WWE Roadblock: End of the Line Preview and Predictions

The road is blocked.

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

Big Cass vs. Rusev

Joey:

Everyone ragged on Big Cass for the pants comment on Raw last week, but I thought he looked great on his own. Enzo Amore has become my least favorite person on Raw. Cass on his own has me interested in him again. I’m looking forward to this match. My expectations are sadly Enzo returning to help Cass in between dancing like a scumbag. Hopefully Lana throws him off the stage.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Cass wins.

Tim:

The build has been horrendous but maybe the match will make up for the weeks of making me want to change the channel. I like Big Cass a lot even though some of his promo work is cheesy. He’s a real asset to the roster. He stands out and is an entertaining tall guy in the ring. He and Rusev are both inconsistent but hopefully they have some chemistry. I’m pretty curious to see how they work together. I’d bet Big Cass gets the win here with help from his pal, horny Scrappy Doo. Just remember: Rusev is the good guy as usual.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Big Cass wins.

Tom:

IT’S A ROADBLOCK, BABY, DRIVE ME CRAZY. I think this might be okay. The storyline’s been trash but Rusev is still fairly fun and I like seeing Big Cass be a tall man doing tall man things. Big boots and so on.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Big Cass wins.

Rich Swann vs. The Brian Kendrick vs. TJ Perkins for the Cruiserweight Championship

Joey:

I enjoyed 205 Live a lot this week. The triple threat match is the most I’ve look forward to a cruiserweight match since the move to the main roster. Rich Swann is wonderful and definitely the right choice to be champion. Hopefully this is the final PPV title shot for Kendrick or Perkins for a while with someone new getting an opportunity. Unfortunately the depth is pretty weak. Maybe Tajiri returns to spit mist in TJP’s sexist eyes.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Rich Swann wins.

Tim:

I still haven’t been grabbed by the Cruiserweights but this being a three way gives me hope for it to be more intriguing than past Cruiserweight matches. I think they did a little better with the build than they have for previous Cruiserweight title matches but they still have a long ways to go. Rich Swann is awesome. I’m glad he’s the champion and I think that will continue for awhile longer. Can I see Tozawa now?

Interest Level: 4/10
Prediction: Rich Swann wins.

Tom:

I still like Kendrick a lot but TJP continues to do nothing for me and I’d rather Swann have someone fresh to scrap with. Is Gran Metallik not available? Are they saving him for something? What about Tozawa or Tajiri? I don’t know if rationing the fun guys out is their plan, but man, the division could really use some other guys being showcased.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Rich Swann wins.

Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn in a 10 Minute Challenge

Joey:

I’m not sure how to feel about this. The weird ass segment with Mick Foley trying to motivate Sami Zayn made this feel like a far bigger match. That still doesn’t stop it from being odd. I hate the ten-minute limit. It sets up the likely predictable finish of a draw to make Zayn look strong without beating Strowman.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Time limit draw.

Tim:

Sami Zayn has been pretty good every time he’s been given a chance this year yet they never capitalize on it. Even after his big win over Owens they let him fade away into the background. I would love for the Strowman push to have been nothing but a launching pad for Zayn but the time limit is the tell here. The time limit draw is the safe bet but I’m going to go a little wild here and say Zayn “survives” until the end only to get pinned in the last three seconds. Foley has been a detriment to the build but Zayn’s emotion in the final segment between the two really saved a pretty dumb thing. Hopefully he gets his big push one day soon. I’m not completely sold on Strowman although he is more interesting than he once was. Zayn is great opponent for Strowman’s first singles match on PPV and a good way to make me more interested.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Braun Strowman wins.

Tom:

“10 minute challenge”, good grief. Aside from Mick Foley hamming it up though, this has been a nice little feud. Sami has some purpose and he’ll make Strowman look wonderful, even if I’m not convinced Big Braun is worth the time; he’s more interesting than most other guys his size but Zayn is still the one who should be in main events. I know, it’s a VERY hot take! The time limit draw seems like the most obvious conclusion. Braun can destroy him afterwards, Sami can eliminate him from the Rumble, it’s a tale as old as time, true as it can be.

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Time limit draw.

The New Day vs. Cesaro and Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team Championship

Joey:

The recent match between these two on Raw with The Club also involved was great. New Day breaking the record really made me remember how cool their run has been. They went from being huge flops into a record-breaking tag team popular enough to have their own trio Funko Pop set and their own cereal. I don’t think a thrown together team like Cesaro and Sheamus that likely will split in a few months should be the ones to end New Day’s reign. The loss coming right after breaking the record would also be lame.

Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: New Day wins.

Tim:

Every time I start growing tired of The New Day they are involved in something that makes me feel for them again. Their two matches this past Monday made for really good television. Sheamus and Cesaro do not do much for me as a team but they’re both fine wrestlers, especially Cesaro. I think this is a good little match up. Part of me wants The New Day to win here and part of me wants them to be put in a new situation. Their characters need to evolve badly. I think they’ll retain though. I don’t think Cesaro and Sheamus will necessarily implode here but maybe in a rematch at the Rumble and then they can go at it like wild men in the actual Royal Rumble match. Regardless, I’m pretty into this match-up.

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

Tom:

Cesaro was incredible on Monday, just incredible. I’ve grown to appreciate his team with Sheamus and the two of them do bring out the best of The New Day, who seem to be steadily shifting back to being awful pricks. They’ve been good the past few weeks, the desperation they showed to cling onto the titles and break the record made for a fun dynamic. I’m not sure what happens now, but I think switching the titles would be fine! It seems like The Revival could debut any day, and I think seeing them feud with a couple of big Euro chaps could be fun, while The New Day takes a break from the title picture to revamp themselves somewhat.

