How Much Faith: AJ vs Nakumara
 

What faith do you have that this match is last in WM.


I personally think they will fuck it up. But this is the match that should go last. No doubt right?

There's no way in hell it goes last, but I think they'll do a good job of showing everyone why it SHOULD have.

Either Reigns vs. Lesnar or the Rousey match will be last

Styles vs. Nakamura shouldn't be last imo... feels like it might not even be a good match based on all of Nakamura's other matches in WWE so far................

Anything else is a bullshit job.

I'll be stunned if it'd not the last match. No way Reigns vs Lesnar goes last. It's just fucking dumb.

History will be made as the <s>Fabulous Moolah</s> Wrestlemania Women's Battle Royal headlines the show.

If WWE is about making money, the money is with AJ vs Nak right? Thats the elite match of the entire program. What am I missing?

Dude. Have you ever seen Wrestlemania?

lol Good riddance. Moolah need's to go anyhow. Everything i've researched on her is bad bad bad.

Ok stop. You know the answer to that. My thread is about what should be. Step in line with your thoughts.

There is a international part to this. WWE, by putting AJ vs Nakumara as the ME, gains the New Japan Pro Wrestling crowd and other oversee's. So not only do they get the ratings, but they get a fucking great match put out also. Why wouldnt this be the Main Event?

That's what I've been doing. I don't understand what on earth would make you think that the match will go on last. All signs are definitely pointing to Lesnar/Reigns.

Why does it have to be the main event to gain fans? I'm not really sure what you're trying to say.

I'm willing to make a forum friendly bet otherwise. I think AJ vs Nak will be the final match.

I'd be super down with it going on last, but they treat the WWE champion like a second tier to the Universal champion. Oddly enough.

Sure. Month of avatars?

It's not why would.. its why couldnt it? It's a match for a brands top title . It could easily be the main event.

We choose avatars? You're on.

Something that cant be changed or banned by admins for sure.

Which hampers my attempt of making you have a black cock as your avatar. Which sucks because it works so good considering you are white.

See, I think the Universal is the top title in their eyes.

If it's so good, why do they need to push it?

we have a agreement btw.. dont change things

What are you even saying?

Yeah, agreement, sure.

You really think they'd put their "top" title on Smackdown?

i dont understand?

I'll put it this way. One show has Mojo Rawley on it.

I do. I think they are thinking " Internationally " . I think they are aware of New Japan. I think they will pander to the wrestling crowd, by putting AJ vs Nak as the Main Event. I love my bet. Thanks.

You're welcome for your losing bet, I guess.

I forgive your ignorance

Styles v. Nakamura might be on the Kickoff, for real.

Nak and AJ don't draw. Brock does. Hulk Hogan was never the best wrestler on the card but he is the draw. Cena draws. Reigns has the possibility of becoming a draw. AJ is the best wrestler in the WWE but he isn't bringing in a ton of fans.

The biggest draw goes on last. That is Brock. Maybe Ronda.

Can i double down on this????

You're not understanding. The only reason Jinder Mahal happened was because of international ratings. This is about international ratings man. Get a clue.

WWE is looking to branch out for international ratings.

I love my bet.

You're clearly the one not understanding here.

AJ dropping the title to Shinsuke.....In a great match.... Yep... Main Event.

I really think i am. Honestly.

Yeah, I get it. You keep saying that.

I wish this was one of those dog poop bets.

Yes and it didn't work. They wanted him to be a draw. The same amount of people would watch Mania if Nak wasn't on the card. If Brock was not on the card then a lot less people would watch Mania.

Do you understand this now?

People shit on Nak but he's had some pretty damned good matches since joining the fed.

I've only seen his WWE work, and I enjoy him a lot. He was stellar in NXT. I just don't think he's closing this show.

He was jobbing to Jinder Mahal just months ago. Brock hasn't been beaten in eons. That should be enough right there to understand the "levity" of things.

I expect it to open and get 25 min.

side bar: when is mania?

Sunday

neat

Special 2p/e start or what?

wow, They are drawing nothing with Reigns vs Lesnar.

Aj vs Nakumara draws worldwide.

I feel great about my bet .

What are people going to ask for a refund after theyve aleady sat down for the show?

Nakamura just texted me and said they're not going on last.

woot!

Seems fishy. Doubt he can write in english

I have a translator app.

I kinda dont belelieve this

oh, carry on

I think you're wrong.

I think this thing ends like i say it will.

The chances of me getting a text from Nakamura are exactly the same as the chances of AJ and Nakamura closing Wrestlemania.

what?

whats going on here?

Are you getting text from Nakumara??????????

lol

inside sources wtf???

I'm a pretty big deal. I'm friends with oVe, you know.

Still sticking by my ME predictions

Zero chance.

