I do think that HBK will turn heel next week, but lose the title match in a screwy way e.g. Evolution attack him and Benoit and HBK superkicks Benoit instead of helping him (because HBK has saved Benoit from Evolution a few times).
It could go either way. If Michaels doesn't turn, I figure Benoit will retain, on the basis that this is a PPV main event, and WWE would be shooting their bolt a little early if this isn't the start of a series of matches.
However, if HBK does turn, I think he'll win (with whose help? Evolution? Nash? Edge? Jannety [lol]?)and set up a long run in to Summerslam where Benoit will go over again.
Shawn's getting the belt, I think. It's the same situation they booked themselves with Lesnar and Angle last fall-there's no real reason for a title match to take place other than a belt change. Michaels gets the belt, maaaaybe turns heel, Benoit regains it at Badd Blood.
Benoit keeps it, but this is a storyline advancement match all the way. Benoit either outsmarts Shawn for the win and Shawn goes all Mr. Backlund on Benoit, flat-out loses by DQ and turns heel off that or HHH gets himself involved and either causes the pin/tap or it's a non-finish because of it.
I say very good/excellent 30 minute match. Evolution attempts to interfere after a ref bump, causing Edge to come down and 'accidentally' hit Benoit with his cast, leading to a Michaels win and turmoil in the Benoit/Edge team. This leaves Michaels and Edge as faces that are leaning towards tweener/heel.
WooHoo, the wrestling dead pool is back in business.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is the night HHH gets taken out with an injury angle. He will come in for a run-in, but both Benoit and HBK will be expecting it and they immediately attack HHH and take him out of commission. Maybe with HBK using the sledgehammer just to keep their whole thing alive. Then Evolution comes out for the save, beat down Benoit/HBK. Edge and Shelton come out to even the odds, and everyone is cleared out of the ring with Benoit and HBK still inside with the intense staredown. PPV match is booked the next week. Not the best way to do it all, but it's where I can realistically see it all going. HBK isn't turning heel until some kind of Evolution/HHH heat develops. And thats not the type of angle to hotshot in one night, there needs to be a slow build for that. I say HBK doesn't turn heel until well into the summer.
Marco: But we can chew nails and shoot 'em out as bullets, right? Sparks: Nails, chains -- you won't have titanium teeth for nothing. Murphy: Nails are like candy to robots! And we'll eat tires instead of licorice. Debbie: GAH! No we won't!! Murphy: Maybe YOU won't.
Benoit beats Michaels after HBK gets frustrated from not being able to put Benoit away. Ref bump, HBK grabs a chair, Benoit dropkicks it into him and gets the pin.
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Originally posted by oldschoolheroShawn's getting the belt, I think. It's the same situation they booked themselves with Lesnar and Angle last fall-there's no real reason for a title match to take place other than a belt change. Michaels gets the belt, maaaaybe turns heel, Benoit regains it at Badd Blood.
No real reason? Except for maybe a SM heel turn . . . which you already pointed out.
I'm sure the title is not leaving Benoit's waist.
Oh, and for the record, I think Benoit will win clean, which would facilitate a SM heel turn much more easily than any kind of screwy finish. If SM lost clean and threw a HBK-hissy-fit, the crowd might turn on him. If it was a screwjob, the crowd might forgive the hissy-fit.
Ok this is my outlook on it. It may sound crazy but this is what i believe will happen. Benoit will retain after interference by evolution and benoit joins evolution. Shawn gets screwed and it sets up a title match between the two in a future PPV.
If Benoit jobs it here it pretty much negates all the buildup they've put into his babyface character. I really like samoflange's scenario: Let's say Shawn has Benoit on the ropes and is tuning up the band, HHH intervenes for a DQ win for Shawn, Benoit saves Shawn and the two give HHH a massive beatdown; cue Evolution for the save on HHH, schmozz to end the show. (They then use HHH's interference against Shawn to justify a rematch, preferably a ladder match, at Bad Blood.)
I don't think Shawn is turning. They would've done it by now if that was the plan - when the Canadian crowds were booing the hell out of him. I also think it makes more sense for them to plug Edge into Evolution rather than Shawn - remember, HHH still wants to do a program with Edge down the road...
If the WWF decided to use a Super Mario Brothers gimmick...
"Mah gawd, King! Garrison Cade just bounced a fireball toward Rene Dupree!" "And look, Mark Jindrak just jumped on top of Conway's head! I think he's out cold, JR!" "What're they up to now..where did that huge pipe come from?!" "They're going down in the pipe! They're..they're gone!" --Mike Sweetser
"Oh my god, JR. Cade just shrunk after he was hit by that chair!" "Here comes RVD, King. What's that he has in that bag?" "Are those Mushrooms, JR?" "Cade's eating the Mushrooms. BAH GAWD, KING! Cade just grew twice his size!" --Mr. Tuesday
Benoit wins! Itīs just another one of those extremly hyped big tv matches like HHH/HBK in San Antonio was.
After all a Michaels heel turn is still quite possible and would be a good decision in my opinion. HBK, HHH and Orton should be the top heels in the weeks to come and feud with Benoit, Jericho and Edge!
Originally posted by Texas KellyIf Benoit jobs it here it pretty much negates all the buildup they've put into his babyface character.
If Benoit loses then I'd wager the car, the mortgage, the farm, and all the family silver on it not being clean. One squiffy loss hardly negates putting over Benoit clean at the biggest event of the year, having him go over the #1 heel and #1 face at succesive PPV's, and giving him 2 belts to play with. Not to mention putting him over from #1 in the Rumble.
I really like samoflange's scenario: Let's say Shawn has Benoit on the ropes and is tuning up the band, HHH intervenes for a DQ win for Shawn, Benoit saves Shawn and the two give HHH a massive beatdown; cue Evolution for the save on HHH, schmozz to end the show. (They then use HHH's interference against Shawn to justify a rematch, preferably a ladder match, at Bad Blood.)
Throughout the feud they've used Shawn as the tweener and Benoit the bona fide face so I don't see it. Much more likely HHH swings for HBK and hits Benoit, leading to a DQ and further teasing the heel turn which would then come at Bad Blood.
I don't think Shawn is turning. They would've done it by now if that was the plan - when the Canadian crowds were booing the hell out of him. I also think it makes more sense for them to plug Edge into Evolution rather than Shawn - remember, HHH still wants to do a program with Edge down the road...
Edge wouldn't be a good fit right now. The HHH role has to be a guy who's at the top of the game AND has seen and done it all. Even if Edge won the title tomorrow there would still be no reason for the other members of Evolution (particularly Orton) revere and be subservient to him, even in the short term.
Originally posted by Packman V2Benoit keeps the belt, after HHH runs in, and assaults Michaels, because as he's said, "I didn't get beat for the title, Michaels tapped out."
Then I'll bitch and moan at the TV and wish HHH off my TV, although being glad Benoit kept the title.
I really think Benoit will hold the title until at least Summerslam.
HHH did get beat for the title...at Wrestlemania XX . He tapped out too. Has HHH ever lost by tap out before?
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