Predictions submitted by Matthew Evans, Alastair Sutherland & Ryan Owens:30-Man Royal Rumble (Winner Gets World Title Match At WrestleMania 26):
John Cena VS Batista VS HHH VS Chris Jericho VS Shawn Michaels VS Matt Hardy VS CM Punk VS Shelton Benjamin VS Ted Dibiase VS The Great Khali VS Cody Rhodes VS Yoshi Tatsu VS MVP VS Chris Masters VS The Miz VS William Regal VS Kofi Kingston VS Kane VS R-Truth VS Mark Henry VS Zack Ryder VS Jack Swagger VS The Big Show VS Evan Bourne VS Carlito VS Participants TBA
Matthew:
“The Rumble match can usually be relied upon to deliver some real excitement and unforgettable moments (although last year’s was somewhat rushed and predictable).
Of course, I don’t expect the likes of Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, The Great Khali, Chris Masters, Yoshi Tatsu and most of the other “lower” guys to “go the distance”. As always, this will come down to the big-name stars such as Cena (who I suspect will get a late number as he is reportedly working with severe back pain), Batista, HHH, Jericho and Michaels.
In the end, I think Jericho will prevail, but here’s the twist: After surviving the other 29 competitors, Y2J will (quite rightly) celebrate his win. However, at this point a returning Edge will sneak up behind the “Fozzy” front man and eliminate HIM!
The fans will go wild as “The Rated R Superstar” celebrates an apparent Royal Rumble victory. However, there will be controversy. Edge’s win will stand on the night, but in the run-up to the “Elimination Chamber” PPV next month, it will be decreed that Edge DIDN’T win the Rumble as he wasn’t an official entrant, plus he came in at #31 and there can only be 30 Superstars entered in the match.
The outcome will be that Edge and Jericho are put in an “Elimination Chamber” Match, but neither will win. Instead, they’ll go on to face each other in a grudge match at WrestleMania 26.”
Winner: Edge
Alastair:
“Most of the big names are there in this one, expecting to see Edge make his return as well perhaps or maybe Bret Hart to eliminate HBK? Not sure about that one.
Michaels vs Taker 2 - title & Streak vs Career sounds good but it would be Michaels’ last bout and I don't think they can top last year’s match so better keeping it out of this one. Cena in the main event again would be poor so I suspect HHH could win it by eliminating HBK last after DX have team up to eliminate most of the other people in the bout.
Prediction - Triple H OR Shawn Michaels.”
Winner: HHH Or Shawn Michaels
Ryan:
“It’s nearly impossible to predict which Superstars will team up and who will eliminate whom, but what's not hard is measuring the possible success of this match by the expected Superstars involved. John Cena, HHH, HBK, Rhodes, Dibiase, Jack Swagger, Jericho these are definitely some of the men who carry the weight of this year's Rumble match on their shoulders. Not to start any rumours, but I think the addition of RVD would definitely be a treat, even if he were only in for a few minutes.
I think the HBK challenging the Undertaker to a WrestleMania rematch was not random, it’s going to be this year's hook. I see HBK winning the Rumble and then spending the next two months making sure that the Undertaker keeps the World Title on his waist so that HBK can take the belt from him at WM 26 and finally end the Undertakers WM win streak.”
Winner: Shawn Michaels
WWE World Heavyweight Title Match:
Undertaker VS Rey Mysterio
Matthew:
“As much as I love Rey Mysterio and the whole “underdog” thing he’s got going for him, I can’t see him toppling The Undertaker for the title tonight. Mysterio has stood up to the “Dead Man” and has proven he’s not intimidated by him, but with WWE putting so much emphasis on ‘Taker/ Michaels at WM 26, a victory here for the little masked guy would surely put a dampener on those plans.”
Winner: Undertaker
Alastair:
“With Batista now in the rumble match the one on one bout with Mysterio vs Taker is strange, would be funny to see Mysterio win to let Taker go in and win the rumble later in the show but I suspect Taker will be keeping the belt till Mania.
Prediction - Taker to retain.”
Winner: Undertaker
Ryan:
“This will be a fun match to watch, but I just don't see Mysterio having any kind of offence that can propel him to a victory over the Undertaker. I see Mysterio still being a part of the World title picture going into Elimination Chamber, but that's as far as I see him going.”
