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What’s being hailed as the biggest Wrestlemania in history, Wrestlemania XL (40) is days away and the card is officially stacked. After the internet changed the whole landscape and main event of the show with the “We Want Cody” movement, it’s now time to see “Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns 2”. As monumental as the two-night show will be with The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns headlining the marquees, don’t overlook the rest of the card.
In order for this Wrestlemania to live up to the hype, the performers have to be at their Mania best, but in order for this to be the biggest Wrestlemania ever, there need to be some unforeseen shockers and unforgettable Wrestlemania moments.
I’ll break down the card, match-by-match. Will tell you who WILL win and how it will be booked, and how I would book it and who SHOULD win. Also, I will share why certain events should transpire to set-up and advance future storylines. Last, but not least, I see three shocking moments coming out of this Wrestlemania that will leave everyone stunned and changing the course of the future of the WWE.
WRESTLEMANIA NIGHT ONE (SATURDAY)
Since the WWE has gone with the two-night format, the Saturday night show has proven to be the more exciting one and has outclassed night two. Whether by coincidence or the fact that the talent have put on better performances, night one has proven to be superior in the last few years. Mania 40’s Saturday night offers seven matches, compare to the six on Sunday. The big world title matches are taking place Sunday, aside from the Rhea and Becky match taking place on Saturday, but plenty of interesting matches and majority of the other title fights take place on Saturday. I have a feeling the streak will continue and come Monday, everyone will still be buzzing about Saturday night, assuming they do what I predict them to do! Haha
6-PACK LADDER MATCH (UNDISPUTED WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP):
Tag team mayhem for the undisputed titles and with ladders? Chaos will ensue. They should open the show with this fast-paced and high-octane match. Damien Priest and Finn Balor are the champs entering the match, opposing them with be the team of Miz & R-Truth, DIY, The New Day, New Catch Republic and Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. This used to be a Wrestlemania yearly special called Money In the Bank, but now that match has its own PLE (Premium Live Event). In this case, the tag team belts will replace the briefcase and a dozen wrestlers will go at it, in what promises to be a wild and destructive match.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
So it makes sense to keep the Judgement Day looking strong for now. There are cracks in the foundation with Dom straying from the Judgement Day, but they will protect their champs here and keep the titles on Priest and Balor.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
Let’s start out who doesn’t have much of a chance here. Miz and Truth are fun, but I don’t see them getting a title run here. DIY has been booked disappointingly, they are being featured but no one finds them as a threat or a legitimate contender. The New Day is old news. Talk about a group/team that needs a complete reboot. Waller and Theory are featured weekly and an entertaining duo, but they aren’t booked to their potential, it’s more of a pause on them currently while we get through Wrestlemania season. The New Catch Republic has been booked strongly and they are an intriguing choice. I’d ultimately would keep the titles on Balor and Priest for a little while longer, then have them drop it by the summer.
REY MYSTERIO & ANDRADE (UPDATED) VS. DOMINIK MYSTERIO & SANTOS ESCOBAR:
This match was changed on Smackdown with Dragon Lee being replaced with the newly returned Andrade. Good move. Even though Dominik and Santos seems like a weird pairing, since he’s a member of Judgement Day and Santos has his own faction, however, there is plenty of history here with these competitors. Dominik and Rey run it back after last years Mania match. Santos has been going against Rey for a while also. Andrade freshens things up and adds more legitimate star power than Dragon Lee would.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
The change from Dragon Lee to Andrade leads me to believe they will want to put over Andrade and it makes sense, he just debut and they want to book him to look strong. The easy way out here would to be to pin Dom, which would make more sense than pinning Santos, who is someone Andrade can work a program with. Andrade pins Dom. Makes most sense. Ray doesn’t need a pin here, unless he’s getting pinned.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
I get booking Andrade, but I think it’s time for Dom to get a significant win. He’s been getting beat and pinned weekly on TV and there comes a point where you think of him as just a jobber. So payback for Rey is what’s in order here. Last year Rey got the best of Dom at Mania, this year Dom should be the one to take it.
