WrestlePalooza is the primary PLE underneath the ESPN banner, and sadly, all of the subscription points haven’t been discovered but. ESPN nonetheless hasn’t made a take care of Comcast, YouTube TV and different main cable corporations to supply their prospects, who already pay for ESPN, entry to the brand new streaming service. That mess has led to quite a lot of comprehensible complaining on social media.
It’s additionally in all probability led to cable subscribers shopping for quite a lot of VPNs (that are closely discounted proper now) in an effort to watch the worldwide Netflix feed or getting short-term subscriptions to ESPN’s new app (which can also be working promo offers) in an effort to watch immediately. What this may imply for WrestlePalooza’s viewership numbers is unclear, however regardless, those that do watch are going to be getting a extremely good card, at the very least on paper.
I say on paper as a result of the construct hasn’t essentially been the perfect for all these matches. Brock Lesnar and John Cena’s feud hasn’t been essentially the most well-developed of both of their careers, and Cody Rhodes hasn’t been as current as traditional for his construct with Drew McIntyre, given his present filming schedule. Fortuitously, the gang will nonetheless be scorching for each of these matches, they usually’ll actually be scorching for Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch vs CM Punk and AJ Types, which has been given time for a number of promos and pre-match shenanigans.
Earlier than I get into what I believe goes to occur although, let’s overview my historic efficiency. I’ve instructed ya’ll who I believe goes to win in each PLE match since WrestleMania 38, and whereas I’m not precisely The Undertaker at WrestleMania and even Earthquake at WrestleMania, I’m nonetheless doing fairly properly for myself. Here is my total report, in addition to breakouts for the larger PLEs this yr.
|
Occasion |
Wins |
Losses |
|
’25 Rumble |
3 |
1 |
|
WrestleMania 41 |
9 |
3 |
|
’25 SummerSlam |
7 |
5 |
|
General |
199 |
74 |
CM Punk And AJ Lee Vs Seth Rollins And Becky Lynch
This isn’t going to be the principle occasion at WrestlePalooza, however in case you’ve watched WWE’s weekly reveals just lately, it would not be unreasonable to suppose it will be. Lee’s long-awaited un-retirement to accomplice together with her husband CM Punk obtained one of many loudest pops we’ll hear this yr, and the gang has been very invested in all of the promos and skirmishes we’ve gotten. There’s some actual buzz right here, and there’s likelihood it’ll be the match of the evening, given fan funding and the in-ring expertise of everybody concerned.
One story beat we’ve persistently been getting has been each AJ and Becky getting bodily with the boys underneath the belief that they gained’t hit again. It’s been so pronounced that it’s fully potential we’re really going to see one of many males snap and ship their finisher to the opposing woman. WWE very not often does inter-gender matches, however we do occasional see physicality. Seth Rollins stomping AJ Lee, for instance, would produce nuclear warmth with the gang and put much more juice into the feud.
I’m not 100% assured that’s going to occur, however I’m very assured that Punk and AJ are going to win right here. She’s been going for a decade, and I must think about WWE would need to set up her as a right away menace to Becky’s Intercontinental Championship. One of the best ways to do this could be with a win, and since Becky obtained in an inexpensive Manhandle Slam on her the opposite evening, it appears like she’s going to pay her again right here.
Predicted Winner: AJ Lee And CM Punk
The Usos Vs Bron Breakker And Bronson Reed
It is a powerful match to foretell, and you could possibly make actually cheap instances for each side. At the same time as I’m scripting this, I’m not fully positive who I’m going to select. So, let’s simply current the rationale why every ought to win after which we will resolve which is extra compelling.
The Usos ought to win as a result of they’re top-of-the-line and most acclaimed tag groups within the historical past of the enterprise, and after they get again collectively to struggle individuals, it ought to imply one thing. Assumedly, the 2 of them are going to make an actual run to the tag titles sooner or later once more sooner or later, and we must always all be invested in defending their aura for when that occurs. If Jimmy and Jey eat pins on their very own, that’s tremendous, however as a tag crew, I need to see them win in key spots.
However do we actually need The Imaginative and prescient shedding all the pieces at WrestlePalooza? Paul Heyman is within the hospital and written off TV. I believe Becky and Seth are going to lose to CM Punk and AJ Lee. Does it actually make sense for the Brons to take an L right here? I don’t suppose so, particularly after Bronson Reed took an L to Roman Reigns on the final PLE. If we’re going to construct these two into dominant forces on their very own, that may encourage concern exterior of Seth Rollins, then they should really win matches.
