WrestleMania 28 Preview: Roundtable Predictions

What's up, ladies and gentlemen? My name is Eric Kanes, and I am back here today with my monthly pay-per-view preview. I will break things down and give the realistic odds for each match.

As always, I'll have some fellow QuickWrestlingNews columnists joining me as well. This month, we've got Geddy Cahoon, Dave Scott, Adam Behan, George Cushnie, Liam Hindmarsh, and"Primetime" Gregory Bitetzakis.

Just for fun, I'm keeping track of the amount of predictions the QuickWrestlingNews staff got right for each PPV. Here are the results for the Elimination Chamber PPV:

Adam Behan: 4
Dave Scott: 4
George Cushnie: 4
Eric Kanes: 3
Geddy Cahoon: 3
Liam Hindmarsh: 3
Gregory Bitetzakis: 3

And here are the combined PPV prediction results:

Adam Behan: 7
Dave Scott: 6
Everybody Else: 5

Make sure to add me on Facebook for more on that and to keep up with all of my latest columns.

Now, without any further ado, let's get this show on the road!

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Sheamus

Eric Kanes: This match will probably be the first match on the card to get the crowd going. Considering that this is the second year in a row that this could potentially happen, it devalues the Royal Rumble win quite a bit, although it was pretty obvious that the Rumble winner wouldn't actually main event. However, I think Sheamus will end the streak of Rumble winners losing by winning the world title here. WWE is obviously much higher on Sheamus and Daniel Bryan came out looking strong before the pay-per-view, so I'm going to lock in Sheamus as my pick. I hope I'm wrong, though. It's a shame that Daniel Bryan's title win is coming to an end as he has been the most consistently entertaining champion in a while.

Eric's Pick: Sheamus

Geddy Cahoon: This is the match that will likely be opening our show, which means that the Big Gold Belt will open WrestleMania 2 years in a row. Since WWE now considers the opener one of the "main events," this is theoretically OK. However, they used to regard opening the show as an insult for ANY championship (at WrestleMania 20, the announcers talked about how insulting it would normally be for the freaking U.S. title to open a show), and that line of thinking is still fresh in my mind. Regardless of where it's placed, this match should be pretty great. You've got two solid workers: The best wrestler in the world, and Sheamus, who has really been upping his game recently. My other big issue is that they don't really have a story to tell. I understand that the premise of the Rumble is that anybody gets a title shot, but still. I don't really care about who walks out of 'Mania with the World Heavyweight Championship, because WWE hasn't given me a reason to care. Rumors have been floating around indicating that D-Bry would be retaining, but after his pseudo-clean pin over Sheamus this Monday, I think we can safely assume that the Celtic Warrior is going over on Sunday. They'll probably get somewhere in the area of around 15 minutes, which should at least be entertaining since we haven't ever seen these two wrestle for an extended period of time (on TV or pay-per-view at least).

Geddy's Pick: Sheamus

Dave Scott: My guess for this one is going to be Sheamus. They are putting a lot into Sheamus's push and it would only be fitting for him to win the title at WrestleMania. I was tempted to say Bryan here due to there having to be a few heel victories, but I don't think we are going to see the heel go over in this one.

Dave's Pick: Sheamus

Adam Behan: This match for the World Heavyweight Championship is one of the more underrated matches on the card. Daniel Bryan has actually proven to everyone that he can hold the title and be a great heel. Sheamus has all the momentum in the world after winning the Royal Rumble. The Royal Rumble winner has failed in previous years, but I believe that is about to change. Sheamus is Triple H's man and will be the champion after Wrestlemania. Daniel Bryan may still be a top player; however, I don't like his chances of ever being champion again, sadly.

Adam's Pick: Sheamus (New Champion)

George Cushnie: There’s no bigger fan of Daniel Bryan’s heel turn than I am. He’s coming across as the cocky jerk tremendously well and the character suits him. He’s also got a hot girlfriend and the best catchphrase in wrestling today: “Yes! Yes! Yes! World … Heavyweight … Champion!” The only thing I hate about it is how Michael Cole is now kissing his a--. Maybe I just hate Michael Cole, though. Yeah, that’s it! Moving on.

It’s ironic that the two men who were bumped off the card last year are battling over the World Heavyweight Championship this year. They deserve if after the work they’ve put in over the last couple of years. I can see Sheamus winning the title somewhere down the line, but Daniel Bryan will retain here and keep the belt for a little while longer.

George's Pick: Daniel Bryan

Liam Hindmarsh: First of all, I would like to say that along with the other "main event" matches on the card, I do believe that this match could have benefited from a little extra TV time to build it up. I don't want this match to become an afterthought. Remember that these two were bumped from the card last year as well. I think the fact that within a year, they've gone from being bumped from the card to feuding for the World Heavyweight Championship shows how much both guys have improved. I've got a little feeling inside me that thinks that this will open the show. Sheamus won the Rumble and although we know he's not main eventing, this match deserves to have a higher spot on the card.

Daniel Bryan is awesome right now. I love everything about him. He works this chicken-s--t arrogant heel role perfectly. Even his work with AJ is good, the way he kind of manipulates her is fantastic. Bryan has improved leaps and bounds since last year. The heel turn was perfect for him. Sheamus has improved too. The transition from heel to face has worked well for him and he's probably the number two face on SmackDown behind Orton. I think this can be a very enjoyable match if given time to develop. Bryan is one of the best wrestlers in the world and Sheamus is improving week by week. It took me a while to decide on this but I'm going to go for Sheamus to beat Bryan.

Liam's Pick: Sheamus

Gregory Bitetzakis: I've got to be honest - over the last couple of months, I have been critical of Daniel Bryan being a heel and you know what? He isn't that bad. Now mind you, I hate how my friends keep saying "yes, yes" over and over again but he is not too bad being the cowardly heel. Be that as it may, Sheamus will walk out of Miami the new champion and here is why: He is untouchable right now and seems to be on a run which dare I say feels a little "Cena-like." I feel Bryan will work better as the adversary going after the belt and could do with being the heel underdog. Sheamus has had a date with the World Title since the Royal Rumble and I think Sunday is when he picks up the check.

