WWE Royal Rumble 2019 predictions

Here are my predictions for tonights WWE ppv ROYAL RUMBLE 2019

Men’s Royal Rumble:
Really it’s Seth Rollins or Drew McIntyre at this point. (I have Bray Wyatt as surprise dark horse, but I can’t imagine who he’d match up with for Mania.) Between Drew and Seth, it all comes down to whether or not you believe in the reverse momentum theory. At this point, I don’t.
Pick: Seth Rollins 

Woman’s Royal Rumble:
If the McMahon’s are true to their word (L O L) and we truly are in charge, then there can be no other answer than The Man Becky Lynch. Course, Charlotte will be added to the match before Mania, but that’s a problem for a different day.
Pick: Becky Lynch 

Brock Lesnar vs. Finn Balor
I believe. I also believe he won’t carry it into WrestleMania. But the new era needs some shaking up, and this will shock people like Survivor Series ‘16.
Pick: Finn Bálor

Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles
 I’m just hopeful they get time to put together something really good, because we know they can put together something even better. Someone is going to have to sacrifice time for this show, though, and my fear is they’ll sacrifice it here. We’ll see. Either way, I can’t see a compelling reason to switch the title back right now.
Pick: Daniel Bryan

Ronda Rousey vs. Sasha Banks
All the talk of whether Ronda will still be around after WrestleMania has me curious here. Like, it seems blatantly obvious that she’ll hold the title at least through the big one, but are they really gonna position her as a loser at Mania? It’s a longshot, but I’m going with the Boss here, because I can’t help but think we get a swerve here somewhere along the way, so why not right now?
Pick: Sasha Banks

 
Asuka vs. Becky Lynch
 I just don’t think they are going to let Becky win both matches. If this match happens before the women’s rumble and Becky loses the crowd will be sad but then if she wins the rumble you’ve provided the crowd with the ultimate roller coaster of emotions. Plus, Asuka remains champ and with Becky’s focus on Ronda and the main event of WrestleMania she can build some new feuds within the SD women’s roster. Asuka versus Nikki Cross 2.0 anyone?
Pick: Asuka

The Bar vs. Shane McMahon & The Miz
 There are a lot of reasons to think they’ll actually put the titles on the challengers here but I’m of the mind they don’t and work the story around it. The Bar are better off with the belts.
Pick: The Bar

Rusev vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
 Hey what do you know, the Royal Rumble falls on Rusev Day this year!
Pick: Rusev

Buddy Murphy vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Kalisto vs. Hideo Itami
Best talent in this match is Hideo.
Pick: Hideo Itami

 

 pics (c) WWE 

WWE NXT TakeOver: Phoenix results

Here are the results and my review of NXT TakeOver Phoenix:

1. NXT Tag Team Championship Match: War Raiders defeated Undisputed Era (c).
War Raiders had a full Viking entrance, seen above. They were able to capture the Tag Team Championship after hitting Kyle O’Reilly with their “Fallout” combo finisher.
-> best match of the evening and a well deserved title change - 9 of 10 points

2. Matt Riddle defeated Kassius Ohno
by submission when Ohno tapped out during repeated elbow strikes.
-> longer then I guessed but still the worst match of the evening. 5 of 10 points.

3. NXT North American Championship Match: Johnny Gargano defeated Ricochet (c). Gargano hit a brainbuster on the exposed arena floor, then rolled Ricochet back into the ring and followed up with a slingshot DDT to win the match and the North American Championship.
 -> great match, a little bit too short for my taste. Title change is ok. Will we see an EVIL DIY? 8 of 10 points

4. NXT Women’s Championship Match: Shayna Baszler (c) defeated Bianca Belair.
At one point Belair appeared to have the match won with the K.O.D., but the referee was knocked out. Belair fought off interference from Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke and escaped the Kirifuda Clutch, but eventually passed out in the hold.
 -> still hate Baszler. 7 of 10 points.

5. NXT Championship Match: Tommaso Ciampa (c) defeated Aleister Black.
Black’s leg gave out during Black Mass, allowing Ciampa to hit the Fairy Tale Ending to retain the championship.

