WrestleMania 33 Predictions

Image Source: Wikipedia

Written By: Mark Armstrong

It's the biggest day of the year in the wrestling calendar. The day that fans look forward to the most, and the day that the wrestlers themselves strive towards through years of hard work and perseverance. For some, the goal is to triumph in one of the main event matches and create a timeless moment; for others, just getting there and appearing on the show in any spot is a major achievement in its own right. It's WrestleMania, and WM 33 looks set to be one of the most memorable in a long time with many matches that are either culminating long storylines and feuds, have the potential to create jaw-dropping moments or are simply contenders to steal the show from an in-ring standpoint.

As is tradition, I have listed my match predictions for each bout below, whilst providing some context as to why the matches are happening and why certain results seem more obvious than others. I've also added in some thoughts as to what may be the standout moment of the night, and what (if any) surprises we may get in the process.

Kick-Off Show

1. Neville vs. Austin Aries (Cruiserweight Championship)

Although this is now on the Kick-Off Show, fans are expecting this to be a potential show-stealer, and for good reason, as everyone knows that both men can deliver a pretty thrilling encounter. Pitted against one another, and as the first representation of cruiserweight action in WWE at WrestleMania since WM XX, both will be desperate to shine. This has been set up pretty well, with Aries - previously on NXT, but a well-travelled and well-respected competitor in ROH and TNA before then - morphing from the cruiserweight division's colour commentator to rival and contender for Neville, the self-proclaimed King Of The Cruiserweights, who has shone since turning heel at Roadblock and capturing the purple title at Royal Rumble.

Neville winning wouldn't be a major surprise at all, but I am expecting an Aries win and therefore a title change, so that the night's festivities kick off (sorry for the pun) with a bang. I just hope that the stadium is fairly full when WWE sends these two out to the ring to avoid the almost-empty venue feel to Kalisto vs. Ryback from last year.

Prediction: Austin Aries

2. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

This simply has to be a victory for Braun Strowman. Big Show doesn't need the win again, despite the disappointment of his match with Shaq not happening. Sami Zayn would be a good choice as a runner-up, teasing that he could pull off a massive upset by eliminating familiar foe Braun. But nothing should stop Strowman here, who has surpassed expectations in his monster heel run on Raw.

The alternative is that a surprise entrant wins this one, just like Baron Corbin did when he unexpectedly appeared on behalf of NXT and claimed the win last year. With this being on the Kick-Off Show, however, any surprises would likely be minimal, so I'm going for the safe bet by picking BRRRAAAUUUNNNNNN!

Prediction: Braun Strowman

Main Show

1. The Club vs. Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Enzo Amore & Big Cass (Raw Tag Team Championship Ladder Match)

This match will probably open the main card, since Enzo & Cass excel in the role of getting an already-hot crowd fired up by being the first wrestlers out of the curtain. There hasn't really been a story to this one, except for the obvious: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have the titles, and Sheamus & Cesaro and Enzo & Cass want them.

This is now a Ladder match, which raises the possibility of a certain ladder-obsessed tag team making a grand return to WWE. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this will happen because, let's face it, this three-team rivalry very suddenly added ladders to the fray on Raw last Monday, for no real reason. With The New Day as hosts, it's possible that they will use their "power" (of positivity?) to add Matt and Jeff Hardy to this match, leading to a huge Mania moment and a Hardyz reunion. Some may be desperate to see "Broken" Matt, legal issues notwithstanding, but whichever version (no pun intended) that we get, I'm expecting the Hardyz to deliver a standout WrestleMania moment of the night, should they make a return that fans are absolutely desperate to see.

Prediction: The Hardyz

2. SmackDown Women's Championship Match

The story hasn't been very in-depth for this bout, either, since the goal seems to be solely for the females involved to have their Mania moment, which is understandable. Having been announced for the main card, and then moved to the Kick-Off Show, this is now back on the PPV due to fan pressure, which has to be considered a good thing.

I still don't expect it to be given much time, nor much in the way of storyline advancement, although the return of several females to WWE has been hinted at fairly strongly. Nevertheless, I still think that Alexa Bliss will win, and defend her title against former ally Mickie James (or the returning-from-injury Naomi) in the weeks to come.

Prediction: Alexa Bliss

3. Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin (Intercontinental Championship)

Set up by various Corbin attacks on Ambrose dating back to Elimination Chamber, including the Lone Wolf basically dropping a forklift pallet across Dean's chest and throat, this should be a decent if uneventful mid-card clash for the Intercontinental crown.

I see no reason for Dean to win this; although Baron hasn't yet reached his full potential, Corbin would benefit most from winning this match, without question. I could see Ambrose winning and Corbin capturing the IC gold at a later date, but all things considered, this has to be Baron's night to shine, and giving him a second major WrestleMania victory at that.

Prediction: Baron Corbin

4. John Cena & Nikki Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse

Despite some great promos to set this one up, the match still seems like a waste of Cena, who still has plenty to offer WWE. The match itself will be okay, but it's bizarre that a Cena match at WrestleMania should feel like filler, as this one does. The other problem is that, although Cena has delivered some fantastic promos to set this up, he and Nikki remain unlikeable as a couple, meaning that fans can't root for them as much as WWE would like. Let's face it, there is definitely an element of truth to the insinuation that the Bellas' careers were advanced due to their relationships with Cena and Daniel Bryan; hell, Brie and Nikki had actually left WWE to little attention in 2012, before Total Divas featuring said relationships made them big stars from 2013 onwards.

There have been whispers about Cena proposing to Nikki, for real, after the match (which I assume the babyfaces will win). It'd make for a memorable Mania moment if this happened, even if their relationship is more of an annoyance (at least when it comes to Nikki) than heartwarming entertainment.

Prediction: John Cena & Nikki Bella

5. AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon

A match which was universally hated when first announced, supposedly in the storyline for Styles to get on the WM card (would he have been left off it?), AJ vs. Shane has since raised excitement levels due to the fact that, in all likelihood, we're going to be treated to some sort of insane stunt by Shane O Mac, given that we've already seen the announcer's-table-elbow to Styles on SmackDown. Given the presence of a mock rollercoaster for the aisleway, there is real intrigue (and concern, to be fair) as to what Shane will almost certainly leap off. It may not be as good - actually, it wouldn't have been as good - as an AJ vs. Shawn Michaels bout which HBK says he was offered and declined, but it'll still be plenty of fun.

An AJ victory seems certain, although WWE may swerve the audience and deliver a Shane win. However, there's no justification for this, especially if McMahon does deliver an unforgettable stunt, and the fans are desperate for AJ to turn babyface, anyway. Look for Shane to win here, and AJ to go face at SmackDown two nights later.

Prediction: AJ Styles

6. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte vs. Nia Jax (Raw Women's Championship Elimination Match)

This match will now be contested under elimination rules, which throws an element of doubt over the result since it will be harder for WWE to protect, say, Nia Jax if three of the ladies have to lose in some form. In the case of Jax, I don't think it is her time to become champion, yet, and we've seen Charlotte holding the title enough over the last 18 months, even though she is arguably the best all-round female talent in WWE.

That leaves Bayley and Sasha, who could deliver a superb final section of the match. Given that a Sasha heel turn is almost a certainty, I am expecting one of two things: Sasha will either turn heel on Bayley en route to winning the title, or Banks will go rogue on Bayley the next night on Raw in response to a Bayley win here. I'm picking the latter, and Bayley will have her WrestleMania moment whilst building a feud with the heel-turning Sasha.

Prediction: Bayley

7. Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens (United States Championship)

The best friends turned bitter rivals are set to pay off a really good storyline, which began way back in the summer, as Jeri-KO formed shortly before SummerSlam, and really blossomed once Owens captured the Universal Championship. Given the talent that the two men possess, this has the potential to be one of the card's stronger encounters. I actually don't see this being a five-star epic unless they're given a good 25-30 minutes, which is unlikely, but I do believe that fans will be well into this one and that the performances will match the atmosphere.

