Greetings.
Wrestlemania 35 is obviously the big event this week in wrestling. This week, I’m going to assess the various matches from two different points of view. First, I’ll predict what will likely take place and secondly, I’ll render my takes on each match, from the perspective of what would be “best for business”, to quote the enigmatic, yet resolute, French American visionary, Paul Levesque.
Winner Take All match: Ronda Rousey vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair
What will probably happen: The prevailing scuttlebutt pertaining to the outcome of this heavily hyped match seems to be that Ronda Rousey will come out on top. I’m not sure if that’s because of her exorbitant salary, some “can’t do a job” clause in her contract, or the fact that she’s been hyped as the “baddest woman on the planet” (even though she got beat, decisively, in her last two UFC bouts). In any case, most in the know seem to think that she’ll be going over in this one.
What would be best for business: In my humble, albeit enlightened opinion, it makes sense for Becky Lynch to go over in this one. Given that she seems to have captured the imaginations and the hearts of the fans, in much the same way as iconic faces such as Daniel Bryan and CM Punk have in the past in spite of the WWE’s implausible attempts to keep turning her into a heel. It would get over huge if Becky, after having endured a hellacious beating at the hands of both Ronda and Charlotte, somehow snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and emerged with the title. Hopefully that might happen, although I’m not counting on it.
WWE Championship match: Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston
What will probably happen: This match will likely see Daniel Bryan, aided and abetted by his henchman, Erick Rowan, scoring an unpopular victory over the beleaguered Kofi Kingston, to retain his WWE title.
What would be best for business: It would make a lot of sense if Kofi, after having garnered all kinds of sympathy from the heel onslaught of Bryan and his partner in crime, Rowan, suddenly pulled off a miraculous quick turnaround pin – perhaps via some botched skullduggery on the part of the heels and emerged as the first ever black WWE champion, which is something, I might add, that’s long overdue. I’m not really expecting that to happen, but if it did, it certainly would be sweet.
WWE Universal Championship match: Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins
What will probably happen: Brock Lesnar, as he’s repeatedly done during his long, but uneventful reign as the Universal Champion, will probably engage in some unconvincing and half hearted selling and then stop Seth Rollins dead in his tracks and take him to Suplex City and get his hand raised.
What would be best for business: If Seth, in classic baby face mode, absorbed a hellacious beating at the hands of the Beast and appeared to be doomed for a devastating defeat, but suddenly pulled off some stunning, out of the blue reversal and copped a quick pin on Lesnar, it would blow the roof off the stadium. If such were to happen, it would likely elevate Rollins to the exalted status of legendary martyrs, such as Daniel Bryan or CM Punk. It would also inject some badly needed life into the moribund Universal title, which has been pretty stagnant for the past couple of years.
United States Championship match: Samoa Joe vs Rey Mysterio
What will probably happen: Because there are so many other matches on the card and these two guys’ respective styles are all that compatible, this will probably be some kind of “squash” (annihilation) match, which has Samoa Joe destroying Rey Mysterio in pretty short order – which, of course, begs the question: “why did they even have this match on the card, in the first place?”
What would be best for business: It would be best for business to have saved this match for another occasion, but seeing as that’s not going to happen, it would be best for Rey, after having sold his ass off to get some precursory sympathy, to make the hot comeback, coming really close to pulling off the upset with a couple of spectacular false finishes, and then, get stopped in his tracks by Joe and pinned right in the middle – no ifs, ands or buts.
Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre
What will probably happen: The common consensus seems to be that Roman Reigns, who’s garnered a lot of sympathy because of his courageous battle with cancer, will probably, after having endured a monumental beatdown from the “Scottish Psychopath“, will turn the tables and emerge victorious.
What would be best for business: While it would probably be somewhat uplifting for Roman to get a win, it would be best for business if Drew McIntyre, who’s been starting to really get over lately as a bona fide top heel, somehow perpetrated some dastardly skullduggery on Roman, not only enabling him to get his hand raised, which would be good for him, but also might generate some mega sympathy for poor Roman, which would be great for him, as a face. If that were to transpire, it could serve to set the stage for an epic rematch, perhaps at SummerSlam, which could really whet the fans’ appetites.
Intercontinental Championship match: Bobby Lashley vs Finn Balor
What will probably happen: From what I’ve been hearing, the WWE is apparently leaning toward putting the Intercontinental title back on Finn Balor.
What would be best for business: Bobby Lashley, on paper, seems to have awesome potential but, to date, hasn’t really turned into the awe inspiring, one man wrecking crew that many were expecting him to become. Having said that, if he were to destroy the game, but much smaller Irish contender and garner some serious heel heat in the process, it might go a long way to establishing Lashley as a monster heel type and could even set the stage for an epic title vs. title confrontation, down the road, between Lashley and Kofi, if he, as I suggested earlier, was to win the world title from Daniel in their match.
WWE Cruiserweight Championship match: Buddy Murphy vs Tony Nese
What will probably happen: My sources tell me that the WWE brass hasn’t been thrilled with Buddy Murphy’s lack of charisma, and since there are no immediate plans for the WWE to return to Australia (which is the main reason why they put the strap on him in the first place), it’s a likely bet that Tony Nese, who’s been improving steadily, will win the Cruiserweight title.
What would be best for business: I really don’t think it’s fair for the WWE to be losing faith in Murphy, especially since he hasn’t been involved in any compelling matches since he won the belt and, therefore, both he and the Cruiserweight belt have lost most of their cachet. Having said that, it would make sense for Murphy, perhaps after having allowed Nese to get some heat and come close to winning, to pull off a quick, turnaround pin and gain some much needed credibility as a bona fide champion.
