The date for refunds has passed. Badge resales are imminent. If you are still looking for a badge, get yourself ready. We’re here to help.

The official Comic-Con 2013 Badge Purchase page still states all passes for this year are sold out; however as we speculated earlier in the year, there should be a limited quantity of all badge types – both  single and 4-Day – available in CCI’s annual badge resale.

CCI has been steady in its stance that a badge resale for this year is not guaranteed, however we are hearing that news should come as early as next week. We’ll update everyone with the details and date when the official announcement is finally made public.

In the meantime, here’s what you’ll need to do now in order to get ready for the badge resale:

• Sign up for a Member ID. If you don’t have a Member ID, you can’t purchase badges. CCI states that “Member ID registration will temporarily close without notice prior to badge sales, so be sure to sign up well in advance.” Those are words to live by for SDCC attendees, and we echo that advice. Plus signing up for a Member ID also gets you on CCI’s mailing list, so you get notified via email for important events like badge sales and hotel reservations.
• Check your junk/spam folder. It’s also a good check to ensure any CCI emails aren’t being sent to your junk folder. Once you’ve signed up for a Member ID, make sure any emails from CCI are sent directly to your Inbox to avoid missing the information.
• Use multiple browsers. We all know the issues experienced earlier this year and the browser-specific problems people were reporting, so better to increase your chances by using different browsers on multiple computers. Also, as we saw with the parking pass sales, some were having success with using mobile browsers on their smartphones over PCs, so better your chances by dual-wielding your tech.
• Go wired over wifi. Sometimes, you don’t have a choice, but to ensure the best network signal and avoid any problems with your internet connection, go wired instead of wireless. Also reboot your home router the night before, to ensure you have an optimal connection.
• Make sure you have the link ready. If you’ve signed up for a member ID, you’ll most likely be sent the link via email. Have it bookmarked ahead of time in all of the browsers you are using, so you’re just one click away from the starting gate.
• Sync up your clocks. Sometimes computers can be out of sync with official time – we’ve even seen this on the server end as well. That means, go with the official US time clock and start to load the badge purchase page a few minutes earlier from the official start.
• Use a browser extension. In the world of SDCC, seconds count. To shave some valuable time off your data entry, we suggest you use Last Pass, a password manager which also includes the functionality auto-populate your information into web forms. Check out this Lifehacker article on how to set this up for you.
• Exercise your F5 finger. We said start a few minutes earlier and we meant it, but your F5 timing can be the difference between you going to San Diego in July and watching from home. Start early, hit F5 often.

CCI hasn’t indicated if the process for the badge resale would be the same as what everyone went through in February, so we can’t tell you exactly how the waiting room will work and when you should – and shouldn’t – refresh your page. We expect the official announcement will contain these details, and we’ll update this post when they are made available.

Good luck everyone, and let us know in the comments if you have any questions!

We’re counting down the weeks leading up to Comic-Con 2013 by reposting some of our important SDCC tips which have appeared on the blog over the years, updated with current information. You can find all of our guides under the main menu, or by clicking here.

T-Minus Nine Weeks And Counting…

After months of scheduling, packing, and anticipating you finally get off the plane in San Diego and think “what now?” Do you rush out to get passes, relax in your hotel room? Eat? And what if you forgot something important? Let’s just relax and start at the beginning.

Packing For Your Trip

Though it seems simple, this is one place where many attendees make mistakes. Even if you’re planning to attend SDCC for only one day, you are going to need a lot of stuff. Sure, people will remember their clothes and toothbrushes (hopefully), but what makes Comic-Con packing different? Well here are some essential packing items that many attendees might forget about:

• Poster Tube – Many free and exclusive posters are given out during the con and unless you plan to purchase a tube there or risk having to fold your new posters, bringing one of these tubes is a must.
• Deodorant – Sure, the stereotype of every attendee being  a stinky mess is over-exaggerated. When you’re packed in a room with thousands of sweaty attendees though, you’re not going to come out smelling like flowers.
• Good Shoes – Walking from panel to panel, out to get food, and through the exhibit hall can get mighty tiring without proper footwear.
• Money – Unless you’re super short on cash, there’s probably something that you’ll just have to have. Be prepared for it.
• Back Up Batteries for Every Gadget You Bring – Heck, even books need batteries these days (Paperbacks? Pshh. Try a nook).
• Food – Planning to snack on the convention food? Bring some Tums. Or you can just save yourself trouble and money by bringing your own snacks.
• Headache Medicine – Even without the Twilight panel, Harry Potter fans will get mighty rowdy.
• Sun-Screen – If you plan to walk around San Diego or wait in the Hall H line this is essential. People who plan to beat the heat and stay inside can probably skip it though.
• Suitcase – We just listed a lot of stuff. Plus all the free swag you will probably get. Make it a big suitcase.