SIX WOMAN TAG-TEAM MATCH JADE CARGILL, BIANCA BELAIR & NAOMI VS. DAMAGE CTRL (NON-TITLE):
This match kinda came together late, but it makes sense to team these three women against Damage CTRL. IYO SKY is defending her title, so you have the tag-team champs the Kabuki Warriors take on a very imposing makeshift team of Naomi, Bianca Belair and Smackdown newcomer Jade Cargill. Some big names involved in this tag match. Many fans, including myself hoped for a Bianca vs Jade match, but I get why they held it off. A match like that needs a really good build and Jade needs more seasoning, this is a match to look forward to down the line.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
I don’t envision how WWE could not book the faces to go over in this match. You have too many marquee names here with Bianca, the newly unveiled Jade Cargill and the returning Naomi. All of these women need to look strong, as they are all main event talents in the women’s division. Jade will get a pin over Dakota Kai and look super strong and dominant doing so. It makes most sense.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
In this instance I’d book it the way WWE probably will. Make Jade look like a powerhouse and dominate Damage CTRL. Have Naomi do some athletic spots in the match. Have Bianca do some impressive feats showcasing her strength. I expect this to be a short match and mostly dominated by the faces. I’d have Jade pin Asuka. She’s the biggest name and most accomplished in this match from the Damage CTRL side, so getting a pin on her would make Jade look even more impressive.
JEY USO VS. JIMMY USO:
Only the third brother vs brother (real-life bros that is) to face each other in the 40 years of Wrestlemania. First one happened at Wrestlemania 10 when Bret and Owen Hart went at it in a classic. Second one took place at Mania 25 where Matt and Jeff Hardy squared off. This Uso feud has been a year in the making. They teased turns on each other far before they broke up post Wrestlemania 39. This is a great story and the build has been solid, not to mention the history of this feud brewing for a couple years now.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
Jey Uso legitimately has become “Main Event Jey Uso”. He’s one of the biggest faces in the company. Fans love him. Jey is super over. Jimmy on the other hand has fallen in the pecking order of The Bloodline. He’s seen as lackey of the faction, especially the way they book Solo as the far more dangerous member of The Bloodline. After screwing Jey from the Intercontinental title and interfering in several other of his matches, Jimmy will get what’s coming to him. I expect them to book Jey to get a clean win over Jimmy here. Simply because they care far more about building Jey as a top star then they do about building Jimmy into one.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT ):
I would go the other way on what they will do. I would actually have Jimmy get the win here. Maybe with the help of Solo, to give him extra heat. Giving Jey the win makes sense storyline wise. He’s been screwed by Jimmy and attacked by him over and over, however, who would get the bigger rub here with a win? That would be Jimmy. Give him some of the rub his brother has amounted. Beating Jey would look like a big deal, while Jey winning would give him no rub. Give the win to the guy who needs it more. Yes, I know wins and losses don’t necessarily matter in wrestling, but in this case I think it could help one brother a lot more than the other and it extends the storyline feud between them. Jey winning would seemingly end the feud.
GUNTHER (C) VS. SAMI ZAYN (INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP):
This is your “Philly Special!”. No, not the famous Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl play, but the storyline that mimics another Philly legend, Rocky Balboa! Sami Zayn playing the part of (Rocky, Stallone, not The Rock) the fighter who has lost his ways and confidence, going against the mountainous European force, Gunther (Ivan Drago). I like what they’ve done here with this storyline, but will it play out like Rocky IV?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
Aside from Roman Reigns legendary run, only Gunther can claim to a record-breaking title run and untouchable status. Gunther is the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all-time. He’s being booked like a dominant monster heel, as he should. Sami has been on a run of his career over the past two years. Starting with his involvement in the Bloodline angle and then the tag-team run with Kevin Owens, to the singles run he’s on now. Gunther is the man at this time and it will take a lot more to drop that title than Sami. I see them keeping the title on Gunther and continuing his dominant run, while Sami’s Rocky story continues for the time being.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
Gunther has had an amazing run, but is it doing anything for him to keep the title? No. Is it hindering him from taking the next expected step? Yes. Let me explain. He’s got the record title reign, he has nothing to prove and advance with the Intercontinental title, he does however have something to prove when it comes to the heavyweight championship. It’s time he is pursuing the main heavyweight title on RAW or Smackdown. He’s the number two heel in the company. Let’s see him work the legit main eventers like Seth and Cody. On the other hand, Sami would get a huge rub by being the one to defeat Gunther and take that title off him. Two birds, one stone. I’d book Sami to get the improbable win, Rocky-style!
