Wrestlemania 35 – Predictions

The big one! Here are our Wrestlemania 35 Predictions.

WWE RAW WOMEN’S TITLE / WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S TITLE

RONDA ROUSEY © VS BECKY LYNCH VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR ©

Here. We. Go.

In a number of ways, the build to this match has been really weird, hasn’t it? But as soon as Lynch’s music hits for the main event on Sunday Night (Monday Morning) that first “oh whoa oh oh oh” then even the most cynical and jaded amongst us will get hyped up. Unless they’ve already passed out from having done an approx. eight hour session by this point.

Winner Takes All as the (possibly on her way out) Ronda Rousey defends against the newly crowned Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and THE MAN Becky Lynch.

Given that this match is going on last, this one is a – fairly – safe bet for your money. It should be. I hope it will be. It must be. If it’s not, then I’ve no idea what the crowd will do.

It’s hard to imagine any closing shot to the show other than Becky Lynch holding both titles as confetti rains down – perhaps being congratulated by the Women’s Tag Champions as a sullen fallen Queen looks on in the background.

Plus, Joan Jett should be fun.

Prediction: Becky Lynch Wins

WWE UNIVERSAL TITLE

BROCK LESNAR (C) W/PAUL HEYMAN VS SETH ROLLINS

Last year felt like it was an absolute LOCK that Lesnar would be dropping the title to Roman Reigns… but then he didn’t. It’s not unfair to say that his Shield brethren Seth Rollins is actually going into the Universal Title match with *less* momentum than The Big Dawg did in 2018, so a Lesnar repeat wouldn’t be out of the question.

But, much like Pete Dunne’s UK Title reign, this feels like the end for Lesnar’s massive Universal Title run. If it were going on last, then I’d all but guarantee it – the final shot being a victorious Rollins surrounded by Reigns and a departing Ambrose – but it’s “another Main Event” placing has an added reason for intrigue.

Seth has only lost at Wrestlemania once… and he won the World Title that night and hasn’t lost since. I’m predicting that Rollins wins in about 10 minutes – probably to set up a feud with Drew McIntyre, but I wouldn’t put your money on this one.

Prediction: Seth Rollins Wins

WWE WORLD TITLE

DANIEL BRYAN © W/ROWAN VS KOFI KINGSTON W/BIG E & XAVIER WOODS

This is the match where the world reminds you that it is a sad, horrible place. The boy doesn’t always get the girl. Heroes don’t always win. And Kofi Kingston is not leaving Wrestlemania as World Champion. And I’m perfectly fine with this.

Taking this back only 2-3 months ago, the idea of Kofi Kingston in the World Title picture at Wrestlemania was a crazy thought. If you’d said in Jan ‘A New Day Member will be in the Main Event’ – I’d have probably picked Big E. But an unfortunate injury to Ali and some strong performances in the Elimination Chamber and on Smackdown have shown that when WWE wants to get behind someone, they can get behind them in a big way… and also that Kofi Kingston is bloody good when he can be.

I don’t think that Ali would have beaten Bryan either. One year on since his return last Wrestlemania, Daniel Bryan has become “The Daniel Bryan” and is on a tear as a true dickhead champion. The smart money here is that D-Bry keeps the title VIA SHENANIGANS but the interesting question is what happens to Kofi next? A split in New Day is a straight forward call, as is a heel turn from a spiteful Ali. I expect Kofi to have a career best performance on this evening and – if he does – it could lead to him eventually beating Bryan for the belt. He just won’t do it tonight

Prediction: The Daniel Bryan Retains

WWE INTERCONTINTENTAL TITLE

BOBBY LASHLEY © W/LIO RUSH VS “THE DEMON” FINN BALOR

As of Monday night, this match became the easiest match to predict all weekend. I think Lashley only regained the IC title so that Balor could beat him for it again, only this time in a one on one match and on a much grander scale.

With 15+ matches on the Wrestlemania card, not every match is going to be a 30 minute epic – and some of the matches will be shorter than 5 minutes. With Balor going Full Demon on the biggest show of the year, expect the man from Bray County to DESTROY Lashley in under three minutes as a permanent reminder that – however big you are – Vince is going have fun with ya when you come back from the competition.

