Wrestlemania has arrived, which means it’s predictions time. The biggest event in wrestling is always both a culmination and a new beginning, a soft reboot that opens up another season of WWE storytelling literally the Monday after the event. Will Heel Cena take the belt from Cody? Will CM Punk fulfill his destiny on his first ever Wrestlemania main event? Will Charlotte Flair rip the women’s title from Tiffy’s hands? We predict it all here, folks. So strap yourself in, keep an unhealthy amount of Slim Jims close by, and get ready to fight us on our predictions.
Wrestlemania 41 Night 1
~Triple Threat Match~
CM Punk {w/Paul Heyman} v. The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns v. The Visionary Seth Rollins
William Quant: There’s an enormous part of me that says CM Punk wins because it just makes sense. He’s finally getting his Wrestlemania main event – albeit without real stakes – and he’s gonna get to do it with Paul Heyman by his side. Plus, championship match implications are pretty high in this match, meaning the winner might walk out with a title shot. You’d be crazy if you think I’m gonna give up a chance to see what could be Punk/Cena for the belt one more time. A Punk win here also clears the way for Rollins/Reigns to go at it, and who better to actually make Roman suffer for the sins he’s done for the last five years than the man who always seems to be his better?
However, a different side of me sees how the story has gone and it makes sense for Seth Rollins to win here…and walk out with Paul Heyman.
Ricardo Serrano: This one’s all about CM Punk, next to Heyman, getting his Wrestlemania moment with a win to finish HIS story. It’ll be special, and fans should eat up what would essentially be a late-stage career victory lap. That said, the level of excitement from this going forward will depend on who wins between Cena and Cody. In a perfect world, Cena shocks the world and beats the American Nightmare only to then defend the title against Punk. Question is, will Triple H entertain a new CM Punk championship run when the company is looking younger and younger each year. Rollins is the wild card, but I don’t see anyone stealing Punk’s thunder here.
Brandon Schatz: I’m calling this one for Seth Rollins. I don’t have much to go on off this outside of guts and a touch of fantasy booking. Taking into account his half-ran Mania 39 and his fully ran 40, I always see the end of night one as “what does this mean going forward”, and night two stating “this is where the company is”. Punk winning would be a nice moment, but it feels a little too “final”. A Seth win would accomplish a couple things. First: if he does, Heyman is turning FOR SURE and you get a Punk feud to fill through to… let’s say Summerslam, and leave room for the regular Reigns sabbatical after this week. It also fits with WWE’s current “long form” big moments format. If Punk gets everything he wants this weekend, what’s the next moment at Wrestlemania? He’s gonna shoot for that main event WIN.
Jared Bird: I feel like this one’s going to CM Punk. I’m incredibly biased, because he’s my favorite wrestler, but I genuinely feel like the direction is there. If he wins, and gets Heyman on his side to support him, he will go after the big championship, which could lead to either a rivalry with Cody Rhodes or John Cena, depending on the outcome of that match.
Adam Karenina Sherif: Punk called his shot with Cody a little while back, letting us know that he’s ultimately after the title. It might end up being Cena he’s chasing though, which would be a great story – especially given that Punk has history with The Rock, as well. I expect some twists, but I think it’s Punk getting the win here.
Heidi MacDonald: The story here is Punk finally getting to headline Wrestlemania. He will win.
~World Heavyweight Championship~
The Ring General Gunther (c) v. 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble Winner Jey Uso
WQ: Jey Uso because I’ve been screaming “PROTAGONIST JEY USO” for five years now. I don’t care if his moveset hasn’t changed. He’s over as hell and, ironically, is protected by not being in the main event. I also stick with him because the same critiques I feel I’ve seen for him are the same critiques I remember for a certain Dave Batista and he worked out okay. Except Jey has had so much more character development than the Batista character ever did.
