If Badd Blood has the HHH-HBK HitC match, then they won't want to give Benoit a great challenger, they'll give him a perfunctory title defense that won't overshadow the gimmick match like Benoit-Jericho would. Benoit vs Kane would seem to be a safe choice. Put Benoit over an established main eventer, allow him to show off his bumping capacity, and maybe have Hardy and or Lita factor into the finish. Then after the PPV, Hardy and Kane have the blowoff match, and bring Jeff back.
I say they pull the ol' swerve-o, and the twentieth guy ends up being Savio Vega, who wins the battle royal and goes on to defeat Benoit for the title at Bad Blood.
“Finally, finally, my God finally, Chris Benoit is the Heavyweight Champion of this world!” --Jim Ross, WrestleMania XX
Wiener of the Day Title History:
Won the title on 5/27/02 from Lunacy in a hardcore match; lost the belt the following day to wheresitat42 via offbeat shenanigans
Regained the title on 7/3/02 by pinning SKLOKAZOID in a triple-threat match; lost the belt the next day to NickBockwinkelFan via heel chicanery
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
I'm going with Edge. There's gotta be a reason he and Benoit are tag champs right now. Edge wins the battle royal and gets the title shot, then the next week he and Benoit have a tag title match against some heel tag team. Something screwy happens, champs lose to belts in a huge upset, and Benoit and Edge go at it to end the show. Could be a full-fledged heel turn right there for Edge, or it could be up in the air until the PPV itself.
I still, however, have no idea what Jericho could be doing. His absence of a feud right now is the only problem I see with my Edge scenario.
EDIT: I say absence of a feud for Jericho because I assume his deal with Christian is over. That was a perfect example of a blowoff match on RAW. Jericho gets revenge on Trish, and soundly beats a bloody Christian by submission, then celebrates his victory in grand fashion atop the steel cage. If this feud is dragged out much longer it will greatly annoy me.
(edited by samoflange on 12.5.04 0958) Lloyd: When I met Mary, I got that old fashioned romantic feeling, where I'd do anything to bone her. Harry: That's a special feeling.
"Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho early on, but it is blocked by mysterious rays from Shawn Michaels while a message on the Titantron says, 'This move is mine now.' " -RAW Satire, 05.10.04
Kane wins the Battle Royale, Lita says "Hell no, I won't sleep with you", Kane says "Hey, what do I care, I'm gonna be World Champ!", and Matt and Lita join Jericho for a six person tag against Team Christian for Bad Blood. It's Booking 101.
Once upon a time in China, some believe, around the year one double-ought three, head priest of the White Lotus Clan, Pai Mei was walking down the road, contemplating whatever it is that a man of Pai Mei's infinite power contemplates - which is another way of saying "who knows" - when a Shaolin monk appeared, traveling in the opposite direction. As the monk and the priest crossed paths, Pai Mei, in a practically unfathomable display of generosity, gave the monk the slightest of nods. The nod was not returned. Now was it the intention of the Shaolin monk to insult Pai Mei or did he just fail to see the generous social gesture? The motives of the monk remain unknown. What is known, are the consequences. The next morning Pai Mei appeared at the Shaolin Temple and demanded of the Temple's head abbot that he offer Pai Mei his neck to repay the insult. The Abbot at first tried to console Pai Mei, only to find Pai Mei was inconsolable. So began the massacre of the Shaolin Temple and all 60 of the monks inside at the fists of the White Lotus. And so began the legend of Pai Mei's five point palm exploding heart technique.
Originally posted by The Amazing SalamiWhere did you find the 20 entrants?? I'm guessing wwe.com but just wondering what your source was.
You didn't see the graphic during last night's show?
No, sorry. I also put the kids (2) to bed during that time so I'm pretty up and down during that time slot. I heard (not saw) the announcement from Bisch about the match, but missed the rest.
I hope my question, which was sincere, didn't come across as "I don't believe you sarcasm." If so, apologies. I just honestly didn't know.
Shawn Michaels will replace Grandmaster Sexay and kick ass until it's just him and Triple H. Then the classic "foots hit at the same time" thing, and ladies and gentlemen ... Triple Threat 3 : This time it's personal
I think Christian is a good choice for a number of reasons. The lineup of the card will sell itself. Vince can rely on HBK/HHH HIC to sell the card and still give Christian some credible main event World Title experience. Also Benoit/Christian is something we've never seen before. We've seen Benoit/Jericho for like what, six months straight. If Benoit keeps the title long enough, Jericho will be back there. Most of the people on this board are right though, Benoit needs a straight up 100% heel challenger.
Jericho winning the cage match decisively is a great finish because if Jericho had lost, he would have lost the remaining upper card cred he had. Now he can get on a role, beat Tomko, whoever on his way to Benoit and be a much more legitimate threat.
