Professor Wrestling: 'Backlash' Predictions
WWE's RAW Roster Stars In Sunday PPV
POSTED: 8:43 a.m. EDT April 16, 2004
UPDATED: 8:48 a.m. EDT April 16, 2004
Survey: Who do you think will will the WWE World Title at 'Backlash?'
a-HHH, b-Chris Benoit, c-Shawn Michaels
OK, class, it's prediction time again. Sunday night, it's WWE "Backlash,"
as the the RAW performers hit the pay-per-view circuit. What will
happen? What should happen? Let the Professor fill you in.
Edge vs. Kane
What Will Happen: In a battle of the duds, Edge (returning from a real injury) should get the clean pin and Kane's career should go south. Kane, especially with his unmasked look, is an absolute bore. Kane's always been one-dimensional, but at least with the mask that dimension was remotely interesting. Without it, he's just a big, ugly schmoe with limited ring skills. Edge is almost as dull, but right now he seems to have more upside than Big Red.
What Should Happen: The Prof. likes Edge to edge the former Isaac Yankem. You don't bring someone back just to squash him in his return match. Right, Vince?
Chris Jericho vs. Christian and Trish Stratus
What Should Happen:Jericho needs to lose again to keep this somewhat entertainng three-way love triangle going. It would be nice to see Edge interfere as a heel on Christian's behalf, reuniting their old tag team. It would also be nice for Trish -- a good ring worker -- to get an acting lesson or two. Her backstage bits are horrible.
What Will Happen: A crystal ball no-brainer. Interference by Stratus will be the difference, in Christian's favor.
Tajiri vs. Jonathan Coachman What Should Happen: What should happen is that the booker who came up with this match should be fired. Pay-per-view prices are expensive enough for this junk. The Japanese Buzzsaw should get the easy win, but he's being totally wasted as a comedy player. He was better off on "Smackdown!" What Will Happen:Tajiri wins easily, but will likely get pasted by a Coach henchman afterward. Simply a waste of time.
Lita vs. Victoria for the WWE Women's Title
What Should Happen: While the divas are doing a better job in the ring, for some reason neither performer here does a thing for the Professor. While both are solid workers -- especially Victoria -- both have too-corny personas for me to care that much about the outcome.
What Will Happen: Molly Holly and Trish Stratus both interfere to bring the whole shabazz to a no-contest brawl. Victoria retains title.
Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley for the Intercontinental Title
What Should Happen: As good 'ol J.R. would say, this one should be a slobberknocker. Mick Foley, in his hardcore Cactus Jack identity, should use his Barbie bat to turn the heel Orton into hamburger, getting the bloody victory.
What Will Happen: Remember, Evolution is only banned from ringside, not the building in this "falls count anywhere" match. Look for the killer heels -- HHH, Flair and Batista -- to jump Cactus in the crowd somewhere, softening him up for an Orton pin. That sets up a Hell-In-The-Cell match down the road, possibly for "SummerSlam."
Ric Flair vs. Shelton Benjamin
What Should Happen: Since RAW newcomer Benjamin has two wins in a row over HHH this spring, you'd think he'd be a lock over the aging Nature Boy (my choice for president, by the way). Benjamin should get another win, but I'd prefer if Slick Rick didn't look too bad in the process.
What Will Happen: The Prof. thinks the scriptwriters will have Flair cheat to get the win. He's done a lot to elevate younger wrestlers the past year, and this will be McMahon's way to reward him. The pin won't be clean, as to not damage Shelton's push to the top.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels in a triple-threat match for the WWE World Title
What Should Happen: Chris Benoit should win this match handily. Pound for pound, he's the best wrestler on the planet and waited far too long to be crowned champ in McMahon's circus. Vince should reward him with another big win, extending his title run.
What Will Happen: I get the feeling HBK will get the win somehow, taking his turn a the top of the RAW heap for a bit. There's money in a Michaels-Benoit rematch, whereas McMahon's son-in-law needs to be on the sidelines for a bit to freshen up his act.
