WRESTLEMANIA 35 Preview and Predictions

I can already tell WrestleMania 35 is going to be one of the most memorable events in all of wrestling history. There is so much that COULD happen that has huge historical significance; from the women in the main event, to Kofi Kingston being in the biggest match of his career,  and the 10000th possible last WWE match for Brock Lesnar. I’ll be in a sports bar with friends and lots of wrestling fans with drinks and food a-plenty so I’ll have a great time regardless. But looking at it now, stone-cold sober, objectively I see this card at it tells me two things; this show is going to be LONG but it’s going to be BIG! Some years WrestleMania has some matches that you don’t really feel are worthy of the biggest if stages, but there’s not too many if any this year. So without further or due here is my predictions for WrestleMania 35!!!

John Cena 

YOU CAN’T SEE HIM on the ‘official’ line up for WrestleMania, but be it some form of involvement in the Angle match, interrupting Elias or something else I think he will appear. Be it in a segment or a match he WILL be at WrestleMania… I think…

Prediction: you CAN see him 

WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal 

AKA ‘the we don’t know what to do with you lot so here’s your Mania spot’ match. You really can’t get everyone on the card, but is it not a really sad side of our main event that the result of ‘Winner Takes All’ is ASUKA is in the throwaway Battle Royal… but is what it is I guess… As previous years have shown this match could really be won by ANYONE! I could say one of any of the names really; Alexa Bliss, Lacey Evans, Mandy Rose, Nikki Cross, Naomi again, someone from NXT… but given the recent fan uproar at her sheer inclusion in this match I’m unsure if anything but a win here for her will satisfy the crowd… or most watching I feel.

Prediction: Asuka to win 

Cruserweight Championship: Tony Nese V Buddy Murphy (C) 

This match will be good, and as good as time they give it. I’ve not much more to say about this than I have any of the previous good Murphy PPV showcases for 205 Live. I’m surprised Nese is in the spot for Mania, not saying he isn’t really good in-ring but I’d have thought they’d have gone for someone new. I’m taking ti as a given Murphy wins here, it isn’t because it’s WrestleMania and if you were going to end such a great title run then here is the place to do it. I’m just unsure if Nese is the right guy to do that. I see it as Murphy wins here in a really fun and good match, and then a new challenger emerges after WrestleMania. Be that someone from NXT (ISTG if that’s a certain Mr Wrestling I give up on WWE), possibly incoming signing KUSHIDA from New Japan Pro Wrestling. But who knows? If you like good wrestling then this is the match for you.

Prediction: Buddy Murphy to retain 

Smackdown Tag Team Championship: The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) (C) V The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) V Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev with Lana V Ricochet & Aleister Black in a Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match

I see no reason given who is involved as to why this match shouldn’t be great. I certainly think it’ll be the best 4 way tag match on this show… Admittedly it has been a bit thrown together and with no real storyline, but it has got Ricochet and Black on the Mania card, so that’s certainly a great great thing. They haven’t pinned Black or Ricochet since they came up to the main roster and I don’t think they will here. BUT the 4 way nature means they don’t have to pin them if they don’t want to have the titles on them. So by process of elimination I don’t see The Bar winning the titles again, nor do I see enough momentum behind Nakamura & Rusev, so it has to be The Usos retaining or the two NXT alumni taking the belts home. I’ve done this a lot for this show but I’m going for the big babyface pop and so for the new champions to be Black and Ricochet.

Prediction: Ricochet & Aleister Black to win and become the NEW Smackdown Tag Team Champions

Raw Tag Team Championship: Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder V The Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson) (C) 

It seemed we were set for this a fair few weeks back now, and then it disappeared to allow for Gable and Roode and then Ricochet and Aleister Black to play challenger to The Revival. But then just before Mania on a WWE.COM VIDEO of all things it appears we’re on course for this match and THREE NIGHTS (UK time) it was announced with absolutely zero TV build for pretty much months. But I called it a while ago and I think given Ryder and Hawkins are Jersey natives, and of course with the losing streak still (just about) a storyline I think it’d be an easy babyface pop to have Hawkins end his losing streak here and for him and Ryder to have a Mania moment

Prediction: Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins to win and become the NEW Raw Tag Team champions

United States Championship: Rey Mysterio V Samoa Joe (C) 

I think this match will be great in-ring wise, and Joe is one of the best characters in the company when in full flow, but I just don’;t see this as a match… it makes me think something odd is going to happen in it. Be it Dominic, Rey’s son who has appeared on Smackdown recently, getting involved somehow, or maybe a quick win for Rey to win a title he has yet to win and to become the latest grand slam champion? MAYBE Joe beats up Rey and then calls out someone and out comes Cena? Maybe Rey doesn’t even make the match given his recent ‘injury’ and we go straight to Joe Vs Cena or someone else? Maybe they’ll just have a match and it’ll be good. I’m going to predict Joe to win simply as I have a fair few babyface wins elsewhere on the show and I don’t think WWE will give us too much of a good thing.