RHEA RIPLEY (C) VS. BECKY LYNCH (WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP):
This match has had a strong build and was teased prior to Becky winning at the Elimination Chamber. Arguably the two biggest female superstars in wrestling going against each other for the first time on the main roster (they faced each other previously in NXT). I presume once Rhea went over Charlotte last Wrestlemania, this match must have been planned since then. Aside from the main events on both nights, this is the most hyped match on both cards. Will it live up to the hype?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
Rhea has to go over here right? I mean, I don’t really see a scenario or reason why Ripley would drop the title to Becky now. Rhea and Becky will put on a hell of a match. I expect it to be physical and multiple finishers by both women, with Rhea ultimately picking up that victory and retaining her title.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
This one is simple. It’s all about booking Rhea to be the most dominant and imposing female in the WWE. In order to continue this and to make Rhea look even more dominant, she needs to destroy Becky Lynch. What I mean by that is basically a squash match. It’s happened before on a PLE, where Brock Lesnar demolished John Cena, who was the top guy during Cena’s prime run. It left the fans stunned to see Lesnar manhandle Cena with what seemed like a dozen suplexes, well that’s what needs to happen in this match. Rhea need to clobber and bloody Becky Lynch and leave her lifeless after getting a clean pinfall after multiple “Riptides”. Now that would be something that would stick in everyone’s mind.
CODY RHODES & SETH “FREAKIN” ROLLINS VS. ROMAN REIGNS & THE ROCK:
In what is being billed as the biggest tag-team match of all time, and it has a compelling case to be, the four biggest stars in pro wrestling will face-off. This story has been nearly perfect. A big thanks goes to the fans and their “We Want Cody” movement, which forced WWE to change the main event of Wrestlemania and turn The Rock heel at the same time. It all has turned into gold. Rock’s heel work has been stellar. Cody is over at the level of Steve Austin in his prime. Roman is still at the top of his game and Seth is as popular as ever. Everyone wins! But you can’t really book that, so what will happen in this match where there is a stipulation in place that will affect the main event the following night?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
This match can really swing Wrestlemania weekend. The stipulation is the key. If Cody and Seth win, no Bloodline at ringside and no interference in the match. If Rock and Roman win, all bets are off, Bloodline rules, interference and mayhem. Depending on how this is booked, either way you can have an interesting set-up for Sunday’s main event. I think they will go with the more safer route and have the heels go over with Roman getting the pin on Seth. You can’t have Cody or Roman taking pins in this match. That way you have Bloodline rules available for night two and the deck stacked against Cody.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
I’d go the opposite way. Have Cody get the pin on the Rock here and ensuring a clean one-on-one match for Sunday. Rock can afford to take a pin. He’s the guy that can put over Cody, who also gets revenge for all the brutal beatings he’s been receiving on the road to Wrestlemania. What Cody pinning Rock would lead to is Roman turning on the Rock post-match. I can see Reigns being furious that Rock cost him the stipulation and didn’t get the “job done” and beating Rock down after the match. Imagine the twist and shock in that scenario. It also opens the door for Rock to leave back for Hollywood after Wrestlemania weekend and leave as a face in that scenario. Additionally adding more heel heat on Roman. Makes a lot of sense to me.
