL milked the boos and then yelled, "I quit!" He then even seemed shocked at his declaration. He dropped the mic. Ross wondered if we were seeing him leave the ring for the final time. JBL yelled at the booing crowd: "You will regret this! You will never get over this!"

-They showed the Houston skyline. Cole said it's the fourth largest city in the country. Lawler then plugged the National Guard. They showed Carl Edwards, a NASCAR driver, at ringside. Cole said he's a big fan of John Cena.

6 -- UNDERTAKER vs. SHAWN MICHAELS

Ross said this is the most anticipated main event in many years. Michaels came out to different music on a crane type lift with fog shooting out of it. Once it lowered to the ground, his regular intro music kicked in and he danced his way to the ring. He prayed half way to the ring. Undertaker then made his grand entrance. Just over half way into the four hour show, the bell rang to start this match. Michaels threw some early chops in the corner. Taker swung at Michaels, but Michaels ducked and pounded away at Taker's head in the corner. Taker caught another Michaels swing mid-ring and tossed him into the corner. Michaels climbed to the second rope, crotch chopped Taker, and leaped at him. He pretended to have a knee or hamstring injury, but then dove at Taker as soon as his guard was slightly down. Taker again tossed Michaels into the corner and punched away at him. He applied an armbar mid-ring and slowed things down.

He climbed to the top rope and walked the top rope and came off with a forearm, smashing Michaels to the mat. He charged at Michaels in the corner, but Michaels moved. Michaels gave Taker a single leg atomic drop and then clipped him from behind. They're pacing this like a long match. They've got plenty of time to work with. Michaels applied a figure-four leglock. Taker powered out after a minute or so. Taker hit snake eyes, a running boot, and legdrop for a near fall at 8:00. Cole called the near fall. Taker signaled for a chokeslam. Michaels surprised Taker with a crossface with Taker's free arm locked between his legs. Taker rolled Michaels back into a near fall. Michaels kicked back into his leverage advantage, not letting go of his grip during the attempted pin.

On their feet at 10:00 they had a rapid-fire exchange including Michaels chops drawing "woos!" from the crowd. Michaels hit a flying forearm and both men were down on their backs. Michaels nipped up after a few seconds. Michaels hit two inverted atomic drops and then climbed to the top rope. Lawler said, "We have to face it; Shawn Michaels has the Undertaker's number." As Michaels flew off the top rope, Taker caught him by his throat and set up a chokeslam. Michaels escaped and went for a superkick. Taker dropped down to avoid the kick and then applied his Hell's Gate submission hold for a believable near finish. Michaels draped his legs on the bottom rope to force a break. The crowd oohed and ahhed that spot. Taker smashed Michaels head-first into the ringside steps. Then Taker went for a guillotine legdrop off the ring apron. Michaels moved. Michaels slidekicked Taker, then climbed to the top rope. When he leaped at Taker, Taker sidestepped and swatted him hard to the floor. As the ref checked on Michaels, Cole said the match may be over. Taker sat up on the ring apron just as Michaels showed signs of life on the floor with the ref at 15:00.

Taker staggered to his feet, then ran the ropes and dove over the top rope at Michaels. Michaels yanked the cameraman into Taker's way. Taker almost broke his neck. That was one of the scarier moments I've seen in a wrestling match. He literially looked like he was about to land on his head, but he tucked at the last possible second. Taker's eyes went wide afterward, as if he was relieved and mad all at once. Taker's attempt to tuck was blocked a bit by the cameraman's arm trying to protect himself. Cole quietly asked, "Did you see how the Undertaker hit the floor?" Michaels crawled into the ring, then after a few seconds crawled back out of the ring to check with the ref on why he wasn't counting Taker out. He rolled back into the ring. Taker didn't move more than just his fingers for a full minbutes or two after the dive. They replayed the dive again and Lawler said it was hard to watch and scary. Michaels tried to get the groggy ref to count Taker out. Michaels began his own count and then the refere e oined in. Taker was still in the same position where he had landed three minutes earlier. The crowd began to boo, not wanting to see the match end by countout. Taker began to get up. Michaels practically begged for the ref to get to ten, but Taker managed to drag himself up to the ring apron at nine. Taker dramatically rolled in just before ten. Cole and Ross each said, "The streak is alive!" Michaels regrouped.

