Predictions from the Faculty
WWE Royal Rumble 2011
January 30, 2011
Predictions by: Wrestleview Columnists and Staff
Written by: Anthony J. Valvo of Wrestleview.com
Introduction
Welcome to the Season Finale edition of “Predictions from the Faculty” (Season #2). This weekend, we gathered our thoughts for the upcoming WWE Pay-Per-View. This weekend we will provide our selections for The WWE Royal Rumble 2010. The show will be held in Boston, MA.
The card will feature only four matches as of the time I typed this piece. More than likely, those are the only matches we will predict.
The season has one more set of picks to predict, but the Dean of Wrestleview for the year is clinched. With a 6-win advantage (and only 4 matches to choose from), the Champion for this season is Raw Recapper and That’s A Wrap Columnist Dave Stephens. Dean Stephens overcame a bit of odds with his competition and was able to secure his spot as the best. He joins Season 1 Winner Joe Baiamonte as the only Deans of Wrestleview.
Also, Josh Boutwell has clinched the second spot once again (he was tied with Jose Marrero last year for #2). Next season, will Boutwell finally get that monkey off his back and earn his first ever championship? However, after the top 2 it is difficult. Who will go home with the bronze? We won’t know until the show is over.
This weekend it is going to be just for pride. Also, for most of us, it will be a tune-up for next season. Also, to the readers that provide predictions I want to say thank you. Who knows, maybe there will be a prize NEXT season to those that are consistent and efficient.
In case you are new to reading these predictions, here is the format. Each Pay-Per-View a few of the columnists on Wrestleview provide predictions on who they think will win the matches. We accumulate throughout the end of the Faculty’s year (in this case tonight. Season Three begins with Against All Odds 2011 in two weeks).
What makes this entirely different to others is that you, the reader, can provide your picks for a spot to have yours posted in an upcoming PPV. All the readers have to do is either leave me a message on Facebook or e-mail at mistervwv@hotmail.com. The winner among the “Wrestleview Students” will win an opportunity to post their picks under the “Student of the Week” tab in the predictions standings (if they outright defeat the Students of the Week). We all thank you for your participation.
Before I show the class our selections, here are the rankings as of TNA Genesis 2011.
Current Standings
2010-2011 Season (As of TNA’s Genesis 2011)
1) David Stephens (That’s a Wrap and RAW Recapper)………….106-55 (6-0)
2) Josh Boutwell (Viva La Raza and TNA Recapper)……………….100-61 (4-2)
3) Students of the Week (The Best from Prev. PPV)………………96-65 (4-2)*
4) Anthony Valvo (From the Desk of Mr. V)…………………………….95-66 (4-2)
5) Jose Marrero (Wrestling Rumblings)……………………………………94-67 (5-1)
6) Wrestleview Students (The Loyal Readers)………………………..94-67 (4-2)**
7) Matt O’Brien (Notes From The Nosebleeds)…………………………91-70 (4-2)
8) Daniel Browne (For Queen and Country)…………………………….89-66 (0-0)
9) Jeff Springer (WWE Superstars Recapper)……………………………79-56 (2-4)
10) Mike Tedesco (Friday Night Smackdown Recapper)……………62-46 (0-0)
11) Doug Lackey (Reality From Ringside)…………………………………..52-42 (0-0)
12) Sean Hurley (The Sharpshooter)………………………………………..37-39 (0-0)
13) Enzo Mendicino (WWE NXT Recapper)………………………………….26-22 (2-4)
14) Joe Baiamonte (Baiamonte’s Casa/2009 WV Champ)………24-20 (0-0)
15) Ryan Rivera (ROH on HDNet Recapper)……………………………….21-14 (1-5)
16) Clinton Bowman (Velvet Room Co-Host)……………………………….9-4 (0-0)
17) Nicholas Gray (Velvet Room Co-Host)……………………………………6-9 (0-0)
This week there are five students of the week. They are Jason Namako, Brian Czygan, Paul Smith, VKingoftheWorldV, and Ken Konarzewski.
Any names not included in the predictions did not send predictions.
And now, let’s go on with the end of the season predictions!
Predictions for WWE’s Royal Rumble 2011
*** NON-TITLE MATCHES ***
The 40-Man Royal Rumble
*Winner is in the WrestleMania Main Event*
(Note: I asked the Wrestleview Faculty if they would like to add a Final Four along with the winners, it is optional and in parentheses.)
Dave S. – JOHN CENA.
Josh B. – ALBERTO DEL RIO (Alberto, Rey, Punk, HHH).
Jason N. – CM PUNK (Del Rio, Cena, Punk, Morrison).
Brian C. – I really hate to say this but of the 40 men I feel like there are only three people with a legitimate shot at winning and going on to main event WrestleMania. Cena, Triple H and Sheamus. I say either Triple H and Sheamus because I could see whoever doesn’t win the rumble winning the belt at EC and there being a match at mania. In the end I have to sadly say JOHN CENA will win and go on to face The Miz. (Triple H, John Cena, CM Punk, Sheamus).
Ken K. – ALBERTO DEL RIO.
Anthony V. – (Alberto Del Rio, CM Punk, John Cena, Wade Barrett). I think that Barrett, Cena, and Punk will be worried about each other (Barrett to Punk, Punk to Cena, Cena to Barrett) that it could be easy for Del Rio to sneak through the second rope while the war goes on in the ring. DEL RIO will push the last finalist over the top rope to win the Royal Rumble in his first shot.
Jose M. – JOHN CENA.
Matt O. – JOHN CENA (Cena, HHH, Sheamus, Del Rio).
Jeff S. – ALBERTO DEL RIO.
Mike T. – KOFI KINGSTON.
Sean H. – CHRIS JERICHO.
