The Uso’s and LA Knight (-450) vs. The Vison (Logan Paul, Austin Theory and IShowSpeed)

Confirmed opener on ESPN. Some definite star power here but it definitely belongs on the pre-show. Injuries have just destroyed the momentum Paul Heyman’s guys had. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed were and are The Vision. Breakker was close to a return but hasn’t been given clearance yet. Or, he’ll return and impact the match between CM Punk and Roman Reigns in some way. Lackluster build for this match to be honest. Look for this to be a showcase for the Usos and Knight.
Prediction: Knight pins Speed.

Women’s tag team fatal four-way for the Women’s Tag Team Chapionship: the Bellas vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. Lash Legend and Nia Jax(c).

Interestingly no odds to be found on this one. Nikki Bella, as of this writing, is a question mark dealing with an undisclosed issue. If so this match becomes a triple threat or a replacement (Bianca Belair perhaps?) comes in to team with Brie. Either way this could be a fun one. Look for the champs to retain. Legend and Jax have formed a nice partnership and they’re actually getting over. Also I always look for the swerve/heel/face turn at Wrestlemania. A couple of options here: Flair, Bayley or both turn on their respective partners. The champs could also lose and Jax turns on Legend.
Prediction: Legend pins Bliss

Jacob Fatu (-700) vs. Drew McIntyre

An unsanctioned match referred to in the past as a lights out match. WWE is “not responsible for anything happening to either wrestler” during the course of the match. Guess it’s not enough to call it a no disqualification match. Big odds here. The Scotsman is a great value pick at +400 here but if the idea is to heat up Fatu again then go with him. This will be a fun, hard hitting match with lots of plunder (if you will) involved.
Prediction: Fatu wins by pinfall

Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch (-450)

Many people calling this the lock of Night One. I’m inclined to agree. I wrote before the Royal Rumble that The Man would reclaim the title here. First booking swerve of the night? Maybe, depending on how Punk/Reigns is booked. Also depends on if Lynch turns face during the evening helping her husband Seth Rollins in his match with Gunther. Paul Heyman gets involved there. She may be the equalizer. If that’s the case she definitely captures title here.
Prediction: Lynch submits Lee

Gunther (-500) vs. Seth Rollins

If I’m booking this I’d have Gunther squash Rollins and have a retuning Breakker finish the job. It would force Rollins to look for allies combat The Vision. Weeks of great storytelling would follow. Rollins is bulletproof in a couple of ways - he can carry this story perfectly. He’s also a favorite of Triple H. It wouldn’t surprise me if he went over Gunther but that would be a mistake. The Ring General is rolling right now with otherworldly heat.
Prediction: Gunther puts Rollins to sleep.

Women’s World Championship Liv Morgan (-450) vs. Stephanie Vaquer (c)

Everyone’s lock. My first booking swerve. Morgan is on a roll. Somehow she’s become the leader of Judgement Day. Her character work is unmatched by anyone in the company. It would be foolish to not finish the story right? Maybe, maybe not. Vaquer is the future of the women’s division. I’d like to see Morgan chase her throughout the summer. Great value bet here as the champ is +275. The serve here is Roxanne Perez. She’s going to cost Morgan the title. There are too many women in Judgement Day anyway. No face turn for Morgan here. She will violently expel Perez on Monday Night Raw.
Prediction: Vaquer wins by pinfall.

Undisputed WWE Championship Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton (-150)

This could have been booked so much better. The McAfee involvement aside, there was no need to turn Orton. The story would have written itself. There’s about two decades worth of history to lean into here that’s gone largely unexplored. The match based on that could and would have been phenomenal. Now there are questions. McAfee says he’ll never be involved with WWE if Orton loses. Big red flag on the outcome. The Viper may be hurting and need some time off. Can’t put the title on him if he’s out for any period of time. Cody’s heel move of destroying McAfee’s studio this week reeks of a betrayal by the kicker. Hopefully this match won’t be as overbooked as the storyline has been. A main event worthy encounter could go off the rails with too much going on outside. This match is a toss up. I’m going with a stunner: McAfee joins Rhodes late in the match and Cody defeats Orton. Yes a double turn. Orton is too beloved this late in his career to stay a heel even though he’s an absolute beast in the role. Cody needs a reset.
Prediction: Rhodes pins Orton to retain.

Tomorrow I preview Night Two which I think is the stronger lineup. Two new stars will get the proverbial rocket strapped to them. Can you guess who?