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Royal Rumble Picks by Brandon Wilson

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It’s time for my second favorite PPV of the year, second only to WrestleMania, its time for the Royal Rumble. This year is going to be special as it is the first ever WOMEN’S Rumble match as well as the traditional Men’s Rumble match.

There’s going to be a lot of the Rumble to watch this Sunday considering the 4-hour Rumble PPV itself and the 2-hour pre-show on the WWE Network.

So here is the rundown along with my picks for the winners. Let’s start off with the just announced pre-show matches.

The Revival v. The Balor Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows): The Revival seem to be snakebitten since coming up to the Raw roster with one injury after another, and with the seemingly revived interest in the Good Brothers since joining up with Finn Balor. I see the former IWGP Tag Champs winning this one. WINNERS: Gallows and Anderson

Lince Dorado, Kalisto, and Gran Metalik vs TJP, Jack Gallagher, and Drew Gulak: With the loss of Enzo Amore, (thankfully) the 205 Live division is in need of new top heel. This match has two great options and TJP. If WWE cares at all about this division they’ll push Gallagher AND Drew Gulak to the top as monster heels like Enzo and Neville were. WINNERS: TJP, Jack Gallagher, and Drew Gulak

Bobby Roode will also issue an open challenge for his US Title. Personally, I think Dolph Ziggler will be the one to answer the challenge since he never lost the title in the first place. This is going to be the first shot in what I think will be a great feud culminating at WrestleMania. WINNER: Bobby Roode.

Now it’s on to the actual Rumble PPV itself. Since there are now TWO Rumble matches on this PPV, I personally think they are going to bookend the PPV with the Rumble matches so there’s a good chance that the Women’s Rumble is going to kick off the main show.

First Ever 30 Woman Royal Rumble: This is the match I am most looking forward to seeing out of this entire card and I’m not even going to try to lie about that. I’m looking forward to seeing who the surprise entries are, who the legends are that are coming back and who is returning (The Bellas, c’mon, we know this is coming) but in the end, I think the Empress of Tomorrow keeps her streak intact. WINNER: Asuka

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: The Usos v Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin: With all the trouble that Jimmy Uso has recently gone through (DUI) I do think that the Usos will lose the titles here, but my only question about this 2 out of 3 falls match is will this match go all 3 falls? Will the Usos be punished by losing both falls? Also, keep Chad Gable off the mic. WINNERS: Gable and Benjamin

Raw Tag Team Titles: Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan v The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro): I honestly don’t know who the crowds hate more. Roman or Jason Jordan. Having the titles on Jordan and Rollins just down look or feel right so not only do I think The Bar regain the titles but its result of Jordan costing the team and match and turning on Rollins. WINNERS: Sheamus and Cesaro

WWE World Heavyweight Title: AJ Styles v. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn: I’m still confused about what exactly is going to happen if Owens or Zayn makes the pinfall. Who is the champion then? Both of them? The one who makes the pinfall is the champ? What happens? Fortunately, these questions will never have to be answered because AJ is going to win. WINNER: AJ Styles

WWE Universal Title: Brock Lesnar v. Braun Strowman v. Kane: One thing I hate in wrestling is predictability. We sadly know that Mania is going to be Lesnar v. Roman. So this match is just to put Lesnar and Braun over. I REALLY want Braun to win this match but I know it’s not going to happen. WINNER: Brock Lesnar

30 Man Royal Rumble match: I’m looking forward to this match as I do every year but I’m not as excited for this one as I am for the women’s Rumble match. Like all Rumble matches, I want to see the surprises and the returns. I like to expect the unexpected in these matches, you never know who is coming out next. If WWE wants Lesnar v Roman at Mania then they better give us AJ v. Shinsuke Nakamura at Mania as well. Also, if Roman or Cena win this match Philly will burn to the ground. WINNER: Shinsuke Nakamura

Here’s hoping that this is one of the better Rumbles that we’ve seen in recent memory. It’s looking like its going to be 2-minute entries instead of the usual 90 seconds, which honestly I’m not a fan of but this I can’t wait for otherwise.
Enjoy the Rumble ladies and gents, you can catch it LIVE on the WWE Network!



