My preferred headlining matches.
UNDERTAKER vs. JOHN CENA (WWE Championship)
RANDY ORTON vs. BATISTA - If Batista Loses, His Career Is Over
God no! i could not think of two worse matches on a Wrestlemania. Orton vs Batista is pretty close to worst case scenario amongst the top guys in WWE.
Yeah, but it will be probably be Batista's last match, unless he decides to end his career at next years "The Bash", so booking wise, who better to end his career?
...But seriously, what's so bad about Taker vs. Cena? The biggest two gimmicks in wrestling going head to head, Taker vs. Batista wasn't bad and Cena is a better worker than Batista.
Its not aweful its just nothing new. Taker has wrestled for the title quite alot at Mania i.e. Streak vs Title. Plus you have to work out the Brand problem.
I just think WWE has been stale for years now and the last Mania main event i enjoyed was HBK vs Cena 3 years ago. Go and look at the last 8 Mania title matches (not just main events) and just look how many times HHH, HBK, Cena, Batista & Taker have been competeing for the titles. Personally i'm ready for a change, or take a risk on a couple of young guys. If Batista, HBK, HHH, Cena & Taker are kept away from the title matches but were still on the card then you have at least 4 matches at Mania with a great build up.
Cena & Batista vs D-X (or any match involving the 4 guys) is perfect coz i believe the atmosphere for the match would be great. the buildup would be great and it would give a chance for Fresh Blood in the title matches.
Orton vs Rhodes vs Dibiase is a great idea IMO. Just have Legacy continue to disintergrate and you can build Dibiase as the Face, Orton as the Heel and Rhodes as the tweener not knowing whose side to take. Rhodes ends up turning on Dibiase and eliminating him from the Rumble (but Morrison wins it) and helping Orton keep his title. Next night on RAW Orton and Rhodes come out and say they don't need Dibiase, when he runs down and as Orton flees Dibiase kicks Rhodes ass. He grabs a mic and challenges Orton to get into the ring and save Rhodes from him...... Orton leaves. Over the next few weeks Rhodes trys to get an Apology/acceptance from Orton but can't and eventully a match between Dibiase and Rhodes is booked for No Way Out for No1 contender.... Orton runs down and No-Contests the Match. Later that night Orton defends his title after Rhodes interferes to help Orton. After the Match Rhodes asks Orton to make him No1 contender for what he has done and Orton RKO's Rhodes.
Over the next few weeks we hear from Dusty Rhodes & Million Dollar Man as well as there sons. Dibiase can play up the fact that his dad never won the title and only had the one shot.... he didn't take his.... but i'll take mine kinda thing. Rhodes says that his Dad deserved to be champion and he'll show what the Rhodes name means. Another No1 Contenders match is set between Rhodes and Dibiase but the match ends in double countout and its decided that at Mania its a Triple Threat for the title. On the build up to Mania Orton attacks Million Dollar Man & Dusty Rhodes and Ted and Cody continue to try and show they deserve it more including Rhodes costing Dibiase matches and Visa Versa as well as trying to get their hands on Orton.
To me that sort of build up seems brilliant TV. I'm not saying that it has to be the main event but make it for the title and Let Dibiase take it. The next draft you could move them about maybe Rhodes to ECW (for a title run), and Dibiase to SD as champion and Orton left wounded on RAW.