Keys to the Game 9.15.07: Unforgiven

Since this is a wrestling column, I’m off the hook trying to explain away the Patriots’ “video taping procedure.” Though I am currently only three beers away from a Chris Crooker “JUST LEAVE BELICHICK ALONE!!!!” video on my MySpace page. In its place, I submit to you my thoughts on some key matches on this year’s Unforgiven card.

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
JOHN CENA vs. RANDY ORTON
Randy Orton has done exactly what he said he would do this past Monday night on RAW: He has made this match personnel. Over the past year, John Cena has defeated all challengers through multiple disadvantages, be they injury, odds, or being outmatched in various categories. John Cena has always been able to focus through, create and execute a game plan, and has emerged victorious every time. Yet, this Sunday will not be about the WWE Championship for John Cena. It will be about retribution and honor. And while very admirable qualities, they have nothing to do with retaining the WWE Title.

Randy Orton on the other hand has affected Cena’s focus in exactly the way he desired. It remains to be seen if the adage of “Be careful what you ask for” will play true for Orton, as he will face an enraged John Cena at Unforgiven. However, if we look at every other strategy employed against Cena in this past year, clearly taking his focus off of the championship may be the only way to finally end this historic run.

WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
MATT HARDY & M.V.P. vs. DEUCE and DOMINO
The make-up of the team of Hardy and Porter seems to resemble a classic odd couple formula, yet MVP’s current attitude towards Hardy may very well be genuine. MVP is a highly motivated by status, and being the only man who is three halves (One half of the tag team champions, half man, and half amazing) is something from which Porter seems to take pleasure. Holding the coveted United States champion along with being a tag team title holder with one of the greats in the history of the division is a great step for the blossoming Porter. I also don’t necessarily believe that Porter is particularly troubled about keeping Hardy at bay from another United States title match. Porter has tremendous confidence in himself that has only grown since capturing the U.S. title from “He Who Shall Not Be Named.” As hot as Matt Hardy can get at times, MVP still possesses the superior in-ring ability to handle most of the SD! roster.

As for Sunday’s title defense, Porter and Hardy will square off with Deuce and Domino; the team they captured the tag straps from last month. While D&D have been most impressive during their time in the WWE, the pure talent and ability of team Hardy/MVP should easily be able to handle this match provided they are able to work together as a unit.

TRIPLE H vs. CARLITO
No DQ for CARLITO Only
The no disqualification stipulation for Carlito does more to level the playing field than give Carlito a true advantage. The cerebral assassin will most assuredly have a strategy intact come Sunday. The one factor that could help to shift the balance over to Carlito’s side would have been to have an enforcer at ringside. However, with Umaga out of action for the next few weeks, Carlito has few significant allies to call upon. This match should be seen simply as a sharpening experience for Triple H, as I anticipate another run at the title for The Game.

WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
CANDICE MICHELLE vs. BETH PHOENIX
For the wrestling novice: They’ll be jiggling.
For the true wrestling aficionado: Phoenix, having earned a title shot by winning the Diva Battle Royal at SummerSlam last month, will receive her first shot at WWE gold. The self titled “Glamazon” appears to have all the tools required to become one of the top female competitors of all time, never mind being able to defeat Candice Michelle this Sunday.
Don’t get me wrong, I am whole heartedly impressed with the work and labors put forth by the current WWE Champion. Nevertheless, Beth Phoenix is what this author has been waiting for since Trish Stratus retired one year ago. Phoenix possesses the power, grace, and charisma to completely dominate the division for years to come. Only Victoria and Micki James can been be considered as true challenges for Phoenix were she to win the title. Unfortunately, the former seems a few years past her prime, while the later seems inconsistent at best since the departure of Stratus.
The bottom line is that while Candice has enjoyed an impressive run as champion, Beth Phoenix appears as a heavy favorite to capture the title.

ECW CHAMPIONSHIP
CM PUNK vs. ELIJA BURKE
If someone can tell me why on god’s green earth anyone save CM Punk’s and Elija Burke’s respective friends and families should even give even a half tug of a dead dog’s tail about this match, please email Keys to the Game. Seriously though, these two have squared off in the past, and I do expect an entertaining contest. I’m still not over the fact that half the ECW roster is being represented in this match…

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
TRIPLE THREAT
THE GREAT KHALI vs. REY MYSTERIO vs. BATISTA
A little known stipulation to this match is that no matter the outcome, Batista will finally have to surrender the negatives of those incriminating photos that keep lending him these championship shots. Expect Khali to have both the Animal and Mysterio’s skulls in his massive paws at some point. Realistically, Khali’s only chance of being defeated is if Batista and Mysterio team up. The lightning quick luchador lacks the strength to truly make any of his aerial attacks affect Khali, while Batista’s resilience is really the only quality of any note that he’s shown in past match ups with the Punjabi Giant.

As a side note, only two men in the WWE can claim significant victories over Khali, and one of them is making his return on this night. With Undertaker back on the roster, this could realistically be Batista’s last shot at Khali for the World Heavyweight title.