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Pro's from the Palace (#233) - Picks & thoughts for WWE No Way Out PPV |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 10:55 AM EST
This is it, everybody. The last PPV before Wrestlemania 24. No Way Out. This one is definitely one I am interested in, as I am a fan of the elimination chamber match. Someone did mention to me that the chances of the 1st chamber match, whichever it may be, not being as brutal as some of the older ones is much more possible, due to the fact that this is the first time that the chamber is being used twice in the same card. I tend to disagree. I would think WWE has the contingency in place to replace anything that may get broken. We'll just have to wait and see. The sheer randomness of the 12 men going in to the chamber matches makes this pay per view very enjoyable to try and pick.
It's also kind of coincidental that this PPV is happening in the city of chance, Las Vegas, Nevada, as these 12 men are definitely taking a big chance stepping in to this demonic piece of hardware. Hardware. Yeah, right, the thing's freakin' enormous, but hey, I gotta try and build it up somehow.
Let's go to work.
RIC FLAIR vs. MR. KENNEDY
It's quite obvious who's going to win here, and that's just a simple two word answer. But before I say that, I have to say, I was suggested an idea through email that is very distinctly a possibility for Flair's Wrestlemania 24 opponent, if the storyline continues to its fruitition. I had begun to think from the first inkling of this storyline that Triple H would be Flair's eventual final opponent. However, as time progresses, and I think more about the suggestion given to me, the reaper of souls may be a better fit for the Nature Boy to go out on, from one legend to another. I don't want to go any further than that, because it's going to give away a couple of picks. One way or another, Flair will win. I would like to see a CLEAN win for Flair, but I doubt that's going to happen.
WINNER: Ric Flair
ECW Championship
CHAVO GUERRERO vs. C.M. PUNK
Here's my take here. One on one, let's go to war, and I love this match, no questions asked. If Chavo, though, has his, or should I say, Edge's cronies in his corner, then the pure wrestling possibilities of this match go out the window, and unless its extreme rules, it's obvious who will win. I am going to think, because Edge hasn't been seen too much lately with Rider and Hawkins in tow, and the idea of allying Chavo with them has kind of fizzled as well, that Chavo will go it alone in this one. Now, the question remains, is Chavo a transitional champion and Punk going to take the gold in to Wrestlemania, or is this going to continue on to a rematch at Wrestlemania, or is Chavo going to get the dupe, and probably meet someone like Shelton Benjamin for the ECW title at mania. Or the fourth choice, the ECW token match at Wrestlemania won't even be for the title.
My answer to that four part question is this: I'm going with my heart on this one. We have a title change, and Punk/Chavo III for the belt at Wrestlemania 24, with Chavo being the hunted.
WINNER: CM Punk
Smackdown/ECW Elimination Chamber for the World Title Shot at Wrestlemania 24
THE UNDERTAKER vs. BATISTA vs. THE GREAT KHALI vs. BIG DADDY V vs. MVP vs. FINLAY
All the men in this match have legit claims for title matches with the exception, I think of Big Daddy V, but hey, you always need the token big man, and although V is far from a token, his course in this match would probably lead to a quick exit. I tried doing a Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 PS 2 simulation of this match, with Mark Henry subsituting for Big Daddy V (since V isn't in the game), and believe it or not, Henry beat Finlay to win the match. So, that shows you how easy that prediction would go. Not. Now, I am INSANELY intrigued with how Undertaker is going to come out in the chamber, and how his body is going to handle this grueling match. I personally think that he will either come out last, and be involved in the final decision, or come out first, and be one of the first people eliminated. With his reputation, the former is more likely. His body is going to get destroyed in this match, and I sincerely doubt he'll be ready for a world title shot in the time between No Way Out and Wrestlemania, so I am going to eliminate him as a potential winner. So, that takes V and Undertaker out of the equation, leaving Khali, MVP, Finlay, and Batista. I think Khali will be eliminated by probably Batista, because Khali as world champion again would equal the death knell of Smackdown. Contention for the belt, fine, but as champion, I doubt it.
The final three, I am guessing, will be MVP, Finlay, and Batista. I know I am going out on a limb here, but that's what I think. MVP for the sheer fact that he has remained US champion for as long as he has, Finlay as some sort of pre-cursor to the buildup of his match with Vince at Wrestlemania 24, so that'll take the Irishman out of the winner's circle in this match, and Batista because the Animal is the face of Smackdown, literally and figuratively. I think Batista vs. MVP in a long term rivalry would be immensely entertaining, and if whoever wins the chamber doesn't win the World title, a US title rivalry definitely would be something new for Smackdown. I have to think that the Animal is going to get one more shot at the Rated R Superstar because he's most prepared to handle the rigors of the chamber from start to finish. Experience is mandatory in a situation like this, so let's take experience over brutality, speed, and finesse.
