The
Rock(Champ) vs. John Cena
This is the rematch from last year’s
supposed “Once in a Lifetime” bout, only this year the WWE title is on the
line. Throughout my Shoot posts, I have stated that I am not very high on
either Dwayne or John Cena, especially them together in a rematch, but I will
say that I like their feud a lot better this year, compared to last year’s
weekly joke fest. This feud brought more passion, only slightly better promos
from the two, and a brand new WWE Championship belt design. I expect this match
to run along the same lines as last year’s match, whether that’s a good or bad
thing is entirely up to your opinion. Despite talks on the message boards of a
possible John Cena and Johnny “Funkman” alignment at WrestleMania, similar to
WrestleMania 17 with Vince and Stone Cold, I highly doubt that we will see a
heel turn ever take place with John Cena. In all honesty, I would love to be
totally wrong in that as I would love for WWE to shock me for the first time in
a long time. However, I predict that John Cena “finally” defeats Dwayne after
three Attitude Adjustments and starts what will be a near eight month title
reign.
Prediction: John Cena
“The
Streak” Match
The
Undertaker(20-0) vs. CM Punk(with Paul Heyman)
You talk about a feud that almost
did not happen, but am I glad it did. Only just about a month ago, there was
talk that The Undertaker might take this WrestleMania off. In fact, I was
planning on writing an article about why The Undertaker doing this was not
totally a bad thing. Obviously, I had to scrap that idea and went with my
Damien Sandow article and I can honestly say that I am not mad that I had to do
that. This feud has been so much better than I thought it would be and has been
the most personal WrestleMania feud since WrestleMania 25, between Randy Orton
and Triple H. I know that a lot of people are up in arms over the near-crossing
the line stunts that CM Punk has pulled since Paul Bearer’s death, but I must
admit that I am completely numb to stunts like this as I grew up during the
“Attitude Era.” I
mean Big Bossman drove away with Big Show’s father’s casket during his funeral.
Do I think CM Punk should have licked Paul Bearer’s “ashes?” No, but the ash
segment itself was the perfect final act in this personal rivalry. I believe
that this match will steal the show and I personally would have it as the Main
Event, but obviously that will not happen. Look for some “Attitude Era” style
heel tactics from CM Punk, such as using the urn as a foreign object and at
least one referee knockdown. I would also look for The Shield to be involved in
some form or fashion during this match. In the end, The Undertaker fights off
The Shield and reverses a Go To Sleep into a Tombstone Piledriver for the
victory, extending his “Streak” to 21-0 at WrestleMania.
Prediction: The Undertaker
No
Holds Barred Match with Triple H’s Career On the Line(In-Ring Only)
Brock
Lesnar(with Paul Heyman) vs. Triple H(with Shawn Michaels)
The second best booked feud of this
year’s WrestleMania is none other than the Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H rematch.
With some criticizing that their Summerslam match did not live up to the hype,
although I thought it was pretty good, World Wrestling Entertainment has
decided to do it bigger and better this time around. If you are going to have a
rematch, especially at WrestleMania, you have got to have audience enticing
stipulations. These stipulations are No Holds Barred as well as Triple H’s
in-ring career being on the line. I love the added personal animosity between
the two and the late addition of the “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels to the
“Game’s” corner. I hope this match comes before the “Streak” Match and I
hope it is as barbaric as I think it will be. I envision a phenomenal brawl
that will involve Lesnar getting busted open, HBK getting F-5d, and Triple H
breaking out the sledgehammer. If this match is booked as well as it should be,
then the 75,000 strong MetLife Stadium will be buzzing during and after this
match as it could be the contest that fires up everyone around the world that
is watching. I would rather Lesnar win as a loss would make him 1-2 in his
three matches since coming back, but with Triple H’s in-ring career on the
line, I expect the “King of Kings” to come out victorious after an HBK Sweet
Chin Music, which correlates into a Triple H Pedigree. At the very least,
Lesnar has a chance to redeem himself for his last WrestleMania appearance,
which occurred in 2004 in the infamous match with Goldberg. If we get a fight
like the one he had with Cena at Extreme Rules last year, then he will
undoubtedly do just that.
