Figured I'd post my final thoughts for the PPV here instead of opening a new thread. This thread pretty much covers it so here goes:
Buddy Murphy vs. Akira Tozawa: Cruiserweight Championship
Though I have no doubt this will be a fun match, I personally have very little interest in it so, just for the sake of predictions I’ll go with Buddy Murphy to retain…
Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin: No DQ match
This is a rhetorical question but, seriously, why is this even happening on PPV?
The answer obviously lies in the fact that both these guys have to get their paycheck, not to mention Drew McNtyre and probably Kurt Angle because…oh, you didn’t know…both are for sure going to interfere, hence the no dq stipulation.
As for who wins? Not that I give a shit but Strowman should be winning…
Ronda Rousey vs. Ruby Riott: RAW Woman’s Championship
I really like Ruby Riott but, for one, they’ve done a poor job booking her and two, the main story line is between Rousey, Charlotte and Becky so, simply put, Ruby has no chance in fucking hell. Regardless of the obvious outcome, I do expect this to be a very good match because Ruby can certainly work…
You know, speaking of the ladies, I should note my frustration (to an extent) about the fact they’ve added Charlotte in the mix, eventually leading to a triple threat at Mania (because of course it will be a triple threat, regardless of this “suspension” bullshit story line). On the flipside, and as much as I would have personally preferred this to be a one on one affair, I do understand the reasoning behind this decision so at the end of the day, I’m fine with it so long as the outcome remains the same, thus Becky Lynch winning.
Miz & Shane vs. The Uso’s: Smackdown Tag Team Championship
Assuming that there will be at least one title change during this PPV, this particular match appears to be the most obvious option, however me thinks Miz and Shane should hold on to the belts for just a bit longer in order for the story being told to brew just a bit more. If they do it here, I wouldn’t be surprised but I would consider it rushed, more so given we still have one more PPV before Mania. If you ask me, Fastlane is when Miz and Shane drop the belts, causing the dissension and ultimately leading to either one of the two to turn on each other…
…or, they can always drop the belts on one of the next Smackdown shows and then, assuming they somehow get a rematch at Fastlane (yeah, supposedly no rematch clauses anymore but rules change on a weekly basis in WWE so, sure, why not) they lose that match as well and then you get the dissension between them etc.
Either way, my prediction is Miz and Shane to retain…
Bobby Lashley and Leo Rush vs. Fin Balor: Handicap match for the IC Championship
In regards to the title changes conversation, this is probably the second option however the “odds stacked against said superstar” is the angle I feel will be played in the men’s Elimination Chamber match so can’t see them telling the same story twice. Then again, would they book this PPV with no title changes at all? I mean, there’s no law or rule against it and it’s not like they haven’t done it before, however I feel something has to give. You’d also have to consider the specific stipulation added because if WWE would decide to go somewhat “funky”, they could have Balor pin Leo Rush, thus creating a way for this feud to carry on because obviously Lashley can claim he was never personally pinned.
Is this, though, the best way to give Fin Balor his big moment and crown him new IC Champ? It would feel kind of cheap, don’t you think?
Meh, I’m going to say Lashley retains…
As far as the two Elimination Chamber matches are concerned, I’ve already expressed my thoughts in another thread and am sticking with my guns in both cases…
Sasha Banks and Bailey I feel is a lock for the woman’s tag belts. I mean, as much as I can understand the idea of Nia Jax and Tamina winning and then have the baby faces (Sasha and Bailey in this instance) chase, I feel that being called the “first ever” woman’s tag champs (technically not first but anyway that’s how WWE will tag it and it’s a topic for another day and time) is far more important, hence my strong belief in Sasha and Bailey.
Furthermore, they are entering the match in first position, which clearly suggests they will tell the story of how they managed to overcome the odds and go through the entire field in order to achieve their dream etc.
Lastly, in regards to the men, I can see no other outcome other then Daniel Bryan retaining. He’s white hot, he just introduced his new version of the belt and, quite frankly, there’s no reason for a title change at the moment.
If I had to take a guess, I feel it could ultimately come down to Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston. They could easily tell yet another story of the ultimate underdog going for the improbable win and even have us believe he has a chance. Eventually, Daniel Bryan will obviously retain, but I do expect a surprise, that being the introduction of a new member in this faction that appears to be forming. Could it be Luke Harper? Could it be Bray Wyatt? Both make sense, plus it could be a new version of the Wyatt family, only this time with Bryan in charge…something along those lines anyway…
