It was reported this week that WWE has re-signed RAW to continue being broadcast on the USA Network at nearly 3 times it’s current value which should hopefully keep the program there for about 5 years or so but full details would be revealed by September 2018.  The current contract for RAW with NBC Universal (The owners of the USA Network) expires in September of 2019.

As for SmackDown, well, NBCU haven’t agreed to re-sign the show…yet, but WWE is looking to move the show to another network and the favourite to ‘win’ this show is FOX. And I personally see this as a fantastic opportunity to make RAW vs SmackDown Live a bigger deal than what it is today.

SmackDown has been under the NBCU umbrella since 2010 but moved from SyFy to USA Network in 2016 and has done well in becoming it’s own brand since the WWE Brand Extension back in August 2016.

Making the move to FOX would start a rivalry between FOX and NBCU for ratings for the shows and if WWE were smart about this, they would have 2 separate production companies running each show, so that RAW and SD would have their own ‘flavour’ instead of being “Let’s replace Red with Blue and go live”.

This opportunity would see a proper “Rating War” between the two brands when it comes down to a PPV like Survivor Series where if one person ONLY watched RAW, they may be surprised at what the talent is like on SmackDown and visa-versa.

WWE moving SmackDown to a big competitor of NBCU to say…CBS could also be huge and could pull in a new audience who might not have watched wrestling previously.

I will keep an eye on this deal and see what WWE does with SmackDown as I am a fan of SmackDown Live (And NXT 😛 )

 

Welcome everyone to the 3rd and final prediction post for Wrestlemania 34. A I am writing this post, we are just a few hours away from NXT TakeOver: New Orleans show. If you want to catch my predictions for NXT TakeOver, click here: NXT TakeOver: New Orleans 2018 Predictions

For all the NON-Title Matches Predictions, click here to view that post – Wrestlemania 34 Non-Title Predictions!

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Anyway, here we go with all the predictions for all the title matches. Wooooooooooo!

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Universal Championship
	Brock Lesnar (C)	vs	Roman Reigns

PREDICTION: Well, we all know how this one is going to turn out. Brock is about to leave WWE to go back to UFC and it would appear that the deal is apparently done, so Brock may just simply throw this match in order for Roman to win. If I am totally wrong that he is not going anywhere, I still don’t see him winning. Roman is the guy in the WWE and Vince will do anything that he can to get Roman in the big spot light.

The only thing that is going to solve us hating Roman is by getting him to turn hell, but you know that it ain’t going to happen any time soon. Roman to win!

 

WWE Championship
	AJ Styles (C)	vs	Shinsuke Nakamura

PREDICTION: This is a dream match that we have been waiting for since their encounter at Wrestle Kingdom 10. This match is surely going to be the match of the night as they are going to be hard-hitting, high-flying and more. I would be happy for either guy to win as they are very good in my eyes. This is probably going to be a match of the night contender and I would personally like to see Shinsuke Nakamura win the WWE Championship.

 

SmackDown Women’s Championship
	Charlotte (C)	vs	Asuka

PREDICTION: Title vs Streak. This is a tricky once for a couple of reasons. Charlotte may be the person to break Asuka’s streak. Asuka may win the title and then  you have Carmella to think about (She is more than likely going to cash in tonight)

Both of these ladies have submissions as their weapons and they are not afraid to use them. Asuka could choke Charlotte out so it would be called off rather than being a tap out, but who knows. This should be a interesting match with some good story telling and I am looking forward to this. I want Asuka to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

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Triple Threat for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship
	The Usos (C)	vs	The New Day
	The Bludgeon Brothers

PREDICTION: Right, let’s get this out of the way. As good as they are, I do not see Harper and Rowan gaining the tag titles…I don’t feel that this is the right time for them to have the titles. They are not ready. The New Day have a reason to win them…if they do, they would be a 5-time WWE World Tag Team Champions. The Usos are by far the best Tag Team in the WWE today. Their heel run is by far the best run that they have had in the company and I would hate to see them losing the titles to New Day…Maybe someone from NXT can take it off them at SummerSlam or something. Usos to retain.

