- Randy Orton vs. Batista (WWE World Heavyweight Title) *winner of Daniel Bryan vs. HHH will be added to main event and will then be a Triple Threat Match for title*
- Daniel Bryan vs. HHH w/ Stephanie McMahon-Levesque
- Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman
- 30-Man Andre The Giant Battle Royal *winner to win Andre The Giant trophy*
- John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt w/ The Wyatt Family
- The Shield vs. Kane & The New Age Outlaws
- Vickie Guerrero Divas Invitational (WWE Divas Title)
- The Usos vs. RyBaxel vs. The Real Americans w/ Zeb Coulture vs. Los Matadores (Fatal Four-Way match for WWE Tag Team Titles)
Here is where I will dissect the matches and give my early predictions to this event.
WWE World Tag Team Championship
The Usos vs. The Real Americans vs. RyBaxel vs. Los Matadores
Twin brothers Jimmy and Jey Uso (sons of former WWE star Rikishi, cousins of The Rock, Shield member Roman Reigns, and nephews of late WWE stars Yokozuna and Umaga) finally secured the proverbial "brass ring" by finally becoming the new WWE Tag Team Champions on the Feb. 14th edition of RAW by defeating The New Age Outlaws. Widely considered the most under appreciated team on the entire tag team roster, they finally captured the gold that had been alluding them for 4 years. Since then, competition has stepped up in the form of the team of RyBaxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel), Los Matadores (Diego and Fernando), and The Real Americans (Jack Swagger and Caesaro). Based upon momentum alone and the "over" factor, I fully expect The Uso brothers to retain the titles over two less-than-stellar teams and one team on the verge of a possible break-up due to their on-air friction. Likely a somewhat exciting match, I look for the Uso twins to retain the belts.
Winners: The Usos
WWE Divas Title
Divas Invitational (AJ Lee, Tamina, Naomi, Cameron, Emma, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Oksana, Summer Rae, Alicia Fox, and Rosa Mendes)
Okay, truthfully, if I may be honest, this will be the least exciting match of the evening. Through no fault of their own (in most cases), the Divas division is a really, really struggling division, even more so than the tag division. There are some naturally talented young ladies in the division (Natalya-who's the niece of famed WWE star and WWE Hall Of Famer Bret "Hitman" Hart and daughter of Bret's longtime tag partner Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, the Divas Champion AJ Lee, Tamina Snuka-daughter of Hall Of Famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Naomi, and Emma) and there are those that need to really go back to the NXT Developmental system of WWE. This has all the makings of a non-thrilling snoozefest, but based upon how AJ is the clear target of all the Divas, I expect the Diva with the most momentum to take the title from her, which would be Naomi. Naomi, who just returned after being out for 6 weeks due to a brutal eye injury suffered at the hands of Oksana and an accidental knee drop to her orbital bone and eye socket, is as red hot as ever and I predict a big win for the newly married Diva.
Winner & new champion: Naomi
The Shield vs. Kane & The New Age Outlaws
One of the hottest factions the WWE has seen in recent years is The Shield. The Shield is comprised of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns. They first busted on the scene costing Ryback a chance at the WWE Title at the 2012 Survivor Series. Since then, the guys have been unstoppable. All three of these guys came from the WWE's developmental (minor league) promotion, NXT. All have significant credit to their individual careers. Seth is a former ROH World Champion, TV Champion and Tag Team Champion, as well as a former NXT Champion and Tag Team Champion (before it was NXT, it was known as Florida Championship Wrestling). Dean is likewise an indie darling, especially in promotions such as CZW (Combat Zone Wrestling) and DGUSA (Dragon Gate USA). Roman's pedigree alone is measured in his history as a standout in the University of Georgia's football team, plus his famous family that was previously noted. Seth and Roman are former WWE Tag Team Champions, while Dean is currently the WWE U.S. Champion (and currently the longest reigning champion in the promotion other than AJ Lee). While they have had some series of on-camera friction, the one variable they have is the hatred for Kane and The New Age Outlaws. Kane, who's widely revered as one of WWE's most feared big men ever, and the NAO, former 6-time Tag Team Champions, represent the "authority" of the WWE, but this clearly is a case of youth vs. experience. The "authority" representatives are literally knocking on the age of 50, while the average age of The Shield is 28, and they're completely on fire right now, especially the 6'4", 270 lb. Reigns. I completely expect The Shield to continue to be the "hounds of justice" and to keep dominating the WWE. Hopefully this will be the signal for The Outlaws and Kane to finally start collecting the AARP checks.
