The Showcase of Immortals: WrestleMania XXVII Predictions

The Granddaddy of Them All

The Showcase of the Immortals:

WRESTLEMANIA

Hey, everyone. I've been writing here on Bleacher Report for a while now, but this is my first piece for the WWE, and my first article in almost a year.

I've been a long-time fan of the WWE; ever since I was 6 years old I've been a wrestling fan. So having wrestlers like The Rock, Trish Stratus, and many other greats from yester-era has gotten me excited.

I've been reading a lot of interesting predictions on the WWE page lately and decided to join the "festivities" of WrestleMania XXVII by chalking up my predictions.

United States Championship: Sheamus (C) vs. Daniel Bryan

Sheamus beats Daniel Bryan for the US Championship on RAW

Personally, I'm not a fan of either of these two wrestlers, so I could care less about the outcome of this match. That, and the fact that this match lacked the proper build-up. Now, I could just flip a coin to come to a conclusion on who the winner would be, but that would be lame. So:

Many people have been clamoring about the lack of a push for Daniel Bryan, despite many arguing that he is the best technical wrestler in the WWE today. Well, we might possibly be looking at the push that fans have been calling for.

Whenever a main-event-level talent such as Sheamus finds himself competing against a mid-card, it doesn't necessarily mean a "demotion." Well, it kinda is. Generally, the main-event-er is the "stepping stone" for the mid-card talent to get into the main event scene.

Sheamus winning against Daniel Bryan several days ago on RAW can be, and probably is the intention, used to do two things:

1) Daniel Bryan is being given a push, getting into a long-term rivalry with Sheamus to improve his stock

2) Sheamus' reign as United States Champion makes the belt more "desirable" because winning it means an instant rise in stock, seeing as you'd have to beat Sheamus to win it.

IF this match is truly being used to give Daniel Bryan a push, then we can expect him to lose at WrestleMania in order to build upon the rivalry more (and to give Daniel Bryan more time to polish his mic skills)

WINNER: Sheamus

John Morrison / Trish Stratus / Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler and Lay-Cool

I pity Morrison and Ziggler

No disrespect to the ladies, but this match is a slap to the face for Ziggler and Morrison. These two men are future world champions. Ziggler was given a push on Smackdown, before transferring to RAW, feuding with Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship. John Morrison, on the other hand, put on a mind-blowing performance during the RAW Elimination Chamber. Both men are a few well-booked matches and rivalries away from being legitimate main event-ers in the WWE... Sad to say, this mixed-tag match isn't getting them closer to being legitimate main event talents.

To say this is a filler-match can actually be viewed as an understatement. The WWE is using a power play to draw ratings (note how almost every entertainment news outlet ate up Snooki beating the hell out of Layla) by using Snooki in a match, which I have no problem with had this match been booked better.

Overall, this match is going to be used to progress a storyline, rather than the match progressing career/s. I think we can all agree that Team Snooki will win—not just to keep the fans happy, but to bring about the impending split of LayCool, which is actually overdue.

I'm a Stratus fan, and I like Layla, so there's no real bias in my analysis/prediction (at least I don't think so).

WINNER: John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki

Rey Mysterio vs. "Dashing" Cody Rhodes

Will this be a Mask vs Mask match?

Based on reports, Mysterio actually asked for this match with Rhodes to happen. Now, I don't know the credibility of those reports, but if they're true, then we can only hope Mysterio loses. Or, I think it's more accurate to say that we shouldn't be surprised if Mysterio loses.

Why? Because if Mysterio truly did request a match with a specific wrestler, we should be open to the possibility that Mysterio is willing to job. Let's face it, being the "ultimate underdog," WWE creative would have him booked to win WrestleMania nine times out of 10, as long as Mysterio stays face of course.

So there really shouldn't be any reason for Mysterio to have to choose whom he faces at WrestleMania because he'd be written in as the winner almost automatically. So by that logic, Mysterio might actually job for Rhodes, whose character development is actually something I am enjoying as a wrestling fan—most especially Dusty Rhodes' involvement.

However, there is also the distinct possibility that the reports about Mysterio threatening the WWE with retirement are true. If so, then expect Mysterio to win this match. There's no way Vince McMahon will risk further upsetting an already upset superstar with that much drawing power.

I'll go with my gut here and choose the seemingly obvious answer.

WINNER: Rey Mysterio

Michael Cole vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler

Don't expect this scene to be repeated at Wrestlemania XXVII

Do I even need to fully analyze this?

I absolutely loved how the WWE built-up this confrontation between the two announcers, and the fact that the wrestling world can see Cole get his ass handed to him.

While this match probably won't be a squash in terms of time, it will be a squash in terms of ass-whooping. There is no way Jerry Lawler would agree to this match knowing before hand that he would lose to Michael Cole. The fact that Austin became the Special Guest Referee reaffirms what we already know: Jerry Lawler will fully bask in the glory of his first, and most probably only, WrestleMania.

We can also probably expect to see Swagger get a stunner and also a beer bath along with Cole.

WINNER: Jerry "The King" Lawler

The most intriguing part of this match, however, will be the aftermath. I highly doubt that the WWE will have Lawler and Cole call matches together. This can result in two post-Mania scenarios:

1) Cole and Lawler will become brand exclusive commentators

2) Lawler will retire on the Grandest Stage of All

Only time will tell...

Randy Orton vs. CM Punk

This match is actually the hardest to call. The match can go either way, as both men are currently in the top-tier of wrestlers in the WWE. The angle of CM Punk wanting revenge on Orton after being punted is a legitimate enough reason to think Punk will get the victory. However, Orton's destruction of the New Nexus also hints towards Orton's victory.

