On a hot Sunday in July of last year, over 48,000 rabid fans of professional wrestling walked through the turnstiles of Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, beaming with the excitement of what the second biggest show of the year in the sport was about to unfold. The crowd was as hot as the plastic seats that lined the rows of the home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans as one superstar after another of the WWE made their long walk to the ring.
World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Biggest Party of the Summer,” Summerslam is the company’s second biggest production after the behemoth that is Wrestlemania. Both events look completely different from where they were just a few years ago. Wrestlemania and Summerslam are considered to be the #1 and #2 respectively of the ‘Big Four.” The ‘Big Four” refers to the original and longest running pay-per-events of the WWE. In their early incarnations, they both marked the end of month-long storylines and the beginning of new ones. Wrestlemania is often where legends are born in the sport of professional wrestling as it is looked upon as the Super Bowl of the sport while Summerslam is the baby of the group behind Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble. Outside of a handful of incarnations of the event, Wrestlemania was primarily held in sports arenas around the country. Wrestlemania III, held in the Pontiac Silverdome outside of Detroit, is still easily the most famous version of the nearly 40 year-old event thanks in part to its main event of Hulk Hogan verses Andre the Giant and the then record for the largest recorded attendance of a live indoor event in North America. 93,173 fans were in attendance for Hogan/Andre as well what is considered by many to be the greatest match in Wrestlemania history, Ricky Steamboat verses Randy “Macho Man” Savage for the Intercontinental Championship.
The following year after Wrestlemania III, Summerslam made its debut on August 29, 1988, at Madison Square Garden and would follow suit of taking place in sports arenas outside of the 1992 edition that took place across the pond inside Wembley Stadium in front of over 80,000 fans. Summerslam left the arenas in 2021 and moved itself into football stadiums when it set up shop inside of the Allegiant Stadium the home of the Las Vegas Raiders. The success of that show and the Nashville edition the following year has cemented the fact that the WWE believes Summerslam is a show worthy of a larger in-person audience as this year’s rendition takes place at Ford Field, the home of the Detroit Lions and Wrestlemania 23. Wrestlemania grew from being a one-day spectacle to taking over an entire city for a week in the lead-up to the big show. Once WWE became a publicly traded company in October of 1999, it was very obvious that the happiness of shareholders (and not lifelong fans) was the number one priority of the company. That philosophy was stamped in permanent ink when Wrestlemania became a two-day event in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic shuffled the company’s plans, but Wrestlemania as a two-night ‘showcase of the immortals’ was here to stay.
Rumors began to spread in early 2022 about the future of Nissan Stadium. City and state leaders as well as the Titans began to discuss if it was smart to keep feeding money into an aging stadium or to build a new one to keep up with the trend of the NFL, and to also bring the biggest events, the city could not do without one. The 2019 NFL Draft that was held on Broadway in downtown Nashville put to rest any questions people had of Nashville’s ability to host the largest of events. The NFL estimated 600,000 people attended the event over the three days.
There were pros and cons for both sides of the discussion, but as someone who spent the past 14 years living in Nashville before moving late last year, the easy answer was to build a new state-of-the-art stadium for the team and the region surrounding Nashville. As the rumor mill grew, wrestling fans in the area began to think, ‘what if?’ If they were to build a new stadium, would Wrestlemania come? Before that question could be answered, we had to show up for Summerslam.
The weather in Nashville in early April and late July are two different animals. There is no way in hell I would buy tickets in advance to Wrestlemania at Nissan Stadium strictly because the weather is so temperamental at that time of year in Nashville. It could be a beautiful partly cloudy day in the low 70’s. It would more than likely be a rainy dreary day in the upper 50s or snow. Actually, it would probably snow. The weather in Nashville once the calendar turns to June is a little more predictable. You know it is going to be hot, but at what degree of being-able-to-breathe hot it is is the only true question at hand. Turns out, the weather for Summerslam in Nashville was not that unbearable and as long as you stayed hydrated and wore sunscreen, you were okay. Wrestling fans delivered that day as the crowd and the show received mainly positive reviews from critics shining a light on the Nashville wrestling fans.
As the stadium talk continued in 2022, the WWE told city officials that if you build it, we will come. Metro Nashville Council issued the final approval of the new stadium on April 26 with a vote of 26-12. Now that the stadium is officially happening, will the WWE keep their word? It did not take long to find out. Last Friday, Titans team president and CEO Burke Nihill spoke with Nashville sports talk show 3HL on 104.5 the Zone and discussed a number of topics including the team’s recent NFL Draft results, the new stadium, and Wrestlemania. During the segment, Nihill talked about how at some point, the Super Bowl would be played there and was later asked what other events they could foresee taking place at the new stadium such as Final Four, College Football Playoffs, Stadium sized concerts and Wrestlemania.
“Wrestlemania isn’t hypothetical by the way, Wrestlemania has already committed to 2027,” Nihill said in regards of the biggest event in sports entertainment coming to Music City as what could be the first ever event held in the new Tennessee Titans stadium.
