LODemolition
Championship Contender
WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Daniel Bryan
I think Bryan and Orton's feud goes all the way through TLC, but Bryan is unable to capture the title due to Triple H's shenanigans. He does go on to win the Rumble however and challenge Punk who will dethrone Orton at the same event. Bryan finally becomes the champ for real (I say for real because his 2 reigns so far have lasted approx. 5 minutes and 21 hours, respecitively). Also, long overdue, CM Punk gets his WM main event match whether it be against Daniel Bryan or the stars align and we actually get the match against Stone Cold that we all want.
Team McMahon - Big Show, Chris Jericho, Kane, Christian, Kofi Kingston vs. Team Triple H - Randy Orton, Sheamus, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns
There's always that big 8 to 12 man tag match at Mania to ensure everyone gets their spot on the card. This time around though, there'll actually be a purpose and story behind the big match. Control of the WWE will be on the line here. I definitely see Sheamus coming back as a Triple H guy to turn heel. If not, I could see a Batista return to merge Evolution with The Shield. I've tossed around the idea of Triple H (or Orton on his behalf) wrestling Vince's guy (Cena, The Rock, Big Show, possibly even himself) in a 1 on 1 match instead, but the fact is there's far too many characters involved in this story to not make a bigger spectacle of it. It'll be an elimination style match and good will prevail, giving Vince back control. Hooowever, there's still that VERY small part of me that says Shawn Michaels reffing at HIAC this Sunday is all part of a bigger picture...to get the ball rolling on a Shawn/Triple H match at Mania.
The Undertaker vs. John Cena
Perhaps Cena makes it a triple threat match for the WWE Title match, but I'm leaning towards this match instead. If Cena is part of the title picture, Taker will take on Lesnar or Wyatt instead. The 2 have never squared off since Cena reached main event status. The premise will be simple: both men have beaten everyone there is to beat, except eachother. Taker wins of course and it would not shock me if this is his last match.
Cody Rhodes vs. Goldust
This has been a rumored match for WrestleMania for a couple years now. With Goldust in the best shape of his life now, I think they invest in a major storyline between him and brother Cody. This is if Cody's not in the WHC match, which I could very easily see happening also. I imagine that Goldust turns heel for this match and Dusty is stuck in the middle, but referees the match straight down the middle. Maybe Goldust even puts his career on the line. Cody gets the win in a classic. In my opinion, it'd be the perfect match to open the event with.
Rey Mysterio vs. Sin Cara
This has been another Mania match that's been rumored for quite some time now, but obviously injuries have prevented it from happening. If they're both somehow still healthy by the time April rolls around, I believe they will have Sin Cara turn heel and the match will in fact happen. Mysterio will get the W in a match where everyone backstage will be holding their breath, hoping for no injuries and/or botches.
World Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4-Way: Damien Sandow (c) vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler
I think Sandow could cash in as early as this Sunday. Either way, I definitely think he goes into Mania as World Champion. It was tough for me to decide who his opponent should be though, because I honestly don't know if he'll still be heel or not by this point. I thought I'd throw RVD in because he deserves to be in one of the higher profile matches. He's been nothing short of great in the ring since returning in July. Then I figured I'd throw in Del Rio as well because it seems that WWE just refuses to give up on him no matter how little the crowd seems to care about him. Finally, I'd put Ziggler in the match because I never understood why he was taken out of the WHC picture after coming back from the concussion. He had such a huge head of steam when he cashed in and then the timing of that injury couldn't have been worse. I thought for sure he'd regain the title after being medically cleared, but much to my confusion he was never booked the same. Also, it's been a while since either the WWE or WHC has been defended in anything but a 1 on 1 match at WM. I would give RVD the win here just for the pop it would get in the huge Superdome, even if it would have to be a short-lived reign due to his contract.
Ryback vs. Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman
If Lesnar doesn't get put up against Taker and Goldberg doesn't come to terms on a deal as rumored, this is the next most realistic thing (and a match I'd rather see anyway considering I can't stand Goldberg and don't care to see him back). This match sets up easy with Ryback not being a true Heyman guy in the first place. He loses a high profile match, Heyman verbally assaults him, Ryback snaps, and Lesnar comes to Heyman's rescue. Personally, I don't see much of a future for Ryback so I'd put Brock over in this one.
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Mark Henry
It could very easily be Bray Wyatt in the World Title match at Mania instead (maybe against Kane), but I think a feud with Henry would be kinda interesting. After Bray's feud with Kane, they've just had him attack random wrestlers (R-Truth, Miz, Kofi), so there hasn't been a feud for him that feels personal. Wyatt's dark character makes it tough to match him up with someone that can give it that real feel. Mark Henry is a face that you can do that with. This could be his last WM, so have him put over one of the up and coming stars that could really turn out to be great.
