Triple H: Thank god, the least likely to win at this point. Presumably his impression of George C. Scott in Man Getting Hit By Football is serious enough that WWE changed around the whole match, and thus Trips is FINALLY going to lose the fucking belt. It won't be clean or definitive to put another guy over, of course.
Chris Jericho: You'd think an automatic no, given how Jericho's been screwed around by WWE for these last couple of years, but he's certainly the second-rated heel on RAW, and he would surely be over as a champ with no shortage of guys he's had past issues with (Nash, Goldberg, Michaels, even RVD) to chase him. Conceivably, he might also get the belt as reward for losing this hair-vs.-hair match.
Kevin Nash: Or, Nash could get the belt as a reward for losing the hair-vs.-hair match. I will pause a moment to get everyone scream......there. The only, ONLY positive of Nash winning (since WWE must surely realize that he's not capable of wrestling even a passable match at this point and is nowhere near over enough to even contend for the belt) is if he loses the belt to Kane the next night on RAW.
Shawn Michaels: Same scenario as Nash, another one-night reign ended by Kane. Shawn's already had his token comeback run as champ, however, and another might not be in the cards.
Randy Orton: Putting the title on Orton right now would be a colossal mistake. For all the complaints about Lesnar being green last year when he beat the Rock for the title, Orton is even less capable of having a good match, and isn't even as over as Lesnar, despite the massive blowjob push from the announcers and the rub from Evolution.
Bill Goldberg: Still perhaps the most likely candidate to win, since perhaps HHH agreed to lose the belt to GB but just not in a one-on-one environment. I'd say that the ideal situation would be a three-month Goldberg reign (man, never thought I'd be saying those words), taking us to Survivor Series where Kane takes the belt. A three-month reign as champ would give Goldberg a chance to build up a bit more of his unbeatable champion mystique.
All right, I'm enjoying Rhyno's "man-beast" gimmick: He keeps his hair long, wears full-body wrestling tights with a big "R" on the back and uses the "Rhino Gore" as his finishing move. Can't you imagine him watching the Discovery Channel one day while tossing around possible gimmicks and having one of those "Hey, wait a second!" epiphanies during a rhino segment?
To spruce things up, the WWF should give Undertaker and Kane last names -- like Undertaker and Kane O'Brien, the O'Brien Brothers -- just for comedy's sake. Hopefully the door's still open.
RVD is approaching the always-exciting "The crowd loves him, but he's not getting a major push yet" phase which helps makes wrestling so much fun. It only happens once every few years -- Stone Cold in '96, The Rock in '98, Shawn Michaels in '93 and so on. -- ESPN's Bill Simmons back in 2001
Hmm, so you say the only person who can win is Goldberg? Hmm, well I agree with you, nobody would really want to see the belt of Nash or even Michaels(well nobody would actually care, but it wouldnt make TOO much sense) at this point.
Let's look at this, we have 3 heels and 3 faces. HHH is the game and hasn't lost the title in 8 months, that's a pretty damn good edge(minus the whole groin thing). Jericho just lost a match to RVD, but who knows what will happen on RAW in the next 2 weeks(he has been out of the picture for a while, maybe time for him back in?). Randy Orton, hmm, way too early to break up Evolution, he would lay down for HHH.
The faces, Shawn Michaels, the fans would love for him to be champ, cuz he's....shawn michaels. Nash, fuck nash, he can't win. Goldberg, I don't know if the Elimiation Chamber gives him better chances or not. I'd say he's one of the last 3 to leave, who knows?
This match is more the result of piss poor "first ever meetings" between him and Goldberg at house shows than anything else.
I don't know how the hell Bill is going to react to the Chamber. The only multi-man match I remember ever seeing him in was the NWO Hollywood / Wolfpack battle royal. The only cage match I remember him being in was against Russo in the "Not The Hell In The Cell" cage. The Chamber is brutal and them's close quarters. Someone's going to get hurt for real.
