John Cena v Sheamus
Cena faces a guy who a little over a month ago was feuding with Goldust on Superstars… doesn’t really sound like main event ingredients does it? But to be fair to WWE, they’ve done an impressive job of building Sheamus up as a badass, and the Celtic Casper has done a sterling job himself in making the audience believe he has a chance of winning.
And you know what… I’m gonna pick Sheamus to win this one. At first, I thought he didn’t have a chance, but after much deliberation, I’ve changed my feeble mind.
The fact Cena will be absent for the first RAW of 2010, coupled with the verity that it would be a positive gesture from WWE to go into the new year with a fresh, young champ heading their flagship show makes me think the Guinness drinker will be leaving with the strap.
However, if Sheamus does leave as champ, I fully expect Cena to win the belt back at the Royal Rumble. There’s no way WWE will go into Wrestlemania season with someone so green sitting at the helm.
Pick: Sheamus
Undertaker v Batista
I hope this chair match is an elaborate game of musical chairs, where a single chair is placed in the centre of the ring, and whoever sits in it first once the music stops is declared the winner.
Alas, I don’t think I’ll get my wish, and this bout will quickly descend into an exchange of power moves and pin kick outs at 2 and a half – just like all their previous matches. Sure, they’ve mostly been somewhat entertaining, but also pretty damn formulaic.
Anyway, I don’t see Big Bad Dave taking the title in this match. Ol’ Taker may be as broken down as ever, but I think he wants one more long title run (and what the dead man wants, he rightfully gets) and may well hold on to the title into Wrestlemania.
Pick: Undertaker
Christian v Shelton Benjamin
One for the purists indeed. It’s a packed card with several big matches, so I’m really hoping these two get given enough time to put on the spectacle we’re all anticipating. Fifteen minutes won’t cut it – give them 20-22 minutes and you’ve likely got a match of the year candidate.
I’m going for Christian to win based on a lack of build up for Shelton. All he did was beat Zach Ryder to earn his shot. I’m not saying Ryder is a bad wrestler, but if that’s all you have to do to become number one contender then I seriously fancy my own chances of getting an ECW title shot in the near future.
Pick: Christian
DX v Jericho and Big Show
The smart money will be on the champs to retain based solely on the fact that being unified tag champs means appearing on both Smackdown and RAW – and HBK won’t work on Tuesdays. I think this will be a mega fun match though, with four veteran ring generals all well aware of what they’re doing.
That said – If Hornswoggle interference proves to be the deciding factor in the outcome of the match, I will emit a depressing sigh that will likely last for several hours.
Pick: Jericho and Big Show
Mickie James v Michelle McCool
I can’t even pretend to care.
Randy Orton v Kofi Kingston
Should be a decent and energetic match. I expect Orton to get the win here, but via some method of cheating in order to keep Kofi looking strong. Maybe Randy will run him over in his NASCAR whilst the ref is distracted by Rhodes and DiBiase doing some break-dancing.
Pick: Orton
Drew McIntyre v John Morrison
I seriously hope Mcintyre doesn’t go over, because so far he hasn’t shown me an iota of ability that makes me believe Vince and HHH’s glowing appraisal of him is deserved. Morrison is an awesome talent – he’s already my pick to win the Money in The Bank match next year – so I think they should keep the IC title on him for as long as possible in order to once again bestow some meaning upon it.
Pick: Morrison
So those are my picks. And if you’re not down with them I’ve got two words for ya: What’s yours?
