Complete WrestleMania 34 Preview and KHTK Expert Predictions

Apr 7, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:26 am

WWE Wrestling: WrestleMania 31: MMA fighter Ronda Rousey in action, chokehold vs Stephanie McMahon during event at Levi's Stadium.

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
(Set Number: X159445 TK1 )

WrestleMania is less than 48 hours away! New Orleans will host one of the biggest, most anticipated cards in history. Every title on the line. The climax of every major storyline. Monumental returns and potential goodbyes. WrestleMania 34 promises to have it all. Here is KHTK’s complete preview of the massive card, including picks from out “expert” Sports 1140 panel; Chris Verlod, Matt George, Steve Goss, Ron Burton and Damien Barling.

 

Women’s Battle Royal 

To match the men’s Andre The Giant Battle Royal, the women wrestlers from RAW, Smackdown, NXT, and surely some surprise returns, will fill the ring. Per usual women’s battle royal rules, the women will have to throw each-other over the middle rope, although that hasn’t been specifically announced. This year has been a massive and historic year for the WWE’s women’s division, with the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, so this match has plenty to live up to.

Chris Verlod: Shasha Banks eliminates Bayley 

Matt George: WWE has used this match to push young talent in the past. NXT’s Ember Moon will be a surprise entrant and win. 

Steve Goss: I’d make a prediction…but that much estrogen in one place reminds me too much of being in my office. Or at home. Or pretty much anywhere on the face of the earth. I can’t even.

Ron Burton: Bayley turns heel and wins. 

Damien Barling: Ember Moon (She is one of my favorites)

 

Men’s Andre The Giant Battle Royal

This match serves two purposes; pay homage to one of the WWE’s greatest character of all time, and it gives a large amount of wrestlers who WWE doesn’t really know what to do with a match at WrestleMania.

Chris Verlod: Matt Hardy DELETES the competition

Matt George: We haven’t seen him for a while, and he is due for a push upon his return. Gimme Big Cass!  

Steve Goss: Matt Hardy will PROCURE! PROCURE! PROCURE! 

Ron Burton: Woken Matt Hardy with the help of Brother Nero and Woken Bray Wyatt

Damien Barling: This match has “launched the career of Mojo Rawley and Baron Corbin”. Uhh, ok. My guess, nobody wants to win this. Mid-card forever. I have no idea.

 

Cruiserweight Championship – Mustafa Ali vs Cedric Alexander

It’s amazing what the 205 Live wrestlers can do. It’s also amazing how irrelevant they have become in the WWE. But ever title has to be on the line on the biggest stage, including the currently vacant Cruiserweight Championship.

Chris Verlod: ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Matt George: Hopefully these guys just get the chance to put on a good show and wrestle without any gimmicks. Ali seems to be getting a little more attention from promos so he will probably win. 

Steve Goss: If a title match is announced and no one cares, did it really happen?  It will…and in a match even the TV crew won’t watch, Cedric wins.

Ron Burton: Cedric Alexander

Damien Barling: Wish I was more into this. Cedric Alexander. That dude can put on a show.

 

United States Championship – Randy Orton vs Bobby Roode vs Jinder Mahal vs Rusev

Smackdown’s US Title match has a lot of talent. Two great heels, a massive baby-face, and whatever Randy Orton is. Should be some fun Rusev Day moments, an RKO out-of-nowhere or two, and plenty of chaos.

Chris Verlod: The Modern Day Maharaja becomes the New US Champ.

Matt George: Anything other than a Rusev Day victory is garbage! 

Steve Goss: Bobby Roode gets his Mania moment and wins. 

Ron Burton: Bobby Roode 

Damien Barling: The biggest pop of the night would be Rusev winning. He might be the most over guy in the building. I can’t decide if WWE is smart enough to just go with the flow and have him win. If not Rusev, RKO retains. 

 

Intercontinental Championship – The Miz vs Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor

A triple-threat match just oozing with talent. These three will more-than-guaranteed put on a show. The Intercontinental Championship is arguably the biggest title on RAW right now (mostly because Brock Lesnar and the Universal Championship only show up once a month at best).

Chris Verlod: Miz retains and becomes the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion next month.

Matt George: This match was insane in Sacramento on RAW last summer. Hoping for more of the same. Would love to see Miz retain but a Finn Balor push makes too much sense. Finn Balor wins. 

Steve Goss: Miz retains in the second best match on the card.  Expect Balor to be the star in this one.

Ron Burton: Finn Balor

Damien Barling: This match will be really good too. Maybe the second best of the night. The Miz, being awesome, retains. 

