Mr. Nerfect
03-25-2018, 07:47 PM
Let's look at some of the possibilities.
Elias: Has been involved with Braun lately. He has been getting featured and the WWE likes their wacky combinations. Elias is arguably the "logical" pick, just based on current direction. Other possibility for him at Mania is a Battle Royal appearance and/or doing a concert only to get interrupted by The Rock, which is would be seen as a prestigious spot.
James Ellsworth: History's pick. Ellsworth was initially brought in to be a jobber for Braun, and their histories were linked when Braun was a heel. As a face it makes sense to put the two together and have Braun vindicate his former punching bag. Ellsworth is no longer with the company, but I'm sure they have his number handy. He seems well-liked backstage, so people probably wouldn't complain about him getting the slot. The lovable loser gets a WrestleMania moment.
Samoa Joe: He's rumored to be working out again. Joe and Strow as two bad-asses who can beat up any two men in the world seems like a good pairing that could be taken seriously as a heavyweight tag team attraction. They would likely be the two partners who don't like each other, but respect the other's abilities en route to a split and a series of matches designed to polish up Strowman. The more I think about this one, the more likely I consider it.
Kalisto: He once beat Braun in a Dumpster Match and they did nothing with it. In a similar sense to Ellsworth, there's that history from when Braun was a heel that could be segued into a babyface friendship. They might want some Hispanic representation on the show, and they love putting random championships on Kalisto no matter how over he isn't. Kalisto and Cesaro mixing it up at Mania, even just briefly, would be awesome.
Alexa Bliss: The WWE does not like their intergender stuff, but there has been a shift towards mixed tag attractions. Bliss is likely losing the Raw Women's belt to Nia Jax, and the timing for that seems right. Putting the Raw Tag Titles on Braun and Bliss seems like the sort of stunt WWE would pull, and they seem to like the pairing. Braun doesn't trust any man, but he does like Alexa, and it's about as interesting as anything else they can come up with for her.
Neville: His relationship with the WWE is rocky at the moment, but a large part of that seems to be his emphasis. Teaming up with Braun certainly changes that scenario. Neville seems like a "Triple H guy," and Triple H has historically been effective at patching up damaged relationships. Given how good Neville got as a heel, his abilities are probably valued, and it's in everybody's best interest to mend that relationship. Probably unlikely because it would be seen as rewarding truancy.
Goldust: He's a beloved veteran that the WWE might choose to reward for years of valiant service by putting him in something "major" at WrestleMania. Goldust is good at taking a beating, and that pop when he finally gets to his corner to tag in Braun could be pretty massive.
Kane: He Chokeslammed John Cena, so while he is probably still technically a heel, people are going to be cheering him again. The history he has with Braun is quite recent, the seguing that into a tag team run for a guy that the company is clearly interested in still utilizing would not be too surprising, even if this is arguably the least intriguing scenario. Kane might also end up in the Battle Royal.
Another Legend: Anybody from the back. IRS, Doink the Clown, Slick, Sgt. Slaughter, Ric Flair. They could literally just have someone stand out there with Braun and clap for him and hold a belt for a nostalgia pop. Could be Hogan.
Daniel Bryan: He's going to be wrestling in one match, so why not two? Okay, they probably won't do that. Bryan is going to be one of, if not the most over performer of the night, and putting him with Braun is a good way to give Braun a partner people give a shit about, and it means we get Cesaro vs. Bryan for a little bit. Bryan has history with Sheamus. Braun and Bryan would be a similar dynamic to Team Hell No and the WWE loves re-hashing things.
Johnny Gargano: Such a great babyface-in-peril. Braun calling up Gargano to be his partner would be a nice promotion for one of cornerstones of NXT. This seems like a very WWE-conscious way to bring in Gargano, considering that the other options, sad as they might be, would see him as a loser underdog (WWE doesn't actually do them well because Vince doesn't empathize with them) or as part of 205 Live. Coming in as Braun's partner immediately says "this guy is kind of important" in this gentrified sort of way, which is how you have to do it.
Another Call-Up: It could be Velveteen Dream, EC3, No Way Jose, Killian Dain or Lars Sullivan. This is a great way to debut someone that they've had a main roster spot in mind for.
Bray Wyatt: It's surreal to think that Luke Harper & Erick Rowan might make the main WrestleMania card, whereas Bray could very well be sitting out because he's played out. Jamming him onto the main card is not something beyond the WWE, however, and sticking him with his old hired gun makes about as much sense as anything else. Braun is likely winning this match, so a Mania win for Bray might change his fortunes a little bit.
Matt Hardy: The babyface flip to this. Matt Hardy seems to have good will from the fans, and putting him a team with Braun could try and use that endearment to further benefit Braun. Matt is known as a tag team specialist, so him teaming with Braun isn't the most outlandish thing they would have ever thought of.
Tian Bing: If the WWE feels that they need to have that Chinese representation on their show, don't put it past them to just insert Tian Bing into this position and put a belt on him just because. WWE often doesn't engage with the idea of representation much more than that. It could also be Lince Dorado if they want a Puerto Rican in there, etc.
Heath Slater: They seem to love him and putting him into another random team with Braun would, again, not be beyond them. Slater is endearing and they had Slater and Sheamus interact at the Royal Rumble. Slater again getting the best of Sheamus could start something resembling a story there. Five-time Tag Team Champion, babbbbaaaaay!
Loose Cannon: Loose Cannon.
Other: Feel free to speculate. Someone from SmackDown? Rusev is over. Dolph Ziggler exists.
