As we inch closer and closer to WWE WrestleMania 34, here are my updated predictions for the match cards and potential results.
With each passing week, the road to WWE WrestleMania 34 gets better and better. WWE’s annual extravaganza started off on a rather slow note on Raw, with Roman Reigns being setup to face Brock Lesnar for the Universal title. On SmackDown Live, the brewing issues between Shane McMahon and Sami Zayn often overstayed its welcome. But soon, one by one, things began to fall in their places.
First we saw Shinsuke Nakamura winning the Royal Rumble and giving the WWE Universe their dream match – against AJ Styles for the WWE title. Then, we saw Asuka win the historic first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match. At this year’s Fastlane PPV, it was revealed she would challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s title. This also lead to another announcement as Nia Jax was now set to face Alexa Bliss for the Raw title. It also marked the culmination of their story and could potentially lead to Jax’s crowning.
Things only got even better from there. Ronda Rousey made her anticipated WWE debut and now we have her teaming up with Kurt Angle to face Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. If that isn’t enough entertainment for you already, how about John Cena giving us another dream match, though it should have happened much earlier. The leader of the Cenation challenged the Undertaker and unless something out of the blue happens, we should see that match this year.
However, things got even bigger as the WWE released a press note officially stating that Daniel Bryan is indeed cleared for an in-ring return. While we are still discussing the ups and downs of this latest development, the potential of this year’s WrestleMania getting even bigger is now almost a certainty. We might very well be on course to witness a rather brilliant spectacle this year. In this post I try to predict the rest of the match card as well as the potential outcomes for each of the matches on the card.
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Pre-show and Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
The pre-show segment may or may not contain a match. Ideally, this spot could go for the Cruiserweight division as the only liable option seems like a six-man tag match. Moreover, the only other match featuring the Cruiserweights could be the finals to determine the new Cruiserweight champion. However, it is safe to predict that the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale would be the official kick-off match.
Last year it kicked-off the show and featured thirty-three superstars. This year, the WWE has not given a clear indicator as to how many competitors would be there. So far, Baron Corbin, Tye Dillinger and Mojo Rawley have announced their entry into the match from SmackDown Live. From Raw, the Revival have already announced their entry. As such, Titus Worldwide and The Club might also join in soon.
The battle royal is usually where creative dumps in a wealth of talent with whom they don’t have a clear direction at the moment. As such, Rusev and Aiden English seem bound to end up here. However, judging by their popularity and how over Rusev Day is with the fans, the Lion of Bulgaria has a good chance of winning the bout. Hence, he is my pick to win this year’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale.
Prediction: Rusev wins the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale.
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Randy Orton (c) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal
One of the least exciting bouts on the card unfortunately features the United States title as well. Randy Orton will defend his title against Bobby Roode and Jinder Mahal in a triple threat match. It seems like creative just decided to follow Raw‘s plans for the IC title and apply it to this match as well. However, Balor vs. Rollins vs. Miz has chemistry and meshing ring styles. Moreover, it has a great talker that can carry the buildup for the match in the Miz.
Neither Orton nor Roode is anywhere near the Miz in terms of promo skills. With Mahal his promos are mostly a case of hit or miss. Even worse is the fact that all three of these men have similar ring styles. They involve slow and methodical offence that can at times, suck the life out of a match. One has to give credit to these performers where its due. Against a complimenting style, these men can create wonders.
However, when all three of them are thrown in the mix together, the result will be boring to say the least. Moreover, with Roode’s babyface run falling apart at every turn and Randy Orton going back to being stale, there isn’t much that can save this match. A Roode heel turn that results in him stealing a win and the title might be exciting though. However, I predict Orton to retain his title and stand tall over his foes.
Prediction: Randy Orton retains his title.
Credit: WWE.com
Women’s Battle Royal match
Remind me what this battle royal is called as of now. After controversially deciding to call it the Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal, WWE has decided to drop the idea. The match lacks any reason other than finding a counterpart for the Andre the Giant battle royal. It will also serve as a platform to feature most of the women on both rosters.
However, the lack of a definite end game, other than a trophy takes away from any excitement surrounding this match, which the WWE is trying to bill as something historic. The winner is not awarded any special privileges or title shots. So I can’t really understand someone being excited to be a part of this and wanting to win it. Of course, a victory at WrestleMania would be something else.
