Detailed Unforgiven Predictions for September 5th

*** World Heavyweight Championship Scramble

My Prediction: I think this is the perfect opportunity to give Punk that strong win he's needed ever since becoming world champ. I'm going with Punk because it seems to me to be the smartest business decision on the Raw brand. I see JBL getting one pinfall, but that's it - and I think that's the right move because even though I don't expect to see him in the title picture again in the near future, it's important to keep him strong and a pinfall victory over Batista would be just the thing. (especially if it comes right after a Kane chokeslam on Batista, with JBL quickly pushing Kane out of the ring to score the fall) Then I see Punk getting a fall on JBL at about the 15 minute mark. For the finish of the match, I expect to see Kane hitting a big move on Punk, but the pin getting broken up right as the match ends by Mysterio. So we keep Punk as world champ without getting a single loss in the match, we have a possible setup for a Batista/JBL #1 contender match (which Batista would be winning if I were booking), and Kane/Mysterio has even more heat added to it with Mysterio costing Kane the title with seconds left.

*** WWE Championship Scramble

My Prediction: This is an easy way to get the belt off of HHH without hurting him one bit (not that even a clean loss would hurt him, though it may hurt his ego). The way I could see the match playing out is - Jeff Hardy hits the swanton on Kendrick, scores the first pinfall. Immediately after, HHH pedigrees Benjamin to take the second pinfall. Kind of a "I just one-upped you" thing between Hardy and HHH. Then Khali interferes in the match, getting HHH out of the ring and brawling with him at ringside - while HHH is currently the interim champ. Seeing an opportunity, Hardy goes up top for a high-risk move, only to be knocked off by someone (possibly Khali or Singh) resulting in MVP getting the quick and easy pin on Hardy to close the match out as champion. This leads into the continuation of the Khali/HHH feud WITHOUT the title at stake, it sets up a little resentment between HHH and Hardy, and gives us a brand new world champ in MVP. Undertaker making an appearance as MVP celebrates to stake his claim for the next title shot would end the PPV on a high note even with the heel win.

*** ECW Championship Scramble

My Prediction: Henry is the new most dominant champion in WWE. Let's keep him that way. When he actually drops the title, it needs to be in a one-on-one match where it will really mean something to the person winning. I can see this match playing out in one of two ways: 1) absolutely no interim champions are named, resulting in Henry retaining or 2) after anyone scores a victory becoming the current interim champion, Henry immediately takes them out and takes the interim title for the moment. I don't want Henry to lose a fall at all in this match. The finish of the match could again be a situation where Hardy is apparently close to getting a victory over Henry, with Tony Atlas making the last-second save for Henry and then the time limit expires.

*** Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

My Prediction: I can see this playing out like HBK's return at SummerSlam 2002 against HHH. No one is sure how HBK is physically and how that will play into the match, but he will, having the "heart of a champion", pull out the win. I don't see it ending with a solid Sweet Chin Music pinfall, but more a case of HBK winning with a so-called "veteran" move. (similar to how he beat HHH in 2002 - I believe that was actually a backslide or a fisherman's supluex) I do see HBK taking Cade out of the equation early on in the match, delivering SCM to him on the outside of the ring to get a huge pop. After HBK wins, I see Jericho snapping and attacking HBK. This will allow HBK a month off for rehab, and HOPEFULLY will move Jericho into a feud with Punk.

*** Match for the World Tag Team Championship
Shad & JTG vs. Cody Rhodes (c) & Ted DiBiase Jr (c)

My Prediction: Following the Way of Orton, I see the champs getting disqualified in order to retain the titles and potentially turn this into a hot feud. I'd like to see this feud culminate in a traditional Survivor Series match, with each team leading a charge against the other.

*** Match for the Diva's Championship
Maryse vs. Michelle McCool (c)

My Prediction: Eh.. I think it's a safe bet to go for McCool here. The money is in Natalya vs McCool for the title, so why mess with that here?

FANTASY BOOKING PAST UNFORGIVEN

the World Heavyweight Title: Set up Punk/Jericho for No Mercy. At No Mercy, have Punk defeat Jericho due to a surprise HBK appearance (after not appearing on TV at all leading up to the PPV). Jericho snaps the next night on Raw, attacks HBK the second he appears backstage (very logical). Resulting in HBK still remaining off TV for potentially another month. When Punk comes out to the ring to talk about his victory, Jericho continues his rampage, and "injures" Punk to the point that the show ends with no one knowing if Punk will be able to defend his title. The title is forfeited, giving us a world heavyweight title tournament at Survivor Series. That tournament will end with Batista becoming the world champion for Raw. The next night on Raw, Randy Orton makes his return and ends up getting a match with Batista in which Orton regains the world title. Punk makes his return soon after to challenge Orton for the title, and Punk gets the title back. Then the title picture would be Punk, Orton, and Batista. It will conclude with Batista back as champion, leading to Cena's return and the setup for Cena/Batista at WrestleMania for the title.