Since January of 1988, the WWE has held an event that would come to be one of the key components in creating new stars, bringing back old ones and ultimately being the starting point on the Road to WrestleMania. The Royal Rumble is a match like no other that brings millions of fans from around the world together to count down from 10 to 1 multiple times throughout the night in hopes that their favorite superstar will walk through the curtain. After all 30 participants enter the contest, we are eventually left with one winner who earns the biggest reward; a shot at a championship of their choosing at WrestleMania.
Building the actual Royal Rumble match can be a tough task and sometimes fans find themselves questioning the outcomes and stories that are weaved into the match. But, with all the bad that comes with the match, there is plenty of good. Whether it be a wrestler entering at number 1 and outlasting all 29 of their opponents or someone getting thrown out within seconds of them entering the fray, the Royal Rumble has produced some of the best moments in WWE’s history.
John Cena returns from injury at the 2008 Royal Rumble
My goal is to build the best Royal Rumble using a superstar’s entry from a previous year in which they succeeded, shocked or surprised. There is many ways to build a Royal Rumble which is what makes it fun to watch. Which #1 entry had the most memorable performance? At #20, did someone have the night of their lives? The only rule is that a superstar can be only used in this list(unless it is a totally different character). Check out entry #’s 1-30 to see where your favorite Royal Rumble performances will land.
Smackdown Live is set to host Clash of Champions with every title on the line. The Usos, Charlotte Flair, Baron Corbin and AJ Styles all head into the night with the goal of successfully defending their championships. Elsewhere around the card, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens will literally be fighting for their WWE careers. With the stakes high, the rulers of the blue brand, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan, will be right in the middle of the action as special guest referees.
Which competitors will gain momentum, gain credibility, and gain gold as the Royal Rumble nears? Tune into the WWE Network on December 17 to find out and check out our predictions for the night’s biggest matches.
1.) Kickoff Match
Mojo Rawley vs. Zack Ryder
Kyle Boris: Ever since the Hype Bros broke up, the rivalry between the two has not gotten much time on Smackdown Live. However, the animosity between the former partners has escalated on Twitter of all places. Ryder and Rawley have traded jabs online with each one getting more and more personal. It’s unfortunate this has been pretty much ignored heading into Clash of Champions with the pay-off match taking place on the Kickoff show. Let’s see if these two can get the crowd around them, but ultimately I think Mojo gets the win. Who knows if this leads to a mid card run as a heel for the former leader of the Hype Train.
Jason Zoblin: This is actually an interesting bout because both competitors are out for revenge. Rawley is seeking revenge because he thinks Ryder has been holding him back while Ryder is out for redemption after Rawley stabbed him in the back. This is a way for both of them to get out of the crowded tag team picture and strive for a singles push I think this will ultimately lead to a bigger push for Mojo who will come out on top on the Kickoff Show.
Result: Mojo by pinfall
2.) Tag Team Match
Breezango vs. Bludgeon Brothers
KB: Poor Breezango. They’re gonna get squashed aren’t they? This is the case of another Smackdown Live storyline that hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. When The Fashion Files first started it was the hottest program in the WWE and as it cooled off it was just kind of implied that BB stood for Bludgeon Brothers and then we got a last minute announcement that the two teams would face off on Sunday. Harper and Rowan have looked good so far in their short run and they’ll probably take care of Breeze and Dango rather easily.
Result: Bludgeon Brothers by pinfall
JZ: This is going to be fantastic to watch because these teams are total opposites. Breezango is fun and glamorous as evident on the Fashion Files, and the Bludgeon Brothers are extremely dark and edgy. This will be a squash match to kill some time because I think the Bludgeon Brothers are being built to be a dominant force.It’ll be intriguing to see what they can do once they get in the ring with the likes of the Usos and the New Day and because of that they’ll need some momentum starting with a win over Breezango.
Result: Bludgeon Brothers by pinfall
3.) United States Championship
Baron Corbin(c) vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Bobby Roode
KB: The Glorious One Bobby Roode is the perfect fit for the United States Championship. He could really bring more prestige to the title. That being said, I still think it’s early in Baron Corbin’s reign and he’ll probably weasel his way into a win against Roode and Ziggler. Without an influx of babyfaces in the midcard, the feud between Roode and Corbin should continue heading toward the Royal Rumble.
Result: Corbin by pinfall
JZ: Bobby Roode and Baron Corbin have been feuding for quite some time now and even though I prefer Roode as a heel, I’ve like the work these two have put forward. Throwing Ziggler into the mix makes it interesting because Roode has been feuding with him since he got called up, adding heat to their rivalry. It pains me to say that Ziggler will probably lose and take the pin because he deserves better, but that’s the truth. I don’t think Corbin is cutting it as champion and he’s being overlooked completely. With that being said, I think the result will be glorious, and we’ll see a new champion.