Prediction: Samoa Joe to retain 

Intercontinental Championship: “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley (C) with Lio Rush V ‘Demon’ Finn Balor

“The All Mighty”… behave yourself. DEMON BALOR? Yeah… you know the score here… surely??? …

Prediction: ‘Demon’ Finn Balor to win and become the NEW Intercontinental Champion 

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Nia Jax & Tamina V Natalya & Beth Phoenix V The IIconics (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce) V The Boss ‘N’ Hug Connection (Sasha Banks & Bayley) (C) in a Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match 

I do feel it a tad harsh on these women for WWE to put another 4 way tag match on the same show that I personally think will be better. But for historical purposes I think this will be the more memorable of the two. Looking at each of the four teams we have Nia and Tamina who are… there… , The IICONICS who I personally really like but know many do not… they may not be the best in the ring but they are one of the original female tag teams before female tag teams was the in-thing so for that they deserve this spot, the ‘Divas of Doom’ Natalya and the recently returned Beth Phoenix I feel will be the glue that holds this match together, and finally our champions and presumable big favorites Sasha and Bayley. Banks and Bayley are a great team to carry the titles and establish them as a big deal, but if you want to do a big title change then is there any better place than Mania? I certainly wouldn’t be astonished if they did do a switch here, but as far as a prediction goes I’ll go with the titles staying exactly where they are here.

Prediction: Sasha Banks & Bayley to retain 

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal 

Is there any point saying much about this one? Of course the only real story is with Braun and the two SNL guys in this match, but that almost makes me wonder if that’ll be the sideshow and the winner will take advantage of it? I’ll go Braun, but I kind of hope he doesn’t and they give someone like an Ali or Andrade a big-ish Mania moment that can be a springboard to post-Mania stardom…

Prediction: Braun Strowman to win 

AJ Styles V Randy Orton 

Considering there’s nothing officially on the line here they’ve done a really good job of making this in to a very personal affair. The promos back-and-forth the two have cut on one another, particularly when they’ve highlighted each of their very different career paths, has been really great to watch. And anytime they’ve had any physical altercations their styles (no pun intended) have mixed really really well. This will be really good I think and could go either way result wise. But for no real logical reason aide from it being the WWE and it being Randy Orton and it being WrestleMania I’ll go for The viper to win, and it to involve some form of wild counter in to an RKO.

Prediction: Randy Orton to win 

Roman Reigns V Drew McIntyre 

Not even the WWE would beat a guy that had Cancer in his first singles match back would they? … Would they? No to be honest if they were going to give such a spot to anyone I’m so happy they’ve gone with Drew. And even if McIntyre does take the L here it’s still a massive match for him to even be involved in given who and where. Reigns has been beaten down at every stage in the build up, I presume to set us and the crowd to give him a huge ovation when he gets his won back on Drew in the match. I’d say this wouldn’t be a bad way to open the main show with Roman getting a heroes ovation, which given his recent WrestleMania receptions would be ironic. Roman has to win. You could even have Drew get it back later, but it’s his first match back for God sake…

Prediction: Roman Reigns to win 

Shane McMahon V The Miz in a Falls Count Anywhere Match 

Oh boy… lets leave talking about the match for a second and let me admit that the build has been fun. Shane has made himself hated and that’s good, and as much as Miz has been somewhat booked WAY to strong fending off multiple heels at the same time in recent weeks, his promos on his family and his road to get to where he is have been very believable and really makes you want to cheer him. So credit to them both for that. The stipulation here could make it all OK, as I think now they have free reign to do what they want. I know it’s going to happen but for god sake I hope neither of these two do anything crazy, or do I secretly want them to do a mad stunt? You decide that for yourself…  The right result is Miz winning because he could benefit so much from it, but if WWE see it like that is an entirely different thing.

Prediction: The Miz to win 

Kurt Angle V Baron Corbin in Kurt Angle’s Farewell Match 

GOD I hope this is short. Kurt really does look physically DONE as a wrestler. Yeah sure Corbin could do great saying he retired Angle, and I guess everyone loses their last match right? If this really is going to be simply a straight up singles match with no interruptions or anything else then keep this SHORT. I really would like Angle to win, I don’t know if he will. I’ll go heart again here. I hate Corbin as a character, but does that mean he’s good at his job as a heel???

