Powell Editorials WWE Backlash PPV preview and predictions: Will any titles change hands on Sunday night? By Jason Powell Apr 25, 2008 - 04:03 PM CLICK FOR BIO Email This Article | Printer Friendly Page Send Us News & Results | Back to Main Listing These predictions are made without any inside knowledge of the planned match finishes. In other words, I’m guessing just like you are. Randy Orton vs. Triple H vs. John Cena vs. JBL in an elimination match for the WWE Title: The initial sales pitch seemed to be that it was just like the WrestleMania three-way, only with JBL added to the mix. Fortunately, I think WWE finally figured out that the addition of JBL took away more interest than it created, as they've added the elimination stipulation. It's not that he's a bad performer, it's just that he's not viewed by many as a real threat to the WWE Title. Oh, and it doesn't help that he's had underwhelming feuds with Chris Jericho and Finlay since he returned from the broadcast booth. The elimination stip makes this match more compelling. I was always a big fan of the way ECW handled their three-way matches because they were always elimination style and they were generally via pinfalls. I hope we get the same in this match, but I wouldn't be shocked if they worked in a countout or a DQ somewhere along the way. My money is on Orton to retain. After this match, I'm ready for WWE to get back to booking singles title matches. They need to stop putting Hunter and Cena in every title match. The fans need a break from Cena in every main event. I'm hoping they brought in JBL to set up a feud with Cena that will keep him out of the title hunt for a few months. Undertaker vs. Edge for the World Hvt. Title: It's just like WrestleMania 24 only, well, Taker has the title belt going in. They had a very good match at WrestleMania so there's no reason to think they won't be able to do it again. It would be odd if they took the title belt off Taker this soon, so he's the heavy favorite and my pick to win. Shawn Michaels vs. Batista with Chris Jericho as special referee: Who would have guessed after WrestleMania 24 that anyone would be looking forward to Batista's next pay-per-view match? He bombed in his match with Umaga under the bright lights in Orlando (too bad the power didn't go out during that clunker), but now he's bouncing right back with HBK, who has great matches with everybody. Michaels is about three laps ahead of the nearest contender for 2008 MVP in my book, and my guess is that he'll add another lap to his lead on Sunday night. The addition of Jericho worried me at first. I don't think we'll get a clean finish with him as the referee, but I'm intrigued to see which wrestler he turns on. HBK would seem to be the logical choice since they're both on he same brand. However, this match is proof that WWE isn't exactly paying attention to the rules of their own brand split these days. For that matter, it's nothing a lottery draft couldn't change quickly. Nevertheless, I like Jericho screwing HBK and Batista scoring the pin. Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero for the ECW Title: Remember the old days when Kane would have fought off four guys who were holding him down on the ground after dishing out just a minimal amount of punishment? Obviously, they did that angle to make it seem like Chavo has a fighting chance on this show, but the simple truth is that no one gives a damn about this match or the ECW Title. Look on the bright side, though, folks. We get to hear Mike Adamle call his first live pay-per-view match. Tell me that's not worth the $40 pay-per-view cost alone. Damn, I miss pirate boxes. Not that I ever used one, of course, That would be like illegal and stuff. MVP vs. Matt Hardy for the U.S. Title: I care more about the U.S. Title and this match than I do about that thing Kane and Chavo are feuding over. MVP rocks. He's well on his way to becoming a main event player. He and Hardy have worked together many times in the past so they should have no problem putting on a hell of a show. I hope WWE gives them plenty of time and no major restrictions. I'm picking Hardy to win since they've claiming that he's never won a singles title before. Never mind that it's not an accurate claim, it's just not the kind of thing you say about a guy unless he's about to win one. Plus, that frees up MVP to feud with Taker at some point. Here's hoping they learned something from Floyd Mayweather and surround MVP with a posse and an agent-type before he moves into main event territory. Big Show vs. The Great Khali: It was only a few weeks ago that Khali presented Show with a goat, a chicken, bong water, and a jar of piss as a peace offering. Yet here they are ready to slug it out. It's all because Big Show was a prick and couldn't accept Khali's gesture of peace. Yes, I'm just filling space because there's not much to say about this match other than that Khali has two bum knees and isn't a good wrestler even when he is healthy. Show carried Floyd Mayweather to a nice performance at WrestleMania, but he'd have better luck working with the chicken or the goat than he will with Khali. Show wins. Khali heads home and takes the animals with him. 12-Diva Tag Match: I stated earlier today during the Dot Net Podcast that I was going to spend the rest of the afternoon breaking down statistical information and mulling over past results in order to come up with and accurate prediction for this match. I lied. The strategy should be simple. Keep the good wrestlers in the ring and the T&A on the ring apron. Let Natalya Neidhart do something to stand out in her first WWE match. Make it quick, make it painless, and keep an eye on Jerry Lawler's hands to make sure they stay on top of the announcers desk at all times. I'll take the heel team to set up Mickie James's next contender for the WWE Women's Title. Check back on Sunday night for my Live Coverage of the WWE Backlash pay-per-view. BOOKMARK DOT NET AND ADD US TO YOUR RSS • HELP DOT NET: TAKE OUR ADVERTISER DEMO SURVEY CLICK TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING OR SELECT A LINK BELOW FROM THIS CATEGORY Powell Editorials Latest Twelve Articles TNA Impact Hitlist: Sting, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Awesome Kong, ODB, Christian Cage, A.J. Styles, Sheik Abdul Bashir ECW Hitlist: Eight-man tag main event, Super Crazy, John Morrison and The Miz, Ricky Ortiz, Gavin Spears, Matt Striker WWE Raw Hitlist: Randy Orton returns to bicker with C.M. Punk, Rey Mysterio and Candice Michelle back in action, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Honk-A-Meter WWE Smackdown Hitlist: Triple H vs. Shelton Benjamin, Jeff Hardy vs. MVP, The Brian Kendrick, Vickie Guerrero, R-Truth, Natalya, Maryse, Michelle McCool, Maria TNA Impact Hitlist: Sting promo, Samoa Joe, Kevin Nash vs. Kurt Angle, Karen Angle, Kip James, Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt ECW Hitlist: Matt Hardy vs. John Morrison, Evan Bourne vs. The Miz, Finlay vs. Mike Knox, Matt Striker's color commentary