World Heavyweight Championship
Triple H vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels
Josh Fox
Prediction: Triple H
Thoughts: I want to see Benoit win, but a win next month at Backlash when they are in Benoit's hometown might have more meaning.
Martin Hawrysko
Prediction: Triple H
Thoughts: With this being the so called, biggest show in WWE history, I can't see Triple H wanting to come out a loser in this show. I would love nothing more to see Chris Beniot as the champion, though. I do fear that with Brock Lesnar, it may have impact on this match, despite the fact that Lesnar is on a different brand. With Lesnar leaving, I fear McMahon will want the World Title to stay on an established character, and I still believe McMahon is not confident in Beniot. As for Michaels, he had his tribute paid to him and was champion for a short time in 2002. I'm not sold on Michaels being a fulltime champion.
Shawn Stinson
Prediction: HHH
Thoughts: I'm not a huge fan of triple threat matches. For the most part, it becomes a big cluster. However, if the house show match thoughts are accurate, then this should be pretty good. I'm not the biggest fan of HHH, nor am I happy with the way Chris Benoit has been booked, but in this showcase I'm willing to put everything aside. Shawn Michaels will be the key to this. He has been put in the middle by the writers. If Michaels can continue to have good matches, then by all means this will be a good match. Not a classic, but well-worth the price of admission.
Mike Valente
Prediction:
Thoughts: Chris Benoit deserves the chance to run with the championship. He has done more than earned a chance. He is one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the business and hopefully political happenings backstage will not cause this opportunity to reduce to ruble.
Dastardly Dave
Prediction: Unfortunately....still Worlds Heavyweight Champion...HHH
Thoughts: I would love to see H.B.K win the title. Why? Because HHH has had it long enough and Benoit vs H.B.K at Backlash would be a great pay per view match. The hatred that these two would help fan the flames. Think about it...H.B.K steps up, bullies his way into the main event for the title thus screwing Benoit out of the world title. Benoit wants revenge and takes it at Backlash in Canada. Thats right. Shawn Michaels, one of the most hated men in all of Canada puts over a Canadian! What a way of telling the Canadian fans to kiss his ass and forget the whole Montreal incident. But knowing our luck, HHH will walk out with the belt. Why cant he get injured and not make an appearance at WMXX therefore having to drop the belt? Hey...I can dream can't I?Who Do I Want To See Win : H.B.K
Lou Corsaro
Prediction: Shawn Michaels
Thoughts: I have struggled with this one mightily and have deleted and re-typed each wrestler’s name. Here’s my semi-final take: Michaels wants this to be the final stand for him and Triple H. Benoit views it as his rightfully earned shot at the title. So how can we resolve it all? Michaels pins Triple H to win the title, and Benoit says he deserves the first shot at the title since he wasn’t even pinned and it was supposed to be HIS match at WMXX. Backlash gives us Benoit vs. Michaels, with Benoit taking it in a long, impressive match. I think.
Joe Balrog
Prediction: Chris Benoit
Thoughts: I write Chris Benoit as the winner because I really want my Pre-Prediction comments to be true and I really hope that Vince McMahon can grow a set and see that business boomed and "hype" came back into the company after Benoit won the Rumble. The people, the fans, the wrestlers - they've been waiting for Benoit to take control of a brand. And just as much as we've all been waiting for that to happen, we've been DYING to have HHH release his deathgrip on RAW. HBK is a nice touch in this match because now Benoit can beat HBK and HHH's ego can be assuaged. In a perfect world, Vince McMahon would be in charge of WWE and would be making the decisions. Vince McMahon would be the man that he supposedly "can" be - you know that guy. The one that screwed Bret Hart IN Canada! If Vince takes control of his company and if he really means what I heard him say in my Pre-Prediction comments, then not only will Benoit go over at the PPV, but he'll hold the title for a while and HHH will NOT.
Return to the Match Listing
Roundtable Participants
Shawn Stinson, writer of The Focal Point
Dastardly Dave, writer of Dastardly Doings
Joe Balrog, writer of RAW Wishes & Balrog Babblings
Josh Fox, writer of The Inner View
Martin Hawrysko, writer of The Pulse
Lou Corsaro, writer of Captain Lou's View
Mike Valente, Owner of AfterBurnWrestling.com