Winners: The Shield
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
This truthfully is the match I'm definitely waiting to see. Bray Wyatt is the most intriguing newcomer the WWE has had in years. The third generation star (son of former WWE star Mike Rotundo, nephew of Hall Of Famer/Horsemen member Barry Windham, and grandson of another Hall Of Famer, Blackjack Mulligan) is enigmatic, mysterious, creepy, and one of the best microphone guys in the business today, bar none. Many longtime fans may briefly remember him as Husky Harris years ago, but with his hair considerably longer, his beard down to his chest practically, and 50 pounds less, Wyatt stands to have a breakout year. He's currently undefeated since his debut at Summerslam last August. He'll be accompanied by Wyatt's two big brutes, whom he calls brothers but we call followers Luke Harper and Derek Rowan. However, the man he's facing is our generation's Hulk Hogan. John Cena is the most known guy in the business. His pedigree speaks for itself in the form of movies (The Marine), music (his gold-selling You Can't See Me album), commercials, television appearances and oh yes, 14-time World Champion. Although Cena has expressed his "fear" of Bray and his intentions of destroying Cena's legacy, I expect Cena to fight his heart out on the biggest stage. However, I expect the young, twisted upstart to continue his winning ways, with or without his monsters Harper and Rowan and The Wyatt Family will continue to terrorize the promotion.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
30-Man Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Hulk Hogan, who will serve as Wrestlemania's "guest host", introduced the inaugural Andre The Giant Battle Royal, named after one of the sport's all-time most beloved and iconic figures Andre The Giant. This will be a 30-man, over-the-top-rope battle royal. The winner will receive a quite gorgeous trophy with the likeness molded of Andre. Names like Shaemus, Big E (Inter-Continental Champion), Goldust, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, and Drew McIntyre. I don't expect this to be a big show-stealer, but I do expect the Big Show to be the winner. How do you bet against 7', 500-plus pounds of superb athlete?
Winner: Big Show
Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar
There isn't a more celebrated competitor at Wrestlemania than the legendary Undertaker. The near 7', 295 lb. phenom has amassed a historic 21-0 record at the event (picture Dallas Cowboys winning 21 straight Super Bowls or the Boston Celtics winning 21 straight NBA Championships). From Hall Of Famers like Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, and Edge to the likes of Kevin Nash, HHH, Jake Roberts, and the recently WWE departed CM Punk, Taker is now doubt a future first-ballot Hall Of Famer whenever he decides to retire. This will also be the weekend he will induct his longtime manager and friend, the late Paul Bearer, into the HOF. Although he's won 7 Tag Team Championships and 7 World Titles, he's obviously nearing the end of his amazing career. The age old question is now, "Who will end the streak?" Next possible candidate, former WWE and UFC Champion "The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar. This match will be a down home fight from the offset. Brock is managed by one of wrestling's best managers and mic guys Paul Heyman (man, I miss ECW!!). While Brock's credentials are as impressive as anyone seen in this industry (let's not forget he's a former NCAA Heavyweight Champion in his weight class from University of Minnesota). As potentially awesome as this match will likely be, the question now is "Will Brock be THAT guy?" Prediction...wait for it...wait for it...wait for it...!!
Winner: The Undertaker (22-0)
Daniel Bryan vs. HHH
There's been no hotter star over the past year than the 5'8", 200-kb. Daniel Bryan. His catch phrase "YES, YES, YES" has become a worldwide phenomenon. A young guy with over 23 career titles (including 3 World Titles in the WWE) has been the company's organic, surprise hit. Without question the most popular star on the roster across the board, he comes across the biggest match of his career in the challenge of the 13-time World Champion, HHH. The real-life Executive Vice President of Creative, Talent, and Live Events (on camera he's the Chief Operating Officer) will step back into the ring and put down the 3-piece suit for the time being. This is a classic case of the underdog against corporate evil. While Daniel may not have nearly the same breakout charisma as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the 30-year old still represents the blue-collar worker that has lots to prove against the corporate authority. HHH has screwed him over and over again, plus has thrown many obstacles in his way to bury him and keep him at an underachieved level. This will be the most important match of the night because this determines who will face Batista and WWE Champion Randy Orton later in the night. I expect to see Daniel bring out the best performance of his career at the grand stage. I expect this to be the match of the night and by far the show stealer, but I expect Bryan to come out a winner and go to the main event to compete for the title.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
WWE World Heavyweight Title
Batista vs. Randy Orton vs. (Daniel Bryan)
Should Bryan survive in his match with "The Game", which I fully expect for him to do, he will be in a match with the returning Batista and the 10-time WWE Champion Randy Orton. Batista has just returned after a 4 year absence to less than stellar acclaim. He made his official in-ring return at the 2014 Royal Rumble in the Rumble match and won. The fans clearly didn't appreciate a guy who hasn't been in the ring in 4 years instantly get thrusted into the main event. Orton, in the meantime, is in the prime of his young career. The third generation star (son of Cowboy Bob Orton Jr. and and grandson of Bob Orton Sr.) has been considered one of the most naturally gifted wrestlers in the sport's history. However, with the possible added element of Bryan, this has the makings of quite an interesting match. What a better story than to have the underdog Bryan, who likely will have been beaten like crazy by HHH, come in and, with a courageous effort, defeat Orton and Batista for the belt. Far-fetched? Not at all. In fact, that's my prediction.
Winner & new WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Daniel Bryan
Overall, this will be an interesting, albeit not overly impressive Wrestlemania in my view. The big possible star will be the kid formerly known as "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson (yes that Daniel Bryan's real name). If my predictions are up to par, the New Orleans Superdome will be LIT UP!!!! Regardless, this will be a Wrestlemania to be viewed and Vince will do anything possible to make this among the most talked about Wrestlemanias ever. Here's a look at the matches in video form.
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