It's happening again! It's time for WWE's biggest show of the year and like last year, NXT is being paired with Wrestlemania for one giant weekend. As always, we'll start with the first show first; NXT Takeover Orlando!
Currently, only four matches are on the card but I'm sure following the events from the last couple weeks, an 8 man tag featuring Tye Dillinger, No Way Jose, Roderick Strong and the new to NXT Ruby Riot facing Sanity. For that one, I'm picking the face team as Sanity has been getting the upper hand each time and it's time for the good guys to win finally. We also have three title matches and one highly anticipated debut. Let's discuss!
Alesiter Black FKA Tommy End will make his debut against Andrade Cien Almas. This was actually a match they featured at the last NXT live event I went to. Going off of that, it was a fun little match. This should be good. Almas has really been hitting his peak, putting on some hard hitting matches lately. His match with Strong at Takeover San Antonio was great and I'm expecting another one here. Black will have to win since it's his debut. I hope Almas gets something else going instead of just losing.
The NXT Tag Team Titles will be defended in a Triple Threat Elimination match when the champion The Authors of Pain face #DIY and The Revival. This will most likely be the best match of the night. Way too much great talent in one match not to be. The tag division is all about these guys especially since TM61 have been out due to injury. The Revival have been the best tag team in the history of the brand and being that good begs the question, when will they get the call to the main roster? Probably after this match. The Authors of Pain haven't lost yet since their debut and have really fought hard and defeated just about every team in their wake. There's definitely money in a solo AOP/Revival feud. Maybe they won't get called up just yet. Gargano and Ciampa are too good to stay a team for much longer. NXT needs the singles star, especially if Nakamura is heading to the main roster soon. I think The Revival gets eliminated by DIY while AOP eliminates DIY to retain their titles. NXT is hyping up the debut of Heavy Machinery, even though they've been on TV already. They're big athletic guys and would definitely be a good match up against AOP down the line. I'm down with a big hoss match up. Authors of Pain retain.
Here's the match I'm looking forward to most on Saturday night; the battle for the NXT Women's Championship. Asuka defends her title against her hardest challenge; Ember Moon. This is the dream match of the division. This has been in the works since Ember made her debut back in August. They had to struggle with Asuka not having any challengers, they had to call up Mickie James to put over Asuka, they had to put three women against her but they finally got to the moment where Asuka will face Ember Moon. Asuka is undefeated in WWE, amassing 159 STRAIGHT victories, closing in on Goldberg's 172. Asuka will have held the NXT Women's Title for a FULL YEAR come Takeover. Ember has defeated all comers and has finally gotten his first opportunity at the title. Asuka has shown heel tendencies and a full blown turn is coming. I think there's a real good story to tell here, one that could stretch all the way to Brooklyn for Takeover there, just like Bayley/Asuka. Asuka could win here by some shady methods, lose the title at a Takeover in June and then lose the final match in Brooklyn before her main roster call-up. I don't think WWE themselves would have brought up Goldberg's undefeated streak if they weren't going to break it. Or maybe, that's the hook. Regardless, I don't see Asuka losing just yet. Stretch the feud out, tell a story and make Ember's moment special, like the passing of the torch. Asuka retains.
The main event, like last year, is a rematch for the NXT Championship. Bobby Roode will defend against Shinsuke Nakamura. The rumor mill is buzzing; will Nakamura debut the Raw after Mania? What else is left for Nakamura in NXT? He's won the belt twice. He's faced many of the top names of the brand on his way to the top. The next step is to be on Raw or Smackdown. Let Roode win here in a great match and give Nakamura his send off. NXT will be filled up again shortly, hopefully by a Adam Cole.....wishful thinking I know. Roode will retain his title here, pushing Nakamura to the main roster.
Wrestlemania 33 takes place from Orlando Florida this year and features 13 MATCHES. Yes, 13! That's too many. I'm guessing there will be 3-4 matches on the pre show. As of this typing, only three have been announced for it but I'm going to guess for the sake of the post. Let's get this thrill ride started!
The Andre the Giant Battle Royale is on the pre show after being on the main card last year. From the moment this was announced, I've had my winner picked. It's Braun Strowman. His mega push begins here. He'll be Universal Champion by the end of the year. It's a pointless battle royale but Strowman needs the push. Look at Corbin. It did him well.
