The Katz Files – Arnie Katz
Unforgiven: Preview & Predictions
The Kingfish Arnie Katz gets you ready for WWE’s September pay per view event!.
At Unforgiven, WWE will stake everything on a quartet of high-profile, star-studded matches. The Shawn Michaels-Chris Jericho showdown is the main event, but WWE is also hoping for big things from its new match format, the Championship Scramble. There’ll be one for each TV show’s major title and it would be quite a surprise if at least one title doesn’t have a new owner by the time the show ends.
Let’s look at what’s in store – and what might actually happen at the show:
Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
Unsanctioned Match
The Story: Retiring isn’t always a matter of getting your release and packing away your boots in a closet. Ric Flair’s retirement match touched off a whole network of feuds and, now, so has Shawn Michael’s retirement. Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels were already feuding when Chris smacked Rebecca Michaels in the face, but that kicked it up to a higher level.
My Prediction: There’s no reason to have this match if Shawn Michaels isn’t going to get some pretty major revenge on Chris Jericho. Yet I don’t think this will be the end of the feud, so Jericho will have to do something that leads to one more match, possibly in a cage. That suggests that Lance Cade will figure in the match, though perhaps not until HBK has beaten Jericho within an inch of his life. With aid from Cade, Chris Jericho will score the pin, though they may have to carry him out of the arena on a stretcher.
Predicted Grade: A- (if HBK not injured)
B- (if HBK legit injured)
Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes vs. Cryme Tyme
World Tag Title Match
The Story: Cryme Tyme stole the tag team belts. The champions got them back. Now the question is: Can they keep them in the ring against Shad Gaspar and JTG?
My Prediction: The bookers have done a fairly good job of refining the challengers’ act and building them into a legitimate contender for the title. That notwithstanding, I don’t think WWE will want to put the straps on Shad and JTG, despite their tremendous improvement and rising popularity with the fans.
That should lead to a match in which Cryme Tyme works some of their spots and has the clear advantage early in the match, only to have Rhodes and DiBiase crush them and take the win.
Whether or not Randy Orton figures in the storyline is unknown. A little timely interference from ringside might be just the role for him at Unforgiven.
Predicted Grade: B-
Michelle McCool vs. Maryse
Diva Championship Match
The Story: Michelle McCool beat Natalya to win the title, but this time faces a distinctly different challenge in the form of the manipulative vixen with the intriguing accent.
Prediction: I sure hope they deliver my half-pound hamburger with everything and a side order of French fries while this match is underway. It’ll be surprising if there is anything to report beyond the fact that McCool will keep her title in a semi-squash, so I’ll be able to concentrate on the really important stuff – those crispy slices of bacon and slices of cheddar cheese. Wait, that’s not right, is it? Of course not! I’ll be focusing on the burger, too.
This should’ve been a bra and panties match or a Waterbed Pillow Fight. Then they could dispense with the silly idea that Maryse can wrestle.
Predicted Grade: F
Mark Henry vs. Matt Hardy vs. The Miz vs. Finlay vs. Chavo Guerrero
ECW Championship Scramble
The Story: Mark Henry will try to beat the odds by retaining his title against four contenders.
My Prediction: What if they turned Mark Henry? He doesn’t have the personality for it, but it’s a cinch they have to do something. Otherwise, the fans might reject the whole concept of this card. If all three matches end with the same champions, it will look like running in place.
Matt Hardy and Mark Henry will fight each other tooth and nail, but neither will quite get the final pin. That honor will go to Ft Finley, with a small assist from his son. The Miz will suffer the pin.
Predicted Grade: C
Triple H vs. The Brian Kendrick vs. MVP vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin
WWE Championship Scramble
The Story: This is Smackdown’s scramble, with four guys who want gold challenging the man who has it, HHH.
My Prediction: The men to watch in this one are Jeff Hardy and MVP. Neither of them will pin Triple H, but one could well emerge from the scramble with the title after pinning one of the other challengers just before time elapses.
Triple H will pin MVP early in the match, possibly with some help from Hardy. Triple H will kick out of an attempted pin at the bell, only to lose the title when MVP puts Jeff Hardy’s shoulders to the mat for the three count.
Predicted Grade: B+
C.M. Punk vs. JBL vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Kane vs. Batista
World Championship Scramble
The Story: John Cena was slated to be the fifth man in this free-for-all. His injury caused the insertion of Rey Mysterio into the match, much to the displeasure of Kane. For whatever enigmatic reason, the former masked monster wants to destroy the pride of 619.
My Prediction: The Animal will do some pinning, but won’t be winning when time expires. Kane and Mysterio will square off against each other, kicking off the action part of their ridiculous feud. Batista will Spear Leyfield, but Punk will make the cover to steal the match and keep his title.
Grade: B+
Predicted Overall Grade for Unforgiven: B-
That’s it for today. I’ll be back on Monday with another installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising daily wrestling column. I’ll have the recap and analysis of Unforgiven and you’ll be able to laugh at my predictions.
— Arnie Katz
[email protected]
(9/6/08)