WWE WRESTLEMANIA 38 – SUNDAY
APRIL 3, 2022
AT&T STADIUM
ARLINGTON, TEXAS

Watch: Peacock

Full WrestleMania Weekend Schedule

Joey O’Doherty (@awesomeojoe), who hosts the Wild Thing Podcast, has watched enough WWE programming over the last few months to make him blow his brains out. Don’t let it be in vein, read below as he previews the second night of the most STUPDENDOUS WrestleMania in years. Stupendous is WWE verbiage for underwhelming right?

Edge vs. AJ Styles

Edge has gone to that dark place again. The Rated R Superstar, who is now so dark and twisted that his promos must exclusively occur with the assistance of dark lighting, takes on AJ Styles in what should be a very good pairing should these men click. The build up has been lazy WWE at its best, with no real meat or substance present. Edge clearly reckons himself as a good actor, as he overacts each and every segment he participates in. He’s just short of clasping a skull in his palm as he cuts his promos. At this point he’s the most accomplished thespian to grace WWE since Jeremy Piven don’t you know, yet WWE feel the need to hammer home how despicable he is with stupid purple mood-lighting. He faces AJ Styles, who despite being one of the best wrestlers in the last 20 years, has never really delivered a brilliant Mania match. While the build has been nothing to write hope about, this may steal the show on WrestleMania Sunday if AJ Styles can bring his A game. Both have it in their locker to deliver excellent wrestling, so fingers crossed. As to who wins, I really hope AJ gets the big win here but I don’t mind who wins if it’s a great match. Prediction: AJ Styles

Women’s Tag Team Championship
Queen Zelina & Carmella (c) vs. Naomi & Sasha Banks vs. Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan vs. Natalya and Shayna Baszler

The amount of underutilized talent in this match is astonishing. Rhea Ripley never recovered from being fed to Charlotte Flair many moons ago, Shayna Baszler has been an afterthought for the best part of two years since she was fed to Becky Lynch and, despite her obvious star power, mainstream appeal and excellent in-ring talent, Sasha Banks is relegated to a nothing “let’s get everyone on the card” filler match. Why WWE are hell-bent on doing nothing with Banks is beyond me. WWE doesn’t care about any of these women, so why should I. Prediction: No interest.

Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory

Despite some ridiculous rumors that McAfee would face Vince McMahon, it’s McMahon’s newest protégé that gets the slot at WrestleMania. Pat is a guy who gets it and I’ve no issue with either him or Theory being part of the show. But WWE have yet again provided me with very little reason to care for a match between a non-worker, and Theory. The match might be fine considering Theory is decent and Pat has shown that he is willing to work his butt off to deliver, so I’m not too down on this one as a whole. Pat gets the win here, probably from a Vince assist and we all forget about this feud instantly. Prediction: Pat McAfee

Sami Zayn vs. Johnny Knoxville

One of the better builds on the card culminates with Jackass star Knoxville battling the ever entertaining Sami Zayn. As WWE comedy goes, it’s been passable with Zayn being the acceptable foil for the former MTV star. Expect lots of over-booked spots and slapstick comedy as Zayn bumps his ass off for Knoxville and possibly his entire Jackass crew. As with most celebrity matches, expect the WWE guy to count the lights when it is all said and done. Prediction: Johnny Knoxville

Raw Tag Team Championship
RK-Bro (c) vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy

This could be a dark horse for best match of the night considering the talent involved. Orton appears motivated, Gable is excelling as much as one could on Monday Night Raw and Riddle, when he cuts out the stoner crap, can be very excellent on his day. Add in the ever talented yet underused Montez Ford, as well as the acceptable duo of Dawkins and Otis, and this might not be half bad if it’s given time. No idea who will win. I’ll take a guess at Gable and his buddy Otis. Prediction: Alpha Academy

Bobby Lashley vs. Omos

This has the potential to stink to high heaven. Lashley is fine, but he needs a better level opponent to shine than the huge Omos. The colossus that is Omos has been badly exposed week after week without the crutch of AJ Styles by his side and this has very little signs that it will be anywhere near passable. WWE obviously believe this is an Andre v Hogan moment for Bobby, but it may evoke memories of Taker v Gonzales from Caesars Palace 25 odd years ago instead. Prediction: Bobby Lashley

The New Day vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland

You have to imagine the former Pete Dunne and Big E would have been included in this had it not been for Big E’s unfortunate injury. This match and the use of all 3 members of The New Day here on the biggest card of the year tells you all you need to know about how WWE creative views these men, especially Big E who surely was a slam dunk to be their next big star had he been presented as one. This match feels like a house show match without Big E involved, and like many other matches on this two day event, I really don’t have any feelings one way or another with regards to either who wins or why I should be invested. New Day with the win to appease the loss of their fallen tag partner. I will pop if Sheamus and his old timey chums get a nice Peaky Blinders entrance or if Big E manages to turn up for as feel good moment. Prediction: The New Day

Champion vs. Champion
Roman Reigns (Universal Champion) vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champion)

Are these two still feuding? I lost interest in these two battling each other after Mania 31. WWE’s over reliance on both men in the main event again is evidence that WWE can’t or refuse to make new stars. After Mania last year they could have easily built Big E, Damien Priest or even anyone else up for a battle with Roman rather than rely on Lesnar again. They may not have worked, but at least give it the old college try and see what happens. I like Brock but I’m sick of him battling Roman.

Furthermore, Roman and his “Head of the Table” act grew stale a long time ago as WWE lazily beats that dead horse week in week out. Don’t get me wrong, he has improved a lot since he initial turned heel, but since Mania last year he feels like his feuds have been underwhelming, long drawn out affairs, while his matches have mostly left a lot to be desired of. I want more from him as both a character and an in-ring performer. He is capable of being better but I’ve been checked out of this man for a while now. Farmer Brock has added some entertainment to WWE programming since he lost Heyman as a mouth piece, but overall he and Roman have danced far too often in the past decade to really get me invested in another Mania battle. Roman to win and drag out his boring heel act out until another Mania. Prediction: Roman Reigns