Jack Brickman
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Figured I'd start up a new thread since the old one was getting a little long in the tooth, and like the old one this one can include internet spoilers.
Anyway, here are my predictions for Sunday...
PRE-SHOW
No Disqualifications - Baron Corbin Vs. Dolph Ziggler
Well, I was wrong last month when I predicted that Corbin would win because, well, it was the only outcome that really made any sense. Losing his first big match made him seem like just another guy, and the loss coming at the hands of Dolph Ziggler, who hasn't been important in two years, didn't help. Just terrible booking. However, I see very little chance he loses this time around. For one, the WWE loves 50/50 booking where no one comes out looking strong, but also because it's once again the only outcome that makes sense. If they want to do anything at all with Baron Corbin, he needs to win this match.
Winner: Baron Corbin
United States Championship Match - Kalisto (c) Vs. Rusev
Hey, the US Championship finally made it off the pre-show! So I guess it's kind of important now. Seems like they're trying to build it back up just in time for Cena to come back and continue his open challenges. How fitting that Rusev will likely walk away the champ only for Cena to return and neuter him again. Anyway, Kalisto's matches with Ryback were surprisingly entertaining, and Rusev is a better performer. I expect this to be a solid match if it's given time.
Winner: Rusev
Tag Team Championship Match - The New Day (c) Vs. The Vaudevillains
I've been very surprised by how the Vaudevillains have been made to actually matter on the main roster. I figured they'd be jobbing like the Ascension in days once they got called up. Instead, they've been booked really well and seem legitimate. The real question is whether or not the WWE is willing to take the belts off of the New Day, who sell merchandise like crazy, in favor of the new team. It's a tough call, honestly, but I'm going to go with the guys who make the WWE the most money.
Winner: The New Day
Tag Team Tornado Match - The Usos Vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
Thanks to a feud with Roman Reigns, Anderson and Gallows have been made to look like a couple of bitches thus far. It's been very depressing, really. They should have came in and lit the division on fire. Instead, they've mostly been eating superman punches and looking borderline inept. They absolutely need this win to establish themselves, especially if the plan is to have them turn on AJ at the end of the night.
Winner: Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
Asylum Match - Dean Ambrose Vs. Chris Jericho
While their match last month wasn't terribly compelling, I have to admit that this feud has at least been entertaining. There should be plenty of weapons and mayhem in this one, so it should surpass their Payback bout. Ambrose pretty much has to win this, right?
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Fatal Four Way Match for the Intercontinental Championship - The Miz (c) Vs. Kevin Owens Vs. Cesaro Vs. Sami Zayn
I have to imagine that the Miz's Intercontinental Championship reign will come to an end on Sunday night. He's done some solid heel work, but the problem is that he's been such an afterthought for so long that he does nothing to elevate the belt. I also don't think Owens is winning it back. I think he's the most deserving, but I think the WWE has different plans for him and that he'll fail Sunday only to take home the Money in the Bank briefcase next month. That leaves Zayn and Cesaro. Both are good options. Two of the best wrestlers in the company and generally beloved by the crowd. I could see it going either way. However, I think Cesaro is the best choice right now to hold the belt. That lets Owens and Zayn carry their feud over to the MitB match next month and gives Cesaro another shot with the belt.
Winner: Cesaro
Submission Match for the Women's Championship - Charlotte (c) Vs. Natalya
This feud has gone on about a month too long at this point. The problem here is that they've booked themselves into a corner. Charlotte should have dropped the belt at Wrestlemania, but since Vince wanted to tell us all to fuck off via the booking, she retained and the WWE found themselves in an awkward place. They needed a challenger that wasn't Sasha Banks, because they likely want to protect her until Charlotte drops the belt at Summerslam. Enter Natalya, who has done nothing relevant in years but is somehow getting multiple Women's Championship matches. The issue is that Natalya winning here makes no sense for a variety of reasons, but it also seems to be the logical culmination of this feud. That's just bad booking.
Winner: Charlotte
Extreme Rules Match for the WWE Championship - Roman Reigns (c) Vs. AJ Styles
Given that AJ effectively lost clean last month at Payback, I'm not really sure why he was given another title shot to begin with, but whatever. The WWE at the best of times doesn't make a lot of sense, and this ain't the best of times. Their Payback match was decent. It wasn't exceptional, but it was one of the better Reigns outings. This match should be better, because it's going to be an overbooked clusterfuck filled with weapons, which should help hide that Reigns can't wrestle. I figured last month would be the time for Anderson and Gallows to turn on Styles. It didn't happen, but since then Finn Balor has dropped the NXT title and is prepped for a call-up, so I'm going to stick with that prediction this time around. Finn Balor ends the night standing tall after screwing AJ out of the title.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Anyway, here are my predictions for Sunday...