WINNER: Batista
Raw Elimination Chamber Match for a shot at the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 24
JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD vs. CHRIS JERICHO vs. JEFF HARDY vs. TRIPLE H vs. SHAWN MICHAELS vs. UMAGA
I did the Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 Sim of this one as well, with John Cena replacing Chris Jericho. Jeff Hardy won, pinning Triple H as the final decision. It's feasible, but I seriously doubt it. Personally, I have to go with this report I read this past week.
With the fiiring of Dave Lagana, one of the major creative team members, Michael Hayes has grown to have more power in the back with the suits. He has been pitching, according to this report, a rematch for the WWE title from a past Wrestlemania. I think that fits the pieces of the puzzle quite nicely, as there is a desperate need for the man who I am picking to win the match here to turn heel again, and the opponent in what I believe will be the WWE title match next month is, whether you like it or not, the WWE's biggest draw.
With that being said, this match still has its intriguing factors. How will JBL's body handle the wars of the Chamber? Is Jericho at 100% physically to handle this type of a match so soon after his return? Is Jeff Hardy ready to step up to full time WWE title contention? A good showing here for the IC Champion, and that's a virtual lock. What will Umaga's role here be? Similar to Goldberg's back in 2003? Will DX team up, or will H and Michaels proceed to beat the high holy ever loving crap out of each other from the word go. All these possibilites will lead to an entertaining match, I believe. However, the winner I think is pretty easy to determine.
WINNER: Triple H
World Heavyweight Championship
EDGE vs. REY MYSTERIO
I am sure all of you have read the reports that I have on WWE.com that Rey Mysterio was hurt while touring South America. I am starting to believe it could have been a work, as I have not seen anything else on the situation since, but when the name of Dr. James Andrews is brought up, the man who did Triple H's two operations on his quadriceps, the chances of it being a work are pretty slim.
If Rey is healthy, this match is good from the word go, even with the involvement that is likely to happen from Vickie Guerrero or Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins. However, if Rey is not healthy, and he still goes, I know he'll give 100%, but it's going to be too insurmountable a mountain to climb, healthy or not. I know this is a shot against Rey, and it's not meant to be, but Edge's undefeated streak in singles matches at Wrestlemania and as world heavyweight champion is too much of a marquis not to pass up.
WINNER: Edge
WWE Championship
RANDY ORTON vs. JOHN CENA
I know the world is split down the middle with this one. Half the world thinks Cena came back way too early, and is putting himself at major risk of major injury by stepping in with Orton this soon after the pectoral tear. Half the world is enraged that Cena is back, and is liable of possibly winning the match, and re-capturing the title he has never been defeated for. And half the world is thrilled to see the former champion back in action 2 to 4 months ahead of schedule.
What do I think?
I'd be lying if I didn't say I am worried about Cena's health. It'd never be proven, but if it ever came to pass that the world found out he came back against doctor's orders, I would really be angry, and potentially consider ending my association with wrestling, because bluntly, I would have to believe that he was pressured back by the powers that be at WWE, knowing how much of a draw the man is, one way or another.
I'd also be lying if I said I wouldn't want to see Cena again as WWE Champion. I am a huge Cena mark, as the world knows from reading this column, and the report I mentioned before that I was talking about regarding the suggestion that Michael Hayes is pitching to the WWE top brass is HHH - Cena II for the WWE title at Wrestlemania 24. No disrespect to Orton whatsoever, but that match has more marquis value for this stage. Cena and the Game's involvement at the Rumble is a good pre cursor to beginning this rivalry build up to the WWE title match in Orlando, and I think they would both deliver. Their match at Wrestlemania 22 was enjoyable, to say the least, and I would not be surprised one bit if they deliver another enjoyable match next month.
WINNER: John Cena
I'd like to invite you in closing to come check out the Palace Project Websites, featuring a blog, a forum, and podcasts about all sorts of subjects, primarily focusing on wrestling. The home page of the Project is my own personal blog which can be linked to by clicking here.
If you'd like to drop me an email, feel free to do so by clicking here.
Anyone in the New York City area, look for me in the back of the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom this saturday night as I will be in attendance for ROH's sixth anniversary show. I am planning on trying to do an audio commentary for the entire show, and instead of writing a 16 page epic column, I am going to try and release that commentary as a podcast on the Palace Project. I hope you guys check it out.
Thank you very much for reading.
NOTE: The views of this column do not reflect those of the administration of this website.
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