Bad Blood airs Saturday on Peacock, WWE Network and PPV providers, and WWE has set up quite a card for the PLE.
Here is a look at the lineup for this weekend's show:
- Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa
- CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (Hell in a Cell)
- Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
- Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE Women's Championship)
- Nia Jax vs. Bayley (Women's World Championship)
As always, we have our panel of contributors here to offer predictions.
- Chris Mueller (CM) (@BR_Doctor)
- Graham Matthews (GM) (@WrestleRant)
- Donald Wood (DW) (@RingRustRadio)
- Kevin Berge (KG) (@KevinBerge)
- Erik Beaston (EB) (@ErikBeaston)
- Jeff J (JJ) (@JeffJSays)
Erik Beaston
Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
Who do you think benefits more from a win and why?
Bálor would most benefit from the win in that he feels like a heel that gets bumped around and beat up by higher-priority babyfaces and could use the heat that would come from such a win. As a former Universal and NXT champion, he is a guy who could benefit the Raw brand as a top-tier heel, if allowed that opportunity.
Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
If you were in charge, would you book a title change?
I would not. Morgan has cooled off considerably since the summer and taking the title off of her now, without any plan moving forward, would do more damage than the good of having Ripley as champion again.
We know Judgment Day has repeatedly proven itself to be full of schemers and manipulators. Booking some swerve involving a returning star or a means of Dominik escaping the shark cage ala Chyna from Unforgiven 1998, feels like the right move to ensure Morgan doesn't lose all of her heat.
Donald Wood
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
With the feud tied 1-1, this will probably be their last match in this feud. Who do you think will win and why?
As much as the story has been set up for The Best in the World to get vengeance on McIntyre for everything he has said, the Scot needs the victory to retain his credibility as a viable world title threat. If Punk stands toe-to-toe with McIntyre and comes out healthy and looks strong against the better all-around athlete, he can easily take a hard-fought loss and wouldn't hurt his credibility.
Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
Who would you rather see win and why?
While Balor is the better all-around Superstar, Priest needs the win more after losing the World Heavyweight Championship. Priest has been an afterthought in recent weeks, but a marquee victory over his former friend would cement him as a contender for a world title again.
Graham Matthews
Nia Jax vs. Bayley
Do you think we see Tiffany Stratton cash in?
A Money in the Bank cash-in is bound to be teased again like it was at SummerSlam, but Stratton ultimately won't go through with it, at least not yet. She and Jax are still early on in their alliance and it should be a little longer before they finally implode. If anything, Stratton will attempt to interfere and it will likely be thwarted by Naomi.
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
Who gains more from a win and why?
Either guy could win and it wouldn't make much of a difference because they're basically bulletproof from a booking standpoint. However, not only would Punk winning be the more satisfying finish, it would also allow him to continue building momentum heading into his inevitable feud with Seth Rollins for WrestleMania season. McIntyre's direction post-Bad Blood isn't as clear.
Kevin Berge
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu
What is the best possible outcome here?
A competitive match with memorable near-falls benefits everyone. Rhodes and Reigns cannot afford to lose, but The Bloodline should stand tall at the end of the night, laying out both after a tight loss.
Nia Jax vs. Bayley
Who do you want to see leave with the title, Baylay, Jax or Tiffy? Why them?
Jax has not been champion long enough to lose just yet. She defeated Bayley for a reason, further establishing her dominance as one of WWE's top women. This is the match to reinforce that Jax is too much for Bayley to overcome.
Chris Mueller
Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
What do you think will happen with Dominik Mysterio?
Being locked in a shark cage is going to give the impression that Dirty Dom can't get involved, but we all know a cage has openings. If he slips Morgan a weapon like brass knuckles or something like pepper spray, Morgan will still have a big advantage.
Bonus
Book one more match for this card based on current storylines.
I would add a match for the U.S. title featuring LA Knight, Carmelo Hayes and Andrade. This is one of the best stories on SmackDown, and it would give Melo and El Idolo another way to fight without it needing to be a singles bout. After Knight wins, Hayes and Andrade would be furious at each other and have one more grudge match to break their tie.
Mr. Jeff J
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu
Lay out how you think this match will go down. Will we see any surprises?
One word: Not CINEMA, DISTRUST. I can see the story being the classic "Can They Coexist" trope, with the added element of Bloodline 2.0 added to the mix. Rhodes and Reigns will struggle to trust one another, have some shady-looking miscues and ultimately have to overcome a lot of outside interference to secure a win. I don't know if they pull the trigger on any surprises, but could The Final Boss make an appearance if they do?
Bonus
Based on current feuds, what match would you add to the card and why?
Andrade vs. Hayes match seven for the right to face LA Knight for the US Title. They've both put on a dope series thus far and exhibit remarkable chemistry. Adding championship stakes to the match would elevate their series to another level. I love seeing rivalries build on television and culminate at PLEs. If any TV feud deserves the premium placement, it's this one.
Predictions
B/R Wrestling writers' predictions are represented by their initials:
- Rhodes and Reigns (EB, KB, CM, GM, DW, JJ) vs. Fatu and Sikoa
- Punk (EB, KB, CM, GM, JJ) vs. McIntyre (DW)
- Priest (EB, KB, CM, DW) vs. Balor (GM, JJ)
- Morgan (EB, KB, CM, GM, DW, JJ) vs. Ripley (JJ)
- Jax (EB, KB, CM, GM, DW, JJ) vs. Bayley
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