So it is almost upon us. With arguably the most STACKED card in wrestling history, Wrestlemania 34 in New Orleans looks like it could be an absolutely incredible show. So many different stories in all of the matches, matches we seem to have built to over, some matches we don’t know who is going to be in them yet, and the amazing fact that the (potential) biggest match of them all isn’t officially happening as of this moment!!!
Now predicting sport and things that aren’t pre-determined is difficult, but trying to predict the results before a big WWE show where the fate of an entire storyline and it’s blow-off could be absolutely changed beyond belief if desired, all on the say so of one Vincent Kennedy McMahon, is very hard indeed. But i’ll give it a go here. Also featuring in this blog will be my good friend and one of the people I shall be taking in the festivities in with; Dan (aka the only person I could find willing to help me out) who will also be offering his thoughts and predictions going in to each match. Enjoy OUR preview and predictions write up and enjoy Wrestlemania, I know we will!
Cruserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander vs Mustafa Ali
This will be an awesome wrestling match, that I’m in no doubt of. You only need to watch 1 previous match of either of these 2 guys to know that, but for sure this will be the match of the whole card that the least amount of the watching audience in the arena and at home will know anything about. And that’s the problem with 205 Live. For those of you who don’t watch the Cruiserweight specific show, it’s been A LOT better since that twat Enzo was dismissed. That has coincided with Triple H apparently taking over the running of the show, and since then it has been less about over-the-top characters and more about the amazing talent that these guys possess. They’ve picked the best 2 guys on the main 205 Live roster in my opinion for this showcase match, so I hope for the sake of the 205 Live show and the entire Cruiserweight division I hope these 2 absolutely kill it! Being on the pre-show isn’t ideal, yes it’ll get the crowd warmed up well but if you look at last year’s Cruiserweight Title match between Austin Aries and Neville, the match was great but the stadium was less than half empty to the lack of atmosphere took the life out of that one and limited any potential it had to be great. So let’s all hope it’s a classic, my prediction for who will win is Cedric. He was supposed to dethrone Enzo at the Royal Rumble but even if Ali wins I won’t be too upset.
Prediction: Cedric Alexander.
Dan: Don’t really know anything about this as I don’t really follow the cruiserweight stuff so pure and simple guess, Cedric Alexander.
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Hey, everyone gets a Wrestlemania spot! Who on earth knows who will win this, they’ve shown with ZERO of the four previous winners of this match that it matters at all, but Battle Royals are always good fun to watch. I know they’ve announced a load of mid-carders for this one but I hope they use it as a chance to showcase and give a Mania moment to an upcoming NXT star. They did so with Baron Corbin a few years back and I hope they follow suit here; Killian Dain, Lars Sullivan… someone like that ideally. But they’ll probably give it to someone who they will push… for about 3 weeks… like they always do… I hope I’m wrong but I’m sceptical. Who wins? God knows…
Prediction: Lars Sullivan (PLEASE).
Dan: Can’t really pick for the guys one tbh. I’m trying to see noobs or upper carders who could take it but I’m struggling so I’ll just say dolph because I’m here to show the world 😂
The Wrestlemania Women’s Battle Royal
Although in similar sense to the men’s in that this is just for everyone who can’t get on the Mania card elsewhere, I feel the women’s Battle Royal in terms of strength in depth could be a lot better. Particularly as it has been eluded to that for sure there will be NXT competitors in this match. I hope one of the actually wins it but more likely it’ll go to a bigger name such as Becky Lynch or Sasha Banks or Bayley in conjunction with Banks and Bayley and their personal storyline. I’m still not over the fact Bayley vs Sasha isn’t a singles match on the card but can’t complain at this Mania card.
Prediction: Ember Moon (hopefully).
Dan: women’s maybe Mandy or Sonya to cement them a bit more? I think Carmella goes out early, has a hissy fit then cashes in after asuka/Charlotte and becomes champion?
AND NOW THE WRESTLEMANIA MAIN CARD!!!
Raw Tag Team Championship: ‘The Bar’ ( C ) V Braun Strowman & a mystery partner
So the fate of this match really does all rest on who Braun’s partner is. Elias? Big Show? Bray Wyatt? Who on earth knows… but they’re keeping it a secret until the show which I absolutely love, it makes a-near-certainty that whoever comes out will get a decent pop. As for the match I trust it to be good, I think it’ll be fairly short but we shall see. This story for me HAS to end with Braun and his partner winning or at least setting up a story, I think Braun should be in the Universal Championship match personally but it’s something at least.
Prediction: Braun and his partner win the titles.