Now that it appears to be happening, let’s do some way too early and possibly stupid Wrestlemania fantasy booking. I personally think the wrestling landscape will change 2-3 times before WWE sets up shop in Nashville for Wrestlemania. Some of today’s top stars could be at a point of retirement in four years while others could be with a completely different company by then. Also, there could be current stars of competitive companies working for WWE come 2027. Most importantly, there could be figures in the independent scene that are not currently on WWE’s radar.
Night 1 of My Way Too Early and Possibly Stupid WrestleMania Predictions
Men’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match
I believe the Premium Live Event, pay-per-views are now called this in WWE because of the WWE Network, known as Money In The Bank (MITB) will cease to exist and go back to a single match for the women and men. To win the match, a competitor must climb a ladder and unlatch a briefcase hanging from above the ring. The winner then has one year to cash in the briefcase for a shot at the World Champion any time they seem fit.
The superstars in the Men’s MITB Match are Austin Theory, Finn Balor, Montez Ford, Dominic Mysterio and Carmelo Hayes.
I have never been a fan of including larger wrestlers in ladder matches, so I picked five high flyers that could steal the show at the jump. The WWE has been teasing the breakup of the Street Profits for some time now and I feel it finally happens way before we get to 2027. So much is thought of Montez Ford of the Street Profits by WWE and myself included so I am booking him to kick off Wrestlemania in a show stealing performance where him and Carmelo Hayes battle it atop a ladder or two before Hayes is eventually dumped to the outside leaving Ford freeing the briefcase giving him a shot at the world title.
Winner: Montez Ford
Women’s Raw Championship Match: Rhea Ripley vs Jamie Hayter
Current AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter will find herself in 2027 defending another company’s top title. I believe Hayter will be one of the early competitors to make an exodus from AEW in the next few years. Upon her arrival in the WWE, she find herself in epic battles with current top women stars such as Charlotte and Becky Lynch. Gold finally finds the waist of Hayter and we soon find out that her opponent will be 2027 Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley. With Rhea’s win the dream match of Ripley vs Hayter is set to take place. With her potential show stealing performance, Hayter sits alone as the Queen of the Mountain as she defeats Rhea.
Winner: Jamie Hayter
Sheamus vs Rusev
Nashville wrestling fans asked of one thing and one thing only for Summerslam in 2022 and that was for Sheamus and Drew McIntyre to battle it out to be the unofficial king of Music City. They were everywhere promoting the event but were nowhere to be found on the card. It was one of wrestling’s great travesties of 2022.
In 2027, McIntyre will no longer be working for WWE but a former WWE star and fellow Nashvillian is back with the company ready to give the fans that hometown battle. Rusev, who wrestles under the name Miro in AEW, has been misused by his current employer about as badly as Bray Wyatt has. I feel Rusev returns at a Royal Rumble in the coming years and finally finds himself renewing an old rivalry with his Santa’s Pub karaoke buddy Sheamus. The two beasts beat the living hell out of each other before the Bulgarian Brute finally gets Sheamus into the Accolade forcing his opponent to tap.
Winner: Rusev and Nashville wrestling fans
Women’s Tag Title Match: Toxic Attraction vs Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott
Jayce Jayne turned on Gigi Dolin in February, breaking up Toxic Attraction, but as wrestling lore will tell you, enemies don’t stay enemies forever. The duo will be called up to the main roster at some point due to the lack of true women wrestling tag teams and begin to run roughshod over the competition until they come face to face with the newly reformed Riott Squad. Ruby Riott returns to help out her old friend Liv Morgan after weeks of Liv taking beatings from the hands of Jayce and Gigi. Despite having the upper hand for most of the match, the Riott Squad come up short in their quest for the titles.
Winner: Toxic Attraction
Intercontinental Title Match: Bray Wyatt vs Damian Priest
I have been hoping for what seems like forever now that WWE would finally get Bray Wyatt right. By the time Wrestlemania in 2027 comes around, I have belief that they will. Bray will return to the Max Cady type character from Cape Fear that he originally appeared as in NXT many years ago. Damian Priest who has proven over the last year that he has the ability to work with anyone in the company and do so at a high level will finally get out from under the shadows of the Judgement Day and get the true singles push he deserves. Priest will enter as a newly turned babyface but will unfortunately come up short in his quest for gold as a new version of the Wyatt Family emerges to help their leader to a win.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Brian Cage vs Bron Breakker
Night one will be loaded with former AEW stars returning to WWE or signing with the company for the first time. This match features the Wrestlemania debut of Brian Cage as he takes on the man I feel will end the reign of Roman Reigns. Eventually the Tribal Chief finds his way back to the top of the mountain while Breakker must deal with the newcomer Cage. These two who are extremely agile for their sizes will battle in a match that will certainly take the audience by surprise. I give a slight edge to the WWE veteran in the end.
