WrestleMania Predictions with Howie Fresh of Wrasslin Corner
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With only Smackdown between us and WrestleMania, excitement is building as we head into the two-day event. We have a lot of matches to break down and predict – let’s get started.
#WrestleMania Week is STACKED!
LET'S. GO. pic.twitter.com/XQsqnYXm0z
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2024
Rhea Ripley will defend the Women’s World Championship against “The Man” Becky Lynch. Rhea has been on one of the most dominant reigns in women’s wrestling history, and could be facing the biggest test to date, in one of WWE’s biggest draws, Becky Lynch. The two have been at each other for weeks leading up to this match, with this getting physical this week on Raw, needing Security to keep them separated. While it won’t be the biggest shock if Rhea wins, my prediction is for “The Man” to have her WrestleMania moment and become the new WWE Women’s World Champion.
MAMI. THE MAN. WRESTLEMANIA.@RheaRipley_WWE defends the Women's World Championship against @BeckyLynchWWE THIS SATURDAY at #WrestleMania XL! pic.twitter.com/QSzPRduoVY
— WWE (@WWE) April 4, 2024
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is also on the line. Gunther will defend his championship against Sami Zayn. It appeared Chad Gable would be the man to challenge Gunther based on the booking and TV time the past few weeks, but Sami Zayn defeated Chad Gable in the qualifying gauntlet match for this opportunity. Gable has since stopped sulking about how it should have been him, to video packages of him helping Sami train for Gunther. Gunther is making his claim for the most dominant Intercontinental Champion of all time, and he just may have done that already. Sami has been a great workhorse for WWE for years but hasn’t been able to make the jump to main eventer, despite the crowd loving the babyface. I believe this match is going to be brutal, and I think Gunther is going to make him earn this belt from him. That being said, I think this is where WWE both gives Sami Zayn some rub, while also giving Gunther some time off.
As if some Push Ups at the Performance Center with Gable would change anything for Sami! pic.twitter.com/4w08s0xFgh
— GUNTHER (@Gunther_AUT) April 3, 2024
Our next contest is my prediction for match of the weekend, the Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships. A last minute announcement has both sets of belts being available above the ring, as WWE plans on separating the championships once again. The Judgment Day will come in as champions, but they will have their hands full. DIY, Awesome Truth, New Day, A-Town Down Under, and New Catch Republic will round out the six teams. This match is sure to have all the danger, pace, and high spots you could want. I am looking to Kofi Kingston for the moment of the match. All of these teams are full of great wrestlers and could easily carry the titles. I drew my conclusion from the current champions, The Judgment Day, having a long storyline with R-Truth. If you missed it, for weeks he would attempt to join the Judgment Day. It was an excellent comedy angle that worked with the serious faction of The Judgment Day. The Judgment Day has since turned their back on R-Truth, even leaving him beaten to the ground on multiple occasions. The Miz has joined him, and I see a payoff coming. The crowd loves R-Truth, and his storyline with The Judgment Day went over exceptionally. My official prediction will be for R-Truth to get the blue belts, and Judgment Day to retain the red ones.
WWE
@WWE
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Apr 4
“There’s still good in Jim”
Watch the full first episode of The @WWEUsos #WrestleMania XL Week Vlog NOW:
0:09 / 0:41
Brother versus brother, a storyline as old as time in WWE, but this one does not lack any excitement, as Jimmy and Jey Uso come to a head at WrestleMania. In brief summary, Jey Uso months back turned babyface, left The Bloodlin, and switched shows, from Smackdown to Raw. The Bloodline, especially his brother, Jimmy, have been making his life hell ever since. The story seems to reach its climax on the grandest stage of them all. I feel Jey has been getting the short end of the stick for so long that there just has to be a payoff here. Both of The Uso’s can always put on a great, fast paced match with highflying and smooth reversals. It has also been a dream of the two in “real life” to face each other at WrestleMania, which should add to the quality of the match. My official prediction is for Jey Uso.
