Replacing this week's Raw Review is my match predictions/what I would do for this year's WrestleMania weekend in Hollywood.
NXT Stand and Deliver:
NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nikkita Lyons and Wendy Choo VS Tiffany Stratton and Zoey Stark
The pre-show to Stand and Deliver sees Nikkita Lyons and Wendy Choo put their NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships on the line against the team of Tiffany Stratton and Zoey Stark. If this seems a bit random, I agree with you. My reason for this match is Lyons, Stratton and Stark all deserve to be on NXT’s biggest show of the year and Wendy Choo would be a good fit. Lyons and Choo would win the belts off of Toxic Attraction at NXT Vengeance Day (Toxic A beat the KC’s at New Year’s Evil) before Stark would demand a shot as she can’t stand Lyons. Also, Stratton has a history with Choo which they can definitely tap into.
Result: Lyons and Choo retain.
NXT North American Championship: Dijak VS Tony D’Angelo VS Apollo Crews VS Joe Gacy VS Nathan Frazer – Ladder Match
NXT Stand and Deliver kicks off with a ladder match for the NXT North American Championship. I fully expect Dijak to take the NXT North American Championship off of Wes Lee at New Year’s Evil and he will then probably retain the belt in Charlotte (against Lee again). Tony D’Angelo is someone that has been heavily featured since he arrived in NXT and it wouldn’t make any sense for him to miss their biggest show. Apollo Crews brings a larger audience to the show so it makes sense that he is on it whilst Joe Gacy is really improved and I expect that when we come to March, Schism is one of the hottest acts on the entire brand. As for Nathan Frazer, he would be the big babyface in this match and he always brings so much entertainment to his matches. Also, NXT loves ladder matches for the North American Championship so this feels like a safe prediction.
Result: Nathan Frazer wins for me.
Ricochet VS JD McDonagh
In my opinion, JD McDonagh is one of the stars of NXT and he fully merits a singles match on Mania weekend whilst Ricochet has looked amazing on SmackDown but I can’t see him getting a match at Mania. WWE likes having main roster stars appear on NXT and having Ricochet advertised for the show is a good way to sell extra tickets. If anything, it’s a match I’d love to see.
Result: McDonagh picks up the big win
Grayson Waller VS Axiom
Grayson Waller has positioned himself as arguably the best out-and-out heel in NXT. Axiom has positioned himself as arguably the best out-and-out babyface in NXT. Both guys battled against each other in the Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline and I can see both guys coming out on the losing end of big championship matches at either New Year’s Evil or Vengeance Day. This would be a good way to get both guys on the show whilst also giving them a spotlight to the wider WWE audience. It could also potentially be Grayson’s last match for NXT.
Result: Axiom gets the big win
NXT Tag Team Championships: Pretty Deadly VS The Creed Brothers VS The Dyad VS The Street Profits – Elimination Tag Team Match
For me, Pretty Deadly win the tag team titles back off of the New Day at NXT Vengeance Day in Charlotte, Carolina. The Creed Brothers are in this match for me because NXT management loves them and wouldn’t miss an opportunity to put them on the show (I also think it would be their last appearance before they move up to the main roster). Like I said earlier, I expect the Schism to be a top act on NXT and that’s why the Dyad are in this match whilst the Street Profits get added for similar reasons to Ricochet. I don’t know where they would fit on WrestleMania itself but this is a good opportunity for both Dawkins and Ford to show what they’ve got and for NXT to get more eyes on their show.
Result: The Dyad becomes NXT Tag Team Champions
NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez VS Cora Jade – Loser Leaves NXT
Roxanne Perez is the future of Women’s Wrestling but she will be faced with a tough task against her biggest rival, Cora Jade. I think Jade is going to win a number 1 contenders match on NXT which would give her the chance to get revenge on Roxy. Perez and Jade have been NXT’s two biggest projects in the women’s division and I think it should and will come to an end at Stand and Deliver.
