WWE WrestleMania 42 Match Card Predictions From B/R's Wrestling Staff
It's that time of year again when the men and women of WWE prepare for the biggest PLE on the calendar, WrestleMania.
For the second year in a row, the event will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, one of the biggest tourist destinations in the U.S.
As of Friday morning, 13 matches have been booked across the two-night spectacle, but we could see one more added on SmackDown to give both nights seven.
We gathered some of the writers from B/R to discuss the biggest matches and offer predictions for the entire card.
Erik Beaston
1 of 7
CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns
If you were Triple H, how would you book this match to get the best possible result and why?
Punk wins clean. Straight up. Not only does it further legitimize him as the guy on Mondays, but it also pushes the Reigns character in a different direction, one in which he must question if he is still everything he claims to be. Especially now, without his family surrounding him and insulating him. Plus, if WWE wants to run Rock vs. Reigns, his failure could be the emphasis for the program.
Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
Does Balor bringing back The Demon for this match make it too predictable? Why or why not?
Only in that it confirms what should have already been the case. Balor should have beaten Mysterio regardless. It makes sense within the confines of the story. If anything, bringing the Demon back suggests this should be a dominant, one-sided win. A squash, even.
Graham Matthews
2 of 7
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
Is it time for Orton to win his 15th title? Why or why not?
Orton's alliance with Pat McAfee threw the outcome of this match into complete disarray, because although Orton winning would've been ideal initially, now it might mean more of McAfee post-WrestleMania. Despite that, Rhodes has little to gain from winning right now, so if there was ever a time to put the belt on Orton again and let him run with it, it would be now.
Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams
With the way the crowd has been reacting, should WWE book a double turn?
A double turn would definitely be organic, but WWE doesn't have to go about it the way they usually would. Neither guy should change much about their current characters. Just let Trick embrace the audience and let Zayn get more desperate, whether it be by cheating to retain the title or attacking Trick after losing. Either way, WrestleMania should be when WWE pulls the trigger.
Jeff J
3 of 7
The Usos and LA Knight vs. The Vision and IShowSpeed
Lay out how you want to see iShowSpeed used in this match and the way WWE can get the most out of him.
If you're going to use Speed, you have to take full advantage of his freak athleticism. Speed is legit one of the most athletic humans I've ever seen. I would have him execute eye-popping moves in major spots. Get off a 450 splash off the top rope. Catch a tope suicida. Put his full assortment of spectacular feats on display.
He's also a funny character, so expect to showcase his personality too. You can make it part Twitch skit, part wrestling match. If used to his full potential, this could top Johnny Knoxville as the most shockingly awesome WrestleMania celeb spot ever.
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
In a perfect world, how does this match go? How long does it last, who wins, and how do they do it?
The perfect version of Lesnar vs. Femi showcases both competitors as larger-than-life gladiators decimating everything around them with the hopes of conquering their opposition. We should see cartoonishly astounding feats of strength. Think Brock and Big Show's ring-obliterating superplex spot meets Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.
Ultimately, I'd love to see Femi get the unexpected win and send him into an immortal stratosphere of superstardom. That time will be here soon. Whether it's this weekend or next year, the sands in the hourglass are flowing effortlessly towards the Oba Femi era.
Donald Wood
4 of 7
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan
What is your opinion of the buildup to this match and how could WWE have made it better?
With the overall build to WrestleMania being supremely lackluster, the storyline progressions between Vaquer and Morgan have been among the most consistent week to week. While it has not been flashy, the angle has been running steadily since the Royal Rumble, with WWE catering to the natural arc of a long build, culminating in the days before WrestleMania.
Morgan will walk out of Las Vegas with the Women's World Championship, but the predictable nature of the outcome does not take away from one of WWE's best builds on the Road to WrestleMania.
Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
If Penta had to lose the title, which of the five challengers should win it and why?
Despite just winning the Intercontinental Championship, Penta should take the loss in the six-person ladder match at WrestleMania, putting over Je'Von Evans in the process. The talented 21-year-old has shown major upside, and a WrestleMania moment would give him the platform to build a strong career.
As one of the faces of the next generation of WWE talent, letting him shine would infuse the weekly programming with excitement.
Kevin Berge
5 of 7
Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley
Who is the best choice to win, and how do you see it happening?
While she likely will lose, Ripley should win because she is the top woman in WWE. Cargill has not proved she is ready to carry SmackDown's women's division. Iyo Sky should back up Ripley to make sure Michin and B-Fab stay out of the finish, but Ripley should ultimately win clean, pinning The Storm after a strong finish, maybe a top-rope Riptide.
Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre
These men have made this the most bitter rivalry on the card. What does WWE need to do to make the fight match the buildup?
Let the men fight. McIntyre and Fatu are immensely talented wrestlers who know the story they want to tell. Do not let anything get in the way of the action, and let them bleed if it comes naturally during a brutal Unsanctioned match.
Chris Mueller
6 of 7
AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch
What would be the most satisfying ending to this match?
This feud has been dominated by Lee. She has won every encounter they have had since she returned to a WWE ring, so now is the right time to give Lynch a win to regain her IC title. Lee is not going to be around on a regular basis; that's been made clear. Putting the belt back on someone who is there week in and week out is best for everyone.
Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
How do you see this match going for both men?
This is one of the harder bouts to predict because neither man seems to be in a good position to take the loss. Gunther is still going strong after ending AJ Styles' career, and Rollins hasn't been back from his recent injury very long.
The match will be good. That's not in question. How it ends it what will determine if fans remember it fondly or not. I see Gunther getting the win thanks to interference from The Vision. It protects Rollins and gives The Ring General another big victory over a top star.
Predictions
7 of 7
Writers' picks will be represented by their initials next to each competitor's name.
