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With the Royal Rumble upon us this weekend, some of the pictures for WrestleMania 35 will become clearer for the WWE Universe.
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The rumble winners will stake their claims to whichever belt they seek to pursue while other encounters in the rumble matches might set up potential programs for April.
WWE has booked 12 matches, 13 matches and 14 matches respectively at the last three events.
Since another title will be introduced with the Women's Tag Team titles, it could push the number of matches for the show up again.
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WrestleMania has often started around 5 p.m. EST here in the U.S., with the main card kicking off around 7 p.m. EST. It also has run over the usual ending time of 11 p.m. EST.
Since we'll have two hours likely for the pre-show, the number of matches for this year will likely increase by one or two matches.
Here are my predictions for the 35th iteration of wrestling's biggest show before the Royal Rumble PPV this weekend. They are just predictions, but a lot will happen between now and then to help confirm these matches or shoot down the rumors.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article belong to writer and doesn't necessarily reflect Sportskeeda's stand.
Cruiserweight Championship: Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Lio Rush vs. Cedric Alexander
Although Buddy Murphy has held the title for over 100 days, it would do the title more harm should he lose it prior to WrestleMania 35.
He's slated for a Fatal Four Way match at the Royal Rumble against Kalisto, Hideo Itami and Akira Tozawa. All but Itami have been Cruiserweight Champion.
Itami's time might come this weekend, but I'm sure WWE might want to add the heart of the Cruiserweight Division, Cedric Alexander, to the match. He's one of the biggest names in the division and the crowd loves him.
The 'Worlds Collide' tournament might net someone who wants a shot at the Cruiserweight Championship, and although it would be nice to see Adam Cole on the main roster as a champion, he's better suited for a run on Raw or SmackDown.
Alexander is a part of the tournament and one of the likely favorites. He could either win that tournament or simply be in the mix come 'Mania.
Lio Rush has displayed his amazing athleticism on both Raw and 205 Live and I think he'll be Cruiserweight Champion at some point this year.
It would give the division yet another match that could steal the show at 'Mania albeit likely on the pre-show. Regardless, most Cruiserweight matches at WrestleMania have been great.
Raw Tag Team Titles: The Revival (c) vs. Authors of Pain vs. Bobby Roode and Chad Gable
While Akam recently had surgery, his return time frame puts him back in time to start a program for WrestleMania.
AOP will be looking to regain the tag team titles, and the team of Chad Gable and Bobby Roode might hold the gold until April.
If not, the Revival could possibly win the titles between now and WrestleMania 35. They have constantly been in matches with 'controversial' circumstances, so the end game of that storyline is them winning the titles.
WWE doesn't want to lose the Revival and pushing them is the best way to do this. Since AOP is currently out of the minds of fans, it would be a good way to reintroduce them before 'Mania.
AOP, DIY and the Revival had some of the best matches in WWE history when they all battled for the NXT Tag Team titles.
If WWE really wants to push the tag team division and keep teams like the Revival happy rather than requesting a release, a triple threat with these three teams could steal the show in April.
SmackDown Tag Team Titles: The Bar (c) vs. the Bludgeon Brothers
The Bludgeon Brothers defeated both the New Day and the Usos at WrestleMania 34 last year. They destroyed both teams before, during and after the show.
Since they already crushed two of the best teams SmackDown has to offer, it wouldn't make much sense to have the same teams battle it out again this year.
Sure, I know that the Usos and New Day have great chemistry but they need to take a step back out of the title picture.
I think The Miz and Shane McMahon will win the titles from the Bar at the Royal Rumble but loses them shortly thereafter either back to the Bar or to the newly returning former Wyatt Family members.
The Bludgeon Brothers had to relinquish their titles a lot sooner than originally planned, so they might just pick up where they left off before they had to leave due to injury.
United States Championship: Rusev (c) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Samoa Joe
I'm assuming that Rusev will retain his title at the Royal Rumble against Shinsuke Nakamura. After that, one of the men who has been terrorizing the rest of the SmackDown roster, Samoa Joe, might be thrust into a program with Rusev over the U.S. Title.
WWE often tries to cram as many superstars as possible onto the 'Mania card and understandably so. Everyone wants a WrestleMania moment and every superstar deserves at least one.
Hopefully, it won't be relegated to the pre-show, but the U.S. Title isn't held in as high regard as the Intercontinental Championship.
Mustafa Ali has been treated like a big deal since he's debuted on SmackDown and he should be. He is one of the best in-ring talents and is a good role model inside and outside of WWE.
For that reason, he could be headed for a showcase match in April. If it does turn out to be a multi-man match, fewer men could match the pace of Ali except for Rey Mysterio. Mysterio still has the crowd behind him and is a threat to win any mid-card title.
Others like Jeff Hardy or Andrade could be involved as one of the four participants, but I'm going with the four men I picked.
SmackDown Women's Title Match: Asuka (c) vs. Ember Moon
This might be bold or not, but I think Ember Moon wins the Royal Rumble match for the women. It has been predicted for months that either Charlotte Flair or Becky Lynch will win and eventually set up a triple threat at WrestleMania with Ronda Rousey.
