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SETTING UP WRESTLEMANIA

Everyone seems to think that the WWF needs to do Rock v. Austin at Wrestlemania. They don't. They set a precedent with Wrestlemania 2000 of having a 4 way for the title. Does anyone really think that Wrestlemania "X-seven" is more important that they have to go back to having a one on one matchup? I will attempt to discern what I think is a solid card for both No Way Out and Wrestlemania, and how I would book the more intriguing matches.

Some feuds are pretty obvious for No Way Out, and don't really need to be tinkered with. Kane and Undertaker v. Rikishi and Haku, for instance, is clearly going to happen. Ivory v. Lita wouldn't be too much of a stretch, nor would Billy Gunn v. Val Venis. The Acolytes seemed to have something brewing with Edge and Christian before the Rumble, certainly that feud can be extended. Test can take on Albert for the European Title. Assuming Eddy Guerrero returns in the next week or two, he can certainly be reinserted as a face which he seemed to do so well in, and take on William Regal in what could be a hell of a match.

The other 3 matches that I would put on the card would be Dudleys v. Hardys, Rock v. Big Show v. Benoit and a Tag Team Main Event, Austin and Jericho v. HHH and Angle. The Hardys deserve another title shot, certainly. Rock, Big Show and Benoit seem to be developing a feud of their own after Monday Night. Those two top card matches should be without explanation.

However, some intricacies could be booked in the Main Event. Austin will undoubtedly challenge Triple H for No Way Out, and Jericho would certianly like to get his hands on Angle again. The faces there could challenge the heels to singles matches, but Peacemaker Vince wants to keep his family (Steph and Trish) together, so he makes it a Tag Team Match.

Having four more weeks of shows to build this PPV, the following can be taken slowly. Three weeks before No Way Out, disension continues between Triple H and Angle over Trish and Stephanie, leading to a challenge by Triple H for the title on Raw the week following (two weeks before No Way Out). Angle says he can't put the title up, but would put it up at No Mercy if Triple H were to pin him. In the main event, which becomes no holds barred, Angles hits the Olympic Slam on Triple H, but Austin runs down, pulls Angle off Triple H, hits the Stunner, and sets Triple H up for the pin.

The following Smackdown, Vince sets up Austin and Jericho v. Rock and Benoit. Jericho attempts to hit Rock with the title belt, misses and hits Austin, allowing Rocky to hit the Rock Bottom and the pin. Austin is not happy afterwards and gives Jericho the Stunner, but Angle runs out and gives him the Olympic Slam.

With a week before No Way Out it appears that neither team will be able to work together at No Way Out. Set up for the main on Raw is Austin v. Undertaker. Rikishi and Haku interfere, but Kane and HHH clear them out, making it appear that Triple H is helping Undertaker defeat Austin. But when Undertaker is setting up for the Last Ride after a good old fashioned Ref Bump, Triple H runs in and Pedigrees him, giving Austin the win. Austin looks peculiarly at him to end the show.

On Smackdown before No Way Out, a matchup of HHH and Angle vs. Rocky and Jericho is set. Towards the end of the match, Rock gets angry with Austin, says something, Austin turns around and Pedigrees him, leading Triple H to the pin. Jericho, angry that Austin cost him the match, puts Austin in the Walls of Jericho while Angle gives Triple H the Olympic Slam.

At No Way out, Kane and Taker win the tag team over Rikishi and Haku, setting them up to face the winner of the Hardys and Dudleys. Ivory defeats Lita after a run in from Steven Richards. Billy Gunn goes over Venis decisively, injuring him, but only having him miss a few shows. Test retains the Euro title, while Eddy Guerrero defeats Regal. Edge and Christian defeat the Acolytes. The Dudleys defeat the Hardys when Lita accidentally costs the Hardys the match. Afterwards, Jeff punks out both Matt and Lita making him an instant heel.

