Tag: Omos

WrestleMania 39: Start time, matches, predictions, how to watch

WrestleMania 39 is less than a week away, and we get you set to watch all of the action in Los Angeles.

For pro wrestling fans, there’s no better time of year than WrestleMania. Even people who wouldn’t call WWE their favorite variety of the art form get excited for the company’s biggest show of the year, descending on whatever city is hosting.

In this case of WrestleMania 39, it’s Los Angeles, where SoFi Stadium will play host to two nights of the best WWE has to offer. Historically, that’s often meant a number of older stars who may only wrestle once or twice a year.

Not so much this time, where with the exception of John Cena (and yes, including him in that category makes you wonder where time has gone) and a couple of all-time women’s division greats, the focus is very much on the talent and stories WWE has around on a regular basis.

The headlining attraction will see Cody Rhodes attempt to knock Roman Reigns off his perch atop WWE. The emotional high point of the event may come when Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens take on The Usos for their tag team titles in the culmination of one of wrestling’s grandest longform narratives. And there are plenty of other title bouts and matches with compelling hooks up and down the card.

Will that be enough to make it feel special if WWE plays it pretty straightforward throughout? The guess is that the answer will be yes, as the venue and crowd will ensure the event feels larger than life. Here’s a rundown on everything you need to know as WrestleMania Goes Hollywood.

WWE WrestleMania 39

  • Date: April 1-2, 2023
  • Location: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
  • Start time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT both nights
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., and on WWE Network in the rest of the world
  • Matches announced: 13

Additional WrestleMania 39 resources

Please scroll down for a look at each match, including our predictions.

WWE Raw results: Cody Rhodes is ready for WrestleMania

WWE Raw results for March 27, 2023 from Phoenix, where Cody Rhodes took on Solo Sikoa in the main event.

Can you feel that? It’s WrestleMania 39, coming up quickly now. The final WWE Raw prior to the Show of Shows is tonight in Phoenix, and while it’s probably not wise to expect anything Earth-shaking, there are still some big things happening.

We mean that literally, too. Brock Lesnar and Omos will collide in Los Angeles, providing fans with the rare site of Lesnar being the smaller man in a fight. The WWE Universe will find out how much smaller on Raw, as the two titans will have a pre-WrestleMania weigh-in. And yes, that’s not usually a thing in pro wrestling, but you can’t deny it’s somewhat fascinating in this context.

Want big matches instead? This show will have one of those for sure. Cody Rhodes is less than a week away from his chance to “finish the story,” but he’s got a big test in the form of Solo Sikoa. Will Cody’s attempt to get inside Solo’s head the past few weeks pay off, or will the street champ be able to soften up the American Nightmare to make things easier for the Tribal Chief?

The Miz has certainly been letting us know whenever possible what a big deal it is to be the host of WrestleMania 39, and he’s going to head into Hollywood with one final episode of Miz TV. His guests will be none other than a trio of legendary women’s division champs, and you can probably guess who we mean: Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus.

WWE Raw results in 90 seconds:

  • Miz TV welcomes three legends, yet Damage CTRL isn’t going to let them go without a confrontation
  • Becky Lynch def. IYO SKY by pinfall
  • A video package plays up the accomplishments of Asuka and looks ahead to her WrestleMania challenge of Bianca Belair
  • We see Logan Paul boasting last Monday before Seth Rollins is interviewed backstage, and he’s not crazy about Mustafa Ali trying to put his positive spin on things, which leads to them facing each other tonight
  • Seth Rollins def. Mustafa Ali by pinfall, then cuts a promo on Paul
  • Baron Corbin complains to Adam Pearce, who has to break away to deal with Chelsea Green, who finally gets into the WrestleMania Showcase match with a partner who is equally disgruntled with AP: Sonya Deville
  • Omos and Brock Lesnar hit the scales … well, one of them does, anyway
  • A video package is shown for Charlotte Flair before Rhea Ripley says Charlotte’s unmatched legacy will not define her destiny — and she needs Charlotte’s championship for that
  • Finn Balor warns Edge there’s nothing more dangerous than a caged demon
  • Street Profits, Braun Strowman and Ricochet def. Alpha Academy and Viking Raiders by pinfall
  • Cody Rhodes is asked if he put himself in a vulnerable position by taking this match against Solo Sikoa, and he insists that he will make Solo realize he’s not ready before going on to beat Roman Reigns this weekend
  • A video package is shown to promote Bianca Belair
  • Austin Theory cuts a promo in an empty arena to prove he doesn’t do it for the fans, he does it for himself, and he’s going to make the fans stop believing in John Cena this Saturday at WrestleMania
  • Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green def. Michin and Candice LeRae by pinfall in a WrestleMania Showcase qualifying match
  • Heyman says flat out that Solo isn’t there to compete, but to ensure Cody isn’t at 100% come Sunday
  • Rey Mysterio def. Damian Priest by DQ thanks to interference by Dominik Mysterio, and Legado Del Fantasma has to save Rey fafter a short post-match beating
  • The contestants for the Andre the Giant Battle Royal are posted on the wall, and Rick Boogs is really excited to be in it while Elias is less thrilled after seeing some of the others who are too
  • Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens talk about how their match against The Usos is extra special because L.A. is where they got their first big break
  • Gunther def. Dolph Ziggler by pinfall
  • Cody Rhodes def. Solo Sikoa by pinfall

Please scroll down for more details on every match and major non-match segment.

Opening Bell: Last shows before WrestleMania, Adam Cole returns on Dynamite

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, March 27, Footprint Center, Phoenix

Hey, it’s the week of WrestleMania! We made it. Good job everyone. The question now is if Cody Rhodes will make it to the end of the week and his date with destiny.

See, not surprisingly, the Bloodline is making it as difficult as possible for him to arrive in Los Angeles in one piece. To that end, he has to face the group’s enforcer, Solo Sikoa, this week on Raw. He’s bravely told Sikoa he’s not ready for the top level of WWE, but we’ll see if he ends up eating those words — painfully — in Phoenix.

Another big match for WrestleMania, and we mean that literally, will see Brock Lesnar go toe to toe with Omos. To emphasize just how large they are, Raw will host a weigh-in for them, something generally seen in boxing and MMA but should provide some entertainment value in this context as well.

Here’s what else WWE is promising for the final Raw before the Show of Shows:

  • Miz TV will welcome Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus as guests
  • The team slated for the Fatal 4-Way WrestleMania Showcase tag team match will engage in an eight-man tag match, which works out perfectly since there are two fan favorite teams and two villainous duos … but will Otis tear himself away from his modeling career long enough to participate?

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, March 29, Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis

That Kenny Omega. He put his body on the line last week in a bout that lived up to all the hype against El Hijo del Vikingo, and does he take a week off? Absolutely not.

Omega is right back in there this week on Dynamite, facing Jeff Cobb. The NJPW talent has never had a chance to fight Omega in a singles match, but he promised to come looking for Kenny this week, and AEW has made it easier for him to do so by booking them in a match instead of making him literally knock on Omega’s door.

Oh, and it’s for Omega’s IWGP United States Championship, a title we forgot he held.

But an even more exciting match is also scheduled for Dynamite, as Adam Cole (bay bay!) is making his long awaited return from injury. While Cole was ready to name his first opponent after months on the shelf last week, Daniel Garcia talked his way into the spot instead. We’ll see if that proves to be a mistake.