 

RAW Tag Team Championship – The Bar vs Braun Strowman & Unknown Partner

The Bar, Sheamus and Cisaro, claim they have beaten everything in their path on RAW. And then Braun Strowman showed up. Even without a partner, Strowman is a serious favorite to walk out of WrestleMania with a belt on each shoulder.

Chris Verlod: The Bar retains by pinning Braun Strowman’s mystery partner James Ellsworth

Matt George: It was genius having Strowman enter and win the Tag Team Battle Royal on RAW by himself. He doesn’t need a partner to destroy The Bar. Let him win the belts in handicap fashion. 

Steve Goss: Take Braun vs. the Field.  Or the Bar.  Or anyone else.

Ron Burton: BRUAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!

Damien Barling: Braun and Samoa Joe. Braun and Big Show. Braun and me. Doesn’t matter. Braun wins. 

 

Smackdown Tag Team Championships – The Usos vs New Day vs Bludgeon Brothers

Smackdown’s tag division is easily the more talented out of the two shows. This is the first major-match for The Bludgeon Brothers. Meanwhile, The Usos and The New Day are big-match vets.

Chris Verlod: Usos. I don’t know why.

Matt George: It makes sense to put the belts on the Bludgeon Brothers but The Usos have been so damn good this year. Hopefully WWE keeps the belts on easily their best team in the company. 

Steve Goss: By DQ, the Usos win; the New Day retains; and the Bludgeon Brothers become stars.

Ron Burton: The Usos

Damien Barling: I’d rather watch Usos and New Day. I don’t feel like they’ll go with the monsters here. This is Usos’ WrestleMania moment. They get the W here. 

 

RAW Women’s Championship – Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax

Two former best friends meet in New Orleans. Nia Jax finally gets her hands on Little Miss Bliss. Alexa has a knack for surviving these seemingly-possible situations.

Chris Verlod: Jax wins but Bliss retains by DQ.

Matt George: As much as I want to see Alexa retain because…duh, it’s Nia Jax’s time. She has deserved a push for a loooooooooong time. This is her WrestleMania moment. RIP Alexa. 

Steve Goss: Nia Jax wins.  No one wants to see her “blubber” (re-watch the Raw promo by Bliss & Mickie)

Ron Burton: Nia Jax

Damien Barling: Remember when Booker T lost to Triple H at WrestleMania 19? The whole build up set Booker up to win. Then, Hunter hit the Pedigree, took 20 seconds to pin him, got his hand raised, and killed Booker as a title threat forever. That’s what happens if Nia loses. The whole bullied big girl is a bit silly but they’ve gone with it. They need to finish it. I do have Carmella cash in concern here.

 

Smackdown Women’s Championship – Charlotte Flair vs Asuka 

A dream match! The championship vs the streak. Fans have been clamoring for this duo to perform together for a while. It only made sense that Asuka chose Charlotte after winning the Women’s Royal Ruumble One thing we can count on is some incredible wrestling.

Chris Verlod: Asuka keeps the streak alive. Chokes out Flair

Matt George: This has been an incredible year for women’s wrestling. However, this one-on-one match should top everything we have seen thus far. If this match isn’t at least 20 minutes I will be shocked. Asuka wins.

Steve Goss: Charlotte Flair ends the streak in controversial fashion.  Expect a rematch 24 or 48 hours later.

Ron Burton: Asuka —– (Money in the Bank Cash In) Carmella NEW Smackdown Women’s Champion

Damien Barling: I don’t mind being a broken record. Asuka wins, dominates for a year, headlines Mania next year with Ronda. 

 

Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayne 

Finally, Daniel Bryan returns to where he belongs; in-ring competition. Alongside Shane McMahon, the Smackdown management battles the two superstars that have been a thorn in their side for the better part of six months.

Chris Verlod: Bryan and Shane – Owens and Zayn are going back to the bingo halls

Matt George: This match aught to be one big Daniel Bryan “welcome back” showcase. Seeing him in his wrestling gear will give me chills. Sami and Kevin have no chance. The good guys win and the bad guys go to RAW.

Steve Goss: Bryan/McMahon – with a late swerve by KO on Sami Zayn

Ron Burton: Daniel Bryan & Shane MEEKMAHAN

Damien Barling: Three of the best workers in the business and a dude who just had major surgery. Sigh. Ok, let’s ignore the fact that Shane could die during this mattch, the simplest story is Owens and Zayne beat McMahon and continue their feud with Bryan. Of course, with a “Superstar Shake-Up” likely on the horizon, Bryan getting a win in his comeback match makes perfect sense. Or Owens and Zayne just show up on RAW the night after WrestleMania. 