Gregory's Pick: Sheamus

Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Big Show

Eric Kanes: With the way this has been built up, I have to assume that Big Show will win. Rhodes has pissed him off every week and even beaten him down a few times. This was done to make the fans want to see Big Show finally get his hands on Cody and I think that is what will happen at WrestleMania. Big Show has pretty much become Cody's b---h over the past month, so it would make no sense for him not to win. To the people who want to see Cody win, keep in mind how WWE books these types of feuds. If Rhodes wins, the feud will continue until Big Show eventually destroys him. That's why nobody's ever ahead - because exchanging wins does nothing for anyone. If people actually think that Rhodes winning will do anything for him, then you should recall his match from last year's WrestleMania.

Eric's Pick: Big Show

Geddy Cahoon: I'm not sure how I feel about this match. It's been built up well, that's for sure, which can really only be said for a few other matches on the card. It's got one of my top five favorite current WWE superstars in it (Rhodes) and it's a surprisingly fresh and entertaining feud. However, looking at it from a logical standpoint, they seem to be leaning towards a victory for Big Show. The WWE brass clearly considers him a main-eventer, which was why he feuded for the World Hevyweight Title with various men for like 18 years. Why make such a big deal over the fact that one of their "top guys" never wins, unless he was finally going to win this year? Unless of course, it's being done in an effort to make Rhodes look even better. He's been pushed for a year, and toppling the Big Show after repeatedly saying he would would make him look unstoppable. Also, Big Show in no way needs the Intercontinental Title, but I think that goes without saying. I'll hope WWE does this one right, and say Rhodes retains after an 8-10 minute match.

Geddy's Pick: Cody Rhodes

Dave Scott: If Cody Rhodes were to lose, it would look ridiculous. You have a guy who is a rising star in the WWE, and if he were to get beat by the guy that they are showing doesn't have any form of dominance when it comes to WrestleMania matches and always makes a fool of himself, then Rhodes would look more of a fool than anyone and I don't think WWE would want that.

Dave's Pick: Cody Rhodes

Adam Behan: I have a bad feeling about this match. It is slightly unpredictable to pick the winner here for different circumstances. Big Show has never been a big winner at any Wrestlemania that I can recall, so it would make sense just to give him the win. On the other side, I cannot see Big Show as the Intercontinental Champion or another face winning. Rhodes has brought some prestige to the title and I feel that will be lost if Big Show wins. The one thing I am worried about with Cody is how healthy he is. He has been carrying an injury for awhile and needs a break to recover. This is tough.

Adam's Pick: Cody Rhodes (Retain title)

George Cushnie: I’m going to start off by saying that I’m a huge Cody Rhodes fan. If he keeps going the way he is, he’ll be a future WWE or World Champion. Why do I say that? He’s feuding, or feuded with credible former World Champions like Big Show, Randy Orton and Booker T. Those three men are definitely up there with the biggest names of their generations. It’s even better that two of those feuds have been for the Intercontinental Title with  Booker and Big Show.

At this point in his career, Big Show doesn’t really need to win another championship, although he probably deserves to. A 45-second World Title win at TLC isn’t really the way to thank one of your longest-serving talents. Looking at it objectively, there’s no reason why Cody Rhodes should lose to the Big Show. However, if Cody dropping the belt means he’ll be elevated to upper mid-card/main-event, then I’ve got no problem with Big Show going over to give him his WrestleMania moment.

George's Pick: Big Show

Liam Hindmarsh: Now, I'm just going to come out and say this: I've never really been a fan of The Big Show. I know some people love him, but for me, it's like he's kind of there but I don't care. I never really took an interest in him or saw him as great or good. He's just someone who plods along, sometimes getting a high-profile gig but then moves back to the mid-card. As for Cody Rhodes, his stock is rising day by day. Ever since the "Dashing" gimmick, I've been a huge fan of Rhodes.

When Legacy split, people expected Cody would be the one to falter, but he stepped up his game and made himself into a very good singles wrestler. I think Rhodes is on that virtual border line that separates the mid-card from the upper-card and can maybe see a World Title run for him towards the end of this year. With that being said, Cody should win this. I don't think Big Show needs it. He's had the belt for a while now and in a time when WWE likes to pass around belts like hot potatoes, he's bringing some credibility back to the Intercontinental title which has been lost in recent years.

The match can be decent. I'm sure Big Show will get his power moves in there. Give them ten minutes and let Cody showcase his talent to the world. Big Show will flounder in the mid-card for a few more years but Cody's stock will continue to rise.

Liam's Pick: Cody Rhodes

Gregory Bitetzakis: I am actually looking forward to this match, because the build-up has been well done. I love the way Rhodes nitpicks at Big Show's insecurities and his promos are epic, even withstanding the monotone sound of his speeches. I was pretty much going for Cody until an interesting argument I received from a friend (shout-out to Scott) that convinced me that Big Show was due. The one-minute title reign and a look back into the Hall of Shame that are Big Show's WrestleMania moments made me think they will throw the big man a bone and give him a moment in the sun with the victory. I think this could be like Dolph losing the United States belt and could serve as elevating Cody into the main-event picture and maybe a move to Raw after the draft.

Gregory's Pick: Big Show

Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy

Eric Kanes: This is a good way to get all of the mid carders on the card. It could've been more fun with an elimination stipulation but it could still be good. The teams look solid although I would've thrown in Mason Ryan or Ezekiel Jackson instead of Booker T to make the team look stronger and give them some airtime. As for the winner of the match, it has to be Team Johnny. Teddy Long as general manager has run its course and has gotten extremely stale. Hopefully, either The Miz or Drew McIntyre can "redeem themselves" by getting the pin for their team and get a renewed push following WrestleMania.