Dan: I think Braun will win and have the titles to himself. But I’m intrigued to see who any partner would be, could be some odd couple type deal though. Although the whatculture madness idea of Alexa as his partner is mad enough to be possible, or perhaps Elias, I don’t think they know what do do with Braun and Elias now so they could be teamed up. So Braun to win this.
United States Championship: Randy Orton ( C ) V Bobby Roode V Jinder Mahal with Sunil Singh V Rusev with Aiden English
IT’S RUSEV DAY, AND IT’S RUSEVMANIA BECAUSE WRESTLEMANIA IS ON RUSEV DAY!!!
This was the match I was looking at as my potential ‘bathroom break’ as despite the fact I like all 3 guys in this one beforehand, the feud and build to it had been so dull it’s absurd. And then… it ALL changed when RUSEV was entered into it!!! AND NOW I CARE… BECAUSE IT’S RUSEV DAY!!! Previously I had Jinder as an absolute lock to win this one, but fuck Jinder because IT’S RUSEV DAY!!!
Prediction: RUSEV. BECAUSE IT’S RUSEV DAY, AND IT’S RUSEVMANIA!!!
Dan: I really think rusev needs pushing again but then roode getting it back would be great! And orton can do whatever and be good and I’m sure jinder will too maybe another feud with orton? I’ll say roode wins and then maybe that leads to a feud with rusev or something down the line. Roode to win.
Raw Women’s Championship: Alexa Bliss ( C ) V Nia Jax
The match itself I’m absolutely fine with. The story that has led us here? Not so much. I get that it’s a good thing to talk about in 2018 and showing a real-life issue, but ffs really? Could do WWE not think of another way to build to this match than have Alexa Bliss simply repeatedly imply that her former best friend Nia Jax is FAT!??! Like I said I get hey they’ve built to it this way but it strikes me as awfully cheap. If you didn’t know they’re actually best friends in real life so chemistry shouldn’t be an issue. I’m sure therefore the match will be fine, better than the build anyway. Who wins? Really hard to call this one for me as I can see many reasons for both winning, and DO NOT rule out a certain briefcase holder playing a part too…
Prediction: Alexa Bliss retains. Just.
Dan: I think this is a typical case of face beating heel at mania. Nia clearly got moral high ground going in and Alexa with all the heat. )My goddess is gunna lose here I think 😞 😂 ) so I’ll say Nia to win this one.
Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon V Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Imagine saying a month ago that DANIEL BRYAN will be in a match at Wrestlemania? It really has seemed like a dream, but he’s back and we will finally get the conclusion to this story we had all hoped for. In the same venue where he won the world title at Wrestlemania 4 years ago I just cannot see Bryan coming back and losing, it’d be a disaster for me if WWE went that way. What will happen with Zayn and Owens, with the stipulation of their jobs at Smackdown Live being on the line, I don’t know… I expect they’ll just end up on Raw shortly after Mania but whatever happens they will be fine I’m sure. Their heel work (particularly Sami having been an ultra babyface before) has been superb, and I hope this match is as good as well hope it will be… YES, YES, YES!!!
Prediction: Daniel Bryan gets a submission win.
Dan: Yes! And here comes the money vs Team Canadian besties: I think it’s nicely set up for Bryan’s come back and Shane’s revenge if they win. Then KO and Sami get drafted to raw I think after a short break. DB and Shane to win.
Intercontinental Championship: The Miz ( C ) V Seth Rollins V Finn Balor
Again, this too could be a fantastic contest. Who will win? I really don’t know for sure. The lack of suggestion that we will see Finn come to Mania as ‘The Demon’ leads me to believe he won’t be winning, as for Seth I’d imagine he’s being kept for a feud with a soon to return Dean Ambrose. And whilst that would be a good IC title feud they have been playing on The Miz being days away from being the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion (in terms of combined days) of all time an awful lot recently. So by default I say the new father retains.
Prediction: The Miz
Dan: Another I’m not sure about on the face though, Miz is a great intercontinental champ but I think they’ll go new directions with him after mania. Then both Rollins and Balor could do with the boost but I’ll say Balor because dean will probably be back and do something with Rollins like challenge whoever ends up dominantly as rag champs when dean comes back. So Balor on this one to win.