RS: It makes sense for Jey to win here. Hell, Jey is going to win. If you’re of the gambling sort, put your money on that and then sit back and watch as you double your $20 bet. Now, this doesn’t mean this is what I think should happen. Gunther is a monster of a presence that’s put in the work to emerge as one of the premier heels in the industry today. He has the capacity to become a Reigns’ level main eventer. He already has the mic skills to match and he evokes a classic sense of villainy that brings in viewers just to throw that precious hate back at him. But this Wrestlemania is about the YEET (YEETmania?), and with it comes a loss and, perhaps, a missed opportunity.
BS: This is going on first and Jey is winning to spice up that crowd. I do agree that Gunther deserves better (and GOT way better as the Intercontinental Champ), but there is NO WAY that this WWE is passing up an opportunity to have that whole ass stadium YEETING to kick things off.
JB: I think it’s going to Jey Uso, because he’s so incredibly over at the moment. Gunther is incredible and deserved to be pushed up to the main event title scene, but I think WWE wouldn’t pass up the chance to push Jey even more than they already have.
AKS: You’ve got to give the people what they want!!
HM: I am incredibly uninvolved in this year’s ‘Mania. After last year’s story finishing on every level WWE had to reboot a little under the new management, and there have been some stumbles. Frankly, I have missed the last few weeks of Raw and Smackdown since baseball season began because I want to see the Mets finish their story! All that said, This will be a Yeet elevation. But then what? Seeing as Cena will most likely win the other belt, you maintain one heel/one face champions and the storyline continues.
~WWE Women’s Championship~
Tiffany Stratton (c) v. 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble Winner Charlotte Flair
WQ: Is it a copout for me to say I don’t care? I’m sure it’s gonna be Charlotte, but I’m not looking forward to this one at all because of all the ballyhoo surrounding it. What will interest me, though, is if Charlotte can do the thing she does best: make me care because she’s so damn good at wrestling. I often go into Charlotte Flair Wrestlemania matches not caring because both she and the build are always the same, but then I wind up invested as hell partway through the match because, like her or not, Charlotte’s just that damn good at physical storytelling that I get into it.
RS: This is another match that’ll end the way everyone expects to (with a Charlotte win) rather than the way it should (with a Tiffy win). Tiffy is another one of these great talents that has what it takes to elevate her division as a heel. Let’s face it, Rhea needs newer competition. Bianca and Iyo have been there a while now, too, and they need fresh faces to build feuds with. Tiffy has certainly come up as a worthy combatant. Letting her keep the belt will signal a push for a new generation takeover. That is until Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia make the jump to the main show and dominate the women’s division.
BS: I think Tiffany takes this, with some “oh man, it’s just gonna be Charlotte again” baiting thrown in for good measure. Though I do think this ends with Tiffy losing the title shortly after to Charlotte anyway. I think they pop the moment at Mania, set Tiffany as a star, and then have Charlotte win at (or by) Backlash, because what ELSE do they have Charlotte do. The queen DOES need a crown and like William said, I often don’t care about (or for) Charlotte, but she is GREAT at getting people to care, and bringing the best out of her opponents. Tiffany isn’t there YET, but I think you give her the win on the BIG stage so that talking point lives forever, and helps build the “legend”.
JB: This one I can see going either way, and I can’t really tell at all. I hope Tiffany retains, but I reckon she will lose the title shortly afterwards anyways. Charlotte could also win, because she’s a huge presence and is gunning for as many championships as she can get. It could genuinely go to either of them.
AKS: As a performer, I adore Charlotte Flair for exactly the reason William’s mentioned above. She just has a gear, when it comes to physical storytelling, that not everyone has. If she and Stratton commit to telling a clear in-ring story, this match could be fantastic. A valiant Stratton beating a dastardly but undeniably brilliant Flair would be the elevation Stratton needs moving forwards. Flair could then follow this loss with a crisis of confidence storyline, a role we’ve never really seen her in.
