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WHAT SHOULD GO DOWN TONIGHT: THE WWE DAY ONE TIP SHEET

WWE will present the 2022 Day One PPV on Saturday from Atlanta, GA.  Here is our take on what should happen on the show!

Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar.

Dave: This is the best stuff WWE is doing right now (yeah, I know there is no competition but this is still really good).  The big variable here is Paul Heyman and what he will do, or not do.  Brock has been great in this role and I could see a Title change, but I don't think it's the best thing to do.  He has been a face.  Roman has been the heel.  So I could see them having the firing be a ruse and that Heyman comes out during the match with everyone thinking he will help Brock, only to cost him the match.  

Mike: Really, this is the match the entire show is being sold on.  The entire crux of the story has been whether Paul Heyman is done.  He's not and he'll obviously be here at the show and he'll be where the plot all falls.  Does he walk out with Brock?  Was he fired as a ruse to set up helping Roman in the end?  Does Heyman walk out with an ECW cap and go full babyface?  That's what people will remember at the end of this.  As long as Roman shows up healthy and able to work after disappearing this past week, I expect a hell of a bout.  Do they put the belt on Brock?  I can see it and then they can have Lashley win the Rumble and presto! - ready made Mania main event.  Should they put the belt on Brock?  I am not as enthused about that as the idea of Roman continuing to reign supreme, but they really, truly need something to spark the company right now.  A return to Suplex City might be the trick, at least short term.

Richard:  There is one giant variable that is going to explain my pick for this match and it has nothing to do with wrestling.  With the current health situation and Roman's medical history, I see him losing the title and then it gives us a reason to have Roman stay off TV for a few months (even though it could hurt the ratings, so do pre-tapes) to better ensure he is back at Mania for the rematch.  I could see Heyman get involved but in a minor way so that we get Paul to work with Brock, but Brock tells Paul he did nothing to help him win and he used Paul to get into Roman's head.  Then we wait until April to see who Paul works with.

WWE Champion Big E vs. Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley

Dave: "The odds are against the champion in a mutli-man match" and yet he usually wins.  I see that happening here as well as Big E retains (and he should since this is a throwaway PPV).

Mike: Unless they are going to shift the belt back to Lashley, who they seem to be shifting into a babyface role, with the idea of making him THE GUY at the level of Roman Reigns on Smackdown, this should be about Big E beating everyone.  They really need to build around him, as opposed to treating him as just some guy on the roster.  He's the WWE Champ!  Treat him as such!

Richard:  When WWE finally reads the definition of that four letter word they don't understand, and then they say UH UH and go back to the WWEification of booking.   When Kevin got Bobby disqualified to keep the Triple Threat from being this Fatal Four Way, Sonya and Adam had to screw up the genius that Kevin showed.  I think we might see a title change, and if it is a shame that they have not capitalized on Big E's charisma and character.  It would be nice to see Kevin win the title so Burt Patrick can interview him on Raw.  If it isn't going to be Owens, I can see Lashley winning the title.

Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan.

Dave: I like that they are trying hard with Liv.  I don't think she is quite there yet though.  If they book this the right way, they could get her closer.

Mike: The right thing to do here would have Liv shock the world and win the title.  The women's division is probably the smallest its been since the entire Divas Revolution era, so they need do something to maximize who they have.  I'd put the belt on Liv and have Becky lose her mind over losing and chase going into the Rumble, because if Liv loses yet again, what was the point of any of this?

Richard:   It would be a shock if Liv Morgan won the title, but I would not be against it.  I don't like how we got to this match (sorry about being a broken record) because Becky won and Liv demanded a rematch, but WHY WOULD BECKY AGREE?  Liv is motivated to win and if Becky makes a mistake, then she loses the title.  If Liv does win, I see it as a short title reign (like Homicide in ROH) and Becky probably wins 4 weeks from now to set up the tease for her facing the Rumble winner at Mania (and if she is healthy, I have Bayley win). 

Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro vs. The Street Profits.

