Predictions submitted by Alastair Sutherland and Matthew Evans:
12 Man Tag Team Match For Control of Raw and Smackdown: Team Laurinaitis vs Team Long- Team Laurinaitis: David Otunga (Captain), Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre & The Miz VsTeam Long: Santino Marella (Captain), R-Truth, Zack Ryder, The Great Khali, Kofi Kingston & Booker T
Alastair:
"I think this one will get an ok amount of time, possibly have some run-ins during it but overall there is a lot of guys to get at least some ring time on the biggest stage of them all. With Santino getting a mini-push recently I suspect team long will win but would have been better as an elimination style match but one fall to a finish should take a little less time. Overall prediction is a fair bit of filler for the show."
Winners: Team Long
Matthew:
"This one should be fun and the interactions between the GM’s has been entertaining to watch. Everyone hates John Laurinaitis, who to his credit, has really grown into his role as the authority figure on Raw. Therefore, I think WWE will continue to bait the fans and will ultimately have "Johnny" run both shows."
Winners: Team Johnny
Divas Tag Team Match:Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos vs. Beth Phoenix and Eve Torres
Alastair:
"There were rumours going about that the divas match was cut from the card but I suspect this one won't last too long. Beth should win so prediction a Phoenix win."
Winners: Beth Phoenix & Eve Torres
Matthew:
"I don’t know much about Maria Menounos but to her credit, she did very well for a non-wrestler in her previous match against Phoenix on Raw (Menounos actually holds a pin fall victory over "The Glamazon"). We all know what Beth Phoenix is capable of and Kelly Kelly and Eve have continued to up their game in recent months, so overall, this should be a reasonably good Divas tag match."
Winners: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos
Randy Orton Vs Kane
Alastair:
"I suspect Orton will win but they could do a non-finish and have Kane send Orton for a big bump of the stage or something for a "mania moment"."
Winner: Randy Orton
Matthew:
"Putting the mask back on Kane has breathed new life into his character and I expect this bout with "The Viper" to be a very physical affair. I expect Orton to win, albeit following a merciless beating from the "Big Red Monster."
Winner: Randy Orton
Intercontinental Title - Cody Rhodes Vs Big Show
Alastair:
"I suspect WWE will want to finally give Show his mania moment and have him win the title."
Winner: Big Show
Matthew:
"Cody has been a dominant IC champion, but I think WM will be Big Show’s "time to shine" and compensate for a few ‘Mania losses."
Winner: Big Show
World Heavyweight Title - Daniel Bryan Vs Sheamus
Alastair:
"After Sheamus got bumped at last year's mania I suspect WWE are making it up to him, first the rumble win now a title match on a key show of the year. Sheamus to win is the only result I see here."
Winner: Sheamus
Matthew:
"Sheamus has momentum going in, but Bryan has managed to survive and hold onto his title time and time again. It’s a toss-up really, and there’s every chance that these two "young guns" could steal the show, right from under the noses of the "big players", Cena, Rock, HHH and ‘Taker."
Winner: Daniel Bryan
WWE Title - Jericho Vs CM Punk
Alastair:
"Punk has spent the last couple days trying to set up a match with Steve Austin at WM29 but I think this shows that there is little chance of Punk losing the title on Sunday. With a Fozzy tour and album booked for later in the summer I don't think Jericho will be about for much longer."
Winner: CM Punk
Matthew:
"Likewise, I can see Jericho taking a break post-‘Mania, so I predict Punk to retain here. This should be great match, like Bryan/ Sheamus, it has the potential to be a "wild card" and steal the show when most of the attention has been placed on Rock/ Cena and Undertaker/ HHH."
Winner: CM Punk
Hell in a Cell - HHH Vs Taker - HBK as Ref
Alastair:
"If anyone does end the streak I would say that HHH would be the one to do it since they had Taker end HBK's career and beat Flair etc at Mania, he's already beaten HHH twice at mania so maybe it'll be 19-1. I suspect that since Taker's unbeaten run at mania is his legacy that the WWE will keep it intact and it'll be 20-0 in a total epic. HBK to cost HHH the match setting up HHH v HBK for Mania next year."
