By Mat Elfring on Apr 08, 2018 04:17 pm
Wrestlemania, WWE's biggest event of the year, is right around the corner. It's coming to the WWE Network and PPV on Sunday, April 8. Fans should get prepared for an all-day affair as 2017's Wrestlemania 33 was six and a half hours long. This year's show will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the city of New Orleans. Aside from the main card, Wrestlemania weekend will also consist of the Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday--with both Kid Rock and Mark Henry, among others, being inducted--NXT Takeover on Saturday, and Wrestlemania itself on Sunday. At the time of this writing, a Kickoff Show has not been announced, but you can expect one to start two hours prior to Wrestlemania 34 at 5 PM ET/2 PM PT, much like last year's Mania event. While the match card has not been finalized, the PPV is looking pretty full already, and there are still championships that need to be defended and main event stars that need a place on the card. The newest addition to this year's PPV is the Women's Battle Royal match, which will most likely appear on the Kickoff Show with the Men's Battle Royal. Originally, the women's match was named the Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal, but WWE changed the name due to some controversy. There have been a lot of rumors as to which stars will be on the final card, but as the weeks go on, we will only be discussing matches confirmed by the WWE, including where recently cleared Daniel Bryan fits into all of this. Keep checking back up until Wrestlemania 34 as we'll also have pieces fully discussing each of the matches at the PPV. For now, here are our predictions for the event.
Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
As of this writing, only the tag team The Revival have been announced for the Andre The Giant Battle Royal. However, the winners for the past two years have been newer talent in the company. I have a feeling we will see that tradition continue. While this prediction may change as stars gets announced for this match, I'm giving the win to Tye Dillinger, as he's a guy who needs and deserves a push. He's too talented to be on the backburner. Our prediction: Tye Dillinger wins
Women's Battle Royal
Much like the Men's Battle Royal, the newly-named Women's Battle Royal has yet to announce any participants. More than likely, it will also appear on the Kickoff Show as well. There are a lot of women in WWE that are more than deserving of a big push. However, since losing the Smackdown Women's Championship, Becky Lynch has been on the short end of the stick. She's been in the background for most stories she's involved with and endures countless losses in the ring. I'm giving the win to her simply because she deserves to be in the main event picture again. Our prediction: Becky Lynch wins
Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali
(For the Cruiserweight Championship) Finally, the match for the Cruiserweight title has been set, as Cedric Alexander takes on his friend and ally Mustafa Ali at Wrestlemania. No matter who wins, this is going to be an incredible match, as these two men are going to put on a clinic. This is the time for Ali to be in the spotlight. I'm giving the win to Ali but not just because he's a Chicago guy, like myself. He's been consistent in the ring, and his matches are incredibly exciting. Our prediction: Mustafa Ali
Randy Orton (c) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Rusev
(For the United States Championship) On the March 27 episode of Smackdown, Rusev entered the battle for the U.S. Championship, which was previously a triple threat. Before Rusev's inclusion, this match was uninteresting, as it was merely a continuation of two mediocre storylines, both of which involved Randy Orton. With Rusev a part of this Wrestlemania match, I see him picking up the win. He's truly over with the crowd, and if WWE wants to elevate this title, it needs to be around Rusev's waist and also needs some new contenders in the picture for the Bulgarian Brute to face. Our prediction: Rusev wins
The Bar (c) vs. Braun Strowman & An Unnamed Partner
(For the Raw Tag Team Championship) While the idea of Braun Strowman being a lone tag team champion is hilarious, there was no way that was going to happen. So now, Strowman will have a yet-to-be-named partner to take on The Bar. Raw's tag team division is a mess, and this match does not help. In order for the Monday night show to save face and get back on track, The Bar needs to win; otherwise, it will be a complete joke. As much as I love everything about Braun Strowman--the walking Looney Tunes character--he should not win this one. Our prediction: The Bar wins
Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Finally, Daniel Bryan's Wrestlemania match has been announced, and it's exactly what fans expected. The build between the four men has been going on for months, and now that Bryan is medically cleared to wrestle, this match can finally happen. The idea of him losing because he's rusty and failing the WWE Universe is just as intriguing, but at the end of the day, I'm giving the win to Bryan. It just makes more sense. Our prediction: Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon win