After the match, Johnny Gargano showed up on the stage beside Ciampa, and the two raised their title belts over their heads.
 -> good mainevent but not the best mainevent lately. Everybody knew that Black will not win the title this time. So a wasteless ppv time at all. 8 of 10 points.

pic (c) WWE / NXT 

WWE NXT TakeOver: Phoenix predictions

Here are my preditions for tonights NXT ppv:

Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Aleister Black for the NXT title

-> Goldie stays with The Champ, as Black seems due for the main roster, and his obvious star power can help fill the voids on Raw. Pick: Tommaso Ciampa

 

Johnny Gargano vs. Ricochet (c) for the North American championship

-> Since this feud is so infused with the guys in the main event, its path feels murky. The midcard of NXT is so chock-a-block with faces right now that I could see Gargano keeping the title to surrender it in another ‘Mania-week multi-man ladder match, but that just doesn’t feel right. Johnny’s still thinking about Tommy Sports Entertainment, who doesn’t need another title. It also seems a bit soon to end Rico’s run, especially since he’s only had one defense so far (Breeze) and that wasn’t even a TakeOver match. Pick: Ricochet

 Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair for the NXT Women’s title

-> There’s a pattern of Baszler overlooking opponents being established, and I think she’s done so here again. The EST’s reign will probably be even shorter than Kairi Sane’s, but I think she whips her hair back & forth and sneaks out with the strap. Pick: Bianca Belair

War Raiders vs. Undisputed ERA (c) for the NXT Tag Team championship

 -> This opportunity for Hansen and Rowe feels so long overdue (and earned in War Games) that I can’t see it going any way but theirs. Hopefully this means the Era gets to play the numbers game the next night in the Rumble. Pick: The War Raiders

  

Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno

-> Yeah, there’s no way Ohno is picking up a win here. Pick: Matt Riddle

 pics (c) by WWE / NXT

NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool Results

1. NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Zack Gibson and James Drake defeated Trent Seven and Tyler Bate. Mustache Mountain had British Bulldogs-inspired gear. Gibson and Drake hit Trent Seven with Ticket to Mayhem to win the match and become NXT UK’s first Tag Team Champions. After the match, Johnny Saint and Sid Scala congratulated them.

2. Finn Bálor defeated Jordan Devlin. Devlin attacked his original opponent, Travis Banks, before the show. Banks attempted to get revenge, but Devlin attacked him again and injured Banks’ knee. The backup plan: Finn Bálor. Finn picked up the win over his former student with the Coup de Grace.

3. No Disqualification Match: Dave Mastiff defeated Eddie Dennis. Mastiff won the match with a cannonball through a table.

4. NXT UK Women’s Championship Match: Toni Storm defeated Rhea Ripley (c). Storm countered the Riptide with Storm Zero to win the match and become the new (and second ever) NXT UK Women’s Champion.

5. United Kingdom Championship Match: Pete Dunne (c) defeated Joe Coffey. Despite teasing passing out at one point, Dunne was able to win a grueling, nearly 35-minute match by submission from a sitting triangle with joint manipulation. After the match, Dunne was confronted by new arrival WALTER.

pics (c) by WWE/ NXT

WWE TLC 2018 predictions

Here are my predictions for tonights WWE TLC ppv:

Intercontinental Championtitel Match Seth Rollins (c) vs. Dean Ambrose
-> This feud has suffered from excessive rambling on the mic and not enough intense physical action in the ring. The heel should win the first match in a story like this. Maybe Heath Slater will be the referee? Pick: Dean Ambrose

WWE Championtitel Match Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles 
-> Picking against him would just be... fickle.
Pick: Daniel Bryan

Triple Threat SmackDown Women’s Championtitel Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka 
 -> Because I like the idea of The Man winning the Rumble, and because it makes sense to take the belt off her to get her into said Rumble, and because they not only made this a match where she can lose the title without tapping or being pinned, but also added another player to further protect her... Pick: Asuka

Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match Braun Strowman vs. Raw “General Manager-Elect” Baron Corbin 
-> I guess it all depends on Strowman’s health. But I think he can beat Corbin with one arm. And he should too. Because full time Baron Corbin as GM really can’t happen.
Pick: Braun Strowman 

Raw Women’s Championtitel Match Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nia Jax 
-> I really enjoyed their match at Money in the Bank and am looking forward to the sequel. That being said, the last few weeks have been a disaster for this feud and it’s pretty clear Nia Jax isn’t good enough for a top push. Rather than giving us a repeat of their first match, where Nia tossed Ronda around for 10 minutes, I think this time WWE will book Ronda to be completely dominant and make short work of the face-breaker. Pick: Ronda Rousey

