Hey everyone and welcome to this special predictions blog presented to you by: Smackdown reviewer Chris Jacks and ECW reviewer Anthony O’Reilly. I started The Talent Exchange with Aaron Shaw for The Royal Rumble and now myself and Anthony will combine our skills to bring you our monthly WWE PPV Predictions.

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!

Tags: Backlash, Edge, Randy Orton, The Undertaker, United States Championship, WWE Championship