Bobby Lashley is one of the biggest names to walk away from the WWE in a while, and I think many saw it as a tremendous loss. Lashley was honored by former wrestlers and fans when the news became official. Around that same time, there was a lingering rumor regarding what led to one of the company's former main-eventers doing very little in the new era of wrestling. Lashley just made some pointed comments, partially in regard to his Gunther feud pitch, but there's more to this situation than meets the eye.

It seemed like ever since Bobby Lashley missed out on a match with Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 39, he lost all the momentum he had as a top performer. Eventually, the performer decided he was tired of waiting for a shot at upcoming WWE events and wanted to pursue endeavors elsewhere. Lashley spoke about that during an appearance on The Lame Guys Podcast. Unfortunately, I feel like the quote many fans are seeing sounds much worse without context. So let's talk this out.

Via The Internet, The Wrestling Community Is Criticizing Bobby Lashley's Rejected Pitch For A Gunther Feud

During the interview, Bobby Lashley talked about how he was underutilized on the main event scene in the final chunk of his run. The star also recalled how he didn't seem to be getting the same matches against like Cody Rhodes and other champs that AJ Styles and others were getting. In an attempt to get worked into a prominent storyline, Lashley had a thought as to how he could insert himself into a feud with Gunther:

This quote is making rounds on the Internet, with many likening it to a racially and culturally insensitive angle that the WWE might've done decades ago. Here are some of the reactions on X to people who saw the quote:

• Bobby Lashley must’ve been losing his mind for the past 2 years in WWE because since he left we’ve learned that he wanted to shoot fight karrion kross and have gunther be racist to him on screen. - @collixioncowboy
• Bobby Lashley in AEW will be great as long as he doesn't get a crazy amount of creative freedom. - @WrestlingHumble
• Congrats to Bobby - That is a Gobbledy Gooker level of cringe! Tony, don't let this man have creative control over his character. - @Wes_Macc

That's just a small sample size of many wrestling fans who agreed Bobby Lashley's angle wasn't right for the WWE, or modern pro wrestling in general. It seems pretty wild at face value but, in context, I think it's not as bad as people believe.

Bobby Lashley's Angle Was Audience-Implied Racism, But Innocent In Character

I feel like it's easier to understand hearing Bobby Lashley actually explain the idea, because it sounds more like a comedy bit than an offensive angle. Basically, the angle hinged on the audience assuming both characters were being racist, but there was actually not any racial tension between them at all.

Ultimately, I'd still speculate it's a risky enough angle that the modern WWE would not pursue it. However, it's far removed from other racially charged angles the organization had done previously.

Bobby Lashley Was Desperate To Get Back Into WWE's Main Event Scene

The real story here is that Bobby Lashley was desperate towards the end of his run in WWE to get a main event feud, and he felt the company wasn't interested in putting him into that position. It seems logical, since he hadn't had a super meaningful feud since taking on Brock Lesnar, and his faction, The Pride, had very little momentum.

While wrestling fans may not agree with his ideas to get over, I don't think many would disagree that it was strange to see "The Dominator" not in the spotlight ahead of his departure. We had him in CinemaBlend's Top 7 to dethrone Roman Reigns when he still was still in the middle of his massive title reign. It's disappointing to how his run ended and, hopefully, we'll see him return to wrestling at some point.

Check out some of Bobby Lashley's past matches with a Peacock Premium subscription and keep tabs on what his next move is regarding pro wrestling. I'm assuming we'll see him in AEW soon, but we'll have to wait and see what happens.

It’s no secret that WWE has been on the come up the past couple of years, and I honestly think that the re-emergence of factions is just as much of a reason as the likes of Cody Rhodes finishing his story or CM Punk’s surprise return. I mean, there are a dozen great stables like the Judgment Day, the Bloodline, and Damage CTRL all over the card, collecting titles and providing fans with iconic moments left and right.

But which of these factions is the best? Is it dominant and vicious Bloodline 2.0 under the command of Solo Sikoa? What about the Judgment Day in the aftermath of Summerslam 2024? Or is it the Wyatt Sicks, a team that finally made its in-ring debut and killed it? Let’s break it down.

Oh, and before we start, this ranking only includes factions that consist of three or more members and currently have a name.

12. The Final Testament

If this list was based on entrances, the Final Testament would be near the top. Unfortunately, the wow factor of the team consisting of Karrison Kross, Scarlett, Akan, Rezar, and Paul Ellering pretty much stops there. Since the group’s inception in January 2024, its members haven’t done much besides get overshadowed by Snoop Dogg’s commentary at WrestleMania 40 and get squashed by Odyssey Jones. 

11. The Pride 

The Pride, which is made up of Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford, and B-Fab, is without a doubt one of the most exciting factions in WWE. But like the Final Testament, who they defeated at WrestleMania XL, the team hasn’t done all that much since forming back in July 2023. With Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reporting on X that Lashley’s contract is set to expire in August 2024, this could be the end of the stable. 

10. The O.C. 

The O.C., also known as The Club, is a stable that has been around on-and-off for the better part of the past decade in multiple promotions. Made up of AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Michin, all of whom have experience around the world, the team has been fun to watch over the years. However, from bouncing between SmackDown and NXT to not holding a lot of championship gold, there hasn’t been a whole lot of success for these former Bullet Club members.

9. The Latino World Order

The Latino World Order, which has appeared in both WCW and WWE, was brought back by Rey Mysterio shortly before WrestleMania 39 and has been around ever since. After undergoing some lineup changes since then, the LWO now consists of Rey Mysterio, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, Zelina Vega, and Dragon Lee. They would be higher up, but Rey has a habit of not listening to his stablemates, causing them to betray him and leave for bigger and badder groups.

8. The New Day

I was hesitant to put the New Day on the ranking because it’s just been Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston as tag team since Big E broke his neck back in March 2022, but with the arrival of Odyssey Jones in August 2024, I think there’s a case to be made. We’ll have to wait and see what unfolds for this new version of the decorated stable, but hopefully it’s just as fun as what we’ve seen in the past.

7. Alpha Academy

I totally thought Alpha Academy would have gone the way of the J.O.B. Squad or any other stable of misfit wrestlers when Chad Gable turned heel and left them in the dust. However, it honestly feels like the team of Otis, Maxxine Dupri, and Akira Tozawa were given a babyface boost when their fearless leader moved on. It will be interesting to see what they do moving forward, as I would LOVE to see my boy Otis get another push.

6. American Made

Sure, Chad Gable and his American Made faction, which also includes Brutus and Julius Creed, has been fodder for the Wyatt Sicks as of late, but this dynamic team made up of heelish amateur wrestlers could have a lot of legs after this current angle is through. They are all talented in the ring, and Gable has proven time and time again that he’s great with a mic. Plus, they give me serious “Team Angle” vibes.

5. Legado Del Fantasma

Legado del Fantasma, the stable consisting of Santos Escobar and other heels like Elektra Lopez, Angel, and Berto, has been so much fun to watch over the years, especially in 2024 where they’ve feuded with Rey Mysterio’s LWO. Though they haven’t accomplished as much as some of the teams in the upper echelon of WWE stables, they show promise and an electric and vicious in-ring style.

4. Damage CTRL

For the past two years, Damage CTRL has been one of the most fun stables to watch in WWE. Sure, they have lost a member (Bayley), suffered multiple injuries (Asuka and Dakota Kai can’t stay healthy), and don’t have any championship belts after Iyo Sky was defeated by Bayley at WrestleMania 40, but the “Empress of Tomorrow” should be back to right the course any day now.  

3. The Wyatt Sicks

I will be the first to admit that I wasn’t originally on board with the Wyatt Sicks, but after their dominant in-ring debut against American Made on the Monday Night Raw after SummerSlam 2024, it’s a different story. The faction consisting of Uncle Howdy (Bo Dallas), Abby the Witch (Nikki Cross), Ramblin’ Rabbit (Erick Rowan), Mercy the Buzzard (Dexter Lumis), and Huskus the Pig Boy (Joe Gacy) is paying tribute to the late Bray Wyatt in a manner of ways, and I think that they could achieve what the iconic figure couldn’t if handled properly.

2. The Bloodline

As I mentioned earlier, the Bloodline has been one of the best stories in all of wrestling for the better part of the past three years, and everyone involved is better off today than they were back in 2021. With Roman Reigns having now returned to take on Solo Sikoa, who took on the “Tribal Chief” mantle in his absence, we’re at the beginning of the next chapter in this engaging storyline. I don’t know what the future holds for everyone, but I can’t wait to see the Bloodline Civil War that’s been teased all summer. 

That’s how I see WWE’s various factions right now. But, with the way things change in wrestling all the time, I could be moving things around following one of the upcoming WWE events. We shall see... 

1. The Judgment Day

Though founding members Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley have splintered from the group after Finn Balor and Dominick Mysterio’s betrayals at SummerSlam, I still think the Judgment Day is the best stable in WWE right now. Along with Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, Carlio, and JD McDonagh, the group seems tighter and more refreshed than ever before. We used to say the Judgment Day could be the next Bloodline, but with the group’s place at the top of the Raw brand for the past year, it feels like the faction has surpassed their SmackDown counterparts.  

There was a stretch of time during which WWE releases and departures were happening frequently, but seemingly they've slowed down quite a bit in this new era. The organization is the place to be, and even TNA and other companies have seen stars make their way to that brand to get prime TV time. However, I've believed that one particular competitor might leave WWE and, if rumors are to be believed, it seems that might be happening sooner rather than later. It's been speculated that Bobby Lashley is leaving, and Big E's tribute to Lashley makes the notion of the latter's exit feel a lot more real.

Big E is still not cleared to return to the ring following his neck injury, but he's remained active as a member of WWE's PLE commentary team and through other ventures. As such, it's safe to assume he has his finger on the pulse of what's happening within the company. So I was a little rattled when I saw him post the following tribute to Bobby Lashley amidst continued rumors of his exit:

For those not up to speed, No DQ and others sources have reported that Lashley's contract is set to expire soon and that he's not expected to rejoin the company. MVP -- who hasn't been on TV in some time -- is reportedly set to join him, and there are even rumors suggesting that they'll reunite with Shelton Benjamin, who was released alongside Dolph Ziggler back in September 2023. While there's been no official announcement regarding what's happening, one has to wonder that with upcoming WWE events on the horizon and no word on Lashley's return, is the tribute above a sign that fans will get an official update soon?

Big E has a meaningful connection to Bobby Lashley beyond any behind-the-scenes relationship. When E cashed in his Money In The Bank contract on Monday Night Raw back in 2021, Lashley was champion. Undoubtedly, there's some respect from Big E, who apparently wants to honor the man who ultimately helped him win his first world championship in the WWE.

What's The Latest Rumor About Bobby Lashley's Departure?

Bobby Lashley was vital in helping the WWE get through the pandemic and served as one of its biggest main eventers up until recently. Unfortunately, Bray Wyatt's unexpected illness ahead of WrestleMania 39 kept him from having a major moment he wanted, and more unfortunate developments followed. Lashley continued wrestling and slowly formed a new faction. But, in May of 2024, he was sidelined with an injury and left out of the King of the Ring tournament.

According to reports, the WWE offered the former champion a contract, but it allegedly wasn't an amount he was thrilled to sign on for. It's rumored that Bobby Lashley would sooner test the market to see his value in other wrestling promotions, especially with the previously mentioned package deal of Shelton Benjamin and MVP as part of the Hurt Business.

While I personally believe Bobby "The Almighty" Lashley is worth a big wrestling contract, he's currently a main event superstar in a company that has far too many phenoms as is. 2025 will see Monday Night Raw move to Netflix, and it's already been confirmed that John Cena's retirement run is happening on top of The Rock and Roman Reigns' returns. I'm not even factoring in the wrestlers who are already in the main event scene on TV right now. So there's not a lot of screen time to go around. Lashley could benefit from a change of scenery either in the United States or Japan, and maybe return in the down th road once the scene is less cluttered. I'd rather he stay, but I could understand if he turns out to be frustrated with the time he's getting.

We'll see if others follow in Big E's footsteps and pay tribute to Bobby Lashley amid this flurry of rumors. But, for now, Lashley is still with WWE, and you can check out his previous iconic matches, which are available to stream with a Peacock Premium subscription.

Can I admit something crazy? I attended WrestleMania 39 in person, and yet, I’m somehow even more excited to watch WrestleMania 40 on my television. It’s honestly not close. With new and better production techniques, several fantastic main event-level builds and The Rock maybe doing the best work of his entire freakin’ career, this year’s Showcase Of The Immortals has higher upside than any ‘Mania we’ve gotten in a long time.

Let’s run down everything to be excited about. I’ll obviously start with The Rock, who has rediscovered his love for wrestling and is in the middle of writing a key chapter in his already historic legacy. Instead of nostalgia, he gave us something entirely different, and it feels so fresh and modern. Then there’s Drew McIntyre, who is also doing the best work of his entire career. He’s found worthy opponents in CM Punk, who is as sharp on the mic as ever, and Seth Rollins, who has been WWE’s workhorse for the last year. 

If that’s not enough, I’ll just briefly go over some other things to be excited about: Roman Reigns trying to pass Hulk Hogan’s record and prove to The Rock he’s The Tribal Chief, Cody Rhodes trying to finally finish the story and pay off the fandom of the Cody Crybabies, Rhea Ripley continuing the most popular and dominant women’s run ever, Bayley finally getting her moment after years of selfless work, more Dominik vs Rey, R-Truth getting maybe the biggest pop of his entire career alongside The Miz, Gunther continuing his reign of terror, Sami Zayn and Chad Gable working some kind of intriguing mentor storyline, Bianca, Naomi and Jade joining forces, Uso Vs Uso, Becky trying to deliver another ‘Mania banger and so much more. 

So, yeah, there’s a lot to be excited about, but for me, there’s also a lot to be nervous about. There are some matches on the card that seem to have extremely likely outcomes, especially the main events, but there are also a lot of matches where WWE has multiple enticing paths forward. Hopefully I can settle on the right outcomes and improve my pretty solid overall record…

One final note before I begin as people ask me this sometimes, these are not what I think should happen. These are what I think Triple H, Bruce Prichard and company will choose to do based on nothing but deductive reasoning and my personal experiences of watching wrestling since I was a little kid.

Gunther (Champion) Vs Sami Zayn For The Intercontinental Championship

With all due respect to the all-time great Intercontinental Champions, Gunther is, I think by a pretty wide margin, the greatest IC Champ in history. WWE could use that to give Sami Zayn another really memorable ‘Mania moment after his win in the night one main event last year, but I don’t think they’re ready to take the title off Gunther yet. He’ll need to be in a big spot at Bash In Berlin in August, which means he either needs to still be holding this belt or to have freshly lost it. 

Look for Gunther to win but also look to see how Chad Gable may or may not get involved. Many thought this should have been the Alpha Academy leader’s spot at ‘Mania, and WWE has answered by putting him into some kind of coach role alongside Zayn. Maybe they’ll work together. Maybe the relationship will break down, or maybe whatever happens will propel Gable back into a program with Gunther post ‘Mania.

Predicted Winner: Gunther

The Pride (Bobby Lashley And The Street Profits) Vs The Final Testament (Karrion Kross And AOP)

Neither one of these factions has really popped as much as you would have expected. Lashley and The Street Profits were originally rolled out as heels, but the audience didn't want any part of booing them, nor were they ever given a convincing reason to boo them beyond beating a few babyfaces down. AOP was brought in to try and add a little juice to Karrion Kross, who has a great look and a ton of potential, but they haven't really been given anything to do beyond messing with The Pride.

That being said, WrestleMania 40 is an opportunity to turn all of that around. These teams are going to have a Philadelphia Street Fight, which means we'll likely see some big spots and the potential for some memorable moments. A really strong performance here could get both of these groups back on track. I suspect we'll see The Pride come out on top, but to reiterate, what's most important for both teams is a strong, memorable match fans are into.

Predicted Winner: The Pride

Rey Mysterio And Andrade Vs Dominik Mysterio And Santos Escobar

I thought I was done with my WrestleMania 40 predictions, but SmackDown unexpectedly changed things up a bit. Dragon Lee was attacked and replaced with Andrade, who turned face and joined LWO. My original prediction here had Santos and Dominik winning after Carlito turned on the LWO, pissed that Rey picked Dragon Lee as his partner instead of him.

Well, Mysterio has now chosen someone other than Carlito for a second time, which makes me even more confident about what's going to happen. I predict we'll find out later tonight that Carlito beat up Dragon Lee, and we'll see him turn on the LWO and take his rightful spot as a heel who spits in the face of people who aren't cool.

Predicted Winner: Santos Escobar And Dominik Mysterio

Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill And Naomi Vs Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka And Kairi Sane)

Most people agree the original plan for Bianca Belair was to put her in a program with Charlotte Flair, but after The Queen got hurt, WWE pivoted and moved her to this tag match alongside Naomi and Cargill, who WWE is presenting as an absolute star. Images of the three women standing together and looking like rock stars flew around social media and were praised by fans as representation done right.

I suspect we’ll see those three cruise at WrestleMania, both because WWE is gonna want to protect Bianca Belair’s undefeated WrestleMania streak, which they did for years with The Undertaker, and because they’re not going to want either her or Jade Cargill to lose such a high profile match. That being said, there’s a small chance Damage CTRL could win here in some kind cheap fashion, probably to stir tension between Bianca and Jade and put them in a program together. I think it’s way too soon for that, but WWE has certainly jumped the gun plenty of times in the past.

Predicted Winner: Bianca, Jade and Naomi

LA Knight Vs AJ Styles

Opinions varied a bit on social media, but I loved the home invasion angle these two gave us. It finally gave this feud some much needed juice, and it has me looking forward to the rest of the build, as well as the match. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but the match itself has the potential to be one of the best of LA Knight’s career. Even at his age, AJ Styles is one of WWE’s best in-ring workers, and with time to plan it out and enough time to cook, this should be a chance for Knight to show off his move set on the biggest platform of his career.

I think Knight is going to get a clean victory here and a well-deserved moment. Hopefully that’ll add the momentum he needs to move past the lower main event scene. That being said, put me on team AJ Styles needs one more World Title run. I’m not saying it should be tomorrow, but fans love him enough that if WWE did a one more time storyline, the people would loudly get behind him. He’s had a legendary career and deserves one more trip to the top.

Predicted Winner: LA Knight

Jimmy Uso Vs Jey Uso

When The Usos first split up and it became obvious WWE was going to make this a WrestleMania thing, I thought the writers would spend time building up both of the characters to make this seem like an even match. That hasn’t happened. Jey Uso has been fed wins and character-building losses (Yeet), while Jimmy Uso has been turned into comic relief and a stooge for Roman Reigns (No Yeet). 

That might sound like an insult, but I love Jimmy Uso. He makes me smile every time he’s on screen, and I think he’s doing good work. I think he’s going to have the chance to do great work when The Bloodline storyline turns into The Rock vs Roman Reigns. But from a kayfabe standpoint, Jey should dominate this match, which means we’ll probably get some interference. 

Full transparency: when I first published these predictions, I had Jey Uso winning. It felt like he's been on too good of a run for WWE to break that up, but I had to make some changes after WWE swapped out Dragon Lee for Andrade, and I decided to backpeddle and change to Jimmy Uso here. I just think WWE wants The Bloodline to look as strong as possible on night one, and there's no better way to do that than by Jimmy also winning his match.

Predicted Winner: Jimmy Uso

Logan Paul (Champion) Vs Randy Orton Vs Kevin Owens For The United States Championship

Why are Kevin Owens and Randy Orton getting along so well? WWE has teased the possibility of friction a few times, but it’s always been quickly resolved and back to being BFFs. That can’t continue, right? At some point, these two are going to need to turn on each other, and given it hasn’t happened yet, it probably means that’s going to be the story of the match. 

And if that is the story of the match, it’s a story as old as the wrestling business. With emotions hot, these two will focus on beating up each other, lose sight of Logan Paul and eventually lose because of it. I suspect that’s the outcome WWE wants anyway because Logan is in the middle of a nice little publicity-heavy run with The United States Championship, and if they stick with it, they can create a really big moment when he eventually does lose it at some point in the future.

Predicted Winner: Logan Paul

Judgment Day (Champions) Vs Awesome Truth Vs DIY Vs New Catch Republic Vs New Day Vs Austin Theory And Grayson Waller For The Tag Team Championships

Whether or not to split the WWE Tag Team Championships after they were unified by The Usos has been a heated argument amongst fans for more than a year. If WWE wants to do it, now is the time. The belts are being defended in a ladder match, which means, in theory, one team could grab one set of belts and another team could grab the other. I think there’s a distinct chance that’s going to happen, but there’s also a chance that could undermine R-Truth’s big moment.

The biggest story of this match is R-Truth’s resurgence. The longtime WWE comic relief side character returned from injury to do a few fun segments with Judgment Day, and it quickly turned into a favorite side plot among fans. Sensing an opportunity, WWE partnered him with The Miz to reunite Awesome Truth, and a lot of fans really want to see R-Truth to be the one to finally take the belts away from Judgment Day. I think that’s going to happen, and if it does, it’ll be one of the biggest pops of the entire weekend.

Predicted Winner: Awesome Truth

Rhea Ripley (Champion) Vs Becky Lynch For The Women’s World Championship

It feels weird to reflexively pick against Becky Lynch in such a high profile match, but taking the belt off Rhea Ripley right now makes no sense, unless it was the first part of some epic multi-year story the writers have already outlined out and she loves. I don’t see that happening, and once you throw in the fact that Becky’s contract is reportedly nearing its conclusion, it just seems overwhelmingly likely Rhea is going to win.

That being said, I do think Becky will re-sign with WWE either immediately or after taking some well-deserved time off. I do think she’ll be back on top of the division some day, and I do think these two are going to put on one of WrestleMania 40’s best matches. I think both wish their program was given more consideration to main event, and I think both want to remind everyone of how talented and capable they are.

Predicted Winner: Rhea Ripley

Iyo Sky (Champion Vs Bayley For The WWE Women’s Championship

I’ve definitely heard plenty of people making the argument that WWE is better off keeping the title on Iyo and extending the program with Bayley post-’Mania, but to be honest, I just don’t really see the benefit of that. I’d take a rematch and more back-and-forth for sure, but there’s no reason that can’t happen with the belt around Bayley’s waist. She’s been the unsung hero of the women’s division for years, putting other people over and making them look as strong as possible. If WWE has needed a heel, she’s been that. If WWE has needed a face, she’s been that. If they need her to host talk shows to hype other people up, she’s done that. She’s kind of like The Miz, which I say as a massive Miz fan paying a big compliment.

That being said, there’s some nonsense that could happen with Damage CTRL. They’ve taken a lot of high profile losses since the faction started, and the other three members are almost certainly going to lose to Bianca, Naomi and Jade. Having Iyo lose too wouldn’t be the best look, but I still think the highest ceiling outcome here is for Bayley to win to massive fanfare from the crowd. 

Predicted Winner: Bayley

Seth Freakin’ Rollins (Champion) Vs Drew McIntyre For The World Heavyweight Championship

Before I get into Drew McIntyre, I want to give Seth Freakin’ Rollins some praise first. He was the right champion when WWE relaunched The World Heavyweight Championship, and he’s put on a ton of good matches and had several good programs in an almost year long run with the belt. There’s a reason fans are still screaming his song at the top of their lungs, but it’s time to let Drew McIntyre run for awhile.

The Scottish Warrior has found the perfect character in his vindictive social media troll and anything to win badass, and putting the belt on him allows WWE to plan for two exciting programs down the road. First, McIntyre is obviously going to feud with CM Punk who he’s been clowning on a weekly basis for months, and then after that, it gives WWE a chance to potentially set up a WrestleMania program with Punk and Rollins for after that, at least if taking the title from McIntyre ever seems like a good idea.

There’s an outside chance we could see a Damian Priest cash-in during this match, but if that does happen, I think it would be after McIntyre gets at least the initial victory and a brief celebration.

Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre

Roman Reigns And The Rock Vs Cody Rhodes And Seth Rollins

I don’t have the slightest idea what’s actually going to happen in this match. I don’t know how much time The Rock is going to spend in the ring, and I don’t know if other people are going to interfere. There are a thousand ways Triple H and company could go with the booking here, but the finish seems really obvious, right? If Cody and Seth win, The Bloodline are barred from ringside the next night. If Roman and The Rock win, anything goes. We all want the match to be anything goes, right?

What’s more interesting to me here is how The Rock looks in the ring. He’s been out of his mind fantastic on promos, but he wasn’t exactly Mr. Perfect in the ring during his initial run. The more he can show here, the more he can build himself as a believable threat to beat Cody Rhodes and/ or Roman Reigns down the road.

Predicted Winner: The Rock And Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns (Champion) Vs Cody Rhodes For The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

People are predicting this will be the most over-booked match in WrestleMania history, and all I can say is I hope so. Reigns and Rhodes are both top notch characters and pretty solid in the ring, but to be honest, this card is littered with other people who can and will do more interesting things in the ring. For this match to be main event worthy, it needs to be a spectacle that’s fun to watch, and I think that’s exactly what we’re going to get here.

Ultimately, the decision for WWE is whether or not they want to advance the plot in a meaningful way. You can either let Cody Rhodes finish his story and take the belt off Roman Reigns, which he’s held for more than three years, or you can keep riding with Roman Reigns and do permanent harm to Cody’s character. That’s not to be overdramatic, but in what world would we want the same WrestleMania main event three years in a row? This is Cody’s chance, and he either takes it at the expense of Roman, or he doesn't and Roman takes his moment to keep building his legacy.

I think WWE is ready to go all in on Cody Rhodes and start showing a different side to Roman Reigns’ career, but there’s certainly some doubt in play here and a real possibility that The Tribal Chief stays on top.

Predicted Winner: Cody Rhodes

We’re barely more than a month away from WrestleMania 40, and a lot of the matches are starting to come into focus. Only the four World Title contests have been officially announced at this point, but WWE is also being pretty obvious with some of the other puzzle pieces including Jimmy And Jey Uso, Awesome Truth and Judgment Day, AJ Styles and LA Knight and Logan Paul, Randy Orton and maybe KO. Gunther will also obviously get a prime spot on the card and will defend The Intercontinental Championship, though his opponent is less clear, and it’s been heavily rumored and hinted at on screen that we’re going to get Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes vs The Rock and Roman Reigns in a tag match.

Altogether, it’s shaping up to be one of the most stacked and exciting cards in WrestleMania history, but it’s also presenting a really obvious numbers problem for WWE. If you only count the matches I referenced above, that’s 10 slots that are pretty close to locked in for ‘Mania. Last year, if you don’t count The Miz’s two unannounced comedy fights, there were 13 matches on the card. If you remove Vince McMahon’s unannounced match from WrestleMania 38, there were 15 matches that year. The year before that at WrestleMania 37, there were 14 matches. That range seems to be the sweet spot WWE likes, and given The Rock is involved this year and likely to get a significant amount of time, it’s hard to think Triple H and company are going to push for more than usual.

Here’s the problem: all those matches I outlined above don’t include a ton of huge names. Let me just run down several of the heaviest hitters we haven’t talked about yet: Bianca Belair, Sami Zayn, Bobby Lashley, Jade Cargill, Dominik Mysterio, Asuka, Austin Theory, The New Day and Liv Morgan. Now throw in Sheamus and Rey Mysterio, both of whom are rumored to be ready to return from injury. Now throw in all of the following people who fans love and/ or have been getting TV time over the last few months: Andrade, Grayson Waller, Naomi, Nia Jax, Shinsuke Nakamura, The Street Profits. Alpha Academy, Bronson Reed, Ivar, Chelsea Green, Santos Escobar, Carlito, Raquel Rodriguez, Dakota Kai, Ricochet, Baron Corbin, Zelina Vega, DIY, Karrion Kross, Kayden Carter And Katana Chance, Piper Niven, Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Omos, Pretty Deadly, New Catch Republic, Imperium, JD McDonagh, Ivy Nile, The Creed Brothers, Natalya, Michin, The Good Brothers, Xia Li, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, among others.

And what about some of the recent NXT call-ups who seem like they’re in line to get a huge push? Bron Breakker and Tiffany Stratton have both been made to look really strong, including in big premium live event moments over the last month. What would be the point of bringing them up before WrestleMania and then ignoring them at the biggest show of the year? If you really want to develop momentum for someone, the best way to do it is with a strong showing at The Showcase Of The Immortals.

Now, some of these people don’t have to be on the WrestleMania card, and some of them can be used without having an actual match. I’m not going to put anyone on blast, but you can rundown that list above and probably pick out at least 15 or 20 people you don’t think need to be on the card. There are also creative ways WWE can  use Dominik Mysterio, Dakota Kai and a few others that don’t require their own match, but at some point, those easy cuts start getting harder and harder. At some point, you realize WWE might be forced to make choices between heavy hitters like Sheamus and Bobby Lashley or The Street Profits and A New Day or Bronson Reed and Austin Theory.

My guess is WWE is going to mix in at least two or three matches with a high volume of participants. I think Gunther, as an example, might defend The Intercontinental Championship in a gauntlet match with like five or six competitors. I think we might get a women’s midcard belt introduced in some kind of battle royal or my personal preference, a ladder match. Maybe we’ll get some four team tag matches like we did last year at ‘Mania. There’s going to need to be some creativity here, but even with that, I think we all need to be prepared for a WrestleMania that’s missing some big names. 

Because of injuries, circumstances and plotlines just not working as expected, there are always unexpected people who don’t make the ‘Mania card. That’s just how it works, but ordinarily, five weeks out from WrestleMania, there aren’t this many big stars without a clear path forward. Many of them will make the card in some capacity. Barring injury, Bianca Belair is going to have a match, as are Sami Zayn and quite a few others, but there’s not room for all of these people. Don’t be surprised if some of the people left out are ones you’d never guess. 

So much can change in such a short amount of time in the wrestling business. Several months ago, it seemed pretty obvious we were heading toward a WrestleMania 40 that featured Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and CM Punk, Gunther and Brock Lesnar, Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley And Becky Lynch and Iyo Sky and Bayley, among many others. Well, CM Punk and Charlotte Flair both got hurt. Brock Lesnar is off TV after being implicated in the Vince McMahon allegations, and oh yeah, The Rock has returned to WWE and now sits on the board of directors. So, quite a bit of the ‘Mania card is still TBD, and The Elimination Chamber will go a long way to providing some clarity.

It should also be quite entertaining. Continuing the trend we saw at The Royal Rumble, there are only four matches scheduled, which should allow all of them plenty of time to breathe. We have a women’s match that will see the winner face Rhea Ripley (or Nia Jax) at WrestleMania. We have a men’s match that will see the winner face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. We’ll also see Judgment Day defend the tag belts and Rhea Ripley and Nia Jax battle for the Women’s World Championship and a segment involving Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins and Grayson Waller. 

To be honest, I don’t remember ever being this confident about my predictions ahead of a premium live event. Last year, I forecasted every single match correctly at The Royal Rumble, Payback and Survivor Series, but there was plenty of doubt in some of those matches. On paper, all four of these matches seem to have pretty obvious outcomes, but the fact that every single one has a likely winner (at least in my mind) scares me a little bit. It doesn’t scare me enough to change my predictions though; so, fingers crossed I can put up some more wins on my career leaderboard seen below…

The Judgment Day (Damian Priest And Finn Bálor) Vs Pete Dunne And Tyler Bate For The Tag Team Championships

Triple H has always been a Pete Dunne fan. He put The Brawling Brutes in some high level spots back when he was playing Butch, and now, he’s gotten a nice little push here after he was repackaged as Pete Dunne. I suspect he, along with new partner Tyler Bate, are going to be given every opportunity to show what they can do in a competitive match, but let’s be realistic for a second. In what world does it make sense for The Judgment Day, in the middle of a super hot program with R-Truth and The Miz, to drop the tag titles at the premium live event before WrestleMania? It doesn’t.

Judgment Day are probably only on this card because none of the other men’s titles are being defended. Roman doesn’t defend on PPVs like this anymore. Seth Rollins is hurt. Gunther allegedly has immigration issues, and Logan Paul is working the elimination chamber match itself to try and win a shot at The World Heavyweight Championship. So, by process of elimination, we have Judgment Day defending the tag belts. That being said, I love Judgment Day, and it also makes sense to have them on the card because of their close connection with Rhea Ripley. So, the booking makes a lot of sense here. There’s just almost no doubt about the outcome. 

Predicted Winner: Judgment Day

Rhea Ripley Vs Nia Jax For The Women's World Championship

Nia Jax is on the best run of her entire career. She’s moving around the ring better than she ever has. Her promo work has gone from poor to average, and she’s right there in the zone with her character. WWE has rewarded all the good work by giving her a strong performance in The Royal Rumble and a some big wins, including one over Becky Lynch. I predict sometime in the next few years, she will get a short, multiple month run with one of the two major women’s championships, and I’ll actually be excited about it. That’s how much better she’s gotten! 

But Rhea Ripley is not losing The Women’s World Championship a month before WrestleMania 40, and she’s certainly not losing it in front of a hot home crowd in Australia. Just like with Judgment Day, that wouldn’t make any sense to the overall story they’re telling. Rhea is going to win because WWE is going to want her going into WrestleMania with the belt looking as strong as possible. Triple H and company are also going to want to keep Nia looking strong, as she’ll probably get a WrestleMania match, but Rhea is going to take the win here, almost certainly after picking up Nia Jax and giving her a Riptide.

Predicted Winner: Rhea Ripley

The Women's Elimination Chamber Match

Let’s run down who we’ve got here. There’s Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Raquel Rodriguez and Naomi. The winner is going to get a shot at Rhea Ripley (or Nia Jax) for The Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania, which will be either the first or second most prominent women’s match at ‘Mania, depending on how you feel about Bayley and Iyo Sky. So, whoever wins needs to be someone WWE wants to showcase at its biggest event of the year. As such, I think there are some people we can eliminate right away.

I love seeing Tiffany Stratton in such a big spot. She’s got a really bright future, but she’s been on the main roster for like two weeks. She is not winning this match. Neither is Raquel Rodriguez. I love Raquel. I’m really glad to see her back after an extended absence. I’m still high on her long-term potential, but she’s not wrestling Rhea at ‘Mania. I also don’t think we’re going to get Naomi either. She belongs in WWE, and I’m so happy she returned after leaving under less than ideal circumstances. She’ll be in plenty of big moments moving forward, but she’s not, in my opinion, on the level where you’d immediately throw her into a world title program without an obvious feud or backstory. 

So, that leaves Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch. WWE clearly wants to push Bianca to the moon. She and husband Montez Ford just launched their reality show on Hulu. She appeared at the WrestleMania press conference, and after Charlotte Flair got hurt, she’s in desperate need of someone to fight at The Showcase Of The Immortals. She’s definitely an outside threat to win this match, but given she’s on SmackDown, not Raw, and there hasn’t really been much build-up on her side ahead of this match, I think WWE will probably go in another direction with her at WrestleMania. Maybe they’ll just feed her Nia Jax or Tiffany Stratton and let her continue her winning streak.

Liv Morgan has the most obvious backstory here with Rhea Ripley, given they were formerly in a tag team together and Rhea previously injured Liv. There are some who would definitely say a ‘Mania match against Rhea Ripley is a bit of an overreach for her position on the card, but the crowd really loves Liv and WWE has put her in some high profile spots before, specifically winning Money In The Bank and cashing in on Ronda Rousey. She could absolutely win here.

But there’s a reason WWE had Becky Lynch staring down Rhea Ripley and calling her a bottom during the WrestleMania 40 press conference. She’s been the most consistent one on WWE programming talking about this match, and her story of needing to see whether she still has it and can beat Rhea is a perfect Mania program. I think she’s going to win here, though there’s more doubt in my mind about this than the other matches.

Predicted Winner: Becky Lynch

The Men's Elimination Chamber Match

If you haven’t been watching WWE programming for the last few months, this match might feel like a toss-up. Randy Orton, LA Knight, Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens and Logan Paul are all either former world champions or guys who have main evented PPVs fighting for a world championship in the last few years. Any could be put into a big spot at WrestleMania and not seem totally out of place, but if you have been watching WWE programming for the last few months, you’re aware of the fact that Drew McIntyre is on the best run of his entire career. He is right there in the zone with his heelish character and is the perfect choice to fight Seth Rollins now that CM Punk is off the table.

