It’s the end of the road for 2016, as the WWE hosts its final PPV of the year. Roadblock: End of the Line is the last chance for Raw’s superstars to grab a title before the “Road to Wrestlemania” begins next month at the Royal Rumble.
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ComicBook.com has assembled a team of wrestling experts to vote on the winners of each match at Roadblock: End of the Line and explain their decisions. So check out our best guesses and be sure to share yours in the comments below!
Rusev vs. Big Cass
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Rusev (5 – 3)
Tori Yates-Orr: Eh. I don’t care. I think Rusev has to win this. Cass and Enzo are great as underdogs. This whole Rusev/Lana/Enzo/Cass thing is strange and I want it to end. I do want more of Cass’s acting though. His realization that Enzo was set up in the hotel room is what dreams are made of.
Brandon Gnetz: What a strange feud this has been. The evil villain, Rusev, has spent the past four weeks trying to foil Enzo’s plans of trying to sleep with his wife and finally Big Cass has had enough. If his little buddy can’t have Lana, then no one can! I like both of these guys, but their brawl on Monday was awful. I look for Cass to get the win here on a match no one will see.
Chris Killian:Big Cass is gonna take it.
Dallas Jackson:Rusev. Cuz he needs a win.
Christian Hoffer:The running gag among the “smarks” is that Rusev is a secret babyface, as most of feuds are usually him just trying to sticking up for his wife. Since this is the kickoff match, I fully expect the babyface to win it…and by babyface I mean the dude who’s best friend isn’t a flasher. Rusev wins the battle of the hosses.
Raw Tag Team Championship Match: The New Day (c) vs. Cesaro and Sheamus
ComicBook.com’s Predictions: Cesaro and Sheamus (8 – 0)
Brandon Gnetz: If I had to bet my kid’s college fund on any Roadblock match, it would be this one. With Demolition’s tag team championship record finally in the rearview, it’s time to finally put the copper belts on to the surprisingly awesome team of Cesaro and Sheamus.
Lucas Siegel: FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING HOLY PLEASE GIVE CESARO AND SHEAMUS A SHOT AND END THE NEW DAY MADNESS. I love The New Day, i really do. But we need a new day now, not The New Day.
Chris Killian: The New Day have already broken Demolition’s record which is what the plan was all along. Now drop it and give some new life to Cesaro and Sheamus the same way the Smackdown titles have done for Bray and Randy so far.
Matthew Mueller: Now that they have the record, The New Day finally lose the title to Cesaro and Sheamus.
Lan Pitts: Oh, New Day, I wish I knew how to quit you, but I think your time is almost up. All three men have been elevated to legendary status and their place is cemented in the history books. So why not take a break? I know I’m not alone here when I say it would be refreshing to see new champions. Plus, it would make Sheamus a Triple Crown Champion and here’s hoping helps Cesaro get out of the rut he’s been facing. Why isn’t THAT guy going after the Universal Championship?
Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Braun Strowman (6-1-1)
Brandon Gnetz: If Mick Foley had gone through with trading Sami Zayn to Smackdown, would we be watching Braun Strowman try to last ten minutes with Eva Marie? Unfortunately, we’ll never know. We’ll also never know why Sami wanted this match when Foley offered him any championship match he wanted. Either way, I expect Sami to last the full ten minutes, but ultimately lose to the big Strowman.
Christian Hoffer: In a normal match, I think Braun would crush Sami. But this isn’t a normal match, thanks to the overbearing interference of Mick Foley. Since this match has a 10 minute time limit, I’m expecting Sami to “go the distance” and snatch a draw out of the jaws of defeat.
Lan Pitts: Honestly, I’ve stopped caring for Sami Zayn as a character. His rivalry with Kevin Owens did nothing for him and I’m longing for the days of El Generico. Vince likes his monster guys and Strowman has been unstoppable thus far, and I don’t see the Underdog from the Underground skank his way to a victory here.
Dallas Jackson: Braun Strowman needs to be a straw man (see what I did there). He will get this win and a push into something more in 2017 — where he can stir things up. Take that, Lucas.
Lucas Siegel: Sadly, I don’t see Sami Zayn being the giant killer or getting the push he deserves here.
Tori Yates-Orr: Ray of human sunshine, Sami Zayn…I just need you to last ten minutes, buddy. We know you’re going to lose to the Brauuuunnn but, I know you’ll put up a hell of a fight. Strowman wins.
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Rich Swann (c) vs. TJ Perkins vs. The Brian Kendrick
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Rich Swann (6 votes; TJ Perkins with 2 votes)
Chris Killian: In like 3 months, all 3 of these guys have held the belt, and I already don’t care. Give it to someone and then get some steam behind him. My choice would be TJ if only because I love his video game entrance.