Winner: Undertaker
WWE Championship Match:
Sheamus VS Randy Orton
Matthew:
“This is a strange one, as both Sheamus and Orton are heels and as much as some of the older fans have got behind “The Legend Killer” as of late, I’m afraid that the majority of the audience may sit on their hands for the duration of this match.
Another stumbling block is the fact that Sheamus clearly isn’t ready to be WWE Champion (if they wanted to build him up correctly in the fans’ eyes, the bookers could have held off the title switch and entered Sheamus in the Rumble itself, where he could have cleaned house on everyone and lasted until the very end until getting eliminated by a big-name like Cena) and Orton has been messing about in the main event bracket for so long that it’s become tiresome.
In the end, I think Sheamus will retain, purely because Cena’s recent injury woes mean that he won’t be challenging the Irishman for the gold any time soon, plus WWE will probably want to persevere with the “Sheamus experiment” for the time being, as we all know how stubborn Vince can be when it comes to admitting defeat.”
Winner: Sheamus
Alastair:
“Still can't believe Sheamus is the WWE champion but I don't think they’re going to give it back to Orton so I suspect Orton to be in the rumble later as the other members of Legacy are already and Sheamus to interfere in the rumble to help get Cena eliminated.
Prediction (I don't believe it) - Sheamus to retain.”
Winner: Sheamus
Ryan:
“I hate that they have the belt on Sheamus, but it would be irresponsible of me as a columnist to say that they didn't have a reason for it. Is it a good reason, probably not but it seems to me like they (WWE creative) are committed to keeping the belt on Sheamus (at least until Elimination Chamber).
Since Orton really doesn't have a set up going into the Road to WrestleMania, I think that he will lose this match due to interference. ”
Winner: Sheamus
ECW Championship Match:
Christian VS Ezeikiel Jackson
Matthew:
“I don’t follow WWE ECW in any significant way, so I know very little about the build up to this match. However, I DO know that Christian is a great athlete who’s been criminally mis-used since returning to WWE, and deserves better than a match with a human “ball and chain” like Jackson.
It was rumoured a few months back that ECW could be getting “re-branded” at some point this year, so I think keeping the belt on Christian would be a smart move going forward. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that WWE will do what’s smart. (But I’m hoping that they do).”
Winner: Christian
Alastair:
“Don't know Don't Care - ECW's WWE show isn't worth the title, they should come up with a new brand name like Tuesday night “snooze-fest.”
Prediction -?
Ryan:
“Christian is the best guy they could possibly have the belt on, for him to drop it now to someone as unpolished as Jackson would totally kill all interest in that belt.”
Winner: Christian
WWE Women's Championship Match:
Michelle McCool VS Mickie James
Matthew:
“I can’t recall the last time WWE pushed a WWE Women’s Championship Match and feud as much as this. Unfortunately, the build up has mainly consisted of “fat jokes” targeted at poor Mickie James (who for the record, IS NOT FAT!).
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s found the whole “Piggy James” angle to be uncomfortable viewing and in poor taste. I know that Mickie is trying to branch out into Country Music, releasing a single and album this year. Based on the treatment she’s received on TV over the past few months, you wouldn’t be jumping to silly conclusions if you thought that WWE were trying to humiliate her into quitting the company (I know one could argue that in the PG-WWE, this could be perceived as a “bullying” angle, where the victim [Mickie] rises above it all and beats the “mean girls” [McCool and Layla] in the end. But it’s actually sending out a horrible message to young girls [Mickie is NOT overweight; she looks healthier than a lot of the Divas roster, some of which look scarily stick-thin. The whole thing is so ass-backwards; it’s almost incomprehensible]).
Anyway, enough ranting. This should be a good match, although I don’t think Mickie will win. What? You thought the lame WWE amateur comedy hour was over?”
Winner: Michelle McCool
Alastair:
“Not sure about this one, Mickie to win?”
Winner: Mickie James
Ryan Owens:
“Of all the women in the WWE, this is a pretty lame pairing, and the story behind this one is equally snooze inducing. While I usually try to give the Divas the benefit of a doubt, this match just brings too many doubts and not enough benefit.”
Winner: N/A
Source: http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/
