Cena/Rocky + Taker/HHH

Hey all,

Long time reader, second time poster...

I'll try to keep this short, I was thinking the other day about this year's Wrestlemania. Specifically the Cena/Rocky match and the (most likely) Taker/HHH match.

As it stands now, there is no point for Hunter and Taker to work again at Wrestlemania. It'll be the third time they've gone against each other and you could argue there's more deserving up and comers to get the rub from Taker at WM (Ziggler, Barrett etc).

Also, everything so far is gearing towards a Cena heel turn with the manicial Kane tormenting his friend Ryder and Ryder's girlfriend Maria, trying to get Cena to 'embrace the hate'.

I think it's a safe bet that Cena and Rock will main event WM, with Taker and HHH most likely being on just before.

Now, what if, after a brutal match, Cena comes down and somehow screws Taker, costing him the win and his streak. This would ensure that he was going into the ME with Rocky as a fully fledged heel.

Now, unless the WWE have done another amazing side step (Edge and Christian), Taker and Kane are supposed to be brothers. What better way for Kane to convince Cena to 'embrace the hate' by costing his own brother (and long time nemesis) his streak?

Now firstly I'd like to say that I honestly cannot see this happening as, despite HHH's well known backstage antics, HHH does know what's right for business and therefore, he would realise that Taker should keep his streak. Also, it may be a bit late in the day for the heel turn to actually take affect.

However, it would be an interesting turn of events.

What does everyone else think? Feel free to rip this idea to shreds if you wish

I think HHH and Taker have plenty of reason to go again, Taker was on the shelf for 10 months after the beating he took and wants revenge.

As for the idea itself, the Cena/Rock match would probably be a damp squib after that.

For it to work Rock/Cena would have to be 2nd last on the card and Cena would have to cost taker via DQ by attacking a heavily beaten HHH.

Cena would also probably have to lose to the rock and his reasoning could be to destroy the wwe holds dear after all he put in yet never being accepted.

I would be much more enthusiastic for the idea of Taker-HHH if they had HHH working as a heel. There would be grounds for it, with HHH disrespecting Taker as an 'old man that's past it'. They seemed to be hinting towards it on Raw in the opening segment with HHH's promo, hopefully they can build on that and make HHH a fully-fledged heel. I don't want to see another 'respect' feud over the streak again, we've had that three years in a row now.

The problem is that Takers body is nowhere near the level it needs to be in order to put on a match to his own high standards now.

Look at the 2 years before the last Wrestlemania, they had HBK face him, why? Not only does the match draw with arguably WWE/F's best ever wrestlers but Shawn is considered the best in ring performer of all time, he could carry Taker through the match. Their second match you could clearly see that Shawn was doing more of the offensive work when compared to the year before. I never noticed until I watched them both back to back but you can see that Taker is struggling during it.

Then look at last year against Trips, he is doing even less work with HHH pretty much dominating. Taker is noticeably doing a hell of a lot less with the match just being a spot fest where both could lie on the mat for awhile before getting back at each other. It was much slower, a lot more controlled and more age friendly to both competitors.

So with this what can the WWE really do? There are only a few wrestlers who you could genuinely believe can and would be able to dominate most of the match mainly Cena, Big Show, Mark Henry, Orton, HHH and Kane, Kahli and possibly Barrett. Now instantly you have to rub of Cena's name as he is already facing The Rock, Big Show vs Taker would just be a terrible match and a horrible way for Taker to go out (if this is his last match), Henry is injured plus the same as Show, Orton will most likely be lined up to be involved in the WHC match, Kahli is just a no, Kane is pretty much close to the same place Taker is just minus the injuries and Barrett simply is nowhere near that level after the WWE completely destroyed any momentum he got with Nexus and the Barrett Barrage.

So who is left who could draw, who is experienced enough not to botch any moves that could injure Taker, who can still go and who has the look and main event status for the wrestling public to actually believe could win who isn't already busy?

Simple answer is none except HHH, I don't like it but we are going to have to put up with it I'm afraid.

So who is left who could draw, who is experienced enough not to botch any moves that could injure Taker, who can still go and who has the look and main event status for the wrestling public to actually believe could win who isn't already busy?

CM Punk?

Or failing that, Chris Jericho? I know gaffer will probably come back and say he isn't main event status, but I think a lot of fans believe he is.

HHH/Taker III unfortunately makes the best sense at the moment. Now whether that is because WWE have booked themselves into a corner, or down a dead end, I'm not sure; but the way it finished last year does warrent a rematch. HHH despite losing came out the stronger man, with Taker looking extremely frail. Now again whether that was intended or not (there was talk that the tap out was not the original ending) it has set up perfectly for a rematch this year, and I think Taker chasing HHH is the best way to go about it.

Last year they introduced the idea that Taker was the 'last outlaw' whose very existence is dependent on the Streak - HHH claiming that when the streak ends - Taker's career ends. The streak was very nearly ended last year with Taker having to be carted out of the arena. So it is natural and understandable that the 'Phenom' feels his reputation has been tarnished and doesn't want his last match to end with him being stretchered away.

