This is another one of my out-there predictions for Survivor Series, along with the potential of a screwjob (and don't discount that one completely, they will be in Cena's hometown!).

A lot of people are speculating that they're holding off the Edge return to see if Christian will be jumping to WWE, but I think we could see him return this weekend.  Obviously it would be during the Big Show/Undertaker casket match (a match synonymous with copious amounts of run-ins).

But would it be to get revenge on Undertaker?  The last we saw Edge, he was "sent to hell" by Taker after their Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam.  That's where I think things get interesting.  Yeah, the whole idea of him going through the ring and the flames shooting up is a bit silly (but who doesn't long for the old days of Ultimate Warrior puking after getting cursed by Papa Shango?), but I'm hoping they don't just forget about that detail when he comes back.

So sure, he could come back for revenge on Undertaker.  Maybe Edge didn't like his visit to hell.  But what if his trip to hell has brought Edge over to Undertaker's "dark side"?  If they went with it like that, he could appear during the match on Sunday (and the crowd will go nuts, thinking he's about to cost Undertaker the match) and help Undertaker put Big Show in the casket..  and light it on fire. 

Now, I'm not suggesting that there will be tag team matches with Edge/Taker taking on all-comers, or some type of new stable (Ministry meets The Brood).  But they could turn Edge into someone the fans want to get behind, while still keeping his character as dark and crazy as he was before he left. 

They definitely seem to be planting the seeds of a Stephanie/Shane feud..  and with Stephanie essentially taking on Vince's role, I'm wondering if the feud wil really kick off with Stephanie pulling the screwjob on John Cena this weekend.

I added the question asking what you think a few days ago from the little clues they've been giving about a Stephanie/Shane feud.  Tonight it felt like they built it even more, with Stephanie referencing that Shane was the one who created the Cena/Jericho match.  And the Orton portion of the Q&A opening of the show felt like some type of hint as well. 

I'm personally of the opinion that Jericho should retain (until dropping it to Batista who'd defend it against Cena at WM25), and this is certainly a way to do it without hurting Cena one bit.

Not to mention, a heel Stephanie could actually be just the thing Cena needs to win over more of the crowd. 

Don't forget to get your predictions entered! There are prizes available that you'll see at the top of the page. I also opened up a help section that has an FAQ and a few detailed guides on features of the site. I'll make a regular site blog post about the Survivor Series game soon.. but figured I'd toss it in here.

And if you have any thoughts on a possible screwjob at Survivor Series, drop a comment!

Enter your predictions for No Mercy!

It's still a little early in the game, but these are my predictions as things stand right now.

*** Ladder Match, for the World Heavyweight Championship
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (c)

Choices: Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, or No Contest

My Prediction: Chris Jericho

Personally, I think they should have held off on this match until Survivor Series.  Why not have had this be Punk vs Jericho, and have Orton cost Punk the match?  Then you could have had HBK come out the next night to challenge Jericho at the Survivor Series.  But anyway..  I just don't see them cutting Jericho's reign short.  I'd really like to see HBK get one more run with the gold, because he's earned it more than anyone else in the company with the things he's done over the last 2 WrestleManias..  but maybe it's for another time. 

*** Match for the WWE Championship
Jeff Hardy vs. Triple H (c)

Choices: Jeff Hardy, Triple H, or No Contest
Finishes: Pinfall, Submission, KO / Referee Stoppage, DQ, Count-out, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Triple H, Pinfall, No - no interference

Definitely don't see them giving Jeff the gold anytime soon.  I don't think he'll be in line to get it until at least after WrestleMania 25.  It'll be interesting to see how much offense they let him get in on HHH here, though. 

*** Match for the ECW Championship
Mark Henry vs. Matt Hardy (c)

Choices: Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, or No Contest
Finishes: Pinfall, Submission, KO / Referee Stoppage, DQ, Count-out, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Mark Henry, Pinfall, Yes - interference

I don't understand why they ever took the gold off Henry to begin with.  (not that I'm not happy to see Matt get a world title - but I'd have liked to have seen him get it after Henry ran wild over ECW for a few more months)  I think Henry will get it back with help from Atlas. 

*** Batista vs. JBL

Choices: Batista, JBL, or No Contest
Finishes: Pinfall, Submission, KO / Referee Stoppage, DQ, Count-out, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Batista, Pinfall, Yes - interference

Pretty sure Batista vs Jericho is where they're heading.  JBL vs Jericho was awful when we got it last year, so there's no way they're thinking of doing it again.  Especially with both as heels.  Unless they're thinking about seeing if HBK can get a good match out of JBL!  My "wacky" prediction for No Mercy is that Randy Orton will "inadvertently" cost JBL this match, leading to the new Evolution with Batista and Orton.  Will John Cena be able to overcome the odds and get revenge on Batista with Evolution back together? 

