John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan, WWE Championship Match, Triple H as Special Referee: This seems like it's set up for Bryan to win, especially with Hunter refereeing and he's been defending Bryan. I don't do this very often, but I'm switching my pick to Bryan.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian, World Heavyweight Championship Match: Del Rio wins and retains. Christian feels very much like a placeholder here, even if Del Rio's title reign isn't setting the world on fire.
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt, Ring of Fire match: Speaking of fire, Wyatt has to win here in his debut.
C.M. Punk vs. Brock Lesnar: This is tough. It really all depends on possible rematches between the two. I have a lot of heels going over, but I'll say Lesnar wins with help from Heyman.
Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow: Sandow wins, but the feud isn't over.
Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E. Langston & A.J. Lee, Mixed Tag Match: The babyfaces win.
Natalya vs. Brie Bella: I had no idea this was even on the card. Brie wins, I guess.
(edited by geemoney on 15.8.13 1653) @gregmparks - live Tweeting of Raw and Impact, wrestling thoughts and other slices of life.
There's also RVD vs. Ambrose and Show/Henry vs. Rollins & Reigns.
C.M. Punk vs. Brock Lesnar: This is tough. It really all depends on possible rematches between the two. I have a lot of heels going over, but I'll say Lesnar wins with help from Heyman.
I think Lesnar has the same contract as last year. Done after next Monday until Wrestlemania. Punk can lose and still look heroic by taking it to Brock and finally getting his hands on Paul.
I don't know how much storyline-driven shenanigans will be going on before and after the finish of Cena/Bryan, but I would like to predict that Bryan pins Cena with a small package out of the fireman's carry.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroThere's also RVD vs. Ambrose and Show/Henry vs. Rollins & Reigns.
I don't count the pre-show match in the predictions; as for the other, I was going off WWE.com's list of officially announced matches, and the tag match isn't there yet.
@gregmparks - live Tweeting of Raw and Impact, wrestling thoughts and other slices of life.
John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan, WWE Championship Match, Triple H as Special Referee: Bryan wins.
#FANTASYBOOKING(s):
They built up the small package as being Bryan's non-submission finisher (funny how a small package is someone's "impact finisher"). It's reached the point of Cheekov's Gun. The question at this point is "when". On the surface, the AA into the small package makes the most sense. But I think what we could see here is Bryan winning, Orton cashing in.....but Bryan beating Orton with the small package and walking away with the title.
Remember, we're looking at a lot of similarities with how Punk was built up. Vince had a big role in that, and has one with this. Bryan winning, Vince calling out "his champ", and Bryan winning would be a huge deal.
Something else I'd love to see is Orton coming down half way through the match with the brief case, waiting. Such a heel thing. Bryan wins, Orton cashes in. Sets up the next big feud.
The most likely thing is Bryan winning, Orton cashing in. Which is also fine, that's at least two main event PPV's right there. And Bryan is one guy Orton can *stay* heel and get heel reactions with.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian, World Heavyweight Championship Match: Del Rio, because I think they might set up a Del Rio vs Christian title vs career match (one more match).
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt, Ring of Fire match: Wyatt, duh.
C.M. Punk vs. Brock Lesnar: Lesner, with Punk looking strong.
Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow: Rhodes wins.
Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E. Langston & A.J. Lee, Mixed Tag Match: Langston/AJ.
Natalya vs. Brie Bella: Brie.
Shield wins the tag match, Ambrose wins too.
(edited by El Nastio on 13.8.13 0006) "You can't put a price on integrity"
John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan, WWE Championship Match, Triple H as Special Referee: We've officially timewarped to 2011, haven't we? Bryan beats Cena clean with the roll-up to win the title. Post-match, Vince brings out Orton to cash in the briefcase, but in the big twist, Bryan also beats HIM with the roll-up, turning him into the company's biggest conquering hero in the process!
Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian, World Heavyweight Championship Match: Christian's win last Friday means we're in for a fresh round of 50/50 booking, as the company then wonders why Del Rio isn't over. Del Rio wins clean. Christian, sadly, goes back to Jobberville.
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt, Ring of Fire match: I can't imagine Wyatt winning here, because the stipulation means this would have to be a totally clean win. Kane wins. Wyatt gets his win back later for MORE 50/50 booking!
