Will WrestleMania deliver tonight?
Orlando has been the Mecca of the wrestling world this week, and the sports entertainment universe begins and ends its “calendar year” with WrestleMania 33 tonight on the WWE Network.
Approximately 100 events, between shows, autograph signings, speaking engagements and social get-togethers have been taking place since Monday and will continue through Tuesday, but make no mistake about it, all eyes in the pro wrestling world will be on Camping World Stadium, formerly known as the Citrus Bowl.
Mania sold out earlier this week and once the stage was set up, WWE released more tickets but those were scooped up as well.
Speaking of the set, it has a roller coaster on the stage and there is a giant wrestling ring above the cover above the actual ring.
The image is really cool and I think everyone will enjoy it.
Plus, the ramp appears to be set much higher than it usually is.
Note that although the official card is set to begin at 7 p.m. EST, the Kickoff Show starts on the WWE Network two hours earlier and there will be several matches on the preview show.
While WWE has not officially announced the main event, it had been widely believed by most that the Universal championship match that will see Goldberg, who is 7-0 all-time in WWE PPV singles matches, defend against Brock Lesnar. Last night, we learned that the main event will in fact be The Undertaker against Roman Reigns, in what could be Taker’s last match.
I don’t anticipate the match to go long. I would be shocked if it goes more than 10 minutes.
Who is my pick to win? Lesnar will hand Goldberg his first WWE PPV loss.
The WWE championship match will see Bray Wyatt defend the title against Randy Orton.
Will Erick Rowan or Luke Harper interfere?
Wyatt is 2-0 against Orton at WWE PPVs and he should go to 3-0.
In the match with the best buildup on the show, Chris Jericho will defend the U.S. title against Kevin Owens.
If this isn’t the best show on the card, then another match will have stolen the show as I expect this to be great.
I predict that Jericho, who will tie Bret Hart for sixth place all-time by wrestling in his 14th Mania match, will lose.
Also, Owens joins a select list as the seventh wrestler to wrestle for two different titles in his first two Manias.
Regardless of how legitimately banged up Taker is physically, I expect him and Reigns to deliver. Taker would fall to 23-2.
If this truly is his last match, take a moment to realize that Triple H and John Cena are tied for second all-time in Mania wins with nine each.
Combined, they have 18 which is still five less than Taker.
Taker won his first 21 Manias and Edge is second on the list at five straight wins to start his career.
Think about that.
Seth Rollins faces Triple H in a “Holds Harmless Agreement” match where if Trips hurts Rollins he can’t hold WWE or him responsible.
This is H’s 21st career Mania match, second only to Taker’s 25.
Rollins is my pick, and if he does win, it will be Triple H’s 12th Mania loss, which would be the most all-time.
He is currently tied with Shawn Michaels and Big Show for the most with 11.
AJ Styles should pick up his first Mania win against Shane McMahon.
The Miz retained the WWE championship against Cena at Mania XXVII. I am floored that this was never brought up over the last few weeks.
Miz and Maryse should win the match over Cena and Nikki Bella because Cena is leaving for a few months to go to Hollywood, but I am predicting Cena and Bella will win.
A bonus prediction, as I predicted in this column several weeks ago, is that Cena will propose to Bella.
Bayley defends the Raw Women’s title against Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks in the eighth fatal four-way in WWE history.
The champion has retained the first seven times there has been a four-way at Mania, but I look for Banks to turn back to her villainous ways and win the title.
A women’s title has not changed hands at a Mania since Mania 22 in 2006.
I look for Baron Corbin to win the Intercontinental title from Dean Ambrose in the 23rd IC title match in Mania history.
It would be the 11th time the IC title changes hands at Mania.
Anderson and Gallows will defend the Raw Tag titles in a ladder match against the teams of Enzo & Cass and Shemaus & Cesaro.
I sense Enzo & Cass winning.
Alexa Bliss will defend the Smackdown Women’s title and former female wrestlers have been contacted about appearing, so no one knows who will all be in it.
Bliss is my pick although Naomi is an Orlando native.
In Kickoff Show matches, I pick Neville to retain the Cruiserweight title against Austin Aries in a match that could steal the show and the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will take place.
Braun Strowman is expected to win which is why I will predict an upset.
Also, look for Jim Ross to announce at least one match tonight.
Will The Rock or The Hardys appear? Will there be other surprises? What will happen?
We will find out tonight.
Hall of Fame and NXT
Being that I landed in Montreal Saturday morning to watch the Pirates, I used my time on my flight to watch a replay of the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony that aired live Friday night.
Also, the NXT show Saturday night delivered and if you haven’t seen either event, I recommend checking them out.
Special Mania column Tuesday
After Mania ends, tweet or email me your thoughts and I will add some to a special WrestleMania review column that will run Tuesday.