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411 PPV Roundtable Preview – WWE No Way Out 2012
Introduction
After three years on the shelf, WWE has brought the No Way Out PPV name back out of mothballs and plunked it right in the middle of the summer. And with a PPV suggesting themes of escape, it should be no surprise that the main event of the evening will feature John Cena and The Big Show battling inside a steel cage. Plus, at the end of the evening, depending on the victor, either John Cena or Johnny Ace will be fired! Probably.
Meanwhile, the WWE Title is on the line as CM Punk defends his belt against both Daniel Bryan and Kane, with the added distraction of Crazy AJ skipping around the ring. Whose side, if anyone’s, will AJ be on at the end of the match? I don’t think even she knows for sure!
Plus, Sheamus will take on Dolph Ziggler for the World Heavyweight title, and the Intercontinental and Divas titles will also be on the line, and Triple H will be in attendance in order to address the ongoing Brock Lesnar saga. With all that on the line, here’s the 411 Staff to tell you what they think is going to go down this Sunday!
The Staff
Stephen Randle, The Wrestling News Experience
TJ Hawke, Hidden In Plain Sight
Gavin Napier, Handicapping The News
Greg DeMarco, The Wrestling 5&1
Michael Weyer, Shining A Spotlight
Brodus Clay vs David Otunga
YouTube Pre-Show Match
Stephen Randle: Gee, let me think about this one for a second.
Second’s up.
Winner: Brodus Clay
TJ Hawke: Well, this is certainly a new low for the Youtube Free-4-All Match. I certainly haven’t seen every Otunga singles match out there, but I can definitely say I was never entertained by one I did see. This will hopefully be short.
Winner: Brodus Clay
Gavin Napier: One is a reclamation product after getting destroyed by Big Show, and still undefeated. The other is Mr. Jennifer Hudson.
Winner: Brodus Clay
Greg DeMarco: It’s well documented that I am a big fan of Brodus Clay. What’s not documented is that I am also a big fan of 99% of what David Otunga does. He’s a great heel in and out of the ring, and is the perfect sidekick to John Laurinaitis. And since he’s a great heel, we love to see him lose. Which is exactly what will happen here. Now, can we find something for Brodus to do, please? I hear Kofi needs a partner…
Winner: Brodus Clay
Michael Weyer: Well, at least it’s for free, right? I guess I’ll go with Clay here as they’re intent on pushing him more but doubt it’ll be anything really notable.
Winner: Brodus Clay
Santino Marella vs Ricardo Rodriguez
Tuxedo Match
Stephen Randle: Okay, I know Santino and Ricardo are hilarious, but how many times can we keep trotting this out there? And at what point does WWE realize that Ricardo is way more over than Alberto Del Rio?
Winner: Santino
Greg DeMarco: So your Open the Owarai Gate United States Champion is wrestling a ring announcer in a Tuxedo Match? Right. Ricardo, who is more over than the man he seconds, is honestly this close to being the United States Champion. And I think he eventually gets the strap. This will be a step in that direction.
Winner: Ricardo Rodriguez
Michael Weyer: Well, we get the comedy highlight of the night, that’s all it is. Actually like Ricardo’s act and he and Santino should get some laughs out of things but pretty forgettable. Give it to Santino as he’s a fave but forgettable.
Winner:: Santino
Layla © vs Beth Phoenix
WWE Divas Championship
Stephen Randle: They’ve been letting Beth dominate a little more lately, which generally means that her hubris leads to a loss at the hands of her one weakness: the shocking roll up!
I know, I said that last time, but it’s not like anything’s really changed storyline-wise that makes me think Layla’s losing the belt here.
Winner: Layla
TJ Hawke: They will work hard. The crowd will barely care if they even care at all. It will be every WWE Divas match on PPV ever (yes, a slight exaggeration, but you get what I mean). This should be a good match, but I don’t think the crowd will give them a chance.
