Hey wrestling fans. It's everyone's favorite time of the year: It's WrestleMania season baby! How is the "Showcase of the Immortals" shaking up this time round? Well, that, ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages, is what I am here to investigate.

Money In The Bank: John Morrison vs Shelton Benjamin vs Chris Jericho vs MVP vs CM Punk vs Mr Kennedy vs Carlito

There's nothing I can say about Jeff Hardy being omitted from this match that hasn't already been said. For want of a better literary term: it just plain damn sucks. Jeff was a silly boy and will now have to fight for months, more likely years, to crack that glass ceiling again.
What really disappoints me with the build up to this match is that the WWE did not put a replacement in for 'The Legend Thriller'. But I suppose that would involve detailing his transgressions on international television.

I would much rather have seen Montel Vontavious Porter defend his United States Championship at the Citrus Bowl against Matt Hardy in a singles match. Matt has been fit and ready to go for a month, which was ample time to reignite what many thought was the feud of the year from 2007. It was a fantastic achievement for the two mid carders to have their feud viewed so highly by so many, surely just reward would have been for them to go at it in the 'Grand daddy of 'em all'.

Failing a singles match being possible, why not insert Matt into the MITB match? Again, simple to prepare, just have Matt do a run in on MVP and have him inserted into the match. I fear this has not been done as some sort of punishment to Jeff. Which, obviously, is completely unjust for the older sibling. But, the WWE has a history of being pathetic.

Please don't get me wrong, I think this match will still be amazing. Morrison, Benjamin, Punk, Carlito and Y2J are all proven high-flying risk-takers and MVP can always step it up. I do feel however the match is heel-heavy. It's 5 on 2. But I suppose these matches don't rely too much on good guy / bad guy psychology.

Official Clothesline City Prediction: Mr Kennedy to take the title for the second year in a row, unmerited, I might add.

Retirement Match: Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels

I wasn't bought into this match until about 5 minutes ago. I've taken the day off work today and am sitting eating toast, drinking tea and writing this whilst watching last night's Raw. Flair's interview was the best he has given in years. And that is no exaggeration. And I'm sure Shawn Michaels will take Flair to his best match in years also.

I know most of you won't like reading this, but Flair has been treading water for years. He has been truly awful at times. Nonsensical interviews and poor matches have become a trademark of 'The Nature Boy' in his second run with the WWE. But like I say, he's pulled it out the back on the last Raw before WrestleMania and I fully expect this match to be, er, acceptable.

Official Clothesline City Prediction: I'm having trouble with this one. The WWE has pointed at Flair retiring all the way. And the WWE likes misdirecting the fans. Still, I'll go for a Flair retirement followed by becoming Raw GM not too far down the line.

Belfast Brawl: Finlay vs John 'Bradshaw' Layfield

I think one word can accurately describe how the WWE fans feel about this match: "meh". I don't think this feud really captures the imagination of fans. JBL would be much more of an asset behind the commentary table at WrestleMania XXIV rather than wrestling.

If I put my fantasy booking hat on again, I would have made this match a Six-Man Belfast Brawl with Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and JBL taking on Finlay, Hornswoggle and Mick Foley (who was heavily rumored to be getting involved in the feud). In fact it's very strange how Vince has taken a step back from the whole Hornswoggle storyline, with no real payback on Vince for his crimes.

Official Clothesline City Prediction: Finlay, with some interference from Hornswoggle, taking care of Vince (I want the payback!)

24 Man Battle Royal: Winner vs Chavo Guerrero

The ECW Title further disrespected - the match wasn't even promoted on the Raw rundown. I hope the Battle Royal is televised and isn't a lame 'bonus' on the DVD. I wouldn't put it past the WWE to put both matches on the DVD rather than televise them on the live broadcast. There are 8 other matches on a 4 hour card, there should be enough space for both matches, even with all the pomp and ceremony and (often) lame sketches that go hand in hand with WrestleMania.

However I'm glad the WWE is at least giving the under carders something meaningful to do at the big show, if not necessarily on it. If the $20m figure that Mayweather is apparently receiving is true, that is truly obscene and a kick in the teeth to all the guys who struggle to earn 6 figures a year.

Official Clothesline City Prediction: Kane to win the Battle Royal and Chavo to cheat to retain, setting up a feud for Backlash.

BunnyMania Lumberjack Match: Beth Phoenix & Melina vs Ashley & Maria

Ashley was probably the only option for the WWE given that they wanted Maria to be teaming with Playboy cover alumni and I don't think Torrie Wilson is fit yet. The only other options were Kelly Kelly and Michelle McCool with neither really fitting into the feud at this late stage (although that hasn't stopped them before).

