411 PPV Roundtable Preview – WWE WrestleMania XXVIII (Part Two)

Triple H vs The Undertaker
Hell in a Cell
Special Referee: Shawn Michaels

Stephen Randle: Hey, how is this the “End of an Era”? There’s actually nothing on the line for Triple H. If he loses (sure…”if”), then The Streak continues and presumably so does The Undertaker, and Triple H is also free to continue on because It’s not like his career is on the line, right? We’ll set the potential match quality aside and go right to the prediction. Which isn’t so much a prediction as a “Well, Duh” statement.

Winner: The Undertaker

Aaron Frame: If you looked in the comments section of the last Ask 411, I posted my thoughts about this match. Unfortunately, I forgot I wasn’t logged in and it showed up under a guest tag. But I’ll put it here because it’s my thoughts on the match.

The more I think about it, the more I think HHH is going to end the streak. I know a lot of people would bitch endlessly about that, but stick with me here.

The match has a title. The End of an Era. This is having two of the biggest stars of yesteryear facing off with another star from yesteryear as ref. Now, seeing as this is the end of an era, and HHH will be around a lot more than Taker since he will be running the company, it would make sense to end the streak here.

Reason being is that who from the crew of guys who could use the rub could they put up against Taker as being a legitimate threat? I can’t think of anyone considering the names Taker has already toppled. It would be nice to see someone like Punk or Ziggler get the win, but it doesn’t seem like they could actually pull it off.

This isn’t about making HHH look like a beast and furthering his spotlight. This is about cementing the fact that that era is dead and gone and fans need to move on and look to the future. End the streak, end the era, move on to a new future of professional wrestling where fans will take notice of rising stars instead of wanting for the older stars.

Winner: Triple H

James Wright: If there are two ‘storytelling’ matches then this is the first of the two ‘spectacle’ matches. Hell in a Cell at Wrestlemania for the first time ever and booked as an ‘End of an Era’ match, this one looks to have some great spots and I’m looking forward to these three doing a nice little finisher dance and exchange. I’m sure all three will be looking to steal the show and you just know it will be given the time it needs, if not more than that. Is it wrong to say that this is one for the ‘older’ fans at this point? There is a certain point where some wrestlers get so big that wins and losses, even in title matches, don’t matter anymore, all three men fall into this category, but the streak is still of some interest. Every other year I have rooted for the streak to end but this year I hope it continues because I do want to see Undertaker vs. Cena if the match ever comes up. Either way I will give it up to the WWE for somehow calling the streak into question each year despite it running to 19-0, I still have never been completely sure that the Undertaker will triumph, and yet…

Winner: Undertaker

John Downey: Had this matched not been stamped with the label “The End of an Era”, I would have no second thoughts on picking the Undertaker. Really, I could see either man going over here, though I don’t see Michaels playing a huge part in the match. The winner, in my eyes, should be the guy who can draw more money at the next Wrestlemania, and I don’t see anyone asking for Triple H vs. Brock or Triple H vs. Austin.

Winner: The Undertaker

Gavin Napier: I would find it absolutely hilarious if WWE ended The Streak at the hands of somebody that absolutely doesn’t need it to establish themselves as a main event player. There is nobody, and I mean nobody, more slippery than Triple H, and he’s in a position to not only end The Streak but put a huge feather in the cap of what he perceives to be his legacy. There have been and will be better options to end The Streak, but the sadistic part of me really hopes Trips is the one to do it just so that nobody else can. I’m picking with my heart here, not my head.

Winner: Triple H

Dan Plunkett: If HHH goes over here, I’ll have no faith when he takes over the company. There is no reason for a 42-year-old guy with little to gain that only works a few matches a year to end The Undertaker’s streak, which at this point is far more prestigious than any world title. I really liked their match last year and thought it told a great story, albeit not a perfect one (Triple H should have passed out from the gogoplata, not tapped). That match came at a point when Undertaker was in really bad shape and he still went all out. I’m not sure the match quality of their last match can be met, but if I think for even an instant during the match that Hunter is going to win, they’ve done a good job.

Winner: Undertaker

Michael Weyer: I still maintain their bout last year was nowhere near as great as people claim it was. So I’m not sold on this one either, although the HITC does add more drama to it, not to mention HBK as the ref. I know the wisdom is HBK helps out HHH to win as payback for losing to Taker twice and it makes sense. I know if anyone snaps the Streak, it’s HHH, I get that too. But I just don’t see it. I just don’t see WWE deciding after so long to finally end it, it’s become such a huge part of the Undertaker’s mystique that it’s hard to see it finally finishing. Plus, letting him go 20-0 is just so fitting as he probably doesn’t have many years left. Expect the odds against him but in the end, Taker puts HHH away once more and leaves on his own two feet to solidify his legacy once and for all.

