2024 - Wrestlemania 40 Write Up
Apr 4, 2024 14:30:26 GMT -5
KC Royals GM (Kevin), White Sox GM (alligatorchris), and 1 more like this
Post by D Backs GM (Tyler) on Apr 4, 2024 14:30:26 GMT -5
We’ve got a two night spectacular this year. I’ve been watching for most of my life and I can honestly say I don’t think it has even been this good. First, a couple things to set the table:
1. This is WWE but you’re getting AEW mentions when needed. It’s basically WCW/WWF from the 90s out here and we’re here for all of it. Plus it’s part of the story.
2. HHH is now (kinda) fully in charge. Vince is out. For good. And likely going to jail at some point for the rest of his life. I’m not really going to address much of that story in the write up but if you want more info look here: www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/02/29/wwe-vince-mcmahon-sex-trafficking-lawsuit-latest-details-developments/72793083007/ - Short version: lots of sexual assault, sex trafficking, and cover ups.
3. The Rock is back. And I mean like “on TV every week doing awesome shit” back. Not “show up once per year for a cameo” back.
4. Hey I heard CM Punk was back and is talking shit. Yes, but he is injured. Not fighting.
Let’s get into it.
Rhea Ripley vs. Becky (Singles match for the Women's World Championship)
What an opener. For those who haven’t been paying much attention, Ripley is THE woman in the company now. She is jacked, great on the mic, the head-ish of a faction in the Judgement Day, and an all around stud. Mets - she will scare you into being turned on. Becky has never really recovered her previous popularity from her “The Man” era heat. But she can still go in the ring for sure. No complicated story here, just two top stars wrestling for the title.
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) - (Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match)
Apparently both sets of tag titles (Raw and Smackdown) will be suspended above the ring and they can be grabbed separately. I suspect this is how they re-split the belts. I have no earthly idea what will happen in this match, but it’ll be a lot of cool spots. No real story here, just lots of carnage and flippy shit. We’ll get to the story don’t worry.
LWO vs. Santos and Dom - Tag Team Match
Bathroom break time. Dom Mysterio is the class of the undercard heel wise but there is nothing here worth noting. It is likely eventually setting the table for Dom vs Rey at Summerslam, but this will just be a teaser match if I had to guess. That being said, luchadors are fun!
Jey vs. Jimmy - Singles Match
Now we’re cooking. While this match is years in the making from the Bloodline story, they really kinda threw this together a couple weeks ago. Jimmy Uso has stayed loyal to Roman and the Bloodline while Jay Uso has set out on his own on Smackdown to make a main event name for himself. It has gone… meh. This is going to be a banger of a match because these two are great but I wish there was a bit more on the line here. I’m guessing we don’t get Bloodline interference because of the action later in the night and they won’t want to ruin the pop, but you never know. Send out Solo or something? Bleh.
Bianca, Jade, Naomi vs. Damage CTRL - 6 Woman Tag Match
A storm is coming (https://www.wwe.com/videos/jade-cargill-makes-her-electric-entrance). Jade Cargill is the first AEW star to defect to WWE and oh boy is it significant. She is massive. She is a beast. They are smart to not waste her vs Rhea or her 1-1 with another big name here. Bianca and Jade will eventually have the most athletic women’s match you’ve ever seen. But not yet. For now, it’s a Bayley-less Damage CTRL. They need the win more, and I’m assuming there will be some friction in the three randoms team to set up the next major feud.
Gunther vs. Sami - Singles match for the Intercontinental Title
Last year I wrote this about Gunther’s match: “If you want to see people beat the piss out of each other for real, this is your match.” Well, that applied then and it applies now. The most dominant IC Champ ever, Gunther just beats the living shit out of people. He barely has a finishing move. It’s just “you dont want to get up after a while”. Sami is the perfect underdog counterpart for him at mania. I expect Sami to take a whooping, but I also expect a major shock here.
Rock/Roman vs. Cody/Seth - Tag team match. If Rhodes and Rollins win, all members of The Bloodline will be barred from ringside during the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match on Night 2. If Rock and Reigns win, the championship match on Night 2 will be held under Bloodline Rules (which is basically no rules).
Night 2 coming in a bit.
1. This is WWE but you’re getting AEW mentions when needed. It’s basically WCW/WWF from the 90s out here and we’re here for all of it. Plus it’s part of the story.
2. HHH is now (kinda) fully in charge. Vince is out. For good. And likely going to jail at some point for the rest of his life. I’m not really going to address much of that story in the write up but if you want more info look here: www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/02/29/wwe-vince-mcmahon-sex-trafficking-lawsuit-latest-details-developments/72793083007/ - Short version: lots of sexual assault, sex trafficking, and cover ups.