In a strange move, Austin Aries will get his Cruiserweight Title shot against Neville on the pre show. Yes, probably the best match of the night ON THE PRE SHOW. It's fine, Aries and Neville will make sure they regret it. This will be one of the most competitive matches of the night. You want a wrestling match? THIS will be it. These two will attempt to steal the show. I just hope these two get the time they deserve. Neville is doing such wonders with the title and the division and while an Aries title reign would be nice, I think it needs to wait until The King of the Cruiserweights has helped the division grow even more. I'm going with Neville to retain the title.
I'm thinking the Raw Tag Titles will get bumped to the pre show. Gallows and Anderson defend against Enzo/Big Cass and Sheamus/Cesaro which is now a ladder match. The dirt sheets have claimed the plan was always to give Enzo and Cass the titles at the big show. Enzo and Cass certainly deserve it. They've worked the hardest, have gotten incredibly over with the crowd and improved in the ring. They never held tag title gold in NXT and a big win in the same area where it all started would be poetic. With the inclusion of the ladder aspect now, I expect Cesaro to do something crazy. It won't matter though. I'm going with Enzo and Big Cass to win the Raw Tag Titles.
The last match on the pre show will be the Smackdown Women's Title match. Alexa Bliss will defend the title against every available Smackdown women's wrestler. Becky Lynch, Carmella, Natayla and Mickie James are just a few of women Alexa will face. I fully expect Naomi to return as well. (confirmed on last Smackdown) I'm sure there will be some surprises here and there, maybe a former Women's or Divas Champion here and there. Kelly Kelly has said she was going to be there for Mania weekend to see Beth Phoenix inducted into the Hall of Fame. Maybe even Phoenix will jump in to the fray. Bliss is only champion because Naomi couldn't compete so maybe Bliss won't survive here? If I was going to pick anyone, it would be Mickie James as I'm a huge fan of her's. Have been since she debuted. They announced it would be a Six Pack Challenge so I don't know if the whole women making their return thing will happen now. The smart choice would be Naomi since she in her hometown and was going to walk in as champion anyway. There are going to be a lot of title changes on the main show though. Hmmm....I'm just going to say Alexa Bliss will retain her championship. Maybe feud with Mickie one on one afterwards.
The first match on the main card will either be the Raw Tag Title match if it's not bumped or the Intercontinental Title match between champion Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin. This is Corbin's big singles match debut at Mania. He had the big win in the Andre the Giant BR last year so he's looking to capitalize on his first one on one title opportunity. I don't see Ambrose as IC Champion for much longer and honestly, when was the last time he even defended his title? He's not doing the title no favors by holding it. Baron Corbin needs the title to continue his great run in WWE. He's been a great heel for Smackdown and one of the talents that has really stepped it up following the draft. This one is pretty easy to call. I'm going with Baron Corbin to win his first championship at Wrestlemania 33. Sorry Dean.
John Cena and The Miz will be apart of another Wrestlemania together, this time, teaming with their respective ladies. Cena and Nikki Bella will face Miz and Maryse in a Total Divas tag match. I've been very critical on the fact that they're using big match John for this, instead of putting over a young talent but to be honest, I think The Miz needs the rub here and he deserves it. He's really been impressing everyone since the draft and has become of the biggest reason to watch the blue brand. Also, the build has been great. Like, better than the Universal Title match. Miz and Cena have been firing on all cylinders lately and the Total Bellas ripoff Miz and Maryse filmed were hilarious. Best segment in Smackdown history. Well, at least since the draft. And sure, the match quality won't be up to par with Cena's great Mania clashes, sure, Miz and his wife won't win here and sure, Cena could have faced literally anyone else for a bigger match but at least Smackdown creative made the best with what they were dealt. I'm going with Cena and Nikki to win in a short affair and for Cena to propose to Nikki afterward. Maybe. Possibly. It seems too obviously honestly.
AJ Styles will compete at his 2nd Wrestlemania when he faces Shane McMahon in a.....well....a regular match. No stips have been added yet. That's depressing. I've voiced my opinion over this match but again, Smackdown has done a great job at building this match up. Styles won a trip to Wrestlemania, only to lose it due to unfair circumstances. He flipped at the closest authority figure the same night and attacked him the next week. It was brutal but you had to relate to Styles. Anyway, Styles VS Shane in a specialty match sounds special. A regular match, not so much. I don't care about the match but I care about Styles so I'm going with him for the win. He needs a Mania win.