Christians heat is not dead. Yes, he lost a match decisively but it is so much easier for him to get his heat back. How hard would it be to build momentum if he won the battle royal, jumped Benoit and then a week later he and Tomko or he and (wishful thinking) a more experienced wrestler took the tag titles from Benoit/Edge. Wahla -- instant heat.
OR even better, Christian talked Edge into turning on Benoit. Then when Benoit disposes of Christian at Bad Blood, he has a built in summer fued against a full born (and hopefully with his edge back) heel Edge culminating at SummerSlam.
And then HHH comes back from making the movie and takes the title -- but it would be a good summer!!!
(That is a joke people. I don't want ten replies about how I managed to turn a thread about a battle royal into HHH bashing.)
In case if anyone's wondering, the question on WWE.com said something like "Do you think Maven can shake off his ring rust and become number one contender on RAW?".
So, I guess it's HIM who's replacing GMS. And the answer to that question, of course, is no. As for my choice, according to rumors, I'd go with Kane. But I could see either Christian or Jericho winning it too.
Renegade's current state of mind (in the picture): HAPPINESS! Arm...around...hot goth vampire dude...
Just to confirm, DarkRenegade, the Raw Rebound segment of the UK version of Smackdown had Maven Huffman on the graphic advertising the battle royal in the same spot occupied by Brian Lawler on Raw.
I see Kane winning it, and as a huge Kane mark, he's who I want to win it too.
*shields from rotten tomatoes*
I'm afraid I think Benoit/Jericho is a bad idea right now. Benoit is not a strong enough face to go against a guy like Jericho, and we don't want our World Heavyweight Champion (who has been put over pretty much everyone) to get booed. Jericho is still a new face, so turning him back just to wet the collective smark pants would be stupid. Yes, the match, in terms or workrate, would be great. But we can leave that for another time, than you very much.
As for Christian... Well, I could believe that. Whenever one part of me says "He's not in Benoit's league", another part says "Tomko and Trish". The match would be good, but what puts me off this idea is that Christian would have to lose. Right now, he's on a roll, and I want to keep it that way. I'm thinking he could face Shelton or Edge, possibly being slotted into the IC Title picture.
Edge? No thanks. I'm not much of an Edge fan, and on RAW, he doesn't have much of a place. He is, in a way, above the IC Title field. He's held it, what, FIVE times? I don't want that again. BUT, he's not a full Main Eventer. I don't think he's even fought for the World Title on PPV. I think he'd be a much better fit on SmackDown!, but that's beside the point. I really can't muster many reasons against this, it just... wouldn't work. Heel Edge? Hmm. Not sure on that. Tweener Edge? Sounds much better. But I don't see either of those happening. Anyway, I don't want Edge winning.
Batista? Tapped to the Sharpshooter and the Crippler Crossface cleanly on free TV. Doesn't seem like much of a threat to me now.
Flair? *inhale*, maaaybe. I don't think I would buy him winning either, since he's so damn old. He tapped to the Crossface too.
Kane? Please. Keep in mind I'm THE Kane mark, and this will probably not make much sense. Anyway, we've never seen a Benoit/Kane feud. They could play up the whole monster/midget thing, and make Benoit look like the ultimate underdog. When Kane taps, it means a lot. I think he's only ever tapped once (to the Ankle Lock, SD! 2002), but then again I did stop watching for while. Kane tapping to Benoit would only serve to make him and his moves more over. And Kane is, as far as my narrow Kane-marky mind can see, the type of guy who comes back quite well from losing, bad storylines et cetera.
It will be Kane, adverts already being played on Ohio radio stations. God damn WWE and their advertising which spoils any interest I had built up for RAW this week.
As for ending the Matt storyline I see Lita turning dark and giving her a fresh, demonic, and most of all _INTERESTING_ gimmick as Kane's possesed manager. That could work with her look in my opinion.
just thinking that to those who say people are in no fued surely the battle royal is there to produce a couple of fueds. the lazy writers get 3 fueds from one idea. "you cost me my chance of a title shot" type fueds
Originally posted by ecwfan4life2004I think it will be BOTH Christian and Chris Jericho, setting up a 3-way dance...
Chris Benoit vs Christian vs Chris Jericho
christian and jericho are the last two and they both go over at the very same time and hit the mat at the very same time.
I can't see them booking a three way for the world Title again any time soon. If Benoit is to further consolidate his standing he needs to cleanly go over someone fresh in a singles match.
The Quick and Dirty for ECW 02.17.09. - The show opens with a recap of Christian's return. * While I'm not a great fan of having Christian on ECW (I thought his return should've been a bigger deal)