I'm expecting a Jericho win here. A victory for KO may seem smarter in the long run, but WWE likes to deliver at least one surprise outcome, and this match is most likely to receive that treatment. It also allows the feud to continue for another month, when Owens will win and probably sideline Jericho to end his latest WWE tenure.

Prediction: Chris Jericho

8. Seth Rollins vs. Triple H (Unsanctioned Match)

This match was in jeopardy due to another injury for Rollins, which must have concerned WWE (and obviously the two participants) since the seeds were sown back in August for a match that has been years in the making. Fortunately, Seth recovered just in time for Mania, having missed the show last year, although it was only truly confirmed this past week on Raw. I'm expecting this to be a really exciting brawl, with plenty of weapons-based spots, and almost certainly a Pedigree through an announcer's table for one of the combatants. I expect a returning Finn Balor to combat Samoa Joe at ringside, allowing Rollins to not be deterred by beating HHH. He may break out the old Curb Stomp as a way to consign his use of the Pedigree to history, though it seems unlikely at present.

It's worth wondering if this will be HHH's final match. Although he can still go in the ring, he'll be 48 this year, he has no other obvious opponents to face in the future and, having gone part-time in 2011, he's even admitted that he'd like to retire. This might be the way for The Game to officially be declared over.

Prediction: Seth Rollins

9. The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns

This clash, which will decide "who runs the yard", will either mark a truly major moment in history, or it will breed massive outrage. If the scuttlebutt is to be believed, Reigns will almost certainly be winning this match, which would not only reduce the impact of Brock Lesnar ending The Streak at WM XXX, but for highly unpopular babyface Reigns to hand Taker his second Mania defeat, even at this point, would be a disaster. Even if the match is a classic (and I think it will be good, but not that good), no fan will truly accept that scenario should WWE deliver it.

Only a Roman heel turn (which has been teased) could make this acceptable, but if rumours of this being Taker's last match are true, would he really want to go out on a screwjob-style finish? It's a dumpster fire scenario, which is why I think Taker should win. On paper, Reigns should be victorious, but unless he goes heel in the process, I can't imagine how WWE can successfully present this outcome.  I am going to predict a Roman win, but unless he goes heel, I'd sooner see Taker come out on top. If nothing else, all eyes will be on this match.

Prediction: Roman Reigns

10. Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton (WWE Championship)

The storyline for this match, initially just another feud, has been brilliant. Orton unexpectedly joined The Wyatt Family and took his time to earn Bray's full trust so that he could completely destroy it from within, which includes torching the Wyatt compound in spectacular fashion. All of which sets the table nicely for this WWE Championship match.

I believe Wyatt will win this match, with help from a reunited Family. Putting the title on Orton would achieve nothing at this point, and a controversial finish allows for a rematch in the future. Wyatt needs the win and he should get it, albeit with assistance. The bout should be a good one, although I can't envision it being the match of the night.

Prediction: Bray Wyatt

11. Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar (Universal Championship)

Unlike some people, I've loved the set-up for this: Lesnar, the dominant beast, runs into another dominant beast in Goldberg, leading to his destruction and Goldberg being the one foe who can stop Brock. Goldberg couldn't have been booked better during this unexpected comeback run, in stark contrast to his initial WWE tenue. That being said, Lesnar has to win this one, having been portrayed as second-best to Goldberg after being the unstoppable Beast Incarnate for so long. Besides, this match marks the end of Goldberg's current WWE run, so Brock is a dead cert to become WWE Universal Champion.

As for the match itself, I'm expecting it to live up to expectations and to be a 10-15 minute smash-mouth brawl. Far from another 90-second scrap (although I think they will tease as such with a close false finish at the very beginning), I think this will pleasantly surprise people and may be unexpectedly violent and bloody. Indeed, their big-name stardom won't be the only reason why this match will likely go on last.

As stated, although I can understand fan resentment surrounding the match and its high stakes, I've actually really enjoyed this feud because it has been unpredictable, exciting, fresh and believable, and it has played to the strengths of the two characters, whilst making Lesnar vulnerable yet still intimidating. If the fans in Orlando give it a chance, I'm confident that it will succeed.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar

Miscellaneous

The other things to ponder about the show are the possible surprises. It's all been quiet regarding The Rock, but he has made unannounced appearances at Mania before. I am expecting him to appear in some form, even if it's via a pre-taped video. Kurt Angle will definitely appear alongside his fellow Hall Of Fame inductees, though I don't see his participation at Mania extending beyond this (I do see him re-entering the storylines proper on Raw, perhaps by becoming the new Raw GM). Any NXT call-ups will likely be on Raw and SmackDown, having become a trend of sorts over the last few years. Finally, I am going out on a limb and predicting a surprise return for Hulk Hogan, possibly in a backstage cameo and nothing more; I feel that fans are ready for Hulk to return, and with Hogan living in Florida (and having conveniently opened a shop in Orlando this week), the timing couldn't be better for Hulkamania to resurface.

As for what the moment of the night will be? I'm predicting that it comes from Reigns vs. Undertaker, whether that be due to a Roman heel turn, Undertaker officially retiring or simply the result. The probably explosive nature of Goldberg vs. Lesnar, the possible Cena proposal for Nikki and the potential comeback for the Hardyz in the Ladder match would be the other stand-out moments. Add to that the other possible returns, the Kurt Angle appearance and, of course, the matches which have the potential to be very good or better, as well as the probable red-hot crowd in Orlando and the stunning Citrus Bowl setting, complete with the theme park-esque stage, and you have the makings of one hell of a show.

Summary

Though some will disagree, I've really enjoyed the build-up to this year's WrestleMania. Easily beating the hype for WM 32, a show which admittedly struggled in part due to injuries, the Road To WM 33 has included several long-running and well-booked stories, a few surprises (especially on the SmackDown side), comebacks, injuries, title changes, swerves, turns and more. The card is as strong as one could realistically expect, even if you could mix and match a couple of names to deliver a truly mouth-watering line-up.

It's a demonstration of the power of WrestleMania that almost every U.S. and U.K. promotion of note has held shows in and around Orlando this week, solely to capitalise on the buzz of WM. And I'm confident that WrestleMania 33 will be one of the better Manias, if not a top-five WM show. There are so many questions that will be answered, there's the potential for some truly big surprise returns, and we're certain to witness some career-defining results and moments amongst a plethora of great performances by a roster containing many names which will either be making their Mania debuts, making their WWE returns or possibly making their career farewells.

It's the biggest night of the year, and the one prediction I am making is that WrestleMania 33 will live up to the major hype, and possibly even surpass it.

Predicting The WWE Draft 2016

Image Source: Wikipedia

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Exciting times are imminent with the 2016 WWE Draft, marking the second brand extension for the company, and the first time that the WWE roster will be split in nearly five years. With plenty of speculation as to who will end up where, this is my attempt to predict what will happen and what surprises, if any, may spring up as WWE prepares to chop itself in half.

To begin with, it's clear that Raw will have the largest roster of the two, primarily because of its three-hour television slot. At two hours, SmackDown could afford to utilise a similarly-sized roster to Raw, but many of its stars would either have minimal time for their matches or be ignored altogether. Therefore, I will design my fantasy rosters with a slight advantage for Raw. That being said, WWE will ensure that the line-ups remain equal, so from a quality standpoint, hopefully one won't be too superior to the other.