Bayley makes her Wrestlemania debut as the Raw Women's Champion and she faces fellow Wrestlemania first timer Nia Jax, arch rival Charlotte and best friend Sasha Banks in an Elimination match for the title. It's not Sasha/Bayley but it can come down to them. This Wrestlemania will no doubt be very special for all four ladies as they will be performing in Orlando, miles away from where they got their start in NXT. It's pretty poetic. The elimination style adds a new dimension to the match. Obviously the women are going to jump Nia and get her out first and Charlotte will be next. Sasha and Bayley will remain. This will be very interesting. Will they pull the trigger on heel Sasha here or the next night? Mania is all about giving babyfaces their moment. I think a Sasha turn would be so much better on Raw. Bayley deserves to win in her first appearance. Bayley retains, Sasha turns on the Raw after. Should be a good match, as like last year, this is my most anticipated match of the night.
Chris Jericho will defend the United States Championship against former best friend Kevin Owens. This will be Owens' first singles match at Mania. This will be a barn burner, one that could steal the whole show. It will be a vicious fight with the classic wrestling styles both men are known for. Hopefully, this will the first match in a long feud between the two. I hear Jericho will be leaving soon to tour with Fonzy so Jericho's current run will end soon. With his run ending, so would his title reign. Jericho has suffered from the same not defending the title syndrome. Kevin Owens would do wonders with another singles title and could have great matches with Sheamus, Cesaro, Big E and Kofi. Kevin Owens will defeat Chris Jericho cleanly for the United States Championship.
Oh this will be a good one! Good one because of what WWE is going to do. Roman Reigns will face The Undertaker is Taker's 25th Wrestlemania match. This will NOT end well. This might be Taker's last match. Reports have come in that he's pretty beat up and his hips aren't holding up. They also say he needs surgery which would cause his in ring career to be over. That being said, WWE or sorry, Vince McMahon has put this match together as a passing of the torch match as Vince continues to push Reigns down everyone's throats. It's extremely funny to me that WWE has not learned from their past Wrestlemanias. Reigns got booed at 31 against Lesnar, Reigns got booed HARD at 32 against Triple H and now, he'll get booed at 33 against the Undertaker. Lesnar and Triple H were the heels btw. Reigns is the heel here. Heel to the fans only, not to WWE. Anyway, if it's a passing of the torch match then you know what that means right?
Roman Reigns will defeat The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33. There. I said it. I'm sorry. My big thing is, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AFTERWARD? If Reigns was to turn heel during the match, it wouldn't be a problem but since they're going to be stubborn about it and not turn Reigns, it's going to end badly. I think overall, this is the moment I'm looking forward to most. Reigns going over Taker at Mania will be crazy. The fans are going to riot.
Bray Wyatt will enter another Wrestlemania against a major opponent in Randy Orton and it will be for Wyatt's WWE Championship. Wyatt has a great history of Mania matches and moments, wrestling Cena and Taker at 30 and 31 and interacting with The Rock at 32. He's been unsuccessful in all three attempts. It's not looking good for Wyatt in his match with Orton. Orton missed Mania last year but his last singles match, he defeated Seth Rollins at 31. Orton is hunting for World Title reign #13 against Wyatt. This should be a good match worthy of the WWE Title. The outcome? I'm really backing Wyatt. He seriously needs the win. I'm hoping Harper and Rowan reunite with him to help Wyatt win. Maybe we'll even get the first appearance from Sister Abigail. I'm still picking Bray Wyatt to retain. I know it sounds dumb.
Yes, it will happen. The match that has the most build is the non sanctioned fight between Seth Rollins and Triple H. This has been brewing since August, hell, since Triple H and Rollins had tension during the Authority storyline. This will be an all out war. Being a No DQ match, I expect Samoa Joe to get involved in this somehow to even the odds. Will there be someone to help Rollins though? How about Finn Balor? It would be a great tease at what's to come for the four men. Triple H is pretty good at pushing the youth at Mania. Cena, Sheamus, Batista, and Reigns have benefited from a Mania match with The Game. Rollins will too. This will increase his stock a lot to become the Kingslayer. Seth Rollins will get his revenge and defeat Triple H in another match of the night contender.
The main event is most likely going to be the Universal Championship match pitting defending champion Goldberg against Brock Lesnar. Goldberg is 2 up against Lesnar and they're coming off of their 86 second match at Survivor Series. I really don't give a damn about this match. Lesnar wins to become the first man to have held both World Titles in WWE right now. Hopefully he drops it the next night because I can't handle another part time champion.
That's the weekend ladies and gentlemen! What will be the best match, the biggest moment, the ultimate flop? Will the underwhelming card shock us or will it crash and burn. We'll find out this weekend! It's the ultimate thrill ride!
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