Dynamite has some other great stuff announced as well, including:

  • Orange Cassidy puts his AEW International Championship on the line yet again, this time against The Butcher
  • “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry goes up against Matt Hardy
  • Willow Nightingale will have to keep her head on a swivel for the rest of The Outcasts when she takes on Ruby Soho
  • The Blackpool Combat Club will be in trios action against Dalton Castle and The Boys

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, March 31, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles

This is the absolute last WWE show prior to WrestleMania, the “so close you can taste it” edition of SmackDown. While you can’t expect anything that will mess up the Showcase of the Immortals too much as a result, there’s still some interesting stuff planned.

For starters, Rhodes and Roman Reigns will have their final face-off. Is there anything left to be said, any small mental advantage one of them could still gain? We’ll find out Friday night.

That goes for the Intercontinental Championship situation as well. Drew McIntyre and Sheamus are both vying to win that title, and their friendship has unraveled because of it. Yet they’ll have to try to put their disagreements aside to battle Imperium, or else they risk Gunther having a leg up on both of them come WrestleMania.

Finally, the Andre the Giant Battle Royal has become a tradition for WrestleMania, but this time it will take place the night before the Showcase of the Immortals instead. See who ends up taking the big trophy this year on SmackDown.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, March 31, Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis (recorded on March 29)

You might have heard there’s a lot of wrestling going on this week, much of it in Los Angeles. As a result, there’s every chance Rampage will get swallowed up in everything else going on. But nevertheless, it will air this week in its regular time, in contrast to the last two weeks.

As usual, AEW social channels and Dynamite should let us know what to expect before Friday night rolls around.

WrestleMania 39 guide for lapsed WWE fans: Everything you need to know for WrestleMania Goes Hollywood

Been away from WWE for a while? We get you ready for WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles in just a few minutes.

If you don’t watch WWE regularly but are going to check out one event a year, WrestleMania is it. Not only is it the culmination of everything the company does for one whole trip around the sun, it’s also a spectacle the likes of which no other pro wrestling event can match.

We’re talking sold out crowds in huge stadiums, which is the case again this year. WrestleMania 39, also known as WrestleMania Goes Hollywood, will take place April 1-2 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. It will once again be a huge deal, likely setting multiple WWE records for revenue and ticket sales, though probably not attendance.

There’s always the chance for extra attention for the wider world of entertainment at WrestleMania as well, though the talent involved in this year’s show is almost all from the roster of men and women who perform on WWE TV every week. One notable exception comes to mind, and we’ll get to him in a bit.

So if you haven’t watched WWE in a while, or even years, no worries. We’re going to get you up to speed with a quick summary of everything you need to know to watch on Peacock (or WWE Network if you’re outside the U.S.) without feeling lost.

Scroll on down and we’ll do this FAQ style.

WWE Raw results: Cody, Roman try to one-up each other mentally

Live WWE Raw results for March 20, 2023 from St. Louis, with Roman Reigns and Logan Paul both scheduled to appear.

It’s not easy to get one over mentally on Seth Rollins. The Visionary is usually the one living rent free in people’s heads, but Logan Paul seems to have flipped the script on Rollins, and will attempt to ensure that remains the case tonight on WWE Raw in one of the very best pro wrestling markets, St. Louis.

Paul is scheduled to do a live version of “Impaulsive TV” on Raw, which hopefully will include Logan, Mike and George because they deserve to be on TV too. Yet Rollins is unlikely to just hang back and let this all go down without getting his say — or better yet from Seth’s perspective, getting his hands on the influencer.

Speaking of not just letting things go without being personally involved, Roman Reigns has watched from afar (we assume somewhere on the Island of Relevancy) as Cody Rhodes has stirred up even more trouble for the Bloodline by encouraging Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens to get past their differences and join forces.

With WrestleMania now less than two weeks away, the Tribal Chief can’t just let things play out when they’re definitely not looking up for his family, so he’ll be on Raw this week to speak on the state of current events.

Last but not least, Austin Theory has his sights set on showing John Cena he’s the past at WrestleMania. But because he can’t help himself, he decided to pick some fights along the way, most recently with the Street Profits. Theory beat Angelo Dawkins last week, but he’ll have to contend with an angry Montez Ford this Monday. And he might not like Tez when he’s angry.

