In case you haven’t read the first article on my absolute excitement about WrestleMania 40 this weekend, go check that out where you will be able to find my predictions for Saturday, because today’s article is all about ROUND 2, SUNDAY NIGHT MANIAAAAAA!!
Let’s get right into the action.
THE FINAL TESTAMENT (KARRION KROSS AND AUTHORS OF PAIN)
VS
BOBBY LASHLEY AND STREET PROFITS
The two most dreadful men have come together, and I’m so for it. The tag team, who quite literally dub themselves ‘The AUTHORS of Pain’, have returned from a long disappearance ready to power-bomb some more unsuspecting foes. These men are responsible for a dominant run as NXT tag-team champs, a terrific match against The Revival and DIY, and even being the last-straw that made Ciampa turn on his partner Gargano. They also were the first team to step foot into NXT’s first ever Wargames.
And colliding forces with them comes Karrion Kross, a man whose entire gimmick revolved around dread and the end of time back on NXT 2020-2021. Although his character has shifted some since his return, he surely must send a shrill of dread down any man who dares locks eyes with him, and before you know it, he’s german-suplexed you a couple hundred times until your dead. (Or he broke your legs just like he did with that baseball bat- true story btw. Check his Insta out he literally snapped a bat with his legs, no issue.)
Now, he finally has the power and position to reign terror on the WWE universe, something he unfortunately didn’t have the full opportunity to do after he relinquished the NXT title just after he won it in 2020, only to win it again in 2021, ONLY to be dethroned by Samoa Joe, who would then literally relinquish it- and yeahhhh idk why that happened.
ANYWAYS all that to say, I am very glad these gentlemen are back in WWE. Since this is their debut match as a team, I believe this is their way of winning big and seriously entering the field of competition. I believe it’s The Final Testament’s time to remind us; The End is Near…
The winners: The Final Testament, Karrion Kross and AOP.
‘YEAH’- LA KNIGHT
VS
THE ‘PHENOMENAL’ AJ STYLES
Dude these guys have everything to win and everything to lose. Aghhhhh this is like the only one I’m having a hard time predicting… Sooo, we all love LA KNIGHT, and I NEED to see this man win and shoot for some gold… But man is AJ Styles on a phenomenal run right now. The Texan wrestling-veteran has come back as a wallopin’ arrogant heel and I’m so for it.
I will make the bold claim that whoever loses this match moves rosters in the WWE Draft supposedly this May. Because of AJ’s momentum, I believe LA Knight will unfortunately be seeing the shorter-stick of the night, and not winning this bout. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was distracted by some potential enemy. However I wouldn’t be surprised if LA were to lose this match, he switches over to RAW for some time and encounters some new enemies.
ThE WINNER: AJ STYLES
‘UNITED STATES CHAMPION’ LOGAN PAUL
VS
‘KO’ KEVIN OWENS
VS
‘THE VIPER’ RANDY ORTON
Despite his absolute skill in cheating, Logan Paul has had an impressive run as both Wrestler and champion in WWE. From his debut alongside The Miz, and then taking it to the next level in the Royal Rumble, his epic leap colliding with Ricochet, and even taking on The Tribal Chief, he’s unironically become a favorite of mine despite his constant Prime promotion and whatnot, but hey a man’s gotta make the bag so respect ig go off.
Randy Orton has returned more menacing and domain than ever, but recently faced a big loss against Logan as he was knocked out with brass knuckles in Elimination Chamber. He has a big chip on his shoulder.
Kevin Owens also had a strong run alongside Sami Zayn not long ago as champs, but more than all hates Logan as of now. The two WWE veterans have a lot to hate about Logan right now.
However, Logan always seems to get the better end of the deal when it comes to multi-man matches. Because of that, I believe Logan is once again gonna slither his way into a cheap pin, whether that’s by pinning Randy or Owens after they knocked each other out, or once again cheating with the brass knuckles, I believe ‘The Maverick’ is flying this victory back home.
