wrestling / Columns
411 PPV Roundtable Preview: WWE Survivor Series 2008
Introduction:
Welcome to another exciting edition of the greatest predictive tool of wrestling events on the Internet today! This month, WWE provides us with one of the traditional “Big Four”, the (American) Thanksgiving tradition, Survivor Series. With three traditional elimination matches on the card, plus two big World title bouts, and a massive (for several reasons) casket match, this year’s edition of Survivor Series is looking to be a can’t miss event.
As always, the 411 Roundtable is proud to partner with StableWars and their “Play Per View” contest, matching wits with wrestling fans worldwide for a chance at fabulous prizes. And for Cyber Sunday, a nearly impossible to fully predict PPV, the 411 Curt Hennig Memorial Award for “Perfection” in PPV Prediction goes to Aaron Hubbard, writer of The Wrestlng Bard, who finished 24th out of 202 participants, a great achievement, given the extra predictions needed for such a complicated PPV.
Meanwhile, here’s how the rest of the staff fared:
45 – Stephen Randle
86 – Robert S. Leighty Jr
133 – Michael Weyer
140 – Dan Torkel
142 – Jarrod Westerfeld
148 – Jeremy Thomas
153 – Andy Clark
171 – Michael O
184 – Julian Bond
185 – James Craig
And unfortunately, the 411 Iron Mike Sharpe Award for “Participation” in PPV Prediction once again goes to Evolution Schematic’s Matthew Sforcina, who must really be regretting introducing us all to StableWars by now.
Now, let’s see who stepped up this month and provided you, the readers, with their thoughts on Survivor Series.
The Staff:
Stephen Randle, The Wrestling News Experience
Andy Clark, The Shimmy
Ari Berenstein, Column of Honor
James Craig, 411 Movies/TV East Coast Musings
Julian Bond, Against The Grain
Michael Weyer, Shining A Spotlight
Jarrod Westerfeld, Scripted Through Sin
Dan Torkel, Brooklyn Brawlin’
Michael Bauer, ECW recapper
Jeremy Thomas, 411 Movies/TV movie reviewer
Michael O, Cheers n Jeers
Robert S. Leighty Jr, From The Bowery
Matt Short, The Navigation Log
WWE Survivor Series 2008
TEAM RAW: Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Jillian Hall, Kelly Kelly, and Candice Michelle vs TEAM SMACKDOWN: Michelle McCool, Maria, Maryse, Natalya Neidhart, and Victoria – Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match
Stephen Randle: See, I questioned why last year’s 10-Diva match was NOT an elimination match, but at least this year the wrestler-to-useless eye candy ratio is a bit better. Nobody cares who wins, but it’d be unbelievable for any of the Smackdown stick figure Divas to beat Beth Phoenix. Okay, maybe Natalya, but she’s lost every match since the Divas title match. Anyway, most of the chaff gets eliminated quickly, and in the end, we get…
Winner: Team Raw, Beth Phoenix and Mickie James survive
Andy Clark: I’m surprised they are going elimination rules here as normally the women’s matches are sudden death. There is also the interesting dynamic of the faces and heels on each brand teaming together. I would think that that would have to play a role in things, with one team turning on itself causing it to lose. I’ll go with the SmackDown team falling apart allowing Team Raw to win the match.
Winner: Team Raw (Survivor: Beth Phoenix)
Ari Berenstein: My hope is that the workers get the majority of the time in the ring to keep this from getting ugly, although I see the final two on the Smackdown side being McCool and Maria. Kelly Kelly is good with the spots she uses but if she’s in there for longer than two minutes it could get really bad. Candice Michelle is trying god bless her, but she just hasn’t been the same since the collarbone injury. I think we go with the Raw team winning, with Maria and Michelle McCool not being able to co-exist and getting beat for their troubles by Beth Phoenix.
Winner: Team Raw with sole survivor Beth Phoenix
James Craig: Well this is interesting. I like the mix up of face and heel divas, it actually makes this somewhat interesting. Since you have the champ from each brand captaining each team and other participants who have been booked decently in the recent past it is hard to call. One thing I am sure of though is that Beth is still the strongest booked of the bunch and I think we’re going to the Smack Down girls get the upper hand with it coming down to Beth vs. McCool and Maryse in the end. Maryse will cost McCool the win in trying to trump her allowing Beth to pick up two quick eliminations.
Winner: Team Raw, Beth Phoenix sole survivor
Julian Bond: As I stated in last month’s predictions, I haven’t been really following the Divas, but that’s not to say that they haven’t been good because everytime I give a brief glimpse of one of their matches, they’ve all seem to improved in the last few months. As for this match’s winner, I’m guessing Phoenix as the sole survivor.
Winner: Team Raw (Survivor: Beth Phoenix)
Michael Weyer: Usually, a Divas match is filler but this can actually be pretty good. The real fun is seeing Phoenix and Candice on the same side which I see playing into the match itself. I see them ending up the sole survivors to push their upcoming feud with McCool the last to be eliminated on the Smackdown side.
WINNER: Team RAW, Beth and Candice survivors.
Jarrod Westerfeld: Does anyone care? Truly? You have Team Raw and Team SmackDown, and both host a catalog of women who have storylined pasts that involve them hating members of their own team, so you instantly have that whacky chaos theory tandem where anything that could happen will. If there is a God, the weakest link here in Kelly Kelly will simply spontaneously combust upon attempting to wrestle with the actual likes of real women wrestlers – but she’s survived countless entries with Beth, so maybe she’s “flame stupid”? I could see this coming down to Phoenix and Candice taking on McCool and Natalya, only to end with McCool being the sole survivor of it all thanks to Candice helping, or even Natalya fudging up the attack on Michelle from behind to clock Beth. Either way, this is a bathroom break, folks, as the better booking of this will avoid us seeing GOOD women’s wrestling in the mix of this clusterfuck of a lube job for Johnny “I Once Had a 5 Star Match Against Misawa and Kobashi” Ace.
