Wrestlemania 30 Preview and Predictions

Wrestlemania is this Sunday. It’s the 30th Wrestlemania. We’re all getting old.

Giving their thoughts and predictions on what to expect from the PPV are members of the site @typicalROHfan, @TimWelcomed and @TomBlackett.

Pre-show match: The Usos vs. Los Matadores vs. The Real Americans vs. Rybaxel for the Tag Team Championships

typicalROHfan:

Imagine how awesome this match would be if the Rhodes brothers were in Rybaxel’s place. I assume it has to do with Wrestlemania main show bonuses and the Rhodes adding credibility to the Andre Memorial but it sucks we won’t see Cody and Goldust do their thing to the fullest extent.

As for the match, it should be fine. Everyone but Ryback and Curtis Axel is talented and the spots in this match should be cool. We love high spots and tower of dooms. I have a bad feeling Rybaxel wins it here. At least Cesaro gets to Swing 6 to 7 folks!

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Rybaxel wins the Tag Team Championship.

Tim:

I’m not sure why they couldn’t have just built up a tag team versus tag team feud. I guess they want to fit everyone in. I will say that this is better than not seeing a WWE Tag Team Championship match at all and it is definitely better than not seeing Antonio Cesaro even though I would think this show would be the time for him to take on Swagger.

Anyway, this should be fun. The Los Matadores gimmick is still really dumb but those two can wrestle pretty darn good. The Usos are great. Antonio Cesaro is phenomenal. I can easily ignore those other three wrestlers involved. I’m somewhat excited for this although it really doesn’t have much of a story.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: The Usos retain.

Tom:

Is it a bummer to see The Usos and The Real Americans stuck on the pre-show? Kind of, though given the only alternative for this year’s show is being battle royal filler, maybe it’s not so bad (though I am a little sad we won’t get to see Cesaro using the giant swing to knock dudes around in that).

I’ll echo the sentiments of how much more excited I’d be for this if the Rhodes Brothers were involved rather than Rybaxel, BUT!!! It should still have a lot of fun moments. I’m going to scream at my TV if they take a break during the middle of it like they do during most pre-show matches though.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: The Usos retain.

The Shield vs. Kane and The New Age Outlaws

typicalROHfan:

Sadly, The Shield won’t be able to have their usual show-stealing match on Wrestlemania but it should be fun enough. I fully believe The Shield are breaking up soon with Dean Ambrose (and maybe Seth Rollins too) turning on Roman Reigns. However, I predict it will happen on RAW the night after or at the Extreme Rules PPV.

On Wrestlemania, we see the last shining moment of The Shield as they destroy “Team Remember The 90’s?” with many a Rollins dives and Reigns SPEARing Kane.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: The Shield win.

Tim:

They managed to take a group that I like, The Shield, and throw them against three of the people I could not care less about. Storyline-wise, it makes sense but it just seems rushed. Mix that with my disdain for The New Age Outlaws and Kane and I am many shades of letdown by this being The Shield’s Wrestlemania match. The Shield can probably get a decent match out of them if anyone can. I don’t think they’ll break up here and I really like where The Shield is at when it comes to their characters.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: The Shield wins.

Tom:

The only way I’m getting particularly excited for this is by imagining Kane and the Outlaws as three grumpy dads, and The Shield as a trio of troublesome teens. DADS VS. TEENS, THE ULTIMATE BATTLE. They should have it in a mall parking lot to really set the scene properly.

It’s Wrestlemania Bummer #2 that this is the only thing they could find for The Shield, but it’ll be fun to see them properly arrive as a face unit. Hopefully it’ll be a pretty comprehensive victory and this is the last we see of the Outlaws for a while.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: The Shield wins.

AJ Lee vs. Every Diva on the roster in the Vickie Guerrero Invitational for the Diva’s Championship

typicalROHfan:

The entire Diva roster in the ring at one time, with one fall to a finish? This could be the worst match of the year with ease. I have a strong feeling the chaos and shenanigans is leading to Eva Marie sneaking a pinfall and becoming champ to sell the Total Divas stories come next season. (That show works with seasons, right?)

Interest Level: 4/10 (+4 for anticipating an Eva Marie win)
Prediction: Eva Marie wins the Divas Championship.

Tim:

Okay. There’s some decent workers in the Diva’s division but they do not know how to make me look forward to anything involving them. It seems like it is just another match thrown together to fit as many wrestlers on the show as they can. I guess Nikki Bella wins here? I’m just going to say Nikki Bella wins. I’m not even sure why I think that.