Seriously though… there’s no way that “The Demon” takes his ‘first loss’ here. Lashley is no Ryusuke Taguchi.

Prediction: ‘The Demon’ Finn Balor Wins

WWE US TITLE

SAMOA JOE © VS REY MYSTERIO

The biggest prediction for this one right now is more ‘can Mysterio make it to Wrestlemania on a duff ankle’ than ‘who is going to win this one’. If Rey Rey does end up missing Mania, then it will be a huge shame as The Master of the 619 has been on great form since returning to WWE and is looking in better shape now than… well… since he ever has since he originally joined WWE.

I’d originally thought this was going to be a three way match (with Andrade) but Rey’s ankle will be the biggest story here. If Rey is/was fit, then it could be / have been a good opportunity for a crowd pleasing title win, with Rey acting as a transitional champion to get the belt onto Andrade in a few months’ time

However, even without the Rey injury there’s something that feels amiss. Maybe this is where Kevin Owens / Bray Wyatt / Sami Zayn get added to the card?

But right now, we can only bet on the match in front of us. If it becomes a multi-man, then all bets are off. But Joe vs Rey?

Prediction: Samoa Joe Retains

KURT ANGLE VS BARON CORBIN

The man who was only called ‘Constable’ because of a mis-hearing (Vince had originally named him ‘Comfortable’ Corbin – hence wrestling in the staff uniform of a Yates Wine Lodge)… this man… this ‘Lone Wolf’ (who works as a part of an authority heel group)… THIS man is going to be the final match of Kurt Angle’s career.

Nope.

I mean, he might be. But I don’t think he will be. This match is – along with the IC Title (and potential RAW Tag Titles) are the matches most likely to go under 3 minutes. This one should be Harts / Bolsheviks at WM6 time.

Kurt to gingerly take down Big Banter Baron for an Angle Lock in minus four seconds. Hopefully this leads to an impromptu Cena challenge – or even some mad left field nonsense. But this match is gonna be quick and Corbin is going to cry

Prediction: Kurt Angle

WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM TITLE

“THE BOSS & HUG CONNECTION” (SASHA BANKS & BAYLEY) © VS “THE IICONICS” (PEYTON ROYCE & BILLIE KAY) VS TAMINA & NIA JAX VS NATAYLA & BETH PHOENIX

Given that there are only 13 women currently announced for the “Not Fabulous Moolah” Battle Royal, it’s a surprising booking choice to have 8 women in here – especially since it’s the first defence of the new titles on the main show.

I think it’s fair to assume that both The IIconics and Tamina/Jax have a Women’s Tag Title run in them at some point, and it’s also a welcome return for Beth Phoenix who it feels is one of those wrestlers who would have been even more successful had they come along 10 years later than they had.

Banks / Bayley are the biggest stars here and there’s certainly a logic that says if you’re going to swap the titles from your high profile face team, it’s better to do it in a multi-person match so that they don’t have to take the loss.

But – given the story of the main event – I think that the original champs “The Boss & Hug Connection” are taking the win here to set-up a celebration with The Man to close the show

Prediction: Boss & Hug Retain

TRIPLE H VS BATISTA

At Wrestlemania 24, Ric Flair was retired from in-ring competition in a match that went just over 20 minutes. At Wrestlemania 26, Shawn Michaels was retired from in-ring competition in a match that went just over 20 minutes. Triple H is a big fan of Shawn Michaels & Ric Flair as well as being EVP of WWE.

If you can’t work out where this one is going, then you probably haven’t been paying attention.

What I’m saying here is that the ‘in-ring career ending’ stipulation appears to sign post the end of the match. Retiring HHH would have also been an interesting lure to get Batista back in the ring and would be a notable career note for Drax The Destroyer to have on his figurative resume.

Even with such a packed Wrestlemania card, I expect this match to go just over 20 minutes, contain lots of toys and weapons – probably some blood – and end with Triple H basking in awkward chants as the exhausted crowd tries to fit “Thank you Triple H” into three syllables.

Prediction: Batista Wins

FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE

THE MIZ VS SHANE MCMAHON

This match could legit steal the show and I have almost no idea which way it’s going to go. It should be mental. It’s Shane at Mania. The man’s a loon.