The three way between Rock, Big Show and Benoit is interesting. While the WWF certainly wants to keep Big Show over as a monster, they need to elevate Benoit. However, the longer the match, the less chance the Big Show has. Big Show should get several clean near falls that get broken up by the other participant. As the match progresses, Big Show shows fatigue (intentionally, it shouldn't be too much of a stretch). The end could come with Big Show heaving one last gasp and Chokeslamming Rocky but gets caught by a German Suplex from Benoit (if he can do it) followed by the Crippler Crossface... As Show is about to tap, Rocky saves him, DDTs Benoit, Rock bottoms the rising Show and gets the pin. This would get all 3 over as Big Show was shown as dominant early on, Benoit sets up the pin, and Rocky gets it.

The main can be a very back and forth matchup, also with several believable near falls. Angle escapes from the Stunner with help from Triple H, Jericho gets out of the Pedigree with aid from Austin. After about twenty minutes, Jericho and Triple H are on the outside. Austin goes for the Stunner, Angle blocks it, pushes him into the ropes and hits the Olympic Slam for the clean pin as Jericho is just a second late in breaking it up.

After the match, Triple H comes in and punks out Angle while Austin recovers and loudly exclaims to Jericho how Jericho was covered for but he wasn't. After this argument goes on, Austin delivers a stunner to Jericho while Triple H returns to the ring. The PPV ends with them looking each other down in the ring.

Raw, the next night, is interesting if for no other reason than to see if there is truly an alliance between these two. Triple H comes down and calls Austin out. He says that for the past two years he's tried to get on Austin's side, and since he couldn't be with Austin, he had to eliminate him. Austin understands that, he operates by the same methods. Furthermore, Austin should realise that he can't get back to the top by himself. He's fallen just one rung short a couple times, and with a guy like Triple H on his side, he'll surely get back there.

Austin comes out, and says he understands what Triple H is saying, that for the first time in a long time he's making some sense. As it appears he is about to shake hands with Triple H, Rocky's music starts and he comes down. He heads to the ring, and talks to Austin... He reminds Austin of the trouble they've had in the past, but that it's nothing compared to what Triple H has put them through. He reminds Austin of his motto -DTA, Don't Trust Anybody. He says Triple H can't be trusted, he'll only screw him again. Austin looks dead into Triple H's eyes, and asks over the mic "If you'd like me to whup this punk's ass, just give me a 'hell yeah'". As the crowd says "Hell Yeah" Austin shocks them and begins beating down Rocky with Triple H, Rock getting both the Pedigree and the Stunner. Ultimately, Angle, Edge and Christian run down for the save.

Now, with 9 shows left until Wrestlemania you have a card fairly well laid out. Besides the four way match for the title, the card can feature Jericho v. Billy Gunn for the IC title, to give Gunn one more chance to be a top guy. Matt Hardy v. Jeff Hardy should be the match of the show. The Dudleys vs Undertaker and Kane in a table match would be incredibly interesting. Big Show can take on Rikishi, perhaps in a cage. Rikishi is willing to pull a "Holy Shit" spot every so often, this would be a hell of a time. Benoit and Guerrero can go at it, in another exhilerating match. Dean Malenko should be back by then and can finish his feud with Lita. Other matches could include a tag team elimination match to determine #1 contenders featuring Edge and Christian, Acolytes, Too Cool, Kai en Tai, Lo Down, etc. And if the card needs another match Test can defend his European Title.

Unfortunately, I doubt the WWF or Austin would go along with this. Austin probably doesn't want to turn heel, and undoubtedly wouldn't allow himself to be pinned cleanly by Angle at No Way Out. It's a shame too, because as laid out above, Wrestlemania Xseven could turn out to be one of the most interesting, with intriguing storylines, the potential for incredible matches and perhaps a "Holy Shit" spot or two. It could be worse. It could be Bischoff at the helm.

yason.
freelance

I can only please one person per day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

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