WWE Roadblock 2016 Predictions (Plus Raw and Smackdown Thoughts – Dec 12th & 13th, 2016)

Posted by Peter W on December 14, 2016 in Wrestling | 2 Comments

Source: wwe.com

There’s yet another PPV on Sunday and it’s the Raw brand’s last of the year. After the well-received (and one of my favourite PPVs of the year) TLC PPV, this one has a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, WWE will really have to pull some magic out of their hats here as, except for one match, I have no interest in this show (or most of the story lines) at all.

Smackdown

The Hype Bros win to be next in line for the Smackdown Tag Team Championship? I find that odd and wonder what story they could tell here. Perhaps they’re just placeholders until they start building Jordan and Gable up to head to Wrestlemania as the main team chasing the gold.

Natalya comes across looking really stupid with this whole “I didn’t do it” angle. Only an idiot talks to someone outside of the ring the whole match instead of focusing on the task at hand. They need to hurry up with this storyline because it’s totally losing steam. If WWE Creative turn around and have Natalya say “it was me!” after all of this, I’ll…oh hell, I don’t know what I’d do beside point out the stupidity behind it all.

It looks like Ambrose and Ziggler have now switched spots for the next month. I predict no belts will change until Wrestlemania (perhaps the IC belt at the Rumble). For some reason I can see Cena coming back and going after The Miz. I’m all for another round of Styles vs. Ziggler matches, though.

Raw

The only thing I’m discussing from this edition of Raw is The New Day beating Demolition’s record for the longest reigning WWE Tag Team champs. I think them breaking the record is insulting as if you’ve read my thoughts in the past, you know my feelings on this team that rarely defends the belts. Yeah, I know “back in the day” championship matches were usually featured on big PPVs or shows, but that was then, this is now.

When The New Day are on the mic, they’re faces but to win many matches, they’re heels. I don’t like it and I’ve grown so tired of their shtick and comedy. Ok, Vince, you’ve shown that you’ve just given the finger to Demolition and that you have “the power,” now get the damn belts off these guys. I’m sure The New Day will pull off some heelish maneuver to keep the belts and continue to sell people merchandise. Here’s also hoping that if Cesaro and Sheamus don’t win, they go their separate ways.

Look…I think the guys are talented. I really do. I just can’t stand them as this group anymore.

Alright…on to my thoughts and predictions for this Sunday’s show:

Big Cass vs. Rusev  (Pre-show Match)

Source: wwe.com

It’s so sad that Rusev has been assigned to the pre-show match.  I hope Rusev kicks Cass’ ass (say that three times fast for fun) as there should be no one cheering for Enzo or Cass with this storyline. Rusev needs to get back into the title picture and something more meaningful while Enzo and Cass need to be embedded back into the Tag Team division.

Winner: Rusev

Sasha Banks (Champ) vs. Charlotte Flair –
Raw Women’s Championship Match in a 30 min IronMan (Woman?) Match

Source: wwe.com

This is the one match I’m interested in because when these two battle, it’s usually great nine times out of ten. The interesting thing in all of this now is that Ric Flair is back in the picture and I really wouldn’t put it past WWE to switch the belt back to Charlotte due to Ric Flair’s interference (intentionally or not) to further father/daughter dynamic. Perhaps I’m wrong and it’ll be a clean match with no interference and a definitive winner – nah, it’s WWE!

Winner: Charlotte

Rich Swann (Champ) vs. Brian Kendrick vs. TJ Perkins –
WWE Crusierweight Championship

Source: wwe.com

I’m still not sure where they’re going with the Perkins character after he was so abruptly dethroned as the champ, but I’m in the camp that wants to see Kendrick win back the belt. The rationale is because I’m a fan of his work and I KNOW him way more than the other wrestlers.

I still haven’t connected with Perkins and any wrestler that comes to the ring with a dancing gimmick automatically loses my interest. I think Kendrick and Perkins will continue their feud with the victor emerging in a few months to go back into the championship picture. Swann needs to get the win to look like a strong champ and have another Cruiserweight come into the picture to be elevated and become more known by the fans.

Winner: Rich Swann

Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman

Source: wwe.com

I hate the story line. I really hate it. The rationale behind Foley interfering and not wanting to let Zayn have the match over the last few weeks is because Foley is protecting him? What about the jobbers he put in the ring with Strowman? What about any other wrestler he put against Strowman? It makes Zayn’s character look weak as hell and makes as much sense as Foley not letting Sheamus and Cesaro have a decisive match.

Foley’s logic behind the “fake” trade was to rile up Zayn to REALLY want the match? He already communicated it and showed the passion for it over the last few weeks. The writing is stupid, makes Foley look just as idiotic as the writing, and will ultimately do nothing to further anyone’s career. Oh yeah, Zayn is so weak and pathetic they added that the stipulation is that he has to last 10 minutes against Strowman. What a bunch of shit. This is the guy who was in an amazing WRESTLING program with Owens and now is reduced to this. Send him to Smackdown as teased.

Winner: Zayn lasts the ten minutes but in the end it doesn’t matter as he’ll be booked to look weak but just inch through to “survive.” I understand building Strowman up as a monster, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of someone like Zayn.

Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho

Source: wwe.com

Why is this a PPV match? I don’t care who wins but if Kevin Owens interferes and costs Jericho the match, it may foreshadow what happens in the Universal championship match in the show – UNLESS the championship match happens before this one.

On Raw it looks like Jericho and Owens are now done and won’t be helping each other in their respected matches. We could have the scenario where they patch things up and things look fine before the PPV and then Jericho aids Owens in retaining the Universal Championship only to have Owens cost Jericho his match later on. We could also have a reversed scenario where Owens helps Jericho get his win over Rollins but show up in the championship match just to cost Owens the belt on purpose.

Rollins is moving on to probably feud with Triple H sooner than later, so he needs the win to look strong coming out of this feud, so he’s my pick.

Winner: Seth Rollins

Kevin Owens (WWE Universal Champion) vs. Roman Reigns (US Champion) – WWE Universal Championship Match

Source: wwe.com

The first thing that pops into my head about this match is asking why the US Championship isn’t on the line as well. I’m not sure what the outcome of this match will be as, like I said, I want to see what they’ll do with the Rollins/Jericho match first, which I’m sure will come before this.

As much as I hate to say it, I can see WWE making Reigns a double champ here. I would never understand it, but I can see it happening if Owens and Jericho will feud after this. Perhaps Jericho will help Owens on the condition he gets the next shot at the title. While I really have no interest in seeing this match (although I think Owens is damn good in the ring), there are many variables involved that can affect the outcome. I’ll go with my gut feeling (no pun intended) and stick with Owens.

Winner: Kevin Owens