MCNEILL'S TAKE MCNEILL: Building WWE's WrestleMania 25 - Suggestions including how to use Jericho, Stone Cold, Hardy, Michaels, Batista, Edge, Triple H Oct 22, 2008 - 1:52:51 AM

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On WWE's three weekly television programs, we have heard all about WrestleMania 25. The event is being billed as WrestleMania's 25th Anniversary, which, of course, is not the case. Still, WrestleMania's return to the Lone Star State is obviously going to be a big deal, the most significant WWE show since WrestleMania XX back in 2003.

This has been a tough year for WWE's pay-per-view business. WrestleMania 24 was a really impressive show, but outside of Chris Jericho's feud with Shawn Michaels, there haven't been any hot matchups since April. As a matter of fact, once you take the Heartbreak Kid out of the equation, it is difficult to come up with any memorable feuds over the past six months.

Still, we're less than six months from WrestleMania, a show set in a high-tech Houston football stadium, and it is time for WWE to start its build toward the promotion's signature event. Even though business is down, there are enough pieces in place for WWE to set up a major four-hour show that's more than worthy of the WrestleMania mantle. Here are some suggestions from the Torch bunker:

Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho: Stone Cold has talked about coming back for one final match. WrestleMania 25 will likely be the site of that match. All signs point to the Texas Rattlesnake's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania. What better sendoff could one imagine than having Austin's final match in his home state, just a couple hours down the road from Victoria, Texas?

This match won't be difficult to set up. In fact, it could have started at Cyber Sunday. Going in, Austin was the obvious favorite to win the fan balloting and become the special referee for Chris Jericho's title defense against Dave "The Animal" Batista. Jericho was nice enough to show up on Raw and declare that Austin would be the worst of the special referee candidates. Booking 101 would have Austin officiate the match down the middle, Batista win the title from Y2J, and Jericho pursue some sort of retaliation against ol' Stone Cold. It is simple and effective.

Why Chris Jericho? Jericho would be an ideal fit against Austin for several reasons. First, the two men worked together before, back in 2001 and early 2002. Jericho has referenced their feud, and his victory at Vengeance 2001, multiple times over the past several years. Secondly, Jericho is extremely over at the moment, following his feud with Shawn Michaels. The current Raw world champion has been inspired since his heel turn, obviously having more fun is this role than he was having as a fan favorite.

There is another reason. Jericho took a money deal to rejoin World Wrestling Entertainment last year. He is on the down side of his career and doesn't really have anything left to prove in the business. Also, Jericho's character is that a vulnerable yet cocky heel, not an ass-kicker. Jericho can afford to do a job to Austin without having an impact on his future drawing power. Due to Stone Cold's physical condition, he needs an opponent who won't mind spending the majority of the match bumping and selling. Jericho fits that description.

Dave Batista vs. John Cena: The Animal and The Marine had their first marquee meeting back at SummerSlam. While they had a good match in Indianapolis, it wasn't the artistic or financial success that World Wrestling Entertainment had hoped for. But what if the Batista-Cena contest wasn't just an isolated incident, but part of a bigger plan?

Cena is scheduled to return to the ring within the next six weeks. That leaves plenty to build the promotion's top draw up toward a major match at WrestleMania. The only problem is that Cena, in his few years as a top guy in World Wrestling Entertainment, has faced off against most of the other main event guys in the promotion. However, Cena still has an issue with Batista. In the storyline, not only did The Animal defeat Cena cleanly in their previous meeting, he also injured the movie star during a power bomb.

Even though this would be enough to carry a major match, it might be better to add a couple more ingredients to this stew. Batista has already spent time feuding with his fellow babyfaces, including a lengthy battle with Shawn Michaels in the wake of Ric Flair's retirement. Given Batista's previous partnership with Randy Orton, there were those who thought the two men would end up launching a new version of Evolution. It's still not too late. Orton is due back around Survivor Series. What if Batista joins with Orton then? All they would have to do is add a couple other wrestlers, such as second generation fellows Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes, and there's a full fledged heel stable on WWE Raw. The crewcut loner Cena having to face off against Batista and his entire gangster crew makes for a more interesting story.

