?Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com

On Wednesday, March 30, 2005 at 3:53 PM EST

It's time to go down the line and predict the outcome of Wrestlemania 21. Here we go, ladies and gentlemen.....

BIG SHOW vs. AKEBONO in a SUMO MATCH
Ok, we know Big Show can throw anyone around, virtually anyone. I don't care how much help he may have gotten last week with that jeep, that was a tremendous show of strength. Why Luther Reigns got involved is another story, but hey, I won't question, yet. Anyway, I don't personally think Akebono has any business involved in this card, whatsoever. He is a tremendous athlete, don't get me wrong, and I'm not trying to discount his accomplishments, but there are countless names on the WWE roster that do not have slots in Wrestlemania that deserve them. Examples? Ok, the cruiserweights, ANY OF THEM, I know Chavo is hurt, but still, can't we have a cruiserweight bout of some kind?, the Dudley Boyz, still in exile for whatever reason till apparently the ECW PPV, Matt Hardy, allegedly just about ready to return to action, Carlito, I hate his character, but if he's ready, he deserves a shot, Muhammad Hassan, same reason as Carlito, hell, even NAITCH doesn't have a match, and do we need to go down his resume?

Anyways, I pray by the good Lord above that we don't see Big Show in 'traditional' sumo garb for this match. It may be the sole reason why I get up at this particular time, use the bathroom, and grab a coke. Who wins? Frankly, who cares.

WINNER: AKEBONO (just because of the experience factor, but trust me, I think this is a mistake for this card)

For the WWE Women's Championship, TRISH STRATUS defends against CHRISTY HEMME
I met Christy at an autograph session a while back. She was a joy to meet, and looked hotter than a pistol after firing 50 rounds. But, she's not a wrestler. Yet. Bringing Lita in to the fold does provide a modachim of authenticity for this match, but do we honestly think this is going to be sound wrestling? Trish can go with the best of them, we all know that, we've seen it. Christy's kicks, although potent, ask Molly Holly and William Regal, are not sound, and look like they could be damaging, a lot more than we care to realize. All signs leading up to this match have Christy winning the belt, and I am going to go that route, but in all honesty, Hemme winning the title devalues the Women's championship considerably for the WWE.

WINNER: CHRISTY HEMME (New Champion)

PIPER'S PIT with special guest STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN
What is Austin going to do? How long is Piper going to stick around WWE before he says something stupid to get himself dismissed like he did after Wrestlemania 18? What is Piper's role going to be in TNA if he maintains a presence in WWE? What is Austin's impending role within WWE following Wrestlemania? Is Austin going to "unleash hell" like the new shirt says, or is this going to be another fleeting attempt by WWE to dip back in to the past and pull some numbers out of names that quite frankly have no business being on this type of stage right now. Could this be a fantastic segment, full of tension, hilarity, and hopeful violence? Indeed. Could this be a fabrication of two careers long since past their twilights? Absolutely. This IS the stage to bring these two names back in to the fold, but just how far back remains to be seen. Hopefully, not too far.

RANDY ORTON versus THE UNDERTAKER
Legend versus Legend Killer. Face versus returning heel. First and foremost, who here did not think the vignette on Raw this past monday was absolute gold? It was by far and away one of the best promos I have seen for any match in a long time. It rivaled the promos Kane and Taker did prior to the Wrestlemania 20 match. Orton came out of it looking tremendous as well, with his expressions and his body language.

Orton vs. Taker on an even playing field, Orton's got a shot of taking the win streak. I don't think it's a level playing field. Word has it, to the best of my knowledge, Orton's got a shoulder injury that he's working through past Mania before going for surgery. IF that is the case, then it's inevitable that the Dead Man will indeed notch number thirteen on his belt as he walks down the twilight of his storied career through WWE. It's a little sad, how Orton was fighting for world titles in January, and now is virtually walking in to being a sacrifical lamb for the soul of the WWE, the phenom, the Undertaker.