Winner: Michelle McCool, Maria, Maryse, Natalya Neidhart, and Victoria (McCool sole survivor)
Dan Torkel: I love this. After recently rewatching the original 1987 Survivor Series and loving the Jumping Bomb Angels, the idea of good women’s wrestling in a traditional match is fantastic. Especially watching the way the Raw women, who hate each other got along and decimated Victoria. I think will whittle down to the two champions with Beth vs. McCool and this could escalate to a Unification match down the line. Raw’s team is better but I think Michelle pulls it out drawing the ire of the Glamazon.
Winner: AND Sole Survivor: Michelle McCool
Michael Bauer: I honestly don’t care for this, no matter how hot any of these Divas are. On paper, the RAW side has so much of an advanatge with the top two Divas in Mickie and Beth. Something tells me Beth Pheonix gets eliminated to spark something between Beth and whoever causes the elimination.
Survivors: Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, and Candice Michelle
Jeremy Thomas: Talk about a wild-card match. Booked properly to avoid the limitations of Maryse, Triple K, and Maria, this could actually not suck. Unfortunately, I doubt that’s going to be the case. We’ll see several quick eliminations; Jillian, Maryse, KKK, Victoria, and Nattie are all potentially on this match’s chopping block early on. This would leave Beth, Mickie and Candice vs. Michelle and Maria. Michelle will take out Candice before being eliminated, leaving Maria against Beth and Mickie. She’ll put up a good try but lose, and Michelle will take it out on her for not pulling off the impossible win, finally turning. This also sets up Beth and Mickie, part 4,563,023. Which isn’t a bad thing.
Winner: Team Raw (Beth & Mickie survive; Beth makes Maria submit via elevated double crosswing)
Michael O: Talk about bittersweet. I was a huge fan of the “wild card” elimination match from ’95 that pit two teams comprised of faces and heels against each other. The match itself was fun and I thought it was a great idea that I had hoped to see again. 13 years later they’re finally dusting it off, but unfortunately it’s for a Smackdown vs Raw Diva match that I don’t really give a shit about. Will the intrigue of having faces mix with heels be enough to keep me out of the bathroom? Hard to say, but I guess I just may be giving a shit one way or another after all.
Winner: Team RAW
Robert S. Leighty Jr: Kind of figured this match was coming as it is becoming a staple of Survivor Series. I just hope it is more organized than the tag match on RAW a few weeks ago featuring Mae Young. My guess is it comes down to McCool and Phoenix, and Santino does something to cost Beth. I like the fact that it is brand vs brand instead of face vs heel.
Winner: Team McCool (McCool Sole Survivor)
Matt Short: I don’t see this getting a lot of time. When there’s two other traditional Survivor Series matches on the card, cuts need to happen somewhere. There’s potential for disaster and potential for good stuff to happen, so I’m seeing the end result winding up somewhere in between. I’m sure we’ll see the less skilled divas eliminated quickly. It’ll probably come down to Beth Phoenix & Mickie James for Raw and Michelle McCool & Natalya on Smackdown. Just as an educated guess and maybe what I’d like to see. Raw wins here.
Winners: Team Raw (Sole Survivor: Beth Phoenix)
TEAM BATISTA: Batista, Matt Hardy, R-Truth, CM Punk, and Kofi Kingston vs TEAM ORTON: Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Shelton Benjamin, Mark Henry, and William Regal – Tradtional Survivor Series Elimination Match
Stephen Randle: So I guess it’s going to be Batista vs Orton having a big feud, possibly to Mania (I’m assuming they might reward Jericho for carrying Raw all year by letting him be in the Mania main event). Anyway, I suspect this one breaks down early and often, given the feuds involved, and as always when you have an extra man on the outside, he figures into the decision.
Winner: Team Orton, Orton survives
Andy Clark: I love the Traditional Survivor Series Matches, and of the two men only matches this, on paper anyhow, looks to be the better one. I really like the potential for a Matt Hardy-William Regal feud so here’s hoping we see more of those two hooking up in this match. I think Team Batista gets the win but I have a feeling Randy Orton will walk out on his team rather than getting beaten himself.
Winners: Team Batista (Survivors: Batista & CM Punk)
Ari Berenstein: I can’t say I was happy to see my boy CM Punk jobbed out last Monday, especially since if they were going to do one of those “mass chaos” endings that they usually do to pimp Survivor Series and Royal Rumble they could have at least protected him by ending it with a no contest. I think a consolation prize will be him making it to the end and standing tall with Batista, who will get the pinfall on Randy Orton. He and Cody Rhodes will be the last two on the heel side, and Cody will walk away for the count out to further the tension between those two. Batista can use the pinfall win against Orton to position himself into the title picture for Armaggedon.
Winner: Team Batista with survivors Batista and CM Punk
James Craig: While there are a few feuds simmering here as far as the team members go here, it all comes down to who will end up as the next number one contender for the Heavyweight Championship. Batista has been booked well over the last few months and has even managed to bring up his match quality in the same time. That said, Orton has an outstanding record in this type of match, something brought up on commentary this past RAW. Orton seems to be in this tweener role and I think the dynamic of having Orton/Cena/Jericho taking us into the Rumble will be too good to pass up. Watch for Cody to eat a spear and/or Batista bomb for Orton here to continue that storyline as well.