Result: Roode by pinfall
4.) Smackdown Live Women’s Championship: Lumberjack Match
Charlotte Flair(c) vs. Natalya
KB: When these two women lock up, you’re almost guaranteed a 4-star match. These two have tons of chemistry and the added distraction of the lumberjacks is a nice change of pace. At this point in their careers, Charlotte is the superior wrestler and it would be nice to see her get a long reign with the belt. However, with the lumberjacks at ringside, including Carmella who still controls the Money in the Bank, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Natalya or The Princess of Staten Island walk away as new champion.
Result: Charlotte by submission
via WWE.com
JZ: The new storyline with the Riott squad has been interesting to follow. To have some NXT stars come in and tear the house down has been exciting to watch. Now, having them ringside will add a different element to this championship match. I think this will be the last match between Natalya and Charlotte for awhile since they’ve fought many times. It will be one last brutal fight between them and it should be a solid match because they both work so well together. I just think Charlotte is too dominant and deserves to hold the belt for awhile until Carmella ultimately cashes in down the road.
Result: Charlotte by pinfall
5.) Fatal Four Way Tag Team Championship
The Usos(c) vs. The New Day vs. Rusev & Aiden English vs. Gable & Benjamin
KB: This match has the potential to really steal the show. Expect a lot of near falls as all of these teams have a good argument to be the Tag champions. With all these teams involved, it feels like this contest could be one where the Usos lose without getting pinned. My heart says Rusev Day will reign, but my gut says Gable and Benjamin will win their first big match together. It would be a great story for Shelton who has overcome a lot in his second stint with the company.
Result: Gable & Benjamin by pinfall
JZ: This contest is stacked with talent. It has been fantastic to see all of these tag teams step up in the past few months on Smackdown Live because Raw is lacking in the Tag Team division. This will be an exciting matchup seeing everyone go at it. It’s hard to say who’s coming out on top, but because Gable and Benjamin were supposed to get their championship match a while back, I think they deserve to win and they’ll be looking for vengeance.
Result: Gable & Benjamin by pinfall
6.) WWE Championship Match
AJ Styles(c) vs. Jinder Mahal
KB: Jinder Mahal doesn’t have a ton of momentum heading into his rematch for the WWE Championship against AJ Styles. He’s coming off a loss to HHH on the WWE’s recent overseas tour in a match that was being billed as “The Biggest Match in India’s History”. Somehow, Mahal didn’t come out on top, but now the focus turns to his rematch with the Phenomenal One. Styles needs to be champ heading to the Rumble and despite the expected interference from the Singh Brothers, AJ should be able to make it happen and leave Clash of Champions on top.
Result: Styles by pinfall
JZ: I’m looking forward to this rematch. Jinder was not my favorite champion to say the least, but he made things interesting and he was entertaining to watch as champion because he seemed unstoppable with the help of The Singh Brothers. This should be a captivating rematch, but I can’t see Jinder becoming a two-time champion. I want to see AJ hold the title for a while heading into Wrestlemania so at Clash of Champions we will have a phenomenal win.
Result: Styles by pinfall
7.) Tag Team Match: Special Referees- Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon
Owens & Zayn vs. Nakamura & Orton
(If Owens & Zayn lose they’re fired)
KB: There’s no way Owens and Zayn are getting fired…right? Arguably the two most exciting members of Smackdown Live, the former enemies are the main focus each and every week. It’s been teased that we might be seeing a Daniel Bryan heel turn, but perhaps WWE is setting us up a for a swerve leading to a Shane McMahon turn in which he helps Owens and Zayn keep their job. There’s plenty of different dynamics heading into the match and it’ll be interesting to see which one is explored. Could the friendship between Nakamura and Orton be short-lived? There’s plenty of speculation, but ultimately I believe we’ll get a solid match with a screwy finish in which Kevin and Sami keep theirs jobs.
Result: Owens & Zayn by pinfall
JZ: The fact that if Zayn and Owens lose they will be fired gives an added bonus to an already important match. The feud between Zayn, Owens and Shane O’ Mac has been the main focus on Smackdown and each week something crazy has happened. Zayn has been a great heel and it was a well-needed switch because his run as a face wasn’t taking him anywhere. He went from facing Mike Kanellis to being in the main event of Clash of Champions. The four of these guys always work well together and with Bryan and Shane involved there’s so much that could happen. I really think somebody will betray somebody and we will see this storyline continue, but I can’t see Zayn and Owens getting fired so I think they will somehow win this match.
