March 30, 2012|By Arda Ocal and Adam Testa
Prediction: Randy Orton
Intercontinental Championship
Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show
Arda: Cody Rhodes is thrust into a tough position in this match. In past interviews Shaq said he'd be at WrestleMania facing the Big Show, so some WWE fans might feel this match is a consolation prize of sorts. Personally, I don't get too excited at the idea of the Big Show as Intercontinental champion, but at the same time, I would love to see Rhodes lose the title and move up the ladder, possibly as a challenger to CM Punk in the near future on PPV. Cody wins this match and loses the IC title on Smackdown soon after to a different opponent.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes
Adam: This may be a prediction made with the heart and not the mind, but I'm not ready to see Rhodes drop the Intercontinental title yet. Logical booking says that Big Show will get his redemption for all of Rhodes' harassment and finally score the "big" win at WrestleMania that his career needs. But Rhodes has been doing good work since winning the strap and bringing back its classic design. While I agree with Arda that he needs to be moved up to the main event scene, I think his title run still has legs, and I hope to see him defend the belt against some top-tier talent to further build his credibility as a main event star. For that to happen, he needs to walk out of WrestleMania with the gold around his waist.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes
World Heavyweight Championship
Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus
Arda: I liked what Daniel Bryan said in a recent interview about feeling this match will be very stiff. Bryan has been on fire lately with his character, and unfortunately for Sheamus, all eyes are on DBryan going into WrestleMania, despite Sheamus having won the Royal Rumble. The prevalent thought in my mind is, "how will Daniel Bryan find a sneaky, conniving way to leave WrestleMania as champion"? And that's what I'm predicting. I'm also guessing that this rivalry won't end at WrestleMania and we will see a PPV rematch with an added stipulation to account for how Daniel Bryan keeps his title at WrestleMania.
Prediction: Daniel Bryan
Adam: Facing the facts, this is a match no one expected to see at WrestleMania. From the moment Bryan won the world title and Sheamus won the Royal Rumble, people speculated about a title change before the show or Randy Orton being added to make this a three-way. None of that transpired, and instead, fans will be treated to his rematch from last year's show, when these two competed for the United States Championship in a pre-show match. Both men have shown tremendous progress over the past year -- Bryan as a character and Sheamus in the ring -- and the results of that growth should help produce a great match here. In my interview with Sheamus, he said he feels he's in a much better place now to be a world champion than during his first two reigns, and I have to agree. WrestleMania will be Sheamus' time to shine and put an (unfortunate) end to Bryan's reign.
Prediction: Sheamus
WWE Championship
CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
Arda: This truly will be the best in-ring performance of the night from two guys who are la creme de la creme in WWE. It will be fast paced and exciting; the Savage vs. Steamboat of this year's WrestleMania, especially if time is in their favor. The personal touch to this rivalry, in my opinion, is welcome. Unfortunately, the title matches have been falling by the wayside more than ever going into this year's biggest spectacle, and this plot twist is adding a personal flavor that adds intrigue. I see Punk scoring the win in the match. While everyone will walk into the building talking about Rock/Cena, everyone might very well walk out talking about Punk/Jericho.
Prediction: CM Punk
Adam: This contest is a legitimate dream match for me as a wrestling fan. I've long been a fan of both men, so the prospect of seeing them face off on the grandest stage of all is an amazing feel. I, too, expect this match to be the best of the night from an in-ring standpoint and just hope it will be alloted enough time to truly become something special, a WrestleMania classic for the ages. While I still don't feel the addition of Punk's family crises was necessary, it helps add to this feud, which I believe is only getting started. Punk and Jericho are too good a pairing to only have one match, and ultimately, I believe Jericho will sneak out with the win and the WWE title. Jericho will be able to gloat and carry the mantle of "best in the world" right into a series of rematches.
Prediction: Chris Jericho
Hell in a Cell
Triple H vs. The Undertaker with Shawn Michaels as the guest referee
