DaveyBoy’s Wrestling Menu – 2006 Predictions In Retrospect + 2007 Predictions
Submitted by DaveyBoy on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 12:03 AM EST
THE WRESTLING MENU #214
Welcome one and all to the 214th edition of The Wrestling Menu, the column that is sure to satisfy your taste buds when it comes to discussing all things wrestling.
Well, it’s been a wild week & a bit. First we got the abomination that was Raw on Monday the 7th, including the mat classic that was Rosie vs Donald! What a terrible episode that was, as literally nothing seemed to work well on the show. Not a good way to gather momentum leading up to The Royal Rumble & coming off the back of a solid New Years Revolution ppv.
Then, come Friday, we get a terrific episode of SmackDown where even segments that looked ordinary on paper came off well. I mean, who could have thought that an Undertaker vs Mike Mizanin match would be a rather eventful edge-of-the-seat main-event!? And I can’t mention that SmackDown episode without briefly talking about the very good Benoit vs Kennedy bout. I have been waiting for these 2 to feud for a while, as I believe Benoit is the man to give Kennedy the big push. And while this appeared to be a one-off match, what an excellent one it was. Great to see KK pull out a few new moves as well & I think he may be playing possum with his offensive repertoire a little.
I can’t go without mentioning the NFL playoffs this week either. I saw all 4 games & what entertaining stuff it was too. All 4 games could have practically gone into overtime. The end result sees 2 AFC upsets & the 2 top NFC contenders go through. What does this mean? It’s anyone’s SuperBowl this year. I don’t even have a prediction to be honest!
It’s all about annual predictions today & my crystal ball is saying that it’s time to write down 4 words: On with the show.....
APPETIZERS
2006 Predictions In Retrospect
I enjoy taking a look back at my yearly predictions. It sort of makes me feel accountable for what I write in my columns. I have no problem with admitting that my opinions are sometimes wrong & alternately I never mind telling people "I told you so". So in the lead up to my predictions for 2007, I thought I'd take a look back at the predictions I made for the past year of 2006. Let’s just say that my strike rate was NOT good! My original predictions will be bolded, while my present comments regarding them will follow each prediction. Remember that I wrote these in January 2006 (in edition #158). If you would like to take a look at that column in full, you may do so by clicking on the following link: http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2006/articles/1136955926.php
- The Brand extension will continue & we will still not see an undisputed champion: Ok, I’ll stop predicting this every year from now on… Despite the fact that there are still thousands of fans that believe the brand extension will end any day now. Needless to say, bing bing on these 2 things.
- Whether it be on UPN or not, SmackDown will continue as a separate roster & brand: Correct. This may seem like an obvious prediction now, but if you recall back 12 months, there were genuine doubts due to network merger & average ratings that SmackDown wouldn’t live into 2007.
- Only Batista & Randy Orton will be World HeavyWeight Champions throughout 2006: This prediction was going to be wrong not long after I made it, as Orton transferred to Raw for no particular reason (other than to stuff up my predictions). Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio & King Booker were the other titleholders.
- John Cena, Edge, Triple H & Shawn Michaels will all be WWE Champions throughout the year: Nope. I suppose the reformation of Degeneration X had a lot to do with this prediction being incorrect. Otherwise, I do believe that one of HHH or HBK would have had a short title reign. Cena & Edge dominated the year on Raw title-wise.
- Bret Hart will not make an appearance in either the WWE or TNA: 50-50 on this one. He did appear at the Hall Of Fame ceremony & I suppose that is a WWE sanctioned event. But the fact that he didn’t appear at WrestleMania 22 sort of makes this prediction correct.
- Brock Lesnar will not make an appearance in either the WWE or TNA: Despite all the talk, this prediction of mine turned out to be correct.
- Hulk Hogan & 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin will both make brief appearances for the WWE, but their rumored match at WrestleMania will not take place: My memory is playing tricks on me. I think I am right on all 3 counts here, as Austin’s SNME appearance was in 2006, wasn’t it? And Hogan had a match with Orton, didn’t he? Man, I’m losing it! I do know that their heavily rumored Wrestlemania 22 match definitely didn’t take place though!
