Latest WrestleMania 33 rumors - UPDATED in Post 817

[Mr. Nerfect]

I've been thinking about what AJ Styles could do at WrestleMania besides working with Shane, because that seems to have a lot of people down. I'd be fine with the match, in the sense that the company considers it a big deal and it'll probably babyface Styles, but I like thinking of others possibilities because Shane isn't needed at all for Mania this year.

Cena & Nikki vs. Miz & Maryse is the big rumor, and that is being set up by a powder spill. What if they actually went with Cena & Nikki vs. AJ & Natalya for Mania? It would be the culmination to actually established rivalries. The crowd goes nuts whenever Cena and Styles are together in the ring. Nattie is a great worker and Nikki is going to be there, so deal with it. You can have Cena and Styles tear it up and then the girls can roll around and do their thing.

Ambrose, Corbin, Miz, Crews, Kalisto, Ziggler and either Kane or Harper can be in that Ladder Match they look to do. It'd have more energy than Corbin vs. Ambrose one-on-one. I feel like that is a worthy spot for The Miz, since he was the most notable IC Champion of 2016.

When it comes to the other women, I'm still a big fan of putting the Four Horsewomen in the ring together. I think Orlando will respond a lot better to that than a Fatal 4-Way with Becky swapped out for Nia Jax. It just doesn't have the same charisma to it. People will get into the story of the Four Horsewomen they got behind in NXT making it to a title match on the big stage. Bayley was missing last year.

To get Becky over to RAW, you don't need much by way of creative wriggling. Have Bayley, now the champion, request the match. She's a fangirl gimmick, she can always say it was her "dream match" or whatever. Stephanie doesn't like the idea of giving a RAW girl a title shot (obviously) and says that Becky can only join the match if she leaves SmackDown. Becky is torn, because SmackDown is her home and Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon showed such faith in her. Daniel Bryan does a segment with her where he says that Becky has the opportunity to stand in the ring and give the fans a dream match they have wanted to see since they started following these women's careers. She doesn't disgrace SmackDown by going over there -- she makes it proud and these people will always be behind her. Becky jumps over and wears a torn piece of a SmackDown shirt around her arm to remind the fans that she hasn't forgotten where her "brand split era" home is.

That leaves the SmackDown Women's Title slot free. Alexa Bliss is the former champion, but I'm not particularly interested in seeing her chase. I'd rather see her blame Mickie James for being an albatross around her neck and wrestle her on the Kickoff. I know it's similar to Jericho/Owens, but I don't think people will confuse the two. It gives the team a chance to segue into discussion about that match too. Bliss would learn a lot by working Mickie, and the fans want to cheer Mickie anyway.

As for the SD Women's Title, I feel that a big problem with all these belts is that you can't have two effectively showcased on a big show like this without them being repeats of the same drama. "Who is the best woman in the world? Answer: It's A AND B! Everybody wins!". But the WWE are in a pickle where if they don't showcase both champions, it looks like they're discarding one, which isn't the best face for a "Revolution." Therefore, I think featuring the champion is a good idea, but having another multi-woman match is a big excessive. This is why I'd run Naomi vs. Carmella. Right now, people see Carmella as the lowest on the totem pole, which might translate to heat at WrestleMania. She can come out, cut a "hottest chick in the ring" promo and hopefully get some good heat, then Naomi can come out, do her dancing shtick and then she kicks Carmella in the head and drops her like a sack of shit. Naomi gets the pin and retains the Women's Title in seconds. James Ellsworth grabs the mic and says that this ain't going down that way and there's no way Naomi is leaving here the Women's Champion. He challenges her for the belt right there and then. Naomi looks at Ellsworth like he is insane, makes her way back to the ring (not an official match, obviously) and kicks Ellsworth in the head too. She then mock covers Ellsworth, grabs the unconscious Carmella's arm and counts the pin on her boyfriend and walks out of her hometown triumphant.

It's simple, it doesn't stretch the talents of either girl, it saves the competitive women's action for later, and it's a fun moment people might remember more vividly than a sloppy match between Naomi and one of the less experienced girls on the roster.

[#1-norm-fan]

You actually have too many endings in general. WWE likes to build up stories and then drop them suddenly. A lot of the geeks here think it's because they're really bad at hashing things out and probably shouldn't have jobs as professional writers. But really it's just a genius way to keep the audience guessing. Most of the time when you watch a show you're just thinking "How's it gonna end?" WWE takes it a step further and makes you ask "IS it gonna end?" Just shows how ahead of the game WWE is.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, Noid. You need more genius ideas like rivals wishing death on each other and then making up off camera and randomly being BFFs again without any explanation. Ideas like that really show how much thought WWE puts into their ideas and how willing they are to adapt to the situation to please the audience. Get on their level, please.

I think I need to try and come up with more ways to get the main belt into the mid-card.

[#1-norm-fan]

P.S. Sorry for the gimmick infringement.

[Mr. Nerfect]

You actually have too many endings in general. WWE likes to build up stories and then drop them suddenly. A lot of the geeks here think it's because they're really bad at hashing things out and probably shouldn't have a job as professional writers. But really it's just a genius way to keep the audience guessing. Most of the time when you watch a show you're just thinking "How's it gonna end?" WWE takes it a step further and makes you ask "IS it gonna end?" Just shows how ahead of the game WWE is.

I like how the story of Cena and Styles being on a different level is going to segue into Cena fighting with his girlfriend against a mid-carder and his non-wrestler wife. But I most admire the symmetry between the two current title programs, with two former allies fighting over the brand's highest ranked title. Well, they might move the Universal Title onto Goldberg in order to move it onto Brock, but at least they'll still have the US Title involved.

[Mr. Nerfect]

P.S. Sorry for the gimmick infringement.

I'm just glad someone can recognize it as a gimmick.

[#1-norm-fan]

Almost forgot. You gotta work in a good fart or shit storyline somewhere if you wanna be on WWE's level. Haven't seen one instance of someone farting mid-match and clearing the ring in anything you've written. Would be cutting edge television.

[Mr. Nerfect]

As I said, I was thinking about AJ Styles and all the other things he could do besides wrestling Shane McMahon and got distracted with all the women's programs. Another idea, as lame as this sounds at first, is to have Styles enter the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

You would do this ONLY if he were going to win it or be the final guy eliminated. My heart wants him to win it, but I can see the rational in a heel tossing him out at the end after the match has been all about him. But the idea behind it is that Styles hasn't been given his one-on-one rematch for the WWE Title and doesn't feel as appreciated as he should be on SmackDown (the logical set-up for the Shane match -- unless one of Shane's kids suddenly develops a soccer mom haircut). He decides he is going to enter the Battle Royal, with the intention of winning it and slamming the trophy down on Shane's desk. He's the best, he can fight the entire roster at once, and he's going to do just that at WrestleMania. He is the true giant in WWE -- it his talent that makes him a giant.

When he enters that Battle Royal, he is going to be cheered like crazy. Ignoring a wrestler's talents is the best way to get them over in this era, as Daniel Bryan proved. The crowd is not going to be into anyone as much as AJ Styles out there. Samoa Joe is likely to be in the Battle Royal at this point too, so you can do a Styles vs. Joe segment in the match. Gallows & Anderson can be in there and have a few cute moments with Styles. But basically you have Styles run the gauntlet and he's the last guy in there with Braun Strowman. Everyone's prediction to win. The crowd would be going nuts for Styles. Braun tosses Styles around a lot, but Styles is the scrappy underdog (in the casual fan's mind, even though he believes in himsef) and manages to pull out some impressive shit on Strowman. Eventually, somehow, someway, AJ Styles wins the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He goes down and poses with the trophy, proving that he is truly in a class of his own. It wouldn't be the biggest moment they could give Styles, but it would be his moment.

Given that they are doing that documentary with HBO Sports, I imagine they'll want to make the Battle Royal a big deal too. Styles is the guy to put in a match when you want it to be a big deal in 2017.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Almost forgot. You gotta work in a good fart or shit storyline somewhere if you wanna be on WWE's level. Haven't seen one instance of someone farting mid-match and clearing the ring in anything you've written. Would be cutting edge television.

Natalya should fart on Nikki Bella at some point in this feud. I think it might be why the crowd was zoning out at Elimination Chamber. Not enough farting.

[Mr. Nerfect]

A third AJ Styles idea (this one being my least favorite):

Styles has had enough of Shane and Bryan holding him down on SmackDown, so he jumps to RAW and helps Gallows & Anderson retain the RAW Tag Team Titles and they start a feud with The New Day. So far The New Day don't have anything planned for WrestleMania. They are an over act that can handle the spotlight, and Styles being in there with Gallows & Anderson at least gives the RAW Tag Team Champions a reason for appearing on the main card.

[#1-norm-fan]

They should do an "I Quit" match between the two at WrestleMania where they just try to get each other to quit via farting. But the referee has trouble getting close to them with the microphone because of the smell. LOL

[Mr. Nerfect]

Of those three AJ Styles ideas, I am taking the Cena/Nikki vs. AJ/Nattie one as not the most likely one, given that I do think they will go with Miz & Maryse, but as the one that works within the paradigm of what they are already planning with the Cena/Nikki proposal. They can do all that with AJ & Nattie and play off established heat.

Universal Championship
Goldberg (c) vs. Brock Lesnar III

The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns

John Cena & Nikki Bella vs. AJ Styles & Natalya

Triple H vs. Seth Rollins

United States Championship
Chris Jericho (c) vs. Kevin Owens

Fatal 4-Way for the RAW Women's Championship
Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch

WWE Championship
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Randy Orton

Big Show vs. Shaquille O'Neal

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, Kane, Mark Henry, the RAW tag teams, etc.

Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (c) vs. Kota Ibushi

RAW Tag Team Championship
The Hardys (c) vs. The New Day

Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Baron Corbin vs. The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Apollo Crews vs. Kalisto vs. Luke Harper

SmackDown Women's Championship
Naomi (c) vs. Carmella

SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Revival (c) vs. American Alpha

Kickoff Women's Match
Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James

Kickoff Match for the WWE UK Championship
Tyler Bate (c) vs. Jack Gallagher

I'm still working under the assumption that the WWE might lure The Hardys over to work New Day at Mania, which is the only way I see the RAW Tag Titles being prominently featured. I almost went with Owens vs. Jericho being for the Universal Title, but something just seems more heavyweight about it going to Goldberg. I'm trying not to overthink things there. More realistically we get Cena & Nikki vs. Miz & Maryse with AJ Styles being in the Ladder Match or something. Or that proposed match with Shane. Nia Jax will also likely be in Becky's place while The Usos are probably facing Alpha on the pre-show. I can see Alexa turning on Mickie and teaming with Natalya to face Becky & Mickie on a Kickoff tag match to get them all on there. But I do think that the Naomi vs. Carmella shit could be a way that they go.

Some people don't seem to think that Kota Ibushi is a possibility for Mania, but I can see Tozawa and Metalik getting burnt out and turned into "just another guys" very quickly. Ibushi gains a lot of value by not being involved in the division. If Vince gets it in his head that Neville vs. Ibushi will make his 205 Live the bestest cruiserweight show that's ever been, I really don't see him feeling too much sensitivity towards the cruiserweights he has already burnt through and given the gimmick of being complete geeks to. It might upset dudes that they aren't going to be in more major matches whilst Ibushi gets a main roster spot, but he's garnish on the side, really. He's there to help the Cruiserweight Division, and it's possible that he puts over Neville and makes the guy they are hanging their purple hat on look as grand as possible. It's really not insane, as I think Ibushi will have a clear schedule WrestleMania weekend and will likely do whatever it is they ask him to for the right money.

Plus, it has actually been rumored and Meltzer has pretty much got the card nailed. He hasn't said anything about it in a long time, but the idea has been floated by at least someone. There was also that "Six Star Match" buzz. Ibushi is the dude who can get to that level. Neville is the only dude in the CW Division who is actually over.

[Mr. Nerfect]

They should do an "I Quit" match between the two at WrestleMania where they just try to get each other to quit via farting. But the referee has trouble getting close to them with the microphone because of the smell. LOL

They have to get Handsome Rusev out because he has the face mask, but Lana gets all jealous because he is smelling other girls farts. In her Russian accent she says "You think American girls can fart?" and then farts into the microphone and they play the loudest fart ever over the PA. They even get the cameraman to shake the camera for the viewers at home, because LOL, it was so bad it made like an earthquake or something.

Vince can feed JBL lines like "God damn it, it's supposed to be an I Quit Match; not a Last Man Standing Match." They can then also claim the Guinness World Record for "Loudest Fart Ever" and talk about it on RAW.

And it's smart for business, because they can say that they had all these pyro entrances planned, but don't want to risk setting them off in case the arena explodes. They can call it a "Sgt. Slaughter effect." But Goldberg can still have his at the end of the night when the ass-gas subsides, and they can be special because no one else has had pyro.

[Mr. Nerfect]

But if you want to know my legit predictions, without optimism, here it is:

* Goldberg (c) vs. Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship
* Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship
* The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns
* Triple H vs. Seth Rollins
* John Cena & Nikki Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse
* AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon
* Chris Jericho (c) vs. Kevin Owens for the United States Championship
* Big Show vs. Shaq
* Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax for the RAW Women's Championship
* Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
* Naomi (c) vs. Alexa Bliss in a Lumberjill Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship
* Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kalisto vs. Apollo Crews vs. Luke Harper vs. Heath Slater in a Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship

That's ONLY a 12 match card and very realistically what you are looking at for Mania. Kickoff will probably feature a UK Championship match, a cruiserweight clusterfuck (probably a tag match) and maybe both sets of Tag Titles on the line. I can see American Alpha vs. The Usos and maybe Gallows & Anderson vs. Enzo & Cass vs. Cesaro & Sheamus vs. The New Day, with those teams also doing double-duty in the Battle Royal. I can see The Usos being in the Battle Royal too, but I don't know why you'd include Alpha just to throw them out, so I think they are conspicuously absent. Maybe they do an interview segment later in the show where they talk about how wonderful it felt to keep their belts at Mania, only to be attacked by two Top Guys? Neville vs. Akira Tozawa can be bumped to the Kickoff too.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Ladder Match gets about 15 minutes. The Lumberjill Match will be stretching things at 10. The Andre Battle Royal can have 15. The real Women's Title match won't quite need 20. Big Show vs. Shaq will be kept short and sweet. Let's go with 5. Jericho vs. Owens can be the first really long one-on-one match, and I think they'd be good with 20. Styles and Shane will probably go around 20 too. The mixed tag won't be much longer than 10. Triple H vs. Rollins will get at least 20 because Triple H is in it. Taker and Reigns won't need that long to do what they need to do -- 15. Wyatt vs. Orton will be the longer title match, and they'll probably try to stretch themselves out to at least 20, but maybe 25. I can see Owens vs. Jericho or Styles vs. Shane being the longest match. Goldberg vs. Brock shouldn't go longer than 10.

That's three hours of actual wrestling at the most, which is a lot, but this will probably be their longest WrestleMania ever -- given that this will likely be about 40% of the show's content, that means you can get this done and only have a 7.5 show at most. You can probably trim the matches down and have a card that is only 7 hours long. If you take out a few commercials for the Network that people already have, you can move the SmackDown Women's Title to the Kickoff and save another 10 and raise the wrestling content to 50%, which means you can get this done in less than 6 hours without even postponing the Shane match and putting Styles into the Battle Royal or Ladder Match. But if you trim matches at 50% wrestling content and move the blue branded girls to the Kickoff, I think you can get it done in 5.5, or 5 without Styles vs. Shane.

[Jordan]

I can keep going too Noid!

WWE Championship
Wyatt (c) vs Orton

WWE Universal Championship & United States Championship
Owens (c) vs Jericho (c)

Reigns vs Taker vs Strowman

Goldberg vs Lesnar

Triple H vs Rollins

No Holds Barred
Shane McMahon vs AJ Styles

John Cena & Niki vs Miz & Maryse

Zayn vs Joe

WWE Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
Ambrose vs Corbin vs Harper vs Ziggler vs Crews vs Kallisto

RAW Womens Championship Fatal Four Way
Bailey (c) vs Charlotte vs Jax vs Banks

Raw vs Smackdown!
Alpha Males vs The New Day

KICKOFF

Andre The Giant Battle Royal
Featuring: Big Show, Shaq, Mark Henry, Mojo Rawley and Curt Hawkins. lol.

WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (c) vs Aries

Smackdown! Live Women's Match
I have no idea right now but I don't think it's going to be a title fight

.................................................................................................... .......

Admittedly I have no idea where they are going with Smackdown! women at WM, I could see a muliwoman match or perhaps just Lynch vs Bliss. I don't see Naomi holding the title for a one on one at Mania.

I feel like since American Alpha has cleaned out the Smackdown! tag division they may do a cross brand to make a cool match with New Day, whom I think may take the tag belts soon enough. I also thing a cross brand match is likely somewhere on the card. The opposition to that theory is that The Uso's are continuing a program with AA, but maybe it's just to fill these seven weeks before Mania.

Obvious about Joe and Zayn after Raw I think.

I still think WWE should put Shaq and Show into the Battle Royal to give it some hype and save space on the card.

With the heat of Strowman right now they really need to push him big, I just have a gut feeling he's going to be added to Reigns and Taker.

I also think Goldberg is going to be screwed by Lesnar at Fastlane and Owen's will retain.

Even my card it too big, I could see them not having New Day on the main card and throwing them in the battle royal but that would be lame. Same for AA.

[Jordan]

If they don't add Strowman to Reign's and Taker then he's gonna win the Battle Royal and eliminate Show and Shaq at the end. And then probably kill Lesnar or Goldberg, whomever wins that match when it concludes.

[Jordan]

With a two hour kick off and a 4 hour main card, keep the Rock's appearance short and sweet, maybe the guest ref for Oldberg and Lesnar.

[Evil Vito]

I have a feeling Zayn vs. Joe will be a Fastlane match.

I could see both being in the battle royal....which doesn't necessarily mean they're being lost in the shuffle, they can actually make the battle royal seem important if they put a title opportunity at stake.

[Jordan]

I have a feeling Zayn vs. Joe will be a Fastlane match.

I could see both being in the battle royal....which doesn't necessarily mean they're being lost in the shuffle, they can actually make the battle royal seem important if they put a title opportunity at stake.

Ah you're probably right, I forgot about Fastlane for them.

[Jordan]

I could see Joe in the Battle Royal too, hopefully he would win as I want them to keep his main event push going strong. I could also see him cornering Triple H and Seth having Balor in his corner.

[Emperor Smeat]

New rumor going around the net teases at a potential multi-women match with the twist being a New Gen vs Old Gen for teams. Would likely involve Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, and whoever else the WWE can get to show at Mania for the Old Gen team.

Would fit with a recent rumor about the WWE contacting several former WWE women wrestlers for an appearance at Mania.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The problem with old gen vs. new gen is that the face/heel dynamic is thrown out. Is anyone really clamoring for heel Kelly Kelly? At least with the "Lumberjill" (I hate that name) stipulation, you can have good girls and bad girls from years past out there and interacting with each other.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think Strowman is a good bet for the Andre Battle Royal winner. I'd love it to go to Big E, but Strowman winning makes a lot of sense and I can see Vince wanting to put a lot of spotlight on it this year given the new documentary. Samoa Joe will likely have a good showing, but I can see him being shock eliminated by someone like Cesaro (just to throw a name out) and he re-enters and destroys them before leaving and setting up a feud and someone for him to beat at the next PPV.

