Last night was a historic night in wrestling – blank, blank and of course – fans finally returned to WrestleMania.
Tonight should be even bigger. While yesterday featured some fantastic matches, tonight’s card has potential to be timeless. We could see the end of a journey a decade in the making, the return of a movement or the head of the table stay the course on a history-making run.
Enough talk – I can’t wait to see what happens tonight, let’s predict these matches.
United States Championship: Riddle (c) vs. Sheamus
Riddle’s WrestleMania entrance is going to be one of the most um, unique (?) moments of the night. Scooters, bro chants and flip-flops on the biggest stage in sports entertainment will be a sight to see. Another sight to see will be Sheamus’ mohawk – which he’s said will make a return tonight. Give me the scooter over the mohawk – always the safe choice.
The Pick: Riddle
Women’s Tag Team Championship: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Natalya & Tamina
Perhaps the most shocking moment of WrestleMania’s first night was that Natalya and Tamina escaped the tag team turmoil match victorious. While they may have left night one victors, I’ll be shocked if they leave night two the same way. WWE might opt to give the generational superstars their WrestleMania moment, but it would be a surprise to see them take the belts off of Jax & Baszler.
The Pick: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (w/Logan Paul)
When Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were tearing it up, wrestling all over America on the indies, do you think they ever thought they would have a YouTube star involved in their match? While Owens and Zayn certainly deserve the Mania spotlight to highlight their abilities, you know Paul is getting involved in this somehow. It will actually be more shocking if he doesn’t cost Zayn the match.
The Pick: Kevin Owens
Intercontinental Championship: Big E (c) vs. Apollo Crews (Nigerian Drum)
I’m not even going to pretend to know what a Nigerian Drum match is – but I hope it’s good. Since Paul Heyman ripped him on Talkin’ Smack, Crews has been a different animal. The WWE has finally made the artist formerly known as Uhaa Nation interesting. Big E has charisma for days, and this rivalry has actually been one of the better ones in WWE in 2021. While the New Day member certainly deserves a victory at Mania, I think it’s Crews who gets the win here.
The Pick: Apollo Crews
‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton
Well, we get Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania again. There first encounter was so much fun – the projections of various bugs and animals onto the ring made for some great entertainment – did that sarcasm get across? I don’t believe this is going to be a version of the Firefly Funhouse match Wyatt had with John Cena last year, but that would be so much better than having to watch these two face-off again. A one-on-one, traditional wrestling match for these two makes almost no sense – but it would make even less sense for The Fiend to lose.
The Pick: ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt
Raw Women’s Championship: Asuka (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley is going to get her WrestleMania moment. After losing her NXT Championship at WrestleMania 36 to Charlotte, the challenger was relegated back to NXT. Now, firmly entrenched on WWE’s main roster, she’ll get the gold. Asuka’s been a great champion, holding the belt since taking it from Becky Lynch – but her long reign comes to the end. In what could be a show-stealer, The Nightmare makes her dreams come true.
The Pick: Rhea Ripley
Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Edge vs. Daniel Bryan
This is the match that feels like on we’ll be talking about for years to come. Three stories intertwined into making one of the most interesting WrestleMania main-events ever. It’s been easily the best built match on the road to the show – and that’s no surprise when you think of the three participants in the match. Roman Reigns has been the best thing about WWE since the pandemic started – his heel run has been legendary. Edge has returned from a career-ending neck injury to win the Royal Rumble and challenge Reigns – and he’s brought all of that grit he’s promised since January 2020. Did I say career-ending neck injury? Yeah, Daniel Bryan came back from one of those too – and he’s on his best face run since. Instead of derailing the build between two legends, his addition has enhanced it – adding layers to the match. The best matches are the ones you watch and have no idea who’s going to win – any of these three men can walk away Universal Champion. This match alone is worth the price of admission (and Peacock). Personally, I see the chance to bookend a ten year journey with a title win in the main event of WrestleMania too good to pass up.
The Pick: Edge
Villen 