Will any story conclude at No Way Out 2012?

When I searched my archives for the previous PPV, I felt I had skipped a month. Has it really only been a month since Over the Limit? It feels like it’s been longer. Full disclosure: Over the Limit was the first WWE PPV in over a year I didn’t watch within a few days of airing, and still to this day haven’t found the time. That doesn’t stop me from scoring myself on predictions, though. How did I do?

Zack Ryder vs Kane

Based on the nature of how the story has unfolded, I honestly can’t say if it’s the last one between the two. It’s probably the last time they tie something they do together to Ryder’s broken entire body, though.

So far as I’ve seen, Ryder is all healed up and back to doing nothing at all. Check.

Beth Phoenix vs Layla

Beth gets the rematch for the belt she never lost (shut up, I’m going with never lost) and will not win it here, nor is this a) a real story, or b) something that’s likely to continue. Kharma? Please? Already?

They’ve got a rematch at No Way Out, which is the textbook definition of continuing. I was incorrect.

Kofi Kingston & R-Truth vs The Swaggles

What? They need a team name. They’ve been teaming for years. Unfortunately, this match is as meaningless as every other one the Swagger and Ziggler have had. Should be fun and innofensive and the titles might change hands but that won’t change anything.

The Swaggles kinda broke up this month, leading to Ziggler getting a World Title shot somehow. I’m calling it on my side.

Sheamus vs Alberto Del Rio vs Chris Jericho vs Randy Orton

Sheamus will go on to feud with one of these guys. The other two will do other things

Couldn’t have predicted better had I watched the show. Turns out, the losers would end up doing suspensions.

CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan

But then again, we’ve got a ways to go until Summerslam. I’ll still stick with my prediction for Punk last month: there is really no shortage of available villains. One, done, and onto the next one.

I’m taking half a point off, because Bryan is still around. But CM Punk has clearly moved on from feuding with him to feuding with the person who makes his Tshirts.

John Cena vs John Laurinaitis

There are lots of characters in this story sitting on the sidelines, after all. I’ll also go with the ending being satisfying and conclusion-like, but will actually keep going next month.

Ding ding ding.

All in all, I’ve scored 4.5/6, which is the closest I’ve come to a perfect score since beginning this series. Maybe I should stop watching shows altogether?

Something I’ve been meaning to add is a tally on how many stories actually concluded, on top of how many predictions I got right. The only stories that concluded were Ryder vs Kane, and the Tag Team scene. Everything else continued on in relatively identical fashion. People who looked to Over the Limit to provide conclusions were likely disappointed.

Let’s move on to No Way Out, where the most interesting thing continues to be the poster.

Brodus Clay vs. David Otunga

I haven’t been the closest viewer of Raw this past month, so a few of my predictions may be wild shots in the dark. Let’s see…The Big Show signed a contract with Johnny, which led to him demolishing Brodus Clay, which let to Clay being barred from Raw, which led to him fighting Otunga…somehow? Sure, why not. It’s the pre-show match, so it won’t matter, but I see it continuing, and by it I mean Brodus winning matches against meaningless bad guys.

Divas Champion Layla vs. Beth Phoenix

Again? Okay, sure, it was fun last time. Both gave spirited performances, but how many times can you have the same two ladies fighting on PPV? I predict a new challenger appears.

Intercontinental Champion Christian vs. Cody Rhodes

I’ve quite enjoyed this feud between upcoming WWE superstar Rhodes and TNA veteran Christian. It doesn’t have a ton of meat on the bone, but all the matches the two have been in this month have been lengthy and well-performed. It’s tough to call, though, as the feud began impromptu on PPV (I don’t have a prediction for it because it wasn’t announced prior to the show), and I don’t know how far they want to go. If they’re in a holding pattern until Rhodes gets a shot at Sheamus (or, I guess, Christian gets a shot at Del Rio), then I’m fine with them fighting one another.

WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane — Triple Threat Match

Unlike last month, this match screams middle chapter. Nothing will conclude. I don’t know why Kane’s there either, other than to steal everyone’s girlfriend.

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler

For my money, this is the only giant question mark. This match was supposed to be Sheamus vs Del Rio, but Rio was sidelined with an injury. Ziggler’s inclusion makes it much more interesting. I don’t think I’m the only person who’s felt Sheamus’ run with the title has been milquetoast at best. He’s just not a good hero. I feel like Ziggler losing and falling back to the midcard would be predictable, and, frankly, insulting.

The interesting thing to do here is have Ziggler win somehow, and let them fight again at Money in the Bank. And since wishes in prediction articles always come true, that’s what I’m going to suggest happens here.

John Cena vs. Big Show — Steel Cage Match

There’s a guillotine stipulation here that says if Big Show loses, Johnny gets fired. That’s going to happen, because we can’t end two PPVs in a row with Johnny on top. There are rumours going around about his release, and his removal from the executive page is very real. Cena winning would continue his win/lose/win pattern this year, and would set him up to fight, oh, I don’t know, let’s say Samoa Joe.

There you have it. This is another show I am purposefuly going to miss. They are in a holding pattern until the 1000th Raw, and, of course, Money in the Bank. Don’t expect too much to happen until then.