Arriving in San Diego for the First Time

4-Day Attendees

We would suggest arriving Wednesday afternoon/morning. This makes it super easy to head over to your hotel (most have an airport shuttle) and just kick back. Unpacking, a swim in the hotel pool, or a nice meal are all awesome ways to prepare you for the madness that is about to begin. Though Preview Night won’t begin until 6PM (generally they start to let folks in earlier), it’s good to be there at least an hour before you want to get in line just in case badge pickup takes a long time. People who want to get a lot of free stuff or purchase a very limited item during preview night usually arrive hours in advance but if you just want to stroll around and don’t mind coming out somewhat empty-handed, feel free to not arrive so early.

1-Day Attendees

If you’re flying or driving to the con for only one day it is better to try and park somewhere not-too-close to the convention center and walk or take a taxi over. Unless you’ve purchased a parking pass in advance, the limited parking close the con is insane. Also, try to get to the convention as early as you can to pick up badges and get in line for panels. Since the 4-day’ers don’t have to pick-up passes they have a time advantage.

Do you have any good suggestions for our readers? Please share them in the comments below.

This Sunday, WWE presents its most hardcore and yes, extreme, pay-per-view of the year at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. After WrestleMania 29’s disappointing outcome, WWE has to really impress the fans with quality matches and more importantly, smart booking. The results of WrestleMania 29 were incredibly predictable and the only surprising outcome was another Ryback loss, which was not smart booking.

With that said I will break down each scheduled match for Extreme Rules and try my best to predict the outcomes. I hope that WWE surprises me as well as other fans in a smart and logical way.

The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes (Pre-Show)For the second pre-show in a row, WWE’s Awesome Superstar, The Miz will be in action as he faces the Master of Moustaches Cody Rhodes. Unfortunately, this match is even less meaningful than past pre-show matches.

In the recent past, the Intercontinental, United States of Divas title has been involved during the pre-show. However, this Sunday two irrelevant superstars square off. The Miz just returned after filming a movie for ABC Family, while Cody Rhodes has been jobbing to the stars.

If the Miz challenged Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental title, it would have made a lot more sense. They each have one win against one another so a tiebreaker is needed. Plus, Wade Barrett is not scheduled for a match at Extreme Rules.

Regardless, I see Miz as being just a tad more relevant than Rhodes. Look for the Miz to squeak out a win here and continue down midcard road.

Prediction: The Miz

Chris Jericho vs. Fandango As expected, the WrestleMania feud between Chris Jericho and Fandango has continued and they will meet again this Sunday at Extreme Rules. This is a match that I predicted right after WrestleMania to see again this month and the outcome should not be any different. Chris Jericho has nothing to gain by defeating Fandango. Although it is not his debut, Fandango is a project that WWE is looking to push.

I would not have been surprised to see Fandango challenging for the U.S. title after Kofi Kingston defeated Ambrose, but I will get to that later. Fandango could be an eventual midcard champion, but WWE decided to finish his feud with Jericho first.

Prediction: Fandango

Sheamus vs. Mark Henry (Strap Match) In another meaningless match, Sheamus and Mark Henry square off in a strap match. However, I give credit to the Celtic Warrior, World’s Strongest Man and WWE for building this feud quite well. Despite there not being a reason for it, other than they both like to fight, Sheamus and Mark Henry’s attacks on one another have been done quite well.

This match could go either way. Mark Henry can continue his dominance since returning from injury and make a good case as to why he should have been involved in the WWE title scene. If Sheamus wins, he could also make a good case for another run at the World Heavyweight title. We witnessed a number of Sheamus-Ziggler matches when Sheamus was champion, but would it be any different with Ziggler holding the title?

While many WWE fans focus on how Ryback hasn’t won a pay-per-view in months, when was the last time Sheamus did? Survivor Series in November. By disqualification.

Prediction: Mark Henry

Randy Orton vs. Big Show (Extreme Rules Match) While Sheamus and Mark Henry have been building their meaningless match well, Randy Orton and Big Show have failed in making their feud interesting. Although some blame goes to WWE for repeatedly booking Orton against Antonio Cesaro at least three times a week (or so it seems), Orton and Show are boring. Their characters are boring and they have no direction in WWE today.