I’m not saying it’s not possible Randy Orton in particular could win this match, but it would be a tremendous shock if it wasn’t Drew McIntyre. So, instead of the overall outcome, I’m more focused on what else this match tries to do. For instance, I think we’re likely going to get a continuation of Kevin Owens and Logan Paul’s ongoing feud that will lead to the two hashing out their differences at WrestleMania. Orton and La Knight are also in need of something to do at ‘Mania. Maybe AJ Styles interferes in the match to cost LA Knight, and that sets up a program for them at WrestleMania. Or maybe LA Knight gets involved with Owens and Logan Paul, and we get a triple threat there. Maybe Solo Sikoa gets involved with Randy Orton, and it sets something up for them at WrestleMania. Maybe Karrion Kross shows up and does something to Bobby Lashley. WrestleMania is just six weeks or so after Elimination Chamber. These programs need to start coming together. I predict at least one will start coming together here.

Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre

Is there anything in wrestling better than The Royal Rumble? The annual WWE premium live event not only offers the best gimmick match of the year, it also tells fans very directly which stars the company is going to push into key spots at WrestleMania. Sometimes the winners are very obvious, like last year when we got Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley. Sometimes the winners aren’t obvious at all, like when we got Shinsuke Nakamura, Alberto Del Rio and Yokozuna. Even if you think you know what WWE is going to do, you can never truly be sure until it happens. Luckily, half the fun of being a wrestling fan is speculating wildly about what might happen at upcoming premium live events; so, let’s talk out the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble. 

WWE is hotter right now than it has been in a long time. There are a ton of dudes over with the crowd and at least a half dozen that feel like they could believably fight in a world title match at WrestleMania 40. There are a few relatively obvious, high upside crossover options like Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, a few really intriguing storyline options like Drew McIntyre and Gunther, some fan favorites like LA Knight and of course, there’s always The Rock who has teased possibly fighting his cousin Roman Reigns at ‘Mania. I can’t remember a year with this many possible choices. Here’s my list of the 15 most likely…

15. MJF

I don’t think MJF is going to WWE. Conflicting rumors have been swirling about whether or not he's resigned with AEW. I think he has and it won’t be announced publicly until a key storyline moment. I’d be shocked to see him at The Rumble. That being said, I didn’t think CM Punk was showing up at Survivor Series, and if MJF did show up at The Royal Rumble, would he be a real threat to win? Absolutely.  

14. Damian Priest

Damian Priest would be higher on this list if winning The Royal Rumble made more logical sense for his character, but his Money In The Bank briefcase allows him to have a title shot whenever he wants. He doesn’t need to win The Rumble to get it. That being said, if he were to screw up his cash-in either on Monday Night Raw or at The Rumble, he would become a major threat to enter and win. That seems like a huge rigamarole, but that’s still more likely than a random mid-card guy winning. 

13. Sami Zayn

You might be asking yourself… Sami Zayn? Well, I think there’s a believable case to be made, if a few really unfortunate things happened. Let’s say Cody Rhodes gets, Dusty forbid, hurt and won’t be available for WrestleMania. Then let’s say The Rock is unavailable, despite all his maybes. Roman Reigns needs someone to wrestle. I’d prefer it be Gunther, but Triple H and company will probably want him to defend the Intercontinental Title at ‘Mania. So, in that case, who would be the best person to wrestle Roman? The biggest match he’s had over the last year in terms of fan interest, outside of Cody, has been Sami Zayn. The build for and their match at Elimination Chamber were among the loudest we’ve heard WWE fans in decades, and if need be, I think WWE would trust Zayn to find greatness with Roman one more time.

12. Seth Freakin' Rollins

Seth Rollins is scheduled to wrestle Drew McIntyre at Day 1. The assumption is Rollins will win that match and go into WrestleMania as the World Heavyweight Champion. But given the good work McIntyre has been doing, there is a very real chance he could lose, and if he does lose, Rollins will enter The Royal Rumble and be a major threat to win. I still think the plan is to get to CM Punk and Rollins at 'Mania, but rule out Seth Rollins at your own peril. 

11. Brock Lesnar

Lensar is only one of nine people to win The Royal Rumble twice. He’s also the biggest draw on the entire roster to casual wrestling fans, and he’s done some of the best work of his career over the last few years, especially on the microphone after his split with Paul Heyman. I would never rule him completely out to win The Rumble, especially when he’ll almost certainly be in a key spot at WrestleMania 40. But since we did the Roman Reigns thing at ‘Mania 38 and he’s been off television for awhile, I don’t think a win this time is likely.

10. Finn Bálor

No one has been riding harder for Judgment Day than me. I think they’re a fantastic stable and have everything they need to run Monday Night Raw, except a prominent men’s singles belt. I thought we’d see Finn get there at SummerSlam. Then I thought we’d see Damian Priest get there via a Money In The Bank cash-in at some point. Now I’m not so sure, and the fact that I don’t have any Judgment Day members higher than tenth here is odd considering they consistently open and/ or close Monday Night Raw. Regardless, Finn has another world title run in him. I’m almost positive of that, and while I don’t think that’ll start by winning The Rumble, I don’t hate the idea.

9. Solo Sikoa

We’re still in super longshot territory here, but don’t let that distract from the fact that Solo Sikoa winning The Royal Rumble and challenging his cousin Roman Reigns would be a fantastic story to tell. In fact, I think we’re almost certainly going to see some version of that story in the future when The Bloodline officially breaks up for good. Solo vs Roman Reigns could Main Event any premium live event and have fans buzzing, but we need some more character work in order to get there. So, hold this idea in your back pocket for the 2025 Rumble, particularly if Roman beats Cody and still has the WWE Universal Championship. 

8. Bobby Lashley

Fans are just not going to boo Bobby Lashley. WWE can have him and The Street Profits attack whoever they want, but short of ending Rey Mysterio’s career via some kind of cheapshot, I don’t think there’s much he can do to get the heel reaction he’s going for. So, maybe the play here is to turn him into some kind of anti-hero and give him a big push forward. He still looks fantastic, and the fans clearly love him. After missing last year’s Mania under unfortunate circumstances that later proved tragic, it would be really exciting to see him in a high profile title match this year, which would need to start with a Royal Rumble win.

7. AJ Styles

AJ Styles just returned last week after a few months off television, and in a move most people didn’t see coming, turned heel. I’m very excited for whatever comes next for his character. It would be fantastic if WWE was able to build him back up to the main event level, and if they’re going to, now is the time. He’s forty-six years old and looks to be in fantastic shape. Over the last few years, he sorta got lost in the shuffle and felt like a low main eventer/ higher mid-carder, to the point where almost no one gave him a chance to beat Seth Rollins at Clash Of The Champions. Now is the time for him to prove he can still be at the top of the industry. I don’t see him winning The Rumble, but there is definitely a great story to tell here if WWE wants it.

6. The Rock

If The Rock was going to show up at a Royal Rumble and win, it should have been the 2023 version. He could have entered The Bloodline story when it was at its absolute hottest, and the ensuing few months of build would have been some of the highest rated wrestling episodes in decades. That didn’t happen. But Dwayne Johnson is still one of the biggest movie stars in the entire world. His presence is guaranteed to generate significant casual fan interest, and if he agrees to come back and work WWE for a few months, you almost certainly have to say yes. Given his comments, it’s certainly possible, though I’d put it in the unlikely camp, especially with Hollywood back at work.

5. LA Knight

Triple H, Bruce Prichard and the other writers have clearly listened to the fans and elevated LA Knight over the last several months. He tagged with John Cena at Fastlane, worked a premium live event with Roman Reigns, has a heavy merchandising presence at WWE live events and is almost always featured prominently on SmackDown. Along the way, he’s gotten plenty of small payoffs and nice little moments, but he’s yet to get one that would be anything close to career-defining. Winning The Royal Rumble is the sorta thing that people mention near the top of any wrestler’s accomplishments. I think he’ll probably lose and face Logan Paul at WrestleMania for The United States Championship, but I certainly wouldn’t rule him out as a possible winner here.

4. Drew McIntyre

I love this new heel work from Drew McIntyre. This is exactly what he needed to start getting some momentum again. Contract rumors and other alleged frustrations aside, this current version of the character is an obvious main event star, and I’d love to see him win a world championship sooner rather than later. But he needs to start picking up some wins and doing so quickly. Victories over Sami Zayn and Jey Uso on TV aren’t enough. He hasn’t won a match at a premium live event since he beat Karrion Kross in November of 2022. The Rumble could be the start of his return to glory. 

3. Gunther

Right now, the assumption from pretty much everyone who watches wrestling on the regular is that we’ll get CM Punk and Seth Rollins in one WrestleMania Main Event and Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes in the other. But how fantastic of a swerve would it be if Gunther eliminated Cody to win The Royal Rumble, then called out Roman Reigns in a post-match promo for not respecting the mat enough to show up for work? I love Cody. I’d love to see him win the WWE Championship at some point, but the single story I want to watch most right now is a heel versus heel Gunther vs Roman Reigns program. That’s my WrestleMania Main Event, and I do think it’s within the realm of possibilities.

2. Cody Rhodes

Before CM Punk made his surprise appearance at Survivor Series, I thought there was a good chance we’d see Cody win the Rumble two years in a row, joining Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin as only the fourth person to win in consecutive years. Now, the general consensus seems to be that he’ll probably lose The Rumble and guarantee his rematch with Roman Reigns by winning Elimination Chamber in February. That certainly works, but the fact that so many people are predicting it gives me pause. Imagine Cody winning his second consecutive Rumble, then grabbing the mic and giving a fantastic promo about finishing the story this year. Fans would love it, and it’s way more likely than people are pretending.

1. CM Punk

The overwhelming consensus among WWE fans is that CM Punk and Seth Rollins are going to face each other in the main event of WrestleMania Night 1. Sign me up. I’m here for that too. But exactly how we get there is a much more complicated question. The easiest path would be by CM Punk winning The Royal Rumble and challenging Rollins at WrestleMania. I think that’s probably what’s going to happen, but given there are some very good alternate candidates and WWE may not want to pick the very obvious and logical choice two years in a row, I think there’s still like a fifty percent chance this doesn’t happen. 

Can you remember a WWE premium live event in which so many of the matches had this little build? I realize Fastlane is a second tier PPV and many of these storylines have been ongoing for awhile, but Adam Pearce didn’t even kayfabe make many of these official until the last week or so. Whether intentional or not, it’s giving off serious afterthought vibes, but that’s the downside to having three allegedly big events in rapid succession with Fastlane on October 7th, Crown Jewel on November 4th and Survivor Series on November 25th. 

That being said, Triple H has consistently overachieved in premium live events during his tenure atop the WWE writing stuff, and that has been especially true of cards that have appeared to be less than. Either because of match quality or fun surprises, it’s been rare to have a big weekend show leave fans wanting more. So, I’m just going to trust him that this may be a lot better than expected and/ or prove to be the catalyst we need to set everyone up with the right storyline heading into Survivor Series and Royal Rumble.

On the bright side, my predictions lately have been spot-on. I went 6-0 at Payback and improved my overall prognostication record to 92 and 32 since I started doing this at WrestleMania 38. Here’s a quick look back…

Hopefully I’m able to improve that record with the following Fastlane predictions, but I’m honestly more worried than normal. A lot of this feels like it’s trying to create a storyline rather than finish a narrative and move on, and anytime you’re trying to create storylines, there are many different ways you can work toward an emotional payoff. Plus, I bragged about how well I’ve been doing lately; so, you know the Bronson Reed Tsunami is coming for me…

Judgment Day (Finn Bálor And Damian Priest) Vs Cody Rhodes And Jey Uso For The Undisputed Tag Team Championships

The long-term plan for Jey Uso is not for him to be a tag team champion, nor is that the plan for Cody Rhodes. WWE seems focused on building Jey Uso into a babyface singles star, which is going quite well based on crowd reactions, and Cody is obviously the biggest babyface in the company and likely heading toward a second consecutive WrestleMania Main Event clash with Roman Reigns (at least if The Rock doesn't get in the way). So, the two of them defending against The Viking Raiders on a random Raw episode feels ridiculous to even say out loud.

That being said, a short little run that explores their relationship is certainly possible and The Judgment Day losing the titles would certainly add intrigue to their stories. Rhea Ripley very publicly went off on Dominik Mysteiro when he lost his NXT North American Championship (briefly), which made it clear she’s going to assert her authority whenever stable members don’t perform. So, losing here would give WWE a chance to explore that, plus continue to build the simmering tension between Damian Priest and Finn Bálor. It could also set up a really interesting dynamic if they lose here but Priest cashes in his Money In The Bank contract later in the night and wins. That feels like the best story to tell, but it would leave Cody and Jey with the tag titles and seemingly not a ton to do. I guess I’m gonna pick The Judgment Day to retain, maybe with some help from JD McDonagh, which solidifies his role in the group, but I do not feel confident about it.

Predicted Winner: Judgment Day

The LWO (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar And TBD) Vs Bobby Lashley And The Street Profits

WWE hasn’t officially announced who the third member representing the LWO is going to be beyond Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar. Many are assuming it’ll be either Cruz Del Toro or Joaquin Wilde, but I think we may get something more fun here like Carlito, who has been rumored to make another appearance for months. That would add a really fun dynamic for the match since, right now, it’s hard to imagine the LWO winning here, unless Triple H, Bruce Prichard and the other writers want to really turn up the heat on the Lashley doesn’t think the Profits have the killer instinct angle they’ve teased a few times.

That’s possible, but personally, I don’t really think it’s needed. I’m ready for the newly established faction, which is still without a name, to start asserting themselves as one of the most dominant forces in WWE, and that should start with a win here. In fact, I’d like to see them look pretty dominant in victory, largely because it would further the ongoing LWO tension between Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar. We’ve really been getting a slow play over the last few months on that incoming drama. Adding Carlito to the equation could really take that story to the next level. Maybe Carlito and Escobar go one way, Rey and Zelina go another way and it’s sort of like an nWo Black vs nWo Wolfpack thing?

Predicted Winner: Bobby Lashley And The Street Profits 

John Cena And LA Knight Vs Solo Sikoa And Jimmy Uso

I actually feel pretty good about John Cena and LA Knight cruising to a victory here for three reasons. First, John Cena needs a premium live event win. He’s 2 and 9 in his last 11 PPV matches. It’s always nice to see the legend make an appearance, but we’re kind of getting to the point where I assume he’s going to put the other person over when he has a high profile match. This would be a great way to get him a win without screwing up long-term story plans.

Second, LA Knight is still white hot. He’s selling more merchandise than anyone else in the company, and if WWE wants to keep pushing him to be a bigger star, they need to treat him like a bigger star. That means picking up more wins in high profile spots at premium live events. Third, Jimmy Uso seems to be getting pushed in an incompetent and bumbling direction. Sure, he’s beating people up backstage, but he’s also stomping around and pissing off Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. Assumedly, he’s also pissing off Roman Reigns. My guess is he’s going to cost his team the match, and Roman is going to return to programming to deal with the problem and reassert dominance. That’ll be through putting Jimmy in his place, but it’ll also likely be through starting a program with LA Knight. The first step of that, though, is Jimmy and Solo losing this match and embarrassing the family enough to come back.

Predicted Winner: LA Knight And John Cena

Iyo Sky Vs Charlotte Flair Vs Asuka For The WWE Women’s Championship

I have absolutely no idea whatsoever where WWE is going with any of this. It feels like a bunch of the top women have been jammed together with a vague we’re feuding storyline, and there just aren’t enough titles to go around to satisfy all the superstars who potentially could be main eventers. Let’s forget about the brand splits for a minute, especially since WWE has shown they’ll ignore them if the story calls for it. Personally, I can’t imagine Rhea Ripley losing her title anytime soon. So, that leaves Charlotte, Asuka, Iyo, Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch and the newly hired Jade Cargill all fighting to be that other woman who WWE formally recognizes as being at the top of the division. 

Since, Becky is busy with NXT stuff right now and Bianca is out with a kayfabe injury, this match really feels like a referendum on who WWE wants to move forward with in the short-term as that second face of the women’s division. You could make sound arguments for any of the superstars involved here. Iyo and Asuka had a fantastic match the crowd was into last month. That could easily be a future PPV rematch for the title, but in absence of a clear angle, I’m always going to bet on Charlotte Flair. If there's not an obvious path, WWE has proven over and over again that they’ll put Charlotte out front. So, that’s gonna be my low confidence prediction.

Predicted Winner: Charlotte Flair

Seth Freakin' Rollins Vs Shinsuke Nakamura For The World Heavyweight Championship

I really like how Shinsuke Nakamura has been presented in this feud with Seth Rollins. He doesn’t feel like the goofy and fun midcard character we’ve all seen over the past few years. He feels more dangerous. Letting him do his promos mostly in Japanese was the right call, and the visual look and style of the shots have been top tier WWE production quality. I also think the story about Seth having back problems and him exploiting them has made him feel dangerous and like a real threat to win.

But is there anything he’s done since Payback that has made him seem more likely to finish the job at Fastlane? He lost during the last premium live event, and the basic narrative has not really changed since then. If it wasn’t a good idea for him to win before, why is it a good idea for him to win now? And where would WWE be going with Shinsuke as the World Heavyweight Champion? I love Nakamura. He’s great and in theory, I like the idea of him getting a moment to win a bigger belt than he’s won so far in WWE, but I just don’t see him as the face of Raw. 

So, he would have to be a transitional champion, but what babyface would you be transitioning the title to? If they want Damian Priest to cash in his Money In The Bank contract, then he should do it on Seth Rollins, preferably after winning a really close and exhausting match. Whether that happens or not, look for Seth to win. Then afterwards, we'll just have to wait and see if Damian Priest comes out. I'll nervously say he does successfully cash in, but my confidence level is not nearly as high as my co-worker, who is convinced we'll see Priest a second time on Saturday.

Predicted Winner: Seth Rollins (and later, Damian Priest)

You can catch WWE Fastlane live on Saturday night from Indianapolis. It's streaming with a paid Peacock subscription, and like all WWE premium live events, is available around the world via various other local options. 

The WWE just wrapped up Backlash, and is already putting its foot on the gas while aiming for the next big event on the horizon for both of its primetime TV brands. Triple H announced that a tournament will be held to crown the first World Heavyweight Champion of the new era, and that a number of fan-favorite superstars will compete for the honor to be the first to hold the new belt, as well as being the face of Monday Night Raw. 

Thankfully, the WWE has officially already unveiled the names of those set to compete for the gold-plated glory, and the list contains a mix of superstars who are currently spread across both Monday Night Raw and SmackDown. Ultimately, two of these Superstars will go head to head for the final match in this tournament, which is set for the upcoming WWE event Night of Champions, but who will make it to the end? 

Who Will Compete In The World Heavyweight Championship Tournament? 

The WWE released a video announcing the names competing in the tournament for the World Heavyweight Championship, and if one of these guys wins, I'm going to need to alter my list of moves I liked and disliked from the 2023 draft. While we don't have a look at the tournament bracket just yet, here's the stacked roster fans will see filling out the tournament spots in the upcoming months:

• Seth Rollins
• Cody Rhodes
• Shinsuke Nakamura
• The Miz
• Sheamus
• Damian Priest
• Edge
• Rey Mysterio
• Finn Balor
• AJ Styles
• Bobby Lashley
• Austin Theory

WWE fans certainly shouldn't be surprised to see some of those names making the cut. Cody Rhodes is still red-hot in the WWE, despite losing to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, and marquee athletes like Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley will always be in the conversation when it comes to major titles. 

One surprise to me was the inclusion of AJ Styles, who's been largely absent from the ring since breaking his ankle near the end of 2022. Styles truly seems like a great choice to win it all as the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion, especially as someone in this lineup with no clear storyline at the moment. Assuming he stays healthy enough to do it.

I think the gut reaction many wrestling fans probably have is that this will turn into another win for Cody Rhodes, and that point-of-view gained cred after his decisive win against Brock Lesnar at Backlash. At the same time, it's been pointed out that the former AEW star winning the World Heavyweight Championship would not be "finishing the story" by way of Roman Reigns. 

Since Reigns himself is not listed among the contestants in this tournament, it would seem the undisputed Universal Champion is ineligible for this honor while he holds two other titles. Similarly, Cody could ultimately be ineligible to challenge Reigns should he win the Heavyweight belt. Cody's brother Goldust pointed out the WWE is seemingly making him "earn" another title shot against Reigns, so would winning this tournament and being ineligible hurt the odds of that happening?

WWE's Night of Champions pay-per-view is happening on Saturday, May 27th, which means the tournament will begin with two triple-threat matches across respective upcoming episodes of  Monday Night Raw and SmackDown. The winners of each brand's two triple-threat matches will then face each other, with the winner advancing to the final at Night of Champions. 

Ultimately, viewers will need a Peacock Premium subscription to watch the championship match outside of normal PPV avenues. While it's possible that someone from SmackDown will win the title, we've already been assured by Triple H that this title will remain a part of Monday Night Raw. That means the SmackDown superstar will have to switch brands if they win, which I can't imagine they'll be upset about, given the circumstances that would have to occur for it to happen. We're in for an exciting couple of weeks, and I can't wait to see who will be the champion!

Catch the beginning of the World Heavyweight Championship tournament on Monday Night Raw on USA on Monday, May 8th at 8:00 p.m. ET. The second half of round one will kick off on SmackDown over at Fox on Friday, May 12th at the same time. Tune in, and see superstars throw down for a chance at making history. 

WWE is heading to Puerto Rico this weekend for Backlash, and Triple H and company are bringing a really exciting card with them. Barring any last minute changes, we’ll see seven matches on the slate, and not a single one is a repeat from WrestleMania. Even without Roman Reigns, the lineup of superstars is impressive too, as we’ll get appearances from Cody Rhodes, Brock Lesnar, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, The Usos, Seth Rollins and more. Throw in host/ competitor Bad Bunny, and suddenly, this premium live event feels way more important than Backlash often does.

On a personal level, I’m also excited to get back on the prediction train. My WrestleMania 39 predictions were barely over .500, and I expect a whole lot more from myself. I need to put some wins on the board so I don't lose confidence and end up like Baron Corbin (at least before all of France cheered him like a prime Stone Cold). You can check out my record on predictions for some of the bigger and more recent premium live events, as well as my overall results below...

The takeaway there is you can kinda sorta trust my judgment. I'm right a lot more often than I'm wrong, but I'm still wrong a lot. So, if WWE ever convinces politicians to allow gambling, you probably shouldn't wager your mail-away Hulk Hogan Hasbro on any of my theories. 

Fortunately, this card seems a whole lot easier to predict than 'Mania. We don't have any last minute four tag team showcase matches, and some of the offerings here have (in my opinion) pretty obvious results. I like Zelina Vega, for example, but it would be insane for WWE to take the title off Rhea Ripley right now as she's rapidly ascending in popularity. Several other matches have the same sort of vibe. I explain that all and more in my takes below...

Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens And Sami Zayn vs Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso And Solo Sikoa

Six man tag matches are notoriously hard to predict because the storyline coming out of the match is ultimately more important than the result. So, for example, I think the storyline we’re going to see emerge here is Jimmy and Jey being a continued disappointment to Roman Reigns, furthering the friction in The Bloodline. So, that means either one of them will get pinned or they’ll get saved in a particularly obvious way by Solo Sikoa, thus furthering the narrative that Solo is Roman’s preferred relative and The Usos are black sheep. Ultimately, I think WWE will go a bit more pronounced and we’ll see The Usos straight up lose, probably after a dominating performance by Solo. 

The only variable I’ll throw in here is that WWE has been rather overtly teasing tension between Kevin Owens and Riddle. I think that will come into play long-term and possibly lead to Owens and Zayn losing their tag titles, but I don’t think it’ll factor into the outcome here. Maybe we’ll get a tease or two during the match itself, but that'll probably be a plotline explored more fully in upcoming TV episodes.

Predicted Winner: Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens And Sami Zayn

Rhea Ripley (Champion) Vs Zelina Vega For The Smackdown Women’s Championship

I like Zelina Vega. She’s extremely athletic. She can talk. She puts a ton of attention into her fun outfits, and I think she’s worked out really well with the L.W.O. I’d like to see more of her. That being said, come’on. She should get run over here at Backlash. I’m sure she’ll get a hope spot or two during the match, but if this isn’t a dominating victory for Rhea Ripley, that’s a mistake on WWE’s part.

The Judgment Day star is quickly ascending in popularity, and Ripley should be at the start of a long and spectacular reign after winning the title at WrestleMania. The only question for me is whether her brothers in The Judgment Day are beside her during that run. The crowd loves Rhea. She’s getting a ton of support while her main squeeze Dominik Mysterio is getting booed like he’s got a whole bag of candy is refusing to share. A grandma at a live event even told me recently she'd beat his ass herself. I think there are some fun ways the writers can creatively use that, but there’s also a distinct possibility they might just decide to split them up. It wasn’t lost on me that Zelina was grouped with The L.W.O. in the draft while Rhea was picked separately from everyone else in Judgment Day.

Predicted Winner: Rhea Ripley

Seth Freakin’ Rollins Vs Omos

I still believe in Omos long-term. He’s got a tremendous look, and there are some things he does very well in the ring for a man of his size, particularly kicking people in the face. But Seth Rollins is having a moment right now that only seems to be building. He’s in prime position to win the newly announced WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and Omos, well, Omos hasn’t won a match at a premium live event since Backlash 2022. That’s a year. He’s gone a whole ass year without winning on PPV.

To me, the real question here is whether this is going to be a squash. Omos very notably was not drafted and instead made a free agent. My guess is that means we’re going to see him take some time off and then return to wherever he’s most needed down the road. I’d love to see him join a tag team again, where he really excelled, but we’ll just have to wait and see. In the short-term, it’s gonna be nothing but sadness and heartbreak again as Rollins should go over quickly and cleanly.

Predicted Winner: Seth Freakin’ Rollins

Austin Theory (Champion) Vs Bobby Lashley For Bronson Reed For The United States Championship

I think this is one of the toughest matches on the card to predict. Triple H brought Austin Theory down in pretty embarrassing fashion when he first took over, but he used the opportunity to relaunch the character as a more serious and less gimmicky heel. In the time since, his booking has been strong, but in my opinion, his crowd reactions have only been pretty good. He’s generating heat and interest in what he’s doing. That’s all you ask of someone on the mid-card, but once you get closer to the top, how much heat and interest you’re drawing is the real question. Some level is expected, and for Theory, I don’t think his current level quite strong enough, which is why I think he’s vulnerable.

I could see this match going in any of the three possible directions. Bobby Lashley was screwed out of a match at WrestleMania and is certainly very well-liked by fans. I could see WWE throwing him a makegood here and letting him pick up a big premium live event win and another title run. Then again, I could also see Bronson Reed having a moment. Over the last several months, he’s gone from zero crowd interest to some notable buzz online to generating some real excitement in live crowds when he heads for the top ropes. I think he could be built into a really scary monster-heel if WWE would let him stack wins for a few months. Or they could just stick with Austin Theory, which is what I suspect they’ll do.

Predicted Winner: Austin Theory

Bianca Belair (Champion) Vs Iyo Sky For The Raw Women’s Championship

I think Bianca is probably going to lose her championship sooner rather than later. Her crowd reactions have been only somewhat positive at times and were straight up bad at WrestleMania 39. She hasn’t had any real character development in a long time. She needs an injection of something fresh and different, but I don’t think it’s going to be during this match at Backlash. There just hasn’t been enough of a real build. 

Iyo Sky is a tremendous wrestler, and there have been a lot of hints about Damage CTRL’s future being uncertain. I think most fans expect them to break up at some point, but if WWE was going to do something big here, with maybe a break-up and Bianca Belair losing the title, you would think they would have been given real time to build this match. Instead, we got one interview segment during the third hour the week of the PPV. That’s just not enough, and frankly, the women's division needs a whole lot more.

Predicted Winner: Bianca Belair

Bad Bunny Vs Damian Priest

I have a hard time believing Bad Bunny is going to lose a San Juan Street Fight at a premium live event he’s also hosting in Puerto Rico. Unless he’s committing to another premium live event in the very near future (SummerSlam?) where we’ll get a rematch, I think he’s definitely going to win, but I suspect WWE added the San Juan Street Fight stipulation to protect Damian Priest. I think we’ll get interference or some kind of unusual weapon that will explain away how the Judgment Day star could lose to a professional singer.

That being said, as celebrities go, Bad Bunny is tremendous in the ring, and I can’t wait to see more of him this weekend. He’s extremely athletic and has a great appreciation for the business. I expect we’ll see at least one really sophisticated move and some really fluid and well-practiced in-ring work. I also think Damian Priest’s overall profile will ultimately be elevated by being in such a prime PPV spot with one of the world’s most popular singers. It’ll be a great way for him to show off what he can do, which is fantastic since I love Damian Priest and will rise to buy all the long-term stock. I think he’s capable of, at minimum, being a mid-card champion again and potentially even capable of being a more top tier guy.

Predicted Winner: Bad Bunny

Cody Rhodes Vs Brock Lesnar

I suspect Bad Bunny and Damian Priest will close the show, but in spirit and in spite of this not being for a championship, this is the main event of Backlash. I think we’ll see this match go off first, and I have to think this’ll end with a big victory for Cody Rhodes. It’s one thing to lose to Roman Reigns after interference at ‘Mania. It’s quite another to lose at two consecutive premium live events to the champion and then the perennial number one contender. You have to win matches to stay on top, and Cody needs to stay on top, unless Triple H, Bruce Prichard and everyone else in creative is planning to play a really long game with Cody. 

Plus, Brock Lesnar doesn’t need this. He beat up Omos at WrestleMania, and I suspect there’s a chance he steps away for awhile after this match. We were told during the draft that he has the right to appear on either brand moving forward, and WWE will likely use that flexibility to plug him in down the line wherever he makes the most sense whenever he returns. 

Predicted Winner: Cody Rhodes

Are you one of those people who is constantly scheming and coming up with wild wrestling theories? Well, I am. The majority of them I never share with the public because they’re too detached from reality and would make me sound mentally unstable, but every once in awhile, I need to say a few out loud, mostly because I think there’s a tiny sliver of a chance they might happen and I’m gonna need credit for guessing them on the off chance they do. I should probably go to therapy about that, but we'll leave that to another day.

Anyway, to be absolutely clear and cover my ass from any negative feedback, these are not my WrestleMania 39 predictions, which I published in a separate article. Those are, for the most part, very business-like and sober. These are more mom had one too many glasses of wine theories. There's some minor evidence here, though, and I'm gonna spend the rest of this article presenting it and trying to convince myself.

Alpha Academy Will Win The Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match, Setting Off A Run That Will End With Chad Gable As Mid-Card Champion

Chad Gable is one of the best losers in the history of WWE. He’s had some tag team championship glory, sure, but over the last year, he’s almost exclusively been used to put over other guys. He’s looked great doing it, and given how consistently he works with top talent, it’s obvious Triple H loves him. There’s also been some not so shy teases that Otis is about to leave Gable to join up with The Maximum Male Models.

So… my wild theory is in the middle of the Fatal 4-way match, Otis is going to get distracted and leave with The Maximum Male Models, which will leave Chad Gable by himself. Something inside him will snap, and he’ll go on an epic run by himself, beating the other 3 teams. Then afterwards, he’ll give a promo in which he vows never to lose again. This will set off a multiple month run through the mid-card that will end in him beating whoever eventually takes the title from Gunther. I love this theory because Chad Gable is great, and if you disagree, stick your finger to your lips and shoooooooooosh, 

Brock Lesnar Will Lose To Omos After The Hurt Business Reunites

Breaking up The Hurt Business was one of the worst creative decisions WWE has ever made. Bobby Lashley has done pretty well on his own. He’s really improved on the microphone, but there was something so intimidating about him with MVP, Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander. Everyone is expecting this match to end with Lesnar F5ing Omos. It probably will, but what if Lashley shows up to help Omos and reunite with his former stablemates?

It would make sense given how their match ended at Elimination Chamber, and if Brock is going to take some time off, Lashley, with the backing of The Hurt Business and Omos, could step in as the SummerSlam challenger if Cody Rhodes wins at WrestleMania. I’d love to see The Hurt Business back together, and if Cody wins at ‘Mania but his run isn’t going as well as expected, Lashley could provide the perfect exit ramp at SummerSlam. But he needs a jolt to do that. Bringing back The Hurt Business would be a lightning bolt. Plus, for the thousandth time, they never should have broken up in the first place.

Alexa Bliss Will Order The Fiend To Attack Someone At WrestleMania

Alexa Bliss confirmed to CinemaBlend in an interview following her Masked Singer performance that she’ll be in the building at WrestleMania. The big question is what that means. WWE could inexplicably decide, for the second year in a row, not to use her. Or they could suddenly give us a ton of forward momentum in the staling Bray Wyatt plot. We haven’t seen Wyatt since he inexplicably disappeared from TV earlier this month. Rumors have been everywhere, but no one really knows what’s going on. Some claim there’s tension between The Eater Of Worlds and WWE over creative differences.

If they want to reset his character, the best way to do that may be through circling back to a plot WWE seemed to be setting up at the end of that poorly received WrestleMania 37 match with Randy Orton. Yes, it would be a little weird to circle back to that, but I don’t think fans hated it because it was a bad idea. I think they hated it because of how it was executed. Putting Alexa and Bray back together might be the best way to jumpstart both their careers and set up whatever the next chapter is. It wouldn’t explain why the match with Bobby Lashley was bailed on, but it would at least provide direction.

The Rock Will Cost Roman Reigns The Title And Set Up A Match At WrestleMania 40

Everyone was fixated on The Rock headlining WrestleMania this year since it was taking place in Hollywood and also because it made so much sense with The Bloodline story. But you know what also makes sense? Having one of the biggest movie stars in the world headline the 40th anniversary of WrestleMania? WWE has used the closing moments of WrestleMania to set up the following year’s match before, and with something like Roman and The Rock, which wouldn’t need the belts, that might actually make some sense.

A finish like this would also allow Roman Reigns to take some time off, and it would explain why, when he came back, he wouldn’t immediately seek a rematch with Cody Rhodes. He would be fixated on establishing dominance in his own family, and his story could exclusively focus on the disintegration of The Bloodline as he deals with The Usos, Solo and maybe some other family members that might pop up and have to choose sides. WWE ended night one of WrestleMania 38 on an incredible high with Stone Cold Steve Austin’s way better than it should have been match with Kevin Owens last year. Maybe this year will end night two on a high with The Rock. 

John Cena Will Beat Austin Theory, Then Hold An Open Challenge On Night 2 That’ll Be Answered By A New Signing

I’m pretty sure John Cena is coming back to give Austin Theory his stamp of approval and try to push him forward in his career. The twenty-five-year-old superstar has had his character reset by Triple H a little bit, but over the last few months, he’s been winning matches and looking good doing it. He’s back to holding The United States Championship, and while most fans really seem to recognize his potential and how good he is, he hasn’t found that connection yet that would take him to main event status. I think Cena is here to help that— but if he’s not, he could be here to facilitate a big moment.

Whether you like it or not, a lot of wrestling fans expect big surprises at major premium live events. Sometimes it feels like their perception of a show can be dramatically influenced by whether they got a surprise rush of adrenaline from seeing someone unexpected. There aren’t many places on the card where WWE could conceivably debut someone new, except maybe here. Cena is almost certainly not going to stick around to defend a title. So, if he wins, he needs to lose it quickly— and what better way to do that and give someone debuting a big first moment than by having Cena put him over?

To Sum Up

I don’t really believe any of these things are going to happen, and by really believe, I mean I wouldn't bet money on them without sizeable odds. But also, part of me believes they just might happen, and that’s why I needed to say something out loud. 

You can fact check me this weekend when the biggest show of the year airs. If you’re in The United States, you can check it out with a Peacock subscription or if you’re abroad, you can look into other ways to watch WrestleMania 39.