Smackdown Live has been know for exciting matches and feuds because of the way the talent is utilized and the matches are usually the focus compared to Raw which has always been known for it’s gripping and compelling storylines. So, with that being said, Hell in a Cell should produce some thrilling moments. With two traditional Hell in a Cell matches slated for the PPV along with a few title matches, the balanced card is capable of exceeding expectations.
1.) Kickoff Match
Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. Hype Bros
Kyle Boris: The fact that this match is taking place on the Kickoff show should give Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin a decent amount of time to show off some of their chemistry. The Hype Bros have been teasing a break-up for a few weeks now and expect to see that culminate at Hell in a Cell as they the animosity grows. I wouldn’t be surprised to See Zack Ryder leave Mojo hanging as he looks for the hot tag.
Prediction: Gable & Benjamin by pinfall
Jason Zoblin: The kickoff match should be a great way for Shelton Benjamin to get back into the spotlight. It is great to see him back in WWE and his new partnership is a great addition to the tag division. On the other side, the Hype Bros are a great mix of fun and this match will do what it’s supposed to do; get the crowd HYPE. I think because of his experience and the roll they are on, Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable will pick up the win.
Prediction: Gable & Benjamin by pinfall
2.) Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
KB: GLORIOUS! Following in Nakamura’s footsteps of working with Dolph Ziggler for his first program on Smackdown Live, look for Bobby Roode to make his presence known as he picks up his first big win on the main roster. I’d love to see this match open the show so a hot crowd can really get behind Roode. Another loss for Ziggler will really leave him in no man’s land and maybe the only answer is a move to RAW.
Prediction: Roode by pinfall
via WWE
JZ: Dolph Ziggler has always been an underrated superstar in WWE. His in-ring abilities and mic skills are uncanny, but it always seems like something is missing. Bobby Roode is the best new superstar on Smackdown Live and has easily transitioned after his successful career in NXT. Roode is incredibly talented, and no matter what Ziggler says, Bobby has the best entrance in the business. I ultimately think this match will be a stepping stone for him to move up on the roster and Bobby Roode will have a GLORIOUS win over Dolph Ziggler.
Prediction: Roode by pinfall
3.) Randy Orton vs. Rusev
KB: Can handsome Rusev get a big PPV win? The man is one of the more talented members of the Blue Brand, but has gotten lost in the shuffle along with the likes of Sami Zayn. Randy Orton recently appeared on Edge and Christian’s podcast and stated he knows where he is in his career and wants to help put over some of the younger guys. Maybe he does that this Sunday, though I expect some shenanigans from Aiden English to help Rusev pick up the huge victory over The Viper.
Prediction: Rusev by pinfall
JZ: This feud has been brewing ever since SummerSlam. Both of the matches between these two have been quick and we really haven’t seen how well these two can fight each other. At the end of the night, because of Orton’s experience, he should come up with the win thanks to an RKO outta nowhere!
Prediction: Orton by pinfall
4.) Women’s Championship
Natalya(c) vs. Charlotte
KB: Is anyone enjoying Natalya’s reign as champion? I know she’s been in the business for a while now and this is a great milestone for her, but it’s disappointing that we still haven’t gotten a feud between Charlotte and Becky Lynch. That’s the feud everyone wants to see and hopefully we get that sooner than later. It can begin to take shape with a championship win for Charlotte at Hell in a Cell.
Prediction: Charlotte by submission
JZ: Natalya has been a successful champion as of late and she has proven herself to be an absolute force. With all the competition in the division, it has made her look stronger because she is the one holding the belt. However, this is no question Charlotte’s time to shine. The second she became a Smackdown Live superstar she has wanted the title and now as a babyface, she’ll have the crowd behind her and I think she will conquer the women’s division on the Blue Brand.
Prediction: Charlotte by pinfall
5.) United States Championship
AJ Styles(c) vs. Baron Corbin
KB: The Phenomenal One can make anyone look good so I’m looking forward to seeing some of Corbin’s best work, yet. Styles will bring out the best in Corbin to make him look like a formidable opponent, but at the end of the day Corbin will be no match for Styles and his extensive offensive arsenal. Styles should eventually move onto bigger things and enter the WWE Title picture, but Corbin shouldn’t be the one to take the belt away from him.
Prediction: Styles by pinfall
JZ: AJ Styles has been a perfect addition to not only Smackdown, but to WWE in general. He is easily one of the best athletes in the business and is extremely exciting to watch. At this point, I think Baron Corbin is essentially a waste after he lost his Money in the Bank cash-in against Jinder.
