I want to preface this by saying that I'm more excited for this WrestleMania card than any other I can recall. It's insane. Anyway, the battle royal is usually a tough call, because it can go to anyone. I doubt anyone expected Mojo Rawley to win last year and nobody knew Baron Corbin would be in at WrestleMania 32. Looking at the field so far this year, I'm actually all for the Revival winning as a unit. I don't think that happens, though. I'm gonna say Dolph Ziggler wins, but then kind of disses it the way he did with the US Title.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Like the men's battle royal, this is hard to call. The only real storylines coming in are the rivalry between Sasha Banks and Bayley, as well as the stables (Absolution and Riott Squad) that are involved. Ruby Riott is actually a very strong pick to win this whole thing. I think Sasha and Bayley will cancel each other out, as well. I'm going to make a pick that never works out for me, but since this feels like it could go any way, I'm picking with my heart. Becky baby.
Winner Becky Lynch
Not enough people are talking about it, but 205 Live has been amazing since Enzo Amore left. I'm not blaming him, by the way. The show has just so happened to take a completely new direction since he got fired and it has worked out so well. Consistently great matches with top notch storytelling. The top two babyfaces on the brand get a match at WrestleMania and, if given time, it'll be awesome. It could go either way, but I'm thinking Cedric Alexander wins. I think there's a better story to be told with Mustafa Ali if he loses. Also, I'm hoping Neville finds a way to return the night after Mania.
Winner: Cedric Alexander
Goodness, this card is loaded. The Usos and New Day have had the best series of tag matches in history. Meanwhile, though their gimmick is strange, the Bludgeon Brothers are a great team. Remember their matches with the Usos in 2014? Quality stuff. I'm hearing this may become a gimmick match, which sounds even better. As much as I think the New Day regain the titles here, I'm gonna say the Usos retain. They finally get on the main Mania card and do it with a win. They are currently the best tag team on the planet.
Winners: The Usos
This is hard to predict, because I think it all depends on who Braun's partner is. If it's someone like Samoa Joe, they will have a goddamn barnburner of a match and could work as dominant champions. However, if he ends up with someone like Elias (who I think should host the show) he could get livid when that guy takes the loss. I'll go out on a limb and say team Braun wins, but they only hold the titles for a bit and Braun wins a top singles title by SummerSlam.
Winners: Braun and TBA
I'm not trying to sound like some kind of mark, but why isn't this Sasha/Bayley? Don't get me wrong, I like Alexa Bliss and see the value of Nia Jax. Their storyline just doesn't feel like a big deal. Alexa is a mean friend and Nia's mad. That's about it. There are layers to the Sasha/Bayley feud and it has a long back story. With that out of the way, I'm thinking Nia squashes Alexa.
Winner: Nia Jax
Another match that could honestly go either way. On the one hand, it would make sense for Owens and Zayn to win and get their "jobs" back, pinning Shane McMahon. Or, maybe Shane turns heel. On the other, it's hard to imagine Daniel Bryan losing his return match. He could get the win and then Owens and Zayn show up on Raw the next night, since the stipulation seems to be about them being banned from Smackdown. I'm thinking Owens and Zayn win, and either Bryan doesn't get pinned or he gets screwed and it kickstarts his first feud back.
Winners: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
I've made it very clear that I don't think Charlotte is anything special. She lacks personality and promo skills, while also being terrible at some of the basic aspects of the ring, like selling. That being said, she carries herself like a star and has a great presence about her. This match with Asuka legitimately feels like a big deal. It should be very good and, as much as I could see WWE going with her as the one who ends Asuka's streak, having it end here is pointless. 900 days and all just to lose her biggest match?
Winner: Asuka
This was the one match on the card that I had ABSOLUTELY zero interest in. However, Smackdown made a rare good decision and added Rusev to the match. That changed everything for me and now, I'm looking forward to this. I can't imagine he wins, but he still makes up for the blandness of everyone else. Plus, Aiden English gets to sing at Mania! Again, it's tough to pick a winner. Roode losing just to win it back seems like the kind of booking decision I've come to expect. Jinder was the best part of this before Rusev was added. However, I think Orton retains, purely because I don't have many champions retaining.
Winner: Randy Orton
My most anticipated match. Their match on Raw in 2017 was one of the most underrated and overlooked matches in history. It was fantastic and had a wonky finish involving run-ins from Samoa Joe and Bray Wyatt. That won't be the case this time and I'm so ready for this to steal the show. Miz is a new dad and, as much as I'd like to see him set the record for longest time as IC Champion, I think he takes a bit of time off after Mania. Finn Balor could use the big win the most, having done a whole lot of nothing other than beat AJ Styles since SummerSlam 2016. But, I've got my money on Seth Rollins winning. He wants to be "the man" of Raw again and watching him and Roman attempt to one up each other as the champions of the brand could be fun.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Like the Universal Title match, this was a predictable piece of the Mania card, but should deliver in the ring. After his debut against Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura has been wildly mediocre. That's two years of lackluster performances. However, he's remained over. Meanwhile, AJ Styles has been excellent (as always) against everyone not named Kevin Owens. If there's ever a time for Nakamura to put in effort again, it's in a WWE Title match at WrestleMania. Their Wrestle Kingdom match was tremendous and I'm expecting more of the same. AJ is the best in the world and when Nakamura wants to be, he can be right up there, too. I think he wants to be. AJ should retain, but I don't see Nakamura losing yet another big match.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Here's the definition of something that probably won't be very good in the ring, but still be quite the spectacle. Just seeing these two together at WrestleMania will be wild. Cena has come off kind of poorly in this. It's like, "I can't make it onto the WrestleMania card on my own, so I'm gonna call out the old guy sitting on his couch." However, it has been entertaining. Cena will win. But, I lose interest if we get American Badass Undertaker.
Winner: John Cena
This will be interesting. Stephanie McMahon is no wrestler, but managed to get a pretty good match out of Brie Bella a few years ago. Kurt Angle and Triple H will do what they do, so that's to be expected. Ronda Rousey is the one to watch, to see how well she's come along. Working with veterans like this will only help. Hopefully, HHH doesn't try to make this one of his failed "Mania epics" where he goes way too long. Keep it tight and it should work better. Ronda and Angle win because, duh.
Winners: Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey
THE BIG DOG. I'm ready for him to reign as Universal Champion. People can bitch all they want about him, but he's been one of the best wrestlers for the past year or two. The only two PPV matches of his on big shows that I didn't like were with HHH and Undertaker to close out two long Manias. However, his great Mania match came against Brock. Roman needs to win here, to give us a consistent champion. I'm over Brock and have been for a while. ALL HAIL THE BIG DOG
Winner: Roman Reigns
2018 Prediction Record: 15-6
2017 Prediction Record: 81-37
2016 Prediction Record: 72-41
2015 Prediction Record: 60-35
WrestleMania Prediction History: 18-15
