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Pro's from the Palace (#207) - Thoughts and picks for WWE No Mercy PPV |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 10:26 AM EST
Its time for another prediction column. Before I get started, I want to thank all of you for the response to my last column. I have nearly 70 emails to work with. I've responded to about a little less than half of them. I will respond to all of them soon. Been a little off physically the last few days, and that's slowed me down some.
With that being said, let me try and come up with some predictions for tomorrow night's No Mercy PPV.
I have read reports that a tag team match is set for sunday night's pay per view from the Smackdown brand, featuring the Undertaker & Kane vs. Matt Hardy & MVP for the WWE Tag Team Championship. I know it's advertised for next week's Smackdown, but I also think that its set to go down sunday night. It's too good a match to not try and get a few buys out of the pay per view audience with the return of the Brothers of Destruction going for the tag team titles. So, let's do this. IF the match is set for tomorrow night, I expect the Undertaker & Kane to take the titles, and lead Matt Hardy & MVP down a spiraling cataclysmic fall toward a US title match at Survivor Series.
I've also read reports of a potential battle royale style match to determine contenders for the WWE Championship. I would think if something like this comes down, it would be to determine the #1 contender for the title, and not the participants in the match. I think that Orton is automatically entered in to the match because of the program and the eventual results. As far as the opponent goes, I haven't a clue.
The emails I have received following chapter 206 of the Palace has overwhelming said Jericho as the opponent. As much as I would like to see that happen, and as much as I believe the fans of WWE want to see it happen, it's just too damn creative for WWE to think up. I would think more than likely Kennedy will be Orton's opponent, if anything, because of him being in the match with Cena that took the champ out of action.
One thing I want to make clear. I got an email saying that I "blamed" Kennedy for Cena's injury. Not true. I won't discount the fact that originally I thought Kennedy's ring rust for being out for a month could've been a cause for the botched move that took Cena out of action, but when push comes to shove, these things happen anytime in any fight business, and there's no way to blame anyone, good, bad, or indifferent. It happens. What else can be said? I hope that puts things in more proper perspective.
Now then, on to the booked matches we know of.
Women's Championship
CANDICE MICHELLE vs. BETH PHOENIX
I believe it's inevitable that Candice will drop the title one day to Beth Phoenix. However, with the fact that there truly is not a face challenger on the horizon, thanks to the depush Mickie James has gotten, whether voluntarily or otherwise, I think that Michelle will figure out a way to hold on to the belt for the eventual change of the title at the major PPV next month, Survivor Series. I wonder if Michelle is prepared to go to the physicality Phoenix can dish out. I remember back in 2002, I think I got this from an email as well, the hardcore rules match between Trish & Victoria for the women's title. The question is, has Candice got the guts to go that far? I believe my answer to that question is, yes.
WINNER: Candice Michelle
FINLAY vs. REY MYSTERIO
Talk about the ultimate contrast in styles. While I hated the booking of Khali vs. Mysterio last night on Smackdown, this match has a lot of potential. However, the one aspect of this match that could make this match a little less stellar is one name. John Bradshaw Layfield. JBL has seemingly fed Rey to Finlay, and I expect JBL to make his presence known in this match, causing Rey to win by DQ. Shorter terms, it appears from where I sit, that JBL is going to propose a return to the ring at Survivor Series and a chance at redemption against Mysterio, and this is the beginning of that month of prep work leading up to that encounter.
As much as I am distressed about the potential of Finlay/Rey being used as a vehicle to prep for a bigger feud, I have to say, I think I would be anxious to see how JBL fares in a return match vs. Rey Mysterio next month. And I think that's going to happen.
WINNER: Rey Mysterio
TRIPLE H vs. UMAGA
Believe it or not, I am kind of feeling sorry for the Samoan Bulldozer. With the events off last week in the minds of all the brass of WWE, I think Triple H is on the fast track back to the top of the mountain top. Although this will be hard fought, and tough on the Game, and a hell of a test, Umaga I think will fall, followed by some way to get him to Smackdown to feud with the Undertaker. Kind of sad, as I wouldn't mind this feud going more physical, but outside circumstances, I believe, make this possibility impossible.
WINNER: Triple H
ECW Championship
CM PUNK vs. BIG DADDY V
This one dumbfounds me. Big Daddy V is entered in to the chase for the contendership slot at the last minute, taking out fan favorite and heartful hopeful Tommy Dreamer, getting his first shot at gold in quite a while. Meanwhile, we have vignettes being played on Smackdown promoting Big Daddy V. With that being done, its kind of apparent that there's a longer plan in mind for the big monster and his manager, and I don't think it involves the ECW Championship. I also HAVE TO BELIEVE that the WWE has realized that Punk has a major fan base developing as superstar and champion, and perhaps that may be the reason why Punk may come out with the surprise victory in this match.
WINNER: CM Punk
Punjabi Prison Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
The GREAT KHALI vs. BATISTA
This is a conundrum. It'll be nice that this time Khali is actually going to COMPETE in this match, as last year's prison match was kind of rebooked due to a weird medical condition that took out a quarter of the roster. With that being said, let's be honest here. Can Khali climb 20 feet above the ring and make it out without killing himself? The next question is, does WWE want to put the title back on Khali with the proposed return next month? If the WWE managed to get the belt off Khali, I don't think that Khali will sniff the belt again as champion, and especially with the return of Edge promoted for Survivor Series, he'll be in the title picture almost immediately due to the nature of his injury, and frankly, Edge/Khali just doesn't cut it, while Batista/Edge will.
WINNER: Batista
WWE Championship Match
As I said in the beginning, I believe the match will feature Randy Orton and Mr. Kennedy. While I would like to see more of a gimmick style match with more superstars in this contest, I think WWE will go the quick route to get this situation resolved as cleanly as possible. And with that being said, the cleanest way to resolve it is one way. I'm not happy about it, but it is the right move for storyline continuity.
WINNER: Randy Orton
I'd like to hear your thoughts on No Mercy. I will publish a lot of email responses to the last column, and this one as time allows at my blog. Here's my URL address for the blog. It's Mikesiciliano.blogspot.com or you can click here.
If you'd like to email me for any reason, my email is palace@wrestleview.com or you can click here.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
NOTE: The views of this column do not represent the views of the administration of this website.
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