I am expecting a solid event and whilst Backlash is certainly what I would consider to be a secondary PPV we have a very solid card and three potentially outstanding matches each with the potential to steal the show. Hopefully I will do a bit better here than with my Wrestlmania predictions which if you remember I called some of the matches very wrong indeed. I am having one of my usual party PPV gatherings and hopefully Virgin Media here in the UK will get it right this time. So without further ado here come our predictions

Chris Predicts: 12 Diva Tag Team Match

This could either be a fantastic display of talented female athletes or turn into a big hair pulling and slapping contest. I am not sure what direction creative will go with this one. Team Beth has 4 very strong female wrestlers whilst Team Mickie only has 2. Nattie Neidhart had a very impressive in ring debut on this weeks Smackdown and I am expecting a strong showing from her here. What I would like to see is this match build some new female rivalries such as the rumoured Beth and Michelle McCool and also perhaps a Mickie and Victoria feud. Either way I don’t think the new women’s champion will be made to look weak so I am going to go with Team Mickie for the clean win although hopefully the lady getting pinned will not be Beth or Nattie.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Team Mickie

Anthony Predicts: 12 Diva Tag Team Match

Don’t really care. Divas in the WWE are pointless. Their hot but they can’t wrestle. My guess is the faces

Anthony’s Predicted Winner: Team Mickie

Chris Predicts: ECW Title Match: Kane (c) vs Chavo Guerrero

This is an easy one to call, there is no way that Kane is losing his title just yet especially not to Chavo. I am yet to be convinced that these two can put on a good match together but could yet be surprised. I am sure Chavo’s bodyguard Bam will get involved at some stage but I am positive than Kane will overcome him and retain his title. I imagine a feud with either Shelton Benjamin or Mark Henry will follow for Kane and I can see Chavo heading back to Smackdown possibly to feud with Finlay or remain on ECW and help put Kofi over.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Kane

Anthony Predicts: ECW Title Match: Kane (c) vs Chavo Guerrero

When I watched Mania and this match came on I was like “WTF”. I guess we should get a proper match this time. I heard on one of the reports that they put on a good match at a house show. I fully expect Kane to retain no matter what happens though. And I really hope this is Chavo’s last chance. This is not that good of a storyline and Bam Neely hasn’t added anything to it yet.

Anthony’s Predicted Winner: Kane

Chris Predicts: Big Show vs The Great Khali

Wow if ever you wanted a match outcome spoiled then this would be it. It is now common knowledge that Khali is taking some time off and returning to India after Backlash so there is no way in hell he is winning this one and I imagine they will do some sort of injury storyline to explain his absence from TV. I do not think this match is going to be half as bad as most people seem to think. It has had some decent build up and Big Show is always enjoyable to watch. I see Big Show winning with his knockout punch and then perhaps moving in to the Heavyweight title picture

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Big Show

Anthony Predicts: Big Show vs The Great Khali

One letter for you folks: ZzzZzzzZzzz. Yup boring. This match will suck so badly. Khali can’t wrestle and Big Show is all right but he’s not that great. A lot of bear hugs and nerve pinches and that kind of stuff can be expected. I guess the only spectacular thing to expect would be a chokeslam on Khali by Show. I think Show will probably win though.

Anthony’s Predicted Winner: The Big Show

Chris Predicts: United States Championship MVP (c) vs Matt Hardy

The hottest feud in WWE has reignited with a bang. Matt has had some superb matches since his return and Smackdown is all the better for having him back. These two work so well in the ring and I am a huge fan of MVP and truly believe he is the future of WWE. This match could easily steal the show if it is given enough time. I think Matt Hardy will win via DQ with MVP getting intentionally disqualified by either walking away or hitting Matt with the belt. There is no way this feud is ending just yet and I can see a ladder match or something similar being set up for Judgement Day.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Matt Hardy via DQ (MVP retains)

Anthony Predicts: United States Championship MVP (c) vs Matt Hardy

I talked about this in my blog a few weeks ago. This rivalry should end with a more unique match type i.e. Iron Man, Two out of three, or even TLC. With that said I think MVP will probably win. Matt Hardy pinned him just a few weeks ago so I can’t see another pin just a few weeks later. His time will come soon though.

