WWE WrestleMania 28: A Way-Too-Early Preview of the Showcase of the Immortals

The stage is set for April 1, 2012.  Yes, you read that right folks and I promise that's no April Fool's joke.  In Miami on that very day, two generations will collide on the same canvas.  John Cena and The Rock will do battle as the two most important eras in history face off.  

The Rock helped define the Attitude Era and made wrestling entertaining among other things.  John Cena has helped define an entire era and made children the focal point during the PG Era.  

Like him or not, Cena is the WWE's superman and lives and breathes the WWE.  This is seen in the many wishes that he's granted for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as his many other accomplishments both in and out of the ring. 

While the rest of this card is far from settled, this main-event is already screaming "buy" in the minds of many wrestling fans.  Some are already saying that this match alone guarantees that the WWE's buy-rates exceed 1 million for WrestleMania 28.  

Though it's early, that's hard to argue as the anticipation will only grow over the next 356 days before the event takes place.

Does HHH have what it takes to end "The Streak"?  Despite a valiant effort in Atlanta, the Deadman prevailed for an unprecedented 19th time via Hell's Gate.  Perhaps the real question is will "The Game" get another crack at Taker's infamous streak?

Others like The Undertaker, The Miz, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Sin Cara, Alberto Del Rio, Edge, John Morrison, Christian are expected to be included in next year's event.  

After what many considered to be a so-so WrestleMania two nights ago in Atlanta, the WWE will have many questions to answer between now and then.  

Questions that I can think of off the top of my head include: will the Undertaker be competing in the event?  If so, against who?  Who will be champion by then?

I will attempt to answer all of these and more in this slideshow.   

Money in the Bank Ladder Match

This match must return at WrestleMania 28 in some capacity.  Without it, the WrestleMania 27 card had a big vacancy that it was unable to fill.  

The Money In The Bank Ladder Match annually brings high-paced competition and a chance to show off on the Grandest Stage of Them All.  

Instead, this installment of WrestleMania saw the likes of John Morrison, Christian and Daniel Bryan, among others, with little impact.  The MITB match is a great way to put flashy talent on display and sometimes even discover new talent.  

Next year I'd like to see Christian, Drew McIntyre, Justin Gabriel, Tyler Black, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, Cody Rhodes, Evan Bourne and Sheamus in this match.  The idea of giving this match its own PPV appeared good on the surface, yet ultimately failed.

In this case, a MITB Ladder Match would only add to what's already stacked as a rather impressive card.

This has annually become instrumental to WrestleMania's success and a reason why people bought the PPV.

Prediction: I could see Cody Rhodes winning this.  Of course, his push could also come far earlier than this.

Alex Riley vs. The Miz

Alex Riley has gotten a lot of television exposure as the WWE Champion Miz's protege, but nothing more than that.  Riley needs to step out from The Miz's shadow and use his NXT prowess to his advantage.

Without a doubt, the potential is there with Riley as a singles competitor, at this point however, he's only shown mere flashes of brilliance in the ring.

By next year's installment of WrestleMania, Riley will be ready to compete against his former teacher, The Miz.  Having this match occur on the WWE's biggest stage could give Riley the push that he needs and subsequently put him over The Miz.  

There'd be more than enough background to build this match up by that point.  Additionally, this would make for interesting television since both of these men are entertaining.

For Riley, this would include a major push and thrust into the spotlight in a match against his NXT pro. For The Miz, it's the opposite.  

After competing in this year's WrestleMania main event as WWE Champion, going down lower on the card is a major demotion.

Both of these men are important pieces of the WWE's future.  A match between these two would be a solid mid-card fight for what could be an unbelievable card in Miami next year.  

Could we see "An A. Bomb from A. Ry" at WrestleMania 28?  

Prediction: A. Ry defeats his former teacher, The Miz.    

CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan

CM Punk is one of the best competitors in the WWE and needs to be pushed into the main-event picture again.  With the Nexus breaking apart in hopes of all having their characters repackaged, CM Punk is left the lone member of the group that he rekindled.

Although he lost, Punk shined bright on the WrestleMania stage in Atlanta on Sunday night.  His masterful game-plan had him thisclose to defeating the equally crafty "Viper" Randy Orton.  Punk is the most well-rounded heel in the WWE today and his shot may be coming again.

Daniel Bryan is similar to CM Punk in a sense that he's also multi-faceted and unpredictable.  Bryan's one of the best wrestlers on the planet but hasn't been used properly by the WWE yet.  

Although he's enjoyed a run as U.S. Champion, Bryan is still underutilized and thrust into storylines just for the sake of it.  

Bryan, the Internet sensation, is one of WWE's best-kept secrets and now is the time to unleash him.  A feud with CM Punk in the near future would be rather interesting as they're very much alike.

While CM Punk was the third member of the RAW broadcast team he often cited Bryan's in-ring ability Wow, this would make for an interesting storyline.  Maybe I should be writing for WWE.

Prediction: CM Punk defeats Daniel Bryan in a Match of The Year Candidate.