"There's still good in Jim"
Watch the full first episode of The @WWEUsos #WrestleMania XL Week Vlog NOW: https://t.co/tP7eOIz1x0 pic.twitter.com/EUXJiVznMz
— WWE (@WWE) April 4, 2024
One booking decision that left me pondering was not having the Women’s Tag Team Championships on the line at WrestleMania. We will instead get a six-woman tag match featuring Damage Control versus Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi. With the titles not on the line, and WWE wanting to push relatively new signee Jade Cargill, this feels like one of the straighter forward matches. I will even go as far as to say Jade gets the pin for her team.
#SmackDown GM @RealNickAldis makes it official:@Jade_Cargill, @BiancaBelairWWE & @TheTrinity_Fatu will battle @WWEAsuka, @KAIRI_official & @ImKingKota at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/f9kwwzjBGa
— WWE (@WWE) March 30, 2024
Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee will take on “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar. I’ve got strong feelings for and against this booking. These guys have the ability to have an exciting, lucha style match, but this storyline has been going on for far too long. Did we already not have a PPV for the Dom and Rey story? How much LWO versus Legado del Fantasma do the people want? Let’s just try to enjoy the talent, because that is abundant here at the least. It looks like WWE will try to push Dragon Lee as the next high-flying, masked luchador, with a little help getting over from his mentor, Rey Mysterio.
HERE WE GO! 😏@reymysterio just challenged @DomMysterio35 and @EscobarWWE to a TAG TEAM MATCH at #WrestleMania!
His partner? The newest member of LWO: @dragonlee95 🫨🇲🇽
WE NEED THIS TO HAPPEN!!! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/3rH9NNNjK4
— WWE (@WWE) March 30, 2024
The final match for night one, The Rock and Roman Reigns will take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a tag team match. If Cody and Seth win, all members of The Bloodline will be barred from ringside during Cody’s title match against Roman on night two. If The Rock and Roman win, the title match on night two would be held under Bloodline Rules. This has been one of the hottest storylines in wrestling history. Cody has been on a very long path, trying to win the Universal Championship, and honor his father, the late American Dream. Roman’s reign as champion is undeniably one of the greatest of all time. As far as this match, I instantly felt confident that someone’s tag partner is going to turn on them. So then comes the tougher decision, in deciding exactly who that will be. I’m not buying into chatter about Seth turning on Cody, I believe The Rock is going to turn on Roman Reigns. Since when is The Rock a supporting character? I cannot see him continuing on as a #2 in a faction. Nobody can beat “The Final Boss”, if you will. I can see Roman going on a vacation, and perhaps coming back for a face turn. Cody gets his 1-on-1 opportunity in night 2.
#TheRock and #RomanReigns just DESTROYED #CodyRhodes and #SethRollins just days before their blockbuster tag team main event at #WrestleMania XL! pic.twitter.com/xYxynqNXKb
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2024
Seth Rollins will defend his World Heavyweight Championship, against Drew McIntyre, on night 2 of WrestleMania. I’m positive Seth will be giving his all on night one, so that being said, he will be showing signs of war while trying to defend his title. I do believe these two will have a war themselves, but there is a lot going against Seth, both in reality, and in story. He has been battling injuries after doing a great job establishing the World Heavyweight Championship as they workhorse title. He will also be exhausted from night one, while Drew will come in fresh, and would have the size and power advantage on the best of days. This may be a strange prediction, but I can see this match having the best and most believable false finishes. I have two predictions for this match. Firstly, Drew McIntyre will have his WrestleMania moment in front of a crowd and win the World Heavyweight Championship. Secondly, I am going to predict Damian Priest cashes in his Money in the Bank contract to win his major title in WWE and leave an everlasting WrestleMania moment.
#DrewMcIntyre has a message for #SethRollins ahead of their #WorldTitle showdown at #WrestleMania XL! pic.twitter.com/cU4xdj5dBd
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2024
Iyo Sky will be putting her WWE Women’s Championship on the line against former faction-mate, Bayley. The storyline here being Damage Control has turned their back on Bayley, kicking her out of the faction she created. Bayley has been battling all the members of Damage Control leading into this match. Bayley has essentially turned full babyface and is using the storyline of battling against the odds, against the people who betrayed her. This comeback story seems to inevitably be ending in triumph, as I would call Bayley a lock to win this match.
