WWE Championship Match – The Miz vs. John Cena
JZ says: There is some matter of debate over what will be the main event, but I sincerely hope it is this match. The WWE Championship is still the oldest, most prestigious belt in the company, and Miz has done such a great job holding it and representing the company that he deserves this spot. Cena has been the centerpiece of the company for years, but has actually only been in the final match at WrestleMania twice, and the last time was four years ago. Also, this match will likely feature involvement from the WrestleMania host The Rock. These factors make it the most important match on the card.
WINNER – John Cena
BG says: I said most of all that I’m going to say about this a couple weeks back in our article about the Miz as champion. That said, this is the match that has gotten my fans who are only peripherally wrestling fans these days interested in this show. John Cena going over seems like a no-brainer, as the Miz is the longest reigning champion in about two years (which is just absurd, as his reign hasn’t lasted 150 days). Cena goes over after the Miz gets too heelish and the Rock helps Cena bring the title back to a hero.
WINNER – John Cena
No Holds Barred Match – The Undertaker vs. Triple H
JZ says: Brad and I spoke at length about this match a few weeks ago, and the buildup has been pretty subpar so far, notwithstanding the involvement of Shawn Michaels this past Monday. When it comes to the match I’m sure they’ll both bring their A-game and the crowd should be really hot for it so it’ll be fun. No chance the Streak will end though.
WINNER – Undertaker
BG says: Here’s another one that we wrote about a couple of weeks ago. With only two years to go until Undertaker reaches 20-0 I just don’t see the streak ending now. I think this match will be very good, as both guys are at the point in their career when they are just in the business of cementing their legacy as two of the best ever. Undertaker wins and goes on to try to bring the streak to an unmatchable level next year.
WINNER – Undertaker
World Heavyweight Championship Match – Edge w/ Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio w/ Brodus Clay
JZ says: I like all four of the men involved in this match and think it could be a bit of a sleeper. Del Rio has done marvelous work and deserves his top of the card push. The dynamic between Edge and Christian could come into play here, and either way I’m interested to see how they go. I do see a new World Heavyweight Champion either way.
WINNER – Alberto Del Rio
BG says: The Edge and Christian reunion has been the best part of this feud. Admittedly I knew nothing of Del Rio before the run up to this feud, as it’s hard for me to invest in WWE when it’s not WrestleMania season. With Extreme Rules being the rematch PPV this will either end in Del Rio cheating to win the belt or losing and then doing something nefarious after the fact. I’ll flip a coin to decide the winner.
WINNER – Edge
Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole w/ Jack Swagger, with special referee Stone Cold Steve Austin
JZ says: This is the match that probably has the longest buildup of any match on the card, and I think the payoff is going to be wholly satisfying. Everyone wants to see Michael Cole get the crap kicked out of him, and King is just the man to do it. I’m glad Lawler finally got a match at WrestleMania after his storied career. Swagger’s involvement will likely end with him taking a Stunner from the special referee, but making this an overbooked mess is the way to go. This will be highly, highly entertaining.
WINNER – Jerry “The King†Lawler
BG says: This is probably just an excuse for Michael Cole to finally get his comeuppance. We all want it, as for over a decade Cole has been, for one reason or another, the most irritating presence in WWE. I’d love for Austin to beat the living crap out of Cole as a way of building up Tough Enough’s debut the following night, and Lawler can put the annoying sonofabitch to bed once and for all. The real question will be what becomes of Cole after WrestleMania is over.
WINNER – Jerry Lawler
John Morrison, Trish Stratus & Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler & Lay-Cool
JZ says: I don’t really know anything about the Jersey Shore so my knowledge of Snooki is very limited. What I do know is that five talented workers can compensate for one celebrity, so this should be a decently entertaining match. Hopefully Morrison and Ziggler take up most of the time in the ring.
WINNERS – John Morrison, Trish Stratus & Snooki
BG says: I’m hoping this somehow comes off as good as the now decade old Hardy Boyz & Lita vs. Test & Albert & Trish match from back in the day. I’m happy to see Trish back, and I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be a very big year for Morrison, so I see the babyfaces and the Little Orange Monster going over.
WINNERS – John Morrison, Trish Stratus & Snooki
Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
JZ says: This one could be awesome if they get more time than Punk got with Rey last year. Punk has really gotten a chance to shine with his promo work in this feud, and I think these two are natural foils. Orton taking out all the members of the lackluster New Nexus was a good idea to force Punk into going it alone. I’m betting this feud continues, so I could see Punk coming out with a victory via some nefarious means. Some heels have to go over at WrestleMania.
WINNER – CM Punk
BG says: Punk has settled in as a WWE Superstar about as well as his fans from the Indy days all predicted. He stands out on the microphone and brings it in the ring. Orton has sadly not gotten any new life as a babyface, but at least he doesn’t have to control matches with his chinlocks anymore. I think this will be a solid outing, but like Jake said there’s concern about the amount of time it will get. I predict a little more than ten minutes and Punk going over leading to a stipulation match at Extreme Rules.
WINNER – CM Punk
Eight-Man Tag Team Match – Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel vs. Big Show, Kane, Vladimir Kozlov & Santino Marella
JZ says: This is a match to get more people on the card. I’m a little disappointed that Kofi Kingston isn’t in this match or on the card at all, but those are the breaks I guess. This will likely be a fun and spirited tag match, and everyone is over enough that the crowd should have fun with it.
WINNERS – Big Show, Kane, Vladimir Kozlov & Santino Marella
BG says: Logic says the babyfaces go over in a match like this at WrestleMania, but I can’t see them leaving the Corre, including the Intercontinental and Tag Team title holders, staring at the lights at the end of the night. I’m torn, because a win for the babyfaces lets them vie for shots at those titles at Extreme Rules. This one’s going to have to be another coin flip.
WINNERS – Big Show, Kane, Kozlov & Marella
United States Championship Match – Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan
JZ says: I love that Bryan gets to have a singles match on the biggest show of the year, he’s definitely earned it. Sheamus has gotten the upper hand the last couple of weeks, so hopefully that leads to Bryan regaining the title. I’m primarily hoping they get around 10 minutes and have a good match; Bryan regaining the title would be gravy.
WINNER – Daniel Bryan
BG says: These guys put on great matches against each other, and the Internet gets to have an orgasm because Bryan is fighting in a singles match for a title at his first WrestleMania. All good things, and I think Sheamus goes over so Bryan can move onto something else.
WINNER – Sheamus
Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
JZ says: Cody Rhodes has done awesome promo work the last few weeks, and I love the way this feud seemingly sprung up naturally. This could be a star making match for Rhodes, and a good chance for Mysterio to show why he’s one of the best. This feud will probably also continue after the big show.
WINNER – Rey Mysterio
BG says: I was frankly quite surprised to see that these two were getting a singles match against one another. Rarely this low down on the card do we get a singles feud featured on the biggest show of the year. This would be a great place to debut Sinn Cara, even if its just on the ramp watching the match,
WINNER – Rey Mysterio