C.M. Punk vs. Brock Lesnar: If Brock's going away again, I'd have to imagine it's on top. Brock wins a really tough match and takes a siesta until the Rumble to challenge for the title.
Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow: Poor Cody. First his heel run fizzles, due to negligence, and now his face turn is pretty much DOA. Sandow wins.
Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E. Langston & A.J. Lee, Mixed Tag Match: They need to start rebuilding Dolph badly. The faces win.
Natalya vs. Brie Bella: WHY IS THIS MATCH HAPPENING??? Brie wins! I use the can.
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you... John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan: I REALLY hope I'm wrong about this, but... Bryan small-packages Cena for the win, Orton comes out for the cash-in, it appears as though Trips will be the neutralizer... then Trips turns on Bryan, helps Orton execute Vince's master plan to success, and we end the night with the ring filled with trash and the IWC cursing the dirt sheets for being so right and so wrong at the same time.
CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar: While tonight's booking makes it seem like Brock wins and they angle for a rematch at WM XXX, I'm going with Punk going over for the happy moment because I fear the night will end on such a downer, and because they're going to want to put Brock with either Rock or Undertaker to pop the buyrate (and because Trips' ego won't allow Brock to have a rematch with anyone but him).
Alberto del Rio vs. Christian: Pick may change depending upon what happens on Smackdown, but I'm leaning towards a Christian win because I think he (as the veteran hand) would make the better foil for a cash-in from Damien Sandow, since Dolph Ziggler still has some work to do on getting consistently over as a babyface (and as ever, Del Rio is snoozing the joint up as champion). Maybe Ricardo comes in with the assist?
Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow: Usually the MITB is a ticket to a losing streak prior to the cash-in, but Sandow needs main-event level cred and Rhodes has gotten one over on him too many times to date so far. (Though since the case isn't on the line, this pick could flip if Sandow convincingly gets one back on him on SD.)
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt: No question that Bray goes over in his debut match.
Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E Langston & AJ Lee: Usually the babyfaces win in this type of situation, but Big E & AJ have been on the losing side a fair bit in this buildup, I get the sense that Ziggler isn't getting back to the main event any time soon, and I also sense they want to push aside Kaitlyn for Natalya as "top wrestling Diva" because of the success of Total Divas. (And after all she's been through, putting Kaitlyn with the Wyatts would be damn interesting.)
Natalya vs. Brie Bella: If you believe the dirt sheets, it only worked out like this because Nikki still isn't cleared to wrestle (unless they're waiting to introduce the celebrity factor later in the week via the press conference or something). Either way this looks like a babyface win.
Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns vs. Mark Henry/Big Show: They may hold off on this one since there's no time to build to the match with Show taking longer than expected to recover, but if it does happen the Shield will retain.
Dean Ambrose vs. Rob Van Dam: The only point to having this match is for Rob to give Dean the rub. Was honestly surprised to see Rob go over tonight because I think it's silly to waste one of Rob's limited appearances on an Internet pre-show, but I'm not the one with the stacks of cash, I guess.
Summary:
Bryan Punk Christian (pending SD) Sandow (pending SD) Wyatt Big E/AJ Natalya Shield Ambrose
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.
John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan, WWE Championship Match, Triple H as Special Referee: This is the toughest to call, because of all the variables they've thrown in over the last two weeks. They're very clearly angling an Orton cash-in instead of drawing it out, and have been really playing up the Daniel Bryan underdog card. Cena's title reign can go for a little longer, but now's the time to strike with Bryan. His reign doesn't have to be long, but he should win and prove his worth here.
PREDICTION: Daniel Bryan beats John Cena, and beats Randy Orton in a MITB cash-in. Vince screws Bryan down the road in the continuing drama that is Vince vs HHH.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian, World Heavyweight Championship Match: Alberto Del Rio retains because there's just other challengers out there. I think the of building up Christian on RAW is just to sell the match and him as a viable opponent, and remind people that he beat Randy Orton for the World Title two years ago.
Hopefully, when Ziggler and Big E sort their thing out, they remember that they want the World Title and that's why they're fighting each other, because they're both more compelling challengers than Christian, who just seems like he's past his time as a viable champion.
