WWE Wrestlemania 40 Predictions & Full Night One Match Card

The time for talking is almost over. WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia is ready to go in front of a sold-out Lincoln Financial Field. Finally, all of the questions will be answered. Will Roman Reigns‘ time as champion finally come to an end, who is turning on who and so much more that could go down at the biggest WWE event of the year. 

WWE Wrestlemania 40 Predictions

During the go-home RAW before WrestleMania, WWE had announced which matches would be on the first and second night. In this article, we will focus on predictions for night one of the showcase of the immortals. Read below to find out the full WWE Wrestlemania 40 match card and predictions. 

Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar

Some of these matches put together in the last week or two feel like they were done solely to get a particular someone on the card. This match fits that theory and I believe this was the quickest and most effective way to get Dominik Mysterio on the card.

Make no mistake though, Santos Escobar deserves this match. With limited television time since his initial heel turn, Escobar has done good work on his character. Perhaps if it was not WrestleMania season, the bookers would allow Escobar to have more television time. 

Rey Mysterio needs no introduction and this will be his 12th appearance at WrestleMania. While it is not the most popular match of the weekend, his involvement in this match elevates the intrigue.

The one thing that jumped out to me quickly with this match is that despite some big spots, Dragon Lee will be the one to take the pinfall in this matchup. That has stuck with me and I fully believe that is how the match ends. While the Mysterio’s will be busy battling one another, look for Escobar to get a cheap pin for the win.

The last thought on this match, I’m more so curious as to how Dominick’s relationship with Escobar will affect his relationship with the Judgement Day.  

Prediction: Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar

Damage CTRL vs. Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi

This match feels like a spot where WWE wants to give us a small taste and even protect Jade Cargill. Her look is incredible and there is certainly a desire from the fans to see more of her. That being said, there were a variety of reports upon her signing with the company that she was going to undergo some more training. Beyond that, this match is readymade. The history between Bianca Belair and Damage CTRL has been a long and winding road. 

For Naomi, this was the easiest way to get her on a WrestleMania card for the first time since  2022. While it feels odd that Asuka and Kairi Sane are not defending the Women’s tag team titles, it doesn’t feel necessary. Dare I say, the storyline between Belair and Damage CTRL along with Cargill’s involvement is bigger than any tag team title match they could have put together.

To me, this feels like one of those prime spots to ‘let the good guys win’ and keep the crowd happy. Look for Cargill to look strong throughout and to be the one to collect the pinfall.  

Prediction: Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi

Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso

Shades of Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart at WrestleMania X, we have two brothers prepared to do battle in the squared circle. Even more poetic, they will do so in the city of brotherly love. The Uso’s are a hall-of-fame tag team that has given us countless classics. Reports were as late as last year that they wanted an opportunity to wrestle each other at WrestleMania and the bookers have given them their moment. It is a moment that is beyond deserved. 

I expect both brothers to put on a clinic and this is a match that I think has the potential to steal the night one. They’re twins who have always been in sync as a tag team, imagine the type of match they could orchestrate against one another. In terms of the outcome, I see this playing out a lot like the previously mentioned Bret and Owen match. Jey enters this match as the clear fan favorite but I believe it is Jimmy who sneaks out a win. 

While it is more than likely, the hope here is that the rest of the Bloodline can stay out of the match. It would be nice to just let these two have their moment. Lord knows we will see enough of the Bloodline throughout the weekend. Look for a 15-20 classic with more than a few super kicks. 

Prediction: Jimmy Uso

Undisputed Tag Team Championship:

The Judgement Day(c) vs. DIY vs. The New Day vs. Awesome Truth vs. A-Town Down Under vs. New Catch Republic

Unlike previous tag team ladder matches, this one has more intrigue than usual. If you were listening closely on the go-home RAW before WrestleMania, Michael Cole was very specific in saying that the match will not end until both sets of titles have been secured. This is a huge indicator that WWE is finally looking to split up the tag team titles between RAW and Smackdown. 

With two teams expected to win this match, the logical approach is that we will see a face and a heel team winning. While the team of Damien Priest and Finn Balor have been strong tag team champions, I’m starting to get the impression that even though some members of the Judgement Day will have individual success, WrestleMania 40 will make the first chapter in them cracking as a team. 