Winner: The Dead Man

Mathew Sforcina: It’s The Streak. It is not John Cena, nor a John Cena equivalent. Therefore, Taker wins. I understand the logic and arguments as to why HHH might well win, but sorry, unless Taker is actually Dead, as opposed to being the Dead Man, if he could perhaps actually still wrestle, the streak lives.

Winner: The Undertaker (4 Chokeslams, 3 Tombstones, 2 Pedigrees and 1 Sweet Chin Music)

David McGregor: It’s pretty amazing to think that WrestleMania XXVIII is so big that Taker and Triple H inside the cell with HBK as the referee isn’t the biggest match on the card! I was really excited for this one when the Hell in a Cell stipulation was announced, and I don’t actually think that HBK needed to be added to make this any bigger. Both men did fine without HBK last year and the added stipulation was more than enough to top last years. I just hope we don’t get the watered down cell we have been used to, I want to see both mean tear each other apart old school style. Both men have so much sway backstage I think this could be the most brutal WWE match we have seen in a long time, and I can’t wait for it!

Winner: Undertaker

Jack Bramma: This would seem to be the one for all the marbles. If Punk and Bryan are defending championships and Cena is defending a reputation and his top dog status, Undertaker is defending a legacy. Whereas two years ago, it was HBK who needed validation, this time it’s Undertaker who needs the validation. He needs to know that he is as good as the Streak and that he is the Last Outlaw, the only competitor worthy of being a brand unto himself. Triple H, meanwhile, is chasing ghosts and demons, both literal and metaphorical — the ghost of his best friend who’s better than him, the ghost of a victory last year that never happened, his inner demons that demand he vanquish a dead man that cannot be killed or defeated. Shawn Michaels is the arbiter on the scales of justice who will choose weighs heavier on the conscience: friendship or fidelity, redemption or righteousness, victory or validation?

What can I say, I’ve bought into the storyline, grandiloquent archetypes and all. I’ve read the jokes making the rounds about how since Taker is only working one match a year, that it’d easily be possible to stretch this out to 30-0 with more matches again Kane, HBK, Triple H, Cena, Brock, Nash, triple threats, etc. Though retirement has not really been openly discussed for this match, it seems in the air and Taker is the logical guy to hang the boots up, but he’s still not going out on a lose.

Winner: The Undertaker

TJ Hawke: I’m not really sure how I feel about Shawn Michaels being so directly involved in this match, but regardless, this match should be great. I think both men will wrestle like it’s their last match ever (although I don’t expect either to retire after this), and that they could easily have the best match on the show. As for the result, Undertaker wins.

Winner: The Undertaker

Michael Ornelas: Expect HBK to cost HHH the match in some capacity. Perhaps this year, Triple H won’t be able to walk out on his own. Pick is obvious: It’s WrestleMania.

Winner: The Undertaker

Robert S. Leighty Jr: I was there last year and loved their match even if others hated it. The drama and story was off the charts and I expect even better this year. This is WrestleMania and even with the PG stuff, I expect these two to let it hang out and hopefully give us some blood. There is a time and place for blading and this is that time and place. They broke a rule last year with the chair shot to the head, so might as well go the next step this year. The streak isn’t getting broken, but the fun will be in seeing how this two (plus Shawn) build enough drama to make everyone think it can end. Last year my friend threated to walk to TacoMac next to the Georgia Dome if HHH won and when HHH hit the Tombstone he started heading for the aisle. This won’t get near Shawn/Taker, but it will be a kick ass brawl that is high on drama and story.

Winner: The Undertaker

Daniel Anderson: This match scares me. There are two versions of Triple H in my mind. One is the Triple H that lost cleanly in the middle of the ring at WrestleMania XX. The other Triple H is the one who basically stole the title from CM Punk at the end of the Summer of Punk. I don’t know which Triple H we are seeing at this WrestleMania, but whichever shows up determines the outcome of the match. In the end, I just can’t see the streak ending to Triple H. I see Shawn Michaels screwing Triple H somehow in the end and Undertaker getting the win. I really hope I am right with Undertaker winning.

Winner: The Undertaker

Steve Cook: I have no doubt this is going to be a classic WrestleMania match. Triple H & Undertaker rate among the most decorated & respected stars in WWE history, and each man will be sure to bring his A game to this match. This has allowed me to not worry much about the buildup, as I think they ran out of things to say a couple of promos before they were done and by the end of it they were reduced to awkwardly looking at each other. Undertaker should win. I won’t entertain another option. The question is what kind of involvement Shawn Michaels will have, and if it will lead to issues between him & Triple H in the future.