PRE-SHOW
No Disqualifications - Baron Corbin Vs. Dolph Ziggler
Well, I was wrong last month when I predicted that Corbin would win because, well, it was the only outcome that really made any sense. Losing his first big match made him seem like just another guy, and the loss coming at the hands of Dolph Ziggler, who hasn't been important in two years, didn't help. Just terrible booking. However, I see very little chance he loses this time around. For one, the WWE loves 50/50 booking where no one comes out looking strong, but also because it's once again the only outcome that makes sense. If they want to do anything at all with Baron Corbin, he needs to win this match.
Winner: Baron Corbin
United States Championship Match - Kalisto (c) Vs. Rusev
Hey, the US Championship finally made it off the pre-show! So I guess it's kind of important now. Seems like they're trying to build it back up just in time for Cena to come back and continue his open challenges. How fitting that Rusev will likely walk away the champ only for Cena to return and neuter him again. Anyway, Kalisto's matches with Ryback were surprisingly entertaining, and Rusev is a better performer. I expect this to be a solid match if it's given time.
Winner: Rusev
Tag Team Championship Match - The New Day (c) Vs. The Vaudevillains
I've been very surprised by how the Vaudevillains have been made to actually matter on the main roster. I figured they'd be jobbing like the Ascension in days once they got called up. Instead, they've been booked really well and seem legitimate. The real question is whether or not the WWE is willing to take the belts off of the New Day, who sell merchandise like crazy, in favor of the new team. It's a tough call, honestly, but I'm going to go with the guys who make the WWE the most money.
Winner: The New Day
Tag Team Tornado Match - The Usos Vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
Thanks to a feud with Roman Reigns, Anderson and Gallows have been made to look like a couple of bitches thus far. It's been very depressing, really. They should have came in and lit the division on fire. Instead, they've mostly been eating superman punches and looking borderline inept. They absolutely need this win to establish themselves, especially if the plan is to have them turn on AJ at the end of the night.
Winner: Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
Asylum Match - Dean Ambrose Vs. Chris Jericho
While their match last month wasn't terribly compelling, I have to admit that this feud has at least been entertaining. There should be plenty of weapons and mayhem in this one, so it should surpass their Payback bout. Ambrose pretty much has to win this, right?
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Fatal Four Way Match for the Intercontinental Championship - The Miz (c) Vs. Kevin Owens Vs. Cesaro Vs. Sami Zayn
I have to imagine that the Miz's Intercontinental Championship reign will come to an end on Sunday night. He's done some solid heel work, but the problem is that he's been such an afterthought for so long that he does nothing to elevate the belt. I also don't think Owens is winning it back. I think he's the most deserving, but I think the WWE has different plans for him and that he'll fail Sunday only to take home the Money in the Bank briefcase next month. That leaves Zayn and Cesaro. Both are good options. Two of the best wrestlers in the company and generally beloved by the crowd. I could see it going either way. However, I think Cesaro is the best choice right now to hold the belt. That lets Owens and Zayn carry their feud over to the MitB match next month and gives Cesaro another shot with the belt.
Winner: Cesaro
Submission Match for the Women's Championship - Charlotte (c) Vs. Natalya
This feud has gone on about a month too long at this point. The problem here is that they've booked themselves into a corner. Charlotte should have dropped the belt at Wrestlemania, but since Vince wanted to tell us all to fuck off via the booking, she retained and the WWE found themselves in an awkward place. They needed a challenger that wasn't Sasha Banks, because they likely want to protect her until Charlotte drops the belt at Summerslam. Enter Natalya, who has done nothing relevant in years but is somehow getting multiple Women's Championship matches. The issue is that Natalya winning here makes no sense for a variety of reasons, but it also seems to be the logical culmination of this feud. That's just bad booking.
Winner: Charlotte
Extreme Rules Match for the WWE Championship - Roman Reigns (c) Vs. AJ Styles
Given that AJ effectively lost clean last month at Payback, I'm not really sure why he was given another title shot to begin with, but whatever. The WWE at the best of times doesn't make a lot of sense, and this ain't the best of times. Their Payback match was decent. It wasn't exceptional, but it was one of the better Reigns outings. This match should be better, because it's going to be an overbooked clusterfuck filled with weapons, which should help hide that Reigns can't wrestle. I figured last month would be the time for Anderson and Gallows to turn on Styles. It didn't happen, but since then Finn Balor has dropped the NXT title and is prepped for a call-up, so I'm going to stick with that prediction this time around. Finn Balor ends the night standing tall after screwing AJ out of the title.
Winner: Roman Reigns