Prediction: Triple H
World
Heavyweight Championship Match
Alberto
Del Rio
If you remembered that I was not
very high on a Dwayne vs. John Cena rematch at WrestleMania, then you must
remember how much I utterly despise this feud. Even as I type this article, I
still cannot believe this is our World Title Match, but at the very least, it
could be a good competitive match to warm the crowd up for the bigger
headliners later in the night. I look for Ricardo and Zeb to do some apron
interfering and a close Swagger victory in the final moments. However, I
predict that Del Rio
Prediction: Alberto Del Rio
6-Man
Tag Team Match
The
Shield vs. Big Show, Sheamus, and Randy Orton
While I think we all are starting to
notice that Creative is running out of things for The Shield to do as far as
6-Man Tag opponents go, I believe that this will be a good contest that is
meant to do one thing; Show The Shield’s talents on the “Grandest Stage of Them
All.” I also believe that it will succeed in doing just that en route to a
victory as a Shield loss would be ludicrous. I look for a cohesive Big Show,
Sheamus, and Orton team until the final moments of the match where they will
somehow implode, leading to The Shield’s first WrestleMania victory as well as
setting up a future Randy Orton heel turn.
Prediction: The Shield
Singles
Match
Ryback
vs. Mark Henry
In my personal opinion, this has
been the third most well-booked feud heading into WrestleMania. It is amazing
to think that just a few months ago, both of these guys had opportunities to
headline WrestleMania as Ryback was the runner-up in the Rumble and Henry
looked dominant in the Elimination Chamber Match before getting eliminated.
Nevertheless, I think Creative will waste the quick two-three minute time
slot for a match on this contest, even though I would love to see them fight
for well-over that. This match and Ryback’s future, in my opinion, comes down
to one thing; Can Ryback Shell Shock Mark Henry in front of the world? If he
does, then he will have regained all the momentum he lost during his feud with
CM Punk and The Shield. If he botches the move, then he will have 75,000 booing
him and it could be the beginning of the end for Ryback’s character. Here’s hoping
he does not botch as it would be awesome to see, and it breaths fresh life into
Ryback’s character.
Prediction: Ryback
Singles
Match
Chris
Jericho vs. Fandango
If there is one guy that probably
should not be competing at WrestleMania this year, it is Fandango, especially
against a talent the caliber of Chris Jericho. I know, many readers are fans of
Johnny Curtis, but I honestly do not think the character of Fandango can work
in the long run. How many people are annoyed already with Jerry Lawler saying it
over and over? Also, I do not think that blatant live communication between
Chris Jericho instructing Fandango on what to do during their in-ring segment
is a good sign for a WrestleMania debut. Nevertheless, I am going to shock a
lot of people and pick Fandango to win because Chris Jericho is a classy talent
who likes to push up-and-coming superstars before he goes on sabbatical with
Fozzy again. Here’s hoping a win like this is not wasted on a character that
will not be present at next year’s WrestleMania. This means that either Jericho
needs to win, or Creative better have a pretty good plan for Fandango’s
character.
Prediction: Fandango
Tag
Team Championships Match
Team
Hell No(Champ) vs. Dolph Ziggler and Big E. Langston(with AJ Lee)
This could very well be the opener
to the show as I expect a Dolph Ziggler cash in later in the night after this
contest takes place. I am curious, as we all are, to see how Big E. does in the
ring. I expect him to be booked very safely at WrestleMania with him showcasing
his brute power and force as the commentators talk up how impressive he looks
in his debut. Ultimately, I believe that Team Hell No retains once again,
despite some AJ Lee interference.
Prediction: Team Hell No
8
Person Mixed Tag Team Match
Tons
of Funk and the Funkadactyls vs. Team Rhodes Scholars and the Bella Twins
I was hoping that WWE would have
this be the Pre-Show match, but I guess they want to get their money’s worth
with the big crystal ball. On the bright side, this is Damien Sandow’s
WrestleMania debut and he could very well be World Heavyweight Champion come
next year’s WrestleMania. Not that this match matters to anyone who is paying
the hefty pay-per-view price, I predict Tons of Funk and the Funkadactyls to
get the win with a Brodus Clay splash on Sandow. P.S. How funny was the Cody
Rhodes and Damien Sandow spoof on Friday Night Smackdown?
Prediction: Tons of Funk and the
Funkadactyls
Pre-Show
Intercontinental Championship Match
Wade
Barrett(Champ) vs. The Miz
As I stated above, I would rather
have this match be on the official card. Nevertheless, I believe that with
multiple titles most likely changing hands later on the night, WWE will
continue the recent tradition of successful Pre-Show title defenses. Look for
Barrett to retain by a heel rollup using the ropes as leverage against The Miz,
whom Main Evented WrestleMania a few years ago, if you can believe that.
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