Boneyard Match: The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles
Given the circumstances, this was the best build for an Undertaker match at WrestleMania that we could have asked for. Some fans have criticized the decision to have Styles break the fourth wall by targeting Mark Callaway and focusing on his personal life. But the story works; Styles has criticized The Deadman because he’s not The Phenom he used to be. No, we don’t quite know what a Boneyard Match is. But Styles is an elite talent who should be able to make The Undertaker look a few years younger in the ring. Plus, despite empty arena shows and the atmosphere surrounding this year’s show, this match could delight many fans by bringing back The Undertaker’s biker personality. Expect The Phenom to add yet another WrestleMania victory this weekend.
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins
On paper, a feud between Rollins and Owens should have been easy money. But these two have been running in one small circle for months now; week after week, along with their respective tag team allies, they’ve been engaged in multi-man tag matches and run-ins. The recent build, with strong promos from both Rollins and Owens, has somewhat salvaged this rivalry. Even with a generally lackluster build, Owens and Rollins are two of the best wrestlers in the world. It’s a safe bet they’ll tear it down on Saturday. A Rollins win feels fairly likely, given that Drew McIntyre will need some credible challengers if he wins this weekend, too.
Raw Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
Becky Lynch has literally been The Man since her victory in the historic main event of WWE WrestleMania 35. She’s carried WWE RAW’s women’s division and many fans consider her WWE’s biggest star. Lynch’s popularity has waned a bit in recent months, as her on-screen character has lost some steam. The arrival of Baszler was supposed to reinvigorate Lynch, but questionable creative, dating back to Baszler’s bloody bite, has hamstrung this feud. The logistical challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic haven’t helped, either. But Baszler finally looked like a legitimate threat when she choked Lynch out on WWE RAW this week. Surprisingly, this is one of the show’s matches that could go either way. Lynch’s reign could continue for the foreseeable future, but Baszler could take the title and add some new energy to RAW’s women’s division.
Firefly Fun House Match: ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena
There aren’t any titles involved but, for some fans, this match is the weekend’s main event. The story has written itself ― John Cena heroically comes home, briefly contemplates taking a backseat, and gets dragged into a war with Bray Wyatt, the monster who has been menacing WWE for the better part of a year. Toss in the duo’s history that dates back to WWE WrestleMania 30 and you’ve got yourself a remarkable match. We don’t know what to expect from a Firefly Fun House Match. But, given that it’ll probably be shot in a different location, it’ll probably look and feel quite special. With a win, Wyatt could finally cement himself as a top-level talent for years to come. Plus, for fans who are frustrated that he lost his initial feud with Cena, it’d be nice to see Wyatt get his win back.
Last Man Standing: Edge vs. Randy Orton
Of all the non-title matches on the card, this one is the most meaningful because it marks Edge’s first singles match since he was forced to retire in 2011. Since the Royal Rumble, the build for this rivalry has been the best part of WWE TV; both Edge and Orton have brought their “A” game in every promo. The history and chemistry shared by the stars make the Last Man Standing match a must-see. Edge has to win to both complete his triumphant return and bring it to the next stage, whatever it may be.
Universal Championship: Goldberg (c) vs. Braun Strowman
Maybe we’ll get the “Spear vs. Spear” dream match between Goldberg and Roman Reigns sooner rather than later. But, given that Reigns himself confirmed he won’t be competing this weekend and Strowman’s in the match, we’ll wait just a bit longer. In a match against Reigns, a Goldberg loss seemed like a certainty. But now, there’s a strong chance that the WWE Hall of Famer leaves WrestleMania with the WWE Universal Title around his waist. Losing the title to anyone other than The Big Dog would feel like a major step back for Goldberg, even if Strowman is an imposing adversary.
WWE Championship: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
This weekend should complete McIntyre’s ascension to WWE’s main event scene. The Scottish Psychopath languished on the red brand throughout 2019 but he picked up steam on the road to WWE Royal Rumble. Since then, he’s been unstoppable and the fans have embraced him along this journey. McIntyre is becoming exactly what WWE designed for Roman Reigns a few years ago: the next top star, something the company has sorely needed for several years now. This weekend won’t be the last time we see Lesnar, but it should mark a passing of the torch.
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