Interest Level: 3/10
Prediction: Nikki Bella wins.

Tom:

So how does this work? It’s a Fatal Fourteen-way, or something like that? It would have been nice to have just had a straight Naomi vs. AJ match, but I guess that wasn’t to be. I’m weirdly excited for how chaotic this might get, and it’d be nice if Naomi won the belt.

This is an aside, but did you know that Nikki Bella’s finisher is called the Rack Attack? That’s really pretty amazing. We love Nikki Bella.

Interest Level: 4/10
Prediction: Naomi wins.

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

typicalROHfan:

It should be alright at best but let’s look at wrestlers with a chance, in my eyes.

Favorites: Big Show, Sheamus, Big E, Rusev.

Long shots: Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Damien Sandow, Titus O’Neil.

There’s always the 3 mystery spots, two of them likely to be RVD and the aforementioned Rusev. I’m hoping it’s Cody Rhodes, Sandow or Kofi Kingston. I’m expecting it to be Sheamus. With CM Punk leaving and the fans demanding Daniel Bryan at the top of the card causing match changes, Sheamus was the only one downgraded to a lower spot in the aftermath and I’m assuming this win coming is a make good for that.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Sheamus wins.

Tim:

Oh, look! Another match designed to fit a lot of wrestlers on the card except this time I am excited! I love trophies in wrestling. I like the idea of this and hopefully it’ll be presented as some sort of prestigious accomplishment for the winner afterwards. It is essentially a Royal Rumble without a championship match for the winner. I like that it will probably have to be filled with midcarders and others we don’t get to see often.

I would like to see Big E win this one but I’m guessing The Big Show or someone like Sheamus has more of a chance which is all sorts of “eh.” We shall see how this one turns out. This could be something used to put over an up-and-coming talent or a great way for a NXT superstar to join the main roster.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: The Big Show wins.

Tom:

I’m excited for this, but what an impossible match to pick. If the prize was a title shot, it’d be a little more predictable, but with a massive Andre statue being what’s at stake… man, I guess it just has to be a guy who won’t look ridiculous carrying that thing around for a while?

Like I mentioned before, it’d be the perfect match for Cesaro to win and really cement him as a guy ready to move to the main event scene, but that probably won’t happen (SO I GUESS I SHOULD SHUT UP ABOUT IT AND SO SHOULD YOU). Big E would be cool, but he’s been a little quiet lately so it seems unlikely.

I guess Rusev could work, though even with the new focus on NXT, I can see there being a little hesitation to go there. Safe picks would be guys like Sheamus or Big Show, but… I dunno, fuck it, let’s go with Eastern European Michael Elgin. Maybe he can melt the statue down as an example of his disdain for Western decadence.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Rusev wins.

John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

typicalROHfan:

The build for this match has been surprisingly excellent. Though, I’m not entirely sure what Cena’s fear is that is being portrayed to the audience?

As for the match, it could be hit or miss. I can easily see it being Cena’s best Wrestlemania match as I can see it being a bust. I think it’ll be somewhere in the middle and be decent overall with a hot ending, similar to a match like CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 28. Many people have Wyatt winning but I don’t see it. The Wyatt Family basically already got “the rub” just by feuding with Cena towards Wrestlemania and WWE still is gonna push Cena as THE dude for a few more years so I’m definitely picking Cena.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Cena wins.

Tim:

The Wyatt Family’s side of the build-up has been good. Cena can make gimmicks like this look really dumb via jokes and not taking anything serious but so far he’s done okay. They’ve had a great video package for the feud and a great moment with Cena being made to wear the mask.

On paper, the match should be fine. I’m interested in seeing if these two have any chemistry. Cena’s usually only interesting in-ring when wrestling outstanding talent and I haven’t seen enough Bray matches to know if he can be consistent. Either way, I’m liking the odds of this being good. It would be really bad for The Wyatt Family to lose here but that’s always a possibility when Cena is your opponent.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Bray Wyatt wins.

Tom:

My guess is that it’ll be good, but not great. Wyatt and Cena are capable of having an excellent match together, but I get the feeling it’ll only come a little further down the line. Despite all the great video packages and talk of Cena’s ‘legacy’, this feud still feels like it’s in its infancy and could do with building and burning over a few more shows before it gets blown off.