On a side note, does anyone know at what point Shane became a wrestling God? Was this ever explained? Even when he was having entertaining matches with Test, Kurt Angle (and even Steve Blackman) he was never presented as an actual ‘threat’. But at some point after his return, Shane-o-Mac became – presented as – an actual jacked wrestler throwing sankaku-jimes and shooting star presses about the place and punches that would floor Tyson. You can’t help but love the mad bastard.

Ultimate professional The Miz will do whatever he can to make this match work, but he’s not exactly known for his ‘death matches’ and with HHH/Batista more likely to take the gore / weapons side of the show, this could go anywhere. No-one *needs* to win this one, no-one is hurt by losing it. This will be more Savage / Crush at Wrestlemania X than Foley / Edge at Wrestlemania 22

My only advice is to turn it into a drinking contest. Shot for the Coast to Coast. Shot for the dive through the announce table. Shot for the Shooting Star… down your drink and go home if Miz goes wild and heads through a flaming table.

I tested this match on Fire Pro World. It said that Shane won in 37 minutes with a Small Package. Makes as much sense as anything else in this match. Let’s predict that.

Prediction: Shane McMahon Wins

ROMAN REIGNS VS DREW MCINTYRE

Even with it being Roman’s first big singles match back and without any real consequences / stakes on the line, this one could be a potential sleeper match. Both men have something to prove and it feels like this is an unofficial number one contenders match for the Universal Title.

Unless Dean Ambrose leaving does turn out to be a massive work (if it IS a work – then this the match we’ll probably find that out) then Drew will have taken out Ambrose, now Roman and before heading after Seth.

Roman has more career support than he’s ever had as a single’s wrestler and the loss will probably be more helpful for him in growing support than a win – plus ‘it being his first match back’ gives him an excuse for the loss. I expect The Big Dawg to fight bravely, but fall to a cheating Scot or (less likely) to a final betrayal from The Lunatic Fringe. Either way, the result remains the same

Prediction: Drew McIntyre

AJ STYLES VS RANDY ORTON

If Reigns / McIntyre is the unofficial number one contenders match for The Universal Title, then this match is the Unofficial Number One contenders match for whoever walks out as Champion from Kingston / Bryan.

My gut says that Randy Orton gets the win here – AJ Styles had a mammoth World Title run last year and can be away from the picture for a bit – he may even get a transfer to RAW when the Superstar Shake-up happens. There are also a couple of things that give the impression that this is swinging the way of The Viper.

From a positive perspective, Orton has a great record at Mania. Not only in wins, but a motivated, driven Randy Orton with a great opponent is more than capable of a cracking match – and all of those things are here.

From a negative perspective, the build to this match has been hinting at ‘Indie Darling’ AJ Styles vs ‘WWE Grown’ Randy Orton. With that build-up, do you really think that “the WWE” guy is losing? I mean, you saw The Invasion angle, yeah?

Prediction: Randy Orton Wins

WWE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLES

“THE USOS” (JIMMY USO & JEY USO) © VS RUSEV & SHINSUKE NAKAMURA VS “THE BAR” (CESARO & SHEAMUS) VS ALEISTER BLACK & RICOCHET

Given that they’re doing double duty this weekend, it’s surprising to see that Ricochet & Black have found a place in this match – even more surprising when you think it has to have come at the expense of The Hardy Boyz who’d only made *that* return 12 months ago in another four team tag match. But – although this match is far from the headliner – it shows the high stock that’s currently in Ricochet & Black (although as a team, they make little sense. What would the two talk about? What brought them together?)

Even with high stock, I don’t see them winning tonight. The Shake-up will probably put them on different brands anyway. News broke a few hours ago (at time of writing) that Jimmy & Jey Uso had agreed new contracts with The WWE so will continue to be the faces of the WWE Tag Scene for years to come.

There’s some wonderful wrestlers and it should be a fun match, but it’s hard to see anything but the champs retaining in this one in what will be – incredibly – The Uso’s first win on a main Wrestlemania card

Prediction: The Usos

ANDRE THE GIANT MEMORIAL BATTLE ROYAL

If you’re going to have a SNL cross-over at Wrestlemania, why not put Cecily Strong in the Women’s Battle Royal? “Cecily Strong” is objectively a better wrestling name than 90% of the WWE roster.