Winner: Team Orton, Randy Orton sole survivor.
Julian Bond: This is definitely looked at as the better of the traditional Survivor Series matches this year. Batista and Orton are definitely gunning for each other’s head towards an one-on-one match soon, so I’ll go with Batista’s team all being eliminated and leaving the Animal with a handicap of some sort that he’ll fight out of pending his recent loss to Jericho.
Winner: Team Batista (Survivor: Batista)
Michael Weyer: A lot of raw power in this one which can only mean a pretty hard-hitting matchup. I see Cody, Shelton, Truth and Regal quick victims to thin things out before we get to real hard hitting with Matt and Shelton maybe doing a double-countout. I know some may pull for Orton to win after his long absence but I agree with Andy that he’d let himself get counted out rather than risk things which leaves Batista and I’ll say Punk as the sole survivors.
WINNERS: Team Batista, Batista and Punk survivors
Jarrod Westerfeld: You know what sucks about this? Well, it’s really two fold here: 1) You have Randy Orton and CM Punk in the same ring with each other after the build these two had for a feud following the Unforgiven pay-per-view event, and they, likely, won’t be the key feature of this match as Punk is now focused more on Worthless, the two time former Tag Team Champions of the Raw domain who have absolutely no value in the eyes of the fans thanks to their constant ability to drop the belts to any random tandem that crosses their paths; and 2) NO TED DIBIASE! I’m banking on this coming down to Batista and Punk taking on Orton. At this point, I’d more than expect Orton to go over here just to prolong the hype of a Batista and Cena showdown for the title; so expect a Orton and Batista match at Armageddon.
Winner: Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Shelton Benjamin, Mark Henry, and William Regal (Orton sole survivor)
Dan Torkel: Everyone is expecting Edge to return during the Casket match, but why? Where else can he and Taker possibly go in their feud? If we hit the rewind button, it was a Batista Bomb that cost Edge the title to CM Punk on Raw, so I could see the return here, or later on during the Jericho/Cena title match. Randy Orton owns the Survivor Series ppv, but the face team is pretty stacked. It’ll come down to the former Evolution buddies and when DAVE goes for the Batista Bomb… BOOM SPEAR from Edge. Orton pins him to continue his dominance of the ppv and Rated RKO makes a triumphant return.
Winner: AND Sole Survivor: Randy Orton
Michael Bauer: Team Orton looks like just such an odd assortment of talent. At least he won’t end up on the wrong end of a five on one this time. Hardy will be out early to protect his injury and perhaps add more steam to one last shot for Mark Henry. This match should be able to make some groundwork for Orton’s two feuds, but I just don’t know which one will win out. I’ll say Batista keeps his feud going and therefore has to be the one to make the final pin.
Sole Survivor: Batista
Jeremy Thomas: Now we’re talking. This could really be good if they let the undercard guys in the match and Orton (i.e. everyone but Big Dave and Mizark) carry the load of the match. Shelton and R-Truth will go down early, and Manu will help Cody eliminate Kofi. Matt will take out Orton head-punts him into next week, then Punk will take out Regal. That brings it down to the Manimal and Punk vs. Cody and Orton, and I think Cody takes out Punk via shenanigans to earn some Orton respect, then helps Orton take out Dave. Call me crazy, but that’s how I see it.
Winner: Team Orton (Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes survive; Orton pins Batista via RKO)
Michael O: I think the WWE made a really smart move by not having Randy stable-ize with Simply Priceless right away. Slow burn is the way to go, but I think tonight is the night we see a new crew after Dibiase appears and fucks team ‘Tista out of the win. Yeah, yeah, I heard. Marine 2. I’ve been wrong before, but I smell a swerve. How the fuck would WWE get anything out of the still fresh Ted being in a movie? It’s now that he needs to be making a strong impression so enough people might check that piece of shit out to have made the entire, horrible endeavor worthwhile. Are you going to rank on me for calling a movie that hasn’t even been made yet a horrible piece of shit? Here’s a pre-emptive justification: It’s direct-to-DVD sequel of the Marine, and I’m not retarded.
Winner: Team Orton
Robert S. Leighty Jr: Give this enough time, and it could be a very strong match. You have more than enough quality people to keep entertaining while delivering in the ring. Orton has a vry strong history is past Survivor Series matches, and I’m sure we will be reminded of that during the match. The main story seems to be between Dave and Orton, but I am hoping Punk gets the pin to put Orton out of the match. Every match can’t end with a Sole Survivor, so we’ll go with 2 people left of the team of Big Dave.
Winner: Team Batista (Batista and CM Punk left)
Matt Short: This Survivor Series match interests me a bit more than Team Michaels vs. Team JBL match. That’s mostly due to the make up of the teams with fun mid-card guys who are getting some PPV time. I think this match is going to go to Team Orton though. The WWE knows that Orton’s return is going over very well. Whether he’s being booed or getting the “RKO” chants, it’s pretty obvious that people are excited over Orton right now. This is a perfect way for the WWE to really get the ball rolling on his return by having him win this. Orton would basically just worry about himself throughout the match, picking off members of Team Batista. This isn’t a must win situation for anyone on Batista’s team, least of all Batista who is in line for a program with Orton one-on-one. I’d like more of Punk vs. Orton though.
Winner: Team Orton (Sole Survivor: Randy Orton)
TEAM HBK: Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Cryme Tyme, and The Great Khali vs TEAM JBL: JBL, Kane, The Miz, John Morrison, and MVP – Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match
Stephen Randle: I suspect HBK and JBL will actually end up getting counted out as they brawl at ringside, leaving us with quite a motley crew. For some reason, I’m going with the prevailing winds and the suspicion that they have plans for Morrison (and possibly Miz).
