Powell's WWE Over The Limit 2012 Preview and Predictions: Is this the end of the road for John Laurinaitis? World Title change prediction, Chris Jericho isn't going away next month, two more title matches

By Jason Powell

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***The following predictions are made without any inside information. In other words, I'm guessing just like you are.

John Cena vs. John Laurinaitis: No one is allowed at ringside. The only way to win is by pinfall or submission. Any superstar who interferes in the match will be immediately terminated. Of course, the catch here is that you can't fire someone who has already been fired. Just ask Ric "Fire me, I'm already fired" Flair. Thus, the candidates for interference would seem to be Big Show given that he was just fired on Monday, Brock Lesnar given that he walked out and is threatening WWE with a storyline lawsuit, or a returning performer.

The obvious answer seems to be Big Show given that they dedicated so much time to his firing on Monday. Furthermore, it would be a head scratching moment if WWE burned up one of Lesnar's limited dates without advertising him first. I'm inclined to believe that the ratings spiraling downward is an indication that Big Johnny's heat is more of the go away variety and that viewers are ready to see him get his and move on, but WWE rarely pulls the plug on angles they jump the shark. I don't think we've seen the last of Big Johnny, and I'm bracing myself for the next round of Cena vs. Show matches.

Prediction: John Laurinaitis wins with help from Big Show.

C.M. Punk vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship: If there's any reason to fork over a third pay-per-view fee to WWE in 50 days this is it. Sure, we've seen them battle on WWE television in champion vs. champion matches with lousy finishes there were more about the then battling general managers, but this has the potential to be truly special.

I'd love to think that the light match count is an indication that they are going to give these guys more time than a typical title match, but I'm also fearful that they could add a bad Ryback squash, a long Damien Sandow non-match promo, or another ridiculous Brodus Clay dance routine. If Bryan doesn't get the belt here, then I believe it's only a matter of time. The signs point to A.J. interfering on his behalf now that Punk insulted her on Monday.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins the WWE Championship with help from A.J.

Sheamus vs. Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship: Don't buy into the teases that Chris Jericho is leaving the company any moment now. Yes, he has four Fozzy shows lined up for early June, but he's also advertised for WWE events after those four days. Hell, he's actually advertised for dates in August, including SummerSlam. Yes, the card is subject to change and they could pull him from shows that conflict with the Uproar Festival that kicks off on August 15, but I would be surprised if WWE would actually advertise him for events that they know he won't be around for.

In other words, don't completely rule out the possibility of Jericho winning the title. That said, I don't expect Jericho to go over here. I would like to see him get a short run with the strap before he heads out on the big tour in August and September, but I'm not holding my breath. I could make a good case for Jericho or Del Rio winning and then having a series of Triple Threat matches with Orton and Sheamus that build up tension between the two babyfaces leading into a SummerSlam showdown once one of them takes the title from the heel, but I just don't think we'll see Sheamus drop the belt before then.

Prediction: Sheamus retains the World Heavyweight Championship.

Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger for the WWE Tag Team Championship: The less R-Truth, the better the match. It's not that he's lousy, it's just that he relies on the same moves we've been watching since the K-Kwik days and I have more faith in the other three to deliver in the ring. I wish WWE had given us some incentive to care about the tag titles, the new champions, and the challengers. Instead, I just assume the new champs retain or they run the risk of making A.W. look like a dope before he even gets started. After all, he said he wouldn't execute his team's rematch clause until the time was right. I don't think we'll be seeing heel vs. heel matches, so I assume Primo and Epico will get the straps back sooner rather than later.

Prediction: Kofi Kingston and R-Truth retain the WWE Tag Titles.

Layla vs. Beth Phoenix for the Diva's Championship: Layla will come out and smile a lot and no more than six children and five horny guys in the crowd will care enough to respond in a vocal manner. Sadly, she's just not over. The best cure for that would be winning a good, competitive match that was entertaining enough to make the fans care. These two have the talent to deliver, but I don't think they'll get the time. If Beth doesn't take her belt back, then Layla should win in a fluky manner that keeps their feud alive.

Prediction: Layla retains the WWE Diva's Championship.

Zack Ryder vs. Kane: I'm torn. WWE likes to send the freeloaders away happy by having the babyfaces go over in these free previews with the hope that they'll order the pay-per-view, but they also seem hellbent on killing off every ounce of momentum that Ryder once had. A cheap finish is possible so that Ryder can win the match and continue to claim that he's the internet champion. Wait, what the hell am I thinking? WWE doesn't care about most of their real title belts, let alone Ryder's made up version. Kane destroys Ryder again and either pins him clean or gets DQ'd for beating him up too severely. Either way, Ryder looks bad.

Prediction: Kane destroys Zack Ryder.