Vengeance is back from the dead to the delight of no one! Sure, past Vengeance PPV’s have been stellar (2006 especially), but this year’s edition is looking bleak. Just like “Over the Limit” and “Capitol Punishment”, it feels like filler until the next big show. This one feels even worse since we had “Night of Champions” and “Hell in a Cell” nearly back to back and this year’s “Survivor Series” is already generating buzz due to The Rock’s involvement.
This leaves Vengeance in the dirt and makes it look less important. A few gimmick matches and returns (as well as a double dosage of Dolph Ziggler) will do their best to draw in the buys. I don’t see much happening on that front, though we could get a solid card, quality wise. Here’s hoping and here’s my predictions.
Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship
Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena
There are two reasons I believe the Last Man Standing stipulation was added to this match. The first is to spice the PPV up a bit. Since nearly all PPVs have a gimmick nowadays, Vengeance needed something to stick out. A gimmick match such as this can help. The second reason is for Alberto Del Rio to be able to defeat John Cena without actually pinning him or making him submit.
There is the chance that Cena wins anyway, making my second reasoning null. I highly doubt this will happen, as it seems the only reason Cena won at “Night of Champions” was to eventually set this match up (hence why ADR won the title back at “Hell in a Cell”). It may be chaotic booking, but it does the trick for them.
I was originally thinking they’d tease the Cena vs. Rock match at “Wrestlemania XXVIII” to be for the WWE Championship, with Cena heading into the “Survivor Series” with the gold. Now, I’m thinking they’ll have Del Rio be on the opposing team as the champion, with Rock ribbing Cena for losing the title. It’d make things a bit more interesting and help raise Alberto’s stock.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
World Heavyweight Championship
Mark Henry vs. The Big Show
It’s nice to see they’re letting Mark Henry run with the World Heavyweight Championship. Despite predicting him victorious, I still worried that they’d have Randy Orton win it back at “Hell in a Cell”, giving the World’s Strongest Man a quick ‘thank you’ reign. That doesn’t seem to be the case.
It actually looks like they’re giving Henry a decent title run, possibly up until Wrestlemania. In the meantime, Mark will fend off giants such as The Big Show and a returning Kane, taking them back out of action (or at least down the card) until somebody usurps him (hopefully Daniel Bryan).
I will say that this match is more deserving of the Last Man Standing gimmick. These two have a more bitter rivalry than Del Rio and Cena and could actually benefit from the stipulation. It does look like they might clash again at “TLC” in a Tables match, so maybe they’ll have Henry win, but Big Show put him through the announce table afterward.
Winner: Mark Henry
What’s Up? An Unlikely Alliance
The Awesome Truth (Miz & R-Truth) vs. Kings of Personality (CM Punk & Triple H)
I’m one of the few people who has no problem with CM Punk and Triple H teaming up to face The Awesome Truth. Outside of Punk staying with Triple H when the majority of the locker room went on strike, the two haven’t been friendly with one another. There is still tension between the two, more so now since Hunter left Punk high and dry on Raw last Monday. Not only that, but John Laurinaitis is forcing them to team up. Yes, I’m aware HHH saved Punk, but he most likely did it out of selfishness. As for the handshake, I take that as a simple “thank you” and nothing more.
The only reason the two will cohesively work together is to take down a common enemy. Miz & R-Truth are part of the reason Triple H got fired and they’ve been thorns in Punk’s side for the past few weeks.
They made both men’s lives a living hell at “Hell in a Cell” (no pun intended), ferociously beating down Punk and forcing Hunter to snap and eventually lose his job.
That’s not to say Punk and HHH will work well together. The tension will still be there and they’re not used to teaming together. Sure, Miz and R-Truth are still relatively new to each other, buy they’ve got more of a connection than the Kings of Personality. They can use this to their advantage and pick up the victory.
Even so, I see Punk and HHH picking up the victory. Both men need their retribution and Punk needs a PPV victory to help raise his stock again (though him losing won’t harm him much). If the two are supposed to go back to being enemies, one of the two can stick the other after the match.
Winners: Kings of Personality (CM Punk & Triple H)
Psychotic vs. Demented
Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes
Though it’s encouraging to see Cody Rhodes moving up in the cards, he should either drop the Intercontinental Title before clashing with Orton or at least put the gold on the line. I know that’s technically beneath Randy now, but it’d make more sense. Hell, a lot of former World champions in WCW would clash for the United States title after having been on top. Ricky Steamboat, Bret Hart and Sting, to name a few.
