Hello and welcome back to PPV Aftershock!
If a
columnist is so bold as to make predictions on an upcoming PPV, they should be
held accountable for their predictions. Aside from highlighting the winners and
rating, I will compare them to my original predictions.
Gold and Stardust vs. The Usos vs. Los Matadors
vs. The Miz and Mizdow – Title match
Predicted Winner – The Miz and Damien Mizdow
Actual Winner- The Miz
and Damien Mizdow
Predicted Rating: 3/5
Actual Rating: 3/5
This one was relatively easy to predict. All the
momentum is on Mizdow as of late, so strapping a belt to him and the Miz will
only help both of them. It also will make for a more dramatic split when they
do finally drop the belts. The match itself had some fun spots, but nothing
that screamed “This is awesome!” Mizdow did get some huge pops, which was a
given. Overall, this was a nice way to start the main card.
Going Forward: Miz & Mizdow will feud with the
other three main teams, until an eventual split with a Mizdow “official” face
turn. Until then, just enjoy the ride of a genuine good wrestler getting an
organic push.
Alicia Fox, Emma, Naomi and Natalya vs. Paige, Cameron, Layla and Summer Rae – Traditional Survivor Series
match
Predicted Winner – Team Fox
Actual Winner – Team Fox
Predicted Rating: 2.5/5
Actual Rating: 2/5
The match was a bit of a cluttered mess as opposed
to a cohesive traditional Survivor Series match. It showcased the Divas in the
division, which was a plus. Naomi particularly stood out, and it reassured me
that she needs to be pushed once the Bella storyline is over. Emma and Natalya
were also fun to watch, as per usual. That being said, with all the talent in
NXT (and hidden talent on the main roster), superstars such as Summer Rae truly
need to step up in order to survive the next few years. Being just a pretty
face “hopefully” won’t cut it in this division anymore.
Going Forward: A few
miscellaneous face / heel turns here and there, and Paige being highlighted
against a few more random challengers (possibly Naomi?).
Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose
Predicted Winner – Dean Ambrose
Actual Winner – Bray Wyatt
via DQ
Predicted Rating: 3.5/5
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
This was a fun match to watch that likely surprised some
people, due to the lackluster build up. They’re both good on the mic, and very
unorthodox in the ring. Ambrose doing Wyatt’s signature upside-down stare was
priceless. This match was only the opening act of what will be a great feud.
Ambrose’s end with the tables, ladder, and chairs foreshadowed an obvious
follow-up (which has now been confirmed).
Going Forward: Look forward to what will be an
amazing TLC match. If they can keep it up, they could ride this feud to the
Royal Rumble.
Slater Gator vs. Adam
Rose & The Bunny
Not Predicted
Actual Winner – Adam Rose
& The Bunny
Actual Rating: 1.5/5
This was a gimmicky match that should have been on
Raw (or Main Event for that matter). Slater hit a nice kick to the face of
Rose, which is the only reason I rated this 1.5 instead of 1. Although Cesaro
vs. Swagger on the pre-show was not the best of matches, it should have easily
had the spot on the PPV.
Going Forward: Adam Rose vs. Bunny, with an eventual
unmasking of him. The only thing intriguing about this is who they will decide
to pick as the “official” bunny once he’s unmasked.
AJ
Lee vs. Nikki Bella – Title match
Predicted Winner – Nikki Bella
Actual Winner – Nikki Bella
Predicted Rating: 3/5
Actual Rating: 2/5
AJ is a talented wrestler, and Nikki still needs
work. The meld of these two just didn’t work. It does progress the Bella
storyline, so it was essential I suppose. This seemed like it was meant to
cover the stadium bathroom break, unfortunately.
Going Forward: AJ will likely have a rematch, then
either take some time off/leave. Nikki will face AJ, and maybe a few random
Divas for the title, all before eventually losing the belt to Brie.
Team Cena (John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Erick Rowan and Ryback) vs. Team
Authority (Seth
Rollins, Kane, Mark Henry, Rusev and Luke Harper)
Predicted Winner – Team Cena
Actual Winner – Team Cena
Predicted Rating: 4/5
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
Predicted
Eliminations:
Ryback – eliminate Kane, eliminated by
Rollins
Erick Rowan – eliminate Harper, eliminated by
Rollins
Big Show – eliminate no one, eliminated by Mark Henry
Dolph Ziggler – eliminate Henry, eliminated by Rusev
John Cena – eliminate Rollins, eliminated by no
one
Rusev – eliminated via DQ
Actual Eliminations:
Ryback – eliminate no one,
eliminated by Rusev
Erick Rowan – eliminate no
one, eliminated by Harper
Big Show – eliminate Henry,
eliminated by himself
Dolph Ziggler – eliminate Rollins,
Harper, Kane, eliminated by no one
John Cena – eliminate no one,
eliminated by Rollins
Rusev – eliminated via count out
This match was given a 4.5/5
not because of the wrestling itself, but because of the fact that WWE decided
to do the right thing for once and took a long-term position on the finale.
Ziggler to be the last man standing instead of Cena was a huge boost to his
credibility, and it does not hurt Cena in any way. It also set up for (what I
believe to be) a fantastic feud between the former Wyatt members. Big Show
turning opens up the eventual return of the Big Show & Henry heel team, or
him to act as an enforcer for Rollins, who still needs some protection in the
main event scene. Rollins did score an elimination, and assisted on some
others, which gives him that “ultimate opportunist” Edge feel to him. Rusev was
protected, as originally predicted, and Ryback was not, also as predicted. If
that wasn’t enough, Sting returns! As a child, Sting was my favorite wrestler,
so this was a bit of a dream come true for me. Regardless of his age, he’s
still a fantastic presence to have in the WWE, even if it’s only until
Wrestlemania. The final main point here is that the Authority is gone, which
opens up new storylines. Good job to Vince on deciding to shake things up a bit
instead of just sticking to the same old routine.
Going forward: Oh, the
possibilities. Cena can feud with whoever he wants (likely Big Show) until he
gets his title shot. Ziggler has faced Rollins quite a bit as of late, but an “official”
feud between the two may be fun, especially if we see a specialty match at TLC.
Ryback vs. either Rollins or Kane at TLC. Rowan vs. Harper for the IC title.
Rusev vs. the midcard roster until he’s given a main event star at Wrestlemania
to feud with. Everyone wants a Sting vs. Undertaker at Wrestlemania, but a
Sting vs. Triple H Royal Rumble match would be just as entertaining.
Agree? Disagree? Comment
below 🙂