Also, there's the aforementioned World Heavyweight Title, a belt Cena has never held. If Batista earns the championship from Jericho and then turns heel, this would give WWE to change to build up Big Dave as an unbeatable World Champion. Batista and Cena would mean more with the main Raw belt on the line.

Triple H vs. Edge: The Game's feud with The Rated-R Superstar took place earlier this summer over the WWE Title. In this instance, Hunter was defending his championship against Edge, who had the power of Vickie Guerrero and La Familia behind him. There's no telling what WWE's creative department will decide to do with the white-toothed, long-haired villain upon his return, but if Edge somehow managed to capture the title in the coming weeks, it would give the Cerebral Assassin something to shoot for. Triple H as challenger chasing the title is much more interesting than watching Hunter's quasi-heel sneer and smug promos.

Shawn Michaels vs. JBL: Without question, Shawn Michaels has been the most valuable player on the World Wrestling Entertainment roster in 2008. It almost doesn't seem fair to stick the Heartbreak Kid in a major challenge against America's stockbroker, John Bradshaw Layfield. JBL is a character in the old-school WWE sense, a wrestler with a history of back problems and who has a hard time working longer matches of late.

On the other hand, Shawn Michaels has never been one to back down from a challenge. Having a WrestleMania-sized battle with Bradshaw is daunting, but Michaels has faced off against Vince McMahon and middle-aged Hulk Hogan on the big stage in recent years. JBL and Michaels will deliver some fine promos to set up the match. These two native Texans have never squared off in a major match. You'd expect these veterans to pull out all the stops for WrestleMania in Houston.

Jeff Hardy vs. The Big Show: "Big Show" Paul Wight is in the middle of a high-profile feud with The Undertaker, but that can't last another five months. The Show and Floyd Mayweather Junior had an interesting fight back in Orlando. Since then, it's been as if WWE has no idea what to do with the South Carolinian monster.

While we're on the subject, WWE probably isn't sure what to do with the younger Hardy brother. Jeff has two strikes against him under the WWE wellness policy, so he probably won't be given the opportunity to hold the WWE heavyweight belt in the near future. On the other hand, Jeff is a major star and the fans love him. He'll need a big match on the company's biggest show.

Jeff Hardy and Big Show is an intriguing match. The two have never squared off in a big feud. Plus, there is the obvious size disparity between the wrestlers. The build for the match would give Jim Ross and Tazz the chance to wonder on air how Hardy could take down the giant. The Show could perform feats of strength in the middle of the ring and scoff at the threat posed by Jeff.

C.M. Punk vs. Randy Orton: This feud is a little tougher to handicap, since it is difficult to imagine how the company would be able to keep this story humming until April. But Orton can claim credit for costing Punk the World Heavyweight Championship back at Unforgiven. Punk and Orton have never squared off on pay-per-view, making this one of the rare "dream matches" left in WWE circles. Orton's more athletic build makes for a good physical match up against the "straight edge" superstar. Punk's intensity can match the creepiness of Orton's character.

Of course, there will be more than six matches on this pay-per-view. There will obviously be a Money In The Bank ladder match featuring several of the younger wrestlers. There will also be an ECW title matchup, which could see Mark Henry take on Finlay in a very physical confrontation. And the Divas will be on the show, probably in some sort of multiperson match. But there's a lot of talent to play with on the WWE roster, and it shouldn't be difficult to put the right pieces into place.

PAT MCNEILL has been PWTorch columnist since 2000. He has promoted indy events and indy TV shows. His full page columns appear regularly in the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter, available by mail or online with a VIP membership. He also produces "The Real Deal with Pat McNeill" audio show exclusively for VIP members every week featuring interviews, news analysis, commentary, and listener Q&A.

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