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Written by James Mertz
On Saturday, September 20th, the WWE will kick off a new era from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN, with a premium live event, Wrestlepalooza.
It’s the company’s first PLE to stream exclusively on ESPN’s direct-to-consumer app. The card is headlined by the in-ring returns of AJ Lee and Brock Lesnar, as well as one of the last stops on John Cena’s retirement tour.
With possibly a new audience tuning in, the WWE creative team is sure to have some jaw-dropping moments planned.
Here are the match-by-match predictions.
Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena
Interestingly enough, it was announced that this match will kick off the show on Saturday, marking the first time during Cena’s retirement tour that he will not be main-eventing a PLE.
This one is tricky to predict as it’s expected that Lesnar will be rebuilt into the star he was before he vanished in disgrace in 2023.
But Cena has never been more beloved by fans than right now, and with just 5 dates remaining after Saturday, you have to wonder how many losses Cena is going to take before he rides off into the sunset.
In years past, Lesnar has manhandled Cena, something I don’t expect to happen this time around, but in the end, Lesnar will take Cena to Suplex City and come away victorious. However, this will set up one final rematch between the two at Crown Jewel in October.
Prediction: Lesnar wins clean
Women’s World Championship Match: Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer
Sky has been a huge women’s babyface in the company, including during her 132-day World Championship reign earlier in the year.
Vaquer has been one of the company’s fastest rising stars since her call-up from NXT in May. That hype has slowed down lately with a lack of appearances on the company’s main brands.
With this match being thrown together after Naomi announced she was pregnant and had to step away from wrestling, there hasn’t been much buildup for this match. Sky has been involved in many backstage segments with the Kabuki Warriors, hinting that she may team up with Rhea Ripley. At the same time, Vaquer has appeared on what feels like more on NXT than RAW as of late.
That being said, Vaquer will come away victorious on Saturday, in what I expect to be a thriller with two great in-ring talents, and catapult herself into a new level of stardom as champ for the first time.
Prediction: Vaquer wins, Kabuki Warriors get involved to cost Sky
Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed vs. The Usos
A lot here points to the Usos coming away with the win here as they’ve reunited as a tag team, but Breakker and Reed are the “goons” for the most powerful faction in the company right now, The Vision.
Also, although Jey and Jimmy are reunited, Jey’s actions have shown that’s not what he truly wants, as he is fresh off a singles run that has him as a top babyface and former World Heavyweight champion. So, the brothers may not be as united as they might think.
Plus, after Breakker and Reed took the loss at Summerslam against Jey and Roman Reigns, I would be surprised to see them take another hit and lose on Saturday.
This will be a big win for Breakker and Reed, and while I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s interference from LA Knight or even The OTC Roman Reigns, I expect a clean outcome here.
Prediction: Breakker and Reed win clean
AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins
This is the match of the night. Whether it has the best in-ring performances is yet to be seen, but the sheer aura this match has and the reactions it will create from fans won’t be touched at any other point in the night.
AJ Lee’s return set the wrestling world on fire, and Punk vs. Rollins has become a blood feud over the last year.
In the greatest couples mixed tag match of all time, Lee and Punk will come away with the victory as Lee picks up where she left off a decade ago and pins The Man, Becky Lynch.
This will set up championship matches for both Lee and Punk against Lynch and Rollins in the near future.
Prediction: Lee and Punk win clean
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
This feud has been a long time in the making for me. WWE has written it beautifully over the last month, having McIntyre sideline Rhodes, who then came back to help save Randy Orton from a beatdown and avenge himself.
That being said, Rhodes will absolutely be keeping his title after Saturday. The passing of the torch between him and Cena at Summerslam was far too real for the title to immediately flip into a heel’s hands. But the drama in this match will come after the bell rings when Orton gets involved. But, is he there to congratulate Cody or there to do what vipers do and stab a best friend in the back?
I think The Viper strikes and RKO’s Rhodes, creating an all-time wrestling moment, leaving fans divided to root for The American Nightmare or the now heel Orton.
If this match is announced as the main event, in the words of The Wiseman Paul Heyman, “this is not a prediction, it’s a spoiler.”
Prediction: Rhodes retains, Orton gets involved post-match
