The most important wrestling occasion of the yr is right here. WWE has landed in Philadelphia for its annual celebration and it is a huge one. WrestleMania is right here and for the fortieth anniversary occasion, the promotion has loaded the two-night spectacular to the gills with leisure worth. All of it will get began on Saturday evening with seven matches at the moment scheduled to happen.
No match is greater on Night time 1 of WrestleMania than The Rock and Roman Reigns taking over 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 in opposition to Rhodes in the primary occasion of Night time 2 might be contested below “Bloodline Guidelines,” which might imply no disqualification, regardless of what number of members of Reigns’ household come to his assist.
The CBS Sports activities consultants received collectively to supply predictions for each match on the cardboard. Let’s check out how they suppose all of Night time 1’s motion will go down. Predictions for Night time 2 might be posted on Friday.
WrestleMania 40 Night time 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. That could 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 in opposition to 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 Crew Championship — The Judgment Day (c) vs. #DIY vs. The Superior Reality vs. The New Day vs. A-City Down Underneath vs. New Catch Republic (Six Pack Ladder Match)
It appears WWE will break up up the tag workforce 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 completely 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 might 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 transferring ahead. There’s at all times the potential for a shock tag workforce 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 workforce championships once more, which suggests we’re getting two units of winners. I see The Superior Reality profitable the Uncooked titles; not only for the nostalgia pop however to arrange a comedy spot the place Reality leaves with the crimson 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 yet one more run. Decide: Superior Reality & The New Day each win — Casey (additionally Brookhouse)
Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Naomi vs. Harm CTRL
There may not be a professional wrestler with a extra pure star presence than Cargill. She is successful with the group however must be managed rigorously within the ring. It was clever 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 your complete weekend. Decide: Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Naomi win — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse and Casey)
Andrade & Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar & Dominik Mysterio
This match was initially to see Rey workforce up with Dragon Lee in a spot the place many believed the daddy would put over his son. However an attention-grabbing pivot on the SmackDown go-home present noticed Lee injured within the again and deemed medically unfit to compete and Andrade turning on Dominik and Escobar to workforce with the legendary luchador. The winner of this match is anyone’s guess now, however we’ll persist with our authentic decide for the heels. 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 evening. It nonetheless feels just like the story of Chad Gable attempting to get yet one more 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 could be rendered meaningless if Zayn wins. With that stated, I feel Gunther wins in an incredible match. Decide: Gunther retains the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
At first, having Zayn paired up with Gunther felt like a step again given every part that went down in 2023. However to WWE’s credit score, the segments between Zayn and Chad Gable on Uncooked in latest weeks actually bought me. The match was going to be stable it doesn’t matter what — I am fairly certain Gunther is incapable of getting a nasty match — however Zayn being the underdog who lastly ends Gunther’s record-long run lastly felt real looking 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 at last 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 Night time 2 fundamental occasion so meaning Jimmy will get the win right here. Decide: Jimmy Uso wins — Casey
I like the thought of The Bloodline profitable all of their matches on Night time 1 however I can not shake the thought 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 approach, the thought 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 evening. The stipulation appeared like a approach for The Rock to deliberately or unintentionally screw Reigns over. It gave Rhodes a degree enjoying discipline on Night time 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” model rescue mission on Night time 2 have me reconsidering. I will aspect with The Bloodline on Night time 1 so as to add extra drama to Rhodes’ ascension the following night. Decide: The Bloodline wins — Mahjouri (Brookhouse)
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 in opposition to Rhodes. Count on every kind of interference from Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman, making it appear to be Rhodes is strolling right into a slaughter on Night time 2. Decide: The Bloodline wins — Casey
