Hello everyone, today is a big day for me. First its the NCAA Tournament "Selection Sunday" and second its WrestleMania XX from Madison Square Garden in New York. This post however is going to be exclusively on WrestleMania XX with first my predictions for the big event and then a list of the fifteen best matches from 1985-2003 in WrestleManias.

WrestleMania XX Predictions- Unfortunately I won't be able to watch the big event on PPV, but I'm going to be the DVD when it comes out and I'm going to be very interested in the outcomes of these matches because it will either show the WWE going forward or staying in a rut.

World Heavyweight Championship- Triple H (c) vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Beniot
This is going to be the last match of the night because Chris Benoit won the Royal Rumble and because of that this has to be the last match. As for the outcome, it will rest on two things either Beniot wins the title tonight and goes into Backlash from Edmonton next month as champion or Beniot faces the winner of this match at Backlash to win the title. The way I'd like to see this go down is Chris Beniot pin Triple H to win the title. The next best case would be Shawn Michaels turn fully heel and win the title setting up a Michaels/Beniot match at Backlash. IF Triple H retains the title, I'm going to be extremely pissed off, but WrestleMania is basically going to be were a World Title changes hands (exception for 2000), I'm taking Beniot but if Michaels wins to set up a match at Backlash thats okay too.

WWE Heavyweight Championship- Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Kurt Angle
This is basically the second Main Event of the show. Eddie Guerrero as champion is one of the best moves the WWE has done in the past year, the others were the Kurt Angle/Brock Lesnar matches, and it shows Smackdown! right now is the better show. Eddie has been so successful in his title reign so far, if the WWE were to have a title change it would be stupid because it would make Eddie look week. I suspect the WWE is going to have Eddie and Kurt feud for a good part of the summer, but Eddie keeps the title at WrestleMania hands down.

Interpromotional Match- Goldberg (RAW) vs. Brock Lesnar (Smackdown!) w/Stone Cold as Special Guest Referee
Everyone knew this was going to be Goldberg's last match in the WWE and that Lesnar was an easy shoe-in as the winner, but this last week its come to light Brock may be leaving after WrestleMania and as the weekend began rumors could be heard that Brock leaving was just a hyping for the match. Some may say that Stone Cold being put in the match was a way to divert attention from two guys that are leaving the company. This match is basically the third Main Event, it will be the second to next last match on the card. Brock just bought a plane to travel better and I think this thing with Stone Cold is over. Goldberg however is as a beating coming to him from Stone Cold from the spear he accidently gave Stone Cold so Austin stuns Goldberg allowing Lesnar to win and after that Austin stuns Lesnar for good measure. Then on Smackdown! Lesnar appears.

The Return of the Dead Man- The Undertaker vs. Kane
The Phenom/Deadman gimmick is back for The Undertaker and thank god. I became a huge fan of the Man from the Darkside because he was dark and cyptic. Kane however has been misused since his mask has been taken off. A part of me wanted to see Kane as the World Heavyweight champion, a menacing heel to be beaten at WrestleMania for the title (even if it was Triple-H being the face to do it). The Undertaker wins and keeps his undefeated streak at WrestleMania intact.

Handicap Match- Rock'n'Sock Connection (The Rock & Mick Foley) vs. Evolution (Randy Orton, Batista & Ric Flair)
This should really be Mick Foley taking on Randy Orton with The Rock and someone else in Mick's corner and Batista and Flair in Orton's. This will be a win for The Rock and Mick Foley as the Legends will come down and teach the "Legend-Killer" Randy Orton a thing or two and get some licks on Flair as well. Mick pins Orton to finish the match.

Chris Jerico vs. Christian
Former friends go to war over a woman, a classic wrestling angle with an interesting twist. There are two ways this can go: Jericho beats his former best friend and wins the girl or the girl (Trish Stratus) betrays him and goes for Christian. I like the possiblity of Trish turning heel because it would go nicely with Victoria's face turn, even though I though Lita would have been a better heel choice. But Trish turns on Jericho and helps Christian get the win.

United States Championship- The Big Show (c) vs. John Cena
This is going to be Cena's big break on the big time. Cena gets the win over the 500-pound champion to win the title.

Interpromotional Match (Evening Gown)- Stacy Keibler & Miss Jackie (RAW) vs. Torrie Wilson & Sable (Smackdown!)
The fans win as they see all four women in their bra & panties.

Cruiserweight Open- Chavo Guerrero (c) vs. Nine men
Chavo retains or Rey Misterio or Tajiri wins.

Women's Title- Victoria (c) vs. Molly Holly (if Molly loses her head is shaved)
Victoria became a face in winning the title and with a new heel Trish, Victoria retains the title and Molly has a great angle of wearing ridiculous wigs during matches and hiding her bald head.

