The Road to Wrestlemania has started. On the 24th January 2016 in Orlando, Florida, The WWE hosted The Royal Rumble event, an event that will live long in the memory of some, with Triple H returning to win the main event, and with it, the WWE World Heavyweight Title. I posted a blog before the Royal Rumble as to what I believed the best possible Wrestlemania card was at the time. This blog will re-address those points, after learning what we did at the Rumble.
This blog will only include those superstars who are currently employed by the WWE or NXT, those who are strongly rumoured to be returning from injury and those superstars that who have been announced as signing for the WWE.
Pre Show
Andre the Giant Battle Royal
I originally said that the only pre-show match would be the now traditional Battle Royal. As I will blog soon, I now believe there will be 2 pre-show matches (to mirror what happened last year). This match will go as predicted first time round, and will be won by an up and coming star to give them a big boost. I originally believed that Braun Strowman would be the winner, and at this point I do not see any other option for the win, especially now my original thoughts for a 6 man tag involving the Wyatt Family have now changed. Expect him to eliminate Mark Henry last, in what will be his last match in the WWE before his retirement.
Winner - Braun Strowman
Pre Show
Goldust, Darren Young and Damien Sandow vs. The Cosmic Wasteland
This match was previously blogged as a singles match between Goldust and Stardust on the actual card, I now believe that they will now go in a six man tag (to get as many superstars on the card for their Mania moments) on the pre-show. This again will be another retirement match, as Goldust will retire after losing this match to his half-brother. This will also mark the retirement of the Stardust gimmick.
Winners - The Cosmic Wasteland
WWE Divas Title Match
Charlotte (with Ric Flair) (c) vs. Sasha Banks
Originally blogged as a Fatal Four Way Divas match also involving Paige and Becky Lynch, I now believe it will just be a singles match. Charlotte will carry on playing the heel, while Sasha Banks (after her actions on the Raw of 1st Feb) will be the face character. I however do not believe the result will be any different. Expect Sasha Banks to win her first Divas title, immediately retire the belt and then bring back the WWE Women's Championship, bringing in a new era of Women's wrestling and a new mentality in the WWE
Winner (and new champion) - Sasha Banks
WWE US Championship 6-Man Ladder Match
Kalisto (c) vs. Alberto del Rio vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Zigger vs. Kane vs. The Miz
Originally blogged as Alberto del Rio vs AJ Styles, Kalisto's win at the Royal Rumble will change the original prediction, and will carry on the theme of having a six man title ladder match on the Mania card. With differing styles in the match, this will be a breathtaking match that will go back and forth. I expect that Kalisto will retain against the odds here, after kicking The Miz off a ladder and then grabbing the belt.
Winner (and still champion) - Kalisto
Triple Threat Match
Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn
The indies, in the big time. The Royal Rumble set up 2 matches that could have involved Kevin Owens. He firstly eliminated AJ Styles (after sarcastically shouting "Welcome to the WWE") from the Rumble and was then eliminated by a returning Sami Zayn. I expect the WWE will capitalise on the WWE Fan's reaction to these rivalries and put this match on the card for at least 20 minutes. All three of the superstars in this match are very popular, and any result will prove popular with the fans. However, expect a win for AJ Styles here. He has proved the WWE Universe is behind him since his debut at the Rumble. Expect him to pin KO.
Winner - AJ Styles
WWE Tag Team Title Fatal Four Way Team Match
New Day (c) vs. The Dudleys vs. The Usos vs. The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper & Erick Rowan)
Originally predicted to be a TLC match not involving The Wyatt Family, due to actions at the Rumble, The WWE will give them a meaningful match. New Day will hold the titles until this point, but no longer. The Wyatt's will usher in a new era in the Tag division and will win this match. There may very well be interference from Braun Strowman (do not expect to see Bray Wyatt here - see below) but Harper will pin D-Von Dudley to win the copper belts.
Winners (and new champions) - The Wyatt Family
Brock Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt
This is the reason why you will not see Bray Wyatt in the Tag Team Title match. I originally predicted Brock Lesnar would face Kevin Owens, however after the Royal Rumble and the Wyatt Family dumped Lesnar out of the match, and the predicted interference in the Triple Threat match at Fastlane involving Lesnar, the two best promo makers in the WWE (Bray Wyatt and Paul Heyman) will come together and make this match. This will be a brutal match, and I am unsure as to whether the Wyatt Family will interfere, but the result will be the same either way. The WWE have made both these superstars look strong over the last few months, and Bray will continue his push towards an eventual WWE Title Match by shocking the Beast Incarnate.
Winner - Bray Wyatt
WWE Intercontinental Title Match
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Chris Jericho
The first unchanged match on the main Wrestlemania card from my original prediction, I believe this match will again be set up due to interference at Fastlane. While Brock Lesnar is incapacitated, expect Y2J to interfere and cost Ambrose the match. Again, as stated before, I believe the result will stay the same, with Ambrose retaining his belt.
Winner (and still champion) - Dean Ambrose
The Undertaker vs. Finn Balor
There is still no creditable information as to how the Undertaker will be used at Wrestlemania. With John Cena heavily rumoured to return to action for the Wrestlemania card, I am predicting he will lose his battle to be fit for the showcase of the immortals. Cena was given a 6-9 month injury layoff, meaning that in theory, Cena will not return until June. I will also persist with my belief that Finn Balor will make his main card debut at Wrestlemania, although this time I do not believe Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson will be involved in this match or build-up. I also no longer believe this will be Undertaker's retirement match, as the WWE will probably want John Cena to retire The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33 (if The Undertaker vs. Cena does happen this year, expect this to be the main event).
This match will receive the same level of buildup that the Wrestlemania XXVII match between Triple H and The Undertaker did, with a silent promo between both superstars. I predict that Finn will lose the NXT Title at NXT Takeover: Dallas due to an"interference" by the Deadman (the signature gong). This match will be a sight to behold, with Finn getting the best out of The Undertaker. I do however predict the result will be different, and sadly Finn will debut with a loss at Wrestlemania.
Winner - The Undertaker
WWE World Heavyweight Championship - No Disqualification Match
Triple H (c) vs. Roman Reigns
I did originally want to type the words "Seth" and "Rollins" together in a way that would help Roman Regins win the WWE Title Belt. However, I do not believe however that he will be able to. The lowest estimate that Rollins will be out of action for is 6 months, which considering he suffered his injury on November 5th, would put him out of action until just after the Extreme Rules PPV (on May 1st). While it is possible that he could return for a non-active part and nurse the injury until Extreme Rules, I do not believe the WWE would risk Rollins in this, and instead go down the route I originally blogged.
I believe that Triple H will dominate the first part of the match, and it will spill out into other parts of the arena, thanks to the no disqualification stipulation. Triple H will eventually call for the League of Nations, and they will commence a beatdown of Reigns. The Rock will then arrive in the arena and run down to save Reigns. He will then deliver a Rock Bottom to Triple H (possibly setting up The Rock vs. Triple H at Wrestlemania 33) and help Roman to win the title. Another theory (that will take some believing and a lot of manoeuvrability) is a Rock heel turn at the Raw after Fastlane. He will explain his actions as him attempting to protect his legacy and stopping Roman from destroying it. During the match, The Rock will come out to feign an attack on Roman. He will then Rock Bottom Triple H and again, Roman will win the title.
Winner (and new champion) - Roman Reigns
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