Downey Patriot Editorial staff gives their Wrestlemania Predictions

Photos Courtesy WWE.com

The grandest stage of them all, Wrestlemania, is this Sunday.

With so much on the line, your favorite Downey Patriot Editorial team turned color commentators give their picks for who makes history, and who leaves empty handed on Sunday.

Winner Take All -- Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Becky Lynch:

AD: The match that Charlotte should’ve never been in, PERIOD.

Rousey is rumored to be leaving for a while to start a family (so much for “this is my life now”). I’m not even going to acknowledge Flair, because, again, she shouldn’t be in this match at all. Lynch is the hottest thing in wrestling right now.

Lynch wins, Flair takes the fall (ugh).

If anyone one besides Lynch wins, I’ll officially give up on WWE.

Prediction: Becky Lynch

EP: Logic says Becky Lynch will win this match, riding the wave of popularity that propelled her career to never-before-seen heights these past 12 months.

But if there’s anything WWE loathes, it’s logic.

Prediction: I envision Charlotte Flair emerging victorious in a bloody, violent brawl.

Universal Championship -- Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins:

Let’s keep this one simple: Rollins wins. The belt comes back to TV on a weekly basis. Everyone celebrates.

Prediction: Seth Rollins

EP: Why do I get the feeling Vince McMahon keeps the title on Brock simply to keep him happy? Vince loves big, beefy wrestlers, even if they’re only part-time.

Prediction: I hope I’m wrong, but I see Brock keeping the title at WrestleMania.

WWE Championship -- Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston:

AD: Is Kofi championship worthy? Absolutely! It’s just a little awkward against the New Day backdrop.

WWE has invested so much into this feud, they almost have to put the belt on Kofi; to have Bryan retain would almost assuredly suck the life out of MetLife Stadium.

Kofi wins, and I buy the New Day Pancake-esque side plates that will inevitably hit WWE shop for my WWE Title Replica… just kidding, my AJ plates aren’t going anywhere.

Prediction: Kofi Kingston

EP: Storyline aside, this is the match of the night: two athletic wrestlers, each willing to take massive bumps to elevate the other. This should have been the main event.

Prediction: I promise I’m not disagreeing with my colleague just to be a contrarian, but I think WWE continues to deny Kofi if only for fan reaction. Daniel Bryan wins.

Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre:

AD: Gotta be honest; I couldn’t care less about this match. Likely will be my bathroom / grab a snack / check my email / do literally anything else break.

Prediction: Roman Reigns

EP: We’re having a WrestleMania costume contest at my house (I’m Samoa Joe). This is the match where we will parade and vote on a winner. I’ll keep you updated.

Prediction: Roman Reigns

AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton:

AD: This feels like a throwaway feud. I’ve never been an Orton fan, but at least AJ is in this match.

Prediction: AJ Styles

EP: I hate to say it, but Randy Orton is getting too old for this. He’s starting to resemble the Undertaker in the ring (ok, that’s an exaggeration). Like Alex, I’m not digging the feud. I don’t get it.

Prediction: AJ Styles

Triple H vs. Batista (No Holds Barred; Triple H's career on the line):

AD: There have been backstage rumors for quite a while that Batista wanted “one last run” with a match against Trips at the end of it. Well, he’s finally getting what he wanted (see what I did there?). Hunter’s career being on the line is an interesting wrinkle, but I can’t help but feel that it’s just to add a little bit of “Flair.”

Also, something about Randy Orton, so I can say I worked in all the members of Evolution into this prediction.

Prediction: Triple H

EP: In addition to the costume contest, we’re also having a barbecue. The menu includes hot dogs, hamburgers and carne asada. This seems like a good time to flip the meat.

Prediction: Triple H

Intercontinental Championship -- Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor:

AD: The interesting thing about this match is Balor officially announced that Lashley would be facing “The Demon.” I’ve long said that the Demon should be protected and near unbeatable, so this announcement tells me that Balor is leaving with the strap.

Prediction: Finn Balor

EP: Big guys versus little guys almost always results in a terrible match. Poor Finn Balor is probably WWE’s most talented athlete and he’s being wasted on a nightly basis. When is his contract up?