WRESTLEMANIA NIGHT TWO (SUNDAY):
Ok we have arrived at night two. The build from night one into night two should have fans on the edge of their seats. If they book it like I would, the fallout of the main event would be epic. Night two’s most anticipated question will still be, does Cody finally finish the story? Onto my thoughts and predictions for night two.
THE STREET PROFITS & BOBBY LASHLEY VS. THE NEW TESTAMENT (PHILLY STREET FIGHT):
I doubt this opens the show, but it could be a good second or third match on the card, but I can also see this being the buffer between the title matches at the end. Surprisingly they build this story up nicely, so it makes sense this could be a culmination of an ongoing feud.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
Safe money says go with the faces in a match like this. It’s gonna be messy and physical. Lots of trash cans and fights all over Lincoln Financial Field. I could see them get into the crowd. Mayhem all over. Plenty of chairs, tables, trash cans and whatever objects that are in sight. Ultimately, it will probably be Karrion Kross who takes the pin, as he usually does (sad but true), and Lashley being the one to pin him.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
I’d go completely against the predictable here, and yes, I do feel this match will be predictable. I would have Bobby or Dawkins take the pin, whether they lose through cheating or by a fluke. I’d have The New Testament get the win. What I would do with this match is use it as a springboard for a Montez Ford heel turn. Granted it won’t be the easiest way to spin it, but you can plant the seeds for the turn here. Have him be mad at his teammates for costing the match and start working on an eventual turn.
Ford is potentially a huge singles star and it’s time to break him away from Dawkins and Lashley. He would be a great upper mid-card heel from the start that would have a good chance to work his way into main event status. But Jim, why would you break this stable up since they are trying to build it up and just added B-Fab? Ohh, my bad. B-Fab got added? That must mean status quo due to her huge influence on this group. The hell with that nonsense. This group isn’t really getting over. Had they been heels like they were teased early on when they formed, then I would consider keeping them for a little longer together. This group hasn’t worked. Nobody is emerging from it. It’s treading water for everyone involved and killing time. At least B-Fab got a place to land now that Hit Row turned into pixie dust and didn’t produce a single hit to be remembered by.
LOGAN PAUL (C) VS. KEVIN OWENS VS. RANDY ORTON (UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP):
This story has been more fun than I initially expected it to be. The ongoing feud between Kevin Owens and Logan Paul continues, they been going at it since the start of the year and through the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber. They had to add something to the mix to freshen it up, so enter “The Viper” Randy Orton.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
Orton has been a fun addition to this feud. He has a legitimate reason to be in the match since Logan Paul screwed him from winning the Elimination Chamber and fighting Seth for the title. I’ve liked how they been booking the face Randy Orton since his return from injury. Him teaming up and being buddy-buddy with KO has been fun also. It’s basically been them against Paul in the lead up to this match. As far as how this match goes, I see Logan sneaking his way to a win. He’s been holding the title for a decent amount of time and does give some national exposure to it.
KO doesn’t need the title at all. Been there done that, doesn’t elevate him or the title in any way. Randy could technically come away with it, been a while since he’s carried gold, but this isn’t the title he needs or should be chasing (I got more on that later, so keep reading). Just makes sense to have Logan weasel his way to a cheap win and retain the title, probably with the help of Austin Theory and Grayson Waller, which in turn could lead to a feud with Orton and Owens teaming against Theory and Waller.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
For the most part, I would book it the way I see WWE booking it. For many of the same reasons, Logan gets the most out of holding onto the title. Sure, it be good for Owens and/or Orton to get their revenge on Logan, but they can do so by beating him down in this match. There is a potential of turning Owens and Orton against each other in the match, but I like the way both of them have been booked as faces and buddies. It wouldn’t make that much sense to turn one on the other. Smackdown needs some main event level faces and those two fit that bill. Not the time to turn Orton heel, yet (more on that coming up). Logan Paul cheats and gets help to retain the title is the way to go here.