I dropped by the WWE WrestleMania Superstore today in Los Angeles, and I can confirm it’s awesome. It boasts hundreds of t-shirt styles, classic memorabilia, unusual souvenirs and a Mattel booth showcasing many of the fabulous toys coming over the next year or two. I spent over an hour in there, and while I was looking at all the amazing merchandise, I also noticed the store is set up in such a way that it seems to confirm the rumors that the original WrestleMania 39 card looked different.

When you first walk into the Superstore, which is at The Los Angeles Convention Center, there is a wall of motion posters that features many current WWE superstars. They’re all made to look like movie posters, which is fitting for the theme and location of WrestleMania 39. These don’t seem to have anything to do with who is actually on the WrestleMania card, as I saw Karrion Kross, LA Knight, Alexa Bliss and a bunch of others who don’t have official matches. 

By the check-out, however, there is a second series of posters. These are static and laid out much more thoughtfully. First, there are the five superstars going into The WWE Hall Of Fame class this weekend. Then, after that, there’s a poster for every (almost) every person appearing on the actual card, and they’re grouped together with their opponents. So, for example, John Cena is next to Austin Theory. Bianca Belair is next to Asuka. Almost all of it makes complete sense, but there are a few that very specifically don’t fit the pattern and they seem to offer confirmation that the final WrestleMania plans we got were not the original plans.

In total, there are six WWE superstars who have pictures that are not currently on the card, plus Snoop Dogg who has helped promo the event. Now, three of them, in my opinion, are very easily explained. The Miz doesn’t have a match but is hosting WrestleMania. It would be weird if he wasn’t there. I also think it makes sense that Solo Sikoa and Damian Priest have posters, as they’ll almost certainly play a key role as cornermen in matches. So, that leaves three more, starting with these two...

Now, WWE basically told us this match was coming. Bray Wyatt openly challenged the winner of Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley. Lashley accepted the challenge and there were a few promos and teases, until it suddenly disappeared without explanation. Rumors have been swirling for weeks about what might have happened. We've heard everything from Wyatt maybe having an illness to Wyatt maybe walking out. We don't know, but I think this is a sign that WWE was hoping to make it work until pretty recently. 

As evidence, everyone in the men's fatal four way tag team team showcase match that was added less than two weeks ago has their own individual poster. Maybe WWE has secretly been planning that match for months, but it went from rumor to confirmation in basically a day. The stories going around, if they were to be believed, essentially said Triple H and the writers wanted to feature more wrestlers so they added that. So... until how recently was WWE still holding their fingers Bray and Bobby would happen? Less than two weeks ago?

And finally, the last person with her own poster that's not scheduled for a match is Carmella, and those who have been paying close attention may have seen that coming too. The Staten Island Princess appeared for a few weeks with Chelsea Green by her side, and it looked like the two were going to form a tag team and compete at WrestleMania. As soon as the women's showcase fatal four way was announced, they seemed like a shoe-in. But then out of nowhere, Chelsea Green partnered with Piper Niven and then the following week, she partnered with Sonya Deville and won a qualifying match to get added to the 'Mania card. 

Exactly what happened with Carmella is unclear. Fightful Select previously reported that Mella was "sidelined" from competition, but they said it wasn't anything to do with backstage heat. She's made appearances this week at local events to promote WrestleMania; so, exactly why she was pulled is unclear. Both WWE's programming and this graphic strongly hint she was planned to be included, though, so, there must be some kind of reason.

Regardless, WrestleMania 39 will take place this weekend at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. You can check out my full predictions for the event, which you can stream for free with a Peacock subscription.

WrestleMania 39 is just about here, and the card is absolutely stacked. I’m so fired up about so many different matches. Of course there’s the possible end to The Bloodline story with Roman Reigns, The Usos, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and late addition Cody Rhodes, but even beyond those months-in-the-making matches, WWE has given fans an assortment of things to really be excited about.

I’m personally pumped for Austin Theory and John Cena, Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair and Rey and Dominik Mysterio to name a few, but it feels like I talk to five different people, and they all have different things they’re excited about, which is perfect. WrestleMania is meant to draw as many eyeballs as possible from casual and hardcore fans. It should be a celebration of all things wrestling: different styles, different emotional beats and different personalities.

I’ll do my best here to predict what’s going to happen. Not to brag, but last year, I went 11 and 4 in my WrestleMania 38 predictions (and have gone 56 and 21 since I started), and I’m hoping to do even better this year. I’ll outline who I think is going to win but also talk about the larger plotlines and what might be going through the minds of Triple H and the writers…

Austin Theory Vs John Cena For The United States Championship

The thing about wrestling for a championship belt is that if you win, you need to defend it, and at this point, there’s no reason to believe John Cena is sticking around in WWE to defend this belt. So, if he wins, it probably means he’s going to 1) wrestle for a surprise second time and lose during WrestleMania weekend or 2) drop it on an upcoming episode of Raw or Smackdown. Or more likely, it means he’s going to lose this long-rumored match. I’d love it if he won during the first match of night one, then held an open challenge and dropped it to a surprise person on night two (like LA Knight), but that seems a whole lot more complicated than just losing.

So, I think John Cena is going to lose. Being the great company man he is, I think he’s coming back to signal to fans that Austin Theory is a future star in the business (despite his post Money In The Bank booking), and there’s no better way to signal that than by losing a match for a belt he has a long history with at WrestleMania 39. I expect a fun, high energy match. I think Cena will get a lot of hope spots, but ultimately, I think he’s going to put Austin Theory over cleanly with his back on the mat. 

Predicted Winner: Austin Theory

Seth Freakin’ Rollins Vs Logan Paul

Logan Paul has full-on embraced his heelish inner-self, and it feels so right. He was never going to work, at least in the short-term, as a baby face, but now that he’s embraced the boos, he’s starting to feel more like a real part of the picture and not just a celebrity dropping by. The in-ring talent is there. The mic work is smooth and natural. He’s got the look. He’s got the charisma. The pieces are there to be WWE Champion someday, but in order to get there, he needs a ton of reps. He needs to expand his arsenal of moves, figure out how to sell promos with a less receptive crowd and improve the little things he hasn’t had time to develop yet. Whether or not he’s going to put in the time and make the commitment to wrestling in order to do that is anyone’s guess.

As for Seth Rollins, he’s getting a great crowd response. The fans are screaming his music, and he’s fully over as a baby face, which is wild given he was injuring Cody Rhodes with a sledgehammer less than a year ago. But it’s not really clear that he’s building toward anything. He’s doing fun work each week, but there’s not a sense of drive or long-term progression to his character. Add that to the fact that Logan Paul took a loss to Roman Reigns in Saudi Arabia last year, and I think WWE is gonna wanna put the social media star over here. You can’t pop up now and again and lose each time you pop up.

Predicted Winner: Logan Paul

Trish Stratus, Lita And Becky Lynch Vs Damage CTRL (Bayley, Iyo Sky And Dakota Kai)

I have a lot of mixed thoughts about this match; so, let me talk out both sides. On the one hand, wouldn’t it be nice to give Trish and Lita an awesome WrestleMania moment? Fans would absolutely love to see those two, along with favorite Becky Lynch, raise their arms in the air in victory. Given this match doesn’t really have like larger title implications, it could just exist as a fun one-off memory for everyone involved.

On the other hand, how many times can we watch Bayley lose? I love Bayley. I consider her to be one of the top women, but she hasn’t won a singles match at a premium live event since she beat Asuka at SummerSlam in 2020. When Damage CTRL formed last year, it looked positioned to dominate the women’s division, but with Iyo and Dakota losing the tag team belts and Bayley taking Ls all the time (including on TV recently to Rhea Ripley), this match almost feels like a referendum to whether they should stay near the top of the card. 

Predicted Winner: Damage CTRL

Bianca Belair Vs Asuka For The Raw Women’s Championship

I like both Bianca and Asuka a lot. I’ve enjoyed a ton of feuds both of these women have been in, but to be honest, the build to this match has been a little flat. Their shared in-ring segments have been kinda awkward at times, and I’m not sure anyone is really following the story they’re trying to tell. Of the title matches at WrestleMania 39, I would say this one has the least buzz around it.

And I just can’t see Bianca Belair, after this incredible title run, losing the belt in a match that doesn’t have much buzz around it. Champions shouldn’t lose the belt because it’s time for change. They should lose it because someone else is gaining more momentum than they have. Asuka is great, but I just don’t see her gaining momentum with fans right now, especially because she’s in this weird middle ground where she’s trying to become a heel but people aren’t really accepting the change and booing her (outside of when she does overtly heelish things). In another timeline with a different build, I could easily see Asuka winning here, but not right now and not with this very bland lead-in. 

Predicted Winner: Bianca Belair

Brock Lesnar Vs Omos

Some rumors have swirled about Brock Lesnar maybe taking a break after WrestleMania 39. That’s entirely possible given he feels outside the main event picture, which is unusual for his character, but even if he does step away, I have to think WWE is gonna want to keep him strong for a possible return down the road. Omos doesn’t seem like he’s building toward anything specific right now, and Brock Lesnar needs to stay a main event style attraction. Think of it this way: could you conceive a scenario in which Brock Lesnar could main event a future WrestleMania? Yes. Could you conceive the same for Omos? No. That’s why Brock Lesnar should win this match.

I think there’s a legit chance here we might see an Earthquake Vs Adam Bomb at WrestleMania X style squash match. Lesnar picking Omos up over his head and F5ing him is the moment we all want to see. I don’t think WWE needs to waste time getting there. I’d gladly take an action packed two or three minutes, ending in a viral moment than eight or nine minutes that could be a little awkward since neither guy is the most fluid in the ring.

Predicted Winner: Brock Lesnar

Showcase Match: Braun Strowman & Ricochet Vs The Viking Raiders Vs The Street Profits Vs Alpha Academy

Did WWE set this match up to get some talented and popular wrestlers on the ‘Mania card or are we going to get some long-term plot development out of this? I think the answer is a bit of both, and I think that long-term plot development is going to come in the form of friction between The Street Profits. I’m not saying they’re going to break up at WrestleMania, but I think the seeds of long-term issues are going to be planted here. We’ve already seen the longtime pair wrestle a lot more separately in recent months. Now feels like the time for a Shawn Michaels/ Marty Jannety style story that plays out over the course of a few months and ends with a singles match, maybe at SummerSlam?

As for who will win the match, I’m going to rule out The Street Profits because of the above theory, and I’m also going to rule out Alpha Academy, since they’ve mostly been used to put other teams over and also seem like they’re in the middle of a slow motion break up. So, that leaves The Viking Raiders and Strowman & Ricochet. I like both teams a lot. Triple H and the writing staff have kept The Viking Raiders looking particularly strong, but Strowman and Ricochet are very over with the crowd. I saw them at a live event recently, and they were getting huge pops from the crowd. I think they’re potential future tag team champions.

Predicted Winner: Braun Strowman & Ricochet

Showcase Match: Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler Vs Natalya & Shotzi Vs Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez Vs Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville

First of all, I have no idea what happened to Carmella. WWE was clearly setting up a Carmella & Chelsea Green partnership and for them to take the last spot in this match. Now we're getting Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville. I'll miss Carmella, but I'm glad to see Sonya get a WrestleMania moment. She was great at placing the authority figure and was a really nice foil for Adam Pearce. They need to give her more opportunities to talk on TV.

That being said, this match has to be all about Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler, right? Ronda has obviously had some troubles over the last year getting over with the crowd, but she's still Ronda Rousey. I don't know what WWE is paying her, but it's too much to be on the undercard. So, they need to figure out how to make this experiment work and give her an angle fans will buy. I think they're going to keep trying and that'll start with a win here, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Liv & Raquel pick up the W either.

Predicted Winner: Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler

Edge Vs Finn Bálor In A Hell In A Cell Match

It looks like we’re going to get Bálor’s Demon vs Brood-style Edge here, and I’m all for it. Between that and the Hell In A Cell stipulation, it’s a fun way to make this match feel WrestleMania levels of important. Expect a strong match with a really high workrate and some fun spots. I don’t think we’ll get any crazy cage jumps, but I do think we’ll get a really tight and well put together 20 minutes in which both of these superstars show how talented they are.

I’ve heard a lot of people say they think Edge will go over since he’s probably nearing retirement, but I just don’t think this win does as much for him as it does for Bálor. The goal of wrestling is to set up what is next. The Judgment Day is hot right now. All four performers are at the top of their games, and there’s a strong chance Rhea Ripley will emerge from ‘Mania as The Smackdown Women’s Champion. To me, the most important thing here is The Judgment Day looking as strong as possible because that stable could be incredible with a few minor tweaks.

Predicted Winner: Finn Bálor

Dominik Mysterio vs Rey Mysterio

If you would have told me a year ago that we would get Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania, I would not have been very excited. I know because a year ago, there were persistent rumors Vince McMahon wanted to break up the father son duo and push them into a feud, and I could not bring myself to care. Well, here we are, and I am absolutely hyped for this match. It’s one of my most anticipated showdowns on the entire card. Dominik Mysterio is on an epic heel run right now. He’s getting booed like a prime Ted Dibiase, and he’s a perfect for for The Judgment Day.

The expectation here from many is that Rey will finally teach his son a lesson and show him the meaning of respect, but I think a Rey Mysterio win would suck all the energy out of the feud. I’d like to see Dom go over here (obviously via some outrageous cheating) and these two could continue their back-and-forth for awhile. I don’t think Dom needs the feud anymore to stay relevant given how over he is as a heel, but if you have a ready made storyline fans want to see, you may as well use it.

Predicted Winner: Dominik Mysterio

Gunther Vs Sheamus Vs Drew McIntyre For The Intercontinental Championship

There are some fans who think Sheamus and Drew McIntyre were both put into this match to liven it up a little bit. Maybe. But personally, I think this is a triple threat because it gives WWE the opportunity to take the belt off Gunther without him actually losing. They referenced this on Smackdown during the contract signing, and it feels like that’s where this is going to go. Then, after Gunther loses, he can start working his way up to the main event scene, given he’s the best young unstoppable monster heel WWE has had since Yokozuna.

If Gunther is going to lose, I think the more likely candidate to win is Sheamus. He’s never held The Intercontinental Championship before, and this would give him a really nice moment, especially after he’s revitalized his career over the last year. Look for him to pin Drew McIntyre and then for the two of them to probably wrestle each other at WrestleMania Backlash with Gunther bowing out because he has his eyes on a bigger prize.

Predicted Winner: Sheamus

Charlotte Flair Vs Rhea Ripley For The Smackdown Women’s Championship

I love Charlotte Flair, but come’on. Rhea Ripley is on a rocketship right now. The fans are behind her. Charlotte already beat her once at WrestleMania. It is her time to carry the women’s division in WWE forward, and that starts at WrestleMania. I am confident in a fair number of these predictions, but there is none I’m more confident in than Rhea winning (with the exception of maybe Brock squashing Omos). 

Plus. I still think Charlotte Flair works better as a heel. She’s a talented enough wrestler and showman that she can technically do either. She’s probably better at being a top babyface than 90% of the roster as an example, but she really shines as a heel. That’s what she needs to get back to. I’d love to see her take a loss to Rhea and then turn heel to be the next challenger to Bianca maybe at SummerSlam. Expect a really strong match but for Rhea to ultimately prevail. I think she’ll do it cleanly too without Judgment Day interference.

Predicted Winner: Rhea Ripley

The Usos vs Sami Zayn And Kevin Owens For The Undisputed Tag Team Championships

With all due respect to Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes and everything else on the card, this has been the A-plot storyline over the last year. More often than not, The Usos and Sami Zayn in particular have been driving the weekly shows fans have been watching, and there will likely be more emotional investment from fans in this match than any other across either night. The payoff here was built one fantastic segment at a time, to the point where many fans are openly talking about how sad they are it may be ending.

Pretty much everyone I’ve talked to expects Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens to win here. We’ve watched them (in particular Sami) try to climb up the mountain for months. He got really close to the top in that fantastic match at Elimination Chamber in Montreal. This is the moment where he finally gets a happy ending, or at least an unapologetically happy plot point if the storyline continues. Ordinarily, I’d be worried about a potential swerve since so many people think they know where this is going, but sometimes you just need to give fans what they want. Shoutout to The Usos though who have been tremendous during this championship run. They’re no doubt first ballot Hall of Famers with a lot of career left.

Predicted Winner: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens

Roman Reigns Vs Cody Rhodes For The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

Everyone acts like it’s such a sure thing that Cody is going to be the one to finally beat Roman Reigns and take his titles, but I’m not so sure about that. Roman and Cody have done a nice enough job of building a story over the past few months, but I personally think Cody’s story would be a lot more compelling if he lost and had to climb the ladder again. Yes, he went through a ton of hardships when he was in WWE originally, then switched to AEW and then switched back, but for those who might be newer to wrestling, he’s just a guy who has done nothing but win since he got back. I think Cody’s story is one of perseverance and overcoming challenges. Yes, he got injured last year and came back, but I’d like to see him experience some real losses.

I’m also just not ready for Roman Reigns’ time on top to be finished. He’s been the best heel champion WWE has ever had, and three years in, he’s still the biggest attraction. You can feel it on TV and you can feel it in the building during live events. He’s still got tremendous heat, and there are so many additional matches I’d like to see him have with the title: starting with Jey Uso. How fun would it be to watch Roman, still champion, absolutely lay into Jey and Jimmy about losing their titles and being weak? In a perfect world, I’d love to see Cody lose, fight his way back up the card, win The Royal Rumble again and try to finally get over the hill next year. Meanwhile, Roman can slowly lose member after member of The Bloodline until he’s completely on his own next year. Cody can take the titles then, but not now. Not yet. 

Predicted Winner: Roman Reigns

Other Predictions About Bray Wyatt, Bobby Lashley, The Miz, LA Knight And More

I have no idea what's going on with Bray Wyatt, but as of right now, I have to believe he's off the WrestleMania 39 card. It feels like something strange is going on behind the scenes or an injury (both of which have been rumored). I'd love to think this is a storyline swerve leading to a big surprise, but if this is all a work, I can't imagine you'd tease a Bray vs Bobby Lashley match, do a few promos and then say nothing about it for weeks. 

But I still think WWE will find a way to work Bobby Lashley into the WrestleMania card. Fans have been freaking out about how he was added to the Andre The Giant Battle Royal on SmackDown with a lot of talent that isn't going to be on the big show. Yes, that's a little worrying, but I don't see how you have Bobby Lashley available and don't use him at WrestleMania. That just doesn't make sense to me. So, I expect we'll see him issue an open challenge or something. 

The other person not on the card right now who I think will make a WrestleMania impact is LA Knight. He's been saying for weeks you can't have an LA WrestleMania without LA Knight, and given how much he's getting over with fans, I agree. Maybe that means doing something with Bobby Lashley. Maybe that means getting a quick segment on the microphone. I don't know how it'll happen, but he needs to do something. Good work that fans like should be rewarded.

And finally, I fully expect The Miz, who is hosting WrestleMania, to have at least one segment that ends in tragedy for The A-Lister. That's in keeping with his character, and it'll provide a little bit of levity at some point between matches. Maybe that beatdown come via a surprise celebrity or legend appearance or maybe that'll come from LA Knight or Bobby Lashley if they're not worked into the card another way. It could also be a cheap way to introduce a new character or a surprise hire and get them over with fans. Regardless, expect The Miz to eat someone's finisher at some point. 

Card subject to change is a phrase WWE fans know all too well. And while those four words are often used at live events, it can often become a reality for some of the company's biggest shows. That could very well be the case for the announced (but not finalized) one-on-one contest between Bobby Lashley and Bray Wyatt on the WrestleMania 39 card. 

On March 23, 2023, just nine days before the two-night “Granddaddy of Them All” was slated to get started at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, two-time former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley took to Twitter, saying:

Oddly enough, the “All-Mighty One” did not mention or allude to his WrestleMania opponent, instead saying he was “fresh and ready for a fight,” which could mean a lot of things.

Just a few weeks ago, the match-up of the two former WWE Champions squaring off under the bright lights of Hollywood seemed like a lock, as well as one of marquee matches on the card considering the high profiles of both wrestlers. But as we have come to know over the years, a lot can change in a short amount of time, and now the match is in question. 

A lot of this started in March 2023, when Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer (via Forbes) reported that Bray Wyatt missed a WWE event at Madison Square Garden, which as wrestling fans know, is like a country singer missing a gig on the Grand Ole Opry. According to Fightful Select, Wyatt was reportedly pulled due to a physical injury, but there weren’t a lot of details about the cause or severity of the supposed. 

Wyatt hasn’t been mentioned on WWE TV since then, though a poster featuring his likeness was briefly seen during a promo package for WrestleMania 39 during the March 20, 2023 episode of Monday Night Raw. Speaking of which, Bobby Lashley wasn’t on TV that night, nor was he mentioned, which is odd considering how close we are to WrestleMania at this point.

Now, this isn’t to say we won’t see Bobby Lashley and Bray Wyatt duke it out in Hollywood next weekend, as this could be part of some elaborate plan that WWE wants to keep close to the vest. Wyatt has been at the center of some of WrestleMania’s strangest moments during his WWE tenure, including his absolutely insane match with John Cena at the 2020 event.

But at the same time, Lashley’s tweet could open the door for another surprise. Maybe LA Knight steps in for his Royal Rumble 2023 opponent, or maybe he continues he faces off against his former Hurt Business stablemate Shelton Benjamin, who would be more than up to the challenge

If you want to know who Bobby Lashley ends up facing at WrestleMania 39, make sure to have a Peacock Premium subscription, as that is the only way to watch the two-night wrestling extravaganza on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd. And if you want even more wrestling, check out our rundown of all the upcoming WWE live events. 

WrestleMania 39 is on the way, and with not that long left before WWE's biggest nights of the year, we're finding out who will face who in the ring. There have also been a number of rumors and hints on Monday Night Raw and SmackDown about who else may have a match. 

Anyone looking for a rundown of who will and will likely square off on one of WrestleMania 39's two nights has come to the right place. Check out this updated list confirming who will take on who, as well a list of some of the most heavily speculated matches. 

Matches Confirmed To Be Happening

Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Cody Rhodes For The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes returned and won the 2023 Royal Rumble, giving him the right to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Undisputed WWE Championship. WrestleMania 39's main event will see the Tribal Chief put his impressive streak on the line against a challenger who returned to the WWE after traveling the world and changing pro wrestling forever. Make no mistake, this will be an epic match, no matter who wins. 

Charlotte Flair (c) Vs. Rhea Ripley For The SmackDown Women's Championship

Rhea Ripley became the first woman in WWE history to win the Royal Rumble in the number one spot, and now she's coming for the queen of WWE: Charlotte Flair. Rhea is on a hot streak and looking like the strongest woman on the roster, but she's going up against one of the most successful women's champions the brand has ever known. Can the up-and-comer take down the established champion, or will Flair's experience prove too much for Ripley?

Bianca Belair (c) Vs. Asuka For The Raw Women's Championship

Bianca Belair has had an impressive year as champion, but she's in for her biggest challenge yet with Asuka. The veteran has been on a hot streak since she adopted a new clown persona and could use a green mist to bring The EST's major reign to an end. Belair hasn't been champ for a year for no reason, however, so I think Asuka has her work cut out for her.  

Brock Lesnar Vs. Omos

WWE is literally saying "Bobby Who" by instead booking Brock Lesnar with someone he hasn't squared off against in a long time: Omos. MVP managed to goad The Beast into agreeing to a match at WrestleMania 39, and it should be an absolute brawl. Omos has racked up a number of wins on smaller competitors on the roster, but taking on a similarly sized opponent like Lesnar should prove a challenge for him. He'll have to get creative to win, and knowing MVP, I'd be shocked if there wasn't some plan.  

Austin Theory (c) Vs. John Cena For The United States Championship

Austin Theory had a tough 2022 after winning the Money In The Bank briefcase, but his fortune turned around when he won the United States Championship. Since that moment, he's done a lot to show that he's someone who deserves a spot near the top of the WWE, but he's still not quite there yet. Beating someone like John Cena would go a long way to prove his legitimacy, but as Cena suggested in their face-to-face at the Monday Night Raw in Boston, it could also set him back quite a bit. 

Damage CTRL Vs. Becky Lynch, Lita, And Trish Stratus

Damage CTRL's Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai dominated the Women's tag-team scene in the WWE, but all that came grinding to a halt when Becky Lynch and Lita took the titles off of them on Monday Night Raw. Now, the entirety of Damage CTRL is out for revenge, and Trish Stratus threw herself into the mix to even the odds and make this a superstar throwdown for the ages. 

Finn Balor Vs. Edge

Finn Balor became the de facto leader of Judgment Day after they turned on Edge, and it has been a helluva run for the faction since. With that said, Edge and Finn definitely have some unsettled beef ahead of WrestleMania 39, and Edge gave a thrilling challenge Balor couldn't pass up. The two will settle this feud in a Hell in a Cell match, and I can't wait to see how this plays out. 

Gunther (c) Vs. Sheamus Vs. Drew McIntyre For The Intercontinental Championship

Gunther's run as Intercontinental Champion has been quite a ride, but now the Ring General will face his toughest challenge since being called up to the WWE's main roster. Sheamus and Drew McIntyre will take on the champion in a triple threat match, which will put the star at a major disadvantage. Can the up-and-coming champion escape with his title against these two proven champions? 

Seth Rollins Vs. Logan Paul

Logan Paul has had an impressive run in the WWE thus far, but he might've poked the bear one too many times. Sure, Logan Paul gave Roman Reigns a helluva match, but it's fair to say Reigns underestimated Paul's abilities. Seth Rollins won't make the same mistake when they meet in the ring, and will likely give Paul his most memorable WrestleMania moment to date. 

Rey Mysterio Vs. Dominik Mysterio

Rey and Dominik Mysterio's feud started way back when they were targeted by Judgment Day, and Dom was smitten by Rhea Ripley. Ever since then, he and his "Mami" have terrorized Rey and his family, and it even escalated to the point where Dom was arrested for causing a ruckus in their house. Dom has goaded his old man for a fight this whole time, and while it took a while, Rey finally accepted. 

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens Vs. The Usos (c) For The Undisputed Tag Titles

The Bloodline has been targeting Sami Zayn ever since he protected Kevin Owens from Roman Reigns. For a while, it seemed possible Zayn could get a major WrestleMania moment against the Tribal Chief, but with that firmly in the rearview, the WWE will re-align Zayn and Owens against the Usos. Under normal circumstances, I'd say the longtime friends aren't in a good place to take on the tag-team champs, but the Uso's recent tiff does make it feel like they'll be out of sync for this massive showdown. 

Matches Rumored Or Teased To Be Happening

Bobby Lashley Vs. Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt promised he'd target the winner of Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar's match at Elimination Chamber, and he's seemingly decided he's going after "Bobby Who" as of late. Wyatt had a strong showing against L.A. Knight earlier this year, but taking on Lashley, even with all of his supernatural tricks, feels like a tall order for Wyatt. Could Lashley be the person who puts an end to Wyatt and his mysterious cohort Uncle Howdy? 

Those with a Peacock Premium subscription can stream WWE's WrestleMania 39 on Saturday, April 1st, and on Sunday, April 2nd. Hopefully, there are some more surprises the organization is keeping under wraps. We'll update as they get confirmed.

Last night was the most I’ve been excited for a non-WrestleMania, non-Royal Rumble premium live event in I don’t know how long. A ton of WWE’s biggest stars weren’t even there, and it didn’t matter. The card didn’t need Cody Rhodes or Becky Lynch or Gunther or Charlotte Flair or Drew McIntyre or Sheamus or The Miz or Bianca Belair or AJ Styles or whoever else. It had five really solid and exciting matches, all of which were trying to do very different things. And of course it was the headlined by Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns, offering us the next chapter in the most emotionally complicated and interesting story in the history of wrestling.

For the most part, I think WWE pulled it off. A ton of what Triple H and company did really worked, and we now have even more pieces moved in place for a really exciting WrestleMania. So, overall, I’m really happy with how things went, but that doesn’t mean everything was perfect. So, let’s celebrate the best of the best, and let’s complain about the worst of the worst. Here are 3 things I think Elimination Chamber got right and 2 things I think it got wrong.

Got Right: Made Everyone Look Good In The Men’s Elimination Chamber

Going into The Elimination Chamber, I had a lot of mixed feelings about this match. I was really pumped about The United States Championship being elevated to the point of being defended inside The Chamber, but I wasn’t overly thrilled with the participants. I rarely watch NXT so the appeal of Johnny Gargano has been basically lost on me since he made his main roster debut. He got no reaction at The Royal Rumble, and I was confused why he was getting put into this spot. The same could be said about Bronson Reed, who has been getting zero crowd reaction since his return. 

Well, after watching Elimination Chamber, I am pretty in on Bronson Reed as an angry superheel, and while I still think Johnny Gargano needs a character that isn’t mugging for the camera and being cocky for zero reason, I’m way more on board than I was before yesterday. They both had some spectacular moments inside The Chamber, and the same could be said for every other dude in there. Montez Ford had a few standout moments too, and we may look back on this as the launching pad for him to start a singles career. 

Damian Priest, who I love in Judgment Day, had an elimination and looked dominant for several stretches, and Austin Theory and Seth Rollins had quite a few really fun and impressive moments too. I think you could easily make the case that Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano and Montez Ford all left The Chamber looking better and stronger than when they came in, and Priest, Rollins and Theory, who have all been much higher on the card than the first three, left without any hit to their position. Throw in the fact that the match worked and paved the way for both Seth Rollins and Logan Paul and Austin Theory and John Cena at WrestleMania, and that has to be considered a huge win.

Got Wrong: The Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley Finish

Listen: I’m not too cool for a DQ finish. I know a lot of wrestling fans want a clean pin or submission every single time, but the occasional DQ or finish with heavy outside interference can help move along a story. There’s a time and a place for shenanigans, but that time and a place is after building a feud people actually want to see. I’m not saying I wasn’t marginally hyped for Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley, but there are a lot more interesting things you could be doing with either guy. 

If the point was to get to Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania, they could have just done that and spent an extra six weeks building the feud up in a way that was more emotionally compelling. You didn’t need Elimination Chamber. But given Bray Wyatt publicly changed the winner of the Lashley and Lesnar match last Friday on Smackdown, I’m not even sure we’re going to get Brock and Bobby at ‘Mania. If that was the case, then why not give us a real finish? 

And if this was all done because you didn’t want to have either guy take a real loss, then why put them in a feud together? If you wanted Brock on the card, you could have put him with anyone and reestablished his dominance. Imagine they just said Brock Lesnar is going to spin a wheel with everyone’s name on it at Elimination Chamber and whoever it lands on has to fight Brock. The Miz could have done 3 segments trying to get Adam Pierce to rig the wheel. This premium live event didn’t need either of these two. If we would have gotten a real match, that would have been great, but since we didn’t, they should have done anything else. 

Got Right: Kept The Titles On Roman Reigns

I was emotionally rooting for Sami Zayn with everything I had last night. After his incredible Smackdown reaction and promo, part of me even wondered if he could win. But the more reasoned, long-term focused parts of my brain were always quietly confident in Roman Reigns, which is why I picked him to win in my Elimination Chamber predictions. I’m not against putting the big belt on someone to reward them for being super over with fans and having an incredible run. In normal circumstances, they should have put the belt on Sami Zayn, but in this specific case, that would have required moving around a ton of pieces for WrestleMania. It almost certainly would have also required Roman Reigns to wrestle twice. 

My colleague here at CinemaBlend Mick Joest was all about a Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes Main Event, but I just think the likelihood of Cody winning that match is too overwhelming. Roman needs to be in there to add more doubt. Plus, it wouldn’t make any sense for him to have a run of more than 900 days and then not get a rematch. I know it’s wrestling, but the plot still needs to make sense. 

So, he would need to be in the main event, which would have left The Usos with nothing productive to do for WrestleMania other than manufacture a feud in six weeks. That makes no sense; so, you would have needed Jey and Jimmy to turn on Roman to help Sami win the belt at Elimination Chamber, which would have given us Roman and Solo vs The Usos, and I’m just not sure WWE was going to break up The Bloodline like that. Ultimately, I think WWE made the right move, but there are plenty of others who vehemently disagree with me.  

Got Wrong: Didn’t Push Rhea Ripley (Or Judgment Day) Hard Enough

I absolutely love Judgment Day. I think they have all the pieces to be a historically great stable. Rhea Ripley has the tools to be one of the best women ever. She should be the leader. Then Finn Bálor should be competing and sometimes holding mid-card titles, and after The Usos lose and the belts get split up, Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio should be tag team champions. Imagine Dominik looking like absolute trash during every match. He could get saved by Priest who almost single-handedly wins every match, and then Dom could get on the mic and brag about all his accomplishments every week. People would hate it. The boos would be deafening. 

Anyway, all of the pieces are here. A potential all-time great (Rhea), two really strong in-ring workers who are decent on the mic and have completely different styles (Priest and Finn) and a side character who is one of the most hated dudes in recent memory. That’s the formula. I want to see WWE start pushing them really hard and that means giving them more time for character development and having them pick up more Ws. 

Now, to be clear, this match (despite one egregious botch) was a ton of fun. Both Beth Phoenix and Edge still look really good in the ring, and it was a fun way to spend fifteen minutes. I enjoyed all of it, but if the long-term plans are to push Judgment Day (and they should be given Rhea winning The Rumble), then they should be looking dominant— not losing to two Hall of Famers who aren’t part of the main event scene. Once again, good match though. I just think it hurts the long-term story, or at least the long-term story I’d tell.

Got Right: Pushed Asuka (And Delivered A Good Women’s Elimination Chamber)

I like the decision to reinvent Asuka’s character a little bit with different make-up and a different attitude. She was being wasted standing behind Bianca Belair last year, but when she finished third at The Rumble behind Rhea and Liv Morgan, I started to have some doubts. Was WWE going to fully push her back to the main event scene? Well, now we know the answer is yes. Asuka needed a dominant performance to re-establish her place in the hierarchy, and we got that.

We also got an exciting and fun Elimination Chamber match. Asuka, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez all looked great. Natalya got really strong support from the crowd back in her home country of Canada and reminded everyone what she's capable of. Camella had some fun interactions and was pushed harder than I expected, and even Nikki Cross, despite her gimmick not working at all right now, had a few good spots inside The Chamber. It was a really thoughtful, well-put together match that highlighted all the strengths of the different performers. And the end result was right. That’s a huge win.

P.S. Special Shoutout To The Crowd

I don’t really want to credit WWE for how hot the crowd was, but everyone in the crowd both for Smackdown and Elimination Chamber should be applauding themselves. This was a perfect big atmosphere crowd. They engaged with the storyline. They participated when it made sense, not in an annoying Raw after WrestleMania way that’s trying to get themselves over. They were everything you’d hope to see from a PPV audience. So, huge thumbs up. It made what would have been a very good event into something special people will remember for years to come.

WWE premium live events stream for free with a Peacock subscription. The next upcoming WWE PPV will be WrestleMania, which happens on Saturday and Sunday over the first weekend of April. Expect a tremendous show that carries on a lot of the plots we saw here. 

I have a lot of feelings about Elimination Chamber, and this year's version is a good reminder of how mixed they can be. On the one hand, I absolutely, positively love the gimmick of the match. I love that superstars emerge from the pod one at a time and you don't know the order. I love how many unusual and creative things you can do inside the cage. I love the whole thing. I'm not saying it's The Royal Rumble, but I look forward to it every single year.

On the other hand, there's always something weird about the premium live event before WrestleMania. Because they're already advertising the biggest of the shows, it can sometimes feel like the appetizer for the main event. It's the last chance for WWE's writers to move some of the pieces around on a big stage; so, if it's not done right, it can feel like the first half of a performance.

That being said, there is a lot to be excited about here. Sami Zayn is the hottest character in wrestling in a long time, and he'll be trying to win the belts off Roman Reigns in front of his own home crowd, which is going to be LOUD. In addition, instead of getting the Elimination Chamber matches for the major titles, the men's is for the United States Championship and the women's is for a title shot at 'Mania, which means the results are harder to predict.

Fortunately, I'm on a hot streak. I successfully predicted every match at The 2023 Royal Rumble, and since that's the only premium live event so far this year, I'm undefeated in 2023! Here's a look at my results...

I can't promise I'll go undefeated here, but here are my best guesses as to what is about to happen at Elimination Chamber, which airs free in The United States with a Peacock subscription. 

