Countdown to WWE Unforgiven

UNFORGIVEN HISTORY From the SLAM! Wrestling archives: Sep 17, 2007: Undertaker's return highlight of underwhelming Unforgiven Sep 18, 2006: Unforgiven just averages out Sep 19, 2005: Unforgiven marred by unfortunate ending Sep 13, 2004: Unforgiven a good night for HHH Sep 22, 2003: Unforgiven: Goldberg wins Gold Sept. 24, 2001: Angle wins WWF title at Unforgiven Sep. 25, 2000: Austin culprit unrevealed at Unforgiven Sept. 27, 1999: HHH regains title at Unforgiven April 27, 1998: McMahon, the real star of Unforgiven 1997-2008 Pay-per-view-reports Scramble matches make for wild Unforgiven

WWE presents scramble-mania tonight at Unforgiven, with a few opinions laid in people's minds.

Some believe that the Fed has poached what could be a good concept by having three of the same bout in one night. Others believe that there's enough intrigue that loyal (and new viewers) will shell out enough cash, with the opportunity to see a youngster put a crack in the proverbial glass ceiling. Others still, though, believe that Vince Russo has benedicted TNA and secretly come on the WWE payroll again.

No matter what happens, the henhouse that is WWE could look very different in just a couple days. Hopefully for the Fed, they've done enough to incubate interest in the match, or the yolk may, indeed, be all over their faces tomorrow morning.

Let's see what WWE has cooked up for tonight.

SLAM! Predictions

Jon Waldman

I like the idea of the scramble match, I really do; but three times in the same night? A wee bit of overkill Vinnie Mac. Between the three, this has the most power to elevate a superstar, which hopefully we'll see. Even a pin by Kendrick on HHH mid-match will do wonders for his character and his career. I get the feeling that there will be a new champ here -- maybe all four will team up to put HHH out of the match for a while. I'm going with MVP to take the title at the end of it all.

Greg Oliver

Definitely the main event, despite the presence of Kendrick -- there may be a day when he'll be in a serious WWE main event, but it's a little early in his personality makeover to mean much. MVP is just too average. I predict HHH wins, but Benjamin gets further elevated into being a serious contender for the next PPV.

Andy McNamara

Is anyone else sick of the word "scramble"!?! The Fed has really pushed that titles will change hands and I'm thinking this will be one of them. It's a way for HHH to lose the belt without being pinned, and build on his quest to match Ric Flair's number of world titles. I'm picking that MVP sneaks one out, and an entertaining feud between The Game and MVP will begin.

Matt Mackinder

How cool would it be if Spanky won this match? I mean really. We’ve got the boss’ son-in-law (HHH), two FIP alums (Kendrick and MVP), a former college wrestler (Benjamin) and a guy who should be a world champion (Hardy). When you lay it out like that, kind of sounds intriguing doesn’t it? Somehow, someway, I see HHH retaining with a last-second pin on Hardy just as time winds down. But still, Kendrick is my dark horse.

Jason Clevett

I am expecting an underdog theme to the night. A world title will probably change hands at some point this evening and I am going to go out on a limb and say it will be in this match. It won't be Kendrick or Benjamin, although I am thrilled to see both of them in this match and hope they get a chance to shine. I can't see them giving it to Hardy until they know he has been clean for awhile. I am going to give MVP the upset win and a short run as champion.

SLAM! Predictions

Jon Waldman

To me, only Batista and Punk can come out on top here. Rey and Kane have their own feud which doesn't need the title in the mix and JBL... well, he's just JBL. The key here will be to make sure that Punk pins someone other than Mr. Mammajuana. I'll take Punker to retain.

Greg Oliver

I can honestly see any one of the five coming out of the bout with the title. I sincerely hope they let Punk keep it, but my mind says it'll be Kane in the end. Mysterio will be squashed early and won't be a factor at all.

Andy McNamara

Punk will be pummelled and play the underdog role for the entire match and will only score one fall...the final one to retain the title. I expect the Mysterio and Kane feud to further develop, and Batista will dominate for the majority of the scramble.

Matt Mackinder

How Kane stays in the title hunt I will never know. Punk as champ has been OK, nothing special, and I think some of the fans crave change. No Cena means no flash, but maybe Rey can go all-out on and off the mat and add excitement here. This should really be a six-man scramble if you count JBL’s man-cans, but I digress. The NWA, er World Heavyweight belt has always looked good on Batista, so I’ll go out on a limb and say he takes the title in a mild upset that may be marred by Randy Orton interference.

Jason Clevett

Also underdog themed, as I definitely think Punk is retaining. I didn't think so when the match was first announced, but with Cena out the only person I could see them giving the belt to in this match is Batista. I don't see that happening yet, and I see Punk having a bit longer in his run so he retains.

SLAM! Predictions

Jon Waldman

As sad as it is, this is the most predictable, as Henry will cakewalk through the competition. I'm guessing that he goes undefeated through the 20 minutes, then comes out on ECW on Tuesday to declare that he's the best champ ever and then be challenged by a newcomer (or returning superstar) and lose in a non-title bout.

