We are ten days away from the biggest show of the year… Wrestlemania 29. It’s the (surviving) Granddaddy of them all. I say “surviving” because Starcade was first, but unfortunately, it died with WCW (and I still miss it) and by process of elimination, it’s all about Wrestlemania now. Can I get a “hell yeah”? And what I’m going to do here and now is take a look at the matches announced thus far for the big show and give my thoughts and predictions for each match. I know that with more than a week still to go, the whole “card subject to change” stipulation can still be enacted and some matches may be tweeked or added, but I’m doing this based on the here and now and with the most current information available (and because now is when I have the time. May not have it later… lol.)

Also, the plans are as of now for myself and the Infamous K-Mak to do a video sometime between next Monday’s RAW and Smackdown talking about Wrestlemania and making our predictions and analysis there as well. So look for that on my Facebook page and on YouTube as well. And just because you’re reading my thoughts here doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch the video when it comes out. After all, I may (and probably) will change my mind on a few things. Just saying.

So… who is planning to buy Wrestlemania 29 on the pay-per-view next Sunday? I was thinking about it and still might, but the build and hype for the show have been terrible and although there are a couple of matches that I’d like to see, there really isn’t enough of anything special to make me want to dish out sixty bucks here. It’s a solid card to be sure and I doubt that any of the matches will totally suck, but aside from the Taker versus Punk match, nothing here is “must see” and fresh or original. Even the Taker / Punk situation is a rematch from a few years ago, but Punk has changed so much since then that it’s still worth seeing. The rest of the matches though… uugh! Seems more like a jacked up edition of RAW than the biggest show of the year. I may change my mind, but as of this moment, right here and now, unless I can get some of my Peeps to go in on the costs with me, I doubt I’ll be buying it. It’s too much of nothing special to justify the extra costs.

But I can still go over the matches announced and do some predictions, can’t I? Of course I can. So let’s go ahead and get to stepping and do just that. And away we go.

Tossing Salt Media, Inc and InFamousTV Presents:
Tossing Salt – Worldwide News: Wrestlemania 29 Thoughts And Predictions
March 28, 2013

Let’s do this…

WWE champion The Rock vs. John Cena.

I’m kind of torn on this one because I do NOT want to see The Rock as the WWE Champion. I’m glad he’s back (albeit temporarily) and he’s fun to watch and listen to, but he doesn’t need to be the Champ. That honor should be reserved for someone who can promote the company, work the heavy schedule and has earned the privilege. And Rock, despite his history, isn’t that man anymore.

But I also don’t like or want to see John Cena as the WWE Champion. I know that he’s the “go to” guy for the WWE and their big man on campus, but he doesn’t need the belt and I think it hurts the WWE when they push Cena down everyone’s throat as the champion so often. It’s been almost a year and 1/2 since the last time Cena was champ, but the thought of him holding that gold and screaming at us every week on RAW that, “the champ is here” makes me stomach turn. Cena is a decent wrestler and a good dude from all reports, but the WWE title should be carried by a CM Punk or a Daniel Bryan or even a Miz again before Cena gets it back again.

And here we have the epic Cena – Rock rematch from Wrestlemania 28 and this time, the WWE gold is on the line. Either way, no matter who wins, I think the WWE fans lose out because neither Cena nor Rock need the title to get over and make this match important and WWE could have gotten two big matches (Rock versus Cena, Punk as the WWE Champ versus whoever) for Wrestlemania instead of just one match and having to stick Punk with Undertaker. Opportunities for more matches and to help build another star / name were lost in the system. Just saying.

So this match… who wins? It’s simple. Rock won last year so Cena wins this year. And a rubber match at SummerSlam to break the tie. Yep, that sounds about right.

Winner and NEW WWE Champion: John Cena

World champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger

Another match that no one really cares about. Del Rio is a good wrestler, but as a baby-face, he sucks. He’s not real or believable. And I like Jack Swagger and his new character development, especially with the addition of Zeb Colter, aka “Dirty” Dutch Mantell. I’ve always liked the idea of managers and anytime we can have Dutch involved, I like that too. He’s done a great job helping to get Jack over with this whole “We the people” routine. Actually, he’s doing too good a job because the “We the people” story is getting over with a lot of fans and getting cheered as much as it’s getting booed. Del Rio is not a sympathetic character and so much of what Dutch and Swagger is saying is true. Maybe we’ll see a double-turn at Wrestlemania and Del Rio can show his “true colors” and turn heel while Swagger (and Dutch) can do the face turn. That might be the only possibility that makes this match worth watching and exciting to me. Nothing against the two wrestlers (and their associates) involved, but right now, it’s just not doing it for me.

