How I’d Book the WWE Men’s World Titles on the Road to WrestleMania

The World Heavyweight Title

This will be an unpopular opinion, but I consider the World Heavyweight Championship to be the most important men’s title in WWE. I also believe Seth should have dropped the title twice now—firstly to Finn Balor, from whom he should have won it back, then retained against Shinsuke, and finally lost it again to Drew McIntyre.

That said, onto my predictions.

Royal Rumble 2024

Wrestling fans are very fickle and turn on babyfaces easily, so I personally think Cody shouldn’t be winning two years in a row, there’s a huge risk people will say he’s overpushed. Because of this, I’d have whoever is facing the WHC to win the Rumble, which I’m going to make a wild/bold prediction on.

You’ll find most people think that it will just be Seth vs. Punk at WrestleMania, which could be true due to their story, but Drew has history with Punk too. If you notice, ever since Punk returned, the two people who have teased tension with him are Rollins and Drew. In the promo on this week’s Raw between Punk and McIntyre, they teased the history between the two, making it clear they have just as much history together as Rollins and Punk do.

There’s also the fact that WrestleMania 20 and 30 both had a Triple Threat for the World Title, so if history were to repeat itself, this is the perfect way. Punk teased leaving Drew to last before elimination, so I could see both men going over the top rope at the exact same time, both winning the Rumble. This won’t end there and will lead into the next PLE.

Elimination Chamber 2024

At the Elimination, I’d actually have it be Punk vs. Drew McIntyre to determine who goes to WrestleMania. Realistically, neither guy should be losing and needs to be booked strong, so a good option would be to have the match either end in interference leading to a DQ or a non-finish such as a double countout.

It’s not the ideal way to end a match, but this could leave Adam Pearce with no choice but to make it a triple threat at WrestleMania. Punk and Seth have both dreamed of main eventing WrestleMania, and Drew never got his big win in front of crowds, so I’d have Drew go over.

The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

Now, to preface things a bit, I thought I’d clarify where I stand on this title and its current reign. Personally, I believe Roman should have dropped the title at WrestleMania 38 against Brock when he went part-time. He was already meant to lose it to Brock at Day One but didn’t due to catching COVID, so that original plan should have been implemented at WM38 instead.

Since getting that event, he could have easily lost it to Drew McIntyre at Clash at the Castle, Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber, or Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39, but sadly they went with the poor booking choice instead. Because of all this, I don’t see his reign as something valid or prestigious anymore. It should end as soon as possible, and the perfect time is the next PLE.

Royal Rumble 2024

My booking for this would start with the Royal Rumble. Considering it’s a fatal four-way for the Undisputed WWE Universal title, you can easily have Roman drop the title without having to take a pin, which helps for his Mania match.

I would say LA Knight is in this match just to take the pin, as both AJ Styles and Randy Orton are former champs so should be kept strong. You could either go two ways with this which would be:

• Orton pins LA Knight clean to get the win OR
• Bloodline interferes as usual to assist Roman. Just when it looks like Roman has it won, then the Rock’s music hits and he comes to even the odds and actually helps the remainder of the competitors. While Roman is preoccupied with Rock, Orton hits the RKO on LA Knight and becomes the new Undisputed WWE Universal champion.

Randy going into WrestleMania 40 as the champion is the best story-wise, especially if it will be Cody going for the title.

Elimination Chamber 2024

Knowing Roman, he likely won’t work Elimination Chamber. Instead, the chamber match is used to determine the number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Universal championship, which Cody wins to face Randy Orton. I’d also have Cody enter first and survive the whole match to really sell him as someone worthy for that Mania spot.

Now, what if Roman does work Elimination Chamber? I’d personally have a champions rematch between Orton and Reigns. Before it can end, the Rock can interfere to stop it, leading to a Triple Threat at WrestleMania.