From PROWRESTLING.NET

Powell's Editorial: Booking the WrestleMania 25 match finishes

Posted in: Powell Editorials
By By Jason Powell
Apr 4, 2009 - 01:27 PM

The following article focusses on the finishes I would book if I were calling the shots at WrestleMania 25. These are not predictions, nor are they based on any inside information. They are simply the direction I would take if I were booking the show. Check back on Sunday for WM25 prediction articles.

Triple H vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Title: Triple H winning the WWE Title again is not an unforgettable WrestleMania moment in my mind. Contrarily, giving Orton the win when he has so much momentum heading into the show is the type of moment that people would remember for years. Orton wins with a surprise heel turn by Stephanie McMahon. It would be hard to explain a Steph turn after Orton's recent attacks, but WWE has bigger storyline holes these days.

Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels: HBK shocking the world would be a true WM moment, but I don't think it's worth ending Taker's streak for. I'd have Taker win clean. If Shawn is bowing out at next year's WrestleMania, I'd have him challenge Taker again, put his career on the line against Taker's streak, and follow his buddy Ric Flair into retirement.

Edge vs. Big Show vs. John Cena in a Triple Threat for the World Hvt. Championship. I'd put Vickie Guerrero on a pole. Okay, not really. Honestly, I couldn't care less about this match because the buildup has been so lackluster. It's been all about the love triangle, and Cena spent more time telling jokes than expressing how badly he wants to win the title. I'd keep the strap on Edge and build up a title match that people actually care before changing the title again.

Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy in an Extreme Rules match: I'm sure the match will be solid, but WWE took a match that people weren't clamoring to see and then had two guys who aren't great talkers try to sell it. The end result wasn't pretty and it's a shame that Jeff Hardy isn't involved in the main event picture. I still maintain that a three-way with Jeff vs. Matt vs. Edge (or even if a four-way if you want to add Christian) would have made this a much more intriguing show. I'd give the program a chance by having Matt go over to set up a rematch at Backlash. Who knows, maybe the in-ring work will be so strong that people will start to care about their feud. If not, I'd split up the brothers in the draft and Jeff would go over clean at Backlash so that their feud ended with one win each.

MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Mark Henry vs. Kane vs. Finlay vs. C.M. Punk: I'm not even happy to see Finlay, Kane, or Henry in the match, so I wouldn't give them a win. Kofi challenging for the title later this year? Seems like a stretch. It really comes down to Shelton, MVP, and Christian. I like the idea of Christian holding the briefcase with former partner Edge as champion.

Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, and Jimmy Snuka in an elimination match. Snuka would be eliminated in rapid fire fashion. Piper would get his flurry of offense, but also bow out quickly. I'd give Jericho and Steamboat plenty of time. Ric Flair and Mickey Rourke get their shots in on Jericho, who would lose only after establishing that he would have won had he not been obsessed with Flair and Rourke.

25-Diva Battle Royal: I would not include Mae Young in this match. Too risky. It's hard to say which Diva I'd have go over without knowing the full list of competitors. For nostalgia sake, I'd dress up Santino Marella in The Spider costume and have him become Miss WrestleMania.

JBL vs. Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental Title: I want to care about this match because I'm happy to see the IC belt finally defended at WM25 again, but JBL defending it is not what I had in mind. If JBL is retiring, then I'd give the win to Rey. If not, then I'd stick with JBL for a few months just to end the streak of rapid fire title changes that has taken over WWE.

John Morrison and The Miz vs. Primo and Carlito in a lumberjack match for the WWE and World Tag Titles: The WWE Draft plans would affect the outcome of this match. If they're splitting Miz and Morrison this year, then I'd put the belts on the Colons. If not, then the best tag team in WWE should wear both titles.

© Copyright 2009 by PROWRESTLING.NET