The Miz (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins
(For the Intercontinental Championship) As previously mentioned, Daniel Bryan is cleared to wrestle, and I would love for this match to be replaced by one between The Miz and Bryan. However, until there's an official confirmation to what Bryan's plans are, we have Miz taking on Finn Balor and Seth Rollins, which should be a fantastic battle. However, considering that the Miz is exceptionally close to breaking another Intercontinental Championship reign record, I'm thinking he'll retain the title, only to lose it a couple months later. Our prediction: The Miz wins
The Usos (c) vs. The New Day vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
(For the Smackdown Tag Team Championships) Apparently, kayfabe isn't dead as Xavier Woods doesn't have a broken back, even after his beatdown from The Bludgeon Brothers at the Fastlane PPV. Now, the Brothers will take on the Usos and New Day at Wrestlemania for the tag titles. Every part of me wants to go with The Bludgeon Brothers winning this one. However, this match feels like a push towards a longer rivalry between the three teams, so I'm giving the win to The New Day, but it won't be a clean one. Our prediction: The New Day wins
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax
(For the Raw Women's Championship) Things took a turn recently in the relationship between Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss, as the Raw Women's Champion was caught talking smack about her best friend. A title match between the two has been building since Bliss first won the belt, and there will be nothing more satisfying than Jax finally winning the championship. For that reason alone--the sweet taste of revenge--I'm giving the win to Jax. Our prediction: Nia Jax wins
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns
(For the Universal Championship) Reigns has called out Universal Champion Brock Lesnar for being a part-time wrestler, and that got "The Big Dog" suspended, which later led to Lesnar attacking him. Since Lesnar has been champion, I've unsuccessfully predicted him to lose on numerous occasions. And I'm going to do it again. It's time for the champion to be a full-timer once again, and while Roman Reigns may not be the top dog we want, we strangely need him. Our prediction: Reigns wins If you want to know more about Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns, check out our breakdown feature about their match.
Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon
Well, I was hoping for Rousey to reteam with The Rock, but I guess Kurt Angle is a good teammate. The newly signed, former MMA fighter takes on Stephanie McMahon and Triple H in her first bout. This is a no-brainer. WWE will not have Rousey lose her first match. Our prediction: Angle & Rousey win
AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
(For the WWE Championship) Sure, Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles had an epic match in New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 10, but the average WWE fan didn't see it and more than likely won't go looking to watch it. Just like WWE did with Ultimate Deletion, fans will get WWE's version of the classic Nakamura/Styles match. However, this will be just the start of the war between these two. I suspect this will be a long-running rivalry with the championship getting passed between the wrestlers. For the first battle, I'm giving the win to Nakamura. Our prediction: Nakamura wins
Charlotte vs. Asuka
(For the Smackdown Women's Championship) Charlotte has been a dominant champion and Asuka hasn't lost a singles match since coming to WWE and NXT. These are two of the most dominant superstars on the entire WWE roster, and this is a dream match for wrestling fans. There are very few people that could break Asuka's streak, but Charlotte may be one of them. While I see this match going either way, I don't think it's time for the streak to end, so Asuka will get the win after an intense battle. Our prediction: Asuka wins Secondary prediction: Carmella cashes in her Money in the Bank contract and loses If you want to know more about Charlotte vs. Asuka, check out our breakdown feature about their match.
By Mat Elfring on Apr 08, 2018 04:13 pm
Wrestlemania is right around the corner, coming to PPV and the WWE Network on Sunday, April 8. One aspect of the yearly show that is more often than not a constant is the Undertaker. His Wrestlemania debut was back in 1991, and since then, his winning record of 23-2 is an achievement no one else will top. This year, while not officially announced yet, the Undertaker will be taking on John Cena at Wrestlemania 34. This very well could be the last Mania he competes in, but people tend to say that every single year. Even after leaving his gear in the ring at the end of Wrestlemania 33, it seems Taker has one more match in him. We're taking a look at the history of Undertaker at Wrestlemania and ranking every single one of his matches from worst to best. If you're interested in more breakdowns of upcoming Wrestlemania matches, check out all our predictions here and stay tuned to GameSpot for more Wrestlemania, including live coverage of the event on April 8.
