The prediction in that particular post at the time, derived from some rumours at the time, gave us the designation of the 055 returning it to mainstream understanding, and gave some plausible dimensions.
But many of the rest of the details ultimately did not come to pass, and even at the time, many of those predictions seemed a bit out there.
E.g.:
- 055 uses a 130mm gun of the same family as 052D, rather than 155mm
- 055 was conventionally powered, not nuclear powered, and we never had any indication that nuclear propulsion was considered for it before
- 055 didn't use YJ-83 or YJ-62, because it was using the new UVLS anyway
- there is no 16m (!!!) VLS...
- VLS count for 055 was 112 not 128 (though this one is somewhat more forgiveable)
What was apparent circa 2013-2014, was that a new larger surface combatant was in the works, with the name of 055, a displacement of about 12,000 tons.
Other things, like predictions about having better signature reduction, heavier armament, its gun fit, its sensors, its helicopter complement etc, should've all been common sense deductions at the time based on what we knew 052D had back then.