Winner: Layla
Gavin Napier:I’ve officially given up on ever seeing Beth Phoenix vs Kharma in WWE. It won’t be long before I give up on seeing Kharma in a WWE ring altogether. I have no idea what, of anything, their long term plan is here. I’ll flip a coin and say….
Winner: Layla
Greg DeMarco: Someone realized on Monday’s RAW that we had no reason to have a Divas Championship Match, so they created one. Hell, it worked for TNA! The Divas continue to be placed on the back burner in favor of AJ—and rightfully so. She’s the most consistent performer in the division and she barely ever wrestles. I don’t want to see her even win that title, she’s better where she is. Wait, why am I talking about AJ here? That’s right, because this match is inconsequential.
Winner and STILL Divas Champion: Layla
Michael Weyer: Still don’t get why we’re not building to Beth vs Kharma yet and doubt it’ll continue here. I’ll give to Layla to continue although it’d be nice if Beth won and set up that big match later on. But Layla is a fave with the writers so she’ll get to retain here to drag this out more.
Winner and STILL Divas Champion: Layla
Christian © vs Cody Rhodes
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Stephen Randle: Another title match where I don’t see any reason for the belt to change hands, especially since it’s not like there’s any point to giving Cody the belt back for the third time in three months.
Winner: Christian
TJ Hawke: This really should be an excellent match that I hope to be able to watch eventually. Christian has great matches with everybody for the most part, and I can honestly see this being the best match of Cody’s career.
Winner: Christian
Gavin Napier: Christian’s return is still too fresh to derail it now. I also get the feeling that Cody is about to embark on an Eddie Guerrero type journey that sees him lose his midcard title, put someone over definitively, then move on to the main event scene. Christian is over, and a veteran that can make the midcard talent look good – something desperately needed. Cody’s character and ring work has evolved to the point that he’s ready for a trial run in the main event.
Winner: Christian
Greg DeMarco: “The Greatest House Show Wrestler On The Roster” Christian defends the Intercontinental Championship against the man who did more to elevate that championship in recent years, Cody Rhodes. Both of Cody’s recent title losses have come with the thought that he’s being elevated to bigger and better things, and both times we’ve seen him remain in the division. I think Cody is the perfect opponent for Sheamus a SummerSlam, but I also think he can do it with this very title around his waist. Which is why I see him winning here and going old school—breaking out “the rulebook” to show that the Intercontinental Champion is the #1 Contender and demanding a title match. Plus, I think a long-term champion can look strong by losing and winning his title right back.
Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Cody Rhodes
Michael Weyer: Nice to see the IC belt get some love at last and Christian and Cody have done a great job helping to elevate it more. Christian just came back to win the belt so I don’t think he’ll lose it just yet and we’ll get another great match between them that hopefully remains WWE the star power Christian has to raise him back up again.
Winner and STILL IC Champion: Christian
Sheamus © vs Dolph Ziggler
World Heavyweight Championship
Stephen Randle: My prediction probably wouldn’t have changed had the challenger been Del Rio, but throwing Ziggler in there at the last second pretty much gives Sheamus an easy win. Hopefully the match quality at least gets some more people behind Ziggler’s elevation to deserved main event status.
Winner: Sheamus
TJ Hawke: I love that the WWE is taking a shitty situation (Del Rio being injured) and using it to possibly help elevate someone. Ziggler has been looking fantastic for a while, but he’s been in an awkward position where the WWE keeps jobbing him because they know he can make other people look good. He won’t win this title now (and arguably shouldn’t), but hopefully this is a big step in the direction of him being a regular main eventer.
Winner: Sheamus
Gavin Napier: The seemingly perpetual push of Sheamus should continue here. He’s been on a roll for a long time now, and I frankly don’t think that Ziggler is ready to make the same jump as Cody Rhodes. I know he’s an Internet darling right now, but until he proves he can succeed without Vicki Guerrero drawing insane heat, I’m not going to see him as a main event talent. WWE has stunned us before – like Sheamus’ initial title win – and could legitimately shock the fans by putting the strap on Ziggler as a last minute sub for Alberto del Rio. I don’t see it, though.
