We’re officially on the precipice of the greatest weekend of the year: WrestleMania weekend. Yes, if you’ve missed it, I’m a gigantic professional wrestling nerd, and the biggest wrestling show of the year, akin to the Super Bowl for wrestling fans, is WrestleMania; and this is the 40th one.
Below are my predictions for each night of WrestleMania. In addition, I’m presenting it how I would book the show from the opening match to the main event of each night. Flow is important to a fan’s enjoyment of a show!
WrestleMania Saturday
Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik
Winners: Escobar and Dominik
Explanation: I think this is where Dom gets his “win back” from losing at last year’s event. Risky to start the show with a heel winning, but I think the next match will pick up the momentum.
Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)
Winners:
For Raw: Awesome Truth
For SmackDown: A-Town Down Under
Explanation: That’s right, I’m going with the same fantasy booking everyone else is doing. With both sets of titles hanging above the ring, I think two different teams (the babyface team of Awesome Truth and the heel team of A-Town Down Under) will both prevail, as it were.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Winner: Gunther
Explanation: I’m in the awkward position where I’d actually be frustrated if Sami won a match and a championship, but that’s where we’re at with this booking. Gunther’s reign doesn’t and shouldn’t end at WrestleMania XL.
Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
Winners: Bianca, Jade, and Naomi
Explanation: No explanation needed; this will be the most lopsided match across both nights.
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
Winner: Jey Uso
Explanation: Jey is too hot to lose, but there is an outside chance that Jimmy wins and this is merely the start of their story.
Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Winner: Becky Lynch
Explanation: I’m not sure what’s left for Rhea as Champion, and Becky hasn’t had a quality (keyword) babyface moment at WrestleMania since she first main evented the show and won both women’s world titles at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. I’m ready for such a moment again.
The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Winners: The Bloodline
Explanation: Given the stipulation that if the Bloodline wins, the match on Sunday is Bloodline Rules, and if the Bloodline loses, the Bloodline will be barred from ringside, I can’t imagine a scenario where the Bloodline loses this match. They want to have enough wiggle room for all sorts of shenanigans on Sunday.
Bonus explanation: I think The Rock pins Cody Rhodes, as it would build animus between Rock and Cody for a future match, and between Rock and Roman for a future match when Roman loses on Sunday.
WrestleMania Sunday
United States Championship: Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
Winner: Logan Paul
Explanation: Paul’s going to hold it until SummerSlam in Cleveland, at least. Plus, this is a ready-made scenario to spin the result into a feud between Orton and Owens.
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Winner: LA Knight
Explanation: I’ll be shocked if they don’t add a stipulation to the match, given the animosity between the two and the violence, even today at WWE World. But regardless, LA Knight is winning. He’s too over as a babyface to be denied here.
WWE Women’s Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley
Winner: Bayley
Explanation: It’s time. Simple as that.
Philadelphia Street Fight: The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) with B-Fab vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) with Scarlett and Paul Ellering
Winner: The Pride
Explanation: The match I’m least looking forward to and shouldn’t even be on the WrestleMania card, as much as I adore Lashley, because the story isn’t clicking. Nonetheless, given the stipulation, I’m sure it’ll be a fun car crash match. However, there’s zero chance the heels win.
World Heavyweight Championship: Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Explanation: Just like with Bayley, it’s time for McIntyre to be triumphant. He’s having the best run of his career, and Seth’s done an incredible job carrying the World Heavyweight Championship for 300+ days, but it’s time for a change. Drew is that change.
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Blood Rules: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Explanation: WWE held off on making Rhodes the Champion at WrestleMania 39, and while the last year of booking hasn’t always worked, they’ve managed to make Cody not only hotter than ever, but the sequel match between Cody and Roman hotter than the first one. I’m not exactly sure how the match will end, but it must end with Cody as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Bonus booking prediction: Whether on Saturday or Sunday, at some point, Mama Rhodes, who has factored into Rock’s trash talking to Cody Rhodes, will slap the Rock either with her hand or the weight belt with her name emblazoned on it.
Saturday Match of the Night prediction: Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch.
Sunday Match of the Night Prediction: Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.
Will Austin be involved at WrestleMania? No.
Will John Cena be involved at WrestleMania? A backstage segment maybe, but certainly not in the Reigns and Rhodes match.
I can’t wait for a great weekend!
Milam's Musings 