Winner: The Undertaker

Daniel Bryan © vs Sheamus
World Heavyweight Championship

Stephen Randle: Much like Rhodes-Show, when Sheamus won the Rumble I figured it was only a matter of time until he was wearing the World Heavyweight title. Fast-forward to now, and I think there’s a better-than-even chance that Bryan retains. I’m pretty sure Sheamus will get the belt eventually, but I can see Daniel Bryan sneaking out a victory here.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Aaron Frame: YES! YES! YES! We get the match that we got shorted last year, only now it’s for a bigger prize. However, the build has been pretty weak. I’m a fan of both of these guys, but it just doesn’t seem like they have any chemistry outside of the few matches we have seen them in. This is for the World Heavyweight Championship. One of the two top titles in the company. Why doesn’t it feel like a big profile match? Is it only me or does everyone else feel that way? I do expect these guys to put on one of the best matches of the night, but I don’t really know if I’ll be as emotionally invested in this match as I should/could be. I think there is a lot more to be done with a world champion Daniel Bryan.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

James Wright: It’s interesting that I’m calling a Sheamus match one of the two ‘technical’ matches of the night but I think these two have something to prove and with little build in the way of storyline I think they will be looking to put on a technically sound match. I’ll be looking out for speed vs. power and a lot of counter moves from both men, I would imagine Sheamus will power out of the LaBelle Lock and turn it into the Celtic Cross (the Finlay version) to win the championship. For once there is a company strong man where I don’t hate the idea of him being champion over the more skillful, smaller, indy guy, so good job WWE and good job Sheamus.

Winner: Sheamus

John Downey: I like both guys, and logic dictates that Sheamus shuts up the braggart champion at the biggest show of the year, but I think there is still money to be had with Bryan as champion. Sheamus certainly deserves to hold a belt, but I don’t see Bryan losing when he has so many easy outs here. This doesn’t feel like a personal issue, either, and I don’t see the belt changing hands without something personal in the buildup, so I think Bryan goes over here using dastardly deeds and Sheamus wins at Extreme Rules.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Gavin Napier: I’ve tried and tried and tried and I just can’t come up with a reason for Sheamus not to win this match. The roll he’s been on, the fact that Daniel Bryan grabbed a cheap pin on him on RAW, it all points to Sheamus taking home the big gold belt at WrestleMania.

Winner: Sheamus

Dan Plunkett: I expect this to be an excellent match. Hopefully it doesn’t get dragged down by Bryan’s gimmick of having to get lucky, but even if it does there’s no way it’s going to be below *** if they get a good amount of time. Sheamus got pinned on Raw, so by WWE booking standards he’s going to win this match. Hopefully that doesn’t hurt Bryan though, because his work has been superb (then again, it always has been).

Winner: Sheamus

Michael Weyer: They’ve been promising to steal the show and I think they might just do it. Both men have been coming alive on the mic and improving in the ring nicely so this should be a great payoff. Tempting to say Sheamus after his Rumble win but Bryan has been on a roll as champion, it’s hard to see that ending so soon. But I think I’ll go with the majority, Sheamus wins but Bryan more than gives him the rub during it and hopefully they live up to their promise of this being a show-stealer.

Winner and NEW World Champion: Sheamus

Mathew Sforcina: I love Daniel Bryan. I love the new Daniel Bryan. I suspect that he’ll get the title back at Extreme Rules when AJ turns heel. But for the love of all things, we need to get that Rumble winner percentage back up.

Winner, and NEW World Heavyweight Champion: Sheamus (Every Finisher Sheamus has)

David McGregor: It is quite sad how little build this match has had. Both men have gone back and forth costing each other matches, and that has pretty much been it. I think had Rock and Cena not been announced for this year’s event there would be no way that both of these guys would be the Smackdown main event. I know they will have a great match if given the time, but there I don’t feel the need to see this match like I do the other main matches on the card. This seems as obvious an outcome as the Undertaker match, Sheamus has been on a role and is clearly going to be the man to finally take down Bryan.

