Reported by Martin Hawrysko of WrestleView.com
On Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 12:21 AM EST

Hey everyone and welcome to the pre Royal Rumble edition of Within Reason. This column basically will spotlight any last minute thoughts towards the pay-per-view, as well as my predictions and anything else that comes to mind.

Heading forward to tonight’s pay-per-view, it seems the general belief on the Internet is that Shawn Michaels, Undertaker and Edge are the most likely to win the Royal Rumble match itself. I am here to tell you that Shawn Michaels winning the Rumble match makes the most sense.

While I would really love to see Edge win the Rumble match, that would mean another Edge and John Cena match. While I would love to see the two of them wrestle again in a match of importance, I just wouldn’t want to see it at this year’s WrestleMania. In my opinion, a Cena and Edge match would suggest that the WWE is short of fresh ideas and I’m sure there are other fans who don’t want to see them wrestle again so soon. Plus, as mentioned below, there are too many other possibilities to go forward with.

I am very interested in how Undertaker and Batista’s eventual feud builds up. I think so far, the situation between the two of them has been booked pretty well. And now that I’m starting to pay attention to Smackdown, Mr. Kennedy is growing on me more and more. While I think Batista and ‘Taker are on the brink of an interesting storyline, I don’t think that The Undertaker winning the Rumble match is needed.

Batista and Undertaker already have a situation that will ignite their eventual feud. From what took place the previous two weeks on Smackdown, there is already enough to build towards an eventual WrestleMania match with those two. I think a better scenario would be with Mr. Kennedy coming down during the Rumble match to distract ‘Taker. Out comes Batista to get Kennedy, only to somehow accidently eliminate ‘Taker from the Rumble. Something like that is all that is needed. The Undertaker winning the Rumble match, in my opinion would just be a waste because he doesn’t need it.

Therefore, Shawn Michaels would make the most logical winner. I think the situation leading to a Michaels and Cena match has endless possibilities. I also think this type of match has the potential to bring out the best from both men, especially Cena. I would hope that Cena may learn a few things after wrestling with Michaels.

The only gripe I see against this storyline is the fact that you have a face vs. face match… unless something changes. Neither of them has to turn heel for this to be a good match. If booked right, I think you can make an interesting feud with both of them as tweeners. For example, a situation arises weeks prior to the match, where Michaels heels on Cena without actually turning, in order to gain some sort of advantage. The following week, Cena is forced to heel on Michaels, in order to get even. The storyline can be booked that while both men respect each other, they both are willing to do whatever it takes to survive against one another.

There is also the likely possibility that the fans will side with Michaels 100% of the time, and boo Cena out of the building. The WWE can always turn Cena heel, which I think will eventually happen later this year. If one of them were to turn heel prior to their match, I would really rather see Michaels, since I think he can pull it off a lot better.

Royal Rumble Predictions

The Hardys vs. MNM:
I really enjoyed MNM vs. Paul Londan and Brian Kendrick from Smackdown. MNM really makes a great tag team. I haven’t seen them tag much together since I went so many years not watching Smackdown. Anyways, the feud between MNM and the Hardys is likely to end after the heels win. As the company builds towards WrestleMania, it is time for each respected superstar to head their separate ways into the own feuds. I predict MNM.

Lashley vs. Test for the ECW World Championship:
Honestly, does anybody care about this match? Didn’t they just wrestle this past Tuesday? I get the impression that there aren’t too many Test fans out there. Can Test hold the gold and carry a company? Stranger things have happened. But this ECW is already strange enough. It can’t get any weirder… at least on this night. I predict Lashley.

Batista vs. Mr. Kennedy for the World Heavyweight Championship:
The Undertaker and Batista are going to feud over the World championship. There is no way Batista is losing that title. Though I think Mr. Kennedy would make an interesting champion and I hope to see it soon. But it’s not happening just yet. I predict Batista.

John Cena vs. Umaga for the WWE Championship:
If Umaga was ever going to win the title, it only would have had any value at New Year’s Revolution. Taking away his undefeated streak has changed Umaga. He can be a solid heel, but there is nothing about him that would make him an exciting world champion. I have no interest in seeing that anymore. I predict Cena.

The thirty man Royal Rumble match:
As discussed above Shawn Michaels winning this match makes the most sense. Whatever happens, I just hope the WWE has thought this threw and has developed a long-term plan that will make an exciting feud that leads to an awesome match. My expectations are high. Perhaps, I should know better because this is the WWE, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. I predict Shawn Michaels.

Aimless Observations

-This past week’s Raw was one of the best in a long time. That main event was badass, and I am daring to say that Shawn Michaels vs. Edge and Orton is the best thing in wrestling right now. I like where Orton and Edge are headed, but their split needs to take place slowly. I don’t want it to happen in one night.

-It’s nice to hear that Triple H’s rehab is going ahead of schedule. I’m not sure if that means he’ll necessarily return sooner, but his progression is nice certainly good news for him.

-I’m disappointed that the February 12th TNA special on Spike is only going to be a “best-of" show. Feb. 12th is the week that Raw is pre-empted due do the annual dog show, so Spike is airing a two hour TNA special that night in hopes of catching some WWE fans who are channel surfing that night. I think they should do an hour of TNA highlights and than use the second hour and run a live show. It can’t hurt.

-Somebody please stuff a sock into the mouths of Mike Tenay and Don West. Their commentating during Impact seems to get worse and worse by the week. The sad thing is, Tenay can actually be a pretty good announcer if he were to calm down a bit. Sometimes, the action on our televisions speaks for themselves. The announcers don’t have to sell each and everything that happens as being the most shocking thing ever. That’s Tony Schiavone’s job.

-Did anyone listen to Kurt Angle’s appearance on Bubba the Love Sponge’s show, or at least read a recap? Angle is freakin’ nuts! I have future column devoted to Angle and his potential insanity that I am waiting for the write moment to post. Angle certainly seems to have no problem when it comes to exaggeration, twisting facts, or just plane BSing.

-What will Vince McMahon’s token of appreciation towards the fans be this week on Raw? He’s taking a permanent leave of absence from wrestling and he’s taking his family with him.

--Hope you enjoy the Royal Rumble, if you indeed watch it. In the mean time, check out my new BLOG if you haven’t already. I’m attempting to update it at least once a day, though I fell short the past two days. As always, if you have any feedback or questions, as well as topic suggestions for a future column, please drop me an e-mail. If all goes well, I’ll be back this week sometime, hopefully with nothing but good things to say following the pay-per-view and Raw.

E-mail may be sent to martinhwv@gmail.com. Please do not include attachments or pictures because I will not open them. Other than that, all e-mails are read and generally responded to. Your feedback is appreciated, thanks for reading.

Bloggin’ with Reason: A random spew of ideas, opinions & reflections from wrestling... and other stuff!