The B/R Wrestling Staff Predictions for WWE Bash in Berlin 2024 Match Card

For the first time ever, WWE is taking a PLE to Germany for this year's Bash in Berlin.

Gunther, Drew McIntyre and other European Superstars are sure to get a warm welcome. These international events have been great for WWE because the crowds are always hot, and American fans get a show earlier in the day for a change.

Here is a look at the lineup for Bash in Berlin:

• CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (Strap match)
• Gunther vs. Randy Orton (World title)
• Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens (WWE title)
• Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn vs. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair (Women's tag titles)
• Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan

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)  

Gunther vs. Randy Orton

Assuming Gunther retains, do you think he should win clean or with help from Ludwig Kaiser?

Part of what has made the Gunther character so strong is that he does not need help to win matches and retain titles. He does it on his own and does it decisively. After he defeated Priest with help, winning a second match with help would set the wrong tone for the title reign and fly in the face of what worked for so long in the first place.

Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill

Should Belair and Cargill regain the titles or will playing hot potato devalue the belts further?

Fyre and Dawn should retain, if only because history tells us divisions get hotter when there is a heel champion that babyfaces can chase. Belair and Cargill lost the titles without being pinned.

If they lose again in Berlin through further chicanery, it only gives fans a greater reason to get behind them. If they roll through the champions and regain the titles, what does it prove, advance, or improve? The tag division has long needed better stories and booking. This is one way to get there.

Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

Do you think we get a Kevin Owens heel turn? Why or why not?

Kevin Owens has been rudderless for months, waiting for another marquee moment that could capitalize on his elite talent. With the SmackDown brand desperate for a villain not involved in the Bloodline storyline, Owens would instantly become a top heel, challenging for the world title through the fall.

Gunther vs. Randy Orton

Is there any scenario where Orton wins the title that you would find satisfying?

Simply put, no. Gunther has been booked to near perfection since making the move to WWE, and his reign of terror over the World Heavyweight Championship has just started. Orton is a great first challenger, but in no way, shape or form should The Viper walk out of Berlin with Gunther's title.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

Lay out how you would book this match.

There was an emphasis on the storytelling during their SummerSlam match, which was totally fine, but this match should have much more intensity and a sense of urgency. Strap matches can be hit or miss, but they can maximize the stipulation by brutalizing each other with the strap regardless of the outcome.

Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan

Who do you think makes the most sense to win and why?

Both teams can afford to lose here since Priest and Ripley can always bounce back with wins at Bad Blood. Ripley regaining the Women's World Championship from Morgan should be the endgame, so Dom and Liv stealing a win would be an effective way to further the feud and keep Dom from getting his comeuppance just yet.

Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan

Who do you think will be pinned and who will pin them? Why should it be them?

While it would be great to see Ripley pin Dom, it is likely WWE will hold to the men and women not being allowed to fight intergender. Therefore, the best option would be for Priest to pin Dirty Dom, keeping The Punishment strong while keeping Ripley and Morgan from a definitive result until a rematch occurs.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

With McIntyre winning at SummerSlam, what odds would you give him winning here?

McIntyre should have about +100 odds in betting. Either result is still possible, but typical WWE booking would indicate that Punk will win. Since the expectation is that Punk vs. McIntyre 3 will be in Hell in a Cell, this cannot be a definitive result, but it is hard to imagine Punk losing his third straight match back in WWE.

Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill

Offer a believable scenario where the champion retain the titles.

It's all about outside interference. Blair Davenport joined the Unholy Union recently, and her addition could pay massive dividends with some dastardly dealings in this match. If Blair and Naomi get involved, they'll cause enough confusion for Alba and Isla to steal a victory.

Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

How would you like to see this match play out?

I want to see Owens fight his urges to revert back to his heelish ways. Have him conform to the devilish beckonings on his left shoulder with teases to his former self. Tease us before hitting Cody with the apron powerbomb, fight foreign object compulsion.

Owens watches the show, and he knows the fans are watching to see what he does, so show us the agonizing torment on your face as you struggle to be the best while doing whatever it takes to win a title. I expect an awesome match between the two with Cody ultimately prevailing.

Gunther vs. Randy Orton

What is the best way for this match to go so Gunther's reign gets off to a good start?

Orton is a great first challenger because he is a legitimate top star. He is a 14-time world champion who has done everything to be done. He's beaten legends and contemporaries alike. Giving Gunther a decisive, clean win over The Viper will help further legitimize him.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

How do you see this match playing out?

Punk needs this win to tie the feud and push it to a third grudge match. However, it shouldn't be a dominant victory. He needs to claw and scratch his way to that final turnbuckle to claim victory because anything less would devalue the work WWE has done to make McIntyre a top star.

B/R Wrestling writers' predictions are represented by their initials:

• Punk (EB, KB, CM, DW, JJ) vs. McIntyre (GM)
• Gunther (EB, KB, CM, GM, DW, JJ) vs. Orton 
• Rhodes (EB, KB, CM, GM, DW, JJ) vs. Owens 
• Fyre and Dawn (EB, KB, CM, GM, JJ) vs. Cargill and Belair (DW)
• Priest and Ripley (DW, KB) vs. Dom and Morgan (EB, CM, GM, JJ)