HM: The in-ring could be great but it is already overshadowed by the shoot fireworks between these two which exposed inexperience on Tiffy’s part and extreme insecurity on Charlotte’s. Let’s be clear: I am a Charlotte stan! This woman has led a life no one would envy. Let’s start with having Ric Flair as a father. Then your little brother dies and you somehow become tasked with carrying on your family’s legacy which is now both immense and tragic. Then it turns out that you are physically gifted beyond any of your peers, but because you’re considered a nepo baby everything you achieve gets downplayed and even boo’ed. My favorite podcasters Grapsody had a great rundown of the segment where Tiffy and Charlotte all went off the rails, but also pointed out that Charlotte got warned she would “be alone” ON HER 39th BIRTHDAY! Her reaction was a shoot. No woman ever wants to hear that especially on their 39th birthday, with three divorces behind you, after you’ve spent over a year rehabbing an injury from which you will never be the same. I follow Charlotte’s insta, and she and Andrade made a cute couple and they seemed happy together….when it worked. Then it didn’t. As far as I’m concerned this is Demi Moore vs Mikey Madison again. But this time Charlotte will win. Tiffy has plenty of time to cook and develop – as long as the HHH regime is actually interested in women’s storylines. Give Charlotte the damn flowers!
~Grudge Match~
Naomi v. The Perfect Storm Jade Cargill
WQ: This has Jade written all over it and can easily use it as a launching pad to put her on a crash course for the Women’s Intercontinental or United States Championships.
RS: Jade Cargill will win and it’ll be followed by a single’s push with championship aspirations. This is Cargill’s chance to prove she can stand shoulder to shoulder with the bigger names. Jade has been given the stage to go from star to superstar. It’s make or break on this one.
BS: This is my biggest mystery. It depends on what they’re looking for here. Is this the first match for these two, or the last? My gut says there will be more, which points me to Naomi with the win.
JB: I have a sinking suspicion this will go to Jade Cargill, and really be the match to push her to the stratosphere.
AKS: I feel there’s more long-term storyline mileage in Naomi taking it, but it’s hard to imagine this won’t be Jade getting the win here. You can’t get put through a windshield and then come back and lose.
HM: Jade but glad that Naomi got elevated to her rightful role here.
~WWE United States Championship~
The Megastar LA Knight (c) v. The Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu
WQ: Fatu seems like the bigger winner here for sure. I fully expect the spot where LA Knight hits the BFT, only for it to not work on Fatu and his invincible noggin. Also, this can clear Knight up to maybe challenge the guy who walks out with the WWE Championship as well as keep The Bloodline relevant with some gold.
RS: The Samoan Werewolf should take this one. Am I the only one that thinks that LA Knight has kind of plateaued? He still has the crowd wrapped around his finger, but it’s time his character gets a stronger storyline, with higher stakes. Maybe this loss could open multiple paths towards that. Interestingly enough, I don’t think a Fatu loss benefits Knight here in the long run.
BS: Oh, Fatu for sure. Knight gains nothing from a win here. THAT only happens if there is some Solo Sikoa shenanigans, but I don’t think that happens here. I think it DOES happen, but I feel like that’s a post Mania angle with Solo introducing either another family member or the rumoured Jeff Cobb as a surprise heavy to take Jacob down – standing over his prone body and smearing out slowly, “I love you, Jacob.”
JB: Jacob Fatu better win. As a huge fan of his indie work, it’s been incredible to see him killing it in WWE, and pushing him further with a title reign could be fantastic and lead to some incredible matches and rivalries. Could you imagine Jacob Fatu versus Ilja Dragonov? I can only get so hyped.
AKS: This is a tough one for me. I agree with Ricky that Knight has faltered a little the last few months – his strengths lie in his segment work more than his in-ring, and he has not been well served by programs with the likes of Andrade, Carmelo Hayes and Shinsuke Nakamura – all of whom are prodigious in-ring talents. That said, I can see WWE taking a little more time to keep heating up Fatu before he splits from Solo and wins big. I think Solo costs Jacob here and Knight keeps the title.
HM: Fatu has the bigger future but I agree with Adam here: some tribal skullduggery will cost him the win and the storyline continues.
