WWE GREAT BALLS OF FIRE PREDICTIONS – Tom Gets It Wrong: Lesnar-Joe, Miz-Dean, Bray-Seth, Reigns-Braun

Great Balls Of Fire 2017 Predictions – Tom Gets It Wrong

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So it’s possible, even likely, that I’m going to get all of these wrong.

1. Neville vs. Akira Tozawa (Pre-show Cruiserweight Championship)

It really is a shame to see this on the pre-show but, to be fair, it should be a clear indication as to whether or not 205 Live is worth continuing if a lot of people watch this pre-show for once. We’ll have to see.

Neville has been a great champion so far in a division with him as the sole draw. His matches with Gallagher and Aries have been great to watch and this one should be no exception. The company have clearly looked at Tozawa as someone with the potential for major charisma and, for all the good wrestling in the cruiserweight division, it’s charisma that is most lacking.

Tozawa is on the rise and has the Titus Brand behind him. Is that enough to make him the next cruiserweight champion? Possibly. Faces usually win on the pre-show. They need to start building the division up with more than one star and what better way to do it than with a title change here? That said, I just don’t see it.

Neville is just far too far ahead of the rest of the division right now.

Winner: Neville

2. Enzo Amore vs. Big Cass

I would be stunned by an Ezno win here. The purpose of this break up is to get a major hit of momentum behind Big Cass so an instant loss would do nothing for either man. I would expect Cass to take the win and continue beating on Enzo afterwards. This would bring out Big Show and thus line up Cass’ next challenger for Summerslam.

Winner: Big Cass

3. The Miz vs. Dean Ambrose (Intercontinental Championship)

When you consider the highlights of this now 8 month feud, are any of them Dean Ambrose? The Miz has seriously carried this whole feud. I’m hoping to see him rewarded after this match by lining him up against Finn Balor for Summerslam, though I expect Heath Slater to be the next IC champion.

It’s time to stop this feud. I’m exhausted by it. The Miztourage will surely be enough to see the title stay where it belongs.

Winner: The Miz

4. Sheamus & Cesaro vs. The Hardys (Raw Tag Team Championships)

I expected The Hardys to retain last time and that didn’t happen, yet this feud continued. Why is it that feuds last just enough time for everybody to be sick of them. Since Wrestlemania these teams have almost exclusively fought each other, to the detriment of everybody else.

In a division with barely any face teams I expect the Hardys to win back the titles in order to line up against either the Revival or The Club for Summerslam. Or even both, because you can have tag team matches with 3 teams. Meanwhile, Sheamus is off to do more acting work, leaving Cesaro with the opportunity for a brief singles push if used right. Maybe a short feud with Ambrose?

Winner: The Hardys

5. Bray Wyatt vs. Seth Rollins

The audience is not engaged with this one. At all. Interest in Bray Wyatt is extremely low and that’s odd. Wyatt is in an almost unique position in that he appeals tremendously to casual fans but the hardcore fans have little interest whatsoever. The guy is a genuine draw and yet he’s not over. It makes little sense.

As we get closer and closer to Survivor Series and the release of the next WWE wrestling game, Seth Rollins will become more and more and more prominent a player. Until then, he really should be giving favours. One man who could really use one is Bray Wyatt.

Winner: Bray Wyatt

6. Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks (Raw Women‘s Championship)

This is the money match of the Raw women’s division. It has been since the shake up, and that worries me because if you’re playing your hand this early then Raw must be lined up to get Asuka in the near future.

I would expect a screwy finish in order to preserve this title change for Summerslam, where Sasha Banks will take the belt ready to feud with Nia Jax and then Bayley. This could be hugely overbooked, with Nia Jax and Bayley both involved in a way that results in Bayley accidentally costing Sasha Banks the title. Maybe an accidental punch, or just brawling in a way that causes the match to be thrown out?

It could be a Sasha win by DQ, but that’s not as prominent a finish as it used to be, so a distraction, followed by an Alexa Bliss DDT seems to be the way to go.

Winner: Alexa Bliss

7. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Ambulance Match)

Ooh, this one has major future ramifications. A Roman Reigns win here means that the planned Reigns/Lesnar rematch at Wrestlemania will not be happening. Instead Seth Rollins would be going into Wrestlemania as champion after taking the title from Reigns at Survivor Series. A Strowman win continues us on the current trajectory, with Strowman losing to Lesnar at Summerslam, Rollins losing at Survivor Series and Reigns winning the Elimination Chamber match to become number one contender at Wrestlemania.

I lean towards the latter because I think it’s a much better story. Roman’s high position right now, ready and waiting to be knocked off his perch by continually losing number 1 contendership matches, is the perfect set up. His face when he finished the Royal Rumble as the runner up for the second year in a row will be gorgeous.

Honestly, I’m already sold on this story. I do not want it to change now.

Winner: Braun Strowman

8. Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe

A win here would be a huge surprise and yet not as huge a surprise as Jinder Mahal, or indeed Joe winning the match in the first place that put him into this contest. If not for one thing I would be putting a Joe win here.

That one thing? The Coquina Clutch. They’ve been putting that over hard and heavy. Jericho, Balor, Reigns, Lesnar, that move has taken down titans of the industry with no response.

I expect an incredibly even match, Lesnar to go down under the Coquina Clutch but then a power out, an F5 and a skin of his teeth escape for Lesnar.

Winner: Brock Lesnar

I’ll see you for another live Twitter session during Great Balls Of Fire 2017.

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