WWE has listed out what looks to be the final card for WrestleMania 32 in its website. Though this match card has not been officially announced, it looks promising and one can expect a great pay-per-view if all goes right. There are few surprising changes that might excite fans and few of the implications that spew forth due to this match card are quite interesting.
Pre-show:
- Intercontinental Title roundtable: Randy Orton, Edge, Shawn Michaels and other former champions on why the title still matters. (Randy Orton would be returning to WWE TV after a lengthy injury lay-off and he has also claimed that his in-ring return is coming soon)
- United States Champion Kalisto vs. Ryback
- The Total Divas vs. B.A.D. & Blonde
- The Usos vs. The Dudley Boyz
Implications:
The most noteable discovery is that the United States Championship match has been moved to pre-show. For a title that has been red hot for major part of the last year, this is bad news. It implies how much the WWE creative has failed to capitalize on the momentum provided by John Cena when he lost the belt to Alberto Del Rio.
The Usos and Dudley Boyz may be the best tag teams present in the WWE roster now, but their feud has been full of druggedry of late. The initial shock that emanated from the fans when the Dudleys turned on Usos was wasted by WWE creative with lame booking options. The stagnant character development of Usos have not also helped the feud eiether. As a result, a bout that could drew in fanatics of tag team wrestling has been wasted in the pre-show.
As for the diva’s bout, frankly no one cares about this bout and WWE did the right thing to book it in pre-show. But to see talents like Natalya and Paige wasted like this is disheartening. The other brilliant thing WWE did was the round table of legends. With these stars hyping up the Intercontinental Championship, the value of the title increases ten-fold. It might also imply that the winner of the ladder match is in for a big push from WWE.
Main Card:
- The New Day vs. The League of Nations
- The 3rd annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
- AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho
- Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder vs. Sin Cara vs. The Miz vs. Stardust
- Divas Champion Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (Triple Threat Match)
- Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker (Hell in a Cell Match)
- Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar (No Holds Barred Street Fight)
- WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H vs. Roman Reigns (Main Event)
Implications:
WWE has scheduled the card in a good manner. The real show starts from the Styles vs Jericho bout. With two trememdously talented individuals like these two, the match is sure to be a classic. By following it up immediately with a ladder match, WWE has made sure the excitement doesn’t dip down.
The divas match could be a classic, if WWE provides them with necessary amount of time. By scheduling it right before The Undertaker’s match, WWE has set a momentous task in front of the three divas. The divas have to work hard to not be overshadowed by Taker’s match and at the same time WWE will expect the divas to keep the crowd invested heading into Taker’s match.
But the real draw of the night is Ambrose vs Lesnar’s street fight. It is a surprise WWE has scheduled it second last. Could this be an indication towards Ambrose’s main event push? And if Ambrose is pushed to main event, what happens to Reigns? Will he be the heel everyone wants him to be? Is WWE foreshadowing Reigns’ heel turn by placing Ambrose this close towards main event at WrestleMania.
There is also no mention of The Rock. It is a well known fact that Rock is scheduled to make an appearance at WrestleMania 32. But WWE seems to keep his involvement in dark. Could this be an indication towards Rock’s involvement in the main event. There is also the rumor of No Disqualification stipulation to be added to the main event. If WWE is going to turn Roman heel, is Rock going to be the one who facilitates it?
WWE normally keeps its moneymakers to WrestleMania. Will we see yet another shocking turn of events in this year’s WrestleMania?