Eric's Pick: Team Johnny

Geddy Cahoon: Surprisingly, a lot of fans seem to care about this match. A lot of people complain about GM characters, but I don't mind them. An article of mine will be up today about how I feel regarding the booking of WM 28, so I don't want to say too much, but the build for this match has obviously been decent. I disagreed with the removal of Christian, but then it came out that his ankle isn't fully healed. That's all well and good, but why add him in the first place...? Booker T getting involved makes it a lot more fun too. At first, I was really excited for this match because Swagger, Ziggler, Truth, and all these other guys who aren't getting airtime any other way will be involved in what is sure to be an insanely good bout. With McIntyre and Booker involved, it looks even better. But I'm interested now for a different reason: The Miz. I'm really curious as to where they're going to go with the ending of this match in relation to Miz. Ultimately, everything is going to hinge on him. He's either getting or taking the pin for Team Johnny. And I have no idea which one it'll be. Guys from both teams won on Monday, and it ended with a relatively equal standoff. Johnny is a much more interesting character than Teddy; Long has been stale for a long time. Logically, they should have Team Johnny win. However, we know that WWE tends to have faces win even when it doesn't make any sense, so there's that variable. I'll say Team Johnny wins, with Miz getting the pin, which leads to a post-WM storyline for the Awesome One.

Geddy's Pick: Team Johnny

Dave Scott: With this match, you've got a lot of guys who definitely deserve to be on the card and a couple who maybe shouldn't be. I think there is a lot more they could have done with the time slot for this match but I'm not here to criticize, I'm here to predict. I think Teddy Long has had his time as Smackdown GM and it is definitely time to move over. John Laurinaitis has major heel heat and is a lot more entertaining than Teddy Long (even though most the time he isn't intentionally entertaining). So I'm thinking a heel turn from someone on Team Teddy to lead Team Johnny to victory.

Dave's Pick: Team Johnny

Adam Behan: Now this one seems interesting. Teddy Long's representatives are Booker T, The Great Khali, R-Truth, Santino, Kofi Kingston, and Zack Ryder. Team Johnny's representatives are Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre, David Otunga, Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, and The Miz. This match is so stacked one way, it is not funny. Team Teddy has just got mid card underrated talent who rarely ever win. Team Johnny has the same sort of guys but they have been champions before. The match was initiated by Mr. Laurinaitis and will be won by Mr. Laurinaitis. I say The Miz will pin Santino but don't take my guesses to the bank.

Adam's Pick: Team Johnny (New SD! GM)

George Cushnie: I really don’t care whether Johnny or Teddy are in charge of RAW & SmackDown. In fact, I don’t think either of them should be. Laurinaitis can’t even name the people who are on his own team for god’s sake. He’s not fit to be on TV, regardless of whether it’s live or not. Is the GM role even relevant anymore? There’s nobody fresh to do it anymore. Vickie Guerrero, William Regal, Mick Foley, Triple H, Vince McMahon; they’ve all done it.

Getting to the match itself, WWE decided to have this match to replace Money in the Bank when Wade Barrett was injured. Instead of showcasing Miz, McIntyre, Ziggler, Kofi, and Ryder in MiTB, they’ve put them in this shambles. Logic goes with this match I’m afraid. One team has 4 former World Champions in it, the other’s got 2.

George's Pick: Team Johnny

Liam Hindmarsh: It's sad that this match has gained more attention than the world title match. With that being said, I think it's time Teddy Long said goodbye to his pointless role as GM of Smackdown, leaving him and Aksana time to sail of into the sunset. I may have paid more attention to this match if Christian was still part of it but I'm just not that interested. I feel bad for The Miz. A year after main eventing, he's put into a GM tag team match. My only hope is that Team Johnny wins and somebody like Miz or Mcintyre gets the victory giving them some kind of momemtum going into the second quater of the year. As long as Team Johnny wins, I'll be happy. Keep the match short, keep the comedy to a minimum, and let's get on with the show.

Liam's Pick: Team Johnny

Gregory Bitetzakis: Before I start, I want to get this off my chest. I am warming up to David Otunga.  His music is awesome, I like the look, and his gimmick isn't too bad either, kind of like a lawyer Chris Masters. With that out of the way, if you look at just the participants, this is a wash. Team Johnny without a doubt has the better team, even with the addition of Booker T onto Team Teddy. You have multiple World Champions on Team Johnny and Team Long just looks like a bunch of mid carders thrown together. Does that mean a curveball is in order? Yes and no. I do think Team Johnny will win but I do not see Johnny walking out with full control of both brands. We haven't seen Mick Foley in a while so I can see him making an appearance to take GM duties away from Johnny, I just think the match is too lopsided for it to just be a destructive finish. So watch for a twist.

Gregory's Pick: Team Johnny (not for long, though)

Kane vs. Randy Orton

Eric Kanes: This feud is pretty pointless and is just a way to fill up time. If I were booking things, I'd swap Randy Orton's spot with Sheamus's. That way, Daniel Bryan would be able to go over Orton and it wouldn't hurt Orton, since he's already an established main-eventer while Sheamus would be able to go over Kane and continue his momentum. The scenario we have here is worse, because nobody has a reason to want to see Orton win. This also probably isn't going to be the best-worked match either as they won't let these guys go all-out before the main events. Either way, Orton wins here.

Eric's Pick: Randy Orton

Geddy Cahoon: I almost physically can't bear to write about this match. Randy Orton is thrust into these stupid WrestleMania feuds every year because WWE knows that when it's really money-making season, he isn't a draw. Last year, they fed him CM Punk. This year, they're feeding him Kane. The only good thing I can say is that this feud is fresh. Orton will win, and then go on to feud for the title 67 more times before next year's WrestleMania.

Geddy's Pick: Randy Orton

Dave Scott: This match hasn't really had much of a build and was put together for no reason whatsoever. To be completely honest, it doesn't matter who wins this one. I don't think it would hurt either guy if they were to lose this one. However, if it is true that Randy Orton is going to be chasing the title after this, it would make more sense for him to have some momentum going into it.

Dave's Pick: Randy Orton

Adam Behan: Tricky match to predict. Kane returned to such a high fanfare not so long ago. He had come back with a new mask, hair and attitude. After destroying John Cena, he then jobbed to Cena and lost a lot of credibility. Randy Orton, on the other hand, has been plagued with injuries. When he is not injured, the WWE pretty much gives him the win every single time. This rivalry stemmed from nothing and probably will be forgotten quickly. WWE's "Golden Boy," Randy Orton, will RKO Kane and follow it up with the punt kick for the win.