It's screwy enough that Bill could lose and keep his heat (if you wheel) but I still think he's going to win.
Him or Jericho. Just because.
(edited by Notorious F.A.B. on 5.8.03 0151) It's just you against the group mind.
Well, I made most of these thoughts known in the Raw thread, but I'll reiterate here.
Triple H: No way. If his injury wasn't serious, WWE would have stuck with Hunter/Goldberg. Add that to the fact that we're approaching the wedding day and it's looking like Hunter's about to take some time off. The reign of terror ends at Summerslam (for now). ODDS: 99-1 (when did you ever think you'd see that?)
Goldberg: If WWE was going to put the belt on Goldberg, they would have stuck with Hunter/Goldberg. If Goldberg was slated to get the belt, they would have kept it a one-on-one match (albeit short). And remember, Goldberg isn't liked by the locker room or management. And we all know making money isn't as important as making the locker room and management happy. ODDS: 50-1
HBK: Somehow, I get the feeling that job to that nobody Chris Jericho will result in an HBK title run. I wouldn't have a problem with that, since he can still outwork more than half the Raw roster, but haven't we already been down this road before? HBK wins the title in an EC match, runs with the title for a while, and Triple H beats him at another PPV. It's like De Ja Vu. ODDS: 5-1
Chris Jericho: A part of me wants to believe that Jericho's finally going to get his due here. I mean, Kevin Nash has been jobbing to TEST and HBK has lost all momentum in the past few months. Jericho's the only guy in the last few months who's managed to remain consistantly over. But WWE has given me so much reason to be negative. ODDS: 20-1
Kevin Nash: Oh dear lord. He's a guy with absolutely no momentum, he's not over with the fans, and even on the mic, he's a shell of his former self. But he's Triple H's friend, so you know what that means. ODDS: 2-1
Randy Orton: Again, they'd have to be INSANE to give the belt to Randy Orton. There's a difference between being the FUTURE and the PRESENT and I think that's something the Raw writers need to seriously think about. But I get the feeling that Orton's presence is merely a way to further his feud with HBK. With that in mind... ODDS: 10-1
HHH. Much as I hate to sound like a smarky smark, it seems like every month that rolls around, HHH has a new title defense, and everyone always declares all the reasons why this will be the time he finally loses it. And he never does. So, I pick him to win yet again
Anybody can kick people's asses. But it takes a true monster to kick people's asses AND breastfeed at the same time - Excalibur05
Nash...out of the question. Leave the smark pretention someplace else...like 1999. Orton.... It'd be quite a joke, but think of the way this particular belt has been treated so far. Not too likely..but still more than Nash(remember, Orton's homegrown, HE'S getting a push). HBK...not completely out of the question but the guy hasn't exactly been a dominant presence, and his returning glory run has pretty much passed. Goldberg... after tonight's show I'm not as sold on his chances as I would've been. Depends on how he's handled from here, but he is the new yet not too new thing out there right now. Jericho..if we do indeed get a miracle, then this man will be the chosen one. But it will be quite the brief run. HHH...we have a winner.
Originally posted by Big BadTriple H: Thank god, the least likely to win at this point. Presumably his impression of George C. Scott in Man Getting Hit By Football is serious enough that WWE changed around the whole match, and thus Trips is FINALLY going to lose the fucking belt. It won't be clean or definitive to put another guy over, of course.
I'm just glad someone else probably does a gravelly "AHHHHHHHHHHHH...MY GROIIIIIIIIIIIIN" every chance they get, just like I do. :)
Chris Jericho: You'd think an automatic no, given how Jericho's been screwed around by WWE for these last couple of years, but he's certainly the second-rated heel on RAW, and he would surely be over as a champ with no shortage of guys he's had past issues with (Nash, Goldberg, Michaels, even RVD) to chase him. Conceivably, he might also get the belt as reward for losing this hair-vs.-hair match.
