Mania Card Is Taking Shape

This year's WrestleMania is really starting to take shape. With this week's WWE TV now done (well, almost, since Smackdown airs tonight but is taped on Tuesdays, and everyone reads the spoilers) the big matches are now locked in place, but there's still room for 2-3 more under/middlecard ones. Right now there are seven, so there's thankfully gonna be a lot of hype and exposure since we're still a solid month away from this year's Granddaddy Of 'Em All. I think this year's WrestleMania is focussing on the "wrestle" part of that name, instead of a bunch of over-the-top storylines and gimmick matches. Sure, there's a mainstream celebrity attached to it in Floyd Mayweather, but that's become almost a required aspect of the biggest show of the year.

Right now, here's the current card for WrestleMania 24:

1. Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship, Randy Orton (C) vs. Triple H vs. John Cena
2. The Title vs The Streak, World Heavyweight Title match, Edge (C) vs. The Undertaker
3. Career Threatening match, Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels
4. Money In The Bank Ladder match, Jeff Hardy vs. Ken Kennedy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho vs. 4 other participants to be decided
5. Raw vs Smackdown match, Umaga (Raw) vs. Batista (Smackdown)
6. Playboy Bunnymania tag team match, Candice Michelle & Maria vs. Beth Phoenix & Melina
7. The Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather

I'm super-pumped for those first 5 matches. The other two I can take or leave. The Playboy stuff is simply there to add a hot chick element to the show, when there really should have been a Women's Title defense. Fortunately, all four ladies involved know how to wrestle and should be able to show off their skills accordingly. As for the Big Show/Mayweather stuff, I'm really not all that into it, even though its a key match in promoting the show due to Mayweather's mainstream celebrity status as a boxing champion. Honestly, I could care less. Its cool that the Big Show is back, but I'm not all that interested in this program. Especially since Mayweather made the mistake of acting too cocky and arrogant and turned the fans on him, since he's supposed to be the babyface. And good God, he is annoying.

My prediction, and wish, of a Flair/Michaels match has come true, and I can't wait to see this one. This has a chance to go down as the greatest story ever told in the ring, and I don't think these two will disappoint. About 99% of the web is certain that Flair's going down in this one, and it'll be his last match, but I'm not entirely convinced. I won't make any predictions right now because its too early to tell. All I can say is this - whatever happens, it should be the main event. Granted, the focus of almost every WrestleMania has been on the World Belt, no matter how big or hyped any of the upper card matches are, but I think this needs to go on last. Just my opinion.

So with those seven matches in place, I could see 2 or 3 more added. And I have an idea of what those will be.

1. Vince McMahon/JBL vs. Finlay/Hornswoggle, OR a singles match between McMahon/Finlay
2. United States Title match, MVP (C) vs. Matt Hardy
3. ECW Title match, Chavo Guerrero (C) vs. CM Punk

Those are just an idea. If all 3 were used, that'd be a total of 10 matches at this year's show. Mania gets a span of 4 hours so I think that's enough time for all of them. Granted, 2 or 3 will have to be shorter than the rest, but that's always been the nature of the beast.

Tomorrow is the 1st of March, and we're then only 4 weeks away from WrestleMania Weekend. And the countdown continues...

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek