Chyna vs. Lita
Women's Title Match
The one thought that's kept me going despite this god-awful feud; at least it's Lita, and not Nicole Bass. Still, I think just about anything the WWF could have done to promote this angle would've worked better than what they chose. When Lita first confronted Chyna a couple weeks ago on Raw, the audience was ready to explode. They wanted it. However, with this 'spanking' angle clogging things and adding substance where none was necessary, the focus has been taken away from the match at hand. What could've been a white-hot wrestling feud (albeit not a very good one, technically speaking) has since regressed into an overbooked Sports Entertainment fest. It'll be interesting to see if Lita retains her heat. As for the match, somebody's gotta turn and all the signs are pointing to Chyna. She'll pull out the win here.
Winner: Chyna
Rhyno vs. Test vs. The Big Show
Hardcore Title Match
I've actually been pleasantly surprised with Test and Rhyno lately. While they aren't tearing houses down across the country, both are doing a respectibly solid job with the roles they've been given and continue to improve on a regular basis. I'd have to agree with Mark, in saying a Raven / Rhyno match would be a nicer option than this, but it should be decent for what it is. I'll never be 100% sold on the Big Show as a trash brawler, but Test and Rhyno should be able to salvage something easy on the eyes. With Test playing the injured party and the Big Show continuing something with Bradshaw, the process of elimination has Rhyno retaining in this one.
Winner: Rhyno
Rikishi vs. William Regal
Grudge Match
If Y2J couldn't get a good match out of the Good Will Ambassador, I don't think Rikishi's got much of a chance either. In my eyes, this feud's been pretty lackluster and the late booking really shows. It's a shame too, since Regal's a stupendous worker when he's motivated. His match with Chris Benoit at last year's Pillman show was good enough to land him a high profile spot in the WWF, because he knew it was a "do or die" situation. Now that he's secure on the upper fringe of the card, that motivation is dissolving. Who knows, maybe he'll go out there Sunday night and prove he can still carry workers to a good match. Then again, maybe not. Either way, he needs to rebound from his loss in the blowoff of his series against Jericho. He'll get a victory here.
Winner: William Regal
The Hardys vs. The Dudleys vs. X-Factor vs. The APA vs. Edge & Christian vs. The Radicalz vs. Chris Jericho & ????
Tag Team Turmoil Match
There's actually quite a bit of debate here as to who Y2J's partner is gonna be, and following a plodding month of Austin and HHH promo after beatdown after promo, the mystery is certainly welcome. Odds are Benoit will show for a fourth match, setting up the Canadian Raw / Smackdown tag match everyone knows is coming. Still, I'd love to see Raven, Guerrero, Tajiri, Storm... just about anybody. I'm genuinely interested, and that's good.
As Mark stated, the match is likely to be something of a mess. But it should be a long mess. Here's hoping most of it's spent with less than four teams in the ring. You'd have to be absolutely insane to pick anyone but Jericho and his mystery man here, though I have a sneaking suspicion Angle, Edge and Christian will find a way to cheat them out of it.
Winners: Chris Jericho and ????
Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit
Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls Medals Match
Seeing as how I'm such a big fan of these two, it should come as no surprise I'm stoked for this match. Though I haven't thought too much of Benoit's theft of the gold medals, nor the ensuing chase, the quality of the matches has been there. Benoit's victory overseas in two straight falls this past week has served to shake things up even more. In a sport noted for its overly dramatic storylines, to see a 2/3 falls match not go to the third fall was both unexpected and original. It also adds a whole new elemend to the match this weekend, as Benoit's got that momentum going with him into one more potential three fall collision. It's no longer guaranteed to go to the ladder, though I'd be pretty let down if it didn't. It's nearly time to bid a fond adieu to this feud, and though I can't see Angle moving on without his medals, I think Benoit's your man this Sunday night.
Winner: Chris Benoit
Triple H vs. Kane
Intercontinental Title Chain Match
The Intercontinental Title has always been about elevating workers almost ready for the main event, sort of a trial run for the World Title. Did the Warrior main event a PPV as the Intercontinental champion? Sure. Did he go back to the Intercontinental belt after he lost the World Title? Nope. What the belt's being used for now betrays its original purpose. It's not supposed to be a prop to lend credibility to a stable of main eventers. I can think of a half dozen workers offhand that could actually use that belt right now, while Hunter's been sitting on it since his "fluke" loss to Jeff Hardy. But, like it or not, he's still the IC champion, and this match is going to happen. And it won't be too bad. HHH has been on one helluva streak for the last year and, seeing as how he's opposed by a somewhat competant worker in Kane here, should produce a nice little matchup. Though Kane's gonna give him a run for his money, I'm gonna stick with the Haitch.
Winner: Triple H
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker
WWF Title Match
Yesterday afternoon, I could've care less about this match. Sure, it's Austin and the Undertaker. Yeah, the Dead Man rides to the ring with Limp Bizkit blaring in the background. OK, Austin's the heel. I just haven't been enjoying the storyline. After Smackdown, my opinion's shifted a bit. As Mark commented at the top of the preview, this week's UPN visit was quite good. Not only did it tease tension in the HHH / Austin alliance, but it gave the Undertaker and Kane more dimension, all the while building them as legitimate challengers. The only problem I had was the cheery reunion at the end of the show. I'd rather have let that tension between the champs hold steady through the next couple weeks. Still, I'm a bit more interested in this Sunday's results now than I was before. The match won't be among either man's best, but it should be solid. We'll get some nice, tough brawling and a sound storyline to follow throughout. And I'm willing to bet we'll get an Austin victory, because he needs it. Since beating the Rock the night after Wrestlemania, he hasn't been given very many clean defenses and is almost acting as a paper champion. A good, bloody war with the Undertaker could solve all that, provided Austin retains. He's my pick.
Winner: Steve Austin
IN CLOSING...
At first glance this looks a little mediocre, but there are a couple matches that could really swing that around. If Test and Rhyno drag a good one out of the Big Show, and the Tag Turmoil match isn't too nutty, this card could be quite a bit of fun. Then again, if Benoit and Angle drop a stinker and Regal and Rikishi go on for too long, it could be ugly. It'll be interesting to see how everything turns out.
until next time, i remain
drq
drq
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