Now from HHH's point of view - he feels a sense of moral victory over Taker because he was able to walk out of the arena. He may have technically lost the match but he was the last man standing. Besides in Taker's absence he's been promoted to COO and taken on a more executive role within the WWE. Therefore to fight Taker again would seem like a backwards step in his career, notwithstanding his promo on Raw about not wanting to absolutely destroy Taker who he has so much respect (and now pity) for.

I like the way this match is being booked, however, the match itself has to be able to live up to expectations and that will be incredibly hard to do. I personally marked out big time (as a HHH mark) when HHH tombstoned Taker last year and again when he went for the sledgehammer. This year's match will have to have an even bigger and better climax - something totally shocking. A straight forward Taker win would be dull and predictable and would feel like the match was just a filler to make up the 20-0 record. A HHH victory would end the streak and thus effectively end Taker's career so it would have to be extraordinarily special. WWE really can't make any mistakes with this match for the Streak to have any credibility left.

I actually like your idea, but like you say I can't see wwe ever doing something like that. I still have my doubts wether they will ever turn Cena heel. We all want it to happen, but the wwe are more concerned about shirt sales.

If They were to do things that way, then HHH would have to be heel. I've always felt he is more of a natural heel than a face, and as has been said above, it wouldn't be difficult to turn him heel. Just go down the Undertaker's a finished old man road, and HHH could easily get the fans against him. If you don't have HHH as a heel, you would find it hard to believe that he would accept assistance from Cena to beat the Undertaker, a guy he supposedly has alot of respect for.

Even if Cena isn't a heel by Mania, he is going to get booed regardless, it might well be as bad as the reaction in Chicago at MITB. The majority of the fans would be cheering for The Rock in any area of America, so the fact it's in Rocks home town will make the reaction even worse for Cena.

As far as the streak match goes, the wwe didnt realy have alot of choice going with HHH again, they could have maybe gone with Kane Orton or Y2J, but I wouldn't be anymore excited if he was facing any of those, and I've never realy been sold on Jericho as a main eventer, he's been a mid carder throughout most of his career, that's why he's held the IC title more than anyone else. The wwe don't realy have any guys credible enough to go for the streak, that's why they keep having rematches.

Had Cena not been occupied by the Rock, the wwe might have had him go for the streak, but if Undertaker is so old that he needs carrying abit through matches, then Cena is the last guy you want in the ring with him, as he needs carrying himself, due to a lack of in ring ability, rather than fitness.

Crimey wrote:

So who is left who could draw, who is experienced enough not to botch any moves that could injure Taker, who can still go and who has the look and main event status for the wrestling public to actually believe could win who isn't already busy?

CM Punk?

Or failing that, Chris Jericho? I know gaffer will probably come back and say he isn't main event status, but I think a lot of fans believe he is.

Punk and Jericho lack the size for me to genuinely believe they could do what no other man had done, Shawn got away with his lack of size because he is genuinely believable and his career was pretty much built around him beating the odds. Jericho has jobbed to far too many people for me to ever take him seriously as a main event guy, he has the ability on the stick and could do the majority of the in ring work but he just isn't as big a draw as many people believe and as I said before I couldn't buy into him that he could end the streak.

Punk has only just reached the main event scene properly, this time last year he was jobbing endlessly at every ppv and that is still too fresh in the memory. Like Jericho he is a great talker and I believe he could go on to leave a big lasting impression on the WWE however again he doesn't have the size or history of overcoming the odds for me to genuinely believe he could do what the likes of HBK, HHH, Kane, Orton etc. all failed to do.

Also those two are tied up with each other so yet again HHH is the only option for them and it is all their fault for not building any main event talent for a long time and burying everyone in favour of Cena.

Stone Cold has said that if he were to have one more match, Jericho is one of the only guys he trusts enough not to botch and injure him.

Dont see why Undertaker would feel different.

Samo if you read what I said you will notice I actually praised his in ring work and said the only reason I would not have him is because he simply would not be believable to win. After guys like HBK, HHH, Orton and Kane etc. have all failed why would I think Jericho would win? Also he is busy fighting Punk so unless you can actually argue against my point that HHH is the only option for this year I don't get your point at all.

Crimey wrote:

So who is left who could draw, who is experienced enough not to botch any moves that could injure Taker, who can still go and who has the look and main event status for the wrestling public to actually believe could win who isn't already busy?

CM Punk?

Or failing that, Chris Jericho? I know gaffer will probably come back and say he isn't main event status, but I think a lot of fans believe he is.

I think Jericho would be a good opponent for Taker, I just don't think he has the real A list name value that you need when trying to give your 'could be' main player a big Main Event win that would signal the dawn of his time

Stonee21 wrote:Samo if you read what I said you will notice I actually praised his in ring work and said the only reason I would not have him is because he simply would not be believable to win. After guys like HBK, HHH, Orton and Kane etc. have all failed why would I think Jericho would win? Also he is busy fighting Punk so unless you can actually argue against my point that HHH is the only option for this year I don't get your point at all.

All I was saying that if Stone Cold trusts Jericho enough I dont see why Undertaker couldnt, if hes in as bad shape as to be believed.