PREDICTION: Alberto Del Rio
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt, Ring of Fire match: Wyatt gets the Fandango treatment. All the way up to the announcers pointing out how cool "Wyatting" is and ruining the appeal. Buy your lamb mask at WWE Shop!
PREDICTION: Bray Wyatt
C.M. Punk vs. Brock Lesnar: The ending to RAW throws me off, but the thing for me here is that Brock won his feud with HHH and won last year at SummerSlam, while all year, CM Punk has lost to Cena, Rock (twice) and Undertaker, and he hasn't really had a great moment in 2013 yet.
Like has been pointed out earlier, Brock doesn't really stick around and is mainly brought in for guest appearances to "put WWE over" (like The Rock), and I gotta think that part of that is putting over guys like CM Punk especially. He's been peppered with wins over HHH, and has physically dominated CM Punk over the last few weeks to add drama, so Brock can take the hit here and still look strong.
Brock hasn't lost to anyone who's needed the rub yet, and this is a great opportunity to do that. Punk's real feud is with Heyman and, when Brock is out, Heyman will need to bring in someone else. Brock should be in a bigger match at WrestleMania, against The Rock, The Undertaker, or Daniel Bryan. Let's play out Brock/Punk here as a one-shot.
PREDICTION: CM Punk
Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow: A month ago, I would have called Cody easily, but Sandow is really bringing it and may be the better World Champion of the two. That said, WWE has been working on Cody for years now and I think it's finally time to elevate him. Sandow's a great future star, but he still should simmer for a bit.
PREDICTION: Cody Rhodes
Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E. Langston & A.J. Lee, Mixed Tag Match: WWE seems to like Big E and Dolph can blame Kaitlyn for the loss.
PREDICTION: Big E and AJ win.
Natalya vs. Brie Bella: I think Natalya is more solid than Brie, but Brie is dating Cena... or Bryan. I forget which is which.
PREDICTION: Brie Bella
PRE-SHOW U.S. TITLE MATCH: Dean Ambrose vs Rob Van Dam: The Shield really seem to be getting less screen time lately, although they did appear in the main event segment last week. Still, it's not time to take the belt off of Dean Ambrose yet, and RVD doesn't need the US title.
PREDICTION: Dean Ambrose
Also, I'm going to be there live and I predict that I will have a good time.
John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan, WWE Championship Match, Triple H as Special Referee: Bryan, then Orton cashes in immediately. Isn't like he was busy all night.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian, World Heavyweight Championship Match: Del Rio. All these Christian empathy segments just telegraph it.
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt, Ring of Fire match: Wyatt. Kane is winless in matches with rings on fire, Kane is helping build Wyatt, Kane will come again in another angle and still be a threat somehow. Kane is the ultimate company man, and regardless of who he puts over he's still KANE. Through Hellfire and brimstone, through Katie Vick and Snitsky, through two masks and without, he's still Kane and forever will be. Wyatt wins here, Kane is still the legend. Most matches in WWE history, I can't wait for his swan song when he shows he's the underdog monster.
EDIT: I can wait! More Kane, more awesome. I just know it'll be completely fucking EPIC.
On that note, I admit I still love seeing Kane the same as I did on day one. Kane Mark 4 Life.
C.M. Punk vs. Brock Lesnar: Lesnar. Punk puts him over after an amazing match, Punk chases Heyman until Mania with Heyman recruiting new blood until then.
Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow: Sandow wins, but the feud isn't over.
AGREED.
Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E. Langston & A.J. Lee, Mixed Tag Match: Ziggler/Kaitlyn unless @heelZiggler stays true and loses via heelnanigans much to Kaitlyn's delight/displeasure.
Natalya vs. Brie Bella: Brie. She's a superdivaweight what with the reality show and all. This match is actually a feature for season 2 of Total Divas.
You know, if it weren't for total Divas and what's portrayed in that, I doubt we'd be getting Cena/Bryan. Twin magic!
(edited by Lexus on 13.8.13 0425) "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Frown and the world laughs at you." -Me.
I have to echo what is, much to my surprise, the overwhelming popular opinion. Bryan beats Cena, Orton tries to cash in, and Bryan beats him too, resulting in a star-defining moment for Daniel Bryan and making him a career WWE main-eventer.
