When it comes to me previewing a WWE pay-per-view event, there’s a big difference between what I expect to see and what I hope to see. If you’re wondering what my expectations are for this Sunday, check out my four-page prediction and analysis article for the show (
WrestleMania XXX Predictions & In-Depth Analysis). If you’re curious as to what I hope to see take place this Sunday, keep reading, as it’s time to jump into “5 Things I Hope To See At WrestleMania XXX.”
Before I get started, I should note that the following list is not in any particular order. These are just five things I hope to see take place this Sunday night in New Orleans.
Roman Reigns Have A Big Moment
I’ve already pointed out the fact that I’m a bit disappointed that The Shield vs. Kane and The New Age Outlaws was the best match WWE could come up with for my favorite trio/faction currently on the roster. I liked some of the original ideas I heard, such as all three members of The Shield against each other, or saving The Shield vs. Wyatt Family match, which eventually took place at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, for this show. Since neither happened, we have to take it for what it is, which should be a typical good match from three of the best young talents in the business today.
With all of that being said, I still hope WWE gives Roman Reigns a big moment during this match, or at some point during the show. I’m torn on whether or not I want to see a decent little babyface run for The Shield, or if I want them to go back to teasing a breakup and finally executing it, giving all three individuals a chance to showcase their solo abilities. The more I think about it, I’m hoping for the latter. Having said that, hopefully they either pick back up the tease for it during this show, or at least find a way to showcase Reigns in a meaningful way during his match on “the grandest stage of them all.”
Up until this point, WWE has done an excellent job at “slow-building” Reigns, positioning him as a clear-cut obvious choice as one of the next potential major WWE Superstars of the next generation. One of the great examples is the way he was booked in the Royal Rumble match in January. There’s been countless other examples, and hopefully there will be another one to add to the list after this Sunday night.
I hope to see Roman Reigns have a big moment at WrestleMania XXX.
Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Makes A Star
As I pointed out in my predictions editorial, I expect Big Show to walk away with the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy, however that doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with the decision. I understand why they would do it, and it’s obvious to many, but I do hope I’m wrong.
I hope WWE uses this match, which to their credit has been promoted as something that’s actually important, to either make a new star or boost the stock of an already existing star. There’s been a lot of talk that Alexander Rusev should walk out of this one victorious, and that’s a perfect example of something I’d like to see happen. Outside of a decent showing at the Royal Rumble match in January, we haven’t seen Rusev make his in-ring debut on the main roster yet. What better way for him to immediately make an impact than for him to debut in the heavily promoted Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal and dominate the entire thing, coming out on top with the “W”?
Unfortunately, I think they’re going for historical significance in this one, and because of that, I expect “Andre Jr.” to get the nod here. Again though, I hope I’m wrong, because if they go that route, all of the build up to this one would have basically been for nothing. Unless of course they decide to give Big Show another shove, although we’ve seen him “start and stopped” so many times that I’m not sure how effectively he could get over as a legitimate main event player at this point in his career.
I hope to see the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal create a new star at WrestleMania XXX.
The Real Americans Break Apart
Much like the angle that was going on with The Shield for a while, WWE had been regularly teasing a breakup of The Real Americans tag-team, only to completely bail on the idea altogether. I would assume there was a reason behind this, but seeing how things played out, at least as it pertains to WrestleMania XXX, they just ended up being thrown in a four-team match — on the pre-show, no less — for the WWE Tag-Team Championships.
I covered this aspect in my prediction column as well, but maybe the reason they did that was so that in the championship match this Sunday, one of the two Real Americans costs the other the win somehow, setting up the beginning of a breakup that would then take place after WrestleMania XXX, as to not be overshadowed by the many big matches and angles that will be taking place throughout the evening. If that’s the idea, then I like it, because I think Cesaro’s turn and singles run shouldn’t be viewed as a pre-show angle, or even a mid-card angle that easily gets lost in the shuffle and forgotten by the end of the night.
Will this happen? I’m not exactly sure. Something tells me The Real Americans actually win the WWE Tag-Team Championships this Sunday, so if that’s what happens, I’m not sure what the plans will be at that point as far as breaking the team up and giving each a singles run. If they don’t capture the titles, I would assume The Usos retain, as I can’t see either Ryback and Curtis Axel or Los Matadores leaving New Orleans with WWE gold.
I hope to see The Real Americans break apart at WrestleMania XXX.
John Cena Put Over Bray Wyatt
Once again, I should point out the differences in what I expect and what I hope to see. As noted in the prediction piece, I expect Cena to come out victorious in this one. The obvious finish would be Luke Harper and Erick Rowan interfering on Bray’s behalf, and Hulk Hogan coming to the rescue of his “brother” and helping Cena get his hand raised.
Boy I hope I’m wrong.
But, I probably won’t be.
What I hope happens is Cena putting over Bray Wyatt. I should also point out that there’s a huge difference in John Cena losing this match and John Cena putting over Bray Wyatt. If it takes a bunch of bullshit interference and weapons and the sky falling for Bray to “somehow” pin Cena’s shoulders to the mat for three seconds, depending on how it plays out, that’s not exactly going to help Wyatt all that much. Just winning a match doesn’t guarantee you’re going to get a boost out of the situation, no matter who the person you’re beating is.
Hopefully Cena does the right thing. Bray Wyatt has huge Superstar potential, and with this being his first singles match at a WrestleMania, and considering the fact that Cena is untouchable and can lose 20 matches on pay-per-view in a row without it really hurting his career all that much, hopefully he does the right thing and helps an emerging star break through to the next level.
We’ll see what happens on Sunday.
I hope to see John Cena put over Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania XXX.
The Show End With Daniel Bryan Getting His “Moment”
Finally we get to one that I’m about 99.9 percent sure is going to happen this Sunday. Unless Vince McMahon, Triple H and the other decision-makers in WWE take up crack-cocaine over the weekend, I see no way that WrestleMania XXX ends on Sunday night without Daniel Bryan getting past Triple H, as well as Randy Orton and Batista later in the evening, setting the stage for the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion to close out the show by leading 70,000-plus fans in New Orleans in one giant, passionate “Yes!” chant.
Will they actually swerve the fans and screw Bryan once again? It’s certainly possible, and crazier things has certainly happened in the professional wrestling business. But in all honesty, I just can’t see a scenario where that happens.
The guy has earned the right to finally have his big “moment,” and on what better stage than WrestleMania? The showcase of the immortals. The show where legends are made. Hopefully Daniel Bryan gets his moment in the spotlight, the fans get what they’ve been begging for, and everyone gets to go home happy.
As noted, there’s a big difference between what I expect to see on Sunday and what I hope to see. In this particular case, both are one-in-the-same.
I hope to see the show end with Daniel Bryan getting his “moment” at WrestleMania XXX.
AND…
I expect to see the show end with Daniel Bryan getting his “moment” at WrestleMania XXX.
