Night 1
Raw Tag Team Championships – New Day (c) vs AJ Styles & Omos
Styles and Omos aren’t exactly a true tag team, but it would definitely be something different in the Raw tag division. WWE may also want to be able to say how Omos became a tag team champion in his first ever match, happening to also take place at Mania. A tag team title run would also be another feather in Styles’ cap.
Prediction: Styles and Omos win the titles
Braun Strowman vs Shane McMahon
Not exactly a feud that anyone is enthralled with, but expect some insane spots in this match. Shane will probably (definitely) jump off of something high and Strowman will show some incredible feat of strength. Shane may end up winning as a result of these (i.e. Strowman throws McMahon off the top of the cage, technically winning the match), but ultimately Strowman cannot take a loss or get outsmarted by Shane McMahon at the biggest show of the year.
Prediction: Strowman wins
Cesaro vs Seth Rollins
This match has all the available pieces to be a masterpiece. The basis of the feud is how Cesaro has never had a true WrestleMania match and has been wasted potential. The only thing that tops Rollins’ ability to play the heel here is his suit game. Cesaro will put on a great showing, but Rollins can etch out a victory with heel tactics.
Prediction: Rollins wins
Bad Bunny & Damien Priest vs Miz & John Morrison
It is weird to think that Miz was recently WWE Champion, but before and after that short-lived reign he has been booked completely anemic. Expect Bad Bunny and Priest to pick up the W.
Prediction: Bad Bunny & Priest win
WWE Championship – Bobby Lashley (c) vs Drew McIntyre
The idea of an extended world title reign for Lashley is very intriguing, but the recent split-up of the Hurt Business is foretelling how Saturday’s title bought will go. Lashley now aligned with Baron Corbin is guaranteed for the live crowd to be against him. McIntyre will get the world title win in front of a live crowd that he was unfortunately robbed of last year.
Prediction: McIntyre regains the WWE Championship
Smackdown Women’s Championship – Sasha Banks (c) vs Bianca Belair
This match has been confirmed to main event night 1 of WrestleMania and has been built to seem like a perfect opportunity for a passing-of-the-torch in the women’s division. Bianca Belair is a star in the making and ready to lead the women’s division. Expect her and Banks to put on a great match to close out Saturday night.
Prediction: Bianca Belair wins the Smackdown Women’s Championship
Night 2
“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs Randy Orton
The paranormal theme of the buildup to this match has been silly at times, and hopefully this feud will culminate on Sunday. It’s not clear whether this match will be cinematic or in the ring, but after Wyatt was set on fire back at TLC it would probably be safe to assume this won’t be a normal match. Last year WWE knocked it out of the park with the Firefly Funhouse match between Wyatt and John Cena. If this year can come anywhere close to that mark, it would be a success.
Prediction: The Fiend wins
U.S. Championship – Matt Riddle (c) vs Sheamus
- Sheamus has immensely proved over the past year that he is capable of putting on great matches when it was rumored before his career may soon be over. He could probably have a successful midcard title run, but putting on a great match while putting over the younger talent in Riddle seems the more likely scenario.
Prediction: Riddle retains.
Intercontinental Championship (Nigerian Drum Fight) – Big E (c) vs Apollo Crews
There are mixed reviews for Crews’ new gimmick, but after numerous failed attempts at Big E’s championship it seems he will finally get the better of the two men. Crews would look incredibly weak to lose again, this time in a match suited for his gimmick. Hopefully this means Big E could potentially move to the world title scene on either brand in the near future.
Prediction: Apollo Crews wins the IC title.
Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn
This match along with Rollins/Cesaro has the capability to steal the show. Two men who have a long history in the ring give it another go. Zayn has put on interesting character work as his “conspiracy theorist” persona. Owens got his Mania moment last year against Seth Rollins, Zayn can finally get his this year against his long-lasted rival.
Prediction: Sami Zayn defeats KO.
Raw Women’s Championship – Asuka (c) vs Rhea Ripley
The build for this match was anticlimactic as Ripley simply challenged Asuka for a WrestleMania title match. That aside, there is no doubt these two women have the ability to put on a great match on Sunday. Ripley lost her NXT title to Charlotte last year at Mania which did not sit well with fans, and she can get her comeuppance this year. Belair and Ripley both being crowned new champions would demonstrate a change of the guard in women’s wrestling and a new era beginning.
Prediction: Rhea Ripley defeats Asuka
Universal Championship – Roman Reigns (c) vs Edge vs Daniel Bryan
The main event is also the most unpredictable match on the card. To simply examine all outcomes here are arguments for each of these men to win:
Reigns: Roman Reigns has rejuvenated Smackdown since his return at Summerslam and is finally the heel character fans have desired for years. The Tribal Chief persona aligned with Paul Heyman is the best character work of his career, and he still has tons of untapped potential in this gimmick. WWE most likely also pictures a match between him and The Rock at some point, probably earliest WrestleMania next year.
Edge: 10 years to the day he had to cut his career short due to injuries. The story has written itself, and albeit it would be an older wrestler taking a world title at Mania, it is a bit different from the typical “part-timer” gripe that has been seen with Goldberg and Brock Lesnar in the past. Edge is on TV every week and had no say in the decision when he initially retired young. He has been tipping the line between face and heel ever since Bryan was added to this match post-Fastlane, and a full heel turn could be likely if he were to go over at WrestleMania. Some fans will not like the idea of him winning because they feel it would be just for a nostalgia pop, but this situation is not like many others and would still be a somewhat feel-good story. (Just an idea: if Edge walks out victorious, could he bring back the Big Gold belt, the one in which he never lost, and replace the current fruit roll-up that is the Universal Championship?)
Daniel Bryan: His addition to this match has dramatically increased the interest amongst fans. Bryan could ultimately just be here to take the pinfall, but there is no doubt he will bring out the best in Reigns and Edge to tell a great story and put on a great match to close out a weekend of wrestling. It’s been discussed as part of the build how this could be Bryan’s last WrestleMania, and how he’d want one more big moment winning a championship. This would be an incredible feel-good moment to close out the show and is a very real possibility.
Prediction: The story has written itself to this point, returns from injuries, winning the Royal Rumble from the #1 position, 10 years to the day of giving up his career and championship in which he never lost. Edge leaves WrestleMania 37 as Universal Champion.
Written by: Kyle Coreth
April 9th, 2021