Prediction: Kurt Angle to win

Triple H V Batista in a No Holds Barred Match (if Triple H loses he must retire from in-ring competition) 

Triple H isn’t retiring is he? I know he’s going in to the Hall Of Fame this weekend and it is against his Batista… but he has more miles in him I feel… Finn Balor V Triple H… Triple H at an NXT Takeover… and lets be honest there’s many more Saudi shows to come… there’s much more Triple H can do in the ring so I just can’t see him losing here… The build up has honestly been really good. Beginning of course at Smackdown 1000, and even with the match seemingly in doubt when Triple H got hurt it was kicked back into life in a HUGE way when Batista attacked Ric Flair during what was supposed to be his 70th Birthday celebratory night. Triple H has been his awesome self in promos leading up, and Batista on the go-home Raw cut maybe the promo of his life simply by cutting to a video package of him beating up The Game down the years before simply saying “Hunter… Kiss My ASS”! His very specific and methodical actions as well just made him seem the coolest and baddest guy around, and given it was in Batista’s hometown it was perhaps wise not to have Triple H appear given he’s supposed to be the babyface. One interesting thing will be seeing how the crowd take to each superstar here. I hope it’s action packed, not too long that it gets boring (which is a fear for sure). Batista has always stated he wanted to end his career at a WrestleMania against Triple H and hopefully he doesn’t have too much ring rust in doing so. Fingers crossed.

Prediction: Triple H to win 

WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston with Big E & Xavier Woods V ‘The New’ Daniel Bryan (C) with Rowan 

I think we are all going to be on the edge of our seats for this one. It really could, given the level of crowd noise and interest in it, be an all-time classic. The naturally evolving story that has lead us to KOFImania has been incredible to see unfold. I was in no doubt Bryan would win a month or so ago, but the momentum behind Kingston is so much now SURELY he has to do it? i’d advise WWE to be very careful where they put this on the card because if Kofi loses it could kill the crowd for a long time after and possibly for the rest of the show. If anyone aside from Becky is more over with the crowd all show than Kofi I’ll be shocked. And the amount of love he has received from the fans in recent weeks in the build is the main reason I see him winning this. Sure I don’t think he will be champion long after, but for that MOMENT would it not be spectacular? Bryan has been doing the best work of his whole career since he turned heel and won the title, and this could be his masterpiece such is his absolutely sensational heel character work. PLEASE WWE have Kofi win… PLEASE?!

Prediction: Kofi Kingston to win and become the NEW WWE Champion 

Universal Championship: Seth Rollins V Brock Lesnar (C) with Paul Heyman

Don’t get me wrong, I REALLY REALLY REALLY want Seth to win… but I’ve got the most terrible feeling he wont. I’ve long been of the thought process that only two of the big three babyfaces challenging for title at Mania (Seth, Kofi and Becky) will win. Because WWE don’t often let us have too much of a nice thing? Maybe it would be overkill, but if I offered you all 3 winning for definite NOW you’d take it right? I know I’d snap your hand off and not even think about it. The segment on Raw this past week was fascinating; according to reports it was changed… what we all saw was Rollins lay out Lesnar and end it holding the belt up high… but what was planned was Brock to destroy Seth again UNTIL Vince changed his mind last minute and made the switch. Which yes it was cool BUT… why did he change it? Was it to give Seth SOMETHING going in only for him to lose anyway? Who knows how Vince thinks… But with MASSIVE sadness I predict the reign of terror of The Beast will continue. And I really hope I’m wrong.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar to retain 

WWE Raw Women’s Championship AND WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship, WINNER TAKES ALL: Charlotte Flair (C) V Becky Lynch V Ronda Rousey (C) 

I almost can’t believe we are finally nearly here. Women in the main event of WrestleMania, and it’s for BOTH Women’s championships! I don’t think much more needs to be said about this that hasn’t already. But it’s Becky Mania surely??? This is going to be one of the most memorable WrestleMania main events of all-time. I hope and do actually believe these three women will put on a great match. But anything but a Lynch win I do fear will see us end what should be an amazing occasion with a chorus of boos once again. We finally have a chance after years of Mania ending on a sour note to have a big, happy moment here. Lets hope we get it…

Prediction: Becky Lynch wins to become the NEW Raw Women’s Champion AND Smackdown Women’s Champion 

Josh. 

 

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