Tag Team Title Ladder Match: Erick Rowan & Luke Harper (c) vs. The Usos vs. Prime Time Players vs. Los Matadores vs. The Real Americans vs. The Awesome Truth
This could potentially be a match that steals the show. Triple H is supposedly wanting to put more focus on the tag team division. What better way to do it than to have 6 teams in a MITB-like match and let them go crazy? You could even throw in Tons of Funk and International Airstrike (Kidd & Gabriel), but I think if there were more than 6 teams it would be a bit overkill. I really hope they put International Airstrike back together. Instead of Rollins & Reigns winning the titles back from the Rhodes brothers, I think Rowan & Harper will be the next in line to hold the straps til Mania. I think then that either Prime Time Players or The Usos should win. They're both pretty long overdue for their first title reign.
United States Title: Big E. Langston (c) vs. Wade Barrett
I think Langston is soon on his way to a midcard title. It's taken a while, but he's begun to grow on me. He and Barrett could possibly put on a quality match. This could very well be a match befitting of the preshow. Langston retains.
Divas Title: AJ Lee (c) vs. Tamina Snuka
From what I've read, they're trying to make these 2 a female version of Shawn Michaels and Diesel (when Shawn was IC Champ and Diesel was his bodyguard). We all know how these things go. Tamina starts to feel taken for granted, AJ begins ordering her around and a feud erupts. The important thing is to keep AJ the champ though. She is the divas division.
Intercontinental Title Triple Threat: Curtis Axel (c) w/ Paul Heyman vs. Fandango w/ Summer Rae vs. Tyson Kidd w/ Natalya
I think we can all agree Axel has gone absolutely nowhere with the IC Title, so he should lose it. This would make for a great match imo. Lots of high spots. Kidd deserves a big break after battling back from the knee injury. I'd give him the win and a real chance to see if he can get over.
10-Man Legends Battle Royal
Featuring Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, Ultimate Warrior, Jimmy Snuka, Mick Foley, Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts and Ricky Steamboat
Give Bret, Flair, or Warrior the win. A nice nostalgic moment.
I think Bryan and Orton's feud goes all the way through TLC, but Bryan is unable to capture the title due to Triple H's shenanigans. He does go on to win the Rumble however and challenge Punk who will dethrone Orton at the same event. Bryan finally becomes the champ for real (I say for real because his 2 reigns so far have lasted approx. 5 minutes and 21 hours, respecitively). Also, long overdue, CM Punk gets his WM main event match whether it be against Daniel Bryan or the stars align and we actually get the match against Stone Cold that we all want.
Team McMahon - Big Show, Chris Jericho, Kane, Christian, Kofi Kingston vs. Team Triple H - Randy Orton, Sheamus, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns
There's always that big 8 to 12 man tag match at Mania to ensure everyone gets their spot on the card. This time around though, there'll actually be a purpose and story behind the big match. Control of the WWE will be on the line here. I definitely see Sheamus coming back as a Triple H guy to turn heel. If not, I could see a Batista return to merge Evolution with The Shield. I've tossed around the idea of Triple H (or Orton on his behalf) wrestling Vince's guy (Cena, The Rock, Big Show, possibly even himself) in a 1 on 1 match instead, but the fact is there's far too many characters involved in this story to not make a bigger spectacle of it. It'll be an elimination style match and good will prevail, giving Vince back control. Hooowever, there's still that VERY small part of me that says Shawn Michaels reffing at HIAC this Sunday is all part of a bigger picture...to get the ball rolling on a Shawn/Triple H match at Mania.
The Undertaker vs. John Cena
Perhaps Cena makes it a triple threat match for the WWE Title match, but I'm leaning towards this match instead. If Cena is part of the title picture, Taker will take on Lesnar or Wyatt instead. The 2 have never squared off since Cena reached main event status. The premise will be simple: both men have beaten everyone there is to beat, except eachother. Taker wins of course and it would not shock me if this is his last match.
Cody Rhodes vs. Goldust
This has been a rumored match for WrestleMania for a couple years now. With Goldust in the best shape of his life now, I think they invest in a major storyline between him and brother Cody. This is if Cody's not in the WHC match, which I could very easily see happening also. I imagine that Goldust turns heel for this match and Dusty is stuck in the middle, but referees the match straight down the middle. Maybe Goldust even puts his career on the line. Cody gets the win in a classic. In my opinion, it'd be the perfect match to open the event with.