LA KNIGHT VS. AJ STYLES:
This one has some heat to it…Yeah! This feud has been lingering for a bit, started, put on pause and then back on. They ramped it up at the rumble and finalized it when AJ cost LA Knight a Wrestlemania main event opportunity at the Elimination Chamber. Things escalated when they did a vignette where LA Knight shows up at AJ’s home and attacks him. We’ve seen a lot more of a rugged and intense LA Knight in this feud, which is a good development to his character.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW THEY WILL BOOK IT):
This should be an intense fight. I’m surprised they didn’t make this match the “Philly Street Fight”. It has the heat and build to be more of a fight than match. I still expect some broken announcer tables and fight to carry on outside the ring. AJ has debuted his ruthless heel persona, he was due for a character refresh. LA Knight will be booked to win and he should. You gotta keep him looking strong in the eyes of the fans and give them hope that he will have some involvement in the main event scene going forward. A clean 1-2-3 is what LA Knight will get here, yeah!
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
I’m staying the course. LA Knight needs this win to keep his momentum, especially with the audience. He’s still very over with them, but truth is that he has lost some shine since his initial face turn where fans were over-the-moon for him. I think some have lost hope that he will be a big main event player since he’s mainly been booked in the upper mid-card. This is the last ditch hope to keep that momentum afloat going forward. He needs to be booked strong and pick up a clean win over AJ.
IYO SKY (C) VS. BAYLEY (WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP):
They had a nice run together, but the former leader of Damage CTRL is now facing-off against her former stable-mate. Bayley has been doing the best work of her career since she formed Damage CTRL. The seeds for a turn have been planted for months, before the Kabuki Warriors joined the stable. Disruption in the groups started prior to IYO winning the Money in the Bank. This is smart long-term booking in a story that’s been executed very well. So what happens next?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
Damage CTRL has been getting the best of Bayley since turning on her. Bayley has been on her own trying to fend-off all the members of the group, all while trying to become a sympathetic babyface with the fans. It’s time for Bayley to get her revenge and that happens with her winning the WWE Women’s Championship. I expect this to be a good match, both women can work and should have lots of familiarity with each other. Bayley wins clean and becomes the rightful champ.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
Truth is, IYO has been a weak champion. She’s a good worker, but she has no persona and her biggest hindrance is her inability to speak English, yes it’s a legitimate big factor. Hard to get behind a champion when you never hear her talk. Granted there have been former champions that barey uttered a word (ex. Yokozuna), but they had great managers be their mouthpieces. Dakota Kai is solid on the mic, but she’s a wrestler not a manager. Nobody is gonna be hyped about reading subtitles when IYO is giving a promo. If I have to read a promo, you already lost me. She doesn’t have the presence, charisma or character to be a believable champ. She’s a solid mid-card worker, but champion material, she is not. I know, but what about Asuka? She doesn’t speak English either, true, but Aska has a character and charisma so she can get over enough just by that, IYO couldn’t.
Now, back to the match. Bayley has to get her revenge here. I can see the referee barring Damage CTRL from ringside to make this a fair fight. Ultimately, I expect Bayley to get the clean pin and take the title off of one of the least memorable women’s champs in memory. This is an easy booking.
SETH “FREAKIN” ROLLINS (C) VS. DREW MCINTYRE (WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP):
This match has been overshadowed by the main events on both nights. In any other year this would main event one of the night’s. Kudos to Drew McIntyre for holding this story down while Seth has been occupied with the Cody and Bloodline story. McIntyre’s promo work has been stellar. He’s really committed himself to the angle. McIntyre has been basically working two angles here, one with Seth Rollins, and the other with CM Punk. This match has more variables in it than any other on the entire card. Now, what will happen?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
I expect a really solid match here. Seth can work his ass off, and Drew is a good in-ring worker also. The fight will deliver and could be a sleeper pick for a match of the night candidate. CM Punk should play a part here and if he is indeed on commentary then expect him to get involved and screw Drew, leading to Seth taking advantage and picking up the win.
