Cesaro and Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy – RAW Tag Team Championship
Probably the easiest match in the history of WWE to predict, not only because Cesaro and Sheamus have won the RAW Tag Team Championship multiple times, but they are no longer going to be featured on the RAW brand. Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy’s gimmick tag team has slowly begun to work, and it’s quite easy to see that the momentum they have will translate into them winning the RAW Tag Team Championship. Cesaro and Sheamus have been invaluable to the RAW brand, most importantly, to their tag team division, and them going to Smackdown is absolutely the right move. I just hope that WWE gives Sheamus somewhat of a sabbatical considering that he’s been working with spinal stenosis for a while now. No need to just rush them back into the Smackdown tag team division. But yeah, it’s pretty much written in the stars that Wyatt and Hardy will become RAW Tag Team champs.
Winners: Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy
The Bludgeon Brothers (C) vs. The Usos – Smackdown Tag Team Championship
The only story here is that The Bludgeon Brothers have been dominating and The Usos don’t like it. If you recall, these two teams had one hell of a match at Battleground four years ago for the tag team titles. Of course, I’m not expecting WWE to allow them any significant time to recreate that magic, because all of the matches involving The Bludgeon Brothers have been just them running through everyone in their path, and I fail to see how The Usos randomly take the titles off of them now. It’s highly likely this is just another extended squash for the Bludgeon Brothers, and that’s what it probably should be in hindsight.
Winners: The Bludgeon Brothers
Cedric Alexander (C) vs. Kalisto – Cruiserweight Championship
This was sort of a last minute thing, but if you guys haven’t checked it out yet, you should give a look at the gauntlet match on 205 LIVE they just had. That was a rockin good match. Anyways, Kalisto came out on top and earned the right to face Cedric for the Cruiserweight Championship. Alexander just won it and Kalisto has already been champion, so I believe it’s safe to say that Cedric will retain here, as he seems to be the champion of choice for the immediate future. I’m definitely interested in seeing how he works with a smaller opponent, though.
Winner: Cedric Alexander
Jeff Hardy (C) vs. Jinder Mahal – United States Championship
In another easily predictable match, there’s no way Jinder Mahal is winning the United States Championship back after just winning it because doing so would give RAW both mid-card titles, and I would not like to think WWE has intentions on sending Jinder back to Smackdown. I think they put the title on Jeff for a reason, and he seems to be the immediate future for the US Title on the Smackdown brand. I have no reason to believe that Jinder is winning the title back.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Seth Rollins (C) vs. The Miz vs. Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor – Intercontinental Championship (Ladder Match)
Newly crowned Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins is due to defend his title against the two guys he beat for it at WrestleMania and Smackdown’s Samoa Joe. Now, to me, it’s clear that if Samoa Joe is going to be having any title match, it’s going to be for the Universal Championship if Roman is able to win. Plus, he’s a Smackdown guy and they already have the United States Championship. Then again, that is also contingent on Jeff Hardy being able to retain. Then again, maybe not. Okay, I’m losing it. The point here is that if there’s one guarantee I have in this match, it’s that Samoa Joe won’t be walking out with the Intercontinental Championship. Then, you have Finn Balor, who is slowly but surely starting to gain a reputation for not showing up in big moments. Think about what he’s done since his return last year. That’s right. Nothing.
The only person who is has a sliver of a chance of defeating Seth Rollins is the guy who lost it at WrestleMania, The Miz. He’s an 8 time Champion and can win it back at any time. The only question is that since he’s a Smackdown guy, would he carry the title over to that brand? I’m not so sure. One would say Finn’s chances should be larger since he’s the only guy on the same brand as Seth in this match. But I feel like that is being saved for an eventual one on one match. Seth Rollins just won it, and he’s been having a red-hot 2018. He seems to be the champion for the immediate future and I wouldn’t take the title off of him here. He’s an IC Title guy. So leave it like that.
Winner: Seth Rollins
John Cena vs. Triple H
If this was 2005, there may be a reason for you to get excited that this random match was announced, but 13 years later, it’s a lot less interesting. Couple in the fact that Cena and Triple H have the most basic in-ring formula for fighting with each other, they are literally just having a match for the sake of having a match and nothing else. It doesn’t matter to me who wins or not here because it’s just something for the fans and about as random as it can get, but I don’t think this is going to set anyone on fire. You have two performers who barely show up on RAW and Smackdown fighting because it’s a big house show and they need big performers. Literally, that’s it. Usually, it’s the face that wins these kinds of events, so I’m going with Cena here. And hell, after shutting down the wedding against Nikki, he needs a victory of any sort.
Winner: John Cena
Undertaker vs. Rusev – Casket Match
This is a match I believe Rusev needs, but another completely random match with no buildup will hurt my enjoyment here. And since Undertaker basically squashed John Cena, not only is the outcome predictable, but it remains to be seen how long a match this will be. Rusev’s gimmick has gotten insanely over, and putting him in a match with Undertaker may be the exposure he needs to propel himself. Now obviously, he’s going to lose this match, but what a win it would be for Rusev if he were able to pull it off in light of all of the major losses he’s been taking recently. I’m not sure how good Rusev can look facing Undertaker when he’s literally on his final legs, but if he’s able to at least make Rusev look formidable, that may be as big a win as Rusev actually winning the match. That said, Undertaker wins, because he’s Undertaker and Rusev’s not.
Winner: Undertaker
Brock Lesnar (C) vs. Roman Reigns – Universal Championship (Steel Cage Match)
So, are we finally crowning Roman Reigns as THE guy yet? I’m not sure how much longer WWE will play this out, but what I do know is that WWE cannot continue this narrative of Roman talking a big game but not being able to back it up. It would feel weird to have Roman win what would arguably be the biggest victory of his career take place in a Network exclusive event instead of WrestleMania because it feels like a wasted opportunity. That said, every part of me believes Roman is going to win, and that’s primarily because Samoa Joe has been repeating the same promo that if Roman somehow beats Lesnar, he’s coming for the title. Since I don’t expect Lesnar to compete at backlash and the two Samoans already have a scheduled outing, it would make sense to have Roman win.
If Roman Reigns doesn’t win this Friday, then I have absolutely no idea what his direction is going to be. He has to win the title at some point, right? RIGHT?
Winner: Roman Reigns
50-Man Royal Rumble Match
Considering that this match has twenty extra competitors than your normal Royal Rumble match, it’s difficult to say who is going to win this match. What makes it all the more disappointing is that for the largest Royal Rumble match ever, there should be some incentive. The winner of this match should get a guaranteed world title match on the brand that they are on. Think about it. Winning a regular 30 man Royal Rumble match guarantees you the main event match on the biggest show of the year. What does winning the biggest Royal Rumble of all time do for someone? To the best of my knowledge, the winner of the match will just get a trophy. You get a trophy for winning a normal over the top rope battle royal when everyone is already in the ring. Winning a Royal Rumble match, when you get fresh superstars entering every minute or so and having to outlast 50 other guys should not get you the same reward.
There’s a plethora of talent to choose from. There are relics of the past like Triple H, the current crop of superstars, and potential surprises (With two probably being Rey Mysterio and The Great Khali). This kind of match should be won by someone who could use it or someone who deserves it. The two names that come to mind are Braun Strowman and Daniel Bryan. Bryan because he’s probably one of the smallest guys in the ring and capitalizing his in-ring return by outlasting 50 other men would be impressive and go along with his narrative. Braun Strowman should be WWE’s next big star, and he has the dominance and strength. The winner of this Royal Rumble is incredibly difficult because of the large crop of stars, but Braun just makes the most sense to me.
Winner: Braun Strowman