World Tag Team Titles- RVD & Booker T (c) vs. La Resistance vs. Jindrak/Cade vs. The Dudleys
This match is to elevate Jindrak & Cade. If this match is pushed up for Heat I'm going to be pissed because RVD should be in WrestleMania itself.

WWE Tag Team Titles- Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty (c) vs. APA vs. WGTT vs. Basham Brothers
APA get the titles in a short title run before quitting the business. A nice goodbye to Ron Simmons, the first African-American to hold a North American World Title (WCW).

Okay those are the predictions for the biggest show of the year. I hope I'm right. Now on to the 15 best matches in WrestleMania history. These 15 are in reality three top 5's corresponding to the three eras WrestleMania has gone through: Rock'n'Wrestling 1985-1991 (I-VII), The Dark Ages/Next Generation 1992-1997 (VIII-XIII), and Attitude 1998-2003 (XIV-XIX).

Rock'n'Wrestling Era 1985-1991 (WrestleMania I-VII)
5. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper & Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff (I)- This match made the list not because it was a classic, but because it was the Main Event that made the original WrestleMania successful and lead to today.
4. The WWF Title Tournament (IV)- Technically not one match, but a series I classify it was one because all the matches together lead to the crowning of a new WWF Champion in Randy Savage.
3. The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (VII)- This was a "Career" match that Savage lost, but ironically Savage came back to the WWF and The Warrior left, go figure. But that besides, in this match both men fought their hearts out with great emotion. It was the best match Savage had put on for sometime as well as The Warrior. Not the biggest for either, it was one of the best in WrestleMania history in my view because it literally stole the show.
2. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant for the WWF Title (III)- The match itself didn't wow that much, but the hype and aura the WWF made around it literally put WrestleMania from that time on the map. The success of WrestleMania owes a lot to this Main Event match.
1. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat for the Intercontinental Title (III)- While Hogan/Andre brought success, this match stole the show and is the greatest match in WrestleMania history. Savage and Steamboat planned this match out in elements in house shows months in advance, a formula used later by another match on the list. This match was the zenith of WWF wrestling in the 1980s.

The Dark Ages/New Generation Era 1992-1997 (WrestleMania VIII-XIII)
5. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (X)- It doesn't get nastier than brother vs. brother. Bret needed a second match at WrestleMania X because of the situation with Lex Luger and Owen stepped up. Owen won the match something he would hold over Bret for sometime, especially in the Main Event Bret would win the WWF Title from Yokozuna. The skills shown in this match were great and will live forever in how wrestling is done.
4. Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage for the WWF Title (VIII)- With Flair you always get a show and 100%, with Savage you get intensity when the game is on. These two men should have been the last match of WrestleMania VIII because the intensity shown and the match itself would have risen the reputation this edition of WrestleMania lives with.
3. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin in a Submission Match (XIII)- This match itself started off the Attitude era as Bret turned heel and Austin officially turned face. These two men were basically at one with one another until Bret left the WWF in November at Survivor Series. This match was grueling and both men gave everything to its cause. If don't like this match, I'm sorry for you.
2. Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels in a Ladder match for the Intercontinental Title (X)- This match like the Savage/Steamboat match of WrestleMania III was planned out for months by both men and the result is one of the greatest matches in WWF history. This ladder match was "the" ladder match in history until recent years because it raised the bar so high.
1. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in a 60-minute Ironman match for the WWF Title (XII)- 60 minutes and then some, this match was a showcase of classic wrestling and showmanship. Bret and Shawn gave everyone that watches this match their entire bodies and hearts to perform. This match is beyond words and anything I say about it only degrades it.

Attitude Era 1998-2003 (WrestleMania XIV-XIX)
5. The Rock vs. Steve Austin for the WWF Title (XVII)- Austin turns heel and joins McMahon after one hell of a great match. WrestleMania XVII was one of the greatest ever and this match just put a second helping of icing on the cake. To me this is just a hair better than their third encounter at XIX (but barely) and just under their first encounter at XV (but barely).
4. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle (XVII)- Like I said above WrestleMania XVII was one of the greatest ever. Four (4) of the first five (5) minutes was mat wrestling like in the very old days. When you have to incredible athletes like Benoit and Angle going at it, it is something to remember.
3. The Rock vs. Steve Austin for the WWF Title (XV)- To me the first encounter was the standard the other two encounters between these two had to live up to. In someways the matches between these two at XVIII & XIX were better, but this was the first and that's why I put it here. It showed what was to come for years and how hard both men would fight.
2. The Dudleys vs. Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz in TLC II for the WWF Tag Team Title (XVII)- Like I've said before twice WrestleMania XVII is one of the greatest ever. For the second WrestleMania in a row these three teams fought all over the ring area destroying everything they touched and bruising their bodies. Just watching this match on tape you'll start to bow in reverance to these three teams.
1. The Dudleys vs. Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz in a Ladder match for the WWF Tag Team Title (XVI)- The first encounter will always be the best, even though a "Ladder" match this was the first TLC match because everything was in it. This match made the only WrestleMania I watched good (besides the Angle/Benoit/Jericho encounter earlier in that show) because of the bogus Main Event. This match stole the show and became the greatest Ladder match in WrestleMania history let alone WWF history.