For that reason, I think either Flair or Lynch can just challenge Rousey for the title because they 'have unfinished business with each other'.
If Lynch or Flair does win the rumble, expect the lady who doesn't win to somehow interject herself into the match before April.
Since Asuka will need credible challengers at WrestleMania, I think the only other way to get a good match for The Empress Of Tomorrow in April is to have Ember Moon win the rumble and challenge her.
It would allow for switching of brands for a few women potentially and there is a lot of great history WWE could borrow from their storied NXT rivalry.
Moon never defeated Asuka for the title even though she pushed her to the limit. She pushed her so hard that it almost forced an Asuka heel turn.
Once Asuka relinquished the NXT Women's Title, who won it? Moon. For those few reasons and the fact that Lynch, Flair and Asuka have been battling each other for the last couple of months, I think it's Moon who challenges the Empress of Tomorrow at 'Mania.
Women's Tag Team Title Match: Bayley and Sasha Banks (c) vs. the IIconics vs. the Riott Squad
One of the six teams in the Elimination Chamber match to crown the first-ever champs has to be Bayley and Sasha Banks. They've been booked as a team for most of 2018 and the natural friendship is something the WWE Universe can easily get behind.
Since most of the other teams will likely be heels (Tamina and Nia Jax, IIconics, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, Riott Squad), it'll be hard for the two friends not to be cheered.
Some rumors have emerged over the last few weeks linking the Boss Hug Connection to a potential match against their heroes Lita and Trish Stratus at WrestleMania 35.
But since they might not be available for the event, a multi-team match might be in the cards. I think the IIconics will somehow be a part of the match as will the Riott Squad.
Both teams will likely be in the Elimination Chamber match and each is already an established heel team.
It would make the odds even greater for Bayley and Banks to win, but they've both overcome a lot in WWE. It would also give both Raw and SmackDown a female tag team presence at the show.
AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton
This one has to be disappointing for fans of AJ Styles, including me. The guy has had a great run in WWE and has been the face of SmackDown.
I understand that he cannot always be holding or challenging for the title and I understand he's currently negotiating a new deal.
But nothing about Orton really excites me. He's got his few moves and the 'RKO Outta Nowhere' was pretty old pretty quick.
It hasn't stopped WWE from constantly having him jump out from 'outta nowhere' in order to strike. Just look no further than Samoa Joe at the end of SmackDown this week. It does get the fans hyped but I guess I'm a different beast.
I'd prefer to see Styles face someone like Balor (again) or take part in a 'Best 2-out-of-3 Falls' match or something similar against Bryan again.
A match between these two has actually been rumored to take place over the last week or so since the two really haven't feuded with each other. It would at least provide both men with a marquee match at the show.
Intercontinental Championship: Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Elias vs. Braun Strowman vs. Dean Ambrose
Instead of relying on the same few men to carry the title (the Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose), WWE needs to infuse some new blood into the Intercontinental Title picture.
Sure, Finn Balor was 'new blood' but the title needs to be around someone new who hasn't held the title before.
WWE seems to love Elias and his gimmick and now he's a hugely over as a face. Lashley and Elias have feuded twice already ever since The All Mighty rejoined the WWE last April.
Elias was more popular in each feud regardless of his heel/face alignment. If WWE wants to get the Drifter over even more (not that he needs it), an Intercontinental Championship win over Lashley at WrestleMania would be huge for him.
If WWE wants to finally capitalize on Elias' super-stardom, they need to start by putting the Intercontinental Championship around his waist at some point.
Adding Braun Strowman to the match might seem like a downgrade for him, but he hasn't won the big one yet.
Ambrose should be in a relatively big match in April as well, so this at least keeps him in a title picture since he's apparently done with Rollins.
Putting Strowman in another title match at WrestleMania, albeit for a mid-card title, still keeps him looking dangerous until they decide he is ready for a possible Universal Title run.
Shane McMahon vs. The Miz
The whole 'Best Tag Team in the World' angle is cute, but it isn't going to last long. They might win the titles at the Royal Rumble from the Bar, but this pairing seems to have been made for one thing - a match between the two at WrestleMania.
The Miz has slowly turned to a face as he was trying to recruit McMahon as a tag team partner over the last few weeks.
The gimmick will likely lead to a tag team title win but with so many other talented tag teams on SmackDown Live and the imminent return of the Bludgeon Brothers, expect the 'best friends' to be out of the tag title picture by the end of February.
Before they even officially formed a team, a lot of people thought the Miz was going to turn on Shane McMahon.
He is, after all, one of the better heels over the last few years. He might even oppose Daniel Bryan in a WWE Championship match if he is still a face come April.
But it would be too easy for the Miz to turn on Shane McMahon, so I think Shane O'Mac might be the one to turn on the Miz if/when they lose the titles.
He didn't seem too interested in the whole thing at first and he interjected himself into the 'World Cup' tournament.
McMahon has had a featured match in three of the last WrestleMania events, so there aren't many logical opponents for him in April.
Of course, a Miz turn again wouldn't be out of the question, but I'm thinking one of them turns on the other to set up a match at WrestleMania 35.