Anthony’s Predicted Winner: MVP

Chris Predicts: Batista vs Shawn Michaels (Chris Jericho as Special Referee)

If you have been reading my blogs you will know that this is the match that I cannot wait to see. This will almost certainly be match of the night and I am expecting a stormer from both guys. When Batista faces off against a top wrestler he really turns it up a notch and I cannot remember the last time Shawn Michaels had a bad match. It will be interesting to see how Jericho plays a part in this match and whether or not he will help either guy out. After getting Super Kicked and Batista Bombed a couple of weeks ago Y2J is certainly not going to be a cooperative referee. However since HBK cost Batista certain victory in his match against The Undertaker this week on Smackdown I see Batista picking up the victory here although it could go to a no contest with Jericho attacking both guys and making a full heel turn. Either way this match will be great and should be just the beginning of a great feud.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Batista

Anthony Predicts: Batista vs Shawn Michaels (Chris Jericho as Special Referee)

If you watch these two at Armageddon 2003 it really wasn’t that good. But back then Batista was pure brawler. Now he’s a little more of a technician. Michaels is the best (in my opinion) of all time. But you know what it really doesn’t matter who’s a technician or not. Because after a Sweet Chin Music and a Batista Bomb there is no way that Y2J won’t make this end in No Contest. Sure we might get a few good minutes between the two but Y2J will refuse to make a count and then code break both Batista and Michaels.

Anthony’s Predicted Winner: No contest

Chris Predicts: Fatal Four Way Elimination match for the WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs John Cena vs Triple H vs JBL

This match has had some excellent build up on RAW. Similar to Wrestlemania, no one man has had the advantage and this leads to an intriguing match. The fact that it is now an elimination match has made things even more interesting. I see Orton and JBL teaming up and eliminating Cena and then Orton turning on and eliminating JBL leaving Orton and Triple H who I imagine will go at it for a good five minutes or so before Orton will hit the RKO out of nowhere for the victory and retain his title. Then Orton and Triple H will head into Judgement Day with a do or die opportunity for the WWE championship at stake for Triple H. Orton has been a great champion and I cannot see his reign ending just yet. JBL does not belong in the main event and I see him feuding with Jericho after this match and Cena I imagine will feud with Kennedy whilst he finishes filming 12 rounds.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Randy Orton

Anthony Predicts: Fatal Four Way Elimination match for the WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs John Cena vs Triple H vs JBL

Did you know that the WWE Championship has only changed hands once in a Fatal Four Way? Yep I believe that Bret Hart won it but it was over the top style elimination. This is pinfall. I don’t really see a major title change happening in a Fatal Four Way. I really think Orton should get a nice long run so it can cement him as a legitimate champion. Maybe Summerslam but that’s just me dreaming. Anyway final verdict is Orton retains. You know how we can tell. If this isn’t the main event then Orton will definitely win.

Anthony’s Predicted Winner: Randy Orton

Chris Predicts: World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Undertaker (c) vs Edge

If this match is half as good as the match these two put on at Wrestlemania then we will have one hell of a main event. This has had some great build up on Smackdown with Edge and Vickie pitting the Undertaker against a series of powerful opponents in an attempt to weaken him. However the Undertaker has only just won the title and there is no way he will be losing it just yet. Looks like I will have to wait awhile before celebrating the start of another Rated R Era. I expect a great match with lots of near falls to keep us hooked. Afterwards I think Edge will take a break from the main event scene and feud with CM Punk and I can see Undertaker working a program with The Big Show.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: The Undertaker

Anthony Predicts: World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Undertaker (c) vs Edge

Yet again do you see Edge winning this? I didn’t think so. Undertaker was promised a nice long reign and personally I hope he gets it. WrestleMania match was a five star match and I expect the same here. Ever since last year these two have had a great rivalry yet it’s hard to believe this will only be their second televised one on one match. This’ll be main event just like Mania.

Anthony’s Predicted Winner: The Undertaker

Well that’s all for this edition of the Talent Exchange. Let us know what you think of our picks via the comment board. I will be back on Friday for more Chris Reviews Smackdown and Anthony will return with Guilty as Blogged on Tuesday.

Until next time Matt Hardy has come to save us… but he is going to have to wait a bit longer for that championship gold!

I am expecting another solid outing from WWE here. Every match on the card has great potential and I am so hyped about both of the Elimination Chamber matches. I expect No Way Out to deliver big time just like the Royal Rumble. There is some doubt at this point if Rey Mysterio will be able to wrestle after his injury but for the purpose of this blog we will assume he will be. If he is not cleared expect a filler title match with someone like Kane with Edge retaining.

Hey it’s Aaron, I don’t know how excited I am for the Smackdown! Elimination Chamber, but I do think that the card presented here has PPV of the year potential if all of the matches deliver their promise.

