As I’m beginning to write this, Wrestlemania 29 is 2.5 hours away. I thought I’d do a quick post to discuss predictions to the biggest show in Sports Entertainment of the year. So far eight matches are announced, and there are always some surprised matches on the card but I’m just going to go with the ones we know about.
Intercontinental Title
The Miz vs Wade Barrett (c)
Miz as a face hasn’t exactly worked the way I think WWE had hoped when they turned him last year. This is evident by the fact that 2 years ago he was in the main event of Wrestlemania, and this year he’s on the YouTube pre-show. That being said, they seem to be trying to re-light the fire that he had when he went into that main event at WM27. They had Ric Flair give him the rub, and blessing to use his finishing move, which is more than Barrett has really done since he returned from his post-Nexus sabbatical. I have a feeling Miz is going to take this one. Sadly most people won’t see it.
Tons of Funk & the Funkadactyls vs Team Rhodes Scholars & The Bella Twins
I wrote an article about how they should repackage some guys and mentioned that they should team up Tensai and Brodus Clay. They have indeed done that, but not in the way I had hoped. Instead of a powerhouse team, they’re a fat comedy duo. The Funkadactyls, however, have shown that they are really good workers and in my opinion should be working towards the Diva’s title and not in this goofy tag match. Rhodes Scholars can’t seem to catch a break. They’re one of the best things going on TV, yet are constantly doing the job. And what’s there to say about the Bellas? They don’t work well. I personally don’t think they’re very attractive. They’re just there. It’s hard to think of a prediction for this one because I don’t see winning or losing having any real lasting effect on either team. So for that reason, Tons of Funk & The Funkadactyls will probably win and have a big Wrestlemania dance party.
Chris Jericho vs Fandango
I’m not a fan of the ballroom dancer gimmick. I think it’s just too early-90s cartoon character. That being said, I do like Johnny Curtis’s work and think he’ll eventually break away from this character. Much like in his last short run, I think Jericho is hoping to elevate younger stars. He helped CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler last year, and I think Fandango is going to be first on his list this year. It’ll probably be under some shady means, but I’m gonna say Fandango takes this one and makes his debut match a big one.
Brock Lesnar vs Triple H
The build for this match has been silly. Even with the stuff they did last year. It’s hard to build a match around two guys who are so rarely on TV. But with the stipulation that Triple H’s career is on the line, news that Brock Lesnar has signed an extended deal, and the fact that Triple H is doing more and more on the office side of things and less and less in the ring. I don’t think it’s far fetched to say that Brock will win this one. I’m imagining there will be a few DX and maybe Kliq run-ins during the match. But I also see Triple H possibly hanging it up after tonight.
Tag Team Championship
Dolph Ziggler & Big E Langston vs Team Hell No (c)
There’s bee a lot of talk that WWE feels team Hell No has run it’s course. They were fun during the anger management angle and have oddly become faces who do heelish things. But on the other hand, they seem to never give Dolph a win when he should win. I’m reluctantly going with Ziggler and Big E, mostly because I’m a Ziggler mark, but also because I think, much like Fandango, they’ll want Big E’s debut match to make some kind of impact. I think, if he can do it, it’d make for a great spot if he lifted Bryan and Kane on each shoulder and did his finisher on both at once.
Ryback vs Mark Henry
A couple months ago, Henry was saying that he may not even return to wrestling. He was injured, he’s getting older and really, after a decent World Title run, he’s done everything he can in the company. Though a lot of people see Ryback as a poor-man’s Goldberg, and there are rumors that WWE has already given up on his monster push (shocking!) I think Ryback wins this one. Henry is in the spot much like Jericho where there’s not a whole lot left for him to do but help make the next generation look good. And if Ryback can give Henry the Shell Shock, it’ll definitely make him look good. Of course, Ryback has had trouble lifting guys smaller than Henry, and if he can’t lift him, it’ll kill the match and possibly Ryback’s future.
Sheamus, Randy Orton & The Big Show vs The Shield
The Shield is one of the cooler things on WWE TV at the moment. Especially when Dean Ambrose starts talking. He makes them look like a group of bad asses. Unfortunately they’re kind of a one-trick pony. They run out, attack. They’re always in their group, which makes them look good as a group, but it’s almost time to see what they can do individually. However I think Shield will take this one, not because they dominate the face team, but because with all the talk of whether or not the face team mates can trust each other, I’m expecting one of them to turn and give Sheild the win. Who though? I’m gonna say Orton. It’s clear he doesn’t like being a face. He’s super dull as a face. He’s not spectacular as a heel but at least his look and mannerisms fit that of a heel. As a face they just don’t work. If a face team mate does turn, though, I don’t want them to join the Shield. They just need to knock out their team and leave Shield to scavenge whatever’s left.
CM Punk vs The Undertaker
Is there any question here? There might have been before Paul Bearer’s death. MIGHT. I don’t know that Undertaker’s streak will ever be broken and as big a fan of Punk as I am, I don’t think he’s the guy to end it. Especially not now. Punk interrupted Bearer’s memorial, stole the urn from Undertaker, and has been his usual disrespectful self. Some people have thought Punk has gone over the line, but I think this angle has been a great way of getting Paul Bearer to be part of the show one last time. Undertaker will beat Punk, reclaim the urn, and finally pay proper tribute to Paul Bearer on the big stage.
World Heavyweight Championship
Jack Swagger vs Alberto Del Rio (c)
When they started the Swagger angle, I would have thought for sure Swagger was going to win this. But after his arrest it made me less so. Plus his character hasn’t really generated the heat that I think WWE wanted. While Del Rio has been decent as a face, I think it killed his character a bit when they started pushing how American he really is, to counter Swagger and Colter’s claims. It’s a weak political analogy with two idiotic yet opposing sides waving the flag and saying how American they are when a majority of America probably doesn’t want to be associated with either side. I’m betting Del Rio wins the match. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll leave with the world title. There’s still a Money in the Bank briefcase out there. Just saying.
WWE Championship
John Cena vs The Rock (c)
Last year this match was a big story, especially when The Rock beat John Cena. The part timer beat the full timer. Then the next night when Rock claimed he was gunning for the WWE title, then again when he announced he was getting his title shot at Royal Rumble it made it more than apparent that they were heading towards a rematch. But to me it said they were leading to 2 more rematches. I’m calling it that Cena will win this one and take the title. Some people are wondering if he’ll turn heel. I doubt it. People so want him to, but I don’t think it’ll happen tonight. But I think they’ll definitely get the title back on a full-timer because, of course, they’ve got a PPV just a couple weeks after Mania. And this will then tie Rock and Cena at 1 win each. Saving it all up for the big blowoff third match next year at what I’m betting will be a HUGE Wrestlemania 30.
