Tag: wrestling

  • WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 Predictions

    WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 Predictions

    Listen to the official theme while reading this:

    It’s that time of year when WWE breaks out the 2nd ring for WarGames.
    A staple of WCW’s The Great American Bash & Fall Brawl series from 1987 to 2000, it was brought back in 2017 with NXT TakeOver: WarGames before becoming a main roster event as part of WWE Survivor Series since 2022.

    A WarGames match consists of 2 teams of 5 (sometimes of 4). One member of each team would be starting the match while the other 4 are in cages at the top of the ramp.

    The competitors enter a cage that surrounds 2 wrestling rings.

    WarGames cage and ring layout from WWE 2K23. This would have been what the NXT WarGames matches looked like, but the cages (on the right of the image) would be near the entrance ramp.
    WarGames cage and ring layout from WWE 2K23. This would have been what the NXT WarGames matches looked like, but the cages (on the right of the image) would be near the entrance ramp.

    After 5 minutes, a member of the advantaged team (Which was determined on last night’s SmackDown) gets to enter next. Every 3 minutes after that, a member of the other team enters, alternating between the two until everyone is in the cage.

    Once everyone is in, WarGames officially begins. The only way to win is by pinfall or submission. One person from either team just needs 1 pin or submission for the whole team to win. There are no disqualifications, so weapons are legal (and encouraged 😉)

    As it has been since 2019, there are 2 WarGames matches, one for the men and one for the women.

    Other than these 2 WarGames matches, there are also 3 championship matches, including the World Heavyweight Championship.

    Non-Title Matches

    • Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn & CM Punk vs Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Bronson Reed in the Men’s WarGames match!
      • PREDICTION: This line is great. Old Bloodline vs New Bloodline with a sprinkle of Bronson Reed and CM Punk to spice it up. This should be a barn burner. Wouldn’t be surprised if there is some friction between Roman and Punk. Roman, Jimmy, Jey, Sami & Punk to win.
    • Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Iyo Sky & Bayley vs Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton & Candice LeRae in the Women’s WarGames match!
      • PREDICTION: This is the weaker of the two WarGames matches, as you have a very dominant women’s team in Rhea and co. There is descension within the other team as Liv and Nia are champions, while Tiffany is Miss Money in the Bank and desperately trying to cash in her contract on Nia Jax and take her title. Rhea & Co to win, with this setting up Rhea vs Liv for the title once more at a future event

    Title Matches

    • LA Knight (C) vs Shinsuke Nakamura in a singles match for the United States Championship
      • PREDICTION: Shinsuke has only returned to TV in the last couple of weeks as he hasn’t been seen on TV since April in a loss to Sheamus, but it appears that he is a heel now and a new outfit that makes him look like a badass. I can see him winning the title, as I don’t see what else LA Knight can do with the title for now. Shinsuke to win and become champion.
    • Bron Breakker (C) vs Sheamus vs Ludwig Kaiser in a triple threat match for the Intercontinental Championship
      • PREDICTION: Sheamus is once again challenging for the title that has alluded him for so damn long. If he wins this, he becomes a grand slam champion. Bron has been on fire and to be honest, he doesn’t need a title to show off how good of a worker that he is. He needs to get into a good feud with someone instead of all of these matches that have been slapped together with no actual story. Ludwig could be a dark horse, though, I’d watch out for him. Sheamus to win and become champion.
    • Gunther (C) vs Damian Priest in a singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
      • PREDICTION: Ludwig’s stable mate Gunther is defending the WHC once again against the former champion Damian Priest. Gunther took the title from Priest at SummerSlam and I don’t see the title changing hands again any time soon. Gunther to win and retain the title.

    And those are my predictions.

  • WWE Crown Jewel 2024 Predictions

    WWE Crown Jewel 2024 Predictions

    Welcome to Saudi Blood Money XII from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. It is the 2nd of 2 trips that WWE will make to Saudi Arabia as part of their 10 year deal that WWE has with the kingdom.

    Today, there are 2 new titles that are going to be awarded:

    • WWE Crown Jewel Championship
    • WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship

    These titled are not defended in the traditional sense, but they are awarded to the winner of a Champion vs Champion match. The World Heavyweight Champion vs the Undisputed WWE Champion, and World Women’s Champion vs WWE Women’s Championship.

    Other than these, there are 2 title matches, so let’s predict:

    Title Matches

    • Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Champion) vs GUNTHER (World Heavyweight Champion) in a singles match for the WWE Crown Jewel Championship.
      • PREDICTION: Hope Cody is ready to get chopped by Gunther. It’ll probably be a good match, but I cannot see Cody leaving Saudi with the CJC. Gunther to win and become CJC.
    • Nia Jax (WWE Women’s Champion) vs Liv Morgan (Women’s World Championship) in a singles match for the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship.
      • PREDICTION: I have a suspicion that Nia walks out with no titles at all. Tiffany is going to cash in, cost her the CJC (Which Liv will win) and then Tiffany to take the WWE Women’s Championship off her. Liv Morgan to win the Women’s CJC.
    • Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair (C) vs Kairi Sane & Iyo Sky of Damage CTRL vs Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson of Meta-Four vs Chelsea Green & Piper Niven in a Fatal Four-way Tag Team Match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
      • PREDICTION: Jade & Bianca needs bigger opponents, and I don’t feel that the other 3 teams are worthy of that. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jade & Bianca retained, but it would be nice if Lash and Jakara won (Let’s go NXT!!)
    • LA Knight (C) vs Andrade vs Carmelo Hayes in a Triple Threat for the United States Championship.
      • PREDICTION: With Andrade and Carmelo having a ‘Best of 7 series’ to determine who would face LA Knight for the title… BOTH OF THEM ARE. Kinda shite booking in my opinion. Anyway, I don’t see either of them winning the title. LA Knight is still too hot of a character. LA Knight to win and retain.