Now that Bryan's officially back for in-ring stuff, his tag match has a way better chance than Styles-Nakamura if WWE actually wanted to go with something that wouldn't get hated by the crowd to close Mania.

Silk will comfirm this for us. Give him a bit

Lol, Styles vs. Nakamura is not main eventing.

I think it has a good chance of going on last and should but I don't think it will. They clearly see more in the Brock/Reigns fued for some reason.

I don't even think Nak and AJ would be the 4th option to close out the show. Brock/Reigns, Rhonda March, Cena/Taker, Daniel's match would all close out the show before Nak and AJ without any second thoughts.

Hell, Bruan and Alexis Bliss beating the Bar would main event before Nak and AJ.

For some reason? Raw Title, three years of build, Brock, Reigns. The story of Cena vs. Taker is basically Cena trying to join them as men who have beaten The Undertaker at WrestleMania. This has been Vince's play for the longest time.

There are rumors that Brock/Reigns isn't going to main event. I don't really believe that, but it wouldn't shock me if Cena/Taker or Triple H got the main event. Really though, I think smart money is on Brock/Reigns closing the show. My pick for opener is actually Triple H.

Nak and AJ want even the focus on SD for the past 2 months.

This match is better served to the show and to itself to not be in the main event. This match at its best will be totally different than Brock Lesnar/Roman Reigns at it's best, but in that equation, comparing the two matches at their "best", Roman and Brock should close the show. They are going to beat the fuck out of each other and it doesn't matter if you hate Roman or are upset with Lesnar for possibly leaving, you are gonna pop when you actually hear the sound of Roman's stiff shots on Lesnar. And when Lesnar decides to do his WM special and rough up Roman in some kind of ultraviolent UFC way... you really just can't follow that.

AJ and Nak at it's best will be amazing and a thrill ride, and I'm sure with it's share of realistic looking shots. But it doesn't have near the HEAT that Lesnar and Roman does. People are going to boo the shit out of Lesnar regardless the match more than anyone on the show. That's already MEGA HEAT. Then throw in Lesnar, just being as over and awesome as Lesnar is. Combine both those things with the really solid booking so far, and we have Lesnar marks loosing their shit when Roman clocks him and gets near falls, you have Roman haters that will sing their hate throughout the entire match at the top of their lungs, and you have Roman marks who no matter how many people boo him, can drown out the sound and show that he is a baby face, he is THE GUY to a large portion of the audience.

Brock and Lesnar, the final match.

What is this? There's no chance Nakamura vs Styles headlines. Can't tell if RP is doing some weird gimmick here or something. Nakamura and Styles are basically midcarders compared to Brock, Reigns, Rousey, etc. As good as the match might be technically, they're not gonna end the show with a whimper star power-wise.

Now I hope AJ/Nakamura does close the show

I think he’s “being Trump”.

I wouldn't put it past the WWE to get all the SmackDown matches done and then move onto the Raw stuff. I mean, probably not, but I was just thinking about match order. I think they know Styles and Nakamura are going to tear it up, and it's going to be tough to follow it, but Bryan's return can do that. And I can see them riding that wave into Charlotte vs. Asuka, which they could promote as the "SmackDown portion main event." I dunno, I'm just spit-balling here.

1. US Title
2. SD Tag Titles
3. WWE Title
4. Bryan
5. SD Women's Title
6. IC Title
7. Raw Tag Titles
8. Raw Women's Title
9. Mixed Tag
10. Cena/Taker
11. Brock/Reigns

I want it to go last because Nakamura won the Royal Rumble and I'm a traditionalist, but I feel he should be in THE main event. Also, because AJ Styles MORE than deserves to be in the main event, and in all honesty it's just something new and fresh.

But... you can tell even on all the promotional material that Nakamura is such an afterthought. Cena, Reigns, Lesnar, Triple H etc... "the usuals" are at the forefront. Yay...

I get what you're saying, but traditionally the Rumble has been a lazy device to set up mid-card matches since 2006.

I'm not saying I necessarily agree with this promotional tactic, but the WWE has been purposefully cold in setting up a lot of stuff this Mania. They are not selling the show on the WWE Title match. It's Brock and Reigns, Rousey making her debut, we treat women seriously and thank fuck we got Bryan back. And I think that is actually going to help Styles and Nakamura.

The WWE -- right, wrong or otherwise -- seems to be setting up a lot of surprises for Mania. Cena vs. Taker is not officially confirmed, and looks like it might be an "impromptu match" at Mania. Um, what? We don't know how good (or bad) Rousey is going to be. Angle is also a variable. Braun's partner hasn't been officially announced. There are rumors that the SmackDown Tag Titles will be on the line in a TLC Match that hasn't been confirmed. And Styles/Nakamura is only a known quantity to hardcore fans. Yes, they make up a more present section of the audience, but there are still people who have never heard of New Japan and frankly don't give a shit. Their reactions when they see Styles/Nakamura is going to be part of the story around the match.

