Roman Reigns will challenge Brock Lesnar for his Universal Championship. Photo by WWE.com
Finally, the moment wrestling fans have been waiting for has arrived, we are just a day away from WrestleMania 34. A year, or in some instances years, of build and hard work will all pay off this Sunday in New Orleans.
Typically, I do not like doing prediction articles. But there is no way I was not going to do it for ‘Mania. In fact, this event is so big I had to pull out the big guns. I could not go at this one alone, though. I had to give wrestling fans who visit our website the dream collab. I had to call my buddy Jermaine Every to do these predictions with me.
The Card
Cruiserweight Tournament Final- Cedic Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali
Jose: Since the tourney, the division has received a breath of fresh air. I do not think we give enough credit to how this story has been building for months. The animosity and tension between Alexander and Ali has been brewing for a while. I think Alexander will win the match, though I would be happy to see Ali win it.
Jermaine: Cedric has always been the bridesmaid. As soon as he gets a taste, the rug gets pulled. He has the qualities to get there, but he never does. I’d love to see something like that happen with Cedric. So give me Mustafa.
Raw Tag Titles- The Bar vs Braun Strowman & a mystery partner
Jose: I do not care who it is, Braun is winning the title here. I think the Tag Division on Raw is in shambles. It is time to move on from The Bar.
Jermaine: I agree with you there. My biggest take: I don't think it should be a part-timer. It should be someone who Braun should split up with later and feud with. Braun is too big of a star to stay stuck in the tag division.
Jose: So Samoa Joe would fit that role perfectly
Jermaine: Yes! Especially if later they feud for a shot for the Universal Title.
Jose: So who do you have winning?
Jermaine: Braun but if we are getting a swerve I want it here
SmackDown Tag Titles- The Usos vs The New Day vs The Bludgeon Brothers
Jose: Harper and Rowan’s gimmick is absolutely ridiculous, there is no denying that. But, man, has the build to this match been awesome. Not a question of lack of ability from any wrestler in this card. I'm having a tough time picking this one. Part of me thinks it is a no-brainer that the Bludgeon Brothers will win, but I have seen Harper and Rowan get pushed aside time and time again.
Jermaine: I had a really tough time, but there needs to be a pay off with Bludgeon Brothers. You have established them as a tough team. I think this is where they finally get their moment, their coming out party. I think this is their payoff.
Jose: Bludgeon Brothers win, and we may see a little dissension with the New Day.
Fatal Fourway for the US Title- Orton vs Roode vs Mahal vs Rusev
Jose: Ok, before Rusev was added this was, without a doubt, the match I was looking forward to the least. The “will he, won’t he” aspect of Rusev winning will make it far more exciting than it could have been. Unfortunately, I do not think he's getting it. I think Orton will retain, as disappointed as I am to say.
Jermaine: I’m going opposite. I think Rusev takes it home. It’s gotten to the point where it’s so hard to hate him. He is so over. It is one of those things where Rusev earned his way into the match and he's earned another shot at the US title.
Triple Threat for the IC Title- The Miz vs Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor
Jose: I’m going out on a limb and saying, this will be the best match of the night. I think Rollins and Miz are two of the best in-ring competitors on the roster. Balor always performs to the level of those around him, this match is going to be ridiculous. I think the Miz will retain here. Just because I feel like every match is switching championships.
Jermaine: I want to agree with you, it’s hard. They’ve been teasing the longest reigning IC title. It has to pay off. There has been a lot of switches. I think he retains here. I think that one of those things that’ll help him retain is the animosity between Balor and Rollins. I think he’ll steal it in typical chicken shit heel fashion.
Raw Women’s Title- Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax
Jose: I did not see this match happening, at all. Alexa’s reign has gotten pretty bland and I am ready to see them move on. I think it is time for Jax to win the title, as surprising as it seems to write it.
Jermaine: There’s those rumors that she was super unhappy. Remember the talks of her wanted to leave? I think the way Asuka goes to Smackdown is indicative. Nia gets the title. Keep her around, keep her happy.
SmackDown Women’s Title-Charlotte vs Asuka
Jose: Asuka wins, without a doubt. SmackDown needs her pretty bad, I think.
Jermaine: Asuka wins. Simply because next year I believe the main event match of WrestleMania will be Asuka vs Ronda Rousey. This is one of my top three matches of the night, for sure.
Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
Jose: Give me Bryan and McMahon to win here. I don’t see Daniel losing on his first match back. Plus, I think Sami and Kevin will be stars moved on the next shakeup.
Jermaine: I think Sami and KO win, and the riff between Daniel and Shane grows bigger. They could move to Raw, but I think the thing to point out is that's the objective.
Jose: Mania is usually the culmination, but this year feels like the start of something.
Jermaine: Definitely, there does not feel like there is a real crescendo. The tag titles on SmackDown, Asuka vs Charlotte, Alexa vs Nia, they are not ending here.
Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs Triple H & Stephanie McMahon
Jose: This one is obvious right, Angle and Rousey win.
Jermaine: Yeah, Ronda will make Steph tap. They’ll protect her without a doubt.
WWE Title- AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura
Jose: I’m concerned with this match, man. I am trying to set new expectations for this match. I have seen these two wrestle in New Japan, frankly, it was the match that got me into New Japan in the first place. There’s no way their match here will be that good. Plus, with a few exceptions, I have not been too keen on Nakamura in the WWE. I will try to put that all aside to enjoy this match.
Jermaine: It takes two to tango. Joe or Roode can’t sell like Styles or Zayn can. They make them. This is one of those things where it will really shock people. I don’t think fringe people know their history. Without a doubt, this is my match of the night.
Jose: Who do you have winning?
Jermaine: My head says AJ Styles. My gut is saying Nakamura. This can start a back and forth where they go through a series. AJ makes his titles, he does not necessarily need them.
Jose: That convinces me, I'm going with Nakumara and I think AJ will be moved to Raw. It’s time for AJ to go there.
Universal Title- Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns
Jose: Looking back at their match at WrestleMania 31, I have full confidence that this will be an amazing match. 31 was the last ‘Mania where we had a really great closing match.
Jermaine: What makes me think things will be different is Brock’s attitude. This match will be a worthy main event. This has to close the show.
Jose: I got Roman winning.
Jermaine: Yes, they’ll find a way to get him to win. If you want to get a little extra, turn it into a no DQ and have Brock destroy him.
The Tie Breakers Matches
What will happen between John Cena and Undertaker?
Jermaine: there has to be a payoff the way Cena talked about Taker something has to happen. This reminds of Stone Cold vs The Rock
Jose: The third one?
Jermaine: Yeah. Rock came back to beat Stone Cold. This has that vibe. This is what Cena has not done.I wish there was a way for neither of them to lose, but someone has to go over. I think it would be fitting if Taker wins. I’d like to see the American Badass Gimmick.
Jose: I think Cena wins here. It will be super emotional. It will be tough to watch, but that is what is going to happen.
The Andre the Giant Battle Royal
Jose: I think it’ll be a surprise. Initially, I was sure it would be Big Show to come back and win, but you reminded me Big Cass is on his way back. Vince loves Cass. I love me some Cass. I am going with that.
Jermaine: They wasted it on Mojo. It should be something that boosts someone’s career. Make it mean something. Give it to Tye Dillinger. Can you imagine the Superdome chanting 10?
The Women’s Battle Royal
Jose: I’m gonna go with Becky Lynch. She has been put through so much and has sort of disappeared in the shuffle on SmackDown. I think this would be a great spot to boost her up. Sasha and Bayley will find a way to eliminate each other.
Jermaine: I think someone from NXT will win, much like Baron won a few years ago. I think Billy Kay or Payton Royce will win. I’ll go with Payton.
………
Jose: To wrap up, I have to say again how excited I am about this card. This is the card we have deserved as fans for years. This is the card we should have had at WrestleMania 32.
Jermaine: You’re right. It’s so tricky when you’re trying to put together a full card. You want to take fans through the rollercoaster, and I think this will have that. If I’m them, I’m opening with the IC Title match. I’m taking you on a ride that ends with Lesnar vs Reigns.
Jose: There’s not a match on this card I am not looking forward to, honestly.
Jermaine: There is not a single one. WrestleMania 31 is really underrated, but this, without a doubt, is the best card since 30.
* Keep an Eye on SportsMap this week as both Jose and Jermaine will be sharing their WrestleMania 34 experiences, straight out of New Orleans.