Lucas Siegel: Please. Let. Someone. Keep. This. Championship. For. Awhile. (Rich Swann wins.)
Lan Pitts: They really want the Cruisers to be a thing and Swann has a ton of charisma and ring skills, but…so do TBK and TJP. Entrances aside, there’s nothing really that separates the three of them and that’s a problem. Let’s keep it on Swann for a tad more and build up the other talent that the division has. Also…why isn’t Neville going for this?
Brandon Gnetz: Can you handle this? Tell me can you handle this? I can’t handle this. TJ Perkins shows a more vindictive side and regains the championship from his buddy, swan.
Tori Yates-Orr: The Cruiserweight division is stacked. They have the talent. I just don’t know why it’s not clicking for me. Anyways, The “outlandish” Rich Swann will retain. AND SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY HE’S OUTLANDISH?
Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Seth Rollins (5-3)
Brandon Gnetz: This has the makings of another classic “I want to win this on my own” “leave me alone, Owens,” vibe to it, with Owens coming down and accidentally costing Jericho the match. After falling to KO on consecutive occasions, Rollins needs this win. Jericho, on the other hand, doesn’t need anything at this point in his career. His magic lives on, but he falls in defeat.
Matthew Mueller: Seth Rollins has Jericho where he wants him, and then Owens intervenes. Ambrose and Reigns come to Rollins defense, and cost Jericho the match. That leads to Jericho costing Owens the Universal Championship later in the evening.
Lan Pitts: I almost feel bad for Rollins. Once seen as the Chosen One (sorry Drew McIntyre) he’s been pushed more and more down the card since his return. Yeah, he’s main evented for the Universal Championship, but as the guy they were building up to be the future he hasn’t quite gotten that. I’m still waiting for the Second Coming of Seth Rollins and, hopefully, this is where it starts.
Dallas Jackson: This has the feel of one of those matches where something stupid is going to happen. So, while Rollins SHOULD win, in all likelihood he will lose.
Lucas Siegel: Something silly happens despite Rollins far out matching Jericho the whole time, and we get to see Seth Rollins angry-shock face, his only real expression.
Chris Killian: I like both of these guys and actually expect this to possibly be the “Match of the Night”. I’d like to see Jericho take it and begin a push towards a Universal title run before he hangs it up for good.
Raw Women’s Championship Match: Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Sasha Banks (6-2)
Tori Yates-Orr: Listen, I know (because the announce team tells me incessantly) that Charlotte doesn’t lose on PPVs but I think Roadblock is the place to break that streak. Sasha needs to hold on to the belt. For the culture. For the eventual heel turn and for the glorious Sasha vs. Bayley match at Mania.
Dallas Jackson: Sasha HAS to have the belt for more than one match at some point, right? This would be a good point to let her end the year with the belt and have it go into Royal Rumble.
Christian Hoffer: It took a little while for this feud to connect with the fans, but Sasha and Charlotte have been carrying the WWE on their backs for the last two months. But all good things have to come to an end, and it’s time for Sasha to actually win a PPV match against Charlotte and move on to bigger and better feuds.
Brandon Gnetz: The final battle between Sasha and Charlotte (until they can’t help themselves and do it again) takes place this Sunday! Ric Flair gets back to his dirty ol’ tricks and costs Sasha the match. Charlotte keeps her pay per view streak in place and this game of Womens championship hot potato finally comes to an end.
WWE Universal Championship Match: Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns
ComicBook.com’s Prediction: Roman Reigns (5-3)
Chris Killian: I like Owens in this role. He’s the #2 heel behind the Miz and the belt does way more for him than it does for Roman. I’d keep it own Owens.
Lucas Siegel: Reigns doubles up on championships, as widely rumored, because somehow the least over face in the business beating one of the top 5 heels for the “top” championship is a good idea? I dunno…
Brandon Gnetz: Roman Reigns as a double champion?!?!? Surely they wouldn’t! Surely they couldn’t! Surely they will. They want Roman on top of the card as we roll into Wrestlemania season and it will be Chris Jericho who ends up costing Owens the match. BFF’s no more.
Christian Hoffer: If there’s one wrestler with the physique, the charisma, and the in-ring presence to be a WWE double champion, it’s Kevin Owens. Kevin Owens proves once again that being a better wrestler is more important than looking like a good wrestler, and pushes this feud forward another month to keep Roman Reigns far, far away from the Royal Rumble next month.
Lan Pitts: Vince has a history of switching world champions at the end of the year and since AJ isn’t losing his title anytime soon (hopefully), look for the Big Dog to come out on top. Owens had an impressive run, and will likely hold it again in the future now that he’s entered the championship circle.
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