Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Friday, March 30, 2007 at 2:14 PM EST

I know I had said I would try and come up with columns on the World title matches coming up at Wrestlemania, but the fact remains, time is not on my side. So, let's go ahead, and put the predictions on the table for the super bowl of the WWE, Wrestlemania 23, and its 187 foot entrance way at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

KANE vs. THE GREAT KHALI
Whether we like it or not, WWE has been putting in some major work with Khali, especially after Triple H's injury, and subsequently, Khali gets his Wrestlemania debut against the Big Red Monster. There is definitely some payback needed here for the hell that Khali put Undertaker through back in the day, and this program has been done a lot better because of the experience that Khali has been able to garner off of Kane. No doubt, Khali is as green as green can be, but if there is someone who can make the monster look good, its a fellow monster like the one donned in red. Who wins? It's a toss up, from where I sit. I would think, however, that Kane needs this match more than Khali, as Kane is much closer to competing for a title, while Khali is still getting his feet wet within the realm of WWE. With that being said, give the win to the Big Red Monster.

WINNER: Kane

ECW Originals vs. New Breed
The SANDMAN, TOMMY DREAMER, SABU & ROB VAN DAM vs. ELIJAH BURKE, KEVIN THORN, MARCUS COR VON, & MATT STRIKER
This match is going to be intense. Not because of the feud, by any stretch of the imagination, but because of the amount of debuts at Wrestlemania for these ECW competitors. Outside of Van Dam for certain, and Dreamer, I believe, ALL of these men are making their collective Wrestlemania debut. I don't care if you've been competing for 30 years, 90,000 people is going to make you sweat a little bit more than normal, and I would not be surprised in the least if there's some butterflies in the stomachs of the new blood on the grand stage.

Quick correction, apparently this IS Dreamer's Wrestlemania debut. I am happy for him that he has the ability to compete in this stage before the powers that be pull the rug right out from underneath his feet.

On paper, I like the Originals. Van Dam the high flyer, Dreamer the innovator of violence, Sandman the hardcore legend, and Sabu, the pinnacle of violence, all of them can take this match and turn it in to extreme rules, whether or not it's listed as extreme rules for a stip. While Burke and Striker can wrestle their socks off, Cor Von and Thorn are more brawlers, and could find themselves in a knock down drag out street fight atmosphere with the originals. In that type of atmosphere, my money's on the men who have been seasoned in the Bingo Hall.

Unfortunately, this is WWE, and the word has been going round that this whole story is going to be scrapped come Wrestlemania, and the chances of the Originals winning are slim, if not non existent. Why? I don't know. While I enjoy seeing the new faces like Thorn, Cor Von, Striker, and Burke, this feud has legs, and should continue. However, I doubt this report I read is too far from the truth, and I would suspect soon after Wrestlemania, the eventual disbanding of the ECW originals will begin to surface. Give this one to the New Breed, along with overall control of the brand.

One last thing, how ironic is this for Kevin Thorn, what was it, two years ago or so, he was trying to break in as Mordecai, and couldn't get out of his own way? Now, as a vampire wanna be, he has nearly carved out a niche on the ECW dial for the forseeable long term. I am happy for him, as well Cor Von, who sniffed the NWA title on more than one occasion while in TNA, but never crossed the threshhold. I only hope this isn't his pinnacle for his WWE/ECW career.

WINNERS: Matt Striker, Marcus Cor Von, Kevin Thorn & Elijah Burke

WWE United States Championship Match
CHRIS BENOIT vs. MONTEL VONTAVIOUS PORTER
I am happy to see the US title being defended at this stage. I am happy to see Chris Benoit on Wrestlemania's card, defending a title. However, I don't think he's going to be happy when this is done. I read a report where Benoit is set to go to Raw after Wrestlemania, and with the push of MVP since his epic feud with Kane, this is absolutely tailor made for a title change. As much as I like Benoit, and I do, and as much as I like seeing him with gold around his waist, MVP has shown he is ready to take the reigns as a champion, and if he makes a good showing against a vet like Benoit on this stage, it will further solidify his position on the blue and white friday night brand.

