"-- More in the Observer this week, but WWE is hoping to have the top three matches for WrestleMania determined by November. There are also a number of guys who will tentatively be doing face/heel turns on or around Mania, including one very big name. They are also considering doing Money in the Bank at WrestleMania and on PPV but haven't decided for sure yet."
From Meltzer.
Interesting, and heartening that they're looking to plan well in advance. I don't get the Observer due to not being in the US and all, but I'd guess the "one big name" they're looking at turning is Cena? The rest of the face/heel turns kind of fascinate me too. Feels like three or four are needed right now to really freshen things up.
And just vague enough to mean anything that happens from here to Mania was all part of the plan. Like how Taker tombstoned Cena at MSG last year and everyone was calling for Taker/Cena at last year's Mania. If I can put on the Carnack the Great hat here, I say Orton/Cena in a Rock/Austin WM X-7 fashion, no need to kill both golden merchandising gooses, Taker/Kane to settle the feud while giving Taker another notch til 20 and probably HHH/Sheamus with HHH being the heel. Also, what do Tantauns, canned Tuna and Sunny have in common... they all smell worse on the inside. Good night folks.
That works too. Either way, its too far in advance to book Mania since the injury bug as well as other backstage variables come into play. HHH being a heel after destroying Sheamus is the only real change I see. I can't see them turning Cena or Orton along as Nexus is there. Jericho or Edge turning face would be good, but that can only happen if they move to Smackdown since Cena and Orton will hog the main even scene as well HHH if he stays face on Raw. Its just too many maybes and ifs and I think Metzler does this once a year to look like a prophet in April or someone with "insider" that looks credible. I don't worry or care about Mania til after the bowls game are played in January.
Originally posted by lotjx I don't worry or care about Mania til after the bowls game are played in January.
You don't worry or care but from a business p.o.v. November sounds like a plan. And looking at the type of booking for the past few years that certainly makes sense. In november usually the first seeds are sown, which then come above ground around Rumble time.. Even the matches that are officially finalized not long before wrestlemania often have a longer history.
But I agree that speculating doesn't make sense due to injuries, doghouses and what not. Doesn't mean it isn't fun.
Originally posted by lotjxAnd just vague enough to mean anything that happens from here to Mania was all part of the plan. Like how Taker tombstoned Cena at MSG last year and everyone was calling for Taker/Cena at last year's Mania.
The Observer issue that comes out today will probably be less vague. Cena/Taker was the plan until they realized Shawn was serious about wanting to finish up at Wrestlemania and this would be their only shot at it. I expect it to happen this year. If they wanted to turn Cena heel, cheating to end the streak would be the most sacriligious way possible. (It could just be Triple H who's been trying to turn heel since early 2008.)
ts just too many maybes and ifs and I think Metzler does this once a year to look like a prophet in April
Meltzer has been right on matches they had booked a year in advance (Undertaker vs. Edge, Cena vs. HHH, and Flair's retirement match for WM24 all being planned shortly after Wrestlemania the year before). It's pretty clear that last year they picked all the important matches in December and booked backwards from Mania and the build-up was really well-received, whereas the year before they laid out a card in December (built around HHH/Edge, Cena/Orton, Michaels/JBL, and Jeff/Christian) and then changed everything around in January and February and their hype ended up being very muddled and ineffective.
Orton/Cena has been done so many times over the last few years that doing it again as a WM main event would still seem overdone. I'd put Orton on Smackdown to make him the big face star of that brand and then hold off Cena/Orton until Wrestlemania 28 to make it seem more special. Cena as a heel would make it even more interesting.
As for Cena/Undertaker, I'd do that one at WM27. I'm not sure if Taker will still be able to physically go by spring 2012, so might as well get the Cena match done while UT still has gas in the tank.
Originally posted by Big BadOrton/Cena has been done so many times over the last few years that doing it again as a WM main event would still seem overdone. I'd put Orton on Smackdown to make him the big face star of that brand and then hold off Cena/Orton until Wrestlemania 28 to make it seem more special. Cena as a heel would make it even more interesting.
As for Cena/Undertaker, I'd do that one at WM27. I'm not sure if Taker will still be able to physically go by spring 2012, so might as well get the Cena match done while UT still has gas in the tank.
Considering he works about 4-5 months a year, and in that time he works hard about 2 matches per year, I don't see Taker going away any time soon. He gets paid very well to work a light schedule, he is the unquestioned locker room leader so everyone has to kiss his ass, and his wife is on the road with him. To be honest, I wouldn't be shocked if the streak gets to 25 before he's done. He gets huge pops just for walking to the ring. He doesn't need to actually do anything to stay over at this point.
Right now the WrestleMania plan, and this will change 20 times or more, is Undertaker vs. Sheamus in a title unification match. Right now, the idea doesn’t do much for me. First, when push comes to shove, I still don’t believe they’ll unify the two big belts because that would mean they would be doing touring shows without a “world” title match on top. Granted, both belts mean so little now and “the world title match” isn’t like a major draw on the house shows. However, I just don’t see anyone buying that Sheamus will beat Undertaker and end his streak. Then again, I’m not sure they’ll buy anyone ending his streak at this point. The talk is all preliminary right now, but they want the top three matches locked up by November so like last year they can start teases and start building at Survivor Series like they did last year. Cena vs. Miz is another thing talked about. When the Money in the Bank buy rate came in, that opened up talks of putting MITB back as a Mania match.
