It's almost time for WrestleMania, the biggest, most extravagant event on WWE's calendar. The host city is New Orleans, and what was once a single, stadium-sized event has developed into an entire weekend of activities. On Friday, April 6 is the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, featuring Goldberg and The Dudley Boyz. On Friday, April 7 is NXT Takeover: New Orleans, a showcase for future WWE Superstars. And finally, on April 8, 7 p.m. ET, is WrestleMania 34. The Show of Shows. The Showcase of the Immortals. The Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment.
Here's the complete card for the PPV and our predicted winners for each match. Expect the expected; this is the time of year that WWE concludes its major storylines instead of pulling them in odd directions.
Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Finals
Who Should Win: Mustafa Ali
Who Will Win: Mustafa Ali
After WWE fired Enzo Amore—who was under rape allegations and didn't inform the company—the Cruiserweight division underwent a rebuilding process. In doing so, the division re-catered to the hardcore fans who had supported it from the beginning.
The title was vacant. A new champion, the result of a bracketed tournament, will win the title at WrestleMania 34. And Mustafa Ali will be crowned as the new standard bearer for the division. A natural babyface, he's improved by leaps and bounds in a short amount of time; his semifinal upset win against Buddy Murphy was a noteworthy turning point. And Ali's recent, thoughtful interview on ESPN, where he discussed changing people's perceptions about Pakistani Americans, shows that he would be an excellent spokesperson for the company.
Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
Who Should Win: Nia Jax
Who Will Win: Nia Jax
This is a classic inversion of expectations. The big, hard-hitting monster is a classic WWE villain. But in this feud, Nia Jax is the hero, fighting against fat-shaming, mean girl bully Alexa Bliss.
There needs to a be a positive payoff. Jax will earn her first run with a women's world title, and she will double as a role model for WWE's anti-bullying campaign.
Raw Tag Team Champions Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Braun Strowman & ???
Who Should Win: Sheamus & Cesaro
Who Will Win: Braun Strowman & ???
Sheamus & Cesaro, also known as The Bar, have taken out every other tag team in the Raw division. So what's left to do? How about putting them in a gimmick match with Braun Strowman and an unnamed mystery partner? There's no real reason for this match to take place other than to give Strowman something to do. The main event scene is pretty crowded—maybe WWE is keeping him on ice until the writers can figure out a brand new storyline.
Sheamus and Cesaro deserve to hold on to the belts; they're a consistent, reliable presence on Raw, and their matches are often the highlight of the show. But Braun and whoever he teams with will win on April 8. He's been pushed to the moon, and he's going to be favored in any feud he's in—even if he doesn't really need the title belt to get over with fans.
WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal Match
Who Should Win: Sonya Deville
Who Will Win: Sasha Banks
This is the first of two "I Have Nothing Better To Do" battle royals. They both are being marketed as star-making opportunities for whoever wins. And for that reason, Sonya Deville should be the one to win the first Women's Battle Royal. Thanks to her MMA background, she has the presence and physique of someone who could maim people. She would make an excellent first feud for Ronda Rousey, and winning the Battle Royal could build Deville as a credible threat.
But more likely, Sasha Banks will be the victor. She and Bayley's feud have been front and center for the past several weeks. And she'll get the chance to chance to stab her "best friend" in the back, one last time, to secure the win.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Who Should Win: Baron Corbin
Who Will Win: Big Cass
It's worth noting that the Andre the Giant Battle Royal has never successfully made any of its participants into main event stars. Mojo Rawley only won last year because of his connection to Rob Gronkowski, and he's been invisible ever since. The Battle Royal winner who came closest to being a main event wrestler was Baron Corbin, but after winning the Money in the Bank briefcase, he lost his cash-in opportunity after getting distracted by John Cena.
Corbin deserves a redo and a second Battle Royal win. But more likely, the winner will be someone who is currently unannounced. Both Big Cass and Samoa Joe have been shelved for injuries, but were recently spotted backstage at Raw. Either of those two winning the match, especially Big Cass would be a pleasant surprise.
United States Champion Randy Orton vs. Bobby Roode vs Jinder Mahal vs. Rusev
Who Should Win: Rusev
Who Will Win: Jinder Mahal
This Fatal 4-Way involves all the right individuals, although the built to the match has been less than stellar. It actually used to be a Triple Threat until Rusev was added at the last minute--a response to his "Rusev Day" merchandise sales. Out of all the competitors, Rusev would receive the most positive crowd response from winning.