WWE Raw results in 90 seconds:

  • Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are back on the same page, but The Usos never left theirs, and the two duos agree to settle things at WrestleMania
  • Austin Theory def. Montez Ford by pinfall
  • Roman Reigns tells The Usos the night’s not off to the best start, and he hopes Jimmy is right about taking care of Sami and KO at WrestleMania … oh, and he wants Jey to stay after dismissing everyone else
  • Roman asks Jey flat out if he’s Bloodline, and Jey says he is, to which Reigns says, “I hope so. That’s all I needed to hear.” … and “I love you”
  • Chelsea Green asks Adam Pearce if it’s OK for Piper Niven to be her tag team partner since Carmella is unavailable, and demands that she be put in the tag team showcase at WrestleMania
  • A video package promotes the Brock Lesnar-Omos Wrestlemania match, focusing on stats that emphasize how large both men are
  • Omos def. Mustafa Ali by pinfall
  • The Miz stops Logan Paul in the hallway and gets shot down as the guest for “Impaulsive TV”
  • Impaulsive TV is crashed by Seth Rollins, who ends up laid out again after a brawl
  • Dominik Mysterio def. Johnny Gargano by pinfall, then tells his dad he’s going to ask the matriarch of the Mysterio family on SmackDown if they can fight at WrestleMania
  • Paul Heyman tells The Usos that the seafood has been delivered to the jet and Reigns wants them to eat well, but not Solo Sikoa as Roman wants to talk to him
  • Edge cuts a dimly lit promo warning Finn Balor what will happen inside Hell in a Cell, even quoting scripture and invites Finn to bring the demon to meet the devil at WrestleMania
  • Rhea Ripley gets some promo time to deliver another message to Charlotte Flair, but Bayley and Damage CTRL want to show her Raw is their show
  • Rhea Ripley def. Bayley by pinfall as Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus and Lita neutralize Damage CTRL
  • Chad Gable finds Otis getting a manicure and a facial but is able to persuade him to come out and back him for his match with Ricochet
  • Ricochet def. Chad Gable by pinfall
  • Bianca Belair and Asuka def. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven by pinfall
  • Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes poke at each other’s insecurities, with Reigns eventually walking out and calling Solo Sikoa off from attacking Cody

Please scroll down for live updates and more details on every match and major non-match segment.

WWE Raw results: KO pays for his insistence on fighting alone

Live WWE Raw results for March 13, 2023 from Providence, with Solo Sikoa trying to take out Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes facing LA Knight.

Things haven’t gone so well for the Bloodline as they attempt to get rid of the pests named Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, who continue to hassle them despite being clear (on KO’s part, anyway) that they aren’t going to join forces and work together. But maybe the right person just hasn’t been unleashed yet, and Solo Sikoa might be that person tonight on WWE Raw in Providence.

Not only is Sikoa the most physically intimidating member of the Bloodline other than the Tribal Chief himself, he’s also the least likely to question orders. That means he’ll be right at home trying to take out Owens during a Street Fight, though those kinds of matches are also no DQ, so … sorry, just thinking out loud.

Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania opponent will also be in action this week. Cody Rhodes has drifted more and more into the direct path of the Bloodline, so he’ll want to watch his back while also staying focused on defeating LA Knight.

Two more matches either confirmed or expected for WrestleMania should take another step forward this week. Brock Lesnar has already given his blessing to a showdown with Omos, but we’ll actually see them in the same ring on Raw. And the same should be true of Finn Balor and Edge after the latter’s challenge, so maybe they’ll decide to make a Mania moment official as well.

With three additional matches being promoted, it’s safe to say this episode of Raw is loaded up. That’s good news if you decide to tune in tonight at 8 p.m. on USA to bear witness to all of it, but even if you can’t, that’s what we’ll be doing tonight at that time so we can bring you live WWE Results as they take place. ‘Cause that’s how we do.

