THIS SUNDAY!!! LIVE and ONLY ON PAY-PER-VIEW! WrestleMania 28 will be presented from Miami, Florida, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s hometown. This Sunday will feature a mega-card of matches including some very high profile matches such as The Rock vs. John Cena (a match announced one year ago), the 2nd ever WrestleMania Hell in a Cell featuring the third confrontation of The Undertaker and HHH, as well as two world-title matches. In this article, I am going to run down the card featuring feedback of what I think will happen and whether or not I think the matches will deliver.
Before I start, I would like to remind you Illinois residence that I am planning on holding the first-ever STVO Universe Gathering at Fox & Hound in Aurora, IL. Check out the link here for the Facebook Event Page and RSVP if you’re interested in partaking. I am considering on shooting footage for my YouTube of your impressions and the general environment. It’s $3 cover and the food is very good. :) I’m going to try and get there at 5:00 PM (Central) as the event starts at 6:00! Hope to see you there.
WELCOME TO WRESTLEMANIA!!!!!
Yes! That Maria Menounos.
Back to the match itself, it’s not going to be that good but considering that Brie/Nikki Bella are on the roster as well as Rosa Mendes, the worst Divas are not in the match thankfully. Anyway, I would be shocked if this match gets more than 5 minutes. Since Menounos is in this match, the face beauties will win the bout. Only other note I can add to this match is Eve Torres is by no means, shape, or form a believable heel. Wherever they’re going with the angle of her and Zack Ryder, I just hope it ends soon. For the love of good, please end!!!
Who I Want To Win: Eh.
Who I Think Will Win: Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos
Randy Orton vs. Kane: This is probably the 2nd feud I’m least interested in. By no means is this a bad feud but it appears that it came kind of abruptly due to Wade Barrett being injured and sadly missing out of WrestleMania. I know that there were rumors that Wade would have won a Money in the Bank match had he remained in good condition but I doubt that Orton vs. Kane would have occurred. Anyway, I think this is a fine feud. Kane believes he will finally embrace his new self by defeating Randy Orton. I like Kane’s current character and despite the disappointing end to his feud with Cena, I’m still optimistic that this should be a decent match.
Randy Orton has been long overdue for a big PPV win. He has been putting over many wrestlers as of late and I now think it’s time he gains a big win. Orton has won his last two WrestleManias and I think he’ll continue the momentum by winning this year as well.
Who I Want To Win: Kane Who I Think Will Win: Randy Orton
For Control of Both Raw & Smackdown - Team Teddy Long (Captain Santino Marella, The Great Khali, Zack Ryder, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, & Booker T) vs. Team John Laurinaitis (Captain David Otunga, Drew McIntyre, Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, and The Miz):
Honestly I started off with no interest in this match. I thought the bickering and overbooking (see Santino vs. Jack Swagger for the U.S. title) was annoying and wanted this feud to end. While I’m fine with feuds among THE WRESTLERS starting here, I hope that once Teddy or Johnny gain control of both shows, we’re done with their bickering and one or the other either leaves TV or plays a managerial role.
Anyway, with the exceptions of Otunga and The Great Khali, you have a big list of exceptional or even excellent performers. 6-on-6 is a bit much, but if they utilize the right performers this could be great. I’m hoping they don’t “clusterf**k” it. For the future, I’m wondering if by having one GM that this is a sign of the end of the brand extension? Anyway, I was thinking that this show might have possibly been a faces shutout but after further thinking I think the WWE would like at least one match at WrestleMania where a heel (team of heels) win. I also think the WWE likes John Laurinaitis in his current heel authority role and might have something new planned for Teddy Long.
Who I Want To Win: Team Teddy Long
Who I Think Will Win: Team Johnny
Intercontinental Championship Match - Cody Rhodes © vs. Big Show: This feud has been surprisingly great in my personal opinion. I’m really enjoying that Cody has attempted many different ways of getting the best of the Big Show in this feud. Everything from showing his sumo wrestling loss to Akebano, showcasing the loss to Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. (as well as beating his head with boxing gloves), being an entertainment attraction at WWF New York instead of having a match on PPV, etc. Honestly, I prefer The Big Show as a face these days, so I’m kind of glad that WWE and Shaq couldn’t come to terms on having a match at Wrestlemania. I know many people wanted Cody to have a match with real life brother Goldust (Dustin Rhodes), but I personally feel The Big Show is a higher profile opponent.
As far as who wins, I think Cody Rhodes long Intercontinental reign will be coming to an end. Throughout this feud, Cody has had the upper-hand and they have been playing up that The Big Show has had a very poor Wrestlemania win-loss record (3-8, for those wondering.) I think this match will be a way of the WWE saying “Here you go Big Show! Take this WM Intercontinental victory and become a Triple Crown Champ. We’re sorry for your 12 second WHC title reign in December.” I would be fine with Cody winning, continuing on with his long Intercontinental Title reign and eventually a bump into the main event scene, but I think The Big Show does deserve a big WrestleMania victory. Sure, Cody may descend down the card for a little while after this loss, but I think he can easily go up to the main event scene later this year.