Bald Jericho is my early favourite, although it's possible that Jericho's "hair" put on the line might end up being just his beard.
I'd go for either scenario of Goldberg or HHH winning by scoring the win over one of the other participants with a one on one match between the two at the next PPV.
Actually Jericho only wins when he by all means shouldn't (Rock and Austin same night anyone?). Wouldn't surprise me if he adds "beat HHH, HBK, Diesal, and Greenburg in the same match" to the ol resume before a swift trip back to the midcard.
Cast in the Name of God Ye Not Guilty
Clowns and maniacs are not encouraged to mingle. The spirit of Panda Mask lives in us all.
I gotta say Goldberg. I don't think I'd be saying anything that hasn't already been said (or thought) if I suggested that this is Triple H's way of avoiding the job to Goldberg while still giving him a run with the belt. While his injury may have something to do with it - either way, putting the belt on Goldberg isn't a bad choice.
I think the Chamber should become HHH's match of choice to avoid getting pinned one-on-one.
EXCLUSIVE JAM-PACKED Randy Orson interview!!! EXCLUSIVE JAM-PACKED book review of Jerry The King Lawyer!!! Plus the end of an EXCLUSIVE JAM-PACKED era and more in the latest Inside The Ropes!!!
I think its funny that nobody considers that perhaps HHH's injury is too big a risk in a one-on-one match with Goldberg. REmember HHH would have to carry him and probably cannot do it (see Injured H vs Steiner) and this is their way of protecting him. No, it's only 'trying to get out of jobbing'...
Anyways, I think it is interesting that all 3 faces have had heat with Jericho in the past 3 months.. And is still in the midst of it even. Recently beat HBK, who said they should have another match and now feuding with Nash. I say Jericho wins..at least he will be MVP of the chamber. (he was mvp in the first one, when he imo took charge of the match after it was obvious HHH was out with the throat injury)
I see a few scenarios. Nash or Michaels go over. If this happens I can see Kane taking the belt very soon, probably by Unforgiven, setting up Goldberg and Kane at Survivor Series. Orton probably will not win, but I expect him to get a pin out of it as they are pushing him. I cant see HHH holding on because of the groin injury. I thin kif it serious enoughto change it from the one on one match, then he probably wont retain. Jericho may win, but the only problem with him is who will he defend against (he already worked with Goldberg). Goldberg winning can happen, but I dont thin kyou waste him vs Kane right away, and storyline wise I think its better if he goes into a match against Kane as the challenger.
And whoever suggested hair vs hair just ends up being Jericho's beard, I think that would kick ass. A very cool twist on that match.
(edited by Doc_whiskey on 5.8.03 0742) Brazen Snatch
First 2 out: Michaels and Orton - they wrestle for awhile, with Michaels getting the upper hand, until, out comes HHH. HHH and Orton team up on Michaels. Orton eliminates Michaels.
Next out: Kevin Nash.
Next out: Goldberg. Goldberg eliminates Randy Orton. Goldberg and Nash team up on HHH. Nash eliminates HHH.
Jericho (with short hair) is the last out. He eliminates Nash.
Originally posted by WaxFishMy guess as to how the match would be booked:
First 2 out: Michaels and Orton - they wrestle for awhile, with Michaels getting the upper hand, until, out comes HHH. HHH and Orton team up on Michaels. Orton eliminates Michaels.
Next out: Kevin Nash.
Next out: Goldberg. Goldberg eliminates Randy Orton. Goldberg and Nash team up on HHH. Nash eliminates HHH.
Jericho (with short hair) is the last out. He eliminates Nash.
Goldberg defeats Jericho for the title.
HHH defeats Goldberg at Survivor Series.
I think if HHH's groin injury is that serious, he's probably the last one out.
"Seattle takes Luke Ridnour to go with Collison ... they're stockpiling white guys to go clubbing with Brent Barry." ESPN.com's Bill Simmons from his 2003 NBA draft diary.