Prediction: Bobby Lashley

United States Championship -- Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio:

AD: Okay, hear me out…

I was thrown off a bit when Rey Mysterio’s real life son Dominic showed up on Smackdown as part of Rey’s announcement that he’d be facing Joe for the championship. Then I remembered that Dominic has been training to be a wrestler.

It may be a stretch, but I kinda have a feeling that Dominic costs Rey the match, and enters into the family business with a feud against his father.

Prediction: Samoa Joe

EP: I just read Alex’s prediction, and you know, sign me up. That sounds like an incredible scenario.

Prediction: Samoa Joe

Women's Tag Team Championship -- Sasha Banks & Bayley (c) vs. Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs. Nia Jax & Tamina Snuka vs. The Iconics:

AD: Banks and Bayley defend their titles for the first time ever. Normally, I’d say that I’d want the Iconics to get the win here, but WWE needs to establish some prestige on those belts. Let the champs retain.

Prediction: Sasha Banks and Bayley.

EP: I’m on the Boss ‘n Hug bandwagon, baby. President of their fan club. But their chemistry has felt off lately, their friendship a little forced. I don’t think it’s going to work out long term.

Prediction: Sasha Banks, Bayley, Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and the Iconics put on a hell of a match. Nia Jax and Tamina get knocked out mid-match, but then reappear at the end and flatten Bayley. Nia and Tamina win the belts and I drown my sorrows with chips and dip.

The Miz vs. Shane McMahon (Falls Count Anywhere):

AD: This feud makes absolutely no sense. Why is the Miz (one of the company’s biggest and best heels) playing a baby face?

Shane jumps off some high point on the stage and misses. Miz pins him. Miz and Miz-Dad celebrate.

Prediction: The Miz

EP: Yeah, this feud is a misuse of The Miz’s talents. He deserves better. Hopefully this nonsense is over at WrestleMania.

Prediction: The Miz

Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin (Farewell Match):

AD: Usually with retirement matches, the leaving superstar will put over a younger, newer guy to give him an extra burst of momentum. That being said, there’s absolutely no way that Angle is facing Baron Corbin in his retirement match. If that really is the plan, then WWE might just have a riot on their hands.

If I’d have to guess, I’d say Corbin is nothing more than a red herring, which leaves a major question: Who is Angle really facing?

The answer: John Cena. Cena is a big name with no presence on the card as of yet, and retiring Angle would bring things full circle (Cena’s first match in WWE was against Angle).

Prediction: John Cena

EP: It bugs me that Baron Corbin wrestles with a vest. Like, I gnaw my teeth during his matches. My left eye twitches involuntarily.

I hope Alex is right. Corbin versus Kurt Angle would be a tremendous letdown.

Prediction: Kurt Angle

SmackDown Tag Team Championship -- The Usos (c) vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. The Bar vs. Rusev & Shinsuke Nakamura

AD: This feels like a tag title match for the sake of having a tag title match.

Maybe I’m biased towards NXT, but I’d love to see the new guys get the win here.

Prediction: Ricochet and Aleister Black

EP: My hands hurt, I’m regretting assigning this story to Alex. Wait, where were we? (AD: I tried to warn you…)

The Usos got this, man. They’re not losing to some NXT newbies and a couple of hodgepodge tag-teams .

Prediction: The Usos.

Cruiserweight Championship -- Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese (Kickoff Show):

AD: I feel like I say this every prediction piece: I don’t follow 205 Live. That being said, Murphy has held the belt for a while now, so maybe it’s time to give it to someone new.

Prediction: Tony Nese

EP: I’m not going to pretend like I care. Sorry.

Prediction: Buddy Murphy

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (Kickoff Show):

AD: Ah, the annual “We had nothing better for you to do” battle royal.

Unfortunately, a win in this event has never really amounted to mean much. Still, I say give it to a guy who was on a hot streak and on the rise before getting injured.

Prediction: Ali

EP: I love battle royals, but I don’t even know who’s participating. I notice that Braun Strowman doesn’t have a scheduled match, so he seems like a safe bet. Catch these hands.

Prediction: Braun Strowman

Women's Battle Royal (Kickoff Show):

AD: I legitimately forgot this was a thing.

Prediction: Asuka

EP: This one’s always a toss up, but I’m really rooting for Liv Morgan. I love her attitude, I dig her spunk, and I think it’s time for her to shine. Fingers crossed.

Prediction: Liv Morgan