This is probably the show stealer.This match is a tale of two stories.  For a few weeks they started with arguing over who the best in the world was and Jericho saying that Punk ripped off all his ideas.  Then they shifted over to Jericho ripping on Punk’s family for the sake of driving him to drink.  I think the idea that we’re supposed to go with is that Jericho pressured Punk into giving him the title match and then is using the family stuff to mess with his mind and make him lose the title as a result.  I’m not sure how well they’ve done at conveying that idea which isn’t good, but at the end of the day it’s Punk vs. Jericho.  Do you really think they’re going to have a bad match?  I’ll go with Punk to retain, but him losing and exploring what he might do could be interesting.

Thoughts/Predictions?

From a great build to almost no build.This is the match that I think the company believes has a built in story due to Sheamus winning the Rumble.  However, since then he and Bryan have only had a limited amount of contact.  Sheamus has been running over the majority of the upper midcard while Bryan has barely done anything but talk.  The problem here is that there isn’t much of a reason for these two to fight other than Sheamus qualified to get this match.  The story would seem to suggest Sheamus kicks Bryan’s head off to win the title, but I’m not 100% sure on it.  The problem is that if Sheamus loses, there’s nothing else for him to do while Bryan has a few other options.  I’ll take the pale one to win the title though.

Thoughts/Predictions?

Remember last year when Cody was Dr. Doom?  Neither do I.This has been a pretty well built up match.  There’s a story behind it and Cody has done a great job of setting up the idea that Show can’t win the big one on the big stage.  As for a winner, the signs would point to Big Show, but at the end of the day I’m not sure if I can picture Big Show as the Intercontinental Champion.  Cody needs to get away from the title so he can move onto the world title scene.  There’s also a chance though that Cody loses on purpose but keeps the title, which I think is what is going to happen.  Since I like to play things safe though, I’ll go with Show winning the title.

Thoughts/Predictions?

Because of a handshake from last summer.This is the only match that I think isn’t as predictable as the rest.  I don’t think this feud ends here and I think the match ends with Orton taking the chokeslam for the pin.  The rest of the show looks like it’s very easy to call out each match but there needs to be a heel that wins a match on here other than Team Johnny.  Kane vs. Orton is a feud that doesn’t make a lot of sense so therefore the feud needs to go on longer than most of this show right?

Thoughts/Predictions?

Thuggin N Buggin vs. REALLY FREAKING BORINGIn case you can’t remember, it’s Teddy with Santino (Captain)/Kofi/R-Truth/Booker T/Ryder/Khali vs. Johnny with Otunga (Captain)/Christian/McIntyre/Henry/Swagger/Miz.

This has basically been the fun team vs. the serious team.  The winner gets to control both shows and for the life of me I can’t imagine that Johnny’s boys go down here.  The talk on the shows would imply that Eve costs Ryder’s team the match.  On the other hand there’s a possibility that someone is going to turn (no idea who) and cost his team the match.  I’m surprised Alberto isn’t involved in this match but maybe he’ll interfere or something.  Either way though, I can’t imagine Teddy wins because Raw isn’t made for tag matches.

Thoughts/Predictions?

Can Maria wear the Giants bikini?So this is the celebrity match this year and it’s with the girls.  The Divas Title hasn’t meant anything, even though Beth has held it for what, six months now?  The story that’s going on from Smackdown would suggest that AJ is the next champion but that’s months in the future.  Here though, I can’t imagine the celebrity loses.  Has one of them ever lost at a PPV?  On second though, does it matter either way?  This is there for a chance to give people a breather between the major matches.

Thoughts/Predictions?

For the tag titles and likely a dark match.This was announced the week of the show and is going to be streamed for free on the WWE’s Youtube channel and WWE.com.  The champions have had the belts now for about two and a half months but were actually being used as jobbers on Raw for Big Show earlier this week.  I love the Usos but for the life of me I don’t get why they added in Gabriel and Kidd.  Apparently the team was formed on Superstars with the question from Kidd of “hey, wanna be a team” and a reply of “sure”.  That gets you in the title match at Mania now I guess.

As for a prediction, I’ll go with the champions retaining, but if this gets the title picture moving a bit it’ll be great.

Thoughts/Predictions?

I’m fairly optimistic about this show.The good thing about this show is that it has no pressure on it because it’s just a stop on the way to Lockdown.  On the other hand, the bad thing about this show is that nothing on it really matters because it’s just a stop on the road to Lockdown.  What that means is that it has the potential to be something fun in the moment but that it’s probably not going to mean anything past tomorrow night.  That’s probably a good thing though, given that they’ll start the build to Lockdown soon after this.

Roode should and probably will beat Sting.  Roode has been feuding with Sting since winning the title and they need to put this behind them.  A decisive victory over Sting with a clean (as clean as you can get in a no holds barred match that is) pin would do a lot for Roode and would make him look like a bigger deal than he is right now.  Should be fun.

Storm over Ray, duh.  This doesn’t need much of an explanation.

Tag champs to retain as the Morgan vs. Crimson feud goes to Lockdown, hopefully with a turn in there somewhere.

Aries to retain, just due to me not wanting Ion on my TV screen anymore than he has to be.

Hardy over Angle but this is going to Lethal Lockdown.

Uh….Gail and AJ/Anderson win via coin flip.

The TV Title…..nobody cares.

Thoughts/predictions?

It’s the last show before we really get on the Road to Wrestlemania.I think I’m going to go with the champions to retain.  I don’t see anyone taking Bryan out, especially if Big Show is going to fight Shaq at Mania like the rumors say.  Same with Punk, unless they go with Jericho to set up Punk proving he’s the best in the world by taking his title back.

Tamina I guess, not that it matters.

Cena over Kane for obvious reasons.

I’ll throw in a pair of bonus matches of Swagger retains over whomever he defends against and Sheamus squashes someone.

Your thoughts/picks?

It’s that time again.This is an interesting show on paper.  I’m genuinely stumped as to who is winning the world title, but I think I’ll take Roode to retain.  I know the fun pick is Bully Ray, but even with his awesome heel run, it’s a dagger to the common fans.  Storm I just don’t see getting it back yet and I think they’ll save Hardy to win it at Lockdown.

Give me AJ over Kaz but not without shenanigans.

New tag/X Champs.

Gunner vs. Garrett…..someone check on me during that one to make sure I didn’t hang myself.

Picks/thoughts?