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Countdown to WWE Homecoming
By
SLAM! Wrestling Staff
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Honey, I'm home!
WWE returns to USA, in the very high hopes that their ratings will return
to the lofty heights they were at before the Fed jumped to Spike. If they're
going to attract an audience, they've definitely done their best to draw people
in with the most stacked Raw since...well...their debut on Spike. Let's take
a closer look at the card.
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WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Eric Bischoff vs. John Cena
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SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
What a non-event this will be. Cena will beat Bischoff for a few minutes, then
Kurt Angle will do a run-in. It's too bad that, for a world title match on the
biggest TV show in many years, there's no drama whatsoever.
John Milner
They can't put the title on Bischoff, can they? I mean, this is just a glorified
squash with a late Kurt Angle run-in to continue their feud, right? (John remembers
David
Arquette, Vince McMahon, Vince Russo) Well, in this case, I think it's
a glorified squash. I'll take Cena to retain.
Chris Sokol
This has to be changed at some point during the show. WWE couldn't actually
go through with this. Honestly; WWE's biggest Raw in quite some time, and they
put Eric Bischoff in a main event spot? That's ridiculous. A Kurt Angle/John
Cena rematch would have enticed the fans much more than this. But, if this does
go down, for the sake of WWE, John Cena wins
Jon Waldman
The big mystery here is who is Bischoff's freind that Vinnie Mac alluded to
last week. The knee-jerk reaction would be Kurt Angle, but you almost have to
bank on it being someone from the days of WCW. In order for that to be plausible,
it would have to be a major heel or someone from the nWo, say Scott Hall. More
likely, however, it's Triple H. In any case, Cena wins, but gets punked to end
the show.
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30 MINUTE IRON-MAN MATCH
Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels
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SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
Oooh, mama! These two have already put on two of the best matches of the year,
and this should be no exception. If they keep it free of interference and screwjobs,
this could be a downright classic. Angle wins 5-4.
John Milner
The Angle/Michaels series is tied at one apiece and since the previous two matches
got high marks from fans, this may be the match of the night, something to let
fans know, "hey, this is what you can expect on Raw" (like maybe once
a year?). With Angle still feuding with Cena, expect Angle to go over here…momentum
and stuff.
Chris Sokol
While Angle would have fit better in the Heavyweight Title scene at this moment,
this will still be an outstanding match. Angle will go the distance and stop
the show for "The Showstopper", further gaining momentum towards his
WWE Championship run.
Jon Waldman
This will be an awesome bout as long as it stays run-in free. Given that the
last Iron Man of any sort was Triple H vs. Chris Benoit, which ended with Eugene's
interference, this one should be clean. With HBK now out of the feud with Chris
Masters, this one should be a straight win for Angle.
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LOSER LEAVES RAW, MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH
Edge vs. Matt Hardy
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SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
As much as I would like Matt to get a title shot by winning the Money in the
Bank briefcase, I can't see that realistically happening. He'll be a great addition
to Smackdown, though, and hopefully he can add some credibility to the Cruiserweight
division.
John Milner
It's not like these two guys haven't impressed in ladder matches before. If
Angle and Michaels steal the show, they may steal it from this match. I'll go
with the prevailing belief that it's Hardy going to Smackdown and pick Edge
for the win here.
Chris Sokol
The way things have been going, it's fairly easy to pick Edge as the winner
on this one. Hardy won the cage match and recieved a little praise from WWE,
but it's time for him to continue right back to his losing ways, falling victim
to Edge.
Jon Waldman
This is definitely the most appropriate blow-off for their feud. For Matt's
sake, he'd better win. There's no question that he'll get lost in the shuffle
on Smackdown, and fired again. Should he win, Edge would go to SD!, but leave
Lita behind. That alone sets up enough feuding until 'Mania, as Lita finds more
men to punish Hardy for taking her man away. Please, for all that is good, let
Matt take this one.
| OTHER MATCHES |
| Bra and Panties Handicap Match: Trish
Stratus/Ashley Massaro vs. Ladies in Pink |
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Bob Kapur: I miss Molly Holly.
John Milner: In this match, the winner is anyone who
decides to use the extra time to load up on refreshments, coming back just in time
to see Trish carry the match and her team get the win.
Chris Sokol: No matter who loses, the fans win; however,
I predict that Torrie, Candice and Victoria will get the last laugh
on this one, who else is there on Raw to feud with?
Jon Waldman: Boring! Ashley will get the final
"pluck", but this is going to suck horribly. Maybe the saving
grace will be that this will end up being Torrie's last match.
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Smackdown Showcase Match |
Bob Kapur: The good guys win, and some seeds are planted
between Eddy Guerrero and Shawn Michaels for next year's Wrestlemania
(please, please, please).
John Milner: It'd be nice to think this was a six-way
battle for Batista's title, but alas, it's probably a meaningless six-man
tag match to showcase some of Smackdown's talent in which Batista walks
out looking strong.
Chris Sokol: This will just be a way to put over Smackdown,
considering the fact that it has also moved from its usual time slot.
Jon Waldman: Hey guess what! There's a PPV this weekend!
I don't know the format, thus I don't care. Only thing interesting is
when Batista runs into Triple H backstage.
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WWE Returns |
Bob Kapur: Foley plugs his book, and scraps with
Piper. Hogan and Austin shake hands, but when Hogan tells him to
drink milk instead of beer, Austin stuns him and sets up a match
for Mania. HHH turns on Flair, when he tries to recruit Carlito
and Masters to form a new Evolution.
John Milner: Triple H will return and eat up a good
25 minutes before turning on Flair. Expect at least one other legend
to get into a physical confrontation with
an existing Raw superstar, leading to either a comeback (if it's
Hogan or Foley) or a Masterlock Challenge (if it's McDaniel or Valentine,
etc)- too bad "Legend Killer" Randy Orton isn't still
on Raw.
Chris Sokol: This should make for a real interesting
Raw.
Jon Waldman: HHH turns on Flair, Hogan eats a Superkick,
Foley Sockos Piper, Austin stuns Bishoff or McMahon (for old time's
sake), rest just have memory moments.
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-- compiled by Jon Waldman
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