Even though WWE clearly has zero faith in Goldberg by this point, I'm going to say he gets the belt. Giving Goldberg a token one-month title run and then having him murdalized by a WWE stalwart like Kane is exactly the sort of thing Vince loves to do, just to drive the superiority of "his" guys over "their" guys home a little deeper.
If not Goldberg, then Michaels. Nash and Orton aren't even worth considering, and Jericho, well, I'll believe it when I see it.
"I do have a degree in electrical engineering... from almost 20 years ago. Punchcard systems were just becoming obsolete, we had rotary phones in the dorms, and a modem was still a gizmo the size of a shoebox into which you squooshed the phone receiver itself. In short, we lived like animals.
The instant obsolesence is why I became a writer. The rate of punctuation in a sentence doesn't double every 18 friggin' months, and you never have some 22-year-old looming over your shoulder, shaking his head, saying "dude... you're still using adverbs...?"
Trip: If he wins this match, let the floodgates open up on the net the next day. Unless they are pulling a complete work with the groin injury (remember, it was reported through Pravda), then this is a way for him to get knocked out of the match early, and possibly do a stretcher type job where he can take a few weeks/months off. Odds: 10-1. Should be higher, but you get burned enough times in the past.
The Disappointment: If they were going to put the belt on him, the could have done a wham, bam, thank you ma'am squash match over Trip to make him a monster. If they are serious about building up house show attendance, the last thing you do is put the belt on someone who rarely works house shows. Also, never know when one of his 'infections' could take him off the road for a few weeks. Odds 20-1.
Randy Orton: If they put the belt on him, they are dumber than even I've given them credit for. After the Trip experience, putting the belt onto another injury prone wrestler could be a disaster. Odds 30-1.
Nash: If he loses his hair, he gets the belt. Of course, I have faith that he won't job his precious hair. Extremely injury prone, has had a fainting spell recently, and rarely does house shows. Under no circumstances should he get the belt. Odds 15-1.
Michaels: Rarely does house shows, but did a tap out job for the first time in his career recently. Could build up the Elimination Chamber as 'His Match', so when in 20 years he jobs to a youngster, it could give them the rub. Odds: 7-5.
Jericho: Looks to be made into Nash's bitch in the weeks leading up to the PPV. Generally, that would be a poor sign, but it is reminiscent of the weak build they provided Jericho leading up to his winning the Undisputed Title in '01. Odds 3-1.
Cubs, White Sox and Red Sox fans unite. Its time to overthrow the German Government and re-install our beloved Kaiser. Remember, Kaiser ='s World Series victories.
You put the belt on Orton. You let the Nature Boy and HHH mentor him with plenty of "when I was champ" stories, and have them bail him out when he gets close to dropping the straps, building heat on him. Then down the road, when you are ready to turn him face, you have him just interrupt Flair (or HHH) during a pep talk and tell them about how they are OLD and how he is the new breed of wrestler, and how he doesnt need them. This will result in a beat down of course, turning him face and setting up HHH vs Orton at WRESTLEMANIA! WHOOOOOOO!
Bwha ha ha!! The football... the groin... it works on so many levels.
My gut reaction is that this is a device to get the belt on Goldberg. Much as I dislike HHH, I don't think he's trying to get out of the job, it's more likely because of the injury.
Crowd reactions have been Goldberg's Achilles heel, as of late. And Jericho's been the hottest thing on RAW since the Highligh Reel debuted. He constantly amazes me with his ability to stay over, no matter what they do to him. So, maybe.
But my money is with the champ retaining, or Goldberg getting his run. Kane's in the on-deck circle.
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
I love Teddy Long but damn they are really just running threw the WWE roster for these GM jobs. I mean, Eric Bischoff, Steve Austin, Paul Heyman, Kurt Angle, Stephanie McMahon, and now Teddy Long.