It’s hard to believe it’s been a full year now that I’ve been predicting WWE PPVs. It all started with last year’s Over the Limit extravaganza. Here’s a question. Can you remember one match on that card besides Randy Orton vs. Christian? If you can, congratulations! You win nothing! Thanks for playing! Hopefully, more contestants will be able to remember this year’s card come next year’s event.
Enough jibber jabber. You all came for predictions and that’s what I’m going to give you!
WWE Championship
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan
I never thought I’d see the day where CM Punk and Daniel Bryan headlined a PPV for the WWE Championship. Argue all you want that it’s one of their lesser B-shows. The fact of the matter is these two indie sensations that were never supposed to make it to the WWE are duking it out for the richest prize in the business on PPV. It’s a fan’s dream come true!
The build, on the other hand, is a nightmare! I don’t even know if I can classify their feud as being built. Bryan won the Beat the Clock challenge to challenge Punk, then squared off with him randomly in handicap and tag team contests. Would it have been too hard for them to reignite the fire they briefly had earlier this year? All they had to do was have Punk call Bryan out on his cheating and disgraceful ways and state how he’s better than that. Bryan gets pissed and attacks Punk at every turn.
I would have accepted Punk shacking up with AJ. At least that would have been something. Sure, the fan boys in all of us would have complained about two of the best wrestlers in the world being saddled with WWE soap opera, but at least it would have been something. As of right now, we’re reduced to nothing and worrying that, if the buyrate is low, they’ll be the ones that get blamed.
At the end of the day, all I really care about is that these two are clashing at Over the Limit. If they’re given time, they’ll easily steal the show and be a shoo-in for match of the year. I don’t see Bryan walking out with the gold, as it doesn’t seem to be his time to go back on top again. Punk’s reign is going strong and he deserves to have one of the longer ones in the past few years.
Winner: CM Punk
World Heavyweight Championship
Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho
When this was just a one-on-one contest between Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio, I was moaning. I like both men (though ADR’s shtick has grown stale), but they don’t have enough chemistry to warrant excitement for a feud. By adding Orton and Jericho to the mix (nicely thanks to a tag team match, I might add), my interest in this match peaked.
Fatal Four Way matches can be highly entertaining. Considering the barn burner their tag team contest on Raw was a few weeks ago, I have high hopes that this match will be the same. I’m interested to see if they’ll spin a Jericho/Orton feud out of this. Both men never had the full feud they should’ve and it would be nice to see them finally get it (especially if Jericho’s leaving again in the summer).
As for Sheamus and Del Rio, their feud will unfortunately probably continue after this. I don’t see Sheamus dropping the title any time soon and I don’t see angles with Orton and Jericho happening for a bit. Sheamus will pin either Jericho or Orton here and ADR will (rightfully) whine that he deserves his one on one match.
Winner: Sheamus
All Interference Banned
John Cena vs. John Laurinaitis
WWE needs to learn that the top star versus the villainous boss is tired and redundant by now. Austin/McMahon was huge because it was fresh. Cena/Laurinaitis won’t generate the same excitement because it’s stale and overdone. Not only that, but the reasoning behind the match is very flimsy. I get that Laurinaitis was made to look like a fool when his golden goose, Brock Lesnar, lost to Cena last month at Extreme Rules. That doesn’t mean I want to see him wrestle Mr. HLR (even if Johnny Ace is a trained wrestler).
What’s funny is that, before the all interference banned stipulation was added, I was getting excited for this turning into a Lumberjack match. I know that sounds crazy, as Lumberjack matches are about as exciting as watching a Michael McGillicutty promo, but at least it would have spiced this match up. I would have accepted a no disqualification match (so Ace’s cronies could interfere), but wasn’t getting my hopes up.
Not that the interference ban will prevent such an activity from happening. Do remember they said any WWE employee who interferes will be fired. Brock Lesnar quit and Big Show was fired. Both will most likely interfere. Brock for revenge, Show to get his job back. Maybe Funaki will even interfere because, hey, why not?
It’s sad that Cena will defeat Lesnar one month, than lose to Laurinaitis the next. Since he’s supposed to be taking time off (especially with his divorce), he almost has to lose here (though that doesn’t guarantee he will). As I said, Lesnar and Show will interfere and decimate him, leaving him as easy pickings for Ace.
Winner: John Laurinaitis
Divas Championship
Layla vs. Beth Phoenix
At least this match is mildly appealing. Layla, though not the most gifted wrestler, can hold her own in the ring. Beth, on the other hand, commands the ring and knows how to put on a good match. These two will hopefully do so, even with Beth’s sprained ankle. It probably won’t last long, which is a shame. That short time should usually be reserved for Bella Twin matches (and yes, I know they’re gone).
Plain and simple, Layla wins. There’s no logic on hot-shotting the belt back to Beth, though this is the WWE. I don’t see that happening.
Winner: Layla
WWE Tag Team Championship
Kofi Kingston & R-Truth (Truth in Paradise) vs. Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler (The All-American Perfectionists)
Who knew that swapping out Evan Bourne for R-Truth would make this tag team match (which had essentially been done to death last year) seem fresh? Even if it weren’t, this match looks solid on paper. It seems like it’d be easy to predict (what with this being Truth in Paradise’s first title defense), but I can easily see the titles changing hands.
I’d like it more if The All-American Perfectionists lost and Ziggler dumped Vickie. Keep Swagger with her and have Dolph prove himself on his own. He’s shown that his mic skills have improved significantly and can draw heat on his own. He no longer needs Vickie Guerrero and she no longer needs him.
That and the tag team division would be better suited if Truth in Paradise would keep the gold. Do remember that Air Boom briefly revitalized the division (and I use that description loosely). Remember the last time Jack Swagger won a title? Everybody forgot about it until he dropped it. I fear that would happen here again.
Winners: Truth in Paradise