Luckily for them, the extreme rules stipulation will at least add something interesting to the match. Both seasoned veterans of wrestling, Orton and Show will hopefully provide an entertaining match. Regardless, I couldn’t care less who wins.

Prediction: Randy Orton

United States Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Dean Ambrose The first of the more interesting matches of the night, Dean Ambrose will challenge Kofi Kingston for the United States Championship. The outcome is obvious here. Kofi defeated Cesaro in a shocking turn of events, but for a reason. Kofi is a transitional champion. WWE is using him to move the belt from one young up and coming heel, to another.

There is no way WWE would book this match and have Ambrose lose. Kofi is in the midcard for his life, while Ambrose is part of one of the best groups in WWE history. The outcome is also given away since Ambrose’s partners will be challenging for the WWE tag team titles. Expect Extreme Rules to belong to the Shield.

Prediction: NEW United States Champion Dean Ambrose

WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No vs. The Shield’s Reigns and Rollins (Tag Team Tornado Match) As discussed before, May 19^th will belong to The Shield, as all three members should go home with a championship. While Ambrose wins the United States title, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns will defeat Team Hell No. Kane and Daniel Bryan have dominated the weak tag team division since September, but it seems as though their reign is finally coming to an end. Like with Ambrose and Kingston, there is no way WWE would have Team Hell No win. It would be considered an epic fail.

The question does remain whether Kane and Bryan will break-up or simply just lose the match. I had suggested a scenario where Bryan turns on Kane, but most people probably expect Kane to go all big red monster and attack Bryan after the match.

Regardless of who turns on who, The Shield will continue their dominance and have Rollins and Reigns capture the tag team titles.

Prediction: NEW Tag Team Champions The Shield’s Reigns and Rollins

Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar (Steel Cage Match) Although this match was considered by one we would definitely not see at Extreme Rules, here we are with yet another Triple H and Brock Lesnar match. I am probably the least interested in this feud and match, though I know I am not the only one. At the same time, it is a match that Brock Lesnar needs to win. Triple H, like Chris Jericho, doesn’t gain anything by winning. However, with Brock winning, he could move on to something more meaningful in the coming months. Lesnar could challenge John Cena in the future for the WWE title or sets his sight on the World Heavyweight title.

Like Henry and Sheamus though, Lesnar and Triple H do a quality job of building their feud, despite the lack of meaning. It bothers me the most when these two stars are involved in the ending segment on Raw. It makes the whole show much weaker. In any case, WWE would be making a huge mistake by giving Triple H another win against Lesnar.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar

Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger (‘I Quit’ Match) Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger’s match is an unfortunate situation as Dolph Ziggler was supposed to be in the match and win it. However, after suffering a concussion, WWE made the right choice and removed him to allow him to rest. Now Del Rio and Swagger will square off in a number one contender’s match.

Regardless of the outcome, I expected this to be Swagger’s last time in the World Heavyweight title scene. I figured Del Rio would finally have a one-on-one feud with the superstar who cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase. This I Quit match should still solve that issue and have Del Rio win. Ziggler and Del Rio will then square off at June’s pay-per-view, Payback.

Regardless, Ziggler will be champion for the foreseeable future.

Prediction: Alberto Del Rio

WWE Champion John Cena vs. Ryback (Last Man Standing Match)The WWE title match between John Cena and Ryback is one that I believe is much more difficult to predict than people think. I wrote an entire article on Bleacher Report about why Ryback should win. I still think it makes more sense. Cena is much better at chasing the title than having the title. Plus, Cena doesn’t have many challengers that he hasn’t feuded with in the past. With Ryback as champion, there are a number of top babyfaces to challenge him. Sheamus, Randy Orton and maybe even Daniel Bryan would make for a fresh new feud.

The one aspect that makes Cena a good choice to win here, is his work outside the ring with Make-A-Wish and whether or not Ryback deserves the title. Ryback may have just been put in this situation due to the lack of other options. It’s the same reason why he challenged CM Punk at the end of 2012. With Cena injured at the time, Ryback was the only reasonable superstar to take his place. I am going to go with my original thinking here and that is to make Ryback finally win the WWE title.

Prediction: NEW WWE Champion Ryback

What do you think of my WWE Extreme Rules 2013 predictions? Do you agree or disagree? Why? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Seth M. Guttenplan is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. To read more from Seth follow him on twitter (@sethgutt) and check out guttwrenchpowerblog.com. You can also like GWP on Facebook here.