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Countdown to WWE No Way Out
By
SLAM! Wrestling Staff
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The last pay-per-view bypass on the road to WrestleMania takes place tonight.
When you look at the card, it is just that - a stop on the road with no essential
consequences coming out. Sure, a couple titles could change hands, but the
major belts aren't on the line and the only World strap up for grabs is a throw-in.
Nonetheless, we do have to give WWE props for doing some decent storyline-building,
something that has been very present on Smackdown over the last few months.
Let's take a closer look now at No Way Out.
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MAIN EVENT: TAG TEAM MATCH
Shawn Michaels/John Cena vs. Undertaker/Batista |
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SLAM! Predictions
David Hillhouse
How do you build an entire PPV out of one match? Well, like this. This tag-team
tilt featuring the Wrestlemania main-eventers is pretty much the core and purpose
of No Way Out, and it will rightly overshadow everything else on the card. The
problem with this kind of match is that there's nothing on the line to
encourage winning. So what if the teams don't get along? What do they lose
by failing to put aside differences and score a victory? If it had been challengers
vs. champions with choice of match stipulation on the line, then there may have
been a storyline. Anyway – Cena and Michaels will be having a congenial
match at Mania since neither is poised to turn heel. Expect Batista and Taker
to disintegrate and lose.
Matt Mackinder
This should be a barn burner, but hopefully won't end up a stinker. Both
teams have obvious dissention, and much of the match will focus on that. Can
you really have a winning team in this match? I'd say no, with both teams
going at it with each other and the match getting thrown out, but that can't
happen on a pay-per-view. Or can it? I'll say the World tag champs win
here.
Jon Waldman
First off, this is not a never-been-done concept. Remember Saturday Night's
Main Event last year? Rant aside, this has the potential to be a good match,
especially after 'Taker showed a renewed interest in working over the last few
weeks. So long as Batista is protected, this could be one of the better matches
for these four. I'll take the tag champs with some shenanigans from Batista
to establish him as the Smackdown main event heel.
Greg Oliver
It doesn't matter who wins in this one, since it's all about the build to 'Mania.
The tension between partners is the real story. Who walks out on who? HBK does
the job to 'Taker.
Andy McNamara
This match is obviously meant soley to advance each brands WrestleMania main
event. At times they will tease HBK going after Cena, and promote general tension
overall. Eventually John Cena has someone up in an FU ready for the finish when
Michaels delivers the Superkick, allowing Taker and Batista to pick up the win.
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WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Brian Kendrick/Paul London vs. Deuce and Domino |
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SLAM! Predictions
David Hillhouse
It's going to be tough for this match to do anything but make fans pine
for the four-way ladder match that was to be. That being said, there's
some poetic justice at work here as London and Kendrick won the titles from
MNM after scoring successive non-title victories, so I suppose, in WWE-style
, it's a variation on a theme and Deuce and Domino will win. The fans,
of course, ultimately lose if The Hardys and MNM are not going to continue bolstering
the flatlining tag-team division.
Matt Mackinder
I can't believe London and Kendrick have been the WWE tag champs since
May. I think they're severely underrated, but then again, no one really
knows about half the SmackDown! roster anyway. Deuce and Domino are just another
tag team with an overused gimmick and are not ready for the gold just yet. London
and Kendrick retain.
Jon Waldman
In a way, it's hard not to go with D&D, but on the other hand, the streak
for London and Kendrick is getting them some good heat. I think this will be
a more-than-decent bout, but won't reach Match of the Night levels. I'm going
to go out on a limb and say D&D win, either with the "Goodnight, Sweetheart"
(yes, I'm still using my original name), or use Cherry's roller skate to get
the W.
Greg Oliver
Kinda sad when London/Kendrick have held the belts this long, and no one really
knows them...or cares. They retain. Deuce and Domino really aren't ready for
this spot yet. WWE seems to have forgotten that London and Kendrick were good
when they came in from their experiences traveling the world, especially with
Ring of Honor, not working with limited people in a developmental territory.
Andy McNamara
The London/Kendrick split has been teased for so long that this PPV puts it
over the edge. Deuce and Domino win after London is distracted by Ashley. In
the couple of weeks following the London/Kendrick breakup, leading to a match
at Mania.
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GRUDGE MATCH
King Booker vs. Kane |
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SLAM! Predictions
David Hillhouse
Personally, I am looking forward to this one the most. It'll be a lot of
fun, as has everything that King Booker has done since winning KOTR. I fully expect
Booker to get DQ'd after some ... wait for it ... "chiKanery"
with the scepter or perhaps some new royal foreign objects, but he will be horrified
to see that Kane will not stay down!
Matt Mackinder
I like this feud. Both have been through the wars and both have been world champs.
I think it's easier to have Booker go over here and I'll say that's
exactly what happens, perhaps with some assistance from Queen Sharmell.
Jon Waldman
The unfortunate reality is Booker needs some new scenery. While Raw would be a
good fit, it's already overloaded with stars, and Smackdown, more than ever, needs
names. My feeling is that Booker will win here by shenanigans.
Greg Oliver
Kane goes over. Is he still even King Booker? Maybe Kane will burn the robe and
crown.
Andy McNamara
If both guys are working hard and on their game this could be a solid outing.
It's more important for King Booker to go into 'Mania strong than Kane, so my
pick is that Booker comes out victorious by cheating in some way.
SLAM! Predictions
David Hillhouse
Diva Invitational Talent Search - I'll skip the obvious "talent"
joke and just presume that the newest Playboy bunny Ashley wins ... whatever
this thing is.
Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy (ECW Title Match) - Kennedy looked out of place
vying for the Heavyweight Title; this victory is his consolation prize and another
weird angle for ECW.
Cruiserweight 7-way Title match - Gregory Helms wins ... forever. He will
die champion.
Matt Mackinder
Diva Invitational Talent Search - Talent? Ha. Um, who wins? Who's
in it? Let's go with Candice Michelle.
Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy (ECW Title Match) - Lashley continues to dominate
and beats Green Bay's finest convincingly.
Cruiserweight 7-way Title match - Time for a title change? Sure, why not?
Give Daivari the strap.
Jon Waldman
Diva Invitational Talent Search - All depends who the judges are, but I
have to go with Ashley based on the Playboy hype.
Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy (ECW Title Match) - I can't help but go with
Mr. Kennedy...Kennedy on this one.
Cruiserweight 7-way Title match - Helms retains, keeping his streak alive
until he runs into Mistico at 'Mania.
Greg Oliver
Diva Invitational Talent Search - Come on. I'm not wasting time on this.
Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy (ECW Title Match) - Unfortunately, I smell
a squash. Lashley.
Cruiserweight 7-way Title match - Helms retains in a mess of a match.
Andy McNamara
Diva Invitational Talent Search - This is a filler and will be awful.
I'll go with the obvious choice of Ashley because of the Playboy.
Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy (ECW Title Match) - Both guys need to be kept
strong. Lashely wins by DQ after Kennedy snaps and attacks him with a chair.
Cruiserweight 7-way Title match - If they give this more then the typical
8-10 minutes it could be match of the night. Helms is the only one with any
sort of profile so i'll go with him.
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-- compiled by Jon Waldman