Chavo Guerrero vs CM Punk – ECW Championship:

Chris’ Prediction: I fully expect to see this match open the show and I am not expecting it to be given that much time on the card which is a shame as I believe both these guys are capable of putting on a 5 star match. However I am still expecting a solid bout and I expect to see Chavo walking away as ECW champion albeit via DQ. This will set up a big match at Wrestlemania between Punk and Chavo. I fully expect either Edge or the Edgeheads to get involved here to help Chavo retain his gold.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: CM Punk via DQ (Chavo retains)

Aaron’s Prediction: I think that Chris is probably right in picking this as the match to open the show and I see it being given 10-15 minutes with some high spots to get the crowd into the action early. I’m picking Chavo to win here with Punk eventually claiming the belt back at ‘Mania because there are really no other (face)contenders at this point and I don’t see him continuing the feud with Chavo after he regains the belt, he’d probably move onto Shelton, but I don’t know if they’d have enough time to build it properly in a month. I see either a Punk victory by DQ or a double DQ or double-countout leading to an Extreme Rules match at Wrestlemania.

Aaron’s Predicted Winner: CM Punk via DQ

Ric Flair vs Mr Kennedy – Career Threatening Match:

Chris’ Prediction: This is an easy one to call. There is simply no way that Flair is losing this one and his career will continue to survive up until Wrestlemania. I fully expect to see a clean win for Flair here, possibly getting Kennedy to submit similar to the MVP match last month. I am expecting a solid match though and imagine Kennedy will be giving a lot of focus to Flair’s “injured” leg. Kennedy needs to move up into the main event picture after this match as he has truly developed into a top class heel on RAW and I expect big things from him in the future

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Ric Flair

Aaron’s Prediction: I don’t see there being any way that Flair loses this match, I don’t know if he’ll pick up the win cleanly though as I see the dirtiest player in the game tag coming back out. I am not in love with Kennedy as a main-event player yet and would unless the WWE is set on Michaels-Flair at Wrestlemania I think Kennedy would benefit by becoming obsessed with Flair after the loss and chasing him until a rematch at Wrestlemania. What I would love to see even more is an MVP interference with him facing Flair at ‘Mania with the obsession of taking him out as I believe he would be much more deserving of the rub, but with MVP’s involvement in the Elimination Chamber and the strong rumors of it being Michaels-Flair at Wrestlemania I don’t think this will happen.

Aaron’s Predicted Winner: Ric Flair (by the trunks)

Smackdown Elimination Chamber Match:

Chris’ Prediction: If you have been reading my Smackdown blogs you will know what a good job I think Smackdown creative have done in building this match. Whilst there may not be as many main event stars in this match I am still expecting it to be an awesome spectacle. That being said for me there is only one clear winner here and that is The Undertaker. I fully expect to see Edge facing Undertaker for the title at Wrestlemania and therefore the Deadman will destroy all opposition in this match. I predict that Undertaker and Batista will be the last two standing and they will steal the show with a great battle. Undertaker however will emerge victorious. Expect to see Big Daddy V starting the match and possibly Khali as there is no way either of these two could fit in the Elimination Chamber pods! I am expecting good things from both Finlay and MVP here as well with Finlay eliminating Khali and MVP eliminating Finlay. I really hope we get to see Big V and Khali fight each other as well as I believe their future belongs with facing each other.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: The Undertaker

Aaron’s Prediction: I sure hope you’re wrong about a potential Big Daddy V-Khali feud, I don’t think my eyes could take it. But seriously, two predictions that I feel comfortable in saying they will come true; on is that four men (V, Khali, MVP, and Finlay) have no chance of winning. I’m actually going to take Batista in this match as I don’t see the WWE wanting to end Taker’s winning streak at “Mania, but also can’t see them taking the belt away from Edge so quick. Also I don’t know if they would have time to build a good Batista-centered feud in a month but the Undertaker’s streak at Wrestlemania is already built in for them. I wouldn’t be surprised if Edge or the Edgeheads try to get in to interfere. The other prediction is that V will be one of the starters as there is no way his fat ass is fitting into a pod.

