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Guest Editorials
EDITORIAL: Third WrestleMania 24 reboot - the line-up that could have and should have been Mar 28, 2008 - 11:25:55 AM
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GUEST EDITORIAL
By Mohammad Rahman from the College of William and Mary Williamsburg, Va. , PWTorch.com reader
While the lineup is a bit farfetched it would be entirely possible if certain aspects were met: if the card was built since January instead of No Way Out like this year's card, all brands are represented fairly and treated equally, and the Smackdown ECW exchange is put to a halt. Miz and Morrison, since they are champions of Smackdown, are the only wrestlers allowed to jump between brands, but when they lose the titles they can't jump anymore.
Money in the Bank Ladder Match - Chris Jericho vs. JBL vs. Finlay vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Triple H vs. Batista vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Elijah Burke
The most star studded MITB match ever. Now while good ol' Trips may be pissed about not getting the WrestleMania event slot, the fact of the matter is that Trips can main event every WrestleMania for the next 20 years eventually facing off against his daughter a la Vince vs. Stephanie and he would find a totally justifiable way to do so, but obviously it wouldn't draw. Triple H is one of the few wrestlers who has the "cool" element to him missing since The Rock left. Obviously, all of this is in defense of him winning the MITB match, giving him his first WrestleMania victory in several years. This match would have enough athleticism (Benjamin, Jericho, Burke), enough brawlers (JBL ad Finlay) and spectacle to keep all the fans entertained.
Winner: Triple H, cashes in his shot at Summerslam and wins, turns heel in the process and defends the title at WrestleMania 25.
WWE Tag Title Match - London/Kendrick (w/Maria) vs. Marella/Carlito (w/Ashley)
Okay, so obviously several things need to happen for this match to take place. First Marella and Carlito defeat Rhodes and Holly back in January. Second, instead of Ashley (who in the mean time is back to managing London and Kendrick in their feud against the Redneck Wrecking Crew) urging Maria to go to Heffner, Heffner comes to Maria stating that she's the next big thing. Ashley is of course jealous that Maria has been offered a Playboy spot along with an upset Marella. London and Kendrick don't understand Ashley's jealousy and leads to a double turn with Maria and Ashley switching sides and the feud over the tag titles at least has some back story. Plus you get to promote Maria's playboy spread without bringing down the Women's division.
Winners: London and Kendrick, They should get another long run at the tag titles, re-establishing the division on the "premier" brand
Women's Title - Beth Phoenix vs. Candice Michelle
This is the most logical feud to build, so logical that they decided not to do it. Barring Candice reinjuring herself, this is a grudge feud that has written itself. Dominant woman comes in beats underdog champion and injures her in the process. While not Steamboat/Savage, this has an emotional component to it that would keep the fans' interest
Winner: Beth Phoenix, she needs to be kept dominant. WrestleMania is not the place for her to lose as it'll be overshadowed by other event, they need to build up Candice's win as a BIG deal.
World Tag Title Match - Miz/Morrison vs. Dreamer/Delaney (Extreme Rules)
Would take the feud that they had in the recent weeks and slow it down considerably. First I would interject some promos, maybe some scenes of Miz and Morrison enjoying their Hollywood lives juxtaposed with the blue collar Dreamer teaching Delaney the old school ways. Delaney doesn't hit his first offensive move until WrestleMania where he can hit the drop kick and the summersault plancha he did on tv. The final ECW before WrestleMania has to have a scene in the Delaney household where its shown that Delaney is basically a kid, and his mother tells Dreamer to make sure that her son doesn't get hurt, that she doesn't care about wrestling just wants her son to be safe and happy. May sound a bit corny but has the emotional punch if the characters play their roles right.
Winners: Dreamer and Delaney, in some sort of fluke fashion of course but it is WrestleMania. Miz and Morrison win the titles back quickly however and Delaney goes on to his quest to get a WWE contract
Retirement Match - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels
This feud has been alright for the most part, there is no other way to change it without turning Flair heel, and that isn't happening, why root for the greatest to retire?
Winner: Flair, everyone expects him to lose, but he needs that one big WrestleMania victory. It's the only thing that is left in his career. Have him and Michaels main event Summerslam and let Flair go out in a blaze of glory.
Cruiserweight Title Match - Jamie Noble vs. Jushin Liger
GM Estrada with much guile has stolen the Cruiserweight Title from Smackdown and set up a 16 man tournament to crown the new champion. The catch is all the participants are former champions so it would give everyone from the likes of Alex Wright (I know he's retired) to Jushin Liger the right to compete. Ideally in the finals I'd like a heel Jamie Noble to take on Jushin Liger in the finals, but it could be two current WWE Cruiserweights. On ECW they could get a lot more time to develop their characters and the meaning of the belt
Winner: Liger wining the belt and dropping it in the subsequent weeks to Noble
Specialty Challenge: Big Show vs. Mayweather
Okay, this feud hasn't been a disaster, but it's been…interesting. The problem is there was no way to really top No Way Out, and so I'm not going to even try it. What happened at No Way Out should be what happens in Wresltemania. Have Big Show make his return at No Way Out instead claiming that he's become a great fighter and have him call out any fighter to a confrontation. Eventually Mayweather accepts the challenge shocking everyone. They have their confrontation where a cocky Big Show gets on his knees and gets knocked out by Mayweather who stands tall.
Winner: Mayweather by knockout
U.S. Title Match - MVP vs. Matt Hardy
Another easy one, I don't know how you could screw this one up, unless Matt was too hurt too compete.
Winner - Hardy they can continue this for another few months afterwards until MVP moves into the World Title picture
ECW Title - C.M. Punk vs. Chavo Guerrero (Extreme Rules) - ECW
Instead of having this match for free a few weeks back, this should be the last match between the two. However the feud really takes a turn after Punk's promo that questioned Chavo's ability and his Guerro name. Edge and the Edgeheada keep interfering in Chavo's matches to help Chave and he is getting frustrated because he wants to prove he can win on his own.
Winner: Punk wins the title in a hard fought battle, but afterwards Chavo and Punk embrace because of their respect. Chavo cuts a promo the following week that he needs to reassess what's his priority in life and that when he comes back he is going to fight in the Guerrero's honor and turn babyface. The fans don't want to boo Chavo and he can be an upper mid card baby face for the rest of his life no problem.
World Heavyweight Title Match - Edge vs. Undertaker
This feud hasn't done anything for me because, mostly because they have yet to reference that Edge cost Taker his previous title reign. This feud has deep roots and the streak vs. title is a feud that works. How to add more depth to this feud? Get personal, have Edge go to Taker's ranch, have Undertaker play mindgames, but Edge doesn't get scared. Edge needs to look really strong going into this match, have him lay out Undertaker on several instances. I'd just unleash Edge on the mic, Taker really doesn't need to do much to get over these days.
Winner: Undertaker
WWE Title Match - John Cena vs. Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton
Same finish at NWO with Orton copping out of the title match, but Hardy wins the Chamber match. Stories include Cena getting revenge on Randy for the torn bicep, the RKO on the chair, his father, etc. Orton is looking to establish his dominance and legacy as the greatest wrestler of all. Hardy is the rising star, the workhorse whose fought his demons and now climbed to the top of the ladder. Hardy and Orton are continuing their feud from January.
Winner: Hardy over Cena
This is where things get emotional. I know that we'll never be able to cherish the memory of Benoit and Guerrero again, but having both Hardys in the ring celebrating as champions is a moment I think we can all enjoy and that is how the show go out. The kids from Cameron making from OMEGA to main eventing WrestleMania.
Please vote in the poll below regarding this alternative WrestleMania line-up...
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