It’s ironic that the poster for this year’s No Way Out features Daniel Bryan tied to train tracks. Why, you ask? For this PPV is looking to head for a train wreck. It’s as if WWE is trying to outdo the bad stench that last year’s June PPV, Capitol Punishment, was reeking. Maybe this year’s No Way Out revival will be lucky and do a better buyrate than expected like last year’s D.C. show. Even if it does, the quality will most likely be the same (please prove me wrong, WWE).
Before I start the predictions, I do need to address Triple H giving a speech on Brock Lesnar and his state in the WWE at the PPV. For starters, it seems as if every June PPV from now on will feature an in-ring promo/skit (last year we had the faux Obama parading around the ring and arena). At least this year’s serves a purpose, though one that could be settled on Raw. The fact that they have to hype this promo to enhance buys is quite sad.
Anyway, on with the predictions!
WWE Championship
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane
You know, if they were going to have Punk and Bryan clash again, why not have another singles encounter? I know I harp a lot about consecutive matches on PPVs, but at least this time the match would be good (which is why I was forgiving of Orton/Christian last year). That’s not to slight Kane. He adds an interesting mix to the match and storyline. Just not enough to garner interest.
Consider this. When it was announced that Alberto Del Rio would miss the PPV, many were speculating that Kane would take his spot. That piqued my interest in this show, which was about zilch from the start. Not only is another Punk/Bryan match appealing (especially if it were in a cage), but I’ve been wanting to see Kane/Sheamus for awhile now. That’s the type of big man match that seems like it would deliver.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get that (maybe at Money in the Bank). We’re still stuck with a triple threat that AJ will most likely find her way into. At the very least, the Punk/Bryan feud is getting more of a build, though I’m starting to feel we’re getting Punk/Kane at MITB. Then again, I can’t rule out Bryan winning.
Though I still feel Punk is dropping the title at Summerslam, there’s a part of me that’s curious if they’ll give the gold to Bryan. His popularity has skyrocketed, which is why he’s even in this feud. From the looks of it, he was going to drop back down to the midcard. The crowd reaction saved him, so WWE may give him the strap, even if it’s just for a month.
Since it looks like they may possibly be giving Punk a year long title reign (if he does have the rumored match with Big Show at Summerslam, then I think he’ll hold the title until Survivor Series), having Bryan or Kane win wouldn’t make much sense. This is the WWE, where anything can happen. Maybe they’re growing tired of Punk. Honestly, since it seems they’re keeping the title away from Cena (and creating a new title, apparently), I see them keeping the gold on Punk. He’s a good draw.
Winner: CM Punk
World Heavyweight Championship
Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler
Poor Alberto Del Rio. First, his one on one contest with Sheamus at Over the Limit got changed to a Fatal Four Way (which, ironically, includes two wrestlers on the shelf with suspensions). Now, his second attempt at a singles match with the Celtic Warrior has been abolished due to a concussion. It’s as if Sheamus/Del Rio isn’t meant to be.
Luckily for Dolph Ziggler, this gives him an opportunity. There’s no way he’s winning the gold, but a standout performance is likely. That seems to be the case for all of his World title matches, though this time may benefit him more. Sure, Sheamus is no Edge or CM Punk (yet), but this proves WWE trusts him. Granted, they may have no choice (due to suspensions and injuries, the roster is quite thin). However, they could have put Kane in this match (as rumored) or even The Great Khali for a big man clash. Instead, they chose the Showoff.
Another good sign for him is that the Money in the Bank PPV is looming. This could be the year he snags the briefcase. Since he’s a heel, I actually don’t see him being the first to cash in and lose. I expect that to happen to a face who respectfully cashes in beforehand like Rob Van Dam did. Thanks to this, he may be the lucky one who gets to end Punk’s lengthy reign.
That’s the future. As of right now (or in a few days, technically), he’s not going to be wearing the big gold belt. Sheamus is still fresh with the belt and they seemingly have big plans for him. They may keep getting altered, but I don’t think they’ll give up. If they were going to, I think they would have had him square off with someone else.
Winner: Sheamus
Steel Cage Match
John Cena vs. The Big Show
After their disastrously dull feud in 2009, I was hoping to never see these two square off again. A match or two on Raw or Smackdown would have been fine, but not on PPV. They’ve never had anything more than mediocre chemistry and the thought of them duking it out in a steel cage bores me. It looks like my fears were realized.
Up until last Monday’s Raw, I was almost certain that John Cena would win. He lost a match to John Laurinaitis (which is bad on paper) thanks to Big Show, so he was going to get his vengeance (sorry, wrong PPV). Hell, making it a steel cage almost made it inevitable that he would overcome the odds once again.
Once Mr. McMahon announced that, if Big Show lost, that Big Johnny would be fired, that guaranteed the Big Show’s victory. WWE loves it’s heel GM’s and will stop at nothing to let them keep their job at nefarious ways. It’s why the Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy match was so predictable (though that one being predictable was fine). This also plays into the rumor of Big Show challenging Punk for the WWE title at Summerslam. Laurinaitis already has issues with the Straight Edge Superstar being the champ. Now, he has an even bigger enemy to throw at him.
Winner: Big Show
Intercontinental Championship
Christian vs. Cody Rhodes
As far as consecutive PPV matches go, this one is perfectly fine. Despite the match having taken place at Over the Limit, it feels fresh here. That’s because the match wasn’t made in advance last month and Christian had already competed in a battle royal. Having both competitors be fresh and prepared makes this one a surprisingly hotly anticipated contest. Out of all of the matches on the card, this is the one I’m looking forward to most.
I’d assume that Christian would retain here, given it’s early into his reign. That and I believe Cody Rhodes is going to win one of the two Money in the Bank matches this year (if they’re still doing two). I predicted that last year when his career was seemingly booming, so maybe I’m wrong. His career is even hotter now, though WWE may feel more comfortable with him as an upper midcarder. He doesn’t have main event looks (though a lot of the top guys don’t anymore, which is a good thing, in my opinion), but certainly gets heat. Since the midcard is lacking that excitement, keeping him there would benefit the midcard and the Intercontinental title.
Christian is also benefiting both the midcard and the Intercontinental title. Therefore, there’s no reason to give Cody the belt back. There wasn’t a reason for him to win it back at Extreme Rules, either, but that did lead to two big events (Christian’s return and Big Show’s umpteenth heel turn). I don’t foresee any new big events, outside of Cody graduating to the main event scene. Therefore, he loses here.
Winner: Christian
Divas Championship
Layla vs. Beth Phoenix
I’m getting tired of repeating myself each month when it comes to the Divas matches. The division is beyond stale and we’re seeing the same matches over and over again. Last year, Beth Phoenix squared off against both Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres repeatedly. Now, it seems Layla is her new constant adversary.
The only difference here is that, instead of Beth eventually winning and dominating, she’s just being fed to Layla. They’ll probably reinsert Natalya into the title picture until Kharma is ready. There is the possibility that WWE has been planning on Beth/Kharma, but it keeps getting pushed back. Summerslam is a good stage for that, which may be why Layla is keeping the belt warm.
If that’s the case, I still see Layla winning. Beth will just get another match at Money in the Bank, where she finally wins it back. Unless that isn’t the plan with Kharma. Only time will tell.
Winner: Layla