WrestleMania is off and running from Las Vegas. Following a crazy Night 1 in which Paul Heyman surprisingly betrayed both CM Punk and Roman Reigns to unite with Seth Rollins, the second show on Sunday is set to be even more exciting.
The show concludes with an explosive main event in which John Cena challenges Cody Rhodes for the undisputed WWE championship. Cena won the Elimination Chamber in March after submitting CM Punk, earning him the opportunity.
Cena then suddenly turned heel for the first time in over two decades, siding with the Rock and attacking Rhodes. After a bit of an awkward build due to Cena’s three-week absence from television following the heel turn, everything will reach a crescendo on Sunday night, with further surprises expected.
In addition to the epic main event, three other titles are at stake on Sunday. Bron Breakker will defend his intercontinental title against three opponents: Penta, Finn Balor, and Dominik Mysterio. In a one-of-a-kind battle, champion Iyo Sky faces Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley for the women’s world championship.
The women’s tag team titles will be contested by champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez against Lyra Valkyria and an unknown opponent. Bayley, a teammate, was found injured in the locker room on Saturday and is unable to compete.
There are also three non-title matches worth seeing. Legendary veteran AJ Styles will face social media star Logan Paul. Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest’s storied feud comes to a gruesome finish in a Sin City street fight.
Randy Orton will face an undetermined opponent after issuing an open challenge. Orton was supposed to fight Kevin Owens, however Owens had to withdraw from the match due to a neck ailment that required surgery.
WrestleMania 41 Night 2 airs live on Peacock on April 20 at 7 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at who the CBS Sports experts predict for each match.
WWE WrestleMania Night 1 2025 predictions
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena. It was always expected that Cena’s retirement tour would include him breaking the record for most title reigns. Everything boils down to how best to wear the belt and make the most of his time as champion. If Cena wins on Sunday, there will be a championship pursuit leading into SummerSlam, with Cena as the heel champion.
That’s arguably the greatest approach to use Cena as his career winds down. Look for The Rock to walk up and assist Cena win, demonstrating to Rhodes what happens when you don’t do what “The Final Boss” asks of you. Brent Brookhouse picks John Cena to win the title.
The hero’s pursuit frequently trumps the subsequent championship reign. It’s the status quo in professional wrestling. Rhodes would always struggle to top his emotional high from WrestleMania 40. Rhodes had a successful one-year reign as undisputed WWE champion, but it’s time to change things up.
Cena becoming a record-breaking 17-time world champion provides Rhodes motivation ahead of SummerSlam. Prediction: John Cena wins the title — Shakiel Mahjouri
Women’s World Championship — Iyo Sky (center) vs. Bianca Belair vs Rhea Ripley: WWE’s plan to this bout is clear: Sky is the unnoticed champion, while Belair and Ripley are focused on each other. Sky has arguably been the finest female wrestler in the world for over a year, and she deserves longer time as champion.
Sky should demonstrate how foolish Belair and Ripley were to dismiss her. Choose: Iyo. Sky preserves the title — Brookhouse.
WWE has kept the conclusion of this match under wraps. Unlike most Mania bouts, there is no clear or correct direction here. Belair is undefeated at WrestleMania and is due for a strong singles run after transitioning to the tag team division. I expect the “EST of WWE” to reign again. Pick: Bianca Belair wins the title — Mahjouri
AJ Styles versus Logan. Paul: Paul is a part-timer who usually shows up for interesting matches at major tournaments. There’s absolutely no need to give him the win over Styles, who is a fantastic roster member who can be inserted into major storylines anytime WWE requires it.
WWE may play out Karrion Kross’ mind games by having Styles lose, but the most practical alternative is to simply have Styles win. Paul will look good while losing, and that is enough. Pick: AJ Styles wins—Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
Intercontinental Championship—Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Balor versus Dominik Mysterio: The moment has come for WWE to strap Dom Mysterio. Since his divorce from his father, Mysterio has grown into a person with genuine screen presence and a distinct type of heel talent.
Breakker should be aiming for the world title image. Balor is always at odds with Judgment Day, which would be exacerbated if Mysterio won the championship Balor has been vying for. Penta would be a wonderful winner, but he would be better off chasing Mysterio, the current champion. Pick: Dominik Mysterio wins the title – Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
Damian Priest versus Drew McIntyre (Sin City Street Fight): McIntyre should have a bigger role at WrestleMania 41. His feud with CM Punk was one of the best stories of last year, but frequently at his price. WWE had an intriguing storyline with his “Bloodline Hunter” drama, but it was quickly abandoned in favor of other WrestleMania matches.
McIntyre and Priest are placed against each other primarily for convenience.
They both need to be highlighted, but McIntyre deserves more. Drew McIntyre wins over Mahjouri (also Brookhouse).
Women’s Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria This match was pieced together randomly to fill out the card and obtain some critical pieces on the board. As a result, it’s difficult to assume that Bayley and Valkyria will be chosen over the more renowned team. Morgan’s feud with Rhea Ripley was a highlight of 2024, despite outstaying its welcome.
The tag team titles are a step down for Morgan, but she adds credibility to them. Furthermore, the Judgment Day benefits from having gold in its circle. If Morgan and Dominik Mysterio win belts at WrestleMania, they will become the promotion’s most powerful pair. Pick: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez retain their crowns — Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)