Eventually, good heels become great when they get some fan recognition, but unfortunately Corbin hasn’t reached that level, yet. I really think this match should have been a Triple Threat with Tye Dillinger thrown in the mix but unfortunately it did not happen. This will be a quick match where AJ will retain, and hopefully it will get Corbin out of the title race, because he is not as deserving as Dillinger.
Prediction: Styles by pinfall
6.) Tag Team Championship – Hell in a Cell
New Day(c) vs. The Usos
KB: This match, like it seemingly always does, will probably steal the show. These two teams put on great match after great match and now they’re heading into Hell in a Cell. In what should be the final match of their feud, I’m preparing to see a back and forth affair between two fantastic teams. I think the hot potato with the belts will come to an end, however, as the New Day get the win and move onto new competition.
Prediction: New Day by pinfall
JZ: This feud has become personal throughout the weeks and it has progressed into probably the most brutal stipulation to date, Hell in a Cell.
The Usos are brash, raw and they can flat out wrestle. The New Day’s gimmick can get tired at times, but they have always remained relevant and they can seriously work a crowd. I feel this will be the last match between them for awhile and another tag team will be waiting for the winner. I see the New Day ultimately retaining.
Prediction: New Day by pinfall
7.) Hell in a Cell
Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon
KB: Kevin Owens precisely said he was going to throw Shane McMahon off the Hell in a Cell. I don’t think he’ll actually do that… I mean, he can’t, right?
Either way, we all know these two are capable of performing some crazy stunts and will probably lead to some of the best moments of the night. I really do believe that Owens is going to do what he said and just beat down Shane until he can’t anymore.
Prediction: Owens by pinfall
JZ: With Kevin Owens destroying Vince and insulting Shane’s family, this rivalry has gotten so vindictive that this match will be brutal. Something will big happen whether Shane jumps off the cell again or someone goes through it, but because of the circumstances of the feud and how personal it has become, Shane will be victorious and be the hero for the company.
Prediction: McMahon by pinfall
8.) WWE Championship
Jinder Mahal(c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
KB: Nakamura has wrestled all over the world against some of the best competitors in the world. That being said, I can’t see a wrestler of that nature losing to Jinder Mahal twice. No offense to the Modern Day Maharaja, but the Jinder Mahal project isn’t working and it needs to come to an end. This reign has built him up enough that when the WWE goes on their India tour, it won’t matter if he has the belt or not. Shinsuke is where the money is and it’s time for the belt to change hands.
Prediction: Nakamura by pinfall
JZ: To be honest, I think this whole fiasco with Jinder should end soon. WWE really wanted to grow their fanbase in India so this experiment was plausible, but I did not think it would last this long. Shinsuke is a great competitor and is absolutely flawless in the ring. He deserves to win, but I’m afraid this Jinder Mahal reign might last a little longer.
WWE No Mercy has two WrestleMania main event caliber matches on the card as John Cena and Roman Reings will headline alongside the Universal Title Match between Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman. The Staples Center should be rocking as four of the company’s biggest stars look to make their moment.
The rest of the card has potential with four title matches and a rematch between the Demon Finn Baylor and Bray Wyatt. Alexa Bliss, The Miz, Neville, and Ambrose & Rollins will look to continue their strong runs as champions while Emma, Nia Jax, Jason Jordan and Enzo Amore look to win their win first singles championships.
Take an in-depth look at each match and be sure to check out all the action at 8PM on Sunday, September 24 on the WWE Network.
1.) Intercontinental Title
The Miz(c) vs. Jason Jordan
Kyle Boris: Quiet on the set. This is the match that should open the show. The crowd should have a ton of energy at the start of the night and hopefully Jason Jordan can use that to garner a positive reaction. The live audiences haven’t fully committed to Jordan yet, but he’s been an absolute joy to watch in the ring and people will start to take notice.
Once Jordan starts to connect, he’ll really be off and running, but until then he won’t be ready to take down the leader of the Miztourage. The Miz will come out on top and continue his reign as champion.
Prediction: Miz by pinfall
Jason Zoblin:This storyline has been building for a couple months now and I cannot wait for the send off. Jason Jordan needed a push, and the storyline with Kurt Angle could have been handled better, but it is finally starting to pick up steam. Jordan is an incredible athlete and he has put together a great string of matches including bouts against John Cena and Roman Reigns. Now, the Miz will be stepping in and will be a huge test for the former tag champ. The IC champ has turned into a major player on Monday nights and his mic skills are uncanny making him one of the best heels the company has produced. With all of that, I think Jason Jordan will defy the odds and after a long, grueling match, will take home his first singles championship.