WWE Raw results in 90 seconds:

  • Edge and Finn Balor agree to Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania
  • Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest def. Johnny Gargano and Dexter Lumis by pinfall
  • Cathy Kelley wants to know if The Miz would consider a WrestleMania co-host, but they’re distracted by Damage CTRL beating the crap out of Trish Stratus backstage
  • Omos and Brock Lesnar are in the same ring, at the same time, where Brock decides that yes, Omos is very big
  • Cody Rhodes def. LA Knight by pinfall …
  • … and gets some mic time for another passionate promo about how personal his WrestleMania quest is
  • How does Seth Rollins feel about getting KOed by Logan Paul? Better after he gets and accepts a challenge from Baron Corbin
  • Bronson Reed def. Elias by pinfall
  • Chad Gable continues searching for Otis, while Becky Lynch and Lita are worried about Trish
  • Kevin Owens wishes Sami Zayn the best but doesn’t need or want help form him or Rhodes
  • We relive the John Cena-Austin Theory segment from last week’s Raw
  • The Street Profits tease Austin Theory about that Cena promo, but he fires back nicely and ends up challenging Angelo Dawkins to a match
  • Austin Theory def. Angelo Dawkins by pinfall
  • Paul Heyman says Rhodes making this personal to Roman Reigns is a mistake he’ll regret, and taunts Cody to acknowledge his Tribal Chief in person next week on Raw
  • Rey Mysterio gets another visit from Dominik Mysterio, who challenges him to a WrestleMania match; Rey still refuses
  • Seth Rollins def. Baron Corbin by pinfall
  • Mustafa Ali wants Gable to be more positive, but he’s not smiling when he finds Otis posing it up with MMM
  • Bianca Belair def. Chelsea Green by pinfall but gets a dose of Asuka mind games afterward
  • Solo Sikoa def. Kevin Owens by pinfall in a Street Fight thanks to assistance from The Usos

Please scroll down for more details on every match and major non-match segment.

Opening Bell: WrestleMania callouts continue, Winnipeg welcomes AEW

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, March 13, Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI

Eight matches are set for WrestleMania 39, but guess what? That’s not enough to fill up two days of action from SoFi Stadium.

Raw is going to help with that, it appears. Edge wants Finn Balor to face him man to man so they can settle things between them once and for all. Three guesses how this is likely to end, and the first two don’t count. So, uh, one guess, that is.

Brock Lesnar has (somewhat surprisingly) already accepted a WrestleMania meeting with Omos. What we haven’t seen yet is the two men in the same ring so we can all go, “Hey, Omos is way taller than Brock, wow!” We’ll get that opportunity on Raw.

Here’s what else to expect this Monday on USA:

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, March 15, Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg

You may have heard that Candian pro wrestling fans are pretty great. You may have also heard that AEW Dynamite does well when it visits a city for the first time. Both of those things are true, and both are relevant this week when AEW makes its debut in Winnipeg.

The company will try to repay the sure to be live crowd with a big match starring two of its favorite sons. Kenny Omega and The Elite will battle Chris Jericho and the Jericho Appreciation Society and current titleholders House of Black in a triple threat match for the AEW World Trios Championship.

Orange Cassidy is also done defending his All-Atlantic Championship … because it’s now the AEW International Championship. Jeff Jarrett will attempt to ensure that his reign ends as soon as it begins on Dynamite.

Here’s everything else AEW is promoting for Winnipeg:

  • Hangman Adam Page and the Dark Order (including Canada’s own Stu Grayson) will do the trios thing too against Blackpool Combat Club
  • TBS Champion Jade Cargill will accept an open challenge from any Canadian opponent
  • MJF will have his re-bar mitzvah celebration
  • We’ll hear from The Outcasts, which is what Saraya, Toni Storm and Ruby Soho are now calling themselves
  • QTV will make its debut

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, March 17, T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO

One match wasn’t enough to determine who Gunther will face in an Intercontinental Championship defense at WrestleMania. So this week’s SmackDown will attempt to settle that issue, with Sheamus and Drew McIntyre battling for the opportunity.