It is hard to pick a winner seeing how vast and diverse the field is here. Women from both Raw and SmackDown Live will compete against each other. However, if I have to pick a winner and make a prediction, I will go with the safe bet in these kind of scenarios; Becky Lynch. Lynch has had nothing significant to do in recent times. A victory here will be a good way to rebuild her credibility and then creative can probably think about moving her to Raw.
Prediction: Becky Lynch wins the Women’s Battle Royal.
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The Usos (c) vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
The Bludgeon Brothers have been on fire since their repackaged debut. The former member of the Wyatt Family, Harper and Rowan have really found their grove with this new act. The fact that these two men were able to change their entire offence and incorporate more tag team moves using each other as weapons in innovative ways is something we haven’t seen yet in the tag division.
Moreover, these two men have been booked as unstoppable forces up until now. They took out two-thirds of the New Day and one half of the Usos on a single night. That same week, these men finished what they started by taking out the remaining members from each team. Honestly, you can’t remember the last time Big E was manhandled this way.
Predicting the outcome of this match is fairly simple. WrestleMania should be the night that completes the coronation of the Bludgeon Brothers. Hopefully, a dominating title reign awaits them post WrestleMania. They can then collide with a vast array of teams and perhaps even some new rivals following a superstar shakeup.
Prediction: The Bludgeon Brothers become the new SmackDown Live tag team champions.
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Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax
Jax vs. Bliss has been in the works for quite a while. The recent weeks began steadily building towards this feud while cementing Jax as a sympathetic babyface for the first time in her main roster career. Bliss makes for a great heel champion. However, the odds are literally against her at all corners this time around.
Jax’s victory is one of the easiest predictions to make as far as the matches on this year’s card goes. This will indeed be her coronation and her transition from monster heel to pandering yet dominating babyface. Mickie James will of course try to play interference on behalf of her friend and reigning champion. However, their alliance too lacks motive. It will be interesting to see if James was assured a shot at the title at a later point in time.
One way to take off the predictability factor from this match would be to have James inserted into the mix. However, for the most part, it seems like a one-on-one match is guaranteed. That just makes it harder for Bliss to have even the faintest chance of retaining her title. Unless she sneaks out a loose via count out or DQ.
But there is always an invisible X factor here. She goes by the name Carmella. Yes, your miss Money in the Bank might decide to pay a little visit during this match and might make her historic cash-in an even bigger event. Though she is originally part of the Blue brand, she can challenge either women. That will be a nice twist and will also save Charlotte vs Asuka from the fear of Carmella interrupting.
When the smoke settles, the Princess of Staten Island will leave WrestleMania 34 as your new Raw Women’s Champion.
Prediction: Carmella cashes in during the match and wins the title.
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Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali for the vacant Cruiserweight title
A babyface vs babyface dynamic hangs above this match as both Alexander and Ali are loved by the fans. These two men have crossed paths more than once in recent times and it is hard to pick a favorite between these two men. 205 Live has been in the middle of a resurrection in recent weeks ever since Triple H took charge of the division.
We saw the division go back to its original roots with the tournament format and some notable names from NXT made their transition to the Cruiserweight division. This match is the finals of the tournament to determine the new Cruiserweight champion. As I said before, both these men are equally matched and are capable of putting on a classic at WrestleMania.
However, if I had to pick a winner I would go with Ali. Ali’s time at the top of the division has been long overdue and given the opportunity, this young superstar can make the most of it. He would make up for an excellent babyface champion and if creative wants to work more into this match, they can even introduce a heel side of Alexander, which could work well given the recent history between these two men. After all, this won’t be the first time we’ve seen rivals turning into bitter enemies over titles and jealousy.
Prediction: Mustafa Ali wins the WWE Cruiserweight title.
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The Bar (c) vs. Braun Strowman and ???
Let’s get one thing out-of-the-way right from the start. I wasn’t the biggest fan of watching Strowman destroying the entire tag division during the battle royal. If anything, it makes the entire division seem week and it makes the champs look like a couple of chumps who are still holding on to the gold only due to the lack of legitimate contenders. I never pictured Strowman in the tag title scene.
Instead, I was hoping a Woken Bray Wyatt would join hands with Matt Hardy to take on and dethrone the champions. As such, the announcement that Braun will need to find a partner to compete in the match is refreshing to say the least. At least, he won’t be defeating the champions on his own. Unless there are plans to start a new feud for Strowman, I expect him and his partner to win the titles.