*** Match for the Women's Championship
Candice Michelle vs. Beth Phoenix (c)

Choices: Candice Michelle, Beth Phoenix, or No Contest
Finishes: Pinfall, Submission, KO / Referee Stoppage, DQ, Count-out, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Beth Phoenix, Pinfall, Yes - interference

This is more of a hopeful prediction.  I think Santino may help Beth get the win, so that they can keep Candice strong even in the loss.

*** How many titles will change hands at No Mercy?

Choices:
None
1
2
3
4 or more

My Prediction: 2

Too hard to call this with only the four title matches announced, but 2 seems to be a good number with WWE.

*** Which match will be the final match of the PPV?

Choices:
The WWE Championship Match
The World Heavyweight Championship Match
The ECW Championship Match
A different match

My Prediction: The World Heavyweight Championship Match

Gotta be the ladder match!  I don't think anyone can argue with that.

I'll give my thoughts a little later but just posting a quick entry to let y'all know the results are on their way in now.

Before anyone gets upset that I'm not counting points for Jericho winning if you picked Punk, I explicitly state in the rules that changes to matches invalidate the results for it.  It just wouldn't be fair otherwise.  Hopefully we still have a definitive winner. :)

*** 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.

Unforgiven (2008) Predictions from http://www.fourdown.org/WWE_Unforgiven_2008
http://www.fourdown.org/users/cletus42o

*** World Heavyweight Championship Scramble

Choices: Batista, Kane, JBL, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: CM Punk, No - no interference

*** WWE Championship Scramble

Choices: Brian Kendrick, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Jeff Hardy, Triple H, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: MVP, Yes - interference

*** ECW Championship Scramble

Choices: Chavo Guerrero, Finlay, Matt Hardy, The Miz, Mark Henry, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Mark Henry, Yes - interference

*** Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

Choices: Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, or No Contest
Finishes: Pinfall, Submission, KO / Referee Stoppage, DQ, Count-out, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Shawn Michaels, Pinfall, Yes - interference

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

Choices: Shad & JTG, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase Jr, or No Contest
Finishes: Pinfall, Submission, KO / Referee Stoppage, DQ, Count-out, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Shad & JTG, DQ, No - no interference

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

Choices: Maryse, Michelle McCool, or No Contest
Finishes: Pinfall, Submission, KO / Referee Stoppage, DQ, Count-out, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Michelle McCool, Pinfall, Yes - interference

*** Will any of the following get involved in any of the Scramble matches?

Choices:
Randy Orton
Edge
The Great Khali
Undertaker
Big Show
More than one of the above will get involved
None of the above will get involved

My Prediction: The Great Khali

*** Who will be WWE Champion when Unforgiven goes off the air?

Choices:
The winner of the WWE Championship Scramble
Undertaker
Anyone else

My Prediction: The winner of the WWE Championship Scramble

*** How many times will the interim champion change in the World Heavyweight Championship Scramble?

Choices:
None
1 to 4
5
6 to 10
More than 10

My Prediction: 1 to 4

*** Who will be the person pinned/submitted in the last fall of the World Heavyweight Championship Scramble?

Choices:
Batista
CM Punk
JBL
Rey Mysterio
Kane
No pinfalls or submissions will occur in the match

My Prediction: JBL

*** Who will be the last entrant in the World Heavyweight Championship Scramble?

Choices:
Batista
JBL
Rey Mysterio
Kane
CM Punk

My Prediction: Rey Mysterio

*** How many times will Rey Mysterio become interim champion in the Scramble match?

Choices:
None
1
2
3
4 or more

My Prediction: None

*** How many times will JBL become interim champion in the Scramble match?

Choices:
None
1
2
3
4 or more

My Prediction: 1

*** How many times will CM Punk be pinned/submitted, resulting in a change of the interim champion?

Choices:
Never
Once
Twice
Three or more times

My Prediction: Never

*** How many times will the interim champion change in the WWE Championship Scramble?

Choices:
None
1 to 4
5
6 to 10
More than 10

My Prediction: 1 to 4

*** Who will be the person pinned/submitted in the last fall of the WWE Championship Scramble?

Choices:
Brian Kendrick
Jeff Hardy
MVP
Shelton Benjamin
Triple H
No pinfalls or submissions will occur in the match