With that out of the way, let's address the other elephant in the room: the title situation. When it was announced, it was assumed that, with the exception of the Intercontinental and United States Titles, each champion (or champions, in the case of the doubles straps) would roam between both brands. However, given the news that both brands will hold a PPV event every month, with the exception of the "Big Four", this now seems less likely. Although I don't consider it to be the best option, I think that WWE will provide each brand with its own World Champion; it's the only feasible way to deliver 20 PPV events a year without over-exposing the talent. However, I predict that the Women's and Tag Titles will each find a home on separate brands along with their respective divisions.

Okay, now let's predict the rosters. When the split was first announced, most assumed that John Cena and Roman Reigns would each be separated, and given the chance to be the leading face of their respective brands (even if, in Roman's case, the babyface push is proving futile). But recent developments have changed everything.

Cena has only wrestled once since his return on May 30, unless we count his unnecessary squash match with Karl Anderson a few weeks back. He's also apparently set to compete on only select live events in future. Therefore, Cena as the face of Raw or SmackDown seems less likely, since each brand's figurehead would theoretically have to be available for any and all dates. Meanwhile, Roman's suspension in late June has called into question whether he will receive the same push as he previously did, especially since fan reactions will be worse than ever upon his return. Adding to the confusion, Brock Lesnar could be facing a suspension of his own given a potential violation prior to his UFC 200 fight with Mark Hunt. Therefore, the Draft is now much harder to predict.

Since he is the current WWE Champion, I would have to suggest that Dean Ambrose is the undisputed first pick as things stand; and, since Stephanie McMahon loathes Ambrose, Shane (or the yet-to-be-named SmackDown General Manager, depending on who gets to make the picks) is most likely to pick up the Lunatic Fringe, bringing the WWE Title to the blue brand. The immediate reaction by Stephanie (or the also-unknown Raw GM) will be to choose someone who Shane felt wouldn't be touched by his sister, that being the suspended Reigns. As well as providing a mini-surprise, it also opens the door to a potential Reigns heel turn, aligning himself with Stephanie (which surely has to happen soon given recent events). SmackDown will then cover its bases ahead of the all-Shield main event by picking Seth Rollins (who will openly question why his old Authority pal didn't automatically select him from the beginning).

I mentioned earlier how John Cena is now less likely to be the face of a brand, meaning that WWE could now have him and Reigns co-exist on the same brand, which could also set up a future big-time main event, which is why I predict that Cena will be Raw's second pick. This may make SmackDown look weak, but no worry: the Tuesday show has an ace up its sleeve by picking Brock Lesnar (who was meant to return on the Draft show, before news leaked of his potential violation). Raw's third pick will be AJ Styles, for two reasons: to guarantee a strong wrestling presence on Monday nights, and to allow the Cena-Styles feud to continue until SummerSlam, where a new World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned. Where that leaves Reigns for SummerSlam is unknown; but unless WWE is planning a multi-brand Shield rematch for SummerSlam, at least one of the former Hounds Of Justice will have to find a new opponent before the biggest PPV of the summer.

The same logic for keeping Cena and Styles together will be used to explain Randy Orton being named SmackDown's fourth pick ahead of his currently-scheduled SSlam battle with Brock. In response, Raw will look to capture the biggest name possible, and that comes in the form of The Undertaker, who I believe will make an appearance, but will be attached to Raw in name only, at least until the hype begins for a probable Undertaker-Cena match at WrestleMania 33 (and this pick keeps both men on the same show). Having sealed some top names, SmackDown will look to the future for its fifth pick by selecting Kevin Owens, who won't be impressed that Shane will still technically be his boss. His mood will change, however, when Raw reacts by picking Sami Zayn, guaranteeing that the Owens-Zayn clash at Battleground will draw a line (for now) under their feud.

Because Kevin Owens still wants his Intercontinental Title back, KO will convince Shane or the SmackDown GM to pick The Miz next so that the IC Title is on SmackDown (assuming he beats Darren Young at Battleground, which he probably will), which in turn will persuade Raw to make sure that Rusev and the United States Title are on the red brand. The stakes are raised slightly next as SmackDown's seventh pick is Charlotte and her Women's Championship, with Raw responding by capturing The New Day and their WWE Tag Team Titles (they will be the only team who can be selected as such, because they're currently titleholders). Next up is a surprise selection as SmackDown looks for one of its past stars to recapture their past form, with that man being MVP (who has been rumoured with a WWE return lately). Not choosing to go down that route just yet, Raw's eighth choice is Bray Wyatt, whose Family remain at loggerheads with New Day. SmackDown establishes itself as the home of the women's division by picking Sasha Banks next, whilst Raw decides that it requires a big name next with its selection of Chris Jericho (drink it in, man). SmackDown rounds off its first ten picks by selecting Cesaro, who could challenge either male champion down the road. Raw's tenth and final pick is a big one, though: with an eye on the future, this is the moment that Finn Balor is finally introduced to the main roster, and its previous Bullet Club ties set up a ready-made storyline with AJ Styles sometime after SummerSlam.

Before the Draft show goes off the air, fans are informed that the remaining talent will be picked in the form of a lottery live on the WWE Network after this episode of SmackDown concludes. However, there is one final twist as Triple H makes a shock return and confronts Shane McMahon. HHH's reasoning will be that in his absence, Shane has disrupted the control of the Authority and taken away many of WWE's top names, as well as its heavyweight title (the resurrection of the WHC won't be announced until after Battleground). This acts as a set-up for HHH vs. Shane at SummerSlam with control of SmackDown at stake, with The Game's attempts to wrestle (no pun intended) control back to The Authority proving unsuccessful due to outside interference; perhaps it could be due to his one-time protégé Seth Rollins, reacting to the Authority snub in the Draft, which in turn lays the groundwork for an inter-brand HHH vs. Seth match at WrestleMania?

I won't go through the full details of why each of the remaining wrestlers will end up where, but I will make a few points before providing my full roster lists before. Firstly, as the above picks imply, Raw will be home to the tag team division, whilst SmackDown will be the base for the women's talent (which also increases the likelihood of a Women's Title match main eventing a PPV in the future). That being said, I envision some tag teams being split up, and possibly a couple of females ending up on Raw for shock factor (although they are likely to be valets or Superstars-level talent). On that subject, Superstars will go to Raw, and Main Event will belong to SmackDown.

Let's not forget, also, that WWE will throw in some shocks, regardless of the logic, just to make sure that fans are left surprised. Some of the NXT call-ups and former names that you see in the list below will be confirmed at Battleground or shortly afterwards, so that their promotions/returns have an impact, rather than on Draft night. In addition, the Raw roster will be slightly larger because of its third hour, but in terms of quality the two line-ups will be fairly equal (or as equal as WWE will allow, since it's inevitable that Raw will somehow end up the stronger of the two). I should mention here that The Rock will not be included because, let's face it, Rock will show up as and where he chooses, regardless of the Draft. Any stars that I list below as being NXT call-ups or returning names are just my guesses, so don't take this as evidence that these promotions or comebacks are 100% happening. Oh, and I forgot: I envision that WWE will have a shake-up of its announcer positions. I see Michael Cole and Mauro Ranallo switching places (so Cole to SmackDown and Mauro to Raw), and because Byron Saxton currently announces on both shows, his position on SmackDown will be filled by ... Corey Graves.

Finally, I will predict who the General Managers will be. It's inevitable that Shane and Stephanie will pick someone who shares their face/heel alignments. There are heavy rumours that Daniel Bryan will be the SmackDown GM, but for Raw, I feel that we could have a major shock, with that brand's leader being a familiar face, in the form of (drum roll) ... Eric Bischoff!

There's no guarantee that any of the above will happen, but this is my prediction for how the Draft will turn out, and below are my predictions for the future Raw and SmackDown rosters. Hopefully you enjoyed this preview, and hopefully WWE will give us a Draft and a roster split to remember!

