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WrestleMania is the biggest event in professional wrestling. It's so large that it actually winds up crossing over into other spheres of pop culture. Wrestlers appear on talk shows to promote it, for example. There was even a Scooby Doo! movie released a couple of weeks ago. There are people who watch it who aren't even particularly large fans of pro wrestling who order it on PPV with a few friends. It's an event, much like the Super Bowl -- wait, can I say "Super Bowl," or do I have to say "the big game" like all the advertisements? -- is an event. For both causal fans and the more hardcore, it's a must-see experience every year. It is also something that makes Las Vegas a good chunk of money, as people from far and wide wager on the outcomes. Yes, even in a sport that is scripted, that's something that goes on. It speaks to how airtight the WWE is, doesn't it? That the match results don't get out is impressive, especially in this day and age.
I've decided to predict the winners for you here, for no reason other than I thought it might be fun. Some of the matches seem to have pretty obvious outcomes, but this card could offer more than a couple of surprises. Without further ado, here are my predictions:
Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match (WWE Tag Team Championship on the line)
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The Competitors: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. Los Matadores (Diego and Fernando) vs. The Real Americans (Cesaro and Jack Swagger) vs. RybAxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel)
Prediction: The Usos come into the match as the defending WWE Tag Team Champions, and it's likely that they'll leave as WWE Tag Team Champions. Given the placement on the card (the Pre-Show), and that the Usos were only fairly recently given the belts, I don't see the title changing hands. The only team that has been built up to possibly take them is The Real Americans, but with their impending break-up, it wouldn't serve WWE well to give them the belts. It's likely that Cesaro and Jack Swagger fight with one another and that's what costs them the titles. In fact, I could see the true break-up happening on the Raw that follows WrestleMania XXX. Cesaro will be the face, and Jack Swagger will maintain his heel status.
Random thoughts: It's unfortunate that this match has been relegated to the Pre-Show, because at least some of these competitors deserve to be on the main program, and it's sure to be a very solid match.
Singles Match
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The Competitors: John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
Prediction: There is no bigger star in the WWE than John Cena. It seems everyone has a strong opinion of the man, one way or another. And it's for that reason that I think Bray Wyatt will come out on top. Wyatt (and his "family") is quickly becoming one of the top heels in the company, and a win over John Cena at WrestleMania would put him over the top. This man cuts some of the best promos out there, and he'll have the credibility to receive top billing with a win here. Hopefully it's a clean win, too. I don't want to see Harper or Rowan at all, or at the very least I don't want them to have any impact on the finish. Let Wyatt win clean and we have a new top heel.
Random thoughts: It's interesting to see Cena not in either the main event or in a title match. I can't remember the last WrestleMania at which this hasn't happened. That just goes to show you how important the WWE views establishing Wyatt. Wyatt, meanwhile will likely have his "family" be at ringside during the match, much to my chagrin, as both Harper and Rowans currently have nothing to do, and while Wyatt is the star of that stable, the other two have proven they've got what it takes to compete in singles competition, and they don't deserve to be left off the card.
André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
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The Competitors: Alberto Del Rio, Big E, Big Show, Brad Maddox, Brodus Clay, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, Darren Young, Dolph Ziggler, Fandango, Drew McIntyre, Goldust, The Great Khali, Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, Mark Henry, The Miz, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Sin Cara, Titus O'Neil, Zack Ryder, and 3 TBAs
Prediction: How do you predict the winner of a 30-man battle royal? It's a crapshoot, plain and simple. You can guess some of the guys who will make it to the end -- Alberto Del Rio, Big E, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus will probably all be there -- but as for the winner? It's anyone's guess. I'll go with Alberto Del Rio. With a clean win over Big E the other night, I could see him finally getting a push and getting that Intercontinental Championship. This is a mid-card tournament and its winner will likely be heading in that direction.