I liked it last year when the whole battle royal just collectively looked at BRAUN and went ‘nah’ and all threw him out together before carrying on with their day. They should adopt his policy every year, but one can’t help but imagine every wrestler will have conveniently forget how effective this plan was previously.

BRAUN is the obvious favourite here as big lads tend to do well in Battle Royals, so smart money is on him. However, matches like this also throw up some shocks, so if you’re looking for more of an outside bet then Ali and Andrade are worth some cash based on the power of name loss and alphabetical order. Thinking about it, Apollo Crews had a bit of a push recently and could be a nice winner. Viktor’s got feck all chance of winning it… maybe this alphabetical order of importance has something to it?

With that in mind, I’m predicting Andrade to win (because I did last month) and with the SNL lads directly involved in eliminating Braun.

Prediction: Andrade

WOMEN’S BATTLE ROYAL

This feels like a small field, so you’ve got to imagine that we’re going to get a few boosts out from Mae Young Classic, NXT and NXT UK Competitors. I’d love to see Toni Storm or Viper win here; in fact, if they’re going to push Viper hard on NXTUK, then a win from one of the ‘feeder’ brands would be a nice shock and Viper is a good outside call. The more I think about this, the better an idea it seems.

Kacy Catanzaro is also a good bet for an unannounced appearance given her Royal Rumble showing and potential for “Kofi Kingston Elimination Save Spot”

But, backing only the field as it’s currently being presented, then Asuka is where the sensible money will go. It’s got to have been hard to drop a major title a few weeks before ‘Mania (although for understandable reasons in the grand scheme, the timing of it is lousy). A win here seems a good shout as she lost last year, and Wrestlemania season hasn’t been too kind to The Empress of Tomorrow before now.

Prediction: Asuka

WWE CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE

BUDDY MURPHY © VS TONY NESE

It’s easy to bemoan the Cruiserweight Title being a regular pre-show attraction, but given that most people are watching on the network it’s not exactly a ‘dark’ match and in many ways, is taking the positon on the card which the WCW Cruisers had to great success. Plus, when it was higher on the card, the matches had Enzo.

I’m partial to a wrestler who enjoys kneeing people in the skull (Nakamura, Kenny Omega, Aleister Black) so it should be no surprise that I’m also a fan of Buddy Murphy. One of the ‘sleepers’ within the WWE system, he’s had a great run as Cruiserweight champion and because of this it feels like it’ll now need a big ‘moment’ to dethrone him.

As solid has he is in the ring, Tony Nese doesn’t feel like the right person for that. This will be fast-paced and an entertaining start to the evening – it’ll do exactly what it’s supposed to do. But it very much feels like another match to build up and develop Murphy’s title reign before a more worthy challenger is found.

Prediction: Buddy Murphy Wins

WWE RAW TAG TEAM TITLES

“THE REVIVAL” (SCOTT DAWSON & DASH WILDER) © VS ZACK RYDER & CURT HAWKINS

This match hasn’t been announced at time of typing, but given that a challenge has been made and none of the four wrestlers are listed in the Andre Battle Royal, I’m confident enough to say we’re going to have a match between the RAW Tag Champs and the team formerly known as The Major Brothers.

Like Corbin/Angle & Balor/Lashley, when you have a card of 15+ matches, some of them are going to be short. With it currently being an unannounced match, there’s even more chance this will be under a minute long. But – unlike most squash matches, the result isn’t predictable as it could just as easily be a quick Shatter Machine to the perennial losers as it could be a quick role up and ending of Hawkins 400+ match losing streak. I mean, if you’re gonna end a losing streak, end it at Mania.

If the later happens, then I expect that they’ll lose the titles the next night on RAW straight back to The Revival. But that’s not the point. This could well be the final match of the pre-show – an unannounced crowd-popping moment to set everyone up for the start of The Granddaddy of Them All

Prediction: Hawkins & Ryder Win

Those are our predictions, what are yours? Please leave them in the comments!