 

Triple Threat for the Intercontinental Championship
	The Miz (C)	vs	Finn Balor
	Seth Rollins

PREDICTION: Well, this is a match I didn’t know I wanted. Balor, Miz and Rollins all in the same ring for the IC Title. This should be a fantastic, hard-hitting match and the previous feud that Rollins had with Balor should make this a good match to follow closely. It would be great if Finn Balor could actually win the title tonight as he NEEDS to have a title on him. Seth doesn’t need a title reign at the moment and in my opinion, I feel that Seth is doing OK where he is on the roster. He is in a good place! Finn Balor to win.

 

Fatal 4-Way for the United States Championship
	Randy Orton (C)	vs	Bobby Roode
	Jinder Mahal		Rusev

PREDICTION: Well, this was a singles match turned into a triple match, turned in a fatal 4-way. This would be Randy’s first defence of the title since he won the title back at the Fastlane PPV. Bobby Roode has really gotten better but is still suffering from that ‘post-NXT-bury’ that some of the superstars have been subjected to and doesn’t make them feel as ‘big’ as what they were back in NXT.

I am really happy to see Jinder Mahal in this match as he needs a rebound after losing the WWE Championship. He looks like he was buried to the bottom of the roster whenever he lost the title and hasn’t picked up steam again…so here is hoping that he has a good match. And then we turn our attention to Rusev.

Rusev is good. He is great and he has been a United States Champion (twice) and he is up against some good opponents which should make this match a highly-rated one. I would personally like to see Rusev Day (Wouldn’t it be great for Rusev to win the US Title on Rusev Day? :O ) – Rusev is a good foreign heel with some powerful moves and this I think that Rusev should win the US Title.

 

Raw Tag Team Championship
	The Bar	vs	Braun Strowman & ???

PREDICTION: Well, we STILL do not know who Braun’s partner is…My prediction for that it is is going to be the return of Samoa Joe. Whomever it is, it is going to be a win for Braun and his partner…..I do not see The Bar retaining at all. Braun is going to be the powerhouse that is known to be and even those Cesaro and Sheamus is good, it is not going to be enough to defeat Braun and his partner. Braun & his tag team partner to win.

 

RAW Women’s Championship
	Alexa Bliss (C)	vs	Nia Jax

PREDICTION: This is also slated to be a good match as it is a feud that I have been looking at closely. Nia Jax has become a fantastic character in the last few months and while I am happy for her to have a title match at Wrestlemania, I feel that Alexa is going to retain,  BUT here is a curve ball and my overall prediction. Carmella is going to cash in her Money in the Bank contract, pin one of them and run with the title. Carmella is going to cash in and win.

 

Cruiserwright Championship Tournament Final for the Cruiserweight Championship [KICK-OFF SHOW]
	Cedric Alexander	vs	Mustafi Ali

PREDICTION: And here we have the match of the night. 205 Live has become the hottest brand in WWE (A very close 2nd behind NXT) and this match for the CW title is going to be the best match on the card in my opinion. These guys has been built brilliant and pushed to new heights. Drake Maverick seems to be a very good GM for 205 Live and I am excited where the show goes after Wrestlemania. Cedric Alexander to win the CW title!

 

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And that is finally the predictions done. Apologies for the delay in getting this post out. Being busy and having the flu really put a dampner on things and prevented me from completing this, but alas it is done now.

I will be live tweeting tonight at 10pm with the pre-show and at 12pm for the main show. You can follow me on Twitter: @PFWressling 

Welcome to the 2nd of 3 Wrestlemania weekend posts where I predict every match that is on the card on Saturday and Sunday.
For my predictions on the non-title matches at Wrestlemania 34, click here: Wrestlemania 34 Non-Title Predictions!

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This post is going to go over all my predictions for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.

In my opinion, NXT is going to be a better show than Wrestlemania 34.

Anyway, let’s get into the predictions for this illustrious card.