The winner: ‘The US Champion’ Logan Paul
‘THE WOMEN’S CHAMPION’ IYO SKY
VS
‘THE INFLUENCER’ BAYLEY
I’m a big Iyo Sky (Io Shirai) fan. She has a banger entrance, has swagger in the ring like no other (more so than her current partners Auska and Kairi I’d say), and is an absolute master in the ring with her wonderful backflips, ones which have thrown her to jump off the top of Wargames cage… Yet, her opponent is deserving.
Bayley has been an absolute workhorse since she debuted in NXT, and although I didn’t watch her career bloom since I wasn’t watching wrestling at the time, she has even made herself a force to be reckoned with on the main roster. I’m not her number one fan, but with how this storyline against Damage CTRL has lined up, she’s the babyface underdog, and it’s time for her to knock down the biggest boss in the division right now.
I love that gold around Iyo’s waist, but it’s time for ‘The Influencer’ to put her side plates on that belt.
The winner: Bayley
‘WWE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION’ SETH ‘FREAKING’ ROLLINS
VS
‘THE SCOTTISH WARRIOR’ DREW MCINTYRE
Seth has become an absolute zesty diva in WWE recently, however, whether you love it or hate it, whether you think him stomping people’s faces into the mat with a giant yellow boot is sick or not, or coming out more outlandish than any Oscar celebrities do, you sing along to his theme and he SHOWS UP.
However, HE does too. One of the biggest heels in the brand recently, The Scottish Warrior, has become an absolute beast. This man has been an absolute menace, and he’s shown Seth no mercy. I think this warrior will be slaying the diva dragon, that is Seth, and holding onto that title for a good while. Meanwhile, Seth tackles his next opponent, who I will guess in the prediction below…
The winner: ‘THE SCOTTISH WARRIOR’ Drew McIntyre
NOW… FOR THE MAIN EVENT:
‘THE LONGEST-REIGNING WWE CHAMPION’, ROMAN REIGNS
VS
‘THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE’ CODY RHODES
At last. The final page of WrestleMania 40. We’ve made it.
The longest reigning champ of all time, clocking in at 1,000+ days as champ vs. The man who confidently promises to close out his story, and begin a brand new one, Cody Rhodes.
Either tomorrow the audience is shut down in silence, or it erupts with cheers and screams of joy.
Either tomorrow dreams are crushed and we are reminded why we acknowledge him, or we say hello to a brand new chapter in WWE.
At first, I was very in between who I thought would win this match. However, two recent events have come to mind when deciding.
First, Paul Heyman has just been inducted into The WWE Hall of Fame, where he made a speech while he’s on the top of his game with Roman, and Roman had the opportunity to praise his Wise Man while he’s on the top of the mountain
Second, he just recently broke Hulk Hogan’s record of longest reigning champ, meaning he nearly indefinitely has his name etched as longest reigning champ.
Because of these two factors, it’s not even the storyline that convinces me who’s going to win. It’s not Cody’s confidence he will end the story, but it’s simply the way the stars have lined up within these past weeks. Because of these two historical moments, I don’t believe Roman Reigns can get any better than this, and I don’t believe there is any more of the mountain to climb. He is the only man to have beaten WWE. He won the game. Just like the boy who finally found the end of Tetris, I believe Roman has done it. He’s become the one to go the furthest, and that’s beautiful.
Therefore, it’s time for someone new to climb that same mountain with the weight of a champion, and because of that, I believe it’s time for a new story.
THE WINNER: ‘THE NEW BEGINNING’ CODY RHODES
Thank you for reading all the way to the end! If you enjoyed this article, please check out my home page where you can learn all about this blog’s mission, and how Caleb Gunn strives to bring authentic and enjoyable reads. Please support his social platforms and the ‘Gunn’s Garage’ blog as he hopes to reach for more popculture fans like you! If you enjoyed this article, share this a friend and leave a comment on your thoughts.
-Caleb Gunn, Writer, Actor, Artist, and ‘Self-Proclaimed’ Celebrity
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