Random thoughts: This will likely not be a good match. There are too many people for anyone to really shine, and it's an obligatory "let's get all these people on the card" match. That it's in "honor" of André the Giant is a transparent excuse. A few people will get big spots, but it will be one of the three worst matches on the card. Given that there are three TBA spots, look for a couple of "shocking" appearances. I'd guess Rob Van Dam is making his return here. Alexander Rusev might make another 30-man match appearance (he was at the Royal Rumble, too, if you recall).
Singles Match (Spot in main event on the line)
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The Competitors: Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H
Prediction: At this point it certainly seems impossible that Daniel Bryan will not make it to the main event match later in the night. His underdog, against-all-odds storyline is inspirational and it would rob the WWE Universe of what it so clearly wants if he were to fail at this stage -- or any stage, I suppose. Still, I can't help but feel like Triple H or Stephanie McMahon will pull something. I could very easily see this match ending in a draw, or Triple H inserting himself into the main event even with a loss. The winner and loser of this match is less important than what its implications are for the main event. Look for Bryan to win, even if Triple H or Stephanie try to cheat him out of the victory.
Random thoughts: How amusing would it be for Bryan to lose? It doesn't have to be clean, but seeing Triple H in the main event, facing off against two of his former Evolution members, would be fantastic, even if it would cause a booking nightmare going forward. Triple H has worked fantastically as a troll character over the last several months, and upsetting the entirety of the WWE Universe by putting himself in the main event, over hero-boy Daniel Bryan, would give him an inordinate amount of heat. Don't anticipate that, though. The most logical root is for Bryan to win and go to the main event.
Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational (WWE Divas Championship on the line)
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The Competitors: AJ Lee, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Brie Bella, Cameron, Emma, Eva Marie, Layla, Naomi, Natalya, Nikki Bella, Rosa Mendes, Summer Rae, and Tamina Snuka
Prediction: AJ Lee retains! Okay, so I'm a pretty big fan of AJ Lee, but this does seem the direction that the WWE is going with this. The match has been built up to be AJ vs. The World -- save, maybe, for a confusing half-turn by her bodyguard, Tamina -- and I can certainly see her retaining. It's either that, or Tamina wins it. One of those two have to win, as they need to feud and the title has to be on the line with that feud. That's all that the Diva division has going for it right now. How sad is that?
Random thoughts: If anyone besides AJ or Tamina wins, the Divas division will sink even further. It would indicate a decision to promote Total Divas over actual wrestling. The match also should never have included the entire roster. Someone like Aksana or Cameron might injure one of the Divas who can actually wrestle. Remember what happened to Naomi a month back? It should have been a 6-way match between AJ, Emma, Layla, Naomi, Natalya, and Tamina. That would have resulted in a much better match, too. As it is, this is likely going to be the stinker of the night.
Six-Man Tag Team Match
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The Competitors: The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) vs. Kane and The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn)
Prediction: This is a tough one (insert sarcasm font here). The Shield is going to win. There is no reason to push ageing veterans like Kane and The New Age Outlaws over up-and-comers like The Shield.
Random thoughts: I hate "Corporate" Kane. It's an insult to what Kane used to be. Hopefully Kane will go back to his "monster" gimmick shortly. I think he will, given that promoting the upcoming See No Evil 2 will be far more difficult if he's still "Corporate" Kane during that period. Nobody's scared of him at this point in time.
Singles Match
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The Competitors: The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman)
Prediction: The Undertaker's 21-0 WrestleMania streak is not going to be ended by a 36-year-old part-time wrestler. It doesn't help that WWE hasn't made any attempt to make Brock Lesnar seem like a credible threat to The Undertaker. No, that one F-5 on Raw isn't enough. The Undertaker will not lose at WrestleMania XXX.
