4th and a Mile with Paul Muth
WrestleMania 36 for beginners, because what else is on - Part 2
Apr 3, 2020, 5:28 am
4th and a Mile with Paul Muth
The following is part 2 of a two part guide to watching WrestleMania for people who don't normally watch wrestling.
Part one can be found here.
Let's get back to it:
Singles Match: Kevin Owens
vs Seth Rollins
The skinny
Seth Rollins has been an outspoken on obnoxious bad dude with a big old posse that beats up every one and plays dirty, win or lose. Kevin Owens is out to "shut Rollins up," and has been harassing him and interfering in matches since. They've been building this match up for some time, so it should be pretty good.
Who should I root for?
Personally I don't like either of them. WWE continues to push Rollins on fans, trying angle after angle and it's exhausting. Plus, he's glove guy. I don't like glove guys. Owens is supposed to be the guy you root for, but I can't root for anyone who uses Stone Cold Steve Austin's signature stunner move. Can't do it.
Prediction
Owens wins because he hasn't been great in WrestleMania matches and I figure they'll throw him a bone this year.
Raw Tag Team Championship -- The Street Profits (Champs)
vs Austin Theory & Angel Garza
The skinny
The Street Profits just recently won the belts, and the original match was supposed to be against newcomer Angel Garza and Andrade, but Andrade suffered an injury on Monday. He was replaced by Austin Theory, another NXT guy making his debut, so there's no real backstory build up to this match really. Any chance to watch the Street Profits is worth it though, so it should be fine.
Who should I root for?
The Street Profits hands down. They bring an unmatched energy to every performance, and their social media game is on point. Angel Garza and Austin Theory were piecemeal-ed together at the last minute, there's nothing there.
Prediction
Street Profits. Easy.
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Ladder Match -- The Miz & John Morrison (Champs)
vs. The New Day
vs. The Usos
The skinny
Well there's speculation that this match might not even happen, but if it does here's the rundown.
The New Day and The Usos have beef over who should get to challenge for the titles, but after the champs interfered both teams were given the chance.
Who should I root for?
The New Day are a lot of fun, but I'm a fan of just how good Miz and Morrison are at being heels. The Usos don't do much for me.
Prediction
Assuming the match happens, I'll go with The Usos I guess. The other two teams have had the belts more recently, so maybe they're trying to regain some credibility with them, I don't know.
Women's Tag Team Championship -- The Kabuki Warriors (Champs)
vs Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross
The skinny
The Kabuki Warriors have held the titles for some time and now they'll be defending them against the tag team they win them off of. It seems like a match for the sake of having a match, but there's talent on both sides so it should be fine to watch.
Who should I root for?
Both teams are easy to root for. The Kabuki Warriors are crazy as hell, and the chemistry between Bliss and Cross is top notch. I'm a bigger fan of Asuka's insanity though.
Prediction
The Kabuki Warriors retain their titles. They're more entertaining when they're rubbing their belts in opponents' faces.
Aleister Black
vs Bobby Lashley
The skinny
None. There was no build up to this at all. But Lashley is a big dude, and Black is an up and comer that looks like WWE is trying to give a huge push to.
Who should I root for?
Black for sure. He's got the whole dark and brooding thing going, but he also has some awesome tattoos and kicks people in the face.
Prediction
They put in a hell of a show and Black gets put over. Black wins.
Elias
vs King Corbin
The skinny
This is another filler match. King Corbin is a heel, and a good one, but WWE just can't seem to find a gimmick that works. Elias I guess wants to fight him. This match is just there. It's a thing.
Who should I root for?
A quick match
Prediction
Corbin wins to maintain relevancy so he can go harass another big name on the roster.
Singles "Firefly Funhouse" Match: John Cena
vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt
The skinny
John Cena returns for a WrestleMania match against one of the most unique characters WWE has seen in some time. Bray Wyatt is part Mankind, part Kane, and there isn't a better wrestler on the roster when it comes to mic skills. I have no idea what a Firefly Funhouse Match is, but it sounds a lot like Undertaker and AJ Styles' Boneyard Match. I expect this to be one of the better matches this weekend.
Who should I root for?
Bray Wyatt. John Cena is just here to do some WrestleMania stuff and then he's back to Hollywood.
Prediction
Cena wins, because otherwise why would he come back?
Singles "Last Man Standing" match: Edge
vs. Randy Orton
The skinny
They've done a really good job building this story line up since late January. After nine years Edge was medically cleared to go back to wrestling (real life, not story line), and did so by debuting as an entrant in the Royal Rumble. The following Monday Orton and Edge reunited in the ring on Raw, where Orton then attacked his former tag team partner and "tried to end his career again." Orton brutalized anyone coming to Edge's defense and once Edge came back it was pretty apparent that they were going to meet up at WrestleMania. Like I said, they built it up really well so this should be awesome.
Who should I root for?
Edge, are you kidding? The dude's been working to get back to wrestling for NINE YEARS. Root for him, jeez.
Prediction
If Edge doesn't win, America loses.
Kyle Tucker launched a three-run homer and matched a season high with four hits against the team that traded him in December, and the Chicago Cubs routed Houston 12-3 on Saturday night to stop the Astros' five-game winning streak.
Tucker also scored four times to pace a Cubs lineup that pounded out 15 hits, including three by Dansby Swanson. Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner also went deep.
Chicago hit three homers in an inning for the second time this season during a seven-run fourth. Busch and Hoerner had back-to-back solo shots to put the Cubs on top 3-2, and Tucker’s drive made it 7-2.
The offensive outburst came in support of Colin Rea (5-3), who allowed two runs and five hits over five innings. The only blemish on his line was rookie Cam Smith’s two-run homer in the third, which briefly gave the Astros a 2-1 lead.
Smith, part of the package Houston received for Tucker, finished with two hits and has homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Lance McCullers Jr. (1-3) came off the injured list and allowed eight runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Isaac Paredes, also part of the Astros' trade return for Tucker, hit his 17th home run.
Tucker’s three-run homer in the fourth that put the Cubs ahead 7-2.
McCullers has a 10.89 ERA in five home starts this season, but hasn’t allowed an earned run in three road starts.
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (8-4, 2.88 ERA) opposes RHP Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.77 ERA) when the series concludes Sunday.