~Luchador vs…Luchador?~
Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano (aka Chad Gable)
WQ: El Grande Americano has to get the win here, right? This is so they can build to a Lucha de Apuesta somewhere down the line and have a Mask vs. Mask match where their luchador of choice can finally get the win and unmask this pretender.
RS: This storyline should’ve been done a while ago, which is why it feels so stretched out. El Grande Americano winning is the only outcome that makes sense here. With rumors of a Lucha Underground-like show in the wings waiting for this to get resolved, I don’t think we should go in expecting many surprises here.
BS: Yeah, this has El Grande Americano written all over it. Like William said, this ends with a mask vs. mask stipulation. Or, or, or… hear me out… El Grande keeps winning against luchadors, and a somewhat redeemed Dominick beats him in a hair vs. mask match. Dom is already slowly turning face (and wildly, INCREDIBLY charismatic and whip smart in interviews outside of WWE TV), what’s a better long term story than for him to embrace his lucha heritage and stop this monster?
JB: Ray Fenix comes in and steals the win. Jokes aside, I’m not quite sure. It’s probably going to go to El Grande Americano, as much as I think that gimmick is coming at a horrible time.
AKS: I agree with Jared that the gimmick feels in slightly poor taste right now (only compounded by that cursed AI video package a few weeks back), but El Grande Americano should absolutely win here.
HM: If EL Grande Americano loses the story ends, unless there is interference, which I expect. Seeing Fenix involved feels like the right play. Here’s where not having watched wrestling for the last month or so hampers my predictions as it seems like the Chad Gable storyline had barely got started but maybe it already ran its stupid course?
~World Tag Team Championships~
The War Raiders (c) v. The New Day
WQ: The build for this has been absolute garbage and the fact that this match is here over the much more heavily built up WWE Tag Team Championships is a tad insulting. However, this is earned only off the back of New Day’s heel turn months ago and that they deserve something. That said, they might not get it here because Big E should cost them. I’d like New Day to win, but the War Raiders keeping it because of interference would make sense.
RS: This match just doesn’t scream Wrestlemania, does it? It feels like mere story development for The New Day, who should win. Big E will somehow be involved and will probably interfere in some way to cost his former team to leave beltless. I like the War Raiders and hope a good feud comes out of it with some other team. There aren’t that many big guy tag teams around anymore and having them keep the belts can lead to interesting things if they give them a shot.
BS: It has to be The New Day. Bonus points if Big E actually HELPS them win. Have him talk the next night about how his friends were right – he WAS being selfish, but he’s here for them now. I only say that because that’s where I feel like the most story is, but WWE even now is not known for telling great tag stories, so there’s every chance The War Raiders take this and keep doing some things. But truly, I want to thank GAAWD… for The New Day. And then after a while, see someone DESTROY them.
JB: I have a feeling this match has been a bit undercooked. I do think that The New Day should win, but I have a feeling they will lose due to interference from Big E. I do think in general the tag scene needs some work because the rivalry here feels under-explored.
AKS: Like WWE Tag Team Champions The Street Profits and Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria, The War Raiders are really just champions because they ..won a wrestling match – without any story driving it. I think New Day regain the titles here because they’re actually moving through a wider storyline and character arc.
HM: The New Day heel turn was red hot and then got botched. I wonder why! They will probably will but where the program is going is unclear.
Wrestlemania 42 Night 2
~Undisputed WWE Championship~
The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes (c) v. The Man John Cena
WQ: John Cena and it isn’t even close. I love Cody and everything he’s done, but you need heel Cena to win here. You don’t have a generational heel turn and then don’t pull the trigger, right? Plus, it makes the retirement tour and the Undisputed WWE Championship just that much more important. The line of challengers for a heel Cena include newer stars like LA Knight, Damian Priest, and Sami Zayn or running back some of his older matches/feuds like CM Punk, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. Heel Cena being the center of attention is, didn’t think I’d ever say, best for business.
