SLTD Radio PPV Predictions – WWE Royal Rumble 2013

Pre-Show on YouTube – WWE United States Championship Match: Antonio Cesaro (c) vs The Miz

@Brad_SLTD: I think this has been a really good program for these guys so far. The Miz has needed something to get him back on track for a while and Cesaro really can’t do any wrong at the minute. His anti-American gimmick is really getting heat and he’s having consistently great matches. When you add the cheeky Flair/Miz/Cesaro Miz TV segment, everyone’s a winner! With that being said, I don’t think it’s the right time for Cesaro to drop the title yet. Miz is more suited to chasing the title than holding it. Antonio Cesaro retains.

@George_SLTD: I’m a huge fan of Cesaro’s. Dude is built like a brick shithouse and he’s incredibly strong. I mean he was able to get Khali up for the Neutraliser. Kenny from Inside the Ropes would put that down to great selling on the part of the Punjabi Playboy, but Cesaro essentially indulged in a spot of caber tossing to get that move done! Cesaro is being built up slowly to be a main-eventer, and he’ll draw huge because he’s a great heel. It’s not a surprise to see Miz involved with him either. Miz will help Cesaro on the mic, and Miz is coming into his own as a babyface. It’s a slow burn, but the pay-off should be huge. I just hope that Flair is kept well away from Miz. It’ll distract people from Miz. In terms of who will win, I don’t see Cesaro losing the belt any time soon, so Antonio Cesaro retains in what should be a nice opener to proceedings.

@Greg_SLTD: Firstly, I’ve got to say that I’m a huge fan of both of these guys. I didn’t really think I’d like Miz as a face, but he is literally awesome and I think Cesaro will go a long way in WWE. He’s talented in the ring and on the mic. As for the match itself, I don’t think it would benefit either superstar to have a title change. The Miz is bigger than the US Title these days and Cesaro is doing great things with it, having solid mid-card feuds. Unless WWE are going to push Antonio Cesaro, I don’t think a loss would make sense. Champ retains.

SLTD Radio Majority Pick: Antonio Cesaro RETAINS the WWE United States Championship (3-0)

WWE Tag-Team Championship Match: Kryan (Team Hell No) (c) vs Rhodes Scholars

@Brad_SLTD: What can you say about Kane and Daniel Bryan, other than, in my opinion, they’re absolutely awesome! Every segment is hilarious, their matches are always solid and did I mention that they’re awesome? Rhodes Scholars are getting just as good. I’d hate to see Kryan lose the tag-team titles, but I don’t think it would be the worst thing to happen if they did. Rhodes Scholars do deserve a good run with the titles and as long as they don’t split Kane and Bryan up, then it’s all good.

@George_SLTD: This match was really tough to call. I love Rhodes Scholars, but especially Sandow. His beard is a thing of beauty, but Cody’s moustache (clap clap clap, clap clap clap) is just a bad joke. If you can’t grow one, don’t try. Jesus. Anyway, Rhodes Scholars have fantastic chemistry. Their mic work is some of the best in and around the midcard, and their in-ring work is better than average. The problem is that they’ve come up against the comedy juggernaut of Kryan (Team Hell No). Honestly, I’ve no fucking idea how Daniel Bryan and Kane manage to keep a straight face during their promos/skits. I’d be fucking howling with laughter. The dysfunctional tag champs Kryan/Team Hell No should have just enough to retain the belts, so I’ll go with them to win.

@Greg_SLTD: Although this match has happened many times before in one way or another, I still love these 4 superstars and the feud they’re working. Rhodes Scholars are genius and Kane/Bryan are comedy gold. I do still think that WWE are building to Kane vs Bryan at WrestleMania, but with the popularity of them as a team, I’m not sure they’d split them up. As for this match, I wouldn’t be shocked if Rhodes Scholars took the win and continued the feud until at least Elimination Chamber.

SLTD Radio Majority Pick: Rhodes Scholars become NEW WWE Tag-Team Champions (2-1)

Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Alberto del Rio (c) vs Big Show

@Brad_SLTD: I’ll keep this short and sweet. Big Show is an awful champ. Alberto del Rio is a semi-acceptable champ, but, from a ‘business’ point of view, you can see why WWE are so high on him.

@George_SLTD: It pains me to say it, but I think we’ll get another successful title defence here. I wrote about this entire situation the other day here, and I just don’t understand why del Rio is champion. He can get it done between the ropes, but his character is just a shambles from top to bottom. If you took the belt and Ricardo Rodriguez away from del Rio, would anyone give a shit? No. That’s why he shouldn’t be champion. Then we come to the Big Show. Urgh… There’s no part of me that enjoys watch a Big Show match. He just batters his opponent for 20 minutes, then gets outsmarted and loses. That’s how it works. I’ve no problem with the big fella being used in the main-event, because he’s an established guy and makes his opponents look credible, but he shouldn’t be World Champion at this stage in his career. That’s why Alberto del Rio will retain. I hate myself for typing that.

