In the post, I wrote about the odds for potential Daniel Bryan opponents and said that it was the one market I had been looking forward to seeing priced up as I wanted to place a speculative punt on Shinsuke Nakamura grappling with his real-life friend on the big stage. The two wrestlers are both on record wish they could wrestle against one another in WWE.
Nakamura was 4/1. Shortly after publishing the post, Kambi snipped him into 3s.
The current WWE US Champion isn't the only selection that appears to have been backed. As you can see below, Randy Orton has been dipped from 6/1 into 11/2.
Samoa Joe has increased from 11/2 from 4/1.
Another market I mentioned in passing was the one for Ronda Rousey's opponent. I pointed out that there was a conspicuous absence in Natalya. She was added shortly afterwards.
Charlotte Flair is a 1/5 favourite. This is because of the reports that Rousey versus Flair has been talked about for the show. I have long-felt that, if Flair vs Rousey doesn't take place in April, then the company could easily break up the on-screen friendship between Rousey and Natalya and have them wrestle against one another.
The Roman Reigns market has 'The Rock' as a favourite.
A lot of people have reacted to a video of The Rock stating that Reigns was one of his three people he would like to face at a WrestleMania (Triple H and Brock Lesnar were the other two).
In my opinion, the match that makes the most sense to me now is a three-way against Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. The company has been teasing a heel turn by Ambrose and I think what should lead to it is an implosion by ALL of the Shield members.
A Shield triple threat match - on a WrestleMania card - was a bout many had hoped for in the past. Paddy Power even had a betting market for it. I was not on board with it back then. It seems like a perfect opportunity this time around, though, Especially as they have been back together as a unit, on-and-off for obvious reasons, since last year.
Going by the odds in the John Cena opponent market, the bookie is predicting an AJ Styles .vs. John Cena match at Mania. The current WWE Champion is a 7/10 favourite to repeat what has already been done at major shows like SummerSlam 2016 and the 2017 Royal Rumble.
The recent angles involving The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels leading up to, and after, Taker's match with Triple H at Super Show-Down, are seemingly to set up a D-Generation X .vs. Brothers of Destruction match at Crown Jewel on November 2nd. Of course another singles match between Undertaker and Shawn Michaels could spin-off from the Saudi Arabia match. I simply don't feel it'll happen at WrestleMania.
With that said, none of the names on this market appeal to me. I guess Braun Strowman does at a push. I have no intention of betting on this, however.
I'll continue to keep track of these markets and write occasional updates along the way to WrestleMania season.
AJ's long title run should end in a bigger PPV. AJ is perfect opponent for John Cena to win his 17th title. They already have history but this time both will be babyfaces.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that makes me think they won’t have Cena beat Styles for the ‘record’ is they beat Styles to tie the record.
DeleteYeah, you're right. They won't do but last year in Nov - Dec Meltzer said he heard that they might do AJ vs Cena at WM 34 but then after 3 weeks he confirmed Taker is his opponent.
DeleteBut as per the current rumors, if Shawn vs Taker happens before Wrestlemania then my guess is they will do rematch between Cena and Undertaker at WM 35
Hindsight being 20/20, Dave was wrong on that one. If you look back months before this, there was a lot of speculation that Nakamura vs Styles was the plan for Mania. They even teased it in spots during the MITB ladder match. It being the WWE Championship might not have been the plan, though!
DeleteAs for Taker vs Cena - just like with Shawn Michaels, I don't see any point in going there again at a Mania because I don't think they'll book Taker to lose again....
... although, once again, I keep thinking 'Strowman'...
Jeez, i completely forgot about Strowman. Yeah, he has good chances to face Taker
DeleteThat's why I wrote above that I could stretch to considering Strowman as Taker's opponent, but don't feel compelled to bet on him.
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