WrestleMania 41 Saturday pick’em report

Hey Everybody! It’s @TheMagnumDA with your WrestleMania Pick’em report, right here on Wrestling-Online.com! (gotta love the cheap pops, right?!)

It all started 40 years ago…the year was 1985. The War to Settle the Score…settled nothing! It only fueled the raging wildfire that became the phenomenon we know as WrestleMania. Now, here we are, in a brand new world where WWE is accessible live to practically every country on Earth. Over the last couple of years, they have truly become World Wrestling Entertainment and they are hotter than they’ve ever been! Don’t believe me? Count the gate money after this weekend.

Our very own Colin Vassallo is the current WOPC Champion – he’s been on quite the run since winning the title back late last year. A title run almost as healthy as Gunther! The question is…similar to Gunther, is Colin’s title reign in jeopardy? There’s only one way to find out.

ON WITH THE PICKS FOR NIGHT ONE!

World Tag Team Championship (Raw)
The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) (c) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)

Magnum: This heel turn by The New Day has been nothing short of spectacular. Colin may not agree with me, but somehow two of the most likable dudes in all of wrestling have suddenly become insufferable jerks, and the pariahs of the locker room. Wouldn’t a cameo from Big E hit the spot right now? Question is…whose side will he be on? I’ll take The New Day to win the straps for the very first time at a WrestleMania.

Colin: Dumping Big E has made wonders for The New Day and their current gimmick. They were becoming stale and the usual happy-go-lucky team that got old. I think they deserve another run with those titles considering the amount of work they’ve done. Sign me up for a New Day win.

Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano

Magnum: This match has become one of the WrestleMania sensations – Chad Gable has breathed new life into himself (and American Made) with this gimmick. This match has a vibe similar to Cody vs. Rey at Mania 27 (where Cody introduced a new character/gimmick). While that match was somewhat plodding, I would expect this match to be high-flying and exciting. I wouldn’t be surprised if this became an Intercontinental Championship program down the road. Give Me Gable or Give Me Death! I’m taking the Americano.

Colin: Rey got injured on Smackdown last night, I wonder if he will be at 100% to wrestle tonight. The whole El Grande Americano gimmick is stupid if you ask me…but what do I know? Chad is great as Chad Gable. I’m picking El Grande Americano to score a victory over the Hall of Famer.

Jade Cargill vs. Naomi

Magnum: I gotta admit…I figured the blowoff to this match would have involved Bianca Belair, but I guess that wasn’t in the cards…unless the story isn’t over yet? I’m thinking that it is – this is a showcase squash for Jade in her singles debut at WrestleMania.

Colin: I don’t think Jade is going to lose in her PLE singles debut, right? But it makes sense if Naomi wins and this gets stretched out a little bit more. Nah… Jade wins.

WWE United States Championship (Smackdown)
LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu

Magnum: I am disappointed that Shinsuke Nakamura was bumped off the card. That said, Jacob Fatu is running hot right now and it seems like the perfect place for him to seize championship gold. I LOVE YOU JACOB! New US Champion.

Colin: LA Knight as champion doesn’t cut it for me. Yeah, he’s over, and yeah, it’s a popular catchphrase, but yeah, not for me, dawg. Fatu is an incredible performer and I think he can elevate the title even more so Jacob Fatu wins.

WWE Women’s Championship (Smackdown)
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair

Magnum: Boy, oh boy the gloves came off for this one. The difference is that Tiffany was ready when Charlotte went off-script in their promos, and I don’t think Charlotte was ready for what Tiffany had to say in return. At first, it seemed like a bygone conclusion that Charlotte would be winning this match, but it has also become apparent that time has passed her by, and the mind games Charlotte used to play are now being used against her. I am torn on this one – WWE has a chance to really set the stage for a mammoth upset, but I also can’t see Charlotte’s return from injury ending in a Mania loss….right? I can’t bet against her, at this point. I’ll take Charlotte.

Colin: Everyone is expecting Charlotte to win this one. Everyone. I’m going the other way simply because I think it will generate more news than Charlotte actually winning. Stratton has been a great champion and it would be a damn shame if he drops the title tonight. It’s Tiffy Time here in Vegas. Tiff retains.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match (Raw)
Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso

Magnum: I gotta admit…I’m in the majority that felt like this match didn’t have a lot of steam until Jey cut that promo in Minneapolis. That got everyone buzzing, and I think it made Gunther look vulnerable (in a good way). I think Jey’s going to pull out all the stops en route to his first World Heavyweight Championship. YEET! Give me Jey to win the strap.

Colin: I guess the inevitable here is Jey winning the title. It would be funny if Gunther wins, but that would probably kill Jey’s momentum. The man got a stupid word and hand gesture over like crazy, so you gotta give him that. I wouldn’t mind a short title run for Jey, but I don’t like that it comes to the expense of Gunther. Anyway, Jey wins. Yeet.

Main Event – Triple Threat Match
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk (with Paul Heyman) vs. Seth Rollins

Magnum: Hooooo doggie. Who do you trust? This is quite the compelling Main Event – can you imagine how much higher the stakes would be if a World Championship was on the line? Then again, this has been so good that you don’t even need to make it a title match. What will happen tonight will shape the wrestling landscape, both in the immediate future as well as the long-term. The true shock would be if Heyman “accidentally” cost both Reigns and Punk the match, and then leaves with Seth Rollins. While that ending would not be on my Bingo card, I would love to see where it goes from there. The safe bet, though, is that Punk/Heyman revive the historic 2012-2013 heel run starting at this show…so give me Punk to take this one home.

Colin: Oh my oh my, I am so unsure about this one and it could go either way. Hopefully it’s a great main event, although I do not like triple threats that close the show…I would rather have a one-on-one. But anyway, I’m choosing the most improbable outcome here and picking Seth Rollins to win.

Well, there you have it, wrestling fans! Our picks for WrestleMania XLI Night One are in the books – join us tomorrow for another installment of the WrestleMania Pick’em report for Night Two!! @TheMagnumDA signing off.