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WWE WrestleMania is now only a month away. The card is beginning to take shape and with it, the title matches. There are 9 championships to be defended, with many of them likely to change hands at the Show of Shows.
Some of the outcomes are obvious and some could surprise. We still have another month of the buildup to go, but the path to most of the title matches is certain.
Cruiserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander
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Cedric Alexander's path to the title has been long and tumultuous, particularly with the Cruiserweight Championship having met with disaster in recent months. First, Rich Swann was arrested and released, then the champion, Enzo Amore, was released prior to his title defence against Alexander, who was Swann's replacement.
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Fortunately, 205 Live has righted itself with its tournament this past month.
The final for the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament will likely be Cedric Alexander taking on Drew Gulak. There, Alexander will finally prevail and win the title.
SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The Bludgeon Brothers
The Usos have had a tremendous run over the past year. In recent weeks, they've begun to get a bit full of themselves, veering toward heelish tendencies again. It's a bad time to gloat though because the Bludgeon Brothers have been menacing the tag team division over the past few months.
A rivalry between The Usos and Bludgeon Brothers has been building, but another meeting with The New Day at Fastlane for the titles has been set first. This definitely looks like a pitstop with The Bludgeon Brothers match as the ultimate destination for the champs. At WrestleMania, The Usos' dominance over the SmackDown tag team division will finally come to an end. We'll probably see them on Raw soon afterwards.
Raw Tag Team Championship: The Bar
Raw's tag team division isn't a strong one. There are no obvious contenders for the titles held by Cesaro and Sheamus. A multi-team ladder match is likely, and it will probably consist of challengers like Gallows and Anderson, The Revival, and Titus Worldwide.
A retention by The Bar is the strongest possibility in this case. They're the obvious choice to hold on to the titles until the next draft, which will improve the division.
United States Championship: Bobby Roode
This is another title which will probably be defended in a multi-man match. Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton will probably take part in it, as might Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler.
There is a possibility of a title change in this situation, but more likely Bobby Roode will retain and see what awaits him in the next draft, where SmackDown must set its focus on getting some good new talent to shake up the roster.
Intercontinental Championship: Braun Strowman
Right now, it looks like The Miz will be defending his Intercontinental Championship against Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. Elias and Braun Strowman might be added to the match as well. If that's the case, Braun Strowman will secure his first championship in WWE.
It would feel very much like a consolation prize, as he's well above the Intercontinental Championship, but it would give him some time to kill before rekindling his feud with Roman Reigns en route to a Universal Championship opportunity (and hopeful win).
Plus, there's no doubt that the crowd will be happy to see Strowman standing tall.
Assuming Strowman is put into the match, this will also be the time where we see Demon Finn Balor take his first main roster loss, even if he isn't the one pinned.
SmackDown Women's Championship: Carmella
The fate of the two women's championships might be the most difficult two predict at this juncture, as everything will depend on which title Asuka decides to challenge for. Developments in recent weeks, though, indicate that she could wind up staying on Raw after all.
Plus, there's Carmella, who WWE needs to do something with. Perhaps they've been waiting for this moment all along, or perhaps they've just had buyer's remorse in giving her the briefcase.
If Asuka stays on Raw, the SmackDown Women's Championship match will inevitably become a multi-woman affair. The highlight there will be Carmella pulling a Seth Rollins and cashing in at WrestleMania to become the new champion.
Raw Women's Championship: Asuka
Asuka has slowly and steadily been rising through the ranks of the Raw women's division. Her victory in the first women's Royal Rumble match was a monumental milestone. She's met a roadblock in Nia Jax but looks set to overcome it.
Alexa Bliss has held the title hostage for almost the entire year. She's run down the entire division without comeuppance so far, but her luck will finally run out at WrestleMania. Should Nia Jax fall, she'll run out of games to play to hold on to her belt. Asuka has already beaten her once and she'll do so again to take her throne as Raw's top woman.
WWE Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura
The Royal Rumble winner has been off TV in recent weeks, but the build to the highly anticipated match with AJ Styles will begin in earnest after Fastlane. In many ways, the match sells itself.
Shinsuke Nakamura will walk away the winner. AJ Styles is already a made man in WWE and can take the loss, while crowning Nakamura will elevate him to the next level. A whole slew of exciting matches during his reign potentially await with the next draft.
Universal Champion: Roman Reigns
This was an outcome known since the build to last year's WrestleMania. The rematch from WrestleMania 31 will end the way Vince McMahon always wanted it to end in its second go-round. Roman Reigns will become the next Universal Champion after a match that should be better than its build.
Where Roman goes from there is still unknown, but at least Raw's top title will be back on TV after the match is over.
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