5 potential Andre The Giant Battle Royal winners

Andre
The Battle Royal winner needs to get a solid push following the event

In terms of prestige, the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal hasn't really lived up to it's potential over the last few years.

During its three incarnations, it has gone from being greatly hyped to becoming a pre-show match as the buffer between two main events. It's a vicious cycle and it needs to be broken, especially when you consider that it's supposed to be a tribute to one of the greatest Superstars of all time.

With winners like Cesaro, Big Show and Baron Corbin, it would appear on the face of it that the tradition has been well honoured since its inception back in 2014. Unfortunately, the win didn't mean much for the first two and Corbin is the only one out of the three that seems to have truly benefited from the victory.

So as we approach WrestleMania 33, the build to the Battle Royal will likely begin within the next few weeks.

The hope of many fans is that they don't just shove a bunch of mid-carders into the match and instead put some focus on the competitors, but whether or not that happens remains to be seen. The real question is this - who will end up walking away with the trophy this year?

Without further ado, let's look at five potential Andre The Giant Battle Royal winners.


#1 Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman
Strowman could be in with a great chance of winning the whole thing

This is probably the most obvious option, especially considering that it seems like they don't have a singles match planned for Braun at WrestleMania anymore.

Strowman has manhandled every single person that has stepped in the ring with him since the brand split, and WWE has done a great job of making him feel like an unstoppable monster.

Obviously there's a number of big guys that will be involved in this match up, but Braun stands head and shoulders above the rest as the favourite.

This kind of Battle Royal suits him down to a tee and it would set him up brilliantly for a probable Universal Title run following the show in Orlando. Who knows, maybe it'll lead to a year-long unbeaten streak.

Moving on to a man who was predicted to be in this match way back in 2014.

#2 Rusev

Rusev
Rusev needs a win of this magnitude

Rusev machka. The Bulgarian Brute has been on a downward slope over the last year or so, and it's upsetting to see just how far he's fallen.

The former United States Champion is more than capable of being a main event player on Raw, but the company just don't seem to know what to do with him which is odd considering the fact that his booking should be extremely simple.

If you want to rebuild him as a monster heel, the ATGMBR would be a great place to start.

Have him eliminate four or five guys straight off the bat, bringing back that no-nonsense bad guy we all loved so much. Now that his charisma is starting to shine through as well, a victory of this nature could propel his cocky attitude with Lana mentioning the triumph every two seconds. Just think of the heat.

Now onto a man who knows a thing or two about winning this match.

#3 Cesaro

Cesaro
Could Cesaro become the first ever two-time winner?

Cesaro's rise to the top hasn't gone quite as well as was originally anticipated back in 2014. After winning the first ever version of this match in New Orleans, Cesaro hasn't quite been able to capitalise on the momentum that he had created for himself.

Whether or not that's his fault is up for debate, but the way in which we believe it can be restored is for Cesaro to once again win the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

It would probably be quite easy to book too, with him and partner Sheamus being the last two men involved in the match.

They could have a 2012 Royal Rumble-esque final two moment, with the battle going at least five minutes before Cesaro eliminates The Celtic Warrior. It would establish both men as two of the toughest men in the business, helping to once again launch Cesaro into that next level.

From the future to the past with a nostalgic option.

#4 Kane

Kane
Kane deserves one final big moment at WrestleMania

Some people may hate this, but it could be the perfect way for Kane to bow out of the wrestling business. After years of hard work and sacrifice, The Big Red Monster could finally get his defining moment on the grandest stage of them all.

After finishing as the runner-up last year, it would make sense for him to go one better this time round, and who can say that he doesn't deserve it?

Following the win, Kane could get down on one knee, summon the flames above the ring and slowly fade into the sunset once and for all. It'd be a poetic way for such a legend of the business to go out, and the following year in New Orleans you could induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame.

It may not be the most popular choice, but it would certainly be a nice moment.

We conclude with a man associated with the words "certified" and "stud". No, it isn't Enzo.

#5 Big Cass

Big Cass
Big Cass fits the bill for this kind of match

Big Cass, by association, has suffered slightly in the last few weeks.

A number of fans haven't been happy with how he and Enzo Amore have been booked on the main roster, and that isn't much of a surprise given that many people were speculating that it would be the case prior to the brand split.

Nonetheless, in the new era, there's always room for improvement - starting with a big victory in an important match.

If you want Big Cass to be launched into that next level, then winning this Battle Royal could be the perfect way to do that. Andre was a big guy with a big personality, and that's a persona that Cass fits into more than anyone else.

He personifies what it means to have fun in this modern age of professional wrestling, and he'd be a fitting winner of the trophy.


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