Winner: Sheamus

Jack Bramma: I have a bad feeling about this. I think they are really on to something with Dragon but it also seems that WWE is ready to jettison a project as soon as I start liking it or as soon as it starts really clicking. Usually, it’s to test a guy’s resolve but Dragon went through the losing streak gimmick back in the summer/fall so I don’t see that coming to pass this time. Also, I just don’t really get into Sheamus as a face. I preferred his heel run a couple years ago (even if I’m the only one). His RR win was more of a fluke/swerve than full fledged push. On the other hand, WWE just LOVES to squash hated heels at Mania who have been getting away and avoiding retribution for months. I would not at all be surprised if Dragon gets the JBL, Honky Tonk Man, Triple H (via Warrior) treatment and sent crashing back to midcard reality. And then within a couple weeks, AJ would be feuding with Eve over Zach Ryder or something. I hope I’m wrong about that one and Dragon continues to create a constant glow, filling himself with the blissful reality that he is the World Heavyweight Champion!

Winner: Daniel Bryan

TJ Hawke: No Royal Rumble winner has gone on to win a World Title since Undertaker in 2007. That unfortunate streak finally comes to an end in this match when Sheamus defeats Daniel Bryan to win the big gold belt. I think this match goes 12 minutes, and I think they will try to steal the show. Should be a very good match.

Winner: Sheamus

Michael Ornelas: I think Bryan’s first title reign has been a huge success in terms of elevating the guy, but I don’t want it to end just yet. There’s so much more they can do with him before taking the belt off him. That being said, I fear that Sheamus will get the title and have a pretty decent run before Bryan gets back to the main event. I do foresee Bryan being a multiple-time world champion in his WWE career, but I have a hard time seeing him walking out of Mania with the belt. I think AJ will get in the way. Then again, I’m a big Bryan-mark, so I’m going to pick him anyways because it’s what I want.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Robert S. Leighty Jr: Bryan has been great in his heel role and he deserves a ton of credit for getting over with the crowd. He has held the title a lot longer than I figured he would. Swagger, Edge, Orton, and others seen as big time players when they won the title had less successful runs their first time, so I think that is a feather in Bryan’s cap. The winner of the Rumble has lost since Taker won at WrestleMania 23, so I figure someone finally has to snap that streak. I would love to see Bryan win, but I see Sheamus getting his WrestleMania moment.

Winner and New World Champion: Sheamus

Daniel Anderson: As bas as it sounds, I am glad we did not get this match last year. Before the flaming starts hear me out. Last year this match would have felt like filler and been limited in time. Now we have a match that has a reason for existing, and it will get more time then it would have last year. Bryan has defied everyone’s expectations, has gotten over with the crowd, and has had a successful first title run. That is a huge accomplishment especially when you consider Swagger’s run after cashing in the MITB match. Sheamus has also been on a roll, especially seeing how a little while ago he wasn’t a favorite backstage. I think this is the match where Bryan cannot sneak a win and Sheamus ends up victorious. I can easily see this match being the best of the night if given enough time.

Winner: Sheamus

Steve Cook: Todd Bergman said something on a podcast we did with fellow 411 writer Jeremy Lambert over at mancavethoughts.com that I had been worrying about myself…the prospect that this match would be a two minute squash for Sheamus. Given the way the story’s going and the way the characters are, it’s a scenario that’s popped up in my head while thinking about this match many a time. I don’t want this to happen. I’m a big Sheamus fan and I won’t be disappointed if he beats Bryan in a good match, but Daniel Bryan deserves a better end to his title reign than a two minute squash. I’m going with Sheamus, but I hope it gets to be an actual match with some back & forth.

Winner: Sheamus

CM Punk © vs Chris Jericho
WWE Championship

Stephen Randle: It’s no secret that I want this to be Match of the Night and possibly Match of the Year in the worst way. The news that Jericho extended his contract through the summer takes away the certainty that Punk’s going to win, but I think this feud can easily continue even with Punk retaining at Mania. And I certainly hope that’s what happens.

Winner: CM Punk

Aaron Frame: This has easily been one of the best build ups for the entire card. Two of the best on the mic in the business today have been going at it and it has been pure gold. The go home RAW we saw Jericho continue to agitate Punk with calling him a bastard after already outing that his father is a drunk and his sister abuses substances. This set Punk off leading him to take his frustrations out on poor Christian. If anything, I’m excited to see Punk and Jericho just beat the hell out of each other. This has so much potential to be a hard hitting and brutal match. Most likely will be match of the night. And instead of looking at some things that could lead me to believe one has a better chance of winning, I’ll just say that I want Jericho to win. One more run with the title. Even if it’s short.

Winner: Chris Jericho

James Wright: I’m actually not sure on this one, obviously the second of the ‘technical’ matches with a lot of back and forth and counter wrestling. Both men trying to prove which is the best in the world has kind of been overshadowed in the fact that this will probably be third from last on the card at best. So instead we have this deeply personal angle of Jericho slandering Punk’s family, which I actually like since you don’t often see Punk rattled but Jericho has clearly gotten to him. Whether this will lead to Punk making a mistake, or whether it will fuel him onto a victory I’m not sure, either way we are no doubt in for a treat and probably a feud that will go on past the Grandest Stage of them all. Having said that I just can’t see Jericho going over Punk right now.

