Roundtable: WrestleMania 34

In this edition of The Wrestling Estate roundtable, the staff give their picks and predictions for the biggest event of the year.

Who will win: AJ Styles or Shinsuke Nakamura?

Earl Gardner: AJ. I don’t see Vince putting the strap on Nakamura nor do I think he deserves it at this point.

Evan Cross: Gotta be Nakamura. He’s been booked so sparsely since winning the Rumble to the point it would make him look terrible if he didn’t win. AJ can take a loss.

Calvin Gibbon: It looks like Shinsuke Nakamura will make history at WrestleMania. AJ has beaten everyone there is to beat on Smackdown but the King of Strong Style has a legacy of his own to grow. Which he will, starting with a knee to the face!

Troy Taroff: My guess would be Nakamura. Have Styles move on the Raw for fresher storylines.

John Corrigan: AJ Styles will advance his Mania record to 2-1 after curbing the momentum of Nakamura. But don’t worry, this will be the first in a series of bouts heading into the summer.

Anthony Mahalis: It has to be Shinsuke. You need to fully legitimize him here. This is the chance to finally bring out his full potential and to book him properly. He needs to win, or you might as well just throw him in with the Bray Wyatts and Dolph Zigglers, guys with a ton of talent that are just totally underused.

Jack Goodwillie: Well, we know AJ is fully capable of losing in style (muhmuhmuh), so I think WWE owes it to themselves to give Shinsuke the belt and see how he can elevate the show. He worked wonders in NJPW, particularly as Intercontinental Champion.

David Gibb: This one is hard to call because it’s tough to gauge how willing/able/enthusiastic WWE is when it comes to potentially building a show around Nakamura, who ticks very few of their boxes other than “spectacular wrestler who the audience loves.” I think the mystique of the Rumble prevails, however, and Nakamura takes home the WWE Championship.

Will Paul Heyman betray his Beast?

Gardner: I think he will. If he doesn’t, I feel like he will have an additional client that he will be advocating for.

Cross: I don’t think we’re getting anything in this match that doesn’t make Roman look like the face of the company. Reigns will go over relatively clean at the minimum.

Gibbon: No. As exciting as that would be, no it won’t happen. Mr. Heyman will be forced to lick his wounds when his Beast finally falls to The Big Dog.

Taroff: Most likely not. If anything he leaves when Lesnar leaves (after Sunday).

Corrigan: It pains me to say this, but the advocate will stick a knife into the back of the Beast (as predicted) and align himself with the baddest Samoan from the baddest family yadda yadda yadda.

Mahalis: No, I don’t think Heyman betrays Lesnar, even though it would be amazing because that would mean you were turning Reigns heel. I think Lesnar just loses and goes on his merry way back to UFC. Hopefully WWE can use Heyman in another capacity, but I think he may just be gone for a while.

Goodwillie: I wasn’t aware this was a rumor? Maybe it is, maybe it’s not, but it hasn’t crossed my mind, even though there could be money in it one day, considering how good the previous Lesnar-Heyman feud was.

Gibb: Only if Reigns is actually turning. Otherwise, it would hurt his win more than help it.

Who will be Braun Strowman’s mystery partner?

Gardner: Rey Mysterio Jr.

Cross: I would be entertained if it was no one and he dominated The Bar by himself, but that’s probably not the best thing to do for the tag division. I’ll say Samoa Joe, because that can easily be spun off into a singles feud down the line.

Gibbon: I’m hoping for Elias! I think it would be best for both of them to form a team. It would be something fun and keep both characters fresh until it’s time to put either one up against Reigns.

Taroff: At this point, they could throw Gillberg in there. But Strowman is still coming out on top.

Corrigan: When it comes crashing down and it hurts inside!

Mahalis: Initially, I thought it would be Elias because he still doesn’t have anything scheduled for Mania. But for some reason I don’t feel as good about that anymore. I have a sneaking suspicion that it is going to be the Big Show, and that will make me puke. This whole thing has been pretty stupid so far, so they really need to deliver on the partner.

Goodwillie: I mentioned this on the last The Wrestling Estate Podcast, but there is no correct answer to this question other than James Ellsworth. Remember, Ellsworth had one of the best squash match performances in wrestling history and really helped put Braun on the map. Because of the quick, physical nature of Braun Strowman matches, literally anyone could fit the bill as his partner so why not go with a name that makes sense in storyline? I’m sure Ellsworth would be happy to dissolve his tag team with Gillberg for one more run up north!

Gibb: Well… it’s the Big Show.

Will Asuka’s streak end?

Gardner: No. It would be dumb to have her come this far to lose. Besides, how else is Charlotte going to be the 20-time Women’s Champ if she doesn’t drop it?

Cross: No way. It should go on until at least WrestleMania 35. Charlotte’s great, but this is the time to establish Asuka as a huge deal.

Gibbon: Definitely not. She will not be pinned or beaten, but Charlotte might. I’m expecting the “Queen of Staten Island” Carmella to spoil the biggest Women’s Championship match with a cash in!

Taroff: Not anytime soon, and that continues on Sunday.

Corrigan: I’m going to cheat and co-sign Gibbon’s idea of Carmella cashing in on Charlotte, therefore, preserving Asuka’s streak.

Mahalis: No. I don’t think it would make sense to have her go undefeated up to this point and then not win the title. I do think a loss is coming sooner, rather than later, though.

Goodwillie: Nope. I think Asuka will go over for the same reason I expect Nakamura to, but remember, WWE had no problem ending Charlotte’s pay-per-view winning streak last year before they could pay it off at WrestleMania, so expect the unexpected.

Gibb: I would’ve said absolutely not if the Mixed Match Challenge final had been scheduled for after ‘Mania. With Asuka and Miz claiming victory in that tournament, though, Charlotte looks poised to get her win back and end Asuka’s streak at the big one.

What match are you most looking forward to?

Gardner: AJ vs. Nakamura is a dream match for me. I hope they just let those guys go out there and do what they do best for 20-30 minutes. Could be match of the night.

Cross: Whenever Daniel Bryan is in a match, it’s the one I’m most looking forward to.

Gibbon: It’s definitely a stacked card, but I’ll have to go with the tag match with two careers on the line. It’s got Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. a returning Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. This match is a sleeper that could steal the show!

Taroff: Probably Styles vs. Nakamura. We saw it in Japan a few years ago, but it could be something totally different (good or bad) at Mania.

Corrigan: Daniel Bryan is back, baby. The Superdome is going to erupt and I’ve got goosebumps just typing this.

Mahalis: I am 100% looking most forward to Styles vs. Nakamura. I really think it is going to be the show stealer. Second place would be the IC triple threat match – that has real potential to be a tremendous match. Plus, I still can’t decide who I think is going to win that one.

Goodwillie: Running down the list, I do not think this is a “stacked” card by any stretch. It’ll be awesome to see guys like Daniel Bryan and Kurt Angle back in the ring, but I’m not interested in another Undertaker match, Roman Reigns is still not over and again back in the main event and I’ve already found myself checking out of Ronda Rousey’s recent appearances. That said, Styles vs. Nakamura has a chance to be one of the all-time great WrestleMania matches and I can only hope it gets the time it requires.

Gibb: I’m old school – I’m most excited to see the Royal Rumble winner trying to capture the championship. Both those matches will be excellent, but I’m more excited to see Charlotte and Asuka. It feels like the culmination of a lot of hard work by both competitors and it’s been built like a classic pro wrestling showdown.