Winner: Team JBL, Morrison and Miz survive.
Andy Clark: Typically the faces seem to go over in these matches, and given that both of the tag team preview matches on Raw ended with heel victories I should probably go with Team HBK. However I will buck that line of thinking and go with Team JBL for one reason: MVP. While I am sure that MVP will be eliminated (probably fairly early on), if his team wins, even without him surviving, that serves as the one win he needs to end his losing streak. Plus it will add more steam to the HBK-JBL feud if JBL wins Round 1.
Winners: Team JBL (Survivors: JBL & John Morrison)
Ari Berenstein: I think JBL needs the win over Shawn Michaels if this feud is to have any legs…which it should, especially if WWE wants to distance HBK from Chris Jericho (for the time being…hopefully they get back to that in time for a Retirement Match (if HBK loses) at Wrestlemania 25 (which HBK would win)). HBK and Mysterio teaming up is quite the treat and I see them carrying the bulk of the match. Great Khali will dominate early and eliminate MVP and then likely get entangled with Kane for a double count out. I see HBK getting payback on the loss to Morrison from this past Raw–a superkick will eliminate him. Right before, Rey will 619 The Miz for that elimination. JBL will be 1 on 2 against HBK and Rey, but he’ll bash Rey quick with the closeline from hell and then cheat 2 win against Michaels.
Winner: Team JBL with sole survivor JBL
James Craig I don’t know what it is about this match but I’m not super excited for it. There’s talent enough to make this a good to very good match but I can’t get into it or the JBL/HBK lead up to the match. I think this may end up being a big win over the face team as we’ll see Michaels against at least JBL and Morrison but I expect one other to be there as well and Team JBL to get the win after beating Michaels down.
Winner: Team JBL, JBL and Morrison surviving
Julian Bond: The match should provide some interesting pair-ups (Kane/Michaels, Mysterio/Morrison) and be a good standard bout. I get a sense that they’re building to a full-scale feud between HBK and JBL, so I’ll take JBL for the pin along with, let’s say, Kane (since they both haven’t won in forever) to take the win.
Winner: Team JBL (Survivors: JBL and Kane)
Michael Weyer: Another fun battle, this one maybe a bit more high-paced with those involved. This time, I’ll go with the heel team winning as Cryme Tyme and Miz and MOrrison take each other out, Rey gets MVP only to fall to Kane who gets taken out by Khali with JBL cheating to get him. That leaves us with HBK and JBL and I see JBL getting the win back to continue the feud.
WINNER: Team JBL, JBL sole survivor
Jarrod Westerfeld: If there is ANY justice, this won’t come down to Michaels and JBL, but rather, Cryme Tyme and Michaels taking on Miz, Morrison and even MVP. Yes, that means getting rid of the highly popular Mysterio, but that’s only at the cost of his Kane feud and can easily be tossed out to allow some of the other figures to stand out some more. The way it seems, we could be seeing Khali, Mysterio and Michaels as the only survivors of this, and the winners. The worst case scenario all of the heels are crushed and the faces remain undivided and united in this exchange. Wait, I just realized – Khali is on this team? Fuck me, this could actually get worse. Lord please, just leave Khali in there with JBL or Morrison, this way it works out in his favor and he looks good, because everyone else seems like a bad choice for him.
Winner: Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Cryme Tyme, and The Great Khali (Michaels, Mysterio and Khali survive)
Dan Torkel: I know the main issue is with the captains and thus they will not blow off the HBK/JBL feud here (that will wait for Armageddon), so I anticiapte some type of Double DQ or Countout for them. Who else does that leave to survive? The two best pushed people of late… MORRISON and MIZ. They are the hottest tag team on the roster, and Morrison is a future superstar just waiting for a mega-push against Michaels. I would love to see a Wrestlemania match between them or a post WM feud.
Winner(s): Miz and Morrison
Michael Bauer: I almost don’t know how Team Michaels can lose this match. Raw saw everyone but Khali lose in their tag team matches and ECW was just Miz and Morrison telling bad jokes to hype the match. And unless I miss something on Smackdown while I type this before my poker night, Team Michaels go into this match with zero momentum. The funny thing is that I have to believe that if Michaels gets behind two on one, he won’t win either. So I know I can’t see them losing, but I can’t him either. If there is anytime to give Miz and Morrison a real rub, it is now.
Sole Survivor: John Morrison
Jeremy Thomas: Of all the three Survivor Series-style matches, this has the most potential, but also the most potential to suck. You’ve got some really talented guys and some guys who have no business being in the ring anymore *Cough*JBL*Cough*. Sadly, the burial of MVP will continue as he’ll be first to go via Khali Bomb, and Kane will go early too from a Mysterio move. The heels will even the odds by taking out Cryme Tyme, then go up one when JBL takes down Khali. Shawn will get his pin back on Morrison and Rey will take out Miz before JBL hits the Clothesline from Hell out of nowhere. We’ll be down to Michaels and JBL, and I’d like to say HBK gets the pin, but the heel needs to win for the feud to go on.
Winner: Team JBL (JBL survives, pinning Michaels after Clothesline from Hell)
Michael O: Stupid Matt Striker. I had written a whole thing here about why Survivor Series matches are so fun, discussing their unpredictable nature and touching on some of the great elimination matches from years gone by. Then Mr. Striker had to go ahead and say pretty much what I had written the next night on ECW, forcing me to replace my remarks with a really lame knock-knock joke. “Knock-knock!” “Who’s there?” “Team JBL” “Team JBL who?” “Exactly!”