WINNER: THE UNDERTAKER

REY MYSTERIO versus EDDIE GUERRERO
I read another colleauge's column, and for the life of me, I can't remember whom, but he said the booking for this card is so fouled up it's unbelievable. How can this be called the super bowl of sports entertainment, and there's no tag team matches? Not even a tag team title defense? WWE would be hard pressed to try and answer that legitimately.

Anyway, Rey vs. Eddie is by far the darkhorse showstopper in this card. Both competitors are evenly matched, both are at the top of their games physically, both are likely to pull out stops we've never seen before, and, when the smoke clears, both competitors will have made good on their promise.

They're going to tear down the house known as the Staples Center.

This is literally a toss up match in my opinion, it could go either way. I do remember, however, reading Rey is scheduled for a major singles push come after Wrestlemania. Having a victory over a former WWE champion in this scenario at this event would be one hell of a stepping stone to begin that push. For that, I will pick the latino luchadore to come out on top in this contest.

WINNER: REY MYSTERIO

THE MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH:
EDGE versus CHRIS BENOIT versus CHRISTIAN versus CHRIS JERICHO versus KANE versus Intercontinental Champion SHELTON BENJAMIN
This will be the classic of classics in this card, hands down. Six men who are so evenly matched, five of them with tremendous ladder match experience, one of them on a roll of a lifetime as Intercontinental Champion. This match should provide us with some spots that will set the house on fire, and I hope for WWE's sake, they set aside a lot of time for this contest to take place, because I don't think any of these guys are going to drop quickly.

Four of them have tasted either World titles, or have been in title contests. Two of them have not sniffed a peek at the World title. That being said, eliminate Christian from the final outcome of this match initially. I also think Shelton will not pick up the dupe in this one. Don't get me started, I still think the Intercontinental title needs to be defended on this card, as well as the tag titles, and the US title, but still, Shelton will probably get some new challengers for his title come after Wrestlemania and the forthcoming draft lottery after it, so he will make an impact in this contest, but not take it.

That leaves the four men with major experience in ladder matches, and experience as World champion, or in a World title match. Kane has not sniffed World title status in, upwards of over 2 years. He is transforming as we speak from hated heel to tweener face, and I think Triple H is going to try and take some post Wrestlemania anger out on the Big Red Monster for his losing to Batista last week. With that thought in mind, let's eliminate Kane from this equation, leaving us with Benoit, Jericho, & Edge.

What a difference a year makes. A year ago, Chris Benoit stood in the middle of the ring at Madison Square Garden hoisting up the World Heavyweight Championship. He wrestled the match of his career, and began a five month run that took him to a status I didn't honestly think he would ever be removed from. Main event, world championship status.

He's back in mid card hell.

I want to pick Benoit, believe me, I do. But, when you see my eventual pick in the World title match later on, you'll realize why I think Benoit will not take this contest. Let's also say this, I HIGHLY doubt any of these individuals, whoever wins, is going to be patient enough to wait a YEAR before his title shot. TOPS a month, and Backlash will be the site, but a YEAR, never happen.

Ok, so Benoit's gone, leaving Edge & Jericho.

The first ever Undisputed champion versus the paranoid schizophrenic who lusts to be World Champion. Two men who have both won TLC matches. Multiple time Intercontinental champions. Countless time tag team champions. The resumes are endless. The feud is becoming that of folklore. I would suspect some serious violence before all is said and done here. I have to be honest, on another column at another locale, I picked the Toronto, Ontario native to win this contest, and I am a firm Jerichoholic, so that was a tuff call to make.

I gotta do it again.

WINNER: EDGE (see my World title prediction.. It should make a little more sense.)