Prediction: Jordan by pinfall
2.) Raw Tag Team Title
Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins(c) vs. Sheamus & Cesaro
KB: The tag team division in the WWE has been on fire of late with The New Day and The Usos running things over on Smackdown Live and the four competitors in this match tearing it up on Raw. Expect a hard-hitting affair featuring a bunch of great spots. The contest will probably see quite a few near falls, but it seems too early to take the belts off the new-look Shield.
Prediction: Ambrose & Rollins by pinfall
JZ:Cesaro and Sheamus have really grown into quite the impressive tag team even after dropping the belts. They are two of the more talented athletes on the roster and have worked very well together. However, I have really enjoyed Seth and Dean’s title reign over the past month. They have a new sense of confidence in the tag team division and it is great to see 2/3 of the Shield back together. Rollins and Ambrose are going to take care of Sheamus and Cesaro, and I don’t see them losing the belts anytime soon… as long as they can stay on the same page.
Prediction: Ambrose & Rollins by pinfall
3.) Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt
KB: When it comes to these two wrestlers, you’re looking at two of the more unique characters in the business. That being said, both of these guys seem to be stuck in a rut. I’m not sure where this feud goes after this. Bray can’t fall cleanly to Balor again, right? But if he wins, are we getting a Round 3? Does anyone really want that?
Both of these men are missing something(I.E. Balor Club/Wyatt Family) so maybe we’ll get a little surprise toward the end of the bout.
Prediction: Wyatt by pinfall
JZ:Both of these competitors have been extremely talented throughout their careers. Bray has turned himself into a main eventer, and even recently a world champion. The feud he has been having with Finn has been personal and this could shape up to be a blood match between the two. Balor is angry and fed up with Bray’s antics and will ultimately take him down as Wyatt’s weird and unorthodox tactics will not lead to a victory.
Prediction: Balor by pinfall
4.) Raw Women’s Title
Alexa Bliss(c) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax vs. Emma vs. Bayley
KB: The addition of Bayley into this match is an interesting one as the spokesperson for #HugLife showed more intensity on Raw this week then we’ve seen from her in months. I expect a strong showing from Bayley in her return, with Nia Jax impressing as well, however the champ, Alexa Bliss, should be able to find a way to steal a win in this multi-person match.
Prediction: Bliss by pinfall
JZ: The women’s division has truly been an absolute force over the past couple of years with some roadblocks along the way, but now the female athletes are truly a force to be reckoned with which is evident by the fact that five women are walking into No Mercy with a legitimate shot at taking home the gold.
Alexa Bliss has been an exciting heel champion. She’s a bully, and it’s been gripping to see how each and every female contender has tried to take the title away from her. It was awesome to see Bayley back and get placed into this match seeing as those two have unfinished business. Ever since she ended her alliance with the champ, Nia Jax has led the charge, however, the numbers game could be too much if the other four women team up to take out the strongest competitor. In the end, Alexa will weasel her way to the win and retain.
Prediction: Bliss by pinfall
5.) Cruiserweight Title
Neville(c) vs. Enzo Amore
KB: Does anyone think Enzo can actually hang with Neville in between the ropes? Amore has been beaten down by someone different every week whether it be The Miz or Braun Strowman. He’s been using heel tactics of late and the only conceivable thing that could make this contest intriguing is a classic face/heel switcheroo with The Realest Guy in the Room winning the belt by cheating to a chorus of boos.
Prediction: Enzo by pinfall
JZ:Neville has turned into such a strong champion and has made 205 Live a legitimate brand and has truly created a name for himself. He is also extremely well-rounded and he just seems to get better and better each week. His opponent Enzo is a funny character, and is fantastic on the mic, but he does not have the skill set yet to lead 205 Live.
Prediction: Neville by pinfall
6.) John Cena vs. Roman Reigns
KB: Somehow, with all the trash talking and low blows these two have delivered, they still have yet to come to actual blows. At No Mercy, these two behemoths will look to steal the show in what should be a “passing of the torch” moment with Reings going over as Cena heads to Hollywood. It’ll be interesting to hear the crowd’s reactions throughout as both men are arguably the most polarizing figures in the company.
Prediction: Reigns by pinfall
JZ:Oh baby, I can’t wait for this one. John Cena has been THE guy for many fans, including myself. No matter how many times a year he’s fighting, he’s been consistently putting on great matches. On the other side, say what you want about Roman, he has been a great performer, regardless of how everyone feels about him. This one will be a long, well fought, exciting, and personal bout, but I think with his big-match experience, Cena will come out on top.
Prediction: Cena by pinfall
7.) Universal Title
Brock Lesnar(c) vs. Braun Strowman
KB: Is there anyone bigger in the business right now than Braun Strowman? I mean that figuratively and literally. This man is on fire and he deservedly needs a belt to back up his star power. A win over Brock Lesnar would shoot him to the moon with no sign of turning back.