Image Source: PW Mania

Raw Roster:

Roman Reigns
John Cena
AJ Styles
The Undertaker
Sami Zayn
Rusev
The New Day
Bray Wyatt
Chris Jericho
Finn Balor
Triple H
Karl Anderson
Sin Cara
Carlito (to be re-introduced after Battleground)
Darren Young
Erick Rowan
Fandango
D-Von Dudley
Summer Rae
Braun Strowman
Tyler Breeze
Enzo Amore
Kane
Tajiri (who will return after the Cruiserweight Classic)
Luke Gallows
Tye Dillinger (called up on Raw the night after Battleground)
Big Cass
Titus O'Neil
Shelton Benjamin (a late summer return)
Baron Corbin
Alberto Del Rio
Aiden English
Jack Swagger
Mark Henry
Konnor
Sheamus
Heath Slater
Tamina
Alicia Fox
Bo Dallas
Ryback (if he returns, which is unlikely)
Eva Marie
Viktor
Rosa Mendes
American Alpha (they won't debut until after SummerSlam, but this will be their home brand)
Lana
Bob Backlund (manager)

Commissioner: Stephanie McMahon
General Manager: Eric Bischoff

Championships: World Heavyweight, United States and Tag Team

Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, John Bradshaw Layfield and Byron Saxton

Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia

Secondary Show: Superstars

Image Source: Wrestling News World

SmackDown Roster:

Dean Ambrose
Seth Rollins
Brock Lesnar
Randy Orton
Kevin Owens
The Miz
Charlotte
MVP
Sasha Banks
Cesaro
Bubba Ray Dudley
Becky Lynch
Goldust
Kalisto
Dolph Ziggler
Bayley (to be introduced as Sasha Banks' partner at Battleground)
R-Truth
Zack Ryder (his and Darren Young's homes will cast doubt on the mid-card title bouts at Battleground)
Paige
Big Show
Luke Harper (the only Wyatt to be separated from the Family upon his return from injury)
Neville
Natalya
Primo
Brian Kendrick (who will return after the Cruiserweight Classic)
Simon Gotch
Apollo Crews
Dana Brooke
Jimmy Uso
Nikki Bella
Jey Uso
Epico
Naomi
Curtis Axel
Emma
Maryse
Paul Heyman (manager)

Commissioner: Shane McMahon
General Manager: Daniel Bryan

Championships: WWE, Intercontinental and Women's

Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: JoJo

Secondary Show: Main Event

What are your Draft predictions? Tell us by leaving a comment below!

Predicting WrestleMania 33

Image Source: Wikipedia

Written By: Mark Armstrong

With WrestleMania 32 officially in the history books, the early speculation begins for WrestleMania 33. To be frank, the show isn't for nearly twelve months (obviously) and it will not even enter storylines until very late this year or in early 2017, but it's still interesting to consider what might go down on April 2 2017 at the Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Florida (which also hosted WM 24, which I attended).

I will base my predictions on the current roster and the most likely special guests at this point in time, since one cannot obviously not predict 100% who will be active a year from now (who imagined in early 2015 that AJ Styles would appear at the 2016 Mania?). So, here it goes ...

Main Event: The Undertaker vs. John Cena - Undertaker's retirement match

The match originally planned for WM 32 is bound to occur at Mania 33. By then, Taker will be 52 and even Cena will be almost 40. Therefore, this is probably the last realistic chance for a rarely-seen battle of headliners to occur. What's more, Undertaker has virtually nobody else to face now that Sting has retired, and given this and his age and physical condition, it's unfathomable that Undertaker will wrestle beyond WM 33. In fact, had Cena not been injured, it's entirely possible that Undertaker would have bowed out at AT&T Stadium.

The fact that this will be Undertaker's landmark final match ensures that it will be in the main event spot, and will be based on respect rather than a true grudge. I envision Undertaker announcing that he has nothing left to prove, only for Cena to come out and say "you've never beaten me at WrestleMania", or words to those effect. (Taker has beaten Cena in the past, but their last match was a Raw bout in 2006 which went to a non-finish; they last fought with a proper conclusion before Cena even won his first WWE Title in 2005.) Undertaker could win, but Cena winning wouldn't be a terrible result by any means given that Taker is bowing out after the match.

After the match, Taker and Cena will shake hands, with Undertaker giving his goodbyes to the audience whilst ever-so-slightly staying in character. The following night on Raw, Undertaker will get the big send-off with the entire locker room, the McMahons and many past faces coming out to give him an unforgettable farewell (in the same place where Ric Flair received such a ceremony, coincidentally). That will bring a fitting end to the incredible career of Undertaker, with Taker being the star inductee in the 2018 Hall Of Fame class.

WWE Title: Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose

The long-anticipated Shield three-way will go down at Mania for the WWE Title. By this point, I foresee that Roman Reigns will have turned full-on heel, and with a now-babyface Rollins and Ambrose both earning a WWE Title shot (perhaps by co-winning the 2017 Royal Rumble) to face Reigns and invoke a Shield implosion.

As for other potential options: I can see the long-awaited matches pitting Reigns against Brock Lesnar (in a rematch from WM 31) and the returning Seth Rollins against Triple H both occurring at SummerSlam 2016. And assuming that Reigns remains in the title picture for years to come, I predict that WWE will actually save Reigns vs. John Cena for WrestleMania 34 in 2018, which will be the official passing of the torch by Cena and by which point Reigns might have been accepted as a headline babyface following his expected 2016-7 heel run.

The Rock vs. Triple H

With HHH vs. Rollins occurring at SummerSlam, that frees Tripper up to face his old rival The Rock at WrestleMania 33. This was originally meant to happen in some form at WM 32, before film commitments prevented this occurring. Hopefully, WWE and Rock will have this one agreed on paper long before Mania 33 (if they haven't already) so that the match which was originally teased back in 2014 and at WM 31 will finally happen in 2017.

Brock Lesnar vs. Batista

This all leaves Lesnar without an opponent based on the current main event scene. I imagine that the Suplex City gimmick and Lesnar in general will feel stale by this point (I personally feel that this effect has already begun), so Brock will require an adversary who will force him to bring more of a fight. This is a quandary which could be resolved by bringing back Batista for a blockbuster showdown, a fitting description considering how Batista's movie career has been blossoming in recent years.

AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle

If Kurt Angle is ever going to have that one final WWE match, it surely has to be at WrestleMania 33. Orlando is an appropriate location, given Angle's long tenure in TNA. And AJ Styles would be a perfect opponent for Angle to deliver a classic match against an opponent with whom he is familiar, yet feels fresh for the WWE audience. Angle returning is not a guarantee by any means, but given Angle's age and physical condition (this is turning into a theme here), WM 33 is the last chance for it to realistically happen. And I bet Angle would jump at the chance, so it's up to WWE to make this a reality.

Women's Title: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley

As good as Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Paige are, to me there is only one option for a major, show-stealing Women's Title match at next year's WrestleMania, and that's Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, reigniting their classic women's matches at NXT Takeover events in 2015. Bayley will have debuted long before Mania, but this will be the stage for her to defeat Sasha and win the championship on the grandest stage of all.

Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens

The Viper appears to be ever-so-slightly winding down his career, although he is by no means finished just yet. He may wrestle further down the card, though, meaning that an up-and-comer could be his Mania calling card. I'm going for Kevin Owens, who I see winning Money In The Bank in 2016 and cashing it in on Raw the night after Mania, or even after the Shield 3-way at Mania, to win the WWE Title.

Finn Balor w/ The Balor Club vs. Bray Wyatt vs. The Wyatt Family

Finn Balor's future looks to be on NXT for the foreseeable future, but he will surely be on the main roster by 2017. And given his somewhat dark Demon persona that he occasionally unleashes on the NXT audience, a possible opponent for his first Mania is the even darker Bray Wyatt, with both backed up by their future/current factions of the Balor Club and the Wyatt Family. Finn will win here, and will begin working towards a main event spot after Mania 33, leading to a truly big match for Balor at WM 34 in 2018.

