2024 WrestleMania Odds, Best Bets
The Super Bowl of professional wrestling and sports entertainment will commence over the first weekend of April. This version of WrestleMania, the 40th iteration, has a chance to be considered the greatest of all-time.
That statement begs the question of what benchmarks are needed to qualify as the “The Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment.” The event must have five-star matches from a technical standpoint, high-powered celebrity infusion and an endless amount of surprises.
The bar is high for the new-look WWE to succeed in the first WrestleMania under TKO Holdings. If this is to be the greatest of all-time, a number of moments must be beat.
Hulk Hogan slammed Andre The Giant in the Pontiac Silverdome at WrestleMania III. The Undertaker is synonymous with “The Show of Shows,” retiring Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 26 and taking a historic loss to a 9/1 underdog in Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30.
My personal favorite: Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank against Lesnar and Roman Reigns for the championship at WrestleMania 31.
Fast-forward to the present and a current wrestler is getting a red-hot push that may exceed the Daniel Bryan movement from a decade prior. Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble for a second consecutive year, setting up another main event at “The Showcase of the Immortals.”
The movement of Rhodes to complete his quest in honor of his late father, Dusty Rhodes, is highly emotional for most, but to the Bloodline it is a slap in the face of history. The Rock has returned to the WWE as a heel, joining his family in the Bloodline to end the cult of the “Cody Crybabies.”
Credit goes to WWE Creative to get this version of WrestleMania in position to be the greatest of all-time. The two-night card features a tag team ladder match, a historic Intercontinental run and celebrity power from The Rock and Logan Paul.
The show has always featured surprises, as the dirt sheets continue to predict returns of John Cena and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
WrestleMania Saturday Preview, Best Bets
Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch left the wrestling scene during the pandemic of 2020 after becoming pregnant with her first child. “The Man” was on a heater at that point, culminating in a main event and double title victory over Rhonda Rousey and Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 35.
There was once no hotter superstar on the roster than Lynch, but the one-year absence opened the door for an emerging talent to put the women’s division on lockdown.
Enter Rhea Ripley: physically intimidating enough that WWE must convince viewers that other talents can play ball. She is the first ever Woman’s World Heavyweight Champion, a title Ripley has hardly had to break a sweat in defending.
The handicap in this match is if Lynch can convince the WWE Universe she is physically capable of winning this match.
There are indications that this is not the final stop on the road that is Ripley’s run as champion. There is constant social media trolling between herself and her former partner Liv Morgan, who indicated her entire goal is to take Ripley’s title.
Historically, champions that lose their title at WrestleMania tend to take multiple months off television. Ripley is confirmed for the next premium live event, Backlash in France on May 4th. ‘Mami’ will still be on top after Saturday night.
Pick: Rhea Ripley -500
Intercontinental Championship: Gunther vs. Sami Zayn
There is more than one championship streak in jeopardy at “The Show of all Shows.” Gunther enters the ring Saturday night as the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all-time at 665 days.
The length dwarfs previous 200-plus day runs of “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, Pedro Morales and The Rock. Gunther performs at a brutality level most cannot match, often leaving opponents with welts and blood.
Sami Zayn won a gauntlet match to earn the right to face the “Ring General” at WrestleMania. The men Zayn have beaten have not gone away, from being pinned by Bronson Reed while being ‘coached’ by Chad Gable.
Those two names have clung to this Intercontinental title scene for over a month with no path to face Gunther. Considering WrestleMania is a way to reward talent on the roster, Zayn might have used all nine lives with last year's Saturday night main event victory to win tag team gold over the Usos.
Gunther’s dream match has always been centered around Brock Lesnar, currently absent after having his name rumored to be linked to the Vince McMahon lawsuit. The Intercontinental Championship scene quickly pivoted in late February, as the Judgement Day made it clear the title is coming to their faction.
Damien Priest has been silent from both World Championship scenes, not interfering with the Cody Rhodes story nor inserting the Judgement Day in the Seth Rollins-Drew McIntyre toil with CM Punk.