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Cesaro and Sheamus win.

Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho

Joey:

Seth Rollins is treading water until the eventual Triple H match. It feels like anything else is pointless until the big match happens at WrestleMania. The upper card feud with Chris Jericho is fine but hard to care about. I am enjoying Jericho more than I have in many years but he is also in a weird place until he faces Kevin Owens. This feels like such a B-show match giving them each something to do until moving on to something better. I’m sure they’ll do a decent job but there’s just nothing to be excited about.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Seth “Freakin’” Rollins wins.

Tim:

This is just filler for these two. I’m not really into either character right now and the feud was kind of forced for the sake of giving them both something to do. I can see this match being one of those where Jericho kind of holds it back. Both guys have big matches lined up so neither should really be eating a pin but I can see Rollins needing the win more than Jericho.

Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Seth Rollins wins.

Tom:

Not too excited for this! Seth still hasn’t really figured out his new role and Jericho’s in a strange place too – I grew to love him again as a list-wielding weirdo creep of a friend, but he’s drifting back to “cool dad” face territory, and nothing’s more dull than that. The two are talented enough to do something cool together, but I don’t think now is a great time for it.

Interest Level: 4/10
Prediction: Seth Rollins wins.

Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair for the Raw Women’s Championship in a 30 Minute Iron Man Match

Joey:

The Falls Count Anywhere Match on Raw between these two is a top ten favorite match of the year for me but I’m not sure I want another match. WWE’s structure of the feud has really made it weird. Sasha Banks winning the Raw matches feels like the completion of the story each time with the face finally overcoming the heel. Then the PPV comes around and the deflating title change back happens. I’m expecting the trend to continue. Charlotte Flair not losing on any PPVs seems very elaborate, and it’s hard to imagine that streak ending at a show like Roadblock.

I’m not the biggest fan of Iron Man matches, but the thirty-minute structure is far better than an hour. As much as I usually love the matches between these two, I don’t know how excited I am for this. It’s one thing in an environment like NXT with Bayley and Sasha coming off a classic match but this is different. There’s a lot in play here working against them, but I do have the interest in watching it play out in the likely final singles match to keep the feud in 2016.

Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Charlotte wins. Ric Flair’s lame ass is back.

Tim:

I have a lot of gripes about how WWE has handled these two but in the end their matches are incredible 90% of the time. They really have done some important work and always pour their hearts into their matches. It’s past time to move on from this feud and I’d honestly like Banks to retain on a PPV for it to come to a close but I doubt that’s happening. The stipulation is a little much but I think it’s safe to assume they’ll go out and do everything they can to put on a match to remember.

Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Charlotte wins.

Tom:

I don’t know, man. That Raw match was great and seemed like a nice blow-off for everything, but WWE can’t help but over-egg the pudding. I’m not a huge fan of Iron Man Matches in general but if this really is going to be their last match for a while, then I guess it’s fine. I’m just ready for something new!

Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Charlotte wins.

Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship

Joey:

The recent Kevin Owens win over Seth Rollins on the Raw after Survivor Series came off like a moment that would add momentum to the title reign becoming something special. This match is pivotal to that continuing in multiple ways. Obviously, KO has to retain which could go either way. WWE wanting Roman Reigns as a world champion heading into WrestleMania is always a possibility.

I do think Owens will retain due to the United States Championship not being on the line. The match has to be memorable to keep the momentum on the Universal Championship and Owens’ reign. I enjoy the in-ring chemistry between Reigns and Owens, but I have a fear of how things are being set up. Charlotte and Sasha could easily main event this show. That would give WWE the ability to somewhat get away with a DQ finish.

I see two possible scenarios:

A. Owens retains by DQ and loses the title to Reigns at Royal Rumble.

B. Owens defeats Reigns with help from Chris Jericho and faces either Jericho or Rollins at Royal Rumble.

I’m hoping for B but expecting A. 🙁

Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Roman Reigns wins by DQ

Tim:

Why don’t you write a book up there, Joey? My word. What am I supposed to say now? Just joking around here. As a wrestling connoisseur I have plenty to say. I love to say things. I unfortunately don’t see Owens going into Wrestlemania as the Universal Champion. I would bet they want it on a Reigns and probably think Owens vs Jericho doesn’t need the belt involved. Reigns doesn’t really have much built for a big feud for ‘Mania and having the belt on him makes it a little easier to set him up with one.  I think Jericho eventually costs Owens the belt against Reigns but that will happen in a Owens vs Reigns rematch. This time around I think Owens retains via DQ. I would prefer Owens becomes a monster and beats Reigns clean but I know that’s just me dreaming.

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

Tom:

I really enjoy the dynamic of these two together and I think this should be fantastic. Owens seems to be entering the second phase of his title reign, now he and Jericho are on the outs, and I would hope that he gets a chance to be a little more vicious and dominant than he’s been in previous title matches.

I’m not sure where things go from here – I’m expecting KO to retain and a Reigns rematch at the Rumble, though a Jericho/KO title match seems destined to happen too. Roman just seems to be in a very strange place – there’s no-one clear for him to feud with right now, there’s no reason for him to be US champion and the prospect of him being forced into another ‘Mania main event is distressing.  I guess we’ll just wait and see! TUNE IN TOMORROW, FIGHT FANS! SEE YOU THEN.

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