Live from Puerto Rico and hosted by Bad Bunny, it is WWE Backlash!

Here are my predictions for the show:

Non-Title Matches

• Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs Omos in a singles match.
  • Omos doesn’t need the win here, Seth winning this match would elevate him for the World Heavyweight Championship (WHC) that is upcoming. Seth to Win!
• Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jay Uso & Solo Sikoa) in a 6-man tag team match,
  • This should be a fun 6-man tag regardless of the decision. Storyline would say that Matt, Kevin & Sami to win which would be the conclusion of this storyline with Roman and The Bloodline.
• Bad Bunny vs Danian Priest in a San Juan Street Fight
  • First ‘hardcore’ match for Bunny as he draws weapons for Damian. Damian and the rest of The Judgement Day shouldn’t lose this as it would look bad for TJD but my gut is telling me to ‘pop the crowd’ – Bad Bunny to win
• Cody Rhodes vs Brock Lesnar in a singles match.
  • This should be a brutal match. Brock is going to go to town on Lesnar so it would only make sense that Brock Lesnar wins

Title Matches

• Austin Theory (C) vs Bobby Lashley vs Bronson Reed in a Triple Threat Match for the United States Championship
  • I feel this could go either way. My money would have to be on Bronson Reed to build him up as a credible thread. Bronson Reed to win
• Bianca Belair (C) vs IYO SKY in a singles match for the RAW Women’s Championship
  • As much as I like IYO, I cannot see her winning this. There is no credible threat to Bianca for the title as of yet. Perhaps with the WWE Draft going into effect on Monday, there will be new challengers for Bianca on Friday when she goes over to SmackDown. Bianca to retain
• Rhea Ripley (C) vs Zelina Vega in a singles match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship
  • Just like with Bianca, Rhea is going to be on RAW and is holding the other brand’s belt, BUT I can see Zelina getting this monster push and solidifying the LWO by giving her the title in her home country of Puerto Rico. Zelina to win

Last night on Monday Night RAW, Triple H revealed a new World Heavyweight Championship belt. The inaugural winner of the title will be decided at WWE Night of Champions on May 27th in Saudi Arabia.

A number of people have been vocal about the title design. Some good and some bad.

The good, which I agree with, seems to be blending the old ‘Big Gold’ and the more modern ‘WWE Network’ titles into one.

Others are saying that the logo being front and centre like it is, devalues the title compared to previous designs (See ‘Big Gold’ above) and ‘Winged Eagle’ (see below)

But WWE is not the only one that has placed its logo front, and centre and make it the focal point of the title. This has become a bigger trend over the years.

UFC’s title belts since 2001 have had their logo on the belt and you didn’t need to squint to find out what company the title was from.

UFC updated the title back in 2019 and arguably, it is more prominent than the previous design.

Let’s go crazier, Singaporean MMA Promotion, ONE Championship has MASSIVE belts with their name across them.

And to give it some context as to the size of it.

That thing is massive and you cannot miss the ONE logo on that.

Let’s go back to Pro Wrestling and check out All Elite Wrestling’s World Championship.

That title looks great and having the logo in the middle and being the focal point is not a bad thing. It looks great and it sets itself apart from the WWE, UFC, ONE and other countless promotions with their titles.

My overall thoughts are that the new World Heavyweight Championship is fantastic. A mix of old with some new bits in it really makes it the champion’s belt. And still retaining the customisation of the side plates is a nice touch. That is something that WWE did right in a Sports Entertainment-oriented product.

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It is that time of year again, it’s Wrestlemania week and for the 4th time that the show has been held on 2 nights.
Emanating from the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, it is the 39th edition of WrestleMania.

Before I jump into the predictions for WrestleMania, let’s go over to the Crypto.com arena for the matinee show NXT Stand & Deliver.

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NXT Stand & Deliver 2023 Predictions

• Wes Lee (C) vs Dragon Lee vs JD McDonagh vs Ilja Dragunov vs Axiom in a Fatal 5 Way for the NXT North American Championship.
  • PREDICTION: Dragon Lee to win and become the new NXT North American Champion.
• Fallon Henley (C) & Kiana James (C) vs Alba Fyre vs Isla Dawn for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • PREDICTION: Alba and Isla to win and become the new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions.
• Chase University & Tyler Bat vs Schism in an 8-person mixed tag team match and the winner gains control of Chase University.
  • PREDICTION: Schism wins.
• Roxanne Perez (C) vs Zoey Stark vs Gigi Dolin vs Tiffany Stratton vs Lyra Valkyria vs Indi Hartwell for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • PREDICTION: Roxanne retains the NXT Women’s Championship.
• Gallus (C) vs The Creed Brothers vs The D’Anngelo Family in a Triple Threat for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • PREDICTION: Gallus to retain the NXT Tag Team Championship.
• Johnny Gargano vs Grayson Waller in an Unsanctioned Match
  • PREDICTION: Johnny Gargano wins.
• Bron Breakker (C) vs Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship
  • PREDICTION: Camelo Hayes to win and become the new NXT Champion.

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Wrestlemania 39 – Night 1 Predictions

• Austin Theory (C) vs John Cena for the United States Championship
  • PREDICTION: Austin Theory wins and retains the title.
• Charlotte Flair (C) vs Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship
  • PREDICTION: Rhea Ripley wins and becomes the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.
• The Usos (C) vs Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • PREDICTION: Sami & Kevin wins and becomes the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions
• Becky Lynch (C), Lita (C) & Trish Stratus vs Damage Ctrl in a 6-woman tag team match.
  • PREDICTION: Becky, Lita & Trish wins.
• Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins vs Logan Paul
  • PREDICTION: Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins wins.
• Rey Mysterio vs Dominik Mysterio
  • PREDICTION: Dominik Mysterio wins.
• Brawn Strowman & Ricochet vs The Street Profits vs Alpha Academy vs The Viking Raiders in a Wrestlemania Showcase Fatal 4-way Tag Team Match.
  • PREDICTION: Street Profits to win.

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Wrestlemania 39 – Night 2 Predictions

• Bianca Belair (C) vs Asuka for the RAW Women’s Championship
  • PREDICTION: Asuka wins and becomes the new RAW Women’s Champion.
• Brock Lesnar vs Omos
  • PREDICTION: Brock Lesnar wins.
• Edge vs “The Demon” Finn Bálor in a Hell in a Cell Match.
  • PREDICTION: Finn Bálor wins.
• Gunther (C) vs Drew McIntyre vs Sheamus in a Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship
  • PREDICTION: Sheamus wins and becomes the new Intercontinental Championship (And gets his Grand Slam)
• Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs Natalya & Shotzi vs Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green in a Wrestlemania Showcase Fatal 4-way Tag Team Match
  • PREDICTION: Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler wins.
• Roman Reigns (C) vs Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
  • PREDICTION: Cody Rhodes wins and becomes the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion

And there are my predictions. Shout out what you think of them on my Mastodon @padraig@mastodon.ie