Wrestlemania 26 preview.

I really want to start blogging and seeing as I am both a die-hard wrestling and baseball fan I figured that makes now the best possible time to start. Today is my Wrestlemania 26 preview, and some time next week I will put out a baseball preview.


When Wrestlemania comes around, most of my friends really cannot grasp how big of a deal this really is for big time wrestling fans. It truly is like the Superbowl in the sense that you watch year round just waiting for this night, often times its great and lives up to every expectation. However here and there it totally sucks and you feel like you should just light your money on fire. Last year was the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania and truth be told, it fucking sucked. From start to finish it was just mediocre match after mediocre match, throw in one of the best Wrestlemania matches ever (more on that later) and the un-watchable diva battle royal and it just kinda sucked. Truth be told if HHH and Randy Orton had put on a 4.5-5 star main event it could have been saved but the main event fell flat and the wrong guy (HHH) ended up winning thus eliminating Orton’s big moment, although he would win the title the next month but it wasn’t on the Mania stage. And the Mania stage really is what its all about, some of the greatest moments in wrestling history have taken place there from Hogan slamming Andre, to Hogan “passing the toarch” to Warrior, to the Shawn Michaels VS Bret Hart iron man match, To Stone Cold turning himself into a legit star at WM 13 and into a legit mega star at WM 14, and of course who can ever forget the spectacle that was Hogan VS the Rock at Wrestlemania 18? Simply epic. When one looks at the card for WM 26 I think they have every reason to have their hopes sky-high, I know mine sure as hell are.


My preview for Wrestlemania 26 in the order I think the matches will appear on the card:

Unified tag team title match: Showmiz Defends titles against John Morrison and R-Truth:
This one came out of nowhere but has actually had a pretty nice little build up. Miz and Big Show formed a team about two months ago and really haven’t looked back since. They won the tag titles from DX in a triple threat tag title match. Since winning the titles they have had a few title defenses but are now set to take on what would seem like their toughest challengers to date. Truth and Morrison got thrown together as a team to take on these guys on the biggest card of they year, normally I don’t like doing that but it works in this case. Morrison and R Truth are both pretty over with the crowds so teaming them up made sense, and they seem to work pretty well together while getting the best of Showmiz as of late. However Showmiz just got the titles and I would be surprised to see them lose them so quickly, look for a Big Show knock out punch out of nowhere to end this one in what should be a pretty interesting match.
Winners: The Miz and The Big Show

Money in the bank ladder match Dolph Ziggler vs. Kane vs. Christian vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. MVP vs. Jack Swagger vs. Matt Hardy vs. Evan Bourne vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Kofi Kingston: If you have never seen a MITB match and don’t know what they are all about, well I feel bad for you. In what has become a Mania tradition, 6-10 midcard type wrestlers will battle in a ladder match with a brief case held high above the ring, climb the ladder and get the brief case, that’s the simple goal in this one. However this isn’t just a brief case, inside this case is a contract for a world title match within the next year at a time of your choosing. Every superstar who has cashed in this brief case has indeed walked away winning the world title. This is one of the hardest matches to predict because as of now there are nine and maybe soon to be 10 wrestlers in this match. There are however only a handful that would seem a realistic pick to win this and they are, Christian, MVP, Kofi Kingston (assuming he is added) and perhaps Matt Hardy. This is the lone match on the card that has no build up because it really writes itself, 9 guys fighting for the contract, no real rivalry story is needed here. I think the supposed favorite does indeed win this one.
Winner: Christian

CM Punk VS Rey Mysterio in a street fight: This is an interesting match and has had a nice buildup, but of course I think anything that involves Punk has a nice buildup since anything he touches pretty much seems to turn to gold. If Rey loses this match he will be forced to join Punk’s Straight Edge Society which is exactly what it sounds like, a society of straight edge people. For the record Punk is in fact straight edge. These two have been costing each other matches for a few weeks now and that is how this match up really came into fruition. I really want to go with Punk here but at the same time Rey being a part of the SES really couldn’t make any less sense to me so….
Winner: Rey Mysterio