Michaels set up Sweet Chin Music. He went for it, but Taker side-stepped him and chokeslammed him. The announcers touted what an impressive chokeslam it was, Michaels kicked out and the crowd popped. Taker staggered around the ring and then lifted Michaels for a Tombstone. Michaels escaped it. Michaels went for a superkick. Taker ducked it. Michaels escaped Taker's chokeslam attempt and then hit a sudden Sweet Chin Music. Michaels crawled over and draped an arm over Taker's chest. The crowd counted along and popped when Taker kicked out. As Steamboat said during his Hall of Fame speech, these two get to say under their breath to one another when this ends, "We got 'em," as they had the crowd all the way.

Michaels nipped up and bent over to grab Taker. Taker reached up and grabbed him by his throat. Taker then set up Michaels for a Last Ride. Michaels rolled through into a sunset flip attempt. Taker blocked that and set up another Last Ride. This one he hit. Michaels landed hard and Taker scored what seemed like an inevitable pin. Michaels, though, kicked out. "In the name of all that's decent, how did Michaels kick out of this!" exclaimed Ross. Taker showed frustration as the crowd popped and stood and cheered. Taker climbed to the top rope and went for a flying elbow. Michaels moved. The crowd went silent. Lawler wondered what would happen if neither man could beat the other. Michaels charged at Taker. Taker sidestepped him and threw him over the top rope. Michaels tried to skin the cat in. Taker grabbed him in Tombstone position and went for the pin. Michaels amazingly kicked out. The camera zoomed in at a shocked Taker. "I just had an out of body experience!" said Ross. Cole said that should have been it. The crowd continued to eat it up. This should have been last on the card because this is an impossible to act to follow. Taker dropped his straps and signaled to the crowd the throat-slashing gesture. At 25:00 he then grabbed a KO'd Michaels's limp body. He set up another Tombstone. Michaels countered with an unexpected DDT; the crowd was sure this was it. The DDT was awkward, as Taker's head landed on Michaels's hip in a turning motion, but it still look like it jammed up Taker's neck. Both men lay on the mat again as the crowd sat on their edges of their seats.

Michaels crawled over to the corner. Ross said Shawn Michaels is "special" and "extraordinary." He climbed to the top rope. Lawler said his body appears to be on auto-pilot. Michaels hit a top rope elbow on target. He was slow to be able to make the cover. He crawled over to the top rope to prop himself on his feet. He leaned in the corner and tried to gather enough energy to execute Sweet Chin Music. He stomped the match and the crowd counted along. Taker slowly rose to his feet, using the ropes for leverage. Michaels connected with the kick. Nice looking kick, which Taker sold perfectly. Michaels made the cover and got a super-close three count. Taker was great as he didn't even hint at a kickout until the last possible credible second. "Good God almighty, the match continues. Can you believe, ladies and gentleman, what we are witnessing here together tonight! The world is watching a classic." said Ross.

They finally rose, hanging on each other as they leveraged their way to their respective feet. They exchanged punches and chops, while seeming unsure on their feet. The crowd oohed and ahhed each blow. They're going to give these two a standing ovation like Ric Flair received last year after this is over. They should just each retire after this ends as there's nowhere else to go. Taker surprised Michaels with a kick to the face after a dozen mid-ring back-and-forth exchanges leading up to it. At 30:00 Taker lifted Michaels. Michaels elbowed out of it and chopped Taker four times. He whipped Taker into the corner and charged. Michaels caught him with a boot to the face. Michaels climbed to the top rope. He flipped at Taker. Taker caught him and Tombstoned him and covered him for the three count. "Seventeen and ohhh!" said Ross. Both men lay on the mat on their backs as the crowd stood and cheered. Ross said as a "fan of a sports entertainment," he was honored to sit at ringside and watch that. It's sad he has to say "sports entertainment" and can't say "pro wrestling" consider this is show with "Wrestle" in the title. Ross said: "I feel like we've just seen Heaven. What a match. As a wrestling fan, who could ask for anything more." Good for him for slipping in the term "wrestling match." I hope he's not fined, but if so, who cares. Cole said, "Goosebumps."