Is it me or are there no baby face females that you would put in the Lita/Trish league?

Official Clothesline City Prediction: This is hardly going to be a WrestleMania Women's classic. Ashley and Maria to win, with the usual diva shenanigans (ie them fighting on the ground and rolling over the top of Snoop Dogg)

*side note: the Raw main even has just come on. I initially thought "it's on a bit early", but the intro's have taken 12 minutes and counting. And exactly what I predicted in my head has happened, Batista and Finlay have come down and made this a handicap match.

The Biggest, The Best: The Big Show vs Floyd 'Money' Mayweather

I found it really strange that the WWE went ahead with this being a singles match, but they did and I believe they can pull it off. The world's eyes will be on this one so the WWE will want to book this one to perfection, despite Mayweather being an 'a-double-crooked-lettah'.

The build up to this one has been really strange. The WWE obviously initially wanted Mayweather to be a face, but the general public view him as an arrogant piece of crap, so why would wrestling fans be any different? Coming out to the ring, with a swagger and being surrounded by your 'tough' hanger on friends is a classic heel tactic, so why the hell would the fans get behind Floyd? Then the WWE books him as a heel for their weigh in? I don't think the WWE quite know how to play this one to get the reaction they want.

I have no doubt Mayweather is very tough, but I've never seen a boxer who is so plucked and preened to an almost fruity level...
Offical Clothesline City Prediction: Mayweather to get the win, as I don't think his ego would allow him to sign a contract without a 'winning clause' being written in. I would happily be proved wrong however.

Raw vs Smackdown - Brand Supremacy: Umaga vs Batista

Ummm, shouldn't this be a triple threat match, with, say, Big Daddy V representing ECW? Another representation of how the WWE views 'The Land of Extreme'. (Though I can't believe I just recommended Mabel for a huge spot at Mania - pretend I never wrote that).

This should be a decent power match. Umaga was in a good match (if heavily booked) against Bobby Lashley last year and Batista can turn it on when he cares, and at the biggest event of the year, you would think he will care. The build up has pretty much been booking by numbers, so there's not much else I can say about the match.

Official Clothesline City Prediction: It's got to be Batista.

World Heavyweight Title: Edge vs The Undertaker

In the only Smackdown exclusive match I fully expect The Undertaker to win the title at WrestleMania once again and maintain his winning streak. I'm still surprised the WWE didn't have Edge win MITB at WrestleMania last year and maintain his own WrestleMania streak to truly put it on the line and add another dimension to this match.

I'll be honest, I've pretty much stopped watching Smackdown in the last few weeks, as it just hasn't offered up anything to thrill me. Therefore I'm at a bit of a loss with this match and can't say it particularly gets my mojo working. However it does include two stellar workers and that should be enough to guarantee an excellent WrestleMania match.

Official Clothesline City Prediction: The Phenom

WWE Title: Triple H vs John Cena vs Randy Orton

This match has been promo'd to death, but it should still be a good match. WrestleMania main events in previous years have all been pretty good, even if they involve lesser 'talents'.

What I am essentially saying is, it's no Stone Cold vs Rock or Bret vs Shawn or Hogan vs Savage, but it'll still entertain. It's certainly a more worthy main event than Bam Bam vs LT.

I expect the entrances alone to this match to last about 20 minutes and the actual wrestling will last probably about that length too.
Nobody expects Orton to retain which could be the ace up the WWE booking committee's sleeve. It is certainly easier to book a heel retaining in a triple threat match without the babyfaces losing their credibility (the faces take each other out). It is especially possible after Orton being made to tap to to Flair's Figure Four (which made no sense in terms of either ring psychology or booking).
However I think it will go to one of the faces...

Official Clothesline City Predicition: Triple H, sadly.

So there you have it, the big one is this Sunday, and everybody is excited. It's what is now a typical WrestleMania card. A super-hyped celebrity match, WWE Title match involving Cena, a slightly neglected World Heavyweight Title match, a Playboy related women's match, upper midcarders taking part in Money In The Bank, a couple of cross-brand matches. Look at the cards for the last couple of Mania's, I'm not wrong. But you can't help but love it.

As usual, any comments or thoughts, forward them to andrewbulik@wrestling-online.com

Wherever you are, however you watch it and whoever you're rooting for, I hope you enjoy the event and watch out for my review next week!

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