That’s the easy way out, unimaginative and staying the course. I do think there is a good chance this is a match where Seth and Drew beat the hell out of each other with Seth winning clean then having Damian Priest capitalize by cashing in his MITB briefcase and leaving the show with the championship. I’d much prefer they book it this way, but have some doubt they will.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
This one can be a lot of fun. Wrestlemania is known for shocking moments, no better way to make this a memorable match by having two of those shocking moments happen in this bout. I do believe that Punk WILL wrestle this match. There is no way McIntyre has put in so much of his promo time talking about Punk, then having Punk come to the RAW in Chicago. I think he’s gonna give it a go and be cleared to wrestle. It’s happened before folks, remember Cena coming back months earlier and returning at the Royal Rumble on his way to a Mania match? I think we will see a similar surprise here, with an early return from Punk. I have three options how this all can go down:
(Option A):
Punk wrestles in the match and it’s a three-way dance. Fans would obviously be shocked and thrilled to see Punk inserted in the match. Punk doesn’t need to win here. His time will come to have a title run. It’s still too early for him to carry the title. If this is a triple threat, it be a good opportunity to have none of these man come out with the title, booking Priest to cash in on Seth or McIntyre makes the most sense. Speaking of McIntyre…
(Option B):
This all hinges on McIntyre’s contract situation. Did he re-sign? Will he soon be a free agent. If he’s a free- agent-to-be you have him pick up the win here over Punk or Seth and have him be the one that Priest cashes in on and pins. It lessens the blow of having Seth be the one to be cashed in on. Drew gets his brief Mania moment as champ in front of crowd and drops it to Damian immediately.
(Option C):
If McIntyre did indeed re-sign. Having him in this high-profile bout with Rollins would be a strong indication of getting this spot or WWE really trying to convince him to, either way there is strong faith in Drew here. Then you have Priest cash in towards the end of the match before a pinfall occurs, trying to take advantage of beaten down competitors, but failing to cash in and having Drew pin Priest. That way you protect Rollins from taking any pin and have Drew take advantage of a failed MITB cash-in.
The only thing that makes sense here is having either McIntyre or Priest leave Wrestlemania 40 with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Rollins doesn’t need the title to be over with the fans. At this point he’s held it for nearly a year and established it. Time for someone else to get a legitimate rub off that championship.
ROMAN REIGNS (C) VS. CODY RHODES (WWE UNDISPUTED UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP):
The big one! One of the most anticipated matches in Wrestlemania history is a rematch. Cody was supposed to finish the story at Wrestlemania 39, but here we are still on the edge of our seats hoping this is where the story concludes. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. This was The Rock vs Roman Reigns written all over it. Hell, it was even booked officially on television. It was the fans who changed this main event into Cody vs Roman 2. Sure, Rock vs Roman would be massive and a big blockbuster match. There was even a natural story there, but this is what the fans wanted. They wanted Cody and they got him! So how will this turn out?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN (HOW IT WILL BE BOOKED):
There are several way this can go, some of it depends how the previous night is booked and which stipulation will be in play. As, I mentioned earlier I expect them to put over Cody and Seth in the tag match. That would lead to a no-Bloodline interference stipulation and a clean one-on-one match. But is it ever “clean” when it comes to WWE?
Cody should and likely will win this match. The Bloodline storyline has reached its peak with the Rock being part of the group. Where do you go from here? It will simmer down once the Rock leaves. The Bloodline, as successful as they been for four years, they do need a refresh. Roman hasn’t been around much, so let him take a break until Summerslam.
With all that being said, there needs to be a separation of The Rock from the Bloodline. A turn should happen on night one. Cody and Roman should put on a solid match, they worked together before so there should be some chemistry there in terms of pulling off a solid match and telling a good story in the ring.
