Mayhem Mania - The SUPER CARD!

Mayhem Mania - Round 7

The Road To WrestleMania

Should we all be resigned to the fact that the main event of WrestleMania XXIX will be rematch between The Rock and John Cena for the WWE Championship? It appears that is the endgame being laid out as we approach the Royal Rumble. Where does that leave some of the other top stars? Here's some predictions following the first Raw of 2013.

#FiftyMatches - The Rock Goes Hollywood

July 21, 2002

The Undertaker v. The Rock v. Kurt Angle

WWE Undisputed Championship

Vengeance 2002

"The most awesome triple threat match I've ever seen in my life!" -Jim Ross

On April 19, 2002 the first movie to feature The Rock in a starring role arrived in theaters.

And the people came.

Spare Thoughts: What If Ryback Wins?

Ryback is in the right place at the right time.

Due to the apparent lingering effects of John Cena's recent surgery, Ryback will be in the main event at the upcoming Hell In A Cell pay per view with a shot at winning the WWE Championship.

World Wrestling Entertainment is in quite a predicament. If the match goes on as scheduled, the powers that be in the company will have to choose between Ryback's undefeated streak and CM Punk's 300+ day reign as WWE Champion. If there's a third door, I don't see it right now.

As far as I'm concerned, the big question isn't "Will Ryback Win?" as much as it is "What happens next if Ryback wins?". You'd assume there would be the inevitable rematch with Punk, but what happens beyond that would be even more interesting, and perhaps problematic for WWE.

Royal Rumble is little more than three months away, on January 27, 2013. The Rock is scheduled to compete for the WWE Championship on that night. Ryback as WWE Champion, would be almost immediately on a collision course with The People's Champion.

If Ryback gets through Royal Rumble 2013 as WWE Champion, things get even more interesting. Now, he's in one of the top matches at WrestleMania XXIX, and I think I know who his opponent should be: Brock Lesnar.

This would do little to end the comparison between Ryback and Goldberg, but it seems to be the most logical outcome for Ryback's reign as WWE Champion. Lesnar's expiring contract makes him perfect cannon-fodder for someone who could become a main event performer for years.

One nice thing about a Ryback v. Rock match at Royal Rumble 2013 is the fact that it frees up other headliners to be in the Royal Rumble match itself. The list of competitors would be star-studded: John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Kane, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio. Add in Lesnar and perhaps even The Undertaker and you have the makings of something special. Then, have Lesnar win.

Have him eliminate Cena to polish the one blemish on his record since his return to WWE. I think Lesnar would be as feared as ever, and a worthy opponent for the undefeated Ryback. The top of the WrestleMania XXIX card would look just fine with CM Punk vs. The Rock and John Cena vs. The Undertaker as the other headlining matches.

Like I said, WWE has put itself in a tough spot going into Hell In A Cell. If those in charge do pull the trigger on a championship reign for Ryback, they'd had better understand where that decision could lead.

#FiftyMatches: Hulk Hogan's Road To Redemption

The Rock v. Hollywood Hulk Hogan

WrestleMania X8
March 17, 2002

2002 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Match of the Year

"That was a match for the ages." -Jim Ross

On July 9, 2000, Hulk Hogan was humiliated, disgraced and forced out of World Championship Wrestling.

Less than two years later, he was headlining WrestleMania X8.

#FiftyMatches: The End Of The Invasion

Team WWF (The Rock, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, Kane, Big Show) v. The Alliance ("Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon)

"Winner Takes All"

Survivor Series 2001
November 18, 2001

"The stakes have never been higher in the history of this business." -Jim Ross

On Friday, March 23, 2001, the unthinkable occurred. The World Wrestling Federation purchased World Championship Wrestling. It was the end of a decades-long, and deeply personal, rivalry.

Three days later, on Monday, March 26, 2001, the purchase was revealed to the world. It was perhaps the most mind-blowing moment in the history of professional wrestling.

#FiftyMatches: The Last Night Of The Attitude Era

It seems fitting that the first opportunity to post two matches for the same date is WrestleMania X-7. For me, and so many other fans my age, this is the peak of professional wrestling. The build for this show was incredibly well done. Some of the matches were literally a year or two in the making. The card was stacked with matches everyone wanted to see. It's a great show, perhaps the very best of them all.

Watching WrestleMania X-7 today can be a bit bittersweet. This was the end of the World Wrestling Federation as many had come to know it. I've heard some try to argue otherwise, but how can you? This is the last night of the Attitude Era. When it was over, nothing in professional wrestling was ever the same again.

#FiftyMatches: Reinventing The Iron Man Match

Triple H v. The Rock

WWF Championship

Iron Man Match

Judgement Day 2000
May 21, 2000

"The intimidating hour."

- Jim Ross

Just like The Rock throwing punches with his right hand, the World Wrestling Federation was sticking with what worked during the months following WrestleMania 2000. The company really had no choice. Mick Foley was now retired. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's return to in-ring action following neck surgery was months away. The Undertaker, as it would turn out, was close to returning from his own injury, but he was not back yet.

The WWF responded to this shortage of main event talent by hitching its wagon to its two hottest young stars. This was the third pay per view main event in a row featuring The Rock and Triple H, and in many ways it's the climax of their in-ring rivalry.