The Best Of The Rest 10.01.08: Volume 60 – The WrestleMania Matches I’m Hoping For

Hello all and welcome back to the “Best of the Rest!” Hope all is well with everyone. Well I finally figured out this whole format change deal and how it’s going to roll. I’ll go into that in a moment. So what’s on tap for this week? Well I realized the other day that we are half way to WrestleMania and I have no idea what they’re going to have at the card. Usually around this time you can get an idea of what gonna go down, but with the way the E has been going lately it’s really hard to tell. So this week I’ll discuss the top matches that I would love to see the E put together for the event. But first let’s get to that format change… LET’S GET DOWN TO IT!!!

Format Change!!!!!
Did I over do the exclamation points? Maybe. Anywho, this column has change little by little since I first started it. I have never been really able to find my nitch in having a set format but I think I’ve got one now. It’s hard for me to cover all the current wrestling news every week because I usually am always discussing it on “The Triple Threat.” But from time to time it needs to be discussed. Going back a ways, when I was writing them, I received a good amount of positive feedback on the “Forgotten Classics” and “The Plug Zone” segments. So what I’ve come up with is a rotating system of these topics plus one more. So from here on out this is how it’s going to unfold:

-The first week of every month I will have “The Best Of The Rest: The Essentials.” Similar to “The Plug Zone,” here I will go over a DVD of a show or documentary or “Best of” that I think every wrestling fan should own.

-The second week of each month I will have “BOTR: Used To Perfection.” Basically I will discuss very important elements of professional wrestling (bleeding, kicking out of finishers, gimmick matches) and example of when they were… wait for it… wait for it… Used To Perfection.

-3rd week “BOTR: The Forgotten Ones.” In the vein of “The Forgotten Classics,” here I will go over matches, wrestlers, managers, etc. that I feel don’t get the proper credit.

-Last week of the month will be the same ole’ “Best Of The Rest” that you’ve come to know, discussing all the news of upcoming events of the wrestling world.

I’m excited to try this out, and hope it works out for the best. Now for what y’all came for…

WrestleMania XV: We’re half way there…
Well we’re just about 6 months, one half year, away from the biggest event in professional wrestling. I will be attending this WrestleMania, so my excitement level for the event will be even higher. It’s about that time where the E starts to set the wheels into motion for the main matches that will take place on the card, with that being said there are some matches I think would work out perfectly at this time and would love to see the E put together for “The Grand Daddy of Them All.” Here are the top three matches that I would like to see at WrestleMania 25.

World Title Match: Chris Jericho (C) Vs. Randy Orton
The seed has already been planted for this one. Jericho has made his intentions of being a dominant champion clear, and Orton has stated that it doesn’t matter who the champion is when he gets back in the ring, he’s getting his title back. This is one of the few chances where a heel vs. heel match could work at a high level. Jericho is intent on showing the he is the best wrestler in the world and such and will face anyone who challenges that, Orton doesn’t give a shit and will take out anyone and everyone to get his title back. Jericho successfully defends his title over the next few months and Orton just beats everyone on Raw until he earns a title shot and Blam! We’ve got it! Words cannot describe how good this match could be. I don’t know if the E could/want to stretch Jeri’s title reign out that long and might pull the trigger on this match earlier. I do believe this match will happen and when it does I think Orton will walk out with the strap. I hope the E can save this one for ‘Mania because it is definitely worthy of the card.

WWE Title Match: Triple H (C) Vs. Mr. Kennedy
Now this match doesn’t make me jump out of my skin or anything, in fact I don’t know if I could personally take in interest in it, but this is one of the biggest match ups that could be put together on SmackDown for the title. H is just running through everyone, so by the time ‘Mania rolls around there may not be many options left. I think if Kennedy’s bad luck doesn’t act back up, and that is a HUGE if, the E could give him the nod to win the Rumble in January thus setting up a title showdown with Trips. Much like the previously mentioned match, I think this could be a great face vs. face encounter where the audience is split in half. I mean I’m not talking Warrior-Hogan split, but the crowd could still be into it. I don’t know how high-quality this match could be, but like I said at this point in just seems like one of the bigger matches SmackDown could put on. I mean they could do Taker-Trips, but do people really wanna see Taker win the title at ‘Mania for a third year in a row? In the end, if this were to happen, I think Trips would retain the title. I just don’t see the E giving Kennedy the title right now. I think he could one day hold the gold, but for right now he’s the got that “unpredictable” label to him that will allow him to only get so far.

Interpromotional Match: The UnderTaker Vs. John Cena
I know at this point in time this one seems a bit far fetched and out there, but realistically speaking it could make some sense. These are the two biggest stars in the company that don’t have much going on. Taker’s got that deal with Show that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and Cena’s on-again off-again injury status may be jeopardizing his spot. These two really haven’t done anything high profile in a while and at the current pace they are going, I think their ‘Mania matches could be lackluster to say the least. The interpromotional matches are incredibly easy to set up. You say “this guy is representing Raw and this guy is representing SmackDown.” You don’t really need a build, like the Batista-Umaga match. But if the E wanted to put some sort of a story to it, one guy could fuck the other over in the Rumble then said fucked over party could return the favor at No Way Out and we’ve got a FEUD!!!! Like… oh what was that epic encounter at WrestleMania XX that started just like that??? I don’t remember, but it was INCREDIBLE. In all seriousness, from what we’ve seen in the past, these two can deliver when they’re pitted against one another. Add on the fact that it’s WrestleMania and we could be talking about a classic match up. Everyone always wonders in Taker will ever lose at ‘Mania and I know some people would be outraged at the thought of Cena ending the streak, it’s often those kind of elements that mix to give up an entertaining experience.

Well that’s it for me this week.

Next week the first installment of “The Best Of The Rest: The Essentials”

Remember feedback, as always, is welcome at [email protected] or directly below. Tell me what you think about the new format.

Here’s one thing that’s not going to change…
*This Week’s YouTube Sendoff*

I’ve been a Kevin Nash bender as of late and this is golden… the greatness picks up around 5:13, but check out the beginning also for some Don West goodness.

Until next week, take care.

-Alex