WWE WrestleMania 40 preview & predictions: An actual finish to the story

Considering everything the company has gone through over the last year, the fact that WWE is heading into one of the most anticipated WrestleManias of all-time with this weekend’s 40th edition is nothing short of amazing.

Since WrestleMania 39, we’ve seen the merger with UFC and subsequent creation of TKO; the revelation that Vince McMahon was no longer in charge of creative; the announced deal with Netflix; the Janel Grant lawsuit; McMahon’s resignation; The Rock returning, the #WeWantCody movement, and now, WrestleMania.

It’s been a wild ride.

Despite all the twists and turns the company has gone through over the last year, WrestleMania 40 has the chance to go down as one of the most memorable events in WWE history. 

Let’s get to previews and predictions for each and every announced match for Philadelphia:

WWE Women’s World Heavyweight Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Becky Lynch

Ripley is listed as a -450 favorite, but I consider her winning almost a certainty. She is getting more popular every day and it doesn’t feel like the right time to take the belt off her. Lynch can take a big loss at Mania and not be hurt, but I wonder what path it will lead her character down. I doubt she is going heel again, so I’m wondering if Lynch might have some time off planned.

Prediction: Ripley retains

Six-pack championship ladder match: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) defend against DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa), The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods), Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth), New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate), and A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller & Austin Theory)

Of the six teams, The Awesome Truth has the best odds of winning at +100 followed by DIY (+250), A-Town Down Under and Judgment Day (both +400), New Day (+700), and New Catch Republic (+800). I’m inclined to agree with the oddsmakers that Awesome Truth are the top favorites. I feel like R-Truth being given a “WrestleMania moment” to celebrate with a title is a feel-good moment fans will enjoy seeing after a very entertaining last few months with Truth interacting with Judgment Day. 

Speaking of Judgment Day, WWE might want to get the tag titles off Balor and Priest in time for Priest to cash in his MITB briefcase, which I believe will happen on night two. I wouldn’t rule out New Day winning either, however. Considering Big E would be on hand to help them celebrate, that could also be a feel-good WrestleMania moment.

There is some confusion as to the rules of the match. On Raw, Michael Cole said both sets of title belts will have to be pulled down separately, but WWE has yet to formalize that on their website. That means we could, or could not, see two new sets of champions.

Prediction: The Awesome Truth are new champions (if the titles are not split) and Awesome Truth and DIY (if they are split)

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

Something is building with Dominik Mysterio and bad guy luchadores like Santos Escobar and Andrade, although I think Andrade is technically a babyface right now. WWE fans need to prepare for the inevitable breakup of Mami and Dom because that on-screen duo is not going to last much longer than this weekend. Ripley is moving into a full babyface role, which just isn’t going to work for Dom. He’s now moving into something with Escobar, LDF, and Andrade against the LWO — a storyline that should become more solidified at Mania.

Dominik and Escobar are listed as -150 favorites, but I think their winning is much more of a certainty.

Prediction: Dominik Mysterio & Santos Escobar

Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso

I’m expecting this to be the first of many matches between the two brothers so either could win and it wouldn’t impact the story too much. Before looking at the odds, I had assumed Jimmy would be listed as the favorite but I was wrong as Jey as a -250 favorite. To me, it doesn’t seem like Jey needs the win whereas Jimmy’s singles run could use a little boost at the start of their rivalry. I don’t recommend betting on wrestling but if I did, Jimmy is an underdog I’d put some money on.

Prediction: Jimmy Uso

Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair & Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai)

This will be a chance to show off what Cargill does well and hide what she does not. The only way the babyfaces don’t win is if someone, namely Cargill, turns heel midway through and attacks either Naomi or Belair. Otherwise, I’d expect this match to end with Cargill pinning Kai.

The team of Cargill, Belair, and Kai are listed as a whopping -2000 favorite. Damage CTRL would be approaching Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson, Holly Holm over Ronda Rousey, or Roman Reigns over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39 territory if they won this. A heel turn could cause exactly that to happen but I think a clean babyface win is far more likely.

Prediction: Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi

WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Sami Zayn

They have been doing a dramatic storyline in recent weeks involving Chad Gable helping Zayn take his game to the next level so that he can finally win the big one. I just don’t think it’s going to happen at WrestleMania. I also think there is a chance that Gable turns heel on Zayn and starts a feud between the two. That seems the most logical direction for them to go.

Gunther is listed as a -150 favorite, but I think he’s a lock to win at Mania. 