WINNER: New Champion: M.V.P.

WWE Women's Championship
MELINA vs. ASHLEY
How ironic that two out of three of the most qualified women's combatants are not competing on this stage for the title. Victoria and Mickie James are sitting on their collective duffs while Ashley, as goregous as she is, and as much of an improvement as she has portrayed in her brief time in the squared circle, is getting this shot not because of her ability inside the squared circle, but because of the Playboy angle. While I don't mind that one bit, it is kind of unfair to the quintessential combatants of the women's division. Especially if Ashley is able to defeat Melina, which would not surprise me, although it would definitely fuel speculation about the validity of the title. I thought we may see a brief return of Trish Stratus to help even the score from Melina's abuse of Trish and Ashley before Trish's retirement. With that now officially out of the way, and Melina so focused on her title that she's not even accompanying Nitro to ringside for his matches, (as seen a couple of weeks ago on Raw), this is a tough road to hold for the new Playboy covergirl. As a matter of fact, I don't think she can do it.

WINNER: Melina

Money in the Bank Ladder Match
EDGE vs. RANDY ORTON vs. MATT HARDY vs. JEFF HARDY vs. KEN KENNEDY vs. FINLAY vs. KING BOOKER vs. C.M. PUNK

I went through this in a previous chapter. Not much changes. I would have really liked to see Edge and Orton pulled out of this, and given shots to other men, and maybe have RKO fight each other singularly on the card, as that would be tantamount to tearing the house down. Matt & Jeff will steal the show with some sick spots, and Punk is liable to be a little star struck, and may need a few good shots to the head to get his game face on, as this is his Wrestlemania debut. When it all comes down to it, and the smoke clears, two men benefit the most from the contract. The rep from ECW, who I don't think gets it because of inexperience, and the rep from Smackdown, who has the possibility of running after the World title, or the ECW title, and that is, who I will stick with for the win here....

WINNER: Mr. Kennedy

Battle of the Billionaires - Hair vs. Hair
Special Referee: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Intercontinental Champion UMAGA (w/Armando Estrada) for VINCE MCMAHON vs. ECW Champion BOBBY LASHLEY for DONALD TRUMP
This match on its own has a lot of stamina behind it, as the IC Champ is a viable candidate to compete for the Extreme title, and give Lashley a run for his money. While I would like to see this match singularly, for either belt, the addition of Trump & McMahon doesn't thrill me, personally. While I will enjoy seeing either one of them bald, if it happens, I am just sick of the promotion from this match. It takes away from the work of the other talents in the match, 1, and the other talents on the card, 2, as secondary, when the focus should be on the talent, not two 60 plus year old billionaires, or wanna be billionaires, as I read in a report recently when it comes to Vince McMahon.

Austin is the referee. Who else thinks about the last time Austin was the ref at Wrestlemania. Wrestlemania 20, and Brock Lesnar vs. Bill Goldberg. If that performance is a prelude to this match, we're all screwed. I don't think so, though, as both Lashley and Umaga are two totally different kettles of fish, and this match should be out of control from the word go. I would like to see some major action going in this match, almost a No DQ feel, and hopefully, when the smoke clears, that will be the case.

Even though the booking this past week with Lashley being pounded on by the chairman on Raw, being one of the screwiest ideas so close to Wrestlemania that I have ever seen in my life, bottom line here, I would be absolutely stunned if Trump is bald when this is done. Vince can use the storyline with no hair for months on end within the realm of WWE, but Trump as a bald man on the Apprentice, just doesn't wash. One way or another, the match ought to outweigh the extremities pretty heavily. Lashley wins in a war. Umaga makes a good showing, and Vince ends up getting the head cleaned.. literally.

WINNER: Bobby Lashley

WWE Championship
JOHN CENA vs. SHAWN MICHAELS
I have to say, that this is the first time I can remember in a long while where this is difficult for me to pick. Is there reason for Cena to win? Yes. Is there reason for Michaels to win? Yes, I believe. Quick explanations. Michaels winning gives him the "last run" type of deal as WWE champion if he is finally thinking of slowing down and eventually ending the run in WWE. Also, it allows the absolute certainty of the blowup of DX when Triple H returns because of point two that I am going to mention in a minute. I also think that it would refresh Raw significantly with Cena not having the belt for some time. Yes, I said it. Cena may have had the belt for too long.