World Heavyweight Title: Alberto Del Rio (Champion) vs Sin Cara vs Rey Mysterio

Would this be a dream match or what?!  Well, if WWE plays its cards right within the next year, this could turn into a viable option come next spring.  Three Mexican wrestling legends in the same ring on wrestling's biggest stage.  

For those that have followed the careers of these men, it's obvious that lucha libre has made its way over to the states in a big way.  Rey Mysterio was the original product of that when he went to ECW then eventually revolutionized the WCW's Cruiserweight Division.

By 2002, he would become a member of WWE and has enjoyed more success than any undersized competitor ever, including numerous World Title runs.

Sin Cara, formerly Mistico, is a world renowned dynamo that's now been introduced to American audiences.  As we've already seen briefly in his extensive promos and debut this past week, Sin Cara certainly has some extraordinary moves in his arsenal.  This creative high-flyer is a younger (potentially better) version of Mysterio.  

Therefore, a feud between these two mirror images seems imminent for WWE.  Somehow though, it would behoove WWE to throw Alberto Del Rio into the mix.  What better way to do so than at WrestleMania 28?

Del Rio just missed out on his opportunity to win his first World Heavyweight Title this past Sunday. His loss to Edge shows that while he may not be ready quite yet for the strap, he's well on his way as the title is "his destiny."

This superstar of Mexican royalty adds a lot of components to the WWE roster.  His dazzling abilities and extensive pure wrestling background make him a dual threat for opponents.  

Del Rio is ruthless in the ring and has taken several of his opponents out already.  He even has his own personal ring announcer in Ricardo Rodriguez.

This match would be far too appealing for WWE to pass up on, especially given that it could happen at WrestleMania.

Prediction: Sin Cara wins his first World Heavyweight Championship. 

WWE Title: Randy Orton (Champion) vs John Morrison

Randy Orton remains on the rise and is the class of the WWE in terms of in-ring ability.  This third generation superstar is one-of-a-kind and is gifted with natural ability thanks to his father "Cowboy" Bob Orton and grandfather Bob Sr.

"The Viper" Randy Orton is already the best in the family lineage and has held the WWE/World Titles on numerous occasions.

John Morrison is in dire need of a push before he becomes irrelevant to the RAW picture.  Morrison is indeed a "raw" talent and needs to be utilized as such.  Like so many others guys in the WWE, past and present, Morrison can't seem to find his niche.  

Could this be a product of his backstage reputation?  To put it bluntly, he sucks on the microphone and doesn't have a set character.  

Unfortunately, it's pretty difficult to go anywhere with a guy like that.  To his credit though, Morrison has a plethora of in-ring ability and tore the house down on RAW with WWE Champion The Miz back in January.

Morrison and Orton have yet to feud in the WWE and this would make for an interesting co-main event at WrestleMania next year.  If Morrison's opportunity on RAW doesn't come soon, some will question if it will ever happen.  Better yet, a move to Smackdown could benefit "The Shaman of Sexy."

Prediction: John Morrison wins his first WWE Championship.

The Undertaker Vs. HHH III

After an epic match at WrestleMania 27 last week all signs point to a third installment at Mania in 2012. That is of course if both men hold up another year.  The Undertaker was carted off on a stretcher out of the Georgia Dome.

The Undertaker's "streak" is something that, like The Deadman himself, will never die.  In fact, as time has elapsed, "The Streak" has only grown and gotten more impressive.  Now at 19-0, only a perfect 20-0 would suit Taker right before he rides off into the sunset.

Many have asked how it would exactly go down.  I have a feeling we will surely find out at next year's WrestleMania.  After another epic bout with "The Game," time will stand still as the WWE's only immortal being will call it a career.  What a career it's been for Mark Calaway.  

As for Triple H, he's done it all in the business...but defeat Taker at WrestleMania.  If Shawn Michaels couldn't do it, I personally don't see it being feasible.  Michaels was oh so close TWICE!  

Could "The Game" come close for a second consecutive Mania in 2012 only to come up short at the hands of The Undertaker?

For as far as the wrestling world can tell, a third match between these two seems imminent at this point, and why not?  I'd pay another 55$ (plus tax) for this card if this match was included. 

Prediction: "The Streak" will NEVER die, just like The Undertaker.  20-0. Goodbye. Thank You, Taker.

The Rock Vs. John Cena

This is the one that the entire world is already waiting on.  Although it's still about 356 days away, The Rock and John Cena will do battle in Miami at WrestleMania 28 next year.  A dream match of this caliber can only happen in the WWE.

The Rock was the class of the late 1990s and early 2000s.  John Cena was the mid-to-late 2000s and continues it into the new decade.  Both of these men are mortals, but their respective legacies will live on long after their showdown in Miami in 2012. 

For the WWE to announce this match an entire year in advance, they're really banking on it to deliver for WrestleMania 28.  

Never before has a match been announced this far in advance, is this a positive or negative for the company?  Though it limits Cena in 2011, he will surely be ready for The Great One come April 1st, 2012.

This is one dream match that has been played up in the past but we never thought that we'd see.  Both of these special talents have built up quite a rivalry, one that will come to a head at WrestleMania 28.  

Prediction: The Rock defeats John Cena and gains his respect.  Reminiscent of Hogan-Rock at WM18.