@Greg_SLTD:I’m a little shocked that ADR is a face and that he’s won the World Heavyweight Championship. This is a strange match to call because, if I’m honest, I don’t really care about Big Show or Alberto del Rio. If you listen to SLTD Radio, you’ll know that. I like Big Show as a face, but I think he’s a poor heel. As for the Last Man Standing match, if this was anyone else’s first title defence, I’d say they’re retaining, but history says that Alberto del Rio could lose, although with him being face it’s unlikely. All I’m hoping for is that this isn’t the World Title feud going into WrestleMania.

SLTD Radio Majority Pick: Alberto del Rio RETAINS the World Heavyweight Championship (3-0)

WWE Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs The Rock

@Brad_SLTD: There are so many scenarios that could come from this match, and it has so many repercussions for both the Elimination Chamber and, obviously, WrestleMania.  If The Rock wins, will he defend at Elimination Chamber? If he loses, will he win at Elimination Chamber to head into WrestleMania as champion? Could Cena win The Royal Rumble and head into a triple-threat at WrestleMania? The list goes on… There’s no doubt that the match will be an absolute winner, purely because CM Punk is an absolute master of his craft.

@George_SLTD: So, we’ve had roughly 6 months of build towards this and it’s been rammed in to the last 3 weeks of TV. Punk is an outstanding champion and definitely the best in the world right now. His in-ring work is amazing and he’s just untouchable on the mic. By Rock, Cena or anyone else. The promo he cut on Rock after wrestling a 20-minute TLC match was fantastic. To come out and cut a promo like that after being through a TLC match with Rob van Goldberg, then go toe-to-toe with Rock on the mic after that just shows how good Punk is. Legit Best in the World. Now we get to The Rock. The People’s Champ. Man of 1,000 catchphrases. It’s amazing how fickle some wrestling fans are. They bitched for years that Rock never came back, but as soon as he did, they bitched it “wasn’t original”. What do you expect? Hardly anyone in WWE is original, especially at Rock’s level. Has Rock been brilliant since he returned this time? No, but he’s been better than 95% of the roster. In saying that, I’m getting bored of his Rock Concerts. They only work best when he’s a heel. That’s when Rock is at his best. Rock is also a tremendous babyface. The way he sells his opponents’ moves makes you think he’s being killed. That’s what a babyface is supposed to do, instead of no-selling a 20-minute ass-kicking. As far as the result goes, I just don’t see CM Punk dropping the belt to Rock. Punk and Heyman will have some sort of plan to make sure that CM Punk retains the WWE Championship as we head towards next month’s Elimination Chamber.

@Greg_SLTD: Even as I write this, I honestly have no idea where WWE will go with this. To me, it seems stupid to have someone who’s not a full-time member of their roster as WWE Champion, but it is The Rock! The thing that sticks out to me is that if Rock wins, there won’t be any title defences for over 2 months, that’s why I don’t think The Rock will win. Then again, I’m convinced that there’s going to be Rock vs Cena II at WrestleMania, and it would be amazing if it was for the belt, but then where does Punk fit into everything? This is a hard match to call as it could literally go either way, but I’ll go with CM Punk.

SLTD Radio Majority Pick: CM Punk RETAINS the WWE Championship (3-0)

30-Man Royal Rumble (where the winner gets a WWE/World Heavyweight Championship Match at WrestleMania 29)

@Brad_SLTD: Who could possibly win The Royal Rumble? Ryback? Sheamus? Orton? Cena? Kane? Big Show? Ziggler? That’s the reason why the Royal Rumble is such a good PPV – the unpredictability and the build are always awesome. I’m hoping that there are some really good cameo appearances too. The Outlaws are a given by the way! If they ain’t in the Rumble, Vince and the WWE are going to be getting a very strongly worded tweet! But anyway, back to a winner. I have to pick John Cena.

@George_SLTD: Urgh… It’s so obvious that Cena is winning this match to set up a WrestleMania rematch with The Rock. He’ll come in as one of the last 10 entrants and it’ll probably come down to him and Ryback to see who gets the title shot. I don’t like it, but I understand why WWE will do it. Other contenders in the match will be Dolph Ziggler. He’ll be the workhorse, go for about 45 minutes and steal the show, but just come up short. I don’t think Randy Orton or Sheamus will do too much, same with Kane. Definite dark horses for this one are Daniel Bryan and Cesaro (if they’re in the match as I suspect they will be). Like I said, I just don’t see there being any way that John Cena doesn’t win this, especially since he’s not won a PPV match since last July. I hate to say it, but my pick is John Cena.

@Greg_SLTD: I’m really only expecting John Cena to win the Royal Rumble and that’s only because I think WWE will play it very safe this year. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love a wild-card to win, like a Kofi or a Miz. Actually, I wouldn’t be all that shocked if Miz did win, but I don’t think WWE would go with that because I think the 3 main stars of this year’s WrestleMania are going to be Rock, Cena and Punk. Then again, there’s always the possibility of a returning superstar winning. I’m thinking maybe Brock Lesnar or the Undertaker could come back and win or, as a very long shot, Christian might do it. Either way, this is the best time of year in the WWE and it’s going to be a good ride up to WrestleMania! (On a small side note, if Austin comes out at the Royal Rumble, I will wet myself!)

SLTD Radio Majority Pick: John Cena WINS the Royal Rumble and goes on to challenge for either the WWE or World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 29 (3-0)