However, if someone like Big Cass, who has reportedly been cleared to return to the ring according to PW Insider, then the match could even act as a starting point for their feud. That way the Bar can keep their titles intact due to a fallout between the two giants against them. However, for the most part I see Strowman winning his first title in the WWE. Whether he does that alongside Cass or Elias or even Neville for that matter remains to be seen.
Prediction: Braun Strowman and his mystery partner win the Raw tag titles.
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Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Asuka
There is no one like Asuka in the entire WWE. There has never been one and there probably will never be one in the future either. Asuka is a case of exceptional in-ring talent, aura and exceptional booking all coming together at the right time. From her debut in NXT, all the way to the title match at WrestleMania 34, Asuka has remained undefeated and unstoppable.
After winning the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match, Asuka was believed to have been facing the Raw women’s champion Alexa Bliss. However, at Fastlane 2018, the Empress of Tomorrow decided she wanted better competition. She would then interrupt the Queen after her successful title defense and give her the slightest of hints that she was now coming for Charlotte’s title.
If a recent report from Wrestling News is to be true, then not only is Asuka supposed to defeat Charlotte, but she is expected to hold on to her title until next WrestleMania. The report continues to add that at the event she is expected to face Ronda Rousey. If this is true then we are in for a massive showdown next year. However, as for this year, I do predict Asuka’s streak to remain intact and for the Empress of Tomorrow win her first title on the main roster.
Prediction: Asuka wins the SmackDown Women’s title.
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The Miz (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
Unlike the United States triple threat title match, an exciting bout awaits us here. The Miz has been doing his best to carry the verbal portion of this feud. There is no doubt Rollins and Balor would kill it in the ring. Even the Miz has a more exciting offense that will add energy to this bout. Moreover, unlike the US title match, there is a real sense of rivalry between the men that the fans can resonate to.
The match itself will be an instant classic with Balor and Rollins pulling out all the flashy moves. Miz’s heel antics and the Miztourage’s interference at ringside will make for some interesting chemistry and can be used to cool down the bout whenever needed, to give Balor and Rollins some break.
Picking a winner is hard. Both the challengers have a genuine shot at the title. Even better, they both deserve it. However, the Miz has an equal say too. He is closing in on becoming the longest reigning IC champion of all time.
From where I see thing, I expect one or both of the losers from this match to eventually move to SmackDown Live. Rollins has so far never beaten Balor, adding some back story to their rivalry. It would be nice to see that streak continue as something creative can revisit later down the line. As such, Balor is my favorite to win this match.
Prediction: Finn Balor becomes the new Intercontinental Champion.
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AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar might be billed as the main event of the night and it might even go in last to close out the show. However, for many of the fans, this match is the real main event. The WWE champion AJ Styles will go up against the Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura. This is a dream match the WWE Universe have been clamoring for since Money in the Bank last year.
Based on their interaction from the past weeks, I believe Styles will assume the role of the default heel in this. Moreover, there is no reason to present Nakamura as the heel at this point. Regardless, even without any of them turning a face vs face chemistry will also work due to their history and in-ring acumen.
These two men last collided at the Tokyo Dome. Nakamura walked away the winner. The WWE will most certainly conveniently choose to ignore their history from NJPW. A lot of people, including myself expect this night to be the coronation of Shinsuke Nakamura. The Royal Rumble winner can now claim what is very well rightfully his. However, what next then? Styles can perhaps move to Raw and chase the Universal title while Nakamura take on a new lot of challengers.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura becomes the new WWE Champion.
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Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
WrestleMania hasn’t really been kind to the Game of lately. Last year he lost to Seth Rollins. The year before, he lost the WWE title to Roman Reigns. This year he would once again lose to Kurt Angle and Rousey. The same can be said about Stephanie as well. Last year she ended up falling through a table. The same fate could very well await her if the Samoan drop from Rousey was any indication.
What lies ahead after this match is what intrigues me. Will Kurt Angle continue to remain as the GM of Raw after fighting both of his superiors? What lies ahead for Ronda after laying hands on Stephanie McMahon of all people? Will they get fair treatment? Will Triple H and Stephanie go back to their office jobs post Mania, only to return at a later point in time?
In that sense this match lacks purpose and direction for me. Of course Ronda Rousey making her WWE in-ring debut at WrestleMania 34 is exciting. But when I ask the question ‘what is the end game of all this beyond her match?’ I get nothing. And that takes away from the excitement surrounding this match.
However, as far as predictions go, it is yet another easy one to call. Rousey will start with a win that will straight away plant her as one of the faces of the division and the WWE going forward.
