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WWE will present Wrestlemania 41 Night Two on Sunday 4/20. Here is our take on what we think should happen!
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena.
Dave: Ah, the match that killed WrestleMania for me! This was kind of like Al Bundy on Married With Children. He peaked at Polk High when he scored four touchdowns in a game.........and it was all downhill from there. After waiting weeks for Cena's explanation, they gave us a turd that just got more and more smelly as time went on. The Rock was an integral part of this, then disappeared. I can't say I blame him. Last year when WWE was on fire he got to get some rub from a hot WWE product. This year, it sure seems like he is avoiding a fart in church storyline to keep any stink off of him. If he wasn't, why wouldn't he have shown up and confronted Cena after he said his goal was to kill wrestling? He's on the Board, that should have pissed him off. But? Nothing. And then there's Cody. Cena turns on him and beats him down with his father's watch and when he finally faces off with Cena he.......stands there. He pities John. That doesn't make you a babyface, it makes you a coward. He should have attacked right then and there. But no, it took weeks and the only reason he laid hands on John was because John tried to attack him first. Ugh. I hope they realize the error of their ways and have Cody win and move forward.
Mike: I still wish we had a better rationale for John Cena turning heel, I wish The Rock or even Travis Scott had shown up in the aftermath of the Elimination Chamber angle, but it is what it is now. So what happens when they get into the ring? If it was me, Rock and Scott show up and get involved, but even if they don't, I'd still have Cody retain, even if it's some BS DQ finish. I really think the second that belt comes off Cody, he will cool a bit and WWE doesn't want that. Cody winning clean would be awesome but it would be really, really, REALLY too soon for Cena to take a loss after turning. I hope whatever comes when the bell rings and after Mania is stronger than the path into Cena vs. Cody. I expect the crowd will make this a lot more fun live, but we'll see if that atmosphere is enough to overtake the story being what it's been....
Richard: If Dwayne shows up . . . does he make a sound? This is a match that has been built as well as the pig's first two houses when dealing with the Big Bad Wolf (and you should play the video for Three Little Pigs by Green Jelly). While we don't have the compelling story of Cody finishing the story the last two years, the idea of John Cena winning World Title seventeen should entice people. If Cena had shown up more than two or three times and then cut meaningless promos (but better than anything Dwayne has done since March 1st [or January 6th]). What will Travis and Dwayne do to this match? Will we see Randy Orton or Steve Austin get involved on Cody's side? What if there is someone else to join the nWo 2025 and cost Cody the title. What if Cody wins and Cena realizes the easy way out doesn't work when you have a conscience and he goes on to win number seventeen with honor (and maybe over Joe Hendry). Cody shouldn't be forced to bend the knee to the Tooth Fairy.
WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair.
Dave: I will go with what I always go with, I hate when the champ loses in a three way so I would book Iyo to retain. With that said, as I said in my Wednesday Q and A, Rhea has been a total heel and should not be in the match. She had her chances and blew them because she couldn't control herself. Bianca has been nothing but virtuous and yet she gets screwed by Adam Pearce adding Rhea to the bout. The story has been putrid. These three are awesome performers and they deserve so much better.
Mike: IYO SKY deserves to retain her title. Bianca and Rhea have been disrespecting her weekly. Rhea forced her way into the match in a way that logically, never should have happened., but the quality of those involved here means we should have one hell of a match. Again, the champ deserves to come out on top. I hope it happens. If not, they make her secondary as a performer.
Richard: Is the official rule of Triple Threat matches for titles in WWE 'only one person in the match has a redeemable story to make you care, but can they win?' Rhea and Bianca have done nothing to make me care about either of them winning the match. Rhea comes off like the female version of Trick Williams and I don't even want to see her in the match. Bianca is slowly starting her heel turn, or it appears that way. I don't know if either should win, but I would not be surprised if one of them beats Iyo. Iyo has been treated like Je'Von Evans in the NXT Title scenario where she is shown no respect and thrown around like the third wheel. Unlike Je'Von, Iyo is THE CHAMPION and being treated like she needs permission to be in the match. I want Iyo to win, but I could see Bianca win and set up a title feud with Jade down the road.
WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria & Bayley.
Dave: This is an afterthought, which is a shame since Liv and Bayley should be in more prominent roles. They have both been so good this year. I always like the established team against the makeshift unit and who knows, maybe we get a turn.
Mike: Expect chicanery and a title change.
Richard: I would rather see Piper and Alba in this match, but do you want heel vs heel at Mania? Bayley and Lyra were the only other option that could be justified in that gauntlet. Lyra and Bayley are going to feud over the Women's IC title for the summer. Liv and Raquel will have to get ready for (probably) Lash and Jakara on NXT on Tuesday night.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker vs. Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio.
Dave: See above. Bron should retain here. I expect the simmering animosity between Dom and Finn to come to a head and play a role in the finish.
Mike: Bron and Penta both make their official Wrestlemania debut. One has to wonder what happens when Dom and Finn end up preventing the other from a pinfall. I expect a lot of big dives here but in the end, Bron spears the living hell out of someone - Dom is my best guess - and gets the pin.
Richard: When it doubt Triple Threat it out . . . unless you can Rectangulate. Penta vs Bron would be a great match and Finn vs Bron could be a good match. Dom is here to tease dissension with Judgment Day and also find a way to get Carlito on Mania to do something stupid. This match would be better as an elimination match. I don't think it is time to give the title to Penta and I can see them take the title off Bron if they want him to feud with Jey and win that title by SummerSlam. Finn is going to leave Judgment Day (probably the day after Frazer and Axiom split up) so that means that the person who I don't think should have the title is going to win.
Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre in a Sin City Street Fight.
Dave: This should be a lot of fun, with big dudes throwing bombs. Honestly, both guys deserve a more prominent spot than they have, but such is life. I could see Drew having it won and doing something to cost himself the match.
Mike: I am really glad they added the Street Fight stipulation as this needed some extra juice. For everything these two have done the last few years for the company, something about this hasn't clicked the way I wish it was as an attraction for them. This can be a fun brawl and we know neither will shy away from the physicality. So, who goes over? It should be Drew if it's going to be a longer story, but if this is a short program while waiting to send one of them after a major title, Priest should go over clean - and he probably needs the win a lot more than Drew at this juncture.
Richard: Even though I think Drew should be in a higher profile match, it is one of the few where I want to see everyone in the match wrestle a match. The Street Fight will add a lot of variables, like outside interference if we need it and the ability for both men to beat the crap out of each other without stopping it. I wonder how much of this match is taking from what we were going to get from Randy and Kevin, and I am not complaining about them upping the violence (just the fact that Kevin is out for a long time). I think Drew should win this, but Priest will have a strong enough performance where he does not drop on the ladder for the company going forward. What is next for both of these men?
Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles.
Dave: Remember when Logan said he was committed to wrestling full time? Yeah, I don't feel that at all. He will probably go over but I think AJ deserves it more.
Mike: I don't see any real finish here beyond Logan walking out with the victory. Athletically, this should be a lot of fun.
Richard: What did that match between Kross and AJ set up for this match on Sunday? At least Kross "Obi Wan Kenobied" himself when he took the Phenomenal Forearm. It just shouldn't have happened ten minutes into a match. AJ should win this match, but the big question is what is next for both of these men?
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