Gareth Williams: The Outsider

WrestleMania is the biggest show of the WWE calendar, if not the pro wrestling (or sports entertainment, if you prefer) calendar. And this year WWE has excelled themselves at the way they’ve built up the event. On paper, it’s one of the strongest cards they could put together. Certainly it’s the strongest line-up for a WWE pay-per-view in quite some time. I forsee this being in the top 5 most successful Manias of all time, and if the quality of the matches can live up to the hype, it might also be one of the best reviewed of all time. At this point, the only thing I think might detract from the show is the news that Jim Ross won’t be at the announce table. His commentary will be sorley missed. People want JR announcing the main event, if nothing else. Michael Cole better put in the performance of his fucking life, ‘cause the knives will be out for him on Sunday.

In this blog I’m going to go through the matches as listed on the WWE’s website and give my predictions on who I think will win and how things might shake out. Enjoy!

Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker - Career vs. Streak

Last year at WrestleMania 25, Undertaker and Shawn Michaels put on one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been watching wrestling for over 20 years. Taker and Michaels are two veterans, of the all time greats (Michaels my be THE best in-ring performer who ever lived) and if they want to put on another clinic, I for one can’t wait to see it. The build to this match has been phenomenal, and the stakes are as high as they can be. Undertaker has never lost at WrestleMania and this year he’s putting The Streak (currently at 17-0) on the line with the stipulation being that Michaels must retire if he can’t beat Taker this time.

That this will be a great match, I have no doubt. But as to who will win? My gut says Undertaker, but it’s a close call. If anyone’s going to end the streak, I think’s Michaels. I’ve never agreed with the logic that a rising superstar who needs the rub should be the one to do it - simply because once the streak is ended, there’s no getting it back. You can’t just give it away. Plus, there’s a chance the fans could be so angry to see the streak ended that they’d turn on whomever was responsible. That’s why HBK may be the only person fans respect enough to “forgive” him if he wins.

I don’t see it happening, though. It’s known that both Taker and Shawn will be taking time off after Mania, and a storyline retirement is the perfect way to write Shawn off TV for the next 6 months or so. A popular theory is that Trple H might interfere to cost his friend the match. I hope that doesn’t happen, but I have to admit I think it’s likely. My guess? If the match is on last (as it should be) then I think Taker’s winning clean. If the match is not on last, then I think Triple H costs Michaels the match.

Winner: Undertaker.

Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon - No Holds Barred

I never thought I’d ever see Bret Hart back in a WWE ring, much less having one more match at WrestleMania. That being said, this really won’t be much of a match. This will be a fun spectacle, a brawl, with a load of smoke and mirrors to cover up for the fact that neither guy is really in any condition tp pout on a good match. Bret Hart had a stroke a couple of years ago, for crying out loud! The main thing here is the final image: Bret Hart locks McMahon in the sharpshooter and Vinny Mac taps out for all he’s worth. That match has to, has to, HAS TO end that way. That’s what people are paying to see. More to the point, I think WWE knows that.

Winner: Bret Hart.

Batista (C) vs. John Cena - WWE Championship

I wasn’t terribly excited about this match when it was first booked, but Batista has been so awesome as the heel champion, that I’m now really looking forward to the match. The in-ring stuff won’t be as good here as in some of the other matches, but it should be fun. I’m no fan of John Cena, I admit, but I can’t see any way he doesn’t win the belt here.

Winnder: John Cena.

Chris Jericho (C) vs. Edge - World Heavyweight Championship

This is a bit of an odd one, this. On the one hand, the quality of the match should be really good. On the other, the build hasn’t been as stron as I expected. It hasn’t been bad, just not… great. Surprisingly, it’s been overshadowed by the fantastic work Batista’s been doing promoting the WWE Title match. I do think there’s more to come from these two, however, and that’s why I think Jericho retains here. Not only does he need a win on the big stage to solidify him as the top heel on Smackdown, but it ensures the feud can continue for the next couple of months.

Winnder: Chris Jericho.

Christian vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston vs. MVP vs. Jack Swagger vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Matt Hardy vs. Evan Bourne vs. Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin - Money in the Bank Ladder Match

10 guys? Really? OK, so WWE has gone a little overboard here. The MITB has become a staple of recent WrestleManias and this certainly has the potential to be an exciting, spot-filled match. But when I look at the list of participants I just don’t see a future world champion among them. I also don’t understand why WWE would even hold this match this years when there’s supposedly a Money in the Bank PPV coming later in the year. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see on that one. Of all the guys listed here, the only one who I can see winning is McIntyre, but I’m not thrilled about that.

Winner: Drew McIntyre.

Big Show & The Miz vs. R-Truth & John Morrison - Unified Tag Team Championships

John Morrison deserves better. Frankly, I would have put him in the MITB match and have him win. As things stand, he finds himself in a relativley throwaway tag title match. This will probably be the opening match of the night, and I don’t see it being terribly memorable. “ShowMiz” retsins.

Winners: Big Show & The Miz.

Triple H vs. Sheamus

Well. Who would’ve thought HHH would be so far down a WrestleMania card? With no title on the line, no real grudges to settle, this is arguably the least interesting match on the card and seems to exist purely to give both men something to do. Sheamus unquestionably needs the win more, but I just don’t see it happening.

Winner: Triple H.

Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Ted Dibiase - Triple Threat Match

OK, I take it back. THIS might be the least interesting match on the card. The break-up of Legacy has been mishandled by WWE, but they seem to be in the process of turning Orton babyface so I think he goes over pretty convincingly here.

Winner: Randy Orton.

CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio

I won’t lie: I am really looking forward to this match. I just hope WWE doesn’t waste what has been a tremendous feud as the curtain-jerker; it has the potential to be one of the top matches of the night. The stipulation here is that if Mysterio loses he must join Punk’s Straight Edge Society - and that’s what I think will happen. It also sets up the Mask vs. Hair match (that was rumoured for this show) for next month’s Extreme Rules PPV.

Winner: CM Punk.

And that’s your WrestleMania XXVI card, folks! There’s no women’s match booked for the show, but I’m sure they’ll make it onto the pre-show. But as it stands, it’s a fantastic card on paper, and I for one cannot wait. Sunday night can’t come soon enough.

What do you thinks going to happen on the “grandest stage of ‘em all”?