[Evil Vito]

Fuck it, I'll guess again after this week's events.


Raw Matches:

WWE Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. Goldberg (C)

The Big Dog vs. The Deadman
Roman Reigns vs. The Undertaker

Six Man Tag Team Match
Chris Jericho, Finn Balor, and Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, and Triple H

Raw Women's Championship - Fatal Four Way
Bayley vs. Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte (C) w/ Dana Brooke

Raw Tag Team Championship - Fatal Four Way
Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. The New Day vs. Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson (C)

Celebrity Attraction Match
Big Show vs. Shaquille O'Neal

The big change to most projected cards is Owens/Jericho and HHH/Rollins not happening, instead being merged into one with Triple H having alliances with Joe and Owens. If Seth is good to go, he could be in this match and not have the burden of working a full match on a balky knee. If not, this could be a spot to have Finn Balor return given his NXT history with Joe and the fact that Owens was gifted a Universal Title reign thanks to his injury.

I don't like the idea of running two four-way matches but I can easily see it happening. Charlotte wins the belt back at Fastlane to keep her PPV title match streak alive because of course she does. I bet the combined intros of Enzo/Cass and The New Day will last longer than the match itself.


SmackDown Matches:

WWE Championship - Triple Threat
Luke Harper vs. Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt (C)

Mixed Tag Team Match
John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Natalya w/ Maryse

The Face that Runs the Place vs. The Guy Who Actually Runs the Place
AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon

WWE Intercontinental Championship
Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose (C)

SmackDown Women's Championship - Lumberjill Match
Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi (C)

SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Usos vs. American Alpha (C)

Luke Harper wins the battle royal on SmackDown next week and the WWE Title match becomes a Wyatt Family triple threat. The seeds were planted for AJ/Shane on Talking Smack, with Bryan basically passing the blame to Shane when Styles complained about not getting a one on one title rematch. Cena proposes after he and Nikki take out Miz and Nattie.

It feels weird not having Becky or Mickie wrestling, it's possible one of them goes up against Naomi instead. Would they seriously run yet another fatal four way? I'm not sure. Instead, the rest of the SmackDown women and maybe some special returns serve as lumberjills.


Other Matches:

WWE Cruiserweight Championship - 8-Man Ladder Match
Akira Tozawa vs. Austin Aries vs. The Brian Kendrick vs. Gran Metalik vs. Jack Gallagher vs. Rich Swann vs. TJ Perkins vs. Neville (C)

33-Man WrestleMania 33 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Bo Dallas, Braun Strowman, Curtis Axel, Epico, Goldust, Jinder Mahal, Mark Henry, Primo, R-Truth, Rusev, Sin Cara, Titus O'Neil, Aiden English, Apollo Crews, Curt Hawkins, Dolph Ziggler, Fandango, Heath Slater, James Ellsworth, Kalisto, Konnor, Mojo Rawley, Rhyno, Simon Gotch, Tyler Breeze, Viktor, Ariya Daivari, Cedric Alexander, Drew Gulak, Lince Dorado, Mustafa Ali, Noam Dar, and Tony Nese

The ladder match is initially a 7-man affair like in previous WrestleManias with Neville defending against the other three men to hold the title (Perkins, Kendrick, Swann), the most recent #1 contender (Gallagher), and two men who earn wild card spots (Tozawa and Metalik). But I could see Aries being added to the mix last minute as a surprise.

Everyone else goes into the battle royal. Of that list I really can't imagine anybody other than Strowman winning. If they don't go with some of these other multi man matches they could possibly beef this thing up to the largest battle royal in WWE history and add a few more realistic winners.

[Jordan]

Wow Vito that's a great card and I really like the idea of a six man tag and could easily see that happening, well maybe not easily, but I would LIKE that to happen. Good job.

[EzekielKane]

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THis young man is the definition of talent!

Enjoy this highlight video.

Weather is getting warmer so new DBW content should be coming!

[Nicky Fives]

I really want Harper in the WWE Title Match and sneak out with the title in an upset.

[The CyNick]

I really want Harper in the WWE Title Match and sneak out with the title in an upset.

What about his bald spot? Should that prevent him from winning the title?

[Big Vic]

I mean Cena has a growing bald spot.

[Lock Jaw]

Yeah, but Cena can overcome those odds...... but can Luke Harper?!

[Big Vic]

Luke Harper has enough hair to comb over it.

[Big Vic]

The Mount rushmore of wrestlers is all bald people.

Hogan, Austin, Cena, Harper.

[Jordan]

The Mount rushmore of wrestlers is all bald people.

Hogan, Austin, Cena, Harper.

Haha. Lou Thez.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I predicted a variation of the Six-Man a while ago, because I wasn't really pumping for Triple H vs. Rollins. Kind of dropped the idea when it looked super-obvious they were going for Rollins vs. Triple H. Now that Rollins has been hurt and they might also look to re-integrate Balor without putting too much pressure on him, Jericho leading a team against Triple H would make sense. It also explains why Triple H was talking to Owens before the turn on Jericho.

It also leaves a whole bunch of singles matches still on the table coming out of WrestleMania, which I feel might help the flow of things going forward. Not everything needs to be the final match in a story. It still feels big enough though.

The one thing I'm not feeling is the Ladder Match. I just do not care about that many of the cruiserweights and I don't think throwing them all out there to die is the answer. I'd rather see Neville face ONE babyface that they have built up to be a credible challenger. I'm STILL pulling for Kota Ibushi. I think he'll be working with the WWE come WrestleMania weekend, even if he has not signed a full-time contract. The Cruiserweight Division needs something HUGE. Purple ropes have become a cue to zone out. If Vince wants these guys to get over, he needs a "special attraction" cruiserweight match. That leaves you with Kota Ibushi or begging Rey Mysterio to come back. If they can get Jeff Hardy but not Matt, that would probably be a suitable place for him. I think the other cruiserweights find places in the Battle Royal or flopping around on the pre-show.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I can see them doing Ambrose vs. Corbin one-on-one, but I'm more for that being the Ladder Match. The one knock against it is that Ambrose might still be considered "above" clusterfuck Ladder Matches at WrestleMania. But it seems the most fitting match for a belt to be hanging. Very easy to get Ambrose, Corbin, Ziggler, Crews and Kalisto in there. Kane is a guy they could introduce by just having him Chokeslam everybody (and once Kane is in, you can't really complain about the spot because it's like claiming you have a more important stake than Kane, which seems like poor backstage posturing). James Ellsworth could easily be the seventh guy and this could be where he gets kileld. Or it could be Heath Slater who gets a "Holy shit he touched the belt!" moment. Also possible is that Sami Zayn finally jumps to SmackDown if Seth Rollins is healthy and back, and he enters the match and probably wins it. A Ladder Match also hides Corbin's boring.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Personally I would dump AJ/Shane and have Cena/Nikki vs. AJ/Nattie and have Miz in the Ladder Match and bump Nia for Becky in the RAW Women's Title match, but I think the rest of your card is pretty much correct.

[Evil Vito]

I do think an IC Title ladder match is possible, it'd be three years in a row for it and I can understand the logic of Bryan booking the match given that his last WrestleMania moment came in that very same match two years ago. If Ambrose or Corbin win the thing they can carry on their singles feud into the next PPV.

The one downside though is you'd have virtually nobody from SmackDown in the battle royal since you're taking out Ziggler, Kalisto, Crews etc and replacing them with cruiserweights. The SmackDown contingent would be just a bunch of tag team wrestlers and Curt Hawkins. It'd make it even more obvious Braun is going to kill everybody and it would almost seem pointless for SmackDown to even send anybody into it.

Maybe the battle royal just ends up being a Raw match (since the cruiserweights are technically Raw guys anyway).

[Evil Vito]

Oh and if they did the IC Title ladder match, I'd bet on Mojo Rawley being the 7th man with his build mostly being focused on the fact that his injured tag team partner came out of nowhere to win the thing a year ago.

[RP]

I do think an IC Title ladder match is possible, it'd be three years in a row for it and I can understand the logic of Bryan booking the match given that his last WrestleMania moment came in that very same match two years ago. If Ambrose or Corbin win the thing they can carry on their singles feud into the next PPV.

The one downside though is you'd have virtually nobody from SmackDown in the battle royal since you're taking out Ziggler, Kalisto, Crews etc and replacing them with cruiserweights. The SmackDown contingent would be just a bunch of tag team wrestlers and Curt Hawkins. It'd make it even more obvious Braun is going to kill everybody and it would almost seem pointless for SmackDown to even send anybody into it.

Maybe the battle royal just ends up being a Raw match (since the cruiserweights are technically Raw guys anyway).

I dont think Braun will win the Battle Royal. He doesnt need to win the Battle Royal. His thing is that he has not been pinned ( i think ). Getting ganged up on and tossed out doesnt hurt Braun at all.

I think Big Cass will win the Battle Royal.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don't think Big Cass winning the Battle Royal would be too unusual.

[Impact!]