RS: You don’t turn Cena heel for a loss at Wrestlemania. It’s just not good business. Cena as the title holder is the equivalent of Thanos erasing half of humanity at the end of Infinity War. Would you have come back for Endgame if everything was resolved in part one? I think not. Hell, I’d even have Cena do the Thanos snap in Cody’s face after giving him the You Can’t See Me. Cena’s Farewell tour would turn to Cena’s Fuck You tour, and it would lead to months of TV gold. And then, and this is the good part, we start on the path to Cena losing the title and maybe reverting to babyface. I just got goosebumps writing that.
BS: A Cena win for SURE. You also keep Punk busy with a Seth feud to help keep him away from Cena until the very end. Because Cena said he was taking that belt with him, and my goodness, what if Punk, of all people, was the person to save that title for the WWE? Have it kayfabe that it is Cena’s last contracted date, because you want to give him the redemption afterwards – there is no WAY he ends his run as a heel – but you get that beautiful mirror of Punk winning at Money in the Bank all those years ago. Punk ALSO wins THIS hypothetical match, after a year of hardship and betrayal for “these people (points to crowd) who never gave up on me”, and carries that into WrestleMania for his REAL main event.
JB: Cena winning is the easiest and best bet to make. Pushes him to a legendary caliber in terms of number of championships whilst also furthering Cody Rhodes as the single biggest babyface in the company. It opens up the door to Heel Cena vs Babyface Punk at Summerslam or Money in the Bank, which could be perfection.
AKS: Heel John Cena just absolutely has to be your main character. “If Cena LOSES, we riot”. The only slight doubt I hold about this lies in the idea that he’s not really Cody’s big bad. Cena’s the stooge, and it’s The Rock who’s the.. Final Boss. HURM. Still, I’m saying Cena here.
HM: Cena, of course. He gets the record and the farewell tour and gives Cody something to suffer for.
~Women’s World Championship~
The Genius of the Sky Io Sky (c) v. The EST Bianca Belair v. Rhea Bloody Ripley
WQ: This whole program seems designed to finally give Io Sky her props and the respect she’s long deserved. She can retain here and put the stamp on that expression of respect, all while Rhea and Bianca finally have their fated encounter(s) over the next several months, possibly even building up to doing it again 1-on-1 next year. Gonna need Rhea to show up in, like, Majin Vegeta attire to reflect her recent attitude.
RS: Iyo wins this one and she deserves it. The angle’s been clear for a while. It’s a match for respect, and Wrestlemania is where she gets that. Iyo’s become as important a face for the women’s division as Rhea, so I see this one as an act of recognition that confirms the title for top female superstar will now be shared. Stars today are too big not to be sharing the spotlight at the top. This is how the WWE will communicate this new state of affairs.
BS: With how Iyo has been treated during this, she HAS to win – otherwise the story has really just been “she’s been overlooked by Rhea and Bianca, and they were RIGHT”. My booking? Jade has found out that Bianca was IN ON THE ATTACK with Naomi, shows up after her loss the night before, and gets a “win” back by attacking Bianca, who Iyo pins.
JB: Iyo Sky deserves the win. She’s finally gotten the push she deserves, and I think it’s too early into her title reign to lose the title already. It gives more fuel for Rhea’s character as well as Bianca, and opens the door to a really awesome series of defenses by Iyo.
AKS: Rhea’s slipping into a Drew McIntyre-style arc where she’s becoming increasingly petty and entitled, and starting to lose focus when it counts. Like Brandon says, I think Bianca may have forthcoming business with Jade. And like we’re all saying, Sky’s been overlooked through this storyline despite being the champ so she takes this and reminds the other two that she’s more than on their level.
HM: Iyo for all the reasons mentioned above, and that would be awesome! She is a superior in ring performer and deserves a showcase on the biggest stage of all.
~Grudge Match~
The Phenomenal AJ Styles v. The Maverick Logan Paul
WQ: This seems set up for a Logan Paul win and I just don’t care. I hope AJ destroys him. Ultimately, though, this is a battle between a rumored flat-earther and a definite raging transphobe, so maybe no one wins.