Mixed Match Challenge Finale Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox vs. R-Truth vs. Carmella 
-> DANCE BREAK!
Pick: Fabulous Truth

Triple Threat SmackDown Tag Team Championtitel Match The Bar (c) vs. The Usos vs. The New Day 
 -> The titles are to be passed around among these teams forever and ever. I guess it’s time for another Usos title run?
Pick: The Usos


Chairs Match Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton
-> Rey should wear two masks, just in case. Pick: Rey Mysterio

Finn Bálor vs. Drew McIntyre 
-> You know why Finn won’t dress up as The Demon for this one? Because he’s got virtually no chance to win, so why bother?
Pick: Drew McIntyre 

Ladder Match Elias vs. Bobby Lashley 
-> Elias has gone all of 2018 without winning a match on PPV. He’s gotta turn it around at some point, right? Lashley can take a loss here.
Pick: Elias

Tables Match Natalya vs. Ruby Riott
-> Tell your sob stories somewhere else. This is three-on-one. The winner is obvious, because math. Pick: Ruby Riott
 

WWE Cruiserweight Championtitel Match Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Cedric Alexander 
-> The cruiserweight division is so stacked with talent that are neck and neck with each other that I simply can’t see them pulling the trigger on another two-time champion anytime soon.
Pick: Buddy Murphy



pics (c) by WWE

WWE Evolution 2018 predictions

Here are my predictions for tonights first ever WWE womans ppv EVOLUTION

Raw Women's Championship -- Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nikki Bella
-> Would WWE turn Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir all at the same time? My money is on Rousey getting the win, the Bellas stomping her after the bell and the 4 Horsewomen of UFC standing tall to end the show.

SmackDown Women's Championship -- Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair (Last Woman Standing Match)
-> Charlotte has taken beatdown after beatdown over the last month or so, and if Becky weren’t riding the hotted streak of her life I’d probably pick Flair to win. Going with Lynch only because she’s probably the best thing going in WWE right now.

Trish Stratus & Lita vs. Mickie James & Alicia Fox
-> WWE isn’t just trotting out Trish Stratus and Lita to get rolled over by Mickie James and Alicia Fox. Stratus and Lita take the win and maybe eventually head up the women’s tag division?

Sasha Banks, Bayley & Natalya vs. The Riott Squad
-> This is the Evolution match I’m least looking forward to because I have no idea why it’s happening. I’m hoping the Riott Squad wins because they’re closer to an actual trios team. My only real prediction is that Sasha will do something crazy.

NXT Women's Championship -- Kairi Sane (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
-> I’d like to see Kairi retain, and Baszler move up to make room for Bianca Belair at the very top of the NXT women’s division. It seems like Baszler already did just about everything she can as a heel champion in NXT, so I think that outcome is pretty likely. Plus WWE may have some kind of plan for the MMA Horsewomen (I kind of hope they don’t).

Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm (2018 Mae Young Classic final)
-> With Toni Storm set to be the babyface ace of NXT UK’s women’s division, I think Io Shirai wins this one to give her some WWE-recognized clout as she starts her NXT TV career. Whoever wins, I think this match will bang and be pretty different from the rest of the show.

Womans Battle Royal
-> I hope Asuka wins this and goes into a title program with Becky, but I suspect if they’re doing some kind of women’s tag team thing the winner might have to be someone who isn’t paired up with anyone right now, so my second guess is… Mella is Money

      


pics (c) WWE 

WWE HIAC 2018 predictions

(c) WWE

WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman – Hell In A Cell Match With Mick Foley As Special Guest Referee 
-> I guess Reigns will retain the title somehow.

WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe 
-> This will be the time, AJ will lose his title and Joe will finally on top of SD Live.

WWE RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss 
-> Ronda will retain here for sure.

The Miz & Maryse vs. Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella – Mixed Tag Team Match 
-> just a tag match to extend the feud between The Miz and  Daniel Bryan. Bryan and Brie will win.

Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton – Hell In A Cell Match 
-> hopefully we will see the final transformation of Jeff into Brother Nero. So as bad as this sounds, Orton will win this match.

WWE RAW Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose 
-> Ziggler and McIntyre will retain their titles.

WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch 
-> I really like Beckys new attitude. She will become the next SD Womans champ. But I guess not tonight. Maybe a Steel Cage Match against Charlotte at EVOLUTION ppv?

SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. Rusev and Aiden English – Kickoff show.
-> its time for the final breakup between Rusev and English. New Day will retain.