- Eddie Guerrero will be emotionally inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame: Eddie was inducted & it was damn emotional.
- The Undertaker will not be retiring: Like the end of the brand extension, this is a prediction that thousands of fans keep making & I continue to say they are dreaming. ‘Taker has a good 3-5 years left in him, if not more!
- One, if not both of, The Undertaker and/or JBL will move to Raw in the mid-year draft lottery: I got this one wrong, even though I still think it would have made sense. Maybe JBL was heading there before his major back injury, but who knows? I find it difficult to believe that the thought of moving Undertaker to Raw hasn’t at least been discussed over the past 18 months.
- No matter who changes shows, SmackDown will finally get the better out of the draft lottery: Way wrong here, as not only was there no draft lottery whatsoever, but SmackDown still got the short end of the stick when it came to wrestlers swapping brands. How the hell they continue to put on solid weekly shows is astounding!
- Rey Mysterio will main-event a SmackDown brand pay-per-view, unsuccessfully challenging Randy Orton for the World HeavyWeight Title: Well, this is the way it should have gone, but the WWE had to go the whole way & put the title on him. Not that it bothered me too much… It was the booking of his title reign afterwards that was the problem!
- However, Rey Mysterio will win the US Title at some stage during 2006: Wrong… This should have been the case… I’m sure a US Title reign would have been booked much better.
- MnM will remain together as a tag-team throughout the year & hold the titles for the majority of the time: I remember this being an outside hope at the beginning of 2006, but I thought I would take a punt. I will have to put this one down as incorrect, despite the fact that Nitro & Mercury are still teaming together from time to time.
- Chris Benoit will re-sign with the WWE & unsuccessfully challenge Randy Orton for the World HeavyWeight Title: Half correct here. At the beginning of 2006, it was heavily rumored that Benoit would jump to TNA when his contract ran out mid-year. I predicted he would stay with the WWE & he did. However, he was barely in the hunt for the World Title.
- Mark Henry will finally be released by the WWE come the end of 2006, despite taking part in a main-event angle with Batista early in the year: The main-event program did come for Henry, but he is still technically contracted with the WWE. In fact, there was probably more chance of him getting released if he didn’t get injured!
- Tyson Tomko & Gregory Helms will be released by years end: 50-50 here as I got Tomko correct, while Helms practically held the Cruiserweight Title for the entire year!
- Chris Masters will win the InterContinental Title: Nope. How was I to know he would be forced to lose so much muscle mass? The prediction almost came true with a couple of title matches toward the end of the year, but he was never a realistic shot.
- 3 Minute Warning will win the World Tag-Team Titles: Hehe… I actually had to stop & think what I was on about with this prediction. 3 Minute Warning is Rosey & Jamal (aka Umaga). Needless to say, the 2 never got together as when 1 came in, the other went out. Talk about a revolving door!
- Killer Kowalski graduates Ken Doane & Aaron 'The Idol' Stevens will battle it out for the 2006 rookie of the year. I'll give the nod to Stevens: Ooooh, close. Doane (Kenny Dykstra) eventually got the nod, while Stevens came in 3rd!
MAIN – 2007 Predictions
- Not only will the brand extension continue, but ECW will remain a separate brand throughout 2007.
- Despite rumors to the contrary, Rob Van Dam will re-sign with the WWE & stay on the ECW brand.
- Bobby Lashley will hold the ECW World Title for the first half of the year at least.
- In an attempt to cover the loss of Triple H, CM Punk will move to Raw some time during 2007.
- Following rehabilitation on his injured knee, Rey Mysterio will also switch to Raw where he will win the InterContinental Title.
- Continuing the SmackDown exodus, Jillian Hall will move across to Raw where she will win the Women’s Title.
- Upon return from his quadriceps injury, Triple H will remain a face for the second half of 2007, but he will not win the WWE Championship by years end.
- John Cena, Edge & Randy Orton will all be WWE Champions throughout the year.
- Batista, Ken Kennedy & The Undertaker will all be World HeavyWeight Champions throughout the year.
- Before winning the Title, Ken Kennedy will win the King Of The Ring tournament (presuming it is held).
