WrestleMania XXVIII thoughts and predictions:
Match 1: Randy Orton vs Kane
I really kinda feel bad that I don't care more about this match because both guys are big stars but this just holds no interest for me. I think it'll be solid enough but unspectacular, obviously Orton wins. I reckon this should go on first, give the fans something to get into right at the start of the night and Orton hitting the RKO will get a huge pop
Match 2: Cody Rhodes vs Big Show - Intercontinental Title
This one is kinda interesting. I love Cody as a character and the buildup from what I've seen has been different and kinda unique. Unfortunately it seems all set up for Big Show to knock out Cody and win the title, all this talk of Big Show failing at WrestleMania is just screaming that this year he'll win there.That belt is a huge part of Cody's character though and I kinda worry for him if he loses it. Cody should win, but I have a horrible feeling Show will.
Match 3: Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan - Heavyweight Title
Another match with what looks like a fairly obvious result. Sheamus will almost certainly win the title, all along it's felt as if D-Bry has just been holding the belt until WrestleMania and SmackDown's ratings have been terrible with him on top. That said, I could see him getting disqualified and then Sheamus going on to beat him in some kind of no holds barred gimmick at Backlash.
Match 4: Undertaker vs Triple H - Hell In A Cell
This is the most obvious match on the show. Undertaker should, and will, win. The streak will never end, it's too special and it would be a huge mistake to ever interfere with that. I think this will be Taker's last match and I think he'll pull out all the stops to have one last, fantastic WrestleMania moment. Shawn Michaels really isn't needed here but whatever, I figure H is about to end the streak and Michaels superkicks him so that he can't do the one thing Shawn couldn't do.
Match 5: Face chicks vs Heel chicks
You can't even begin to imagine the enormity of the toss I couldn't give about this match. I reckon it'll be in this spot right after the Cell match to give the crowd a break. It's Mania and there's a celebrity involved so Maria and Kelly have to win for the TMZ photos.
Match 6: Chris Jericho vs CM Punk - World Wrestling Entertainment Title
This has the potential to be one of the best matches in WrestleMania history I think, the promos setting it up have been so strong and there's a real intensity about it that we don't get much anymore. Punk and Jericho are both fantastic and are more than capable of putting on a show-stealing bout. It'll be a tough act to follow Taker and Hunter but if anyone can do it they can. Punk has never had a great WrestleMania match or a big win (MITB doesn't really count since its essentially a clusterfunk of midcarders). Punk needs the win, and he'll get it.
Match 7: Team Teddy vs Team Johnny
I fully expect this to sandwich the title match and the main event as the hokey, comedy segment that lets the crowd relax a bit between the two dramatic matches. Team Johnny will win this one, and nobody will care.
Match 8: The Rock vs John Cena - Once In A Lifetime
This is it, the match everyone has looked forward to for a year now. Two of the biggest stars WWE ever created finally squaring off in the biggest match of the wrestling year. As exciting as this is, WWE have backed themselves into a corner majorly. Cena has to win this one, he's the one that'll be around after Mania, he's the one that'll still be relied on to drive the company and they can't afford to take any shine off that by having him lose to, effectively, a movie star. However, if Rock loses in his hometown you end the biggest show of the year with 70,000 odd disgruntled and angry customers making their feelings known. I figure Cena wins and WWE undergo the embarrasment of having the crowd crap all over the last 3 minutes of a WrestleMania ... which would be quite amusing. UNLESS they're going to build to another Rock/Cena match. In which case Rock goes over here and Cena goes on a quest for a rematch and wins there instead.
Overall I'm excited about this WrestleMania, a lot of the matches are very predictable but have the potential to be excellent anyway. We've been drastically lacking in Mania quality Manias these past few years, but I reckon this one can actually live up to the hype.