Bryan Alvarez has these thoughts for those betting the matches:
* Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker. Still no final word on whether this goes on last or whether they put John Cena vs. Batista on last. As noted a few days ago they'd actually discussed Bret Hart and Vince McMahon going on last. The one thing is, they like to end Mania on a happy note. If the plan is not for Cena to win the belt, then Batista retaining means unhappy ending. Whether Shawn wins or loses here, and the betting line seems to be that he'll lose and take at least the summer off and perhaps longer, his retirement or the breaking of Undertaker's streak isn't really a happy ending since both are babyfaces. I expect a lot of shenanigans surrounding Edge vs. Jericho so I doubt in the end that will have a happy ending. So really, the only one that you pretty much have to book a happy ending for is Bret vs. Vince. My gut says at the end of the day they'll put on Taker vs. Shawn last. It's no-DQ, no-countout so they have plenty of smoke and mirrors to make up for more physical limitations than they did last year. I would hate to be in their spot of having to top 2009, but that's where they are and good luck to them.
* Bret vs. Vince in a streetfight. Vince has promised to screw Bret. I've been predicting the return of a Hebner since day one. Maybe not Earl, but I'm pretty sure Dave is available. The hotel is on lockdown, more so than any other year people can remember -- does that have something to do with this? I don't know, but people are speculating. Bret almost certainly wins clean in the middle with a sharpshooter. Will be interesting to see how they work it with neither guy able to take bumps and Bret having to protect his head.
* Cena vs. Batista. One would think Cena wins but I say it's too early. Dave has been an awesome heel champ and hasn't even defended the belt yet. Seems too early, especially if this is the first match of a several-PPV feud. There is still plenty of time before the draft to get the belt off Dave, or just draft him to Raw.
* Edge vs. Jericho. Should be a very good match. I'm predicting a win by Edge followed by Drew McIntyre cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase and stealing the belt same night. That finish has been talked about so much I almost expect them to not do it even if it was the plan, but hopefully they can stop changing things just because geeks on the Internet write about it.
* Money in the Bank with Drew, Christian, Matt Hardy, Kane, Dolph Ziggler, Shelton, MVP, Jack Swagger, Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston. With ten guys in there, could be a cluster****. Also, with ten guys in there Drew can find a way to avoid working until the very end to ensure that he's "fresh" to cash it in later. They could also have Christian win and challenge "brother" Edge at some point before the Money in the Bank PPV. Should be a completely nutty match.
* Orton vs. DiBiase vs. Rhodes. Still trying to figure out who could possibly care.
* HHH vs. Sheamus. Sheamus should win. Doesn't mean he will. He's the young guy on the rise and needs this a hell of a lot more than Hunter does. Win or lose it will be interesting to see how Hunter works the match, whether he makes Sheamus look like a star or just another big goof. You'd think the latter wouldn't happen because they're good friends in real life, but hey, far stranger things have happened.
* Punk vs. Rey where if Rey loses he has to join the straight edge society. No other stips, which would make one thing Rey is losing to further what is already a great program. I expect this to be a sleeper match on the show, especially if they are given a decent amount of time which, with four hours of PPV time, they should be.
* Miz & Show vs. Truth & Morrison for the tag titles. I expect this to get like 6 minutes. Don't know why. It'll be there, it'll be fine and they'll move on. Unless, as talked about, they are given the slot as opener, in which case they'll want them to try to have a very good match and give them time to do it.
* A Top 10 Diva match with Raw vs. Smackdown girls battling it out. This will not go long, but allows ten more people to get Mania payoffs. Despite her recent health issues, Mickie James will be working this match.
-- According to news reports in the last few days, they're going to open the roof for Mania this afternoon. It's sunny and 75 here in Phoenix.
* Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker. Still no final word on whether this goes on last or whether they put John Cena vs. Batista on last. As noted a few days ago they'd actually discussed Bret Hart and Vince McMahon going on last. The one thing is, they like to end Mania on a happy note. If the plan is not for Cena to win the belt, then Batista retaining means unhappy ending. Whether Shawn wins or loses here, and the betting line seems to be that he'll lose and take at least the summer off and perhaps longer, his retirement or the breaking of Undertaker's streak isn't really a happy ending since both are babyfaces. I expect a lot of shenanigans surrounding Edge vs. Jericho so I doubt in the end that will have a happy ending. So really, the only one that you pretty much have to book a happy ending for is Bret vs. Vince. My gut says at the end of the day they'll put on Taker vs. Shawn last. It's no-DQ, no-countout so they have plenty of smoke and mirrors to make up for more physical limitations than they did last year. I would hate to be in their spot of having to top 2009, but that's where they are and good luck to them.
* Bret vs. Vince in a streetfight. Vince has promised to screw Bret. I've been predicting the return of a Hebner since day one. Maybe not Earl, but I'm pretty sure Dave is available. The hotel is on lockdown, more so than any other year people can remember -- does that have something to do with this? I don't know, but people are speculating. Bret almost certainly wins clean in the middle with a sharpshooter. Will be interesting to see how they work it with neither guy able to take bumps and Bret having to protect his head.
* Cena vs. Batista. One would think Cena wins but I say it's too early. Dave has been an awesome heel champ and hasn't even defended the belt yet. Seems too early, especially if this is the first match of a several-PPV feud. There is still plenty of time before the draft to get the belt off Dave, or just draft him to Raw.
* Edge vs. Jericho. Should be a very good match. I'm predicting a win by Edge followed by Drew McIntyre cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase and stealing the belt same night. That finish has been talked about so much I almost expect them to not do it even if it was the plan, but hopefully they can stop changing things just because geeks on the Internet write about it.
* Money in the Bank with Drew, Christian, Matt Hardy, Kane, Dolph Ziggler, Shelton, MVP, Jack Swagger, Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston. With ten guys in there, could be a cluster****. Also, with ten guys in there Drew can find a way to avoid working until the very end to ensure that he's "fresh" to cash it in later. They could also have Christian win and challenge "brother" Edge at some point before the Money in the Bank PPV. Should be a completely nutty match.
* Orton vs. DiBiase vs. Rhodes. Still trying to figure out who could possibly care.
* HHH vs. Sheamus. Sheamus should win. Doesn't mean he will. He's the young guy on the rise and needs this a hell of a lot more than Hunter does. Win or lose it will be interesting to see how Hunter works the match, whether he makes Sheamus look like a star or just another big goof. You'd think the latter wouldn't happen because they're good friends in real life, but hey, far stranger things have happened.
* Punk vs. Rey where if Rey loses he has to join the straight edge society. No other stips, which would make one thing Rey is losing to further what is already a great program. I expect this to be a sleeper match on the show, especially if they are given a decent amount of time which, with four hours of PPV time, they should be.
* Miz & Show vs. Truth & Morrison for the tag titles. I expect this to get like 6 minutes. Don't know why. It'll be there, it'll be fine and they'll move on. Unless, as talked about, they are given the slot as opener, in which case they'll want them to try to have a very good match and give them time to do it.
* A Top 10 Diva match with Raw vs. Smackdown girls battling it out. This will not go long, but allows ten more people to get Mania payoffs. Despite her recent health issues, Mickie James will be working this match.
-- According to news reports in the last few days, they're going to open the roof for Mania this afternoon. It's sunny and 75 here in Phoenix.