As for the match result and ending? Swagger got busted for a DWI a few weeks ago. No way he’s walking out of there as the World Champion. So for this match…

Winner and NEW World Champion: Jack Swagger w/ Zeb Colter…

And here’s where it gets interesting. I said that “no way he’s walking out of there as the World Champion”. That’s because, immediately after defeating Del Rio and capturing the World Championship, it’ll be time to see Dolph Ziggler walk out and cash in that “Money In The Bank” contract. Del Rio lays out Swagger after the match. Ziggler comes out and hits the “Zig Zag” finisher. Pin and cover. New World Champion in de’ house.

Money In The Bank Contract Cashing: World Championship Match
Dolph Ziggler versus Jack Swagger

Already told you what happens. And the former Spirit Squad member becomes the World Champion. Well deserved and ’nuff said!

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

CM Punk vs. The Undertaker

I would much rather have been seeing Punk defending the WWE Championship while Taker used his annual “one match” to build another person (Christian?) to superstar / iconic status, but I will admit that the build for this match, even though some of it seems a bit rushed, has peaked my attention. Punk has embraced his inner heel and really run with the whole “Urn” thing and Taker… well, all he has to do is stand around and look like an evil and pissed off S.O.B. Mission accomplished.

So will the streak survive or will CM Punk, the “Best in the World”, be the man to make history and cause the end of an era, breaking the legacy and myth that is Undertaker at Wrestlemania 29? After losing the WWE Championship to The Rock and then being defeated by John Cena on RAW, Punk needs a strong match and a win to keep his momentum alive. And Taker? Well, Wrestlemania is pretty much all he has left these days and all that the body can handle these days. So no matter who wins, someone is getting screwed over big time.

So how does this end? Punk and Taker pull out all the stops and have one helluva match for the ages. And Punk gives Taker everything he can handle plus more and scores about a dozen or so 2 9/10th counts on the Dead Man. And then, just when it looks like Punk is ready to win and put Taker away for good and break the streak, a freak accident or distraction happens. Taker takes advantage and scores the quick and surprise win, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Taker wins and the streak survives.

Winner: The Undertaker

But that’s not the end of the story. Taker wins the match and the streak is alive and well. But the next night on RAW, Taker is there to put over the match and celebrate his victory. An ambush and attack by Punk that lays out Taker and ends up with the Dead Man being stretchered out of the arena. Thus, Taker won the battle (at Wrestlemania), but Punk can claim he wins the war by putting the Taker out of wrestling for good and sending him out on a stretcher. Punk stays strong and the Streak stays alive until next year. Plus if Taker is willing, he can come back at Summerslam and attempt to get revenge, thus setting up another match and giving the WWE a strong main event match for that show. It’s a win – win for all parties involved. I’d love to see Punk beat the streak, but realistically, that won’t happen and this is the next best option available, at least in my opinion.

No Holds Barred, Triple H’s Career on the line: Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H.

I don’t mind Brock and HHH beating the hell out of each other. I don’t mind the “No Holds Barred” stipulation. But HHH’s career is on the line. So freakin’ what? He’s already pretty much retired from the ring as it is. Unless Heyman comes out on Monday and states that the “career” is Hunter’s job as the C.O.O. of the WWE, it’s a dumb stipulation that really doesn’t make any sense. I hope that someone in WWE Creative realizes that and we can see some clarification before the match next Sunday night.

As for this match, I expect we’ll see Paul Heyman in Brock’s corner and I’d like to see HBK, he who suffered a “broken arm” at the hands of Brock, in HHH’s corner as well. I kind of expect that we’ll see this announced on Monday (hopefully) to help add some interest to this match because it needs something. I think it’ll be brutal and stiff and just lots of Brock and HHH just beating the holy hell out of each other. And since HHH won their first match last year, I expect to see Brock and Heyman come out on top this time. There’s just too much storyline potential with a cocky and victorious Heyman / Lesnar team that can be exploited and I think that HHH / the WWE sees this. Brock wins and crows loudly. HHH fades away to his backstage duties (until he decides to make his return to the ring, damn the stipulation). And life in the WWE goes on.

Winner: Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman

WWE Tag Team champions Daniel Bryan & Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler & Big E. Langston w/ AJ Lee

This is a throw-away match to get the tag champs on the card and to give Dolph a reason to be there and dressed to wrestle. Kane and Bryan are over as the champs and Dolph is going to end the night as the World Champion. So Team Hell No wins quickly and decisively here. ‘Nuff said!

Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: Team Hell No – Daniel Bryan and Kane

The Shield vs. Big Show & Randy Orton & Sheamus

This should be another solid and decent match, but it’s also one that is more filler than anyone else. I don’t think that The Shield is ready to lose yet. There is still far too much potential and too many things to still do with them. So the story here will be can Big Show, Sheamus and Randy Orton all get along and work as a team? And the answer will be… “NO”. Look for missed tags and miscommunication between Orton, Sheamus and Show and just when it seems that they’re ready to win, they’ll cross signals and someone (probably Show) will get pinned, thus giving The Shield the big win. And I’m calling it here now too. Heel turn after the match. Randy Orton lays out Shemus and Show. Just saying.

Winners: The Shield

Mark Henry vs. Ryback

This is a match that I’m looking forward too. Mark Henry is a monster and has really been on a roll for a while now, injuries permitting of course. And Ryback is the WWE’s version of Goldberg and he’s a legitimate monster as well. Both men are too damn strong for words and this could really be a good “big man” match. No wrestling here – just high impact and power moves and that works for me. I want to see this. As for who wins, it should be Mark Henry. He’s the veteran and the far better of the two in the ring. Ryback, despite his push, still is a bit too green for my tastes. But Ryback is also the pet project of Vince and the flavor of the month so that means he gets the win. And we get to hear that stupid line, stolen directly from the “Little Shop of Horrors” one more time.

Winner: Ryback

The Miz vs. Wade Barrett

I’m assuming that this is an Intercontinental Championship match. Barrett is damn good and Miz is awesome. Don’t believe him? Just ask him and he’ll tell you. I’d rather see him as a heel instead of as a face, but it doesn’t matter. He’s still fun to watch. I expect we’ll have a decent match and I also expect that we’ll see Miz’s new BFF, the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair make an appearance in Miz’s corner too. Woooooooo! And when all is said and done, we have a new IC Champion. And that, my friends, will be AWESOME!

Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: The Miz

Tensai & Brodus Clay & Naomi & Cameron vs. Team Rhodes Scholars & The Bellas

This will be either the pre-show match on YouTube or else the designated bathroom break match of the night. Does anyone want to see this disaster in the making happen? I don’t. Cody deserves better than this. Tensai and Clay win and dance a lot. Toliets all around the world flush at once. Bleh!

Winners: The Dancing Fools, 2013 Edition

Chris Jericho versus Fandango

And speaking of dancing fools, we have the WWE’s newest creation, Fandango versus the man who appeared on Dancing With The Stars, Chris Jericho. And I’m actually thinking I’ll enjoy this match because I have faith that Jericho can carry almost anyone to a good match and I like Johnny Curtis, even though admittingly, this is a stupid character thus far. It’s a big deal for Curtis to get to make his televised in-ring debut at Wrestlemania so I expect he’ll be on his game and ready to do the best he can. And with Jericho helping him along, it should be an entertaining match.

As for who wins, it doesn’t make sense for a character that’s debuting to lose his first match. That would kill the character from the very beginning. So look for the man who wants us to say his name to steal the win and come out on top. And why? Because he’s Fandango!

Winner: Fandango

And this last one hasn’t been announced yet, but I fully expect it to happen based on the results of the Diva’s Championship match from this past week’s edition of RAW. AJ Lee defeated the Diva’s Champion, Kaitlyn, by a count out. Thus AJ deserves a rematch for the title, right? So…

WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn versus AJ Lee

Kaitlyn sucks in the ring. AJ is over as a character and it’d be fun to see AJ and Dolph as the WWE’s new “power couple” with both of them holding titles. So I think AJ beats Kaitlyn and wins the title. Works for me.

Winner and NEW Diva Champion: AJ Lee

And there you have it, card and predictions subject to change of course. But for now, that’s how I think Wrestlemania 29 will go down. Just my opinions and thoughts. Am I right? Probably, but who knows?

So what are your predictions? Who do you think will walk out Wrestlemania as the winners and losers? Will the streak end? Will we have new WWE or World Champions? Will the U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro end up with a match on the show? Will HHH tear a quad? Inquiring minds want to know so use the comments section of this blog or my Facebook page and let me know.

I’m going to close this up for now, I guess. Time to go watch some VH1 Classic Videos (they’re playing some great 80’s and 90’s stuff today) and work on a piece about the Supreme Court and DOMA. Busy day ahead and I’ve got to get to stepping. Look for the Tossing Salt video with more Wrestlemania 29 analysis and talk from myself and K-Mak later in the week. And I guess that’s it. Thanks for reading. Have a great day.

Ubuntu!