So, Judgment Day is nigh, and let’s be frank here - it looks bad. Real bad. The highlight for me would have been the ladder match, but Chavo went and injured himself, so we still don’t know who Eddie’s partner will be. I hope it’ll be someone groovy like Chris Benoit, Ultimo Dragon or Rey Mysterio... but part of me fears that it will be Mark Henry or Nathan Jones... but anyway, let’s get to the (short) predictions
Raw Matches
World Heavyweight Championship:
Triple H (c) w/ Ric Flair vs. Kevin Nash w/ Shawn Michaels
Well, really, at the end of the day, who cares? It’s not the World title anymore, it’s the Clique Party belt, everyone gets a turn... I fully expect this to be Nash’s turn with the belt, so Trips’ can then claim that he laid down for the good of the company before riding into town next month to claim it back when Nash stinks the joint out as champion.
Call me a little paranoid if you want, and I’m sure a lot of people will call me a lot worse, but whether or not Trips is at the heart of the situation on Raw, it’s getting beyond a joke now. Roll on Smackdown only PPVs so we can perhaps have a Cruiserweight title match on the show instead of being forced to watch this crap.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is your sandwich match of the night. Although I might push the boat out and make some pasta, because this is going to be about 15 minutes of hell. Watch out Trips/Steiner, your reign as worst match of the year could be coming to an end...
Winner : Kevin Nash
Intercontinental Championship:
Battle Royal.
Well, you’d think that Booker has to win this, given that he’s been plastered all over the advertising for Judgment Day and on the website too, but then again, you’d think that the WWE’s big star Goldberg would also have a match on this PPV...
There’s really only 4 winners of this (from the announced entrants so far) for me : HBK, Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam and Booker T. Now, Jericho is at a level above the IC belt (or should be, anyway) and HBK doesn’t wrestle enough to be given the belt. RVD doesn’t need it as He’s over anyway, and is one half of the Tag Team champs, but that could be the fuel to spark off a split between him and Kane - that leaves Booker.
Winner : Booker T
Women's Championship
Fatal 4-Way Match:
Jazz (c) w/ Teddy Long vs. Trish Stratus vs. Jacqueline vs. Victoria
Jazz has been thuggin’ and buggin’ since she returned to the WWE after her injury, and Teddy Long’s character is adding another dimension to her. Long is one of the most entertaining parts of Raw just now, ya feel me playa?
Why Jacqueline is in this match is a mystery, but she’s not going to win, I think we all know that. I don’t see any reason to take the title off Jazz so soon, so I’ll go with a Jazz win.
Winner : Jazz
Test & Scott Steiner w/ Stacy Keibler vs. La Resistance
Well, I really don’t know what to make of this match. Steiner has improved since his debut, but realistically, he couldn’t get any worse... Test seems to plod along regardless of who he’s involved with. Hardly the recipe for a great tag team, but they seem to work well together for some strange reason... but of course, this being the WWE, the word is out that they see Steiner and Test feuding in the future.
As for La Resistance, they are able to draw some heat from the crowd, and they don’t look too bad in the ring, apart from being a bit on the green side. I can see them winning here, the wildcard is Stacy - I see Steiner being too busy protecting Stacy to save Test from being pinned, and thus begins the feud that nobody, bar Vince, wants to see.
Winner : La Resistance
Smackdown Matches
WWE Championship
Stretcher Match:
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. The Big Show
Big Show will lose this, and lose it clean. There’s really no other way for this to go down - the thought of the slobbering monster as Smackdown’s champion again is really too much to bear, and I refuse to even entertain the thought.
The much vaunted “backstage heat” that the Show has been getting for his injuring Rey last month should result in this being an embarrassing defeat for him too. Smilin’ Brock Lesnar to retain his Belt Of Happiness.
Winner : Brock Lesnar
Mr. America vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper w/ Sean O'Haire
Oh wow, I can’t wait for this one... really. This is match of the night here for me. Oh wait, I’m not living on Bizarro World am I? This is a disgraceful match to put on in 2003 - lemme get this straight - Hog... Mr. America, who is undoubtedly near his 50th birthday, and Roddy Piper, who’s 50th birthday is a memory can get a match on PPV, but a Cruiserweight title defence can’t?
Anyway, it’s obvious that Mr. A will win this by DQ as O’Haire gets involved in the mind numbing action. Forget the sandwich for this one, make it a double Jack Daniels to get through this one alive.
Winner : Mr. America by DQ
WWE Tag Team Championship
Ladder Match:
Team Angle (c) vs. Eddie Guerrero & partner yet to be announced
Eddie battles alone! One lying, cheating and stealing veteran against two young whippersnappers. Oh yeah, there’s the small matter of Eddie’s partner to replace the injured Chavito... two words, folks - Mark Henry. We all expect someone great, right? What a swerve!!!
Seriously, I hope not - I expect Ultimo Dragon or Rey Mysterio myself, but I guess we’ll see tonight... Whoever it is, Team Angle will walk out with the gold. Well, unless Eddie steals it, natch. Match Of The Night, right here.
Winners : Team Angle
Bikini Contest:
Sable vs. Torrie Wilson
Really, who cares? Hot women in bikinis is fine, but not at the expense of more deserving wrestling on PPV. This could have been Matt Hardy vs. Spanky! Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio! But no, we get Blondie #1 vs. Blondie #2. Ah well, will Sable be happy to lose? She’s gonna have to be, Torrie’s magazine is selling in droves, and no doubt she’ll pick up the win here to further promote it.
Winner : Torrie Wilson
6-Man Tag Team Match:
Chris Benoit / Rhyno / Spanky vs. The FBI & John Cena
Rumoured to be added to the PPV, and at least it adds some much needed quality to the show. Palumbo & Stamboli are starting to develop into a nice little team, hardly surprising, seeing as Chuck is Mr. Tag Team. Seriously, is he afraid to go the ring alone?
Spanky on PPV is nothing but goodness - and we all know that Rhyno & Benoit are always good to watch. As for the match? Well, there’s not a lot of backstory to it, so nobody really gains or loses from it, so let’s toss it to the heels.
Winners : The FBI & John Cena
So there we go. That’s it. Wow. 2 matches out of the card that look like they won’t suck, and one of them isn’t even confirmed yet! At least for us UK peeps, we don’t have to fork out £14 for this one, so there is some upside to it. Yay. The highlight of the night for me takes place4 hours before the PPV goes to air, as I’ll be going see the almighty THUNDER play live in Glasgow - RRRRRRRRock ON!
Join me tomorrow for review, hopefully I’ll have at least some positive things to say. Can’t promise, but I’ll try.
Until next time, have fun, go mad.
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