Winner: Undertaker
Matthew:
"I understand that WWE want to retain Undertaker and use him as a "special attraction" every year, but let’s face it, age catches up with all of us eventually and ‘Taker was noticeably less nimble during his match with HHH at last year’s WM. Realistically, I can’t see him doing this much longer, even on a reduced schedule.
Then again, "The Streak" is now very much a part of the WM package, so barring any serious, career-ending injury, WWE would surely want to milk it for all its worth for a few more years at least.
Either way, I can’t see Undertaker losing. Shawn Michaels as the referee adds intrigue, but he’ll have no bearing on the finish. It would also be refreshing to see some blood (after all, this IS WM and this IS Hell In A Cell, supposedly the most barbaric match of all, and if any two men have the clout to break "PG policy" for just one night, it would be "The Game" and "The Dead Man")."
Winner: Undertaker
Main Event - Rock Vs Cena
Alastair:
"Cena and Rock's history at Mania is very similar in that they have won more than they've lost on the biggest stage of them all.Cena making his Mania debut at WM20 has only been in title matches so this is his 9th Mania and first time not in a title match, 7 of the previous 8 have been involved in the WWE title match, Rock on the other had has beaten Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and hosted last year's event.
The match will need to live up the hype and with The Rock coming back to make a point I just can't see him giving up this one in his own back yard."
Winner: The Rock
Matthew:
"This is perhaps the last true "dream match" between two generations of WWE Superstars that we will get to witness. The Rock was trailblazer for the company and the business as a whole; he helped usher in and maintain the "Attitude Era", then he made it big in Hollywood, reached for the stars and never looked back.
Cena grew up idolising wrestling legends like Hulk Hogan and Randy "Macho Man" Savage and when he finally made it to the WWE, he, like The Rock, walked his own path and created a loyal following of his own.
However, again like The Rock, these fans would later turn on Cena. WWE fans turned on The Rock when he became a full-time Hollywood star in 2002/ 2003. WWE fans turned on Cena in 2005 because in their eyes, he pandered to the younger demographic (early on in his career, his raps and promos were definitely not "PG", or on many occasions, " PC" for that matter), had a predictable, "non-realistic" move set and overall "couldn’t wrestle."
Since then, the hatred towards Cena has grown. He has his audience (mainly young children and women) but the "anti-Cena" brigade constantly drowns them out. Meanwhile, The Rock, since returning "home" has been warmly welcomed by most in the "WWE Universe". It’s safe to the say that he’ll have the full support in his home city, Miami for WM.
What makes this match so interesting is not just the fact it’s a "dream match" that many thought they’d never see, but the fact it was built from what at the time seemed like a fairly innocuous remark from Cena regarding The Rock’s commitment to wrestling. From there, it has grown and become reality. Yes, we all know that Cena does not really hate The Rock, and vice-versa. However, what we do know is that they both have a difference of opinions in regards to what is classed as "commitment" and "non-commitment" in regards to Rock’s juggling of careers between WWE and Hollywood.
WWE and Vince McMahon have tapped into this and created real tension in the pair’s on-screen-verbal exchanges. This in turn has created further intrigue in their showdown, which already had a hell of a lot going for it on paper alone. As we look towards WM, no one can predict what will happen and who will come out on top. There’s the argument that Cena "has to win", on the basis that he’s the full-timer and will be driving the WWE bandwagon when Rock returns to movies. There’s also the argument that The Rock "has to win", because doing so would enhance his legacy, as by beating Cena, he would then be adding to his already impressive WM resume, which includes clean victories over Hollywood Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
That’s why this one’s almost impossible to call. You could argue it either way. I’m pressed to pick a winner, so I’m going with Rock. He has the home field advantage and at the end of the day, is a bigger star than Cena. However, this won’t be the end of the saga. Can anyone see Cena/ Rock #2 at next year’s ‘Mania?"
Winner: The Rock