Live Events / NXT / Wrestlemania0 Comments

Brandon Wilson’s WrestleMania and NXT predictions

So here we are, just days away from WrestleMania weekend. One of my favorite weekends of the year. The WWE has a very stacked card for not only WrestleMania but NXT Takeover: New Orleans as well. We’re all going to be parked in front of the TV (or tablet, or computer, or however we watch the WWE Network) so here are my picks for who is going to win on both shows. Now, I must warn you all that I have been reading rumor sites and am basing on my picks on who MIGHT get either called up or switched to a different show in the Superstar Shakeup.

With that in mind, here we go. I’m going to start with NXT Takeover: New Orleans.

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NXT Women’s Championship: Ember Moon (c) v. Shayna Baszler
Shayna has been damn impressive since her debut and given her performance at the previous Takeover, she’s definitely in line to become the monster heel champion of NXT. Especially once Ember gets called up to the main roster, possibly Smackdown.
WINNER: Shayna Baszler

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NXT Tag Team Championship: Undisputed Era (c) vs. Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne vs. Authors of Pain (Triple Threat Match)
So, I’m wondering if Adam Cole is actually going to wrestle twice in one night if so he deserves all the titles. But again, given the call-ups, I’m thinking that not only will this be a damn good match but I think we’re going to crown a new Dusty Rhodes Cup winner and NEW NXT Tag Team Champions in Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne
WINNERS: Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne

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Unsanctioned Match: Johnny Gargano v. Tommaso Ciampa
This is another match that is likely going to be decided by a call-up. Allegedly, Johnny Wrestling is heading to 205 Live but even with that I still don’t know how this is going to play out. I can see Ciampa winning and sending Johnny packing, but I can also see Johnny winning to bring closure to this storyline and then Johnny goes up.
WINNER: Johnny Gargano

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NXT North American Championship Ladder Match: EC3 V. Ricochet v. Velveteen Dream v. Killian Dane v. Lars Sullivan v. Adam Cole

Having seen the new NXT North American Title, its very old school and nice looking. This is going to be the usual plunder match. Dane and Lars will cancel each other out, Cole will likely be a nonfactor should he compete in the tag title match as well, so that leaves us with EC3, Ricochet and Velveteen Dream.

I don’t see Dream getting this title because I personally think that his first singles title should be the NXT Championship. So it’s going to come down to EC3 or Ricochet. I’m going to go with Ricochet so that we can start the feud with EC3
WINNER: Ricochet

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NXT Championship: Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas v. Alestair Black
I’m actually disappointed we aren’t getting another match featuring Candice LeRae v. Zelina Vega but oh well. I’m sure she’ll chase off Zelina at some point in this match though. I think this is Alestair’s time, that and Almas may get called up as well. We’re going to have a new face of NXT as well as a new NXT Champion.
WINNER: Alestair Black

And now on to Wrestlemania. A jam-packed 6 hours, if you count the preshow and its traditionally the biggest show of the year. Again, however, I’m reading rumor sites and basing my picks on who is going to switch shows in the Superstar Shakeup.

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WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
We’re starting with the preshow matches. This is going to be fun because it involves women from Raw, Smackdown AND NXT. The fun part for me is going to be seeing who from NXT shows up, unfortunately thought the only storyline in this match is Bayley v Sasha Banks (which honestly should be its own match) so it is likely going to come down to the two of them and I’m calling Sasha the first winner of the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
WINNER: Sasha Banks

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Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Who hasn’t declared for this match yet? Of all the people who have declared my personal favorite is WOKEN Matt Hardy. I certinately hope that the final two are Hardy and a returning Bray Wyatt.
WINNER: Woken Matt Hardy

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WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander v. Mustafa Ali
This is one match I am looking forward to. 205 Live has been awesome since Triple H took control of it and these two are a good reason why the in ring product has been better as well. Honestly, either one of these two would make an excellent choice for Cruiserweight Champion, but with all the attention that Cedric has gotten over the last year, he’s the obvious and logical choice to win.
WINNER: Cedric Alexander

