WrestleMania Pros Pick: John Cena Vs. Rock Predictions From The Media, Writers & Wrestlers
WrestleMania XXVIII is just days away and I took a little time this week to catch up with some of our friends in the business to talk about Sunday's PPV. Specifically, we discussed our predictions for The Rock vs. John Cena and The Undertaker vs. Triple H.
We will post the picks for Triple H vs. The Undertaker tomorrow, here are predictions for Sunday's "Once In A Lifetime" main event match between The Rock and John Cena. Of the responses we received, eleven are predicting a Cena win while the remaining six, myself included, are picking The Rock.
JOHN CENA
Andrew Goldstein (@AngeGold, Former WWE writer): "[I] have to imagine Rock will throw everything at Cena, only to see him refuse to quit/keep kicking out to the point where Rock gets frustrated and does something heelish leading to Cena's comeback and a moment where the fans, young and old, collectively rally around Cena. This is a baton passing moment from Rock to Cena anointing him, once and for all THE GUY for the current generation. [I] have to believe Rock's job in this match is to destroy the division between the Cenation and the Cena haters. [I] wouldn't be surprised – but would be extremely disappointed – if The Miz gets involved in this match playing off his role from last year's 'Mania. Rock goes away after Sunday, but this could lead to a Cena/Miz post-Mania program. Winner: Cena"
Kian Terani (WrestlingINC.com writer): "This is a tough one. I honestly don't think even that THEY [WWE] have finalized this one yet. I would personally like to finally see Cena's heel turn–due to a Rock win OR Cena cheating to win–but that is not likely any time soon. That said, look for Cena to get a controversial but decisive pinfall on The Rock, and then Rocky getting his heat back with a beatdown on Cena for the hometown crowd." Winner: Cena
Stu Saks (@OfficialPWI, Pro Wrestling Illustrated editor): "Cena pins The Rock, the two glare at each other for a moment, and then Rock raises Cena's arm. With The Rock's endorsement, will the haters suddenly embrace Cena? That would be WWE's hope. But it's probably not going to happen." Winner: Cena
Alex Greenfield (@alexdgreenfield, Former Smackdown lead writer): "I'm hoping Rock goes over and an angry Cena goes heel the next night. [But] I'm expecting Cena winning with a respect handshake after the finish." Winner: Cena
Wade Keller (@thewadekeller, PWTorch founder and editor): "This is a tough one for me to pick because you can make a convincing argument against either doing the job. Rock is in Miami, and if he does the job in Miami – no matter what the circumstances – there is a chance for a huge backlash against Cena, a star WWE will be relying on more than anyone after Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Undertaker disappear from weekly TV. But then again, the same reasons apply to not having Cena lose. I've even had people suggest they go to a 60 minute draw to avoid this conundrum. I'm not sure Rock is up for that, though (or Cena, for that matter). So I tepidly, without an ounce of confidence, lean toward picking Cena to win in an artfully crafted way (with help from Rock's mentor and friend, Pat Patterson) that puts Rock in a position to respectfully raise Cena's arm in the end out of a sign of respect for putting up a hell of a fight." Winner: Cena
Scotty Riggs (@REALScottyRiggs, Former WCW tag team champion): "Cena will win after Miz interferes, but it backfires, helping Cena get the win. This sets up a SummerSlam match between Cena and Miz where Cena gets his WrestleMania 27 revenge in a lower-scale PPV." Winner: Cena
Chris Van Vliet (@ChrisVanVliet, CBS Cleveland Entertainment Reporter): "I'm going to go with John Cena here. To me, this match is reminiscent of the Hogan vs. Rock match at Wrestlemania 18. I see this as an opportunity for Rock to lose and pass the torch to Cena just as Hogan did for him 10 years ago. I just can't see them having a guy who has wrestled twice in the last 8 years winning this." Winner: Cena
Brian Soscia (@THEBrianSoscia, The Soscia Network Radio Show): "In my opinion, Cena HAS to win. It makes no sense from a business standpoint for The Rock to win. John Cena not only should win, but he deserves to win. This is the guy that has helped carry the company and his run should be solidified. The Rock gains nothing from winning, but Cena gains everything. I'm #TeamCena!" Winner: Cena
Paul Belfi (@sportstalkNET, sportstalkNETWORK.com): "Despite a few bumps in the road, WWE has been wildly successful in sustaining interest in this match for one year. The perfect mix of 'dream match' along with elements of 'reality' inserted in promos, Twitter exchanges makes this the most anticipated WrestleMania main event since Hulk Hogan v. Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III. At the end of the day, John Cena will remain with WWE and The Rock will leave and head back to Hollywood for some time. Expect John Cena to get the win and The Rock 'passes the torch' just as Hulk Hogan did for him at WrestleMania XVIII." Winner: Cena
Court Bauer (@courtbauer, Former WWE creative team member): "Cena over... CLEAN!" Winner: Cena