Prediction: Gunther retains

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

The stipulation that a Rock and Reigns win means Bloodline rules on night two leads me to believe them winning is the most likely outcome of the night one main event. With it being Bloodline rules between Rhodes and Reigns, it opens the door for interference from Rock, other members of The Bloodline, as well as Rollins and Jey Uso. That seems fitting given the way the storyline has gone and opens the door for more post-WrestleMania storylines.

Rock and Reigns are listed as -1000 favorites and I have to agree with the oddsmakers.

Prediction: Rock and Reigns

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Drew McIntyre

McIntyre should win this match, but I don’t think he walks out of WrestleMania with the World Heavyweight Championship. CM Punk on commentary and Damian Priest’s MITB briefcase will loom large over what happens here.

McIntyre winning the World title, but then having his moment ripped away from him again just like when he was robbed of his WrestleMania 36 moment by the pandemic, seems the most likely result. He’ll get the win over Rollins but Priest will cash in immediately after to win the belt.

Punk will play some role in how this all plays out. Then, McIntyre can continue complaining of being unfairly robbed of his moment as we move closer to June’s Clash at the Castle in Glasgow, Scotland. He’s listed as a -450 favorite but I think he’s a bigger favorite than that even.

Prediction: Drew McIntyre wins the title…briefly

Philadelphia street fight: Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam & Rezar)

This match feels like something of an afterthought and I don’t imagine we will get a conclusive finish to the rivalry as they probably won’t be given enough time. The blowoff will probably happen on television at some point. The oddsmakers have Lashley and The Street Profits as -200 favorites, but I think The Final Testament will be put over here as it feels as though they could use the win more.

Prediction: Karrion Kross and The Authors of Pain

LA Knight vs. AJ Styles

I don’t know why, but this rivalry doesn’t seem to have clicked. It could just be that with all the hullabaloo around The Rock and the other big matches on the show, this just fell down the list of priorities. Knight is the rising star who I imagine is going to get a big push in the coming months, so he’ll likely come out on top. 

Knight is listed as a -600 favorite which seems about right.

Prediction: LA Knight

WWE United States Champion Logan Paul defends against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens in a triple threat match

This match also feels like such an afterthought which is strange considering the star power involved. Paul is listed as a -375 favorite and I agree with the oddsmakers. Either Owens or Orton will have the match won, but then be screwed out of the title by the other. They will then move into their own feud and Paul will continue bringing the US title onto episodes of Impaulsive.

Prediction: Logan Paul retains

WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defends against Bayley

This has been a great story that has flown under most people’s radars. Bayley’s entire arc with Damage CTRL has been very well done. On the February 2, 2024, episode of SmackDown, Bayley revealed that she had learned to speak Japanese and knew the other members of Damage CTRL were talking bad about her behind her back.

Bayley’s dream of creating a dominant stable that began at 2022’s SummerSlam was over. While they had betrayed her, she was ready for them. It was a fantastic segment that nobody talks about because less than an hour later, The Rock showed up and appeared to be taking Cody Rhodes’ spot in the WrestleMania main event. 

At first, I thought Bayley winning was a forgone conclusion, but then the potential match order leaked. According to what is believed to be the order of matches, this one going on right before Rhodes vs. Reigns II leads me to believe the Bayley vs. Damage CTRL rivalry will not have a definitive ending at Mania. Perhaps Damage CTRL debuts a new member or they do something else dastardly to cost Bayley the title.

Bayley is listed as a -400 favorite, but my gut says Sky retains. 

Prediction: IYO SKY retains

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes

The match result is not in question here.

When the stipulation was added that this will be Rhodes’ last attempt to dethrone Reigns, that was WWE telling fans there will be a title change on Sunday. The real question is how they get there and what matches they set up for Rhodes, Reigns and The Rock next.

The Rock will be involved at some point, but it might just be to come out at the end for a staredown with Rhodes. Of course, this depends on Rock’s film schedule as well as the scheduling of WWE’s next big Saudi Arabia show or just how big of a deal they are going to make Backlash France in May. 

It feels as though WWE has to do Rock vs. Rhodes before Rock vs. Reigns at this point, but there are a lot of variables at play.

One certain thing is that this WrestleMania 40 is going to end with a triumphant Cody Rhodes celebrating winning the title that his father never did and taking his rightful spot as WWE’s top guy. It’ll be downright touching. 

Prediction: Cody Rhodes finishes the story and wins the title