#wrestlemaniaorlando | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

nerdsandmarks-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Pre-Rumble WrestleMania Card Predictions - Pryde

So. Here we are. The week of WWE’s Royal Rumble 2017 and it is honestly the most unpredictable Royal Rumble in recent memory. This is pretty exciting for me, so I’m going to try to give my predictions for what I expect the card for Wrestlemania XXXIII (33 / Orlando / 2017 / Sunshiny logo) to be AND a few “arm chair” booking ideas/hopes for the card.

Seeing as Mania will be about 300 hrs long with 2 brands, the standard past-gen bandaid segments, and (fingers crossed) a Kid Rock concert… bear with me. There’s a lot to cover.

Set* matches (*Card subject to change):

Big Show vs Shaq

Shaq’s guest GM spot a long while back was the set up here. I actually enjoyed it and it made Shaq look like he could really bring it. Shaq being a surprise entrant at last year’s Mania in the Andre Battle Royal was a nice addition. Show looks like he’s been getting in great shape and we know he’s hanging up the boots soon. While it hasn’t been announced officially, Big Show has posted on social media about getting ready for the match. I’m interested.

Seth Rollins vs HHH This might be the only match they’ve seemingly held onto. It looked like they were pushing Rollins after Hunter before Rollins was sidelined and (barring any shenanigans) now he’s going to get it. Not sure I care about the match, but if it is a straight up match, it should be fine. However, I expect a stipulation added last minute because that’s what HHH Mania matches do. I wish Rollins would change his finisher.

Andre Battle Royal I’d guess the winner is Kalisto if they don’t put him in the likely Cruiserweight match. Maybe Samoa Joe.

Now. The matches they seem to be setting up:

Kevin Owens vs Chris Jericho (Universal Championship?)

I don’t know if this will be for the Universal Championship or not, but I hope so. If it happens for the title, I doubt it’ll be the main. I’m guessing the main will be

Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar

There is nothing good that can come from this except for if Strowman or anyone else comes in and wrecks them both.

Likely:

Cena vs Undertaker (WWE Championship)

Cena vs Taker is the “dream match” but I’d SO much rather see my later card. It would make sense with who they have and what they’re doing. They’re not making stars to main event Mania, so they have to rely on what’s left. Big downside is that means either Cena wins #16 on Sunday or he gets ANOTHER title shot before Mania.

IF Kenny Omega debuts, which I’m doubting personally, all bets are off I’d guess Cena vs Omega for the 3rd time where Cena gets his 2nd win.

Cruiserweight Ladder Match

Unless they need it for US or IC titles, the Ladder makes sense for the CW dudes.

Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman (No DQ or similar stipulation - US Title or Universal title) I’d guess trickery beats Braun and sets him on the warpath for the aforementioned Greenberg vs Bork match. AJ Styles vs Randy Orton Makes sense. AJ, if not champ, would go against one of the established dudes. Much like with Punk and Rollins before him, AJ can build a match and Orton can pull it off. When he’s on, he’s good.

Charlotte vs Bayley (Raw Women’s Championship) I’d guess this is where Charlotte’s PPV streak ends, but I hope not.

Becky Lynch vs Mickie James (SD Women’s Championship) I’d be bummed to see Alexa take a back seat, but unless they turn Mickie quick, this is the match I’d expect.

Just Guessing now

Sheamus/Cesaro vs The Club (Raw Tag Titles) I’d say an oddball stipulation to this, but it’ll probably just be a rematch after The Club takes the titles Baron Corbin vs (Insert token Mania big guy) I’d guess Kane. Cuz why not.

Dean Ambrose vs Dolph Ziggler (IC Championship) Because they have no idea what to do with these guys. Bray Wyatt vs Luke Harper 4 Corner/Multi-team of some sort (Smackdown Tag Title) New Day/Cass/Enzo Segment with a few Legends and/or Celebs (Rock). Though I’d be surprised if Cass and E don’t get a match

Rusev vs Sami Zayn

Rumored matches

Miz vs Daniel Bryan

Doubt it. I assumed Ziggler would be his analog, but thankfully they changed his direction. If anything, Bryan will drop Crews in his spot.

Tyler Bate vs Pete Dunne (UK Championship) While I wouldn’t hate this, I wouldn’t agree with it. Let them add UK brand show to Mania weekend like NXT.

That’s a CRAZY number of matches and obviously there’s time and things will be moved a bit, and a handful of those things will be jammed into one 10-12 man match, but with the brand split and having 9 titles that they want to actually focus on PLUS needing to fit in all the old dudes… it’s possible.

My Card (Being realistic-ish. Based on what’s going on now)

Keeping

Andre BR

Kalisto

should get this win. Period. Then do some short story, quick wins against lower card dudes and work him toward the giant killer thing against Kane/Show types eventually putting him against Braun in a real program.

Charlotte vs Bayley

CW Ladder Match Seth Rollins vs HHH Close this story and do something else

My Picks

AJ Styles vs Undertaker (WWE Championship) Probably the best possible main event for AJ who has had an amazing first year and this should be the cap. AJ being a LONG term champ is important for Smackdown as a brand.

Kevin Owens vs Goldberg or Brock Lesnar (Universal Championship) Owens and the UC NEED this match and this win to establish them as legit. They can do Owens vs Jericho with a huge focus afterward. Goldberg is the better choice.

Brock Lesnar or Goldberg vs Strowman This is a big old-school match, but while it SHOULD main event its own PPV, it won’t work if Strowman’s going to win.

Miz vs Tye Dillinger (w/ Daniel Bryan) (IC Championship) Tye Debuting and taking over Daniel’s spot as the hardest working underdog that the crowd eats up with the 10/Yes chants should be super easy and a big win. Miz needs to get the IC title back ASAP. He’s money and great to establish Dillinger as the perfect analog for Bryan, but it has to happen now.

Note: I would LOVE to see Miz win the WWE Championship and carry it for a long while to build up to Mania next year against Bryan or a worthwhile next generation star (Nakamura comes to mind)

Chris Jericho vs Rusev (US Championship) Huge step for Jericho’s impending full face turn. Rusev deserves the match.

Alexa Bliss vs Mickie James (SD Womens)

Samoa Joe vs John Cena Joe should attack Cena at the Rumble or Chamber.

Sheamus/Cesaro vs (Team that can GO) (Raw Tag Titles) I’d love to see 2 Cruisers established as a team, but New Day works. They need time. Watch those last few New Day/SC matches. Super solid stuff. I want to see Sheamus/Cesaro make the tag titles a big deal again. They need more real teams though.

American Alpha vs Breezango (SD Tag Titles) The fact that Breezango isn’t being used on TV EVERY WEEK, let alone not being the Tag Champs, is a sin. They are built for quick backstage promo entertainment and in ring they’re super solid. Alpha needs the character bits too. Ambrose vs Shane McMahon (No DQ Stipulation) They seemed to hint at this a bit back and dropped it. Unhinged Ambrose is needed.

Sami Zayn vs Roman Reigns I think these two will mesh well and tell a great story. Not sure what sets it off, but give it a worthwhile story and some time.

Filling Gaps

Ziggler vs Orton See above Baron Corbin vs Big Show

Cass/Zo w/ Rock & Legends Segment - Turns into match against someone (Wyatts & The Club are the spotlight leftover dudes that should probably be on the show) somehow

There are a ton of dudes/chicks that I missed, but I’m not a pile them in one match type.

There you go. -Pryde

#nerdsandmarks #wwe #wweroyalrumble #royalrumble #wrestlemania #wrestlemania33 #wrestlemaniaorlando

2 notes · View notes