You may recall after "WrestleMania 20" the Professor called seven of 12 matches correctly. Doubt that I can do it again? Check this Web site Monday morning to find out! Care to comment on this column, then just click right here! I dare ya! That's it . . . class dismissed. (Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting Systems. He earned his doctorate in TV grapology in 1986.)
OK, class, it's prediction time again. Sunday night, it's WWE "Backlash,"
as the the RAW performers hit the pay-per-view circuit. What will
happen? What should happen? Let the Professor fill you in.
Edge vs. KaneWhat Will Happen: In a battle of the duds, Edge (returning from a real injury) should get the clean pin and Kane's career should go south. Kane, especially with his unmasked look, is an absolute bore. Kane's always been one-dimensional, but at least with the mask that dimension was remotely interesting. Without it, he's just a big, ugly schmoe with limited ring skills. Edge is almost as dull, but right now he seems to have more upside than Big Red.
What Should Happen: The Prof. likes Edge to edge the former Isaac Yankem. You don't bring someone back just to squash him in his return match. Right, Vince?
Chris Jericho vs. Christian and Trish Stratus
What Should Happen:Jericho needs to lose again to keep this somewhat entertainng three-way love triangle going. It would be nice to see Edge interfere as a heel on Christian's behalf, reuniting their old tag team. It would also be nice for Trish -- a good ring worker -- to get an acting lesson or two. Her backstage bits are horrible.
What Will Happen: A crystal ball no-brainer. Interference by Stratus will be the difference, in Christian's favor.
Tajiri vs. Jonathan Coachman What Should Happen: What should happen is that the booker who came up with this match should be fired. Pay-per-view prices are expensive enough for this junk. The Japanese Buzzsaw should get the easy win, but he's being totally wasted as a comedy player. He was better off on "Smackdown!" What Will Happen:Tajiri wins easily, but will likely get pasted by a Coach henchman afterward. Simply a waste of time.
Lita vs. Victoria for the WWE Women's Title
What Should Happen: While the divas are doing a better job in the ring, for some reason neither performer here does a thing for the Professor. While both are solid workers -- especially Victoria -- both have too-corny personas for me to care that much about the outcome.
What Will Happen: Molly Holly and Trish Stratus both interfere to bring the whole shabazz to a no-contest brawl. Victoria retains title.
Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley for the Intercontinental Title
What Should Happen: As good 'ol J.R. would say, this one should be a slobberknocker. Mick Foley, in his hardcore Cactus Jack identity, should use his Barbie bat to turn the heel Orton into hamburger, getting the bloody victory.
What Will Happen: Remember, Evolution is only banned from ringside, not the building in this "falls count anywhere" match. Look for the killer heels -- HHH, Flair and Batista -- to jump Cactus in the crowd somewhere, softening him up for an Orton pin. That sets up a Hell-In-The-Cell match down the road, possibly for "SummerSlam."
Ric Flair vs. Shelton Benjamin
What Should Happen: Since RAW newcomer Benjamin has two wins in a row over HHH this spring, you'd think he'd be a lock over the aging Nature Boy (my choice for president, by the way). Benjamin should get another win, but I'd prefer if Slick Rick didn't look too bad in the process.
What Will Happen: The Prof. thinks the scriptwriters will have Flair cheat to get the win. He's done a lot to elevate younger wrestlers the past year, and this will be McMahon's way to reward him. The pin won't be clean, as to not damage Shelton's push to the top.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels in a triple-threat match for the WWE World Title
What Should Happen: Chris Benoit should win this match handily. Pound for pound, he's the best wrestler on the planet and waited far too long to be crowned champ in McMahon's circus. Vince should reward him with another big win, extending his title run.
What Will Happen: I get the feeling HBK will get the win somehow, taking his turn a the top of the RAW heap for a bit. There's money in a Michaels-Benoit rematch, whereas McMahon's son-in-law needs to be on the sidelines for a bit to freshen up his act.
You may recall after "WrestleMania 20" the Professor called seven of 12 matches correctly. Doubt that I can do it again? Check this Web site Monday morning to find out! Care to comment on this column, then just click right here! I dare ya! That's it . . . class dismissed. (Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting Systems. He earned his doctorate in TV grapology in 1986.)
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