Adam's Pick: Randy Orton (as always)

George Cushnie: Surprisingly, apart from the big three matches, this has had a better build-up than the World Title match. I don’t think this will be a classic and it probably won’t go longer than 10 minutes, but these two are capable of putting on a good match together. Orton’s been a little hot and cold recently, but he’s been doing something that Cena hasn’t been— he’s been putting other people over. He’s put Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett over recently, but I can’t see Randy putting Kane over here. If it was anything other than WrestleMania, it could happen, but I just don’t see it.

George's Pick: Randy Orton

Liam Hindmarsh: Right now, I fear for Kane. He started out his feud with Cena looking like the Kane we remember. He was dominant, he was crazy, and we loved him for it. But then he lost. I don't want to see Kane be like Big Show where he will come up to the main card once in a while, look strong, then lose and get bumped back to the mid-card, waiting to be called up again so he can lose and the cycle continues. Obviously, Randy Orton is much younger. He has much more of a career ahead of him than Kane does.

It should be a decent match. I'm quietly looking forward to it. Orton can have a good match with just about anybody and like Kane, they both have a lot of experience with WrestleMania, so they know what needs to be done. A lot of matches on this card are like heart-and-head moments for me. This is one of them. My heart wants Kane to win this, but my head is saying that Orton has it. I'd love for Kane to win just to give him a little spark. If Orton wins, that would be two feuds in a row that Kane has lost. I'd hate for that to happen. After much thought, I'm going to give the win to Orton.

Liam's Pick: Randy Orton

Gregory Bitetzakis: I really hate these feuds that are just thrown in for kicks, with no real driving force besides two guys that are doing nothing much on the card. I have not enjoyed the buildup besides the old school promo Orton did on Rraw a couple of weeks back. I mean, are we supposed to believe that because of a handshake they both hate each other? Ehh, not buying it. I want to rid myself completely from this feud so I will just say quickly that Randy Orton wins and moves on to bigger and better things.

Gregory's Pick: Randy Orton

CM Punk (c) vs. Chris Jericho

Eric Kanes: Here we've got a match that is definitely going to be great. I think it'll be overshadowed by Undertaker/Triple H and Rock/Cena with all of the hype going into those matches, but it's still a dark horse candidate to steal the show. The build-up to this match could've been better with some face-to-face promos but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'd love to see this feud continue for several months. However, I think it's likely that John Cena will be back in the title picture sooner rather than later. Therefore, I doubt this feud will go on much longer and Chris Jericho will put CM Punk over here.

Eric's Pick: CM Punk

Geddy Cahoon: This match should be fantastic. You've got the two best workers in WWE involved, and rumor has it they'll be getting 30-plus minutes for this one, so it's got the potential to achieve "classic" status. As for the build up, that's a different story I'll be touching on in my article today. Regardless of how great the match is (and it will be great), I'm unsure as to who I think is going to win. Of course logically, CM Punk should win. Jericho doesn't need it, and beating Y2J himself would solidify Punk's status as "Top Guy for Life"—a force to be reckoned with.

There's also the matter of Jericho possibly leaving once again after 'Mania. Really, the only things gained from a Jericho victory would be: the burying of CM Punk and another World Championship for the guy who doesn't need it. They haven't really built towards a clear winner, but I think WWE knows that Punk is money, and Jericho is a vet who's got all the experience he needs. I tried to write more about this one, but that's all there is to say: It'll be one of the best matches of 2012, and CM Punk is going over.

Geddy's Pick: CM Punk

Dave Scott: This will be a belter. The build over the last few weeks has been pretty shady, though, and could have been done so much better, but I have no doubts that CM Punk and Jericho will have both come up with some phenomenal ideas for this match so that they steal the show. I could honestly see Jericho walking away with the title, but for the most part I feel that CM Punk will retain the title and we'll get a rematch at Extreme Rules, perhaps in a ladder match.

Dave's Pick: CM Punk

Adam Behan: The battle of the best in the world. CM Punk has been so dominant and popular as the WWE Champion that it seems no one will ever defeat him. Chris Jericho is a stellar performer and truly a great opponent for Punk to fight at WrestleMania. With Chris Jericho playing mind games with Punk, we have seen a new psychotic side to CM Punk. I see this being the key to defeat Punk. Even though the rumours speculate that Jericho will be going on tour soon after with Fozzy, I believe Chris Jericho may just get the win here and prolong this rivalry to the next PPV in Chicago, where Punk will regain the title.

Adam's Pick: Chris Jericho (New Champion)

George Cushnie: This match is going to be one for the purists. Hands down, it’ll be the best wrestling match on the card. Granted, that’s not much of a compliment, but I’ve been excited about seeing this ever since Jericho left WWE in 2010. Punk has been simply outstanding in the last nine months. He’s gone from an upper mid-carder to WWE’s biggest star behind Cena and Orton.

Jericho is tremendous at playing the heel. His last run produced arguably some of the greatest moments of his career. His psychology is amazing. Just look at what he’s done in the lead up to this match. Jericho’s brought up Punk’s family in the run-up to this match. His dad’s alcohol issues, his sister’s problems with substance abuse, and the fact that Punk is (apparently) legitimately a bastard. The rage in Punk’s face last Monday on RAW was there for all to see. Instead of seeing a wrestling match, there’s a chance we can now see aspects of a brawl. After RAW, everyone who likes Punk wants to see him kick Jericho’s ass.

I’d be happy with either guy winning this, but if I was pushed, I’d have to say that I can see Jericho getting his ass kicked, but walking out with the title.

George's Pick: Chris Jericho

Liam Hindmarsh: Now, we are really getting into the stuff that is going to make this WrestleMania great. I try not to raise my hopes too much, but this match should be fantastic.

WWE has done a decent job of keeping them away from each other and over the last few weeks we've seen Jericho turn the screw, bringing up Punk's family memebers, trying to make it personal. Then we see Raw this week when Punk lost it and basically killed Christian. I love the fact that Christian and Jericho are both Canadian. It's like Punk saying, "This is you, Jericho, this is what will happen to you." The longer this match goes, the better it will be. I do hope that they get at least 20 minutes to do this. The match is made for them. They both proclaim to be the best in the world.