The outcome of this match depends on how WWE creative views the potential of this feud. If they feel that they can still milk some ratings after WrestleMania with this feud, expect Randy Orton to win, adding fuel to the fire in Punk's thirst for revenge. Should creative feel otherwise, the feud ends with CM Punk destroying Orton.

However, seeing the potential of this rivalry to develop into a classic, I believe creative will try to drag this out for at least another month or two. Also, it's WrestleMania, a glorification of face wrestlers...so yeah...

WINNER: Randy Orton

Triple H vs. The Undertaker

Yes, I am fully aware that this picture is promoting a past Wrestlemania

I used that picture for a reason. Although it pains me to say it, Triple H is ALREADY a number, one of the many victims of The Undertaker at WrestleMania.

I have always liked Triple H as a wrestler, whether he was a face or a heel. And the promo he conducted thanking The Undertaker for making their second WrestleMania match No-Holds Barred was spot on. Triple H has a sadistic side—to the point of being a sociopath. Triple H destroyed many wrestlers as a heel and who's to say he won't win?

Oh right, he's facing The Phenom, The Undertaker. In a way, this match both excites and disappoints me. It excites me because I get to see one of my favorite wrestlers get another shot at the Undertaker at WrestleMania. Both Triple H and Undertaker are legends in their own right (despite many people saying Triple H is where he is because he's married to Stephanie), and both know how to put on a show and entertain the crowd.

It disappoints me because we all know that it'd be stupid of the WWE to end the streak. The streak is one of the few reasons why the Undertaker is still the Icon he is today. If the streak ends, the one thing that makes The Undertaker what he is will vanish...and so will his drawing power. The WWE wouldn't even think of it.

WINNER: The Undertaker

World Heavyweight Championship: Edge (C) vs. Alberto Del Rio

Edge will be raising the World Heavyweight Championship above his head at Wrestlemania

While I am one of the people who would welcome Alberto Del Rio as the new World Heavyweight Champion, I believe that WrestleMania XXVII will not be the place he will do so. Many of the fans of a Christian heel-turn are saying Edge will lose the title in order to spark a long-awaited, overdue Christian vs. Edge feud.

While we, as fans old enough to actually remember E&C, would be treated to a great feud should Christian turn heel, I believe now is not the right time. The way the angle has been played out, Christian has yet to exactly appropriate revenge on Del Rio for the injury Del Rio gave him. That storyline is too good of an angle to be just thrown out the window. Also, if the WWE is planning to have an Edge-Christian confrontation, wouldn't the intensity be amplified if it was over the World Heavyweight Championship, a title that has eluded Christian?

I thought so.

WINNER: Edge

WWE Championship: The Miz (C) vs. John Cena

Will The Miz have what it takes to beat John Cena at Wrestemania?

In WrestleMania, the face almost always wins the title. So why even speculate on who the winner of this match will be? After all, no one really likes Miz as the WWE champion anyway.

Although it's true, I have to admit the truth and give credit where credit is due. The Miz is starting to grow on me as a heel champion. Not only that, but his skills on both the mic and the ring are improving. That, plus the WWE is hyping the Miz up as a future consistent main event-er. That plus this is the main event of WrestleMania all point to this match being a lot less lopsided as many believe it to be.

The result of this match hinges on the involvement of the jabroni-beating, pie-eating, eyebrow-raising, most electrifying man in all of entertainment: The Rock. Whether he will be watching from the sideline or be involved as a guest referee determines the outcome of the match. Also, the gravity of The Rock's promise of "never going away" has a lot of bearing in this match.

Should the Rock's statement be 100% true, then this points to Cena losing at WrestleMania in order to set up the REAL match we wanted to see: The Rock vs. John Cena

And we should all have reason to believe that the Miz will be able to pull off the victory. Customizing a belt is a sign that a wrestler has McMahon support. I believe that the Miz customizing the belt will signify a longer reign as WWE Champion. The customization of the belt occurred too late in the Miz's reign to signify that he will lose the belt at WrestleMania. We should have taken it as a sign that the Miz is here to stay, as WWE Champion.

Lastly, the millions and million of WWE fans have been wanting Cena to turn heel for a while now. I understand where the WWE is coming from in saying that they do no want to turn Cena heel just yet. Despite the heat he gets from the hardcore fans from the Attitude Era, John Cena is WAY over with the crowd, especially young children. Turning Cena heel without anyone to fill his shoes as the ultimate face of the company today is just a ratings disaster waiting to happen...

Enter the People's Champion.

I think I am spot on when I say that The Rock is more than capable of filling Cena's shoes as the top face in the WWE. However, the WWE won't be making plans if The Rock can't commit to a long-term feud due to his acting career.

So what's the best way to resolve this? Have The Rock turn heel instead and spark the feud between Cena and himself; however, this results in Rocky having to job for Cena, which is something Rocky won't be too fond of.

Either way, both scenarios have The Miz retaining WWE gold.

WINNER: The Miz

End?

Which fan didn't smile after seeing Austin do this?

There you go, my predictions for WrestleMania XXVII. If you have any comments or arguments with what I've written, don't hesitate to type in the comment box. But, I'd like to ask you to keep it appropriate. That is to say, no "You're stupid/ an idiot/ a moron!" or "You're a hater!" or anything along those lines. We can argue without having to let things become personal.

If you liked it, I'd like to thank you in advance. Also, don't hesitate to like the article itself. Even if you didn't I'd still like to thank you for taking the time to read this.

If you're interested, you can also check out my other articles (mostly NBA) here on Bleacher Report. Just click on my profile.

Here's to hoping WrestleMania XXVII won't disappoint!