Message-ID: 



Buse wrote:
>>I think Benoit and Angle are long-shots as well...I think this is all 
>>geared towards Goldberg winning...getting an early title shot, winning 
>>the belt from HHH and then using his Wrestlemania match to challenge Lesner.
>>
>>Mark
> 
> 
> I see Benoit winning it, going the distance, in the same way Michaels
> got immediately elevated to a top tier, permanent status. Goldberg
> getting #30 nearly insured that he won't win the Rumble. 

Because it's never happened? All the more reason it will...ESPECIALLY if 
the commentators bring up (at any point) that no one who has gotten 
number 30 can win the Rumble.

Also, 30 makes sense for Goldberg, considering he probably couldn't go 
any further before getting winded.

The key to
> getting the Rumble over, is to have someone win, or nearly win, from
> the first 5 or so.

That has happened in the past...but Benoit could also make it to number 
25 or even the last group of wrestlers left in the ring and be huge (all 
the while teasing that he'll win). He doesn't necessarily have to win to 
go over.

  It makes for a scenario in which the crowd can
> begin to cheer the individual lasting the longest. It, IMO, would be
> the only way to solidify a major push for Benoit. 

While I'd like to see a major push for Benoit as well, I just don't see 
that push starting with the Main Event of Wrestlemania 20.

I can't see Angle
> winning, as it appears the only match in which he could get, in
> return, would be Lesnar again, or HHH. I doubt they'll run back to
> back ME's, as Angle/Lesnar doesn't have the mystique Rock/Austin did,
> and Angle won't be moved off SD.

I agree 100 percent with this.

  Goldberg can still challenge Lesnar,
> if they tie in some sort of face to face confrontation during the
> Rumble card itself.
> 

It's Wrestlemania 20...supposedly the biggest one (since the last one 
and until the next one). You want to put the BIGGEST match you can as 
the headliner....or at least the most intriging. IMO, the best bet would 
be the RAW champion vs the Smackdown champion, as they can say it's been 
building since the brand extension began.

Plus they already started the inner workings of Lesner/Goldberg when 
they had that face to face confrontation a few PPV's ago.

Also, since they've never faced before, it adds some intrigue to the 
Wrestlemania main event.

> Wouldn't be shocked to see Goldberg win, just think it's Benoit's time
> for a legitimate push...and it's being geard that way.
> 

Again, most likely wishful thinking...the WWE really doesn't seem too 
hyped towards pushing Benoit even to the world title, let alone the 
Wrestlemania Main Event. I'm not saying I wouldn't like to see it 
too...I happen to agree with you that Benoit's huge push is LONG overdue 
(in fact, the right moment for it may have even passed) but I don't know 
if now's when they'd do it, especially when there's really no heat 
behind Benoit/Lesner (which is primarily due to them rushing through it 
on Smackdown then moving Benoit to a feud with the FBI) and going into 
Wrestlemania, they need a main event that will excite fans...PLUS bring 
in outside viewers. I don't think they can build Benoit that quick. 
That's what I think, at least.

And I'm also very keen on the idea of Champion vs Champion :)

Mark


--- Internet Rex 2.29