I’m guessing (and hoping) Bray will win – I don’t think it’ll hurt him if he doesn’t, but I think it’d be more interesting to see him victorious on such a big stage and established as a real threat.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Bray Wyatt wins.

The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar

typicalROHfan:

The build for this match has absolutely sucked. Undertaker returns to face Brock Lesnar and kick his ass easily because Lesnar wanted a title shot. Taker kicks his ass again and Brock runs away. Lesnar then F5’s Taker and now we’re here.

Rumor has it Lesnar did not want to work with Undertaker in 2004 and it contributed to Brock’s decision to leave WWE, feeling Taker doesn’t “sell” enough when doing The Deadman gimmick. Of course 10 years later, Taker is not doing much to showcase Lesnar’s dominance. Interesting enough.

The match should be dope as it’s almost impossible to not have a great Undertaker Wrestlemania match these days. Lesnar has had stellar matches when working with anyone not named Triple H so it’s going to deliver in the ring. No way The Streak ends.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: C’mon. Undertaker wins.

Tim:

What is going on with the build-up for this? You have Paul Heyman who is a master on the mic and you have the yearly return of The Undertaker who can have a level of theatrics very few other characters are privy to yet none of this is working for me. You know The Undertaker is going to win so why isn’t Brock Lesnar getting the upperhand on the road to the match?

Are they trying to use some sort reverse psychology on the fans? “If Undertaker dominates the feud maybe they’ll think that Lesnar might actually end the streak!” That’s ridiculous but it is the only way I can make sense of it. I’m flabbergasted and bamboozled. I’m flabberboozled. “Bamgasted” sounded nasty.

Anyway, I still look forward to seeing the match as The Undertaker usually goes all in and Lesnar can be pretty damn good when he’s facing the right person. I just know there was some better avenues to go down when building this match up and that takes away from my excitement. I hate that Lesnar has lost so many matches during his most recent run in WWE but he can not beat the streak.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: The Undertaker wins.

Tom:

Man, It’s disturbingly easy for me to forget that this match is even on the show. That’s not a good thing! I think it’ll be good and hopefully Brock will get to be a little more spontaneous / psychotic than he was in his matches with Triple H – I still have my reservations about whether ‘Taker will be able to keep up with him, but I’ll be delighted to see him prove me wrong about that.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: The Undertaker wins.

Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H (Winner is added to the WWE Championship match)

typicalROHfan:

This is the most invested I’ve been in a wrestling match in a long time. I can’t imagine any other potential wrestling match in the near future having the ability to make provide me with as much happiness or disappointment. The match should be incredible.

Bryan’s matches in really personal feuds are among the best track records one can have and this is by far the most important match on the show. Triple H’s reputation adds just enough to make this match a roller coaster ride of emotions.

Let’s go Bryan!

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins.

Tim:

Oooooooh, man. This has me on edge. I really believe that Bryan will win this and go on to win the title later on but Triple H being involved is ridiculously scary. It would be so bad if Triple H won here. I don’t even like to think about it so here are some happy thoughts: Daniel Bryan will win after a pretty good match! The build-up has been emotionally tiresome but Daniel Bryan going all of the way will make it all worth it.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins.

Tom:

Man, what a difference a stip makes. I’m hoping it opens the show, just to permeate the rest of the event with an excitement about Bryan being in the main event, and maybe have a few backstage bits and pieces about his condition and so on. Am I armchair booking now? Maybe!

Anyway, the build for this has been pretty fantastic and it should be a really great match. I haven’t anticipated a Triple H match since maybe the one he had with Punk a few years back, so assuming that a) Kevin Nash doesn’t turn up to ‘stick’ Bryan and b) Triple H doesn’t win, this should be something special!

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins.

Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. The winner of Daniel Bryan/Triple H for the WWE Championship

typicalROHfan:

No one has ever deserved this moment more than Daniel Bryan. The world is a good place on April 6th in beautiful New Orleans.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and my heart.

Tim:

Daniel Bryan and the crowd should make this match a million times better than it was going to be when a one-on-one with Batista and Orton. I’m going to ignore that there’s any chance Triple H will be in this match because GOOD VIBES. Daniel Bryan winning the title after going through two matches at Wrestlemania has the potential to be my all-time favorite moment. In case you can’t tell, I’m kind of out of my mind with hype for this.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship!

Tom:

GOTTA DREAM TO BELIEVE, BROTHER.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.