THE ROCK
Raj Giri (@RajGiri_303, WrestlingINC.com owner): "Up until a few weeks ago, I was convinced that Cena was going to win. After all, it's the finish that makes the most sense... the torch is passed, Rock will be gone and Cena will remain the company's top guy. Then I tried to get into the head of Vince McMahon, which is a scary thing. The one thing we have to remember is that McMahon really appreciates Rock coming back (case in point, the Rock's birthday celebration on RAW last year). Also, there will be more eyeballs and media interest for this match than any other in recent history. Does McMahon want the image of the aftermath of quite possibly the biggest match in company history being Rock congratulating a victorious Cena to a vociferous chorus of boos? Or have the Rock with his hand raised with 60,000 fans going nuts? My vote is for the latter. Because of the magnitude of the match, I don't see any outside interference, although I would expect Cena to have the match won at a couple of points after a ref bump before Rock eventually garners the win. I think we'll see Cena congratulate Rock after, and then leave the ring to let The Rock soak in the adulation from his hometown crowd. The Rock is already expected to wrestle at next year's WrestleMania, and possibly even SummerSlam this year, so there is plenty of time for Cena to get the win back." Winner: The Rock
Arda Ocal (@arda_ocal, Host of Aftermath on theScore Television Network): "I think because The Rock is returning for WrestleMania 28, on top of the fact that he is in great shape and certainly has more than a handful of top level matches left in him, it seems likely more than ever that the 'passing of the torch' that many are predicting won't actually happen. For the first time in a larger than life epic WrestleMania main event, we may see interference. Say someone like The Miz costs Cena the match – The Rock wins and is strong going into his next match in WWE when he returns – Cena has a new rivalry to occupy him post-WrestleMania – and someone (like Miz) is elevated to main event level once again. It feels right for something like that to happen. Give me The Rock with a Rock Bottom and the 1-2-3 after some interference." Winner: The Rock
Stephen Crews Jr. (WrestlingINC.com writer): "The Rock wins leading to John Cena needing the rematch at some point down the line. I see both men hitting multiple finishers on each other but eventually the Rock turns the tables on Cena and gets the victory by using the AA. The Rock doesn't shake the hand of Cena after the match or show him any signs of respect. The doubts that are caused by the loss become the new obstacle for Cena to overcome until SummerSlam or WrestleMania 29, when the rematch happens." Winner: The Rock
Gary Spears (@_big_poppa, WSKS/WSKU-FM "KISS-FM"): "I originally laughed at this a year ago, the main event being announced a year in advance... But I'll tell you what... I haven't wanted to see a match this bad since Hogan vs. Warrior! What peaked my interest is when Cena called out Rock for having notes written on his wrist. After 12 months of answering questions about the other guy, they ARE ready for this! It'll be a solid match with the crowd being one of the hottest you'll ever see/hear. Unfortunately, I don't see a clean finish. Rock won't do the job clean for Cena, and no one benefits storyline wise by screwing The Rock! So look for someone/something to interfere to cost Cena the match and set-up Cena's next rivalry. Which is a shame, because THAT match deserves a clean finish." Winner: The Rock
The Big Mosh & "The Chairman of the Board" Todd Vincent (@FeelTheMayhem, Monday Night Mayhem): "What else is there to say that already hasn't been said? This has been the most-hyped match in WrestleMania history... at least in the age of the Internet and social media. 'The Great One' has already said he will be back for next year's WrestleMania, and the scuttlebutt is that he'll be back for SummerSlam. Plain and simple: No way does this feud continue past Sunday in Miami. [It's] very hard to see Rock lose in his hometown. It's one thing if you're Jim Ross, who always seems to get embarrassed when the WWE comes to Oklahoma for televised events. It's one thing if you're 'insert mid-card star' here. 'Dwayne' will ride off into the sunset to film more movies and promote the forthcoming summer release of G.I. Joe II. He doesn't need this victory at all...right? You have to remember, he came back for a reason: to defeat John Cena at 'The Showcase of the Immortals.' If he doesn't win, he doesn't achieve his goal. Good chance of interference in this bout, but a greater chance of Cena taking a clean pin. You heard us right fans...It's back to the drawing board in West Newbury, MA for the man that fans love to hate (except if you're a kid or a teenage girl)." Winner: The Rock via pinfall
Jay Calderon (WrestlingINC.com writer): "I'm going to imagine that The Rock wins this encounter. In all likelihood, this isn't going to be their only match. With Cena winning, they have no reason to bring The Rock back. With The Rock winning, WWE has the proper platform to raise interest in a rematch." Winner: The Rock