Random thoughts: Current rumors have The Undertaker facing Sting at WrestleMania 31. That would, to me, mean that 'Taker has at least three matches left in him: The one coming up this Sunday, the match against Sting, and a final one, which would be his retirement. We wonder every year how much longer the WWE legend will continue, but this would seem to me like, as long as Lesnar doesn't ruin 'Taker's body (a possibility, given how stiff Lesnar likes to work), we'll get at least two more years of the Phenom at WrestleMania. Also, he looks in great shape right now. Better than the last couple of years, anyway.
Triple Threat Match (WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line)
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The Competitors: Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. TBD (vs. TBD?)
Prediction: I made the prediction back when Batista returned that he will walk out of WrestleMania as a champion. My logic was that this would have been promised to him as a way of saying "thanks" for coming back for a couple of years. I'm going to pick him as the winner of this match, regardless of whether Triple H, Daniel Bryan, or both wind up in the match with him and Randy Orton. Yes, the popular pick would be Daniel Bryan, but I see him feuding with Batista after this match for the title, and eventually claiming it at Battleground. Batista will have to leave to promote Guardians of the Galaxy anyway, so being the champion wouldn't serve WWE's best interests. It might make sense for Triple H to not be in this match, so he and Bryan's feud will have concluded and Bryan won't have that hanging over his head when he fights with Batista.
Random thoughts: Randy Orton has been sort of a terrible champion this time around, huh? He's been relegated primarily to the background and hasn't even been competing that much. He has no chance of winning this match. I'm glad that the match wound up being more than just him and Batista, because that would have been a terrible main event.
<color=D6D9DA>_________________________________________________________________________________
So, there are my predictions for Sunday's WrestleMania XXX. I hope it's a good one. I welcome your thoughts, both on my predictions and what you think will happen. Happy WrestleMania weekend, everyone!
<color=D6D9DA>_________________________________________________________________________________
If you wish to be notified whenever I post something new, please join this <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/2-50-Reviews>user group.
For an archive of all my previous WWE reviews, please go <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.846764-Marters-WWE-Reviews-Archive>here.
Talk to me on the Twitter, <url=https://twitter.com/martertweet>@martertweet.
WrestleMania is the biggest event in professional wrestling. It's so large that it actually winds up crossing over into other spheres of pop culture. Wrestlers appear on talk shows to promote it, for example. There was even a Scooby Doo! movie released a couple of weeks ago. There are people who watch it who aren't even particularly large fans of pro wrestling who order it on PPV with a few friends. It's an event, much like the Super Bowl -- wait, can I say "Super Bowl," or do I have to say "the big game" like all the advertisements? -- is an event. For both causal fans and the more hardcore, it's a must-see experience every year. It is also something that makes Las Vegas a good chunk of money, as people from far and wide wager on the outcomes. Yes, even in a sport that is scripted, that's something that goes on. It speaks to how airtight the WWE is, doesn't it? That the match results don't get out is impressive, especially in this day and age.
I've decided to predict the winners for you here, for no reason other than I thought it might be fun. Some of the matches seem to have pretty obvious outcomes, but this card could offer more than a couple of surprises. Without further ado, here are my predictions:
Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match (WWE Tag Team Championship on the line)
http://i55.servimg.com/u/f55/16/09/70/40/clipb591.jpg
The Competitors: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. Los Matadores (Diego and Fernando) vs. The Real Americans (Cesaro and Jack Swagger) vs. RybAxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel)
Prediction: The Usos come into the match as the defending WWE Tag Team Champions, and it's likely that they'll leave as WWE Tag Team Champions. Given the placement on the card (the Pre-Show), and that the Usos were only fairly recently given the belts, I don't see the title changing hands. The only team that has been built up to possibly take them is The Real Americans, but with their impending break-up, it wouldn't serve WWE well to give them the belts. It's likely that Cesaro and Jack Swagger fight with one another and that's what costs them the titles. In fact, I could see the true break-up happening on the Raw that follows WrestleMania XXX. Cesaro will be the face, and Jack Swagger will maintain his heel status.
Random thoughts: It's unfortunate that this match has been relegated to the Pre-Show, because at least some of these competitors deserve to be on the main program, and it's sure to be a very solid match.
