World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest show of the year, WrestleMania, takes place this weekend. And this year, it feels bigger than ever.
Philadelphia will host the two-day event at Lincoln Financial Field and welcome in stars, such as Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes and Becky Lynch. Oh, and some guy named Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will have his first in-ring match since 2013 (we’re not counting that six-second squash match against Erick Rowan in 2016).
Here’s a look at the card and predictions for the show:
What to know
How to watch
Dates: April 6-7, 2024
Time: Kickoff show starts at 5 p.m. MT, main show begins at 6 p.m. MT each night
Location: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
TV: Peacock TV
Colorado connections
Bobby Lashley: Billed from Denver and residing in Parker, the chiseled former WWE champion will compete on Sunday in a six-man tag-team Philadelphia street fight.
Otis: A former collegiate wrestler at CSU-Pueblo, he is one half of tag team Alpha Academy with former Olympic wrestler Chad Gable. He doesn’t have a match scheduled yet.
Saturday night card
The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)
Six-pack ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Both sets of the undisputed titles (the Raw and SmackDown tag team championships) will hang above the ring
How we got here:Â On the March 11 episode of “Raw,” it was announced that there would be a never-before-seen six-pack tag-team ladder match. Over the coming weeks, teams competed to earn a spot to face The Judgment Day. On April 1, it was announced that both the Raw and SmackDown titles (combined to be declared the undisputed titles) would be placed above the ring. Per championship ladder match rules, the first team to retrieve the belts became champions. Theoretically, this will mean there will be two separate sets of tag team champions again.
Why you should care: This has the makings of an absolutely crazy match. High-flying action and insane stunts galore.
Who should win: The Awesome Truth and A-Town Down Under.
R-Truth has been involved with The Judgment Day since late 2023 and his attempts of joining the group have been entertaining but ultimately fruitless. After months of beatdowns by various members of the faction, especially by Priest, this would make for great comeuppance for Truth. And if the fan favorites win a set of belts, it feels like a duo that’s despised should pick up the other. Enter Theory and Waller.
Who will win: The Awesome Truth and A-Town Down Under.
Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
Tag-team match
How we got here: Escobar, who was a member of the LWO, cost Mysterio his United States title belt in November after leaving a pair of brass knuckles on the ring apron, which was used by Logan Paul to beat the legendary luchador. Escobar would defect from the group and full-on betray Mysterio. Meanwhile, Dominick Mysterio — Rey’s son — has been involved in a feud with his father for well over a year.
Why you should care: Rey Mysterio turns 50 this year. Can’t imagine there’s too much time to see him perform at such a high level.
Who should win: Escobar and Mysterio.
I feel like this is Dominik’s revenge for losing to his dad at last year’s WrestleMania. And a win here could cause more division with Judgment Day, the group in which Dominik belongs to.
Who will win: Escobar and Mysterio.
Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka and Kairi Sane)
Six-woman tag-team match
How we got here: Damage CTRL attacked Belair and Naomi on the March 29 episode of “SmackDown.” Cargill came out for the rescue. Now these two teams are engaged in a fight at ‘Mania.
Why you should care: Belair and Cargill are two of the strongest and most athletic women on the WWE roster. Cargill has star written all over her and should be a taste of what’s to come.
Who should win: Belair, Cargill and Naomi.
Cargill made her much-anticipated in-ring debut at the Royal Rumble where she showcased several feats of strength. Now in her second match in the WWE, it’s hard to imagine that she’d lose. Score one for the good guys.
Who will win: Belair, Cargill and Naomi.
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
How we got here: Zayn won a gauntlet match on the March 11 episode of “Raw” to earn a title shot against Gunther.
Why you should care: If you want to see a nontraditional match where two guys beat the heck out of each other, this will be it.
Who should win: Gunther.
This feels like the plot to “Rocky,” doesn’t it? Zayn, the consummate underdog, will come in and put up a great fight but ultimately succumb to the champion. Gunther’s record reign with the intercontinental belt will continue.
Who will win: Gunther.
Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso
Singles match
How we got here: The real-life twin brothers and long-time tag team duo split apart late in 2023. Jey Uso left The Bloodline group and went to “Raw,” but his brother wouldn’t let sleeping dogs lie. Now the siblings will face off against one another for the first time.
Why you should care: The Bloodline has been one of the more captivating storylines in pro wrestling over the last few years. This adds yet another wrinkle to it.
Who should win: Jey Uso.
“Main Event” Jey Uso needs this win to move forward into the world of singles wrestling.
Who will win: Jey Uso.
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Singles match
WWE Raw Women’s World Championship
How we got here: Lynch won the women’s Elimination Chamber match, earning a title shot against Ripley.
Why you should care: Lynch was the biggest thing going for the WWE — in either the men’s or women’s divisions — just a few years ago. Ripley is the biggest draw among the women now. It’s a clash of the titans.
Who should win: Ripley.
Ripley has emerged as the face of the WWE’s women’s division. Lynch has had her moment in the sun, but she won’t come out as champion.
Who will win: Ripley.
The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins
Tag team match
Stipulation: If The Bloodline wins, the Undisputed WWE championship match between Reigns and Rhodes on Sunday will be under “Bloodline rules.” If Rhodes and Rollins win, all members of The Bloodline will be barred from ringside during the Rollins-Rhodes match.
