We’re simply days away from WrestleMania 40, with the two-night extravaganza set to go down from Lincoln Monetary Subject in Philadelphia. The occasion has been stacked with huge matches as is deserved for the fortieth version of the largest present in wrestling.
No match is greater on Evening 1 of WrestleMania than The Rock and Roman Reigns taking up Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. If Rock and Reigns get the win in the primary occasion, then Reigns’ protection of his undisputed WWE common championship towards Rhodes in the primary occasion of Evening 2 will likely be contested underneath “Bloodline Guidelines,” which might imply no disqualification, regardless of what number of members of Reigns’ household come to his support.
That is removed from the one huge match on Evening 1, with title matches equivalent to Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch, Gunther vs. Sami Zayn and a six-pack ladder match for the undisputed tag group titles. As well as, Jey Uso will battle his twin brother, Jimmy Uso, in one of many featured matches of the night time.
The CBS Sports activities consultants obtained collectively to supply predictions for each match on the cardboard. Let’s check out how they assume all of Evening 1’s motion will go down. Predictions for Evening 2 will likely be posted on Friday.
WrestleMania 40 Evening 1 predictions
Girls’s World Championship — Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Ripley is a dominant champion however her reign hasn’t been very memorable. Which may be sufficient of a cause to swing some in Lynch’s favor. That is a mistake. Skilled wrestling is a star-making enterprise. Ripley, 27, is the long-term funding and Lynch is bulletproof. Ripley had a ripper of a match towards Charlotte Aptitude at WrestleMania 39. Crossing off one other member of the 4 Horsewomen in a incredible WrestleMania match would do wonders for the champ. Decide: Rhea Ripley retains the title — Shakiel Mahjouri (additionally Brent Brookhouse and Connor Casey)
Undisputed WWE Tag Workforce Championship — The Judgment Day (c) vs. #DIY vs. The Superior Fact vs. The New Day vs. A-City Down Beneath vs. New Catch Republic (Six Pack Ladder Match)
It appears WWE will break up up the tag group titles. A brand new stipulation for the six-pack ladder match states the match will proceed till each units of titles are retrieved. That creates the chance for 2 totally different groups to depart with gold. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate are on a pleasant roll on SmackDown. #DIY are longtime favorites of Triple H that would use a workman-like reign to raise them. Damian Priest’s time with the Cash within the Financial institution briefcase is winding down so he ought to give attention to that shifting ahead. There’s all the time the potential for a shock tag group to be added to the combination too. Decide: #DIY & New Catch Republic each win — Mahjouri
The stipulation surrounding the ladder match all however confirms that WWE is lastly splitting up the Uncooked and SmackDown tag group championships once more, which suggests we’re getting two units of winners. I see The Superior Fact profitable the Uncooked titles; not only for the nostalgia pop however to arrange a comedy spot the place Fact leaves with the purple belt and thinks the match is already over. There is not an apparent selection for the opposite set of titles, so let’s give New Day another run. Decide: Superior Fact & The New Day each win — Casey (additionally Brookhouse)
Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Naomi vs. Harm CTRL
There won’t be a professional wrestler with a extra pure star presence than Cargill. She is a success with the group however must be managed fastidiously within the ring. It was sensible of WWE to create space for her at WrestleMania and pair her with many skilled wrestlers. Harm CTRL is overdue for comeuppance and the heroes all profit from a win. This is likely one of the best matches to name the complete weekend. Decide: Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Naomi win — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse and Casey)
Latino World Order (Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio) vs. Santos Escobar & Dominik Mysterio
Rey vs. Dominik Mysterio wound up being a shock spotlight of WrestleMania 39 final yr. And whereas the tag match looks like a star-making spot for Dragon Lee, I get the sense Rey desires to place his son over at the least as soon as earlier than he retires. Decide: Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio — Casey (additionally Brookhouse and Mahjouri)
Intercontinental Championship — Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Sure, Gunther’s run as champion has to finish in some unspecified time in the future. It simply does not really feel like Zayn is the person to do it on this night time. It nonetheless feels just like the story of Chad Gable making an attempt to get another crack at Gunther is the dominant one within the intercontinental title image. Sure, Gable may get that revenge by teaching Zayn up sufficient for Zayn to take down the champion. However months and months of speak from Gable about how badly he wants that shot can be rendered meaningless if Zayn wins. With that mentioned, I believe Gunther wins in an amazing match. Decide: Gunther retains the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
At first, having Zayn paired up with Gunther felt like a step again given the whole lot that went down in 2023. However to WWE’s credit score, the segments between Zayn and Chad Gable on Uncooked in latest weeks actually offered me. The match was going to be strong it doesn’t matter what — I am fairly positive Gunther is incapable of getting a foul match — however Zayn being the underdog who lastly ends Gunther’s record-long run lastly felt reasonable as soon as they began doing homages to “Rocky III.” I can also’t shake the sensation Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther would be the fundamental occasion of SummerSlam, and for that to occur they should get the title off of him first. Decide: Sami Zayn wins the title — Casey
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
Having Jey beat his brother and eventually get revenge for what occurred at SummerSlam makes all of the sense on the earth. However I need The Bloodline to have each ounce of momentum strolling into that Evening 2 fundamental occasion so meaning Jimmy will get the win right here. Decide: Jimmy Uso wins — Casey
I like the concept of The Bloodline profitable all of their matches on Evening 1 however I can not shake the concept of Jey profitable right here both by disqualification when Solo Sikoa interferes or edging out a detailed win earlier than Sikoa and Jimmy put the beat down on. Both method, the concept is that Jey is attacked and brought out in order that he cannot present help to Rhodes and Rollins in the primary occasion. Decide: Jey Uso wins — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins
My prediction modified as we drew nearer to the large night time. The stipulation appeared like a method for The Rock to deliberately or unintentionally screw Reigns over. It gave Rhodes a degree taking part in subject on Evening 2 and Rollins a much-deserved win earlier than dropping the world title. However rumors of “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin and John Cena getting concerned in an “Avengers” fashion rescue mission on Evening 2 have me reconsidering. I am going to aspect with The Bloodline on Evening 1 so as to add extra drama to Rhodes’ ascension the next night. Decide: The Bloodline wins — Mahjouri
You do not tease a stipulation like “Bloodline Guidelines” and never ship. Roman Reigns and The Rock will get the win right here to additional stack the deck towards Rhodes. Count on every kind of interference from Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman, making it look like Rhodes is strolling right into a slaughter on Evening 2. Decide: The Bloodline wins — Casey
Primary wrestling reserving implies that you must stack the deck towards the babyface going right into a match like Rodes vs. Reigns. If Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso performs out as I anticipate, Jey will not be accessible to supply backup. That leaves Rhodes and Rollins at a serious drawback as Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso, Paul Heyman and even Drew McIntyre may contain themselves within the match, tipping the scales for The Bloodline to get the win and have “Bloodline Guidelines” in place for Evening 2. Decide: The Bloodline wins — Brookhouse