Elimination Chamber Match For The United States Championship Featuring Austin Theory (Champion), Seth Freakin’ Rollins, Johnny Gargano, Damian Priest, Bronson Reed And Montez Ford

First of all, I love The United States Championship being defended in The Elimination Chamber. Triple H has done a fantastic job of elevating The US Championship and The Intercontinental Championship, and this is just the latest example. Plus, this allows for so many more options to put in there. There are only so many guys on the roster who could believably make sense for a Chamber match with one or both of the big belts on the line, but by making it a US Championship match, suddenly everyone in the mid-card is available. 

And as you can see, WWE took full advantage of their options and picked some very unexpected participants. Let’s start by eliminating the ones I don’t think have any chance starting with Montez Ford. I love The Street Profits, and this has the potential to be a showcase for Ford’s almost unlimited potential. I expect to see him do a frog splash off the top of the cage. I expect a handful of other wild spots. If he does well, it could be the catalyst for WWE breaking up The Street Profits and taking him solo, but that would almost certainly be done through an extended tag team break-up story, not an immediate jump to a WrestleMania solo match, which would come with winning this match. 

Plus, I still think he needs a little seasoning. He has all the talent in the world, but in my opinion, he sells in a mid-to-late-90s Shawn Michaels type way that looks obnoxious and is designed to get himself over. Add in his tendency, in my opinion, to make too many faces and go too big in every promo, and I think he needs a little more work before he’s main event material. Huge upside though. Still love the dude.

We can probably eliminate Bronson Reed and Johnny Gargano too. Neither one of these guys is over on the main roster. With all due respect to what Gargano did in NXT, his crowd reactions on the main roster are terrible. He may have gotten the single worst response when his music hit of anyone in The Men’s Rumble. And Bronson Reed has gotten even less during his handful of appearances. Triple H clearly likes both guys and is going to use Elimination Chamber to try and show fans their potential. I hope it works, but having either win would be way too much way too soon. Big results need to follow positive fan response. Not the other way around.

So, that leaves us Theory, Rollins and Damian Priest. Rollins is clearly the biggest star, but I think he’s almost certainly going to battle Logan Paul at WrestleMania, which shouldn’t be for the title since Logan Paul is still part-time. I’m really high on Damian Priest and Judgment Day. I’d love to see him get another run with a mid-card title, and it certainly seems like Triple H sees a lot of potential, given he went way over thirty minutes in that semi-recent multi-team tag match on Raw, but Austin Theory vs John Cena for the US Championship, given Cena’s long history with the belt and all the rumors last year about these two fighting, just makes so much sense. I think he’ll walk out the winner.

Predicted Winner: Austin Theory

Elimination Chamber Match For A Shot At Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s Championship At WrestleMania Featuring Asuka, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya, Carmella And Nikki Cross

There’s going to be a ton to take away from this match, but to me, the most important one is what Triple H really thinks of Asuka. She’s been stuck in the mud a bit since she was injured at Money In The Bank back in 2021. She was put in a key spot at Hell In The Cell after her return in 2022 and briefly won the tag titles with Alexa Bliss, but there have also been periods where she wasn’t really used or was simply used as back-up for Bianca Belair. She returned at The Rumble to great fanfare and a new look. If Triple H wants to push her, now is the time by having her win this match and get a prime singles championship opportunity at ‘Mania, which would further solidify her as one of the top female stars in WWE. So, if the writers consider Asuka one of the top three or four women in the company, she really needs to win here.

But that’s a big question mark. They clearly value Asuka, but if they valued her so highly, why did Liv Morgan last longer than her at The Rumble? I think it’s an open question as to whether they want her to return to the absolute top of the division, and if they do not, there are plenty of other options here, most prominently Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Morgan obviously had her big moment last year when she took the belt off Ronda at Money In The Bank. Fans still seem pretty behind her, but she hasn’t really been used in a main event way recently (see her submitting to Asuka on Raw). Raquel Rodriguez is clearly very talented and has tremendous potential, but she’s only over-ish with the fans. She needs a wrinkle to her personality or a compelling storyline to get to the next level.

A case could be made that maybe there’s potential to put Carmella in a prime WrestleMania spot, but I just don’t see it. The crowd reaction since her return has been nice enough. People still enjoy booing her, but I don’t think there’s enough buzz there for a singles match at ‘Mania, especially not one for the title. And with all due respect to Natalya and Nikki Cross, nothing about their presentations over the last year point to them winning an Elimination Chamber match. So, I gotta go with Asuka, though I think Morgan and Rodriguez are still in play.

Predicted Winner: Asuka

Edge And Beth Phoenix Vs Finn Bálor And Rhea Ripley

The history of wrestling tells us Edge and Beth Phoenix should win this match, just based on how this storyline has played out. Edge, an absolute legend who probably doesn’t have much time left, lost to Finn Bálor at Extreme Rules thanks to interference from The Judgment Day attacking his wife, Beth Phoenix, who is a legend in her own right. Obviously Edge should swoop in and get his vengeance, right? The person whose wife got attacked needs to win the feud, right? Well, maybe, but it’s actually more complicated than that.

I think The Judgment Day has all the potential to be wrestling’s next big stable. Rhea Ripley is fantastic and should beat Charlotte Flair and win The Smackdown Women’s Championship at ‘Mania. Finn Bálor and Damian Priest both have fantastic looks, are excellent workers in the ring and can handle themselves reasonably well on the microphone. And Dominik Mysterio is maybe the most hateable character on television today (and I say that as a compliment). Everything is there if WWE wants to start pushing really, really hard, and I think they should. I’d be stoked to see a future in which Rhea has one of the women’s big belts, Priest and Bálor have the tag titles and Dominik Mysterio is interfering in all their matches. 

So, no offense to Edge and Beth Phoenix, who are, to reiterate, legends, but the better long-term move, at least to me, is for them to put The Judgment Day over. That’s what I would like to see happen, but I’m really torn because I’m not sure that’s going to happen. It’s also hard to predict because there’s a real possibility Edge and Finn Bálor end up finishing this feud at WrestleMania, in which case it doesn’t really matter who wins here. I think the safer bet is to choose Edge and Beth Phoenix, but I think Triple H sees something in The Judgment Day and is gonna continue their push.

Predicted Winner: The Judgment Day

Bobby Lashley Vs Brock Lesnar

Can someone explain to me why this isn’t happening at WrestleMania? You’d certainly think these two are going to be on the ‘Mania card, but if they’re not fighting each other, that means there’s only about six weeks to set up another feud for each person. Is that really enough time to do something more compelling than giving us Brock and Lashley round three? I doubt it. That’s why some online are convinced they’ll just run this back at ‘Mania, but as much as I love these dudes, I’m not really sure I’m that hyped about seeing them fight at a premium live event for a fourth time in a year and a half. 

Whatever. Let’s put that aside and talk it out, as if we’re just picking a winner of the rubber match here. Lashley is quite popular with the crowd, who have still been mostly cheering him despite his attempts to turn heel, but he’s not Brock Lesnar popular. The Beast might only be part-time, but he’s still among the most over guys on the entire roster. To keep him that way, it’s important WWE protect him against everyone but the absolute top top guys. So, it was okay for him to lose to Roman Reigns at ‘Mania, but it should still be assumed he’s gonna win almost every time he steps into the ring.

Back at the ‘22 Royal Rumble, Lashley defeated Brock Lesnar, but that was a screwy thing where Paul Heyman turned on him. They wrestled again at Crown Jewel back in November, and Lesnar won, though he looked really weak doing it. More recently, Lashley eliminated Brock Lesnar from The Rumble, and they’ve traded various attacks on each other in the time since. I’d like to see Lesnar come out on top here. I think he needs the victory a bit more, but we may get some MVP/ reunion of The Hurt Business shenanigans. I hope it comes after the match and leads into a slightly repackaged Lashley at ‘Mania, but it could happen mid-match and give him the victory.

Predicted Winner: Brock Lesnar

Roman Reigns Vs Sami Zayn For The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

Sami Zayn has been on a heater for the last six months, to the point where he’s probably the most popular wrestler on the entire roster right now, at least among hardcore fans. The build has happened very organically and one great promo at a time. Throw in the fact that Elimination Chamber is happening in his hometown of Montreal, and the fans are going to be rabid. In fact, there’s a strong chance this could be the single loudest crowd of the entire year. And they’re overwhelmingly going to be rooting for Sami.

But is Sami Zayn really going to be the one to knock off Roman Reigns? Is someone with a career losing record in WWE really gonna break this multi-year winning streak? The same dude who lost to Johnny Knoxville at WrestleMania last year?  Well, Sami asked himself that very same thing in his terrific promo opposite Cody Rhodes on Raw this week, and I think a lot of fans are asking themselves the same thing. 

The truth is I don’t think so. I love Sami Zayn. I would cheer my head off if he beat Roman Reigns, but to me, a victory doesn’t make sense in the storyline. Cody Rhodes vs Sami Zayn would feel so random at WrestleMania, given they’ve interacted all of one time so far, and it would also leave the Sami and Roman storyline hanging for awhile when it’s been the clear number one plot for almost a year. So, no. I think it’ll be an incredible match. I think we’ll get some great hope spots. I think whatever happens will push us toward either Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs The Usos or Sami Zayn & Jey Uso vs Jimmy Uso and Solo at WrestleMania. But regardless, I think Roman is walking out of there with the belt.

Predicted Winner: Roman Reigns 

WrestleMania might generate most of the mainstream crossover headlines, but to me and a great many wrestling fans, there is no better or more exciting premium live event each year than WWE’s Royal Rumble. The battle royal variation has been held every year since 1988, and during those thirty-five years, it has launched countless storylines and helped to propel numerous wrestlers into the main event scene. For the winners, it also often becomes one of the biggest moments of their careers.

If you were writing about all-time legend Ric Flair’s career accomplishments, how long would it take you to get to winning the 92 Rumble? My guess is not very long, and the same could be said for so many others. In fact, the winner’s list is a murderers' row of historical greats like Flair, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Rock and Bret Hart. So, who will add their name to those ranks?

Well, much to the delight of WWE fans, there are actually a lot of options this year. There are a handful of people with spectacular cases to win the Rumble. There are a handful more with pretty solid cases, and there are a few more that would be a super fun swerve. But which will Triple H and WWE’s writing staff actually pick? 

Will it be the (probably) returning Cody Rhodes? Will it be a celebrity like The Rock? Will it be someone from Roman Reigns’ own bloodline like Sami Zayn or Jey Uso? What about a rising star like Gunther? I’ve picked who I think are the 20 most likely possibilities and ranked them. Now SHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH and let me get to my picks...

20. The Miz

You’d have to give me a thousand to one odds on The Miz winning The Royal Rumble to put any money down, but I’m putting him on this list because he’s one of the few people on the entire roster that consistently generates heat from the crowd. Always has and probably always will. That means something. The fact that we can all visualize The Miz winning The Rumble and spending the next two months on television bragging about how awesome he is, only to get heckled and screamed at by the crowd means something. He’s just capable of playing out any storyline, whether it’s a Money In The Bank briefcase, a feud with a new celebrity or a ridiculous, borderline stupid midcard plot.

I’d love to see The Miz have one more run with the big belt. I’m not saying he needs to have some epic year long reign, but he could do a lot with two or three months on top of the ticket. I think he might get his chance at some point too, but it’ll be after Roman Reigns drops at least one of the belts and the creative possibilities open up a bit more. 

19. John Cena

Rumor has it WWE wants Roman Reigns and Dwayne Johnson to potentially face off at WrestleMania 39 given it’s in Los Angeles. That sounds like a great plan, but if The Rock isn’t ready to drop the People’s Elbow for whatever reason, do you know who else is a big star in Hollywood? The Face of WWE John Cena. He got in the ring on the last Smackdown of 2022 and delivered WWE its best ratings in years. That dude loves wrestling, and you know he’d be down to play a key role in WrestleMania if his schedule allows it. 

Cena has won 2 Royal Rumbles in the past, and it would certainly go over with some fans to see him surprise everyone and deliver some five knuckle shuffles. But, to me, it’s not smart to give a storyline as important as the Royal Rumble winner to someone who isn’t going to be around long-term. Even if Cena were to agree to stay for the Road To WrestleMania between late January and April, he’d almost certainly be leaving after ‘Mania to go back to Hollywood. Plus, even though it’s always a joy to see him come back, it’s not quite as special as some of the other former guys, given he’s done plenty of appearances and runs since he first left. As such, I'd rather see WWE pay off the rumors and have him fight Austin Theory. 

18. Austin Theory

A lot of people predicted Austin Theory would fall on hard times after Vince McMahon left. For a little while, that fall from grace seemed like it was happening too. He lost quite a few matches and dropped his Money In The Bank briefcase trying to cash it in on the United States Championship. His follow-up explanation promo was excellent, however, and he’s been feuding with Bobby Lashley and Seth Rollins in the time since, which is great news. 

Whether you think McMahon was pushing Theory too hard or not, the dude has so much natural talent. He’s terrific inside the ring, and his microphone work is already better than 2/3rds of the people in the company. He’s one of the biggest long-term assets WWE has, and I’m really glad Triple H is recognizing that and keeping him involved in key storylines, as well as letting him hold the United States Championship. I think it’s far too soon to give him a Rumble victory, but the fact that he’s even on this list is a credit to where he’s at.

17. Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley and a handful of other guys like Drew McIntyre and Sheamus are victims of Roman Reigns’ over the top success. Were he only holding one of the belts, the other one would undoubtedly be held by one of the other main eventers and another would likely be actively feuding for the title. Since Roman holds both belts, however, there are less total people involved in the title picture.

Lashley still gets a terrific pop when he comes out though, and he’s one of the few guys on the roster who feels like he could beat anyone on any given day. I’d personally like to see him back with MVP and The Hurt Business, which they've been teasing. That would give his character a bit more direction and maybe lead to another title push down the road. I don't think he'll win The Rumble, but it could be a chance for him to take a bit step forward and get some character development. 

16. CM Punk

I don’t know what I’m doing here. CM Punk probably shouldn’t be on this list. I don’t even know if his well-documented issues with AEW have been resolved to the point where he could make an appearance even if he wanted to. But part of the goal of The Royal Rumble is to generate buzz for WrestleMania, and I can’t imagine anything else that would generate more buzz than a surprise appearance by CM Punk. Wrestling Twitter would be unstoppable for weeks. 

Even if you set aside all the possible legal issues, though, I wouldn’t put CM Punk much higher than this because I don’t think having him win the Rumble necessarily makes sense. CM Punk back in WWE is the story. He doesn’t need to win the Rumble to generate buzz, and I don’t think you’d go from 0 to 60 and book him with Roman Reigns at ‘Mania. He could wrestle a mid-carder who is over like The Miz and get a gigantic fan response. Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kevin Owens didn’t need a championship match to create a moment last year.

15. Roman Reigns

Wait, is Roman Reigns going to enter the Royal Rumble? Probably not. The champion rarely participates in the Rumble, but it happens on occasion and a Roman Reigns win would solve a lot of problems regarding his WrestleMania opponent. Rumors have swirled for awhile that WWE’s preference would be to have him face The Rock, but as champion, he is going to need to face whoever wins the Rumble, unless there’s some shenanigans later on that might piss off fans. If Reigns were to win himself, however, he could pick his own opponent and choose his cousin The Rock. 

The only reason I don’t have this higher, however, is that WWE needs to be careful about how dominant they make the Tribal Chief. Yes, Reigns is the biggest story in wrestling right now and for good reason. He’s a freakin’ star, and it’s obvious how over he still is every single time he shows up. Every bit of his extended title run has been deserved, but he’s not a prime Stone Cold Steve Austin and he hasn’t proven popular enough to change the overall fortunes of the wrestling business. He’s simply a huge star in the middle of a brilliant run, and in my opinion, putting both belts on him and having him win the Rumble is just asking fans to start turning on him. Wrestling is bigger than any one performer.

14. Jey Uso

Jey Uso has done some of the best work of his entire career over the past few years. His character, with a scared deference to Roman Reigns and at first a mistrust and later an embrace of Sami Zayn, is so complicated and well-developed. Wrestling stories don’t normally dig this deep emotionally, and other wrestlers should take a lesson from him on how to do character work. It’s been excellent.

Now, is that going to translate into a Rumble victory? Probably not. The Usos have their own storylines with the Undisputed Tag Team Championships, and I’m sure there are other stories Triple H would rather tell. That being said, the fact that you could so easily course out a compelling narrative here is a testament to everyone involved in the Bloodline. Imagine if Jey won. What would Jimmy’s reaction be? What would Sami’s reaction be? How about Roman? I would love to watch it.

13. Logan Paul 

I’m not sure what to do with Logan Paul or how highly I should be rating him on a list like this, but given the timeframe on his injury, he should be coming back somewhere around The Royal Rumble. And given how spectacularly he has overperformed in his three matches and how much star power he brings with him, he always has to be considered a contender for something bigger. Such a huge push like this would likely involve him having to make a commitment to do wrestling full-time. That seems unlikely, but he reportedly did redo his contract to make a bigger commitment and work more dates. So, we’ll see.

I think what’s more likely going to happen, if he comes back from injury at The Rumble, is we’ll see him go on a nice little run, eliminate a few people and then start a feud with either one of the people who eliminated him or someone he eliminated. I’d expect a high mid-carder like Damian Priest, who would seem more physically imposing than The Miz but is also someone WWE would conceivably let him beat at WrestleMania. 

12. Sheamus

Talk about a career renaissance. Sheamus seemed destined to keep sliding down the mid-card until he found new life alongside Ridge Holland and Butch over the last year as the Brawling Brutes. They went from getting like two and a half minutes against The New Day at ‘Mania 38 to main eventing Survivor Series War Games against The Bloodline. That tremendous run also included a match of the year candidate for Sheamus against Gunther at Clash At The Castle, as well as an incredible 3 v 3 match at Extreme Rules with Imperium. 

Absent any clear stories to tell, Sheamus would be an excellent candidate to win his second Royal Rumble this year. And some years there aren’t any clear stories to tell. But that’s not this year. WWE is overflowing with possible directions to go in, and I think a Sheamus arc just isn’t going to look as appealing. That being said, I fully expect The Celtic Warrior to do some damage and get some nice little moments. He’s earned it.

11. Braun Strowman

I don’t know what to make of Braun Strowman since he returned to WWE. He’s getting really good pops and engagement with the crowd, but he feels quite detached from the main event scene and the storylines going on there. He’s currently feuding with Gunther, but it’s hard for me to imagine Gunther losing the Intercontinental Championship anytime soon. So, if he comes out on the wrong end of that feud, can he really progress to the main event? That doesn’t seem to logically track. So, he’ll probably end up with a feud with a higher end performer outside the main event scene like Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre or Sheamus.

That being said, I’m not going to write him off on The Rumble. He, of course, won the unofficial Greatest Rumble in Saudi Arabia and should always be viewed as a threat to win anytime he’s in the ring, no matter who it’s against. I suspect we’ll probably see him come in like a house of fire, only to get gang eliminated Omos-style by 5 or 6 people working together. That’ll keep him looking strong.

10. Randy Orton

We don’t know exactly when Randy Orton might return from his back injury. I tend to think he won’t be around for The Rumble, but if “Voices” hits over the loud speaker, people will lose their freakin’ minds in the crowd. He was white hot over when he got injured and had to step away back in May, and if you want to know how over he still is, watch how much bigger of a reaction his tag team partner Riddle was getting when he did one of Orton’s moves versus one of his own.

There are lots of fans who probably have different preferences for who they’d like to see win The Rumble. We’ll get to most of these candidates in a minute, but I think it’s a testament to Orton that I think pretty much everyone would be happy with him winning. They might prefer Cody Rhodes or The Rock or Sami Zayn or some of these contenders later, but I think an Orton return and win would bring a smile to every single person’s face.

9. Drew McIntyre

I’m still a bit shocked WWE didn’t put Drew McIntyre over at Clash At The Castle. So much seemed to be lining up in his favor. Roman Reigns was stepping back and doing less appearances. He was in front of a ravenous home crowd that wanted to give him his British Bulldog at SummerSlam '92 moment. Given how he essentially carried WWE during lockdown, many felt he deserved a big thank you moment in front of a live audience. But it wasn’t to be. He lost, which begs an obvious question: then why would he win the Royal Rumble?

Wrestling is about creating moments and then paying them off. You put in months of prep work to create a match the crowd is invested in. The winner of The Rumble will face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania in the main event, and it’s impossible to imagine that moment could possibly be bigger than the Clash At The Castle one. So, it just doesn’t seem like a good option. That being said, he’s Drew McIntyre, one of the biggest stars the company has, and he’s going to be a threat to win any Rumble he’s in.

8. Brock Lesnar

I have no reason to think Brock Lesnar is going to show up at The Rumble, except that he’s either the biggest or second biggest star WWE has and The Rumble is the second biggest event of the year. He, of course, won the last installment to set up the main event of WrestleMania 38, but it’s hard to imagine Triple H and company will want to tell the same main event story again this year. I love both, but WWE has only run back the same main event a few times in ‘Mania’s history, mostly recently with The Rock vs John Cena back in 2013.

But Brock Lesnar is Brock Lesnar. Every single person employed by the company wishes they had his resume and pop culture crossover appeal, and he’s always going to be a threat to main event any single card he agrees to participate in. I assume he’s going to be at WrestleMania, which means he’ll need something very important to do. I don’t think it’ll be main eventing again with Roman Reigns, but I’m not going to write the possibility off, especially after how awesome SummerSlam '22 was.

7. Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt has a separate match at The Royal Rumble against LA Knight, who, by the way, is terrific and should keep getting pushed. I don’t expect to see Wyatt in the actual Rumble because I think they want to take a lot more time with the Uncle Howdy storyline. Figuring out what’s going on with him and where his character is headed long-term feels a lot more important than The Rumble. But you can’t ever count out guys who are extremely buzzy and over with the crowd. Apart from dudes returning, is there anyone else who would get a bigger reaction if their music hit during The Rumble? I don’t think so.

Wrestling is about a lot more than just the main event though. You need to fill the rest of the card, and in that way, Wyatt figuring out what the hell is going on with him since his return is a huge asset. It seemingly exists outside the standard hierarchy and doesn’t need other A-list performers to matter. It’s not the main event, but the fans care deeply about what’s going on. WWE is going to want to extend that as long as it can, because if and when it combines with the main event/Roman Reigns, then there are less total things on the show fans are interested in.

6. Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens is due to wrestle Roman Reigns in a big spot. The two have been feuding as part of the ongoing Sami Zayn Bloodline story for awhile, and it feels like their confrontation is coming to a head… which is why they’re booked to wrestle each other at The Royal Rumble. Were it not for that match, Owens would be even higher on this list. He did a spectacular job during his main event match with Stone Cold during night one of WrestleMania 38, and WWE could certainly trust him if he was put into a big spot again this year. Here’s the case for it.

Kevin Owens loses during the first match at The Royal Rumble, probably via Bloodline interference. Then he shocks everyone by returning during The Rumble, shouting about how he’s going to get vengeance and another crack at Roman Reigns. He wins The Rumble and then spends the next few months on TV assembling his own backing support to keep The Bloodline away during ‘Mania. It’s a pretty worthwhile story. It’s just not as good as the next ones (and also probably too close to what WWE did last year with Lesnar at The Rumble).

5. Seth Rollins

Seth Freakin' Rollins is getting huge reactions from the crowd in the middle of a feud for the United States Championship. Imagine how much more magnified those reactions would be if the Visionary was on the road to the main event at WrestleMania. Fans would be screaming his theme song and cheering every little thing he was doing in the ring. And he’s doing so much right in the ring. That’s the best thing about Seth Rollins. He’s spectacular on the microphone. He’s very fundamentally sound in the ring. He can do all the flippy flops, as Braun Strowman would say, but he also choreographs his match out in such a way that it allows him to be a spectacular troll and create tons of little winks to the audience.

Seth Rollins is, for me, the absolute best wrestler on the planet. He does so many things well, and I’d love to see him rewarded with another big moment like winning The Rumble and main eventing WrestleMania. It’s probably not going to happen because it doesn’t play into a current storyline, but it would be so cool to see him and Roman Reigns work ‘Mania given their long Shield past and Rollins’ beloved Money In The Bank cash-in at WrestleMania 31.

4. Gunther

Gunther is the monster heel to end all monster heels. He’s a throwback from another era that somehow fits perfectly into this one too. He’s must watch television every single time he’s on, and his entire presentation with Imperium works so freakin’ well. I think he’s going to have multiple extended reigns with one of the big belts during his time in WWE, and I think if all goes well, he could go down as an all-time legend of the sport.

Plus, with the prestige of the Intercontinental Championship restored thanks to tons of great matches from Gunther, it would be a delight to see ‘Mania main evented by another WWE Champion vs Intercontinental Championship match like at WrestleMania 6 with Ultimate Warrior vs Hulk Hogan. I can just imagine the promos where Roman Reigns talks about how he’s going to win every belt the company has before he’s done, and I can imagine Gunther staring right back at him. 

3. The Rock

We’ve all heard the rumors. WWE and The Rock apparently have a shared interest in him main eventing WrestleMania 39 which just so happens to take place in Los Angeles. The obvious match would have him wrestling his cousin Roman Reigns to see who the real Head Of The Table is. Unfortunately, that’s currently complicated for logistical reasons. Roman Reigns holds both of the major WWE titles, which means, barring a change in circumstance, he will be facing the Rumble winner at ‘Mania. That leaves WWE with three choices if they want Reigns and The Rock to happen: Reigns can lose one or both of the belts, he can wrestle once on each night or The Rock can win The Royal Rumble.

The Rock won the Royal Rumble all the way back in 2000. I don’t necessarily love the idea of having him win The Rumble again this year, given he’s not likely to be around after ‘Mania, but if The Rock is willing to come back and work for a few months to set up a truly epic main event to remember at Hollywood WrestleMania, I think most fans would sign up for that in a second. Besides, it’s not like everyone loved The Rock because he did all the moves perfectly in the ring. No one is expecting him to look like a prime Mr. Perfect. The People’s Elbow is maybe the dumbest signature move ever, but it all works because of his charisma, which he’s only improved since becoming a movie star. So, I have full confidence he can still put on a hell of a match in his own way.

2. Sami Zayn

What was Sami Zayn doing last year at the Royal Rumble? Oh, that’s right. He was in a feud with Johnny Knoxville from Jackass. I loved it, by the way. It was a lot of fun and later led to one of WrestleMania 38’s most memorable matches (and an epic Wee Man bodyslam), but we both know damn well that was the most mid-card storyline ever to exist on the mid-card. It was fabulous and I wouldn’t change a thing, but it didn’t even have a vague relationship to anything at the top of the card.

You know what’s not mid-card city? Winning the freakin’ Royal Rumble. And we are all sitting ringside in a world in which Sami Zayn could possibly win The Royal Rumble. He’s easily one of the most over guys on the entire roster, and he’s spent the last few months slowly proving his loyalty to Roman Reigns. Him winning The Royal Rumble would be a pretty natural extension of that storyline. Imagine he wins and Roman laughs in his face and is super dismissive. Or maybe he tells him he needs to lay down and lose on purpose or give up his title shot? There are so many options. All of them good.

1. Cody Rhodes

Since practically the moment Cody Rhodes got hurt around Hell In A Cell, more long-term focused wrestling fans were pointing to a possible return at The Royal Rumble. The storyline seemed to write itself. The prodigal son returned home to WWE with a goal of capturing the title that eluded both him and his father. He got over with the crowd, rattled off wins and seemed destined for his chance at Roman Reigns. Then he got hurt and was out for months. What could possibly be more perfect than having him return at Royal Rumble, win and get a title shot at WrestleMania? How could anything top that? 

If Dwayne Johnson wasn’t possibly coming back with an eye to Main Event WrestleMania 39. If the Sami Zayn/ Jey Uso/ Roman Reigns Ucey storyline wasn’t the hottest thing in wrestling right now. If the entire world wasn’t looking at this event and thinking damn, Cody makes a lot of sense to win here, possibly creating pressure on the writing team to swerve. If people weren’t singing Seth Rollins’ theme song. If Gunther wasn’t engineered in a lab to be an all-time talented monster heel. If. If. If. If all of those options weren’t options, it would for sure be him. But they are options and really good ones.

I think Cody Rhodes is the right man to win the Rumble, and all signs point to him returning. I want that for him and his career, and I think it makes the most sense given the story told over the last year. I think he’s the most likely of every one of these possibilities outlined above. He belongs in this spot. But would I risk large amounts of money on it? No. Because there are just so many good choices this year. 

Some things you might be wondering before we wrap this up...

Where's Riddle? 

The original version of this list included Riddle. He might technically be out of rehab and available for The Royal Rumble, but I refuse to believe WWE would reward him for an alleged failed drug test by putting him over in The Rumble. That doesn’t make any sense at all. Had that not happened, however, he would have been somewhere in the 10-15 range. 

And what about AJ Styles?

I also removed AJ Styles given his recent ankle injury. I remain convinced he has one more big push left, but given he’s been stuck around the mid-card, he would have been near the bottom of the list but still on it because he's AJ Styles. 

Also... about some other people who didn't make the list:

I am high on some other people who didn’t make the final list like Finn Bálor, Montez Ford, Bron Breakker and Karrion Kross, but it was just too difficult to mentally make a case for why they were better candidates than the others on the list. I'll also shout out Chad Gable who is an absolute delight and deserves better than putting people over every week.

The Royal Rumble is the next upcoming premium live event in WWE's calendar. It'll take place on January 28th, 2023, and it can be watched with a Peacock subscription. Premium starts at only $4.99 a month, which, as anyone who ever ordered a pay per view from WWE can tell you, is a spectacular price. 

Survivor Series has evolved quite a bit over the years. When the annual premium live event was first launched in the late 1980s, all of the matches were in a team versus team format. There wasn’t any real stakes because it ultimately didn’t matter long-term if Rowdy Roddy Piper’s good guy team defeated Rick Rude’s bad guy team. It was just a fun little night of wrestling with an enjoyable gimmick.

Unfortunately, a fun little night of wrestling that typically didn’t have any title matches or guarantees of long-term storytelling didn’t sell as well on pay-per-view as WrestleMania or the Royal Rumble. So, the format has slowly become more and more like a traditional premium live event over the years. With Triple H in charge now, however, Survivor Series is about to undergo another evolution.

This year, the two traditional 5 v 5 Survivor Series matches are being evolved into WarGames, which is a throwback to late Jim Crockett/ early WCW. It’s been used pretty extensively in NXT and features two teams battling it out in a double ring cage. Participants are added one at a time until all ten members are involved and the match technically begins. It should be incredible. I’ll give you my thoughts on what is likely to happen in each match, but first, here’s a look at how my predictions have been going so far this year…

I'm normally pretty confident when I do these predictions, and for obvious reasons given even Kurt Angle would be impressed with my performance so far this year, but matches with a lot of participants are historically very hard to predict. If Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre are wrestling 1 v 1, you can think through all the implications of each man winning in different fashions. You can think about what a win or loss would do for the future story WWE is trying to tell. You can ask yourself is McIntyre finally going to be the one to beat Roman Reigns and take his titles.

In this case, however, Drew McIntyre can just pin an Uso without any effect on the strength or weakness of Roman Reigns' character, just as Reigns could deliver 10 Superman punches to Butch or Ridge Holland without impacting McIntyre's long-term trajectory in the slightest.

Alas, not every prediction is meant to be easy though. So, here's my best guesses as to what might happen tomorrow night, which you can watch on Peacock, which is currently 99 cents as part of a Black Friday deal...

Seth Freakin' Rollins (Champion) Vs Bobby Lashley Vs Austin Theory For The United States Championship

In just a few short months, Seth Rollins has gone from hated heel, responsible for putting number one babyface Cody Rhodes on the shelf for almost a year, to one of the most popular faces in the company. He still doesn't always act like a face, but that's part of the complicated character he has created, and it hasn't stopped fans from singing his infectious theme song. 

Typically you don't want to take a belt from someone who is ascending, and Rollins is very much ascending right now. He's, however, a very unique character in that his appeal doesn't necessarily relate to his relative win-loss record. Fans are drown to his maniacal energy, which is great when he's winning but also great when he's losing.

Bobby Lashley's last appearance at Crown Jewel was in a lopsided beatdown of Brock Lesnar that he somehow lost. The match's inventive booking kept both men looking strong, and honestly, I think that's the storyline most fans care about for him, not whether he has the US Title. Austin Theory's primary storyline, however, is very interlinked with the US Title, which he lost his Money In The Bank briefcase trying to cash in thanks to Lashley. He's had a few very strong promos in recent weeks and could be due for a push. 

Prediction: This match could go in a lot of directions, but I think we'll see Seth Rollins come out on top.

Ronda Rousey (Champion) Vs Shotzi For The Smackdown Women's Championship

I think this is the easiest prediction of the night by a country mile. Much has been made about Ronda Rousey's character over the last six months. She wasn't really working as a babyface, and fans were clearly getting a bit frustrated, as was Rousey. She's been in a much better place since she turned heel, though, and while there's still a lot of room for growth, I think she's on the right path.

Shotzi has a nice look and some talent, but she is not over with the fans right now. Don't let some corners of wrestling twitter fool you. What matters is the response she gets when her music hits and/ or when she does something impactful in the ring, and the noise and level of care just isn't there yet.

That doesn't mean Shotzi can't get there at some point. Every single match, even a loss, is a chance to get the crowd to care, and the easiest way to get the crowd to care is by working with the main eventers on the roster. That's Ronda Rousey. I really hope Shotzi turns in a terrific performance this weekend, but it would be a huge overreach by Triple H to put the belt on her at this point, even though he clearly likes her.

Prediction: Ronda Rousey should win this, but hopefully it's a fun match that helps prove Shotzi can keep progressing.

AJ Styles Vs Finn Bálor

This match is a bit complicated to predict given the massive entourages both of these men are currently bringing out with them. All of the side characters are very down to interfere, and it would be a shock if we got any kind of clean result. I expect, whatever happens, for this feud to continue well past Survivor Series, which is okay with me given I've been enjoying it.

That being said, AJ Styles needs to win this match. He is a legend, a clear first ballot WWE Hall of Famer, and he has not won a match at a premium live event since he teamed with Omos to beat The Viking Raiders all the way back at Money In The Back 2021. Come'on. That's ridiculous. Credit to him for putting guys over, but that streak of bad results needs to end.

Besides, a good feud with two teams like this needs to feel balanced. Styles lost in a 6 man tag to The Judgment Day back at Hell In The Cell, and he also lost in a six man tag to The Judgment Day earlier this month at Crown Jewel. We need some balance here, and his new support system in The OC should help that.

Predicted Result: AJ Styles amidst some kind of chaotic interference.

Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim And A Mystery Partner Vs Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley And Nikki Cross (Women's WarGames)

I really wish I knew who the mystery partner was going to be. If it's a returning babyface like Sasha Banks or Naomi, who haven't been around in months, you'd have to think they would help put the babyfaces over in a huge moment the crowd could get behind. If it's just a random woman on the roster like Candice LeRae, I don't really think the mystery element matters to whatever the final result is. If it ends up being Becky Lynch or Charlotte Flair, a huge name that sometimes plays a character that's more morally ambiguous, it opens up the possibility for her to double-cross her own team. Then again, that possibility is there with Alexa Bliss too, as some expert her to get back with Bray Wyatt.

I think the women's division, at least with the players on the field right now, stops and ends with Bianca Belair. She is an absolute star, and I don't think she's even come close to reaching her potential. So, the question I'm looking at is what is Triple H setting her up to do over the next few months? Is she going to continue feuding with Bayley? Is she going to do a program with whoever the mystery person coming in will be? Or is he finally going to set up Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair?

Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair, to me, could headline any premium live event WWE has. That is the match in the women's division I want to see more than any other, but it seems like Triple H is instead teasing Mia Yim and Rhea Ripley. So, I'm going to guess the mystery partner (maybe Becky, maybe Charlotte) double-crosses Bayley and sets up a program. 

Predicted Result: Damage CTRL + Rhea Ripley and Nikki Cross get the win, thanks in part to the mystery partner. 

Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Ridge Holland And Butch Vs Roman Reigns, The Usos, Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa

Is Survivor Series the time to finally progress the Jey Uso and Sami Zayn storyline? The intra-Bloodline feud has been the most popular story in wrestling for a few months and with good reason. Everyone involved, including Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso who have taken on more supporting roles, have played their parts perfectly. Now, with longtime friend Kevin Owens on the other side of this match, many are wondering if Zayn is finally going to turn on the Bloodline?

Timing in wrestling is very important. You don't want to linger on the same story for so long fans get annoyed by it, but you also want to fully maximize the potential of something that is really working. Some day Sami Zayn is almost certainly going to turn on The Bloodline and become a massive babyface when he does, but I'm just not sure the time is right. I think there's more ground to explore with everyone kept together.

That being said, I still think Sami and Jey's issues are going to somehow play into the finish of the match. I think one of them will cost the Bloodline here, and we'll deal with the fallout of the loss for another month in some classic behind the scenes segments. There's plenty of time for Sami to turn and partner with Kevin Owens later.

Predicted Result: Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Ridge Holland and Butch.

Whether you’re excited about Logan Paul and Roman Reigns or not, there is a lot to look forward to on the Crown Jewel card. WWE is returning to Saudi Arabia this weekend, and they’re bringing 8 matches, most of which have the potential to be really good, really fun or both. 

In the lead-up, there were some nervous moments about whether the event would happen, given some recent threats in the Middle East, but as of Friday morning, it looks like everyone is ready to get in the ring and put on a show.

As per usual, I feel really good about the likely outcome for some matches, and i’ve spent all week going back-and-forth on a few others. I went 4 and 2 on my Extreme Rules guesses, and I feel like I’m starting to understand what new headman Triple H is trying to do. That being said, even if the long-term story is pretty clear, that doesn’t mean there aren’t multiple ways to get there. So, I’ll cross my fingers and do the best I can.

Alexa Bliss & Asuka (Champions) Vs Dakota Kai And Iyo Sky For The Women’s Tag Team Championships

Why did Alexa Bliss and Asuka win the titles on Raw, less than a week ahead of Crown Jewel? What was the motivation behind that decision? If there’s going to be a match during a premium live event, it’s a really weird move to have the exact same match on free TV the week before. So, what the hell is going on here? That’s ultimately the key to figuring out what’s likely to happen in Saudi Arabia.. 

My guess is long-term WWE wants the belts to be on Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky, but they don’t want this feud to seem so one-sided. If Dakota and Iyo won the belts initially in the tag tournament, then won the three way match at Clash At The Castle and then won again at Crown Jewel, it would all be so lopsided. Giving Alexa Bliss and Asuka another loss to Damage CTRL would have made them look really weak. Having them win on Monday and drop the belts back at the premium live event, however, is going to come off as more of a back-and-forth, anyone could win type thing. So, I think that’s going to happen.

Prediction: Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky.

AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson Vs Finn Bálor, Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio (With Rhea Ripley)

AJ Styles hasn’t won a match at a premium live event since July of 2021. I mean come’on. He’s AJ freaking Styles. I know he’s not at the top of his prime anymore, but he’s still over with fans and still damn good in the ring. No one is technically owed anything in WWE, as certain people’s WrestleMania records indicate, but the more someone loses in big moments, the less fans are going to take them as a serious threat. That’s already happening with AJ. He needs to start building some momentum.

I don’t love seeing another loss her for The Judgment Day, but given Finn was able to take home a victory in an I Quit match over Edge at Extreme Rules, I think that stable is doing just fine. It should take another big step forward too whenever we start seeing Rhea in singles action in the women’s division, as she should be an immediate threat for one of the major titles. So, yeah, even though six person tag matches are notoriously hard to predict, I’m going to go with Styles, Gallows and Anderson. 

Prediction: Styles, Gallows and Anderson.

Braun Strowman Vs Omos (With MVP)

Is Braun Strowman going to use Omos to take a step forward in his career or is Omos going to use Braun Strowman to take a step forward? Well, given Strowman recently returned to some pretty big crowd pops and Omos has been largely stuck in the mud, doing a whole lot of nothing, since his losses to Bobby Lashley, it seems like Braun Strowman is the pretty clear answer here. A victory over another monster would make him look even stronger, and it would likely vault him back into the title picture.

As for Omos, I’d like to see him return to the tag division. He’s still really imposing physically. Some of his work in the ring, especially his big boots, are compelling enough. He just doesn’t have the move set at this point in his career to be able to make longer matches interesting. Paired with the right person, he could start to rebuild a mystique. That’s a project for another day. First he needs to get his ass kicked to help out Braun Strowman.

Prediction: Braun Strowman.

Drew McIntyre Vs Karrion Kross (With Scarlett)

We’re about to find out exactly how much Triple H likes Karrion Kross. We all know he’s a favorite of the new head of creative. He was quick to bring him back once he was in charge, and he gave him the win over Drew McIntyre at Extreme Rules, albeit with some interference via mace in the eyes from Scarlett. Now Kross is going at it with McIntyre again in a steel cage at Crown Jewel, and what happens will likely tell us a lot about Kross’ short-term future.

If he’s able to beat McIntyre, he’s going to enter the absolute top of WWE’s card. Two consecutive victories over someone of Drew’s caliber, even if they’re a bit sketchy, means you’re a threat to Roman Reigns and a title shot is probably coming at some point. I think it’s more likely, however, that we’re going to see a McIntyre win, which would just continue the feud and likely set up a match at Survivor Series or another upcoming WWE premium live event.

Prediction: Drew McIntyre

Bianca Belair (Champion) Vs Bayley For The Raw Women’s Championship

I like Bayley a lot, but I have not connected with this version of her quite as much since she’s come back. That seems to be a common refrain I’ve heard from other fans too. That’s not to say she’s not doing good work, but there’s a difference between doing good work and doing work that’s good enough that it should be rewarded with major championships. I just don’t think anything she’s doing right now is over enough to support that.

I don’t think Triple H is ready to stop pushing Damage CTRL though. That’s why I think he’s going to have Dakota and Iyo win the tag titles back. Then, when Bayley loses here, it’s not going to seem like such an indictment of the entire faction. They’ll just end up one and one on the night. Another loss here would also allow Bayley a way out of this feud. Bianca could move on to other things, and Bayley could work with someone else in a feud to try and refine this character a bit. Plus, even outside of Bayley, Bianca is freaking awesome, and she deserves to keep the title.

Prediction: Bianca Belair

The Usos (Champions) Vs The Brawling Brutes (Butch And Ridge) For The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship

Are the Brawling Brutes over as a tag team or are they simply over when they’re wrestling alongside Sheamus? The six man tag match with Imperium at Extreme Rules was an absolute banger, and the crowd seemed to respond really well to everything to everything Butch and Ridge were doing. This’ll be a really interesting test to see how much fans view them as legitimate outside of Sheamus, who I suspect probably won’t be in attendance given we haven’t seen him since The Usos injured his arm.

I think The Usos are going to retain here because I think however their run ends is going to involve Sami Zayn, who is white hot right now. He’s been steadily working promos with The Usos for months, but he won’t be in attendance at Crown Jewel given the political situation. That being said, a really good match the crowd is into could go a long way to helping the Brawling Brutes stay in meaningful storylines, perhaps even one that does eventually see them claim the Tag Titles.

Prediction: The Usos

Brock Lesnar Vs Bobby Lashley

Hell yes. These two giants are going to unload on each other, and it should be a vicious good time. It should also be a good reminder that with the right match-up, it makes no difference whatsoever if there’s a title on the line. Some fights need that extra boost a belt gives to amp up the legitimacy, but Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley need no such help. 

They had a good match at Royal Rumble, which was overshadowed by Roman Reigns’ interference. Lashley ultimately took home the victory, and he’s looking for a second win here. I don’t think that’s going to happen. Lesnar has lost too many high profile matches in a row for my taste. It’s important he remains strong, and a loss for Lashley wouldn’t be a huge deal since that would just even the score this year with Lesnar. I feel pretty good about this, unless there’s a heel turn swerve and Lashley reunites with MVP. That’s always a possibility, which would tip the balance.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar.

Roman Reigns (Champion) Vs Logan Paul For The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

WWE has been working hard to sell the one big right hand narrative. They’ve been telling anyone and everyone who will listen that Logan Paul has metal pins in his hand, which amplifies his punches. They also let him knock out poor Jey Uso with a right hand to remind fans of how dangerous he can be. I appreciate they have to sell an angle here, but it would be absolutely ridiculous to have Logan Paul end Roman’s epic run. I’ll take it a step further and say it would be infuriating, and I say that as someone who thinks Logan Paul has a ton of promise. 

I don’t care about whose turn it is. The wrestling business isn’t about whose turn it is. Time spent doesn’t mean you should win titles, and a lack of time doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be eligible. But Paul is simply not over enough with the fans who actually watch wrestling to support a win of this magnitude. That being said, if he puts in a really strong losing effort, likely one that involves a hope spot where he lands a huge right hand and gets a 2+ count, this match could go a long way to legitimizing him as a wrestling threat down the road.

Prediction: Roman Reigns

At this point in his career, Roman Reigns is not only in the discussion of the best WWE superstars of his era, but also in conversation of the greatest of all time. Since first winning the Universal Championship back in late 2020, the Tribal Chief has been on a title reign that is up there with names like Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund, and the late Bruno Samartino. Add in his year-plus run as WWE Champion after beating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38, and it becomes even more clear.

But, eventually, Reigns is going to need to lose. WWE can’t keep -- in my opinion -- both the WWE Championship and the Universal Championship on someone who has publicly said he’s taking a step back. Besides that, there are just too many other good guys who are ready to step into the role. Part of being a champion is being on television most weeks. So, let’s go over the contenders and talk out the 25 people most likely to take one, or both titles, off Roman Reigns…

25. Shinsuke Nakamura

You could make a case for Shinsuke Nakamura having a better spot on this list, but the “King of Strong Style” only just returned from an extended absence back in April 2023. Over the course of his seven-year WWE career, Nakamura has won the NXT, Intercontinental, and United States Championship titles multiple times, and a victory over Reigns could put the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion in the same camp as Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, and Hulk Hogan, which is saying something.

24. Bray Wyatt

In an ideal world, Bray Wyatt would be in the Top 10, but there’s so much mystery surrounding the status of the former WWE and Universal Champion, and not just because of his spooky and kooky in-ring character. After making his long-awaited return in late 2022, “The Fiend” hasn’t done all too much and was even pulled from the WrestleMania 39 card for unspecified reasons. Again, though, don’t count the enigmatic star out just yet.

23. Bronson Reed 

Bronson Reed is another star in the making following his stellar performance at Elimination Chamber 2023, which capped off a remarkable return to form after being let go by WWE in 2021. The former NJPW wrestler has continued that path ever since. After a great performance in the United States Championship triple threat match at Backlash in early May 2023, it seems like the sky's the limit for this WWE big man.

22. Matt Riddle 

I think Matt Riddle is in an extremely interesting situation. The “King of Bros'' appeared to be on top of the world throughout the early parts of 2022, but things kind of fell apart for the former MMA fighter in the second half of the year (his longtime RK-Bro partner, Randy Orton, was taken out of action and then Riddle was suspended), but he’s been in a marquee spot since his return post-WrestleMania. The continuation of his feud with The Bloodline could put him in a prime spot against the Tribal Chief.

21. LA Knight 

Sure, LA Knight isn’t being featured as heavily as he was earlier in 2023, but the clear fan-favorite is still one of the best things on WWE TV week-in and week-out. When given the chance to shine in the ring, the wrestling journeyman consistently proves he’s one of the most exciting wrestlers on the planet. If WWE lets him run with it, LA Knight could be a future world champion, and a contender for Roman Reigns’ belts.

20. The Miz 

Some of you are going to flame me for putting The Miz on this list, but the dude makes the most of every single storyline put in front of him. The writers toss him in with celebrities like Bad Bunny and Logan Paul, and he does a great job. They ask him to do comedy stuff, and he does a great job. They want him to use Miz TV to get other people over? He does a great job. He just gets it. I think he’s one of the greatest mid-card heels ever, right up there with Ted Dibiase and Bobby Heenan, and over the last decade, he’s bounced back up to the top of the card now and again when the right storyline calls for it.

19. Dominik Mysterio

Do I think Dominik Mysterio will be champion by the end of 2023? No. Do I think the son of Rey Mysterio will be WWE Champion at some point in his career? Totally. There are few WWE superstars who generate as much heat as Dominik, and it’s not just “go away” heat. I’m talking NUCLEAR heat. The boos raining down on him are so loud, Dom can barely get in a word. That just doesn’t happen all the time.

18. Finn Bálor 

I wasn't super high on Bálor's long-term prospects after he replaced Edge in Judgment Day, but the stable, like its individual members, has made a lot of improvements since the Bullet Club founder took over the reins. There’s no denying Bálor’s in-ring abilities, and his mic work is some of the best in all of wrestling, which is the perfect combination for a world champion. Before he gets there, Bálor just has to find a way to win the “Big” matches and finally secure a world title after having to give up his Universal Championship the night after he won it back in 2016.

17. Karrion Kross

“Then all-time WWE legend Roman Reigns’ two-year title run was ended by Karrion Kross.” Does that sound like a sentence that should exist? I like Kross. His black and white creepy presentation with Scarlett is already one of the better visual looks in WWE. He’s quite imposing in the ring, and I think his ceiling is really high. Let this dude pay his dues for a while on the main roster and then we can talk about him being a credible threat for a career-defining moment like that.

16. Logan Paul

Logan Paul was never going to win his match against Reigns at Crown Jewel 2022. There was just no way someone with his third career match was going to end the Tribal Chief's amazing run. The best case scenario for him was always going to be to lose in a contested match, while putting in a good performance. Well, mission accomplished. Logan Paul was excellent and looked like he belonged in the main event, which is a tremendous compliment given his limited experience. Then he proved it again with his stellar match against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 39, which allowed the YouTube star to show his natural talent and charisma on the biggest stage

15. Drew McIntyre 

Shocked! I’m still shocked Clash At The Castle 2022 didn’t end up with Drew McIntyre raising the belts over Reigns. The back-and-forth in that match and all the near falls had me even more convinced, but Triple H and company had other plans. That doesn’t mean McIntyre is done. He’s clearly still one of the biggest names in the company, and can pull off some impressive feats in the ring. Hell, even when he’s losing – like his show-stealing WrestleMania 39 match against IC Champion Gunther and Sheamus – the former WWE Champion looks like an absolute star. Finally coming back to the main event picture and beating Reigns would put the bow on an amazing story.

14. Sheamus 

I’d love to see it. Sheamus has been putting on banger after banger for nearly a decade-and-a-half now in WWE, and while he’s been well-appreciated by many during that run, not nearly enough have recognized the Hall of Fame career he’s having. The crowd is going to need to play a big part here, but if they keep up the energy and appreciation, Sheamus will beat his way through better and better competition. He is more than due for a nice run at the belts, considering it’s been more than seven years since he captured the WWE Championship (by defeating Reigns).

13. Kevin Owens 

Year-in and year-out, Kevin Owens continues to prove he’s not only one of the best WWE superstars today, he’s one of the greatest of all time. In-ring work? He’s got it. The ability to tell a great story? He can cut a promo like nobody’s business. Longevity? Just look at this guy’s career and it speaks for itself. So, why is he so far back? Well, KO and Sami Zayn are the current Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, and it doesn’t look like their run with the belts is going to be ending anytime soon. However, Owens does have some unfinished business with Reigns.

12. Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn is a perfect example of no one ever being locked into a specific role. He's been one of the most reliable mid-carders on WWE's roster for years, right alongside The Miz. Over the past few years, however, he's reached new heights thanks to the remarkable Bloodline angle, which netted him the Tag Team Championships (and a five-star match) at WrestleMania 39. While Zayn will face Reigns with the Tag Titles on the line at Night of Champions in May 2023, this will probably be the end of his involvement with the Tribal Chief for the time being, as that story begins its next chapter.

11. Damian Priest 

To say Damian Priest is having a good year would be selling the Judgment Day big man extremely short. Ever since joining the group in its earliest days back in 2022, Priest has become one of the most entertaining stars in the company, and it just keeps getting better. Priest looked like an absolute unit in his San Juan Street Fight against Bad Bunny at Backlash 2023. And this could very well be a sign of things to come, especially after the way he performed in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament shortly after.

10. Edge

I’ve enjoyed Edge’s comeback a lot. He’s still sharp in the ring and as good as ever on the microphone. I’m so happy younger fans have gotten to see the Hall of Famer work, but if he was going to win the title, it feels like it already would have happened. The opportunity was certainly there after he won the 2021 Royal Rumble. But, with Edge making it sound like his career will be ending sooner rather than later, the Rated-R Superstar should get one more run at the title, and give Roman Reigns a taste of his own medicine with a mean spear.

9. Austin Theory 

Austin Theory was on a pretty terrible run after Triple H took over, but once he was sufficiently humbled and knocked off the successor pedestal Vince McMahon put him on, he has regained his footing in a big way. He currently holds the United States Championship, and he's been regularly working with top stars like Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, and John Cena. It probably won’t be for a while, but there’s no doubting the fact that Theory will soon be in the main event picture.

8. Solo Sikoa 

This one sounds like a wild card, but Solo Sikoa is another WWE superstar who could take the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship off Roman Reigns. I’m not talking short-term, as Reigns’ real-life cousin seems to be his most trusted ally at this point, but it’s only a matter of time, right? This guy has been built up as the next great Samoan wrestler, and it’s not like they’re going to make Solo languish in the lower rungs of the WWE ladder anytime soon. This could be a way to get the belt off Roman and build up the next great champ at the same time.

7. Bobby Lashley 

Bobby Lashley may have lost his United States Championship, but he beat the holy hell out of Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel 2022, which ultimately led to an remarkable series of matches between the two wrestlers-turned-cagefighters-turned-wrestlers. Ever since then, Lashley has looked better than ever, especially during his triple threat match against Bronson Reed and Austin Theory at Backlash 2023. After being drafted to SmackDown earlier this year, the former WWE Champion could come back for his gold.

6. Jey Uso

The ongoing drama surrounding the Bloodline could go any number of different directions, and one that could provide one of the best examples of long-term storytelling would be Jey Uso taking on and dethroning Roman Reigns. The cousins are currently on the outs after Jey and his brother lost the Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 39, and it could only get more personal as the faction continues to be torn apart from the inside out. With the Tribal Chief and Solo Sikoa’s big match against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens at Night of Champions, we could see the next chapter in this ongoing saga unfold.

5. Brock Lesnar

I know what you’re about to say. But Brock Lesnar just lost to Roman twice. How is he ahead of Drew McIntyre (and so many others)? Because if Brock Lesnar had told WWE that he would stick around for six months after SummerSlam and defend the belt at least once a month, I think he would have won. He’s either the biggest or the second biggest attraction in the entire sport, and even though he’s lost a bunch the past year, this is honestly the most I have ever enjoyed him. His mic work -- which was a concern for some without Paul Heyman -- has been spectacular.

4. AJ Styles

AJ Styles is currently set to face Seth Rollins in the finals for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions, but he could go after Roman if that match doesn’t go his way. After coming back from injury, the former WWE Champion is looking better than ever, and a program with the Tribal Chief would be a fun one to watch. 

3. Seth Rollins

Seth Freakin’ Rollins is, for my money, the best wrestler in the entire world. He does everything well, and he’s really put in the work over the last year. He’s taken so many stupid losses against people he never should have lost to, and more often not, his match is the best of the night anytime he’s wrestling. The crowd would love to just unapologetically root for him in a match. Rollins is in the finals for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament, but he could always lose and then challenge his former Shield member for the two belts.

2. Gunther

It’s a matter of “when” instead of “if” Gunther will be the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, especially after the year he’s had. His record-breaking Royal Rumble performance was followed by the match of the weekend at WrestleMania 39, and he hasn’t really slowed down since. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Gunther is the best wrestler in WWE and one of the best in the world right now. 

1. Cody Rhodes

After Cody came back to WWE to enormous fanfare and gave us a spectacular match with Seth Rollins, his path to the title seemed so clear. He gave that excellent promo where he talked about his dad and winning the title for him, and it all seemed destined. Every pop from the crowd and every match win just felt like further evidence of what was obviously coming… and then he got hurt. He came back, won the 2023 Royal Rumble, challenged Roman Reigns to a main event match at WrestleMania 39… and then he lost in one of the most controversial endings in the event’s history.

Rhodes didn’t finish his story at WrestleMania, but he did start the next act with a feud with Brock Lesnar, and more to come that will see the “son of a son of a plumber” finally capture the belt that has eluded him like it did his father all those years ago.

Is there anyone else on this list that could make more of that moment? I don’t think so, and until a better candidate presents itself, he’s going to remain at number one.

This is normally the part of the article where I’d excitedly talk about how you should be pumped for SummerSlam because it’s one of the biggest upcoming events on WWE’s calendar. In all honesty, though, the biggest reason I’m excited for SummerSlam this year is because it’s the first premium live event without Vince McMahon. Regardless of how you feel about the departed WWE founder, that’s exciting because none of us have any idea what’s about to happen. He’s had the final say on which performers to push and which performers to bury for the entirety of WWE’s historic run. Now Triple H is in charge of where things are going, and he’s going to see the same ring from a different perspective.

As a fan, I’m incredibly fired up. Setting aside the upsetting sexual misconduct allegations and purely looking at the in-ring product, I tend to come down in the middle on Vince McMahon. He’s been involved in or responsible for booking many of the greatest moments in the history of this business, but he also very clearly has a specific style and prefers certain wrestlers, even if better storylines could have been told elsewhere. Now we have someone new in charge who is going to see things in an entirely different way, which means the expected outcomes are out the window.

As a premium live event prediction writer, I’m terrified. Since I started doing these every month with WrestleMania 38, I’ve successfully picked 26 matches and only missed 8. That’s pretty damn good, especially considering two of my misses were Theory being added to the Money In The Bank match right before it happened and that New Day vs Sheamus and Ridge match which lasted about 90 seconds because of time issues at ‘Mania. But that was me trying to think like Vince and Bruce Prichard. I’m not really sure how to think like Triple H, especially since I’m only an occasional NXT viewer. But there’s no point in whining, complaining or making excuses. I’ve got more forecaster hat on, and I’m ready to get to it…

The Usos (Champions) Vs The Street Profits For The Undisputed Tag Team Titles

There’s nothing people love more than talking about how Montez Ford is a rising star. Even Angelo Dawkins said the other day that he’ll be a world champion at some point, but in order for that to happen, he needs to have some forward momentum. It’s great to see The Street Profits in prominent positions on TV every week, but some sort of forward progress needs to be made here. They can’t just be tag team contenders for another year.

So, in my opinion, the logical thing to do is either have The Street Profits win the belts and extend the feud with The Usos or they should lose and break up. One of them should blame the other, and they should move on to singles careers. It would be a nightmare if they fell down the card and were having dance-offs with Jinder Mahal and Shanky (no offense to them). 

Given, if they were going to break up, I would think WWE would tease it a bit more, I’m going to go with them winning the title here, with The Usos finally dropping the belts. If that does happen, though, huge shoutout to The Usos. They've been tremendous during this entire run and need to remain in prominent positions regardless.

Predicted Winner: The Street Profits

Pat McAfee Vs Happy Corbin

A lot of these matches are hard to predict. This one is not. Pat McAfee is all kinds of over with the crowd. I’m not saying he’s mid-80s Hulk Hogan or prime Stone Cold, but he’s the most over full-time announcer I can ever remember. Add that to the fact that people love booing Happy Corbin, and it seems pretty obvious what WWE needs to do.

Putting McAfee over here, especially in a fun way, would be a huge injection of momentum into the crowd. It would give them a reason to cheer (and sing along if he comes out to “Seven Nation Army”), and a loss would be very deflating, especially since Vince McMahon booked himself to beat McAfee at ‘Mania as a way to set up the Austin surprise. 

That’s not to say I advocate making every booking decision based on the crowd. Sometimes you need to swerve, but swerves are best when they help achieve a long-term goal. Happy Corbin just lost to Madcap Moss. He seems destined to stick around the mid-card. A win here does nothing for him. So, expect McAfee in a fun match the crowd is really into.

Predicted Winner: Pat McAfee

Bobby Lashley (Champion) Vs Theory For The United States Championship

I have no idea who will be most affected by Triple H running the show. What I do know, however, is that on paper, no character should be more affected by Vince McMahon’s departure than Theory. For months, he’s been painted as Vince’s henchman and the next golden child. Roman Reigns referenced this on Monday Night Raw when he said Theory’s “daddy” is gone. Whether Triple H sees the same thing in the incredibly talented twenty-four year old is an open question.

As it pertains to this particular match, however, I think there’s a pretty obvious outcome, whether McMahon is here or not. Theory has signaled very directly for weeks that he’s going to cash in his Money In The Bank contract after the Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar match against whoever wins, which will be at the end of SummerSlam. When he does that, I don’t think it makes sense for him to have the United States Championship. I know WWE has been consolidating a lot of the belts, but it would be wild to put the United States Championship, the WWE Championship and the Universal Championship all on Theory. He’s not 1998 Goldberg.

So, I think, for purely storyline purposes, it makes the most sense for Theory to charge to the ring with his contract without the United States Championship. Plus, I just really don’t see WWE wanting Lashley to take a clean loss to Austin Theory. I see how talented he is. I believe in him long-term, but he’s like a hundred pounds lighter and way too much of a sniveling heel at this point.

Predicted Winner: Bobby Lashley

Liv Morgan (Champion) Vs Ronda Rousey For The Smackdown Women’s Championship

Were all the cheers when Liv Morgan ran down to the ring at Money In The Bank because people wanted to see her finally become champion or were they because people were ready to see Ronda Rousey lose? I think it was a little of both, and that presents a big problem for Triple H and the writers to solve moving forward. Something needs to change about Ronda Rousey’s presentation. She can’t be a main event face and be getting openly rooted against, even in a face versus face match-up. It’s okay for the crowd to be split, but from the sound of it, they weren’t very split at all at Money In The Bank. 90% or more of the crowd was rooting for Liv.

But that shouldn’t come as a shock given how indifferent fans have been to most of her promos. 

Let’s just be honest. Ronda hasn’t connected in the way anyone hoped since she returned at the Royal Rumble in January, but there is still time to fix this. It takes most people a few tries to really connect with the crowd. Just ask Roman Reigns or John Cena. She needs a manager. Or she needs a different visual presentation, or, in my opinion, she needs to turn heel, possibly with a manager. I predict that’s going to happen here. I think Liv Morgan makes it a better than expected match. I think she starts getting the crowd on her side. I think she starts getting the upper hand and Ronda cheats in some kind of meaningful way to win. Maybe she cuts a promo afterwards telling the fans off and saying she’s gonna do whatever she wants? That’s my hope anyway.

Predicted Winner: Ronda Rousey

Logan Paul Vs The Miz

Logan Paul is going to beat The Miz because this win does nothing for The Miz and it does everything to establish Logan Paul as a serious player in WWE over the next few years. The Miz has moved up and down the card for a decade and a half. He’ll be fine losing here, especially considering how famous Logan Paul is.

What I’m far more interested in is whether Logan Paul leaves his match as a heel or a face. Right now, he’s supposed to be a baby face, which makes about as much sense as trying to make a late 80s Bobby Heenan a baby face. Some guys are born to wear the black hat. To me, he’s the cheating, smirking embodiment of a heel. It’s just so obvious. Look at this insane motion graphic he made earlier this week. Heel. Heel. Heel. It’s hard to imagine WWE fans fully embracing him with cheers anytime in the near future.

Maybe Triple H gets that. Maybe he’ll use this opportunity to solidify Logan Paul as a heel and give him some real jerk store momentum coming out of it. Or maybe they’re determined to power through and try to eventually get him over. I don’t know. Regardless, I feel confident he’ll walk out as a winner hopefully in a fun match.

Predicted Winner: Logan Paul

The Mysterios Vs The Judgment Day

This all comes down to what the future of Judgment Day is going to look like. Two months ago, they were an incredibly hot stable that seemed destined for big things. Then Edge got thrown out and replaced by Finn Balor in a move that’s confusing from both a real and kayfabe perspective. Then Rhea Ripley was off television for what felt like a month, and suddenly, Damian Priest and Balor were feuding with the Mysterios in lower card action. Life comes at you fast.

I still think The Judgment Day can and should be a kick-ass stable. All three of the performers can wrestle really well. They’ve got a pretty cool look. I want WWE to keep fighting through, but there seem to be plenty of others on the internet who think the writers should wash their hands with it and let all three performers go back to doing their own things. How Triple H feels is anyone’s guess. If he wants to wash his hands of it, the best thing to do would be for the team to lose clean to the Mysterios.

I don’t think that’s going to happen. My guess is either Rhea Ripley will interfere and win the match for Judgment Day or Edge will make a surprise return and screw over Judgment Day, as their inevitable confrontation is coming at some point. Without a ton of confidence, I’ll go with Edge showing up, which would launch a feud between him and probably Balor moving forward.

Predicted Winner: The Mysterios

Bianca Belair (Champion) vs Becky Lynch For The Raw Women’s Championship

I’m so freaking excited for this match. Both of these women are generational talents and somehow still improving every month. Their chemistry together is really fluid and natural, and with all due respect to Cody Rhodes and Seth Freakin Rollins, their match at WrestleMania was the best of the entire event for my money. We’re so lucky to be able to watch them slug it out again. 

Now, what’s going to happen is anyone’s guess. They’re without question the top two women in the entire division. Either could go on a two year long run with the belt and totally deserve it. So, the question is really which of the two spectacular options does Triple H want to take. If he keeps the belt on Bianca, I think he needs to move Lynch to Smackdown and let her grab the title from Ronda or Liv or push her into some sort of other compelling feud worthy of her talent. 

If she wins, then Bianca is obviously going to need a rematch, and this feud is just going to continue. On the one hand, I would love that. On the other hand, it would be nice to see them do other things, especially since Charlotte and Bayley are going to return at some point, Alexa Bliss seems to ready to jump back into the main event picture and with Vince McMahon gone, it’s possible we could get Sasha and/ or Naomi back. For those reasons, I think Bianca is going to win, and we’re going to move on from this feud for a bit.

Predicted Winner: Bianca Belair

Roman Reigns (Champion) Vs Brock Lesnar For The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

I have mixed feelings on doing Roman and Brock again. I don’t mind it so much from a purely watching the match standpoint. In fact, I’m kind of excited. It’s not going to be Kurt Angle and Bret Hart, but it’s always compelling in an Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan kind of way. Plus, I’d rather have an opponent for Roman that could actually win. If he was wrestling Riddle or Kevin Owens or whoever, there wouldn’t be much doubt about the match’s outcome. No offense to those dudes, who are great, but WWE isn’t going to put two belts on them. 

The reason I’m not more excited, however, at least beyond we just saw this at WrestleMania 38, is that I don’t want either one of these guys taking a loss. It undermines Brock’s character to have him take a second consecutive L to Roman Reigns on a big stage, and it’s kind of stupid, in my opinion, to keep the belt on Roman for two years and then drop it to a part-timer like Lesnar. This should have been Cody’s moment or maybe Randy Orton or maybe Bray Wyatt in a surprise return.

So, who is going to win? Well, considering both Roman and Brock are essentially part-timers right now, let me reframe this question. Who does WWE want to face Drew McIntyre (or Sheamus but really, Drew McIntyre) in the main event at Clash At The Castle? It’s hard for me not to think that answer is Roman Reigns, and while I don’t love Drew being the one to end Roman’s run, him winning the belt in Europe would be such a great callback moment to British Bulldog in 1992. So, I’m going to say Roman retrains, but I’m not confident.

Predicted Winner: Roman Reigns

Whoever Wins (Champion) Vs Theory For The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

It’s not just that WWE has been teasing this cash-in for weeks. They’ve been outright saying it. Theory has made it very clear he’s going to cash in as soon as this match is over, assumedly on a winner that’s just gotten the hell beaten out of them. As we know, Money In The Bank cash-ins succeed an overwhelming majority of the time. 

This one is going to fail. I know Theory is a rising star. He’s done a great job of generating heat with this contract. His future is really bright, but Clash At The Castle needs a main event of either Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre or Brock Lesnar vs Drew McIntyre. Theory is just not at that point in his career. Besides, the audience loves to hate him, and watching him try to cash-in and lose would be such a great way to end SummerSlam.

Predicted Winner: Cash-In Fails And Either Roman Reigns Or Brock Lesnar Retains.

We’re just a day away from the 2022 edition of Money In The Bank and what the show lacks in star power, it makes up for in what the hell is going to happen-ness. Given the injuries to Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, as well as the increasingly part-time status of Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, now suddenly feels like the time for a more unsung member of the roster to grab the briefcase and get a well-deserved cash-in moment down the road.

The women’s Money In The Bank ladder match also looks particularly intriguing with a mix of huge names like Becky Lynch, Asuka and Alexa Bliss, as well as emerging forces who WWE seem to be pushing including Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan and the returning Lacey Evans. There are a lot of different directions Bruce Prichard and the writers could go, which means there are a ton of different possible outcomes. That should make for an exciting premium live event, even if the biggest names on the roster aren’t there for a variety of reasons.

That being said, I still think some finishes are a lot more likely than others, and I’m here to put my "Genius" hat on and tell you which ones are most likely to happen. Ordinarily, I’d be a little more John Cena humble and a little less Bobby Heenan confident, but I correctly predicted every single match at Hell In A Cell. Every. Single. One. As such, I’m flying high and filled with all kinds of false confidence. So, without further ado, here’s what I think is going to happen at Money In The Bank…

The Usos (Champions) Vs The Street Profits For The Undisputed Tag Team Titles

The Usos have been champions for almost 350 days. That’s an insane run in the tag team division, but unlike their cousin/Bloodline leader Roman Reigns, they are not booked to look unstoppable. In fact, the two routinely lose singles matches, get the worse end of confrontations and lose non-title matches. They are made to look really beatable. They just don’t get beat because they’re still really over with the crowd/great on the mic/the best available option.

I like the Street Profits, but I’m not really into putting someone over for the sake of change. Thankfully, WWE doesn’t seem to be into that either lately, at least apart from the Intercontinental Championship, which may have suddenly found some stability with Gunther. The Street Profits are certainly over with fans, who will gladly shout “We Want The Smoke,” but in no universe are they anywhere as close to over as RK-Bro. I’m not even sure they’re as over as The Alpha Academy, who, by the way, I’m shamelessly in the tank for.

I guess, at least from my perspective, if you’re gonna put the tag titles on a team for almost a year, the team taking those belts should be REALLY OVER with fans or the change should be serving some kind of larger narrative (the tag team breaking up, etc). Neither of those conditions are in play here; so, I would look for The Usos to retain, though they'll likely drop at an upcoming WWE premium live event.

Predicted Winner: The Usos

Ronda Rousey (Champion) Vs Natalya For The Smackdown Women’s Championship

I think the build-up to this match, quick as it has been, is the best Ronda Rousey has been since she returned to WWE at the Royal Rumble. Their promo last week on Smackdown where Natalya dressed up as Ronda, and Ronda came out and threw some shade was really fun. There have also been some colorful exchanges on Twitter, some of which have been so stiff it has led people to wonder whether there is real animosity. I’d still like to see Ronda paired with a manager at some point, but huge steps in the right direction are happening, even if some of the more jaded members of wrestling Twitter won’t admit it.

That being said, I don’t really think the outcome of this match is in doubt. I like seeing Natalya get a little main event run, but nothing about her presentation for the last year has made her seem like a credible threat to beat Ronda or worthy of a run as a top tier champion. I just don’t think you can go from feuding with Aliyah to rocking the SmackDown Women’s Championship in six months. That’s too much of an abrupt u-turn, even for WWE. 

I’d love to see a compelling match here though. This is a nice chance for Rousey to work with a veteran who should sell for her and make her look good, and it’s a chance for Natalya to remind everyone what she’s capable of. She’s been in tons of big matches, held major titles and once lasted 56 minutes in the Rumble. She’s capable of a lot. Maybe this is the springboard she needs to get a bigger role moving forward, especially with Charlotte Flair off and Sasha Banks and Naomi still in limbo.