Triple threat match: Randy Orton VS. Cody Rhodes VS. Ted Dibiase: This may be the most confusing match on the card but I’m here to sort it all out. Orton was the leader of the stable of these 3 called the Legacy, all 3 superstars having parents who are WWE legends they formed a group because as they felt, they were born better than the rest. It was your typical stable with Ted and Cody working a lot of tag matches while Randy was in the main event, with those two very frequently interfering in his matches to assist with his wins. However a slow burn began where the two of them began costing Orton more matches than they were winning him, and Orton finally snapped. The night after the Elimination chamber when Ted pinned Orton after Cody threw a lead pipe in the ring the 3 of them were working a 6-man tag match. We got a backstage segment with Ted and Cody secretly talking and it seemed as if the plan was for them to turn on Orton during the match, however much to their surprise Orton would turn on them first to a nice face reaction from the crowd. There were a few weeks before it was announced but the former stable will now compete in this triple threat match, which seems odd since Cody and Ted are still a team. However with this being there first Mania look for both of them to only lookout for themselves, and because of that I see the former mentor coming out on top on this night with Ted and Cody getting some payback at later events.
Winner: Randy Orton

Triple H VS. Sheamus: This matchup has had a quick but effective storyline to it. Trips pinned Sheamus in the Elimination Chamber and he was no longer champ. Over the next few weeks, Sheamus attacked Trips without ever really giving the viewers a reason but it would soon be made clear, he wanted a match with Trips at Mania. Its simple to understand why he wants this, Sheamus is a young up and comer and feels his name can be made by beating one of the all time greats on the biggest stage of them all. Pretty logical thinking from the Irishman if ya ask me. Trips is never one to back down from a challenge and quickly accepted, warning Sheamus of falling into obscurity after getting embarrassed on the grandest stage of them all. This is a really tough one to call and is in a way the only match I don’t find myself very excited for. I don’t love either of these wrestlers styles and feel they will not mesh well together. However at the same time I know the match will only go about nine to twelve minutes so whatever ill deal. I think most expect Trips to be on the winning side of this one and I honestly think it could come down to the face heel victory count but I think ill go with the up and comer in an upset sending Trips into some anger.
Winner: Sheamus (I really have no idea who the hell is going to win this match)

If it is added (and I really hope it isn’t.) I see some type of diva match taking place at this point in the card, brining us into what are the 4 “main events” of the show. For these main event matches I have tracked down some fairly decent youtube promos for the match, to build things up better. This is where the show becomes hard to predict as far as where matches will fall on the card, but here we go.

Chris Jericho defends the World Heavyweight Championship VS. Edge:
Youtube previews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru4ulEgV9Ho
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8DsqWZPu9g



My match preview: I’m gonna be honest, I couldn’t possibly be looking forward to this match anymore. It all started when these two became unified tag champs, but shortly after that Edge injured his leg and was out for around eight months. During this time Jericho would often trash him in his promos for being the weak link of the two and how has injury is the best thing Jericho could have asked for since he got to pick a new partner in The Big Show. Well, Edge made a somewhat surprising return at the royal rumble and entering at the 29th position in the rumble, he would go on to win it. When one win the Rumble they get to pick the champions they will face in one of the main events at Mania and Edge took his time in picking from Sheamus and The Undertaker. However at the Elimination Chamber Jericho would win the World Heavyweight title from Undertaker in the chamber match. The next night on Raw Edge chose to face Jericho and the rest has been a nice build for the match. Edge has been using his spear a lot on Jericho and has made it clear that Jericho is just one spear away from losing the title at Mania. Like I said, I couldn’t possibly be more excited for this match as Jericho is my second favorite wrestler of all time, and Edge just misses the cut for my top 5. For those wondering this is how my list would go.
1. Shawn Michaels
2. Christ Jericho
3. Chris Benoit
4. Stone Cold Steve Austin
5. Ric Flair (Although not the stupid fucking TNA Ric Flair he is now)
Anyway back to the match, it should be a real classic however I think it lacks the serious star power to be a main event this year because of the star power latter in the card. As far as the winner goes I feel pretty good about my prediction:
Winner and new WHC: Edge

Bret Hart VS. Vince McMahon:
Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcj7nFdn9pg (doesn’t discuss the actual hype much but its not needed)

