WrestleMania 40 Preview: The Matches Poised to Steal the Show
WrestleMania XL arrives with the kind of layered card that makes predictions unusually difficult. The weekend is built around a championship story that has been developing for more than a year, yet several undercard matches have enough personality, athleticism, and emotional weight to dominate the conversation.
Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field provides a fitting setting for a two-night event centered on legacy. Roman Reigns is defending a historic title reign, Cody Rhodes is chasing the championship his family never held, and a crowded group of rivals is determined to shape the result.
The strongest WrestleMania cards balance spectacle with stakes. This one has celebrity involvement, faction warfare, ladder-match chaos, veteran dream matchups, and several wrestlers entering the biggest matches of their careers. The question is less about whether the show will deliver memorable moments and more about which bout will produce the most lasting one.
The weekend’s central story
Cody Rhodes versus Roman Reigns is the obvious headline attraction, but its appeal extends beyond a standard title match. Rhodes represents the classic wrestling comeback: a performer who left WWE, rebuilt his identity elsewhere, and returned with one specific goal. Reigns, meanwhile, has transformed from heavily protected champion into the defining antagonist of his generation.
The Bloodline adds another layer of uncertainty. The possibility of interference has been part of the match’s DNA since the rivalry began, and The Rock’s involvement has expanded the story into a battle over family power. Every entrance, stare-down, and ringside confrontation should feel connected to the larger struggle for control.
Their first WrestleMania meeting ended with Reigns retaining, leaving Rhodes’ pursuit unfinished. That history gives the rematch a natural emotional engine. If Rhodes wins, the celebration could become the weekend’s signature image. If Reigns retains, WWE would preserve one of its most dominant modern title runs and create an even more complicated aftermath.
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns carry enormous pressure
The match must avoid becoming overloaded by outside characters. The Bloodline’s presence can raise the tension, but Rhodes and Reigns need enough uninterrupted time to establish their own rhythm. Reigns is at his best when he slows the match down, creates anticipation, and makes each comeback feel costly. Rhodes excels at absorbing punishment before building toward a dramatic finish.
The result will likely depend on how the story handles interference. A chaotic finish could protect the wrestlers involved, but a decisive ending would provide stronger closure. The ideal version allows the supporting cast to matter without making the championship feel secondary to the family drama.
That balance is especially important because WrestleMania thrives on major visual moments. Rhodes standing over Reigns with the title would instantly define his career. Reigns retaining through another wave of adversity would reinforce the myth of an almost unbeatable champion. Either direction carries substantial narrative weight.
| Match | Main appeal | Potential show-stealing factor |
|---|---|---|
| Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns | Championship legacy and Bloodline drama | A career-defining finish |
| Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch | Generational rivalry and contrasting styles | Hard-hitting, emotionally charged wrestling |
| Gunther vs. Sami Zayn | The challenger’s resilience against a dominant champion | A dramatic underdog comeback |
| Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre | Personal resentment and world-title ambition | Relentless intensity |
| Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens | Unpredictability and contrasting personalities | Creative spots and rapid momentum shifts |
| Six-pack ladder match | High-risk action and multiple title contenders | A spectacular opening-night crescendo |
Rhea Ripley versus Becky Lynch could set the standard
Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch have spent years orbiting the top of WWE’s women’s division, making their championship match feel overdue. Ripley enters as a confident, physically imposing champion whose Judgment Day persona has become one of the company’s strongest acts. Lynch arrives as the established star who has already conquered nearly every major challenge available.
Their contrast is compelling. Ripley’s offense is built around power, control, and intimidation, while Lynch thrives on timing, grit, and the ability to turn a small opening into a comeback. This should be a match where every exchange communicates character rather than functioning as a disconnected sequence of moves.
The bout also has the potential to elevate the women’s division beyond its headline names. A long, physical contest with a clean finish would demonstrate that the championship can anchor a major stadium event on its own. Ripley retaining would cement her as the division’s central force, while Lynch winning would create a satisfying veteran triumph without making the champion’s reign feel disposable.
The workhorse matches deserve close attention
Gunther versus Sami Zayn may be the sleeper candidate for the weekend’s best pure wrestling match. Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship reign has been defined by discipline, punishing strikes, and an almost clinical approach to dismantling opponents. Zayn’s greatest strength is his emotional connection with the audience, especially when he is framed as an unlikely challenger fighting through doubt.
