Wrestlemania 27 Predictions
We are only a few days away from Wrestlemania 27, so I thought that it was about time I posted my predictions and thoughts for what is shaping up to be a fine show. Hot on the heels of an excellent “go-home” edition of Raw, this show features some matches that have been extremely well built up; as well as some that seem rather more thrown together. I feel that this has the potential to be one of the best ‘Manias ever but rather than just offer you my perspective, this year I’ve decided to freshen things up a little. So, offering their own predictions and insights will be my good friends and long time WWE observers Wayne “The Heart-Brack Kid” Brackenbury and Ian “Don’t Call Me Pat” Patterson. As always, I am your host, “The Lawman” Martin Marshall. To get ourselves in the mood we also went back ten years to revisit what many believe was the best Wrestlemania of all time, Wrestlemania 17. Hopefully, I’ll have our thoughts on that shortly. In the meantime, here are our predictions, hopes and expectations for Sunday night. By all means weigh in with yours!
Sheamus (c) vs Daniel Bryan for the US Championship:
IP: Sheamus to beat Bryan, he hasn’t had the belt long enough to lose it. I also think they’re booking him too strong to lose (unless they’re trying to build the upset win for Bryan).
WB: Sheamus to win for me.
MM: And I also think Sheamus gets the nod here. However, I could see Bryan getting a DQ win or something, especially if a lot of other heels are winning. Vince likes ‘Mania to be about the babyfaces.
Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes:
IP: I think this match could be really good. I want Rhodes to win but I think Rey probably will. I also think we might see the debut of Sin Cara here.
WB: I see Rhodes winning, beating on Rey after the match until Sin Cara makes the save. Then Rey gets put on the shelf for a little while and Rhodes feuds with Sin Cara.
MM: Well, I’m voting for two heels in a row but I think that Rhodes will take this. Having said that, I could see it going either way but I think the win would be huge for Cody. I hope Dusty is in his corner for the match. However, I don’t think that Sin Cara will appear here – I think we’ll see him on Raw the next night.
Randy Orton vs CM Punk:
WB: I think Punk will win, with the help of a new Nexus member.
IP: I want Punk to win but Orton probably will. We may see new members of the New Nexus.
MM: The last few weeks, as Orton destroyed the New Nexus, I was convinced Punk was going to win. However, with Punk suddenly being booked so strong the last two weeks I’m no longer so sure. Of course, after Punk’s promo this week it’s possible members of the New Nexus will cost him the match. I’ll still go for Punk, with no great confidence.
Jerry Lawler vs Michael Cole:
MM: Of course, this match features Jack Swagger in Cole’s corner and Stone Cold as guest referee.
WB: Lawler will beat the heck out of Cole and Swagger!
IP: I’m a bit of a Cole Miner but I think Lawler will win when Austin stunners everybody.
MM: I’m hoping WWE will let Jerry break out the piledriver for this match! In any case, it only ends one way: Lawler wins, and he and Austin share a beer over the prone figures of Cole and Swagger. Incidentally, this has been one of the best builds to a match I can remember in a long time.
Snooki, Morrison & Trish vs Laycool and Ziggler (with Vickie):
IP: Probably Snooki’s team to win, I can’t see them bringing her in to lose.
WB: Snooki gets the win.
MM: Agreed, this seems like one of the easiest picks on the card.
Undertaker vs Triple H:
WB: I’m going out on a limb here. Triple H will beat ‘Taker (maybe with the help of some old DX buddies if they are at the Hall of Fame). I want him too, as well. I think it would be such a shock.
IP: No-brainer for me: Undertaker wins. He should never lose to anyone at Wrestlemania (except Bret Hart).
MM: I agree with Ian (except the bit about Bret Hart). If they break the streak now, they can’t use it next year. I do think that this will surpass their match at Wrestlemania 17. I also think that, if Triple H were to win, then this would replace Nash breaking Goldberg’s streak as the IWC’s most hated act of booking oneself strong!
Alberto Del Rio vs Edge (c) for the World Heavyweight Championship:
WB: Del Rio beats Edge then goes on to a program with Christian.
IP: I can see Christian turning heel on Edge in order to get Del Rio the win.
MM: I also think Del Rio wins this one. However, I’d prefer to see Edge retain the title, just to make things more unpredictable. Then, at the next show, Christian could join in a triple threat match, Del Rio could pin him to win, Edge blames Christian and turns heel to feud with him. So far, Del Rio has got everything he wanted at the first opportunity. I think making him wait a little longer might pay off in the long run.
John Cena vs The Miz (c) for the WWE Championship:
MM: Of course, the big elephant in the room here is The Rock. How will he affect this match, especially after Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment on him this Monday?
WB: I think and hope The Miz will win. If I see one more ‘Mania with Cena winning I’ll have to smash my TV! I think Rock will screw Cena.
IP: I really want The Miz to beat Cena. I can’t see it happening, though, so I’m picking Cena to win, with possible help from The Rock.
MM: Again, I’d love to see The Miz retain here. It would really solidify his standing as a top guy but up until this week I was firmly leaning to a Cena win. Now, I’m not so sure. Maybe Wayne’s scenario is right and will build to a Cena-Rock match down the line (I bet Vince is already wetting himself at the thought of the buy-rate that would bring in).
Also on this week’s Raw, another match was added.
The Corre vs Kane, Big Show, Santino and Koslov:
WB: I don’t care. I don’t even want to see it! How’s that?
MM: Fair enough.
IP: I think the Corre will probably win.
MM: I agree. It’s another thing for them to brag about.
WB: Seriously, I would have much rather seen Wade Barrett defend his Intercontinental Championship. And that means there’s no Tag Team Championship match either.
MM: Yet again.
In Conclusion:
Looking at all that, one thing is obvious to me: there are too many heel wins. Some of them will probably be wrong. Vince likes to finish Wrestlemania on a feel-good note and I think that will be difficult this year. I suspect that he will send Cena and Miz on last and have Cena win, although I hope that I’m wrong. However, realistically, it may not be wise for anybody to try and follow Triple H and the Undertaker. The problem is that that match can’t really have a feel-good ending. Both men are insanely popular so at least a large minority of the crowd are going to be disappointed with the finish of this one, no matter what happens. Rumour has it that Kofi Kingston and Drew McIntyre will also be added to the card as a singles match. If that happens, I definitely think Kofi scores the victory. In any case, I’d like to thank my guests and we’ll revisit this next week – when we’ll know what happened.
Marshall Law 