Singles Match
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The Competitors: John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
Prediction: There is no bigger star in the WWE than John Cena. It seems everyone has a strong opinion of the man, one way or another. And it's for that reason that I think Bray Wyatt will come out on top. Wyatt (and his "family") is quickly becoming one of the top heels in the company, and a win over John Cena at WrestleMania would put him over the top. This man cuts some of the best promos out there, and he'll have the credibility to receive top billing with a win here. Hopefully it's a clean win, too. I don't want to see Harper or Rowan at all, or at the very least I don't want them to have any impact on the finish. Let Wyatt win clean and we have a new top heel.
Random thoughts: It's interesting to see Cena not in either the main event or in a title match. I can't remember the last WrestleMania at which this hasn't happened. That just goes to show you how important the WWE views establishing Wyatt. Wyatt, meanwhile will likely have his "family" be at ringside during the match, much to my chagrin, as both Harper and Rowans currently have nothing to do, and while Wyatt is the star of that stable, the other two have proven they've got what it takes to compete in singles competition, and they don't deserve to be left off the card.
André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
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The Competitors: Alberto Del Rio, Big E, Big Show, Brad Maddox, Brodus Clay, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, Darren Young, Dolph Ziggler, Fandango, Drew McIntyre, Goldust, The Great Khali, Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, Mark Henry, The Miz, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Sin Cara, Titus O'Neil, Zack Ryder, and 3 TBAs
Prediction: How do you predict the winner of a 30-man battle royal? It's a crapshoot, plain and simple. You can guess some of the guys who will make it to the end -- Alberto Del Rio, Big E, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus will probably all be there -- but as for the winner? It's anyone's guess. I'll go with Alberto Del Rio. With a clean win over Big E the other night, I could see him finally getting a push and getting that Intercontinental Championship. This is a mid-card tournament and its winner will likely be heading in that direction.
Random thoughts: This will likely not be a good match. There are too many people for anyone to really shine, and it's an obligatory "let's get all these people on the card" match. That it's in "honor" of André the Giant is a transparent excuse. A few people will get big spots, but it will be one of the three worst matches on the card. Given that there are three TBA spots, look for a couple of "shocking" appearances. I'd guess Rob Van Dam is making his return here. Alexander Rusev might make another 30-man match appearance (he was at the Royal Rumble, too, if you recall).
Singles Match (Spot in main event on the line)
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The Competitors: Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H
Prediction: At this point it certainly seems impossible that Daniel Bryan will not make it to the main event match later in the night. His underdog, against-all-odds storyline is inspirational and it would rob the WWE Universe of what it so clearly wants if he were to fail at this stage -- or any stage, I suppose. Still, I can't help but feel like Triple H or Stephanie McMahon will pull something. I could very easily see this match ending in a draw, or Triple H inserting himself into the main event even with a loss. The winner and loser of this match is less important than what its implications are for the main event. Look for Bryan to win, even if Triple H or Stephanie try to cheat him out of the victory.
Random thoughts: How amusing would it be for Bryan to lose? It doesn't have to be clean, but seeing Triple H in the main event, facing off against two of his former Evolution members, would be fantastic, even if it would cause a booking nightmare going forward. Triple H has worked fantastically as a troll character over the last several months, and upsetting the entirety of the WWE Universe by putting himself in the main event, over hero-boy Daniel Bryan, would give him an inordinate amount of heat. Don't anticipate that, though. The most logical root is for Bryan to win and go to the main event.
Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational (WWE Divas Championship on the line)
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The Competitors: AJ Lee, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Brie Bella, Cameron, Emma, Eva Marie, Layla, Naomi, Natalya, Nikki Bella, Rosa Mendes, Summer Rae, and Tamina Snuka
Prediction: AJ Lee retains! Okay, so I'm a pretty big fan of AJ Lee, but this does seem the direction that the WWE is going with this. The match has been built up to be AJ vs. The World -- save, maybe, for a confusing half-turn by her bodyguard, Tamina -- and I can certainly see her retaining. It's either that, or Tamina wins it. One of those two have to win, as they need to feud and the title has to be on the line with that feud. That's all that the Diva division has going for it right now. How sad is that?
