Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 4:39 PM EST

This one will be multiple fold. I first will do my picks for the Great American Bash PPV. And then, following the picks, I have a brief thought and opinion on the new World Heavyweight Champion, the Great Khali. And lastly, some briefs on TNA.

I'll do my picks first. If anyone in interested, I am keeping a PPV tally of my pick record on the front page of my myspace. I have to update it from Victory Road, but my WWE record is currently up to date. With that being said, let's get down to business.

Singapore Cane Match
CARLITO vs. THE SANDMAN

Apparently, this match was announced on com, or will be announced on com, as I read reports it's going to be added to the card. I'm kind of stunned to read as well that McMahon has become enamored with the Sandman's gimmick, and is considering a push for the ECW Original. Why he's on Raw is another story in its own right, but let's move on here. The question on the table is, is this a push for the Sandman, or punishment for Carlito for not fulfilling his limitless potential? You would've thought Carlito would have multiple championships on his resume, but he has one US title and one IC title reign that I can think of, and that's it. For a guy with his lineage, that's not cool. Carlito can wrestle, but this match is about fightin', and the edge there is solely in the corner of the Hardcore Icon.

WINNER: The Sandman

Texas Bull Rope Match
DUSTY RHODES vs. RANDY ORTON

I had no problems with Orton vs. Mick Foley because Foley technically can still wrestle, although for sure his time has passed. This one has me a lot more uncomfortable, because I'm not sure Rhodes is in any shape to get this done the way it should be done. The question remains, will this be a legitimate match between the legend and the legend killer, or will the legend's son step up to the plate and take the reigns for his father? It's feasible that Cody steps up and takes the bull rope by the horns and faces Orton, for the sheer fact that Orton at this particular time could kill Dusty, and I think most of the world knows that. If Dusty doesn't know that, he's a fool, but that's just my opinion.

I have no information to back this up, it's just speculative, but the chances are, Dusty's going to go through with this match, and although it will provide some nice spark to Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton, it's not going to do well to bolster the legendary status of the American Dream. Personally, it's a bad move for Dusty. And a dangerous one as well.

WINNER: Randy Orton

WWE Women's Championship
CANDICE MICHELLE vs. MELINA

Melina claims she didn't take Candice seriously. Hrm. Interesting. Or major league damage control on the part of one of the few women wrestlers left on WWE's roster. While I am impressed with Candice's abilities in the ring, she's not in Melina's league, and the title win was more punishment for Melina's poor attitude in the locker room, I believe, than anything else. It would not shock me to see Melina recapture the gold, but I'll pick Candice because I believe the next in line for the title after this is Jillian Hall. My only prayer if I am right on that statement is she loses the bad Brooke Hogan gimmick.

WINNER : Candice Michelle

WWE Intercontinental Championship
UMAGA vs. JEFF HARDY

Is this match the precursor to the eventual Jackass gang getting involved in WWE programming leading up to Summerslam and the so called main event match with the Bulldozer? I hope so, because one on one, Jeff's in big trouble. Jeff can go, no question about it, but the way Umaga tore Santino Marella apart, regardless of the ended push is dangerous, because they're making Umaga almost indestructible, and I would believe that more of the same is in line for the former IC champ from North Cacka-lackie. We had a Milan Miracle which turned in to the Milan Mistake. I don't think we're going to get a San Jose Jinx.

WINNER: Umaga

WWE United States Championship
MVP vs. MATT HARDY

For starters, Michael Cole needs to check his enthusiasm at the door when it comes to Matt Hardy, because it's bordering on creepy. But, let's get back to the essentials here. These two guys tore it up on Smackdown a few weeks back, and beat each other up pretty good in the title battle royale tonight. I suspect this could be the show stealer for this card, definitely the best match on the undercard by a landslide. It's a virtual pick em match, I would believe. While Porter has done exceptional as a heel champion, it's apparent by all showing that WWE is preparing to put a singles title on Hardy again, (I liked the wording on how they're trying to get Hardy a "major" singles title, does WWE really think its fans don't remember his run as European Champion?) and this feud looks to be the way for that to eventually occur. Will it occur in San Jose? It's definitely possible. Hell, I'll go out on a limb and pick the title change.

WINNER: Matt Hardy

It's entirely possible that WWE will put the belt on Hardy for one main reason. Three heel champions aren't very good for ratings, I would think. Khali, Chavo, and the tag champs are all heels. Perhaps giving Hardy the US title will assist in the long run. Who knows?

