Predictions: WrestleMania 32 (3.4.2016)

It’s WrestleMania 32 time! If you thought the build and the card was underwhelming for ‘Mania 31, just look at this card! The WWE has had an injury epidemic, so big players like Seth Rollins, John Cena and Randy Orton are out of the show. However, that does not excuse much of the frankly awful build for the biggest event of the year. After much speculation about who would face ‘Taker, WWE pulled a swerve and brought out Shane McMahon as his opponent. A 46 year old non-wrestler fighting ‘Taker? Okay then! That feud in particular has been riddled with inconsistencies and illogic. Roman Reigns is once again fighting for the WWE Championship, but much of the crowd still hate him. The booking has not done him any favours, either. Remember AJ Styles? He’s fighting Chris Jericho again! Instead of making the injury epidemic into a positive, the WWE has delivered a pitiful build to WrestleMania 32. Here are my predictions…

The New Day vs The League of Nations

The New Day win this, without a doubt. They’ve defeated The League of Nations on two occasions. This match isn’t for the tag titles, so a win or loss for either team doesn’t matter! But The League of Nations, while not the worst clique in the WWE (hello, Social Outcasts!)  is pretty worthless. They should disband after this loss and compete as single competitors. Pretty pointless match, but The New Day will win!

PREDICTED WINNERS: The New Day

AJ Styles vs Chris Jericho

What is the point of this match? Didn’t Styles win the rubber match of their feud, concluding it at Fast Lane? The feud has gone on for too long and they’ve fought too many times for this match to have any impact at ‘Mania. Sure, it will be an entertaining match, but Style should be fighting for a mid-card title. Either that, or put something on the line for this match, like a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. Without something at stake for a feud that was over at the last PPV, why should we care about it? Styles will win. If not, what was the point of him winning the rubber match of their previous feud?

PREDICTED WINNER: AJ Styles

Kevin Owens (c) vs Sami Zayn vs Zack Ryder vs The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler vs Sin Cara vs Stardust (Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship)

Why have a match so similar to the MITB match on once again? There’s always room for a spotfest at ‘Mania, but make it something different to a match on a PPV called Money In The Bank! Even a 7-Way TLC match would be something different. Failing that, give Owens a straight 1 on 1 match for the IC title and put the worthless US Title up for grabs in the ladder match. Regardless, I think we can eliminate The Miz, Ziggler, Sin Cara and Stardust from possibly winning the match. I’ve read that Ryder is the bookie’s favourite to win, but that must be a joke. So that leaves Owens or Zayn. I’m wondering if Zayn can even stand up after his MOTY contender with Shinsuke Nakamura on Friday night. A victory for him would be a great moment (and an even better moment if it was a simple 1 on 1 match between him and Owens. I mean, the feud writes itself! Continue their feud from NXT!). However, I think Owens will retain. He’s won and lost the IC title more than a few times since the end of last year, so another loss wouldn’t hurt him. But it would seem stupid!

PREDICTED WINNER: Kevin Owens

Andre the Giant Battle Royal

I don’t care about this match at all. It’s just a way to get all the low-card players on the show. I’m going with Kane for the victory, simply because Big Show won it last year.

PREDICTED WINNER: Kane

Charlotte (c) vs Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch (Diva’s Championship Match)

Now, this is a tough one to call! A dream WrestleMania match! I’d have been happy with Charlotte vs Banks, but the addition of Lynch is inspired! I can’t see Charlotte retaining. It’s time for her to lose. Isn’t the big heel always supposed to lose at ‘Mania after a lengthy title reign? That leaves Banks or Lynch to win. Lynch, whilst as good a wrestler as the other two, just isn’t seen as such by the WWE higher-ups. She’s got the moves and the mouth, but her time isn’t now. It’s Sasha Banks’ time (if only to justify the induction of Snoop Dogg into the WWE Hall of Fame!). Ever since the stare down between her and Charlotte at the Royal Rumble, there’s been only one winner to their feud: Sasha Banks.

PREDICTED WINNER (and new Diva’s Champion!): Sasha Banks

Brock Lesnar vs Dean Ambrose

Along with the Divas’ triple threat match, this has the potential to grab Match of the Night honours. Not only that, but it’s been the most convincing feud leading up to WrestleMania. True, it did come out of left field (much like Shane vs ‘Taker), but the two wrestlers (plus Paul Heyman) have made it work. Heyman could sell treacle to a dentist. Most importantly, he can sell a feud. Both he and Ambrose have done the heavy lifting mike-wise in this feud, and the Lesnar name is still potent (although his repetitive match layout is slowly wearing thin). The match outcome is tough to call. If Lesnar loses to Ambrose, the damage done to Lesnar will be harsh, but bearable. If Ambrose loses, it’s just another loss in a long line of losses stretching back a long way. He needs the win more than Lesnar. This needs to be the big match that Ambrose wins, by whatever means. For that very reason, I’m choosing Ambrose!

PREDICTED WINNER: Dean Ambrose

Triple H (c) vs Roman Reigns (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match)

Reigns has got to win here, hasn’t he? This is what WWE has been building up to for a long time. They got cold feet with him at WrestleMania 31. I can’t see them letting him leave ‘Mania 32 without the belt. Of course, the crowd aren’t behind him at all. I’m probably repeating myself here, but the build-up has been lackadaisical. HHH broke Reigns’ nose, which caused an absence of three or four weeks! Isn’t Reigns supposed to be the babyface, fighting against the odds? Not willing to surrender for anything? But a broken nose put him out of action whilst HHH fought with Dean Ambrose. Lame! All they’ve done since then is brawl, without rhyme or reason. Reigns has not connected with the crowd at all. The crowd will riot if Reigns wins, but there is no other choice, is there?!?!?

PREDICTED WINNER (And NEW Champion): Roman Reigns

The Undertaker vs Shane McMahon (For Control of WWE Raw)

This is surely the main event, isn’t it? Surely control of Raw means more than the WWE Championship? Reigns leaving as Champion is not a happy ending. Shane O’Mac leaving in control of Raw? I guess that’s a happy ending! But, can someone please tell me: why are they fighting? Or, more specifically, why is The Undertaker fighting on behalf of the evil Vince McMahon? Yes, we were given a belated stipulation that Taker will never fight at WrestleMania again if he loses. No big deal…he can wrestle at any other WWE event! Maybe if the stipulation was Taker’s retirement, or Taker would get an opportunity to fight for the WWE Championship if he won, then I’d understand why Taker is fighting for McMahon. But we still don’t have a reason!

When Shane O’Mac surprised everyone by returning, there was real excitement in the air. However, WWE have done their best to stamp that out. Who should we root for in this match? I understand that we’ve had Batman fight Superman and Daredevil fight The Punisher (and will have Iron Man fight Captain America soon!), but the reasons behind these fights between heroes are relatable and easily understood. For example, The Punisher kills bad guys and Daredevil thinks the law should decide the fate of bad guys. Simples! We know Shane is fighting for the WWE. Undertaker is fighting for the evil side of the McMahon family. Does that mean he is a heel? Errr…no, of course not! At this point, ‘Taker will never be seen as a heel. So who do we root for? Errr…I have no idea, and I have little more idea about who will win. If Shane O Mac beats Taker at Mania, what does that make of all those wrestlers who failed to beat Taker at Mania? If Taker wins, then the Authority continues…and no one wants that! I’m saying Shane o Mac for now…purely because I’m sick of the Authority!

PREDICTED WINNER: Shane McMahon

Leave your thoughts/predictions below!