WINNER: Undertaker in 31:00.

STAR RATING: ***** -- Five-stars, goes without say. Michaels did it two years in a row. Two five-star matches two years in a row. Those matches are created from two decades of experience, two decades of history that is built up well into this type of climax, and a lot of planning ahead and excellent execution between the ropes. Michaels just leapfrogged whoever was above him on anyone's list of the greatest ever if anyone had him outside of their top two or three.

-A plug aired for the three-hour Raw special in eight days featuring the WWE Draft.

-Back at ringside Lawler said he was exhausted. Cole said he hopes he's not too exhausted, as the three-way world title match is up next. Lawler said he just got refreshed and let out a "woo-hoo!"

[Pharaoh]

Part III:

-A video package aired on the Edge-Show-Cena-Vickie storyline.

7 -- EDGE vs. THE BIG SHOW vs. JOHN CENA

Chavo Guerrero wheeled Vickie Guerrero to the ring. Edge came out first, then Big Show. The crowd booed in anticipation of Cena coming to the ring. An army of John Cena look-alikes walked to the ring. I mean, an army of maybe 200+ Cena look-alikes as Cena's old "Thug-o-Nomics" song played. The Cenas all waved hands in front of their faces and then the real Cena walked out to his usual entrance song. That was pretty awesome, actually. He saluted and then ran to the ring between two rows of the Cena look-alikes. Cole acknowledged the boos by saying no one draws as much emotion out of WWE fans as John Cena.

With just 70 minutes max left in the show, the bell rang to start the first of two world title matches. Cena went after Edge with a bulldog, and then dove at Show. Show shoulder-tackled Cena to the mat. Ross said Show had the momentum coming into the match with knockout victories over Edge and Cena. Edge held his arm up for a high-five. Show slapped his hand, then clenched his hand and lifted Edge and dropped him crotch-first over the top rope. He shook the top rope a few times and then dropped him to the mat. He chopped him and whipped him into Cena. Cena lifted Edge, but Show kicked Cena. Both Cena and Edge went down. Show punched Cena a few times in the corner. Chavo wheeled Vickie over to get a closer look. Show crotched himself on the top rope at 2:00. Cena dumped him over the top rope to the floor. Edge dropkicked the steps into SHow's knees. Cena then hit a legdrop to the back of Show's neck at ringside. Edge then attacked Cena at ringside, re-entering the match. He dominated Cena in the ring. Cena went for a sudden Attitude Adjustment, but Edge countered with a DDT for a two count at 4:00.

Edge climbed to the top rope. Show returned to the ring and side-slammed Cena for a near fall. Ross pointed out that if Show pinned Cena, he wins Edge's title. Cena began a comeback against Show with a barrage of punches. Chavo, though, yanked Cena to ringside. Cena gave him an Attitude Adjuster. Cena ran back into the ring and shoulder tackled Show into the ropes, where his arms got tied up. Cena then shoulder-tackled Edge and went into his finishing sequence. Cena smiled at Show and played to the crowd. HWaved his hand in front of his face and then dropped a fist on Edge's forehead. Vickie stood on the ring apron. Cena lifted Edge. Cena let go of Edge and moved toward Vickie. Edge charged at Cena. Cena moved. Edge knocked Vickie off the ring apron into Chavo's arms at ringside. Cena schoolboyed Edge for a near fall. Then they collided mid-ring as Show asked the ref help him get free from the ropes. Show got back into the mix, headbutting Cena and Edge. He clotheslined Cena in the corner, then chopped him hard and loud. He splashed Edge in the other corner and chopped him hard. He then threw Edge into Cena in the corner and splashed them both. He set up a chokeslam on Edge. When Cena moved in, he grabbed Cena, too. Show chokeslammed Edge as Cena escaped. Cena went for an Attitude Adjuster. Show escaped and Show punched him in the chin, knocking him to the floor. Show then went after Edge at ringside.