Winner: Sheamus
Greg DeMarco: Alberto Del Rio was originally slated for this title shot, and I actually liked the build in recent weeks. He suffered a concussion, and the WWE is taking those seriously now, so Del Rio is out. I wish him a speedy recovery and a return that does not see lingering effects. That said, as a viewer I think we just got an upgrade. Adding Dolph Ziggler to the match means we get a faster pace and likely a better match. I’ve been a Ziggler supporter for a long time now, and I’d love to pick him to shock the world. He’s ready. But the rocket is strapped to Sheamus’s arse, and he’s not losing it here.
Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Sheamus
Michael Weyer: I like the build for this as Sheamus has seemed much more fired up this time around as champion so this should be a good match. Ziggler has paid his dues for a while so some might want him as the heel champ but hard to see it as Sheamus is dominant and all and more used to promote the company. So he’ll retain but expect some nice rematches down the road.
Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Sheamus
CM Punk © vs Daniel Bryan vs Kane
WWE Championship
Triple Threat Match
Stephen Randle: I haven’t picked a title change yet, and I really think this is Daniel Bryan’s title to win. Really, if this isn’t all the culmination of an evil conspiracy plot between him and AJ, then I’m really going to be sorely disappointed. Actually, TJ’s idea has merit, too. But I’ll stick with my pick. Sooner or later, it’ll be true.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
TJ Hawke: “AJ helps Kane win. And on Monday, reveals that she had to have a lot of plastic surgery done after her car accident decades ago… her real name is Katie Vick…” – Peers (Guest) on June 13, 2012 at 12:02 PM
Winner: If that happens? Everyone. Also, CM Punk.
Gavin Napier: Daniel Bryan is on the outside looking in here. There’s no reason for him to win this match. The addition of Kane to the match doesn’t bother me, because they’re just making sure they don’t beat Pubk vs Bryan into the ground like Orton vs Cena. This keeps it moderately fresh, both now and when we get another one on one pay per view showdown with them. I fully expect Punk to win, and here’s why: it’s all about the belt. They’re not going to showcase a new WWE title on Kane, and we’re a year removed from Punk promising to get rid of the spinner belt, and one is being cobbled together by WWE’s elves as we speak. I fully expect Punk to remain champion through Summerslam so that the belt can be debuted on the 1000th RAW. After that, a title switch is back on the table.
Winner: CM Punk
Greg DeMarco: CM Punk and Daniel Bryan have “The Midas Touch.” Add in a love triangle? Great! Put a plodding Kane into the match? Fantastic! No matter what they’re given, it turns to gold. This is the most I’ve cared about Kane since his return, and it has more to do with Punk, Bryan and AJ than Kane. I expect this to compete with Sheamus-Ziggler for match of the night honors. The best testament to the build of this match is that it’s nearly impossible to pick a winner. All three men could win, and all three could end up with AJ. In the end I think AJ does help one man win—Daniel Bryan. But contrary to some theories I’ve seen, they are NOT in this together. It will be as much of a surprise to D-Bry as anyone else, and AJ will leave ringside alone—still he most intriguing part of the story.
Winner and NEW WWE Champion: Daniel Bryan
Michael Weyer: Like others, annoyed at Kane’s presence as surely Punk and Bryan are enough for fans. It’s tempting to say Bryan finally gets it, especially with AJ’s involvement but I think they want to keep it on Punk a bit longer until they debut the new title belt. Either way, it’s Punk and Bryan so even Kane can’t drag this one down too much.
Winner and STILL WWE Champion: CM PUNK BABY!!