Winner: C.M. Punk

John Downey: Hey, what do you know, an angle that I can get behind. I don’t think Jericho needs the belt in order to be a draw, while the belt needs to stay where it is for stability’s sake if nothing else. Besides, I’ve already picked one heel champion, and I don’t think WWE is crazy enough to have two heels walk out of their biggest show of the year with both of the major belts.

Winner: CM Punk

Gavin Napier: While it was joked about that this match would go on first, I’ve just sort of assumed that it would. I honestly think that Jericho is taking the title from Punk, and ‘Mania likes to send folks home happy. If Jericho goes over early, they can put Sheamus over later to keep folks happy. I do have this horrible feeling that a Jericho win is going to lead to a Jericho vs. Orton feud, though, and we all know how that will end. The plus side is that we should see Punk or Bryan switch brands and engage in a feud with each other over the summer. I can hope, right?

Winner: Chris Jericho

Dan Plunkett: I very rarely get excited about title matches anymore, but I’m really looking forward to this one. Punk and Jericho have done quite well in the build to this match and the story of determining “the best in the world” will allow them to go all-out in the ring. With Extreme Rules being held right outside of Chicago, I expect Jericho to win here, probably by some heelish tactics, and Punk to chase the gold in his home town.

Winner: Chris Jericho

Michael Weyer: These two are a mini-dream match on their own, fantastic egos clashing together and the build has been great. The match should pay that all off as the two smash together, each a genius in the ring so hard to pick a winner. I’m leaning toward Punk retaining for a rematch at Extreme Rules and Jericho is always great as the whining challenger. Either way, another one to help steal the show and give fans a great undercard.

Winner and STILL WWE Champion: CM PUNK BABY!!!

Mathew Sforcina: Now THIS is the real stumper. Either outcome works, and I can see either one happening. Plus we do have a title change already… But we already have Christian doing the ONE. MORE. MATCH. gimmick, so I don’t see Jericho chasing. Punk needs to chase. He’s better at it.

Winner, and NEW WWE Champion: Chris Jericho (Bottle of Jack Daniels)

David McGregor: This has had a subpar build so far, I liked the whole alcoholic father angle at the beginning but it should have stayed there and focused on that as opposed to straying onto the other family members. The idea of Punk being straight edge because of his father’s addiction is a really good avenue to venture down, bringing up his sister and mother came across as a desperate and blatant attempt to annoy Punk. Also Punk seemed to get way too angry for a rather pathetic attempt to step things up a level. I’ve heard worse insults to mothers in most school playgrounds, and for me that’s what this has really become. I loved the idea of both feuding over the best in the world title, that’s a perfect angle that could have written itself. There’s enough ego between both for that to have been personal enough to lead into WrestleMania, this has just came off pretty poorly. That aside, I do see this being a fantastic match that could steal the show if given the appropriate time.

Winner: CM Punk

Jack Bramma: OK, Kane’s stalled push I at least kind of understand, but Jericho? What has he done since coming back other than not talk for a few weeks and instead bask in the troll-like glee of getting people’s hopes and delivering nothing but a glowing jacket? He’s having solid matches in the midcard and beating the likes of Kofi Kingston but that’s about it. The promos on Punk’s family have been mildly interesting, but I don’t see why Jericho has to be an inconsequential foil at this point. He’s like Mick Foley in the regard that he’s always felt like a transitional main eventer/champ and never “the” guy. He was always either holding Triple H’s belt or Cena’s belt or Edge’s belt or Undertaker’s belt or someone else’s. This time, I think he has to go over to justify his audacious return and I want his title run to go a little different. I don’t want him to gloat for a few weeks about getting inside Punk’s head and leading him astray only to lose an I Quit match at Backlash or Extreme Rules. I want Jericho to get an honest to goodness sustained reign but good luck with that.

Winner: Chris Jericho

TJ Hawke: My prediction is that CM Punk comes out after “America The Beautiful” and calls out Chris Jericho because he doesn’t want to wait anymore to kick his ass. I see these two having a great back and forth match that the crowd is heavily invested in. As for the result, I think Punk should retain, because he should be champion for a long time. However, it’s pretty obvious that this feud is going on after WrestleMania, and it’s hard to come out with a scenario where Punk wins and the feud continues. Still though, I’m going with my heart and not my head…

Winner: CM Punk

Michael Ornelas: HHH/Taker in the Cell will be the match of the night in terms of spectacle (I think even more than Rock/Cena, although that will be the hottest crowd of the night. This will be your pure wrestling match of the night. Just give these men time, as the build has been great. I expect an aggressive Punk and a wily Jericho in this encounter. Should be a lot of fun. I honestly think this story HAS to end with Punk going over, so I’m going to pick him. Even if the story continues, Punk wins here. Don’t care if I’m wrong, as I’m sure WWE will have a reason.

