Welcome to Fantasy Booking: WWE WrestleMania 39! In this world, I look to create the best possible card, a card better than the one we may be getting this weekend.
There are only a few rules for this fantasy booking. I can only change storylines/events from after SummerSlam 2022. The reason being, SummerSlam was essentially the start of the Triple H regime making decisions on creative. I also cannot use injured wrestlers, such as AJ Styles, Big E, etc. Also, I can obviously not bring people back from the dead or bring back released superstars (i.e., Sasha Banks and Naomi).
It’s time to introduce my WrestleMania 39 card!
WrestleMania 39 Night One (In Match Order):
#1 Contender’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (Pre-Show)
Notable Participants: Baron Corbin, Braun Strowman, Butch, Chad Gable, Damian Priest, Dexter Lumis, Dolph Ziggler, Finn Balor, Johnny Gargano, Kofi Kingston, LA Knight, Madcap Moss, Otis, Ricochet, Ridge Holland, Santos Escobar, Shinsuke Nakamura, Xavier Woods
The battle royals should be on the WrestleMania 39 cards itself, not on the SmackDown prior. This match will be on the pre-show because two hours’ worth of just talking is not enjoyable television. I’m also making this a #1 Contender’s match for either the WWE Championship or Universal Championship (more on that later).
The Winner: Nakamura wins. This may be a surprising choice but judging on who I’d have take home the world titles after this show, Nakamura winning would set up a dream match on the next night’s Raw. I would have Nakamura last eliminate LA Knight, after Knight lays outside of the ring for most of the match. Despite losing, Gargano in particular has a great showing.
Fight Pit Match: Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar (w/ Special Guest Referee Kurt Angle)
This is a pretty obvious match to do at WrestleMania 39. I wouldn’t have had them fight multiple times before this though. They would’ve continued to tease a fight through the Saudi show in late 2022, and eventually fight to a no contest at the Royal Rumble PPV. This sets up a match inside the Fight Pit, a marquee match on the card, and what better way to make this match even more interesting, than with a Hall-of-Famer as the special guest referee, Kurt Angle. The match should be very physical, the crowd should be popping with this as the opener, and both wrestlers will just play a tweener type role, just wanting to beat the hell out of each other.
The Winner: Lesnar wins. It’s a tough call but ultimately, I’d go with Lesnar picking up the win, thus turning Lashley heel due to frustration on the Raw post-Mania.
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits (c) vs. Bronson Reed and Omos (w/MVP)
Okay keep up with me on this one. So, spoiler, there are no undisputed tag team champions. The Usos lose the Raw Tag Team titles to The Street Profits around SummerSlam. Street Profits have had a good run with the belts until a newly created team, formed by MVP, of Bronson Reed and Omos comes to life. I think this team makes sense and ultimately, creating a makeshift tag team was the only option to have an intriguing Raw Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania. Reed and Omos are the dominant heels who despite originally being enemies due to trying to one up each other by decimating opponents, realize what damage they can do together as a team, once again, orchestrated by MVP.
The Winner: Reed and Omos win the titles. This isn’t a squash match per say, but it’s as close as you can get by not having to bury someone. About a five-minute match, as the new tag team champions have officially taken over the tag division on Raw.
WWE United States Championship Match: Austin Theory (c) vs. John Cena
This is the same scenario as what we’re actually getting on TV. Same type of feud (though not Cena completely destroying Theory on the mic as much as he did) and also for the United States Championship. The title being on the line adds more stakes so that is going to stay the same as well. It’s simple, no-brainer feud, and we will definitely see a very pro-Cena crowd in Hollywood.
The Winner: Theory retains. Cena winning would be a mistake. Theory wins in as clear of a victory as possible for a heel. Cena officially puts over Theory. You can also have Cena handshake Theory after the match, showing signs of respect, but that will most likely get booed anyways.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bayley and Becky Lynch vs. Lita and Trish Stratus
Damage CTRL is no more. Dakota Kai and Io Shirai drop the titles to Rousey and Baszler shortly after the Royal Rumble. Kai and Shirai turn on Bayley because they feel she is useless to the faction, and in comes Lynch backing up her former Horsewoman. However, the return of Lita and Stratus shakes things up, and we get a big-time triple threat match. The Horsewomen of UFC vs. The Horsewoman of WWE vs. The Legends/Pioneers of WWE. Match sells itself. Big time names. And the match should be good as well, plus generate great interest amongst the wrestling community.
