'Ziggler smiles to keep from crying.' Source: www.wwe.com
PPV Kickoff match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Fandango-
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Just a few months ago Dolph Ziggler was the World Heavyweight champion. Now he is wrestling on the ppv kick off show. Word on the street is the WWE brass is still upset about some comments Ziggler made about the current product. People have done and said worst, but apparently, he isn’t getting out of the dog house anytime soon. There is no real history or build to this match, but it should still be entertaining.
And the winner is…
Fandango. If Mr. Ziggles is still being punished, there is no way he wins this match. I expect the lovely Summer Rae to get involve and cost Ziggler the match.
Main PPV Card:
'I think I know what I want for Christmas.' Source: www.wwe.com
Divas Champion AJ Lee w/Tamina vs. Natalya-
These two have been in multiple tag matches against each other, each time with Natalya getting the win. Conventional wrestling wisdom says that AJ will come out on top because of that fact. The other side of the coin is the fact that they are pushing the Total Divas cast pretty hard. I initially thought one of the Bellas would take the belt from AJ, but they are both over if anything because of who they are in relationships with. Natty on the other hand could really use the rub of being champion.
And the winner is…
Natalya. I hate to say it, but it seem like they have soured on AJ as champion. She is hardly ever featured at this point. She really was the “CM Punk” of the Divas division. Her title reign was poised to ignite the Divas divison, but they have dropped the ball, once again. Natty gets the win after the Sharpshooter. This also may be the catalyst that starts the inevitable AJ/Tamina break up.
'Now what?' Source: www.wwe.com
Intercontinental Champion Big E Langston vs. Damien Sandow-
I would remise if I didn’t mention the fact that Sandow was challenging for the World title less than a month ago. Let that sink in for a sec. There is a premium of mid carders to challenge Langston. I think Sandow has been miscast here. Granted, he hasn’t held WWE gold before, but he has excelled to the point that if his first title was a world belt, I would be totally ok with it. The quick build to this match isn’t helping my interest in it either. Langston is and should be IC champion. That said, his title reign will be a totally failure without actual feuds to make him look strong. Sandow is a strong challenger, but this is no feud.
And the winner is…
Big E Langston. There is no way they take the belt off him this fast. He will pin Sandow after the Big Ending. Sandow will go back to teaching high school English in Muncie Indiana…
'Next season on Duck Dynasty...' Source: www.wwe.com
Daniel Bryan vs. The Wyatt Family (3-on-1 Handicap Match)-
This match is going to be interesting. The Wyatts have been devoid of any real feuds since their debut. That silliness with Kane was a complete waste of time that went nowhere. Bryan is the hottest wrestler in the WWE. That said, you would think he would be somehow involved in the unification match, but that would make too much sense. I don’t know what the end game is here, but it has at least been entertaining. As far as the angle goes, there is no way Bryan will join the Wyatts. That said, he probably should. Here me out: Bryan has been beaten down by the Authority so much that he gives in. goes off the deep end and embraces Bray Wyatts message… ok… now that I have said it out loud it sounds like an awful idea.
And the winner is…
Daniel Bryan. I have no clue how, but he will manage to pull this one out.
'Punk is about to attempt to ice skate up hill.' Source: www.wwe.com
CM Punk vs. The Shield (3-on-1 Handicap Match)-
CM Punk really painted himself into a corner here. I would surmise that the Authority felt he and Daniel Bryan’s partnership could potentially cause them a problem in the future. What better way to deal with that then to put them both in matches they have no real chance of winning. Punk has had issues with The Shield since its inception, so a match like this was bound to happen eventually. The X-factor here is the ascension of Roman Reigns. I expect this to be his second ppv coming out party.
And the Winner is…
The Shield. Punk is about to pin Ambrose, and *wham!* Spear by Reigns for the win.
'One of these men will be get destroyed by the other... then destroyed by Brock Lesner.' source: www.wwe.com
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. WWE Champion Randy Orton (Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match)-
This one is for all the marbles, as they say. I know a lot of us are disappointed in who is being featured in this match, but let’s be realistic: John Cena vs. Randy Orton= PPV buys. At the end of the day, that is what it is all about. I didn’t remember till Cena’s promo on RAW how closely Cena and Orton’s careers have paralleled. This match will probably insanely physical, extreme even. But in the end…
The winner and undisputed World Champion will be…
Randy Orton. Every time Cena is in a match to this magnitude he loses. His match against Daniel Bryan, The first and most important match against the Rock, his title match against Punk, all loses. This match will be no different. Everyone expects “Super” Cena to roll over Orton and that’s exactly why he won’t. Orton wins clean. During the post-match celebration Orton will get attacked by whoever his next challenger will be. Given the magnitude, it will be a big name returning. My money is on Brock Lesnar.
Side note: if Cena somehow manages to win, the same end scenario applies.