The guy being talked about for a possible heel turn is the guy who's been a face since 2003 who everyone wants to turn heel.
I guess there's no point in really assessing those matches until they get closer and actually start a TV build (at this time last year we'd have been talking about Undertaker vs. Vince planned for Wrestlemania and the build for that disappeared), but not really enamored with that unification choice and definitely not into UT as the likely unifier.
Sheamus does fit the old mold of New Big Tough Heel Challenges Streak so I'd be fine with that match otherwise, but I really think Taker/Cena needs to be done, unless Cena is the last mountain to get to 20-0 as people have written about here.
I'll believe Cena/Miz when I see it but it'd be great for Miz and great to have a new guy in the mix. Really that'd be a much better unification match (the right face champion and a new heel and fresh star with even more upside than Sheamus), although one of them would have to get the Smackdown belt first somehow.
It would be a nice for Sheamus to get that spotlight, but like Metzler said I don't think people would buy him as the "One" to break the streak. Cena, Kane and HHH are all logical choices as would a Jericho who decides to stay. Miz/Cena, I am not so sure about. If Miz wins its huge for him, if he loses another small bump in the Cena bulldozer. However, Miz is hot and it could be great with the promos.
The unification match looks to be the thing that is locked. House shows are going to stay the same regardless if the belt is on the line or not, it all depends on the rest of the card. Hell, the Raw belt has been a second thought for most of the summer with Nexus. As long as a HHH, Cena or Orton or Rey is on the card, they will get an audience. Taker shouldn't be in the match, it should be someone like Sheamus, Morrison, Miz or someone who could use the rub. Taker's matches should be about the streak and nothing else, they have already did title vs. streak twice in a row.
Taker's streak has become a selling point for Mania. A title unification match would be a selling point for Mania (although I'm surprised they wouldn't do it on a lesser PPV to give that one a bump, ala '01). Why would you combine the 2? There actually would be a distinct possibility this plan could hurt the buyrate, as if it is essentially a 1 match card and the match is seen by the vast majority as a foregone conclusion, why drop $60 or whatever they bump Mania up to this year for it? You would almost need a Cena vs. Orton career vs. career match underneath to draw in further interest. Also, at this point in his career, is Taker really the one who should unify the 2 belts? He'd almost have to drop it the next night on RAW.
Undertake Vs Cena is the only match I can think of that has that special Wrestlemania feel to it.
Sheamus is credible as a world title challenger, but he ain't the guy to build your big events around.
The only guys I see as that top level right now are Cena, Taker, Orton, HHH, and Jericho. And Jericho's leaving more than likely.
I think they should do what they should've done two years ago and have HHH Vs Orton where HHH goes full heel. It is a match that has history and the last time they fueded with Trips as the heel and Orton as the face was Orton's first failed title run. Time for HHH to pay Orton back.
Shaemus Vs Kane is a match that I think showcases two guys at about the same level, but with Sheamus on the way up, and Kane on the way down.
MITB has been hurt by having the PPV and I don't think it will have near the anticipation it has had in the past.
If they are unifying all the belts, then Morrison Vs Miz for the IC/US titles would be a good pick as those guys haven't really had a good blowoff match on a big stage.
Originally posted by redsoxnationAlso, at this point in his career, is Taker really the one who should unify the 2 belts? He'd almost have to drop it the next night on RAW.
...or immediately afterwards to a Money in the Bank cash-in-er? Ohhhhhhhh.
Cashing in the MITB to break the Undertaker's streak would be the ultimate heat-getter for a heel. Though I don't really think the UT will ever have his streak broken.
Hindsight being 20-20, they could've done Taker/Rey (Rey missed the previous two WMs, wants to return with an impact) or Taker/JBL (Bradshaw wants a big win to mark wrestling in his home state) and 'saved' the Michaels/Taker match for Wrestlemania 26. Though the storyline of Michaels losing and then being so obsessed with a rematch that he puts his career on the line was pretty awesome.
If they do the UT/Cena match, they simply have to use the video of Cena's strong showing debut against Angle and being congratulated backstage by Taker. The Undertaker seemed like a worn down veteran way back then.
I would love to see Cena vs. Undertaker in a Title Unification match (to add even more drama). It's the biggest match I could think of right now.
Sheamus vs. Undertaker does nothing for me, on the other hand.
Cena vs. Miz could also be great, but doesn't need to be for the World Titles, in my opinion. I think it would be even greater, if they re-did the Bret/Austin double turn scenario here.
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Off PWtorch.com (A little more detailed) -The Rock joined the show about an hour into the broadcast and said how great it is to be back in WWE. He said he was calling in from sunny Florida. "I cannot wait for this coming Monday," Rock said.