The Undisputed WWE Championship scene grew complicated after Saturday’s Elimination Chamber event, although Randy Orton‘s victory was not due to his own actions. Instead, trouble erupted when champion Drew McIntyre interfered by eliminating Cody Rhodes, allowing Orton to claim the win. Nick Aldis, WWE SmackDown’s General Manager, responded by scheduling a title match between McIntyre and Rhodes on the following Friday. WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray discussed the evolving situation on Busted Open Radio, predicting the possible matchups at WrestleMania, especially focusing on whether Aldis and McIntyre will eventually face each other.
Bully Ray’s Expectations for WrestleMania Matches
Bully Ray revealed his interpretation of Aldis’s strategy, believing the General Manager aims to center attention on himself. He expressed,
“When Nick said, ‘I need Drew, all attention on me.’ I immediately went, ‘Oh, they’re gonna do it,’”
on Busted Open Radio. Bully Ray foresees a singles match between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre, with a surprise factor from Jacob Fatu possibly impacting the contest. He explained,
“I thought for a second we were going to get Nick and Drew. We still might have an opportunity for that. What I’m anticipating, we’re going to get Cody and Drew. There’s somebody else who’s got it out for Drew McIntyre on the ‘SmackDown’ side… Now, I could see Jacob Fatu getting involved in that match, also, and costing Drew McIntyre the championship. Which gets us to Cody vs. Randy at WrestleMania this year, which to me, would be very positive damage control.”
According to Bully Ray, the interference by McIntyre that denied Rhodes his Chamber opportunity paves the way for Fatu to disrupt McIntyre’s match against Rhodes on SmackDown. Ray expects two key singles matches at WrestleMania: Rhodes versus Orton for the championship, and McIntyre against Fatu. He is clear that he prefers Fatu not to be part of the title match itself.
Debate Over Multi-Man Championship Match at WrestleMania
Despite Bully Ray and co-host Dave LaGreca opposing a multi-man match for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania, they acknowledge its possibility. Bully Ray expressed a strong interest in seeing Aldis face McIntyre but warned about the drawbacks of that booking. He noted,
“As much as I would love to see it be Drew vs. Nick, because I feel that animosity, you can’t do it and you can’t have Nick beat Drew,”
highlighting the importance of protecting Drew’s championship credibility.
Ray appreciates Aldis’s role as a catalyst in stirring the various rivalries, stating,
“It does nothing for Drew. So, I like Nick being the connective tissue. Everything that he’s doing, the situations that he’s putting these guys in.”
While clearly favoring a storyline with Orton and Rhodes building toward a WrestleMania showdown, he remains cautious about the narrative becoming confusing through additional participants. He said,
“So, yes, give me Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes all day long. Give me that six week build-up. What I don’t want is for something to happen and it get convoluted and turn into a multi-man match.”
Should the multi-man format be inevitable, Bully Ray outlined a scenario where McIntyre defends the title against Fatu, Rhodes, and Orton. This approach could allow Orton to win the championship by pinning someone other than McIntyre, protecting the defending champion’s standing. In this case, he envisions a high-stakes Rhodes versus Orton match at SummerSlam instead. Nevertheless, Ray’s ideal WrestleMania features two decisive singles matches.
Envisioning the WrestleMania Climaxes and Additional Showdowns
Bully Ray discussed the importance of differentiating match types to maintain audience engagement. Concerning the McIntyre and Fatu rivalry, he suggested adding special stipulations to raise intrigue beyond a standard contest. He articulated,
“Jacob and Drew… I would even put a stipulation on it and make it a little bit more intriguing other than just a regular wrestling match,”
emphasizing the need for variety in WrestleMania matchups.
He also highlighted the significance of the Rhodes-Orton match, comparing its status to other marquee events, stating,
“Because, I’m getting a regular wrestling match with Cody and Randy and I’m getting one with Punk and Roman. Now, Cody and Randy? As much of a main event as Punk and Roman. No doubt about it.”
With WrestleMania on the horizon, these anticipated matches promise to shape the Undisputed WWE Championship picture dramatically, delivering intense storylines and rivalries that will captivate wrestling fans worldwide.