Universal Championship:
Goldberg Vs. Lesnar

WWE Championship:
Bray Wyatt Vs. Luke Harper Vs. Randy Orton

Intercontinental Championship:
Dean Ambrose Vs. Baron Corbin Vs. Dolph Ziggler Vs. Apollo Crews

Sami Zayn and Chris Jericho Vs. Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe (The Samowens)

The Undertaker Vs. Roman Reigns

John Cena and Nicki Bella Vs. Miz and Natalya w/Maryse

Aj Styles Vs. Shane McMahon

Enzo and Cass Vs. New Day Vs. The Club Vs. Cesaro/Sheamus

RAW Womans Championship:
Charlotte Vs. Bayley Vs. Sasha Vs. Nia

SD Womans Championship:
Becky Vs. Mickie Vs. Naomi Vs. Alexa

Big Show Vs. Shaq Vs. Braun Strowman

SD Tag Team Championship:
Usos Vs. American Alpha Vs. Fashion Police Vs. Accension

Cruiserweight Championship:
Neville Vs. Jack Gallagher Vs. TJP Vs. Akira Vs. TBK Vs. Gran Met Vs. Austin Aries Vs. Rich Swann Vs. Mustafa Ali Vs. Cedric Alexander

Andre The Giant Battle Royal:
Everyone else, couple of legends, etc

[Maluco]

I am actually really into most of the card. Lesnar/Goldberg is a spectacle, Orton/Wyatt/Harper is a quality feud with depth, and even Taker/Reigns has a big match feel.

I only have two concerns looking at the above cards.

1. Jericho/Owens is the best story in the company and shouldn't be shoved into a tag match. It deserves to stand alone and that match would be the one I would most be looking forward to in the card. Will be so disappointed if it turns out to be a tag.

2. AJ is the best wrestler in the company and I want to see him in the best match on the card. There is no draw to Shane McMahon wrestling, never mind taking a potential 5* performance off the card.

Unfortunately, with recent events, I can see those two things happening, but for me, they are mistakes.

Owens/Jericho deserves to be one of the final matches on the card, with promo packages/interviews, the whole thing. Really ramp it up to 11 and let them bring the house down.

I would like to see Harper win the battle royal and AJ complaining about still not getting his 1 on 1 rematch and when Orton decides to go against Wyatt for whatever reason, Styles/Harper having a one on one match for number one contendership. Think they would have a classic tbh, and would help to elevate Harper.

[Jordan]

I am actually really into most of the card. Lesnar/Goldberg is a spectacle, Orton/Wyatt/Harper is a quality feud with depth, and even Taker/Reigns has a big match feel.

I only have two concerns looking at the above cards.

1. Jericho/Owens is the best story in the company and shouldn't be shoved into a tag match. It deserves to stand alone and that match would be the one I would most be looking forward to in the card. Will be so disappointed if it turns out to be a tag.

2. AJ is the best wrestler in the company and I want to see him in the best match on the card. There is no draw to Shane McMahon wrestling, never mind taking a potential 5* performance off the card.

Unfortunately, with recent events, I can see those two things happening, but for me, they are mistakes.

Owens/Jericho deserves to be one of the final matches on the card, with promo packages/interviews, the whole thing. Really ramp it up to 11 and let them bring the house down.

I would like to see Harper win the battle royal and AJ complaining about still not getting his 1 on 1 rematch and when Orton decides to go against Wyatt for whatever reason, Styles/Harper having a one on one match for number one contendership. Think they would have a classic tbh, and would help to elevate Harper.

Man Harper/Styles would be incredible! I don't really see it making the WM card but if it did I would totally be stoked for that!

[Emperor Smeat]

Looks like the WWE really is planning on doing something with former women wrestlers at Mania since Victoria recently teased she was contacted by the WWE for a return. Would make it three so far with Mickie James and Kelly Kelly agreeing to return to the company.

Lisa Varon (Victoria) just teased something on Snapchat and since we were told they were calling the women stars of the past for an idea, she would fit in that category.

[Mr. Nerfect]

At this point, I'd be fine with the WWE just throwing John Cena and AJ Styles into a match against each other. Cena can propose to Nikki on a SmackDown heading into it, on the show here, or coming out of it.

The story is just "there," but it could be like Angle/Benoit from WrestleMania X-7. You just throw these guys together and let them have a match. The idea can be that they've been such powerful rivals to each other that they have blocked each other from title contention and now have to fight one last time at WrestleMania in order to move on to different stages of their respective careers.

I'd love for Styles to be the guy that makes Cena submit for the first time since Kurt Angle. Crowds want to cheer him anyway, so it'd be a great credibility nod for Styles. Cena can easily recover by saying that sometimes you've got to admit when you are beat, and Styles just had him beat. A tip of the cap to the young man later and it's all good.

Nikki and Nattie can disappear into whatever that Lumberjill/women from the past match is.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I feel like this could very easily be the WrestleMania 33 card:

Universal Championship
Goldberg (c) vs. Brock Lesnar

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper

The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns

John Cena vs. AJ Styles

Six-Man Tag Team Match
Triple H, Kevin Owens & Samoa Joe vs. Chris Jericho, Sami Zayn & Seth Rollins

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Big Show, Shaquille O'Neal, Braun Strowman, Mark Henry, Rusev, Sheamus, Cesaro, Big Cass, Enzo Amore all featured

Fatal 4-Way for the RAW Women's Championship
Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax

Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (c) vs. Kota Ibushi

RAW Tag Team Championship
The Hardys (c) vs. The New Day

Lumberjill Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship
Naomi (c) vs. Alexa Bliss

Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Baron Corbin vs. The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kalisto vs. Apollo Crews vs. Kane

Kickoff Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship
American Alpha (c) vs. The Usos

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With a few personalized booking tweaks, I'd have Becky Lynch replace Nia Jax in the Fatal 4-Way for the RAW Women's Title. I think having her in there adds to the charisma of the match -- especially in Orlando. Since there aren't technically time constraints on you, and even though the card is long enough, I'd be fine upgrading Alpha to the main card and having them win the belts back from The Revival. There is still time to debut them and have them steal the belts from the cocky Alpha, with the return win being the story for Mania with Hulk Hogan backing Alpha. I think everything else builds nicely to the more important stuff later in the show.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It'd be quite early to put it on, but I'm imagining a deliberate streak of three great matches back-to-back, just as a flexing point to prove that you can do it and start the show off as a drool-fest. Can you imagine opening with Alpha vs. The Revival, moving onto Ibushi and Neville for the Cruiserweight Title, then hammering people with Cena vs. Styles?

Another possibility, although I do feel that the show is definitely long enough, is that Sami Zayn doesn't end up in the six-man. He feels like a natural fit, but you could very easily still do Zayn vs. Nakamura II and hype it as the match that stole the weekend last year. That way you open up a spot in the six-man for the returning Balor. It feels a bit weird to have both guys return in a match, but Jericho could hype it as his dream team being put together or something.

Another possibility, although we might be getting a bit off-course here, is that Triple H leads a 5-man team against Jericho for an Elimination Match -- sort of as a "Flavor of Survivor Series" deal. The heels that join Triple H are Braun Strowman and Rusev, with Jericho having Rollins, Zayn, Balor and the debuting Nakamura. But is that too many "fresh faces" for a big Mania match?

Another possibility is that you do the Sheamus/Cesaro split and insert them into that tag program. Or you can throw them in to balance out the babyface side. I feel like you really have to have Sami Zayn in there though. He might look weak if he doesn't go against Owens and Joe. Maybe you then run an Elimination Tag at the next PPV and then a WWE version of War Games at the next one? You probably just use the Hell in a Cell and have people get eliminated by pinfall or submission.

Triple H, Kevin Owen, Samoa Joe, Rusev & Sheamus vs. Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn & Cesaro. Eh, it feels like "too many" people, honestly. At least for WrestleMania. You can work up to it for other PPVs.

[Mr. Pierre]

My boy screech made a good point: Andre Battle Royal needs to mean something.

So I propose the winners gets "$3 million". The money angle guarantees follow-up and storyline progression (one would hope lol). Braun Strowman wins.

So this year at Mania I sadly think Goldberg walks in as champ (Sorry Kev), and Brock beats him for the Universal Title. Obviously some huge issues here:

1) No young/new star developed at all
2) RAW left without a champion to hump the road and help gates

With that, the next night on RAW, Braun opens up the show demanding a title match. Heyman comes out on the stage, declines. Saying his "client is a business man" and will only wrestle when he wants to for "the right price."

Braun offers his $3 million from Andre for Lesnar to defend his title tonight. Brock and Heyman accept.

Braun defeats Brock for the Universal Championship to end the show.

[Evil Vito]

I'm inclined to hold off on The Revival until after Mania rather than hotshot them into what would likely be a brief Kickoff match. Sadly though, the more I think about it, the more I'm certain The Revival are going to bomb on the main roster anyway.

Their whole thing is based on having great long-form matches with loads of false finishes and innovative double teams. They're not going to be able to showcase that wrestling six minute televised matches against The Fashion Police or The Hype Bros.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Revival would only be called up if they are going to be on the main show. The SmackDown Tag Division is basically a group of people standing around asking "Where are The Revival?". American Alpha feel like they haven't properly connected as a babyface team largely because they haven't had that charismatic match yet. It's obvious that not everyone watches NXT, but the reputation of certain acts precedes them. Alpha have got that hype but are basically around jobber teams all the time.

That you could have a tag team division on one of the shows that consists of American Alpha, The Revival and Gargano & Ciampa seems like a sure-fire can't fuck it up sort of thing. You can have The Fashion Police as a slightly lower heel team and maybe move The Shining Stars over to be a babyface companion team to them, since they are doing absolutely nothing of note on RAW. It'd be a division very similar to back in the SmackDown Six days.

[Jordan]

It'd be quite early to put it on, but I'm imagining a deliberate streak of three great matches back-to-back, just as a flexing point to prove that you can do it and start the show off as a drool-fest. Can you imagine opening with Alpha vs. The Revival, moving onto Ibushi and Neville for the Cruiserweight Title, then hammering people with Cena vs. Styles?