The only hint that WWE has given about the Money in the Bank briefcase, which is set to expire this summer, is the Intercontinental Championship. Look for Judgement Day to play a large part in taking out Gunther and ultimately cashing in on a newly crowned Sami Zayn.
Pick: Sami Zayn +200
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
The bigger spotlight in this match is not the winner, rather the story that unfolds in the first chapter of the Bloodline weekend.
Brother versus brother certainly calls out to one of the best matches of all-time, when Owen Hart defeated his brother Bret Hart in the opening match of WrestleMania 10. The older brother went on to win the WWF Championship, while this sibling rivalry is sure to spill over into the massive Bloodline angle.
Because the show is a two-day event, there is certainly a feeling that Saturday could be an Empire Strikes Back evening. Jey left the Bloodline last year, claiming his time is done with Smackdown and WWE.
The younger Uso turned up on Raw and has had several quality main event matches. The issue against older brother Jimmy is that the Bloodline will be involved, with expectations real-life little brother Solo Sikoa will play a factor in deciding the winner. Further questions persist on a possible reunion between Jey and the Bloodline.
Could Jey Uso want a reunion with his family? Can Jey Uso survive a match that is sure to be against both brothers? While good guys dominate WrestleMania, this match has a chance to push a red-hot Bloodline story that could send shockwaves through Sunday. If there is a place to take an underdog heel on the card, allow the Bloodline to help cash the ticket.
Pick: Jimmy Uso +170
The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins
All the credit in the world goes to WWE Creative, as the main event of Saturday night could spin in a dozen directions. This classic will be talked about for decades, but that does not mean the ending is tough handicap.
The stipulations of this match dictate if Roman Reigns and The Rock win, Sunday’s main event of Cody Rhodes and Reigns is Bloodline Rules. If Reigns and Rock lose the tag match, the championship match will have no outside interference.
What fun would a WrestleMania main event be between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns if no outside interference is allowed? For that reason alone, expect Rollins or Rhodes to take the pinfall in this match.
The biggest question is how WWE will choose to get from this match to Sunday night. Does Seth Rollins turn heel against Rhodes? Does Jey Uso return to the Bloodline? Does Drew McIntyre work to get Rollins injured before Sunday?
No matter how you dice up the variables, Sunday night is going to be a no-holds-barred, anything goes, Bloodline Rules match.
Pick: Roman Reigns & The Rock -700
WrestleMania Sunday Preview, Best Bets
World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins v Drew McIntyre
Seth Rollins has defeated Drew McIntyre several times over the past year, including a pinfall on New Year’s Day. McIntyre won the Elimination Chamber in Austrailia, setting the table for this match on Sunday.
There are plenty of narratives to be played out in the squared circle, from McIntyre begging Rollins to forget about the Bloodline to CM Punk playing a role as guest commentator. The electricity between the three competitors drew one of the highest ratings in the history of Monday Night Raw.
The buzz between these three is not going away anytime soon, especially with McIntyre set to main event Clash at the Castle this June. Punk started off the WrestleMania week with an interview on “The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani,” indicating that the original plan for WrestleMania was a championship match with Rollins.
Instead, Punk will take over commentary with an injured triceps and is sure to have a presence in this match.
The handicap in this match is which sports entertainer can focus on the task at hand and forget Punk is seated ringside. McIntyre has been obsessed with Punk since Survivor Series last November, even selling T-shirts to commemorate the triceps injury.
The series with these three competitors has enough arena energy to last well beyond SummerSlam, where a three-way match would end the angle. Look for Rollins to take a massive beating on Saturday against Rock and Reigns, only to survive with an assist from Punk on Sunday.
Pick: Seth Rollins +350
WWE Women’s Championship: Iyo Sky v Bayley
The one championship match without any juice is the WWE Women’s Championship, currently held by Iyo Sky. Damage CTRL was quick to remove their leader from the faction after the Royal Rumble, as Bayley waffled on facing Rhea Ripley or Sky.
