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Countdown to WrestleMania 27 - Part 1
By
SLAM! Wrestling Staff
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"Insert WrestleMania hypeline here."
Why do I use that as the intro? Because there is nothing else that you need
to say.
In fact, there's so much hype surrounding 'Mania this year that SLAM! Wrestling is creating
its own WrestleMania weekend special. Starting today, we're running two days
worth of previews for the nine announced matches at 'Mania, with the undercard
running today and the main events tomorrow.
So let's get started!
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GRUDGE MATCH
Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
I've enjoyed the build of this feud, but to me the result was never in question.
Rhodes is on his way up and Mysterio is - seemingly - on his way out. The question
that remains is whether or not Cody dis-masks Rey. I wouldn't be surprised if
he does, and while he beats up Rey, who shields his face, Sin Cara comes out
to make the save and debut on the grandest stage of them all.
Greg Oliver
Like Bryan versus Sheamus, this one has the potential be the best match on the
show. How serious is Mysterio about retiring? If he is heading out, then he
wins here. If he will be sticking around, the Rhodes needs the push to the next
level, and winning on this big stage -- which will happen -- is a great way
to get there.
Colin Hunter
Cody Rhodes has been playing the vain pretty-boy gimmick to the hilt, reminiscent
of Gorgeous George and the many narcissists who followed (except for The Narcissist,
who wasn’t that great). Vowing revenge for his nasal disfigurement at the
hands (well, feet) of Rey is classic feud fodder. Rhodes will come close to
removing Rey’s mask before suffering a 619. Fingers crossed for a Sin Cara
cameo.
Andy McNamara
No interest in this at all and Rey deserves better. This provides exposure that
Cody Rhodes desperately needs so you know he will be working his butt off. In
this probable curtain jerker give the nod to Mysterio to start WrestleMania
27 off right.
Dave Hillhouse
Quite a few pundits are pegging this one as the sleeper match. It should be fun, as Rhodes is falling into his new vicious character with great enthusiasm and Mysterio always has an ace up his sleep to wow the crowd. I think Mysterio can suffer the loss and keep the same momentum for the future -- Rhodes needs this win to keep his character alive and so he'll come out on top.
Bob Kapur
In terms of in-ring, this should be the match of the night, and as I suspect
it will kick off the event, will set the bar pretty high for everyone else.
I’ve really enjoyed the evolution of Cody Rhodes over the past few months,
and I would like to see him elevated with a win here.
SIX-PERSON TAG TEAM MATCH
Trish Stratus/Snooki/John Morrison vs. LayCool/Dolph Ziggler |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Not going to lie - I'm happy to see Trish back at 'Mania. I think the interesting
backstory here is how much time Morrison and Ziggler will be given in the ring,
or if they will be afterthoughts completely. Ultimately, Snooki gets the win
and I could see this being the final nail in the coffin for LayCool as a tandem
(thank god!).
Greg Oliver
It'll be silly and short. Snooki will get in a few moves, especially something
on Vicki Guerrero -- 'cause you know she'll be interfering. I would have thought
that the rub from a
Jersey Shore star could have been used on someone
other than Trish, who isn't a full-timer, but hey, that's why someone else is
making the big bucks. The good guys win.
Colin Hunter
What a shame: Morrison and Ziggler could put on an excellent singles match.
Instead, we’re forced to endure a cameo by the latest flavour-of-the-month
celebrity trashbag. Sadder still, Trish Stratus got dragged into this mess.
Nobody wins. We all lose.
Andy McNamara
Another "yikes" type of contest. Snooki and friends obviously go over
in hopefully a match that is no more then 5 minutes. The entrances and show
boating will be longer than the actual in-ring.
Dave Hillhouse
Team Snooki wins when Snooki herself takes down both former Co-Women's Champions Layla and McCool with a combo hurricanrana and Five-Star Frog Splash. Morrison and Ziggler are left wondering who they offended to be on the sidelines of this match.
Bob Kapur
Hopefully the pizza guy will come to the door just as this one starts. This
throw-away match doesn’t deserve to be on the show, and the insertion of
Snooki seems like a desperate publicity stunt. We all lose.
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GRUDGE MATCH
CM Punk vs. Randy Orton |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
The story these two have developed has been nothing short of amazing. That
the match is now one-on-one is definitely not a disappointment. There is a lot
of temptation to say that Orton goes over, but Punk could get the nod if they
want the feud to continue. If it wasn't 'Mania, I'd call it a draw or DQ, but
the reality is we'll get a finish here. Just for kicks (pardon the pun), I'll
take Randall.
Greg Oliver
I've enjoyed the build to this but, as always, WWE's sense of history is so
warped. Punk can be upset about Orton costing him the World title years ago,
but Triple H cannot mention that he lost to The Undertaker years ago at WrestleMania?
