October 8, 2005
SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
This might very well be the worst build-up for a title match ever. It doesn't seem like even these two know what the writers are trying to do here, the way it's been so disjointedly played out. Even worse, is that there's really no good way to book these two together. I can't see them give the belt to Eddy the first time they meet, but to not do so means Batista has to look vulnerable, and he's so much better when booked as an unstoppable monster. I'll pick Batista to win by DQ, setting up a rematch down the road.
Chris Sokol
While it would be satisfying to see Guerrero take the title off the horrible champion, Batista, it's not going to happen. Batista will lose the title at Survivor Series, but will hold strong until then. This feud hasn't really been given a run yet; it sort of came out of nowhere and has been a mess since it started. By the way, logically speaking, why offer a guy a Title Shot after he lost 90% of his matches since Wrestlemania? Just asking...
Jon Waldman
This really should have been Batista vs. Randy Orton, with a DQ setting up a match at Survivor Series. As is, the match should be decent. The mystique here is Guererro beat someone of similar size and style (Brock Lesnar) for his first title win, so he could pull off the trick here or at Survivor Series, ultimately leading to him vs. Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XXII.
SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
While I do like the way the US Title is starting to feel important again now that Benoit's holding it, I'm not sure this kind of a match helps in that regard. Usually, having multiple guys in a match turns into a big sloppy mess, which devalues the belt, in my view. Having Jordan in there doesn't help much either. Benoit retains,
starts feuding with Booker, and Christian turns face and starts warring against Jordan..
Chris Sokol
If WWE has any common sense, they will give the title to Christian, but considering their track record, expect a Booker T/Chris Benoit feud to come out of this one, as Booker turns heel. Way to listen to the "Peeple".
Jon Waldman
Well, we don't even know the format for this one yet. Is it elimination? Is it first-fall? Let's assume elimination. Jordan goes out in about a minute, then as Christian is mocking him, he gets rolled up by Booker. From there, we get a decent bout that ends in DQ thanks to Sharmell.
SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
Move over, Chavo Classic! Bob Orton's return has been a lot of fun so far, though I do think he should bring back the loaded cast. Look for Piper to run in to take out Bob, leaving Randy alone and prone for the Tombstone.
Chris Sokol
This could be somewhat of a decent match, more so because of Randy Orton's involvement. After all the Ortons have done to The Undertaker, it's evident that he will emerge successful, defeating the crafty father and son duo, leaving them to squander about for a new angle.
Jon Waldman
Well, we could get a good bout here, but we'll end up with 'Taker burying (pun not intended) both. Randy needs the win here, but c'mon - this is Undertaker we're talking about. Unless a dummy in the casket suddenly comes to life (where is Brian Lee these days anyways?), UT is going over.
Countdown to No Mercy
By SLAM! Wrestling Staff
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Wait a minute, there's a pay-per-view this weekend?
Yes folks, No Mercy caught a lot of the SLAM! staff off guard. You see, all we had been really hearing about over the last few weeks was WWE Homecoming. Apparantly we're not the only ones, as word across the 'net is about how scared WWE is about the potentially low buyrate for this show.
As a result, we could potentially see a Raw "Invasion" at the PPV, setting up a Survivor Series bout between the two brands. That should tell you a lot about how lame-duck this PPV could be.
Let's take a look at the card.
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Batista vs. Eddy Guererro |
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SLAM! Predictions
This might very well be the worst build-up for a title match ever. It doesn't seem like even these two know what the writers are trying to do here, the way it's been so disjointedly played out. Even worse, is that there's really no good way to book these two together. I can't see them give the belt to Eddy the first time they meet, but to not do so means Batista has to look vulnerable, and he's so much better when booked as an unstoppable monster. I'll pick Batista to win by DQ, setting up a rematch down the road.
While it would be satisfying to see Guerrero take the title off the horrible champion, Batista, it's not going to happen. Batista will lose the title at Survivor Series, but will hold strong until then. This feud hasn't really been given a run yet; it sort of came out of nowhere and has been a mess since it started. By the way, logically speaking, why offer a guy a Title Shot after he lost 90% of his matches since Wrestlemania? Just asking...
This really should have been Batista vs. Randy Orton, with a DQ setting up a match at Survivor Series. As is, the match should be decent. The mystique here is Guererro beat someone of similar size and style (Brock Lesnar) for his first title win, so he could pull off the trick here or at Survivor Series, ultimately leading to him vs. Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XXII.
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Chris Benoit vs. Christian vs. Orlando Jordan vs. Booker T |
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SLAM! Predictions
While I do like the way the US Title is starting to feel important again now that Benoit's holding it, I'm not sure this kind of a match helps in that regard. Usually, having multiple guys in a match turns into a big sloppy mess, which devalues the belt, in my view. Having Jordan in there doesn't help much either. Benoit retains,
starts feuding with Booker, and Christian turns face and starts warring against Jordan..
If WWE has any common sense, they will give the title to Christian, but considering their track record, expect a Booker T/Chris Benoit feud to come out of this one, as Booker turns heel. Way to listen to the "Peeple".
Well, we don't even know the format for this one yet. Is it elimination? Is it first-fall? Let's assume elimination. Jordan goes out in about a minute, then as Christian is mocking him, he gets rolled up by Booker. From there, we get a decent bout that ends in DQ thanks to Sharmell.
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The Ortons vs. The Undertaker |
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SLAM! Predictions
Move over, Chavo Classic! Bob Orton's return has been a lot of fun so far, though I do think he should bring back the loaded cast. Look for Piper to run in to take out Bob, leaving Randy alone and prone for the Tombstone.
This could be somewhat of a decent match, more so because of Randy Orton's involvement. After all the Ortons have done to The Undertaker, it's evident that he will emerge successful, defeating the crafty father and son duo, leaving them to squander about for a new angle.
Well, we could get a good bout here, but we'll end up with 'Taker burying (pun not intended) both. Randy needs the win here, but c'mon - this is Undertaker we're talking about. Unless a dummy in the casket suddenly comes to life (where is Brian Lee these days anyways?), UT is going over.
| OTHER MATCHES |
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| WWE CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: Nunzio vs. Juventud Guererra |
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GRUDGE MATCH: JBL vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. |
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GRUDGE MATCH: Bobby Lashley vs. Simon Dean |
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-- compiled by Jon Waldman