ECW World Championship
JOHN MORRISON vs. CM PUNK

I know for a fact not a sole is going to admit this, but let's be honest. John Morrison was born because Johnny Nitro is forever going to be linked as the man who replaced Chris Benoit in the match at Night of Champions for the ECW title during that fateful weekend. Morrison's name change is an attempt by WWE to further distance any connections to that weekend, that tragedy, and the career of the Wolverine. I'm kind of indifferent about it, as I am bothered by the fact that the career, well, you all know where I stand on all that, let's not do the tangent thing, and let's get back to the matter at hand.

I also believe that Morrison may be in trouble to keep the title here due to the connections back to the tragedy. I would not be shocked in any stretch of the imagination to think that WWE brass will look at the ECW title, and the current title holder, and think that someone is going to put the connections together, and realize that Benoit would have won the title had things gone the right way. With that being said, and the lingering shadow of this tragedy over the ECW World title, I believe Punk will win the match and the belt. I'm not happy about it, as I want Punk to be ECW Champion, but not like this. I want Punk to win the belt on a level playing field, and quite frankly, I don't think, at this time, that the ECW title is a "level playing field" due to the shadows that are still looming over the brand from the tragic consequences of a month or so ago.

WINNER: CM Punk

World Heavyweight Championship
THE GREAT KHALI vs. KANE vs. BATISTA

Khali will retain the title. I'll speak more about this later on in the column.

WINNER: The Great Khali

WWE Cruiserweight Championship
CHAVO GUERRERO vs. FUNAKI vs. JAMIE NOBLE vs. SHANNON MOORE vs. JIMMY WANG YANG

Isn't it just terrific how the cruiserweights are the after thought? Here we have a good match, a match worthy of a little time on television, and it's an after thought added on the day before the bash. I guess maybe it's done this way due to the problems with the world title, but it's still a detriment to the combatants in the match. It's pretty obvious this will come down to Yang and Chavo for the title, and since Yang has sniffed the belt but not crossed the threshold, I think this may be the time to do it. I'll go out on a limb and say Yang wins the title in this match, starting up hopefully a renewed interest in the cruiserweights, at least until Rey gets back. I also believe that, with Rey requesting Chavo for a program upon his return, that it'd be necessary to have Chavo drop the belt, because Rey, although his resume would or should dictate it, he'd probably not be in line for a title shot off the bat.

WINNER: Jimmy Wang Yang

WWE Championship
JOHN CENA vs. BOBBY LASHLEY

I heard reports during the hype for this match that they're comparing this to Flair/Steamboat and Flair/Harley Race. Someone needs a reality check, and a hell of a lot more serious one than from the ECW Reality television star. Is this match intriguing? Hell yes, it is, from where I sit. The chatter vs. the fighter. The brawn vs. the brawn. The wrestler vs. the thug. Two legitimate fan favorites, no matter how many cities boo Cena out of the building.

I said it the last time out for picks, Cena needs to drop the title. I'm going to say it again, Cena needs to drop the title. Here I think is the only viable possible time that Cena could drop the title. With the Game looming, I have to believe that WWE is probably thinking of a Triple H vs. Bobby Lashley eventual feud for the WWE title. If that's on their minds, and the reports of Cena possibly heading off to another movie shoot, the cards are stacked, literally, against the WWE champion.

One other thing about the hype, I LOVED the vignettes with the former champs hyping this match. I thought it was a terrific touch. Between this match, and a few others here, I may end up buying this PPV on disc when it comes out. I have to say I'm interested. This is a pick em, here. Either one can pull it off. You people know my allegiance. I'm as big a Cena mark as there is, and I admit it.

WINNER: Bobby Lashley

I just see Cena dropping it here. With the Game returning, I have to think that the Game will want something new to sink his choppers in to, and he's done the go round with Cena already. And I'm going to be brutally frank when I say this.

I would pay good money to see Triple H vs. Bobby Lashley. Screw wrestling skills, or anything technical, I wanna see these two guys get in the circle and try to rip each others heads off.

Raw needs a new direction. Badly.

Wow, I picked 4 title changes. Damn, I am going to SUCK this pay per view. But, hey, I'm a man of my word, and I'm going to stick to my guns.

The Great Khali wins the World Heavyweight Championship

Batista gets injured by Mark Henry, and is forced to relinquish the championship. The Undertaker is injured during his feud with Batista and is forced to lose the championship in a 'controversial' fashion to Edge. Mr. Kennedy was destined to be World Champion and is taken out of the picture by a torn tricep, and hence quickly after, drafted away to Raw. Edge gets hurt during a skit by Kane, and is forced to relinquish the championship.

Ok, coinicidence maybe. I doubt it, but it's the way of the business, so I can accept that. But here's what puzzles me. If we go back to One Night Stand and before, a certain current World champion was pinned and tapped out in the middle of the ring to the current WWE title holder, and now he's the so called king of the Smackdown world?