Result: Roxanne retains
NXT Championship: Bron Breakker VS Carmelo Hayes – 2 out of 3 Falls
At NXT Vengeance Day, Bron Breakker successfully retained his NXT Championship over Carmelo Hayes to fully prove himself as NXT Champion. However, Carmelo Hayes managed to win a number 1 contenders gauntlet match to earn himself another shot at NXT’s biggest show of the year. Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes have been the two biggest stars in NXT over the past year and a half and I think it wouldn’t make any sense if the two didn’t battle at Stand and Deliver. Have it in a 2 out of 3 falls match to really determine who’s the “A Champion”. Also, it’s worth noting that Bron Breakker and Cora Jade are dating in real life.
Result: Melo achieves his destiny
WrestleMania Saturday:
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships: The Usos VS Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs
We start off WrestleMania 39 how we started off WrestleMania 38; The Usos defending their tag team championships against Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs. Last time, the match had to be cut pretty short due to Rick Boogs tearing his quadriceps and that was a shame because I thought the match could be really special. I think that is why WWE will try this match again as the story rights itself.
Result: Usos retain
Bray Wyatt VS Rey Mysterio
Bray Wyatt defeats LA Knight in a 1-on-1 contest to end their storyline whilst Rey Mysterio comes out on the losing end against Karrion Kross. Rey is then clearly struggling with his emotions so in comes Bray Wyatt to make it worse. The crowd always pops for Mysterio and Bray Wyatt is one of WWE’s biggest stars so this match could work so well. You could even use this show as a way to debut Wyatt’s new faction.
Result: Wyatt picks up the W
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Raquel Rodriguez VS Charlotte Flair
At first, I was going to pick Raquel to win the Royal Rumble and take the belt off of Rousey at WrestleMania. However, I think Raquel could actually win the belt at the Rumble and then retain the belt at the Elimination Chamber. When it comes to Flair, I think she will return at the Rumble and win the Royal Rumble match before she goes on to challenge Rodriguez for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. I think this match would work really well.
Result: Rodriguez picks up the biggest win of her career
The Miz VS Matt Riddle
Since WrestleMania 26, The Miz has only failed to appear on the Showcase of the Immortals once, and that was because of an Uso getting covid. I fully expect him to be on the show and I think a match with Matt Riddle would work. The Miz and Riddle’s personality styles would clash quite well and I think the Original Bro should be making an appearance at Mania too.
Result: Miz wins with help from Bronson Reed
Intercontinental Championship: Gunther VS Drew McIntyre
Over his nearly 10-month reign, Gunther has defended against lots of big names and has showcased that he is one of the best brawlers around. Another guy that is in that category is Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior failed to capture the World titles off of Roman Reigns at Clash at the Castle but when he returns to WWE, he will be shifting his focus to the Intercontinental Championship. Expect this to be on the levels of Sheamus VS Gunther.
Result: Drew McIntyre knocks off the Ring General
AJ Styles VS Baron Corbin
Even though he isn’t at his best anymore, AJ Styles is still a hell of a wrestler. AJ fully deserves to be on the WrestleMania card and I expect that WWE will try and give Baron Corbin a singles match too. I can fully see AJ Styles ripping apart Baron Corbin’s failures whilst the “Modern Day Wrestling God” can take shots at Styles’ drop-off in performance. Could be a decent feud if done right.
Result: AJ wins
Becky Lynch VS Ronda Rousey
At the Royal Rumble, Ronda Rousey loses her SmackDown Women’s Championship to Raquel Rodriguez before she enters the Royal Rumble match at Number 30. She looks in a good spot to win back-to-back Rumble matches before she gets eliminated by her old rival Becky Lynch. At the Elimination Chamber PLE, Ronda Rousey attacks Becky Lynch to the point where Lynch is unable to compete in the Raw Women’s Championship Number 1 contenders Elimination Chamber match. This then sparks a feud between Lynch and Rousey that sees it culminate in the main event of WrestleMania Saturday.
Result: The Man comes out victorious
WrestleMania Sunday:
Bobby Lashley VS Brock Lesnar
At the 2022 Royal Rumble, Bobby Lashley defeated Brock Lesnar to become the WWE Champion. At Crown Jewel, Brock Lesnar defeated Bobby Lashley to get his win back. At WrestleMania 39, Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar do battle to see who really is the better man. It’s really that simple.