My Prediction: Jeff Hardy

*** Who will be the last entrant in the WWE Championship Scramble?

Choices:
Brian Kendrick
Jeff Hardy
MVP
Shelton Benjamin
Triple H

My Prediction: Triple H

*** How many times will Brian Kendrick become interim champion in the Scramble match?

Choices:
None
1
2
3
4 or more

My Prediction: None

*** How many times will Jeff Hardy become interim champion in the Scramble match?

Choices:
None
1
2
3
4 or more

My Prediction: 1

*** How many times will Triple H be pinned/submitted, resulting in a change of the interim champion?

Choices:
Never
Once
Twice
Three or more times

My Prediction: Once

*** How many titles will change hands at Unforgiven?

Choices:
None
1
2
3
4 or more

My Prediction: 1

*** Which match will be the opening match of the PPV?

Choices:
Cryme Time vs DiBiase/Rhodes
The Diva's Championship Match
The ECW Championship Scramble
A different match

My Prediction: The ECW Championship Scramble

*** Which match will be the final match of the PPV?

Choices:
The WWE Championship Scramble
The World Heavyweight Championship Scramble
The ECW Championship Scramble
A different match

My Prediction: The WWE Championship Scramble

It sounds like this injury could be pretty severe..  but I'd like to wish the best to John Cena when he visits the neck specialist this week.  Sometimes as fans we get caught up in what we'd like to see get booked and take it out on the stars that don't have much to do with what happens.  So even though I've not been the most supportive of the John Cena character over the past two years, John Cena the person deserves all the respect in the world for the things he does and the work ethic he's had.  I hope for a speedy recovery and hope he can get back to doing what he loves as soon as possible, and I'll be cheering right along with the females and kids when he makes his return.

Over at WWE's Fan Nation site, the PREDICTIONS@4DOWN.ORG group has broken 9000 members! We should get 10k in no time!

That's a lotta people over there that we can reach now. Any of the leagues here at the site, if you want to send me images/text that you'd want me to post on that blog, I'd be happy to post them! That's a lotta people you can reach, and I don't think most of Fan Nation's users are people that go out and join other wrestling forums - so it's mostly a fresh audience. That goes for anyone who is thinking of starting a league here, too - I'd be happy to relay messages from you over on that group. I'm not going to post blatant advertisements, so try to keep it subtle - unless it's an image. In which case I'll put up whatever you send me as long as it's not obscene. :)

We've been the largest and most active group at Fan Nation for close to 4 months now (almost since its inception). Pretty cool! If only all those people would come play here. :) (though a good many of the influx of users in this season have been from Fan Nation - and thanks to all of y'all for joining up here!)

Get your predictions in at www.fourdown.org/WWE_SummerSlam_2008 and if you've got the highest score, you'll be getting a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate!  (tie-breaker is your WWE ranking followed by your overall ranking)

And now it's time for the Match Made in Heaven..  AND THE MATCH MADE IN HELL!

The two big matches this Sunday are John Cena vs Batista and Edge vs The Undertaker in a Hell in the Cell match.  WWE has done a pretty good job of making each of these matches fairly unpredictable.  It's really a tough call to predict Cena/Batista, and the recent changes in Edge's character have actually convinced a lot of fans that he may be winning the match. 

So let's run down the card and all of the questions that are asked here at the site..

Hell in a Cell Match,
Edge vs. Undertaker

I still think Edge has very little chance to win this match.  This feels like the blow-off match between the two, and with Edge generally getting the upperhand during the feud, I'd say it's time to close it off with the big Undertaker win.  It's also likely going to be the final match on the card, so makes sense to end it with the big pop for Taker.  Here at the site, it's now 90% in favor of Undertaker, with 10% for Edge (and technically about 0.20% for a No Contest).  This has grown a lot in the last two weeks - it started off with barely 4% picking Edge to win.

Prediction: Undertaker by pinfall

John Cena vs. Batista

This one's the tricky one as far as I'm concerned.  Both Cena and Batista are coming off of losses - Cena to JBL and Batista to both Edge and Punk.  I'm still thinking something is going to happen during this match - whether it's a surprise swerve with Randy Orton (perhaps reforming Evolution with Batista) or run-ins by Kane or Jericho - and I think it will be a very entertaining match.  My personal pick is Batista, but I could easily see a no contest OR John Cena winning by DQ.  Here at the site about 50% have picked Cena, with 30% for Batista and 20% for a No Contest.