3. The Rock is back. And I mean like “on TV every week doing awesome shit” back. Not “show up once per year for a cameo” back.
4. Hey I heard CM Punk was back and is talking shit. Yes, but he is injured. Not fighting.
Let’s get into it.
Night 1 - Saturday April 6
What an opener. For those who haven’t been paying much attention, Ripley is THE woman in the company now. She is jacked, great on the mic, the head-ish of a faction in the Judgement Day, and an all around stud. Mets - she will scare you into being turned on. Becky has never really recovered her previous popularity from her “The Man” era heat. But she can still go in the ring for sure. No complicated story here, just two top stars wrestling for the title.
Prediction: Rhea wins clean.
Apparently both sets of tag titles (Raw and Smackdown) will be suspended above the ring and they can be grabbed separately. I suspect this is how they re-split the belts. I have no earthly idea what will happen in this match, but it’ll be a lot of cool spots. No real story here, just lots of carnage and flippy shit. We’ll get to the story don’t worry.
Prediction: Judgement Day take one set, DIY take the other.
Bathroom break time. Dom Mysterio is the class of the undercard heel wise but there is nothing here worth noting. It is likely eventually setting the table for Dom vs Rey at Summerslam, but this will just be a teaser match if I had to guess. That being said, luchadors are fun!
Prediction - LWO. Rey beats Dom’s team but not Dom himself and kicks off the father vs son story in earnest.
Now we’re cooking. While this match is years in the making from the Bloodline story, they really kinda threw this together a couple weeks ago. Jimmy Uso has stayed loyal to Roman and the Bloodline while Jay Uso has set out on his own on Smackdown to make a main event name for himself. It has gone… meh. This is going to be a banger of a match because these two are great but I wish there was a bit more on the line here. I’m guessing we don’t get Bloodline interference because of the action later in the night and they won’t want to ruin the pop, but you never know. Send out Solo or something? Bleh.
Prediction - Jey Uso. The start of the bloodline cracking. More on that later.
A storm is coming (https://www.wwe.com/videos/jade-cargill-makes-her-electric-entrance). Jade Cargill is the first AEW star to defect to WWE and oh boy is it significant. She is massive. She is a beast. They are smart to not waste her vs Rhea or her 1-1 with another big name here. Bianca and Jade will eventually have the most athletic women’s match you’ve ever seen. But not yet. For now, it’s a Bayley-less Damage CTRL. They need the win more, and I’m assuming there will be some friction in the three randoms team to set up the next major feud.
Prediction - Damage CTRL after Jade decimates her teammates.
Last year I wrote this about Gunther’s match: “If you want to see people beat the piss out of each other for real, this is your match.” Well, that applied then and it applies now. The most dominant IC Champ ever, Gunther just beats the living shit out of people. He barely has a finishing move. It’s just “you dont want to get up after a while”. Sami is the perfect underdog counterpart for him at mania. I expect Sami to take a whooping, but I also expect a major shock here.
Prediction - Sami wins! What should have happened a long time ago, Sami Zayn gets to run with a major title. He has earned it after the part he played in keeping the Bloodline story fresh last year while it was floundering with no real challenge.
Whew. Where to start. I’ll get to the Finish the Story and Cody vs Roman of it all in the last segment. The Rock is back. He came back and more or less said he was going to fight Roman at Mania, even though Cody had won the Royal Rumble. Fans hated it. Cody is so hot and so over that fans rejected THE ROCK returning to headline Mania. Once the powers that be (including the Rock himself, more on that later) saw the writing on the wall, they shifted course, and went to Cody/Roman to headline night two. But that begged the question: What to do with the Rock?
First, watch this:
With that, The Rock squarely aligned himself as “The Final Boss” of the Bloodline.
Now, watch this:
http://instagram.com/p/C5GpCQ4rug9
The Rock is now the full on completely evil asshole Rock. A phenomenal change from his usual “hi everyone nice to be here” cameos of the last 10 years. He has positioned himself as the Final Boss. Above Roman, who is the current champion. That hasn’t really been addressed yet but you know it will be at some point. For now, they’re on the same page.
The quietly most interesting part of all this? The Rock is literally the boss now. He is on the board of directors of the real life company that owns WWE. It is likely why he is back in such a major way. I am hoping against all hope that he is back for good. I know we will get Rock/Roman for the head of the bloodline at some point, but I need a “control of the company” proxy feud between The Rock and HHH. I need it. I know Trips cant wrestle due to health, but he should be on screen 1000%.
Anyway. Thats for next year.
Prediction - Rock and Roman win. The Rock pins Rollins. I think Roman has him beat and The Rock does something that is slightly underhanded/odd to make sure HE gets the pin and not Roman. Remember this for Night 2.