It may still be too early for WrestleMania season right now, but the WWE has already laid the foundations for what could be an epic card come April 2017 in Orlando.
With the new guard rearranging the landscape of the product, and the veterans also on their final throws, Wrestlemania 33 could pan out into a grand ‘passing of the torch’ event that provides an exclamation point to the new dawn that the WWE has ushered in thus far.
Ranging from the time-tested veterans of the company who seem to be inching towards the horizon, to the freshly recruited batch of call-ups from NXT, everyone would have a point to prove at WrestleMania 33.
Every year, the WWE labels the corresponding edition of WrestleMania as the best ever, but with the current crop of talent at their disposal, here are 5 matches that could actually lend credence for WrestleMania 33 to justify that lofty claim.
#5 AJ Styles vs Finn Balor
The WWE isn’t reluctant to pull the trigger on cross-brand matches like it did with Randy Orton of SmackDown and Brock Lesnar from Raw, and there isn’t any reason why it should desist from doing so in the future as well.
Especially when a 5 star match in the form of Finn Balor versus AJ Styles is waiting to happen.
Both these performers are nothing short of stellar in the ring, and pitting them against one another in the grandest stage of them all, is a sure-fire way for the WWE to book a show-stealing match at WrestleMania.
#4 Sasha Banks vs Charlotte vs Bayley
After years of prefuctorily claiming that Women’s wrestling will encounter a renaissance, without any tangible results to show, the Women’s Revolution has finally dawned on the WWE with Four Horsewomen at the forefront of it.
While Becky heads the initiative in the Blue brand, the remaining three members of the faction are setting the world alight on Raw. And with a storyline involving all three of them blooming already, it would be folly on the part of the WWE if they fail to cash in on it at WrestleMania.
Possessing the in-ring chemistry that these three do with one another, this match would be a shoo-in for match of the night honours at WrestleMania.
#3 Shinsuke Nakamura vs Brock Lesnar
A storyline involving Paul Heyman for this one would be gold, with the advocate ambivalent about where his allegiances lie.
One one side, you have the immovable force that has wrought destruction on any and all comers. And on the other, the irresistable force that has trailblazed its way to the NXT Title ever since its arrival on American shores.
The fact that both of them have a legitimate MMA background only adds to the in-built narrative that appends itself to this feud. Brock Lesnar has been booked as an unstoppable behemoth thus far, but the King of Strong Style seeks to expand his conquest and will stop at nothing to rule over the WWE as well.
This feud practically writes itself. And the match promises fireworks.
#2 Seth Rollins vs Triple H
The seeds for this storyline were well and truly sown when Triple H attacked Seth Rollins to gift Kevin Owens the WWE Universal Title, thereby also kickstarting Rollins’ babyface turn.
The master versus the protege dynamic has put bottoms on seats for ages in the WWE, and with the proper story telling and build-up, this feud should be no exception either. Triple H plays the role of a power hungry godfather like no other, and with Seth Rollins playing the part of the wronged former disciple, this feud could engender real traction with the audience.
Obviously, Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley – the double-crossed authority of Raw – would also have a part to play in the build up.
Of all the matches listed in this article, this one looks to be the most likely to happen as of now.
#1 John Cena vs The Undertaker
This match has apparently been in the pipeline for years now; only delayed because the Phenom continues to defy Father Time and shows up to deliver solid matches year after year at WrestleMania.
But even the Undertaker has his limits. And if the rumours after WrestleMania 32 are to be believed, he is closer than ever to calling it quits once and for all. This would be the perfect time, then, to have the company’s greatest legend cross paths with its most beloved franchise player.
Much like how his slogan reads, John Cena is the very epitome of Hustle, Loyalty and Respect, three qualities that have also earmarked the long and storied WWE career of the Undertaker.
For his immesurable contributions to both the industry of pro-wrestling and the WWE, he deserves the most respectful send-off; something that no one in the current roster, other than John Cena, is capable of.
John Cena himself is no spring chicken, and one could argue that he doesn’t need the rub from beating the Undertaker. But if the Undertaker should lose to anyone – other than Brock Lesnar of course – its hard to come up with a more deserving and legitimate candidate than John Cena.
Do you agree with our list? And how would you book Roman Reigns for WrestleMania 33?
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