Random thoughts: If anyone besides AJ or Tamina wins, the Divas division will sink even further. It would indicate a decision to promote Total Divas over actual wrestling. The match also should never have included the entire roster. Someone like Aksana or Cameron might injure one of the Divas who can actually wrestle. Remember what happened to Naomi a month back? It should have been a 6-way match between AJ, Emma, Layla, Naomi, Natalya, and Tamina. That would have resulted in a much better match, too. As it is, this is likely going to be the stinker of the night.
Six-Man Tag Team Match
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The Competitors: The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) vs. Kane and The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn)
Prediction: This is a tough one (insert sarcasm font here). The Shield is going to win. There is no reason to push ageing veterans like Kane and The New Age Outlaws over up-and-comers like The Shield.
Random thoughts: I hate "Corporate" Kane. It's an insult to what Kane used to be. Hopefully Kane will go back to his "monster" gimmick shortly. I think he will, given that promoting the upcoming See No Evil 2 will be far more difficult if he's still "Corporate" Kane during that period. Nobody's scared of him at this point in time.
Singles Match
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The Competitors: The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman)
Prediction: The Undertaker's 21-0 WrestleMania streak is not going to be ended by a 36-year-old part-time wrestler. It doesn't help that WWE hasn't made any attempt to make Brock Lesnar seem like a credible threat to The Undertaker. No, that one F-5 on Raw isn't enough. The Undertaker will not lose at WrestleMania XXX.
Random thoughts: Current rumors have The Undertaker facing Sting at WrestleMania 31. That would, to me, mean that 'Taker has at least three matches left in him: The one coming up this Sunday, the match against Sting, and a final one, which would be his retirement. We wonder every year how much longer the WWE legend will continue, but this would seem to me like, as long as Lesnar doesn't ruin 'Taker's body (a possibility, given how stiff Lesnar likes to work), we'll get at least two more years of the Phenom at WrestleMania. Also, he looks in great shape right now. Better than the last couple of years, anyway.
Triple Threat Match (WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line)
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The Competitors: Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. TBD (vs. TBD?)
Prediction: I made the prediction back when Batista returned that he will walk out of WrestleMania as a champion. My logic was that this would have been promised to him as a way of saying "thanks" for coming back for a couple of years. I'm going to pick him as the winner of this match, regardless of whether Triple H, Daniel Bryan, or both wind up in the match with him and Randy Orton. Yes, the popular pick would be Daniel Bryan, but I see him feuding with Batista after this match for the title, and eventually claiming it at Battleground. Batista will have to leave to promote Guardians of the Galaxy anyway, so being the champion wouldn't serve WWE's best interests. It might make sense for Triple H to not be in this match, so he and Bryan's feud will have concluded and Bryan won't have that hanging over his head when he fights with Batista.
Random thoughts: Randy Orton has been sort of a terrible champion this time around, huh? He's been relegated primarily to the background and hasn't even been competing that much. He has no chance of winning this match. I'm glad that the match wound up being more than just him and Batista, because that would have been a terrible main event.
<color=D6D9DA>_________________________________________________________________________________
So, there are my predictions for Sunday's WrestleMania XXX. I hope it's a good one. I welcome your thoughts, both on my predictions and what you think will happen. Happy WrestleMania weekend, everyone!
<color=D6D9DA>_________________________________________________________________________________
If you wish to be notified whenever I post something new, please join this <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/2-50-Reviews>user group.
For an archive of all my previous WWE reviews, please go <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.846764-Marters-WWE-Reviews-Archive>here.
Talk to me on the Twitter, <url=https://twitter.com/martertweet>@martertweet.