Winner: Bron Breakker
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Triple Threat: Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose
In what can only be described as a complete fever dream, the S. H. I. E. L. D. reunites at Wrestlemania. Well, sort of. In fact, the trio will come back together in late 2025 or early 2026 when Jon Moxley aka Dean Ambrose returns to the WWE to help his fellow brothers in arms fend off current Bloodline members The Usos and Solo Sikoa. The Bloodline falls apart shortly after Reigns loses his Universal Championship in late 2024. He later regains it in the Elimination Chamber where he chooses his titles over his ‘brothers.’ This begins the build to Wrestlemania where the former trio faces each other in a triple threat match for the championship. Night One of Wrestlemania ends with Dean Ambrose holding the Universal Championship above his head.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Night Two of My Way Too Early and Possibly Stupid WrestleMania Predictions
Unified Undisputed Tag Title Match: The Usos vs The Revival
Night two picks up where night one ended with fireworks. A match that so many have wanted to see on a grand stage is set to finally take place. These two g.o.a.t. level tag teams have faced off numerous times but ever since the Revival left WWE for AEW and rebranded themselves FTR fans have been left to wonder if they would see this match up ever again. In a match that no one wants to follow, the two future hall of famers tear down the house in an epic battle that finds The Revival leaving Music City as the new Unified Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
Winners: The Revival
Women’s Money In The Bank Match: Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton vs Carmella vs Raquel Rodriguez vs Iyo Sky
The E.S.T. of the WWE, Bianca Belair spends most of 2026 and now 2027 trying to find herself back on top of the women’s division and the MITB match is her latest obstacle. The Tennessee native will use the energy from the crowd to will herself to victory in a very hard fought ladder match.
United States Title Match: Cody Rhodes vs Matt Cardona
Zack Ryder is dead, but Matt Cardona is alive and kicking. Cardona single-handedly built himself into the biggest free agent in professional wrestling after his release in 2020. He spent the next few years wrestling everyone and everywhere. The last time Cody Rhodes and Matt were in a ring together before his return to WWE was in August of 2020 when they teamed together on an episode of AEW’s Dynamite. The two former teammates find themselves in a heated battle for the U.S. Title. The match delivers on every level a fan could want and Cody Rhodes retains his title in a ‘match of the night’ contender.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Retirement Match: AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens
Two of the best to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots are set to put their careers on the line in a first of its kind at Wrestlemania. Loser leaves town matches are not uncommon to wrestling especially back in the territory days but a loser retires match do not come around that often. In 2023 AJ Styles is still working at the highest level even at the age of 45 while Kevin Owens is in top form as one half of the undisputed tag champions. Fast forward to 2027 and it is easy to believe that these two legends will be ready to call it a career. In what surely could be believed to be the most emotional match of the weekend the Quebec native sends Styles back to Gainesville, GA newly retired.
Winner: Kevin Owens
Women’s Tag Team Grudge Match: Charlotte/Becky Lynch vs Bayley/Sasha Banks
The Four Horsewomen of the WWE are once again all together in a wrestling ring but it is not for a hug fest. The on-again off-again friendships of the four is once again put to the test at Wrestlemania. As a new crop of talent is focused around the championships these four future hall of famers look to finish some unfinished business. After spending some time in Japan after walking out of the WWE in 2022, Sasha Banks finds her way home to reunite with her best friend Bayley. The four women put on a showcase that cements why they are four of the best to ever wrestle in the women’s division.
Winners: Bayley/Sasha Banks
World Heavyweight Title Match: Gunther vs Solo Sikoa
It took some time, but Solo Sikoa eventually leaves the shadow of Roman Reigns and the rest of the Bloodline to embark on his own quest for gold. Sikoa wins the 2027 Royal Rumble and has his sights set on dethroning the Tribal Chief when events unfold over the weeks after the Rumble that set him on course to face off with the current World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. This matchup will be a complete and utter slobberknocker. The two will beat the living hell out of one another to the point that neither has the energy to make it to their feet to continue. Just as the referee is counting towards a double count out Montez Ford’s music hits and the new Money In The Bank winner runs to the ring briefcase in hand ready to cash in his chance at the title. The match quickly becomes a triple threat match and Ford hits multiple Frog Splash’s on his opponents leaving them unable to kick out. Montez Ford is your new World Heavyweight Champion.
My fever dream of a Nashville Wrestlemania comes to an end with pyro going off as Montez and his wife Bianca Belair embrace in the middle of the ring.
Steven McCash is the Lead Music Writer and Utility Man for SoBros Network. Steven is the host of the ‘Drinking With…’ podcast, and the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music in addition to the occasional live show review. He also pitches in as a Nashville lifestyle writer and football analyst (hence the ‘Utility Man’ title). Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
Subscribe to the SoBros Network Patreon here – $5/month gets you instant access to an exhaustive content library of articles, podcasts, and videos created exclusively for our subscribers!
