Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 12:31 PM EST

After an absolutely deplorable showing at TNA Final Resolution, (going 1-7, and even that can be questioned), I am back to try and redeem myself for the Royal Rumble. This will be short, but I'll try and give out a quick one sentence line about how I think all of the competitors will do in the Rumble match itself, along with some other small tidbits.

The HARDYS vs. MNM

This is quickly turning in to Edge/Christian vs. the Dudleys vs. the Hardys version 2. This is not a bad thing. MNM needed a new feud to rekindle their tag team work, and the Hardys as a team is definitely fun to watch on any occasion. I only hope the powers that be within WWE realize this, and put all four on one brand so we don't have to have this jumping around like we have been enduring for these teams to compete. I wouldn't mind to see a stipulation with this match, say, a ladder match for a shot at the tag team titles, one on one? It'd add a little spice to a spicy setup already. Anyway, Mercury is obviously the weak link here due to his nose being somewhere in the Arctic Circle, and I would not be surprised to see Team XTreme try to take advantage of it. When it comes down to it, though, the feud here needs the heels to get a dupe to keep it rolling, and if memory serves, the Hardys won at December to Dismember, albeit nobody watched it, but I think that's the case. Anyway, I'll pick MNM just to try and swerve the general public, although seeing Matt & Jeff win would not surprise me one bit.

Reason: I don't know, it's just a gut feeling. Hell, after 1-7, I got nothing to lose.

WINNERS: MNM

ECW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
LASHLEY vs. TEST

To show you just how bad a shape ECW is currently in, we've already seen this match, and it was boring then, and I don't suspect it to be much better now. Both men are physical specimens, no doubt. Both men are young, and learning on the fly, no doubt. Lashley is a genetic freak, and I like him as a talent, but I am starting to question him as a World champion. Test, well, Test is an obnoxious heel, and in a bad way, in my opinion, and I don't think he is in the least bit ready to hold a brand on his shoulders. This match has eerie similarites to a Royal Rumble title match from a few years back when Brock Lesnar met Hardcore Holly. A viable match, yet not even remotely close to being spicy enough to be a title match for a pay per view. Here is another prime example. Lashley wins to retain the belt, and God knows where it goes from here.

WINNER: Lashley

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
BATISTA vs. MR. KENNEDY

This one is going to bother me. Why? It's simple. I cannot stand Batista and I love Kennedy. But, all my common sense thinks Batista will retain because they've already planted some seeds of an Undertaker/Batista conflict over the last two weeks on Smackdown, and although Undertaker/Kennedy has some zip now with the feud they recently concluded, Undertaker vs. Batista just has more marquis stature for a stage like Wrestlemania. I think I just gave away one of my picks, but I'll get to that in a little while. This will be the first of many opportunities for Mr. Kennedy to take a world championship and run with the brand on his shoulders. However, the timing sucks. I suspect that the culmination of a legend's career may be the death knell for the changing of the guard on Smackdown. Give the dupe to the Animal.

WINNER: Batista

WWE Championship - Last Man Standing Match
JOHN CENA vs. UMAGA

All of you know how much of a Cena fan I am. This match, though, has been booked, imho, lousy. Yeah, have Cena get destroyed, sell the destruction as it happened during Raw, but don't bring up the whole ruptured spleen thing because it becomes so apparently obvious that it's another ploy of against all odds, the champ prevails. It's too damn predictable. Umaga as WWE Champion heading in to Wrestlemania does not work. It just doesn't. He is a hunter, plain and simple, and this new wrinkle of Cena being "seriously injured" is just the icing on the cake to make sure that he beats all the prognosticators predictions that this is the end of his reign. Sorry, Ladies and gentlemen, I don't buy it. Cena wins, and hopefully, with this backstory, provides some the critics a little fodder to shut them up with in the process.

WINNER: John Cena

THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH

A couple of short notes before going down the participants. One. Notice how Shelton Benjamin is in the Rumble, but Charlie Haas is not. Is there a reason for this, outside of the potentially obvious that Charlie wants to see his child? Is Vince that nice? I don't think so. Two. Why is Joey Mercury not in the Rumble? I can understand if its to protect his nose, but it also could be a swipe by the powers that be to his ability to perform well on a stage like this. And three, there are a TON of first timers in this rumble, with no experience in a match like this. Punk, Khali, Miz, MVP, Sabu, Sandman, and potentially Super Crazy and Kenny Dykstra, to name a few definite debuters and some potential. Is the inexperience factor going to play a role in the story behind the match? Time will tell, but it should make some interesting insider analysis, don't you think?

Ok. A quick one sentence note on all 30 participants. It's impossible to try and determine or predict how they'll appear in the match, so this is in no particular order.