Edge DDT'd Show on the floor to turn momentum at 8:00. Edge leaped off the ring steps and speared Show through the barricades into the crowd. The fans roared with approval in that area. Edge couldn't move Show, who was KO'd on the floor, so he went back at Cena in the ring. He set up a spear, waiting for Cena to stand. Cena sidestepped Edge and applied the STF. Edge struggled toward the bottom rope. Cena yanked him back to center-ring and reapplied it. Edge reached toward the ropes. Show pulled Edge toward the bottom rope by his hand, not to save Edge so much as to get Cena within his reach. He grabbed Cena by his throat and yanked him to the floor. Then he set up a swing splash in the corner, but Edge moved.

Cena got up and went for a suplex on Show. Show didn't budge. Edge joined in and together they suplexed Show. Cena and Edge looked at each other like two people who shared an unexpected kiss and liked it! They looked at Show and charged at him with a double clothesline, knocking him to the floor. Edge then kicked Cena in the face first chance he got and scored a near fall. Cole said, "That was a quick divorce." Cena climbed to the top rope a minute later. Show shoved him off the top rope. Edge speared Cena out of mid-air. Cena rolled to the ring apron's edge. Edge dragged him back to the ring and went for a cover. Show yanked Edge out of the ring by his leg and chopped him in the chest. Back in the ring, Show charged at Edge. Edge lifted his boot and then leaped onto Show's back with a sleeper. Show backed into the corner. Edge held on. Cena then lifted both for an Attitude Adjuster. Edge bailed out, but Cena executed it. He then gave Edge an Attitude Adjuster onto Show and scored the pin. That was a cool finishing sequence. Cena's lifting Show was quite the feat. Wow. No matter how you leverage that, it's impressive.

WINNER: Cena in 14:00 to win the World Heavyweight Title.

STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- That was good, actually very good. It's surprisingly how they totally bailed out on the love triangle aspect as a factor in the match. Cena celebrated in the crowd with fans who were holding Cena signs. He knows friendly territory. It made for a good picture.

-They announced that Wrestlemania 26 will be in Arizona at Reliant Stadium on March 28, 2010. That's actually the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania I, by the way.

-They plugged the "Legends of WrestleMania" videogame again.

-The Hall of Fame inductees were given acknowledgements on the stage. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin rode a four-wheeler ATV to the ring at a high-speed, and then around the ring at a high-speed, and then back up the ramp. I'd say he's probably driven that before! He then went into reverse and zipped back to the ring. Then he entered the ring and saluted the crowd, accepting their cheers and some beers. A huge "Hell yeah" banner was held up in the crowd. He went to ringside and handed Ross a beer. Ross sipped from the can. Lawler said, "This is going to make the rest of the broadcast interesting." Austin threw the cooler with the rest of the beer into the ring. He waved to the fans and then rode the four-wheeler up the ramp. He saluted the crowd one final time. He even seemed to be a little choked up as the camera zoomed in on him right before he turned to leave the stage.

-A commercial aired for Backlash. Anyone else betting on Vince & Shane McMahon & Triple H vs. Legacy? It's only three weeks away.

-Lilian Garcia announced the attendance at 72,744 - a sellout. Lawler thanked "AC/DC" for the theme song for WM25.

-A long video package aired recapping the Triple H vs. Randy Orton feud.

-Backstage, Triple H approached Vince and Shane in the hallway. He patted Vince on the shoulder and then walked toward the ring. No words were said. Everyone seemed to be treating the match as having a lot of gravity.