Winner: Team HBK
Robert S. Leighty Jr: I actually have high hopes for this, and yes I am aware Kane and Khali are in there. Khali will get the Big Show treatment (alas Survivor Series 2001) where he will dominate early and then get hit with multiple finishers to get him out of there early. Kane will probably get something similar. Things should be fun as we near the end of this thing. I am thinking Misterio and Michaels are left against 4 of team JBL or possibly even the entire team. Shawn has done a great job in these matches in the past of fighting the odds and making it believable before coming up short. Why mess up a good formula. I’m sure Miz is getting superkicked out of the match, but Morrison could last a while. I am going out on a limb and taking Morrison as the sole survivor to give him something to harp on like Jericho’s “I pinned both Austin and Rock in one night.”
Winner: Team JBL (Morrison Sole Survivor)
Matt Short: I would love to pick Miz & Morrison to win this as the last two, I have a feeling that judging from the composition of Team HBK this is going to be the “feel good” match of the night. You know, the Survivor Series match where the face team takes a bunch of eliminations all in a row and the last two stage a miraculous comeback. My guess is Michaels and Mysterio will be the last two. Cryme Tyme will go down and Khali will get rolled up on a fluke or something.
Winner: Team HBK (Survivors: Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio)
The Undertaker vs The Big Show – Casket Match
Stephen Randle: I was all set to say that I would be shocked, shocked if Edge didn’t make his return in this match, to get the man who sent him to hell, but how long can that unending cycle of violence keep going? Then again, this idea gives us Edge vs Taker at Mania again, while Big Show uses the tainted victory to garner a title shot in the filler Armageddon PPV. You know, I actually like that idea.
Winner: The Big Show
Andy Clark: Must be time for Taker to take a break for the holidays. Big Show needs to end up with a title shot out of all of this or he’ll look like a doofus, and Taker can rest up and return in time for the New Year.
Winner: Big Show
Ari Berenstein: On the one hand, the last match these two had against each other was pretty decent. On the other hand, its a casket match, and really when have casket matches ever been pretty decent? Hopefully this won’t be an Undertaker Casket Match Special either–I DO NOT want a rebirth of Taker angle… again. However, I do see just one person coming to help Show, that being Edge returning once again at Survivor Series, and spearing Undertaker to help The Big Show win the match.
Winner: Big Show
James Craig: To me, an Undertaker specialty gimmick match at Survivor Series means an in-ring sobatical for Undertaker lasting until ‘Mania. This has been a well built feud and Big Show has been built like the monster he always should have been built as when facing Undertaker. I think we’re going to get a visual win in favor of Undertaker here, but a returning Edge will do what he does best when returning, screwing over Undertaker. I’m all for this as I’m a huge Edge fan. This should free up Big Show to go after the title or at least to enter the conversation.
Winner: Big Show
Julian Bond: Even though I have full confidence that this will be a pretty good bout judging from the last pair of unexpectingly great matches these two recently have had, I am conflicted on who to pick as the winner. Big Show should definitely get the win to finally push himself WAY over as a true top contender for the title (which we all forgot about when he stated it in the beginning of his heel turn), but it assumingly may seem that they don’t want to pull the whole “Undertaker’s buried and will come back for revenge” thing for the millionth time. And also I strongly believe that Edge is going to return, but I don’t know in what capacity. If Edge remains heel and costs Taker the match, then it’ll be the “same old, same old” feud that he’s done with the man for a whole year. But strangely if he turns face (don’t count it out) and helps Taker win to ultimately get revenge on Vicki, then that’s a whole different ball game! So I’ll roll the dice and go with my silly conspiracy theory.
Winner: Undertaker
Michael Weyer: Let’s check the calendar…Uh huh, looks about time for Taker to take his annual break to build toward Mania so Show goes over here after some cheating and a beat-down.
WINNER: Big Show
Jarrod Westerfeld: Undertaker has NEVER won a Casket match, as far back as I can recall. Maybe there was one victory for him against Yokozuna in a rematch after the infamous burning of Taker at the 1993(?) Royal Rumble, but that’s pretty much digging with a fine tooth comb to recall. But as it stands, this could be the stage to allow Edge his return to the ring as he awaits in the casket. Either way you look at it, Show wins this time.
Winner: Big Show
Dan Torkel: People who picking the Big Show are usually incorporating Edge interfering. I predict that will not happen and so the question is: Does Taker need another pre-Wrestlemania rest or is he in line for a Title feud? I think the latter so, I got Taker to win.
Winner: Taker (choking a Big Bitch out and Rolling said bitch into casket)
Michael Bauer: So Show knocks Taker out, Taker sorta takes out Big Show. The finale has to be a Casket Match so either the Taker wins a match he hasn’t lost since Yokozuna was champion or The Big Show gets a rub he doesn’t need. Taker has been losing a lot lately, so I think the trend ends. But out of any match, I am least confidant in this pick.
Winner: Undertaker
Jeremy Thomas: Generally, I hate casket matches, but Show vs. Taker has kept me entertained and has surpassed expectations enough that I think this could be good. Either way, I don’t think it’ll be a clean match, as they’ve been holding onto Edge for a while and I think he comes back here. The question is, does he help Show take out Taker for sending him to Hell, or does he take out Show in order to get back at Vickie for screwing him? I’ve been wanting to see him go after Show for replacing him, but I think it’s Taker he takes out, while avoiding setting himself up as allied to the Chipmunk and her stooge. This lets Show put Taker in the casket, and I think he’ll not be buried/burned/whatever and “dead” this time, it’ll just be a loss.