Predicted Winner: Ronda Rousey

Theory (Champion) Vs Bobby Lashley For The United States Championship

I originally thought WWE was building toward John Cena and Theory. I thought they’d wrestle at Summerslam for the United States Championship, Cena would knock him down a peg, and we’d get a run for a few months with Cena as a mid-card champ. What a fantasy that (probably) turned out to be. The locker room leader showed up on Monday Night Raw for his 20th anniversary flowers. He even teased one more run, but he was also clear he had no idea when that would be. Unless there was some next level lying going on, I’m no longer expecting him to work SummerSlam, which means all possibilities are suddenly open.

It’s clear WWE writers love Austin Theory. He’s gotten numerous high profile matches and segments with his mentor Vince McMahon. They also put the US title on him, which should take on increasingly more importance with the Universal and WWE belts united under Roman Reigns. I get it. The crowd hates him in a good way. He’s so ripped he’s doing Rick Rude style posedowns, and he’s still in his early 20s. The future is really bright. But then again, WWE is really invested in Bobby Lashley right now too. He’s moved on from his Omos feud, and he’s getting main event treatment during his entrances.

My confidence level isn’t very high with this match, which is why I’m predicting shenanigans! I think Bobby Lashley takes the victory, but he does it by either disqualification or countout. Maybe we’ll see some interference from Chad Gable and/or Otis. Then I think WWE will spend the next month trying to build this up bigger before a rematch at SummerSlam with some kind of non-DQ stipulation

Predicted Winner: Bobby Lashley

Bianca Belair (Champion) vs Carmella For The Raw Women’s Championship

Let’s start with Carmella. She is a perfectly nice heel, and I like having her character around. She knows what she’s there for, works the crowd pretty well and is a nice in-ring performer. I also like listening to her husband Corey Graves be a shameless homer while commenting on her matches. None of this should be taken as a shot at Carmella. But come’on. Her beating Bianca would be as infuriating as Goldberg beating The Fiend in Saudi Arabia.

Bianca Belair is a star. She is an absolute freaking star. I recently rewatched her match with Becky Lynch at ‘Mania 38, and it’s far and away the best match from an event that had a ton of good matches. I’m not saying she needs to hold the belt for the next ten years, but she should only be losing, in my opinion, on rare occasions to elite level talents like Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and maybe, maybe Rhea Ripley. 

I would have loved to see that last match. That was the original plan here, but with Ripley out with an injury, we’re getting Carmella. To me, the only real question is how strong WWE will want Bianca to look. There’s a world in which I could see this being a squash. Then again, there’s another world in which I could see them getting 15-20 minutes to do some really athletic and cool stuff. I’d prefer the latter, but as long as Bianca Belair’s hand goes up at the end, it’ll be fine with me.

Predicted Winner: Bianca Belair

Women’s Money In The Bank Match Featuring Becky Lynch, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Lacey Evans, Raquel Rodriguez And Shotzi

Predicting the winner of a Money In The Bank match is closer to predicting the winner of a Royal Rumble than it is a traditional main event. There are so many competitors and so many different places WWE could go with the storyline. Plus, unlike in a standard match, losing isn’t necessarily a step backwards for someone’s character. In that way, it’s less about who WWE wants to protect and more about who WWE wants to elevate and create storylines for, which opens up so many possibilities.

Let’s start with Becky Lynch. Everything she’s doing right now is working, and she’s maybe my favorite person on the entire WWE roster. Her recent storyline has dealt with her character coming to terms with taking a lot of Ls, and taking an L here seems like the next logical step. Sure, it would be fun to watch her carting around the briefcase and taunting everyone, but in my opinion, she doesn’t need it. At all. I would watch her character fight jobbers every week or do avant garde promos about life. 

So, that leaves everyone else. WWE is clearly pushing Raquel Rodriguez and Lacey Evans, but to be honest, I don’t think either is that over with the crowd yet. I like Shotzi and think there’s talent there, but just being in this match is a nice exposure win for her. So, that leaves Liv Morgan, Alexa Bliss and Asuka. I love Alexa Bliss and would love to see her shoot back up to the main event, but recent televised wins over the likes of Nikki ASH, Doudrop and Sonya Deville don’t seem like the start of a big push. So, Asuka or Liv Morgan? I like Liv Morgan. She’s had recent big wins against Rhea Ripley and Alexa Bliss, and this could be a big chance to get to another tier.

Predicted Winner: Liv Morgan

Men’s Money In The Bank Match Featuring Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Riddle, Seth Freakin’ Rollins, Omos, Sami Zayn and TBD

I’m writing these predictions before Smackdown, which means we still don’t know who the last Money In The Bank participant will be. I reserve the right to change my pick if it turns out to be a prime Bret Hart, but barring that, I feel really, really good about Seth Freakin' Rollins. He’s been incredible for the entire year. His current unhinged lunatic character is a delight to watch every week, and he deserves so much credit for how well he put over Cody Rhodes.

Yes, I know the WWE Universe was primed to embrace Cody Rhodes when he came back for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is the man himself is so easy to root for, but getting over in wrestling requires another character with the charisma to push back. Seth Rollins was that for three consecutive premium live events, including Hell In A Cell where Cody fought injured, and the two put on a match that will be remembered for decades. I’d love to see that rewarded.

Besides, who the hell else is it going to be? Sami Zayn is a great heel and a really fun character, but this is way too big of a step up. He needs to stay in the mid-card. Omos obviously has the look and could get there someday, but nothing about his matches with Bobby Lashley proved he’s ready. Drew McIntyre has already been announced as the main event challenger at Clash In The Castle in September. There’s no point in him having the briefcase. Plus, I’m pretty sure him and Sheamus are going to somehow screw each other over and then fight at SummerSlam. That leaves Riddle and the other person to be added. I love Riddle and he’s over with the crowd, but he just got his shot at Roman Reigns on Smackdown.

Predicted Winner: Seth Freakin’ Rollins 

We’re just days away from 2022’s edition of Hell In A Cell, and unfortunately for WWE, much of the chatter has been more about who is not on the card. Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey, Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair and many others are all absent. Recent high profile walkouts Sasha Banks and Naomi are also, of course, nowhere to be found either. 

Fortunately for those of us that would like to see some great wrestling, WWE has a really deep roster, and while all the biggest names aren’t here, many of the ones capable of delivering the best matches are. Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair and Asuka are all on the card and capable of delivering something special. So, the haters can hit me with what chants all they want, but I’m still excited for this weekend.

So, let’s stomp a mudhole up and down this card Stone Cold style. We’ll go through each of the matches, and I’ll not only tell you who I think is going to win, I’ll even tell you where I think the storyline might be going afterwards. I don’t have any inside sources. Vince McMahon isn’t asking me for my ideas, but as a point of pride, I did predictions for WrestleMania and predictions for WrestleMania Backlash and am a combined 14 and 7. That’s not quite main event status, but it’s right there knocking on the door, like a prime Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. 

Bobby Lashley vs Omos & MVP

This is the third consecutive premium live event that Lashley and Omos are fighting at, and this needs to be the end of it. Some things have worked; other things have not. It’s been a fine enough program, but I think we should all move on. Omos’ entire identity can’t be wrapped up in hating Lashley, and if Lashley is going to get back in the main event picture, now is the time. Roman Reigns is taking some time away. Brock Lesnar hasn’t been around since ‘Mania. Randy Orton seemingly has a kayfabe back injury.

As such, I expect to see Lashley take care of (hurt) business against Omos and MVP. Given it’s a handicap match and Omos is a massive human being, he’ll probably have to fight from behind and get a little good fortune, but if he wants to move back up the card, he needs to win here. I suspect he does and we see Omos return to the tag team scene or start a program with one of the other scary dudes WWE is building like Veer Mahaan or Gunther.

Predicted Winner: Bobby Lashley

Theory (Champ) Vs Mustafa Ali For The United States Championship

I think there’s a case to be made here for both of these guys. Let’s start with Mustafa Ali. He was off television for awhile thanks to a prolonged feud with WWE management that included him publicly asking for his release. He’s been back a little over a month and has been working a program with Theory in which he’s had to endure lots of unfair things like The Miz as guest referee. Now he’s finally about to get his fair shake with a straight up match, and it would make sense to pay that off with a victory. It would also signal to Naomi and Sasha Banks that just because you publicly feud with the company doesn’t mean you can’t be welcomed back and win titles.

But where would a loss to Mustafa Ali put Theory? The company clearly considers him to be a future star. He’s repeatedly referred to as Mr. McMahon’s protege on air, and he got a high profile match at WrestleMania 38. He’s now US Champion, and there are some lingering rumors about a possible match with John Cena at SummerSlam. Can you really have John Cena wrestle a guy who lost to Pat McAfee and Mustafa Ali during recent premium live events?

No. And while that match with Cena may or may not happen, I think WWE is a lot more invested in building Austin Theory. I think he wins, but there’s no reason this can’t be a skilled and highly competitive match of the night contender that would also elevate Mustafa’s status with fans and the company. Every big match is an opportunity, even if you’re putting someone else over.

Predicted Winner: Theory

Ezekiel Vs Kevin Owens

The Ezekiel vs Elias/ are they the same person storyline has been so much more fun than it had any right to be. Kevin Owens just jumps in and fully commits to whatever he’s doing, and giving him a chance to work alongside Chad Gable has been a delight. I’m invested in this storyline, which is high praise for something that is objectively so stupid.

I’m not really sure who WWE is going to have win here because I’m not sure what the plan for Ezekiel is long-term. Is he going to eventually be accepted as Elias’ brother and just be a normal character on the show – like as in, he has matches and segments where his identity doesn’t come up? It’s not as if gimmick changes are uncommon in wrestling. He could just be Ezekiel long-term. Or is the identity of Ezekiel always going to be, predominantly, about his true identity and who his brother is. If so, the character himself is probably two arm drops down on a Brutus The Barber Beefcake sleeper hold.

My guess is Kevin Owens takes the win here, and while he’s celebrating on Raw on Monday, Elias comes out to confront Kevin Owens and challenge him to a match, injecting a new round of life into the storyline. At least that’s how I would write it.

Predicted Winner: Kevin Owens.

Madcap Moss Vs Happy Corbin

A late addition! This article has already been rolling for a day, but I had to jump back in here and add Madcap Moss vs Happy Corbin. It probably would have made more sense to throw this prediction on the top of the article or on the bottom, but since it feels like the most midcard match that has ever mid-carded, I decided to throw it in the middle. Seemed fitting.

After a few weeks off with his kayfabe injury, Madcap Moss returned on Smackdown last night with a new attitude and new gear. The suspenders are gone, and he's no longer willing to take anyone's crap. The crowd seemed semi into it, and really into it whenever Happy Corbin was on the receiving end. I still think the jury is out on whether Madcap Moss is really over with the crowd or Corbin is just so despised as a heel (in a good way) that anyone delivering him punishment will be cheered like Riddle flipping his flip flops off. 

Regardless of what I think, however, it seems like WWE is really trying to push Madcap. A win here would elevate him to go do something else, and it could also give us another Sad Corbin period, which could provide some fun moments with his character as he slowly loses his self confidence again.

Predicted Winner: Madcap Moss

Finn Balor, AJ Styles and Liv Morgan vs Edge, Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley.

This has been a good, back-and-forth feud over the past month or so. Everyone involved is a skilled worker, and there’s been enough variance in results and finishes to make the outcome here compelling. Regardless of what happens, I really hope both three person groups stay together for awhile.

That being said, I still think the end result here is reliant on how high the WWE writers see Edge going with Judgment Day. If they’re going to want him in the main title picture, it’s important to keep this stable looking really strong. That would also help Rhea Ripley and maybe Damian Priest too. I could envision a future in which Edge was fighting for the WWE Championship, Rhea was the women’s champion and Priest had some kind of mid-card belt. Then again, I could also see a future in which everyone involved here is doing something totally unrelated in six months.

I think they’re going to keep Judgment Day strong and will give them the victory, maybe with Rhea pinning Liv Morgan. There's something here with this stable, beyond just Edge yelling at the crowd that they're sheep each week. I think they're slowly finding it, and I'd like to see the trio get stronger.

Predicted Winner: Judgment Day.

Cody Rhodes Vs Seth Freakin’ Rollins

Seth Rollins is doing incredible work right now. His manic, unhinged energy is must-watch TV, and his in-ring work is still elite. I’m glad he always has a relevant storyline, but it’s also kind of frustrating that WWE so often uses him to make other guys look good. 

That’s been the case during his feud with Cody Rhodes. The superstars have delivered two spectacular performances at WrestleMania 38 and WrestleMania Backlash. It seems ridiculous to give Cody three consecutive wins, but having Seth win means this feud will need to extend. And I don’t think WWE is going to want to extend it anymore. I’ve loved these matches, but I don’t even want to see them wrestle on four consecutive premium live events.

Cody needs to keep building toward his eventual match for the WWE title that’ll likely happen next year at WrestleMania. I think it’s going to be a slow burn, with a Royal Rumble victory that will allow them to tease out his chance at glory for months. But even so, he needs to move on and start wrestling other people, and that means he needs a victory here.

Predicted Winner: Cody Rhodes

Bianca Belair (Champ) Vs Becky Lynch Vs Asuka For The Raw Women’s Championship

Even with Charlotte Flair being off for awhile, some uncertainty surrounding Ronda Rousey and whatever is going on with Sasha and Naomi, the women’s division in WWE remains really compelling and really strong. This triple threat match should be incredible, and whether it goes on last or not, it should be considered the main event. Belair and Lynch delivered, in my opinion, the best match at WrestleMania 38, and Asuka should be an exciting shake-up to this sort of rematch. 

You could certainly make a case for any of these superstars to walk out of Chicago with the title, but personally, I think Asuka makes the least amount of sense. She’s hasn’t been back from injury that long, and I think there’s a lot more story to be told between Lynch and Belair. Their feud started at SummerSlam when Lynch made a surprise return and squashed her. Belair got her vengeance and won the title back at WrestleMania 38. I think it makes sense for the two to face off again at SummerSlam and put a nice little bow on this feud.

I’m not entirely sure who is going to win between Lynch and Belair. I think one of them will pin Asuka, and they’ll extend the program to SummerSlam. My guess is Belair retains the title and stays champion until then, but we’ll see.

Predicted Winner: Bianca Belair

We’re only days away from WrestleMania Backlash, which means it’s time to put my forecasting hat on (think 80s era Slick) and make some predictions about what’s going to happen. For some of the matches, that feels pretty easy based on the storylines we’ve seen so far and what makes sense to develop moving forward. For other matches, however, it’s not exactly Drew McIntyre and Happy Corbin levels of obvious. I’m not even sure Vince McMahon and company are a hundred percent on who is gonna win all the slobberknockers yet.

But alas, I’ll power through. My predictions for WrestleMania 38 actually went pretty well. I was 11/15 on my guesses which isn’t bad given a few bizarre decisions WWE made like having New Day lose after Big E broke his freakin’ neck. This premium live event I’m not quite as confident about, but I’ve got some theories and a few matches I’m gonna squash like I'm Veer Mahaan delivering vicious clotheslines. So, let’s sprint out of the back Ultimate Warrior style and get into it…

Charlotte Flair (Champion) vs Ronda Rousey in an I Quit Match

This is, without question, the match I’m most intrigued about on the card, at least from a where-is-this-going standpoint. Ronda Rousey is a huge name and a terrific athlete. She usually gets a big initial pop when her music hits, and at times, she looks good in the ring. She should be the type of star you build premium live events around, but something isn’t totally clicking right now. Something needs to change about the way she’s being presented. Maybe a manager or a heel turn or something.

If WWE still looks at Ronda Rousey as a star that could be one of its biggest draws, I don’t think you can make her lose an I Quit match to Charlotte Flair. Submissions are her thing, and she already lost, albeit in a protected way, at ‘Mania to Flair. Two consecutive losses, the second by her preferred style, would probably drop her to the mid-card given there are so many talented women right now they’re outrageously just leaving Alexa Bliss on the sidelines. But not losing means winning and winning means picking up the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Should they really be giving the belt to someone in the midst of a run that’s not really working that well?

I don’t know. I think the right move, from a short-term analysis perspective, is to keep the belt on Charlotte. She’s better and you shouldn’t reward someone with a belt that’s only marginally over with fans. The right long-term decision, however, is to salvage Ronda if you can. She could still be a star. Sometimes it does work. I’d love to see WWE give her a manager and turn her heel in some fashion during this match, which would allow her to change her attitude and presentation. I think she’ll win, but I don’t think we’ll get the hell turn that's really needed.

Predicted Winner: Ronda Rousey via submission.

Happy Corbin Vs Madcap Moss

Madcap Moss is way more over with live event fans than I ever would have guessed. He’s gotten some real pops from the crowd, but I personally think those pops have more to do with people hating Happy Corbin than anything he’s really doing. Corbin is quietly one of the best heels the company has, and if he’s getting clowned, people are going to root big for whoever is clowning him. So, my preference here is that Corbin wins. I want to keep him relatively strong. I’m not saying he should be fighting Roman Reigns at an upcoming premium live event, but I’d love to see him stick around the mid-card and maybe have a run with one of the lesser belts. He can draw boos, and fans would get behind screaming at him for a few months while he brags about how cool he is.  

But I’m worried WWE may try to build Madcap. I’m not saying it’s impossible he could get over outside of Corbin’s orbit, but I just don’t think one joke followed by obnoxious laughing is enough of a gimmick. He’s a pretty good wrestler and has a terrific build. There’s an alternate presentation that could definitely work, but this current one with all the random thumbs up gestures after big moves isn't working for me. It seems like it’s doing it for the WWE writers though; so, there's a real shot he could win. I’m going to predict Corbin because I’m a shameless and biased superfan of everything he’s doing, but I don’t feel good about this prediction at all.

Predicted Winner: Corbin via pinfall.

Bobby Lashley vs Omos

It seems like WWE is burying Omos. They had him lose clean to Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania. Then, after giving him MVP as a manager which seemed like a potential win, they had him lose, of all things, an arm wrestling contest. If you had big, long-term hopes for a gigantic, physically imposing dude, it doesn’t seem like you’d have him lose arm wrestling matches on TV, right? 

I think it’s as simple as this: if Omos loses, something about him has to change. He needs to disappear for awhile, get repackaged or move back to the tag division. His whole identity right now is hating Bobby Lashley, even using his old manager, and Lashley already beat him clean at ‘Mania. If he beats him again, Omos is going to lose whatever mystique he has left and not really serve any kind of purpose.

Unfortunately for Omos, however, I think he is going to lose, and I don't even think it's going to be competitive. Lashley is going to beat him up and then put him in the Hurt Lock. WWE seems to want to build Lashley back into a main event contender, and he’s not going to do that continuing his feud with Omos. So, I think Omos gets rolled and then we see a repackaging, which I'm fine with. Omos has an amazing look, but he needs to get a bit smoother in the ring.

Predicted Winner: Bobby Lashley via submission. 

AJ Styles Vs Edge

Damian Priest played a key role in Styles and Edge’s WrestleMania match, but he’s banned from ringside this time around thanks to a recent loss to Styles where that was a stipulation. There have been rumors for a month or so about more people being added to their new stable Judgment Day, but that hasn’t happened so far. I predict we finally get that mystery third person, and that mystery third person (not Hulk Hogan, probably Rhea Ripley) interferes in the match and gets Edge the win. 

At least that’s what makes sense to me. I think Edge needs this win the most. AJ Styles may have a partnership brewing with Finn Balor. They could head to the tag team ranks and compete for those titles without a big momentum loss since that would be a new thing. Edge losing would seemingly pump the brakes on this very recent build they’re putting a lot of time into. So, unless the writers are losing confidence in Judgment Day, I think Edge needs to win or at least lose like he’s an Attitude Era main eventer that needs three consecutive finishers and a referee distraction to go down.

Predicted Winner: Edge via pinfall.

Cody Rhodes vs Seth Freakin’ Rollins

Cody is getting a superhero welcome every time he’s on TV. Crowds are chanting his name, and WWE is giving him a main event entrance presentation, as well as ample time on the microphone. The writers are also building a storyline about how he’s going to capture the WWE Championship for the first time for his dad, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes. It’s all getting over even better than expected with fans and barring an injury, will probably climax with that title shot against Roman or someone else at a huge upcoming premium live event.

Because of that, I just don’t see how you stop his momentum and have him lose at WrestleMania Backlash. Seth Freakin Rollins is great. His chaotic laughter and endless trolling are still over with fans. They’re still singing along with his catchy theme, but he doesn’t need this win. Plus, if he were to win, that means they’d have to wrestle a third time, and while the ‘Mania match was great, I think we all want to see Cody bounce around and work with some other people. So, I suspect they put on the best match of the Backlash card, but it ultimately ends the same way as the first time with a Cody victory.

Predicted Winner: Cody Rhodes via pinfall.

Drew McIntyre And RK-Bro vs The Bloodline (Roman Reigns And The Usos)

What happened here? We were going to get RK-Bro and The Usos to combine the tag titles. Now we have a six man tag match, the purpose of which seems to be delaying RK-Bro vs The Usos and Drew McIntyre vs Roman Reigns to later premium live events. I’m not saying that’s not a smart business decision or that this match won’t be fun to watch, but it feels like the stakes here are zero. No matter what happens, these teams will just continue feuding. So, unless Randy Orton gives Riddle the Sweet Chin Music and throws him into a barbershop window, the outcome is about as important as any random six man tag on SmackDown.

I’ve gotta choose a winner though, and since I think The Bloodline will come out on top in this larger feud eventually (unless WWE wants McIntyre to main event the European PPV Clash At The Castle with the title), I’m going to say RK-Bro and McIntyre get the better of this one. Roman definitely won’t get pinned, but i think the Bloodline goes down.

Predicted Winners: Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro via pinfall (Orton on Jey)

Other Predictions

This doesn't feel like enough matches, especially on the women's side. There are simply too many amazing women in WWE right now to get one match on a premium live event card. So, I suspect another match will be added tomorrow on SmackDown or we'll get some kind of major plot advancement. Maybe we'll finally see the long-awaited return of Bayley or we'll figure out whatever is going on with Alexa Bliss. Or maybe we'll get Rhea and Liv or Becky and Asuka, though they may be saving those for other events.

I'm not sure if you've been following Ezekiel. He's Elias' younger brother, who is definitely not Elias. He's been building some steam lately in programs with Kevin Owens and Chad Gable. I think there's a chance he gets something to do here too. Maybe we get a fun video package that cuts back and forth between Ezekiel and Elias in the same location without ever showing them together?

It’s been a chaotic build to WrestleMania 38. We’re now just days away from the biggest wrestling show of the year, and the majority of the card is locked into place like a figure-four from a prime Ric Flair . The big match is, of course, Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns who will be going title v title in a unification match. I'm still skeptical of WWE's decision here to give the winner one unified belt. I'd rather they be defended separately on each show, but alas, no one answers my emails.

Putting that insult aside, there’s a lot of intrigue up and down the card in both the men’s and women’s divisions. Right now there are fourteen matches scheduled for WrestleMania 38, as well as a Stone Cold Steve Austin appearance, which may be a real match or may just be a guy opening a can of whoopass during a talk show segment. I’m going to go through my predictions for all of it, which I would like to point out is what I think is going to happen, not what I want to happen. If it were what I wanted, we'd have a more positive outcome for Happy Corbin, who I inexplicably love for reasons I can't really explain.

WrestleMania 38 Night 1 Predictions

Becky Lynch (Champion) vs Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship

Big Time Becks made a surprise return at SummerSlam last year and squashed Bianca in 26 seconds. I still have no idea why this seemed like a good idea, as Belair is a rising star, was over with fans and had so much momentum at the time. Whatever. Someone thought it was a good idea, and it certainly elevated Lynch. I’ve moved on and can’t argue about this more. Anyway, she’s held a major belt ever since, and while she’s had matches with Belair, this is surely the biggest stage.

I like Bianca here. I think a showcase win would help her character move on from looking like Adam Bomb at WrestleMania X, and I think it’s time to give Becky something else to do besides defend this title and get whipped with hair. I don’t think it’ll be a squash, but I expect to see a clean pinfall and a title change.

Predicted Winner: Bianca Belair via pinfall.

Rey Mysterio And Dominik Mysterio vs The Miz and Logan Paul

The obvious pick here is Mysterio & Mysterio. Once The Miz stole Rey’s mask, there was a sense of like… Rey can’t lose this now. He’s got to defend his honor, right? But I’m not so sure anymore. The Miz lost clean on Monday, and I just feel like this story is a lot more interesting if he comes out on top. Plus, there are persistent rumors that Logan Paul may join the WWE Creative Team if this goes well. I’m not sure most wrestling fans are with me here, but I actually think, at least on paper, he’s a terrific fit for WWE long-term. 

Crowd reaction was skeptical during his recent segment where he gushed about Cleveland in Cleveland (at least compared to The Miz who still has it, by the way), but his mic work is quite good for someone who hasn’t interacted with a live wrestling crowd that many times. He’s a terrific athlete. He’s also a very natural heel given some fans already have negative feeling about him due to his pop culture image. I don’t know. This might be the stupidest guess of this entire predictions article, but I’ve talked myself into The Miz and Logan Paul. Maybe it'll spark some kind of Mysterio v Mysterio feud or maybe a story about Dominik earning his mask, which Moonsaulted around a little on Twitter.

Predicted Winners: The Miz and Logan Paul via pinfall (The Miz on Dominik).

Drew McIntyre vs Happy Corbin (With Madcap Moss)

This has to be McIntyre, right? It feels like he’s about to be built again. He finished second in the Rumble. He’s been winning pretty convincingly for the most part on TV. It feels like they talk about his sword more than some of the mid-tier guys on the roster. Its name is Angela by the way, in case the repeated reminders haven't stuck yet. I also have no real data for this, but it just feels like many of his intros are getting longer. Plus, we’ve been getting teases of a fracture in the dynamic between Moss and Corbin. There’s a real possibility Madcap could turn on Happy at ‘Mania.

That being said, I need to take a few seconds to gush about Happy Corbin. Love this dude. I get excited every time he comes on my TV. Something just works, and I need him to stick around the midcard. Just give him 10 to 15 minutes each week to brag about himself, beat up on a jobber or act like a coward against bigger opponents. I’ll also take some travel montages or some vignettes of him being an out of place rube. I suspect he’ll roll into a feud with Madcap Moss after he takes an L here, which I feel fine enough about. 

Predicted Winners: Drew McIntrye via pinfall. 

The Usos (Champions) vs Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs For The Smackdown Tag Team Championship

I like The Usos. I’ve enjoyed their extended reign, even if it involves some standing around behind Roman Reigns, but you can just feel WWE pushing Rick Boogs. He’s looked really strong lately and delivered some particularly aggressive Boogs Cruises. They’ve also been giving him a lot of pre-match time to interact with the crowd and do his call and response thing. Also, to lift people. He has lifted so many people. But the crowd keeps counting; so, I’ve got no problem with him doing it. We'd all lift people over our heads if we were capable and everyone around us chanted to 10 each time. Plus, Shinsuke is great. Pushing Shinsuke is a good idea basically every time. 

So, no offense to The Usos here, who I think should stay in the title picture, but the times they are a-changin. Boogs is over with most fans. His dynamic plays well with Shinsuke. I think we'll see some new champions. Also, from a storyline perspective, The Usos losing the belts is going to create interesting television with Roman, whether he wins or not. All of them down big together could be fun. Then again, him roasting them and stirring up resentment because he now has both belts and they have zero would also be fun.

Predicted Winners: Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs via pinfall (Boogs on Jey).

The New Day vs Sheamus And Ridge Holland (With Butch)

This feels like it has to be a New Day victory. Given Big E’s injury and the less than stellar record the team has historically had at WrestleMania, I think the obvious right move is giving them the victory. Butch is going to interfere. If this were a random TV episode, I'd assume his henchman-like ways would be the difference, but at a huge show like this, I think his interference will backfire, allowing The New Day to come out on top. Maybe there will be a quick interview where they dedicate the victory to Big E and tell him to get well soon.

I’m also interested in what’s going to happen with Sheamus, Ridge and Butch after they lose this match. Are they going to continue as a threesome? Are they going to start their own little mini-feud? Will we get a Sheamus, Ridge and Butch triple threat match? That could be a premium live event undercard. But nah. I don't think so. I think Sheamus will keep bringing in talent and form a stable. He’s still really good in the ring, but his strong mic work means he could be a fit to manage, as well. I'd love to see him as the leader of a gang that gets mad and does the job himself every once in awhile.

Predicted Winners: The New Day via pinfall (Kofi on Ridge).

Seth Freakin Rollins vs A Mystery Opponent

Everybody thinks this is going to be Cody Rhodes. I think it’s going to be Cody Rhodes, and if it is Cody Rhodes, he’s going to win a really close and exciting match. WWE is going to want to immediately introduce him at the main event or near main event level, and to do that, he both needs to look very good and he needs to win. So, I suspect we’ll see a really exciting match with lots of fun spots. Rollins will do fun Seth Rollins things, but Rhodes will prevail in the end.

Of course there’s always the chance this isn’t Cody Rhodes, and if it’s not, then who the hell knows what is going to happen here. The internet has been buzzing about it being Shane McMahon as the ultimate swerve/ middle finger to fans. Just imagine the chorus of boos. That would be an all-time troll job, but I don’t think WWE is going to willingly take that heat or give McMahon a prime ‘Mania match, especially after his appearance at the Royal Rumble allegedly caused backstage heat. I could see it being a surprise return like Bray Wyatt or someone on that level, but I’ll stick with Rhodes.

Predicted Winner: Cody Rhodes via pinfall.

Charlotte Flair (Champion) vs Ronda Rousey for the Smackdown Women's Championship

Rousey isn’t quite there on the microphone yet, but I think she’s improving and is definitely still over with fans. It’s hard to imagine she’d return to WWE, get this much screentime and not wind up with the belt. Plus, with the WWE women’s division deeper and better than it’s ever been (especially if/ when Bayley and Asuka return), it’s going to need shake-ups and changes. Putting the belt on Ronda would shuffle the deck, and it would allow Charlotte Flair to transition into a different storyline, hopefully one with an opponent that can more easily push back on the mic. 

I really hope they give this match time to breathe and really tell a story. I don’t want to see a squash. I want a good wrestling match that tells a story worthy of the extended build-up we’ve gotten and Ronda’s return. I think we’ll get it, and I think it’ll end in an ankle lock given how much that’s been directly discussed on the air. That should push Ronda's character into a more compelling direction post-Mania, and fingers crossed, it allows her to keep developing because she could be great.

Predicted Winner: Ronda Rousey via submission.

The KO Show With Stone Cold Steve Austin

Kevin Owens has been crushing it during this entire build-up to WrestleMania. His mic work has been stupendous (points to WM sign…), and his recent trolling of the crowd when he came out to Stone Cold’s music made the heel part of my soul happy. KO is one of the best wrestlers working today, and I can’t wait to see him interact with the Rattlesnake. He’s earned this moment. 

That being said, I have no idea what to expect out of this segment and/ or possible match. It's either going to be a few minutes of chit-chat, followed by a Stunner, middle fingers and cans of whoopass, all of which KO will oversell in the best way like a prime Mr. Perfect, or it'll turn into a real match. If that happens, fans will lose their minds, and one of the all-time greats will get a chance to give us one more all-time great match. I hope that happens, but anything Stone Cold wants to give us is a welcome surprise in my book. So, no predictions here.

Predicted Winner: I lied. I think it'll be a real match and Stone Cold will give us about 4 to 6 A- minutes, which will feel like an A+. 

WrestleMania 38 Night 2 Predictions

Queen Zelina & Carmella (Champions) vs Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan vs Sasha Banks & Naomi vs Natlya & Shayna Baszler For The Women’s Tag Team Championship

I don’t know when the last time I was fired up about the women’s tag team division was, but I’m ecstatic at the amount of talent that’s been injected in lately. More than half of these women could be competing for the top belts, and we’re already starting to see some real chemistry develop, especially between Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley, who are a delight and already have a banger hybrid entrance theme. How cool would it be if we had a really fun, high energy women’s tag match on most episodes of WWE programming? The talent is there, especially after Bayley and Asuka return. Just stick with it… and maybe give at least a few of these teams fun names.

It feels like this has to be either Rhea and Liv or Sasha and Naomi. No offense to the other teams here who are perfectly fine, but there's real upside for the entire division if it's the right twosome. I don't want the women's tag division to dissolve into nothing again! My money is on Sasha and Naomi, but that’s mostly because they were the initial surprise team that jumped into the division. Plus, Sasha Banks is Sasha Banks, and giving her a belt is almost always a good decision.

Predicted Winners: Sasha Banks and Naomi via submission.

Johnny Knoxville vs Sami Zayn

I was at the Royal Rumble earlier this year, and the pop Johnny Knoxville got from the crowd was very real and very loud, easily one of the biggest of the night. Throw in the fact that celebrities normally win WrestleMania matches, plus how tremendous Sami Zayn is at expressing shock and outrage, and this feels like a pretty definite Knoxville victory. Key qualifier here though: they need to keep Zayn semi-credible. That dude is a treasure. He should stay in the Intercontinental Championship picture moving forward. So, I suspect the win will involve outside interference from the Jackass guys or some other type of tomfoolery. 

The Anything Goes wrinkle certainly opens up a lot of possibilities. Given the celebrity involvement, I wouldn’t expect to see a terribly long match, but it should be goofy and fun. Plus we all know Knoxville has taken gnarlier bumps than anyone on the roster. That WTF is he going to do element adds a little more drama than we normally see from celeb matches too.

Predicted Winner: Johnny Knoxville via pinfall.

Pat McAfee vs Austin Theory

Boy this match really got dropped on us like a Vader Bomb, huh? It feels like it was put together to have another attraction that'll generate some steam. Pat McAfee is terrific on commentary and a damn good athlete. He's also very over right now. Austin Theory is a rising star, who is doing segments with Vince McMahon. He was put in the Elimination Chamber and picked to face Brock Lesnar at MSG. They're obviously higher than a Montez Ford frog splash on both. So, they thought let's feature 'em at 'Mania.

That's not the worst plan I've ever heard. I'm a little worried for Austin Theory long-term though. I know McAfee is a more agile than say Michael Cole, but it still feels weak for Theory to lose straight-up to an announcer with little in-ring experience. But is there really a scenario where they're gonna have a character like Theory beat Pat McAfee? The crowd would boo into the next match. They'd be throwing things on stage like when Hulk Hogan went heel. So, I think something untoward is going to happen here. I predict Shane McMahon interferences setting up some kind of mentor vs real son storyline. 

Predicted Winner: Pat McAfee via pinfall.

RK-Bro (Champions) vs Alpha Academy vs The Street Profits For The Raw Tag Team Championship

I don’t really think there’s a wrong answer here in terms of where WWE wants to go. All three of these teams are both very talented and over with the crowd. I also love each on a personal level. The weekly RK-Bro and Alpha Academy challenges were all kind of goofy fun, and the long-term potential of The Street Profits is enormous. All three of these teams have the talent and look to be on major premium live event cards for years to come. I probably like Alpha Academy the best because I can’t get enough of Chad Gable, but I’m truly fine with any outcome.

My gut tells me the WWE writers are going to use the end of this match to break-up RK-Bro. I know Randy Orton has talked about how happy he is and how much fun he’s having, but someone at WWE, whether it’s Vince McMahon or Bruce Prichard, loves breaking up a good tag team. So, I think RK-Bro breaks up after the match or we at least see major cracks form, which they’ve sorta been teasing.

Predicted Winner: The Alpha Academy via pinfall (Otis on Riddle).

Edge vs AJ Styles

I think the more important wrestler in the equation here is Edge. What is WWE’s long-term plans with Edge (and that blue light)? Do they want him on the mid-card or are they hoping to elevate him back to main event status? If they want him to be a major player and compete for the soon-to-be Unified Title, then I think he needs to win. He needs to establish himself as a mega-heel and come off looking really crazy and powerful. If they’re content with him leaving at the mid-card level, then what’s probably more important is just that this is a great wrestling match that fans enjoy.

