Wrestlemania 2019 Preview And Predictions

Welcome one and all to my preview and predictions blog for Wrestlemania. Before I begin why don't you check out my preview blog for NXT Takeover:New York which takes place the night before Wrestlemania.

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Well this is the big one and what a stacked card it is this year. As of writing there is still no Undertaker match announced or scheduled which will be the first time since Wrestlemania 2000 that The Deadman won't have appeared. Likewise John Cena is not scheduled to appear at the event but, if recent developments in WWE prove anything, nothing is guaranteed. As always I will be talking about the matches in no particular order apart from the matches that will appear on the pre show.


1. WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Buddy Murphy (C) Vs. Tony Nese: If there was any justice this match would be pride of place in the middle of the card on the main show but, let's be realistic and assume that this match will be on the pre show. Buddy Murphy continues to dominate 205 Live and has really proven himself as a brilliant and under rated singles competitor. Tony Nese has flown under the radar for a long while on 205 Live. The problem is that nobody realises how good this match will be because 205 Live feels like nothing more than a glorified Velocity now and it's a shame because the roster is full of talent. This match will be hard hitting from the very beginning with both men demonstrating their power. I think that Murphy will probably retain but, I think this might be a feud that carries on for a while.


2. Andre The Giant Battle Royal: This is a potential showcase for a lot of talent that has a lot to prove given the bloated state of the WWE rosters in general. There have been some memorable winners in the past, namely Cesaro and his impressive in the very first battle royal. This year has a lot of factors in play. The obvious choice for winner would be Braun Strowman as he has been almost tipped to win from the minute he was announced for the match. I would love to see someone like Apollo Crews or Andrade have a great showing and prove they are wasted in this type of match. The smart money is on Strowman for this one but, I think there might be a mystery competitor that has yet to be announced that may win, hopefully Luke Harper.


3. WWE Women's Tag Team Championship: Sasha Banks And Bayley (C) Vs. Nia Jax And Tamina Snuka Vs. The IIconics Vs. Beth Phoenix And Natalya: This match has a lot of interesting factors at work. Sasha and Bayley are more than deserving as the first women's tag team champions and have proven a good tag team that can face any challenge, or can they ? Nia Jax and Tamina have become and little lukewarm in their aspirations and to be honest it's time for another team to be contenders. The IIconics haven't really done an awful lot since their debut on Smackdown Live last year which is a shame as they are an entertaining team to watch. Beth and Natalya are back together and Beth hasn't really missed a beat, she still looks like she belongs and has proven that point. This will be a great match that may prove to be one of the more memorable matches on the card.


4. Kurt Angle Vs. Baron Corbin: The most contentious match on the card by a long shot. I have no idea why people are so angry about Corbin being put in the position of being Kurt Angle's last opponent. Story line wise it makes sense as they have been at logger heads for the past year or so. Kurt Angle should have been given one final match with Cena or AJ Syles but, if Angle didn't want to be in a match with Corbin I'm almost positive he would have been very vocal about Corbin. This will hopefully be a great showcase for one the greatest competitors of the past 20 years and a decent enough send off.


5. Woman's Battle Royal: Like the Andre The Giant Battle Royal this match is a great way to showcase the talent on offer that don't have a match. There is a lot of talent that have been undervalued and forgotten about, namely Asuka, Naomi and the Riott Squad that have been lost in the shuffle of both RAW and Smackdown Live. This should be an entertaining enough match that will hopefully prove that there are some talents deserving of a more high profile match at Wrestlemania.


6. Falls Count Anywhere: Shane McMahon Vs. The Miz: This match has been built in a really great way that reminds me of the feud between McMahon and Angle in the early 2000's. It all started out so promising between the now former co besties until Shane proved how much of a McMahon he is by attacking not only The Miz but, his father too. Falls Count Anywhere really plays to Shane's strength of high spots and over the top highlight reel matches. The trouble I have with this feud is The Miz is hard to like, I struggle with seeing him as a face because he is such a great heel but, time will hopefully change my opinion a little. This should be a match that has a lot of people talking and hopefully in a good way. As much as I would like to see The Miz gaining a bit of revenge I think McMahon will come out on top.


7. WWE United States Championship: Samoa Joe (C) Vs. Rey Mysterio: At first I wasn't really fussed about this match but, the more I think about it I think this might be one of the surprise matches on the card. Samoa Joe finally won his first singles championship since arriving on the main roster and hopefully he will raise the profile of The United States championship the same way Rollins raised the profile for The Intercontinental Championship. Rey Mysterio has done a great job of rolling back the years and looks better than he ever has. This should be a great mix of hard hitting action and high flying that will be a great match that will have people talking. As much as I would love to see Mysterio come out with the win I think Joe will prove to be just too powerful.