Triple H vs. Batista
A lot of people thought that this match was doomed when Triple H was hurt at Crown Jewel, but his healing rate is herculean. He'll do all he can to be able to have another match at WrestleMania.
Some people feel a factor that might impede this match from occurring is the fact that Batista recently signed on to appear in the Dune movie reboot.
Filming is set to start in February, but he would only need to appear a couple times before April in order to set up a potential match.
The seeds have already been planted and WWE could use its loads of footage to build video packages to hype the feud.
Simply put - Triple H can heal fast, Batista wants a proper send-off from active WWE duty against The Game and the match can still happen.
Let's also not forget that Avengers: Endgame also comes out at the end of April. Just think of the publicity and advertising WWE would be able to take advantage of in building the match.
Triple H did just get cleared to resume training, so I'd be surprised if this match didn't go down in April. If it doesn't, they could always run the match at SummerSlam later in the year.
The Undertaker vs. Finn Balor
Finn Balor wrestled in a match for the Intercontinental Title at last year's show. While he might be thrust into that title picture again, WWE has a huge match sitting right in front of it in the Demon vs. The Undertaker.
We haven't seen the Demon in a while and since part of the appeal of WrestleMania lately has been the entrances, just imagine how it would look if Balor showed up in his alter ego to oppose the Undertaker.
The Undertaker doesn't have many matches left in him, and Balor deserves a premiere match in April if he isn't already holding or chasing gold.
Fans have wanted this match ever since Balor joined the main roster, but others have opposed 'Taker at the Show of Shows.
The Demon vs. The Phenom is a feud that basically writes itself and Balor can certainly carry the Undertaker to a good match.
WWE Championship Match: Daniel Bryan (c) vs. John Cena
John Cena might face Lars Sullivan. He might face the Velveteen Dream. Elias wants to face John Cena. So many names have been thrown in the hat to face the Cenation Leader at WrestleMania 35.
One that makes the most sense for storytelling purposes, however, involves everyone's favorite disgruntled environmentalist, 'the Planet's Champion', the New Daniel Bryan.
There are few good face challengers left for Bryan to face once he finishes up with Styles this weekend at the Royal Rumble.
WWE is going to run with the storyline of trying to break the number of reigns at some point, and they might do it sooner rather than later since Cena has followed the Rock to Hollywood.
Bryan doesn't have many rumored opponents for the Show of Shows and Cena won't have to be around every week in order to sell the feud.
He needs to only show up on a couple shows in the months leading up to WrestleMania 35 in order to make his impact.
All Bryan has to do is bad talk Cena while he is away filming a movie. It won't take much to get Cena back and in the mix for a potentially record-breaking match in April.
Of course, should Cena win, he will hopefully drop it quickly to a young up-and-comer in order to put that wrestler over like he did Finn Balor.
Universal Championship Match: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
A match between Rollins and Lesnar has been set in stone for a while ever since the Rock vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship was taken off the table.
Seeds have constantly been planted for an inevitable Rollins/Lesnar showdown when Rollins has been allowed to openly criticize Brock Lesnar on episodes of Raw.
The two men have history to build upon and Rollins is currently the top babyface on Raw and possibly the company.
I have a strong feeling that McIntyre might be injected into the feud at some point. He's constantly stated that he's gunning for the Universal Championship and it's well past time he gets a shot.
Rollins doesn't need the rub of knocking of Lesnar, but he is one of the few Superstars that creative would allow to do so. Ditto for McIntyre.
The match may or may not involve a Royal Rumble win by Rollins, but either he or McIntyre may likely win the rumble.
However they get there, these three men are likely to be involved in the Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 35 in one form or fashion.
Drew McIntyre will likely be the interim opponent for Rollins while Lesnar is off television, so why shouldn't he be thrust into the match, either by winning the rumble or by way of sticking his nose in the feud?
Raw Women's Title Match: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair
While this could be a singles match between either Flair and Rousey or Rousey and Lynch, a lot of rumors have suggested that it will be a triple threat between the three ladies.
We all know that Lynch and Rousey were slated to face off at Survivor Series last year, but a flub by Nia Jax ruined that.
In her stead, Flair was handpicked to challenge Rousey. The match ended in a DQ after Flair attacked Rousey with a kendo stick. It was to keep Flair looking strong since Rousey wouldn't be losing the title and Lynch was talking circles around both women.
Flair or Lynch might win the Women's Royal Rumble and immediately challenge Rousey to wrap up their bad blood.
Whichever one fails to win the rumble, or perhaps both women fail to do so, will eventually interject themselves into the match.
WWE has constantly had Flair looking strong and although it should be between both Lynch and Rousey since they started the feud and haven't had a singles match yet, it will likely involve all three women.
Vince McMahon loves Flair and she is only below Rousey in the hierarchy of women's wrestlers in WWE. This triple threat could also be used in the inevitable build-up to the showdown between the two factions of horsewomen.
It will be a great match regardless of if it's two or three women, but due to how Flair's been kept strong and Lynch has still trash-talked both women, it's looking like a three-woman match.