Intercontinental Title Ladder Match

The IC Title Ladder tradition will continue after successful bouts at WM 31 and WM 32. Predicting the entrants at this point is virtually impossible, other than to speculate that an NXT call-up will probably be entered and might just win the title (Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura are possibilities, or the recently called-up Sami Zayn). I also predict that, by Mania 33, the IC Title will have finally been unified with the United States prize since there is no currently no need whatsoever to have both titles.

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Another tradition that will continue at Mania, WWE this year did the smart thing of using this to both launch a new star and deliver some surprise entrants, meaning that we'll probably get the same formula at WM 33. An NXT call-up will probably win this one too, and along with expected entrants like Big Show and Kane (who both must surely be approaching their final Manias, perhaps in 2018), there will be some surprises too. Could this match host a surprise comeback by Hulk Hogan in a match named after Andre, thirty years after the two titans met at WrestleMania III?

Miscellaneous

Any other matches would likely occur on the Kick-Off Show and/or would be impossible to predict at this point (e.g. the WWE Tag Team Titles held by The New Day could be around anyone's waists by Mania 33, possibly the American Alpha combo of Chad Gable and Jason Jordan from NXT). A tag match, a match involving the other women on the main roster and some sort of filler bout will complete the line-up from a match standpoint. As for legend combos, how about for Rock vs. HHH if we get Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels in the respective corners with Stone Cold Steve Austin serving as special guest referee?

Hall Of Fame 2017

As for the 2017 Hall Of Fame class, it's impossible to fully predict the group at this point. I do see The Rock and/or Daniel Bryan leading the way, and surely inductions are due for The Honky Tonk Man and Demolition, the longest-reigning Intercontinental and Tag Team Champions respectively in company history. As for the others, I predict Sable as the female inductee, Floyd Mayweather as the celebrity inductee (Mayweather's WM appearance was also in Orlando), and who knows who else will be in it? That being said, it would be great for Owen Hart and/or the British Bulldog to finally get the posthumous inductions that they have long deserved.

WrestleMania 33 could certainly have the potential to be a landmark show. From the retirement of a true icon to the (hopefully) injury-free roster to the new stars getting their Mania debuts to possible reappearances by former greats, WM 33 could end up being the biggest and most memorable Mania of them all. It is obviously too early to make accurate predictions, but all of the above matches (especially the triple main event) are more than feasible. And with WWE looking to deliver a momentous show to follow the record-breaking WM 32, this line-up would ensure that WrestleMania 33 stands out as one of the greatest Manias ever, if not the greatest.

WrestleMania 32 Predictions

Image Source: ProWrestling.com

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Having looked at the road to WrestleMania 32 a few days ago, I will now provide my predictions for all of the matches this Sunday at AT&T Stadium.

Before beginning with the bouts, I'll speculate on the potential involvement by legends and/or injured stars. The Rock is confirmed to be on hand, which I see most likely being as part of a talking segment with Steve Austin. I can also see Mick Foley being part of this to deliver a feel-good moment for the fans (albeit one not quite as memorable as the Austin-Rock-Hulk Hogan interaction at WM XXX). As for other stars, I can say Seth Rollins popping up in a backstage moment, and Shawn Michaels will probably appear at some point, although the Texas location means that Shawn will have to favour a babyface if his involvement is to leave the desired impact.

With that out of the way, let's get to the matches, beginning with the three Kick-Off Show bouts.

Kick-Off

1. The Usos vs. The Dudley Boyz

I was hoping that this should be a tables match, but it looks like it'll remain a regular tag team match. This should be a really good start to the night's action, and an underrated first-time meeting between two of WWE's top tag teams. I think The Usos will win this match, but that the feud will continue beyond Mania, which could lead to a Tables rematch at a later date (then again, most expected the same during the Dudleyz-New Day feud in autumn 2015).

Prediction: The Usos

2. Brie Bella, Alicia Fox, Paige, Natalya and Eva Marie vs. Lana, Emma, Naomi, Tamina and Summer Rae

Team Bella will win, with the about-to-retire Brie Bella making Lana submit to the Yes Lock after a fairly short match. Nothing else to say for this, really. I tried to think of something else to discuss here but I can't, unless you wonder aloud why WWE thought the hateable Eva Marie would receive a babyface reaction when she was revealed to be a part of this match.

Prediction: Team Bella

3. Kalisto vs. Ryback (United States Championship)

Kalisto vs. Ryback has so little energy to it that one can understand why it is now on the Kick-Off show. I can see Kalisto retaining here in another upset win over The Big Guy, but I'm thinking it's more likely that Ryback wins here, possibly to drop the U.S. Title straight away to an NXT call-up (Finn Balor or Samoa Joe?). It'll be a decent match, but nothing memorable (which must be annoying to Kalisto after his show-stealing performance back at TLC).

Prediction: Ryback

Main Show

1. The New Day vs. The League Of Nations

Onto the main card now: The New Day will defeat The League Of Nations. The LON have nowhere near as much momentum or popularity as New Day, who have just turned babyface after months of being cheered by many crowds. The match should be decent, but it may be more notable for the entrances (I anticipate a grand, unicorn-and-trombone-themed entrance for New Day). There isn't really much else for me to say about this; New Day will win, and will probably be given fresh opposition on Raw the following night (possibly Enzo Amore and Big Cass?).

Prediction: The New Day

2. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

This has now been moved to the main card, which suggests that something fairly momentous could happen. This could be through a main roster debut, a returning legend or simply the beginning of a major push for an existing star.

I'm going for the latter and picking Braun Strowman, or Bray Wyatt if he's entered (and where are The Wyatt Family on the Mania card anyway?). One could suggest just about anything from the standpoint of an NXT name debuting or an old favourite appearing, so I'll take the safe route and pick someone currently in the fold. Based on those already entered and the names who strangely don't have a match scheduled, I'm picking either Braun or Bray to win. And if I had to pick one, I'll go for the newer face and pick Braun.

Prediction: Braun Strowman

3. Chris Jericho vs. AJ Styles

There's only one logical outcome here, and that's AJ beating Y2J. It would bring a smooth end to the feud, and give recent signing Styles enough of a boost to progress up the card in some fashion. Besides, he's making his Mania debut and is still relatively new to WWE. It would be a pointless booking decision to have Jericho win here, especially since Y2J's current run in WWE will be ending soon.

If they get 15-20 minutes, both men have the opportunity to put on a really good match. We've already had three thrilling bouts so far, each one better than the last, so the hope is that both well-travelled, experienced and talented veterans will put on a Mania match for the ages in Dallas. That depends on how much time they're allotted, but this has the potential to be the match of the night, if not a contender for Match Of The Year.

Prediction: AJ Styles

4. Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

This should be a similar spot-fest to last year, perhaps slightly better given that this is the Mania debut for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (both of whom will be determined to leave a lasting impression), and gives Zack Ryder what is probably his last major appearance on a WWE card (especially since he's only involved as a replacement for Neville). A Pop-Up Powerbomb off a ladder by Owens seems possible, but other than that it's hard to predict what the major spots will be here (which is good for a match that is supposed to be).

The result is a bit unpredictable too. Some see KO retaining the gold, others believe that Sami Zayn will triumph. Given his push over the last ten months, I'm choosing Owens to win here, with a view to him feuding with and losing the IC Title to Zayn at a later date.

Prediction: Kevin Owens

5. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch (Divas Championship)

The three-way between Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch has the potential to be the greatest ever WWE women's match. If it lasts 15 minutes or more, I think that's what we'll get, since all three will be going all-out to make history and essentially complete the revolution of female wrestling in WWE. This one depends on time, at least when it comes to match quality.

