WrestleMania 32 Preview and Predictions

It’s here.

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

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Joey:

This is always enjoyable and feels like the perfect pre-show match. I can’t see any of The Wyatt Family members winning and Big Show won’t win again. The idea of a surprise person winning here seems possible but I’m going to ride with the feel good story of Mark Henry getting the trophy win in his final big WWE moment before retiring the next night.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Mark Henry wins.

Tim:

I am in Dallas and I am doing this while partying and living the dream. BRIE MOOOODE! Haha. Good stuff there. I can see the black sheep of The Wyatt Family, Brak Brunan, winning this one. I can also see Bray Wyatt winning. I can also see a returning Cena winning it. Okay, that’s it. I probably won’t care for this unless a certain guy named Cesaro get cleared and becomes a two-time winner.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Cena wins… ? NOT! Brulp Strapman wins.

Tom:

Recently, Joey and I had a conversation about whether or not we felt sorry for Bray Wyatt. We came to the conclusion that, even in spite of the fact that he’s never really delivered on any of the many chances he’s been given, we DO feel sorry for him if the only thing he ends up doing at Wrestlemania is the Battle Royal.

That’s about all I have to say about this. Hopefully Fandango gets a good showing.

Interest Level: 4/10
Prediction: Mark Henry and Big Show in a stalemate.

Lana, Summer Rae, Naomi, Tamina and Emma vs. Brie Bella, Paige, Alicia Fox, Natalya and Eva Marie

Joey:

It’s an absolute disgrace that one of the most overpushed and overrated divas in WWE history joined Brie Bella’s team but enough about Paige. Congrats to Eva Marie on her first WrestleMania match!

Why does Eva get a WrestleMania appearance? BECAUSE SHE HAS A FUNKO POP. You goofs don’t get the biz. I’m looking forward to this being a complete mess in a very fun way.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Team Bella wins.

Tim:

BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODE

Interest Level: 4/10
Prediction: Brie Bella gets the pin and her team wins.

(Editor’s note: Tim added so many letters to “BRIE MODE” that FireFox stretched out the page and we had to shorten it for optimal results. The man was truly in Brie Mode.)

Tom:

‘CUS NOW I’M BACK BACK BACK UP ON TOP OF THE WORLD
I’M BACK BACK BACK ON TOP OF THE WORLD
YEAH I’M BACK BACK BACK ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Interest Level: AIN’T GONNA STOP ME NOW/10
Prediction: Total Divas gets cancelled.

The Dudleyz vs. The Usos

Joey:

I’m not sure if I’ll actually watch this one. No disrespect to The Usos or Devon but Bubba Ray makes me want to vomit. I will forever be grateful that he didn’t have a match on the recent live episode of Raw that I attended.

Part of me hopes of Bubba’s private likely racist, sexist and homophobic comments gets leaked so he can hit the bricks and Devon can become the official dad of The New Day.

Interest Level: 0/10
Prediction: The Usos win.

Tim:

The Usos are always in a bad spot. They shouldn’t feel like a bore but they are positioned that way. I don’t give a two-headed dragon’s shit about The Dudleyz in 2016. Bubba Ray can hit the bricks.

Interest Level: 0/10
Prediction: The Usos

Tom:

Oh my GOD, go fuck yourself Wrestlemania!

Interest Level: ASSHOLE!/10
Prediction: FUCK!!!

Kalisto vs. Ryback for the United States Championship

Joey:

Recent conversation between Tom and myself.

Joey: Is it weird that I’m kind of looking forward to Ryback vs. Kalisto?

Tom: Yes.

That about sums it up. My fandom of Kalisto grew after seeing him live and Ryback is one of the better “big guys” in WWE. I think they can have one of the more interesting big guy vs. little guy matches these days. Kalisto has to get the win.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Kalisto wins.

Tim:

Joey and Tom have some great wrestling convos. I had a convo today with every single wrestling fan here in Dallas. They were all bad. I’m alright with this match despite the lack of story. It is just whatever. That’s my wrestling journalism. “This match is whatever.”

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: King Kalisto wins.

Tom:

After seeing MSG go crazy with the “LUCHA! LUCHA!” chant, I’m really excited to see if Kalisto gets the same response at ‘Mania. Bryan’s not going to be there, so hopefully the disgusting slobs who are in attendance can use the energy they had saved for “YES” chants to show appreciation for ‘Listo instead.

Anyway, this match… could be alright? Joey kind of turned me around on it with his enthusiasm. It could be a reasonably fun big man/little man scrap! Ryback’s sort of good, in a not very good way. You know? He means well.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Kalisto wins.

The New Day vs. League of Nations for the WWE Tag Team Championship

Joey:

I am so excited to see what is planned for The New Day here. We all have heard the reports of something huge being planned for the WWE’s hottest faction and that may be my most anticipated thing on the show. The match should be fine and League of Nations tends to be least boring when opposing New Day.

