We're just a few days away from the ultimate thrill ride! However, some of the matches seem a little lacklustre. I hope we will be pleasantly surprised by it but at the moment, I'm far more excited by the matches on the NXT Takeover: Orlando card despite the fact that there is a much larger number of matches on the 'Mania card.
Nevertheless, here's what we think will happen.
Cruiserweight Championship:
Neville (c) v Austin Aries
Neville has been in top form as the King of the Cruiserweights but Austin Aries has been riding a wave of popularity and victories since he came back from injury. It's very difficult to call. The Cruiserweight Championship has changed hands several times in it's short history but then it is the only gold in the whole division. I can see Aries taking another victory as he rides his momentum which will then mean Neville needs to up his game and mean streak to get it back over the next month.
Prediction: Austin Aries
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
For full details, see the recent post.
Prediction: Braun Strowman
John Cena & Nikki Bella v The Miz & Maryse
This match has really failed to excite. Mixed tag matches always seem stupid because when one team tags the other has to tag. It's effectively two single matches alternately going on at one time. The Miz has done well to make this feud entertaining and deserves a victory. He has been on top of his game since the brand split. Maryse hasn't wrestled in quite a while and she should also be picking up a victory in her first match in a while.
John Cena is relegated to this after his record equalling 16th world championship. You'd expect him to take a victory, but Bella and Cena have enough wins behind them to suffer a defeat here and Miz and Maryse need it more, so I'm leaning towards them.
Prediction: Miz and Maryse
Shane McMahon v AJ Styles
AJ Styles is a full time superstar. One of the biggest the company has at the moment. He should have a bigger match than this. As much as I love Shane-O-Mac, this isn't the level of match that Styles should be having after his debut year. He was probably considered as an opponent for 'Taker and that would have been a much more enjoyable match. He would have fitted the mould of some of the Phenom's recent opponents whose arrogance has made them think they were the one to end the Streak. Anyway, there's no way Shane beats a star this big.
Prediction: AJ Styles
Intercontinental Championship:
Dean Ambrose (c) v Baron Corbin
Corbin has had a great year since winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale at his main roster debut. He's on the up whereas Ambrose has been meandering without any real direction. It doesn't make sense for the Lunatic Fringe to retain here because he's not really been doing much with the title whereas Corbin could use it to enhance his character and standing on the blue brand.
Prediction: Baron Corbin
Smackdown Women's Championship:
Alexa Bliss (c) v Every available member of the women's division
Raw may have the bigger female stars, but Smackdown has a much deeper women's division. They are using this match to get them all on the card for this match. We already knew that Carmella, Natalya, Becky Lynch and Mickie James were going to be a part of this match. On Smackdown, Naomi made her return to claim her part in a match for the title that she never lost.
There is the possibility that there might be another surprise entrant. Nikki and Maryse can probably be ruled out due to the fact they have another match up. Eva Marie is a possibility although since the shambles of her big entrance and suspension it's doubtful whether they have any plans for her still. This leaves a possible NXT call up with Asuka being the most likely candidate having been the NXT Women's Champion for a year. If she does make that leap, you'd expect her to take the title.
The match has been announced as a six-pack challenge so I'm not expecting any last minute additions, especially as it's on the kick-off show.
Prediction: Naomi
Triple Threat Ladder Match:
Raw Tag Team Championship:
The Club (c) v Enzo & Big Cass v Sheamus & Cesaro
Sheamus seems to be getting more and more over as time goes by. Which is great, because he was being underutilised as a heel. I want the Club to retain. They deserve a bit more of a title run. Enzo and Cass have not held gold either here or in NXT and as one of the most popular teams, the should be given a run at some point. It's too early in the Club's reign for them to drop the belts though and they deserve a Wrestlemania moment.
Prediction: The Club
Fatal 4 Way
Raw Women's Championship:
Bayley (c) v Sasha Banks v Nia Jax v Charlotte Flair
As mentioned, the Raw Women's division is a bit thin. Aside from these four, I can only think of Dana Brooke and they probably need to shake things up a bit. Sasha Banks and Charlotte have held the title on several occasions each, and so I can only see either Bayley retaining or Nia taking her first title victory. Charlotte's PPV record ended with minimal ceremony at Fastlane so the can actually have her take an early exit. I think perhaps Sasha eliminates her before Charlotte takes her revenge and injures Banks enough for Jax to take an easy pinfall.
Nia is the unstoppable force of the women's division so unless we see the others ganging up on her, I think she's taking home the gold here.
Prediction: Nia Jax
Predicted order of elimination: Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Bayley
US Championship:
Chris Jericho (c) v Kevin Owens
I was so disappointed when the best friends storyline came to an end. It was the best thing about Raw.
I feel bad for KO as he had to drop the Universal Title just so that Goldberg v Lesnar could have some gold surrounding it. He has a chance to pick up the US Championship here as a consolation.
KO is the future of the company whereas Jericho is a veteran who doesn't need a push. Fozzy are on tour in May and so it seems likely that Jericho will drop the belt at some point before then. Whether it is here or at Payback at the end of April is difficult to call.
Whilst me and the fans would love it if Jericho retained her and KO got his comeuppance, I can see him getting the belt as the consolation prize.
Prediction: Kevin Owens
The Undertaker v Roman Reigns
I really hope Roman doesn't win here, unless he takes the much needed heel turn. I could accept Reigns having his hand raised if he comes out of this not as a good guy, not as a guy, as a bad guy. This match hasn't really been built up at all. This is partly due to the Undertaker only being a part timer, but that didn't stop Bray Wyatt from elevating their match a couple of years ago. 'Taker should come out victorious just because of how he has been protected.
Prediction: The Undertaker
WWE Championship:
Bray Wyatt (c) v Randy Orton
Bray Wyatt had the better of Orton in their clashes at the end of last year. Orton putting him over again after the way he has been under cover in the Wyatt family to find Bray's weakness and then going to the extreme of burning down the Wyatt compound seems unlikely. If Orton can't beat him after all of that, then it will either play out as Orton being really weak or Wyatt being incredible strong. I can't see Bray retaining here unfortunately. Bray's title run will unfortunately be a short one.
Prediction: Randy Orton
WWE Universal Championship:
Goldberg (c) v Brock Lesnar
For full details, see the recent post.
Prediction: Brock Lesnar
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