Winner: The Big Show (Edge-erference)
Michael O: Seems counterintuitive to go from what felt like a big blow-off bout last month to the generally mid-feud casket match that typically sees the heel get one up on the Dead Man. I know there’s a lot of talk that we’ll see them play the “Taker gets killed and returns in time to get revenge at Mania card” but I’m pretty sure they’ll keep it in the deck this time around. He just came back from banishment three months ago and I’d like to give Vince & co. enough credit that they wouldn’t make another go around so soon after and risk burning “The Universe” out on a story that is getting a little long in the tooth. Listen, he’s my all-time fave, but the specialness of taking out Taker is becoming, well, not that special. It used to be a big deal, but we’ve seen the Dead Man get buried/banished/fucked over and make his big return, often with a new look, too many times to count. That’s fine, I know he’s needed time off, and Taker will always be over regardless, but unless his physical situation is worse than I’ve come to understand, I don’t see it happening so quickly after his main event return at Summerslam. Hell, even the markiest mark would think that’s shite booking. Anyway, Big Show is less of a fat ass than he’s been in a long time; all the better to stuff into a casket, me(e)thinks.
Winner: The Undertaker
Robert S. Leighty Jr: Some are calling for Edge here, and while it may (and I would mark out) I think it is time to get him away from Taker and onto someone else. This is supposed to be the Taker’s specialty match, but he has never been booked as dominant in this match. He has lost to of these at the Rumble against Yoko and Shawn, but he has won against Yoko (rematch), Kamala, Mark Henry, and Kama. I am going with history (he is 2-0 at Survivor Series in these matches).
Winner: The Undertaker
Matt Short: Many are saying this is going to be where The Undertaker takes his leave in 2008 and I’m inclined to agree. I do hope though that we get one more match between these two before the end of the year, but the quality of matches these two have put on really highlights how underrated The Undertaker and Big Show are against each other. I see Big Show winning this one since The Undertaker rarely wins his specialty matches and thus setting Show up as the next challenger for whoever wins the World Title.
Winner: The Big Show
Triple H (c) vs Vladimir Kozlov vs Jeff Hardy – Triple Threat Match – WWE Championship
Stephen Randle: You know, I think this has to be it. Unless they’re dead set on that one-on-one Trip-Kozlov match and just wanted to wait until Armageddon, putting Jeff in this match, after semi-clean wins over both Undertaker and Triple H in consecutive weeks, serves absolutely no purpose unless it’s finally time to pull the trigger. Go figure, the Hardy Boyz could both be major champions in the same calendar year. Now if Team 3D could instantly regain all their popularity plus the ability to wrestle as singles, all six members of those revolutionary 2000-era tag matches will have been World Champions. Not that it’s likely.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Andy Clark: This has to be it. As a Jeff Hardy fan I was pulling for the Rumble win and WrestleMania title victory but I suppose I will take what I can get. Being turned into Triple H’s bitch, turning quasi-heel, and being added to the PPV two days prior wasn’t the optimum plan for a guy that was arguably one of the most over people in the company a few months ago, but I think they can make it work. And really, what do I know? I’ll call a Jeff Hardy win but WWE could still have other plans. After watching him lately I will say this: Anybody But Kozlov. The dude may eventually grow into his role, and he’s carried himself well, but his match with Undertaker sold me that he’s not ready to win the big belt yet. Sorry, Rusky.
Winner and NEW WWE Champion: Jeff Hardy
Ari Berenstein: Jeff Hardy is now positioned as the favorite in the match with two big wins back to back, against Taker and Triple H. I think even with the new attitude adjustment, its not the right time for a Jeff Hardy win–that a climactic moment like that should take place at Wrestlemania. Triple H steals Jeff Hardy’s win in order to progress both storylines with Hardy and Koslov.
Winner: Triple H to retain the WWE Title.
James Craig: This very well could end up being our match of the night. I’m very much into the direction Hardy is going, it seems he’s been allowed back into serious contention and barring some sort of wellness infraction between now and Sunday this is going to be the match that breaks my all heel win night. I like when the “E” does these 3 way matches and they are generally built well. Say what you will, but Triple H is going to be the general of this match leading Kozlov to his best performance to date, but as all three men will beat the hell out of each other, Hardy will get the pin over a prone Triple H for the win and to finally win the gold that has been so elusive during his WWE career.
Winner AND NEW WWE Champion: Jeff “I didn’t kill my own push this time” Hardy
Julian Bond: I believe that Jeff Hardy’s recent push in the last few weeks had been nothing but phenomenal and it seemed to have blown his last big push earlier this year (against Randy Orton at the Royal Rumble) out of the water. I have sensed that HHH was going to lose the strap soon since the man has had it since April, but I was thinking that it was going to be in an upset to Kozlov. But with Hardy beating BOTH Undertaker and HHH in two back-to-back weeks, now I believe that it’s Hardy turn to run with the belt. If Hardy loses, I would assume that he would be next in line for a shot probably against a new champ in Kozlov, but I really feel that it’s finally time to let the man really shine (at least for a month or two).
Winner: NEW WWE Champion Jeff Hardy
Michael Weyer: I still have my doubts about Jeff Hardy and WWE has been reluctant in the past. But really doesn’t seem likely they’d do this again without finally pulling the trigger. So, while I wouldn’t be surprised at another bait-and-switch, I’ll jump on the bandwagon to predict a title change at last.
WINNER and NEW WWE Champion: Jeff Hardy
Jarrod Westerfeld: I can’t imagine that Jeff’s new persona is going to carry him to a title victory here, not just yet at least. So with that bit of commentary, we’re putting the money on Triple H to retain, as per his usual.
