Dolph Ziggler
vs. Rusev
I see this one being 8 minutes and pretty much a Dolph
squash. Clearly we’ll have a showdown between the women that will distract from
the wrestling. I think they might just blow this off tonight. I like Rusev, but
like many since WrestleMania, he’s turned into a mid-card nobody. They need to
seal this up and move on to a title programme.
Prediction:
Rusev
Stephen
"Arrow" Amell & Neville vs. King Barrett & Stardust
Clearly Amell coming in for a match, screwing up his jaw
and teeth in training and then losing is not going to be the way to go with
this. The focus will be on how much there is of Amell in the ring and how much
of this is just smoke and mirrors. Otherwise, it will be interesting to see where
this is placed on the card because as a match this doesn’t promise anything at
all, but as a spectacle for comic book fans it will please, I’m sure.
My Sister-in-law is watching this match and has little
to zero interest in the company or in pro wrestling so I guess they’re doing
something right here in get new eyes on the product.
Prediction:
Amell & Neville
Kevin Owens vs.
Cesaro
Cesaro needs to be in programmes like this going
forward. He is superb at the moment and is getting recognition from the
announce team and, of course, the fans. Owens needs a win after last night if
he is to keep any kind of momentum after his meteoric few months on the main
roster.
Will we see Cesaro use the giant swing on Owens?
Prediction:
Owens
WWE Tag Team
Champions Prime Time Players vs. The New Day vs. Los Matadores vs. Lucha
Dragons fatal four way
I don’t see a title change here but the bookies are
calling for New Day to take it. They are hot right now and it was a mistake to
take it off them but they don’t really need the titles. I’d guess, though, that
this will be excellent. I think they should open with this. The post Mania Raw
saw The Lucha Dragons on the opening bout in front of a hugely hot and
expectant crowd and they really delivered. I think with the excellent Los
Matadores, too, you have an ideal card opener. I think there’s title changes
elsewhere on this card.
Prediction: PTP
Dean Ambrose
& Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper
I say keep the Wyatts strong regardless of whether or
not Ambrose or Reigns turns. Ambrose can get pinned without anyone caring but
it will be more about where they go from here with this. If Reigns is there guy
you have to assume that either you keep these two strong and run for a few
months with this. If not, you can have some drama here. I’m not sure if this is
the night to do it when put alongside so much other material.
Does the Rock come out here with Reigns?
Prediction:
Wyatts
WWE Intercontinental
Champion Ryback vs. The Miz vs. Big Show
Miz got so brutally killed on Raw this week that I
wonder if they’re putting the belt on him. The hot potato title changes seem to
be back on course now that Bryan has vacated the title and that Cena is back in
the main title picture. A few months ago I said that they should keep both the
US and IC titles on Cena and Bryan and then do a unification match at Mania
next year. Perhaps you could do that with Ryback but that is nowhere the match
that it would have been if it had been Bryan.
The big men to cancel each other out and Miz to take the
glory?
Prediction: Miz
Randy Orton vs.
Sheamus
They could do the same thing that they did at Mania
here: Orton beats Sheamus and Sheamus can lose because he cashes in later in
the night. Sheamus can lose because he has the briefcase. Either way, Orton is
a pleasure to watch and I’d rather see him go over at one of the biggest shows
of the year.
Prediction:
Orton
WWE Champion
Seth Rollins vs. U.S. Champion John Cena in a champion vs. champion match
Rollins probably ought to keep the title. Cena doesn’t
need both. Rollins doesn’t need both. Why have they booked themselves into this
corner? The way out is if Sheamus cashes in. If not, they have Cena getting
screwed by Kane/HHH and Rollins gets both and this authority storyline, which
is pretty damn dull, carries on.
Cena rarely loses. Flair’s record is up for equaling and
apparently he is in NYC. Should be a great match.
Prediction:
Cena
Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker
Well the only thing that I can
think here is that they have Sting here to build up his match with Undertaker
for Texas next year. It can’t stink as much as their WrestleMania match did so
I’m excited to see how they go. Undertaker just looks so old now that it has
all lost its magic a little. Brock is unreal right now and frankly shouldn’t be
working with The Undertaker at this stage. There’s a queue of people I’d want
to see Lesnar work with and with his limited schedule this seems like spectacle
over substance.
Prediction: Lesnar