Rey Mysterio vs. Sin Cara
This has been another Mania match that's been rumored for quite some time now, but obviously injuries have prevented it from happening. If they're both somehow still healthy by the time April rolls around, I believe they will have Sin Cara turn heel and the match will in fact happen. Mysterio will get the W in a match where everyone backstage will be holding their breath, hoping for no injuries and/or botches.
World Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4-Way: Damien Sandow (c) vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler
I think Sandow could cash in as early as this Sunday. Either way, I definitely think he goes into Mania as World Champion. It was tough for me to decide who his opponent should be though, because I honestly don't know if he'll still be heel or not by this point. I thought I'd throw RVD in because he deserves to be in one of the higher profile matches. He's been nothing short of great in the ring since returning in July. Then I figured I'd throw in Del Rio as well because it seems that WWE just refuses to give up on him no matter how little the crowd seems to care about him. Finally, I'd put Ziggler in the match because I never understood why he was taken out of the WHC picture after coming back from the concussion. He had such a huge head of steam when he cashed in and then the timing of that injury couldn't have been worse. I thought for sure he'd regain the title after being medically cleared, but much to my confusion he was never booked the same. Also, it's been a while since either the WWE or WHC has been defended in anything but a 1 on 1 match at WM. I would give RVD the win here just for the pop it would get in the huge Superdome, even if it would have to be a short-lived reign due to his contract.
Ryback vs. Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman
If Lesnar doesn't get put up against Taker and Goldberg doesn't come to terms on a deal as rumored, this is the next most realistic thing (and a match I'd rather see anyway considering I can't stand Goldberg and don't care to see him back). This match sets up easy with Ryback not being a true Heyman guy in the first place. He loses a high profile match, Heyman verbally assaults him, Ryback snaps, and Lesnar comes to Heyman's rescue. Personally, I don't see much of a future for Ryback so I'd put Brock over in this one.
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Mark Henry
It could very easily be Bray Wyatt in the World Title match at Mania instead (maybe against Kane), but I think a feud with Henry would be kinda interesting. After Bray's feud with Kane, they've just had him attack random wrestlers (R-Truth, Miz, Kofi), so there hasn't been a feud for him that feels personal. Wyatt's dark character makes it tough to match him up with someone that can give it that real feel. Mark Henry is a face that you can do that with. This could be his last WM, so have him put over one of the up and coming stars that could really turn out to be great.
Tag Team Title Ladder Match: Erick Rowan & Luke Harper (c) vs. The Usos vs. Prime Time Players vs. Los Matadores vs. The Real Americans vs. The Awesome Truth
This could potentially be a match that steals the show. Triple H is supposedly wanting to put more focus on the tag team division. What better way to do it than to have 6 teams in a MITB-like match and let them go crazy? You could even throw in Tons of Funk and International Airstrike (Kidd & Gabriel), but I think if there were more than 6 teams it would be a bit overkill. I really hope they put International Airstrike back together. Instead of Rollins & Reigns winning the titles back from the Rhodes brothers, I think Rowan & Harper will be the next in line to hold the straps til Mania. I think then that either Prime Time Players or The Usos should win. They're both pretty long overdue for their first title reign.
United States Title: Big E. Langston (c) vs. Wade Barrett
I think Langston is soon on his way to a midcard title. It's taken a while, but he's begun to grow on me. He and Barrett could possibly put on a quality match. This could very well be a match befitting of the preshow. Langston retains.
Divas Title: AJ Lee (c) vs. Tamina Snuka
From what I've read, they're trying to make these 2 a female version of Shawn Michaels and Diesel (when Shawn was IC Champ and Diesel was his bodyguard). We all know how these things go. Tamina starts to feel taken for granted, AJ begins ordering her around and a feud erupts. The important thing is to keep AJ the champ though. She is the divas division.
Intercontinental Title Triple Threat: Curtis Axel (c) w/ Paul Heyman vs. Fandango w/ Summer Rae vs. Tyson Kidd w/ Natalya
I think we can all agree Axel has gone absolutely nowhere with the IC Title, so he should lose it. This would make for a great match imo. Lots of high spots. Kidd deserves a big break after battling back from the knee injury. I'd give him the win and a real chance to see if he can get over.
10-Man Legends Battle Royal
Featuring Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, Ultimate Warrior, Jimmy Snuka, Mick Foley, Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts and Ricky Steamboat
Give Bret, Flair, or Warrior the win. A nice nostalgic moment.