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WWE Raw Womens Champion: Alexa Bliss (c) v. Nia Jax
Alexa has been great as Women’s Champion, but its time to take the focus off of her. This is one of the few feuds I can see continuing after Mania but even with the interference of Mickie James, I don’t see Nia leaving Mania without the title.
WINNER: Nia Jax

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WWE Raw Tag Team Titles: The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) (c) v. Braun Strowman and ???
Since it hasn’t been announced who Braun’s partner is, logic would say he’s going to go at this alone. Although, since nothing is happening with him, I don’t see why Elias can’t be his partner as has been rumored for weeks. Sadly I don’t see Braun and his mystery partner coming out ahead here. Braun’s first title should not be the tag team titles, it should be the Universal Title so The Bar is going to retain here.
WINNERS: The Bar

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WWE United States Title Fatal 4 Way: Randy Orton (c) v. Bobby Roode v. Jinder Mahal v. Rusev
Why is Randy Orton even in this match? Why is he the US Champion other than to pad his resume? Orton is just a warm body here, I don’t even think he’s going to try. And also, RusevMania lands on Rusev Day so there will be a Rusev Day parade on Bourbon Street once he wins the US Title.
WINNER: Rusev

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WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz (c) v. Seth Rollins v Finn Balor
This is one where the Superstar Shakeup will come into play. Rollins is going to head to Smackdown Live because his upward mobility has stalled since he came to Raw. And with the possibility of The Miz either taking time off after Mania or stepping up to feud for the Universal Title that just leaves one person left to win.
WINNER: Finn Balor

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WWE Smackdown Live Tag Team Titles: The Usos (c) v. The New Day v. The Bludgeon Brothers
I am a huge fan of Luke Harper, he deserves so much better than he’s had over the last year. In my personal opinion, he should have been in the WWE Championship match at last year’s WrestleMania. Who knows, it might have made the match remotely better.
There are Shakeup rumors that may send the Usos to Raw, which would be awesome to see them face The Bar. Smackdown needs some fresh blood in their Tag division, I either see the Bludgeon Brothers winning to assert dominance, or The New Day winning to bring in the Authors of Pain to the blue brand.
WINNERS: The New Day

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WWE Smackdown Live Womens Title: Charlotte Flair (c) v Asuka
Does anyone actually think Asuka’s streak is going to end here? Without her winning the title? C’mon people. Charlotte is going to put up one hell of a fight, probably Asuka’s best match she’s ever had. But the ending of this one is pretty obvious.
WINNER: Asuka

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Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon v. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
This is going to be awesome as I have been a fan of Daniel Bryan since the very beginning and I am going to be watching closely this match. Sadly we aren’t getting KO v Zayn one on one so we’re getting this. Zayn pins Shane, but they’ll pull a fast one saying since Owens didnt get the pin he’s still fired, thus moving KO to Raw.
WINNERS: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

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Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey v Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
This is the one match I’ve got reservations about. I’ve been hearing how hard Ronda is going with her wrestling training at the performance center but her promos on the mic leave a lot to be desired. And that bump she took through the table on Raw last week didn’t inspire confidence in me.

All in all though, I think Kurt and Ronda will pull this one out but honestly this is going to be the bathroom break match of the night.
WINNERS: Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey

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WWE Championship: AJ Styles (c) v. Shinsuke Nakamura
The ONE match on this card that EVERYONE either wants to see or should want to see. THIS is the dream match, the match that will DEFINE this WrestleMania. Unfortunately, this is also one that appears it may fall victim to the Shakeup rumors as well. AJ Styles has accomplished everything he can on Smackdown Live, now its time for him to move to the red brand and take over there.
WINNER: Shinsuke Nakamura

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WWE Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar (c) v Roman Reigns
AJ and Nakamura should be the main event but instead, we are stuck with this. We all know Lesnar is on his way to the UFC so we are going to be stuck with WrestleMania ending, for the 4th year in a row, with Roman with his arms raised high in victory. C’mon, we all know its coming.
WINNER: Roman Reigns

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