Is WWE ready to take the belt off the Beast Incarnate? Well, they should be and Braun Strowman should be the one to conquer said Beast.
Prediction: Strowman by pinfall
JZ: BRRRRRROCK LESNAR and the Monster Among Men, Braun Strowman! It’s been amazing to see how far Braun has come as turned into such a key part of the Raw brand. He’s a destructive force, an incredible athlete and can hold his own with anyone in the locker room. This is Braun’s moment; main eventing at the Staples Center against the Mayor of Suplex City. The Monster Among Men seems unbeatable right now, but we’ve seen Brock overcome almost every other obstacle in his way, and it might be too soon for Strowman to take down the Universal Champion.
WrestleMania is already right around the corner and the card is shaping up to be an exciting, yet long(13 matches), night of wrestling. All of the major belts are on the line, personal feuds will shine bright and returning stars will make their presence felt. With plenty of action at the helm, fans can be in store for quite a few “WrestleMania moments”. Moments like when Hogan slammed Andre, Lesnar broke the streak, and Daniel Bryan rising to the top of the WWE are just a few examples of WrestleMania moments that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Where on the card will the best WrestleMania moments come from this year in Orlando? Will a breakout star solidify her place in the business? Could two monsters of the industry make up for a poor match years ago? Will the fans chant for a victorious Roman Reigns?(probably not that one) We won’t find out for sure until April 2nd, but let’s take a look at 10 Possible WrestleMania Moments that could define the show.
Samoa Joe or Braun Strowman Win The Andre the Giant Battle Royal
Right now, the Andre the Giant Battle Royal boasts Curt Hawkins…Mojo Rawley…Apollo Crews…and the Big Show as the only participants in this year’s annual event so far. Not really the Mount Rushmore of the WWE. The rest of the entrants will probably consist of Ziggler, Breezango, Jinder Mahal, Kalisto, Titus O’Neil and whoever else doesn’t have a place on the card. However, none of those guys look primed to win this year’s event.
There are, however, a couple of big names without a match. Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe are both without a match even though they will probably be involved with major angles during the show. Strowman could possibly interfere in the Taker/Roman showdown while Joe could make his presence felt by helping either Kevin Owens or HHH.
Hopefully, one of these men get the chance to actually have a match. Either man could potentially use the battle royal to showcase their dominance as they steamroll through the competition rather easily. The ending would probably come down to them ultimately eliminating Sami Zayn(sorry Sami) to win the match and go on to hoist the Andre the Giant trophy after a dominating performance.
John Cena Proposes to Nikki Bella
Sometimes, the WWE is more than just wrestling. Okay, more than just sometimes. Even though the idea of John Cena getting on one knee and proposing to his girlfriend is nauseating to most, it would be a great opportunity for the company to gain mainstream attention. The Total Bellas’ cameras will probably be filming as well so they could kill two birds with one stone.
The story writes itself and it would give WWE a love angle that could turn into not only a WrestleMania moment, but also a viral moment. WWE doesn’t always do romance angles right, but when they do, like when Miss Elizabeth and Randy Savage reunited, it makes for a great feel-good experience. I personally want to see it happen so that I can say I witnessed a grown man propose in jorts.
Bray Wyatt Picks Up His First WrestleMania Win
Who would have thought that a year after being humiliated by John Cena and The Rock at WrestleMania 32, Bray Wyatt would be defending the WWE Championship and headlining WrestleMania 33?
via SkySports
It truly is remarkable, but this moment could leave a sour taste in our mouths if Wyatt is defeated by Randy Orton and sent back down the totem pole. Wyatt is on top of the world right now and is destined to be the future and lead Smackdown following WrestleMania. He deserves to defeat Orton CLEANLY and celebrate as the jam-packed arena light up their phones and bow to the Wyatt that runs the riot…err…the Bray that runs the fray…I’m sure he’ll think of something better.
The Cruiserweights Receive a Standing Ovation
Slowly, but surely, the cruiserweights are starting to find their groove. It started with the rambunctious Rich Swann oozing personality into the division. Then, it got a serious player in Neville thrown into the mix. Jack Gallagher provided his gentleman ways along with his unique style to the group. All three have put on great matches at the last few RAW ppv’s, but finally the cruiserweights may be ready to take it to the next level with the help of Double A .
Austin Aries had been sitting out for months on the commentating team, but when he stepped back in the ring, he immediately became the most dangerous man in the division besides Neville. The two have the experience and star power to put on a great match that should have the crowd on their feet and could theoretically begin the real Cruiserweight Revolution.