My preview: Well, nobody ever thought we would see this day but somehow, here we are. Its shocking enough to see Bret in a WWE ring let alone working with Vince at a high profile match on the biggest stage of the year. To recap why this is so shocking, 13 years ago the “Montreal screw job” occurred. What happened here was Vince had told Bret he can walk away and go to WCW because Vince could no longer afford to pay the contract he signed Bret too. Bret was fine with this, he really didn’t mind leaving in fact he probably preferred it. However there was an issue, Bret was the WWF champion at the time and had creative control over his character in the last 30 days of his contract which was a clause he had put into the deal for incase he left. The Survivor Series was coming up in Montreal and Bret was slated to defend the title against Shawn Michaels, but refused to drop the belt to him because those two simply hated each other and also being a Canadian, Bret didn’t want to drop the title in his country. Bret’s idea was to work a DQ finish and for him to forfeit the title the next night on Raw and be on his way to WCW as far as he knew this was the plan. However Shawn and Vince planned for Shawn to win without anyone else knowing. After the match Bret freaked out and spit on Vince, it is a well known rumor/fact the Bret punched Vince in the face after the show as well. That’s just a quick recap, he is the wiki link to read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_screw_job
So When Bret was set to make a Raw guest host appearance, it had people buzzing because they never thought they’d see the day. After the appearance and others that followed this match was finally signed, and it is also a no DQ match, which was to be expected since neither of these guys can exactly bring it in the ring these days. So this will not be the wrestling clinic that Edge and Jericho put on, but it should be pretty damn brutal and a fun watch for what it is.
Winner: Bret Hart

Batista defends the WWE Championship VS. John Cena:
Youtube preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djTrI39LoUs

My match preview: Well, I am not the biggest fan of these two, I think Batista sucks and I am kind of neither here nor there on Cena, but regardless I think we will be in for a solid match here. This started after Cena won the WWE Championship in the chamber match, however after the match Vince made him fight Batista with his newly won title up for grabs. Clearly Batista was able to defeat Cena who had already been through a grueling match just minutes earlier. The next night on Raw, Cena and Batista had a match and if Cena won he would get a shot at title at Mania. Just after the opening bell Batista hit Cena with a low blow causing himself to get disqualified and after that he hit Cena with a ton of chair shots and such. Batista made it clear he did this because he hates Cena, mainly he hates that everyone loves Cena so much. Batista claims he should be the face of the company and he isn’t happy that Cena is in the position. The buildup here has been phenomenal as Batista has really cut some outstanding heel promos and Cena has been the intense Cena, not the fun loving Cena who often comes off as a dumbass. This is one of the toughest matches on the card to predict and I’m actually going to hedge my bet a bit with my prediction:
Perdection: If the match is NOT the main event of the night, and I don’t think it will be. I’m going with Batista.
However, if the match IS the main event of the Night, I’m taking Cena on the grounds of sending the Mania crowd and PPV audience off on a good night AKA a face going out on top.

And finally my projected main event of the evening…………………….
The Undertaker VS. Shawn Michaels:
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7JgfmxqtjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYkPFXmnjM4 (One of the best video packages WWE has ever put together IMO)



This one is simple and I shouldn’t even have to write much of a preview. Taker has never lost at Mania, Shawn nearly ended the streak last year and has since been obsessed with facing taker again. At first Taker said no but Michaels finally got his shot, however if he loses, he is forced to retire. WOW. This is going to be fucking epic. When the rumors first started I didn’t want this rematch to happen as HBK VS. Taker at WM25 was one of the best matches of all time, but damnit this is going to be even better. WWE understood the steaks needed to be raised and they couldn’t have done a better job of doing just that. These are two of the greatest superstars in wrestling history and they are bound to make some history this Sunday night. I have honestly been killing myself over who to go with her as I truly don’t think HBK is done wrestling for good, but I think its possibly that if he loses he returns in 6 months. Also factor in that this match cannot be won by DQ so a Triple H heel turn wouldn’t shock me by him turning on Shawn. But I kind of only see that happening if its not the main event. So this has led me to this.
Prediction: Undertaker but make NO mistake I will be openly rooting against him the whole match.

Well folks there you have it, my Wrestlemania preview. I truly believe it has a shot to be one of the best ever, as the main events speak for themselves. If the money in the bank is the exciting spot fest it always seems to be and an undercard match really steps up and is outstanding than I think this will be remembered as one of the best Manias ever. I hope everyone enjoys it just as much as I plan on enjoying it!