The two longtime rivals turned friends may be back to their old status quo now after both pinned opponents at the exact same time last week (that was the first match we referred to above). If one can defeat the other man to man, they’ll move on to the title match in L.A. … but we have a feeling there might be more hijinks involved.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, March 17, Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg (recorded March 15)

It’s a holiday edition of sorts for Rampage this week, with the broadcast taking place on St. Patrick’s Day. Even though it’s being pre-taped Wednesday, AEW does an excellent job of celebrating whatever is going on when Rampage actually airs (like it did on NBA All-Star weekend, for example), so it’s no surprise this is being billed as St. Patrick’s Day Slam.

While we know AEW will play up that theme to the hilt, we don’t know yet what matches are booked for Friday night. As is often the case, keep an eye on both the company’s social media accounts and this week’s Dynamite to get more insight.

WWE Raw results: John Cena roasts Austin Theory, Jey Uso makes his choice

Get WWE Raw results updated live for the March 6 show from Boston, with John Cena and Logan Paul both scheduled to appear.

Guessing you may have heard about the big hook for tonight’s episode of Raw from the TD Garden in Boston: John Cena is back, baby.

Boston is his hometown after all. And there’s that not so secret rumored match between him and Austin Theory WWE is likely to be setting up for WrestleMania, so … time to get on that.

But that’s not the only big name confrontation we can expect to see tonight. Seth Rollins and Logan Paul have been circling each other for some time, a situation that was definitely not helped by Paul playing an active role in ensuring Rollins took an ‘L’ at Elimination Chamber.

The Visionary got fed up and finally called for Paul to meet him face to face in Boston, and the social media personality and annoyingly good part-time wrestler took him up on it. Can we expect shots to be exchanged on Raw? We think so.

Ah, but those showdowns aren’t expected to lead to matches tonight since they’re being saved for L.A. Happily, there’s plenty of in-ring action on the slate for the TD Garden as well.

Oh, and Vince McMahon is reportedly backstage. Make of that what you will.

WWE Raw results in 90 seconds:

  • Paul Heyman goes over the plans for tonight with Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa, expressing confidence but then immediately calling Roman Reigns when they walk away
  • Kevin Owens def. Solo Sikoa by DQ due to interference by Jimmy Uso, but refuses a hand from Sami Zayn even after Zayn saves him from a post-match beating
  • Bobby Lashley says he’s tired of Bray Wytt’s kid games and questions whether Bray is man enough to face him, even as Bray’s symbol flashes behind him
  • Carmella disses Adam Pearce, and Chelsea Green likes that vibe and agrees to be in her corner tonight
  • Bianca Belair def. Carmella by pinfall, then gets help after the bell from Asuka, who spits the blue mist on Green
  • Zayn insists to Owens that they don’t need to be friends again, but the Bloodline is too big for either of them to take down alone … and his plea once again fails to persuade KO
  • The Miz tries to moderate a showdown between Seth Rollins and Logan Paul, but it spirals out of his control and includes a WrestleMania challenge
  • Omos def. Dolph Ziggler by pinfall, and MVP warns Brock Lesnar he’s made a big mistake
  • Baron Corbin is upset the Maximum Male Models are more interested in Otis than him, but Maxxine Dupri says maybe they can work together if he takes care of Chad Gable
  • Heyman gives Jimmy Uso a pep talk that also kind of sounds like a “don’t mess this up” warning
  • Johnny Gargano def. Finn Balor by pinfall thanks to some timely intervention by Edge
  • Byron Saxton wants a comment from Edge, who challenges Balor to meet him alone in the ring next week
  •  Piper Niven def. Nikki Cross by pinfall
  • Elias tells Rick Boogs that he needs to learn by doing it himself, meaning challenging Bronson Reed? Except he says Elias wants to fight him, and welp
  • John Cena returns to destroy Austin Theory on the mic, but he does accept Theory’s challenge to a match at WrestleMania
  • Zayn is still bummed about his failure to get Owens on his side, but seems ready to channel that frustration into his match with Jimmy Uso
  • Chad Gable def. Baron Corbin by submission
  • Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus are interrupted by Damage CTRL, and end up setting up a six-woman tag for WrestleMania
  • Sami Zayn def. Jimmy Uso by pinfall, but gets fooled by Jey Uso, who superkicks him after teasing siding with him; the Bloodline attacks Zayn until Cody Rhodes makes the save as Raw fades to black

