Off-Base: WrestleMania XL Preview

We take a short break to preview the Showcase of the Immortals.

We’re taking a break from MLB the Show talk today for something different. Wrestlemania XL is this weekend and Dedrick and I are huge wrestling fans.

So, instead of ranting about the latest MLB the Show mess, Dedrick and I will preview the card with predictions on each match. If you’re not a wrestling fan, feel free to skip today. We’ll be back Monday with an interview with a top MLB the Show player.

Now, Perfect, Perfect subscribers, ACKNOWLEDGE ME!

Night 1

Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch

Dave: Rhea Ripley is amid an all-time run with the women’s title, but I’m a longtime Becky stan dating back to her days in NXT. She will probably lose, but I’m not going against The Man under any circumstances. I’ll take Becky to win, but she’ll cheat to start another heel turn, which will turn into a multi-match feud with Rhea through the rest of the year.

Dedrick: Rhea Ripley is currently in the midst of one of the most dominant runs as the Women’s World Champion. She hasn’t faced anyone to the level of The Man Becky Lynch during this title reign. If they were both coming into this match 100% I might pick Becky. But they’re not. Becky has been battling ever since losing the Royal Rumble in January in feuds with Nia Jax and Liv Morgan. It’ll end up costing her. I think we’re just beginning the story with Rhea as champion and she retains. 

Gunther vs. Sami Zayn

Dave: We were robbed of a Gunther vs. Brock Lesnar match for, well, reasons. Sami is a placeholder and has no chance to win. I won’t rule out a Damien Priest cash-in here because he needs to use that thing at some point.

Dedrick: They’re really trying to build this story and make us believe Sami Zayn can win. I don’t believe he does. I could even see Chad Gable turning on him during the match and making him lose. Either way, Gunther retains. 

Tag Ladder Match

Dave: There’s no way Judgment Day retains. #DIY is a Triple H favorite, so I can see them winning here in a banger of a match. The other option is Awesome Truth, where R-Truth (yes, R-Truth) tears down the belts as a thank you for his decades-long career. DIY then takes the titles on the next edition of Raw.

Dedrick: Very key words from Michael Cole on Monday Night Raw earlier this week. “Both belts have to be retrieved for the match to be over.” This means the belt will likely be split between two shows again. There will likely be two winners. I’ve got Awesome Truth winning the Raw titles and A-Town Under winning the Smackdown titles. 

Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso

Dave: I’ll take Jey, but I honestly don’t care.

Dedrick: This is the first of a series of matches we will likely get between these brothers. I could see this match kicking off the entire weekend. I think the older brother Jimmy Uso teaches little brother Jey a lesson and picks up the win. 

Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL

Dave: Jade Cargill gets the pin and continues to look like a million bucks. I could see Jade doing something to piss off either Noami or Bianca to start her first real feud on the main roster.

Dedrick: This is the beginning of Damage CTRL splitting up. In addition to that, this is Jade Cargill’s debut in WWE. There’s no way her team loses this match.

Latino World Order vs. Santos Escobar and Dirty Dom

Dave: This is a great time to go to the bathroom, order pizza, and check Twitter. Dirty Dom pulls some bullshit on his dad and sneaks out a win.

Dedrick: WWE missed a huge opportunity to make this a faction versus faction match instead of just a normal tag match. With that being said, since Rey won the one-on-one battle last year, Dom and Santos pick up the win in this one. I could see Carlito making Rey lose. 

The Bloodline vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins

Dave: A Bloodline win sets up Bloodline Rules for Sunday's Undisputed Championship match. I hope this is the start of friction between Roman and the Rock that adds some doubt to the next night. I can see this match going lots of different ways – Cody pins the Rock to put Roman at a disadvantage on Sunday? – but who knows? This will be edge-of-the-seat viewing.

Dedrick: I’ve gone back and forth on this one for a while. For a while I wanted to say Seth and Cody would win and Seth would turn on Cody on Night 2. I just can’t see either The Rock or Roman getting pinned in this. The Bloodline picks up the win in Night 1 with Roman picking up the pin setting up Bloodline Rules for Night 2. 

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Night 2

Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre

Dave: Drew has been on fire the past few weeks with the best promos of his career. He takes the belt off Rollins and holds it until CM Punk returns from his latest injury, maybe at this year’s SummerSlam.

Dedrick: Seth Rollins will be exhausted from Night 1. Drew will be fully rested and ready to go. During this match, I see a failed Damian Priest cash-in, panicking from losing the belts the previous night. Drew capitalizes on the distraction and pins Seth for the title. 

Iyo Sky vs. Bayley

Dave: Iyo Sky might be the best women’s wrestler on the planet, but the storyline says Bayley in a career-defining win. The Hugger comes back for a face run as champion.

Dedrick: As mentioned earlier, Damage CTRL is dismayed and won’t last much longer. This is going to be one of the best matches of the PPV. Iyo Sky has had a great run as champion, but I think Bayley gets her revenge and takes the belt from Sky with another babyface run as champion. This time without the hugger gimmick. 

LA Knight vs. AJ Styles

Dave: WWE let Knight’s surge pass by without taking advantage. He’ll beat Styles as they try to heat him up again. This will be a great match, but I’m unsure if there is much more beyond that.

Dedrick: Not a huge fan of this match’s story, but it should be a great match. LA Knight should beat AJ since he needs the win more that way he doesn’t lose his momentum. 

Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens

Dave: Logan Paul loses the belt to the Viper, and the Philadelphia crowd goes crazy as Paul gets RKO’d into pieces. Paul's loss sets him up for a SummerSlam match against—wait for it—The Rock.

Dedrick: Call me crazy, but I think Logan Paul retains here. For whatever reason, I have it set in my mind that LA Knight is going to be the one to take the title from him at Summerslam. Paul pins Owens. 

The Pride vs. The Final Testament in a Philadelphia Street Fight

Dave: I don’t care, although I do like seeing Montez Ford jump high. The Final Testament needs something, so Kross will take out Dawkins for the win.

Dedrick: I don’t care at all about this match. This is my bathroom break, food break, or whatever you want to call it. The Pride wins since they’ve failed to beat this team. 

Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes

Dave: Something will happen Saturday that effects this match, so predictions at this point can be a little tricky. Roman has had the title for more than three years, so I won’t start picking against him now. Cody finishes the story another time—or maybe never. Roman most likely holds his title but starts a longer story with The Rock that continues into next year’s Mania.

Dedrick: There are so many different ways to go here. As mentioned earlier, for so long I thought Seth would cost Cody here after losing his title out of frustration. He still might. But, instead I see Roman continuing his reign as champion. I see Roman and The Rock starting a monumental heel run /Corporation type stuff since The Rock is now head of the board. Roman retains.