Cody should overcome Roman and pick up the win. It’s time this story gets finished and the Bloodline gets a reboot. Not saying Roman needs to come back as a face, but we need new members and just a new feel for the group. The WWE needs to give the fans what they want. In previous Vince McMahon lead regimes they would usually go the opposite. The Triple H regime seems to give the fans what they want. They didn’t change a mega main event from The Rock to Cody to have him lose. Granted they’ve been enamored with the streak of days, months and years of Roman’s title reign, realistically he will never catch Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. It’s not worth costing Cody the chance so complete the story just to have Roman pass Hulk Hogan for third place. Imagine the backlash (no pun intended) they would get if Cody loses again?! Not the good kinda backlash. Cody wins.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN (HOW I WOULD BOOK IT):
Cody winning makes most sense. I don’t see a reason why they would continue with Roman here. Now, there is one thing that can flip everything upside down and change the landscape and have Roman retaining and Cody losing. What could possibly justify that decision? Three letters…M-J-F! Yes, that’s right, Maxwell Jacob Friedman. But, isn’t MJF an AEW talent? Yes, and possibly no. MJF has talked at nauseam about the big free agency of 2024. Speculation still remains whether he re-signed with AEW or he’s indeed a “free agent”? If he was a free agent then certainly WWE must have wrapped up that deal, or else he would have re-signed with AEW. Rumors and speculation has run rampant both ways. So here is the scenario if MJF is WWE bound…
MJF has a long history with Cody Rhodes. Behind the scenes they have a close friendship. MJF is a top heel and the WWE audience might not be entirely familiar with him. Imagine MJF debuting on the grandest stage of them all and screwing Cody from the championship he’s been desperately seeking. I imagine that would be even bigger and more shocking than Cody “finishing the story”. The script would write itself going forward. MJF vs Cody could be a major feud that would last all spring and summer.
MJF immediately would become a major star in the WWE and they can sell the history on-air about their relationship. This would be money and distraction, better yet, a new branch in Cody’s story. Roman can take time off and freshen up the Bloodline. Cody can always get back to getting that story finished and taking the title off of Roman at Summerslam or Survivor Series.
If MJF is a possibility, that’s what I’m booking! If MJF is staying in AEW then I’m booking Cody to win and potentially having The Rock help him and cost Roman, if Roman turns on him the night prior. I know that’s all a lot of speculation, but it’s all compelling stuff.
Assuming MJF doesn’t jump ship, Cody will be the new face of Smackdown and he already has a feud lined-up for him on that brand. Enter Randy Orton. Yes, a full-circle for these two. Orton can easily shift back to being a heel anytime, it probably would be his preference, as he excels in that role. Imagine the promos and feud between Cody and Randy. That could take us all the way through the summer, until Roman returns. Rhodes versus Orton would be fresh and new, but also have plenty of “Legacy” nostalgia. It’s a story waiting in the wings.
Either way, either we will see an epic debut of MJF or the fans will get what they have been pining for, or a completion of Cody’s story.
THE THREE SHOCKERS THAT WILL CHANGE WM XL:
- CM Punk wrestling in the Rollins and McIntyre match, making it a triple threat
- Damian Priest cashing-in the MITB briefcase in the Rollins and McIntyre match
- MJF making his WWE debut to screw Cody
Wrestlemania 40 is being billed as the biggest Wrestlemania ever. The card, especially at the top might give that some validity. The twists and turns could make this an unforgettable Mania. Imagine Bloodline turning on The Rock? Damien Priest cashing in and leaving with the WWE World Championship? MJF making his WWE debut? Yes, that’s a lot of speculation, some might not be realistic, but not impossible.
The matches should deliver as most performers try to bring out their best for Wrestlemania. Expect plenty of surprises. Celebrity appearances, announced and unannounced. Returns of legends. I expect some sighting of The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, John Cena and Stone Cold Steve Austin, plus some classic legends. After all, it’s the 40th anniversary of the show. Ironically it’s also the first show without any involvement from Vince McMahon and under the TKO banner.
Wrestlemania XL will be must see TV. Two-night extravaganza that you don’t want to be missing out on.
WRESTLEMANIA XL streams live on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 at 7ET/4PT only on Peacock
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