Another possibility, although I do feel that the show is definitely long enough, is that Sami Zayn doesn't end up in the six-man. He feels like a natural fit, but you could very easily still do Zayn vs. Nakamura II and hype it as the match that stole the weekend last year. That way you open up a spot in the six-man for the returning Balor. It feels a bit weird to have both guys return in a match, but Jericho could hype it as his dream team being put together or something.

Another possibility, although we might be getting a bit off-course here, is that Triple H leads a 5-man team against Jericho for an Elimination Match -- sort of as a "Flavor of Survivor Series" deal. The heels that join Triple H are Braun Strowman and Rusev, with Jericho having Rollins, Zayn, Balor and the debuting Nakamura. But is that too many "fresh faces" for a big Mania match?

Another possibility is that you do the Sheamus/Cesaro split and insert them into that tag program. Or you can throw them in to balance out the babyface side. I feel like you really have to have Sami Zayn in there though. He might look weak if he doesn't go against Owens and Joe. Maybe you then run an Elimination Tag at the next PPV and then a WWE version of War Games at the next one? You probably just use the Hell in a Cell and have people get eliminated by pinfall or submission.

Triple H, Kevin Owen, Samoa Joe, Rusev & Sheamus vs. Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn & Cesaro. Eh, it feels like "too many" people, honestly. At least for WrestleMania. You can work up to it for other PPVs.

Dude Ibushi wrestles for NJPW it's not happening, he's started a program with Okada.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Has he signed a contract or is he still doing his free agent shit?

[Mr. Nerfect]

If he hasn't signed a contract, I imagine he'll be somewhere in Orlando WrestleMania weekend. Hell, I think he's been doing shows around the WrestleMania location for a few years now even before he started a relationship with the WWE. He'll probably be on NXT Takeover, if anything, but I don't think him versus Neville is entirely out of this world as a possibility.

[XL]

Not impossible but highly improbable. I can't see WWE giving any shine to one of the few guys that didn't sign a contract when so many of their CW guys need it.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to TMZ, New Day are going to be the hosts for Mania this year.

Get your Booty-O's ready ... 'cause THE NEW DAY has officially been tapped to host WrestleMania 33!

It's a HUUUUGE honor -- Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods broke the news on "TMZ Live" and said they're psyched ... since they'll essentially be the faces of the biggest WWE event of the year!

It all goes down in Orlando, FL on April 2 and the guys are already brainstorming ideas so they go down as the greatest WrestleMania hosts EVER ... a list that includes The Rock, John Cena and Kim Kardashian (she hosted in 2008).

"Our main goal is to have as much fun as possible because if were having fun, everybody's having fun!"


Also a rumor going around the net was a possible tag match idea between New Day & Shaq vs Big Show and his team got dropped.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">guess Shaq backed out of the tag match <a href="https://t.co/yoKSZpMkCr">https://t.co/yoKSZpMkCr</a></p>&mdash; Brian Maxwell Mann (@BrianMaxMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianMaxMann/status/833779669669404674">February 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Big Vic]

I wasn't watching at the time, did Kim Kardashian really host in 2008?

[XL]

She did. Did some of the backstage interviewing stuff too.

[XL]

Looking forward to the New Day/Hogan segment where they give him clemency for being a massive racist. Then Ron Simmons walks in with a "DAMN!"

[Emperor Smeat]

I wasn't watching at the time, did Kim Kardashian really host in 2008?

Yeup although didn't really do anything outside a couple of announcements and segments.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o0M0cCMgtfo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[The CyNick]

The sheets missed this one.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Not impossible but highly improbable. I can't see WWE giving any shine to one of the few guys that didn't sign a contract when so many of their CW guys need it.

I see your point there, but they are also a bunch of geeks who aren't over and don't "deserve" a WrestleMania spot any more than Ibushi does. They should probably thank him for getting their division over (when he does do it).

[Mr. Nerfect]

It saves putting them in a match at Mania.

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/TheKentonLane">@TheKentonLane</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavKind76">@DavKind76</a> this is apparently what the card is going to be. Thoughts? <a href="https://t.co/RAnw5F7zqT">pic.twitter.com/RAnw5F7zqT</a></p>&mdash; CHARLIE (@Charlie_Heel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Charlie_Heel/status/833856634170523649">February 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Jordan]

Well that's a great card.

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/TheKentonLane">@TheKentonLane</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavKind76">@DavKind76</a> this is apparently what the card is going to be. Thoughts? <a href="https://t.co/RAnw5F7zqT">pic.twitter.com/RAnw5F7zqT</a></p>&mdash; CHARLIE (@Charlie_Heel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Charlie_Heel/status/833856634170523649">February 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:lol: Charlotte going in as champ. Not surprised at all the WWE would pull a Sasha with Bayley's title reign if that happens.

WWE title match being a potential triple threat looks great.

[Evil Vito]

The Champions vs. Champions Tag Match would feel lazy as hell.

[Jordan]

The Champions vs. Champions Tag Match would feel lazy as hell.

I don't think so. Once Alpha pins The Uso's again, they will have cleared out Smackdown!, makes sense to me.

[Emperor Smeat]

The Champions vs. Champions Tag Match would feel lazy as hell.

Could solve it with some sort of big incentive like winner gets to become unified tag champs and winning brand gets the entire tag division. Wouldn't be the first time a division was up for grabs since the WWE did it for the Cruisers.

Might need to disband a team or two so its not bloated and WWE pretty much would be implying it was a mistake to split the division though.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I like the idea of unifying the tag belts. Wish they'd go the same route with the women's title.

[Evil Vito]

lol unifying the tag belts months after they were both created. That'd be so fucking dumb.

[Evil Vito]

I don't think so. Once Alpha pins The Uso's again, they will have cleared out Smackdown!, makes sense to me.

Pretty sure Alpha/Usos is gonna be a Pre Show match rather than them blowing through it before Mania.

[Jordan]

We still have a ways to go, I don't think they can hold off on such an unimportant match. I bet they make the cross brand tag match like two weeks before Mania.

[Maluco]

AJ/Shane and New Day hosting are both worrying. AJ deserved a better opponent in order to have the best match on the card. Too much New Day is annoying and they have done nothing since losing the belts

Other than that, the card looks fantastic, def has a big time feel and the right mix of part timers and proper stories with build. Good stuff.

[Jordan]

AJ and Shane will probably get a gimmick and will probably have some memorable spots. Hopefully AJ gets the W, and we never see Shane wrestle again.

[Big Vic]

My goodness if Shane gets the W..............................

[#1-norm-fan]

Cena and Taker both on the card and not facing each other is just a tragedy.

[Jordan]

Cena and Taker both on the card and not facing each other is just a tragedy.

I see why you'd say that but I feel that if it were on the card it would have such minimal heat. I don't think a face vs face Cena/Taker would be that amazing. I am still holding out hope that Strowman is added to Roman/Taker but I'm not counting on it. I just hope that Taker costs Roman he match with Strowman for eliminating him at the Rumble and thus sets up the Mania match with Taker. Roman is going to beat Taker.

[#1-norm-fan]

I guess Taker costing Reigns his match would be the preferable option to Strowman losing. But then again, it would be kinda weird. It's not like Reigns cheated to eliminate Taker from the rumble. Taker being vengeful and costing Reigns his match because of it would be an odd, petty, heel-ish move on his part. Pretty lazy, too. Not as lazy as when they just had four guys wrestle a match on Raw to see who would face Taker at WrestleMania... but close.

[Big Vic]

I guess Taker costing Reigns his match would be the preferable option to Strowman losing. But then again, it would be kinda weird. It's not like Reigns cheated to eliminate Taker from the rumble. Taker being vengeful and costing Reigns his match because of it would be an odd, petty, heel-ish move on his part. Pretty lazy, too. Not as lazy as when they just had four guys wrestle a match on Raw to see who would face Taker at WrestleMania... but close.

He did it to Lesnar when he was facing Rollins.

[Evil Vito]

To be fair, Undertaker did go on to say that he accepted that eventually he would lose at Mania, but he didn't appreciate Lesnar and Heyman gloating about it for a year and a half.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm feeling rather "blah" about elements of WrestleMania. There feels like "better options" for many of the guys. The Revival for Alpha, Ibushi for Neville, the Six-Man option instead of Triple H/Rollins one-on-one, Cena vs. Styles instead of the Mixed Tag and the Shane match.

[Emperor Smeat]

Seems like Shaq vs Big Show might not happen for Mania. Basis involves a recent interview WWE's website had with Big Show that put some doubt about the match happening.

Mix of Shaq being very busy and Big Show feeling this might be his last Mania and wanted something more meaningful as a parting gift.

It feels like WWE may not be so sure about the Big Show vs. Shaquille O'Neal match at WrestleMania from this interview with Show on the web site which says:

WWE.COM: Last question: You’ve been very vocal about wanting a match with Shaq at WrestleMania, and you just called him out on Twitter over karaoke and doughnuts.

BIG SHOW: I mean, here’s the thing. We shot this off at the ESPY Awards, Shaq said he’s in, I thought this would be a good match for fans to see two giants go at it. And I see Shaq riding around, singing karaoke and stopping in at Krispy Kreme. I’m like, “Hey! If you’re not gonna take it serious, find something else to do!” I’ve given 22 years of my blood, sweat and tears to this business and I’m doing this favor to Shaq. This could be my last WrestleMania. He needs to step up. I’m not trying to be mean, but my time’s valuable. I get it. I don’t have foot powder commercials, car commercials, insurance commercials. I get it. He’s a busy man. But if he’s gonna step in the ring, in my business, at our biggest event of the year? Show me you’re serious. If anything, talk a little trash. Let me know you’re motivated. Because right now? I just get the feeling he’s terrified. He shot his mouth off, he’s in over his head and he’s trying to back out. So just let me know what’s going on, brother.

[Jordan]

Thank GOD.