RS: Why does Logan Paul get to have a win over AJ Styles at Wrestlemania? Why? Fine, people like to hate him. Sure, he’s getting that Prime money into and out of the company. He knows how to put on a show, and he can be spectacular. But what’s the play? Make him champion again? AJ Styles deserves better.
BS: Yeah, Logan Paul is winning this, and I hate it. But AJ’s contract is almost up and he says he’s gonna call it a day. (Hopefully after at least one last match or John Cena style final year at TNA.)
JB: I’m a bitter, die-hard Logan Paul hater, so even if he’s likely getting the win, I don’t want to accept it.
AKS: grits teeth Logan Paul.
HM: Logan Paul. Hand me the puke bucket.
~Intercontinental Championship~
Bron Breaker (c) v. PENTA v. Finn Balor v. Dirty Dominik Mysterio
WQ: Wonderful way to get the belt off Bron by not having to be pinned. And I know this almost definitely is set up to get Dominik his biggest win of his career, but…damn I wanna see Finn take this. Talk about a guy that’s felt unappreciated on the main roster for so long. Plus Finn winning would give more time for he and Dominik’s stuff to simmer and also make that eventual title change, even if it is in just one month, feel that much more personal. Can’t wait to see PENTA’s Wrestlemania debut spot, though!
RS: This one has the makings of a sleeper match. With the talent involved here this should be the match everyone will be talking about the Monday after Mania. Penta will put on a hell of a show, Dominik will get to come off as a more serious wrestler after what should be a title win here, Finn will probably pull of some crazy stunt we’ll watch on repeat on socials, and Bron will spear everyone twice to come off as a threat regardless of a loss. Everyone wins here. This is the type of match Wrestlemania moments are made for.
BS: I think Ricky has this exactly right. This match is going to be explosive, and everyone is gonna look great. I do think Dom pins Finn, because that’s the good stuff right there. What I’d do after that is build Dom as an Eddie Guerrero style babyface, still “dirty”, still hating his pops – because WWE is into LAYERS now – and also, kind of an underdog just like Rey. You pay tribute to the bonkers “was Eddie Dom’s real dad?” story from forever ago (that Dom plays with anyway with his look), and you can also build Dom up to the point where he’s the guy to reclaim his heritage and burn down El Grande Americano. (Sorry, I just love that idea a LOT.)
JB: This is the match I’m more excited for out of the whole weekend. Four of my favorite wrestlers in the company right now. I hope Dominik Mysterio gets the win, because he’s been doing consistently exceptional work for the last two years. I feel like he will betray Finn, get the rare triple heel turn, and take the championship and run.
AKS: More than anyone, I think Bálor needs this. I think he might even invoke Demon mode to do it, something the background mise-en-scène in The Judgement Day’s clubhouse has been teasing for awhile. Like Jacob and Solo, I don’t think the Mysterio / Bálor schism happens just yet. And yeah, I think this match is going to be something special.
HM: Like everyone said this should be a banger! I’d love to see Balor win but a win for Dom-Dom sets up more storylines.
~Women’s Tag Team Championships~
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriquez (c) v. The Role Model Bayley & Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria
WQ: Liv & Raquel still have a lot of mileage being together, especially if Dom also walks away with gold. Makes a great debut spot for Lyra though, as she and Bayley’s feud can keep making progress.
RS: I’m excited for Lyra here. She’ll be put in a position to make herself a louder voice and presence in the division. Liv & Raquel still take the win, though. With Dominik probably winning gold as well, this looks like a new phase for the Judgement Day and a potential Rhea/Bianca (post loss to Iyo) team up to take on Liv/Raquel soon after. And then we might be looking at a title change at another PPV.
BS: My most “okay, whatever” match. I hope Roxanne Perez causes Bayley and Lyra the match because Lyra should ABSOLUTELY NOT be taking the pin here in any form, and it is a great post-Mania feud. Plus, you do get the “rebuilt” Judgment Day that Finn is supposedly the leader of. The real question is what he does going out of that. His own faction? Or… look, I know I already pinned my answer on Dominik to win the Intercontinental Championship – this doesn’t change my answer – but a good alternative is Dom under Finn’s thumb after a Finn win, eventually overcoming him at, say, Summerslam.