Prediction: Batista by pinfall, with interference

Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
JBL vs. CM Punk (c) 

Not much to say about this one except it'll be a miracle if it turns out to be an above-average match.  A little scared about how this one could end, since Punk was booked stronger on Raw than JBL was..  But I'm holding out hope that WWE Creative wouldn't make a really big stinker of a move by putting the title on JBL.  (though the decline of the last few weeks in Raw's writing supports a potential JBL win..)  Here, 70% are picking Punk, so let's hope that's the way it goes! 

Prediction: CM Punk by submission, no interference

Match for the WWE Championship
The Great Khali vs. Triple H (c) 

Comedy break!  We'll see if HHH can turn this into a passable match.  I can't imagine he'd be happy with having the worst match on the card - but this could easily be that match!  92% pick HHH.  Can't imagine it will go any other way.

Prediction: HHH by pinfall, with interference

Match for the ECW Championship
Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry (c) 

I don't see them taking the title off Henry so fast.  I'd prefer to see at least a 4-5 month reign where he's finally toppled by an up-and-coming face on the show.  I can see Atlas interfering to help Henry get the win and keep Hardy still looking strong.  It's 61% in favor of Henry right now.

Prediction: Henry by pinfall, with interference

Match for the Intercontinental and Women's Championships
Beth Phoenix & Santino Marella vs. Mickie James (c)  & Kofi Kingston (c) 

I think this will be a fun match.  I'm still a little unclear as to how the finish will determine who gets what belt - if Santino gets the pin on Kofi, does he get the IC title, and Beth gets the women's title?  And then what if Santino pins Mickie, does that mean it's the other way around?  I'd prefer them to keep the belts in the proper divisions, since the women's title gained credibility through Phoenix's reign, and the IC title is on its way to becoming a decent title again.  I hope they don't undo that work!  I'm picking Beth and Santino - because otherwise what's the point of this match exactly?  At the site, it's 60% for Mickie/Kofi.

Prediction: Beth/Santino by pinfall

MVP vs. Jeff Hardy

Feels a little thrown together, and I feel like I've seen this match already on free TV.  But should still be a good match.  I hear some people are thinking we'll get a Shelton run-in - I would have rather had Shelton in this to make it a three-way personally (just to get the US title on the card).  I'm picking MVP because it feels like it's time to move him higher up, and Hardy has another 6 months to go before I see them pushing him hard again.  But 75% think Hardy will pull it off.

Prediction: MVP by pinfall, no interference

Will any of the following get involved physically in the Cena/Batista match?

The choices for this are: Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Kane, anyone else, more than one person, and no one.  I'm going with Chris Jericho, but that's probably because that's what I want to have happen.  50% think no one will get involved, and Orton is leading out of the three named men.

Prediction: Chris Jericho

What will Shawn Michaels' decision be?

60% think he will announce he's not retiring.  30% think he won't give a definitive answer.  10% think he will announce his retirement.  I predict he will announce his retirement - but I definitely think he'll be back.  Let him sell the eye injury for a bit, keep pushing Jericho, and then bring him back for the big return match.

Prediction: He will annnounce his retirement

How many Batista Bombs will be successfully delivered to John Cena during the Cena/Batista match?

This is a bonus points question.  The votes are split pretty evenly between 1 and 2, with very few votes for none, 3, or 4 or more.

Prediction: 1

Who will score the pinfall/submission victory for his/her team in the Winner Takes All match?

The votes are currently split primarily between Beth Phoenix and Kofi Kingston.

Prediction: Beth Phoenix

Who will lose the fall by pinfall/submission in the Winner Takes All match?

And the votes here are split between Santino Marella and Mickie James.

Prediction: Mickie James

Will Mike Adamle attack or be attacked by anyone during the PPV?

Another bonus points question.  I'd think the only logical choice for who would attack him is Kane, and since Kane isn't scheduled for a match on the card, maybe Kane has reason to attack him for not signing a match?  Right now it's 75% saying he won't get attacked.

Prediction: No

How many titles will change hands at SummerSlam?

The majority have picked 2 titles as changing hands.  Seems like a safe bet, it's doubtful any of the world titles will change hands (though Hardy would have the biggest chance of causing a change there), and 2 titles are up for grabs in the tag match. 

Prediction: 2

So don't forget to get your predictions in before Sunday!  You have until the time the PPV begins airing!

You know, I've got this question on the site - "Kane is asking is he alive or dead about whom?" 

I am assuming that Rey Mysterio is the answer now..  but I really can't say that with certainty.  I'd like to score the question with the "none of the above" answer - but I'm just worried that Kane WAS asking that about himself, and Rey is a victim that has nothing to do with that original question.

What do y'all think?  Should I go ahead and score the question and run the rankings with those points distributed?  Or should I give it another week?