Match Predictions and Heat Index Anticipation Levels
Temperature Scale = Scorching > Hot > Lukewarm > Temperate > Chilly > Cold > Freezing
Heat Index is my assessment of how interesting the segment is, including how excited I am for the match and how intriguing the feud has been. The hotter, the better. Scorching translates to not being able to wait to see it, while Freezing means I couldn’t possibly care less and think it will be awful.
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Drew McIntyre
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Bobby Lashley wins.
Thoughts: If all things go well, these three should have the ability to beat the tar out of each other. It won’t be the most unpredictable match of the year, but it should be a fun spectacle to watch them go at it in this No DQ environment. I’m curious who takes the fall to allow Lashley to retain, or if one of them actually taps out. My guess is Strowman gets pinned, but even that curiosity has me interested here.
UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cesaro
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Roman Reigns wins.
Thoughts: Isn’t it great Cesaro is getting a proper title shot? Admittedly, it would be better if he had any chance at all in winning the title, but it’s still a moral victory. Reigns is certainly retaining, but I think WWE will book this in a way where Cesaro looks strong even in defeat. That way, we get a good match out of it, he doesn’t look like a schlub, but The Tribal Chief stays on top. I’m down to see them battle it out.
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Rhea Ripley wins.
Thoughts: On paper, this seems great. There’s a good chance it’s one of the better matches of the night. However, I have to keep it from Scorching because I’m just perpetually tired of Charlotte Flair in this type of atmosphere. She’s fantastic in so many ways, but I think whenever she’s given a bigger priority over even the champion—especially someone who she’s already humiliated for no reason last year—it’s hard to get as invested in it. The same goes for when I can imagine Asuka’s only in this match so she can take the fall, preventing Flair from losing, but also not forcing Ripley to drop the title. This could be so much better if WWE wasn’t just ruining the good will with The Queen all the time. Lord help us if she wins the title, too. It can happen.
SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Bianca Belair (c) vs. Bayley
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Bianca Belair wins.
Thoughts: Again, both are great, but I’ve seen it before and I don’t have a lot of faith we’re getting something drastically different. This is a filler feud. It’s a means to give Belair a win over an established, big name, while killing time before doing another rematch with Sasha Banks. I’m sure it will be fine, but I can’t be super duper excited about it. The way I see it, thumbs up, but only in Orange Cassidy fashion where I’m not enthusiastically hyped. It’s much better than going for Belair against some of the other options on SmackDown, that’s for sure.
SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode (c) vs. Dominik and Rey Mysterio
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: The Mysterios win.
Thoughts: If Dominik and Rey win the titles, it begs the question “Why didn’t this happen at WrestleMania in front of fans, or on the pre-Mania episode of SmackDown? What’s the benefit of them coming up short, then earning another rematch and winning again, other than wasting time and stalling?” On the other hand, if Dirty Dawgs retain, the question will be “Why did you bother setting up another rematch just for nothing to happen but to repeat the same outcome as before?” WWE books itself into no-win scenarios like this, but at least if the titles change hands, it’ll be more interesting and a benefit for Dominik to get this notch on his belt, so to speak.
LUMBERJACK MATCH:
Damian Priest vs. The Miz
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: The Miz wins.
Thoughts: It’s well documented at this point that I’m not fond of WWE doing the same match or a very slight variation of it 20 times over. We’ve seen this a lot. It’s lost nearly all of its value. But at least they included the lumberjack stipulation to help keep it a little interesting. In fact, that’s what I’m most intrigued about. I think someone is going to cost Damian Priest the match and kickstart a new feud, which is why I have The Miz winning. If it’s just Priest beating Miz, it’ll be kind of lame, even though I’m a fan of both guys.
OVERALL PPV:
How excited am I for the event as a whole?
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Thoughts: Some rematches or close to them. I’m anticipating a lot of belts retaining and not much in the way of talking points. But hey, maybe low expectations will help me enjoy this more.
What do you think is going to happen at WWE WrestleMania Backlash? Which matches are you most excited to see? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
