WrestleMania XL is finally upon us, this weekend Philadelphia will host the apex of professional wrestling at Lincoln Financial Field. Over the course of two nights and 12 matches, eight titles will be put on the line on the grandest stage of them all. With countless storylines set to meet their crescendo this weekend here is how we expect things to shake out.
Night One Main Event: The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins
For the first time in over seven years The People’s Champion “The Rock” returns to a WWE ring, this time with his cousin Roman Reigns to defend their family’s legacy. The results of night one’s main event will determine the ruleset of night two’s main event between Undisputed Universal Cham pionRoman Reigns and his challenger “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. A Rhodes & Rollins victory ensures the bloodline is banned from ringside during the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship main event match during Night 2. A Bloodline victory means the main event championship match will be held under “Bloodline Rules” meaning there will be no disqualifications should a member of the bloodline (or anyone else for that matter) interfere with the match. In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, The Bloodline has tormented both Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in hopes of injuring them before their tag-team matchup. Given the brutality we've seen from both The Rock and Reigns over the past few weeks, it is safe to say they won't be holding back at all during their first match together. Frankly, it doesn't seem like a scenario where Rhodes and Rollins come out of this match victorious. Cody Rhodes will need to overcome bloodline rules if he wants to finish his story.
Predicted winner: Roman Reigns and Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson
Women's World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Rhea Ripley is the most dominant Women's champion since perhaps her opponent Becky Lynch's first stint as "The Man" back in 2018. Ripley has just surpassed one full year as champion; winning the title from Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39. Ripley has been criticized for having a weak challenger pool as Women’s World Champion and looks to extend her reign far past this year’s WrestleMania. It’s going to be tough to one-up Ripley’s championship match vs Charlotte Flair at last year’s mania but if anyone can push the champ to her limits it is "The Man."
Predicted Winner: Rhea Ripley retains
Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn
A match that seems like a classic Philadelphia underdog story, pits the seemingly unbeatable, defending Intercontinental Champion, Gunter vs the fan-favorite former honorary Uso, Sami Zayn. Leading up to WrestleMania Zayn has been training with Chad Gable, with Gable acting as the "Mick" to Zayn's "Rocky Balboa." No city gets behind an underdog quite like Philadelphia and the Philly crowd is sure to be in Zayn's corner to watch him "go the distance."
Predicted Winner: Sammy Zayn (New Champion)
Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: The Judgment Day (c) vs. #DIY vs. The Awesome Truth vs. The New Day vs. A-Town Down Under vs. New Catch Republic
In a first-of-its-kind match, the Judgement Day will suspend both of their tag-team titles above the ring while six teams of two battle to retrieve one, or both of the belts. Both tag titles will be suspended above the ring and the match will continue until both titles have been retrieved. It’s tough to predict how this one will shake out with so many participants but one team is coming into thismatch with a chip on the shoulders for The Judgement Day. The Awesome Truth featuring The Miz & R-Truth have been feuding with The Judgement Day ever since they kicked Truth from their ranks. R-Truth is one of the most over individuals in WWE right now and fans have been clamoring to see him hold gold once again.
Predicted Winners: The Awesome Truth & The Judgement Day
Jimmy Uso vs Jey Uso
Brother vs brother, Uso vs Uso, Yeet vs No Yeet. The third "sibling rivalry" match in WrestleMania history will be between the Usos, Jimmy and Jey. Following in the footsteps of Bret vs Owen Hart and Jeff vs Matt Hardy, Jimmy, and Jey Uso will face off during night one of WrestleMania XL. It’s worth pointing out that the “less over” brother has won in the previous two WrestleMania sibling rivalry matches. Since the Bloodline storyline began back in 2020 these two have shared a special brotherly love, but as Jey’s relationship with The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns has soured, so has his relationship with his brother Jimmy. It’s tough to say which Uso will emerge victorious from this bout, but we should expect The Bloodline to assist Jimmy in some way during the match.
Predicted Winner: Jimmy Uso
Bianca Belair, Naomi and Jade Cargill vs. Damage CTRL
WrestleMania XL could be the beginning of the end of Damage CTRL as a stable in the WWE, with former member Bayley challenging Women's Champion Iyo Sky for her title, the remaining members of Damage CTRL will be facing the new trio of Bianca Belair, Naomi, and newcomer Jade Cargill.
Jade made her in-ring debut at the 2024 Royal Rumble and had an impressive showcasing. Pairing Jade with such a proven group of women is the best way to ensure her safety while also elevating and showcasing her skillset to WrestleMania viewers around the world. It is clear WWE sees Jade as a main event attraction, she just needs the experience.