My assumption is The Rock makes a run-in as the fourth partner, does the People’s Elbow and twerks. Wreddit and Twitter hot take goofs will be shouting about movie insurance not realizing Rock literally did an elbow drop a few months ago on a throwaway episode of Raw.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: New Day ROCKs.

Tim:

I remember convincing myself that this show actually seemed okay on paper last week but going through this makes me see I was just lying to myself. One of the only things about this show that interests me is Wrestlemania-sized New Day antics. I’m with these guys in that I think The Rock will get involved.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: New Day wins.

Tom:

League of Nations have very slightly turned themselves around for me recently – I think all of them are very stale individually, but they’re kind of okay as a team. It might be the matching t-shirts? I’m easily swayed!

New Day are still a sensation and seeing the reactions they get in front of a huge crowd is VERY exciting. Also, hasn’t Meltzer been hinting at some big things happening with New Day at ‘Mania? Short of The Rock being inducted as their newest member, I have no idea what that could involve but hopefully there’s a good amount of ridiculousness planned!

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: The New Day wins.

Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch for the WWE Divas Championship

Joey:

The last few days of buzz has put a new interest into this match for me. I would say this is the third most important match on the show after Triple H vs. Roman Reigns and Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon. This could be the most pivotal female wrestling match in WWE history considering what they are hoping to accomplish and have it lead to.

All three women are in a great spot right now and anyone could be argued as the best choice. Becky Lynch winning would likely be the best way to close the story that has been told over the past three months but Sasha Banks is the one that seems best to further lead the change and quite frankly has been the one that the people want. Banks is winning here and I’m hoping they get to open the show with a classic. (Openers are one of the most important and trusted matches on the show, especially at WM. Shut up.)

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Sasha Banks wins.

Tim:

This is my most anticipated match on the show. I think Becky Lynch is going to surprisingly take the win here and usher in the new Women’s Division. Yeah! For here on out it is short and swift takes of the bold nature from me. I’m in Dallas, baby. I don’t have time for these games. I’m going to get real. This will hopefully be the match that sets women’s wrestling on the right path in WWE once and for all.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.

Tom:

Another one that should be very good. I’m very glad Becky Lynch got included in this – she’s been great in her role lately, and she’s also one of the few genuinely likeable characters the WWE has. This is one of the tougher matches to predict the finish of – I think Becky winning might lead to the most interesting stories coming out of the show, though Charlotte has been really good lately, so I don’t think it’d be the worst thing in the world if they kept it on her a while longer.

However, a Sasha win would likely be seen as more of a “turning point” and something to merit the debut of a new Women’s Title Belt and all that. Even though I think she’s had a fairly mixed main roster run so far, Sasha’s had a habit of rising to the occasion for every other big match she’s been a part of so I’ll be interested to see how that pans out!

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Sasha Banks wins.

Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz vs. Stardust vs. Zack Ryder vs. Sin Cara in a Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship

Joey:

My dream here: Kevin Owens throws Dolph Ziggler, Stardust, Zack Ryder and Sin Cara off the stage. The Miz goes to the commentary table. Owens and Sami Zayn do cool things.

OK. All jokes aside, the match will be fun and entertaining as everyone is talented. Ladder matches are always fun to watch and these guys all have something to prove in various ways. I don’t think anyone can realistically win but Owens and Zayn. The idea of Zayn getting his win in a ladder match is flawed too so I’m going with Owens as the only great option.

I do think Zayn could win it on the Raw on Monday.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Kevin Owens wins.

Tim:

This match should be a good time! Zayn wins with minimal interaction with Owens despite it being teased a few times. Owens moves up to more main event-style matches. The feud between them isn’t forgotten but takes another hiatus so it can continue for eternity. Zayn makes a statement in his main roster PPV debut on the biggest stage by winning. We are happy.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.

Tom:

There’s the potential for some really interesting storytelling here! I think we can all agree that the only two worth caring about in this match are Kev and Sami, right? Right. Hopefully that’s a universal truth that all the other participants can agree on, and Ryder, Stardust, Miz, Ziggler and Sin Cara accept that they’re props in this match to be used and disposed of as collateral damage for the KO/Zayn war.

The only worry here is that they won’t get enough time to do much more than a relatively zippy series of spots, but I have faith in KO and Zayn to direct traffic and give everything some meaning!

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Kevin Owens wins.

Chris Jericho vs. AJ Styles

Joey:

Chris Jericho’s recent heel turn has won me over to the point where I’m looking forward to this match. The match and segment against New Day that saw Jericho turn on Styles was superb. Hopefully Jericho can turn back the clock and have a good showing against AJ in his first WrestleMania match. A bit surreal to realize Styles has a noteworthy singles match on the biggest WWE show of all time.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: AJ Styles wins.