"If I'm able to do this, this year is going to be what defines me"
Watch @itsBayleyWWE's #WrestleMania Week Vlog here 👉 https://t.co/IYlAGdUeTZ pic.twitter.com/pSuVtpyMev
— WWE (@WWE) April 5, 2024
After flying across the globe just to cost LA Knight an opportunity, AJ Styles will face off against Knight in a singles match. The two have been getting personal in their rivalry heading into WrestleMania. From a booking aspect, it would only make sense to put LA Knight over in this spot. He is one of their top babyfaces and got over with the crowd the moment he hit a WWE screen. AJ Styles is a legend in his own right, and perhaps is more skilled bell to bell, but LA Knight is a great wrestler in his own right. WWE, in my opinion, cannot slow the hot roll of LA Knight again. LA Knight wins and gets his WrestleMania moment.
.@AJStylesOrg said @RealLAKnight was a "loud mouth desperately in need of humbling" and LA Knight took that personally. 😤
RIP to the 📺#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/NqAcEC8W3K
— WWE (@WWE) March 9, 2024
The WWE United States Championship will be on the line in a triple threat match. Logan Paul will defend his title against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton. Logan Paul is an international superstar, bringing new eyes to the sport. While he isn’t the greatest wrestler, he is a great athlete and always prepares an entertaining high-spot. That being said, the championship has to go to an actual full-time wrestle, especially at WrestleMania. This match certainly has the potential to be one of the most exciting. The triple threat rules could lead this anywhere, and I’m sure Logan will use these rules to his advantage for the high spot of the match. Will we get any cool reversals into an RKO? I’m going to say yes, on Logan Paul. Immediately after the RKO, KO hits The Stunner to win the WWE United States Championship.
Watch the rivalry between #USChampion @LoganPaul, @RandyOrton and @FightOwensFight before they meet for the title at #WrestleMania XL in Philadelphia.#WWEPlaylist ▶️ https://t.co/to3q3aerQa pic.twitter.com/vAtgOtBtGM
— WWE (@WWE) March 26, 2024
The next match fails to lack the excitement and story of a WrestleMania match, but The Pride will take on The Final Testament in a Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street fight. They have attempted to build the story on TV but it just has failed to hit the mark. From a booking aspect, I think WWE is pushing The Pride right now, and Bobby Lashley will get the pin on one of the members of Authors of Pain.
EXCLUSIVE: "The All-Mighty" @fightbobby states that the repeated attacks from @realKILLERkross and The Final Testament has awakened something within him and now he will show Kross exactly who he is. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aSw00oigJG
— WWE (@WWE) March 30, 2024
Now moving on to one of the best story telling in WWE history, the main event, Cody Rhodes v Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. My prediction for the winner does not change if my prediction for night one is incorrect. This one may not be the wrestling masterpiece of the night, but it is the storytelling masterpiece of the year (at least). Whether under Bloodline Rules or a clean singles match, there is no way WWE is not letting Cody finish this story. Whether he has to triumph under Bloodline Rules, fighting his way against all odds, or proving 1-on-1 clean he is a champion, Cody Rhodes will win this match. The ending of WrestleMania is destined to be emotional, with Cody Rhodes bloody and crying, raising that title and thinking about his late father.
#WrestleMania Sunday card, LIVE this Sunday 7e/4p @peacock @WWENetwork:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion @WWERomanReigns vs. @CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/6fNlIdNOLL
— Triple H (@TripleH) April 2, 2024
That wraps up WWE Raw for this week. Stay tuned to Greenville Sports Media for more of my regular wrestling articles.
Howe Fresh (of The Wrasslin Corner on The Real Fresh Channel)
for Greenville Sports Media
and check out my weekly opinionated podcast “The Wrasslin Corner”