WWE Championship: AJ Styles ( C ) V Shinsuke Nakamura
WOW, what needs to be said to build anymore to this one? A match for the ages, an all-time Wrestlemania classic. Already monikers like that are being labelled on this dream match, and indeed it should and will be brilliant. I see Nakamura getting his crowning moment here, but a loss for either men doesn’t hurt them if the match is a good or even close to their match in New Japan a couple of years ago.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura
Dan: Really not sure yet on this one, I feel like they might give makamura the big one but it is wwe so I think they’ll kill some dreams and AJ will win.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship: The Usos ( C ) V The New Day V Bludgeon Brothers
This match could be the one that surprises people with how good and how much fun to watch it is. All of the participants are, whilst great together as a team, supremely underrated in the ring. The result of the match seems to be the obvious and inevitable coronation of Harper & Rowan, but that isn’t a massively bad thing for me. Whoever wins this I’ll be happy for them.
Prediction: Bludgeon Brothers
Dan: I’d like to say bludgeon brothers with an upset to change up the game but my head says new day as baby face ish and super popular, plus it’ll change things up and they’ve got the credibility to beat the Isis at mania. So New day to win.
Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle V Stephanie McMahon & Triple H
The blockbuster match of the show, designed primarily to bring mainstream eyes on the WWE product. I don’t see this going long, I don’t want it too either to be honest, but seeing Ronda make Stephanie tap to the Armbar will be something that will bring me a lot of joy. And the added involvement of two veterans (and of course this is Angle’s first Wrestlemania match for 12 YEARS) will make it be sound in-ring. Let’s hope Ronda and Stephanie can play fair parts too.
Prediction: Ronda makes Stephanie tap
Dan: Olympians vs authority: Authority love to look good at their annual mania match but obviously Ronda needs a good boost to give her momentum starting in WWE so 3 experiences people with her I think she’s in good company and her and kurt win. Ronda and kurt to win
Smackdown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair ( C ) V Asuka
If AJ vs Nakamura is being billed as a dream match, then this one is MY dream match! Potential to be one of the best women’s matches of all time sees 2 of the all-time great in-ring female performers square off. My heart will be all over the place during this one for sure, it should be F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S … (don’t forget about that briefcase…)…
Prediction: Asuka
Dan: If anyone will beat the streak it’s Charlotte but I’m not super confident they’re ready to end it. But they can reinvent her character and redeem her if she loses at mania. So it pains me but I think asuka is gunna lose. Charlotte to win this one.
John Cena V The Undertaker… maybe… ???
So we don’t even know if this match is happening… officially anyway… but surely they wouldn’t tease this much for nothing??? So let’s act as if it is happening, somehow… I imagine Taker will come back absolutely livid and beat down Cena. Then I see possibly a year build to rematch and a retirement match NEXT YEAR at Wrestlemania, where Taker will return the favours. Lots of if, buts and maybes there but everything with this one is up in the air at the moment. I cannot wait to see what unfolds… If it happens I see TAKER winning. Purely because I can’t see him showing up after all this time, to then go and lose… surely not???
Prediction: The Undertaker
Dan: Cena vs taker would be a good match and I don’t think they’d get undertaker to lose to cena. I think it’d be a way to see undertaker go out with some grave by showing he still has it and can topple the guy at the top of the company (arguably). I think it gives cena chance to go off and do films and other stuff a while. Then make a come back a bit more loved again. But he’ll obv be be back to big match John status in no time and not go away at all 😂 undertaker to win if it happens.
Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar ( C ) with Paul Heyman V Roman Reigns
We all know whose winning this, right? The build-up I’ve really enjoyed, and at times it has worked to the desired outcome of getting Roman cheered. It seems more and more likely now that Brock is returning to the UFC, and that only increases the inevitability of the finish. In terms of the match itself; they have been building for pretty much a full year the strength of the F5. Nobody kicks out of the F5… until Sunday… and it has been notable tome that during all their encounters, Roman is yet to hit Brock with the Spear… until Sunday…
Prediction: Roman Reigns
Dan: I think roman is going over here, typical heel loses at mania plus it’s about time and don’t think brick would lose anywhere but mania.
Josh… and Dan.
PS. I’m taking a week off from blogging now. I want to enjoy the incredible week that we have of wrestling ahead of us to the fullest. And I don’t want to be sat with a notepad and pen during the events. So I’ll be back in some form of blog refreshed and ready to go and write some more about WWE. And by then who on earth knows what the landscape will look like! I’d like to finish by saying just how much I’v enjoyed writing and analyzing the WWE product in the last few months, I’ve long needed an outlet for me to “spew the bullshit” (as a certain Texas Rattlesnake has been known to say on his podcast from time to time) about pro-wrestling and this has been a much needed hobby of mine. To everyone who has commented and read my blogs, and liked my tweets on Twitter I’d like to thank you all too as it means an awful lot to me. See you in a couple of weeks!
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