It’s that time again where I throw my booking hat back on and have a crack at second guessing the WWE team. I did a little better last time around, so let’s see how this one goes …
WWE ROYAL RUMBLE 2018
WOMEN’S RUMBLE MATCH
This is a tough one. The obvious choice would be Asuka, but Rumbles are the perfect way to have her take a fall without losing anything. I mean, how many times have we seen people like Big Show eliminated by multiple people? The match is built for stuff like that. All that being said, I can see Asuka taking the win, simply because it will make the crowd happy.
WWE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLES: 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS MATCH
The Usos [c] vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin
Okay, so I’m torn on this one. I can see The Bludgeon Brothers getting the title shot at Wrestlemania, and honestly, I suspect that they’ll take the belts there. As to who they take the belts from though … I’m gonna go with The Usos winning here simply because I think that they’re the better team. It’ll be a 2-1 win though, and likely one of the better matches on the card.
WWE RAW TAG TEAM TITLES
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan [c] vs. The Bar
I expect Rollins and Jordan to drop the belts before Wrestlemania, and for them to face off at said show. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll lose the belts here though. If I’m playing fantasy booking, then I’d like to see them drop the belts here due to a miscommunication and have Jordan pull off the full heel turn. Then, either Rollins moves on to the Elimination Chamber Match next month after beating Jordan, and Jordan causes his elimination in said match, or they both end up in the match. I’m not sure who The Bar would feud with next, but I’m picking them for the win.
WWE TITLE: HANDICAP MATCH
AJ Styles [c] vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
I expect this to be a good match, but it’s not what I would call an ideal one. AJ versus either man or even a three-way would have been great, but there you go. AJ Styles to retain due to my pick for the Men’s Rumble Match.
WWE UNIVERSAL TITLE: THREE WAY MATCH
Brock Lesnar [c] vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane
This would have been an interesting bout had it been simply Lesnar versus Strowman, simply because the result would be in doubt. In this instance though, Kane’s addition makes it clear where this is going. He’s the fodder to take the fall with Brock Lesnar retaining and heading on to Wrestlemania.
MEN’S RUMBLE MATCH
It won’t be Reigns. WWE knows by now what the crowd reaction would be if he won it again. No, him losing the IC Title was a way to set up the possibility of him winning it. But he won’t. Reigns will get his shot at Lesnar at Wrestlemania by winning the Elimination Chamber match next month. For me, the best option would be to have Finn Balor go over and then jump ship to Smackdown to face off with Styles, maybe even bringing the rest of The Balor Club with him to play the Ric Flair/Mr Perfect role from Randy Savage versus The Ultimate Warrior at Summerslam 92. However, I don’t think that that’s the way they’ll go. While I’m not 100% convinced that they have faith in him, Shinsuke Nakamura needs a big win here, lastly eliminating someone important. Can you imagine the reaction if he threw Reigns out, for example? I’ll go with Nakamura for this one. As a bonus, i’m guessing the final four will be Nakamura, Cena, Balor and Reigns.
NXT TAKEOVER: PHILADELPHIA
SINGLES MATCH
Kassius Ohno vs. Velveteen Dream
The former Chris Hero is a good worker, but I get the distinct impression that he’s in NXT to get people over. That applies here too. Velveteen Dream takes the win.
NXT TAG TEAM TITLES
The Undisputed Era [c] vs. The Authors of Pain
I see no reason for a title change here. The Undisputed Era are a great team, and should hold the belts for a while longer yet.
NXT WOMEN’S TITLE MATCH
Ember Moon [c] vs. Shayna Baszler
This one I see going to Shayna Baszler. The reason being that she has links to Ronda Rousey, and I still think we’ll end up with a Horsewomen vs. Horsewomen match at Wrestlemania.
EXTREME RULES MATCH
Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole
With my prediction for the tag titles match in place, I think that Aleister Black will win this one. Cole will get an assist, The Authors of Pain will run them off, and Cole will take the fall.
NXT WORLD TITLE
Andrade Almas [c] vs. Johnny Gargano
Honestly, I don’t know which way this will go, but I’ve been harping on about Gargano for years, so I’m picking him.
So, what about all of you? Any thoughts or predictions?
Agree with most of that though I think Reigns is winning the Rumble. I agree it’s madness, but that’s been the plan for years, leading to Reigns Vs Brock….I’d be happy to be wrong though!
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Oh aye, like I said, I still think that match will happen. I still think Reigns is better than he’s given credit for too, but he’s just been force fed to everyone so much that it’s hard to win the whole crowd over. Another thing to consider though is that this jailed dealer is now claiming that they’ll provide proof that Reigns is their client. That could be something that gives WWE pause in pulling the trigger on him winning the Rumble.
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That’s a good point actually…maybe they’ll let the story blow over then give Roman a big win in Feb to set up a match with Brock.
I can’t see them giving up on Reigns just yet though. It would take something major for WWE to abort their plans. If this dealer story explodes, that might be it.
Personally, I’m meh on Reigns. I think he’s ok, but nowhere near the level WWE think he is. They should have turned him heel years ago in my opinion….it’s a bit obvious but he’d be more popular then than he is now.
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Oh aye, he’s certainly not what WWE wants him to be yet. I do have faith that he’ll get there though. I agree that a heel turn would serve him well. I mean, look at what it did for The Rock back in the day.
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Yeah, The Rock is a great example, not sure why WWE didn’t follow that example.
To be honest, given the obsession with nostalgia and old stars (HHH, Cena, Orton, ‘Taker, Brock, Kane) no one will make it the way things are at the moment. I’ve got no faith in Reigns making it truthfully (,I think he’s bland and overpushed) but I doubt anyone could at the moment.
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I hope the woman’s rumble is a success. One concern I have is that having two Royal Rumbles will feel like overkill. I’d be surprised if WWE would go along with giving both events to Japanese talent. A match between Styles and Nakamura does have the potential to be good though.
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The overkill was something that I worried about too. I would guess that the women’s match will open the show or be second on to give a gap between in an effort to nullify that, but it could be an issue. In a way, they may have done better to run two shows, one men’s even and one women’s event.
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