Winner: CM Punk

Robert S. Leighty Jr: These two have a lot to live up to as people are expecting Savage/Steamboat level stuff, and I think that is something they are actually embracing. This feud has gotten extremely personal with Jericho’s verbal attack on Punk’s family and that will make this a blood feud much like Steamboat/Savage was. If they even come close to Savage/Steamboat (or Michaels/Angle) I will be more than happy. As far as the result, Jericho has signed to stay a little longer, but I don’t see them switching both titles tonight so I will say Punk retains.

Winner and Still WWE Champion: CM Punk

Daniel Anderson: I expect a great match from these two. This match has been built up as a very personal match, and I think these two will be able to sustain that level of intensity. I’m not going to come out and call it a potential MOTY, but it obviously has that potential. At the end of the night we will have Punk still holding the title and headed into a new feud with Cena (because he has been away from the title for a while and I don’t see that trend continuing).

Winner: CM Punk

Steve Cook: I thought at the beginning of this that Punk was going over without question, but I’ve changed my mind recently because I want the feud to continue. The best way to continue this feud is to have Jericho win the title through nefarious means so he can crown himself as “best in the world” while Punk has to stew in the fact that the guy who drug his family through the mud took his title. This has potential. The match has potential as well, if it’s not one of the best of this show and possibly of the year, it’ll be a disappointment.

Winner: Chris Jericho

John Cena vs The Rock

Stephen Randle: Well, it all comes down to this. WWE has punted, fumbled, and sidetracked this year-long build like only they can, and Cena and Rock have worked their asses off to bring it back around to where it truly is the gigantic match we all thought it would be. The quality will not be questioned, even if the fact that Cena will not be turning heel (take that to the bank) should be. And in the end, Cena, the guy who will be here every day after WrestleMania just like he’s been here every day up to now, is the guy who should win, and the guy who will win.

Winner: John Cena

Aaron Frame: One of two matches that involve old stars and have overshadowed matches that deserve more attention. But I will say that I have enjoyed the year long build. It’s been…fun. Getting so see The Rock here and there for a year is nothing to really complain about. It’s cool to see him do his thing. He definitely still has it. And he has been able to bring out the best of Cena, in my opinion. I just wish that it didn’t take bringing in Rock to get Cena to go all out. The last bit that they did on RAW definitely was a great way to lead to the match. They have said just about everything they could and they have put it all on the table. Both men have argued their side for an entire year. But this last bit said it all. Cena needs to win because he is the epitome of WWE Superstar. It’s all he is, it’s his life. Rock needs to win to become the greatest Superstar of all time. The stakes are high on both sides. Will company man Cena lose to Rock so he can become the greatest of all time? Or will Rock eat a pin from the golden boy to make him pursue Cena for another year to take one last shot at becoming a legend? I’ll choose the latter.

Winner: John Cena

James Wright: The big one, and while the build has been a little repetitive I’m pretty sure we are all looking forward to this one. I’m expecting the exact same thing to happen as in every Cena match where he faces off against an ‘unbeatable’ opponent. He will get his ass beat and then pull out an AA to win in the middle of the ring. Has anyone noticed how Cena only seems to lose against unlikely opponents: The Miz, Edge (at the time) for the WWE title. I suppose you could say that is a good thing and that Cena (occasionally) lets people get over, unfortunately for the most part as a fan I just want to see the smug Cena lose and when he doesn’t it makes me mad, but hey at least it makes me care. I expect to be hopping mad by the end of WrestleMania 28.