8 -- TRIPLE H vs. RANDY ORTON -- WWE Title match

Orton came out first, looking like a bronzed statue. Everyone tries to be at their peak look for WrestleMania, as it's the single appearance all year that by far will be seen by more generations to come than all other appearances all year combined. Three and a half hours into the show, the bell rang and Triple H tackled Orton and went on the aggressive offensive. The ref assigned to this match was Scott Armstrong, a nice honor for him. Orton hit an RKO at 1:00 out of nowhere. That's like an interception for a touchdown on first down in a football playoff game. Orton waited for Triple H to get up. Orton went for a punt kick, but Triple H moved and then hit a sudden Pedigree. Ross said each competitor has hit his most devastating maneuver in the early going. Orton begged off at 3:00. Triple H paused a split second, then jumped Orton. He slingshot him throat-first under the bottom rope.

Triple H gave Orton a neckbreaker in the ring at 5:00. Orton retreated to ringside. Triple H went after him. Orton reversed Triple H into the ringside steps. Then he whipped him ringside. A cameraman could be heard saying he landed on his cable and couldn't go anywhere, so stand by. That gave viewers a close-up of the action. Orton rolled back into the ring to start a potential countout win on Triple H, which given these match rules would have given him the world title. Triple H struggled to his feet and back into the ring to beat the count. After some more offense and a two count, Orton locked on a chinlock for a minute. Triple H battled back at 10:00 with some punches. Triple H then nailed Orton with a high knee as Orton rebounded off the ropes. He followed with a hard clothesline in the corner and then a facebuster to his knee. Orton solid it brilliantly with spaghetti legs. Orton, though, countered Triple H's Pedigree attempt with a catapult into the corner. Triple H followed with a flying clothesline and a two count. Orton dropped Triple H face-first over the top turnbuckle and then leaped at Triple H. Triple H extended his boot. Orton went for a leverage jackknife pin attempt. Triple H fired right back with a schoolboy for a two count. The crowd seemed exhausted still from Michaels-Undertaker. They were into the match, but not nearly as much as for Taker-Michaels. Triple H went for a Pedigree. Orton countered with an inverted backbreaker for a two count. Triple H came back and leaped off the top rope. Orton caught him with a dropkick to the face.

Orton milked the moment and got "that look." He went for the punt kick, but Triple H caught his boot and didn't let go. He stood up and flipped Orton over the top rope by his boot. Triple H grabbed a monitor and thought of hitting Orton with it. The ref said he'd get DQ'd and lose his title if he used it. Triple H wound up, but then thought better of it and dropped it. Triple H set Orton on the announce table in frint of Ross and Cole. Triple H set up a Pedigree, "seething and quivering with anger," said Ross. Orton backdropped out of it, sending Triple H onto the Spanish announce table. Orton stood first. He went after Triple H, but the ref told him he was in danger of being counted out. Orton grabbed Triple H by his hair and DDT'd him onto the floor just as he did to Stephanie. The announcers didn't acknowledge the parallel. Orton rolled back into the ring to beat the count. Cole said this anger has been brewing in Orton for five years, and this is his attempt to get revenue for a defining moment in his career. That is such a strange moment to focus on since Orton was the babyface in that situation when Evolution - including Triple H - turned on him. Triple H barely beat the ten count.

Orton stomped away at Triple H in the ring. Ross called him a "sick sociopath." Triple H showed signs of life with a punch out of the corner. Orton shoved Triple H into the ref, then gave Triple H an RKO. Orton slithered out of the ring Jake Roberts-like. He pulled a sledgehammer out from under the ring. As Orton walked into the ring with the sledgehammer in hand, Triple H surprised him with a symbolic punt kick. Orton's eyes rolled back. He got to his feet just as Tripel H did, but sledgehammer in hand. Triple H nailed Orton with a sledgehammer to the chin. The crowd looked to the stage as if anticipating interference. Triple H got to his feet again, then dropped onto Orton with punches. The ref came to and warned Triple H to wrestle not punch. Triple H set up a Pedigree. He hit it and covered Orton for the three count. Ross said Triple H reached into the soul of Randy Orton and extracted some retribution. "The Game plays on!" declared Ross as pyro blasted and Triple H celebrated his win.