Other than that little nuisance, I’m really happy to see this match on the card. Despite having taken place for free on numerous Raw and Smackdown’s in the past two months, this still feels fresh and worthy of being on PPV. These two were bound to feud eventually. Kick-starting it with Orton demolishing Cody with a ring bell was a intriguing decision.
It’s hard to predict who wins here. It’s clear these two will clash for awhile longer, most likely forming their own teams to face one another at the “Survivor Series”. Who goes in with the edge is hard to determine. I’m thinking it will be Orton, but only after the referee catches Rhodes using his protective mask as a weapon.
Winner: Randy Orton via DQ
WWE Tag Team Championship
Air Boom (Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne) vs. The All-American Perfectionists (Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger)
In the first of two Dolph Ziggler matches, he hopes to add another title around his waist with his new partner in crime, Jack Swagger. The two former World champions (which is still hard to believe) have lost before to Air Boom, but hope to have their number here. If not, they’ll face the wrath of Vickie Guerrero.
Air Boom is on fire right now and I don’t see their reign coming to an end. I see this match being a way of keeping them relevant and hopefully rebuilding the tag team division. Giving them more credibility with a victory over two World champions (again) will help their cause.
Not only that, but I don’t see this Dolph Ziggler/Jack Swagger tandem lasting long. They’ve been at each other’s necks since they started teaming together, with a possible feud boiling between the two. That will most likely be for Vickie’s managerial services. Let’s just hope she’s not hanging from a pole.
Winners: Air Boom
United States Championship:
Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder
In Dolph Ziggler’s second match of the evening, he’ll attempt to keep his United States Championship when he does battle with Long Island Iced Z, Zack Ryder. I was afraid that Mason Ryan would be getting the title match, what with his latest annihilation of the Perfectionist. It looked as if the Internet Champion was going to be shafted.
Thankfully, he gets his title match. And it looks as if he’ll be getting the gold. As mentioned earlier, it seems as if Swagger and Ziggler will be feuding shortly. Granted, the two could feud over the United States Championship. That would leave Ryder and even Mason Ryan in the dust, though.
It’s looking to be a bad night for Dolph Ziggler. I don’t see him walking out with any titles. Out of the two, he stands a better chance here. Still, Ryder’s popularity is astronomical right now and should be capitalized on. Sorry Ziggler!
Winner: Zack Ryder
Divas Championship
Beth Phoenix vs. Eve Torres
I kind of feel bad for Kelly Kelly. She beats Beth Phoenix on numerous occasions, yet the Glamazon continually gets title matches. Kelly loses her belt at “Hell in a Cell” and doesn’t even get her rematch. Instead, her “friend” sneaks in and takes her spot.
Not that I’m complaining, per se. I’ve had enough Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix matches and am welcoming this new match. It’s most likely only filler until K2 and Beth clash again, most likely at the “Survivor Series”. I expect this to be a quick match.
Eve has about as much of a chance of winning this match as Paris Hilton does of winning an Oscar. Of course, she had zero chance of winning it at the Royal Rumble earlier this year, so I can’t count her out. I’m going to anyway, as I see Beth easily defending her title.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
Remember Me?
Sheamus vs. Christian
It looks like Christian has a new addiction to keep him busy, now that the World title is out of his reach. Earlier this year, he was obsessed with beating Randy Orton. Now, Sheamus seems to have his number. How many times will it take for Captain Charisma to beat The Celtic Warrior?
I’m going to say he’ll do the trick at Vengeance. The reason I believe this rematch is taking place (outside of getting the two men on the card) is to give Christian a win back. This way, he can still remain a threat and possibly use this to get back into the title picture later on.
Being the heel, I don’t see the victory coming cleanly. They’re still in the process of building Sheamus up as a top face. A clean loss to Christian won’t prevent that from happening, but may stall him in some eyes. If, say, he loses after getting hit with a chair and a Killswitch, he’ll look nearly unstoppable.
Some may complain this will make Christian look weak. I disagree. Not only is he a heel, but his character is a sniveling, conniving twat. One who can hold his own in the ring, but lets his temper get the best of him. After all, he won his second World title by getting kicked in the balls. A victory via chicanery won’t hurt him one bit.
Winner: Christian