Winner: John Cena

John Downey: The real question here is why should the Rock win? How would that benefit WWE? He’s not part of the main roster, and he’ll be gone soon after WrestleMania, so it’s not like his victory would mean anything. I suppose you could turn Cena heel, but “Rise Above Hate” t-shirts are still selling well, as are the “Cena Sucks” dorkstamps, and while Punk is a heck of a babyface, I don’t think he could fill the hole Cena would leave if Cena turned to the dark side (not that I’m saying Punk isn’t a good babyface, but his star is still far below Cena’s). A Cena victory, on the other hand, helps a guy on the current roster and can help him sell a big marquee match at next year’s show. There’s no reason why Cena shouldn’t win, and though we all like to joke that wrestling and logic don’t always go hand in hand, there’s really only one way that WrestleMania XVIII can end…

Winner: John Cena

Gavin Napier: The build has been similar to WrestleMania X-7 with Austin and The Rock, and I expect a similar result. Cena “needs” to beat The Rock, just like Austin did, and I expect him to go to uncharacteristic lengths to do it, just like Austin did. They went to great lengths to point out that John Cena is “real” on the hour long special they did, which makes it less likely that he’d ever turn heel to the fan out side of the IWC, because we overthink everything. It makes the heel turn more shocking if it happens. Cena took part in unnecessary jabbing at Lillian Garcia. Cena’s been dropping some profanity on television to show he’s super serious. I think WrestleMania XXVIII is Cena’s long awaited heel turn. I think it happens when he snaps after losing to The Rock, though. Then he attacks Rock and sets up a totally unnecessary rematch next year.

Winner: The Rock

Dan Plunkett: The build for this match has been really disappointing, especially on the go home show. I don’t think the build discernibly hurt the match, but we’re just days away from the show and there were multiple points over the past year where I was more excited for the match than I am now. The atmosphere should be incredible; I expect the usual reaction Cena gets on big shows in front of a more hardcore audience. As for who will win, Cena is the obvious answer. I like the idea of Rock winning and having a long build to him challenging for the title, which would make it mean something more than it is now, but I don’t see them doing that. Cena is the guy that’s going to be the top star in the company week in and week out for the next however many years, and I doubt they will risk hurting him by doing the job.

Winner: John Cena

Michael Weyer: I honestly never thought WWE would wait an entire year for this. It’s been fantastic to watch not just as a fan but also the social implications of how people respond to each man. Now we have match time itself and while I doubt it’ll fully live up to the promise, it’s still going to be something. I think Cena will help carry this with Rock doing his usual moves and such and the fan reaction is going to be interesting to watch: Back the star of the Rock or respect for Cena’s recent promos? Either way, they know they’re the match everyone wants to see and are ready to make it worth the wait, pulling out all the stops and going the distance. In the end, I think Rock will put Cena over, solidify him as the new star of the times and one likely to stay a while. Either way, it’s one of the most anticipated Mania main events in years and should be amazing to watch.

Winner: John Cena

Mathew Sforcina: Rock will be there next year. That changes things. A win setting up a rematch is entirely plausible. Hell, if WWE was really ass backwards, Rock will win to set up Rock/Taker next year since clearly Rock has to win to set that up… I think deep down Rock is not selfish. Just because he’s a movie star, I really hope he remembers who he was. The guy who once jobbed to Big Boss Man, The Hollys, STEPHANIE MCMAHON. He doesn’t need the win, regardless of who he works with next year.

Winner: John Cena (People’s 5 Knuckle Shuffle)

David McGregor: The build up for this has been patchy at best, mostly because the Rock doesn’t seems to have held back or been held back by the writers. Cena has by far been the winner in the war of words leading up to WrestleMania. The only time Rock really seemed to get the upper hand was during the Rock concert, well bar the embarrassing “We Will Rock You” sing-along. But as is the case with most dream matches, the build doesn’t matter at all. Rock and Hogan had one great promo when they decided to face off at WrestleMania X8, but the rest of that build was ridiculous! And yet the match was amazing and is still a lot of people’s favourite match, based purely on the reaction the two stars received. I think this will be the exact same, Rock and Cena could have done nothing all year and this would have still been a special moment come April 1st.
Seen as Cena has had the upper hand all the way throughout one would assume Rock would get the victory, but he really doesn’t gain anything from that at all. If Cena wins the crowd go home unhappy, but he is the top star in the company right now. But this is Miami and the Rock is more celebrity than wrestler now so chances are he will win. But, oh forget it I have no clue how this one is ending. Some say Rock is definitely winning, some say Cena is obviously winning, with so much dissent between the fan base this is still a close call. All I can say is this will be a really special moment for every wrestling fan, a proper dream match for the first time in a decade.

Winner: …..I have no idea!