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After finishing up with the Guardians the Astros have a rather important series for early May with the Seattle Mariners heading to town for the weekend. While it’s still too early to be an absolute must-win series for the Astros, losing the series to drop seven or eight games off the division lead would make successfully defending their American League West title that much more unlikely.
Since their own stumble out of the gate to a 6-10 record the Mariners have been racking up series wins, including one this week over the Atlanta Braves. The M’s offense is largely Mmm Mmm Bad, but their pitching is sensational. In 18 games after the 6-10 start, the Mariners gave up five runs in a game once. In the other 17 games they only gave up four runs once. Over the 18 games their starting pitchers gave up 18 earned runs total with a 1.44 earned run average. That’s absurd. Coming into the season Seattle’s starting rotation was clearly better on paper than those of the Astros and Texas Rangers, and it has crystal clearly played out as such into the second month of the schedule.
While it’s natural to focus on and fret over one’s own team's woes when they are plentiful as they have been for the Astros, a reminder that not all grass is greener elsewhere. Alex Bregman has been awful so far. So has young Mariners’ superstar Julio Rodriguez. A meager four extra base hits over his first 30 games were all Julio produced down at the ballyard. That the Mariners are well ahead of the Astros with J-Rod significantly underperforming is good news for Seattle.
Caratini comes through!
So it turns out the Astros are allowed to have a Puerto Rican-born catcher who can hit a little bit. Victor Caratini’s pedigree is not that of a quality offensive player, but he has swung the bat well thus far in his limited playing time and provided the most exciting moment of the Astros’ season with his two-out two-run 10th inning game winning home run Tuesday night. I grant that one could certainly say “Hey! Ronel Blanco finishing off his no-hitter has been the most exciting moment.” I opt for the suddenness of Caratini’s blow turning near defeat into instant victory for a team that has been lousy overall to this point. Frittering away a game the Astros had led 8-3 would have been another blow. Instead, to the Victor belong the spoils.
Pudge Rodriguez is the greatest native Puerto Rican catcher, but he was no longer a good hitter when with the Astros for the majority of the 2009 season. Then there’s Martin Maldonado.
Maldonado’s hitting stats with the Astros look Mike Piazza-ian compared to what Jose Abreu was doing this season. Finally, mercifully for all, Abreu is off the roster as he accepts a stint at rookie-level ball in Florida to see if he can perform baseball-CPR on his swing and career. Until or unless he proves otherwise, Abreu is washed up and at some point the Astros will have to accept it and swallow whatever is left on his contract that runs through next season. For now Abreu makes over $120,000 per game to not be on the roster. At his level of performance, that’s a better deal than paying him that money to be on the roster.
Abreu’s seven hits in 71 at bats for an .099 batting average with a .269 OPS is a humiliating stat line. In 2018 George Springer went to sleep the night of June 13 batting .293 after going hitless in his last four at bats in a 13-5 Astros’ win over Oakland. At the time no one could have ever envisioned that Springer had started a deep, deep funk which would have him endure a nightmarish six for 78 stretch at the plate (.077 batting average). Springer then hit .293 the rest of the season.
Abreu’s exile opened the door for Joey Loperfido to begin his Major League career. Very cool for Loperfido to smack a two-run single in his first game. He also struck out twice. Loperfido will amass whiffs by the bushel, he had 37 strikeouts in 101 at bats at AAA Sugar Land. Still, if he can hit .225 with some walks mixed in (he drew 16 with the Space Cowboys) and deliver some of his obvious power (13 homers in 25 games for the ex-Skeeters) that’s an upgrade over Abreu/Jon Singleton, as well as over Jake Meyers and the awful showing Chas McCormick has posted so far. Frankly, it seems unwise that the Astros only had Loperfido play seven games at first base in the minors this year. If McCormick doesn’t pick it up soon and with Meyers displaying limited offensive upside, the next guy worth a call-up is outfielder Pedro Leon. In January 2021 the Astros gave Leon four million dollars to sign out of Cuba and called him a “rapid mover to the Major Leagues.” Well…
Over his first three minor league seasons Leon flashed tools but definitely underwhelmed. He has been substantially better so far this year. He turns 26 May 28. Just maybe the Astros offense could be the cause of fewer Ls with Loperfido at first and Leon in center field.
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via YouTube: stone cold stros - YouTube with the complete audio available via Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.