Please scroll down for more details on every match and major non-match segment.

Opening Bell: Pre-Revolution AEW shows, Roman Reigns scheduled for SmackDown

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, Feb. 27, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich.

WWE has blessed us with a lot more insight into what to expect this Monday than some weeks, when it’s like three hours before the show and there’s been one match and one other segment promoted. For Grand Rapids, there’s much more starting with a tag team title match pitting Becky Lynch and Lita against Damage CTRL. Lita with WWE gold in the Year of Our Lord 2023 would be pretty wild, but we’re close enough that it feels quite possible.

Speaking of things no one saw coming, Omos‘ challenge to Brock Lesnar falls into that same category. The Nigerian Giant is awaiting a response, so we’ll see if the Beast Incarnate shows up to give him one this week.

Who’s ready for Asuka? Carmella claims she is, but that might not actually be the case since the Empress of Tomorrow is acting spookier and more unpredictable than ever. We’ll see what’s what when they compete on Raw.

Also on tap for Grand Rapids:

  • The Miz will host a WrestleMania edition of Miz TV and perhaps discuss his own plans for the Showcase of the Immortals
  • Candice LeRae will attempt to not become the latest victim of Piper Niven

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, March 1, Cow Palace, San Francisco

Though there are no actual cows at the Cow Palace, it’s certainly a historic venue and a fitting one for the final Dynamite before Revolution. As such, it’s a loaded show that will answer who will be the Face of the Revolution with the ladder match of the same name. A bunch of big and intriguing names are in it, with Samoa Joe on commentary, so it should be fun.

Another bout that could be high on entertainment value is the Casino Tag Team Battle Royale. This one will have a direct effect on the Revolution card, as the winning team will be entered into the four-way dance for the AEW World Tag Team Championship.

And if you want a final dose of dueling microphones before the PPV, you’ll get it for the biggest match on the card as MJF and Bryan Danielson will get their final say. The champ, as he is wont to do, took things too far last week, which led to punches being thrown. We’d be shocked if there wasn’t a high chance of that happening again this Wednesday.

Here’s what else AEW is promoting for Dynamite:

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, March 3, Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.

The nation’s capital plays host to SmackDown this week, and the big news is that Roman Reigns is scheduled to appear. The Tribal Chief has been sitting in the background watching drama continue to swirl around the Bloodline even after he defeated Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber. What will the champ have to say?

A pair of women’s matches have also been announced for the show. Rhea Ripley, who is pursuing the SmackDown title at WrestleMania, will battle Liv Morgan in a match that Charlotte Flair will no doubt be watching closely. Plus Ronda Rousey, who didn’t appear to know who Tegan Nox was last week, will tag with BFF Shayna Baszler to face Nox and Natalya.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, March 1, Cow Palace, San Francisco

Two nights before Revolution, AEW Rampage is live from the Cow Palace. Live editions of the show are always that little bit better than the recorded ones, and this should be no different.

No matches have been announced yet, but that could change even prior to Dynamite this week, so keep an eye on AEW’s social media accounts for some hints on what will be offered up this Friday.