Result: Bobby Lashley wins
Damage CTRL VS Liv Morgan, Candice LeRae and Tegan Nox
Damage CTRL held the Women’s Tag Team Championships for a while but they were no longer in possession of the titles after Elimination Chamber as Candice LeRae and Tegan Nox teamed up and came out as the brand new Champions. On a March episode of Raw, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky got their rematch and interference from Bayley made it look like they were going to get their belts back. However, Liv Morgan’s music hit, she took out the Role Model and this distraction allowed LeRae and Nox to retain. Bayley then demands that she appears on WrestleMania (hasn’t wrestled since 36) and this is how we get to a six-women tag team match.
Result: Liv Morgan pins Dakota
United States Championship: Austin Theory VS John Cena
Since he debuted on the main roster, Austin Theory has made it crystal clear that the one thing he wants to do is face John Cena. What better place to do it than at WrestleMania? Also, many people regard John Cena’s run as United States Champion as the best in recent history and this would definitely bother Theory. Theory VS Cena has already been written before it’s properly started and these two could have a memorable match.
Result: Austin Theory beats John Cena
The Brawling Brutes VS The Judgement Day
The Judgement Day have claimed that they “run Monday Night Raw” for a long time now whilst the Brawling Brutes have made it clear that they love to fight. WWE loves the Judgement Day so I expect them to feature heavily at WrestleMania whilst Sheamus, Ridge Holland and Butch are clearly over with the crowd. I think this could work very well.
Result: A win for the Judgement Day
Karrion Kross VS Braun Strowman
WWE loves to do big men doing battle. Yes, I’ve got two matches like this but why not have three? WWE brought both Karrion Kross and Braun Strowman back because they clearly have plans for them and I genuinely could see this match happening in LA come April. I wouldn’t mind it as long as Kross won.
Result: Doomsday falls on Braun Strowman
Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa VS The New Day
A lot of people think that Sami Zayn is going to take the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship off of Roman Reigns at Mania but I just can’t see it happening. The group is so over that I think WWE will keep them going for as long as possible. I fully expect Sami to wrestle on the show though and I have the same feelings for Solo Sikoa. Teaming Sikoa and Zayn up makes a lot of sense and it would be even better if they battled the New Day. We don’t need to see another Usos VS New Day match but that doesn’t mean that the New Day can’t be involved with the hottest act in all of Professional wrestling.
Result: Solo picks up the win
Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair VS Rhea Ripley
At WrestleMania 36, Rhea Ripley defended her NXT Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair whilst Bianca Belair made her official main roster debut. At WrestleMania 37, Rhea Ripley captured the Raw Women’s Championship off of Asuka whilst Bianca Belair defeated Sasha Banks to become the SmackDown Women’s Champion. At WrestleMania 38, Rhea Ripley battled for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships whilst Bianca Belair beat Becky Lynch to capture the Raw Women’s Championship. Fast forward to the present day and the EST puts her year-long championship reign on the line against the Nightmare. Yes, Rhea Ripley won the Elimination Chamber match.
Result: Rhea Ripley brings gold to the Judgment Day
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns VS Seth “Freakin” Rollins VS Kevin Owens
At the Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns managed to retain his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship over Kevin Owens with a lot of help from the Bloodline. In the main event, Seth “Freakin” Rollins managed to come out victorious in the Royal Rumble match to earn himself a shot at the Undisputed titles at WrestleMania. Kevin Owens was rightly furious at this and it was determined that Owens deserved another title shot but to do that, he had to beat Seth Rollins at the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event. The whole of the Bloodline are outraged at this before Triple H told them that “this is what you get for getting involved in the biggest matches”. Seth Rollins wasn’t happy with Kevin Owens “because he thought they were friends” and at the Elimination Chamber, Kevin Owens won meaning we were going to get: Reigns VS Rollins VS Owens for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 39.
Nooooooooo!!!! Roman‘s reign must end Sami zayn to beat the champ and end the bloodline!!