This week, one of our readers Darrin Hill will be our man covering all the WrestleMania events leading up to the big show this Sunday. He's going to be all over the place and will be submitting a blog every time. While you and I will be watching the show on television, Darrin will be in a nice private skybox at the Ford Field getting pampered. Yeah, I'm jealous okay? Anyway, 'Big Dee', as he likes to call himself, submitted his first entry today. The usual articles in the newsletter will be appearing below his Mania blog.

Here are my predictions for WrestleMania 23 For the World Heavyweight Championship: Batista versus The Undertaker: Back on November 27, 1991, The Undertaker defeated Hulk Hogan here at Joe Louis Arena during the WWE Survivor Series. Since then, The Phenom has gone 14-0 at WrestleMania. His list of R.I.P victims includes: Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Giant Gonzales, King Kong Bundy, Diesel, 'Sycho Sid Vicious, Kane (twice), Big Boss Man, Triple H, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, A-Train, The Big Show, Randy Orton and Mark Henry. Look for Batista to be added to this list and lose the World Title to "The Deadman".

For the WWE Heavyweight Title: John Cena versus Shawn Michaels. This has to be one of the more overrated matchups in WrestleMania history. They are the WWE tag team champs. They should have dropped the belts to another team weeks ago just to help build the hatred between these two egos. Thankfully, Cena isn't the newest member of D-Generation X. The only way that Michaels has a chance of winning this match is if former D-Generation X member Chyna runs down the ramp offering her assistance. Look for Cena to retain his title. I just hope that Cena's ring entrance is better than that Chicago gangster crap he did last year at WrestleMania 22. Anybody got Emimen's phone number?

The "Battle of the Billionaires" hair match between Vince McMahon w/The Intercontinental Champion, Umaga versus Donald Trump w/ECW Champion, Bobby Lashley: This will be nothing less than a Pier 6 brawl. You will not see any scientfic wrestling holds in this match. With Lashley winning the Masterlock Challenge on Raw, look for him to win this match. Also look for Shane McMahon, not Vinnie Mac, to get his head shaved. Regardless of "Stone Cold"
Steve Austin. Don't be surprised if "The Texas rattlesnake" stuns everybody in the ring.

The "Money in the bank" ladder match; (Edge, Randy Orton, King Booker, Mr. Kennedy, Finley, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, CM Punk): The goal in this match is to climb the ladder and grab the briefcase hanging high above the ring. Inside the briefcase is a open contract for a title match against any WWE Champion at anytime within the next 12 months. My heart wnats to go with former ICW Superstar Edge. My brain says otherwise. Even though another win will keep Edge undefeated at WrestleMania, he might get screwed by his "Rated RKO" partner, Orton. Mr. Kennedy will win this year's "Money in the bank" match. My darkhorse favorite is CM Punk.

For the WWE Women's Title; Melina vs. Ashley: This match is an embarrassment to past champions like The Fabulous Moolah, Wendi Richter, Lelani Kai, Sherri Martel and Madusa Miceli. This week, a stipulation was added. This match is now a "Lumberjill match" with WWE divas surrounding the ring. Their job is to throw either Melina or Ashley back into the ring. Adding this makes this match nothing more than a huge "CATFIGHT!" Unless this becomes a "Bra and panties match" as well, this will be a rest room match. Thanks to her appearance in this month's Playboy magazine, look for Ashley to defeat Melina and win the belt.

For the United States Championship; Chris Benoit versus MVP: This will be a classic teacher versus student battle. MVP will get a wrestling education in this match that will last a lifetime and make him a better wrestler. Nothing fancy. Look for Benoit to successfully defend his title.

Kane vs. the Great Khali: This match will be a slobberknocker of a match. Two seven feet tall semis on another collision course. Let's just hope that this match doesn't hurt their career in Hollywood. If you choose this match to go to the snack bar, you won't miss much. There will be no clear cut winner in this match. This match will be a double disqualification.

The ECW Originals (Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Sabu) versus The New Breed (Elijah Burke, Matt Striker, Kevin Thorn and Marcus Cor Van): This is a match that surves no purpose whatsoever. Do not is fellow ECW Original, ECW color anaylst Tazz, gets involved in this mtach. In honor of his uncle, The Sheik being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, look for "The homicidal, suicidal, genocidal madman" from Bombay, Michigan to win this matchup for the ECW Originals. Also, look for local grappler Marcus Cor Van to use WrestleMania 23 as a coming out party and does something to make a name for himself.

Darrin Hill is a freelance writer and a longtime Detroit-area wrestling fan. You can reach him at: insideslam@hotmail.com.

[Back to main page]

© Copyright 1996-2007 Wrestling-Online.com