Ultimately, the first women’s Triple Crown Champion and Grand Slam winner heard the whispers and disparaging remarks from her Japanese colleagues.
Damage CTRL itself is a heavy underdog to Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi in other action. WrestleMania is a haven for faces to defeat heels historically, as Sky and her peers are in the role of heels this weekend.
Bayley has been the most integral piece to the WWE women’s movement over the past decade, and this platform could be used to crown a champion for her service time to the company.
Pick: Bayley -700
United States Championship: Logan Paul v Randy Orton v Kevin Owens
Logan Paul’s retirement from boxing and full-time commitment to the WWE has paid dividends. Paul was rewarded with the United States Championship in October, beating Rey Mysterio in Saudi Arabia for the strap.
The YouTube star has been given “prime” real estate on the premium live event cards over the past two years, including a WWE Universal Title shot at Roman Reigns in late 2022. Last year, Paul made a splash against Seth Rollins while promoting his energy beverage.
Neither Kevin Owens nor Randy Orton have generated enough steam to point to a title run. Both are former World Champions, as Owens has been lost in the fold since last year's main event and Orton has little direction since returning from injury.
SummerSlam will take place in Paul’s home town of Cleveland, as there is no indication this belt is coming off the online star through the summer.
Pick: Logan Paul -450
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns v Cody Rhodes
This is a historical run for Roman Reigns, set to shatter nearly every record in the book. This will be the eighth year Reigns has participated in the main event of WrestleMania, tying legend Hulk Hogan.
Reigns has been the champion for 1,314 days as of Sunday, just short of the September time frame to eclipse the longest title run in 35 years. Hogan carried this very same strap through the first three WrestleMania’s in the late 1980s, defeating King Kong Bundy and Andre the Giant.
This scenario begs the question from the Chief Content Officer Triple H in designing this match: How important is it to wipe Hogan’s record from the board and place Reigns as the third-longest title run behind Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund?
Cody Rhodes winning the WWE Universal Championship is inevitable, but the question is more when and where. WrestleMania 40 is set to be the biggest event in company history, but a throwback to Rhodes' father is consistently mentioned.
Dusty Rhodes was one of the biggest names in professional wrestling for nearly 30 years, fighting in every territory including the Northeast. The story for Cody to finish originates from his father’s shot at the world championship against “Superstar” Billy Graham in Madison Square Garden.
Dusty won by count out and had the title placed in his hands before removal, as a title cannot change hands on a count out. Cody now owns that belt from October of 1977, using it as his crux to finish the Rhodes family story.
Fast-forward to the present and Triple H’s decision will not be whether to crown Cody, but if that coronation comes in Philadelphia on Sunday or in Madison Square Garden next Christmas season. The decision made on the victor of this match will have a trickle-down effect to the biggest names in history.
WWE has stated “You never know who is going to showup at WrestleMania,” then promptly revealed a trailer with Stone Cold Steve Austin and John Cena overlooking the Rock. Rumors persist that the two legends and former foes of the Rock will return to play a part on the side of Cody Rhodes.
Stone Cold recently mentioned that the only time this event was in Philadelphia was 1999, as Steve Austin pinned The Rock clean to end WrestleMania 15. There is expectation that not only Stone Cold and Cena will show up for Rhodes, but Hogan himself may show against the Bloodline to retain his records.
This show is going to cook from Bloodline rules, no-holds-barred action and multiple legends showing support for Cody to fulfull his late father's American dream. Questions are endless for WWE Creative, with rumors swirling of Solo Sikoa turning on the Bloodline or Jey Uso coming back into the fold.
Every aspect is on the table, including an appearance from Cody Rhodes' close friend and former AEW Champion MJF.
The swerves will come in bunches, but if Triple H is obsessed with getting the Reigns streak over Hogan, look for Cody to take another WrestleMania loss.
Pick: Roman Reigns +275