As for the result: the slow-burning push of Sasha makes me think that she will be the one to win on Sunday. Becky Lynch is also very talented, but she hasn't quite got the momentum or the popularity of The Boss. I expect Sasha to win by making Lynch submit to the Bank Statement to become Divas Champion (although rumour has it that a new Women's Title will be unveiled on the post-Mania Raw) and heading into a feud with the supposedly-unbeaten former titleholder Charlotte from there, or if Charlotte and Becky concluded their storyline after WM, Sasha's first opponent for her newly-won title could be Bayley if she debuts on Raw the night after Mania.

Prediction: Sasha Banks

6. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar (No Holds Barred Street Fight)

On the one hand, Brock Lesnar can't afford to lose again, having won so few matches of consequence since he lost the WWE Title at Mania 31. On the other hand, Ambrose has built up enough momentum that it would represent a squandered opportunity if he lost here and returned to his usual spot on the card.

I see Lesnar winning the match, but in a fashion that enhances Ambrose. If Dean is seen to take such a beating that it builds sympathy for his character and, more importantly, has fans rooting for him to pull off an unlikely win, then this match should be a tremendous success even if Brock wins. The main thing is for this match to benefit Ambrose, and since the chances of him beating Lesnar are slim, then a never-say-die performance to rival Steve Austin against Bret Hart at WM 13 is probably the way that WWE will go.

Perhaps of greater interest is how violent this match will get. Since WWE went PG, the use of genuinely dangerous weapons and the use of heavy blood loss have been eliminated, yet recent weeks have the match hinting at Ambrose using a crowbar, a barbed wire baseball bat and even a chainsaw. Most likely, there may be some minor blood from some harder-than-expected blows, and Ambrose might get in one shot to the back with "Barbie", but those expecting something along the lines of Edge vs. Mick Foley from Mania 22 might be disappointed. It'll still be a great brawl, though, and a contender to steal the show in Dallas.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar

7. The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon (Hell In A Cell Match; Career vs. Control of WWE)

Undertaker vs. Shane is the most intriguing match of the night. If Shane wins, he takes control of Raw and has promised mass changes (that didn't happen when he temporarily managed Raw in late 2008 but I guess we're not supposed to remember that), meaning that many fans want him to win. However, even with The Streak no longer a factor, fans still do not want to see Taker lose, especially with the added stipulation that Undertaker's career is essentially over if he does taste defeat and go 22-2 at Mania.

The build-up and storytelling has been hit-and-miss, and there remains some confusion at the idea that we could accept non-wrestler Shane as an opponent for Taker, but there is still more good than bad within this set-up, especially when it comes to the match itself.

It will feature little wrestling but include plenty of standout spots and diversions, all of which should create a very entertaining atmosphere. The inevitable use of the Hell In A Cell cage and likely use of weapons will disguise the limitations of both (Taker has just turned 51, don't forget), as will the guaranteed involvement of Vince McMahon.

I anticipate Shane taking such a beating that UT will relent to Vince's chagrin, which will give Shane O Mac a way back in. He will still need assistance to truly gain the upper hand which may come from neglected stars who want the Authority gone (Dolph Ziggler?), legends with a reason to attack Taker (Shawn Michaels?) or even top names planting the seeds for a future showdown with Taker (John Cena?). Shane will bust out his signature spots, some of which will require the action to leave HIAC. I foresee Vince, Stephanie and even Linda getting involved towards the end, with Shane getting his shots in on Vince.

But in the end, I see Shane taking one chance too many by perhaps leaping from the Cell roof in the spot of the night, crashing and burning in some fashion, and Taker getting the win from there. I also see Taker attacking Vince post-match to reaffirm his babyface status.

Taker isn't losing because his career simply couldn't end at the hands of a non-wrestler. Plus, since Shane was WWE's last resort as a Mania opponent for Taker, I see Shane's involvement being a short-term thing. That being said, the match could perhaps be used to set up what will be Taker's genuine last match at Mania 33, most likely against John Cena or Sting (we can only hope), with that bout possibly being announced as soon as the post-WM episode of Raw.

Whatever happens, this will be entertaining and memorable, and will probably exceed expectations - but I still wouldn't expect anything other than an Undertaker win.

Prediction: The Undertaker

8. Triple H vs. Roman Reigns (WWE Championship Match)

Ten years ago at WrestleMania, John Cena defended the WWE Title against Triple H in a match preceded by almost venomous hatred towards Cena by the hardcore fans, despite him being the babyface and HHH being the heel. Many wondered whether Cena would turn heel that night and HHH go face, with Cena not leaving Mania as WWE Champion. As it turned out, Cena remained a face and successfully defeated HHH, and has been a babyface ever since. The half-cheers/half-boos reaction has almost constantly followed Cena since then, although it has not prevented him from becoming WWE's biggest star since the end of the Attitude Era. That being said, it has always been mystifying how WWE could seem satisfied that its supposedly-top good guy would be booed by so many fans nearly every week.

Which brings us to its modern-day counterpart, as Roman Reigns fills the Cena role and HHH's spot is taken by, erm, Triple H, except with The Game being the defending champion. Fans have been hating on Reigns since Royal Rumble 2015 up to Reigns' WWE Title bout against Brock Lesnar at Mania 31. The boos continued throughout 2015 on and off, but it seemed like Reigns had found a way to eliminate the boos at TLC 2015 and thereafter. But since this year's Royal Rumble, the problem has returned and has arguably been worse than ever; it seems like there's nothing that will get the majority of fans to cheer Reigns, especially a hardcore crowd at a show like WrestleMania.

This has led to speculation as to whether or not WWE should curtail Reigns' push by having him lose here, and/or turn heel. But whilst the reaction is obviously irksome to both Reigns and WWE, I believe that Reigns will still win this match, and that he should win the match, and even that he should remain a babyface. And here's why.

Primarily, it's because the boos are down to WWE rather than Reigns. It was WWE and not Reigns who chose to have him win the 2015 Rumble over Daniel Bryan. Bryan's retirement this year probably suggests that WWE did the right thing (the booking of the match was horrible, mind you). Reigns was kept away from the main event scene for much of 2015, which also seemed to be the correct decision to defuse some of the heat. It wasn't Roman's fault that so many performers have gone down with injuries which have made it almost impossible to find anyone other than Reigns to main event Mania 32. It also wasn't Reigns who decided that the only other viable contenders, Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose, would not be involved in the title scene, nor that HHH was effectively the only remaining heel to defend the title against Roman.

What's more, Reigns has had some of the best Pay-Per-View matches of the last 12 months in WWE. And he did earn the cheers with his more aggressive displays in December 2015 and into January 2016. Let's also not forget that whilst the hardcore fan bases boo Reigns, the majority of audiences do still give Reigns the desired cheers (and why did WWE decide to hold the pre-Mania editions of Raw in towns where Reigns was guaranteed to be booed). Finally, it is WWE who controls Reigns' character, from his continuous use of Shield-related spots to his promo content to his unexplained or illogical absences between and during major matches.

On the road to WM 31, fans partly rejected Reigns because they felt that he hadn't earned the spot. Yet, over the last year, Reigns couldn't have done much more given the PG restrictions on talent, but this still hasn't been enough to satisfy fans. Had WWE fast-tracked Kevin Owens or AJ Styles into Roman's spot, those same fans would have been hypocritical to accept them wholeheartedly considering that Owens and Styles only arrived in WWE in late 2014 and early 2016 respectively.