Elias: Has been involved with Braun lately. He has been getting featured and the WWE likes their wacky combinations. Elias is arguably the "logical" pick, just based on current direction. Other possibility for him at Mania is a Battle Royal appearance and/or doing a concert only to get interrupted by The Rock, which is would be seen as a prestigious spot.
James Ellsworth: History's pick. Ellsworth was initially brought in to be a jobber for Braun, and their histories were linked when Braun was a heel. As a face it makes sense to put the two together and have Braun vindicate his former punching bag. Ellsworth is no longer with the company, but I'm sure they have his number handy. He seems well-liked backstage, so people probably wouldn't complain about him getting the slot. The lovable loser gets a WrestleMania moment.
Samoa Joe: He's rumored to be working out again. Joe and Strow as two bad-asses who can beat up any two men in the world seems like a good pairing that could be taken seriously as a heavyweight tag team attraction. They would likely be the two partners who don't like each other, but respect the other's abilities en route to a split and a series of matches designed to polish up Strowman. The more I think about this one, the more likely I consider it.
Kalisto: He once beat Braun in a Dumpster Match and they did nothing with it. In a similar sense to Ellsworth, there's that history from when Braun was a heel that could be segued into a babyface friendship. They might want some Hispanic representation on the show, and they love putting random championships on Kalisto no matter how over he isn't. Kalisto and Cesaro mixing it up at Mania, even just briefly, would be awesome.
Alexa Bliss: The WWE does not like their intergender stuff, but there has been a shift towards mixed tag attractions. Bliss is likely losing the Raw Women's belt to Nia Jax, and the timing for that seems right. Putting the Raw Tag Titles on Braun and Bliss seems like the sort of stunt WWE would pull, and they seem to like the pairing. Braun doesn't trust any man, but he does like Alexa, and it's about as interesting as anything else they can come up with for her.
Neville: His relationship with the WWE is rocky at the moment, but a large part of that seems to be his emphasis. Teaming up with Braun certainly changes that scenario. Neville seems like a "Triple H guy," and Triple H has historically been effective at patching up damaged relationships. Given how good Neville got as a heel, his abilities are probably valued, and it's in everybody's best interest to mend that relationship. Probably unlikely because it would be seen as rewarding truancy.
Goldust: He's a beloved veteran that the WWE might choose to reward for years of valiant service by putting him in something "major" at WrestleMania. Goldust is good at taking a beating, and that pop when he finally gets to his corner to tag in Braun could be pretty massive.
Kane: He Chokeslammed John Cena, so while he is probably still technically a heel, people are going to be cheering him again. The history he has with Braun is quite recent, the seguing that into a tag team run for a guy that the company is clearly interested in still utilizing would not be too surprising, even if this is arguably the least intriguing scenario. Kane might also end up in the Battle Royal.
Another Legend: Anybody from the back. IRS, Doink the Clown, Slick, Sgt. Slaughter, Ric Flair. They could literally just have someone stand out there with Braun and clap for him and hold a belt for a nostalgia pop. Could be Hogan.
Daniel Bryan: He's going to be wrestling in one match, so why not two? Okay, they probably won't do that. Bryan is going to be one of, if not the most over performer of the night, and putting him with Braun is a good way to give Braun a partner people give a shit about, and it means we get Cesaro vs. Bryan for a little bit. Bryan has history with Sheamus. Braun and Bryan would be a similar dynamic to Team Hell No and the WWE loves re-hashing things.
Johnny Gargano: Such a great babyface-in-peril. Braun calling up Gargano to be his partner would be a nice promotion for one of cornerstones of NXT. This seems like a very WWE-conscious way to bring in Gargano, considering that the other options, sad as they might be, would see him as a loser underdog (WWE doesn't actually do them well because Vince doesn't empathize with them) or as part of 205 Live. Coming in as Braun's partner immediately says "this guy is kind of important" in this gentrified sort of way, which is how you have to do it.
Another Call-Up: It could be Velveteen Dream, EC3, No Way Jose, Killian Dain or Lars Sullivan. This is a great way to debut someone that they've had a main roster spot in mind for.
Bray Wyatt: It's surreal to think that Luke Harper & Erick Rowan might make the main WrestleMania card, whereas Bray could very well be sitting out because he's played out. Jamming him onto the main card is not something beyond the WWE, however, and sticking him with his old hired gun makes about as much sense as anything else. Braun is likely winning this match, so a Mania win for Bray might change his fortunes a little bit.
Matt Hardy: The babyface flip to this. Matt Hardy seems to have good will from the fans, and putting him a team with Braun could try and use that endearment to further benefit Braun. Matt is known as a tag team specialist, so him teaming with Braun isn't the most outlandish thing they would have ever thought of.
Tian Bing: If the WWE feels that they need to have that Chinese representation on their show, don't put it past them to just insert Tian Bing into this position and put a belt on him just because. WWE often doesn't engage with the idea of representation much more than that. It could also be Lince Dorado if they want a Puerto Rican in there, etc.
Heath Slater: They seem to love him and putting him into another random team with Braun would, again, not be beyond them. Slater is endearing and they had Slater and Sheamus interact at the Royal Rumble. Slater again getting the best of Sheamus could start something resembling a story there. Five-time Tag Team Champion, babbbbaaaaay!
Loose Cannon: Loose Cannon.
Other: Feel free to speculate. Someone from SmackDown? Rusev is over. Dolph Ziggler exists.