Shelton Benjamin - Athleticism will get him far in this match, and his MiTB work will pay off, but he's not Mania main event material.
Chris Benoit - Long overdue for another shot at the title, maybe not a reign, but a shot. I don't think this is his time, however, sadly.
Carlito - Doomed to midcard status, according to reports I have heard and seen. Probably fodder for someone else on this list.
Super Crazy - Will definitely figure out a way to screw Chris Masters, and prolong their feud, for his job security.
Tommy Dreamer - Rekindle some antics with Khali? I think he may have a good showing here, a little potential parting fare-thee-well.
Kenny Dykstra - As much as I hate to say it, I'm gonna pick this kid to be one of the final 10. I think Vince thinks this guy has it. He doesn't, because of his real arrogance, but Vince thinks so, I believe.
Edge - Always a WWE title contender, but I think a certain other individual will make sure this is not the canadian's night. Could we see a RKO breakup tease here?
Finlay - Wildcard. He won't win, but he certainly will double and triple cross anyone who steps in front of him.
Ric Flair - Man, would I love to see him win this and go to Mania, but I don't think it's in the cards. He should be involved against RKO in this, for payback from last week.
Chavo Guerrero - The Benoit thing may have him too preoccupied. And what is Vickie's role going to be in all of this.
Jeff Hardy - He may find some way to get involved with another Raw midcarder to set up an IC title feud, for eventually dropping that title and becoming a tag specialist. Fatigue may be a factor, as well, with his tag match.
Matt Hardy - He needs a good showing here, for his role as a singles star, otherwise, he'll be on hold till Jeff drops the IC title, then I hope we see a Hardy Boys run at tag team gold.
Gregory Helms - Potentially another wildcard, flying under the radar as a dominant cruiserweight title holder. His lack of size may be his undoing here.
Hardcore Holly - If he is 100% healthy, anything is possible. I don't think he is, so his exit may be quicker than expected.
Kane - A monster. Dominant. A definite potential final 4, and more than likely, final 10.
The Great Khali - First off, I expect him to feed on Dreamer and Carlito for kicks. Then, I expect a rekindle with the Dead Man. I think WWE is planning a major push with this guy, and I could see him in the final 4. Sad, very sad, but true.
King Booker - Always a potential title contender, he should perform well here. I don't think it's his time, but he will shine due to his experience.
Chris Masters - Will find a way to prolong his feud with Super Crazy, for his own job security.
Shawn Michaels - One of my two picks to win this thing. One from Raw, one from Smackdown. With Orton involved with Edge, this guy is the most likely to take the spot vacated by the Game's injury. He's got all the tools, marquis value, experience, and stamina to go the distance, like he's already done.
The Miz - What in the Sam Hill is this guy doing in the Royal Rumble? Like JBL said, take your red rooster looking carcass, and get the hell out of our company. I thought I could get in to this guy. Guess what, I can't.
Johnny Nitro - Improves daily. His athleticism is second to none. Should perform well here, but his whole career is on the red carpet, in front of him.
Randy Orton - Like I said with Edge, could this match be the tease to break up RKO? I don't think he would get the slot to replace Triple H for the title run at Mania vs. Cena, so naturally a run with Edge one way or another is a viable alternative.
M.V.P. - I really have come to like this guy. He's arrogant enough to be a heel, yet easy enough to take to make this guy likable. I don't think it's his time yet, especially with this being his rumble debut, but he should definitely find his way in to the Big Red Monster, to keep that thing alive for another few weeks.
CM Punk - I could turn around and call this guy my darkhorse pick to win it, but let's be honest. He should've been a top contender in the chamber, and went out first. I don't suspect that he's going to get the nod to make a real showing here, debut or not. I think the powers that be in WWE creative have it out for this guy because half the I.W.C. want to see Punk succeed. It's terrible to say this, but it's how I feel. I would not be surprised if Punk is considering the fact he made a mistake in taking the money in WWE.
Sabu - Always a potential for chaos, this guy should make an impact, but he won't be near the finals. He'll do what he does best, make the spots, and then get tossed trying to hit one of his Air Sabu patents.
Sandman - Where's the nearest bar? It' shocking to me that this guy is still employed by WWE. He should be entertaining as hell in a match like this, but this is not his time, by a long shot.
Kevin Thorn - Could make his stand to be a potential candidate for a shot at the ECW title with a good showing here, but there's an awful lot to do to get that formidable task accomplished.
Undertaker - My Smackdown pick to win this thing. It's obvious there's a run with Batista in the Dead Man's future, and winning the rumble cements it. I don't think they'd do something like they did at No Way Out with Orton getting in to Mysterio's title shot, I think this is it for the main event at Mania, hands down.
Rob Van Dam - Wouldn't surprise me in the least to see him go out early. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this guy mails it in for the duration of his contract to try and get fired so he can jump down south.
Viscera - The token big behemoth in a match like this. Not a chance in hell, but funny as hell to see six guys take him out.

Since I picked a Raw and a Smackdown guy to potentially win the whole thing, I gotta pick an ECW guy as a potential winner as well, just to be fair to all three brands. You got Dreamer, Holly, Punk, Sabu, Sandman, Thorn and Van Dam in from ECW. Thorn is not going to win, hands down. Dreamer could, but the underdog role is where he belongs. Holly's health I think will keep him from being a potential winner. Sandman is out in la-la-land, and Van dam & Punk I think WWE suits are screwing them. One legitimately, and one not, I think. So, if I have to pick a potential winner from ECW, I would pick Sabu, because any chance Sabu can compete for the ECW title is worthwhile, even at a marquis event like Mania.

Ok, so we're down to three picks. Sabu, Shawn Michaels & Undertaker. All three can make marquis matches at Wrestlemania, but I am going to pick the Undertaker to win the match hands down. It's already in the cards that Batista and Taker are going to clash, and this will cement it. Michaels can find another way in to the title match with Cena, and Sabu and Lashley are going to probably end up going at it, just out of sheer need from lack of personnel. Bottom line, the Dead Man is probably in his last road to Wrestlemania, and WWE has to honor him accordingly.

Winner of the 2007 Royal Rumble: THE UNDERTAKER

Click here for my myspace.

Click here to email me.

Enjoy the Rumble.