Over/Under: 9/23/2013

Is it possible to predict the future of the wrestling world? Given that ‘plans change’ might as well be the official motto of the WWE, this might be easier said than done, but in Over/Under, we’re still gonna try!

Each week, we choose five scenarios and predict how likely they are to come true, by saying whether it’s ‘over’ (i.e. we think it’s over the odds that it’ll happen) or ‘under’ (i.e. we think it’s under the odds). With usual site member @TomBlackett on sabbatical, we have @BradWardFGN here to replace him for the week. He’ll join usual members of the site @TimWelcomed and @typicalROHfan to embarrass themselves by being the ones to make the predictions.

January 26, 2014: The date John Cena returns

The rumors are that John Cena will return at the Royal Rumble, which is slated for January 27, 2014. Cena has a history of returning from injuries way earlier than expected.

Tim:

John Cena always comes back early but I think he’ll be back at the Royal Rumble this year. I don’t dislike Cena at all but I have enjoyed him not being around for a bit. He needed some rest anyway.

OVER.

typicalROHfan:

John Cena‘s history of injuries usually result in a shockingly early return but I don’t see it happening this time. Due to being older in age, protecting him for Wrestlemania and the current storyline going on.

With someone important (Triple H) involved in the feud, I think the boss (Triple H) will give them (Triple H) more faith in running time until Cena comes back around the time of the Royal Rumble giving a bit more time to get ready for WM season.

My prediction would be Cena is hyped to return at the Royal Rumble but ends up getting eliminated via underhanded tactics by Triple H’s group leading to either a WM match vs. Orton for the title or vs. Triple H in an attraction match.

OVER.

BradWardFGN:

This is a weird one because you have Sheamus returning around the same time frame and you want to give the Cena Wrestlemania feud enough time as possible.

For that reason, I think Cena may return later. I think he’ll return the day after Royal Rumble.

OVER.

1.5: The number of non-WWE matches Jim Ross will commentate in the rest of his career.

With Jim Ross allegedly forced out of the WWE and his desire for wrestling still intact, will JR return in another wrestling company?

Tim:

I definitely hope Jim Ross ends up calling matches all over the place. Sports, MMA, TNA, indie wrestling. I just want him to pop up anywhere for the big moments. I’m going with the over here purely out of hope.

OVER.

typicalROHfan:

Jim Ross has made it clear he doesn’t want his career to be over. WWE has made it clear they don’t respect his wishes. I’d love to see JR get a shot calling sports or MMA but that doesn’t seem to be very realistic.

I do think JR will call a few non-WWE wrestling matches in his career. TNA wouldn’t surprise me but what may be more surprising is I’m taking the OVER because I feel he may call some independent wrestling matches.

Ross has does some signings at indie shows and I could definitely see ROH bring him in to do so and his wrestling love coaxing him into calling a main event or two on any shows he would appear at.

OVER.

BradWardFGN:

Recently, Jim Ross has recently been seen promoting WWE Shop and JR has shown interest in commentating for football and basketball. He has also met with Dana White of the UFC.

So I say JR does not commentate for any other pro wrestling promotions except for WWE.  The potential of UFC,Fox,NBC or CBS is very likely however.

UNDER.

April 6, 2014: The date Adam Cole loses the ROH Title.

Adam Cole won the ROH Title this weekend. We’ve set the date for Wrestlemania after ROH runs their big WM weekend shows. How long will he hold the title?

Tim:

Adam Cole and ROH need a long title reign here to gain some sort of stability with a champion after this length of time not having a champion. Adam Cole is in a good place, character-wise and I expect this reign to last a very long while.

OVER.

typicalROHfan:

For the first time since Tyler Black (before getting WWE contract during), I expect a long ROH title reign. I can realistically see Adam Cole holding the title into Final Battle……….2014. Currently on the roster as is, I don’t see anyone in a position to defeat him for the title in 2013 so to take the over, I’d have to feel comfortable in him holding it another 3+ months and I think he will.

Cole is the first dynamic performer to be ROH champ entering his prime in quite some time. Steen and to an extent Richards are independent wrestling dynamic performers but I felt both had their ROH legacies nearly cemented before even winning the title. This could and should be something special so I think Cole holds it deep into 2014.

OVER.

BradWardFGN:

Adam Cole becoming ROH world champion is a great thing. In most people’s eyes, he is the first home grown ROH star since Bryan and Punk. Being the fact that it is more then just a win, no pun intended but a huge angle, I see him making it to Mania weekend and defending successfully. I think he’ll hold it until Best In The World 2014 during the Summer months.

OVER.

4.5: Total number of WWE appearances by Shawn Michaels and Edge in the next calendar year.

Since retiring, Shawn Michaels and Edge have made quite a few appearances for WWE. Edge as recent as a few weeks ago and Michaels rumored to be on WWE TV soon. How many appearances will they make in the next 12 months?

Tim:

Edge and Shawn Michaels haven’t been away long enough to ever make me feel like it’s something special when they come back to talk on the microphone. With Triple H in a huge role right now, I fully expect The Heartbreak Old Guy to show up a lot around Wrestlemania season. I say HBK alone shows up four times at the least. Edge will be back at least twice between now and then.

OVER.

typicalROHfan:

The retired Edge and Shawn Michaels get more TV time than 20% of the WWE roster. Shawn Michaels will definitely be on RAW soon to have a promo with Triple H about his new approach to dealing with the roster and his treatment of Michaels protege Daniel Bryan.

Both will probably appear during Wrestlemania season with one of the two possibly having a role at the Wrestlemania show. No doubt in my mind, these two will combine for at least five WWE appearances in the next calendar year.

OVER.

BradWardFGN:

I think that with Triple H saying this is not what Shawn would have taught you to do to Daniel Bryan last week, we will get at least 4 appearances by Shawn Michaels.

Now for Edge, there is two things that hinge on his appearances. First, there will be some promotion of the season finale of Haven. And I think WWE may bring out some legends featured in the upcoming WWE 2K14 video game. That will be 2 Edge appearances.

Four HBK appearances and two Edge appearances gives us six total.

OVER.

95%: The numbers of RAW viewers who already like Miz’s dad more than Miz.

Miz’s dad is a legend. How many people like MizDad more than Miz?

Tim:

The Miz wishes he could have received even half of MizDad‘s charisma and beauty. This man owns our hearts now and we really couldn’t have stopped it if we tried.

OVER.

typicalROHfan:

Is this a serious question? MizDad is the NEW People’s Champion. Kick Miz out. Give MizDad some AWESOME (Get it?) merch.

OVER.

BradWardFGN:

Remember only 10% of the audience would care about something that is small like that. Most people will just care that Miz was getting hurt by Randy Orton and his parents were just extras.

So this is a double sided question. One segment of the audience will like his father more but not seriously because they just think of The Miz as a joke.

The other 90% of audience is in different.

UNDER.

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