The Winner: Rousey and Baszler retain. Trish and Lita don’t stand much of a chance. Whilst Bayley and Becky would more than likely be the crowd favorites, I would go with the heel champs staying on top. You can continue the feud with Rousey/Baszler and Bayley/Lynch up until the road to Money in the Bank, as most (if not all) should be potential participants in the women’s ladder match.
Singles Match: Sheamus vs. Solo Sikoa
In all honesty, this match was originally not on my card. However, Sheamus deserves something to do. So, here’s the backstory. Sheamus fails to win the title against Reigns (spoiler) towards the end of 2022. Sikoa, in defense of Reigns, injures Sheamus and puts him on the shelf until the Royal Rumble. Both men eventually make their way back to each other and set up a collision for WrestleMania. This match would be physical, aggressive, and be the first step in the demise of The Bloodline.
The Winner: Sheamus wins. Time for a babyface to go on top. Brogue Kick. Nuff Said.
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Asuka
This is the match that in my opinion, should be the title bout for WrestleMania. To me, the story could be brilliant. Asuka is in her Kana-esque gear and is essentially a heel that just beats everyone up. Asuka briefly explains that ever since Charlotte beat her at WrestleMania 34, she has felt like a failure and a disappointment to her past self when she wrestled in Japan. Asuka is looking for revenge and to right the wrongs WWE did to her. Flair is a “babyface” but is slowing becoming more heel on the road to Mania, since Asuka will be cheered regardless. Post-Mania, we’re in for a double turn, as Asuka finally defeats Flair on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
The Winner: Asuka wins the title. Asuka’s redemption arc comes full circle. This is what Asuka should’ve been, this is what she could’ve been, and WrestleMania 39 is where it begins.
WWE Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
Two world titles. Sure, Reigns holds both titles but only up until the Royal Rumble. He faces Rollins in a ladder match and both men pull down one title each, accidentally. Yes, it sounds cheesy, but I can’t change what happened before SummerSlam. Rhodes makes his grand return in the men’s royal rumble match, and wins, setting up this match for the WWE Championship. This is of course the way things should be in real time, as this feud is not over considering what Rollins did to an already injured Rhodes before he took his time off to heal. The story is simple, but it works. Rhodes wants to not only get revenge on Rollins but wants to finally become world champion in the company that his father/family has made a sizable impact on.
The Winner: Rhodes wins the title. Cody finally gets the championship that his father was, unfortunately, never able to win. Rhodes will be a fighting champion and like mentioned before, will face new #1 contender Shinsuke Nakamura on the Raw-post mania, a dream match for fans everywhere. A final image of Cody standing in the ring, tears in his eyes, holding up the WWE Championship ends our Night One of WrestleMania 39.
WrestleMania 39 Night Two (In Match Order):
#1 Contender’s WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal (Pre-Show)
Notable Participants: Candice LeRae, Carmella, Dakota Kai, Io Shirai, Lacey Evans, Liv Morgan, Mia Yim, Natalya, Nikki Cross, Piper Niven, Raquel Rodriguez
This is the same concept as the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, just this time for the women. Nothing more, nothing less. Battle royals are always (somewhat) fun so this should be a good start in the lead up to the main show for Night Two.
The Winner: Liv Morgan wins. This was a very tough decision on who to win. It ultimately comes down to Morgan, Rodriguez, and even Cross. Rodriguez comes up just short but that’s due to her not immediately losing because whoever wins this will not win the title. Build Rodriguez up some more and set her up for a match at SummerSlam instead. As for Cross, I think the same funny enough. A feud between her Asuka, two crazy and intense superstars, should be a match saved for a B-level PPV like Backlash or even a Saudi show with a cool stipulation. Morgan faces Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Championship on the SmackDown-post Mania, pleasing FOX as well.
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos (c) vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Change nothing. This has been perfect just the way it has been playing out on TV. Only difference is this match is only for the SmackDown tag titles. In this fantasy world there are good storylines/quality tag teams in order to have two tag titles. This match kicks off the Night Two card, as Owens and Zayn get their crowning moment with a HUGE amount of support from the Hollywood crowd.
The Winner: Owens and Zayn win the titles. Beautiful. This is your WrestleMania 39 Moment. Nuff Said.