Who I Want To Win: Either would be great, but I’ll say The Big Show.
Who I Think Will Win: The Big Show
World Heavyweight Championship Title Match - Daniel Bryan © vs. Sheamus: This along with the three matches below is what I consider the main events of the evening. While this one may not be looked as high as the others, I certainly think it should be a great match in its own merit. It’s great that these two who got bumped off the PPV last year are now in a world championship match! The one thing I ask the WWE to do different with this WHC match for this year’s Mania is not to make it the opening match (and that goes for the WWE Championship too!) Put it somewhere in the middle and I will be happy. I have a great feeling these two will deliver and I have a feeling Daniel’s girlfriend AJ Lee will get involved in someway during the match. I can’t say for sure yet, but she might break away from Daniel and go on her own helping Sheamus win in result. Either way though I just have a feeling Sheamus will get his first big WrestleMania victory this Sunday and become the new World Heavyweight Champion!
Who I Want To Win: Leaning towards Daniel, but fine with either.
Who I Think Will Win: Sheamus
The Undertaker vs. Triple H (Hell in a Cell Match with special referee Shawn Michaels): The Undertaker puts his current 19-0 streak on the line once again against Triple H for their third WrestleMania match. This is also the second ever Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania (the first one was Big Boss Man and Undertaker, the less said, the better) and adding Shawn Michaels to the mix could make it even more interesting. While I was hoping that HHH and Undertaker wouldn’t have fought for a third time, I think that they can deliver and making this match in a Hell in a Cell will only make this more interesting at least. With this being on a big stage and being in a Hell in a Cell I’m very curious what kind of a match these two will put on.
While HHH’s best buddy Shawn Michaels is involved in this match, I really don’t think he will try and screw either man over. I have a feeling Hunter or Taker will have some scuffles with him, I think he will call it down the line. With that said, WWE is a publicly traded for-profit company so the idea of “20-0” T-Shirts, a DVD, and more is very appetizing to them. Also I just don’t see why The Undertaker would make it this far only to lose and have his streak end at “19-1.” Also let’s face it, you the readers, me, and millions of other pro wrestling fans would be all over the internet bitching that Triple H has used his role of authority in the company to once again make himself look the best and end the streak of one of the company’s most celebrated superstars. With this said, let the streak live on!! Or end with no defeats if The Undertaker chooses not to wrestle beyond this year.
Who I Want To Win: The Undertaker
Who I Think Will Win: The Undertaker
WWE Championship Match - CM Punk © vs. Chris Jericho: Also known as the “Battle of Best in the World”! These men are both solid on the mic and solid in the ring. This is personally my most anticipated match for WrestleMania. I felt it started off nicely by some confrontations among the two following the Royal Rumble but has had a nice little twist involving Chris Jericho striking a nerve with CM Punk by bringing up personal stories of his father and sister. Ever since CM Punk’s transformation to the “voice of the voiceless” he has usually outshined everyone he feuds with on the mic up until now where Jericho is making him show some vulnerability.
A lot of the online dirt sheets have made reports that the WWE intends to continue this feud following WrestleMania, which is perfectly fine as I will be at WWE Extreme Rules on April 29th at Rosemont, IL. For right now I think we will see CM Punk continue his WWE Championship title reign going into Chicago. I expect a great match from these two and hope that another rumor of this match possibly being the opener is not true.
Who I Want To Win: CM Punk Who I Think Will Win: CM Punk
In the recent weeks of John Cena vs. The Rock on the mic, both men have delivered mostly solid promos but whether you’re a John Cena fan or not, I believe that Cena is outshining The Rock on the mic. He has made several counters to his insults and has also delivered on his “thuganomics” raps on him. Meanwhile, The Rock uses many jokes that he has had since the “Attitude Era” and gave Cena some insult material by reading some of his lines off. This isn’t good for a man who is now a Hollywood celebrity and used to be one of the most praised men on the microphone. All of this aside, the Miami crowd should be really hot for The Rock as he is returning to his first singles match in seven years, is more famous than ever, and most importantly it is his hometown. I expect the usual several thousand boos for John Cena. Cena is definitely a man who can deliver a great match when it is for a big event (he and Dave Batista delivered at WrestleMania 26 surprisingly) and The Rock is able to do the same. It may have been seven years since a singles bout for him, but he did a good job with his tag-team match alongside John Cena against The Miz/R-Truth at Survivor Series.
Considering that The Rock isn’t a full-time performer and Cena has been showing his A-game as of late, I think the WWE has convinced me to root for Cena on this one. I could see this being the passing of the torch (of respect) similar to that of what Hulk Hogan did for The Rock at WrestleMania 18, but I don’t see it happening this time. The Rock is one of the biggest stars of all-time and while he is supposedly going to be at WrestleMania 29 and possibly appear at another PPV or 2 this year, I just can’t see him losing in Miami. I could see him letting Cena regaining a victory either this year or next year if it happens at WrestleMania 29. Either way, I’m very excited to see how this one turns out!
Who I Want To Win: John Cena Who I Think Will Win: The Rock
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