We have a TON on the card tonight so let's get right into it. I'm splitting this into two blogs, one for the regular matches and one for the Rumble itself because I have some serious thoughts on that one.
Main Card
Cesaro & Sheamus (c) vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows -- Raw Tag Team Championships
Anderson and Gallows must have the most unbelievable patience to be in the spot that they are right now. After their title chase against The New Day they pretty much had their credibility stripped away from them by way of terrible comedy based around sexual humor but have found themselves back in the title scene.
The only problem is Cesaro and Sheamus spent too much time building up to this title run starting with the best of 7 series, to the championship win, to slowly working their way towards a friendship. And at this point in time, stripping the titles away from them would just make all of that seem like a waste. I guess a loss could bring them closer together if that was the direction that Creative wanted. Or it could jump start another feud between the two, but I think we've all had enough of that.
I feel like I've said this a million times but I'll say it again.. Gallows and Anderson will win the titles eventually, just not today.
Prediction: Cesaro & Sheamus retain
Becky Lynch, Naomi & Nikki Bella vs. Alexa Bliss, Natalya & Micki James
The classic "throw a bunch of feuds into one tag team match and see where it goes," gotta love it.
We have the never ending Total Divas battle of Nikki vs. Natalya, Naomi and Alexa Bliss following up on their heated exchange, and Becky Lynch trying to right the ship after Micki James cost her the match against Alexa Bliss.
Naturally, the heels should win to build some credibility, but I think Naomi will pin Alexa Bliss to start moving closer to a title shot. Micki James is probably the superstar to really keep an eye on tho, because she is such a wild card and I could easily see her already turning on her teammates this early into her return.
Prediction: Becky Lynch, Naomi & Nikki Bella
Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
As good as the matches have been, I'm not ready for Round 27 of Flair vs. Banks. We need more legitimacy in the women's division and the only way to do that is to put over some of the superstars waiting in the wings. Nia Jax is a fucking monster and she has been beating the shit out of Sasha lately. In my opinion, this match should be a wash and Nia Jax should continue to climb the rankings with her first true win in the WWE.
Prediction: Nia Jax
Rich Swann (c) vs. Neville -- Cruiserweight Championship
Rich Swann has done well as the champ. He's given good matches and done well in his segments, but the cruiserweight has been missing something.. at least until Neville returned and turned on his friend, cementing himself as an official heel. Neville has been ignored for too long but with the new weight class it's time for him to win a championship and thrive for a while. I think Swann vs. Neville will continue on and provide us with plenty of entertainment watching the two best wrestlers in the division (fuck TJ Perkins) fight over the belt. But Neville's time is definitely now barring any ridiculous turns.
Prediction: Neville
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Bayley -- Raw Women's Championship
Much like Sami Zayn, Bayley will play the underdog for most of her career with the WWE. She's a great wrestler whose wins and losses will never lose her fans. But Charlotte is just better and she also does not lose at PPVs. Bayley isn't ready to become the champ and doing so would erase all of this work to build up sympathy for her. Easy pick.
Prediction: Charlotte retains
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns -- Universal Championship
As much as I love Kevin Owens, it's hard to ignore the fact that he was legitimately gifted the championship and has yet to have a true convincing win as champion ever since he became best friends Chris Jericho. Reigns and Owens have fought numerous times and Reigns has clearly had the upper hand only to have wins snatched away from him with outside interference from Y2J. But this time around, Jericho will be locked in a shark cage suspended above the ring. This stipulation suggests that Reigns will finally get Owens back, but I have a rule for myself to not pick Roman if I don't have to. I'm not ready for Owens' run to be over but I am ready to move on from this feud and start building towards Jericho vs. Owens at Mania. Owens should get this win to prove that he doesn't need help to be a champ. BUT I'm not opposed to Jericho snaking his way out of the cage to help him out, but I feel like an Owens win will end this feud and move us in a different direction.
Prediction: Kevin Owens retains
AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena -- WWE Championship
This match is already the match of the year. Cena is back and it's time for him to get a win over Styles in singles competition. These two have yet to put up a dud in the ring in my eyes, and despite this being the Royal Rumble (which will be incredible this year), this is THE match. What's been so refreshing about this rivalry is Cena finally dropping his act as the good boy and not holding back with his words to Styles comparing their journeys to the main event in the WWE.
AJ Styles is probably the better pick to win this one just because I think he is currently the best wrestler in the company both in the ring and on the mic. But Cena has to catch Flair eventually and having him lose another one to AJ Styles would kind of be the nail in the coffin for him with this and with nobody else really too deserving of the belt, I think Cena finally gets that win back.
Prediction: John Cena
Now onto the Rumble...
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