In a year where the world's most popular song was predicated on hate, this weekend's PLE brings back a classic epitomizing the term beef. WWE Bad Blood looks to blow off a few longstanding rivalries and give fans a crystal clear picture of what could lie ahead. It's noteworthy that only both Women's championships will be defended on this card, which could spell for major surprises for all of the other titles come Crown Jewel.
This new series here at WWT will be the first of many where the WWT crew will give our expert opinions while keeping score. Yours truly, the Mayor, gets first dibs so let's take a look at the card.
Bayley vs (C) Nia Jax (WWE Women's Championship)
Queen Nia will be putting her title on the line against the woman she dethroned. Bayley earned a rematch after a surprising victory over Naomi on Smackdown. This feels like a swan song for the Role Model, for the past year she's been a major staple on the blue brand. From captaining Damage CTRL, to taking down the group and getting a deserved Wrestlemania moment, there's not much left for Bayley to do storyline-wise on Smackdown. Meanwhile Jax is having the most dominant run of her career and rightfully so. Many may expect involvement from Tiffany Stratton after the recent tension with Nia, but there's still time to let the story play out. Jax picks up a W over Bayley and sends her on vacation.
Prediction: Nia Jax retains
Finn Balor vs Damien Priest
A showdown between former Judgement Day partners will finally take place. Balor jettisoned Priest from the group and has managed to escape his wrath for weeks. In fact, the disdain between these two men has completely overshadowed the fact that Balor is Raw tag team champion with JD McDonough. It will certainly be nice to see Finn Balor in singles action again after multiple tag title stints, though this feels like the first chapter of this story between these two. Without question there will be Judgement Day interference in attempt to thwart the Archer's hopes of revenge. Balor reminds everyone he's not a sidekick and the chase continues.
Prediction: Finn Balor Wins
Rhea Ripley vs (C) Liv Morgan (Women's World Championship)
This match will bring nostalgia to the card as Dominik Mysterio will once again be suspended above the ring in a shark cage, this time as an adult. Which means Rhea Ripley will have the chance to get her hands on Morgan unopposed, at least that is the hope. It would be a fair assessment that the Liv Morgan revenge tour has been a success. One could even look back further and question if Liv is the actual antagonist in this story. It was originally Ripley that injured Morgan, and now the current champion is just following through on what she's always foreshadowed. Rhea despite injury has lost no momentum as a big star and pillar of the Women's division. Meanwhile Liv is hitting stride with this heel persona, and it feels like she'll have another ace up her sleeve in lieu of Dominik being caged. Could we see a return of Liv's former tag partner? Time will tell, but for now Morgan escapes and keeps Ripley blood thirsty.
Prediction: Liv Morgan Retains
CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre (Hell in a Cell)
There's been a ton of speculation to where this match will fall on the card, and it should absolutely close the show. This rivalry has been the most entertaining in WWE this year across all media platforms. Its unlocked new levels of petty unfathomable to the mind. Punk and Drew's hatred for each other has been nothing short of brilliant, and this is the one match the card where it seems the rivalry is done with a winner. To think the company struck gold when Punk incidentally was hurt by McIntyre in the Royal Rumble back in January. Where would both men be if that injury never occurred? As a result, fans have seen jabs traded on social media, promos, and championship opportunities plus reigns costed. It's a shame this rivalry has to end, but Hell in a Cell is the perfect way to contain both egos and allow one man to leave the cell onto greener pastures. Something tells me that man will be Punk to make up for all the lost time due to injury. Punk will exit Hell in a Cell with a win over his biggest hater.
Prediction: CM Punk wins
The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu) vs Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes
Where would Cody Rhodes be without the Bloodline, and what inning are we in? In a stunning turn of events Cody Rhodes will team with his biggest rival to take on the current iteration of the Bloodline. Substitute Tribal Chief, Solo Sikoa, has had multiple cracks at the Universal World Champion only to come up short. Only for the OTC, Roman Reigns, to re-emerge with his eyes on his families greatest prize the Ula Fala. In all honesty, this is a nice breather from the Rhodes "story" and there's many directions this can go. Does the family approve of Roman teaming with the man that took the throne from him? Does Roman turn on Cody in this match or vice versa? This is the likely main event of the show, and while I disagree with that placement, I am here for a legit showdown with Jacob Fatu and Roman. This will be undoubtedly the showcase of Fatu as a major star against the biggest stars in the company.
Rhodes did spill some tea on the Pat McAfee show recently, stating there will be a vignette that hints as his next challenger. Along with Pat hinting at rumors that a "big guy" is returning this weekend. Dominoes will fall and whichever inning this is, I'm sure we're miles away from the game finishing. It's of note the last time Roman has been in a couple main event tag-team matches, versus his cousins (The Usos) where he took his first pin. Along with Wrestlemania night 1 with The Rock versus Seth Rollins and his Bad Blood partner where he picked up a win. The stakes may not be high yet, but it's too soon for the OTC to take another pin fall, with that being said the incumbent Tribal Chief gets one over Rhodes and the Bloodline stands tall to close the show. It's also being rumored that the Final Boss will be in the same city as the PLE which is speculation worthy of how this show will close.
Prediction: The Bloodline wins
Here's how the rest of the WWT crew see Bad Blood playing out, let us know your thoughts and picks in the comment section:
Professor: Nia Jax , Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns
Honey: Nia Jax, Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley, CM Punk, The Bloodline
Councilman: Nia Jax, Damian Priest, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, The Bloodline
Courtney: Nia Jax, Finn Balor, Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns
Deonne: Nia Jax, Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley, Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns
Jacob: Nia Jax, Finn Balor, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, The Bloodline
Candace: Nia Jax, Finn Balor, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, The Bloodline
Comments