- Despite growing cheers & rumors to the contrary, both Kennedy & Finlay will remain heels throughout 2007.
- Paul London & Brian Kendrick will split up as a regular team before the year ends.
- Cryme Tyme will be named my 2007 Tag-Team of the Year.
- The Highlanders will be released from the WWE, while one of Sabu & Super Crazy will also be gone by years end.
- Without Edge vs Triple H, the WWE will once more turn to an Edge vs Cena feud & it will be named my feud of the year for the 2nd year running!
- MVP will continue to improve & be named my 2007 Rookie of the year in November. Daniel Rodimer & Harry Smith will also rate highly.
- Lance Cade will finally earn some sort of a push & be a contender for Most Improved Wrestler of the Year.
- Practically all internet fans will despise Vladimir Kozlov & his push will falter after initially getting a World Title shot.
- Hulk Hogan will wrestle on the WrestleMania 23 card, while at least one other big name will return for the show in either a wrestling or non-wrestling capacity.
- TNA will continue on surviving at their current rate, but their inroads into the WWE monopoly will be minimal at best.
DESSERT
Calling For 2007 Reader Predictions
Well, that was fun. I always enjoy writing my annual predictions. It gets the brain ticking along on numerous facets of WWE programming. And I don’t doubt that the WWE do think ahead with a lot of their booking, even though it doesn’t always show. Things such as who will be the world champions throughout the year is what I like doing. Of course, an injury or 5 can always pop up & spoil things.
Another fun aspect of this column is then getting predictions from all you guys over the following week. Amongst a few emails calling me “crazy” for some of my own predictions, most readers will throw in a few of their own. And they are always a good mix of humor, the obvious & realistic longshots. Furthermore, it gets my mind ticking over a little more in directions I may not have thought about on my own regarding WWE programming.
Just looking over some of last year’s predictions sent in by readers, there was a great mix of everything. Some of the predictions that did NOT occur were Edge turning on Lita, Mysterio moving to Raw, Carlito becoming WWE Champion, Hulk Hogan ending The Undertaker’s WrestleMania winning streak, Shelton Benjamin & Matt Hardy being released by the WWE, Melina winning the Women’s Title, Ric Flair winning the World Title, Chris Jericho returning to wrestling, Bret Hart being involved in a WWE match & the hardcore division returning.
But in amongst all those misses, there were a few hits. Those included Rey Mysterio usurping Kurt Angle as the World HeavyWeight Champion, Trish losing her Women’s Title & then regaining it, Carlito turning face & Bobby Lashley having a U.S Title reign.
So what will this year have in store for us? There is no need to bombard me with 10+ predictions for this year. In fact, please don’t. Just list a few that you feel will make for entertaining reading as such. Whether they are thought-provoking, funny or obvious, send them in & find out what I make of your crystal ball gazing. I will most probably do something similar to last year & list the 25 that strike the correct nerve with me. So get thinking & get typing…..
Well, that is edition #214 of ‘The Wrestling Menu’ finished up. Like I said, these annual predictions are always fun to write & I hope you enjoyed reading them today. If you would like to comment on my predictions for 2007 and/or throw some of your own at me, you are most welcome to do so by emailing me at DaveyBoy123@bigpond.com. As per usual, I will reply to everyone. But if you are an LOP Forums member, it would be much appreciated if you could leave feedback on my thread at http://www.lopforums.com/showthread.php?t=217&page=3
Next Wednesday in 'DaveyBoy’s Wrestling Menu', I will include the best of the best when it comes to predictions for 2007 from readers. It’s also already time to serve up some predictions for arguably the most fun pay-per-view of the year to watch; The Royal Rumble. Hey, so far there have been no leaks of the planned winner like there has been over the past 2 years! Finally, due to many emails coming from my readers over the past week, I will briefly address the implications that Triple H’s quadriceps injury has had on the WrestleMania 23 card. As per usual, my column will be posted at the same Wednesday time on the same LOP channel. Until then, this is DaveyBoy signing off & asking you to remember that dinner is best served in 3 courses.
DaveyBoy’s Wrestling Menu. 2002-2007
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