KURT ANGLE versus SHAWN MICHAELS
Did we have to include putting the ankle lock on Sherri "The Beast" Martel? Ok. Kurt Angle is one of the purest talents in the business, and one of the top heels of all time. His resume is near legendary. Shawn Michaels resume is legendary. This one will be one for the ages, I am sure. I don't like the precursors to this match, though. Specifically, the Sherri Martel thing. Marty Jannetty is another aspect all together. I thought personally that the Jannetty inclusion in this match leadup was tremendous, and I look forward to watching Jannetty tear up WWE like he did back in the old days. NOW, back to the Michaels/Angle thing, when it came to pass, it seemed to be a lock that Michaels will come to Smackdown and face Angle in a long term feud. Yet, with Jannetty signing a deal to come to WWE, perhaps Michaels will stay on Raw and begin a tag team run with Jannetty as the Rockers reunited. Of course, it could be on Smackdown that they team up, which then would put this match as a good precursor to a long term feud collaborating with Michaels new tag team push. Needless to say, this is a toss up match from the word go. These two competitors are virtually identical in all aspects. Who to pick?

WINNER: SHAWN MICHAELS

For the WWE Championship, JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD defends against JOHN CENA
Cena is the future of the WWE. Plain and simple. JBL has had a tremendous run as WWE title holder. He has taken out the top dogs on Smackdown, repeatedly. But, it's time for a change, and I think WWE is ready to go with a new man at the top of the Smackdown food chain. Also, quite frankly, they'd be fools not to follow the will of the people. The close to 1200 to 1500 people that attended the recent John Cena autograph signing near my hometown on Long Island oughta be a pretty good barometer of the chaingang's loyalty to its leader. This match will be brutal, based on the last two week's action, with the debate, and the impending actions this thursday night, this match will be vicious, because Cena's got some major scores to settle, and JBL's dander is most certainly up. The cabinet is liable to play a part in this contest, but I think that they will eventually flounder when the chips hit the fan. Smoke clears after this match, Smackdown has a new champion. I think the opportunities for Cena to start feuds with the belt will evolve after the impending draft after Wrestlemania.

WINNER: JOHN CENA (New Champion)

For the World Heavyweight Championship, TRIPLE H defends against BATISTA
I am scared to death about this match. The prelude to this match leads me to the thought that Triple H is going to figure out a way to eek out a controversial victory over the Animal after the past few weeks which has seen the World Champion absolutely get nearly annihilated in matches, signings, and face offs. Without a faction to back up the champion, it is also possible that Triple H is liable to have a little more trouble in this contest. The "possibility" of a new member of Evolution could also lead to a twist in this contest that could result in a Triple H eeked out victory, which is liable to send the entire WWE fan base in to convulsions.

Batista needs to take the belt, and Raw needs to go in a different direction. Also, I think a lot of the aspects of this card is directly related to the eventual outcome of this contest, and most of the way I think this card is going to play out has Triple H losing the championship. Hence....

WINNER: BATISTA (New Champion)

Three title matches, three title changes.

FINAL OBSERVATIONS
This is a clusterbluck of a Wrestlemania card. No tag team matches. A sumo wrestler competing in a WWE ring. No Intercontinental title defense. No US title defense. Match buildups that have, for the most part, been almost half-assed, with rare exceptions. A possibility of a Playboy cover girl with absolutely zero wrestling experience defeating and taking the WWE women's championship from a six time champion that has won every single honor in WWE from the women's perspective that there is. Are there matches in this card that have the chance to be classics? Indeed. The ladder match, Angle/HBK, even Orton/Taker, and especially Rey/Eddie. Is there matches that could be zeroes? Indeed. The sumo match, the women's title match, and if previous experience dictates, even the World title match has the potential of being the quintessential example of a zero in the limelight.

WWE has taken some major chances with this Wrestlemania. They need a lot to go right for the product to succeed. Truthfully, there are aspects of it that are likely to soar during this card, and down the road following this card. But, overall, WWE is in trouble with this card as a whole. I think, big trouble.

Debate me on this topic, I dare you. Click here and drop me a line.

I look forward to hearing from you. Remember, I read every email.

I'll be in touch after Wrestlemania with thoughts. I am buying the PPV.

KIMOSABE, SUMO!?!?!?!?!?