Now, here comes the contradiction. One. Cena wins because of the potential issues that could arise with Triple H one way or another. Maybe he gets involved in some way and takes Michaels out of the match for Cena to win, helping to end DX a little early? Yes, it's far fetched, but it's possible. Also, there is, as I was going to say before, ABSOLUTELY NOBODY outside of these two men and Triple H ready to go for the WWE title at present. Two other men could go, but I would believe they are going to be embroiled in a major feud once Wrestlemania is complete, (three letters, R-K-O).

When you sit down and think about this match from as unbiased opinion as possible, which I know everybody who reads this column is going to think that's horse crap out of me because of the favor I have shown Cena from day one, and you would be right, but the bottom line is, this is a pick 'em match from the word go.

Thinking out loud, I would suspect this match will be good, but I also suspect that Cena will be taken to school from Michaels standpoint, because Michaels has had more main event experience in Wrestlemania than Cena has had wrestling experience in total, practically. Benoit made Cena look rookie like 2 weeks ago on Raw, and I would believe that Michaels has the potential to do the same thing at Wrestlemania 23.

I am having a lot of trouble making a pick for this one.. But....

WINNER: John Cena

I don't think this will end here. I think there is more to this feud than meets the eye.

BUT....

after speaking with a good friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, there is a distinct possibility of what could transpire for the WWE title following this match involving a certain current U.S. Champion, from what I can gather, and perhaps that would be a good filler program following Wrestlemania leading up to the return of the Game. As this friend and I determined, when the Game returns, it'll be close to 2 years since he's held a world championship. I would consider it a foregone conclusion that before 2007 is done, Triple H will be the WWE Champion for the 11th time.

Moving forward...

World Heavyweight Championship
BATISTA vs. THE UNDERTAKER
Ok, let's just get right out there and say it. Everybody and their mother probably thinks that the Undertaker is not going to be around much, if at all leading up to Wrestlemania 24. With that being said, and the reports of the reputation that Batista seems to be garnering inside the WWE locker room on Smackdown, I really, really, really, really hope that something that may be the only real thing left in wrestling, Undertaker's 13-0 streak at this event doesn't come to an end to this guy. If it's going to come to an end during this show, then have it happen in a creative way, like having Taker win the match, and then be forced to compete again against the winner of Money in the Bank. Pull off a New Year's Revolution at Wrestlemania, and have the title change hands twice. This way, it takes a supreme effort to take the streak away from the Undertaker, keeping his legendary status in tact, while making sure that someone who, as far as I can see, does not deserve the kudos of being the man to end this feat. Yes, in this match, the streak IS more important than the World Heavyweight title.

A lot of people have emailed me saying something like that could or should happen at Wrestlemania for a myriad of reasons. Personally, it would be the best way to honor all the parties involved, WWE with the title change, Taker with the streak, and the fans with a surprise match that they would find nothing short of captivating.

WINNER: New World Heavyweight Champion: The Undertaker

I am believing, from some comments that have been posted to my myspace blog under my preview column for Money in the Bank, that the scenario I described here is more likely to take place because 8 matches doesn't fill four hours. A battle royale is scheduled for the pre-show, which I doubt will make it to the final tally, and outside of pulling an Armageddon 2006 with the 4 way ladder match for the WWE tag team titles, I don't suspect any new matches will be added to the card. With all that being said, I could see one of the champions being forced to compete twice during this event, and Undertaker is the most likely candidate to pull that off.

In closing, I want to apologize for not providing columns on the title matches that I promised after writing my MitB preview. I got sick, and time ran out. I hope you all can understand.

Till next time, enjoy Wrestlemania 23.

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NOTE: The viewpoints expressed in this column do not reflect the views of Wrestleview.com or its immediate staff.