Triple H vs Batista (No Holds Barred; HHH in-ring career on the line)
What will probably happen: Because it’s extremely doubtful that Hunter’s ready to ride into the sunset just yet, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that Hunter will be going over in this one and, since there are no DQ’s, Hunter will probably produce his trusted sledgehammer and, even though he’s the face, bludgeon the “Animal” with it and cop the win.
What would be best for business: I’d still have Hunter go over, but since he’s a face, I’d have him get attacked on his way to the ring by Batista and absorb a brutal beating (maybe aided and abetted by some other nefarious heel). In any case, when Hunter is barely hanging on and appears near his career ending defeat, I’d have Hunter’s old crony, Ric Flair, come to the ring to ostensibly rescue Triple H, which would compel Batista to go over to intercept the “Nature Boy“. At that point, I’d have the “Game” do some kind of quick pin on the stunned Batista and pull off the win, which would elicit a huge pop and get Hunter over far better as a face. This could perhaps set up some kind of hot rematch, perhaps at SummerSlam, with Hunter and the “Nature Boy” teaming up one last time against Batista and some other dastardly partner in crime.
Shane McMahon vs The Miz
What will probably happen: Shane McMahon will probably miss one of his patented, death defying leaps of faith and The Miz, who’s been taking a hellacious beatdown will get his hand raised, which is pretty predictable, given that “Shan-O-Mac” seems to only make cameo appearances once a year at Wrestlemania, he doesn’t really need the win.
What would be best for business: Since Shane has turned 100% heel, I’d have him appear to be on the verge of a humiliating defeat, but aided and abetted by some dastardly heel accomplice, he pulls off some kind reversal, which could entail The Miz supposedly getting injured and perhaps stretchered, which could set the stage for some kind of hot return at one of the upcoming pay-per views.
Kurt Angle vs Baron Corbin (Angle’s Farewell Match)
What will probably happen: Given that this is Kurt Angle’s final match, and taking into consideration that Baron Corbin has been doing jobs almost every time he steps in the ring as of late, it seems pretty predictable that Baron, after having got some decent heat, will get stopped by Kurt and placed in the Angle lock and will tap out, thereby enabling the iconic former Olympic gold medalist to go out with his hand raised.
What would be best for business: It might be well and good to have Angle go out as a winner, but since it’s almost to be expected, I’d be inclined to orchestrate some kind of hot finish, with Corbin orchestrating some kind of dastardly deed in which he appears to have injured Angle’s well publicized broken neck. From there, amidst a lot of melodrama, Kurt could be perhaps carted off by the paramedics which would not only generate enormous, much needed heat for Corbin, but would set the stage form Kurt to re-emerge from retirement down the road for one more showdown against his nemesis.
A.J. Styles vs Randy Orton
What will probably happen: Since both of these guys are tremendous workers, who have a propensity for rising to the occasion when the chips are down, this should be a tremendous match.
What would be best for business: Even though he’s been a world champion and one of the WWE’s most acclaimed superstars in recent years, it would, nonetheless, be an epic accomplishment for A.J. Styles to pull off a victory over the vaunted and much larger “Viper”. If done right, it wouldn’t diminish Orton’s legacy much, either
Women’s Tag Team Title Match: Sasha Banks and Bayley vs Natalya and Beth Phoenix vs The Ilconics vs Nia Jax and Tamina
What will probably happen: This match will probably degenerate into a sterile, over-choreographed high spot fest, which, given all the other high spots and whatnot on the rest of the card, will be needless overkill.
What would be best for business: I would go easy on the over choreographed high spots and whatnot and perhaps have the heels somehow get some serious heat on the faces, especially Sasha and Bayley. After the faces get their sympathy, I’d probably have Sasha and Bayley pull off a quick, out of the blue, pin on one of the heels and get the hell out of there.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
What will probably happen: This match, which will include most of the leftovers and retreads, will probably consist of a lot of uninspiring mauling and brawling, with most of the combatants being unceremoniously eliminated with little or no fanfare. It’s pretty predictable that the winner will be Braun Strowman, although I doubt many even care.
What would be best for business: It would have been what’s best for business, given that the WWE already staged the Royal Rumble a few months back and nobody was clamouring for another battle royal, especially one saturated with mid-carders that have scrapped this match altogether which would amount to addition by subtraction.
Women’s Battle Royal
What will probably happen: Much the same as the men’s battle royal, this will likely turn out to be a hodge podge of not particularly well executed mauling, brawling and other uninspiring histrionics, probably with Asuka, whose stock has dropped considerably in recent months, getting revitalized with a much needed victory.
What would be best for business: Just as I said for the men’s battle royal, it would be best for business if this match was also deleted because there’s already way too much on the card and it serves no purpose whatsoever to shove another lackluster slugfest like this down the poor fans throats.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to my friend Terry Funk on the passing of his beloved wife, Vicki. Vicki was one of the nicest and classiest people I’ve met in the wrestling business and will be tremendously missed but never forgotten.
On that note, I’ll call this a wrap. Hope you enjoy Wrestlemania. I’ll look forward to catching up with you all next week for my perspectives on the big show and whatever else in the wrestling world. Until then…
Click here for the archives to all of Bruce Hart’s “Hart Murmurs” series!
For more exclusive content, follow PWPNation on Twitter @PWPNation