JB: I think Liv and Raquel will retain, but it’s going to be good to see Lyra get a push, and it can lead to some great stuff to come.
AKS: This’ll be good because Bayley’s truly the expert when it comes to getting a crowd to invest in something even when there’s been relatively little build. This will also be good because, like Jon Moxley, Liv Morgan is constantly doing the most for the absolute love of the game. Liv and Raquel get the win here, and Bayley and Lyra start really building a story around Bayley chasing one of the only titles she’s never held.
HM: Liv and Raquel, but a good showcase for beloved veteran Bayley and exciting new face Lyra.
~Sin City Street Fight~
Drew McIntyre v. Damian Priest
WQ: This one I think is the most 50/50 of any match on the card. I think Drew McIntyre has the most to gain from a win here. Priest does need a big win to put him back in a title picture in the near future, but I think Drew has lost enough times of late in his “blind by fury” to be able to get this one back.
RS: McIntyre can’t keep losing. Otherwise it looks like he’s just there to put other wrestlers over. He can’t keep playing the stepping stone. Unfortunately, it’ll come at a price. With Priest losing, what’s next? He’s still a favorite and an exceptional performer. That said, McIntyre has more to lose as a believable threat in the company that Priest. This one’s about how the losing party, well, loses.
BS: I think it has to be Drew. He’s lost so much with his righteous feuds, I think this is where he gets a win. BUT. He isn’t winning clean. That’s key. He’s complained so much about circumstances over the past year plus that he has to win dirty, but state definitively that his win was just and definitive.
JB: It has to go to Drew. He will cheat his way to victory and further his heel antics, adding a level of hypocrisy to his character which will be awesome and exciting.
AKS: As a performer, McIntyre has had an exceptional last twelve months. As a character, he has eaten an abundance of dirt. He finds his focus here and starts backing up all his chat.
HM: DREW MUST WIN! Please let this beautiful, cat-loving, young girl defending, meme generating kilt wearing man get a win! He has been utterly brilliant on social media, and on promos and can wrestle a bit too. He is MY chosen one! Seriously the dude also needs a win or he will look pretty stupid.
TBD
Randy Orton v. TBA
WQ: Yeah I know Ludwig Kaiser has nothing else to do on the show, but there’s someone we haven’t been talking about that’s been closely linked with Kevin Owens for a long time…Sami Zayn. Think this is a great spot to plug him in. Sleeper pick, though, is honestly Joe Hendry. It wouldn’t hurt Hendry one iota, even as TNA World Champion, to have a loss to one of the biggest names in all of modern wrestling (if he even loses).
RS: Is it a coincidence that Tetsuya Naito announced his departure from NJPW so soon after Kevin Owens announced he won’t be at Wrestlemania? Ah, it probably is. But it’d be cool if it wasn’t. And you all saw The Rock sporting that black and white NJPW shirt on Instagram the other day, right? As William said above, Joe Hendry would make an amazing pick, and it would only do wonders for him regardless of the outcome. But, man, make it be Naito. Dare to dream.
BS: Oooooooh, I want all of those things! I’m going to throw another name into the hat: Aleister Black. Vignettes that seem pointed in his direction have been happening since riiiiiight around Kevin Owens stopped doing physical spots, and that’s been long enough that it feels like it could pay off AT WrestleMania instead of after.
JB: Could hypothetically be a ton of different people. Sami Zayn? Joe Hendry? Danhausen? Who knows. I’m hoping it’s a New Japan Pro Wrestler. That would be fun.
AKS: I think Brandon’s probably onto it with Aleister Black. But, since he’s getting inducted into the Hall Of Fame and since Orton makes perfect sense as a possible final opponent, I’m foolishly predicting one Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
HM: Probably Aleister Black, but maybe it’s Mariah May? Or dark horse, Jeff Cobb? Or Sami? If it is a returning star, don’t see how a clean win by Orten benefits them. It’s always good to have a surprise so I will avoid spoilers on this.