Sasha Banks Turns on Bayley
Just picture it now. Bayley overcomes the odds and retains the Raw Women’s Championship on the biggest stage of them all. Sasha and Bayley celebrate in the middle ring and Bayley offers one of her signature hugs only for Banks to strike the champion and steal her WrestleMania moment.
Banks is a great heel and we know from their days in NXT that the two former friends can put on a classic every time out. It only makes sense for the two to finally come to blows because of Sasha’s jealousy and desire to be champion.
Former Divas Fight for the Smackdown Women’s Championship
This Smackdown Women’s Title match has a lot of mystery surrounding it. We don’t even know what kind of match it’s going to be. We can probably cross out Gravy Bowl or Evening Gown matches because it’s 2017(hit up the network to see the state of women’s wrestling in the early 2000’s). The most likely scenario is a battle royal of some sorts.
Alexa Bliss is slated to face every available women on the roster which as of now is Natalya, Becky Lynch, Mickie James, Carmella and possibly Naomi, if healthy. There has to be more though, right? If not, why not just call it a fatal five way and build with what you have?
That being said, this could be a great opportunity for the WWE to bring back some former divas into the match. Kelly Kelly, Victoria, Lita and maybe even soon-to-be Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix could join in on the fun and get one more WrestleMania moment.
Jericho and Owens Hug It Out
First Brangelina. Then, JeriKO. Is everything we know about friendship and love a lie?
Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho’s friendship carried RAW for much of 2016. Whether it be their hilarious segments or 5-star matches, the two were able to captivate the audience every time out. That was until, of course, the Festival of Friendship when we found out everything was a lie.
The break-up has set up a match months in the making and ultimately could end up stealing the show in Orlando. The two are sure to have great chemistry and will put forth an emotional contest. No matter who wins, it would be great to see the two hug it out at the end just to give us a slither hope that life isn’t a lie…even if it ends with Owens attacking Jericho just like Y2J did to HBK years earlier.
AJ Hits the Styles Clash…off the Stage?
The sole purpose of this match is for them to do something crazy, right? But what could it be? AJ can carry anyone in the ring, but Shane’s move-set, besides jumping off things and those ridiculous punches, is pretty much non-existent.
They already did the table spot on Smackdown so that’s out of the question. There’s no cell for Shane to jump off so we won’t be seeing that. The only thing that comes to mind is…the stage?
Shane likes to jump. He takes your White Men Can’t Jump and jumps even higher. Hopping from crazy idea to the next, the man just won’t give up. Did he have to fight the Undertaker? Absolutely not. His legacy was already set in stone. But, he did it and fans loved him even more. Certainly he would be done after that, right? Nope. Now, he faces the best wrestler in the business and we all know he’s going to attempt to top last year’s feat. How could he possibly do that? Climb to the top of the freaking stage and ultimately eat the Styles Clash as the two fall into the abyss…
Something Spectacular for Goldberg/Lesnar
All signs are pointing to Goldberg and Brock Lesnar headlining WrestleMania and ending the show. If I would have told you that a year ago you would have thought I was stuck in 2004. But here we are. Goldberg has Brock’s number so everyone assumes Lesnar will win this time around. The question though is how?
If these two go on last, the WWE must have something special in store. If Lesnar were to just squash Goldberg it would be no different that Survivor Series and would probably lead to resonating boo’s. No one knows what it will be, but let’s just hope for something worthy of a WrestleMania moment.
Roman Reigns Beats the Undertaker Using the Tombstone
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Imagine?
No, but seriously, we all know Roman is going to beat The Undertaker, right? The Deadman doesn’t need a win and Reigns can benefit significantly from a win over the future hall of famer. Just imagine if all the seeds of a Reigns heel turn led to him getting boo’d out of the stadium after taking down The Undertaker with his own finishing move and in part claiming his yard. The Roman Reigns era would officially begin and half of the WWE Universe would hate nothing more than Reigns while the other half might come to respect the Big Dawg.
Smackdown has used some solid storytelling to set up the match ups for the Elimination Chamber PPV. The Blue Brand’s first PPV of the year is also being anchored by three women’s matches, all of which are intriguing. The Wyatt family also do battle along with a free-for-all for the Tag Team Championships. The night will culminate with a traditional Elimination Chamber match for the WWE championship. Let’s take a look at each match up to see how things might play out.
Nikki Bella vs. Natalya
This one has gotten quite personal and Natalyla has been the one delivering the more brutal blows especially when taking shots at Nikki’s relationship with John Cena. Unfortunately for Natalya, I think Nikki gets the last laugh at Elimination Chamber. BTW! We all got the last laugh when Nikki posted this amazing impression of Natalya.
