WWE kicks off its new ESPN partnership on Saturday with Wrestlepalooza. The occasion is called after an outdated ECW occasion, and this may mark the primary time the occasion has been held beneath the WWE banner. All of it goes down from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The cardboard is stacked with some large matches. To kick off the brand new partnership, WWE has introduced in two of its legends. John Cena and Brock Lesnar are set to kick off the present with what needs to be a brutal match. The 2 have a longstanding rivalry that dates again to their debut with the corporate in 2002. Now, twenty years later, they meet one remaining time earlier than Cena formally retires from professional wrestling on the finish of the 12 months with only a handful of appearances left on his schedule.
Making a return after an excellent longer absence is AJ Lee, who has been out of WWE for greater than a decade. Lee will tag along with her husband, CM Punk, to tackle world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins and his spouse, ladies’s intercontinental champion Becky Lynch.
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Shakiel Mahjouri
The opposite main featured match on Saturday pits undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes in opposition to Drew McIntyre. Rhodes made his return to TV two weeks in the past when he saved Randy Orton from a McIntyre beatdown. That is the place he additionally challenged the large man to a title match at Wrestlepalooza. On the go-home version of SmackDown, the 2 signed the contract for the match, however McIntyre continued his underhanded methods by attacking Rhodes after the actual fact as the 2 brawled with the present going off air and Rhodes laid out.
With all that in thoughts, let’s check out who the CBS Sports activities wrestling specialists are selecting in every match.
2025 WWE Wrestlepalooza predictions
CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch (Blended Tag Workforce Match): Rollins and Lynch have been one step forward of Punk to the purpose the place he introduced in Lee to even the percentages. That modified on the ultimate pre-Wrestlepalooza Uncooked, when Lynch and Rollins outsmarted Punk and Lee, permitting Lynch to put Lee out with a Manhandle Slam. WWE clearly is not finished with Rollins and Punk’s entanglement and in the event that they need to proceed down that path, it does not make a lot sense for the challenger to lose — particularly alongside his spouse, who’s returning to the ring for the primary time in additional than a decade. Choose: CM Punk & AJ Lee win — Brent Brookhouse (additionally Shakiel Mahjouri)
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar: Lesnar beating Cena is the good selection. The previous UFC heavyweight champion just lately returned and barely loses. Cena’s retirement tour lets him lose gracefully, he is portrayed as an getting older warrior (although Cena’s technically just a few months youthful than Lesnar). However, I am siding with Cena. He is already down 2-4 in his sequence with Lesnar, winless since reverting to a superb man, and may presumably lose his retirement match. Beating Lesnar provides extra weight to him to Cena’s remaining loss, and provides Cena a sentimental victory of their saga. Actually, each males are bulletproof from defeat so the outcomes does not matter, however I believe there’s extra profit to having Cena’s hand raised. Choose: John Cena wins — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)
Ladies’s World Championship — Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer: Sky has confirmed a greater than succesful champion — which is not harm by the actual fact she’s had a case as the perfect wrestler on this planet for the previous 12 months. However there are many issues for Sky to do with out the belt as her drama with the Kabuki Warriors is ramping up. Vaquer profitable places the belt on a comparatively new face who can greater than maintain up her finish within the ring and proceed to construct up the highest finish of the ladies’s locker room. Choose: Stephanie Vaquer wins the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
Undisputed WWE Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: I’ve misplaced hope that WWE will reward McIntyre with a correct world title reign. Particularly proper now when he does not have a lot momentum. I do not assume WWE places the undisputed WWE title on McIntyre, however he may sneak out a win to increase the feud. There is a third occasion concerned on this match: Randy Orton. McIntyre is feuding with each males, principally impartial of each other. I think Orton assaults McIntyre, awarding the Scotsman a disqualification win. Orton’s actions will construct stress between him and Rhodes, resulting in a triple menace match and Orton turning heel on his former pupil. Choose: Drew McIntyre wins by DQ, Cody Rhodes retains the title — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)
The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) vs. The Imaginative and prescient (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed): Jey Uso appears to be snapping as his failures have added up since dropping the world heavyweight championship. His reference to Jimmy is rocky and now he has made an enemy of LA Knight. It is in all probability Knight who decides who wins this one, both aiding the Usos or in some way costing them the match. It feels essentially the most coherent story beat is for The Imaginative and prescient to get the win and Jey to slip additional down no matter path he’s on. Choose: The Imaginative and prescient win — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)