Singles Match: Edge vs. Logan Paul
Let’s keep the crowd pumped with our next match. Edge and Paul may sound weird on paper, but I think could really work with the right storyline. In this scenario, Edge’s feud with The Judgement Day is finished by the end of 2022. Edge competes in the Royal Rumble and gets eliminated by Paul. From there, Paul becomes an annoying heel, bragging that he eliminated a WWE Hall-of-Famer, and goes on about how Paul’s legacy in life is greater than Edge’s ever can be. Just have Paul make a complete of himself in a cocky-bratty way. Edge is pissed, and challenges Paul to a match at WrestleMania.
The Winner: Edge wins. The real Hall-of-Famer shuts up Paul once and for all in a competitive and all-around entertaining match.
Falls Count Anywhere Match: Bray Wyatt vs. Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett)
I have to put Wyatt somewhere and ultimately this is the best spot for him. Now I purposely put Scarlett is with Kross because this feud is basically about her. I (kind of) like the idea of a Uncle Howdy but not the way WWE has done it. I would’ve have teased it for so long and would also have Wyatt be a babyface. He’s a babyface but is getting tormented by Uncle Howdy. Howdy views Scarlett as their new version of Sister Abigail and wants to bring her into the flock. Wyatt is reluctant as he doesn’t want to be like this anymore. You’ll get some spooky promos, weird antics, Scarlett being terrified, and eventually a Falls Count Anywhere matchup for Mania.
The Winner: Wyatt wins. Scarlett turns on Kross. Uncle Howdy is finally revealed to be Bo Dallas, as both Scarlett and Howdy stand side-by-side with Wyatt still skeptical.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Essentially the same feud that’s going on but just without Sheamus. Sheamus will eventually get back into the Intercontinental Championship title picture so that he can cross that off his resume, but a one-on-one match between GUNTHER and McIntyre would be must-see. They both want to prove her the best international wrestler is. Physical match. Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser get involved but are ultimately sent to the back by the referee.
The Winner: GUNTHER retains. Let’s keep this title reign going. McIntyre is growing stale as a babyface so he can use another loss to help spark his eventual heel turn. The title is eventually going to go to Sheamus at around SummerSlam, and GUNTHER should be the one dropping it to him.
-We’ve reached a little over the midway point of Night Two. Time for a break, some comedic relief, and to get the crowd back in great spirits. I’m keeping The Miz as the host of WrestleMania 39. He’ll have some funny segments backstage and eventually get confronted in the ring by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, who stuns him repeatedly and drinks many beers.
Mask vs. Hair Match: Dominik Mysterio vs. Rey Mysterio
I like the story that’s being played out on TV, so let’s stick with that in this Fantasy Booking. However, there is a twist. Mask vs. Hair Match. Rey loses, he has to give his mask to Dominik. If Dominik loses, he has to get humiliated at WrestleMania with his father shaving his ugly mullet. Great feud and the match has tons of potential.
The Winner: Rey Mysterio wins. Father prevails over son. Happy ending, but the feud is far from over.
WWE Raw Women’s Championship Match: Bianca Belair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Ripley wins the Royal Rumble and challenges Belair. The story here is that Ripley resents the fact that Belair has been looked at as the prodigy from NXT. Ripley is jealous, as she feels like she was passed aside for the new shiny toy. Belair has had a long reign up until this point and it’s totally fine for her to drop the title to Ripley here.
The Winner: Ripley wins the title. Ripley FINALLY gets her crowning moment at WrestleMania 39. This is only the beginning of her eventual long run with the championship.
WWE Universal Championship Match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. The Rock
I don’t care if this is cheating, The Rock’s schedule clears up and we get this match in the main event. The Rock shows up at the Elimination Chamber and confronts Reigns. The build is simply… who is the real Head of the Table of the family. The Usos are split on who to root for, whilst Sikoa is team Reigns. This is your big selling point on both nights. It should’ve happened this year and in this fantasy world it does.
The Winner: Reigns retains the title. The crowd is more split than you’d think, but The Rock is still the fan favorite. Despite losing, the WrestleMania audience isn’t too disappointed in a Reigns win. To end the night, the Rock bows to the crowd, signaling his retirement, foreshadowing his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2024.
How do you feel about my fantasy booking of WrestleMania 39? What would you change? Tell us what you think by leaving a comment down below!