Ryan R. – I believe that we will see the return of the Game, TRIPLE H! That is your winner! (CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio, John Cena, Triple H).
Clinton B. – WADE BARRETT. (Cena, CM Punk, Barrett, Otunga).
Nicholas G. – CM PUNK. (Cena, Del Rio, Punk, Wade).
Consensus: PUSH (for 2 WWE Superstars). We had fourteen different sets of predictions, however JOHN CENA and ALBERTO DEL RIO led the pack as four members of the Wrestleview Faculty picked one of them to win the 40-Man Royal Rumble.
JOHN CENA 4; ALBERTO DEL RIO 4; CM Punk 2; Kofi Kingston 1; Chris Jericho 1; Triple H 1; Wade Barrett 1.
*** CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES ***
FOR THE WWE DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP
**Handicap Match**
Natalya (c) vs. LayCool (Michelle McCool and Layla)
Dave S. – NATALYA.
Josh B. – NATALYA.
Jason N. – NATALYA.
Brian C. – I don’t care, why they have to poison my favorite PPV of the year with this garbage is beyon……………oh wait they do it so I can go to the bathroom and get snacks, thanks WWE!!!!! I’ll take NATTIE.
Ken K. – LAYCOOL.
Anthony V. – Though Natalya has only held the title for a little while, it seems like it went forever. I think a change needs to be made and LAYCOOL is the perfect choice to go to both shows and make a presence.
Jose M. – NATALYA.
Matt O. – LAYCOOL.
Jeff S. – LAYCOOL.
Mike T. – NATALYA.
Sean H. – NATALYA.
Ryan R. – LAYCOOL.
Clinton B. – NATALYA.
Nicholas G. – NATALYA.
Consensus: NATALYA. Even though Layla and McCool found their winning ways once again on the Smackdown brand, the faculty chose Natalya as the diva to overcome the odds of two opponents to retain her Divas Championship.
NATALYA 9; LayCool 5.
FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
**If Edge spears Dolph Ziggler, he will be disqualified and will lose the championship**
Edge (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Dave S. – EDGE.
Josh B. – EDGE.
Jason N. – DOLPH ZIGGLER.
Brian C. – I can’t honestly see WWE giving Zigs a world title this soon and right before Mania at that. To quote the Miz really, really, I’ll take EDGE.
Ken K. – EDGE.
Anthony V. – EDGE is called the Perfect Opportunist, right? I think Dolph Ziggler, though an impressive talent, is not ready to hold the big championship title. Edge escapes the match, but I look for him to lose the title next month.
Jose M. – DOLPH ZIGGLER by Countout
Matt O. – EDGE.
Jeff S. – EDGE.
Mike T. – DOLPH ZIGGLER.
Sean H. – EDGE.
Ryan R. – ZIGGLES.
Clinton B. – EDGE.
Nicholas G. – DOLPH ZIGGLER.
Consensus: EDGE. The lack of the Spear (and possibly might be Dolph’s time) led some of the faculty members to select Dolph Ziggler as a potential champion. However, most of the members chose not to take the title off of Edge yet. For the most part, we look for the champion to retain the championship past The Royal Rumble.
EDGE 9; Dolph Ziggler 5.
FOR THE WWE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The Miz (c) vs. Randy Orton
Dave S. – THE MIZ.
Josh B. – THE MIZ.
Jason N. – RANDY ORTON via DQ.
Brian C. – I am near sure it’s going to be Miz vs. Cena at mania, hell they are already building towards the match on Raw. That being said if they do a title change here they’d have to put the strap back on Miz before/@ EC, frankly I feel like WWE is trying to do away with the short championship runs for a while. To me a loss for Miz kills him (and any credibility he has built during his championship run) a loss for Randy does no harm, so I’ll take captain awesome THE MIZ.
Ken K. – THE MIZ.
Anthony V. – The reason why I don’t think Cena or Punk wins Rumble is because I think February Miz will lose the WWE Title. THE MIZ gets the victory through a heelish tactic. It’s not time for a new champion yet.
Jose M. – THE MIZ.
Matt O. – RANDY ORTON.
Jeff S. – THE MIZ.
Mike T. – THE MIZ.
Sean H. – THE MIZ.
Ryan R. – ORTON.
Clinton B. – THE MIZ.
Nicholas G. – THE MIZ.
Consensus: THE MIZ. Though some do expect Orton to win either clean or by disqualification, most of the Wrestleview Faculty selected The Miz to retain his championship with a big win over The Viper. I wonder if The Vintage one will go crazy for The Miz the way Jerry Lawler went crazy over “puppies” in the Attitude Era.
Dismissal
Well, that does it for the final round of Predictions from the Faculty for the 2010-2011 season.
We will be back next season (February 13, 2011).
And remember students, this is YOUR column too! Please present to me your choices for the winners of any PPV by e-mail at mistervwv@hotmail.com or by sending me an inbox message on Facebook. Winner of each PPV receives a coveted (and NEVER duplicated) Gold Star in my latest column and is named the “Student of the Week” for the next Predictions article.
Well, that does it for us, class. On behalf of my peers on Wrestleview I bid you farewell. We will be taking a 14-day recess and will be back with our predictions for TNA’s Against All Odds (the FIRST PPV prediction set of Season #3) As always, thank you for reading our predictions. Now go and enjoy the rest of your weekend! You are all………DISMISSED!
Thank you for reading and to those that do, participated in the column. We appreciate your feedback.
Once again, here is how you can join in on our predictions game.
Facebook: Inbox Message to Anthony J. Valvo
E-Mail: mistervwv@hotmail.com or lounge@wrestleview.com
Twitter: @TheMisterV (experimental, post there at your own risk).