It’s finally here.
We’re past the lackluster build and I am fully on the anticipation bus. John Corrigan is deep in the heart of Texas and will be at JerryWorld. I am flying out of Philly Sunday… to Atlanta for a business trip. But I will not let that stop me from watching the Show of Shows.
You know the drill: I am betting imaginary jellybeans for each match (based on Paddy Power’s odds) and keeping track of my “winnings.” I’m dividing my picks into three categories: 🔒Locks™, Solid Picks and Stay Aways. I will bet 10 jellybeans on the 🔒Locks™, five on the Solid Picks, and none on the Stay Aways.
Here are my WrestleMania picks. Remember that I’m not necessarily picking the winner, but the one that I feel is the best bet.
🔒Locks™
Singles Match
AJ Styles: 1/4 (-400)
Chris Jericho: 5/2 (+250)
Pick: AJ Styles
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why these odds are so low. Styles’ odds were 1/12 at Fast Lane, and although the feud is quite different now, there’s no reason for Jericho to win unless it’s a swerve for the sake of having a swerve. Normally, I wouldn’t bet a lot on 1/4 odds, but I expected Styles to have much worse odds than this, so it’s a good bet to make.
Solid Picks
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Pick: Mark Henry (5/1, +500)
It’s embarrassing that this match, which has become a dumping ground for people without anything to do, is named after Andre the Giant. The build for this match has pretty much consisted of Big Show and Kane beating up the Social Outcasts. I doubt Big Show wins again, but it seems to be heading toward a big man victory, and Mark Henry makes more sense than Kane. The World’s Strongest Man may be retiring in the near future, and this would be a half-decent way to send him off in his home state in his last WrestleMania.
Handicap Tag Team match
The New Day: 4/11 (-275)
League of Nations: 15/8 (+188)
Pick: The New Day
Although the League of Nations has been coming into their own lately, New Day is still the hottest act in the company, and they deserve a big WrestleMania moment. I’m very much looking forward to these teams’ entrance – the gaudier, the better.
Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship
Kevin Owens (c): 4/9 (-225)
Zack Ryder: 13/8 (+163)
Sami Zayn: 10/3 (+333)
Dolph Ziggler: 12/1 (+1200)
The Miz: 25/1 (+2500)
Sin Cara: 33/1 (+3300)
Stardust: 50/1 (+5000)
Pick: Dolph Ziggler
I fully expect Owens and Zayn to take each other out of the match by falling off a ladder or something, and I anticipate a babyface winning, which leaves Ziggler and Ryder. I will be rooting for Long Island Iced Z, but I’ll take Ziggler’s odds here.
Triple Threat match for the Divas Championship
Sasha Banks: 4/9 (+225)
Charlotte (c): 21/10 (+210)
Becky Lynch: 7/2 (+350)
Pick: Becky Lynch
Everyone seems to think Sasha is the favorite, but take NXT history out of the equation and she has no business being in this match. From a storyline perspective, Charlotte has been holding Lynch down for months and it’s time for Lynch’s revenge.
No Holds Barred Street Fight
Dean Ambrose: 1/3 (-300)
Brock Lesnar: 2/1 (+200)
Pick: Brock Lesnar
Given the Meltzer reports of late that Ambrose is not thought of as a top guy, I can’t imagine him losing to Lesnar. Lesnar has spent the past two years being built up as the most unstoppable monster in WWE history, and creative isn’t going to have him lose cleanly for the first time to a guy they don’t fully trust. I expect Ambrose to be put over in defeat, much like Steve Austin was at WrestleMania 13.
Stay Aways
10-Diva Tag Team match
Total Divas (Paige, Brie Bella, Natalya, Alicia Fox, Eva Marie): 1/5 (-500)
BAD and Blonde (Naomi, Tamina, Lana, Summer Rae, Emma): 11/4 (+275)
Pick: BAD and Blonde
The only two things we know about this match are that it started, more or less, with Lana and Brie fighting, and no one wants Eva on the team. One of those two things will bubble up, and the heels will pull the upset.
Tag Team match
The Usos: 2/5 (-250)
The Dudley Boyz: 7/4 (+175)
Pick: The Dudley Boyz
The Dudleys haven’t been doing a lot of winning lately, and they need to establish their heel characters, so a “big” win here makes sense.
Singles match for the United States Championship
Kalisto (c): 2/3 (-150)
Ryback: 11/10 (+110)
Pick: Ryback
This match has not been pushed very well, and I think Ryback needs the win more than Kalisto. If Ryback loses this, he has nowhere to go.
No Disqualifications match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Roman Reigns: 1/5 (-500)
Triple H (c): 3/1 (+300)
Pick: Roman Reigns
As much as I’d like to be able to say this match isn’t predictable, it totally is. I can’t see Triple H holding the belt any longer. I’m hoping for something crazy to happen, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Hell in a Cell match
Shane McMahon: 8/11 (-138)
The Undertaker: 1/1 (+100)
Pick: Shane McMahon
This is the one true “who the hell knows?” match with any consequences. I have a hard time believing Undertaker is wrestling his last WrestleMania match against Shane, but I have an even harder time believing the most interesting storyline of the last two months will just be dropped with no long-term repercussions, which is what’ll happen if Taker wins.
Overall record to date: 61-37-5
Jellybeans won to date: 55.66 on a 35-25-5 record
Biggest win: 45 jellybeans (Ryback def. Sheamus, Mark Henry, King Barrett, Dolph Ziggler & R-Truth at Elimination Chamber 2015)
Wrestledelphia.com columnist Evan Cross can be reached at . Follow him on Twitter .
Evan Cross
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