How we got here: Rhodes won the men’s Royal Rumble match and immediately pointed at Reigns after his victory. It felt like a rematch for Rhodes’ loss at last year’s ‘Mania. Then The Rock returns and it felt like the main event was pivoting to a Rock vs. Reigns match — a battle between the family members connected by their grandfathers, who are blood brothers. Fans turned on the idea and vocally backed Rhodes. At a press conference in Las Vegas, Rhodes would officially announce he’s choosing Reigns as his opponent, much to The Rock’s chagrin. In the coming months, The Rock would come out with Reigns’ Bloodline group — which consists of real-life family members — and verbally and physically batter Rhodes and his friends, including Rollins.
Why you should care: It’s The Rock returning for his first true in-ring match since losing to John Cena at WrestleMania 29 in 2013.
Who should win: The Bloodline.
I went back and forth in my mind about this. But ultimately it feels like stacking even more odds against Rhodes would make for a Sunday night win even sweeter.
Who will win: The Bloodline.
Sunday night card
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Singles match
How we got here: After returning in December, Styles came out to rescue Knight and Randy Orton from an attack by The Bloodline. Then he smacked him with a chair. Styles would harass Knight again, attacking him with a chair at the Elimination Chamber. Now they must settle their differences in the ring, as is tradition.
Why you should care: At 46, Styles is still one of the best performers in the business. And Knight oozes charisma.
Who should win: Knight.
Knight has won the hearts of fans ever since the company stopped making him be the manager Max DuPri and brought back his LA Knight gimmick. He needs a win here if the WWE wants to capitalize on his momentum moving forward.
Who will win: Knight.
The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam and Rezar)
Six-man tag-team Philadelphia street fight
How we got here:Â The Final Testament attacked The Pride in January. After months of feuding, they’ll settle their differences in a Philadelphia street fight.
Why you should care: Like former announcer Jim Ross used to say, “this should be a slobber-knocker.”
Who should win: The Pride.
Call me a homer, but I’m always rooting for Colorado’s own Bobby Lashley.
Who will win: The Final Testament.
To fully capitalize on this group, they need momentum coming out of WrestleMania. Beating The Pride would help that.
Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
Triple-threat match for WWE United States Championship
How we got here: Paul beat Owens to retain his title at the Royal Rumble after trying to use a pair of brass knuckles. Owens stopped him and put them on but was caught by the referee and lost via disqualification. Orton took out Paul in the men’s Elimination Chamber match. Paul responded by clobbering him with a pair of brass knuckles, which caused Orton to lose. SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis later announced a three-way match for the title.
Why you should care: If you want to see Logan Paul get clobbered, this match is for you.
Who should win:Â Paul.
The YouTube star and pro wrestling are a match made in heaven. His smarmy tactics and incredibly physical feats make him fun to hate. And now that he has the Pretty Deadly tag team with him, look for him to hold on to the title by nefarious means.
Who will win: Paul.
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley
Singles match for WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
How we got here: Bayley won the women’s Royal Rumble. And after she was kicked out of Damage CTRL, the group she created, she targeted former teammate Sky as her target for WrestleMania.
Why you should care: Sky, as her moniker suggests, is an amazing high-flyer. Also, if Bayley gets her wish, she will get Paramore as her entrance theme song.
Who should win: Bayley.
It’s not a good weekend for Damage CTRL if my predictions come to fruition. A classic story of comeuppance, Bayley should exact revenge against her former group.
Who will win: Bayley.
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Singles match for WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Note: CM Punk will be a guest commentator.
How we got here: McIntyre won the men’s Elimination Chamber match in February, which grants him a shot at a world title. He matched with Rollins after Cody Rhodes called out Roman Reigns.
Why you should care:Â Rollins and McIntyre will put on a good match, but seeing CM Punk at WrestleMania will be surreal.
Who should win: McIntyre.
Rollins — the inaugural and only world heavyweight champ — has held the title for more than 10 months now, producing a bevy of fun and entertaining matches. But McIntyre has been en pointe with his criticisms and promo work for months now. It’d be fun to see him as champion — and potentially feuding with CM Punk post-‘Mania.
Who will win: McIntyre.
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
Singles match for Undisputed WWE Universal championship
How we got here: Rhodes won the men’s Royal Rumble for the second straight year to get another shot at taking down Reigns, who won last year in some part due to help from outside interference. Now they’ll do it again.
Why you should care: These are the two biggest stars in the company right now. Plus, depending on what happens on Saturday night’s main event, this could be a crazy match.
Who should win: Rhodes.
Is there any way Rhodes doesn’t finish his story here? After losing to Reigns due to interference in the main event of WrestleMania last year, it seems inconceivable that he’d fall twice in a row. Right? All signs point to Rhodes finishing his story and giving Philly fans a feel-good ending. Please, don’t have him lose again.
Who will win: Rhodes.
Results
Saturday night
Rhea Ripley (c) d. Becky Lynch to retain WWE Raw Women’s Championship
A-Town Down Under won the SmackDown Tag Team Championship in the six-pack tag-team ladder match
The Awesome Truth won the Raw Tag Team Championship in the six-pack tag-team ladder match
Rey Mysterio and Andrade d. Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio
Jey Uso d. Jimmy Uso
Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi d. Damage CTRL
Sami Zayn d. Gunther (c) to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Rock and Roman Reigns d. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins
Sunday night
Drew McIntyre d. Seth Rollins (c) to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Damian Priest d. Drew McIntyre (c) to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase
The Pride d. The Final Testament
LA Knight d. AJ Styles
Logan Paul (c) d. Kevin Owens and Randy Orton to retain the WWE United States Championship
Bayley d. Iyo Sky (c) to win the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
Cody Rhodes d. Roman Reigns (c) to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