We’ve been getting quite a lot of teases from The Usos currently that they may not be on the identical web page. They obtained into an argument backstage this week on Uncooked, and Jimmy appears to be shifting in a extra face path, whereas Jey appears to be shifting extra in a heel path. Given there are compelling instances for why each groups ought to win, I’m going to make use of these teases to say The Usos are in all probability going to lose due to miscommunication or dissension inside their partnership.
Predicted Winner: The Brons
Iyo Sky Vs Stephanie Vaquer For The Vacant Girls’s World Championship
Triple H, Bruce Prichard and the opposite writers are clearly very excessive on Stephanie Vaquer. It is a big place to place her in, given she’s solely been on the principle roster for a number of months. Usually, that’s approach too quickly to even discuss combating for world championships, not to mention profitable world championships, however you’ll be able to’t argue with the gang reactions she’s getting, nor are you able to argue together with her in-ring ability. Her English can also be getting higher at a fast charge, and I believe it’s inside the realm of prospects that she wins right here.
Clearly, Iyo is greater than able to being a world champion. She’s been there earlier than and is arguably the third or fourth hottest lady on the roster behind Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair (and possibly Liv Morgan). It might make quite a lot of sense for WWE to place the belt again on her, and that’s in all probability the almost definitely final result. It’s laborious for me to think about the 2 world champions on the ladies’s facet being Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton, given their collective lack of foremost roster expertise.
This story WWE is telling with Asuka, nevertheless, is giving me pause. We’re getting weekly indicators of friction between Iyo Sky, Asuka and Kairi Sane, and it looks as if we’re strolling towards some form of feud involving the longtime associates. I believe we’ll in all probability even get a tag crew match between Iyo and Rhea and Asuka and Kairi sooner or later within the close to future. Does that storyline want the belt? I’m not so positive.
I’m selecting Iyo as a result of she’s Iyo freakin’ Sky and Stephanie Vaquer hasn’t even gained a center card title earlier than, however I don’t really feel tremendous assured.
Predicted Winner: Iyo Sky
John Cena Vs Brock Lesnar
I’m carried out selecting in opposition to John Cena. Positive, Brock Lesnar has been gone for an prolonged time period, and also you’d wish to remind individuals of why he’s so terrifying with a dominant win, however I believe there’s an actual likelihood Cena doesn’t lose once more for his whole retirement tour. Actually, I am predicting it right here. After his run as a heel, which had some nice moments however finally didn’t work out, I believe followers actually simply need to have fun with him. He did quite a lot of profitable all through his profession, and I believe his supporters wish to see him exit the identical approach.
We additionally don’t know if there are long-term plans for Lesnar. Did he return merely to place in a number of appearances and do some work with Cena, who he shares quite a lot of historical past with? Perhaps. Did he return as a result of he’s going to be a WWE celebrity for the subsequent a number of years and will probably be attempting to win championships? Perhaps. It’s actually unclear what’s really happening. I may simply imagine both of these prospects.
Cena and Lesnar are the identical age. I can’t think about Brock has that many runs left in him, however since that is Cena’s introduced final yr, I believe he’s going to get an enormous win right here. Count on this match to be a automobile crash with a ton of finishers and shock kickouts in a brief timeframe or for us to get some form of exterior interference to present these two some respiration room to past fifteen minutes.
Predicted Winner: John Cena
Cody Rhodes (Champion) Vs Drew McIntyre For The WWE Championship
Drew McIntyre is arguably my favourite celebrity on WWE’s whole roster. I believe he’s been spectacular over the previous few years, and to me, his feud with CM Punk is the perfect storyline WWE has given us for the reason that OG Bloodline disbanded. He’s had some massive moments and gained some massive championships semi-recently, however a signature win over Cody Rhodes in the course of the first PLE of ESPN’s contract would go a good distance towards displaying the viewers he must be seen as one of many largest stars within the firm.
I’d like to see it, but it surely’s actually laborious to wager in opposition to Cody Rhodes. Other than excessive profile losses to the likes of Roman Reigns and John Cena, he’s principally carried out nothing however win. Do we predict WWE is admittedly going to need him to lose in the course of the first occasion on ESPN? I don’t suppose so, nor do I believe each time he does lose it’ll come on the again of a feud with this little of a construct. Sure, we’ve gotten some again and forths and a vicious assault from McIntyre on Rhodes, however we haven’t gotten some epic promo battle each week.
I need to see McIntyre win The WWE Championship once more. I need him to be seen on that Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins degree, however I don’t suppose that is the second he will get there. We’ll want to attend slightly longer.
Predicted Winner: Cody Rhodes