This isn't to suggest that Reigns is perfect by any means, nor that fans should just accept whatever WWE gives them. And WWE has definitely mishandled Roman's character. But it seems that many fans don't know what they want anymore. Unless a wrestler has competed extensively on the independent circuit and/or doesn't resemble the bodybuilder type famously favoured by Vince McMahon, it seems that fans are inclined to reject them. Look at Sheamus, look at Ryback, look at Batista (circa 2014). Conversely, the CM Punks, Daniel Bryans and Dean Ambroses receive almost endless support, which they have earned because of their talent, but it does seem like fans are deliberately rejecting some performers for reasons unrelated to their skill sets, which really shouldn't be happening. And even then, it is not enough for some fans, as evidenced by the disrespect shown by Brooklyn fans to the Raw six-man tag featuring such hardcore heroes as Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler and Sami Zayn.

Therefore, although the boos are a heavy distraction, one can understand why WWE chooses to ignore them and stick to its plans. If fans provide Reigns and HHH with the opportunity to do so, it is entirely possible that they can deliver a really exciting brawl which would be a worthy way of crowning Roman as WWE's new top dog. Interference is possible, although WWE would have to be careful who it chooses to get involved (e.g. Shawn Michaels is guaranteed a babyface pop in his home state of Texas, so him helping HHH might only cause even louder boos towards Reigns). Either way, performance-wise this should be a good main event with the logical outcome of Reigns winning, but the fans could create a situation whereby Mania ends on a low note.

The only way around this is a double turn, but given what I have outlined above, I do not see it happening because Reigns has been pushed too hard for WWE to change course now. I can see Reigns turning heel in late 2016/early 2017 depending on how future reactions pan out, with a view to another, and hopefully more successful, babyface turn for Roman a year or two after that.

It may not be what fans want to see, but the only outcome I can see is Roman cleanly pinning HHH to become WWE Champion and remaining a babyface. And I do feel that Reigns has at least earned the opportunity to sink or swim as a long-term titleholder (he's done more than John Cena and Batista did prior to their first title wins in 2005). It's hoped that the match can be good enough to overcome what's bound to be a loud and negative crowd reaction in AT&T Stadium. The other hope is that WWE tweaks Roman's persona after or even at Mania so that he has a genuine chance of becoming as big a star as Cena did. A year from now, as WrestleMania 33 approaches, we'll know for sure how the Roman Reigns experiment truly worked out, since nobody can say for sure until he's given the hot seat for the long run.

Prediction: Roman Reigns

So, WrestleMania 32 is bound to be a memorable, entertaining and intriguing night of action. WWE is hoping that this will be a milestone Mania, one which will help to define the current era. The performances should live up to the standard set by previous Manias, the possibility of big surprises or major moments should also enhance the show, and the results will determine the path that WWE will be heading in the weeks, months and maybe even years to come.

Despite the negativity surrounding some feuds, matches or pushes, WM 32 will still be the biggest show of 2016, and let's not forget how much of a success Mania 31 was after a very lacklustre build-up. It may not be quite the show that Vince McMahon envisioned when he first announced that the 100,000+ seater AT&T Stadium would host the event, but WrestleMania 32 is bound to be unforgettable, hopefully for the right reasons.

WrestleMania 31 Predictions

Image Source: SportsKeeda.com

Written By: Mark Armstrong

With the biggest WWE show of the year less than 48 hours away, and the card set, I will provide my predictions for WrestleMania 31, in the order that I expect the matches to take place.

Kick-Off

1. Tag Team Title Match

For the second year running, the Tag Team Title scrap is a four-way on the pre-show. The Usos have had the most success as a team, but winning the titles again with no obvious new opponents seems a bit pointless. Los Matadores hadn't been on TV for months until a few weeks ago, and based on crowd reactions, The New Day are becoming the tag team division's answer to John Cena in terms of provoking the undesired response, so I don't see either of these teams winning. Which means a probable successful title defence for Cesaro and Tyson Kidd, which I would have endorsed had the other three teams had more momentum anyway.

Prediction: Cesaro and Tyson Kidd

2. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

That this is now on the pre-show has raised eyebrows, but that's a debate for another time. Ryback, Kane and Big Show are the three who have most talked about winning this one, but none seem like obvious favourites ... which makes me think someone else will win it. My prediction is a returning Sheamus to triumph, but not before more miscommunication between Kane and Show leading to their eliminations, and Damien Mizdow finally turning on The Miz and eliminating him to a huge reaction, with Miz later costing Damien the bout to set up their feud (Stardust could also run in and cause Goldust to lose to reignite their rivalry). I see it coming down to Sheamus and Ryback, and for Sheamus to win.

Prediction: Sheamus

Main Show

1. Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

This should be a great start to WM, with an abundance of talent and no doubt a plethora of stunts. The quality doesn't require any debating; the result is a different matter. I do not see Bad News Barrett retaining the crown, which means a new titleholder. I doubt that R-Truth, Luke Harper or Stardust will win. Dolph Ziggler is a strong contender but, as he has held the title multiple times, a victory here won't boost him that much. Which leaves Dean Ambrose and Daniel Bryan. Ambrose would benefit the most from a victory, especially since he hasn't won on PPV since the demise of The Shield, but the title's prestige would be elevated more if Bryan won, and it would partly satisfy those who wanted to see him in the main event, which is why I predict he will win.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan

2. Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins

Given time, this should be another strong match. This has been anticipated for months, with The Viper aiming for revenge on "The Future" - but I expect Rollins to win here for three reasons. Firstly, he has looked weak since Orton returned at Fast Lane, and a defeat here would harm his standing as the next major star. Secondly, if Orton wins, the feud ends; there's mileage in the rivalry, but it can only continue if Orton doesn't exact full retribution here. Thirdly, it would elevate Rollins for the day when he cashes in Money In The Bank, possibly later on in this show. I predict Rollins winning with help from The Authority, and afterwards Orton destroys J&J Security, but not Rollins who gets away unharmed ... just in case he is required again later.

Prediction: Seth Rollins

3. Divas Tag Team Match

Before the Andre bout was moved to the Kick-Off show, I had the Divas tag down to be the cool-down match before the Sting clash; with this change, I now think it goes on third. Tension between Paige and AJ Lee has been teased, while the Bella Twins have maintained a united front. I think the most likely outcome is a Bellas victory with Nikki Bella (the Divas Champ) pinning AJ (wife to the now-hated-within-WWE CM Punk), but if WWE is smart and books Charlotte to debut by rescuing Paige and AJ from a post-match Bellas beatdown, it would make the match more meaningful and set up an intriguing post-Mania feud.

Prediction: The Bella Twins

4. John Cena vs. Rusev

The United States Title match is a foregone conclusion. The feud has been expected since before Rusev debuted; the obvious outcome is that Cena, as the pro-America hero will vanquish Rusev, the evil anti-American menace and giving him his first official defeat, and bringing the U.S. Title back to America at the same time.

Or so you would think.

I think WWE may be planning a swerve here because, whilst Rusev did beat Cena by stoppage at Fast Lane, isn't it too obvious that Cena will achieve redemption here? Granted, this would be normal procedure for Cena, but it isn't 2007 any more when he would truly conquer his foes. It's 2015 and not only is Cena not in the WrestleMania main event for the second year in a row, but we were told (a little harshly) on more than one occasion that Cena is not a young man anymore. After the shock that was Brock Lesnar ending The Streak at WrestleMania XXX, is it possible that in this match WWE will deliver another shock result: Rusev beating John Cena by submission?

Rusev has been built up over the last year for a reason: to be a monster. Having yet to challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and having teased a confrontation with Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble, it would be daft for WWE to sacrifice a year of building the man up as an unstoppable force only to beat him on the final step before the main event.

Of course, Cena winning is the most likely outcome and has a number of possibilities. But Rusev being victorious is smarter, more shocking and if he can extract a submission win over the man with the mantra "Never Give Up", it would be a WM moment for the ages, and set Rusev up as an unbeaten contender to the top crown. Cena could even face Rusev once more at Extreme Rules and win the U.S. Title there in a Flag match, thus keeping Rusev's official undefeated record alive. So, whilst Cena winning is obvious, I am daring to go against the grain and suggesting that this year's big Mania shock is Rusev getting a career-making submission win over Cena. Okay, so this probably won't happen, but after the end of The Streak last year, you just never know ...