We get to see who is the best on Sunday. The thing about this match is I don't care who wins. I don't mean that in a bad way. It just means that I think both guys are fantastic at what they do. Along with the other main events, this is truly a match that you want to see on the card.

What I love more than ever is that this will be a wrestling match in a sports entertainment environment. We'll probably see things that we rarely see in WWE. Technical elements that both guys bring to the table. Yes, we can get the fast paced action but when it slows I want to see those holds, reversing into a hold of your own. These two can actually wrestle and I want them to showcase wrestling on Sunday. Now, as for the pick, since I've put Sheamus winning the world title and I don't think both belts will change hands, I'm going for Punk to win in what will be an excellent match.

Liam's Pick: CM Punk

Gregory Bitetzakis: Now, this is a match. I wrote about this feud a little in one of my previous articles in terms of the incorporating of CM Punk's family issues into the feud, which I feel has been a bit overkill, but in terms of wrestling this match should be the best on the card and a "Match of the Year" candidate.

Rumors have been swirling that Jericho will stay throughout the summer, so for that reason I am going for a Jericho win. CM Punk has been on top for what seems like forever and I just feel that Punk has gone a bit stale and in need of a opportunity to be the hunter, not just the hunted.

Let Jericho win here and be the heel champion, different then who I predicted in the other title match, and let Punk win it back later. This will help rejuvenate Punk's character as well as give Jericho another opportunity in the spotlight and lead to a lengthy feud that will culminate in Punk regaining the World Title. It is kind of crazy that five months with the title seems like a lifetime in this day in age.

Gregory's Pick: Chris Jericho

The Undertaker vs. Triple H (Hell in a Cell) w/Shawn Michaels as Special Referee

Eric Kanes: Here, we've got the match that will probably end up stealing the show for the second year in a row. The buildup to this match hasn't been great, but in this case, it's more about the match itself. Undertaker and Triple H will go all out in this match and with the added Hell in a Cell and Shawn Michaels as special referee stipulations, it should make the match that much more exciting. It's pretty much a given that Shawn Michaels will call the match down the middle and The Undertaker will win and continue his streak. What's interesting is that they keep hinting that Undertaker ends when "The Streak" ends, or something along those lines. Makes me wonder if "The Streak" will keep going until somebody eventually ends it and gets put over huge. Either way, expect a classic match here.

Eric's Pick: The Undertaker

Geddy Cahoon: Jeez, this match looks boring. There's far too much going on with it, first off. The match is Hell in A Cell and Shawn Michaels is guest-reffing? Ugh. Michaels' involvement, though, I guess, necessary due to the direction they went with the story, feels forced.

It's not going to be the end of any "Era" either. I guarantee Triple H will slap on the old boots again sometime this year, and if Brock Lesnar agrees, he'll be facing Taker at next year's WrestleMania. I'm sure this will be a well-worked match, but like I stated, it's just over-saturated with stipulations and people. Then, there's the matter of the victor. Undertaker's winning.

There should be no doubt—he'll never lose. Undertaker has to win. Because mark my words: If HHH ends Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak, I will stop watching wrestling forever.

Geddy's Pick: The Undertaker

Dave Scott: I don't think there is any doubt that The Undertaker will win this. We will have an epic match, lots of near falls, lots of finishers, a few spots where you think that The Undertaker may not win, but, in the long run, he is going to walk away the victor.

Dave's Pick: The Undertaker

Adam Behan: I am going to make this short and sweet. We saw this last year and here we go again. I have always said from the start that "The Streak" is the WWE's way to compare to other sports. Undertaker will never lose at WrestleMania as the damage would be too great. I don't care for the smoke and mirrors WWE provides every year, Taker is 20-0 and that is all.

Adam's Pick: The Undertaker 

George Cushnie: This is the match that’s the hardest to call for me. I want to see "The Streak" live, but the Deadman has to retire at some point. The shape that he was in after last year’s battle seems to say that he’s maybe got one or two WrestleManias left at most. But who’s left for him to fight? HBK’s retired, HHH is pretty much retired. There’s only three viable options right now: Rock, Cena and Orton.

This is going to be a brutal match. Not brutal as in "bad," but brutal as in "physical," much more physical than last year’s was. The added dynamic of Shawn Michaels makes this more interesting than it normally would be. There’s the intrigue about whether or not Shawn Michaels will screw Undertaker or Triple H. I don’t think Michaels will screw either of them. I think he’ll hit them both with a Superkick at one point, but I know who’s going to win this one. HHH will come closer than anyone else ever, even closer than last year, but he won’t get the job done.

George's Pick: The Undertaker

Liam Hindmarsh: HHH verus Undertaker in Hell in a Cell with Shawn Michaels as the referee. Just typing that last sentence sums up everything you need to know about this match.

We have three individuals here.

We have HHH, who came so close last year. A man who wants to bury The Undertaker and his streak.

We have The Undertaker. The legend who is 19-0. A warrior, who will fight to the end to preserve the streak that he has built.

We have Michaels, who is the X -actor in this match. The referee who basically holds the future of both men in his hands. The questions are already out there: Will Shawn call it down the middle? Will he help HHH end the streak? Or maybe he thinks if he couldn't beat the streak then nobody can? Is he going to help Undertaker win?

What I love about this story is the fact that it's consisted of long-term planning. Even after last year, rumors began as to who would face Undertaker and the strong favorite was Triple H. At WrestleMania 27, HHH wanted revenge on Undertaker for retiring HBK. With the inclusion of HBK, this story ties back to WrestleMania 26. I'm not claiming that this has been planned for two years because honestly I don't know. Maybe it just feels that way because the issues with HBK/HHH/Undertaker aren't just about "The Streak."

The focal point is "The Streak," but we also have the "end of an era" deal going in which gives the story that little bit of extra intensity that it may have lacked last year. Like I said earlier, this match will be amazing. It has all the ingredients needed for an awesome match. Two awesome wrestlers going at it in a cell with a referee with a good enough motive to screw both of them. I just get the feeling something spectacular is going to happen.

Three men with Hell in a Cell experience. Three men with countless WrestleMania experience. Undertaker wins in what will be an awesome match that will probably get about 30 minutes.