8. Smackdown Live Tag Team Championships: The Usos (C) Vs. The Bar Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura And Rusev Vs. Aleister Black And Ricochet: This match was added this week on Smackdown Live and whilst I would have loved to have seen The Hardy Boyz involved I think this will be a great example of not only how great the tag team divisions in the WWE are but, how overlooked they are too. The Usos continue to prove why they are one of the top tag teams in the world right now and have really shifted to an anti hero style team, neither heel or face. The Bar are still great but, are suffering from lack of TV time as of late. Nakamura and Rusev are going through a weird period in both their respective careers and I feel that management might be trying to replicate the same experiment that Cesaro and Sheamus went through. Aleister Black and Ricochet have really been the surprise team of the year and by the looks of it will fit perfectly on either brand when they make their decision. This match, given enough time, will be a highly entertaining from start to finish as all of the competitors styles compliment each other. I love The Usos but, I think that Black and Ricochet may just pull off the surprise of the night.


9. No Holds Barred: Triple H Vs. Batista: I think this is the first time in a while that the build up for the match may be more memorable than the actual match. For being a big star and for all accounts a pretty decent actor Big Dave has spent the last few weeks chewing his way round a number of different scenes, all he needed was a cape and some bushy eyebrows and he would have fit in panto season this year. Triple H has looked a little slower in recent appearances but, continues to defy age. The added stipulation for this match is that if Batista wins Triple H will retire. Can I see this happening ? at this point who knows. This match has the potential to be a bit of a flop as both men haven't really competed at a high level for a while. This one may be over quick and in my opinion may be the final call for the in ring career for Triple H.


10. Roman Reigns Vs. Drew McIntyre: I have to admit I'm turned around on Roman Reigns. The fact that less than a year ago he revealed he was battling Leukaemia was surprising enough but, Roman Reigns making it back in the ring to compete at Wrestlemania this year is nothing short of astonishing. Drew McIntyre continues to get the push that he deserves since his return a couple of years ago. McIntyre proves that being released really lit a fire under him and to discover all of the potential he really has.This one should be a great hard hitting match that may be a little slower than some of the matches but, show how physically dominating both men can be. I think that Reigns may pick up the win with a little help from his departing Shield brother, Dean Ambrose.


11. WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bobby Lashley (C) Vs. Finn Balor: I never thought I would be interested in watching a Bobby Lashley match as much as I am with this one. He has continued to surprise me since his return to the WWE last year. Is he the best on the mic ? no not really but, that's why he has Lio Rush with him. Lashley continues to be a dominant heel character that could be in the main event if the Universal Champion actually appeared more. Balor is coming off a decent showing against Lesnar at The Royal Rumble that really raised his profile back to a point that it hasn't been at since returning from injury. This one will be an entertaining match but, in a night of high profile matches may be lost in the shuffle. I think there might be a title change in this match with Balor becoming a two time Intercontinental Champion.


12. AJ Styles Vs. Randy Orton: I get the funny feeling that this match was thrown together because neither had any solid plans and management didn't want to waste them. It's hard to believe that AJ was in one of the main events last year and Orton won the WWE Championship the year before and now they are in a weirdly planned and under sold match. That's not to say that both men aren't capable of having a great match because they are but, I struggle to see the point in this match being on the card. This will sadly be nothing but a filler match mid way through the card with AJ Styles coming out on top.


13. WWE Championship: Daniel Bryan (C) Vs. Kofi Kingston: The match that until the start of the year nobody knew how much they needed to happen. Kofi Kingston has had one of the best runs in his entire 11 year WWE career and he really deserves it. Kingston has had a series of memorable moments and as part of The New Day has had some of the most entertaining segments in recent years. Daniel Bryan has really settled himself as one of the best heels in recent years with an incredible turn that nobody really saw coming. This match will be one of the highlights of the night with both men showing their ability in the ring. Will Kofi win the big one ? I'd love to say yes but, I'm really not sure.


14. WWE Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar (C) Vs. Seth Rollins: Brock Lesnar has made only a handful of appearances in the last year or so and they have been pretty dull to say the least. I know, I'm like a lot of fans that have voiced their displeasure with Lesnar being champion for so long with little to no matches but, I would rather see a champion that fans actually want to watch regardless of their character and Lesnar is not the draw he once was. I think this match will be very similar to the Lesnar Vs. Balor match at The Royal rumble with the whole David and Goliath motif being used. I really think that Rollins can take the WWE into the future that will hopefully be Lesnar free. I hope Rollins will come out with the win but, when it comes to Lesnar, who knows what will happen ?


15. Winner Takes All: Ronda Rousey (C) Vs. Charlotte Flair (C) Vs. Becky Lynch: If anything Wrestlemania will be remembered for anything it will be the year that the women's division really cements itself in WWE history. Whilst it's a shame Asuka won't be going into Wrestlemania as champion I love the fact that the winner of this historic match will come out as the one and only champion in the WWE. Becky Lynch has really proven herself as a credible competitor that really should have never been overlooked when Charlotte and Sasha were gaining all the notoriety. Ronda Rousey has managed to use the backlash against her to her advantage, positioning herself as a great heel that the fans want her to be. Charlotte Flair has really established herself as once in a generation talent. All three competitors deserve their main event match as their feud has been a brilliant watch over the past few months. I think this match will help transcend the women's division to even loftier heights than ever. This will be a hard hitting match with a lot of great spots that will be Rousey's biggest test yet. I really think that Becky Lynch will come out on top so that she can well and truly call herself the man.