 I can also see DIY being the face tag team will win the RAW tag team titles. With Triple-H running the show, it would make sense that he wants to see Tomasso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano succeed. As a team and individuals, the two members of DIY flourished in Triple H’s run as head of NXT. This is the type of team that could breathe new life into the tag team division.

With the Smackdown tag team titles still up for grabs, I can see the team of A-Town Down Under winning. While DIY will revive the tag division, the team of Austin Theory and Grayson Waller will be that team that cheats at every turn and gets under the skin of the WWE universe. I think the long term goal of A-Town Down Under is for them to have an entertaining run as champions that hopefully the fans will embrace. That will allow for the eventual split to mean something in the future as one of the two will then be catapulted up the card.

Prediction: DIY and A-Town Down Under

Intercontinental Championship

Gunther(c) vs. Sami Zayn

When Chad Gable lost to Sami Zayn during the six-pack challenge on RAW, my interest level in this intercontinental title match plummeted. Nothing against Zayn but he had his moment not just at last year’s WrestleMania but throughout that whole year with the Bloodline storyline.

Despite my bitterness towards the booking, I believed before the opponent was even announced that Gunther would walk out of Philadelphia as the intercontinental champion. The promo video of Gable training Zayn was more awkward and amusing than anything else but it does lead me to believe that we will see Gable have some sort of involvement in this match. The involvement will be in an effort to continue supporting Zayn.

While Zayn will give Imperium a scare, look for Gunther to win clean. I expect that Gunther will hold on to the title for a little longer but will drop the title in time to be in the heavyweight title picture at Bash in Berlin in August. Yes, I’m going to be petty and hope that eventually the intercontinental title will land around the waist of Chad Gable. For now though, the reign of Gunther will continue. 

Prediction: Gunther

Women’s World Championship

Rhea Ripley(c) vs. Becky Lynch

Compared to other title matches on the card, the build between Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch had felt like it could have been more. That all changed on Monday when Lynch crashed Ripley’s interview during the MMA Hour. While yes it was a staged altercation, that coupled with their interaction later on that day at RAW has added to the emotion of the match.

Suddenly, it means more. It has the vibes of Rocky Balboa and Clubber Lang. The fan favorite that has gone on to do other things and could be distracted going up against the formidable foe who just wants to fight. We have seen matches in the past where the crowd takes control. The masses at Mania can ultimately decide on the fly who their face is and who their heel is, regardless of what the booker wants them to believe. 

The best example of this is of course WrestleMania 13 when Bret Hart and Steve Austin had their classic ‘I Quit’ match. Lynch is walking in as the face and the challenger but Ripley’s popularity is so off the charts right now that I can see the fans embracing the champion and booing Lynch. 

I suppose we can play politics and say that Lynch could get the win because of her book being released and it is good for business. I will ignore that thought though and say that Ripley will win this match and she will do it clean. While there can only be so many run-ins at WrestleMania, I find it interesting that Liv Morgan is as popular as she is and is not currently on the card. Perhaps this is her spot to make an impact.  

Prediction: Rhea Ripley 

Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins vs. The Rock and Roman Reigns

As if wrestling fans weren’t excited enough about this match, the ending to Chicago’s RAW with the Rock bloodying Cody Rhodes put things on another level. The level stayed the same in Brooklyn when the show ended with both Seth Rollins and Rhodes being whipped with a weight belt. 

One of the more intriguing things about this match is who is going to screw who. Seth Rollins can easily turn on Cody Rhodes as WWE has planted the seeds with some of Rollins’ mannerisms. Then there is the Rock and Roman Reigns and the looming question of who is at the head of the table. It is Reigns right but is that something that the ego of the Rock can withstand? WWE should look to amplify all of this throughout the match with both teams having their internal issues.

It’s not like Triple H has to give us a reason to watch a second night of WrestleMania but any fallout from this match will only add to the intrigue for Night 2. As they always say, it is good for business. What would be the best way to add to that intrigue is to continue to stack the deck against Rhodes. We have heard reports that with WrestleMania being in Philadelphia this year, WWE is looking to give Cody Rhodes the Rocky Balboa treatment.

What better way to push that than with an against-all-odds underdog story than to have Cody Rhodes walk into Night 2 of WrestleMania with Bloodline rules. The story writes itself.

Prediction: The Rock and Roman Reigns 

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