The story works because Zayn is not entering as the obvious favorite. He has to survive Gunther’s pressure, find ways to attack the champion’s leg or stamina, and convince himself that he belongs in the moment. Gunther, in turn, has the opportunity to prove that his title run is more than a streak of dominant performances against increasingly desperate challengers.
Seth Rollins versus Drew McIntyre offers a different kind of intensity. Their feud is fueled by resentment, with McIntyre convinced that Rollins’ championship reign and public image have been protected by circumstance. Rollins is wrestling through physical limitations, while McIntyre sees the match as a chance to seize the spotlight before his latest title opportunity disappears.
Fans who enjoy broader sports analysis often follow this same blend of tactics, momentum, and roster construction across different leagues. That wider perspective is part of the appeal of Say It Again Network, where wrestling discussion sits alongside coverage of football, basketball, hockey, baseball, fantasy leagues, and music.
The multi-person matches can create the night’s biggest surprise
Logan Paul, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens bring three distinct forms of entertainment to the United States Championship match. Paul is a natural provocateur with exceptional athletic instincts. Orton is a veteran who can make a single movement feel dangerous. Owens combines physical credibility with sharp comedic timing and an instinct for turning chaos into momentum.
That combination makes the match difficult to predict. Paul’s ability to attempt risky stunts can create instant viral moments, while Orton’s experience allows him to structure the match around sudden bursts of violence. Owens is the connective tissue, capable of grounding the action when it becomes too theatrical and then escalating it when the audience needs a major reaction.
The six-pack ladder match has similar potential. Multiple teams competing for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship means there will be little downtime and plenty of opportunities for creative alliances. Ladder matches can become cluttered, but a clear sequence of rivalries and timed eliminations can turn the format into an exciting sprint.
These matches may not carry the same narrative importance as the main event, yet they are designed for spectacle. A perfectly timed ladder dive, a shocking betrayal, or a surprising title change can become the clip that dominates social media after the show.
Faction warfare gives the card extra depth
The rivalry between Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Naomi, and Damage CTRL adds another major attraction to the weekend. Belair and Cargill are positioned as a high-powered pairing, but their partnership still contains questions about chemistry and ego. Damage CTRL brings experience, cunning, and a clear tactical advantage in working as a unit.
Jade’s WrestleMania presence is especially important. She has been presented as a rare physical talent, and a major performance in Philadelphia could accelerate her path toward singles championship contention. Belair provides the established credibility, while Naomi adds speed and versatility to a match built around rapid shifts in control.
The Bloodline storyline also reaches beyond the championship match. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso meeting in singles competition gives the weekend a deeply personal contest that does not require a title to matter. Their history as brothers, partners, and rivals supplies emotional context that can make even a relatively simple match feel significant.
For WWE, faction stories are useful because they connect separate matches into a shared world. The strongest WrestleMania weekends feel like a season finale rather than a collection of unrelated bouts. WrestleMania XL has enough overlapping alliances and betrayals to create that sense of continuity.
What to watch when the bell rings
- Watch how quickly each match establishes its central conflict rather than relying on entrances and spectacle alone.
- Pay attention to the women’s championship bouts, which have the clearest chance to combine character, physicality, and long-term consequences.
- Track the role of interference carefully, particularly in the Bloodline matches where outside involvement can either enrich or weaken the story.
- Look for breakout performances from newer stars such as Jade Cargill and the wrestlers involved in the ladder match.
- Notice how WWE manages pacing across two nights, giving emotional matches room to breathe before delivering its biggest visual moments.
The event also lands during a crowded sports calendar, when fans move rapidly between wrestling, playoff races, and postseason analysis. Hockey supporters, for example, may appreciate the strategic roster discussion found in this breakdown of blue-line adjustments, even though the competitive setting is completely different. The common thread is the search for the small tactical decisions that change a high-pressure contest.
WrestleMania XL has enough star power to succeed on spectacle alone, but its best matches should be judged by what they leave behind. Rhodes and Reigns can define an era, Ripley and Lynch can establish a new standard for women’s main-event wrestling, and Gunther, Zayn, Rollins, McIntyre, and the multi-person bouts can turn a stacked card into a genuinely memorable one.
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