The Corre vs. Big Show, Kane, Vladimir Koslov (now Kofi Kingston) and Santino Marella
Probably the least enthralling match on the card. Big Show and Kane have already gotten revenge on the Corre and the addition of Santino and Koslov doesn’t exactly raise the contest. Apparently there’s been some sort of injury angle with Koslov being assaulted by Nexus at WWE Axxess and rumours that Kofi Kingston might replace him in the match which would be welcome. (This has now been confirmed.)
Predictions-
Craig: The Corre go over in this one. If WWE wants to solidify Corre as a proper stable, then they need wins to go with their paper titles.
Ali: I’m going to have to agree with Craig and go for a Corre win. Losing to the comedy team would do the credibility of the Corre no good at all, and they need some big wins to push them up the card.
Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan – for the U.S. Championship
Potentially an awesome match. Daniel Bryan never disappoints and it’s very doubtful that he’d start doing so at Wrestlemania. Sheamus is also a solid performer and it looks like his stock is back on the rise after overcoming both a losing streak and a horrendously gimpy outfit/gimmick. Could be match of the night.
Predictions –
Craig: I’ll take Sheamus in this one. He only just won the belt and got over a losing streak so I hope he doesn’t lose his. He beat Bryan on the last RAW with a High Cross so I think some form of Brogue Kick wins this for the Celtic Warrior.
Ali: A close call, but i’ll side with a Sheamus win in this one, hopefully followed by a proper main event push. Bryan is one of the most exciting wrestlers in the WWE at the moment, but I think Sheamus needs a belt more.
John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler and LayCool (w/Vickie Guerrero)
Poor Morrison and Ziggler. And poor Trish for that matter. Given time Morrison vs. Ziggler one on one could’ve been a great match, but Snooki brings publicity so I’m afraid this is what we’re stuck with.
Predictions –
Craig: Frankly, I don’t care, but I strongly suspect that since they’ve gone to the effort of getting Snooki in that her team will win. I really hope the Jersey Shore… er… star… no that’s not right… actress… no definitely not…. woman… that’ll do… I really hope that Jersey shore woman doesn’t actually get to make the pin, but I predict that she will.
Ali: This could go either way, although reports that Snooki is thinking of extending her WWE stay beyond ‘Mania make me just side with a heel win on this one, probably via some Vickie Guerrero intervention. Given the talent of both Morrisson and Ziggler, WWE have achieved some feat in making me in no way interested in the outcome.
Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
A decent build up to this one on Smackdown with Rhodes becoming a pretty disturbed character since Rey ruined his (what WWE tells us is a) handsome face. Rhodes new music and persona have been a good evolution to his character and the vicious attack on Rey a few weeks ago with the knee brace leaves this all ready to go.
Predictions –
Craig: I’m going with Cody in this one. Apparently Rey handpicked him as his Wrestlemania opponent so I imagine he’s willing to put Rhodes over here. I reckon Rhodes will use his facemask somehow to sneak a victory.
Ali: I have to admit that I haven’t particularly followed this feud and so find myself struggling to get too excited about this, having said that Mysterio always puts on a good ‘Mania show, and i think he will be happy to put over the emerging talent Cody Rhodes.
CM Punk vs. Randy Orton
A bit of an odd one this. CM Punk, as always, has been immense. But it’s very difficult to sympathise with a guy who writhes about on the floor like a goon and enjoys ending peoples’ careers by kicking them in the head. The weird backstage skit with Orton telling us how much he loved his bus was a) out of character, and b) shit, but luckily Punk managed to save it with an attack on Orton’s leg that leaves him vulnerable for their match.
Predictions –
Craig: Orton to win via an RKO out of nowhere. What a massive feckin’ surprise that would be! I don’t recall the move being that devastating as the Diamond Cutter, (or when Robbie E. Pulled it out on that one Impact…) but whatever.
Ali: As above. Early Punk flurry, followed by the inevitable Orton comeback, finishing with an ‘unexpected’ RKO. Sigh
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler vs. Michael Cole (w/Jack Swagger) – Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee
Michael Cole is awesome. There, I’ve said it. He may legitimately be a cock in the back, he might publish homophobic comments on twitter and he might be a bad, bad commentator, but who doesn’t want to see him get a piledriver tonight? His running around behind Swagger in the ring is priceless and the Cole Mine is the best innovation to commentary since someone realised you could smash wrestlers through announce tables. Expect a huge reaction when Lawler finally gets his hands on Cole and gets his Wrestlemania moment.
Predictions –
Craig: Possibly the easiest to take a stab at behind ‘Taker Triple H. Lawler to beat Cole followed by Austin giving the stunner to Swagger and Cole and then drinking a rake.
Ali: Inevitably Lawler will get his revenge, hopefully with a specially sanctioned piledriver. The culmination of a classic face/heel story.
Edge (w/ Christian) vs. Alberto del Rio (w/ Brodus Clay and Ricardo Rodriguez) – for the World Heavyweight Championship
Another good build up, with the addition of Christian and Brodus being well used. Edge has an injured arm and I expect a lot of the match to be Del Rio trying to lock in that cross armbreaker. Christian has been strongly booked throughout so expect his involvement too.
Predictions –
Ali: Given the addition of Christian to the match, I expect his direct involvement, and i’ll go for a Christian heel turn and a Del Rio win.
Craig: I agree. Christian turns and hits Edge with the Killswitch for a Del Rio victory, leading to either an Edge/Christian feud or Edge/Del Rio/Christian triple threat at Extreme Rules.
Triple H vs. The Undertaker
Will Triple H break the streak (our predictions, common sense, and, if you could bet on wrestling, my bank account say no)? Amazing first promo with Hunter silently challenging the Deadman, then a few weeks of waffle, then finally a brilliant segment with the two and HBK on RAW to drive home the feud. I like the idea that by the end of RAW even Triple H didn’t think he’d win!
Predictions –
Ali: Unquestionably, definitely, undoubtedly a win for Undertaker. If WWE lets the streak end against Hunter I will stop watching wrestling forever.
Craig: Undertaker. Next.
The Miz (w/ Alex Riley) vs. John Cena – for the WWE Championship
How will the Rock get involved is probably the main question here. Which undervalues the title somewhat, but there you go. Despite constantly being cast as a third wheel, Miz has more than held his own in the build up to this. His promos have been great and his repeated attacks on Cena were brutal (and would have been even more so with a bit of blood…. grumble grumble PG grumble grumble). Cena has focussed more on the Rock than the belt, which could be his undoing, and everyone will be looking to see whether Rocky gets his revenge for that Attitude Adjustment on RAW.
Predictions –
Ali: This one is the most difficult to call. On the one hand, the building Rock-Cena feud makes me lean towards a Miz win via Rock intervention, but Rock and Miz are also feuding, and WWE are more likely to turn Cena heel than Rock. The outcome really depends on what role the Rock will have past-Mania. Since recent rumours suggest a in ring return for Rock, I’m going to go for a Miz win setting up a Cena- Rock match over the next year some time. By far the most interesting match on the card.
Craig: I’m torn on this one too. I could see WWE having Cena continue his undefeated (in one in ones) Wrestlemania streak and simply getting Rock Bottomed after the match to send the crowd home happy. However, I’m hoping that Miz retains AND Cena gets beaten up by the Rock. It’s a lot to ask but I’m hoping it comes to fruition. I’ll go with Miz to retain and Cena/Rock to occur somewhere down the line, possibly at SummerSlam.
Craig and Ali
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