I personally think they’ve still got big plans for Edge. He may not have fully capitalized off his 2021 Royal Rumble win, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still make it back to the top of the card. He’s in good shape. His mic work lately has been unhinged in a good, in-character way. I think they'll push him again.

Predicted Winner: Edge via pinfall.

Bobby Lashley vs Omos

I think most people are expecting Bobby Lashley to put an end to Omos’ dominance. That makes the most sense on paper. I mean… what’s the alternative? You rushed Bobby Lashley, a former champion who technically beat Brock Lesnar, back to lose to an inexperienced wrestler that’s been fighting handicapped matches on Raw? Why would you do that? You could have gotten Omos to the next level by turning in a dominant ‘Mania performance against someone like Damian Priest (who by the way, should be fighting Finn Balor this weekend but whatever).

But let’s say that is happening. Let’s say WWE brought Lashley back to get viciously punished by Omos. I mean… how scary would Omos look? You would immediately think he’s in line for a shot at the Unified Title at an upcoming premium live event, right? I don’t buy it, but maybe…

Predicted Winner: Bobby Lashley via pinfall.

Brock Lesnar (Champion) vs Roman Reigns (Champion) For Both Belts

Until recently, I was convinced Roman Reigns was going to win. I’ve been so convinced that I’ve been really dismissive of Brock Lesnar’s chances every single time I’ve referenced the match. But Lesnar has been tremendous the past few weeks. His mic work last Monday on Raw was so freakin’ good. I mean no one likes Paul Heyman more than I do. That dude is one of my favorite managers ever (shoutout Bobby Heenan), but Lesnar has been so smooth on the mic lately, I’m honestly starting to wish he would have ditched Heyman sooner. Cowboy Brock is all kinds of over, and his interaction with the crowd lately has felt effortless. It’s like he’s suddenly figured it all out. I don’t know how anyone wants to stop that momentum right now.

Roman Reigns, however, is also great. He’s been the best thing going in all of wrestling for the past few years. Unifying the belts and beating a legend like Lesnar while doing it would propel him into another tier of all-time greats. I really want that for him. I thought for sure he was going to get it, but I don’t know anymore. How long is Lesnar sticking around for? What’s the plan after the titles are unified? All of this would help provide clarity. Absent that, I’m going to stick with Reigns, but my confidence here is very low.

Predicted Winner: Roman Reigns via pinfall. 

Other Random Predictions:

I think we're going to see Alexa Bliss do something. I mean, what the hell is going on here? She's one of the best wrestlers on the entire roster. She doesn't seem to be injured. She needs to be at WrestleMania doing something productive.

I think a former WWE star other than Cody Rhodes is going to return. I don't know who it'll be, but I think someone shows up and sets Twitter on fire.

I think Steve Austin looks damn good and falls right back into the Stone Cold character like nothing changed.

We’re just a day away from WWE Elimination Chamber. I’m hyped as it’s one of my favorite pay per views, excuse me premium live events, of the year, but also, I’m very confused about a lot of things. Ordinarily, I feel like I have a sense of where WWE may be going with a plotline (CC: 2022 Royal Rumble), but heading into Elimination Chamber, I have no idea what the hell Vince McMahon and company will choose to do in the title men’s match. To be honest, I don’t even know what they should do. I keep going back and forth. So, let’s talk this out, specifically as it relates to Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley.

Yes, I realize other people are in the Elimination Chamber, but in my opinion, there are only two possible outcomes here that make sense. One, WWE can keep the belt on Bobby Lashley and let him continue to develop as one of the key players in the company. Two, WWE could let Brock Lesnar win the Elimination Chamber and make the WrestleMania main event a title versus title match with Roman Reigns. There are serious pros and cons to both of these approaches. So, let’s break it down…

Will Bobby Lashley Win?

Let’s put aside the Lesnar stuff and talk about Lashley here for a minute. In my opinion, he has developed a ton over the past few years. His general aura is very intimidating and champion-like. He has a confidence and swagger about his work both inside and outside the ring. That’s huge because his promos used to be a little stiff, which is why he relied so much on MVP. Not anymore. I’m not saying he’s The Miz or even Chad Gable, but he more than holds his own now.

I think he could be a star with many long, extended title reigns in his future. The idea of knee-capping his momentum right now does not sit well with me. I want to see him keep developing and stay at the top of the card. If he’s improving on a monthly basis, maybe he can keep going to the point where you develop another long-term star. And besides, why would you give him back the belt only to have him drop it a month later?

That being said, Lashley doesn’t really have an obvious opponent for WrestleMania. There’s not a ton of time here to set up a meaningful title match. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done. There are other great wrestlers who will need something to do at ‘Mania, but it’s not ideal for your WWE Champion to defend his title at the biggest event of the year in a match that doesn’t have a ton of heat. Maybe they can set something up in the time between Elimination Chamber and ‘Mania that will be compelling. Maybe they can use the Elimination Chamber match itself to launch something – maybe with Seth Freakin’ Rollins? I’d say Riddle, but we need to see Alpha Academy and RKBro at ‘Mania.

Will Brock Lesnar Win?

Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar are, I think pretty clearly, the top two draws in WWE right now. With all due respect to Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair, this is going to be the match WWE sells WrestleMania on, and there’s nothing Vince McMahon loves more than turning the dial up as much as possible on WRESTLEMANIA (said in that over-the-top way Vince prefers). Having a champion versus champion main event would be a great way to hype this already big match up even further.

Plus, even if you set aside the champion versus champion part of it, WWE wants to make Lesnar look as strong as possible heading into ‘Mania. Roman Reigns is going to roll over Bill Goldberg at Elimination Chamber (or at least he better…), and there would be no better way to make Lesnar look strong than by having him win the Chamber match. And conversely, you don’t want to make him look weak by losing. He can’t get pinned cleanly after a heads up fight with Austin Theory as a precursor to ‘Mania. 

All that being said, I don’t really think Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar need the title versus title angle to make it interesting. There’s already the Paul Heyman angle, and there’s already the fact that both of these superstars have a good buzz around them. People are already hyped (like my co-worker). Plus, it’s hard to imagine Lesnar holding both titles at once. I mean how often is he even going to wrestle post-’Mania? I can see him holding one belt, but he’s not going to carry the torch for both Raw and Smackdown. So, in a way, the title versus title thing, I think, makes him even less likely to win at WrestleMania. So, really, the whole purpose would be to make Roman look even stronger (which I don’t hate because he’s amazing).

Final Prediction

WWE, for some strange reason, does not allow me to book the matches. I’ve also been wrong more times than I can count about WWE’s creative choices; so, the short answer is I don’t know. The long answer is I think Bobby Lashley is going to win the Elimination Chamber. I think he deserves to extend his run at the top of the card, and I think WWE is going to resist the urge to unify the titles because of the long-term complications it would cause (though I’d take an upcoming WrestleMania IV style tournament for the vacated title). 

I expect Lesnar to look really strong in this match. I think he’ll pick up several clean pinfalls, but the confrontation between Lesnar and Lashley will be cut short thanks to interference from Roman Reigns. That’ll escalate the tensions between the two ahead of ‘Mania. It’ll keep Lashley as WWE Champion, and it’ll give WWE an excuse to revisit Lashley vs Lesnar down the road since their last two matches ended with interference. 

The WWE’s Royal Rumble 2022 is right around the corner, which means we’re well on the road to WrestleMania 38. The upcoming pay-per-view event has a huge impact on WrestleMania, as many of the matches that occur there solidify storylines in the months leading to the big event. The case seems to be the same this year, as Superstars head to St. Louis for what could be a career-changing opportunity. 

The Royal Rumbles are, of course, the premier event of the pay-per-view, but there are plenty of other things happening that should keep one of the biggest nights in WWE just as big as ever. Here’s what those who tune in or attend the big event should expect from the evening, and a breakdown of the big matches happening.

WWE Title Match: Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley

Brock Lesnar winning the WWE Championship as a last-minute entrant during the Day 1 pay-per-view wasn’t expected, but it gave fans a match they’ve wanted for some time now. Bobby Lashley put up some big hits on Lesnar and, in the process, earned himself a title shot. Lesnar doesn’t seem the least bit concerned about Lashley in terms of competition, and has continually disrespected the wrestler on Monday Night Raw. For that, Lashley promised he’d hand Lesnar the shortest title reign of his career at the WWE’s Royal Rumble and become a champion once again. 

Men’s Royal Rumble

The thirty-man Royal Rumble event is a career achievement for the winner and a real opportunity to better their standing in the main roster. The winner of the Royal Rumble gets a world title shot at WrestleMania, which is not an opportunity easily obtained for some talent. It’s also an event where surprise entrants and celebrities often appear, such as this year’s known celebrity entrant Johnny Knoxville. At the moment, there are twenty-two men declared for the 2022 Royal Rumble:

• Omos
• Randy Orton
• Riddle
• Otis
• Chad Gable
• Dolph Ziggler
• Robert Roode
• Kevin Owens
• Big E
• AJ Styles
• Damian Priest
• Johnny Knoxville
• Sami Zayn 
• Kofi Kingston 
• Happy Corbin
• Madcap Moss
• Sheamus
• Angelo Dawkins
• Montez Ford
• Rey Mysterio
• Dominik Mysterio
• Austin Theory

All of these men will vie for a chance to win the Royal Rumble, as well as eight other entrants whose identities we don't know yet. Granted, there are rumblings of NXT superstars and even a former wrestling legend attending, but nothing confirmed so far. There’s even talk that the WWE may open the “forbidden door” and invite wrestlers from other promotions to compete, though we’ve yet to see that happen in the men’s lineup. 

Women’s Royal Rumble 

The 30-woman Women’s Royal Rumble goes down in the same way the men’s event does, though things are a bit different this time around. The big change in 2022 is that SmackDown champion Charlotte Flair is in the event and hopes to win, so that she can choose her opponent for WrestleMania. Flair and twenty other women are confirmed for the event so far: 

• Bianca Belair
• Liv Morgan
• Charlotte Flair
• Naomi
• Rhea Ripley
• Nikki A.S.H.
• Brie Bella
• Nikki Bella
• Carmella
• Queen Zelina
• Lita
• Michelle McCool
• Kelly Kelly
• Dana Brooke
• Natalya
• Mickie James
• Tamina
• Shayna Baszler
• Summer Rae
• Aliyah
• Shotzi

The Women’s Royal Rumble match already has a few surprising entrants announced, like the Bella Twins and former superstar Michelle McCool. One especially interesting entrant is Mickie James (who was released from WWE in 2021 along with many others), who currently works for another promotion and publicly spoke out against the company after receiving her belongings in a trash bag following her release. 

As far as unnamed participants, it seems like Alexa Bliss might return during the women’s match with an old identity, and there are strong rumblings that Ronda Rousey could make an appearance, as well. Whether that happens, we’ll just need to wait and see and learn which superstar will change their fate and get an opportunity at WrestleMania. 

WWE Universal Title Match: Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

Roman Reigns’ missed out on his Day 1 pay-per-view match with Brock Lesnar due to a COVID diagnosis, and some may say he dodged a bullet in the process. Others might argue he’s in just as bad of a position now, as he needs to defeat Seth Rollins to retain his Universal title. Rollins might not have the strength and power of Lesnar, but he’s shown over the years he’s about as skilled in the ring as he is skilled at fixing matches in his favor. Rollins already managed to get Reigns’ cousins, The Usos, banned from ringside, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he can tip the scales further in his favor. This could be Reigns’ biggest challenge as champion yet. 

WWE Raw Women's Title Match: Becky Lynch vs. Doudrop

Doudrop started her run in the WWE playing second banana to Eva Marie, but now Eva Marie is out of WWE, and Doudrop is rapidly rising through the ranks of the main roster. It’s all led to a title shot against “The Man” Becky Lynch, which will be a true test of Doudrop’s abilities. Both women seem confident, though it’s worth noting that Lynch has the accolades to back up most of her smack talk. Doudrop hasn’t taken the taunts lying down, however, and she’s already proven herself as a dominant force in the ring. Perhaps the Royal Rumble 2022 will be her shot to prove she’s one of the brand’s top talents, and will give Lynch a humbling fall from grace after her controversial rise as champion. 

Edge/Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz/Maryse

Beth Phoenix stepped away from the NXT commentary team, and it didn’t take long at all to understand why. Fast forward to now, and she’s appearing in the ring alongside her husband Edge, and they’re set to take on another WWE wrestling power couple, The Miz and Maryse. No titles are on the line for this match, but it’s beyond fair to say the stakes are high, as the tension between the two built for weeks ahead of the 2022 Royal Rumble. This one feels like an easy win for Edge and Beth Phoenix, but Miz didn’t gain a reputation as one of WWE’s greatest heels for no reason. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he and Maryse have something up their sleeves that will drastically even the odds in the big match. 

WWE’s Royal Rumble streams on Peacock, Saturday, January 29th at 8:00 p.m. ET, provided you have a Peacock premium subscription. Tune in for what should be an awesome night of wrestling and possibly a few unbelievable surprises. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers from WWE’s Day 1 pay-per-view. Read at your own risk!

WWE gave fans quite the shock in its Day 1 pay-per-view when last-minute entrant and UFC alum Brock Lesnar won the WWE Championship. Now, after that surprise, there are rumors that the move set up a long-awaited feud between Lesnar and another prominent superstar. Bobby Lashley will likely take on Lesnar, but how exactly did Day 1 set that up? Luckily, we have some potential answers. 

Noted wrestling insider Dave Meltzer spoke about the WWE’s supposed change of plans, considering Brock Lesnar’s original plan was a match against Roman Reigns prior to the latter’s positive COVID-19 test. During Wrestling Observer Radio (via Ringside News), Meltzer spoke about the match and how it effectively put Lesnar on a collision course with Bobby Lashley:

The idea of a Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar feud started back in early 2021 when then-WWE champion Lashley spoke in an interview about his goal to go toe-to-toe with Lesnar. At the time, the threat didn’t mean much, as Lesnar wasn’t actively under contract with the company, and there was still a chance he’d go back to the UFC. Still, fans saw two guys of the same relative size, build, and age and realized this match could be a historic one for both men if it even happened. 

Unfortunately, the setup for this feud came at the expense of Big E’s title run. The fan-favorite wrestler ended his inaugural WWE championship run to Brock Lesnar in what will be the latter’s sixth run with that belt. What’s more controversial is that a leaked image that was promptly removed by WWE seemingly showed that Big E was originally booked to retain the title, but plans allegedly changed upon Lesnar’s sudden inclusion. It’s unclear for certain what the original plans were going forward for WWE under ideal circumstances, but the good news is that fans now have something they want out of it. 

One question going forward is just how long this particular feud will last for Bobby Lashley. After all, he’s still in one with Roman Reigns and owed a shot at the Universal Championship. One can’t help but wonder if the WWE isn’t trying for a “belt-for-belt” WrestleMania main event between the two, but we’re still months out, and his latest rival could lose the WWE title before then. We can only wait and see and hope the feud is as good in execution as it sounds on paper. 

Monday Night Raw airs on USA every Monday at 8:00 p.m. ET. Assuming Brock Lesnar just joined the program as its resident champion, this coming month should be very interesting to watch to see how this feud with Bobby Lashley and other potential wrestlers could play out. 

The WWE draft is on the way, and it can be just as exciting as a pay-per-view for many wrestling fans. The WWE will take its entire roster between Monday Night Raw and SmackDown and shift certain wrestlers between the two brands with some developmental NXT talent also in the mix. Audiences never know what to expect, although this year, it would appear a major star has already teased his next move. 

Bobby Lashley has been a fixture on Monday Night Raw for three years and was WWE Champion up until Big E cashed in his Money In The Bank contract against him weeks ago. After a decisive loss on the latest Raw, it would appear “The Almighty” has signaled on Twitter he’d like to take his talents to SmackDown.

The Monday Night Raw talent posted the tweet just a day before the WWE draft begins on SmackDown, which could be a sign he’ll be one of a few major stars switching brands on Friday night or when the draft resumes on Monday Night Raw. Of course, it’s not really Lashley’s call to make, though there is reason to believe this move to SmackDown will happen. 

Bobby Lashley’s latest loss to Big E was the close of the two’s feud, and Big E proved beyond a shadow of a doubt he could beat Lashley without tricks or special stipulations. It would make sense that Lashley, who is typically portrayed as a proud heel who wants power, would move on from Monday Night Raw and try his luck on SmackDown for another championship title. 

One question about Bobby Lashley’s potential move is whether or not he’d get to take any members of The Hurt Business stable with him. Lashley’s manager MVP has been by his side for some time now, and the two recently reunited with the previously fired tag-team wrestlers of their stable, Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander. The Hurt Business reunion seemed to imply they could get another run, though with Lashley potentially leaving Raw, who knows? 

One also has to wonder if Bobby Lashley’s possible move to SmackDown would put him on a collision course for a storyline he’s campaigned to get for quite a while. Currently, Brock Lesnar is a part of the SmackDown roster, and if Roman Reigns isn’t switched over to Raw, Lesnar could stay given their upcoming match at Crown Jewel. If Lashley is also on SmackDown, could this be how we finally see Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar face off? 

Ultimately, it’s hard to guess anything in regards to the WWE draft because the company has surprised fans before with its decisions. One notable example would be in the 2020 draft, where Big E was sent to SmackDown and separated from the rest of his New Day stable. If the WWE can break up the most popular tag team of the past decade with its draft, it’s hard to argue what scenarios are and aren’t realistic. Ultimately, we can only wait and see how this whole thing shakes out and where each wrestler stands after the roster shakeup. 

The WWE draft begins Friday, October 1 on Fox during SmackDown at 8:00 p.m. ET and will conclude on USA Monday, October 4 during Monday Night Raw at 8:00 p.m. ET. For more on the WWE, check out our latest list of the top cameos wrestlers have had in movies over the years. 

Well, if you needed a reason to watch WWE Raw tonight, here it is. New Day legend and current Money In The Bank holder Big E has announced he will be cashing in his contract tonight for a shot at the WWE Championship. Of course, as Big E put it himself, he’s going to cash in and win the WWE Championship, but something tells me current title holder Bobby Lashley will have something to say about that.

The announcement came on Twitter earlier today in the lead-up to tonight’s Raw, and it has gotten fans hyped about what is to come. You can check out the fan favorite big man’s words below…

Talk about a cocky move. This just oozes confidence and swagger. The original plan was for Bobby Lashley to fight Randy Orton for the belt tonight on Raw. As far as I know, that’s still going to happen. So, maybe this means Big E will fight the winner. Maybe this means he’s going to use the contract to make it a triple threat match. That last option would be a really dumb decision, but then again, announcing you’re going to use the Money In The Bank contract before you do it is a really dumb decision. Unless, of course, if you win. Then it’s an all-time badass move.

And that’s clearly what Big E is going for. He wants tonight to be a celebration of his talent. He might get that celebration too. Big E is beloved by the fans in a natural, organic way. He looks the part. He’s good on the mic, and Bobby Lashley has had a nice, extended run with the belt. There is a lot of smoke here about a possible legit title change tonight, especially when you factor in AEW.

AEW’s most recent pay-per-view, All Out, was so well received by fans and the press that it has launched a lot of conversation around whether the upstart brand can turn into WWE’s first legitimate competitor since WCW. With the recent signings of former WWE stars CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Adam Cole, all the momentum is now on AEW’s side. WWE needs something to generate some headlines beyond all the recent departures. A title change tonight, if done in the right way, could generate some of those positive headlines.

The reaction from fans to Big E’s announcement has been one of shock and excitement. There are plenty who absolutely love how self-confident or even arrogant this looks. There are others who don’t care and just desperately want to see the title around Big E’s neck. Both groups are pumped about tonight. Here’s a popular example…

And there are, of course, others loudly complaining about how this seems like an attempt to goose the ratings and beat AEW after all the recent publicity. Many wrestling fans seem to think whatever happens is being directly influenced by the increasing competition from the upstart promotion. Frankly, it’s hard to argue that some of that isn’t going on. Here’s a look at a tweet discussing that…

In the long run, competition is good. WWE was never better than when it was competing week to week for eyeballs with WCW. There were, of course, some mistakes made along the way and some times in which Vince McMahon and company prioritized the short-term over the long-term in order to win ratings battles, but they still produced a ton of amazing events. Hopefully this is the start of something great, whether Big E wins tonight or not.

Let the record reflect, however, that if Big E doesn't win tonight, it was an all-time stupid move to call his shot, and he instead should have just shamelessly beat a weakened opponent like The Miz did. Then again, I'm a whatever you need to do to win kinda guy.

WWE champion and Monday Night Raw superstar Bobby Lashley has been pretty open about his desire to face Brock Lesnar in the squared circle, so when it was rumored ahead of SummerSlam 2021 that Lesnar would indeed return, fans were excited by the possibilities. Unfortunately, we were all denied a matchup between the two behemoths, with Goldberg taking on Lashley, and Lesnar appearing at the end of the pay-per-view to confront his manager Paul Heyman's new protégé, Roman Reigns. With Lesnar back, there's surely a chance he'll take on Lashley at some stage, but fans probably shouldn't launch up their hopes anytime soon.

There's a current not-so-wild rumor running around that has Bobby Lashley being set to square off against Goldberg in a rematch set for Crown Jewel in October. The report from WrestleVotes shouldn't come as a massive surprise to WWE fans, considering Goldberg reportedly has one more match on his contract before he's met his quota, and the WWE wasn't about to let him ride off into the sunset after Lashley attacked his teen son during SummerSlam. Plus, the Saudi Arabia-based PPV event often features high-profile talent from both in and out of the wrestling world, so having a sports-entertainment legend like Goldberg on the main card is a definite draw.

Of course, the Extreme Rules PPV in September will take place before Crown Jewel, but with Brock Lesnar already fresh off of calling out Roman Reigns, it would make little sense for him to switch to targeting Bobby Lashley in the weeks up to that event. That would mean the earliest we could probably see Lesnar and Lashley squaring off is Survivor Series in November, but considering the average length of a feud between marquee wrestlers, one would think Reigns and Lesnar would still be in the throes of their rivalry at that point.

Given Bobby Lashley's enthusiasm over facing off against Brock Lesnar, and his status as the WWE Champion, one may wonder why the WWE didn't book the two to fight at SummerSlam in the first place. Some alleged insight on that matter comes from Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Dave Meltzer, who claims Vince McMahon wasn't keen on Brock Lesnar losing upon his return. Consider it's been said for some time the WWE has a vested interest in building Lashley as a dominant champion, there really wasn't any way to appease both sides of that coin to make both Lesnar and Lashley winners in the match, so Goldberg was put in against Lashley.

As far as when Brock Lesner and Bobby Lashley could actually square off, it does only feel like a matter of time, relatively speaking. For now, though, it would make sense for Brock Lesnar to battle Roman Reigns, given their heated rivalry over the past few years. Bobby Lashley will likely get his shot to face off against Lesnar sometime before WrestleMania 38, or fans can wish it to be so, at least. Personally, I'd love to see a scenario where two "Paul Heyman Guys" control the biggest titles in the WWE, so here's hoping something like that could happen down the stretch.

Monday Night Raw airs on USA on Monday evenings at 8:00 p.m. ET. For more on the brand and its superstars, check out what Alexa Bliss had to say after someone on the internet made the mistake of criticizing her doll, Lilly.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from WWE's SummerSlam 2021 pay-per-view. Read at your own risk!

WWE hosted one of its biggest pay-per-views of the year this past Saturday and, once SummerSlam 2021 ended, there was a lot to talk about regarding how the event played out. We saw the surprise return of many WWE superstars, a few title changes, and some other surprises that have inspired a lot of questions that we're eager to learn the answers to.

The popular adage is that "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," but that won't be the case here. With that in mind, let's talk about some of the big questions I have following SummerSlam and some brief speculation on what could happen in the coming weeks on Monday Night Raw and SmackDown.

When Will Bianca Belair And Becky Lynch Have An Actual Match?

Becky Lynch's (sort of) unexpected return and then squash of Bianca Belair was unquestionably the shock of SummerSlam. On the one hand, fans were happy to see Lynch back in the WWE. On the other, Bianca Belair has done a lot to earn the respect of fans, and many were excited about her title reign. Many were already upset at the initial news that Sasha Banks had been pulled from Belair's title match and replaced with Carmella, but having Becky make a surprising return and steal the title after a punch and one move? That's devastating.

It's especially tough because we know how meaningful Becky Lynch is to the WWE and fans. It was only a matter of time before she was handed the title, but squashing Bianca Belair like she was nothing (even if it was a fake handshake cheap shot) felt like the wrong way to play this. I would've much preferred for Belair to squash Carmella and then do a stare-down with Lynch or for the two to have had an actual match that helped keep Belair relevant in the months to come. Ultimately, I'm hoping the two get an actual match on an upcoming SmackDown or that this feud carries into another pay-per-view showdown.

When Will We See Brock Lesnar Again?

Roman Reigns' defeat of John Cena was painfully predictable, especially when Reigns claimed he'd leave the WWE if he lost. What some fans may not have expected was that Brock Lesnar actually did return for SummerSlam, albeit for a small segment at the end of the show. Lesnar arrived at SummerSlam, danced around a bit in the ring, and Reigns ultimately backed down, refusing to do a second title match that night with The Beast Incarnate. Honestly, I don't blame Lesnar for trying, as it worked for Becky Lynch earlier in the night!

As is always the case with Brock Lesnar, though, it's hard to know when to expect him again. The WWE rules of talent appearances rarely apply to Lesnar, and the guy can win a title and go months without appearing again. Followingn Summerslam, I would assume he'll make an appearance on the SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns and their shared advocate, Paul Heyman, but is this all a build for a match at Extreme Rules in a month? Lesnar vs. Reigns feels more like a Survivor Series-caliber match-up to me, but I could be totally wrong, considering that's two months out. Could we actually see these two square off in a title match in September?

Will Goldberg And Bobby Lashley’s Feud Conclude With That Goofy Ending?

Goldberg and Bobby Lashley's SummerSlam match was also a rather predictable showdown, as few expected Lashley to drop his title to the part-timer, Goldberg. In fact, I expected to see Goldberg quietly get written off following his SummerSlam loss, though doing so will create a rather flat ending if that's the case. Goldberg's 15-year-old son, Gage, rushed the ring to try and attack Lashley and protect his father from further damage, only to be put in The Hurt Lock by the wrestler.

My assumption is the WWE expected the crowd to be appalled at Bobby Lashley's attack on a child, but Allegiant Stadium erupted in thunderous applause. What then resulted was Lashley realizing his mistake and releasing the "unconscious" boy, and MVP explained in a panicked voice that Lashley didn't mean to do that. The crowd continued to cheer as Goldberg and his son both laid in a heap in the ring, resulting in the most comical moment I've seen in the WWE in some time. My guess is the WWE may edit the crowd noise in replays to better service the story, especially if this feud is meant to continue. Otherwise, this feud concludes with the crowd cheering on Lashley as he submits a child after beating his father, which really takes the wind out of the whole story.

Does The WWE Have A Plan For Alexa Bliss Following Bray Wyatt’s Exit?

I hate that Alexa Bliss has been the most targeted superstar by fans at live shows following Bray Wyatt's exit, but I also get the sense the WWE doesn't know quite what to do with her now that he's gone. SummerSlam featured Bliss serving a beatdown to Eva Marie, but with none of her supernatural powers or any of the stuff we've seen in previous months. Obviously, she didn't need them because Eva Marie's whole gimmick is that she's not actually a good wrestler, but Bliss was more or less a side character in a story that was really all about Eva Marie and her sidekick, Doudrop.

This feud didn't need Alexa Bliss for Doudrop to humiliate Eva Marie following her loss, and it seemed like Bliss was on the road to a title shot or something else in the months following WrestleMania. With the reports that Wyatt was expected to return at SummerSlam ahead of his firing, I now can't help but think that his exit derailed plans for her character, which is a shame. I hate to say it, but it may just be time for Bliss to drop the supernatural act that was tied to Wyatt and just return to being a damn good wrestler.

Will AJ Styles And Omos Stay In The Tag Team Scene?

AJ Styles and Omos lost the Raw tag-team titles to RK-Bro at SummerSlam, which has me wondering what the long-term plan is for the duo. Obviously, every tag team gets their mandatory rematch and, if that match is good, the WWE may just book it a few more times, but I'm not so certain that will happen. The tag-team division is chock full of talent at the moment, whereas the singles division could certainly use both AJ and Omos in the mix to shake things up.

Obviously, AJ Styles is "phenomenal" anywhere the WWE puts him on the roster, but Omos could also help hype a rather lackluster singles division on Monday Night Raw. Bobby Lashley is going to need a new opponent following his squash of Goldberg, and I don't think we've had Drew McIntyre away from Lashley long enough to get nostalgic for those matches again. Even if it's a squash match, I'd love to see Omos go up against Lashley just to shake things up, or even Styles! I can't imagine the WWE still needs either cluttering up an already stacked tag-team division, but I won't even begin to act like I know what the WWE wants.

Who Will Big E Cash In Against?

Brock Lesnar's return to challenge Roman Reigns laid out the clear start of a feud, but where does that leave Big E? Mr. Money In The Bank still has the opportunity to cash in for a title shot, but would doing it against the winner of a bout between his fellow SmackDown wrestler Roman Reigns and his presumed challenger Brock Lesnar be the best decision? Seth Rollins would say yes, but if I'm thinking that in terms of WWE storytelling, his odds of winning a title are better elsewhere.

Picture this, Big E arrives on Monday Night Raw and cashes in on Bobby Lashley at an opportune time. Sure, Lashley may have Langston outclassed in one-on-one, but what if Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston arrive from the back in the eleventh hour and help their best friend get his first WWE Championship? It would be amazing, and then the New Day would be reunited once again, with Big E as the WWE Champion. I'd much rather see that over Big E attempting a cash-in solo against Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship so, hopefully, the WWE is on the same page.

Monday Night Raw airs on USA Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET, and SmackDown can be seen on Fox Fridays at the same time. Keep with CinemaBlend for all things related to the WWE, including the recent comments about the possibility of the company exchanging ownership in the near future.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Monday Night Raw episode that aired Monday, July 19. Read at your own risk!

After John Cena made a surprise appearance at Money In The Bank and then confirmed his match against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2021 shortly after, fans began to wonder if the other major rumor surrounding the pay-per-view event is also true. Bobby Lashley was rumored to be possibly going up against legend Brock Lesnar on the big night but was surprised on the latest Monday Night Raw by Goldberg instead.

After Bobby Lashley demolished a recently returned Keith Lee in his open WWE Championship challenge, Goldberg emerged from the ramp and demanded Lashley give him a title shot next. While Lashley and his manager MVP ignored the iconic former WCW juggernaut's request, it appeared evident that the organization laid the groundwork for its other marquee matchup at SummerSlam 2021. It's certainly a solid matchup that fans will want to see, but what happened to all the rumors about Brock Lesnar?

It's a good question, as rumors alleged the WWE was in talks with Brock Lesnar for a contract specifically for SummerSlam 2021. Goldberg's appearance on Monday Night Raw would seemingly indicate the organization had to go with Plan B, or perhaps that the rumors that Lesnar was actually in negotiations with Vince McMahon and Co. weren't all that reliable.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter revealed (via Sportskeeda) that he heard that Brock Lesnar wasn't available for SummerSlam because he would not be able to commit to any matches that followed. Reportedly, the thought was that if Lesnar lost at SummerSlam to Bobby Lashley, it would weaken the future matchup of when the WWE may pit Lesnar against his manager Paul Heyman's new dominant champion, Roman Reigns. Obviously, the WWE hasn't revealed any explicit details behind its future plans, so this is the best we have to go on.

If this is the reason Brock Lesnar won't be at SummerSlam, WWE fans may feel it's a weak argument. After all, if wrestlers losing major matches impacted their legacy so greatly, guys like Bray Wyatt wouldn't have successful careers. Also, Lesnar has lost before in major matches, so the thought that losing to Bobby Lashley would weaken his profile is strange.

Regardless of the reasoning, it would appear that Bobby Lashley will not fight Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2021. Instead, he'll seemingly face Goldberg, who has been similarly promoted as an unstoppable force in pro wrestling, though at 54, he's a decade older than Lesnar and Lashley. He can still put on a match in the ring, but it's fair to say he's a bit more limited than the other two. It will be interesting to see if Lashley and Goldberg can deliver quite the same energy in a match at SummerSlam.

Monday Night Raw airs on USA Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. For more on the WWE, read up on what's going on with Daniel Bryan and why it could be a while before I see him again.

The WWE has been a revolving door lately, as roster cuts continue to cull the talent. But there have been whisperings of some major returns as of late. The latest of which has indicated that one injured superstar is headed back to the ring, and it could have some interesting implications for the future. Apparently, MVP could be headed back to the ring in a wrestling capacity, but what could this mean for The Hurt Business?

The news comes from advertisements on the WWE's upcoming tour slate, which list MVP as a participating wrestler in upcoming house shows. Wrestling Observer Radio (via Cultaholic) mentioned upcoming house shows happening Saturday, August 7 in Fort Myers, FL, and Sunday, August 8 in Gainesville, FL, in which MVP is scheduled to tag-team with Bobby Lashley in a match against Kofi Kingston and Drew McIntyre. The WWE has not specifically advertised the match on their own website, but it's listed on both venues as the main event match.

If the reports end up being true, this will be the first time WWE fans will get a chance to see MVP compete in the ring since his knee injury back in February. Though he was sidelined from in-ring competition, MVP has continued to appear on television frequently as the mouthpiece for WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. His in-ring return could add an interesting dimension to the relationship or allow for more angles to develop on Monday Night Raw.

MVP's in-ring return will apparently happen a couple of weeks before SummerSlam 2021, which feels meaningful. If MVP continues to wrestle off television but not in the weeks leading up to SummerSlam, there could be some opportunity for Lashley to suddenly show that he's not injured anymore and aid his partner in the ring. Or it could be the perfect chance for MVP to turn on his client and somehow set himself up for a shot at the WWE Championship.

One need only to think back to Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander. After losing the Raw Tag Team Championship, they were rewarded with a savage beating by Bobby Lashley and expulsion from The Hurt Business by MVP. Perhaps if Lashley dropped the title at SummerSlam 2021, an uninjured MVP would blindside Lashley and expel him as well. That said, MVP would then be the only client of The Hurt Business, so perhaps it wouldn't be in his best interest to do that unless he found some other wrestlers to work with. Perhaps that answer could be more clear following the upcoming roster switch-up?

Monday Night Raw airs on USA Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Lots of things are happening in the WWE, and it's being reported that these major changes are being handed down by the top brass. For more on that, read on the alleged unwritten edict Vince McMahon handed down to change the shows and how it may not be the best idea.

WWE's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view has come and gone, and despite any and all efforts from Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley retained his hold on the WWE Championship. Lashley's title reign will presumably extend for the foreseeable future, though his latest victory could hint at what the organization may be planning for the Championship belt leading up to next year's WrestleMania 38.

While everything below is all just speculation, it incorporates some popular rumors about the WWE's future pay-per-view events and how the organization's goals may affect the WWE Championship. Suffice to say if some of the chatter links up with where Bobby Lashley's reign has gone so far, the WWE could deliver some must-watch television across the next year.

Why Drew McIntyre's Loss At Hell In A Cell Matters

Drew McIntyre's loss at Hell In A Cell was a big development in his long feud with Bobby Lashley. Not because he lost, but because of the stipulation attached to the match. McIntyre's defeat means he's no longer allowed to directly challenge Lashley for the WWE Championship. Though it seemed like McIntyre could contest the stipulation after MVP interfered in the match, Hell in a Cell's lack of disqualification rules means he had no basis for interference.

The follow-up Monday Night Raw telecast seemed to create a loophole for Drew McIntyre, with the wrestler being given an opportunity to qualify for the upcoming Money in the Bank main event. Unfortunately for McIntyre, he ended up losing the match in a stunning upset to Matt Riddle. That could feasibly dry up Drew McIntyre's chances of challenging Lashley in the near future, though with spots still left to fill for the impending PPV, it's still possible McIntyre could somehow end up with that briefcase.

For now, though, it looks like Drew McIntyre won't be taking any more title shots until Bobby Lashley loses the strap to another superstar. That could very well happen at Money in the Bank, though with another one of the WWE's biggest annual events just around the corner, it makes sense to think think the WWE would like to keep Lashley with the WWE Championship in order to book what could be one of the biggest matches of the year for SummerSlam.