WrestleMania 39 card update: Only 3 matches official, but several more rounding into shape

Here’s how the WrestleMania 39 card is shaping up with just over five weeks to go until L.A.

As we speed toward the final month before WrestleMania 39, Elimination Chamber is now in the books. That means no more premium live events between here and Los Angeles, which in turn means the rounding out of the WrestleMania Goes Hollywood card will take place on the next few weeks of Raw and SmackDown.

Elimination Chamber settled one big question about Mania, which is whether WWE would call an audible and work Sami Zayn into the main event mix — either by defeating Roman Reigns in Montreal, or because seeds were sown that he’d be added into a triple threat situation. That almost certainly won’t be the case now, as Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes is the advertised main event (presumably for night 2), while Zayn will likely work his way toward teaming with Kevin Owens to face The Usos.

Another piece of the WrestleMania puzzle slid into place when Asuka, as expected, won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match and the right to challenge Bianca Belair for her Raw Women’s Championship. Both women’s title matches are now set.

There’s still plenty left to materialize, as last year’s show had 16 total matches (seven on the first night, nine on the second). Here’s how things stand 38 days away from SoFi Stadium.

WrestleMania 39 confirmed matches

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match
  • Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley – WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship match
  • Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka – WWE Raw Women’s Championship match

WrestleMania 39 expected matches

  • The Usos (c) vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens – Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match
    • While KO rebuffed Sami’s pleas to work together to take down the Bloodline, it would be surprising if they didn’t end up banding together, even grudgingly, to challenge for the gold. Zayn’s accidental shot to Jey Uso on Raw was a sign their roller coaster ride of a story isn’t done yet either.
  • Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
    • Paul ruined Rollins’ chances at a clear path to WrestleMania, something fans know Seth’s character hates from previous years. This feels like a matchup that will be made official soon.
  • Austin Theory vs. John Cena
    • We’ve yet to see these two interact on WWE TV, but that’s because Cena simply hasn’t been around much. The March 6 episode of Raw, for which Cena has been advertised and is in his hometown of Boston, will go a long way toward cementing this program.

WrestleMania 39 rumored matches

  • Brock Lesnar vs. Omos
    • While MVP’s challenge to Lesnar this week set off the swerve radar of many fans, reliable outlets claim this is indeed the plan for now. It’s certainly a cap in Omos’ feather if WWE stays on this course, but will he get the rub considering how little the company has pushed him the last few months?
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Bray Wyatt
    • Since Lesnar vs. Lashley doesn’t appear to be in the cards, this is the other half of their equation. Lashley has floated back and forth between heel and face a bunch, but he’d certainly be the heel, and just hope that his straightforward super athlete presentation works with whatever Wyatt has planned.
  • Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio
    • There’s been little movement toward this as both men have been involved in other subplots, but Dominik suggested he’d visit SmackDown this week with Ripley to say hi to his dad, so that could put this father-son clash back on track.
  • Edge vs. Finn Balor
    • Edge declared his quest to topple The Judgment Day behind him, but Balor came out and beat him down at the end of Raw … which means they very well could have one more match, possibly with a stipulation of some sort.

Biggest questions left for WrestleMania 39 card

  • Becky Lynch, Lita, Bayley, Damage CTRL … and maybe Trish Stratus?
    • A “creative change” reportedly scuttled Stratus’ appearance on Raw in Ottawa, and now Lynch and Lita are facing Damage CTRL for their tag team titles next week. Unless Dakota Kai is too injured to compete, it would make sense for all six women to be in a match at WrestleMania, but at the very least, Lynch and Bayley are two big names that can’t be left off the card.
  • Gunther, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus
    • Gunther absolutely deserves a big match at Mania considering the run he’s on as Intercontinental Champion. McIntyre and Sheamus have been focused on other things as of late, including a beef with the Viking Raiders, but fans would be delighted if this turned into a triple threat match — and WrestleMania almost always has one of them.

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