Predicted Winner: Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Jade
Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar
A classic father vs son match, with a twist. At WrestleMania 39 last year Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio defeated his son, Dominik Mysterio, This feels like the first step in the next evolution of Dominik Mysterio. Dominik has been tied to Rhea Ripley's hip everywhere since they started dating but as Rhea slowly becomes a "face" it makes sense for WWE Creative to want to keep Dom and his nuclear heat (boos) away from her for now. Frankly, Dominik hasn't been an interesting character since losing to his father at last year's WrestleMania and a victory from him and Santos Escobar can not only progress Dominik forward as a heel but protect him from exposing his skill-set shortcomings
while rekindling the feud between himself and his father.
Predicted Winner: Dominik Mysterio & Santos Escobar
Night 2 Main Event: Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
Over two years in the making, this match is the definition of a "long-term payoff." At WrestleMania 39 Cody Rhodes was moments away from defeating Roman Reigns and finishing both he and his father Dusty’s story. Until Solo Sikoa of the bloodline hit Cody with a Samoan spike allowing Roman Reigns to come back and pin Rhodes to retain the title. Since Rhodes’ defeat fans have been awaiting the moment the rematch would take place and finally here we are. If our prediction for the WrestleMania Night One main event is correct, then this match will fall under Bloodline rules, meaning no disqualifications. The Bloodline has helped Reigns retain his Universal title in just about every one of Reigns’ title defenses in one form or another so it only feels right that Rhodes overcomes not only Roman Reigns but the entire Bloodline (Potentially with some help of his own) to finally dethrone the Tribal Chief and finish his story.
Predicted winner: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (NEW CHAMPION)
World Heavyweight Championship: Seth “Freaking” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre has been doing some of the best heel work of his career since injuring CM Punk at the 2024 Royal Rumble and stealing his WrestleMania World Heavyweight title shot against Seth Rollins. McIntyre won the WWE Championship during the 2020 Pandemic, never getting the chance to hold up his title and be celebrated in front of a real crowd, with real fans. McIntyre looks to finally get his WrestleMania moment with a real crowd. Even if McIntyre is successful in taking down Seth "Freaking" Rollins, he must stay vigilant in case Señor money in the bank Damien Priest decided to cash in on the beaten-up champion.
Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre (NEW CHAMPION)
WWE Women's Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley
Once the leader of Damage CTRL, Bayley has challenged her former teammate and friend Iyo Sky for the WWE Women's Championship. Over the last two years, Bayley has worked tirelessly to prop up every member of Damage CTRL and show the WWE Universe what the group was capable of.
Leading up to the 2024 Royal Rumble it became clear Damage CTRL no longer saw a use for Bayley unless she held a title. After winning the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble, it seemed like Bayley would challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women's World title, it came as a surprise that Bayley would instead leave Damage CTRL and take revenge on her former teammates for turning their backs on her.
Predicted Winner: Bayley (NEW CHAMPION)
United States Championship: Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton
Defending his US title at the Royal Rumble against Kevin Owens (by tricking Owens into getting disqualified) and costing Randy Orton a World heavyweight title shot at the Elimination Chamber has gained Logan Paul two powerful enemies. This match has the potential to be the most entertaining of the cards. Paul couldn't ask for two better opponents in this match, Kevin Owens is a maniac who will stop at nothing to put on a fantastic match, and Randy Orton is a bloodthirsty legend looking forhis first title since returning to the WWE at Survivor Series. Expect Logan Paul to play mind games with his opponents, likely relying on them to take out each other and make this a much easier match for himself.
Predicted Winner: Logan Paul retains
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Coming into WrestleMania XL LA Knight vs AJ Styles may be the most underrated feud on the card. These two have been at each other’s throats for months now. LA Knight caused AJ Styles to miss a qualifying spot in the 2024 Elimination Chamber so Styles flew all the way to Australia just to surprise Knight with a steel chair to the head and keep him from winning the Elimination Chamber.
Knight returned the favor later ambushing Styles on Smackdown and even showing up at Styles' home demanding a fight. Since becoming a fan-favorite in 2023 LA Knight hasn't been booked well enough to contend for any title but this is the perfect opportunity for LA Knight to prove himself against a made talent, a former world champion in AJ Styles.
Predicted Winner: LA Knight
Philadelphia Street Fight: Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits vs. Karrion Kross and the Authors of Pain
The final match added to the WrestleMania XL card is a Philadelphia Street Fight between the Street Profits and Authors of Pain. This is sure to be a violent and bloody match, celebrating Philadelphia’s ties to ECW and the brand’s evolution of professional wrestling as a whole. This match feels more like a last-second thought than anything. At the end of the day, the results of this match are meaningless. All that matters is that these two factions get the Philly crowd amped up in ECW fashion.
Projected winner: Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits
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