There aren't a lot of babyfaces going over, so I'll take Orton to win.
Colin Hunter
The guy with the ridiculously excessive amount of tattoos will win. This one
is actually rather tricky to call, since it’s a long-simmering feud that
needs to reach a final resolution on Sunday night (not to be confused with TNA’s
Final Resolution, which rarely offers the closure that its name promises). So
I’ll base this prediction on what I hope to see: Punk wins clean with the
GTS, and Randall K. Orton gives up the crazy punting schtick, which is getting
old.
Andy McNamara
Sleeper for match of the night. Punk is so good in every aspect of pro-wrestling
it would be hard not to have a good match. Fingers crossed this gets a solid
15-20 minutes and allow the drama that has surrounded this storyline to build.
Punk finds a way to cheat and sneaks out a pinfall for this feud to continue.
Dave Hillhouse
Orton has successfully punted his way through The New Nexus, but his final victory is going to have to wait. Thanks to the injury caused by CM Punk and the arrival of some new Nexus members, Orton takes the loss and slinks away to decimate The Newer-New Nexus at a later date.
Bob Kapur
This one should be a simple fight from bell to bell. Orton has demolished all
of Punk’s followers, and one would expect him to do the same to Punk. And
one would be right. After a good battle, Orton wins with the RKO.
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EIGHT-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
The Corre vs. Big Show/Kane/Santino Marella/Vladimir Kozlov |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
I'm digging The Corre as a unit and I get the feeling they're going over, but
I'm guessing we'll see a Kane turn in here somewhere.
Greg Oliver
I suppose on some level this is better than The Corre against The Nexus, but
not much. The heroes win over the badd spellurs.
Colin Hunter
Cobra! Cobra! Cobra! Cobra! As long as Santino pretends his arm is a snake and
pokes all four members of the opposing team in the forehead with his fingers,
I don’t particularly care what else happens. If Santino’s team happens
to win the match, however, I vow to march around the house playing an imaginary
trombone.
Andy McNamara
Make this fast and get it over with. This battle is in for the sole purpose
to get as many people some WrestleMania time as possible. The Corre would benefit
more from some positive Mania exposure so lets go with that.
Dave Hillhouse
I had this terrible nightmare of watching Kane, the Devil's favourite son, the Big Red Monster, pure evil personified, doing Santino Marella’s trombone dance. The only thing worse than that would be tying up both the WWE Tag Team titles and the Intercontinental Championship in an 8-man tag match that will be a mess of interference. Big Show, Kane, Santino and Kozlov win -- and everyone does the trombone dance.
Bob Kapur
I have no interest in this match, which seems more suited for Smackdown than
Mania, and would have instead put these guys in a pre-show match and given their
time to Daniel/Sheamus. The Corre will win a short match, after the good guys
get all of their comedy moves in.
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UNITED STATES TITLE MATCH
Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
I'm curious to see how these two mesh on a big stage. Sheamus has really impressed
me in the ring, but can he mesh styles with a technician? I'm really not sure.
There's obviously a part of me that wants to see Daniel(son) win, but given
that the faces will come out on top in most of the feature bouts, I've got to
give Sheamus the nod here.
Greg Oliver
I hope they give this one enough time to steal the show, but it's the type
of match that they can cut significant time from. Still hard to believe in many
ways that "The American Dragon" has come this far and legitimately
belongs here; all credit goes to him for his drive. But I'll take Sheamus to
retain.
Colin Hunter
Given that it’s Bryan’s very first WrestleMania, we can expect to
see some jaw-dropping offense from him in a fast-paced, over-too-quickly match.
Not long ago, he would have been the odds-on favourite to win this one, but
the unpigmented Irishman has roared back to winning form in recent weeks. Bryan
will put up a valiant effort, but Sheamus is likely score the victory.
Andy McNamara
The U.S. title does not mean a whole lot, I just hope that Bryan does not get
squashed. I'm thinking that Sheamus will receive a post Mania push and goes
over despite a valiant, hard fought effort by Daniel Bryan. A possible mutual
respect hand shake from Sheamus following the match?
Dave Hillhouse
King Sheamus looks to be on the kind of tear now that he was before winning his first world title. He wins, as I can't imagine him losing in two consecutive Wrestlemanias. Besides, Daniel Bryan should shift his sights away from the U.S. Title to taking the Intercontinental belt away from his old pal Wade Barrett.
Bob Kapur
Glad to see both of these guys on the main show, since both have delivered in
spades over the course of the year. This should be a good matchup, as the clash
of styles works really well, as seen in their recent RAW match. It’s too
soon for Sheamus to lose it, and I think this one will end inconclusively, so
that the feud continues for at least another PPV.
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store!
Whether you're in the market for a boxed set
or individual shows, pick up past WrestleManias in the SLAM! Store.
-- compiled by Jon Waldman
RELATED LINKS
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