It's almost as if the WWE wants you to think of this as Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger or Del Rio vs. Edge or Sheamus vs. Bryan. I mean, they aren't trying to bury their title or anything (they did enough of that with Jinder), but they are setting this up to be a sleeper hit. The only people who are really champing at the bit to see this match are the ones who are familiar with the New Japan one. And that's actually fine for this, because they aren't banking on it hard and it's so clearly not the main event.

After WrestleMania, Shinsuke Nakamura's stock will be much higher than it is now. And in whatever remains of kayfabe, he's supposed to be a "WWE Main Eventer." He's beaten Orton and Cena on TV, was in a SummerSlam title match and has won a Royal Rumble. To Little Johnny Casual, he's supposed to be "good," but they're setting him up to catch as a lot of people's favorite after Mania.

I will state that I don't have any faith in WWE to be able to ride any wave they create effectively or for very long. I imagine they will do their best to have Nakamura do "funny" backstage skits and play up how "eccentric" he is. I believe the particulars of how they handle him will still irk hardcore fans of Nakamura who followed him in Japan heading out of WrestleMania, just as they do going in -- I just feel that WrestleMania is going to be extremely effective in increasing Shinsuke's stock with audiences.

I think AJ retains, I think it's a time to solidify him as one of the real top guys.

I'm starting to come around on AJ retaining. Mainly because it's Nakamura's first Mania and they love fucking with guys' momentum and making them work for things. But I think it does fit the story too, with Nakamura getting the belt later. Bryan's return also shakes things up and re-prioritizes things.

I definitely have a feeling AJ is gonna retain. Nakamura lost clean to Jinder. I'm pretty sure they just like using him as a guy the smarks love that can be used to ultimately just help put others over.

Vince doesn't have any confidence in Nakamura, AJ retains.

I think Nakamura wins. AJ doesn't need the win and it would do alot more for Nakamura. That being said I totally understand why everyone thinks AJ will win. I just think he'll be switching brands and be the Universal Champion by Summerslam.

AJ needs to win and continue to win. He can become a legit big deal if they utilize him right.

Doesnt matter who wins. The belt means nothing.

I actually see Asuka/Charlotte opening the show with the Raw women's title being somewhere in the middle of the card, probably after either Cena/Taker or Styles/Nakamura since it'll be a quick squash/cool down type thing. And the mixed tag probably second or third to last.

The belt means nothing but AJ still has the ability to become a legit star. Not on a Cena level but as the tier directly below Cena. Keep him winning and being put in good feuds. It should be a big deal when he loses.

You ever thought of maybe shutting your mouth, fella?

I like the idea of Auska/Charlotte opening and also Ronda/Steph going 2nd to last works for me too.

Don’t think it will go last. I do expect to see a Kinshasa reversed into a Calf Crusher, and a Phenominal Forearm reversed with a Kinshasa.

I mean, if AJ's work with Cena didn't make him a top guy in your mind, I don't think beating Nakamura and holding it for a few more months is going to do the trick.

I agree that the Smackdown title isn't as prestigious as the Universal, but it definitely feels elevated when AJ is holding it. Overall, I think AJ has been treated really well in his WWE run, and I don't think he can really get any bigger than he has already.

Nakamura hasn't been booked quite as consistently, but well enough where he could win the belt in an epic match and ride that momentum into a meaningful, quality title reign that brings just as much to the belt as AJ can.

If it's booked right and they don't shit the bed like Noid is predicting of course.

I don't think there are plans to build up AJ to be any bigger than he already is, but I can just see the WWE having AJ retain because:

1) It's Nakamura's first WrestleMania. Call it AJ Styles or Ryback Syndrome. You ain't going over at your first Mania because we want to test you.

2) Most of the belts seem like they are changing hands. I can see it being the lowest priority for a change.

3) All logic seems to dictate a title win for the babyface challenger. Fuck logic. Let's surprise the fans!

4) We can always give the belt to Nakamura later.

5) Daniel Bryan is back. We want Bryan to win the belt at some point. No point in trying to make a new champion right now.

6) Roman Reigns winning is the big story. They've had two World Title changes before, but this is a The Roman Reigns Story.

I can just see everybody pissing themselves over the match, only for it to end when Nakamura goes for a Kinshasa but it is countered into a Calf-Crusher and Nakamura taps out and everybody is like "Huh?" But as Destor said, it's not like the belt actually matters, so whatever. I'm not going to be shocked either way. I can just see the WWE reasons for AJ Styles continuing on as champion.