Dave: Randy seems to be getting a little too comfortable with Riddle's goofiness, which usually means a turn in Vince Land.  It may not happen here, but it seems to be coming.

Mike: I don't see a title change here, either.  

Richard:  This should be a fun match and the Street Profits are ready for another strong run at the top of the division.  I expect to see Orton and Riddle retain, but if it does happen, I want the finish to be Orton hitting an RKO on Ford as Ford goes for the Seven Star Frog Splash (make sure to listen to the discussion that I have with Andrew about the physics of cool RKO spots).  If Orton and Riddle lose, maybe Randy can make a visit to Orlando to tell Riddle that his deal with MSK cost them the titles.

Smackdown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The New Day

Dave: I think the Usos retain here, since it's a throwaway show.  They probably do something to lead to a rematch but with the Rumble coming, who knows.

Mike: I love Kofi and Xavier but don't see a title change here.  

Richard:  This first time ever match up should be a good opportunity to see if these two teams can work together in a wrestling ring.  The big question for this match is whether this will be a good night or disaster for the Bloodline.  The New Day don't need the titles, but if they are the ones to take the titles from the Usos, it could mean a lot for the next champions after the New Day to say that they beat the King for the title.  However, if the Usos retain and Roman loses, that could cause someone to remember that Jimmy wasn't really a fan of Roman's behavior.  I think the Usos retain.

Edge vs. Miz.

Dave: Since Miz got slimed on Raw, he SHOULD get the win here. Will he?  We shall see.

Mike: Common sense says Miz gets the win to keep the program going.  I'd have Maryse interfere to set up Beth Phoenix joining her husband in the program.  That's old school wrestling 101.  Simple but it will work.

Richard:  Here is your match to set up one of the 'attraction matches' at Wrestlemania.  This might be THE match of this show that should be good but the build has made me not care.  Weeks and weeks of promo segments did nothing to help.  Edge will appear to have the match under control, but Maryse will do something to distract Edge and help her husband win the match.  Then we can have a few weeks of Miz and Maryse gloating about the win and then you can have Edge make a cryptic comment before the Royal Rumble.  Then at the Rumble, Maryse gets number one and number two is Beth Phoenix.  Maryse eliminates herself before anything can happen and then we go on the road to Mixed Tag match at Mania.

Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss.

Dave: Moss should lose for the simple reason that someone named "Madcap" should ever get a win.

Mike: Unless they intend on Drew having a program with Happy Corbin at The Royal Rumble (Dear God, NO!), this should be the old Hulk Hogan formula.  Drew sells, makes a comeback, Claymore, 1-2-3 and then declares for the Rumble match.  That guy has been working twice a night every night of the Holiday Tour.  It's time the company throws him some well deserved, renewed attention!

Richard:  One of these matches is not like the others and this is the one.  The Moss character seems more appropriate for NXT because I like Moss as a wrestler, but his Tony Atlas tribute act is not working for me.  To see Drew fall from "THE MAN" to the guy feuding with guys who are dressed as extras for some 50s movie set at the Jersey Shore.  In reality, this match should be Moss tells a bad joke, Claymore, end match.   We will probably see Corbin get involved and help Moss get close to winning the match.  Drew should win because we need a challenger for the Universal Champion.

Cesaro and Ricochet vs. Sheamus and Ridge Holland (on the Kickoff Show).

Dave:  Holland should be booked strongly here, probably getting the pin on Ricochet.

Mike: WWE rarely has the heels go over on the Kickoff Show, but this should be the exception to the rule.  Holland should beat Ricochet, who sadly has zero momentum for yet another year.

Richard:  With the way that the Kickoff Shows drag, feature the same video packages that we are going to see during the pay per view, and have a former 24/7 Champion on them, I want this match to go 45 minutes (sorry Kayla).  This should be a showcase for Holland and to be in the ring with Cesaro and Ricochet will not hurt his chances to have a performance that takes him to the next level.  Sheamus and Holland should win and the fans should have a smile on their faces for a few minutes.

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