Jack Bramma: This pick is all about me as a fan. I don’t care about logic or storylines or anything. Rock could be scheduled for the next decade to be making GI Joe movies and I’d still pick him. When Cena gave the penultimate promo on RAW this week and revealed his trump card (that the reason the crowd doesn’t faze him and the reason they get pissed off at him is because they know he’s going to win), that got under my skin — mostly because he’s right, at least for me. As a wrestling character, I don’t like John Cena and I want him to lose. So mostly for the last seven years as he’s racked up victories over a lot of wrestlers I like better than him (Batista, Triple H, Jericho, Angle, Edge, HBK, Del Rio, Miz, etc.), I was upset… at first and then I got used to it and have become somewhat desensitized to it, but this feud has reignited my anti-Cena sentiment as a fan. Rock and Cena for that matter have done something that I thought was almost impossible: they have made me care about the outcome of a match in the WWE. Not from a booking or analytical perspective, but as a fan who likes one guy and doesn’t like the other. In this regard, Cole who usually is an idiot is right about one thing — my visceral reaction to Cena is as close to being a pure fan-driven reaction that I’ve had going for a while. This Sunday, regardless of who wins and who losses, I’ll be pulling for The Rock

Winner: The Rock

TJ Hawke: My one fear for this match is that it only goes 15 minutes and they spend the first 5 minutes standing around, “basking” in the moment staring at each other and not doing much. Ok, with that out of the way, I can say that I am very much looking forward to this match. I expect them to pull out all the stops to put on a great show. I expect most of the crowd to be behind Rock, but I also think there will be a sizeable portion of the crowd to behind Cena. A lot of rumors about rematches, and other matches have been floating around that seemed to put the question of “Who wins?” in bigger doubt, but I see no reason for Rock to win this match. John Cena is the face of this company, and he is going to be for the foreseeable future. Cena deserves to win this match, and he will win this match.

Winner: John Cena

Michael Ornelas: WWE messed up in announcing this match a year ahead of time. People got sick of the Rock/Cena interactions. If Rock came back when he did (the first Raw on the Road to WrestleMania) and challenged John Cena, I think a lot more people would still be into this match. I think the WWE has Cena win and expects the crowd to embrace him with Rock giving a show of respect. I think he’ll STILL be booed mercilessly because it’s Miami. Oh well, should be a fun bout that I think will impress and exceed expectations.

Winner: John Cena

Robert S. Leighty Jr: These guys also have a huge amount of pressure on them to deliver an epic match that will live on in history. Technically this won’t be Savage/Steamboat, but it doesn’t need to be. This has been building for years (I go back to Hall of Fame before WrestleMania XXIV), and is the match we all wanted last year. I do expect them to deliver in every way possible and we will be left with a match that we will be talking about for years. As for the winner it seems that Cena is the favorite because he is the face of the WWE and will be with the company long term. The thing in the back of my mind is that Rock has agreed to be there for SummerSlam, and Mania next year, so if there will be rematches it may be best for Rock to go over. In my head I see Rock going over and then seeing Cena deal with the fact that he let every other star in the WWE down by losing to The Rock. Cena having to live with the guilt as he pines for one more shot at The Rock while he is out making movies in Hollywood would be gold. I know it goes against my better judgment because would mean back to back losses at Mania for Cena, but I will go with The Rock. Besides all that Cena has come off as a dick to me in the build to this (and I am nowhere close to a Cena hater) and at this point I just want Rock to beat his ass.

Winner: The Rock

Daniel Anderson: Here we are with the match a year (actually more) in the making. I have to admit I half expected this match not to happen. I figured something would stop it from occurring be it a Cena injury or a Rock movie. It doesn’t matter if you think Cena and Rock have legitimate heat or not (I seriously doubt it), but I think it will matter if someone is expecting Cena to turn heel in this match. As much as I would like to see it, it isn’t going to happen. I am not a Cena hater because as dominate as he is, he seems to be a good guy overall and has a good sense of humor. I remember one PPV where after he won he went over to a group of people with anti-Cena shirts and posed with them after the match. I see this being an emotional match, but worry about it being sloppy. Rock not being in the ring for a while will show. That being said I am looking forward to seeing this match because this is one of the few dream matches we will see between the PG era and the Attitude era. I know there will be complaints at me saying this, but this match should close out the show. The crowd will be on fire and the atmosphere will be electric. Cena will end up winning since he is around for the long term (like it or not) and we all know Rock has no problem with putting people over.

Winner: Cena (let the comments flame)

Steve Cook: This match exists to put John Cena on the same level as The Rock. I think instead it’s put The Rock on John Cena’s level, and I’m not convinced that this feud is going to result in the buyrates that WWE is hoping for. I expect it to be a really good match with a lot of heat from the audience. Miami will be behind The Rock, though with the acoustics of Dolphins Stadium it won’t come across on TV like people hope. We all know who needs to win this match & who should win this match…Rock winning could be more interesting, but WWE doesn’t usually do interesting when it comes to John Cena. They don’t need to until the kids get bored with him.

Winner: John Cena