[Jordan]

They could have Strowman and Show in the Battle Royal, it would be a great story and they could be the final two. Maybe Show wins on a fluke and then Strowman just murders him dead.

[Jordan]

I say that because I love Big Show and it would be the right thing to do to put him over for all the jobs he's done over the years. Give him two minutes to celebrate and then Strowman MURDERS HIM TO DEATH. Then Strowman also murders someone else that night, maybe Taker or Roman or Brock or Goldberg. Either way, STROWMAN MURDERS = RATINGS

[mike adamle]

I'm feeling rather "blah" about elements of WrestleMania. There feels like "better options" for many of the guys. The Revival for Alpha, Ibushi for Neville, the Six-Man option instead of Triple H/Rollins one-on-one, Cena vs. Styles instead of the Mixed Tag and the Shane match.

Naw the matches announced are much better than that garbage

[Sepholio]

To be fair, Undertaker did go on to say that he accepted that eventually he would lose at Mania, but he didn't appreciate Lesnar and Heyman gloating about it for a year and a half.

He didn't appreciate them gloating about a booked loss for a year and a half in scripted promos.:lol:

[Jordan]

Thank God we got to a new page on this thread.

[Ruien]

You mean having the 2 year build with HHH and Rollins is better with a 1 on 1 match instead of a cluster fuck 6 man tag match?

[Ruien]

Naw the matches announced are much better than that garbage

You mean having the 2 year build with HHH and Rollins is better with a 1 on 1 match instead of a cluster fuck 6 man tag match?

[mike adamle]

You mean having the 2 year build with HHH and Rollins is better with a 1 on 1 match instead of a cluster fuck 6 man tag match?

Well there's that first and foremost. There's the Cena-Styles match that we've already gotten three times. Especially when you add in the fact that Cena could make The Miz a whole lot more than he is and he's becoming pretty big already, and how beating (or losing) Shane McMahon can result in a very fresh story for AJ Styles. Then there's the fact that Kota Ibushi is wrestling in New Japan this month and isn't even a member of the WWE. And the fact that The Revival haven't even been called up yet and it's almost March, but they deserve a Title match at WrestleMania.

But yeah Noid's card is much better :roll:

[erickman]

You mean having the 2 year build with HHH and Rollins is better with a 1 on 1 match instead of a cluster fuck 6 man tag match?

that match was jinxed they better forget about that not ment to happen

[Droford]

Nakamura supposedly might debut on SD this tuesday..

[EzekielKane]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/togZRSrbyPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

What a match folks, Pro Wrestling Superstars are really getting their stuff together. Ive been following their work and I have to say that these guys are on the right track.
In this match, the champion himself, Gree-D wrestles a charismatic young face, THE PATRIOT!
You guys gotta watch it,
Some previews of the action!
http://i.imgur.com/8ej3bZe.jpg

The champion Gree-D calling The Patriot out!
http://i.imgur.com/uQ67fn3.jpg

The All American never backs down from a match!
http://i.imgur.com/8l1r1XA.jpg

The two wrestlers square off!
http://i.imgur.com/0U9ydnW.jpg
Gree-D is in trouble! Did he underestimate the All American power of The Patriot?

[#1-norm-fan]

He didn't appreciate them gloating about a booked loss for a year and a half in scripted promos.:lol:

That was the storyline, yes.

There's a big difference between him coming back to cost Lesnar a title match after Lesnar and Heyman heeled it up and antagonized him for a year and a half and him coming back to cost Reigns a match simply because he eliminated him from the rumble fair and square. One is justified and the other would be weird and petty.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Shaq has said Mania probably isn't happening.

[Lock Jaw]

Mania is probably happening. Don't think they would cancel it.


Shaq just probably won't be there.

[Vastardikai]

I can see it now:

The Wyatt Triple Threat ends with Orton RKOing and pinning Harper for the title. Wyatt walks up to Orton, confused as to what he did. He thought he was in it for family. Orton RKOs him.

The announcers talk about the Viper striking again, and this time, he destroyed the Wyatt family from within. The confetti is flying, the fireworks are going off...

and the crowd is shitting all over it.

Discuss.

[Evil Vito]

I think Orton's popular enough that he wouldn't get booed to that degree. People always pop for the RKO.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

There's been reports that Orton wants to stay heel because he prefers it. Honestly, they've booked the angle so perfectly so far that Wyatt and Orton coming out of Wrestlemania still united even after tension is teased would be fantastic. Hell, you want heel heat, have Randy win it and then on Smackdown, just have him sacrifice himself to Bray in the rematch to take a sister abigail.

[Sepholio]

That was the storyline, yes.

There's a big difference between him coming back to cost Lesnar a title match after Lesnar and Heyman heeled it up and antagonized him for a year and a half and him coming back to cost Reigns a match simply because he eliminated him from the rumble fair and square. One is justified and the other would be weird and petty.

Weird and petty like how undertaker went after maven when he elimated him from the rumble? Reigns stopped him from getting his last chance at the title. That's enough reason for taker with the way he's always been booked.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Mania is probably happening. Don't think they would cancel it.


Shaq just probably won't be there.

Can you imagine a Mania without Shaq though? I know I sure can't.

[Lock Jaw]

Yeah, good point.

#ShutItDown

[Emperor Smeat]

There's been reports that Orton wants to stay heel because he prefers it. Honestly, they've booked the angle so perfectly so far that Wyatt and Orton coming out of Wrestlemania still united even after tension is teased would be fantastic. Hell, you want heel heat, have Randy win it and then on Smackdown, just have him sacrifice himself to Bray in the rematch to take a sister abigail.

Best case scenario would be just Harper turning face and maybe Bray going more in a tweener route. Way better than Orton going on another face run and Wyatts looking like morons in the end.

[#1-norm-fan]

Weird and petty like how undertaker went after maven when he elimated him from the rumble? Reigns stopped him from getting his last chance at the title. That's enough reason for taker with the way he's always been booked.

He was a heel when Maven eliminated him from the rumble. Being an asshole who's mad because he got one-upped fair and square made sense for his character. It doesn't make sense at all for his character now.

[XL]

It's ridiculous that you've had to explain that.

[Sepholio]

He was a heel when Maven eliminated him from the rumble. Being an asshole who's mad because he got one-upped fair and square made sense for his character. It doesn't make sense at all for his character now.

I get what you're saying but I see taker differently now. I can't tell you what his character is and haven't been able to for years. He's not around enough anymore to even classify him as a heel or a face. He's just the undertaker. I've seen nothing from him in recent memory to suggest that he wouldn't still be pissed about being one upped. He didn't want to be one upped by goldberg or lesnar in pretty much his only 'promo' in recent memory so why wouldn't he be pissed about Roman up staging him? He's the man who basically only shows for the biggest stage of them all because he can do that, and Roman just took that away from him this year. I don't get where you can glean any kind of insight into his motivations to suggest that wouldn't upset his current character.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to F4W/Observer, Cena vs Joe was the Mania match they didn't want to reveal due to fears of Vince scrapping it if it got leaked out early. Joe was also originally planned to be on Smackdown before recent stuff caused those plans to get changed.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/5xe4uh/that_mania_match_alvarez_teased_a_couple_months/


Big Show is blaming Shaq for why their Mania match is rumored to be off now. Implied both guys getting in shape was one of the terms for the match and Shaq didn't hold his end of the bargain. ESPN did imply they weren't completely sure if Big Show wasn't pulling a "worked" promo on them.
"It's on Shaq," the Big Show, whose real name is Paul Wight, told ESPN.com in a recent interview. "He has to figure things out in his own camp. Maybe he is just too scared to show up because he's too busy riding around singing karaoke with John Cena and going to Krispy Kreme and getting fatter every week." "Maybe he doesn't want to put on spandex and show the entire world that Shaquille O'Neal, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, looks like Jabba the Hutt," Big Show said. "It's on him. He has to weigh these consequences in his own mind. Does he want the world to know how fat and out of shape he is or does he want to sit back and talk s--- into a podcast."

[Mr. Pierre]

Couldwouldashoulda but man just replace Styles with Corbin in this Shane feud and it would be much more effective. I actually love the story, but pairing Styles, your best in-ring worker, against a non-wrestler, just irks me.

[Rammsteinmad]

Why do people hate Fatal Four-Ways so much?

At this point I wouldn't be against seeing Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper vs. AJ Styles.

The Wyatt family alone as a triple threat makes sense from a storyline perspective. Styles lost his title, never got his rematch, and has been embroiled in this whole "#1 contenders match" nonsense over the weeks that fuck it, throw him in.

Would be a good match, get's four good workers in an important match, means we don't get AJ vs. Shane, and hell, at least bucks the trend of always having triple threat matches at Wrestlemania.

[The CyNick]

Why do people hate Fatal Four-Ways so much?

At this point I wouldn't be against seeing Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper vs. AJ Styles.

The Wyatt family alone as a triple threat makes sense from a storyline perspective. Styles lost his title, never got his rematch, and has been embroiled in this whole "#1 contenders match" nonsense over the weeks that fuck it, throw him in.

Would be a good match, get's four good workers in an important match, means we don't get AJ vs. Shane, and hell, at least bucks the trend of always having triple threat matches at Wrestlemania.

Things will be much clearer after tonight

[The CyNick]

According to F4W/Observer, Cena vs Joe was the Mania match they didn't want to reveal due to fears of Vince scrapping it if it got leaked out early. Joe was also originally planned to be on Smackdown before recent stuff caused those plans to get changed.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/5xe4uh/that_mania_match_alvarez_teased_a_couple_months/


Big Show is blaming Shaq for why their Mania match is rumored to be off now. Implied both guys getting in shape was one of the terms for the match and Shaq didn't hold his end of the bargain. ESPN did imply they weren't completely sure if Big Show wasn't pulling a "worked" promo on them.