Winner: Triple H
Dan Torkel: Do they finally pull the trigger with Jeff? Is this the match? I am going to go crazy and say yes! The formula is there… Triple threat means Hunter doesnt need to take the pin, Jeff is the hottest he has been in years with the fed, and Kozlov can be kept strong. Triple H hits the Pedigree and covers, Jeff hits the Swanton and pins Kozlov. Triple H is left thinking, HUH?
Winner: AND NEW WWE CHAMPION: JEFF HARDY
Michael Bauer: It will not be Kzolov, that is for damn sure. Adding Jeff Hardy adds some doubt to Triple H retaining the strap here, but I still don’t think the WWE can trust him with the Wellness Policy. Jeff Hardy deserves the chance, don’t get me wrong. I just am not sold on being on one of the big 4 Pay Per Views.
Winner: Triple H
Jeremy Thomas: God freaking Dammit. I have predicted for Jeff so many times, and it always screws my record. It’s so tough not to vote for him here, with the new attitude and the mega-push. Traditional booking says that the guy who won during the last “hard sell” show doesn’t go over on the Pay-Per-View, but to have Jeff choke one more time would be a serious nail in the coffin of his credibility. I’m going to (for me) go out on a limb here and say that he finally gets the brass ring. This is a Big Four show, and so it would be a significant enough spot for Jeff’s win to be a big moment, and they could give him a title reign through the Rumble before building to whatever match they have set for WrestleMania.
God dammit. I just convinced myself. Don’t you let me down again, Day-Glo.
Winner: Jeff Hardy (Swanton on Kozlov after Pedigree; NEW WWE Heavyweight Champion)
Michael O: I think we can rule out the CyBorga, but is tonight really the night Hardy wins the big one? It’s a bit of a chin stroker, as Survivor Series is theoretically one of the big shows and Jeff has been chasing this particular dragon for a good while now. I like his chances here better than I did the last three go ’rounds, but I still maintain Jeff just might figure into the Wrestlemania plans so I’ll be betting against him. Besides, there’s that whole “last strike” thing that may have his employers wanting to wait and see for a little while longer before giving him a run at the top, and Hardy has solidified his overness to the point that I don’t think he’ll suffer if the trigger isn’t pulled anytime soon. I don’t know exactly where Hunter goes from here as he’s pretty much conquered all on Friday nights, but maybe they’ll drag out this thing with Kozlov. Regardless, I expect to see “The Game” show up looking inhumanly orange and leave with his title.
Winner: HHH
Robert S. Leighty Jr: Hardy has been booked very strong heading into this match, and Kozlov has become an after thought. Why not let Hardy carry that momentum to the WWE Title. The crowd has always been with him, and now is good as time as any to reward him. If he screws up he will just follow in the steps of RVD, and just have him job the title back on SmackDown. If he keeps his head on straight you could have your big star heading into WrestleMania. If they let this match go on last I would almost guarantee Hardy is winning the Gold. Only way this match goes last though is if they are booking a non-finish in Jericho/Cena (which is possible).
Winner and New WWE Champion: Jeff Hardy
Matt Short: I’m finding it hard to vote against Hardy in this one. He had two massive wins on consecutive Smackdowns against The Undertaker and Triple H and is basically at a major high point right now. This has to be leading somewhere and that is going to end up being a title win for Jeff Hardy. I don’t quite like it this way though. If Kozlov is pinned here then I can’t help but feel like his push up to this point will have been wasted. But he’s not really ready to main event, at least by himself. If he loses to Hardy here and the WWE is still interested in pushing the guy they could find him a decent manager to lead him to the belt at New Year’s Revolution. Will Triple H take the fall here? I really hope he does, just to put over Hardy. Hardy pinning anyone else but Triple H for the title just doesn’t feel like real closure to me. I say have him win the title now and give him a couple of months after a screwjob. If his initial run works, then by all means have him main event WrestleMania to recapture the title on a huge stage.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Chris Jericho (c) vs John Cena – World Heavweight Championship
Stephen Randle: I think this feud has barely scratched the surface, since they haven’t covered all the old history between these two, and Cena hasn’t even appeared on a show yet, or delivered even a pre-taped promo. Hometown or no, I don’t think the time for Cena to regain is now. Plus, after playing hot potato with the belt most of the year, I can’t see a third champion within a month. Mostly, I’m kind of hoping for this feud to drag out in a series of awesome matches until Cena regains at Mania, but we’ll see.
Winner: John Cena by DQ
StableWars Tiebreaker Bell-to-Bell Match Time: 10:35
Andy Clark: 1997: Bret Hart. 1998: Mick Foley. 1999: Triple H. 2000: Undertaker. 2001: Stone Cold. 2002: Brock Lesnar. 2003: Stone Cold. 2004: Booker T. 2005: Kurt Angle. 2006: Booker T. 2007: Undertaker. 2008: JOHN CENA.
Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Chris Jericho
Ari Berenstein: Jericho has been on a roll and Cena does best in big match situations and returns. I think that’s a great a combination as any. Now does Cena win the title in his first match back and in his hometown? Anything can happen in WWE…but I think Jericho worms his way to another win here, maybe even with some unexpected help from Stephanie McMahon…?
Winner: Chris Jericho to retain the World Heavyweight Title
James Craig: Is it just me or is Jericho very, very good at building a feud all by himself on the strength of promos alone? I’m into this and we haven’t even heard a peep from Cena yet. The quality of this match is going to depend largely on the ring rust Cena brings with him, but even with it Jericho has been on such a hot streak as of late this will be anything but bad. I think that Jericho is going to get the win here, working Cena’s neck and back. Jericho is going to pick up the win here perhaps b nefarious means, but this will by no means be the last we see of these two.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Julian Bond: This seems like a familiar scene. John Cena’s back in his hometown of Boston going in as the challenger for a world title, i.e. Summerslam 2006 against Edge. EVERYONE thought that he was going to win because of this huge factor, but with that they are going to do the usual “bait and switch” and have Jericho retain to build up the anticipated chase from Cena. Should be a great match-up.