25. WrestleMania 9: Giant Gonzalaz
In 1993, the Undertaker took on the Giant Gonzalaz in a battle that was quite boring and uninteresting. The only notable aspect about it was the finish, when Gonzalaz knocked out Undertaker with a rag covered in chloroform. He was disqualified for his actions.
24. Wrestlemania 11: King Kong Bundy
King Kong Bundy fought the Undertaker in 1995. This was the first time it was mentioned Undertaker was undefeated at Wrestlemania, with a 4-0 record. It was a silly match, featuring a comically oversized urn, which Kama, the Supreme Fighting Machine, stole during the fight.
23. Wrestlemania 33: Roman Reigns
2017's battle between Roman Reigns and Undertaker was rough. Reigns didn't have the experience to really carry the match the way someone like Shawn Michaels could, and Taker seemed out of shape and was winded early on. The 22-minute match featured plenty of signature moves and false-finishes, but it felt like nothing more than the young guy beating down an old man, which gave Taker his second Wrestlemania loss.
22. Wrestlemania 7: Jimmy Snuka
Undertaker's first match happened back in 1991, when he took on Jimmy Snuka. What was cool about this match was that Undertaker was still mysterious. However, there was a lot of overselling on Snuka's part, and Taker felt a bit green. There was little to no drama in the match.
21. Wrestlemania 22: Mark Henry (Casket Match)
One of the cooler matches the Undertaker had been involved with throughout his career was the Casket Match, where you got the win by putting your opponent in a casket. In 2006, Undertaker took on Mark Henry in said match, but it was pretty lackluster. It was just another "big guy vs. big guy" match and failed to hit its mark.
20. Wrestlemania 13: Sycho Sid (No DQ for the WWF Championship)
The Undertaker had a few matches for a championship belt, and the first came back in 1997, for the WWF Championship in a "No Disqualification" match against Sycho Sid. The "No DQ" aspect of the match wasn't really utilized and so many spots were used in the Diesel match the year prior. It was not very memorable.
19. Wrestlemania 8: Jake Roberts
One thing that was cool about Undertaker's 1992 match against Jake Roberts was that it sets up Undertaker as an unstoppable force. It built on the mythos of the Undertaker. However, this match does get a bit bogged down by a whole lot of work in the corner and lots of chokeholds.
18. Wrestlemania 20: Kane
2004's Wrestlemania 20 marked the return of the dark and evil Undertaker, after years of being an "American Badass." The build-up and hype were phenomenal for the event, but all-in-all, it didn't live up to it.
17. Wrestlemania 15: Big Boss Man (Hell in a Cell)
Out of every single Undertaker match at Wrestlemania, 1999's match against Big Bossman was without a doubt the most bizarre. This Hell in a Cell match had the weirdest finish from the Attitude Era. After Undertaker won, he put a noose around Bossman's neck and had him hang from the cell. Many people thought they witnessed a murder.
16. Wrestlemania 19: Big Show & A-Train (Handicap Match)
Undertaker's 2003 match was the only time he faced two opponents: Big Show and A-Train. Taker was up against impossible odds for the match, which was a nice spin. Right away, it felt like this wasn't a match that he could win. The downside of this match was the sidestory featuring Nathan Jones showing up late as his partner. It felt like too little, too late.
15. Wrestlemania 18: Ric Flair (No DQ)
Ric Flair took on The Undertaker in one brutal and bloody No DQ match back in 2002, which got Taker his 10th Wrestlemania win. There were plenty of great spots here, including Undertaker turning a Figure Four Leglock into a Chokeslam.
14. Wrestlemania 32: Shane McMahon (Hell in a Cell)
While the 2016 Hell in a Cell match between Shane McMahon and the Undertaker was filled with a ton of fantastic high spots, like McMahon attempting an elbow drop onto Taker from the top of the cell, the storytelling--for the fight--wasn't there. The match entertains but felt a little empty overall.