 

Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey vs Triple H and Stephanie McMahon

After signing one of the biggest free agents in the history of WWE, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon found themselves on the wrong side of the “baddest women on the planet” thanks to RAW General Manager Kurt Angle. Now, The Authority looks to put both of them in their place and remind the world who the bosses are.

Chris Verlod: Steph and Triple H – Has the feeling of Triple H vs Sting at Wrestlemania 31

Matt George: WWE got off to a slow start with Ronda. Expect Triple H to carry this match, with maybe a sequence or two of good wrestling from Ronda and Stephanie. Kurt Angle basically gave the ending away on RAW though. “Ronda is going to make (Stephanie) tap out!” 

Steve Goss: Rousey/Angle – JR would call this one “bowling shoe ugly”

Ron Burton: Ronda & Kurt

Damien Barling: I’ve written about this before. Ronda gets the win and builds to the main event of WrestleMania next year where she challenges Asuka’s streak and title. I think the perfect finish here is Ronda making Triple H tap out. She can continue her feud with Stephanie and keep out of the title conversation for a few more months. 

 

World Heavyweight Championship – AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura 

Another dream match!  Nakamura won the Royal Rumble. Styles built the Smackdown brand. Two of the best wrestlers not just in WWE, but around the world, finally meet on the grandest stage of them all.

Chris Verlod: AJ Styles – Smackdown is still the House that A..J… Styles built

Matt George: Hard to imagine this not being the match of the night. These two know each other so well, not to mention they are two of the best performers of all-time. Nakamura wins after an absolute war! 

Steve Goss: In what WILL be the Match Of The Night and at least four stars – AJ Styles goes over.

Ron Burton: Shinsuke Nakamura

Damien Barling: This will be the match of the night. As long as these guys get the time they deserve to tell the right story, it’ll likely be one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time. I want to believe Nakamura is going to win. I don’t know what you do with him if he doesn’t. At the same time, I think Roman, Asuka and Nia are all winning. That’s four new champions in one show, not counting US or IC. I believe in Nakamura though. It’s his night. 

 

Universal Championship – Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns

Paul Heyman said it himself, if Lesnar loses you will never see him on RAW again. With all the UFC rumors, and the accusations coming from Reigns, claiming Lesnar is an entitled part-timer that doesn’t care about anything but money and himself, there will be plenty of tension in this very physical bout.

Chris Verlod: Reigns – Lesnar is gone

Matt George: Brock Lesnar could sign a five-year, full-time contract today and Roman would still get the win. Lesnar is going to WWE. Good news is we will finally have the belt back on RAW. 

Steve Goss: Reigns goes over; Lesnar goes to UFC; Heyman goes to Weight Watchers.

Ron Burton: Roman Reigns 

Damien Barling: We knew before WrestleMania last year that this was the main event. Here we are. Third time’s the charm. WWE is playing up the UFC pretty hard. Dana White is playing up Brock to the UFC (even though he’s always a lying potato sack of crap). I think Brock sticks around but there’s no way Roman is losing. WrestleMania will end in a cascade of booing. 

 

John Cena vs The Undertaker

Will John Cena attend WrestleMania as just a fan or will The Undertaker finally answer his challenge?

Chris Verlod: This match is NOT happening!  Undertaker no showed.  Cena gets drunk in the crowd and tries to get the wave going during “boring” parts of the PPV

Matt George: This one is set in stone. It all makes too much sense. Cena comes out to cut a promo. Kid Rock comes out and starts playing Undertaker’s old theme. And the American Badass himself comes riding to the ring on a motorcycle, kicks the crap out of Cena, and rides off into the sunset. 

Steve Goss: Cena “does the honors” in what’s probably his last match for awhile.  Taker – as the American Bad Ass – wins.

Ron Burton: American Badass Undertaker 

Damien Barling: This is stupid. Why does this feel special? It’s a total throwaway and one of the many reasons WWE no longer attracts casual viewers. WWE has basically said, “You’re not ordering WrestleMania or the WWE Network for Cena vs Undertaker. So we’re going to make you believe it’s not going to happen so the people who did order can act surprised when it does.”

I was 100% down for this match…last year! I’m totally fine with it now, but the fact it was built off The Undertaker being a coward, and the underlying fear he’s going to show up on a motorcycle with that trashy dope Kid Rock singing him to the ring, has destroyed any and all excitement for this match. 

Beating Cena means nothing anymore because everyone does it. Undertaker losing at WrestleMania means nothing anymore because it’s happened twice. I assume Taker wins and rides off into the sunset…again! 

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Complete WrestleMania 34 Preview and KHTK Expert Predictions