WrestleMania 28 Preview
Here we are, the time of year that brings a smile to wrestling fans' faces and a warmness to our hearts. It's WrestleMania time! This year we travel to South Beach! Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida is the home to WrestleMania XXVIII (that's 28 for you non-romans). This show has been the recipient of a one-year build for its main event, and features four marquee match-ups. Rob and Tony are our WrestleMania predictors.
John Cena vs. the Rock
The once-in-a-lifetime dream match that fans have drooled over for almost 10 years is finally here. Over the past few years we've seen Cena call out the Rock on several occasions, only for the Great One to brush it off. Now, finally, the time has come. It's only fitting that a match of this magnitude should have a build of one year. It's too bad most of that year was spent watching Cena in pointless feuds, save for a few appearances from the Rock before Survivor Series (where they teamed to beat the Miz & R-Truth). But since 2012 began, things have really heated up. There has been a plethora of verbal sparring, some good, some bad.
The big question here is in the booking. On paper, the logical thing to do is book Cena to win, cementing his place as the top star of this generation. Plus, its John Cena. He defeats everyone. That may play a role in the booking, too, as WWE loves to book surprise finishes, and that's exactly what a Rock win would be.
Rob's pick: John Cena, by pinfall, Attitude Adjustment
Tony's pick: John Cena, by pinfall, Five Knuckle Shuffle
Hell in a Cell
the Undertaker vs. HHH (special guest referee Shawn Michaels)
The booking behind this match has been backward from the beginning. They are booking it to make it look as though HHH won last year, by saying he "won the war.” ...kay. Anywho, despite the backward booking, the promos have been great, and the addition of Hell in a Cell brought interest back tenfold. However, adding Shawn Michaels is a year late, and it makes the outcome of this match all too predictable.
Rob's pick: Undertaker, by pinfall after the Tombstone, following some sort of ref shenanigans that sets up HHH vs. HBK at 'Mania 29.
Tony's pick: Undertaker, by pinfall, Tombstone
WWE Championship
CM Punk © vs. Chris Jericho
Who is the true "Best in the World?” Both Punk and Jericho claim to be the best wrestler in the world, and on Sunday, one of them will be proven right. In recent weeks, Jericho has upped the ante in the match. First, he brought up Punk's father's past struggles with alcoholism, and two weeks ago, revealed that Punk's sister is a substance abuser. Y2J says it is in Punk's blood to be an abuser, and after Jericho proves himself to be the "Best in the World,” Punk will leave his Straight Edge ways behind.
Punk goes into this match livid, not just to prove he's the best, but to get his hands on Jericho for all the things he's said about Punk's family. This may be Punk's downfall, however, as his hatred for Jericho and the call for revenge could blind him.
Rob's pick: CM Punk, by submission, Anaconda Vice
Tony's pick: Chris Jericho, by pinfall, Codebreaker
World Heavyweight Championship
Daniel Bryan © vs. Sheamus
Your World Heavyweight Championship match is a rematch of last year, though anyone who wasn't in Atlanta wouldn't know it, because Sheamus and Bryan faced off in a dark match before WrestleMania 28. That match ended in a no contest and turned into a battle royal. Somehow, I don't see that happening this year.
When Sheamus won the Royal Rumble, it was a surprise to a lot of people. No one saw Sheamus being in either title picture. And after Elimination Chamber, when Sheamus announced he was going for the World Heavyweight Championship, many believed the writing was on the wall for a new champion at WrestleMania.
To say the build since then has been lackluster would be an understatement. Sheamus has been booked average, even though he's been defeating all comers, there has been little in the way of interacion with Bryan. Meanwhile, Bryan has been busy soaking in the adulation of his girlfriend AJ. She loves him, and he appreciates that. Its obvious that Bryan has some sort of control over AJ, and will that play into the finish of the match? Or will Sheamus' lack of a real push cause the title to stay on Bryan's waist?
Rob's pick: Sheamus, by pinfall, Celtic Cross
Tony's pick: Daniel Bryan, by submission, LeBell Lock
Intercontinental Championship Match
Cody Rhodes © vs. Big Show
Quick feud synopsis: Big Show sucks at Mania. Cody shows clip. Cody laughs. Crowd boos.
Rob's pick: Big Show, by pinfall, Knockout Punch
Tony's pick: Cody, by pinfall, some sort of shenanigans (i.e. exposed turnbuckle)
12 Man Tag Team Match for control of Raw & Smackdown
Team John Laurinitis (David Otunga, Mark Henry, Drew McIntyre, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, the Miz) vs. Team Teddy Long (Santino Marella, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Zack Ryder, The Great Khali, Booker T)
This match came about solely because most (if not all) of the participants were supposed to be in Money in the Bank. Then Wade Barrett got hurt, and the bookers shit their pants. Instead of giving MITB to someone else (*cough* Ziggler *cough*), they made up a feud between the men running Raw and Smackdown and stuck these lucky guys on the teams. Sucks for guys like Ziggler, Swagger, Kofi, and Ryder, but at least they get that Mania pay day.
Rob's pick: Team Johnny
Tony's pick: Team Johnny
Wait! We Need A Match Too!
Randy Orton vs. Kane
These guys are feuding, I guess. I dunno. About something. Like, bronzer, or a mask, or something. Whatever.
Rob's pick: Orton, by pinfall, RKO
Tony's pick: Orton, by pinfall, RKO, because Vince hates Kane
Hey, look! This will get us on Extra!
Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos vs. Eve & Beth Phoenix
So Maria Menounos broke some ribs last week, and may not wrestle here. Though I suppose if that were the case, they would have announced some other match. Be that as it may, this will be the best match of the night. It will go 47 minutes and be a nominee for match of the year.
Rob's pick: Team Kelly, pinfall, Maria rollup on Beth
Tony's pick: Team Kelly, Menounos wins she gets a pin on beth, when Nattie comes down to help and farts in Beth's face, allowing Menounos to roll her up
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