Prediction: Rusev

5. The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

Which brings us to the man who went 21-1 at WM last year, The Undertaker. After that match, I thought for sure he was finished, or at least he would only return to try and beat the conquerer Brock Lesnar. So, ever since it was rumoured at the beginning of 2015, I couldn't understand why he would fight Bray Wyatt. Taker is not in the best of shapes, by all accounts, and it would be damaging to see him struggle through a pointless Mania match. Even if he is ready to go, from a storyline point of view, has Wyatt really done enough to provoke the return of the Phenom? I see this as more of a chance for Wyatt to face a legend than a dream match between two dark characters.

Since it was officially announced, I accepted the match was happening and am at least intrigued that Undertaker will reappear this Sunday. The potential quality of the match is questionable given the uncertainty on Taker's condition, but as the Andre match being moved to the Kick-Off was done to provide more time for other important bouts, I can't see this one being a short match, so one has to assume that Taker will at least be capable of wrestling a long, grueling match. Whether it measures up to his previous Mania classics is debatable, but hopefully it will be a chance for the Dead Man to show that he still has something to offer after the disappointment of his showdown with Brock at Mania 30.

Then there's the result. Personally, I think that Taker has to win. His legacy took a huge hit by losing last year, at a time when fans weren't ready for The STreak to end; if he loses again here, it will be a slap in the face to the man behind the greatest character in WWE history. I do not see this being his last match, so if he is to wrestle at least one more time, I believe that he simply must win here. Some say that Wyatt should win because Taker only wrestles once a year and because he would suffer if he lost, but let's face it: Wyatt will do just fine even if he does lose, unless he is crushed beyond belief. Wyatt winning against the part-time legend would work on almost every other icon, but not The Undertaker. Taker is someone whose mystique relies on his apparent invincibility, an aura weakened by the events of WM 30. No doubt, it would make Wyatt's career if he does win, but if so, why didn't WWE keep Taker unbeaten at Mania and then have him fall here to truly make Bray's career? And, besides, how realistic would it be for Undertaker to win 21 WrestleMania matches in a row and then lose two consecutive WM bouts having once been unbeaten on the grand stage since 1991? That's why Undertaker has to win for me. If he loses, it won't be as much of a shock, but I firmly believe that fans would be a lot more disappointed this year than they were in 2014.

Prediction: The Undertaker

At this point, I see the Hall Of Fame inductees taking their bow before what is, to me, the most anticipated match on the card.

6. Sting vs. Triple H

Finally, Sting wrestles in a WWE ring! At WrestleMania! Against a true legend in Triple H! Never mind the long wait for his arrival or their ages or their part-time status; all eyes will be glued on these two when the bell rings. This match is the draw for me to see WrestleMania 31 (okay, I'd be watching anyway, but this is the one most likely to produce a WrestleMania moment).

I think it will be a good match, although a last-minute announcement for it to be No Holds Barred would have given the performers more scope and allowed them to whip the crowd into more of a frenzy. Since we have waited literally decades for Sting to wrestle in WWE, I am 100% of the mindset that he wins. A loss for the Stinger would be ridiculous. How he wins is another matter.

He could win cleanly and nobody would complain. But as HHH is the head of the Authority, chances are that the Vigilante will have to fight off interference en route to victory. And that might be a good thing, because it could help to set up a future WM match: either Sting is being beaten down and is rescued by The Rock, who could cost Triple H the win to set up their teased Mania match for 2016, or The Undertaker could help Sting win, and the two legends discuss the matter the following night on Raw where the challenge for their rumoured dream match at WM 32 is made and accepted. Still, even if this remains one-on-one, I think this will live up to the hype, and I see no result other than a Sting victory.

Prediction: Sting

7. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

And so we come to the main event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Lesnar was a Champ on his way out the door; Reigns was a contender who the fans weren't appreciating. Well, Reigns is still likely to be booed in Levi's Stadium, but Lesnar has now confirmed that he is staying with WWE, so the result of this match is much more unpredictable. I had originally planned to write a potentially great storyline for this match that could have happened, with Lesnar in the CM Punk circa MITB 2011 role, but with Brock now guaranteed to stay, that would be pointless.

Not many people have commented lately on how good this match could be, and I think Lesnar and Reigns could surprise people. I see this being a very competitive, all-action big-man match which, if it incorporates big spots like a running spear off and through an announcer's table, could actually be a pretty enjoyable main event for WM 31. If it does, most will credit Brock, but hopefully Roman will step up and deliver a performance to show that he certainly does deserve to be in this spot.

But who wins? Before Tuesday's announcement by Brock on ESPN, most believed that Roman would win, or at least that Lesnar wouldn't leave Mania without the title. Since the news that Lesnar is staying, though, more people are of the mindset that Brock will win. I am genuinely unsure who will triumph, which is a good thing. However, I have decided that my prediction is for Brock Lesnar to defeat Roman Reigns, after a hard-fought battle.

But wait! I see a major post-match development. Afterwards, I see Lesnar turning babyface by shaking Reigns' hand, and Paul Heyman apparently turning babyface by also endorsing Reigns. Then, Seth Rollins' music hits and he comes out with his Money In The Bank briefcase. He steps on the apron, Lesnar and Heyman looking concerned, Reigns still standing in the ring. Then, out of nowhere, Dean Ambrose appears in the ring, having lost the Ladder match and complained afterwards about his defeat and losing his chance to create a WrestleMania moment. Lesnar and Heyman realise what is happening, and are very upset ... until Heyman flashes an evil smile. Brock looks worried. Heyman points at the Champ and shouts "Go!" and Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose jump Lesnar at Heyman's request. The three triple-powerbomb the Champ, and Rollins gives the referee his briefcase to cash in immediately on Lesnar. The bell rings, and Rollins pins Lesnar ... but he kicks out! Rollins stands back and Curb Stomps Brock for the win, but he STILL kicks out! Rollins is furious and as he distracts the ref, from ringside Reigns gives Brock a Superman Punch. Rollins then hits one more Curb Stomp and pins Lesnar to win the WWE Title. The reunited Shield then celebrate with their new manager Paul Heyman, who explains that Reigns becoming Champ was Plan A; Rollins cashing in was ... Plan B.

Such a development would create a true Mania moment and satisfy anyone disappointed with the structure of the main event. It also turns Reigns and Ambrose heel, reunites The Shield, and turns Lesnar into a major babyface whose defeat he could not have helped. And with Heyman now backing the reformed Shield (who we later learn are linked with The Authority), it creates an exciting storyline with tons of possibilities going into the spring and summer months, culminating with a babyface Lesnar regaining his title later in the year.

Or Reigns could just beat Lesnar at Mania, get booed out of the building, and thwart Rollins' cash-in on Raw the next night. Meh, my version is better, and whilst the Shield reunion may be a development too far, I do see Lesnar winning, and I do see Rollins leaving Mania as Champ.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar (Seth Rollins leaves WM as WWE Champ)

Overall, then, despite the disappointment at the line-up and the less-than-stellar build-up, it is still shaping up to be an exciting night and a memorable card. From the Ladder match to Undertaker's return to Sting's in-ring WWE debut, there is something for everyone. I think the success of the show relies on how well the main event is received, and my suggesiton above creates a scenario that would achieve a positive reaction from fans, even if it ends with four villains standing tall. Those are my predictions; we'll see if they play out but, even if they don't, WrestleMania 31 is still likely to be a memorable night in WWE history.

What are your predictions? Leave your comments below!