Tim:

I still think Jericho sucks as a person but I am actually excited to see this on the big stage. I do think these two will put on a good match here. AJ Styles gets the big win and finally gets to move on.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: AJ Styles wins.

Tom:

Man, maybe this show’s going to be okay. I think Jericho’s turned a corner since his heel turn. However, he’s had a nasty habit of having dull Wrestlemania matches for a few years now and I’m not sure if AJ has the… I dunno, the confidence or the clout to dictate a faster-paced match. So, we’ll see! I’m more interested to see how it shakes out than I thought I would be, at least.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: AJ Styles wins.

Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose in a Street Fight

Joey:

I have two varying feelings on this match. I think it will be highly entertaining and Dean Ambrose’s wagon has helped him become far more interesting. On the other hand, this doesn’t have the feel of a top WrestleMania match and seems like a huge waste of Brock Lesnar when looking at how things have been positioned.

My hatred of Ambrose has grown as he recently did an interview with a sports website that I recently quit. Dean Ambrose is taking the war to me and I will not stand for it. THROW HIM OFF THE MOTHERFUCKING STAGE, BROCK.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Brock Lesnar wins.

Tim:

Lesnar loses thanks to The Wyatts! We laugh and move on.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Dean Ambrose wins.

Tom:

I’m a big fan of silly violence and Dean Ambrose’s big red wagon has convinced me that we WILL get a lot of nonsense in this match. Hopefully that’ll differentiate it from the usual Brock destruction affairs and we get to see something a little out of the ordinary.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Light tubes.

The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon in a Hell In A Cell Match

Joey:

This will be amazing or horrible. There is no in between. Shane McMahon is back and he’s here to jump off the cell. I don’t know what to expect at all in this match and I love it. Nothing about this feud has been predictable due to how much of a clusterfuck it is and that’s made it far more exciting for WM.

I know Bray Wyatt is interfering in some match at Mania and I’m going to blindly assume it’s this one because it has to end with something ridiculous. Shane is Sister Abigail, baby.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Shane McMahon wins.

Tim:

The booking to this has been horrendous and that is awful because this could have actually been way more intriguing. A part of me wants to say Cena tries helping Shane win and fails. Maybe Stone Cold helps Shane just to give Vince one more middle finger. I do think Shane is going to lose though. What comes he night after is the part I’m curious about. If Shane wins will things feel like they actually changed? This story will always be a mess anyway.

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

Tom:

So surreal. I thought Shane and Undertaker’s segment on Raw was comfortably the best thing on the show, but the reality of this match still nags at me a bit. Like, it’s two middle-aged guys, you know? Shane’s MMA-style strikes are endlessly funny to me and I’m sure he can still fall off stuff, but ‘Taker looks exhausted most of the time and I’m just not sure what this is going to be. Fascinated to find out though! Even if it’s a mess, it’ll be a spectacular mess.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Shane McMahon wins.

Triple H vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Championship

Joey:

Roman Reigns isn’t a bad wrestler, he works hard and there’s obviously star potential there. I just can’t stand him at all. I’m not sure when exactly I crossed the point of no return but it may have been when he tried to bitch out Billy Kidman on Twitter. Anyway, I’m very happy that Triple H is going to be treated like a hero entering this match and it’s going to be fascinating to watch it play out.

If it’s main eventing, my excitement will be quite high not knowing who is winning and enjoying the wild crowd atmosphere. If it’s not the main event, I think it becomes fairly obvious Reigns is winning and there’s less excitement or unpredictability involved. I’m hoping it’s the main event and they embrace the crowd of One vs. 100,001. (I KNOW THAT’S NOT THE REAL CROWD NUMBER OKAY)

I believe.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Triple H wins.

Tim:

There is only one possible way to end the show with Roman Reigns standing tall to a chorus of cheers. The Shield reuniting and standing there together with him. That could very well backfire too though. I think Triple H should pull this off. I think it is the most interesting way to go, especially if Shane McMahon gains control of the company and Rollins returning to fight him for the title eventually would be a huge payoff. This Roman Reigns. I don’t like a single thing about him. He’s unlikable and his wrestling character is almost a parody of every other “bad ass” before him… but the fans continue to give him a reaction instead of the silence the whole mess surrounding him deserves. I say he still loses and Triple H wins AND THEN turns on The McMahon family on Raw after Shane McMahon fails to get control of the company.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Roman Reigns wins.

Tom:

What a spectacle this’ll be. My biggest fear is that it’ll be boring, just because Triple H Wrestlemania matches sometimes pan out that way. However, I think the crowd response and just the weirdness of it all will be enough to keep it continually hilarious. They have to have a Plan B, right? There’s nothing as obvious as Seth and his briefcase this year, but there has to be SOMETHING. It’s almost funnier if there isn’t though, if they just keep barrelling down the path they’ve set for themselves to a chorus of boos.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Roman Reigns wins.