So the never planned Joe vs Cena match didn't get leaked and still didn't happen. Good to see Dave admitting that he was bullshitting one way or the other. Acceptance that you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

[Big Vic]

Yeah, good point.

#ShutItDown

#BurnItDown

[Big Vic]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5zR4ryXEAEvZxz.jpg

[Emperor Smeat]

So the never planned Joe vs Cena match didn't get leaked and still didn't happen. Good to see Dave admitting that he was bullshitting one way or the other. Acceptance that you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

Or Rollins getting hurt and Nikki suddenly pushing for something big for her retirement ended up causing potential Mania plans to be changed.

[Droford]

Reigns beats Taker
Lesnar beats Goldberg

Title picture will be "My client beat Taker at WM!" "Big whoop dawg..I did that too..belie dat"

[The CyNick]

Or Rollins getting hurt and Nikki suddenly pushing for something big for her retirement ended up causing potential Mania plans to be changed.

No, because Nikki and John teaming was the plan in November.

[Emperor Smeat]

Rumors from Cagesideseats about possible Mania plans.

Miz’s promo material from the March 7 SmackDown about John Cena & Nikki Bella’s relationship being “for the cameras” and designed to make them more marketable is based on real backstage WWE gossip.

When Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin gets added to the WrestleMania card, expect it to be some sort of gimmick match.

The line-up for SmackDown’s Women’s title match at Mania is left open in hopes Naomi can be cleared and Eva Marie’s schedule is open.

[Lock Jaw]

lol at "in hopes Eva Marie's schedule is open"....... is she not under contract...... just tell her to be there.......

[Emperor Smeat]

Supposedly she's currently busy with promoting her clothing brand and some non-WWE projects at the moment. Decided to get a lot of things done with the vast amount of free time she's had since her Wellness suspension ended and WWE refusing to even use her for house shows.

If it wasn't for Total Divas, she probably would have been let go by now.

[Emperor Smeat]

Some more rumors and news from Cagesideseats about Mania plans:


As of now, there are still no plans for a proper Roman Reigns heel turn, even with the Undertaker match at WrestleMania.
WrestleMania is expected to be a 7 hour show this year.
The SmackDown tag team titles may not be defended at WrestleMania 33, and it could be the impetus for a post-event storyline for American Alpha/the entirety of the blue brands tag division.
Apparently Jerry Lawler will be doing commentary for at least one match at WrestleMania 33.

[Evil Vito]

•As of now, there are still no plans for a proper Roman Reigns heel turn, even with the Undertaker match at WrestleMania.

Fucking hell.

[Big Vic]

WrestleMania is expected to be a 7 hour show this year.
Fucking hell.

[Evil Vito]

•The SmackDown tag team titles may not be defended at WrestleMania 33, and it could be the impetus for a post-event storyline for American Alpha/the entirety of the blue brands tag division.

Fucking hell.

[Cool King]

• Apparently Jerry Lawler will be doing commentary for at least one match at WrestleMania 33.

Great!

[Big Vic]

I hope it's the SDL Womans match and he just constantly says "Puppies!"

[Rammsteinmad]

Seven hours haha! Can't imagine how long and tedious that must feel!

[Destor]

•As of now, there are still no plans for a proper Roman Reigns heel turn, even with the Undertaker match at WrestleMania.Fucking hell.He's already heel...

[Emperor Smeat]

According to a recent episode of the Observer Radio show, Lesnar ended up being the big reason why the original plans of Shane-Lesnar got dropped. Before it was speculated management were the ones who were against it but turns out it was all Lesnar.

He hated the idea of facing Shane and the storyline they had planned for him but had enough pull within the WWE to get it dropped in favor of him getting someone else. That left the opening for WWE to do more with Goldberg than just have him promote WWE 2k17.

Also seems the reason why the teases Shane had with Ambrose got abruptly dropped was due to the WWE letting Shane pick his Mania opponent. He wanted Styles so the storyline tension with Ambrose got dropped.

Brock was able to get himself out of that match, which he certainly didn't want to do, Shane was gonna work with somebody, so he's gonna pick the best guy in the company (AJ)

[Emperor Smeat]

Also some news regarding Taker-Reigns at Mania.

Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns. No matter what the long-term plan is as far as Reigns and a heel turn, he will be the biggest heel on the show. The finish here is very interesting. People will passionately hate the idea of Reigns winning, but if the idea is to go to Reigns as the guy to beat Lesnar (which was the plan at WrestleMania two years ago but they held back based on crowd reaction, which has only gotten worse since then), then Reigns shouldn’t lose to Undertaker at this stage of the game. Originally Undertaker was to wrestle John Cena, but Vince McMahon changed it and he has always wanted an Undertaker vs. Reigns match, for whatever reason, at a WrestleMania before Undertaker retires.

Plan B for Cena would have been Joe before recent issues involving Rollins and Nikki likely changed it.

Right now the WWE is considering 2 options for post-Mania plans involving Lesnar with one involving Reigns and the other
involving Braun Strowman. Both potential plans involves Lesnar dropping the belt.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to the Observer, Shaq-Big Show has been officially cancelled. Shaq claimed he was back in talks with the WWE for a possible match but Observer's sources said WWE is no longer interested nor were any new talks held.

[DAMN iNATOR]

According to the Observer, Shaq-Big Show has been officially cancelled. Shaq claimed he was back in talks with the WWE for a possible match but Observer's sources said WWE is no longer interested nor were any new talks held.

Best news I've read all day. Would've likely been a boring waste of time...and that was BEST-CASE scenario.

[Evil Vito]

John Cena is inducting Kurt Angle.

I'm sure he'll give a fine speech.

[Emperor Smeat]

Some new details regarding the canceled Show-Shaq match.

Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal is off. It should be noted that O’Neal showed a photo of himself and he, in fact, was in great shape, so the idea that he hadn’t trained and was out of shape as Show had been saying wasn’t the case. It was very clearly a financial situation since negotiations had been continuing and they hadn’t agreed on a price. One would think that should have been done, and maybe it was done and one side or another changed, when they shot the angles for the match at last year’s WrestleMania and at the Espy Awards in 2016. But Show was confirmed as being in the Battle Royal.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Great choice for Angle's induction

[DAMN iNATOR]

Great choice for Angle's induction

I'd prefer it to be somebody like Austin or Rock, but not a bad choice...just feels kinda "MEH".

[Evil Vito]

Jim Cornette's inducting the Rock n Roll Express.

Noid's got his lube at the ready.

[Swiss Ultimate]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/TheKentonLane">@TheKentonLane</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavKind76">@DavKind76</a> this is apparently what the card is going to be. Thoughts? <a href="https://t.co/RAnw5F7zqT">pic.twitter.com/RAnw5F7zqT</a></p>&mdash; CHARLIE (@Charlie_Heel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Charlie_Heel/status/833856634170523649">February 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

How is Shaq coming out as a flat earther going to affect the match?

[Swiss Ultimate]

John Cena is inducting Kurt Angle.

I'm sure he'll give a fine speech.

Jeff Jarrett should induct for obvious reasons.

[Maluco]

Cena isn't really a special attraction, but he can talk and will definitely give him a fitting induction.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Indeed. Which is why I think he's a fine choice. Excited to hear Kurt's speech.

[Volare]

Just gotta throw it out there because it's been thought of, which means WWE might use it....

Shaq is the "special entrant" in the Andre the Giant BR(again), him vs Show vs Strowman final 3....Strowman takes out both by himself.

[#1-norm-fan]

How is Shaq coming out as a flat earther going to affect the match?

Florida is actually the corner of the earth. Shaq will win by pushing Show off sumo style.

[XL]

One annoyance for me is how we've arrived at most of the matches, especially the championship matches, whatever happened to the concept of contendership!?

Universal Championship
Lesnar gets a title match by vertue of the fact that he was already booked in a match with the guy who won the title...who just got himself a title match the month prior.

Raw Womens' Championship
Charlotte lost the belt but had her rematch and lost again, still in the match. Sasha and Anita have "earned" their way in.

Raw Tag Team Championship
No winner from a #1 Contenders match leads to a Triple Threat, then one team has to retain their position in the match in one of the most nonsensical matches ever.

US Championship
A personal issue leads to a title match, albeit the contender was the former Universal Champion...who surely should be competing for that belt.

Intercontinental Championship
Personal issue. Guys just book the match.

Even Taker/Lesnar was just sort of slipped on to the card without much fanfare.

There's 4 in-air authority figures but they don't seem all that fussed about booking the shows, and let the guys book themselves most of the time.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to HBK, original plans for AJ Styles were for him to face HBK and not Shane at Mania.

Him rejecting WWE's offer to wrestle and Lesnar rejecting facing Shane pretty much opened the door for Shane vs Styles to happen instead.

AJ Styles is scheduled to face off against Shane McMahon at Wrestlemania 33. This is a match that has gained a lot of criticism from fans who don’t think that they are a good pairing. After the year AJ has had, WWE fans wanted to see him face an incredible wrestler on the big stage.

It turns out that AJ Styles was originally planned to face an incredible wrestler at Wrestlemania 33, it just fell through…..

The ‘Heartbreak Kid’ Shawn Michaels appeared on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast and revealed that WWE wanted him to face AJ Styles at Wrestlemania 33 but he ultimately declined.

“I could’ve had that match, they did not have an opponent for AJ at Wrestlemania”

Shawn would go on to say that he was approached to take on AJ because fans wanted to see the match. It also had to do with them not having any other plans for AJ at the time. Michaels declined, wanting to stay retired.