    Non-Title Matches

    • Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs Bronson Reed in a singles match
      • PREDICTION: I think this is going to be a squash match and Bronson is going to put Seth back on the shelf for a while. Bronson to win.
    • Randy Orton vs Kevin Owens in a singles match
      • PREDICTION: There is a lot of Badd Blood (get it) with a newely heel turned Kevin Owens towards Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. Kevin is angry that Randy is siding with Cody who in turn sided with Roman Reigns at the Bad Blood PLE. Kevin Owens to win.
    • Roman Reigns, Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso vs Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga of The Bloodline in a six-man tag team match.
      • PREDICTION: This match should be good unless it is just a brawl like the Backlash match which was just chaos. I want to this match with more members inside WarGames at Survivor Series. Roman, Jey and Jimmy to win.
    Winners
    * Cody Rhodes defeated Gunther
    * Liv Morgan defeated Nia Jax
    * Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair retained their Women’s tag titles.
    * LA Knight retained his United States Championship.
    * Seth Rollins defeated Bronson Reed
    * Kevin Owens vs Randy Orton didn’t start due to a brawl
    * Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga defeated Roman Reigns & The Usos

    And those are my predictions:

  • WWE Bad Blood 2024 Predictions

    WWE Bad Blood 2024 Predictions

    It is nearly 27 years to the day since the first Bad Blood event, and WWE has brought it back for the first time in 20 years.

    Titled as Badd Blood: In Your House, this event in 1997 saw the debut of ‘The Big Red Machine’ Kane who ripped the door of the ‘Hell in a Cell’ to attack his brother, The Undertaker, which allowed Shawn Michaels to pin him and win the WWE Championship. This was also the first ‘Hell in a Cell’ match in WWE. To date (including this show), there has been 53 ‘Hell in a Cell’ matches.

    Kane?

    Kane is The Undertaker’s brother (in storyline only… they are not related in real life) who have both teamed together as ‘The Brothers of Destruction’ and against each other… Think of it like Oasis, but if Liam and Noel were not related. Oh, and he burned his parents to death.

    Where is he now?

    Kane (Glenn Jacobs) has retired from in-ring competition. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021. He is currently the Mayor for Knox County, Tennessee, holding that position since 2018, being re-elected in 2022.

    The Undertaker?

    He is an undead wizard that can shoot electricity from his hands. His ‘Manager’, Paul Bearer would accompany ‘Taker to his matches with an urn, which he *checks notes* “raised in the air to transmit supernatural healing powers to the Undertaker; this typically resulted in the Undertaker recovering from attacks and counterattacking his adversaries” – The Undertaker has also held the longest undefeated streak at WrestleMania winning 21 matches at the event before it was broken at WrestleMania 30 (2014) by Brock Lesnar.

    Where is he now?

    ‘Taker (Mark Calloway) has also retired from in-ring competition. He is married to former WWE Superstar Michelle McCool. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022. Since his retirement, he has been doing podcasts, interviews about his career which was something he never did while working in the WWE.

    Shawn Michaels?

    Shawn Michaels was part of a tag team with Marty Janetty in ‘The Rockers’ in the 80s until the team was split in 1992 by Shawn placing a ‘Sweet Chin Music’ on Janetty which sent him through the barber shop window. Shawn would go on to be part of D-Generation X along with Triple H and Chyna (Along with some others along the way). He would be coined as ‘Mr. Wrestlemania’ for having several prolific matches at the ‘Grandest Stage of them all’

    Where is he now?

    Shawn is also retired from in-ring competition but still works for WWE as the ‘Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative’ and heading WWE’s development brand, NXT.

    Anyway, with the history lesson out of the way, let’s look towards this year’s show,

    Arch rivals are now a tag team? Cody Rhodes is tagging with the man who he took the WWE Championship from at WrestleMania, Roman Reigns to defeat ‘The Bloodline’

    Also, The Judgement Day comes to blows as former member Damien Priest takes on Finn Bálor

    Let’s predict!

    Title Matches

    • Nia Jax (C) vs Bayley in a singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
      • Prediction: Nia has honestly been killing it since winning the title. I don’t believe that Bayley nor Nia is walking out with the title as Ms. Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton has teased the cash-in. Even last night, the trigger felt like it was going to be pulled, but it wasn’t to be. Nia to retain, but Tiffany to also cash in and win the title.
    • Liv Morgan (C) vs Rhea Ripley in a singles match for the Women’s World Championship. Dominik Mysterio will be suspended above the ring in a Shark Cage.
      • Prediction: Rhea and Liv are going to have a great match like what they did have at SummerSlam, but hopefully without the interruptions from The Judgement Day. I don’t see this working out for Liv though and would lose this match. Rhea to win and become champion.

    NoN-Title Matches

    • Damian Priest vs Finn Bálor in a singles match
      • Prediction: The other members of The Judgement Day in action. I don’t have high hopes for Finn winning this match, as Damian needs to come out strong, if he is to challenge for the World title at any point in the future. Damian to win.
    • Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu) in a tag team match
      • Prediction: This is going to be an all out brawl, but I do not see Roman and Cody winning it and here is why. Solo is gunning for the Championship, and it would make The Bloodline weak if they lost here. You will want the big payoff and possible title change at Survivor Series. The loss would anger Roman and Cody to the point that we may see a rematch at WrestleMania but that ain’t going to be for another 6 months yet… The Bloodline win.
    • CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell.
      • Prediction: This could well be match of the night, but I hope that this is the end of the rivalry for now, as it is getting a bit long. I expect this to be a gruesome match with some bloodshed and hopefully an appearance from AJ Lee.

    And those are my predictions.