In what has become somewhat of a tradition, with the exception of last year, when COVID-19 hit and threw everything into disarray, we here at Signs of the Times generally like to give either a preview or recap of Wrestlemania each year (sometimes both), even though we assume that there is literally no one out there that both reads our blog and watches professional wrestling. Nevertheless, we're here once again, on the eve of Wrestlemania Saturday - right up against it, as they say in the business - with about an hour and a half to go until showtime, at the time of starting this post.
Quickly, we thought we'd preview all of the matches for this weekend's beat-em-up festivities, just in case you decide to plop down on the couch for seven or eight hours to watch people fight. To make it even quicker for us and easier for you, we're gonna sum up all of our responses in 140 characters or less.
Let's get to it!
How has the WWE been affected by COVID-19?
Since April 2020, WWE programming has been without live fans. Last year's 'Mania took place in an empty arena. Tonight, the fans are back!
How has Wrestlemania, specifically, needed to be altered?
WM 36 was split into 2 nights & featured 2 wacky, pre-recorded, "cinematic" matches. Still multi-night now but nothing will be pre-recorded.
How can I watch Wrestlemania 37 this weekend?
WWE Network has gone the way of the dodo. All WWE content has migrated to NBC's "Peacock." You can sign up for Peacock premium super cheap.
Wrestlemania 37 - Saturday Night
WWE Championship Match: Bobby Lashley (c) vs Drew McIntyre
Background Information:
Drew got the title at WM 36 in an empty arena. Lashley's a relatively new champ but some of his allies have recently turned on him. Ominous.
What to Expect:
These are two of the strongest guys in the company. The rivalry has gotten quite heated & they'll beat the living heck out of each other.
Winner Prediction:
Would love to see McIntyre win the championship in front of an actual audience. He has absolutely carried the company through the COVID era.
Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs The Miz & John Morrison
Background Information:
Miz & Morrison are jokers. Bad Bunny is this year's celebrity appearance. He's not an actual wrestler but he'll bring in a lot of eyeballs.
What to Expect:
Lots of hijinks. Damian Priest will do the heavy lifting. I'd be shocked if Bad Bunny spent 5 minutes inside the ring, actually fighting.
Winner Prediction:
There is not a chance in the world that Bad Bunny loses this match. He'll inevitably cover Miz for the 1-2-3.
WWE RAW Tag Team Championship Match: The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (c) vs AJ Styles & Omos
Background Information:
New Day = multi-time champions. Styles/Omos have never fought an actual match together, but Omos is gigantic and seemingly indestructible.
What to Expect:
Styles will likely work most of the match, building suspense for what damage Omos will do in his first WWE fight. Expect destruction.
Winner Prediction:
Upset alert! New Day have much more experience but Styles and Omos winning the belts would be the biggest surprise of the weekend.
Steel Cage Match: Braun Strowman vs Shane McMahon
Background Information:
Shane has been bullying Braun for weeks, calling him stupid and constantly pranking him, but he'll have nowhere to run within a steel cage.
What to Expect:
Despite being locked in a cage, there will very likely be outside interference. Also, Shane will undoubtedly pull off a death-defying stunt.
Winner Prediction:
Almost 100% certainty that WWE doubles down on their anti-bullying stance, having Strowman tear McMahon limb from limb. Braun wins, easy.
Cesaro vs Seth Rollins
Background Information:
Rollins, fresh off paternity leave, has had a hard time winning over potential allies. Cesaro has stood up to him on several occasions.
What to Expect:
Expect to see perennial underdog Cesaro swing the villainous Rollins around by his boots for a considerable amount of time. It's hilarious.
Winner Prediction:
Cesaro will probably pick up the win here, unless somebody comes out to aid Rollins, forming a "heel" faction for post-Mania storylines.
Lana & Naomi vs Dana Brooke & Mandy Rose vs The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan & Ruby Riott) vs Natalya & Tamina vs Billie Kay & Carmella
Background Information:
This is simply a way to put as many women on-screen this weekend as possible. The winner gets a title shot on Sunday night.
What to Expect:
Great time for a bathroom break for all the fans attending the event in person. Most likely will end up as the worst match of the weekend.
Winner Prediction:
Natalya & Tamina have been getting lots of screen time lately, so they're probably the favorites. Maybe oddball combo Billie Kay & Carmella?