Prediction: Nikki Bella by pinfall
Apollo Crews & Kalisto vs. Dolph Ziggler
In reality, if Dolph Ziggler were to beat both Crews and Kalisto cleanly it would pretty much bury both young competitors. What would it say of them that both highly talented men couldn’t beat one superstar. With that, I’ll take the good guys to pick up the victory and send Ziggler on a downward spiral with his new heel ways.
Prediction: Crews & Kalisto by DQ
Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James
Of the 3 women’s matches on the card, this match intrigues me the most and hopefully we get it down the road again with the title on the line. On one hand, I think Becky needs to pick up a win because she’s been losing lately at the hands of Alexa Bliss. But, I think Mickie needs a big singles win which would be her first singles PPV win since the Royal Rumble in 2010 when she defeated Michelle McCool to become Women’s Champion.
Prediction: Mickie James by pinfall
Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper
Luke Harper is one of the more underrated wrestlers on WWE’s roster and this match could give him the spotlight needed to prove his worth as a single’s competitor, however, Randy Orton is coming off a Royal Rumble victory and needs to gain as much momentum as possible heading into WrestleMania. I’ll take Orton, but maybe we see some outside interference from a returning Erik Rowan.
Prediction: Randy Orton by pinfall
Tag Team Turmoil
American Alpha(c) vs. Slater & Rhyno vs. Breezango vs. The Ascension vs. The Usos vs. The Vaudevillains
Kyle: Ahh the classic ‘give every tag team on the roster a title opportunity that they didn’t deserve’ match. None of these teams have earned the right to hold the belts. The Vaudevillains haven’t won in ages. The Ascension picked up their first win on Smackdown in ages. Slater & Rhyno have lost all momentum. Breezango’s gimmick has actually entertained me, but does that mean the Fashion Police is going to head into WrestleMania with the belts? The Usos have the track record, but does anyone really want to see them as champs? Jordan and Gable are freaks of nature and need some more competition. Can we get The Revival called up in time for a WrestleMania match?
Prediction: American Alpha by pinfall
Smackdown Women’s Championship
Alexa Bliss(c) vs. Naomi
The Queen of glow is finally getting the shine she deserves in what is easily the biggest match of her career. A year ago, if I told you Naomi would be fighting for a women’s championship against Alexa Bliss, you would have laughed. Now, it’s happening and people are actually excited. Hopefully, Naomi gets a chance to showcase her impressive athletic ability, but ultimately, I see Bliss continuing her strong reign as champion and heading into the show of shows as champ.
Prediction: Alexa Bliss by pinfall
WWE Title Match: Elimination Chamber
John Cena(c) vs. AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz vs. Baron Corbin vs. Bray Wyatt
This elimination chamber match is huge for shaping the landscape of WrestleMania season and it could go in quite a few different directions. Cena could retain and move on to face Orton. Maybe Styles will win and set up a triple threat with Orton and Cena at Wrestlemania? The Miz and Bray Wyatt could deservingly walk away champ as well. Corbin picked up a huge win on Smackdown so he’s in the mix too. Dean Ambrose is the wild card, but he has the Intercontinental Championship to worry about. In a coin flip, I’ll take AJ Styles to regain his title setting up a multi-man match at WrestleMania.
via starschanges
Prediction: AJ Styles
Who do you think walks away with momentum heading into WrestleMania? Let us know in the comments and be sure to catch all the action on the WWE Network on February 12th!
KB: Is anyone enjoying Natalya’s reign as champion? I know she’s been in the business for a while now and this is a great milestone for her, but it’s disappointing that we still haven’t gotten a feud between Charlotte and Becky Lynch. That’s the feud everyone wants to see and hopefully we get that sooner than later. It can begin to take shape with a championship win for Charlotte at Hell in a Cell.
JZ: 
Kyle Boris: Quiet on the set. This is the match that should open the show. The crowd should have a ton of energy at the start of the night and hopefully Jason Jordan can use that to garner a positive reaction. The live audiences haven’t fully committed to Jordan yet, but he’s been an absolute joy to watch in the ring and people will start to take notice.
JZ: 
KB: Is there anyone bigger in the business right now than Braun Strowman? I mean that figuratively and literally. This man is on fire and he deservedly needs a belt to back up his star power. A win over Brock Lesnar would shoot him to the moon with no sign of turning back.
now, the Andre the Giant Battle Royal boasts Curt Hawkins…Mojo Rawley…Apollo Crews…and the Big Show as the only participants in this year’s annual event so far. Not really the Mount Rushmore of the WWE. The rest of the entrants will probably consist of Ziggler, Breezango, Jinder Mahal, Kalisto, Titus O’Neil and whoever else doesn’t have a place on the card. However, none of those guys look primed to win this year’s event.
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