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Non-Title Matches:

 

Unsanctioned Match
If Gargano wins, he is back in NXT. If he loses, he will be banished from NXT forever.
	Johnny Gargano	VS	Tommaso Ciampa

PREDICTION: This is going to be match of the weekend. This feud started back at NXT Chicago back in May 2017. They are back for a big match which massive implications (Mostly for Gargano). If Johnny wins, he is re-instated in NXT but if he loses, he is ‘banished’ from NXT (Main Roster debut basically). Honestly, as much as I love Johnny Wrestling, I want him to lose so that he can debut on the main roster. So overall, I want Tommaso Ciampa to win this match. I hope that by SummerSlam 2018, Ciampa is called up. Both of them should be called up the night after Wrestlemania but honestly I think that Ciampa could do with a extra few months.

 

Title Matches:

NXT Women’s Championship
	Ember Moon (C)	VS	Shayna Baszler

PREDICTION: This is a re-match from NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia in which it was a submission-based match where Shayna seemed very dominant in the match. A good feud that this has been and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ember does lose the title but I hope that Ember gets to keep the belt for a good while as she does appear to be a very good champion. I can see big things for Ember in the future including a massive push when gets into the Main Roster and has a feud with Alexa Bliss/Asuka/Sasha Banks. Ember Moon to retain.

6-man ladder match for the NXT North American Championship
	EC3	VS	Velveteen Dream
	Adam Cole		Lars Sullivan
	Killian Dain		Ricochet

PREDICTION: This one is very difficult to call as you have 6 of the best guys in NXT including EC3 (formally of IMPACT Wrestling) and Ricochet. Adam Cole seems like a good shout and would mean that all members of the Undisputed Era are champions. Lars Sullivan is a dark horse in this whole thing as he is being pushed but it is probably going to turn out that he is going to start a feud with Killian Dain later down the road. Velveteen Dream is the person that I want to win, but I won’t be surprised if the title does go to EC3 or Adam Cole.

 

Triple Threat for the NXT Tag Team Championship
	Undisputed Era (sans Bobby Fish) (C)	VS	Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne
Authors of Pain

PREDICTION: Right, before I get into this…I haven’t watched this weeks NXT TV. Reads some news…Ah yes, I forgot that Bobby Fish had a knee injury. Ok, so the way that they are working this is that the finals of the Dusty Classic Tournament happened on Wednesday between Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne vs Authors of Pain. This ended in double disqualification and now the NXT Tag Team Championship is also the final for the Dusty Classic. But the issue is if Bobby is out with a injury, does that mean that Adam Cole will have to pull double-duty on the night? (He is in the NXT NA ladder match also)

Anyway, whatever way it is, I would like to see Undisputed Era retain the NXT tag team titles for a couple of reasons. 1) AoP are going to debut on the main roster…Let’s try not to hide it, it’s going to happen sooner rather than later. Roddy and Pete are not a great tag-team and it wouldn’t work that they would become NXT Tag Team Champions. So for now, ERA to retain.

NXT Championship
	Andrade “Cien” Almas (C)	VS	Aleister Black

PREDICTION: Again, another contender for Match of the Night as we see Aleister Black in his first NXT Championship match and to be honest, I would love for him to actually win this title. It would be a great fit on him and he should have a great title reign, but on the other half, Andrade is growing on me. His heel work with Zelina Vega is really staring to warm me and it would be a shame if he was to lose the NXT Championship. I am torn between these two as it really could go either way, but either way this should be an enjoyable match all round. Aleister to win the championship. 

 

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And that is my predictions for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. I am really looking forward to this show and this is normally the show the steals the thunder of Wrestlemania (It has in the last 2 years anyway) and there is defiantly going to be talk about these matches in the years to come. Match of the night contender goes to Johnny vs Tommasso.

Also, quick note about the posts that I am doing. I am toying with the idea of these ‘tables’ with the information about the match so it is more readable. I will be improving them in the coming months but hopefully these are legible for NXT and Wrestlemania.

You can follow me on Twitter @PFWressling to catch my live reactions to NXT TakeOver: New Orleans and Wrestlemania 34.