Prediction: Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey defeat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
Credit: WWE.com
John Cena vs. The Undertaker
There are no titles on the line here. However, pride and stake are. This is a match fans have been wanting to see for a long while in the WWE. Honestly, this should have happened when the Dead Man’s WrestleMania streak was still intact and anyone even threatening to defeat him at WrestleMania meant something.
Now that Taker has lost to Brock first, and then to Reigns last year, it is hard to buy into him adding another loss at WrestleMania. On the flip side, this might very well be one of the last high-profile matches left in John Cena. Of course he will one day compete for one more WWE/Universal title to make it a record-breaking seventeen world titles. Even then, Cena does not have many high-profile bouts left in him at this stage of his career.
That makes this one of the harder matches to call. The in-ring action will not be anything special. However, expect the emotions to be high. The Undertaker will be giving us one more performance, despite his body failing on him. Cena’s presence will add intensity and emotion to this match. When all the smoke settles, one man’s legacy would be cemented. For the most part, I like to go with my guts and predict the Undertaker to win this match.
Prediction: The Undertaker wins.
Photo Source: WWE.com
Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Much like the probably match between Cena and Undertaker, this match is also not yet confirmed by the WWE. However, all signs point to this inevitable conclusion. A week ago, Owens and Zayn brutally attacked the SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon, after he announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence.
This week, the heels would be questioned for their actions and in the end Daniel Bryan proceeded to fire the two men. This happened later in the show after Bryan had already announced that he had been cleared by the WWE. As such, it was predictable that there would be some kind of physical altercation to follow. Owens and Zayn proceeded to attack Bryan. However, Bryan fought back valiantly, reminiscing the fans about his prime days. The GM did not look to miss a beat at all.
However, in the end, the numbers game proved to be too much and Bryan fell. The angle clearly sets up a potential match between the men involved. I wouldn’t be surprised if Shane returns the next week to confront the heels and announce the match. As for the eventual winner of this match, who else can doubt if Daniel Bryan wouldn’t return to the ring without a bang!
As for the heels, what awaits them once they lose to the authority figures is a much more intriguing question.
Prediction: Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon defeat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Is the friendship mended? Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
Sasha Banks vs. Bayley
Am keeping my fingers crossed here and hoping that they give these two women their own match. Rather than cramping their feud into the Women’s battle royal, this would be a more fitting way. These two deserve the spot light, given how much emotion they can generate. Moreover, the WWE Universe wants to see this match.
It seems like creative still hasn’t made up their mind about this match. The build towards this feud has been slow but solid. However, neither women has completely turned on the other to be referred as a heel. Some expect Bayley to turn whereas some people think it will be Sasha. It’s an intriguing situation to say the least.
I do expect Sasha to turn simply because Bayley still has more potential as a babyface. Sasha on the other hand is in dire need of a character shift and momentum. A full-blown heel turn and a win over her ‘former’ best friend would be an ideal way to build Sasha post Mania. Whether that win comes via clean fighting or underhand tactics will decide Bayley’s ceiling as a babyface.
Prediction: Sasha Banks defeats Bayley.
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Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns
On a star-studded night, filled with multiple main event worthy matches, this match will headline the night. Whether the match amuses us or disappoints us will depend on how much Lesnar is willing to work. The first time these two men met during the main event of WrestleMania, it was exciting as hell despite the massive fan outrage against Reigns.
They have good chemistry and can work a very physical match. Expect to see bruises and broken tables. However, when it comes to the eventual outcome of the match, one hardly needs to think. This will officially be Roman Reigns’s coronation. There is no Money in the Bank contract or other X factors around this time.
Moreover, with every passing week, Reigns is getting the fans on his side. Even though a vocal portion of the fan base still boos him, Reigns is getting there. His promos are solid and his in-ring work is getting better day by day. After Lesnar attacked a handcuffed Roman Reigns mercilessly, the fans have started booing Lesnar.
Next: WWE 5 Burning Questions: What Are Daniel Bryan’s WrestleMania Plans?
Moreover, they have gotten tired of seeing a part-time performer as the champion. Reigns will be what Lesnar never was. A champion who will be around week after week, taking on all kinds of challengers from Elias to Braun Strowman to the Miz to Samoa Joe. WrestleMania 34 will indeed be the night Roman Reigns captures the glory that slipped through his fingers three years ago.
Prediction: Roman Reigns defeat Brock Lesnar to win the Universal title.