The Wrestlemania Prediction Machine Part 2: WZ Staff Predicts the Main Event Winners

April 7, 2013

Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger for the World Heavyweight Championship

Alberto Del Rio

Mike Killam:

Where was this stroke of brilliance (both on his end and WWE creative’s) when Swagger was World Champion in 2010? Somebody like Zeb Colter and a controversial gimmick could have saved him years of ridicule and resentment from wrestling fans. I do like del Rio, and Ricardo is giving him some serious babyfce points, so it’ll be interesting to see if WWE wants to pull the trigger on Swagger since his arrest. I’m going with ADR to retain.

Nick Paglino:

The World Title picture heading into WrestleMania is very interesting this year as WWE has plenty of work to do to get both Del Rio over as a top baby face, and Swagger over as a top heel. And of course waiting in the wings is Dolph Ziggler with Money in the Bank. I don’t think it’s smart to have Swagger defeat Del Rio then lose seconds later to Ziggler, so I think the best move here is to have Del Rio win the match, and then lose to Ziggler. But this is a very difficult match to predict, as WWE is dead set on getting Del Rio over as a top face so they might not want to run the risk of making Del Rio look bad at Wrestlemania by having him lose to Ziggler right after he beats Swagger. But in the end, a Ziggler/Del Rio/Swagger World Title picture would be solid, and could benefit all three men in the long run. My pick is Del Rio winning and then Ziggler successfully cashing in.

Josh Isenberg:

Well, this feud went from controversial and interesting to just another useless championship match. Who would have thought Jack Swagger would be fighting for the World Championship this time last year, hell even two months ago. Nonetheless, I do not think it is a great idea for Swagger to win because it will completely deflate the face turning of Alberto Del Rio. He has not had a big win as champion. He had a feud with Big Show, which only made him look weaker to the live crowd. Del Rio will win in controversial fashion, followed by a Dolph Ziggler win. This happens IF this is NOT the first match of the night.

Brian Gulish:

Swagger has gotten the best of the Champ on the road to Wrestlemania, which would make me believe that a strong performance is coming from ADR. And, with a possible pending suspension still lingering for Swagger, I see the Champ retaining his title, only to be attacked following the match by Swagger, with DOLPH ZIGGLER cashing in his Money in the Bank to become the NEW WHC.

Bill Pritchard:

This match has the best build, and it’s done wonders for both guys. Hate all Jack Swagger you want, but he’s good in the ring and getting you to boo him. Alberto can take a loss and continue to grow, so I see Swagger winning it and having “his” America continue on.

Josh controls most of the creative writing and ideas for the show on a weekly basis, as well as an on-air talent.

Aside from working with WrestleZone, Isenberg began his career in Broadcast Journalism interning at ESPN and worked with CBS Radio for three years. He has also had the opportunity to interview some of the best athletes and performers alive, including Andrew McCutchen, Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Jericho, Billy Gunn, Karl Anderson, Matt Hardy, Steven Strasburg and others.

Currently, Josh Isenberg works for Major League Baseball in their Advanced Media Productions. He grew up in Pittsburgh and went to Point Park University, which is where Chair Shot Reality is filmed each week.

His life outside of his obsession with wrestling include being a savant for Seinfeld, NFL, NBA, MLB and many television shows. He also has an undying love for musicals, which includes many shows he was a part of in high school. Some of his favorite wrestling moments can be linked to such superstars as Edge, The Rock, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and The Great Khali.