No offense to anyone, but how in the hell can the WWE be so close minded to not think it's followers aren't going to remember John Cena beating the Great Khali not once, but twice. JBL and Cole made this man out to be the next coming of Satan himself. While he's an ominous figure, and is going to be a tremendously difficult champion to unseat, I have to believe that there was one man that should've gotten this opportunity, if it's only for a brief moment in time. It at least, by using who I am going to say, it would not devalue the World title like it's already been devalued with Khali winning the belt.

The man I am thinking of is Mark Henry.

Yes, I know, the world is probably saying I just contradicted myself to death, and I did. But try and hear me out. Let's think this through. Long gets the belt and orders the battle royale. And instead of the world (smackdown locker room) taking out Henry, they take out Khali. Leaving Henry to battle with Batista and Kane. It would have kept the monster storyline in tact, yet allow the title change to happen without the inevitable loss of prestige that this title has taken. Also, bluntly, Henry, and this hurts for me to say it, does deserve a shot with the brass ring because of his loyalty to the company. On a level playing field, Henry doesn't sniff the world title, but this isn't a level playing field, and I think personally that Henry is less likely a candidate to injure someone from lack of experience than Khali is.

Both Batista and Kane have back history with Mark Henry so the whole storyline as it has been playing out with Khali can continue, but it corrects a major problem. It eliminates the doubt of the champion with his recent falls at the hands of John Cena. WWE cannot think that its fans are that dumb and that inane to realize that the bulk of them are going to remember the program Khali had with Cena, and how Cena beat him cleanly at One Night Stand. So soon afterwards, Khali's a world champ? Level playing field or not, it's not right.

Off the top of my head, as I think about the participants in the battle royale, who there would be considered world title holder material? Ok. Obviously Batista and Kane. Let's say that right off the top. I'll put MVP in that list because of his work and the US title. I think Finlay can be listed as a title contender from his resume. That's four. I think Chavo could be considered, but that's stretching it. Can you, if you thought back to the beginning of the battle royale, would you put Khali in that list? I wouldn't. I wouldn't put Mark Henry in it either, but playing saturday afternoon booker, I came up with this idea. Who else would you put in as a possible title contender in the battle royale? Not Matt Hardy, not yet. Not the tag champs, not in the least. Eugene? Ha. Jamie Noble? Ha. Funaki? Excuse me while I fall down. Let me explain something on Funaki. My son, my 13 year old son who was watching with me at the time asked me what closet they dragged him out of to put him in this match. Dykstra? Hall of fame? Not a title contender.

So when you come down to it, you got two bona fide main eventers in Batista and Kane, and borderlines with MVP and Finlay. Finlay hasn't found a niche yet since returning to Smackdown and MVP has his hands full. It brings you back to Batista and Kane. If you're going to put the belt on them, so be it. If not, find someone that these two men can feud with. The two most likely candidates are Henry and Khali. And I hope I've been able to portray why I think choosing Khali was a mistake.

Maybe I'm wrong, we'll find out. Moving on....

This championship jinx that WWE is portraying is a good idea, though, although I don't personally believe it for a second but it can be marketed similar to the Madden game football curse, and it could provide some nice legs for future storylines.

TNA Hard Justice Main Event, and a snip on Lockdown 2007 DVD

I gotta take a minute to address the upcoming Hard Justice main event in TNA. Yawn. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe again. Now, it's for the campbell's soup championship. IWGP, TNA, X Division, tag team, come on, people, think about this. What the hell is this doing for the rest of the locker room? You have two men holding all the gold, one of them being a legitimately invalid title that has lineage well beyond before I started following pro wrestling. And now we have two men that have fought valiantly for months on end going at it one more time for all of this gold. What's this going to prove? I would've thought the trilogy of matches that you had with Angle and Joe would've cemented this. So much for my beliefs. And so much for the morale of the rest of the locker room. You can't tell me the guys like Harris, Storm, Styles, and Daniels are happy that all the titles are on two men who have not put all of their heart and sole in to this company from day one.

Quick parting note. I picked up Lockdown 07. I now have Lockdown from 05, 06, and 07. I gotta tell you something. Lethal Lockdown was fun. It was. But the electrified cage disaster between LAX and 3D? I am going to not go out on a limb very deeply here and say that travesty of a match is what brought Konann to leave the company. I am telling you, as God as my witness, that was the most ridiculously looking match I have ever seen on a DVD. Kudos to Homicide for trying to make it legitimate, but all of them must have gone to the back after it was over and ask themselves what type of cluster fu*k they just experienced.

But that's just my two cents.

Let's talk. I'll update my PPV record in the coming days, check out my myspace for that. And give me a holler there or my email if you have something for the column.

Click here for my myspace.

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Till next time.

NOTE: The opinions of this column do not reflect those of the administration of this website.