John Cena vs The Big Show
Steel Cage Match
If Show Loses, Johnny Ace Is Fired, If Cena Loses, He’s Fired
Stephen Randle: Yeah, they’re totally going to fire John Cena. Isn’t the common joke that the last time he got fired, he ended up on TV more? I think there was more doubt when it was only Big Johnny’s job on the line, but at least our long national nightmare might finally be over.
Winner: John Cena
TJ Hawke: No matter what Big Show does now or how well he does, it’s nearly impossible for me to care about him as a main eventer in 2012. He’s been a part of too much bullshit during his WWE run. He’s turned almost 20 times, which essentially makes his character meaningless. On top of that, these two always have boring matches, and there is no reason to think this won’t be boring too.
Winner: John Cena
Gavin Napier: It’s hard to care about this with all the spoilers that have leaked regarding Big Johnny’s change of title and such. Cena’s going over, but this feud will continue. All the Internet “s”marks wanted Cena away from the WWE title. Well, be careful what you wish for. This is the result.
Winner: John Cena
Greg DeMarco: So with the added stipulations and Vince McMahon involvement, I now care about this match less than I did before. And I actually cared about it! The character change for The Big Show has been brilliant, and I feel as though Mark Henry 2k12 could really work here. Win, lose, draw—Cena gains and loses nothing at this point. So a standard one-on-one cage match would have been fine. But now someone is going to be fired (and not actually go away, mind you). Thanks Vince, I really needed you to screw up my match. Can’t I just have a dominant Big Show? Huh, maybe I can. Maybe Vince just wants to take the power back, and getting rid of John Cena and John Laurinaitis would do the trick.
Winner: The Big Show, Vince fires John Cena, then fires John Laurinaitis. Vince later puts Teddy Long in charge of Smackdown (so he can focus on RAW), where Teddy hires the hottest free agent in all of wrestling—John Cena.
Michael Weyer: Ugh, this again? It’s just a mess, just so crazy with stips and such as Cena vs Ace once again, Vince is now involved, it’ll just be ugly. Well, Cena’s not getting fired so naturally he’ll win and can we please hope it’s put to bed at last? I know, unlikely but be nice to move onto real stories after this.
Winner: John Cena
Stephen Randle: Another PPV with matches that will clearly be quality, but it’s going to be dragged down by John Cena more than likely main eventing over the WWE and World titles again, and this time the match likely won’t even be stupid comedy, let alone good. Oh, and if you’re paying for the show, that means you’re paying for a guaranteed Triple H twenty minute promo! Hey, if only they had a three hour television show to fill with that crap. Much like Over The Limit, it’ll be decent, but forgettable, and I’m willing to bet totally predictable.
Buy or No Buy: No Buy
TJ Hawke: Christian vs. Cody and the two world title matches will probably be worth watching via alternative means, not that I condone such things. Everything else on the show (including whatever is added at the last second) will probably be skippable. This is definitely one of those PPVs that would seem a lot more attractive for free on the WWE Network.
Buy or No Buy: No Buy
Gavin Napier: My knee jerk reaction would be to say that I’m not interested in this pay per view, but there are a couple of matches that interest me. It seems fairly predictable but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and I could be wrong. It’s happened before. I could do without the main event, but it is what it is. This is a “meh” show that could deliver a pleasant surprise or two.
Buy or No Buy: Chipping in with friends…so 1/2 of a buy?
Greg DeMarco: In the past week we’ve gotten a serious upgrade (Dolph Ziggler in the World Heavyweight Championship match) and a serious downgrade (Vince McMahon and additional stipulations added to the main event) on this card. It’s a wash there. What we do have is a show with Cody-Christian, Sheamus-Ziggler, and Punk-Bryan-Kane. Yes please!
Buy or No Buy: Buy
Michael Weyer: It’s got Punk vs Bryan which is worth the price of the show alone. Ziggler and Sheamus looks more interesting as well and the IC match promises some good fun too. Put aside annoyances at the main event and such and this should be a good show to build toward SummerSlam for the company and worth checking out.
Buy or No Buy: Buy
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