DeMarco: Predicting The Top WrestleMania 38 Matches After WWE Day 1 & Before Royal Rumble 2022

Coming out of Day 1 and headed to the Royal Rumble, Greg DeMarco has his sights set on early predictions for WWE WrestleMania 38–see what he expects on the card!

WWE Day 1 is now long in the books, and despite the announcers repeatedly reminding us that the Road to WrestleMania, we might look back at the spring of 2022 and realize that that road ultimately began on January 1, 2022 in Atlanta.

WWWE’s Nick Khan created Day 1 to be the kickoff to the year, and it might wend up as one of the company’s tent-pole events in the coming years. The inaugural event featured a last minute change when Brock Lesnar joined the WWE Championship Match after Universal Champion Roman Reigns tested positive for COVID-19. You know by now that Lesnar emerged victorious–which could signal a huge change of plans, or a bump in the road that necessitated a major title change to keep everyone talking in the wake of the alteration to the card at the latest hour.

I believe it is the former, and the WrestleMania 38 plans will remain unaltered–even if the road to get there took a slight (or huge) detour. Here are my top matches for the Granddaddy Of ‘Em All, with some notes on how we get there thrown in.

WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends vs. Brock Lesnar

While Brock Lesnar is the sitting reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Champion, I believe his story with Roman Reigns (and Paul Heyman) is far from over. Had Roman been able to perform at Day 1, I fully believe we would have seen Paul Heyman screw Lesnar and reveal that his ousting from The Bloodline by the Head Of The Table was all a ruse, setting Lesnar on a path to WrestleMania that included either a Royal Rumble win, or an Elimination Chamber victory to get his shot at the Tribal Chief.

How do we get there now? Before we do, let’s add another match to the table…

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends vs. Seth Freakin’ Rollins

Lots of moving parts, some of them necessitated by Day 1. Here is how we get here:

• Brock Lesnar loses the WWE Championship to Bobby Lashley at the Royal Rumble. Along the way, Paul Heyman reconciles with Lesnar, but it’s still a sham as he (and The Bloodline) screw Lesnar at the Rumble, leading to Lashley’s win.
• Brock Lesnar likely wins the Royal Rumble, but a herculean effort from Rollins would also be welcomed.
• Neither Lashley nor Rollins needs to be the true babyface here, either can be the Heel Hero to face the Hell Villain
• Want a curveball? AJ Styles wins the Royal Rumble, Rollins works his way into the match (WWE did drive home the fact that Day 1 was originally a solo shot at Big E for Seth), and we get Lashley vs. AJ vs. Rollins in Dallas.

Now, you’re probably wondering where that leaves Big E, and even Kevin Owens, right?

Big E vs. Goldberg

It’s quite simple, no need to complicate it. Big E wants the match, and Goldberg has one more match left on his WWE contract. Once we get past Elimination Chamber, E is freed up and calls for the match. It’s that simple, we get Big Meaty Men Slapping Meat in Dallas, and Big E gets a marque win on the grand stage.

Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul

It’s WrestleMania, Kevin Owens just signed on for a huge three-year deal, and Logan Paul is still a cross-over sensation that will draw eyeballs. Again, it’s that simple.

If they don’t get Logan Paul (I think they will), you can substitute Johnny Knoxville or Damian Priest.

Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defends vs. Liv Morgan

Liv Morgan is going to get her chance, and you can’t complain about how she’s being booked AND complain about a lack of long-term storytelling. Liv winning the Royal Rumble seems like the way to go.  Bianca Belair could work her way into the match, or even have the match before Liv declares her shot. But I have other plans for the EST, which we’ll get to. WWE is driving home the point that the Rumble winners main event WrestleMania, so this could main event Night 1.

I could also see Ronda Rousey closing the show with a surprise appearance during, or after, this match.

Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks does also deserve a Royal Rumble win, but her injury seems to prevent that. She could end up earning her shot at Elimination Chamber–if that is even a thing in 2022. This is a top flight match, and could potentially main event Night One if not for Liv winning the Rumble.

Bianca Belair vs. Bayley

No, I didn’t forget about Bianca Belair, and the effort put into her in the first half of 2021. Bring Bayley back, and you have a main event level feud without a championship for the women. It’s money.

Randy Orton vs. Matt Riddle

WWE could go a million different ways with RK-Bro at this point, but them breaking up and feuding makes the most sense. I see Riddle being the villain in all of this, and I bet we see the first shreds of true dissension happen when Orton eliminated Riddle from the Royal Rumble (if they’re in it).

Hell In A Cell: Edge & Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz & Maryse

Since we are already getting the mixed tag at the Royal Rumble, I have a feeling we will up the stakes come time for WrestleMania. Edge is low key one of those superstars who should be synonymous with Hell In A Cell at this point, and I bet he would love nothing more than to team up with his bad ass wife in a match of this caliber, on the grandest stage. The first-ever mixed tag Hell In A Cell would be quite the feather in their collective cap.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Queen Zelina Vega & Carmella defend vs. The Bella Twins

I mean, with the Bella’s returning to compete in the Royal Rumble this just has to happen, right? It’s WWE, and I see Brie and Nikki walking out of Dallas as champions, even if it’s a short term reign.

So I have given you ten matches, and we are likely to see 16 in total over the two nights. We still have 6 to add, with both tag team championships floating around, and both the Intercontinental and United States titles waiting for assignment as well. That’s four matches right there, plus Drew McIntyre (if healthy), Rey Mysterio, and more available for matches at this mega event.

Let’s take the 10 matches I put together and split them among the two nights, shall we?

WrestleMania Saturday:

• Raw Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (main event)
• WWE Championship: Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Seth Freakin’ Rollins
• Hell In A Cell: Edge & Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz & Maryse
• Matt Riddle vs. Randy Orton
• Bianca Belair vs. Bayley

WrestleMania Sunday:

• Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Brock Lesnar (main event)
• Big E vs. Goldberg
• Smackdown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Sasha Banks
• Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Queen Zelina & Carmella (c) vs. The Bella Twins

What matches do you expect to see at WWE WrestleMania 38?