What The SummerSlam Rumors Could Mean For Bobby Lashley

The WWE booked Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium for SummerSlam 2021, marking the first time an NFL stadium has been booked for the long-running event. With 65,000 seats to fill (not including additional seating that could be added onto the field itself), the WWE will have a massive live audience to captivate and amaze, and it'll happen as fans are still getting used to being at live shows in the first place. The stakes will be high, and it would appear the WWE understands that pressure, given some of the rumors floating around.

So far, it's been reported that the WWE has been in conversations with John Cena and Brock Lesnar to make long-awaited returns to the ring. While rumors for Cena focus largely on a potential match with Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, any plans being formed for Lesnar are presently unclear. With that said, if Lesnar vs. Reigns would be off the table, due to Cena or some other reason, then the only other worthy opponent for Lesnar would be whoever's holding the WWE Championship. (As unfair as that would be to anyone who has been around.)

As of writing, it feels likely that Lashley will still have the belt at SummerSlam, which could put him on a collision course with The Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar. Lashley totally discussed taking on Lesnar in an MMA match some months ago, and even though he wasn't speaking specifically about wrestling in that sense, I'm not one to subscribe to coincidences when it comes to the WWE. I personally think there are a lot of reasons the WWE would love to see Bobby Lashley square off against Brock Lesnar in the ring for a marquee PPV headliner.

Why Bobby Lashley Vs. Brock Lesnar Would Be The Ultimate SummerSlam Match

Beyond the fact that Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar are two larger-than-life athletes with respective experience in mixed martial arts, there are plenty of other good reasons to believe this would the ultimate match-up of 2021. To start, let's be real about those John Cena vs. Roman Reigns rumors. Cena is a bona fide actor with multiple projects in Hollywood, and is probably too busy to make it to SummerSlam. But even if this match did happen, it's not as if it would set Cena up as the new Universal Champion for an extended WWE run. He's got other fires to put out, and Reigns is the most over heel in the company, so he's not going to lose.

Of course, a similar argument could be made about Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar, but in reverse. Lesnar is one of the most over heels in WWE history, and the company does enjoy handing him title belts on silver platters anytime his contract is renewed. With that said, if Lesnar signed a contract, there's a much bigger ability on the WWE's part to tell a bigger story and weave in the rivalries of all its heavy hitters in the process.

Brock Lesnar challenging Lashley for the title creates a link between the two, which could then be used to incorporate several other storylines. For example, Drew McIntyre defeated Lesnar for the WWE Championship, so there's already a rivalry that can be resurrected and potentially culminate in a massive match between the three. Plus, if Roman Reigns retains and Lesnar got the strap, that would mean two Paul Heyman guys are at the top of both WWE brands.

One can only imagine what the WWE would be like if Paul Heyman had a top guy on both shows, not to mention the eventual feud that could result between longtime rivals Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. Suffice to say it's all very exciting to think about, and given all the chatter in the WWE surrounding Lesnar's return, it really does seem like something awesome that could happen. Of course, nothing in the WWE is set in stone even when contracts are signed, so we can only cross our fingers and continue to follow the rumors for any developments on what's happening at SummerSlam.

For now, WWE fans can watch Bobby Lashley continue his championship reign on Monday Night Raw on USA Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. For more happening in the WWE, read up on the key superstar who decided to take a little break after his latest war with another superstar.

The WWE is billed as an organization where theoretically any wrestler can reach for the brass ring and eventually become champion. Wrestling fans know that's often not the case, however, and Monday Night Raw has been in a holding pattern with the WWE championship of late, with Drew McIntyre getting a different title shot against Bobby Lashley with each month that goes by. Fans have been especially vocal about seeing the two run it back with the Hell In a Cell PPV approaching, and McIntyre has finally addressed the criticism.

Drew McIntyre spoke to Out Of Character's Ryan Satin about his upcoming match at Hell In A Cell, and came around to addressing the fanbase's vocal criticism that there's been enough of the back-and-forth rivalry between McIntyre and Bobby Lashley since it first started up back in March. Not surprisingly, McIntyre defended his position, but did signal that he grasps where some of the frustration is coming from.

Drew McIntyre is right on the nose with his view of the situation, because there haven't been many complaints about the actual quality of his matches, or what he's brought to them personally. Rather, the issue is that the WWE's creative team keeps offering up basically the same story month after month without evolving what fans are seeing. It feels as though the WWE dug itself into a rut while awaiting the go-ahead to resume its touring schedule, and one result of that creative stagnancy is putting on the same matches over and over again.

It's certainly frustrating to see Monday Night Raw continually push Drew McIntyre into matches with Bobby Lashley on such a regular basis, but it's hard to deny McIntyre hasn't earned his spot in the limelight. McIntyre carried the WWE championship throughout most of 2020, a time where the WWE was largely without fans. He certainly deserves a chance to win and even hold the title in front of live audiences, though the WWE may have blown all chances of that eventuality being well-received by audiences, considering how often he's been set up for title shots in recent months.

Drew McIntyre's constant title shots are also part of a weird time in the WWE, in which Monday Night Raw is a bit short on main event level talent. Many guys who would be considered worthy of a title shot are either locked in tag teams at the moment or currently on a break from the company. It's a problem that may resolve itself in the coming weeks, once the WWE is able to get back to some normalcy. And assuming the company doesn't reveal any further mass firings.

Monday Night Raw airs on USA Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Those frustrated with how things have been going with the company lately may take solace in the fact that changes are reportedly happening, though it remains to be seen how effective the changes could be.

The WWE hosted WrestleMania 37 with a reduced fan capacity earlier in the year, with the pandemic still making large crowds an impossibility, but the company apparently intends to make up for that in a big way in the near future. If it wasn't already apparent that the WWE had big plans for this year's SummerSlam by booking Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, several new rumors have surfaced that indicate the the upcoming pay-per-view is getting set up to be even bigger than WrestleMania.

SummerSlam 2021 marks the first time the annual PPV event will be held in an NFL stadium, which means the WWE will have to really pack in some huge matches and a lot more to fill out all those seats to full capacity. Obviously, fans will already be eager to get back to major live events like this, but they may be more inclined to do so after hearing this rumor from reporter Jon Alba: the WWE is reportedly plotting for Roman Reigns to take on John Cena for SummerSlam's main event. Cue the fireworks and that instantly recognizable theme.

It's true that John Cena has been away from WWE duties for a good while now, and missed WrestleMania 37 amidst talk of his return at the time. However, Jon Alba noted that a summer appearance at a pay-per-view shouldn't be a problem

John Cena going to war against Universal Champion Roman Reigns may not have been a match-up fans would have been hungry for years ago, but now that Reigns has gone heel under the guidance of Paul Heyman, it's certainly a more intriguing contest. Additionally, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and with Cena having been away from WWE since his loss to Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 36, it would be his first match in over a year and a half.

A big event like that needs an equally eye-grabbing host, and according to Wrestling Inc, the WWE is aiming high to get one of its most famous hosts yet for SummerSlam. It's reported that rapper Cardi B is being sought out to host the proceedings, which would be a huge get given her massive mainstream success. It's become a meme in recent years that WWE is slow to the curve when it comes to trends, but perhaps the recent wins the organization has had working with Bad Bunny has made all involved understand the appeal of paying extra for big names. Wouldn't hurt to get Megan Thee Stallion involved, either.

Another SummerSlam rumor circulating claims that Brock Lesnar will make a return to go toe-to-toe with current WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. The latter has made some noise over wanting to take on Lesnar, and while the wrestling world has gobbled that up, multiple sources say that as of last week, Lesnar has not been contacted for any such thing. Of course, with his friend Paul Heyman currently working as a talent alongside Roman Reigns, one would think that conversation would be fairly easy to pull off without too many folks finding out.

Should the WWE manage to pull those two marquee matchups together, on top of everything else that hasn't come to light yet, it sets the stage for a massive night for the WWE. So massive, in fact, that it wouldn't be crazy to think all 65,000 seats might get filled rather quickly. Of course, nothing has been officially announced as of yet, but the WWE is almost definitely wanting to go all out for one of the first opportunities to really win over fans with one of its mega-events. Especially after all the roster shakeups and behind-the-scenes changes as of late.

SummerSlam 2021 is set to take place on Saturday, August 21 in Las Vegas. Anyone without tickets will be able to stream the action on Peacock.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Monday Night Raw that aired on Monday, June 7. Read at your own risk!

Monday Night Raw once again laid the groundwork for a pay-per-view clash between Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship, but apparently there will be some changes. The two will clash at the upcoming Hell In A Cell, only this time, there has been a tease that this could be the final showdown between the two. The problem is the stipulation sounds a bit suspicious to me, especially given these two wrestlers.

At the contract signing for the match, Bobby Lashley and his manager MVP agreed to yet another title opportunity for Drew McIntyre under one condition. Should McIntyre lose at Hell In A Cell, he'll forever be barred from challenging Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship again. McIntyre accepted the terms, on the condition that the match be a one-on-one matchup with no outside interference. To help prevent that, McIntyre requested the two fight within the iconic cell, which has had varying degrees of success of keeping outsiders out of matches in the past.

MVP whispered in Bobby Lashley's ear, and without much more conversation beyond that, the two agreed to the match. After all, why wouldn't they? As a heel, Lashley is not above cheating. If he starts to lose, he'll surely resort to whatever interference necessary to ensure he leaves the PPV champion. In my mind, Lashley and MVP will absolutely orchestrate outside interference if they can. With no real penalty besides their contract being negated and Drew McIntyre being able to re-challenge, there's no real disadvantage for them.

WWE fans have had to see Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre fight for the title a lot in recent months, so one may be tempted to believe the brand would actually make Hell In A Cell the two's final matchup if McIntyre is booked to lose. The reality is a McIntyre win would keep this rivalry going, as would a contract-breaking move at Hell In A Cell. During Monday Night Raw, it may have seemed to some fans a conclusive matchup is the only outcome, but I'd argue that's far from the case.

Plus, let's not forget WWE recently released Braun Strowman. He was the only other main eventer in the mix of this feud between Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre as of late, and now he's gone. With Monday Night Raw's superstars booked up in feuds with each other for other titles, McIntyre is really the only opponent that makes sense for Lashley for the time being. That is unless Daniel Bryan is headed to Raw with a new contract, but there have been no developments on that front.

Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley have had some entertaining matches, but as often has been the case in WWE, feuds that last a long time can get played out with the fans. It's happened with countless duos before, and fan reaction only worsens when stipulations like the latest for Hell In A Cell are introduced that tease some finality when really none is coming. Hopefully, WWE will deliver a definitive outcome, but I believe fans should be prepared for a bit of trickery.

Monday Night Raw airs on USA Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET, and Hell In A Cell is set to stream on Peacock on Sunday, June 20th. While we can only speculate on WWE's intentions for the upcoming matchup, we do know that Drew McIntyre has made getting the championship back in front of fans a goal. Perhaps that will happen in the coming months?

After more than a year of WWE filming wrestling matches from a closed studio setting and after the novelty of the Thunderdome wore off, the 2021 WrestleMania gave all the superstars an opportunity to wrestle in front of tens of thousands of screaming and soaking wet fans with millions more watching at home on WWE Network on Peacock. The show may be over and the fans have gone home but before we take a look at what happens next for the likes of Bianca Belair, Roman Reigns, and everyone else who had stellar matches, let's examine everything that went down in Tampa.

While there were plenty of great matches on both nights of WrestleMania, there were a few matches that either didn’t work out how everyone thought they would or were straight up duds and should be erased from the pages of WWE’s history books. That all being said, let’s go ahead and break down each of the 14 matches and figure out which ones we’ll be talking about when the Road to WrestleMania picks up early next year…

Bobby Lashley (with MVP) Defeated Drew McIntyre To Retain WWE Championship

The first night of WrestleMania 37 kicked off with the exciting and honestly surprising WWE Championship match which saw Bobby Lashley successfully defend his title against former champ Drew McIntyre with one hell of a sleeper hold. And while McIntyre was rendered unconscious in his failed attempt at recapturing the strap he won at last year’s big show, the same can’t be said for the rain-drenched crowd who loved every minute of this great opening match.

Score: 3.5/5

Natalya And Tamina Won Tag Team Turmoil

One of the matches that seemed to be thrown on the WrestleMania 37 card at the final moment, the women’s tag turmoil match (with the winner earning a title shot the following night), wasn’t necessarily a bad match, it just didn’t serve a purpose. There was no heat going into it whatsoever and seemed like a way to just get more people on the show. There were a few good moments involving the Riott Squad, but it seemed to just be there to be there.

Score: 2/5

Cesaro Defeated Seth Rollins

Going into WrestleMania 37, the pairing of Cesaro and Seth Rollins was one of the matches I was looking forward to the most. Both competitors are insane in the ring, ooze charisma, and they have a history going back more than a decade when they were both on the indie circuit. And even though this match had its fair share of near-finishes, it never chartered into the “Finisher Spam” territory and both wrestlers ending up coming out stronger than they were going in, especially Cesaro with his signature Swing and the elusive UFO that probably made Rollins want to vomit again.

Score: 4/5

A.J. Styles And Omos Defeated The New Day To Win Raw Tag Team Championship

The Raw Tag Team Championship match that saw The New Day defend their titles against AJ Styles and Omos (making his in-ring debut) was about one thing and one thing only: getting the massive WWE rookie over. And the match — thanks to Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods selling the crap out of that offense — did just that. The build up to Omos, who can actually move for a wrestler of his size, finally getting into the action also helped turn this from a “whatever” match to one that ended up being fun.

Score: 2.5/5

Braun Strowman Defeated Shane McMahon In Steel Cage Match

I love a steel cage match as much as the next guy, but I feel they should be used sparingly and as a last resort in a heated feud between two wrestlers, not as a way to insert another Shane McMahon “WrestleMania Moment” or an attempt to make Braun Strowman look like a monster. But that’s what happened here and it sort of sucked. Sure, Braun ripping off a portion of the cage was cool, but the lead up to that moment with Shane wasting all that time trying to escape the cage (and that ridiculous gimmicked section of the fencing) insulted everyone’s intelligence.

Score: 2/5

Bad Bunny And Damien Priest Defeated The Miz And John Morrison

Big wrestling matches with celebrities are a mixed bag, especially at WrestleMania. For a moment there, it seemed like the Bad Bunny/Damien Priest vs. The Miz/John Morrison match would fall into the Shaq at WrestleMania 32 side of things instead of Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania 11, but does it feel good to be wrong. Seriously, Bad Bunny was one of the highlights of both nights, including that remarkable Canadian Destroyer he gave to Morrison at ringside. Hats off to everyone involved for giving fans an outstanding match, especially with Bad Bunny making his in-ring debut

Score: 4/5

Bianca Belair Defeated Sasha Banks To Win SmackDown Women’s Championship

Well before the Bianca Belair defied the odds at Royal Rumble 2021 it was easy to see she was a star in the making, and after her historic win over The Mandalorian's Sasha Banks to secure the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37 Night 1, there’s no way of arguing against her spot at the top of the pecking order. This match had everything you wanted: an engaging lead-up with history between the competitors, great in-ring work, and a beautiful “Kiss of Death” in the middle of the ring to give Belair her first (of hopefully many) title wins.

Score: 4.5/5

Randy Orton Defeated The Fiend (with Alexa Bliss)

This is the second time Bray Wyatt (this time as The Fiend) and Randy Orton have squared off at WrestleMania, and just like in 2017, this year’s match was a forgettable mess and should never be mentioned again. I mean, what was the point of this atrocious match that felt like an eternity despite clocking in at a few seconds shy of six minutes. The red lights, the Alexa Bliss possession/distraction, and lack of wrestling in a match that featured two of the best performers in the company made for a miserable time.

Score: 1/5

Nia Jax And Shayna Baszler Defeated Natalya And Tamina To Retain Women's Tag Team Championship

Honestly, after Tag Team Turmoil match the previous night, I didn’t have the highest of hopes for the Women’s Tag Team Championship match seeing Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler defend their titles against Natalya and Tamina, but the match was actually a lot of fun. Each side had smaller and more technical members (although they’re just as hard-hitting) along with two giants of the division, a pairing that worked well together. Throw in some classic tag team psychology that show the importance of keeping an eye on who’s the legal woman and it gets even better.

Score: 3/5

Kevin Owens Defeated Sami Zayn (With Logan Paul)

I have been waiting years to see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn put it all on the line at WrestleMania. And while their match on Night 2 didn’t come close to some of those 5-star classics they put on while both in the indies, these longtime friends/enemies showed the world why they’re two of the best wrestlers of the modern era. These two work together so well and it shows. The only drawback was the involvement of Logan Paul though he did take a mean stunner at the end.

Score: 4/5

Sheamus Defeated Riddle To Win United States Championship

There was a time when I wanted nothing more than to have Sheamus off my television screen, but those days are long gone, especially after he secured the United States Championship by defeating Riddle in a nice 10-minute match that was full of stiff blows from both competitors. And plus, Riddle trying to pull off a moonsault only to meet Sheamus’ Brogue Kick was one of the best WrestleMania endings since the Curb Stomp into the RKO at WrestleMania 31.

Score: 3.5/5

Apollo Crews Defeated Big E To Win Intercontinental Championship In Nigerian Drum Fight

Do you know what a Nigerian Drum Fight is? No? Neither do I, even after watching Apollo Crews (with some help) take the Intercontinental Championship off of the beloved superstar Big E in an entertaining yet forgetful match that was heavy on kendo sticks and light on actual drums. There were some fun moments involving the steel steps and other weapons throughout the match, but these two honestly deserve better and a standard one-on-one would have been better for all involved parties.

Score: 2.5/5

Rhea Ripley Defeated Asuka To Win Raw Women’s Championship

Leading into WrestleMania 37, Asuka was one of the most dominant superstars on the female roster and so it came as a shock to see her 230-day reign at the top of the Raw women’s division come to an end against Rhea Ripley. Neither the champ nor challenger held anything back in this hard-hitting affair that was brought to an end after Rhea ducked Asuka’s kick and countered with her signature Riptide to secure her first title since coming to the main roster.

Score: 3.5/5

Roman Reigns (With Jey Uso And Paul Heyman) Defeated Edge And Daniel Bryan To Retain Universal Championship

And then there’s the WrestleMania 37 Night 2 main event triple threat match that saw Roman Reigns successfully defend his Universal Championship against Royal Rumble 2021 winner Edge and Daniel Bryan. There was a lot going on here from the multiple run-ins by Roman’s cousin Jey Uso, the champ and Edge spearing one another at the same time, and some classic Mania momentum shifts in favor of Daniel Bryan, but the “Head of the Table” reigned supreme and pinned both challengers to cement his legacy as the “Top Dog.”

Score: 4/5

Overall, the 2021 WrestleMania matches served as a great reminder that there are few things better than wrestling in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans. The two main event championship matches, fun interactions with the WWE 2021 Hall of Fame inductees, and the rain delay all made it seem like wrestling is back and better than ever.

We have made it through the Royal Rumble, jumped in the Fastlane, and are on the final stretch of the Road to WrestleMania. On April 10 and 11, all eyes will be on Tampa, Florida, the home of the two-night Showcase of the Immortals, as WWE superstars big and small will wrestle in front of a live crowd for the first time in over a year, and millions more watching on WWE Network on Peacock. With not too much longer to go, some may be wondering who is booked in all the WrestleMania 2021 matches and which night they’ll be taking to the squared circle.

Below is a breakdown of all the matches booked for both nights of WrestleMania 37 as well as the bouts that have yet to be assigned to a specific date. And since not all matches have been announced at time of publication, there will surely be more matches (and surprises) added in the coming weeks…

WrestleMania 37 Night One

Just like last year’s big show (no, not THAT Big Show), WrestleMania 37 will be a two-night event, but unlike in 2020 (which was held in the WWE Performance Center with no audience), this year’s Grandaddy of them All will have fans in attendance with limited tickets and safety measures in place. But enough of that, let’s break down the Night One card.

SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks Vs. Bianca Belair

One of the most highly anticipated matches of WrestleMania 37 is the showdown between SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks and Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair for the “Blue Brand’s” championship belt. This match has been a long time in the making and should be an outstanding bout considering both superstars are oozing charisma and in-ring talent. And with the shared history of Banks (who you may remember appeared on The Mandalorian Season 2) and Belair (they were one-time tag team partners), expect to see fireworks throughout this entire bout.

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley Vs. Drew McIntyre

Sometimes you just want to watch two muscle-bound men knock the living crap out of one another for 15 minutes, and that’s what we’re going to get when WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends his title against Drew McIntyre, who held the belt until recently. Both men had phenomenal runs last year with McIntyre being a dominant champion following WrestleMania 36 and Lashley having a renaissance with The Hurt Business stable and a U.S. Championship win of his own, all leading to this moment. And while Lashley’s manager MVP will be in his corner throughout the bout, the champion’s stablemates, Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin, are both banned from ringside.

Bad Bunny Vs. The Miz

There’s a long history of professional athletes, actors, and musicians taking part in WrestleMania, and this year is no different with the booking of a match between The Miz and Grammy Award-winning rapper Bad Bunny. Ever since he started popping up earlier this year, Bad Bunny (who will soon appear in a Brad Pitt movie) has continued to be one of the most charismatic wrestlers in the company, which is why you can see it being a problem for The Miz, a wrestler whose whole schtick is being a celebrity. And even though the “A-Lister” became WWE Champion for a short time this year, it’s been a given since the Royal Rumble that he would be crossing paths with the Puerto Rican sensation in Tampa this year.

Cesaro Vs. Seth Rollins

Cesaro and Seth Rollins have crossed paths numerous times going back to the indie circuit, but the Swiss Cyborg and the Monday Night Messiah (not puking this time) have never squared off against one another on the Grandest Stage of Them All. That will change at WrestleMania 37 when they duke it out in a match with only their pride on the line. This one could go either way with both superstars having some pretty major feats at previous events, with Rollins capturing the WWE Championship in spectacular fashion at WrestleMania 31 and Cesaro becoming the inaugural Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner the previous year.

Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day Vs. AJ Styles And Osmos

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) are used to doing things as a three-man group, but with Big E going on a singles run, the pair will have to find some rather unique ways to take on the powerhouse team of AJ Styles and his enforcer Osmos (this dude is a straight up giant) when they defend their Raw Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 37. This match is exciting for multiple reasons, with the biggest being the in-ring debut of the seven-foot Osmos, who until this point has only been part of matches unofficially.

Braun Strowman Vs. Shane McMahon

The WrestleMania 37 steel cage match match between Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon isn’t going to take home any “Match of the Year” awards, but it will no doubt be a spectacle. While neither have the best of in-ring abilities, Strowman is a freaking giant and no one takes a big bump quite like Shane McMahon. I mean, we’re talking about the same guy who was thrown off the Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania 32, suplexed off the stage three years later, and has been slammed through glass in the past. Combine that with the sheer size and force of Strowman and you have yourself a great way to kill 10 minutes.

Tag Team Turmoil Match

Each year, WrestleMania features some sort of multi-person match to get as many superstars on the WrestleMania card as possible. This year that will be a tag team turmoil match with the winner earning a championship opportunity against current Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler the following night. Competing will be the team of Lana and Naomi against Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose, Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott of The Riott Squad, and Natalya and Tamina, the daughters of the late Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart and Jimmy Snuka, respectively.

WrestleMania 37 Night Two

Not long after the dust settles from the events of the first night of WrestleMania 37, it will be time to jump back into the action with even more outstanding matches at WWE’s biggest show of the year. And while it’s hard to get over WrestleMania taking place over a weekend instead of a single night, hopefully we avoid another Mania where the main event doesn’t go on until the Monday morning.

Universal Champion Roman Reigns Vs. Edge Vs. Daniel Bryant’s an

After becoming one of the few wrestlers to win the Royal Rumble from the Number One position, Edge will square off with Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a match that has potential to be the best of the night. Since Edge first retired in 2011, Reigns has debuted, won several championships, and become one of the biggest yet most polarizing superstars in the company. And while this initially seemed like a battle of the spear (both wrestlers’ finishing move), Daniel Bryan became a late addition to the contest, making it triple-threat match. This especially exciting considering the last time Bryan competed in this type of match he walked out double champion after defeating Randy Orton and Batista at WrestleMania 30. I’m not saying that’ll be the case here, but never count Bryan out.

Raw Women’s Champion Asuka Vs. Rhea Ripley

Ever since her debut in 2016, Asuka has been one of the most figures in WWE, winning several championships along the way. The current Raw Women’s Champion will face one of her toughest opponents, however, at WrestleMania 37 when she defends her title against Rhea Ripley, who just recently made her Raw debut in March 2021. The matchup of the Asuka’s skill and Ripley’s brute force could be a recipe for a memorable WrestleMania moment.

Intercontinental Champion Big E Vs. Apollo Crews

Intercontinental Champion Big E and Apollo Crews (no relation to Terry Crews) have both been on the rise as of late, with the former New Day member reaching new career heights and capturing the prestigious title and his challenger finding a new level of success after honoring his African roots with the direction of his character. That being said, this match could go one of two ways: both men could knock the crap out of one another for a short and (not so) sweet match or add some drama with the Big E’s strength and amateur wrestling skills and Crews’ impressive feats of physicality. Either way, this could be a lot of fun.

The Fiend Vs. Randy Orton

The shared history of Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton goes back several years, and the two previously squared off against one another in a forgettable match with all sorts of gimmicks at WrestleMania 33 in 2017, but that was well before the former leader of the Wyatt family was transformed into The Fiend, his monster alter ego that is more like a monster in a horror movie than a professional wrestler. The feud that will seemingly never die will have its biggest moment at the April 11 event when the two competitors square off in a singles match. It probably won’t be as crazy as Wyatt’s match with John Cena last year though.

Kevin Owens Vs. Sami Zayn (w/ Logan Paul)

If there was one match on the WrestleMania 37 card that could steal the second night, the event, or hell, even the whole year, it would be the matchup of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Seriously, these two have a shared history that is up there with some of the biggest feuds in the history of the sport. Going back more than a decade, Owens and Zayn have thrown each other off ladders, through tables, and everything at various promotions around the globe. These two have an unmatched chemistry and ability to pull greatness out of nowhere, and we’re finally seeing them go head-to-head at WrestleMania! Let’s just hope Logan Paul doesn’t make a mess of things.

United States Champion Riddle Vs. Sheamus

United States Champion Riddle will be defending his title in a one-on-out bout against two-time champ Sheamus. The two had a history before the Road to WrestleMania 37 but things reached a new level in March 2021 when the Celtic Warrior attacked the Original Bro as he rode by on his scooter. Sheamus, who played Rocksteady in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, should know from experience that despite his Jeff Spicoli-like demeanor, Riddle packs quite a punch and brings with him experience from the UFC. Expect to see a lot of elbows and Brogue Kicks being thrown around in this hard-hitting championship contest.

Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax And Shayna Baszler vs. Tag Team Turmoil Winners

The winner of the previous night’s tag team turmoil match will go head-to-head with the dominating pairing of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. The hard-hitting team has been on quite a run as of late since taking the belts from Asuka and Charlotte Flair at Royal Rumble 2021.

These are just the confirmed matches for WrestleMania 37. We still don’t know what WWE has in store for the dozens of other wrestlers who have made their mark at previous events. Whatever happens, WrestleMania will once again be one of the hottest tickets on the 2021 TV schedule.

WWE superstar Bobby Lashley only recently became the brand's third black champion after defeating The Miz, and he's already setting his sights on bigger things, or bigger humans, in this case. The champion has publicly stated he's up for a throwdown with none other than The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar, and furthermore, he's even willing to take that brawl outside the confines of WWE and into the realm of MMA. So could Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar eventually face off in a UFC event? It definitely sounds like a possibility, given Lashley's latest comments.

The WWE champ recently spoke to TMZ Sports about his recent World Champion title acquisition, and it inevitably led to the subject of Brock Lesnar coming up. Lashley was asked point-blank about whether a WWE title match or even an MMA showdown could happen with Lesnar, and Lashley laid out the situation as plainly as he could, by basically agreeing to anything.

Bobby Lashley essentially said the situation is only so much in his control, especially in regards to anything outside the WWE. But if a match with Brock Lesnar in any capacity is a possibility, he's up for it, from pro wrestling to thumb-wrestling to MMA fighting to possibly even electronic football. Of course, Lashley can only defend his title against opponents that the WWE has booked for him, and Brock Lesnar isn't just some run-of-the-mill talent. The larger-than-life athlete has had some say over his own matches in past years, thanks in large part to his massive draw as both a former WWE and UFC champion, but Lesnar apparently isn't contracted with any promotions at this point.

For anyone who thought Bobby Lashley was out of his mind suggesting an MMA fight against a bruiser like Brock Lesnar, it's not as crazy as it sounds. Both men are billed around the same height and weight, and while Lashley has never fought in the UFC specifically, he holds a 15-2 professional MMA record from his time in Strikeforce and Bellator. Six of those wins came from knockouts, six came from submissions, and three were victories by decision. That's far more fights than Lesnar's 5-3 professional record, plus the no contest Lesnar received after failing a drug test after his most recent bout. Lashley has more wins period than Lesnar has MMA bouts altogether, so he would appear to be the more seasoned athlete.

One major question mark surrounding all this is where Brock Lesnar is headed next. Lesnar's WWE contract expired last year in the months following his loss at WrestleMania in 2020, so the possibility of him rejoining UFC is back on the table, assuming Dana White is willing to re-welcome someone with a millions-strong fanbase intact. Lesnar did tease a return to the octagon in 2019 but ultimately re-signed with WWE. Where he ends up might determine how Bobby Lashley would directly challenge him, but that's even assuming Lesnar would accept such a challenge. The prospect of these two WWE legends facing off outside the brand is exciting and would make big bucks for the promoters who could make it happen, as well as the fighters, so it's not like it's outside of Lesnar's purview.

Will Brock Lesnar respond to Bobby Lashley's latest remarks? Fans may find out on Monday Night Raw, which airs on USA on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. If the matchup did happen, would you rather it take place within the WWE or MMA world? Sound off in our poll, and keep an eye on the headlines as WWE inches ever closer to the next WrestleMania.

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It wasn’t exactly a surprise to see The Miz cash in the Money In The Bank Contract last night at Elimination Chamber. The Awesome One was pretty direct about his intention for weeks to the point where he gave up his spot in the main event to help make it easier. What was far more of a surprise, however, at least to me, was to see The Miz actually win the title off Drew McIntyre. Nothing about it was clean, of course, but it happened with an assist from Bobby Lashley and now it has many WWE fans asking what the hell is going on, given the other storylines in play. Let’s talk it out.

Before we get into the meat and potatoes here, though, let the record show I’m very happy to see the WWE Championship back around the Miz’s waist. He’s a tremendous heel. He’s good on the microphone. He pretty famous. His in-ring skills are solid, and he drops hilarious Instagram posts patting himself on the back. Yeah, he's not the strongest, the toughest or the most talented WWE Superstar. I don’t want him to have some crazy multi-year reign like he’s the second coming of Bret Hart, but as a transitional champion, I’d rather see someone like the Miz than someone else that looks more physically imposing but can’t figure out how to draw real heat. The goal is to tell a good story, and The Miz always helps tell a good story. So, good for him. He’s earned it by doing good work, even when WWE had his character in some lousy situations.

OK. Now that I’m done patting The Miz on the back, let’s talk about the real questions WWE needs to figure out answers to, and there are actually quite a few here between Drew McIntyre, Bad Bunny, Bobby Lashley, Sheamus, Riddle and more. Unfortunately, I’m not on the writing staff (yet!), but I will still do my best to guess where I think this is all going…

How Long Will The Miz's Title Reign Last?

I’m having a hard time imagining The Miz as the long-term WWE Champion. He hasn’t been booked with enough strength. He required way too much help to win the title, and I don’t really see any reason why the WWE wouldn’t want Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns to continue being the faces of the company.So, if we’re agreed the Miz isn’t the right fit as the long-term champion, the question is where is he going to lose the belt. I think there are two good options: Monday Night Raw tonight or the Fastlane PPV on March 21st (which will be the first on Peacock).

It’s possible he could lose the belt back to Drew McIntyre tonight on Raw. That would give WWE bookers some options to play with as far as who McIntyre’s opponent should be at Fastlane, but that feels like a waste to me. The Miz dodging McIntyre for a week or so before being roped into a match at Fastlane feels like a fun storyline that would tease out the match and allow both men to play to their strengths. So, my guess is they face each other at Fastlane and McIntyre wins the belt cleanly.

What's Going On With Bad Bunny?

The Miz, Morrison, Damian Priest and Bad Bunny have been a pretty direct storyline for awhile now. Priest eliminated The Miz during the Royal Rumble. They had a bit together during the Elimination Chamber PPV. There have been a ton of TV segments. This is clearly all been building toward some kind of tag team match that would allow the WWE to hype Bad Bunny (who just got cast in a Brad Pitt movie, appeared on Saturday Night Live and is putting up huge record sales) and launch Damian Priest, who got a huge push during the Royal Rumble.

WrestleMania has a long history of incorporating celebrities into storylines. In fact, the main event of WrestleMania XI was Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam Bigelow. Clearly Bad Bunny is going to be used somewhere, and it makes sense for him to be used with The Miz or else why have they been in so many segments together? But I don’t see any reason why they would give Bad Bunny a title shot. So, expect The Miz and Bad Bunny to fight in some capacity, whether it be singles or a tag match at wrestling's biggest event, but don’t expect the belt to be involved.

Who Will Drew McIntyre Fight At WrestleMania?

To me, there are three possible options for Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania. The first is he’ll get his rematch with The Miz there. I don’t think that’s going to happen because it doesn’t make sense with the Bad Bunny storyline, and it’s not the most exciting match possible for Drew. I love the Miz, but based on how they’ve been booked the past six months, they can't go toe-to-toe in a back-and-forth match without interference, which is a snooze for a WWE Championship match at Mania.

That leaves Sheamus, which is the ex-best friends storyline WWE has been building for a few weeks and Bobby Lashley who attacked Drew McIntyre at Elimination Chamber on the orders of Miz and MVP. Sheamus and McIntyre kind of sort of fought in the Elimination Chamber, but that’s not the same thing as having a straight up match. That feud has to get resolved at some point, but I kind of like the Lashley angle in the short-run. He’s been dominating people for awhile. Poor Riddle has been ragdolled on what feels like a weekly basis. He’s a believable opponent to beat McIntyre in a straight up slugfest. If that match happens, it’ll also give Sheamus something to do. He can be outraged that he got passed over for his shot, and he can circle back with McIntyre later.

Will Bobby Lashley Try To Regain His United States Championship?

The answer to the last paragraph ultimately depends on what direction WWE wants to take Bobby Lashley in. He’s been dominant for a long time. He may have lost the belt last night, but he lost it during a triple threat match after he was hit with a foreign object, and he wasn’t even involved in the finish. Ordinarily he would get a very quick chance at redemption to win his belt back, but that rematch isn't going to happen if WWE wants to elevate Bobby Lashley into main event status. He’ll just move on because he has bigger things to focus on.

So, I think either Bobby Lashley will continue his feud with Riddle and get a chance to win his United States Championship belt back, or he’ll enter into a feud with Drew McIntyre that will culminate in a match at Wrestlemania for the WWE Championship McIntyre will have at that point won back the belt from The Miz. My guess is it’ll be one of the main events at Wrestlemania (alongside Edge and Roman Reigns and probably Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair). It just strikes me as more interesting than Sheamus and McIntyre, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Today EA Sports announced another handful of fighters for their upcoming mixed martial arts game. The new EA Sports MMA combatants are all members of the US-based fighting organization Strikeforce.

ESPN revealed the five fighters in a interview with Bobby Lashley. Obviously he's one of the new additions to the game's roster. Joining him are Nick Diaz, Marius Zaromskis, Joe Riggs, and Melvin Manhoef.

EA's got an "Dev Team & Unannounced Fighter Chat" scheduled for January 30th, the day of the Strikeforce: Miami event. Will they simply re-announce these five guys - all scheduled to fight in Miami - or reveal a few new names?