WINNER: Triple H in 23:00.

STAR RATING: ***3/4 -- Triple H, after so many injuries and main event losses at WrestleManias, may have wanted a WrestleMania to go off the air with him celebrating a win for once, but the match that deserved to end this show was Taker-Michaels. His match would have been less anti-climactic had it come earlier. It was good, both well-plotted and well-executed, appropriate to the storyline and feud, but it just wasn't able to follow the classic two matches earlier.

-An excellent WrestleMania 26 recap video followed. The WWE video production crew always shines with this. I'm sure it's easier now than it used to be given advances in technology, but it's still quite a showcase for the staff to put this together so quickly after the event. They actually ran out of time as they went off the air right before they got to highlights of Triple H getting the win.

[Pharaoh]

NOTE:

The WWE Draft is going to be on this Monday Night Raw.

[DennyMcLain]

Considering all of the Evolution hype leading up to the HHH/Orton match, it's a possibility.

If the six man fight becomes a no-DQ match, then I think you're on to something, here.

But Batista is not a legacy wrestler. There is no family lineage. I'm not sure how that would work, unless they changed the name.

[D's Nuts]

I am so sick and tired of Edge/Cena and Orton/HHH. Can we throw in some Jericho, Punk, Christian action PLEASE.

[Pharaoh]

No, D'Nuts - we can not throw in some Jericho, Punk or Christian. Those 3 are not over with the crowd, do not have the merch sales or the mainstream media attention that Cena, HHH, Orton, Taker, Shawn and Edge have.

It's not my fault - it really isn't. I have been forced to use every single possible combination of those 6 guys for the last 4 years because ...

Sorry D'Nuts - I have to go and prepare for the Draft next Monday. Be sure to tune in as the Draft will notchange the face of WWE.

[Pharaoh]

Denny - I think the Legacy name could stay - Batista can claim he never knew his father or that he's laying the foundation for the Batista family.

Personally I would want Batista, Orton Rhodes and DiBiase to finish off HHH and his ally in a big way at the Survivor Series before the writers return to the CM Punk/Legacy thing (remember it was their attack that kept him from defending the title in the Scramble match)

Punk would cash in his title shot at the Rumble - announcing it ahead of time to allow WWE to promote it properly like they did with the Rob Van Dam and John Cena thing a couple of years ago.

Punk would lose at the Rumble (can't have the Money in the Bank win it every single time) before claiming the title at No Way Out. Chris Jericho would win the Elimination Chamber at the same PPV and we would see Punk v Jericho at Mania 26.

The other title match would be Edge v Christian.

Punk and Christian would go over to be the Champs.

The last match at Mania 26 could be HHH v Shawn Michaels, or Batista v John Cena, or Undertaker v someone else.

The point is to push some new blood to the top of the show. Only when the old vets are willing to put these guys over will WWE be able to actually start another boom.

While many millions of people think I'm nuts I do believe that CM Punk has a chance to increase TV ratings and PPV buyrates if pushed as a legit star

[DennyMcLain]

Come to think of it, if Batista turns heel it'd be a great opportunity for Michaels and HHH to reunite as DX, and keep it up for a while. There's huge history between all of those guys. The storylines are endless.

Yeah, it's nothing new. But the WWE is about giving the fans what they want, and an extended stay for DX would be exactly what the fans want.

What I think is going to happen at the draft is Cena goes to Smackdown, and HHH comes back to Raw. There's no reason why Vicky becomes new GM of Raw and Raw only unless this new position suddenly creates a problem for Edge. Also, I'm not sure who the new GM is going to be on Smackdown (I don't watch the show), but if they haven't chosen one yet, I'd like to think it could be a HoFer, which would entice the WWE to send Jehrico to Smackdown as well to really fuck with his character.

Big Show goes to Raw and stays with Vicky, leaving Edge out in the cold (maybe a divorce). Christian comes to Smackdown and turns heel, allying with Edge to bring back Edge and Christian.

This would strengthen both shows, and I'd probably start watching Smackdown again.