Liam's Pick: The Undertaker

Gregory Bitetzakis: Since we know who is going to win, I want to quickly tell you some things. For one, I would love HHH to win here for a few reasons. He is my favorite wrestler of all time and I think The Undertaker and his streak is overrated.

I cannot understand how in the later stages of this streak, when he actually wrestled monthly, he could very easily lose a regular match yet cue WrestleMania and he can not be stopped. What are we supposed to think, that at WrestleMania he goes all out but every other time he did not give it his all?

Beyond that, I like the story this match will tell, even though it feels like we heard all these promos one year ago.

Shawn Michaels will play a big role in this match and rumors have swirled that we might see HHH vs. Shawn Michaels at next year's WrestleMania so that could be good. I cannot wait to see Michaels in the ring again in some capacity this Sunday. But as another point, I am getting tired of both Undertaker and HHH wrestling in one match a year. Would it hurt for them to be on TV at least sometime during the year in some significant way, and not to see HHH/Kevin Nash, but in a strong feud? To conclude though, Undertaker will win and we will not see him again until next year and the year after and until 2145.

Gregory's Pick: The Undertaker

Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos vs. Eve Torres & Beth Phoenix

Eric Kanes: I have no idea who Maria Menounos is or why she is in this match. I've actually enjoyed Eve's heel turn, but like everything else, it is going nowhere. This match will probably last five minutes to give the crowd a chance to catch their breath and it will end with Kelly and Maria winning. Shame that Kharma could not recover in time and we're stuck with this match.

Eric's Pick: Kelly Kelly &  Maria Menounos

Geddy Cahoon: Ugh. That's all I have to say about this. Beth vs. Tamina vs. Natalya in a TLC match would've been so much better. Maria Menounos is hardly a "star" or a "celebrity." She brings so little notoriety to the WWE. Maria Menounos is that chick who you know from somewhere, you just don't know what it is, or why you're even aware of her existence. She's a nobody. The people who know who she is (The sort of people who watch Extra nightly) don't care about wrestling, unless they're already into it. Kelly and Maria are going over, but does that even need to be stated?

Geddy's Pick: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos

Dave Scott: Who cares? I don't even know what a Maria Menounos is. But I'm going to have to guess anyway.

Dave's Pick: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos

Adam Behan: The celebrity gimmick match for this year's WrestleMania. This match is going to suck really, really badly. The celebrity always wins, always. Divas matches are terrible nowadays, this should have been Phoenix vs. Natalya vs. Eve in a ladder match or something awesome.

Adam's Pick: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos 

George Cushnie: Ah, now we come to the bathroom-break portion of the show. In time-honored WWE tradition, they’ve decided not to have a Divas Championship match at WrestleMania because they couldn’t care less about women’s wrestling. That’s why divas like Mickie James and Gail Kim were let go or left, and we’re left with divas like Eve Torres and Kelly Kelly.

Don’t get me wrong, these girls are obviously dedicated to their craft, but I’d rather have seen Beth vs. Natalya or Beth vs. Kharma here. Kharma’s had to go through something traumatic recently, which is why she’s nowhere near ready to come back. Natalya, on the other hand, has been given a “Phantom Farter” gimmick to work with. It sickens me.

They’re not gonna bring Menounos in to have her lose at Mania, especially when she’s on Dancing With The Stars in America.

George's Pick: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos

Liam Hindmarsh: Nothing can make me excited for this match. I'd rather watch Beth do laps around the ring. The divas divison is terrible and with the sad loss of Kharma's child, it doesn't look like it will improve anytime soon. The "celebrity" and Kelly will win. It will soon be forgotten and never remembered.

Liam's Pick: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos

Gregory Bitetzakis: Shout out to my gorgeous Greek Maria Menounos, but really, why are we watching this match? I thought we were perfectly set up for a Beth/Kharma feud but alas we get this. On the bright side, Eve has become somewhat relevant, I love my Greek, and it's not like we've seen a Kelly Kelly/Beth feud in a while (eyes roll). Celebrity always wins or they wouldn't do it in the first place, and after 47 seconds, the PPV will continue.

Gregory's Pick: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos

The Rock vs. John Cena

Eric Kanes: And here we've got the main event, which can be called a "dream" or "fantasy" match-up. We've got the star of the current era, John Cena, going up against the star of the Attitude Era, The Rock. I think the crowd will be wild here, mostly in support of The Rock, and this is going to be a match that will be remembered for years to come.

At the end of the day, though, John Cena is going to be the top guy in WWE for many years to come while Rock will probably be gone after WrestleMania. It makes more sense to put Cena over. However, if there's a rematch planned for the future, Rock could win this one while Cena wins in the end. I'm going to lock in on Cena, though.

Eric's Pick: John Cena

Geddy Cahoon: Here we are. The match everybody is looking forward to. After a solid year of buildup, The Rock vs. John Cena. This match will be phenomenal. These two guys aren't the most elite workers, but they've both proven that, if given time and a decent opponent, they can put on one hell of a show. And since this will be getting over 30 minutes, it should be something magical. WWE reportedly wanted the crowd to give a completely divided reaction, but The Rock will probably be the one receiving more cheers. It doesn't matter. No one seems to have any concrete ideas about who will win, so WWE's done a good job in that regard. I know who's going to win though: It must be John Cena. If The Rock wins, WWE would essentially be saying "Hey, look at this guy who left and is representative of an older era that you fans all love so much. He's better than the guy who's representative of our current era, which you guys already dislike." WWE would be validating every single complaint ever made about the post-Attitude Era if Rock wins.

Of course, if the "Best of Three" series they want to do pans out, then that's a different story, but I won't get into speculation about that. The match itself should be really intense. Expect lots of suspenseful near-falls and finishers being hit that are then inexplicably ineffective. There had been talk of involving a third star to set up a finish. This should absolutely not be done. Whoever they use will just be known as "the guy who ruined Rock/Cena." Again, if the best-of-three series pans out, then a shifty finish here would work a bit better. But ultimately, the fans wouldn't respond well to interference in such an important bout. Expect John Cena to pick up the win here after a lengthy, amazing bout.

