Predictions
As anyone who has ever followed this website can attest to... predictions aren't necessarily a strong suit of Canadian Bulldog's. Still, it's fun to predict who may win The Showcase Of The Immortals this year as part of our Required WrestleMania Reading section. So without further adieu....
Universal Championship Match
Daniel Bryan vs. Edge vs. Roman Reigns
It's really impressive that, just three years ago, two of the three competitors here were seen as retired for good due to serious injuries grounding them. Add to that Roman Reigns' heroic comeback from leukemia, and this is a match that truly needs to be shown at WrestleMania for full impact.
The match could easily go to any of the three competitors in this match, as both Daniel Bryan and Edge have compelling comeback stories here. And, strangely enough, had this simply been a one-on-one match, I'd have liked Edge's chances much more. In terms of Roman Reigns, his character has grown by leaps and bounds since turning heel, and losing the championship here could seriously ground his momentum. But at the end of the day, the "Daniel Bryan posing in front of a live crowd" visual is just too hard to ignore. Winner: Daniel Bryan
WWE Championship Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley
WWE has done an amazing job of building up Lashley in the last six months or so, particularly if you consider where he was at the beginning of his WWE return (Lashley's sisters/Lio Rush/Lana storyline). He looks and feels like a champion now, which is a great place to finally have him positioned.
However... I can't help but think that Drew McIntyre is the pony to bet on here. He's carried the company during a very trying time, and had great matches with everyone from Randy Orton to Sheamus over the past year. It would make a ton of sense to put him back in the driver's seat for a third run with the gold. Winner: Drew McIntyre
SmackDown Womens Championship Match
Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair
This match seems almost too telegraphed, as WWE has done everything in their power to build up Bianca Belair since she won the Royal Rumble in January. She comes across as a breath of fresh air, and someone who can be built into a main-event caliber competitors, setting up for future matches with Asuka and Charlotte Flair.
Still, that's no knock on Sasha Banks who has been the steady hand at the helm of the Women's Revolution the past few years. The Boss definitely has some more big WrestleMania moments left in her career.... I just don't feel as though WrestleMania XXXVII will be one of them going in her favor. Winner: Bianca Belair
The Fiend vs. Randy Orton
It's hard to believe this is now the second time The Fiend (as Bray Wyatt) and Randy Orton have had a WrestleMania match. But we're back to this again... although the story has changed quite a bit in just a few years.
Here's the thing: Orton can easily absorb a loss; it won't really impact his career one way or the other. The Fiend, however, needs something like this to solidify him as the next big top-level name. Plus, we have to consider that Orton already beat him at WrestleMania and in their last big encounter in December. So what would be the point of repeating that outcome? Winner: The Fiend
Raw Tag Team Championship Match
The New Day vs. AJ Styles & Omos
I recently watched (parts of) WrestleMania XI, and while the show was not great... one of the highlights was watching the team of Owen Hart and Yokozuna came out of nowhere to win the tag team titles. Could that be what WWE is trying to do with AJ Styles and Omos - create an odd couple/big man, little man combo? Possibly.
Still, I would hope that WWE is invested enough in The New Day to give them a proper WrestleMania win already (and yes, I'm aware Kofi Kingston got that just a couple of years ago, but not as a team). So I'm looking for (or at least, hoping) that the champions retain. Winners: The New Day
Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins
No offense to anyone involved... but this match feels more like it belongs on a house show than it does on The Grandest Stage Of Them All.
I hope both guys make me eat my words and have a Match Of The Year contender. They're both capable, for sure - it's just that we haven't seen this as a top-level feud. In terms of who wins? It would be great to give Cesaro the famed "WrestleMania Moment," but I don't feel it's going to go that way. Seth Rollins has a pretty decent WrestleMania track record. Winner: Seth Rollins
Raw Womens Championship Match
Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley
I'm not particularly feeling this one, and it's largely because Rhea Ripley is coming in relatively cold. Most of that is due to poor timing, as she disappeared shortly after her last WrestleMania match and is returning only weeks later. Asuka deserves better, and I would have been much more interested had it been the WrestleMania rematch between her and Charlotte Flair.
Will it be a decent match? Absolutely. And if Ripley scores the upset here, it probably elevates the entire Women's Division, just in time for Becky Lynch to (hopefully) return to the mix. Winner: Rhea Ripley
Bad Bunny and Damien Priest vs. The Miz and John Morrison
Oh for the love of....
I understand why they're doing this. Really, I do. But think about this: how much more effective could this have been had they focused on this one issue from the Royal Rumble on forward, instead of having side stories with the 24/7 title and The Miz cashing in Money In the Bank? Anyways, it is what it is. No chance Bad Bunny doesn't come out on top here. Winners: Bad Bunny and Damien Priest
Steel Cage Match
Braun Strowman vs. Shane McMahon
Braun Strowman can't seem to catch a break. Last year, he stepped in at the last minute and captured the Universal Championship, but his career has seriously taken a tumble since then. On the bright side, at least he's not teaming with Nicholas or facing SNL cast members - but this still feels like a pretty big drop from the top. I'm sure Shane McMahon will bump like a madman here for The Monster Among Men, but I'm not sure how meaningful this will be. Winner: Braun Strowman
United States Championship Match
Big E vs. Apollo Crews
I really enjoy Apollo Crews' new persona and hope that it catches on. Unfortunately, after their "meh" match at Elimination Chamber, I'm not overly optimistic he and Big E can exactly shine on The Grandest Stage Of Them All -- even under the very prestigious rules of a Nigerian Drum Match. I could be wrong... In a best-case scenario, Crews turns in a star-making appearance, paving the way for Big E to finally move into the main event picture. Winner: Apollo Crews
Intercontinental Championship Match
Riddle vs. Sheamus
Ehhh.... no knock against either guy, but this doesn't feel like a WrestleMania-caliber match. Riddle is probably one of the most underwhelming I-C Champions in recent memory. And Sheamus completely just got trounced by Drew McIntyre in a program that could have theoretically revitalized his career. Why are these guys fighting for one of the most prestigious titles in wrestling? Ugh. Winner: Riddle
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
Even under the auspices of this silly "documentary" angle, I'm glad that Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are finally getting their much-deserved WrestleMania match against one another (they teamed a couple of years back, but that's hardy the same thing). Owens has proven that he can step thing up under the banner of WrestleMania, and he and Zayn have an incredible chemistry in the ring together (I fondly remember their Battleground match from 2016 that ended their previous rivalry. This should be a classic, and I'm not so secretly pulling for KO to get the win here. Winner: Kevin Owens
Tag Team Turmoil Match
Lana & Naomi vs. Dana Brooke & Mandy Rose
vs. The Riott Squad vs. Natalya & Tamina
While I certainly appreciate the effort to feature all of the women's roster on this show (minus Charlotte Flair and Bayley... hmmm), none of these teams have the "momentum" that WWE always talks about its competitors needing. So who wins? I'm going to say Lana and Naomi, just because, but I'm going to suggest that they are unsuccessful unseating Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler the following night. Winners: Lana and Naomi.