13. Wrestlemania 14: Kane
This match defined what a Wrestlemania match against the Undertaker should be. The story between Kane and Taker really helped build this match, which had some great back and forth moments. It all built to Taker squeaking out a victory.
12. Wrestlemania 27: Triple H (No DQ)
Triple H and Undertaker faced each other at Wrestlemania on three separate occasions. While this was the weakest of the three, it was still a great match. Triple H tried everything within his power to defeat Taker, and he couldn't. The only real downside to this match was that while it was "No DQ," it didn't really scratch the surface of that type of match.
11. Wrestlemania 31: Bray Wyatt
Many wrestling fans felt that the 2015 match against Bray Wyatt would be a passing of the torch, from Undertaker to Wyatt. While the overall match was pretty good, it was more of a showcase for Wyatt. We really got to see how fantastic and haunting Wyatt can be in the ring but nothing new from Taker.
10. Wrestlemania 23: Batista (For the World Heavyweight Championship)
Undertaker took on Batista at the 2007 event, and it was an incredible back and forth battle. There were some great moments during the match, including a slam through the announcer's table. There were a few times here where it felt like Batista had this match, but once again, Taker came out on top.
9. Wrestlemania 12: Diesel
Many of Undertaker's early Wrestlemania matches were busts. However, in 1996, Diesel put up one heck of a fight. We saw some great moments, like both men knocking each other out--at the same time--with big boots. Diesel's cockiness got the best of him, and he underestimated Undertaker's power, which led to Diesel losing.
8. Wrestlemania 30: Brock Lesnar
The only loss in Undertaker's career came in 2014 when he faced Brock Lesnar. This was a slow, brutal match between these two beasts. The match did have a few problems, mainly because Taker got a concussion early on, but what makes this match great is the finish, the crowd reaction, and the aftermath.
7. Wrestlemania 29: CM Punk
The year prior to Undertaker's first loss, he faced CM Punk. The storyline building up to this match was pretty crazy, as Punk used former Undertaker manager Paul Bearer's death--which happened a month prior--to get under Taker's skin. The highlight of the match came from Punk jumping off the top rope onto Taker, who was laying on the announcer's table.
6. Wrestlemania 17: Triple H
2001's match against Triple H is pure Attitude Era. The match had a slow start that builds into a war. There were some really innovative reversals like Triple H trying to give Taker a Tombstone Piledriver and reversing it to one of his own.
5. Wrestlemania 24: Edge (For the World Heavyweight Championship)
In 2008, Undertaker took on Edge, and this match redefined what Wrestlemania matches should be. Everything about it felt so big and over-the-top. There were a lot of moments where it seemed like Edge had the win, but Taker ended up submitting his opponent for the first time in his Wrestlemania career.
4. Wrestlemania 26: Shawn Michaels (Streak vs. Career)
When Undertaker and Shawn Michaels were in the ring together, it was magical. Their second meeting in 2010 felt like a shadow of their match at Wrestlemania 25, but it was beautiful nonetheless. These two performers put on a wonderful show, with highlights like Michaels doing a moonsault onto Taker outside of the ring.
3. Wrestlemania 21: Randy Orton
Randy "The Legend Killer" Orton set his sights on taking down one of the WWE's biggest names at the company's biggest PPV. This match had one of the most entertaining storylines behind it, and the battle was great for all it's back and forth moments.
2. Wrestlemania 28: Triple H with Shawn Michaels as Referee (Hell in a Cell)
While the 2012 match featuring Triple H and Undertaker locked in the Hell in a Cell had a slow start, it slowly built into something amazing. The addition of Shawn Michaels as the guest referee really pushed it over the top, as he stepped in a few times to stop Triple H from beating down Taker with a chair. It was an extremely brutal match to watch for all the right reasons.
1. Wrestlemania 25: Shawn Michaels
Finally, the best Undertaker Wrestlemania match of all time is a no-brainer. In 2009--at Wrestlemania 25--Shawn Michaels and Undertaker had an all-out-war for 30 minutes that is one of the best Wrestlemania matches of all time. There were some great moments here, like when Undertaker dived outside of the ring and almost broke his neck after colliding with a cameraman.
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