“I wish that man was here 10 years ago man, I really do”
http://www.iwnerd.com/wwe-news-original-plans-aj-styles-wrestlemania-33/

[mike adamle]

Just read that the reason the Big Show/Shaq match has been cancelled is because Shaq is rumored to be appearing on Raw this week to challenge Goldberg and Brock for the belt ans they're gonna make it a triple threat

[Emperor Smeat]

According to PWI, Taker is very likely retiring after this Mania. The recent Rumble ended up being the big turning point for both him and WWE management realizing he's no longer healthy enough to wrestle even with his current laxed schedule.

One of the marquee matches that will take place at WrestleMania 33 will be The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns. Set up during the Royal Rumble when Reigns eliminated Undertaker, the storyline behind the angle stems from Reigns now claiming the WWE as his yard, without the approval of Undertaker.

Competing in the Royal Rumble was very painful for Undertaker, as he has been dealing with severe hip issues. Unfortunately, it does not look like it is getting any better. One of the biggest discussions backstage during Raw was the status of The Undertaker post-WrestleMania, as he was walking around in a great deal of pain. It was reported that he was not very happy at the event due to the level of pain he was in. As a result, the discussions increased that this year may indeed be the final WrestleMania for the Dead Man.

Celebrating his 52nd birthday this weekend, there are still matches on the table with people such as Sting and John Cena that would still be a big draw. However, with his reported level of pain, WWE executives are coming to the conclusion that this year will be it for The Undertaker, in order for him to undergo major surgery which will most likely end his in-ring career.

[Maluco]

It feels like every year for the past 6-7 Manias, "people backstage are concerned about Taker's health"

He is a legend and i love him, but it gets tiresome to read about him constantly struggling through the build.

Let Reigns retire him as a heel and have that to brag about ad nauseum for the next decade.

If they wanted Cena, it should have been this year and the Sting boat passed them by a few years ago

[hb2k]

Just to drop this in here for our regular listeners, SCG Radio returns this week, as we preview WrestleMania 33. Talking every match and angle building up to the biggest show of the year, the panel breaks down the lay of the land, what's been done well and what hasn't, an outlook on who looks to benefit and suffer, as well as analysing Raw and Smackdown before and after the "Ultimate Thrill Ride". In addition, we talk NXT Takeover and the Hall Of Fame, and the implications on the main roster of both events. Discussing topics ranging from the Broken Hardyz trademark, Brad Maddox's cameraman, Hulk Hogan, Conor McGregor, Kurt Angle and many many more, we look to attack Mania 33 from every angle. And of course, we take your feedback on the feuds you believe have shined or stunk, who should be called up from NXT, and much more. A fun show to get ready for Mania week, check it out and let us know what you think!

https://squaredcirclegazette.podbean.com/mf/download/muw8jw/SCG_Radio_116_-_WrestleMania_33_Preview.mp3

[Emperor Smeat]

According to a recent episode of Observer Radio, WWE is currently planning for the New Day to have at least 5 segments as hosts of Mania.

Also according to the Observer, there were plans for Eva Marie to be included in the Smackdown's women's title match but now those are in doubt. Suppossedly she's done with the company and this Mania might be her final match assuming the WWE decides to include her.

[The CyNick]

According to a recent episode of Observer Radio, WWE is currently planning for the New Day to have at least 5 segments as hosts of Mania.

Also according to the Observer, there were plans for Eva Marie to be included in the Smackdown's women's title match but now those are in doubt. Suppossedly she's done with the company and this Mania might be her final match assuming the WWE decides to include her.

Enjoy them (New Day) while you can.

[Evil Vito]

I'm thinking this year's "The Rock With A Flamethrower" moment will be Hulk Hogan showing up for a skit with New Day.

[XL]

Looking forward to the New Day/Hogan segment where they give him clemency for being a massive racist. Then Ron Simmons walks in with a "DAMN!"

[Emperor Smeat]

According to the WWE, pre-show currently planned to have 3 matches. Cruiser title match, Andre Battle Royal, and Smackdown's women's title match.

USA Network also hosting the 2nd hour of the pre-show which is set to have the Andre Battle Royal match.

[Emperor Smeat]

Smackdown's women title match got promoted to the main card according to recent updates by the WWE.

The SmackDown Women's Championship match is no longer listed as being on the WrestleMania 33 pre-show on WWE's website and as of now is grouped with the rest of the main card matches.

[Sepholio]

Lol Braun gonna be on the preshow......ridic. Altho with that being ran on USA apparently it should probably get the highest numbers shouldn't it?

[Evil Vito]

Smackdown's women title match got promoted to the main card according to recent updates by the WWE.

Whilst I'm happy for them, I chuckled imagining that it was only done when somebody informed Vince that Naomi's entrance wouldn't work until it's dark out.

[The CyNick]

Lol Braun gonna be on the preshow......ridic. Altho with that being ran on USA apparently it should probably get the highest numbers shouldn't it?

Could be over 2 million people watching Mania, so hard to say. My guess is USA won't get that many viewers.

[#1-norm-fan]

lol Yes, Seph. More people will watch the pre-show.

[Simple Fan]

Pre show has 2 of the 5 matches I want to see so I'll only have to watch 3 matches on the Network. Is Corbin/Ambrose a regular match or does it have a gimmick involved? If so might want to see that one as well.

[The CyNick]

Pre show has 2 of the 5 matches I want to see so I'll only have to watch 3 matches on the Network. Is Corbin/Ambrose a regular match or does it have a gimmick involved? If so might want to see that one as well.

Plan is no gimmick because it won't be the last match between the two. Plan is to have these two married to one other post Mania. Likely blown off with some type of gimmick match at a future SD PPV. Of course, plans change all the time.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to the Observer, WWE started to poll fans during Axxess yesterday to get an feel of which Mania matches had the most hype and might be using it to determine the final card order of the event.

Taker vs Reigns had the most right now and likely the big favorite to be the real main event for Mania.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to the Observer Radio, WWE has been dealing with some timing issues in regards to filling up the time set for Mania. Ended up being the main reason why Smackdown's women's title match got promoted to the main card and not because of the fans petitioning on social media.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Alexa Bliss on Twitter:

"I'm very excited to because I've been doing a lot of cosplaying, and I have a little bit of something that I'm doing for WrestleMania, another character that I'm trying to, you know, put my spin on and portray. I think it's gonna be a lot of fun, and hopefully it's noticed."

Going to bet on Supergirl, but hoping it's Cindy from FFXV

[#BROKEN Hasney]

On another forum, someone mentioned Breath of the Wild Zelda. I would be so down for that.

[Savio]

https://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/articles/Breath%20Of%20The%20Wild%20Transphobia%20Gerudo%20OUtfit%202.png

[Emperor Smeat]

On another forum, someone mentioned Breath of the Wild Zelda. I would be so down for that.

I'd laugh if its the wrestling costume set from the game.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

No dammit, the actual Zelda.

[Emperor Smeat]

So Alexa cosplaying as Zelda cosplaying as a wrestler from the game :shifty:

[Lock Jaw]

Alexa Bliss on Twitter:



Going to bet on Supergirl, but hoping it's Cindy from FFXV

She already did Supergirl

[Emperor Smeat]

NXT's Killian Dain was announced to be a participant for tomorrow's Andre Battle Royal match.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2C5R-TctqUE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Evil Vito]

That's...odd.

Guessing it's because he's Irish and just like Tian Bing they want to have different nations represented.

[Emperor Smeat]

Probably just wanted more big men in so they can make Braun's strength look more impressive if he eliminates him or whoever in general as well.

[#1-norm-fan]

I don't think Braun is gonna win the battle royal.

Whenever there's a multi-man match like this and there's an obvious winner, WWE likes to go with a surprise for the sake of there being a surprise. They do it with every Royal Rumble of the brand split era(s). They do it with most multi-man ladder matches. Braun is such the clear choice to win I have a feeling they're gonna do a swerve of some sort.

[Emperor Smeat]

If Braun wins, they pretty much would be on an "every other year" for obvious winners.

Ceasro had the big surprise win for 2015, Big Show won as the big favorite in 2015, Corbin was a semi-surprise for 2016, and right now Braun is the big favorite for 2017.

[#1-norm-fan]

Was Big Show actually a favorite in 2015? I remember thinking of him as the token big guy who was in there because he's got a name/size but really he's just a big fat jobber. Felt like him winning was kinda strange. Also because it seemed like the battle royal was meant as a stepping stone for a guy to get over so a Big Show win didn't make sense at all.

Ryback seemed like the big favorite.

[Ruien]

The match was made for him to win imo. Never had a doubt he was winning the first one.

[#1-norm-fan]

Cesaro won the first one though. Which, even though they failed to follow up, made it seem like they were gonna just use it as a stepping stone for "future stars". Never took Big Show as a serious contender for the second one mainly because of that.

[#1-norm-fan]

I also remember thinking Ryback made so much sense with how they were pushing him going in though that they would not do it simply for that reason. Kinda how I feel about Braun this year.

[#1-norm-fan]

I can kinda see Mark Henry winning it as a pat on the back.

[Emperor Smeat]

Was Big Show actually a favorite in 2015? I remember thinking of him as the token big guy who was in there because he's got a name/size but really he's just a big fat jobber. Felt like him winning was kinda strange. Also because it seemed like the battle royal was meant as a stepping stone for a guy to get over so a Big Show win didn't make sense at all.

Ryback seemed like the big favorite.

Yeup. Was the big favorite for 2014 and 2015 since they pretty much repeated the same storyline about it being Big Show's match to lose for both years. Its why 2014 felt like a big upset and 2015 felt like WWE just honoring Big Show's career as the "Andre" of his gen.

2016 had the rise of Braun so it wasn't just Big Show as the clear favorite and the Shaq stuff was meant to move Show out of the match for 2017. Also had a chance of not happening because of Papa Shango's Curse wrecking the roster at the time.