Well that's my predictions and list. If you want to comment on either or both e-mail me at fan2000@hotmail.com with the subject "WrestleMania."

Hello everyone. Its been a month since I last posted, which I'm not really happy about. The good news is my last post made me look really smart as I called the Super Bowl. But not here to talk about football, I'm here to just give some thoughts on stuff I've been doing/thinking about since my last post.

The first thing I want to write came about yesterday. Being a wrestling fan, I know about the 1994 trial of Vince McMahon on federal steriods charges. Yesterday of course, if you didn't know Martha Stewart was convicted in her federal case. So I do I bring this up? Well in 1999 the day Martha Stewart put her company and name on the stock market, so did the McMahon led WWE (then the WWF). Five years prior, McMahon and the WWF were up against the federal government and five years later Stewart was on trial against the federtal government. But where as McMahon won and the WWF survived, Stewart lost and the future of her company is uncertain. Is there anything more than luck that these two individuals and companies crossed paths when they did? I don't know, I just wanted to share that.

For most of the month when I had free time (not doing college work or doing one of my hobbies) at school or home, I'm writing an alternate history (a.k.a. counterfactual history) "story." Its painstaking work especially the part I'm doing right now. Its fascinating to learn about history and try to rework it. The story is extremely fun and one day I hope it will be come a series of books.

Another thing I've been doing is alternate histories of pro wrestling. I have two timelines going on, one more developed than the other. The more developed one starts technically in the 1950s with the births of two people who are parents to someone that changes pro wrestling history. That person is born in 1976 and is the nephew to two huge wrestler stars. Then time goes on its course unchanged until 1995 when someone buys WCW from Ted Turner and then buys time on TNT to compete against WWF Monday Night Raw. Also in 1995, WWF Champion Diesel turns heel against The British Bulldog setting up a change in pro wrestling history. Some of the big events that follow: Bret Hart leaves the WWF for WCW in 1996 then joins the NWO in their "civil war" with WCW, The British Bulldog and Vader are WWF champions, Steve Austin follows up his 1996 King of the Ring victory by becoming the 1st WWF TV Champion, someone buys ECW in 1997 and starts to making it one of the big three, Owen Hart leaves for WCW in 1997, Brian Pillman doesn't die in 1997, The British Bulldog is "screwed" by Vince McMahon in Montreal at Survivor Series, Sting defeats Hollywood Hogan cleanly at Starrcade 1997, ECW launches its own Monday Night show on TNN in January 1998 and surprises everyone when The British Bulldog shows up on the first broadcast, Shawn Michaels' isn't injuried at the 1998 Royal Rumble, the NWO splits into three factions in winter 1998 leading to its demise and WCW's victory in September 1998, a new wrestler debuts in ECW whose impact on pro wrestling is already evident, Hogan is let go by WCW followed a few months later by Eric Bishchoff, Diamond Dallas Page wins the WCW World Title in October 1998, the WWF Survivor's Series gets a new makeover in the WWF Title tournament, Vader goes to ECW, Goldberg wins defeats his mentor DDP for the WCW World Title at Starrcade 1998, Ric Flair as Commissioner/President of WCW reforms the Four Horsemen with himself as manager, and also WCW mid-cards like Chris Beniot, Booker T, Chris Jericho, and others are pushed in 1997-8 as those who help WCW defeat the NWO. And Jeff Jarrett doesn't leave the WWF in 1996 for WCW. Right now I'm in February 1999 of my timeline, its hard but rewarding. Its really fun to be doing as I finally get to see people who should have been pushed in our timeline.

The second timeline I've been messing around with for a little bit (a week), but have been thinking about since last summer. It has to deal with Sting moving to the WWF in 1991 after NWA/WCW destroyed his credibility with the lame Black Scorpion storyline during his first World Title reign. Sting is so bitter, he pledges not to destroy WCW but the Ted Turner organization that humiliated him. Sting arriving in the WWF will led to events occuring in wrestling happened in our timeline, but very differently.

Well, I have to end this for today or right now. I might write something further later today or tomorrow, if time permits. Thanks for coming by.