Geddy's Pick: John Cena

Dave Scott: This match will be epic. Regardless of who wins or loses, this match will be one to never forget. I'm hoping to see at least thirty minutes from this match and like the HIAC match, a lot of finishing maneuvers and near-falls. Initially, I wanted The Rock to win this match, but as it has gotten closer to WrestleMania and Cena has done some solid promos, I have changed my mind. I hope that Cena wins. I believe it would make more sense for Cena to win as The Rock doesn't really gain anything from winning this match.

Dave's Pick: John Cena

Adam Behan: Oh my goodness. It is finally here.

Reasons I can see The Rock winning: The Rock would not have come back to be owned by John Cena, the crowd would riot like nothing else if he loses, if Cena was WWE Champion, he would have retained except he doesn't, Cena struggles to win in other wrestlers' hometowns eg. CM Punk, Cena can't wrestle (apparently), and The Rock would become "The Greatest of All Time" (McMahon would let that happen easily).

The reasons I see Cena winning are: "Super Cena" doesn't lose, it would benefit Cena and the WWE's future, it would say that we have moved on from the "Attitude Era", shock value, and that John Cena's WrestleMania record is nearly spotless (unlike Rock). I am hating to have to pick a winner here. What made me choose my pick here was the promo line "I will be the greatest ever" from Rocky. If Cena wins, then what? Three Rock Bottoms it will take to defeat Cena.

Adam's Pick: The Rock (please stay)

George Cushnie: The build-up to this match has been excellent. WWE has tried to build the feud so that more people will cheer Cena than they normally would. To be honest, they’ve done quite a good job but that doesn’t make me want him to win.

I would love  to see The Rock hand John Cena the ass-kicking of a lifetime and wipe that smug smirk right off his face. The one thing I picked up from what Cena said on Monday was that: "Everybody knows I can’t lose this match!” Well, congratulations John, of course we do. That’s because we only ever see you selling merchandise and you’re booked like bloody Superman!

The one reason why I think Cena will lose this match is because it’s in Rock’s hometown and they like to send the fans home happy at WrestleMania. I honestly can’t see them putting Cena over Rock in Miami, because the crowd would go apesh*t and probably riot.

Keep in mind that when Cena’s been in hostile environments like that, he’s only won once. That came against Edge in a TLC match from Toronto in 2006. He lost to RVD at One Night Stand and to Punk at Money in the Bank, so I can see Cena losing here.

George's Pick: The Rock

Liam Hindmarsh: This is it. A match one year in the making. Once in a lifetime. Two eras colliding. This will be the match the majority of people watching will be waiting for. The Rock returning to Miami to face John Cena. The current face of the WWE takes on one of the faces from the Attitude Era. The build-up has been good for the most part.

Yes, it's been cheesy at times but with The Rock and Cena, you've come to expect that. It's certainly been better that The Rock has been on every Raw over the last month so him and Cena have had that chance to interact with one another. I felt their promo on RAW this week was really well done. It was nice to see them in the ring for a straight-up promo. No comedy, just both men defining what they were going to do and why they were going to do it. Cena needs to beat The Rock. The Rock has to beat Cena.

As for the match itself, The Rock showed us at Survivor Series that he still has it, so ring rust won't be an issue. When Cena is on form, he can pull a good match out of the bag.

Will it be the greatest match of all time? Probably not. Can it be a really good match? Yes it can.

What I really hope and I think other fans hope too is that WWE doesn't mess this up. This match was booked a year ago. It has had almost 365 days of build-up. Please do not ruin it by giving us a stupid finish. There has to be a clear-cut winner in the match. It doesn't need any interference. The match is about Cena and The Rock, that is all you need.

Ending should be legit. Pinfall or submission. Nothing else is needed. WWE has done something good here. The match has been booked for a year and people are still interested. Please don't ruin it now. Just let them wrestle and let the crowd go crazy. That crowd will be crazy and it will make for a great atmoshere.

Picking the the winner is another heart and head moment. My heart wants Rock to destroy Cena. My head on the other hand is telling me that it's right for Cena to win. Here we go. John Cena will beat The Rock and Wrestlemania will end with the both of them shaking hands in the middle of the ring. It pains me to type that.

Liam's Pick: John Cena

Gregory Bitetzakis: And here we are, the match we have all been waiting for, a year in the making with two epic WWE superstars.

In one corner, we have "The Man of a Thousand Penis Names" The Rock and on the other side, we have "You Can't See Me in only 10 minutes of every WWE show" John Cena. All jokes aside, this match should be a classic. I wonder how much they will let The Rock do but if Survivor Series was any indication, he looks ready for a strong match. My first ever article gave me attention because I picked the unthinkable, I wrote a whole article debating about each side and now it is time for the epic decision. Cena will take his talents to South Beach and walk away the winner. The bottom line is The Rock will be gone and all this feud will end up doing is making Cena look good and The Rock giving him props. Let us all be honest with ourselves, do you really think the WWE will go any other way? If all else fails, C-3PO said it best on the Millennium Falcon, and no, you do not let the Wookie win, you let John Cena win.

Gregory's Pick: John Cena

Bonus Questions

As always, here are some bonus questions for our readers:

If you could add one match to the card, what would it be?

Eric Kanes: As of today, there are rumors that Batista and Brock Lesnar might be making an appearance on Sunday. They're not confirmed, though, so I'll only use the current roster. If I had to add one match with the current roster, it would be Primo & Epico vs. Brodus Clay & Alberto Del Rio. The story going into this match could've been Clay & Del Rio winning a tag team tournament to get a title shot. Del Rio wants to use Brodus to win some gold, but he is disgusted by his new attitude. During the match, Del Rio yells at Brodus which causes Primo & Epico to get the win & retain. Post-match, Brodus takes down Del Rio with his finisher and dances with the crowd. After WrestleMania, they feud with Del Rio hiring Ezekiel Jackson as his enforcer. This scenario gives the tag team titles the spotlight and also gives Brodus & Del Rio something to do.

Geddy Cahoon: Something with Hunico or Tyler Reks. Those guys are two of my favorites, and they never get airtime. Hunico is one of the most interesting and athletic performers currently in WWE, and he needs to be better utilized. Reks has a decent look, he isn't too shabby in the ring and he can talk. Use them for something.