Cena vs Bryan - Decidedly less excited for this one now that they've crowbarred HHH in there. I still think it will be good, but I don't think we'll get the classic we would have done if it was just a straight-up wrestling match devoid of Sports Entertainment shenanigans. I think Bryan wins (probably after a small package) and then Orton tries to cash-in. HHH somehow costs Orton the match, sowing the seeds for Orton's heel turn and alliance with Vince and the climactic Orton vs HHH WrestleMania match (now that HHH vs Austin has fallen through) with Orton assuming the role of Vince's corporate surrogate and HHH fighting for control of the company. They can run with variations on Bryan vs Cena, Bryan vs Orton, and Bryan vs Cena vs Orton for the rest of the year.
Punk vs Lesnar - Really could go either way. I'll say Lesnar, so they can build to a rematch at Royal Rumble (with Team Heyman vs Team Punk at Survivor Series along the way) before Punk and Brock's WrestleMania programs can kick off in earnest (I'm keeping my finger's crossed for Lesnar/Taker and Punk/Bryan).
Christian vs Del Rio - Del Rio wins so he can go back to feuding with Ziggler.
Kane vs Wyatt - Wyatt can't lost in his first PPV match. Can he?
Rollins & Reigns vs Big Show & Henry - Show pins Rollins and finally gets revenge on Rollins for shaking his hand in an inappropriate fashion.
Ziggler & Kaitlynn vs Big E & AJ - Ziggler and Kaitlynn avenge themselves.
Sandow vs Rhodes - I was hoping they'd make this a ladder match with the briefcase on the line. Rhodes wins to set up a rematch, hopefully with those aforementioned stipulations.
Natalya vs Brie - Natalya? I'll go with Natalya.
(edited by TheGreatWhiteBob on 13.8.13 0835)
(edited by TheGreatWhiteBob on 13.8.13 0837) "That's some shameful shit..."
Bryan beats Cena, doesn't get cashed in on just yet Del Rio retains with the help of a snivelling cowardly Ricardo Lesnar mulches Punk Show and Henry defeat the Shield Sandow beats Rhodes Wyatt beats Kane and sets him ablaze Natalya beats Brie And in my outrageous sure-to-be-wrong prediction of the evening, AJ & Big E beat Ziggler and Kaitlyn when Ziggler turns back to the dark side and helps AJ humiliate her former best friend.
WWE Championship: John Cena v Daniel Bryan: I still have high hopes for a fantastic wrestling match before the Sportz Entertainment Finish kicks in. I think Bryan wins (via Small Package) and HHH either foils Orton's cash-in or helps Bryan beat him.
World Heavyweight Championship: Alberto Del Rio v Christian: Del Rio wins for now, maybe after failed Ricardo-ference. This is just the first match of the series, I think there'll be one later with more at stake.
CM Punk v Brock Lesnar: Punk can take a loss more than Brock, and so he will. Brock disappears for a while and Punk spends the next few months mowing through Axel and other Heyman guys before he gets sweet, sweet revenge on Paul Heyman.
Ring of Fire: Kane v Bray Wyatt: Wyatt wins, setting up Kane joining the Family at a future Raw.
Cody Rhodes v Damien Sandow: Sandow needs it more, and I don't think it's the end of the feud just yet.
Mixed Tag: Dolph Ziggler and Kaitlyn v Big E Langston and AJ Lee: AJ's had it coming for a while, and I think Kaitlyn gets some retribution here for looking like a chump for months.
Natalya v Brie Bella: When was the last time we had a PPV with TWO matches featuring Divas? We need a face contender to challenge for AJ's title, so Natalya wins.
US Title: Dean Ambrose v RVD: Ambrose wins.
I feel for the poor Usos, who have been impressive and been getting a reaction, but don't get to feature in a 6-man tag against the Shield with Mark Henry. Speaking of the Shield, if there's a match for the Tag Titles, then the Shield will hang on to them.
You gotta give Vicki credit for that spot. Even though she was sitting already, it could have gone wrong. Makes me consider TNA's plot-convenient rule against men hitting women.
Thread rated: 5.94
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