Hello everybody! It’s @TheMagnumDA with PART TWO of the GREATEST PICK’EM OF ALL TIME! After Part One (NXT: In Your House), Colin leads the overall pick’em by a single point (5-4). Remember, this is an aggregate score of the two shows, so if Colin can hold his lead, he will reclaim the WOPC Championship. If he ties, or if I take the lead, I will be holding onto the strap.
Tonight, we’ll be watching Backlash 2020, featuring “The Greatest Match of All Time” when Randy Orton locks up with Edge later tonight. Will the match live up to the hype? (spoiler alert: Maybe) Will it be better than WrestleMania? (spoiler alert: Yes!) Will Colin finally regain the WOPC Championship? (spoiler alert: No!)
With that in mind, ON WITH THE SHOW!
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship
The Street Profits (c) vs The Viking Raiders
Magnum: This match was just added to the card – I didn’t care for their competition skits on Raw, at first…but they eventually grew on me. They’ve given the Raiders more personality, and they’ve also allowed the Profits to showcase their comedy chops and great facial expressions. Win-win! That’s what you want from a feud, right? Everyone develops and ends up better off in the long run. As for tonight? I’ll take the Profits to retain.
Colin: I wasn’t a big fan of the whole Street Profits and Viking Raiders sports feud on Raw. That thing would have not been done if Raw was still in front of a live crowd. I often (well, 95% of the time) found myself forwarding through the ridiculous segments as I found them to be just time fillers. Anyway, The Street Profits retain. And where the hell is Bianca Belair?
WWE Raw Women’s Championship
Asuka (c) vs. Nia Jax
Magnum: Poor Nia Jax. She’s been run through the muck ever since she busted up poor Kairi Sane. The thing is…that got people talking about her. Vince likes that, and as long as she can try to take more care in the ring, Vince is going to push her. I will be interested to see if Kairi costs Nia the victory tonight…either way, I’ll roll with Asuka retaining.
Colin: The better question is, will Nia Jax F up again in this match? LOL! Asuka should have a long run with the title and having just won it last month, I don’t see a title switch here, especially not to Nia Jax. Asuka wins.
Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus
Magnum: Talk about “taking the piss.” Not only was that skit horrendous and exploitative, but it’s already been done! Shawn Michaels did it back in 2006 during his feud with the McMahons. You remember that feud, right? The one where God was HBK’s tag partner? If you don’t, you’re better off. Anyways, I mentioned last month that Hardy winning over Cesaro was going to lead to Jeff repaying a favor down the road, right? Welp, this is that favor. Sheamus wins.
Colin: Not a fan of the whole angle to be honest even though Hardy must be on board with it. With everything that Sheamus has done to Jeff, I’m expecting a big payback here from Jeff so I’m picking him to get the W.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Triple Threat Match
Bayley and Sasha Banks (c) vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce)
Magnum: I gotta tell you…when Bayley and Sasha won the tag belts on Smackdown, I was loving Bayley’s over-the-top, obnoxious celebration. I think that we’re starting to see more title changes on Raw/Smackdown and less title changes on PPV. Expect that trend to continue with Sasha and Bayley Dos Straps retaining the gold.
Colin: I love Bayley and Sasha…I just can’t wait until Sasha turns on Bayley, preferably with fans in the audience for the big pop. But anyway, while I do see The IIconics winning the title again, I think Bayley and Banks will retain here.
WWE United States Championship
Apollo Crews (c) vs. Andrade
Magnum: I was so damn happy for Apollo Crews when he won the US Championship. This is a guy who has deserved greatness since he was called up back in 2016, and now he’s finally earned it. Let’s hope that momentum continues through tonight – I’ll take Apollo to retain.
Colin: They took their time in giving Apollo Crews a title in the company and it would be stupid to strip it away from him for now. Zelina Vega’s stable should have been booked better and I like the idea behind it but I can’t see Andrade reclaiming it here.
WWE Championship
Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
Magnum: I can’t believe I’m taking this route, because I know I could tie Colin by picking Drew…but like all good babyfaces, I want to win this thing outright! You can only do a “Greatest Pick’em” once…and it’s not going to end in a draw, damnit! So keeping that in mind, I’m going to take Bobby Lashley to win the match. Do I think Bobby is the next WWE Champion? Not necessarily – he could be! It’s not likely, though. I don’t know if it’ll be by DQ or Count-Out, but Drew’s going to need a dance partner between now and Summerslam, so don’t be surprised if these two have a rematch in July at Extreme Rules to blow the whole thing off.
Colin: It’s crazy that Lashley has never won the big one in WWE…and he still won’t on Sunday. I think WWE is firmly behind the Drew McIntyre hype train as they should be. Drew looks the part and deserves to carry that belt for now.
WWE Universal Championship – 2-on-1 Handicap Match
Braun Strowman (c) vs. The Miz and John Morrison
Magnum: Oh, make it stop! This build-up has been BRUTAL. That Miz and Morrison skit with the van…dude, that was some putrid stuff. I was starting to get behind these guys as tag champs, but with rumors that they’re going to split already swirling…you can bank on Strowman retaining. Besides, if Miz and Morrison win tonight, who’s the champion? Would Vince really want to have co-champions in place? REALLY?! Didn’t think so. 🙂
Colin: Yeah, non-starter this one. Braun Strowman and no questions about it.
THE GREATEST MATCH OF ALL TIME!
Edge vs. Randy Orton
Magnum: Man, oh man…it’s finally here. THE greatest match of all time. You know what was great about being at WrestleMania XXV live and in-person? It was because we all watched the greatest match of all time (Michaels vs. Undertaker), and we weren’t ready for just HOW good that match would be. So…when you do the opposite, and you call the match “The Greatest Match of All Time” well in advance, you kinda put some high expectations on these guys. Especially poor Edge, who’s only wrestled once since his comeback. Plus, he’s working with Randy Orton, who…to be honest, really doesn’t care about your star ratings, and you know what? It shows. Stat of the Night: Next to Hulk Hogan, Orton has the fewest quality matches (rated *** or better by the sheets) of the guys that have gone on to win 10+ World Championships. So yeah, this is some tough sledding for ol’ Edger. I think he’ll be up to the task. I also think that Drew already spoiled everything by challenging RKO at Summerslam. So keeping all those factors in mind, I’m going to take Orton in a very good 30-minute match…but Vince, don’t ever put pressure like this on your guys again.
Colin: The only “greatest” about this is The Greatest Showman song they’re using to promote it. I LOVE IT! Lots of pressure on these two guys who should have fought back with the powers that be on using that term. Randy can’t job twice in a row to Edge so Orton will win this one, leading to the GREATEST re-match ever at SummerSlam maybe?
Well, there you have it! We are guaranteed a winner tonight in the GREATEST PICK’EM OF ALL TIME. Join us next month to see who the WOPC Champion is when we present the Extreme Rules pick’em. See you then! @TheMagnumDA signing off.