By contrast Mahal is careful and cold, and.that's why he's probably going to win this match. His main event push as WWE champion didn't work out, but his size alone still makes him a promising midcard heel. WWE won't put every championship belt on a good guy on April 8. The United States Championship will be going home in the hands of a heel.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Bálor
Who Should Win: Seth Rollins
Who Will Win: Seth Rollins
This has sleeper hit potential. Three former WWE World champions will collide in the ring. That, by itself, is a wonderful elevation of the Intercontinental title, which hasn't gotten nearly enough love since the late 90's.
Rollins deserves to win here, and he will. He recently put on a virtuoso, hour performance during a gauntlet match on Raw. This past Monday, he racked up an eye-popping victory over Balor. He also has his old, beloved finisher, the Curb Stomp, back in his arsenal. A run with the Intercontinental Championship will rebuild Rollins to the main event status he clearly deserves.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The New Day vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
Who Should Win: Usos
Who Will Win: Bludgeon Brothers
The SmackDown tag team division has been strong for months, thanks largely to the efforts of The Usos, who shine as a couple of badass heels, and The New Day, who are one of the most decorated tag teams of the past 15 years. The two teams have put on one great match after another. And at WrestleMania 34, the x-factor will be the Bludgeon Brothers, comprised of former Wyatt Family members Luke Harper and Erick Rowan.
The Usos deserve to hold onto their titles--they have a flexible, business-smart gimmick that allows them to be heels or faces, depending on the context. It's more likely, however, that the Bludgeon Brothers will score the win. Vince McMahon himself has taken an interest in the pair, which means they'll probably get a shot on top to see if they can carry things.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka
Who Should Win: Asuka
Who Will Win: Asuka
This match, aside from the Styles vs, Nakamura match, is probably the most anticipated one. The two women are booked as the top two female wrestlers in all of WWE, and they have never faced each other in singles competition before.
Asuka currently has a 260-plus win streak, and WWE won't break that streak at WrestleMania 34. Charlotte will tap out to the Asuka Lock, but not before putting up a hard fight with numerous near pinfalls.
Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Who Should Win: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Who Will Win: Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are going to get buried, again. And this time, it's going to be by a non-wrestler, who's mostly famous for throwing his body off tall places. Owens and Zayn are currently "fired," and a win at WrestleMania 34 is the only thing that will reinstate them.
If they lose, however, Stephanie can always "rehire" them for Raw. And that's probably what's going to happen. Why? Because this is Daniel Bryan's return. And WWE will want that crucial "WrestleMania Moment," when all the fans are celebrating Bryan's win with "YES, YES, YES" to put in highlight reels for years to come.
Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon
Who Should Win: Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey
Who Will Win: Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey has been one of the most high-profile signings in WWE history. And although she still has a ways to go—she needs more practice on the mic, specifically—Rousey has an increasingly rare attribute: believability. Fans know what she's capable of, just as they know what Brock Lesnar is capable of.
Rousey will win the match for her team and tap Stephanie out with the arm bar. Expect this match to be highly scrutinized by fans, and expect Rousey to keep things short and simple.
WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Who Should Win: Shinsuke Nakamura
Who Will Win: Shinsuke Nakamura
This has the potential to be the best match of the evening. The two men's only other match was in New Japan Pro-Wrestling at the Wrestle Kingdom 10 PPV, where Nakamura defeated Styles in what is widely considered an instant classic.
Nakamura will win the rematch as well. Styles has held onto the WWE Championship twice; the current, ongoing reign has lasted over 140 days. A Nakamura win would shake things up, and Styles can go to Raw, where he can engage in fresh feuds.
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
Who Should Win: Roman Reigns
Who Will Win: Roman Reigns
This is a match that's been planned ever since Lesnar won the Universal championship from Goldberg at WrestleMania 33. For over a year, Lesnar has been the one wrestler that no one could beat. Even AJ Styles couldn't get the job done at Survivor Series. Reigns will hit multiple spears, and finally, ascend to being, at least in storyline, the top guy in the company.
Many fans will be angry over this result; Reigns has been the most divisive Superstar since John Cena. But at least now, the Universal Championship will be on Raw every week. That's something that didn't happen with Lesnar working part-time.
The Undertaker vs. John Cena
Who Should Win: The Undertaker
Who Will Win: The Undertaker
This match is happening, even if WWE pretends, right up until show time, that's it's not happening. They would not have teased this match, every single week, without delivering at the actual show. It's a surprise, however, that the company hasn't promoted the match more formally; the prospect of a Cena vs Taker fight would certainly sell more WWE Network subscriptions.
The Undertaker will win, because there is would be no point to him coming back if he lost. His match last year against Roman Reigns was objectively bad; the two men botched multiple spots, and the Undertaker, who needed hip surgery, was visibly out of shape and winded. A win at WrestleMania 34 will allow the Undertaker to end his career on a high note, and will allow his fans to remember him in the best manner possible.