SmackDown Women's Championship Match: Sasha Banks (c) vs Bianca Belair
Background Information:
Bianca Belair, who many see as the future of the women's division, won the 2020 Royal Rumble to earn a spot in Saturday night's main event.
What to Expect:
Bianca calls herself "The EST of WWE." Expect her to showcase why she's the fastest, strongest, smartest, etc. Should be a solid match.
Winner Prediction:
Wrestlemania is the most logical PPV of the year for MAJOR title changes. WWE can show their faith in Belair by giving her the belt tonight.
Wrestlemania 37 - Sunday Night
RAW Women's Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs Rhea Ripley
Background Information:
Very little build-up. Ripley is making her main roster PPV debut at WM 37 to face Asuka, one of the most dominant women in the business.
What to Expect:
This could be a dark horse contender for Match of the Weekend. Ripley and Asuka are very good. Should be a great fight. Fans will love it.
Winner Prediction:
Again, WWE can cement their trust in Ripley as a face of the future here, but not EVERY title can change hands this weekend... right?
The Fiend (w/ Alexa Bliss) vs Randy Orton
Background Information:
Orton has attempted to light The Fiend on fire repeatedly over the past few months - and actually succeeded once - but now HE'S BAAAAAAAACK!
What to Expect:
This one is gonna be gimmicky & weird as heck. It's one spot where I bet WWE wishes they could still do a pre-recorded match. NOT FOR KIDS.
Winner Prediction:
Bray Wyatt is notorious for losing big pay-per-view matches, so I bet he wins this one, but I've been wrong before. Many, many times.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match - Nigerian Drum Fight: Big E (c) vs Apollo Crews
Background Information:
Apollo, for some reason, feels slighted by Big E, and his character has also recently reverted back to, apparently, his African roots. Odd.
What to Expect:
I literally have no idea what a "Nigerian Drum Fight" is, so your guess is as good as mine.
Winner Prediction:
I think Big E will win this one. They've got to let SOME wrestlers retain their titles this weekend.
Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn (w/ Logan Paul)
Background Information:
Zayn alleges that WWE has been conspiring against him. Has his own camera crew. His real-life BFF & on-screen enemy Owens has had enough.
What to Expect:
Owens really wanted to jump off the Raymond James Stadium pirate ship last year before COVID hit. Bet that happens this year, somehow.
Winner Prediction:
Don't know how yet, exactly, but I bet celeb guest Logan Paul goes rogue to influence the decision and Kevin Owens walks away victorious.
WWE United States Championship Match: Riddle (c) vs Sheamus
Background Information:
Battle of the stereotypes: Riddle is a stoner bro and Sheamus is an Irish brawler. Another instance of very little build-up for this match.
What to Expect:
One of several relatively straight-forward fights this weekend. I don't particularly see this one as being memorable. Bathroom break!
Winner Prediction:
I've got Riddle winning, simply because this is an easy title to keep on a current champion. Doesn't mean I like him, though.
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (w/ Reginald) (c) vs [Saturday Night Winner - TBA]
Background Information:
Jax & Baszler will face the winner of the big women's tag team brawl from Saturday night. They'll have their stooge Reginald at ringside.
What to Expect:
Domination by Jax and Baszler with multiple attempts at interference by Reginald.
Winner Prediction:
I don't believe that any of the teams featured on Saturday night are ready to take the titles off of the current champs.
WWE Universal Championship Match: Roman Reigns (w/ Paul Heyman) (c) vs Edge vs Daniel Bryan
Background Information:
Edge won the Men's Royal Rumble to earn his way into this match. Fan-favorite Bryan complained until he was granted a spot, as well.
What to Expect:
Overall, should be a pretty good match. It's almost certainly the match WWE most wants to be talked about by fans when all is said and done.
Winner Prediction:
Reigns loses. This is the time for it. I want Edge, but pre-Mania programming has really been slanted toward Bryan becoming a new champ.
BOOM! There it is! We've got the blog done with 12 minutes to spare before Saturday night's festivities begin. I better post this really quickly, fire up the George Foreman grill and boot up the ol' Playstation 5. It's showtime.
To those of you who are watching, let me know what you think about everything that goes down. Wrestlemania is easily the biggest event of the WWE calendar year, although it isn't always the most fun or the most well-received by fans. Who knows what this weekend has in store?
Leave a comment below, follow me on Twitter (here and here) or hit me up on Facebook. Gotta go. Have a good one!