Greg Oliver

I expect Henry to come out the winner in the end, with the title switching a couple of times during the bout, fast and furious. Tony Atlas helps make it happen at the buzzer.

Andy McNamara

Please give Matt Hardy the title! I'm thinking that Henry holds off the crowd for the majority of the match and regains his belt on a couple of falls. On the 'C' show, I think Hardy finally gets his name on ECW gold.

Matt Mackinder

Oh goody – the one ECW match on the card and it should be a stinker. This will be the time for everyone to go, you know, somewhere away from the TV. Only Hardy is bona fide title material, which says a lot about the WWECW brand. But as we all know, Vince likes the big guys, always has. The world’s sweatiest champion keeps the title and looks like Goliath in doing it.

Jason Clevett

Henry has been great in his role as a monster heel, and this one is actually very hard for me to predict. It's a way to get the title off of him without actually having him lose, which could enrage him further as he goes on the hunt to regain the belt. I don't think they are going to go that route however, so I will pick Henry to retain.

SLAM! Predictions

Jon Waldman

Maryse is impressing me. I think the Can-con people are going to demand a maple leaf-wearing champ, so don't be surprised if the butterfly floats north of the border.

Greg Oliver

Maryse is way better than anyone would have expected, but still, McCool retains.

Andy McNamara

This one will be short, sweet, and easy on the eyes. Michelle is one of the most improved Divas in the ring, and we all have to hope that Maryse's greeness does not completely make this match a flop.

Matt Mackinder

Eye candy alert! Maryse as a champion? No chance. Odds are McCool leaves with the belt, but as with any Divas match, a wardrobe malfunction is always welcome (Yeah, like you don’t wish for it, too, people!).

Jason Clevett

Maryse has worked hard to improve, but with the exception of a few girls I could care less about the Divas, which is totally different from my opinion on TNA's knockout division. McCool retains.

	GRUDGE MATCH (UNSANCTIONED MATCH) Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels

SLAM! Predictions

Jon Waldman

This is easily the feud of the year and is starting to look like the feud of the decade. It's unfortunate that HBK's body is sustaining more injuries than the Blue Bombers have losses. Im' guessing JBK wins but post-match Jericho attacks, bloodies HBK and puts him out for a while, leaving him clear to chase (and hold) the World Title.

Greg Oliver

This match will apparently go on as planned, and the result will tell us a lot about the future. If Michaels will be out for surgery or recovery, then it makes sense for Jericho to go over strong with another injury to HBK. If Michaels is sticking around, he really, really needs to get revenge. I'm taking Michaels to win.

Andy McNamara

Oh baby this is the real main event on the card. What an incredible build and emotion. This will be an all out war with blood on both sides. In the end HBK will get his revenge and put Jericho away with some Sweet Chin Music.

Matt Mackinder

Maybe the most well-written feud of the year ends here, if the match actually happens. Jericho as a psycho heel is epic. I still can’t buy HBK as a nutjob, though. That said, I see blood flowing (knowing WWE, though, probably just from someone’s nose) and high spots and bumps galore. And…Y2J wins. Barely. With his eye intact.

Jason Clevett

Another one that is hard to pick, as with Michaels injury he is going to need some time off, and Jericho destroying him would do that. Jericho could then move on until Michaels comes back. I hate to see this feud end because it's been amazing to watch and Jericho has been awesome. Pick Jericho to take out Shawn.

	WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH Cryme Tyme vs. Priceless

SLAM! Predictions

Jon Waldman

I really dig Cryme Tyme, but the tease of Randy Orton aligning himself with Priceless is making me think there's a title retention here. It almost feels like the brief run that the Brooklyn boys had with John Cena was to build towards a Survivor Series match against the GenNext'ers, and this is just a continuation of the feud. Rhodes and DiBiase retain.

Greg Oliver

Why can't I talk Cryme Tyme seriously? They are getting a title shot because the stole the titles after all. Who did they beat? Rhodes and DiBiase win.

Andy McNamara

First off, I love the tease given on Raw with Randy Orton being the eventual leader of the 2nd/3rd generation WWE stars. Now all we need is to get poor D.H. Smith over to the group. Cryme Tyme does not need the belts to get over, so I will guess that Rhodes and DiBiase pull out some ruthless tactics to retain the tag straps.

Matt Mackinder

I’m on the Rhodes and DiBiase bandwagon, mostly for the fact that I now consider myself old as I grew up watching their fathers in their prime and then feud with one another. Cryme Tyme would make decent champs, but Shad’s mic skills need polishing. They’re fine in the ring, but can always improve. The champs have good chemistry and, though I didn’t think so at first, Rhodes is a great heel. The priceless team gains the duke

Jason Clevett

Rhodes and Dibiase retain. They'll be teaming up with Orton soon and need to build up themselves after being thrown to the wolves against Batista and Cena around Summerslam.