Dave Scott: I would have replaced the 12-man tag match with a Money in the Bank ladder match. I can't think of one Money in the Bank match that has been bad. They are always potential show stealers and are good for building future champions.

Adam Behan: The match I would have liked to have seen added onto the card before WrestleMania is Mason Ryan vs. Ezekiel Jackson. Two big fighters with technical skills and high-flying ... just joking. My match is Money in the Bank. WrestleMania needs Money in the Bank back badly. The twelve guys fighting for Long and Laurinaitis could have fought for their respective GM and a contract for a title shot lasting one year as normal. I liked that plan.

George Cushnie: Money in the Bank. Simple as that. I don’t think that Barrett’s injury should’ve stopped WWE from putting the match at Mania. The likes of Ziggler, Swagger, Kingston, Miz, Ryder, Kingston and R-Truth would’ve been far better battling it out for the briefcase instead of being wasted in the ridiculous general manager vs. general manager match. I can’t explain enough how much I’d replace that match.

Liam Hindmarsh: I said it during the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber predictions. The tag team champions need exposure on live television. Primo and Epico should face The Usos. Just give them 10 minutes and let them put on a show. The tag division is never going to grow if the WWE won't allow it to grow. The tag team championships are pretty much worthless at this moment in time. It won't do any harm to feature the champions on a PPV to try and bring a little bit of prestige back. It's going to be a long road to revive the tag division but WWE has to start somewhere.

Gregory Bitetzakis: I think we have a stacked card but it would be nice to see the Tag Titles being defended on the show to give that division some publicity. We are also missing Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio, and now Christian, so if we could somehow add a Money in the Bank with those three and maybe Ted Dibiase, Alex Riley and Ezekiel Jackson, that would be something to watch, but alas, I will have to watch NXT to see my favorite, "Big Zeke."

Which match will steal the show?

Eric Kanes: The Undertaker vs. Triple H will be the best match as far as wrestling goes and will probably get the most time, but The Rock vs. John Cena will be the best match in terms of psychology. I'm going to go with Rock vs. Cena because all of the implications and uncertainty.

Geddy Cahoon: There's this one match involving The Rock. That'll probably be pretty good.

Dave Scott: Though Jericho and CM Punk will steal the show from a technical and visual stand point, the hype and build surrounding Cena vs. The Rock will be next to none. Therefore, I think Cena and The Rock will steal the show as that will be that match that everyone will be talking about years from now.

Adam Behan: The match I see stealing the show will be Daniel Bryan and Sheamus. The reason why is that we already know that Taker and Punk's matches will be awesome, yet this match has gotten so little attention. This bout will kick ass with technical skills, a loud crowd, and a big win to whomever. I guarantee there will be a move that blows us away, like a top rope Brogue kick or something.

George Cushnie: Rock/Cena. No contest. Everyone’s been waiting for this match for years and there’s no way that anyone else could steal the show from them. In terms of the crowd involvement, to both men busting their asses, then there’s nothing that can really touch them. In terms of spots though, HHH/Undertaker will definitely be up there. Punk/Jericho will be the best wrestling match though.

Liam Hindmarsh: For me, the match that I think will steal the show will be CM Punk vs. Jericho. As I said in my match prediction, I love the fact that it's going to be a wrestling match. Fans have called for more wrestling and less gimmicky stuff and wrestling is what we shall get on Sunday. I don't do star ratings or anything like that but if I did I would expect it to be up there with the four or five star matches. I think a lot of the matches on the card can be possible match of the year candidates but I trust Punk and Jericho to do something amazing. Punk and Jericho will steal the show.

Gregory Bitetzakis: I know everyone will talk about Rock/Cena for good reason but I am very interested in seeing HHH/Undertaker. They put on an epic match at last year's Wrestlemania and with the addition of Hell in a Cell and Shawn Michaels, we could see a classic that could be easily steal the show on the Grandest Stage of Them All. And at least they will tell one hell of a story, no pun intended.

Will you be ordering this PPV?

Eric Kanes: Every wrestling fan has to pay for WrestleMania. That's an unwritten rule.

Geddy Cahoon: Absolutely. WrestleMania is the one pay-per-view I always order, regardless of how good or bad the card looks. It's the most important PPV in wrestling history, and one of the few wrestling-related things that has transcended wrestling itself and actually become a pop-culture icon. Plus, this year's card looks especially solid, and everybody needs to see Rock/Cena.

Dave Scott: I will not be ordering the pay-per-view. I'm going out to watch it in a pub on a big screen. I do this every year for Wrestlemania and the atmosphere is always amazing. Hopefully, it can get the same buzz this year!

Adam Behan: I am unable to purchase this pay-per-view and I am filthy. I have work commitments that must be fulfilled so once again I miss out. I often complain about the hefty price tag for PPVs here in Australia. On the other hand, it is WrestleMania and I would have gotten it only if... Oh well, live stream for me again.

George Cushnie: Yeah. I’m moving house at the weekend though, so I mightn’t get the chance to watch it live. I’ll probably Sky+ it and watch it before RAW on Monday. I’ll be staying away from my e-mails, Twitter, and phone until I’ve watched WrestleMania. If it was one of the other big four PPV’s, then I wouldn’t even be bothering about it, but Mania is different.

Liam Hindmarsh: As always I'll be watching with friends. Nice way to split the price of a pay-per-view. Easter holidays too so I don't need to worry about Monday morning. Pizza, beer, and four hours of wrestling. 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. You can call me crazy, but WrestleMania is worth it.

WrestleMania is best watched with people. You can never compare to the atmosphere in the stadium but at least if you're watching with a group of people you get a tiny bit of atomosphere in the room. Beer will be spilt and pizza dropped. I feel sorry for whoever is cleaning it up but it's totally worth it for WrestleMania. Only comes around once a year and this one has the potential to be one of the best.

Gregory Bitetzakis: Of course, this is the biggest PPV of them all. I will be holding my own version of the Kevin Nash WrestleMania party with a bunch of my friends, beers, pizza, nachos and a big screen. I am extremely psyched for this PPV and I know it will be one of the best in a long time.

Final Thoughts

That's all for today, folks. Make sure to leave us feedback to let us know what you think. Until next time, I'm out!

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