Kick Off show
Battle for the Crown
King Barrett Vs R-Truth
King Barrett is a brawler that became king because people liked chanting “I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news” with him. R-truth is a rapper who started getting stale real fast and then became one of the more interesting characters when he teamed with the Miz to try to take down Cena at the end of 2011. And soon after that he became a rapper who got the kids to dance and say what’s up. It feels like it wasn’t until earlier this year till Truth really found his stride and voice in a more comedic character who seems to not understand how the world around him works. Which is where the match steams from. Barrett doesn’t like Truth using his gimmick, because then Barrett isn’t as important. Well that would be disastrous wouldn’t it. (See the joke is Barrett is a glorified jobber no matter what his name is). Unfortunately Barrett is relevant because of Truth, after this match I fear he falls out of the picture again which is a shame because I have just began to enjoy his in ring work. Barrett needs the win more, especially on a grander stage than Raw.
Winner: King Barrett
Randy Orton VS Sheamus
A classis match of two guys who are fighting just because they don’t seem to like each other. I am not sure why exactly, because one is a good guy and the other a bad guy? Honestly, I see this match as the type of match that when you look back on this card later this year, you forget it ever took place. The Celtic Warrior takes the win because…I’m sorry, that is really all I got? Lazy prediction. Absolutely. Blame the writers of this match.
Winner: Sheamus
WWE Tag Team Championship
Prime Time Players Vs New Day
The PTP have not really had a decent length match to show how good they really are, while the New Day has been a part of a couple show stealers in the past. I am hoping with the canceled triple threat IC title match, maybe this match can get a bit more time on the card and showcase the talent these guys really have. I think all have some of the best mic skills on the main roster and they are singly handedly keeping the tag team division going while so many other teams are suffering from injuries. I just hope this match doesn’t have to follow Cena and Owens, or it will be largely forgotten. I see New Day taking the titles back here to set up a rubber match at Summerslam.
Winners: New Day
Bray Wyatt Vs Roman Reigns
Another feud that doesn’t seem to have much reason for existing, except for the fact Bray cost Roman the Money in the Bank match, which again doesn’t seem to have an explanation. What I look forward to about this match is that a lot of people pegged them to be main eventers while they were in their respective stables. This seems to be one of those long time feuds that could carry over, even after both have Championship gold, which I actually find kind of exciting. It is refreshing to see Roman not feud with Sheamus or Big Show or Kane or anyone from the authority for a change so I am looking forward to this match. Sure we already kind of saw it on Raw last month but now this is getting PPV quality time, which means straight action, no filler, and hopefully no run ins. Being this is the start of a feud the heel usually gets the first win, we need a reason to cheer Roman and a loss here just adds to the vulnerability.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
United States Championship
John Cena Vs Kevin Owens
This is the rubber match between Cena and Owens and anything can happen. The last two matches were a bit predictable but now that Owens doesn’t have the NXT championship, this could go either way. Cena’s last few feuds have left people a bit disappointed that he didn’t take the loss in the feud and I have a hard time arguing with them. I was a little frustrated that Cena got the win over Wyatt so many times last year, and this year when he faced Rusev in four straight PPVs he won three of them and only lost the first one because he passed out. I have said it the last two PPV reviews, Owens is the best thing WWE has right now. He is the hottest thing in the ring and his mic skills are untouched by anyone but Cena. I can’t wait to see him feuding with guys like Ambrose, Reigns, and even Lesnar when the time comes. This will once again be the match of the night because there is so much on the line and I expect the crowd to be clamoring for an Owens win. I may be blinded by what I want to happen that I just have to refuse Cena wins again. A win over Cena is the best way to legitimize a guy like Owens and shoot him to the top of the roster. Which has to happen here. It just has too.
Winner: Kevin Owens
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Seth Rollins Vs Brock Lesnar
When Brock Lesnar is in the picture (especially now that he signed a new three year deal earlier this year) you can never predict what is going to happen which is part of the reason he is so exciting. Rollins is going into this match with no backup which makes me thing that a Lesnar win is just too simple. With that being said, I am looking forward to a straight up one on one match with no outside interference. Most of Lesnar’s opponents have been power house type men who can fight force with force, this is the first time Lesnar will be in a match with the main attribute of his competitor is more speed wise. (Not counting Kofi as that was not a match you could take seriously despite how cool it was). This will be a different pace of a match and that has to excite you as a fan of wrestling. I don’t see Brock beating down Rollins the way he did Reigns at WrestleMania this year. There might actually be some back and forth here but still leaning towards Lesnar throwing Rollins around. In the end though, something just feels off. Rollins is alone here and that just doesn’t happen with the heel very often. Very rarely do you consider the bad guy the underdog and that is where we are at. I am not sure what will happen, but I do know that Rollins walks away with the championship.
Winner: Seth Rollins