Winner: STILL World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho
Michael Weyer: The build-up has been good and we know these two can deliever big time in the ring. I am a Cena fan and would like to see him as champion again but WWE held back on his return to the title earlier this year so it’s unlikely they’ll go with it here. Cena will give it his best but Jericho will still manage to retain in order to build toward Mania.
WINNER and still World Champion: Y2J
Jarrod Westerfeld: Oh goodie, another pay-per-view in which the champion, Chris Jericho, gets to lose the title for no reason other than to play filler champion between the Punk/Batista/Cena reigns. Amazing how they’re building to yet another Batista/Cena confrontation by now placing the title in the midst of these two when their last confrontation barely had ample enough build. If the WWE allows Cena to get this title while holding off on the next encounter between these two until Wrestlemania, they may just pull off the big match feel that they lacked from SummerSlam, but I have a bad feeling we’ll be seeing these two at Royal Rumble. So yeah, Jericho gets another event to lose the title.
Winner: John Cena
Dan Torkel: Cena has not even been on tv in months and he is going to walk out and win the title. I don’t think so! I have wrong in main events before, but the title has been a frickin hot potato so lets stablize a tad. Here’s a crazy thought… Batista gets screwed by Edge and Orton, starts screaming about how he never got his title rematch and go nuts during the match destroying Cena and Jericho with powerbombs. Either way, before or after, Jericho retains the title. If Jeff wins the title then they can pull a screwjob here.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Michael Bauer: This is NOT Wrestlemania. This is NOT in Texas. And John Cena is NOT Shawn Michaels. Simple logic dictates that the hometown buy will always lose, with that one exception to the rule. I mean, let’s not forget Carlito’s debut against John Cena… in Boston. Same logic applies here with a bit less shenanigans.
Winner: Chris Jericho
StableWars Tiebreaker Bell-to-Bell Match Time: 25:38
Jeremy Thomas: Wow. Do they have Cena lose in his first match back, or to they destroy Jericho’s main event cred? Tough call here. Either way, this should be a great match if Cena avoids ring rust as he usually seems to do. It’s a match I’ve wanted to see ever since Cena sent Chris packing from the ‘E a few years ago. Of course, I didn’t think it would be a match where Cena was the challenger and Jericho the champion, but I’m not complaining either. I think they’ll give this a decent amount of time, but not too much as to not overwork Cena on his first match back, and I think Superman will be all sorts of good against our Savior. In the end, as much as I can’t see them having Cena lose his return match, I also don’t see them screwing Jericho here. Chris wins via Jericho (or Palin-McMahon) tactics and screws Cena in his hometown. TRADITION!
Winner: Chris Jericho (Jericho or Steph Tactics; STILL World Heavyweight Champion)
Michael O: It annoys me to no end whenever the WWE forgets or just ignores it’s history in times when it could be put to good use. The build for this match was a baffling choice to de-dramatize a big fight, resting almost entirely on it being Cena’s big return match after three months on the d.l. (that’s ‘disabled list’, not ‘down low’, lest you thought I was cracking wise). Cena beating Jericho in a loser leaves for VH1 pop culture punditry match was the cause of his 3 year absence from the ring and why it isn’t being mentioned at all will remain one of wrestling’s great mysteries. Furthermore, John first made a name for himself with a handful of wins over Chris at the outset of his WWE career and I can’t recall Chris getting too many of them back. Jericho showed he had the ability to recollect at least some of his past when he showed clips of his victories over Austin and The Rock on his way to becoming the first undisputed champion. But just moments later, he was proclaiming himself as the one thing Cena had never conquered. Somebody bring a “Why, Jericho, why?” sign to the show for me. Anyways, with the way the heavyweight championship has been booked this year, it wouldn’t be the biggest shock ever if “The Champ” becomes the champ, but I think Jericho retains here. The only question for me is if he gets an actual victory in Cena’s second big return title match, or if it goes down DQ style like it did earlier this year. Either way…
Winner: WhY2J
Robert S. Leighty Jr: No reason for Jericho to drop the strap here. I know they want Batista vs Cena II at WM XXV, but we still have a long road before we get to Houston. Orton says he is next in line, and Batista is saying the same thing. It’s no secret Batista vs Jericho vs Cena is being booked across the country, and that seems to be the Main Event for Armageddon. I think that means Jericho is keeping the belt in some manner. Look for a non-finish with Jericho retaining. It would be stupid to have Cena take the fall in his return match, and no need to kill Jericho’s momentum again. This is where a non-finish works, and then you still have the Hardy winning the WWE Title moment to send the crowd home happy.
Winner: John Cena by DQ
Matt Short: I love how much they’ve been playing off the relationship between Jericho and Cena. Cena’s first win in the WWE was against Jericho. Jericho first introduced Cena on Raw. And lets not forget that it was Cena who initally banished Jericho from the WWE. So the history is definitely there and I think the match will come off fine. Will Cena win? No, that really wouldn’t be smart. I don’t know what condition Cena is actually in, but if I were booking I’d want to give Cena some time to get back into things before he would be given back the title. Jericho could use the added momentumn and I don’t want to see him lose it so soon after recapturing the belt. Cena will be waiting until WrestleMania before he gets the title back.
Winner: Chris Jericho