Aaron’s Predicted Winner: Batista (though Chris is probably right in picking Taker)

RAW Elimination Chamber

Chris’ Prediction: There is no doubt in my mind that this match will steal the show. I cannot remember a time where the four top faces (excluding the champion/number 1 contender) all featured in the same match. I expect to see Jericho and JBL starting things off with Jericho eliminating JBL to continue their feud and Jericho in turn being eliminated by Umaga. Triple H and Shawn Michaels may work together at some point to get rid of Umaga but after that I expect to see them go at it against each other and that will be something to see. Whilst Triple H seems to be the undoubted favorite here in most people’s eyes I am going to go with Jeff Hardy for the win. Jeff has been on such a great run despite losing at The Rumble. However after the 5 star match he put on with Shawn Michaels the other night on RAW WWE creative must surely realize that Jeff’s time is now. I still see Triple H and even possibly Orton involved at Wrestlemania in either a triple threat or a fatal four way but one thing that I want to see as a fan is Jeff Hardy headlining and winning the WWE championship at Wrestlemania.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Jeff Hardy

Aaron’s Prediction: I agree with Chris that this will be the match of the night and one of the early favorites for match of the year if it reaches its potential and as much as I would love to see Jeff Hardy win and go onto headline ‘Mania I just can’t do it. JBL and Jericho will fight at ‘Mania so they’re out, Umaga is not headlining, and Jeff will probably be money in the bank (I see him eventually capturing the title at either One Night Stand or Summerslam) and Michaels is rumored to be facing Flair at ‘Mania, though I’d prefer a continued feud with Kennedy (or even better MVP). So with all of the out I would have to go with HHH to advance to the granddaddy of them all. Honestly I see this match playing out 3 ways, Hardy winning (with a Swanton off of a pod) to go with the underdog story or Michaels/HHH winning either with respect (if Orton retains) or turning on one of the other (if Cena captures the title). Also if Cena does win Hardy does not, its that simple.

Aaron’s Predicted Winner: Triple H

Edge vs Rey Mysterio – World Heavyweight Title:

Chris’ Prediction: There is no way in hell that the Rated R Era is coming to an end at No Way Out. I was pleasantly surprised at the match these two put on last time as I was not sure their different styles would work well together. As long as Rey is cleared to compete this should be a good match although if he is carrying an injury it may be a fairly short one. I expect to see some interference from The Edgeheads distracting the referee allowing Edge to pull some sort of dirty move to retain the title. This will then nicely set up the match I have been aching to see for so long Edge vs Undertaker at Wrestlemaina.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Edge

Aaron’s Prediction: I’ll keep this as short as the match will probably be after Mysterio’s injury. There’s no way Edge is not at least going to Mania as champion and I’d be shocked if he didn’t walk out that way, no matter who wins the chamber. I’m sure we’ll see Vicky, the Edgeheads, or even Chavo returning a previous favor helps Edge to victory to keep Mysterio looking strong, that is unless the injury is serious and they have Edge just destroy Mysterio and “be responsible for putting him out of action” to make Edge look even stronger heading into Wrestlemania.

Aaron’s Predicted Winner: Edge

Randy Orton vs John Cena – WWE Championship:

Chris’ Prediction: The match that no one wanted to see so soon will without a doubt be the low point of the evening for me. Its not that Cena and Orton do not work well in the ring together, they really do. My problem with this match is there is no way that Orton will retain his championship. Cena will prevail and end up heading into Wrestlemania as WWE champion again. I really hope WWE creative will do the smart thing and have Orton get DQed to retain setting up a triple threat at Wrestlemania. However Cena love him or hate him is the top guy in WWE and after all the fuss made about his return there is no way I can see him not winning here. The match itself should be a solid one but I for one am dreading Monday’s RAW and the opening words of “The Champ is Here!!!!”

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Cena

Aaron’s Prediction: I’m actually going against Cena in this one and picking Orton to retain, albeit through cheating or outside interference so they can have a big money Cena feud and big money title feud both coming to a head at ‘Mania. I’m actually picking a Kennedy interference under the reason being he’s sick of Orton being praised/blamed for putting Cena out when it was actually him. I know I’m probably wrong but I just got a feeling. Also I it has been too long since there was a face chasing a heel champion into ‘Mania to capture the title and really it is those victories that are the most memorable (and this could have been done if they just held this match back a month) so I see creative actually shocking people and look for Orton to retain with a face coming out of the Chamber to face him. However I do think that this will be a very good match that will likely be given the time that it needs, I just hope that it is this and not the Chamber that ends the show. Also, please let Orton enter second he is the champ and deserves it I am sick of WWE letting the individual with the bigger pop enter second irregardless of whether they are the titleholder or the challenger I know its ticky-tacky but it bothers me every time I see it.

Aaron’s Predicted Winner: Randy Orton

That’s all for this debut edition of The Talent Exchange. I hope you have enjoyed reading and please leave us your predictions and thoughts on the comment board. We will be interested to know what you think will happen at No Way Out.

Chris will be back later with Chris Reviews Smackdown and Aaron will be back on Wednesday with Guilty As Blogged. As always you can contact Chris on a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com or www.myspace.com/agreement_called_forever

And Aaron on

aaronshaw@nesl.edu