5 Rivalries that can make WrestlaMania more exciting

What could happen next on the 'Road to WrestleMania'?
What could happen next on the 'Road to WrestleMania'?

Last Sunday's Royal Rumble event at the Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona officially kick started the road to WrestleMania 35 in New Jersey with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch outlasting 29 other competitors respectively to win the men's and women's Royal Rumble match.

Their win at Phoenix has confirmed two blockbuster matches for WrestleMania, with Rollins choosing Universal Champion Brock Lesnar and Lynch jumping the ship to the Red Brand to finally settle her issues with Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey. By this time every year, most of the matches for the Mania card, especially the major ones, are all but confirmed. However, it has been a different story all together this year.

Apart from the two highly anticipated showdowns confirmed for the show, none of the matches have been rumoured to be confirmed for the April Mega show. This means that a number of top Superstars like AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Charlotte Flaif and Drew McIntyre don't have a program moving into the Mania season.

What this does is provide WWE the perfect opportunity to bring together superstar for a rivalry that could shoot the excitement for the show to a whole new level. Here are 5 such rivalries that WWE should go forward with in the upcoming weeks.


#5 Samoa Joe vs Randy Orton

This could start a character change for the Destroyer.
This could start a character change for the Destroyer.

WWE rarely does a Heel vs Heel program, especially for a grand show like WrestleMania, but this is something that could actually reap fruits for both these veterans. Samoa Joe has proved that despite being one of the baddest men on the planet, he can be stunning when paired opposite an equally bad guy, and who is more vicious on the Blue Brand than Randy Orton.

On the go home show for Royal Rumble, Orton stunned Joe with a RKO out of nowhere. While the two didn't cross path in the Rumble, WWE can actually use that to start a rivalry between the two with the same. The two of them are legends in their own right and this program can act as one of the the biggest non-title storylines on SmackDown.

Once Joe is done with his rivalry with Mustafa Ali, WWE can again have Orton attack Joe, or vice versa, to entice the violent side of these two animals. Not only will this generate more and more heat for The Viper, it could actually make way for a face run for The Destroyer that could end with him winning the US Title in the subsequent months.

#4 Asuka vs Alexa Bliss (SmackDown Women's Championship)

Alexa needs to make the jump to the Blue Brand to strengthen its division.
Alexa needs to make the jump to the Blue Brand to strengthen its division.

With Becky Lynch choosing Ronda Rousey as her opponent for WrestleMania 35, Smackdown Women's Champion Asuka is now without an opponent for the Show of Shows. While WWE could go for the safe route and have Charlotte face her for the second consecutive year, it would make more sense to have her join Rousey and Lynch just like Shawn Michaels did back in 2004.

With SmackDown losing two big female Superstars to Raw, a shift from one of the top superstar from the red brand is anything but inevitable. Had it not been for a nasty injury that she suffered last night, Ember Moon would have been the perfect opponent for The Empress. However, an injury to her has opened a door for another top Superstar to return to the top of the ladder - Alexa Bliss.

If the pop that she received on her return at Royal Rumble was any sign, then fans are really happy to see her back inside the ring. Since both Raw and SmackDown lack that Superstar power in the women division, Bliss seems the only option for a match on a grand show like Mania.

Apart from being a fight of two opposite personalities, this could act as a sensational counterpart to the mammoth Raw Women's Title match and give both Asuka and Bliss a well deserved spot on the 'Mania card.

#3 Braun Strowman vs Drew McIntyre

The perfect feud for Strowman, McIntyre and the fans.
The perfect feud for Strowman, McIntyre and the fans.

With Rollins winning the Men's Royal Rumble match, both Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre - the two other favorites to win that match - are now left without a solid program for the WrestleMania season. However, if WWE want to make proper use of these two behemoths during this all important period, the best option is to keep them at odds with each other for the next few months as well.

Usually, rivalries between two big men does not bode well with the fans, but this is something that could be make for an exception. WWE are really high on both these monsters, given the booking the two have received over the past 6 months, and both of them are highly over with the fans as well. Given how WWE has constantly protected the two, it would be interesting to see which one of these would the company sacrifice for the other.

However, there is still one big problem with this program. While WWE did sow the seeds of this on last Monday night's Raw, they somehow brought Baron Corbin back in to this storyline. WWE have kept Drew and Strowman apart for a really long time and now is the best time to have them decimate each other like two certified monsters. Corbin's inclusion will not increase the excitement for this, instead it would destroy a top non-title feud.

#2 Daniel Bryan vs John Cena (WWE Championship)

The most logical option, as far as the storyline is concerned, right now
The most logical option, as far as the storyline is concerned, right now

Sorry Brock Lesnar, but your counterpart, despite being one of the most beloved WWE Superstar outside the ring, has replaced you as the most hated man inside the ring. As a psychotic heel who thinks he is the most environment friendly person on the planet, Bryan has been killing it on the microphone on a weekly basis.

His promos where he berated WWE interviewers for promoting WWE merchandise and criticized the fans for eating unhealthy food easily stand out among the best from the bearded Superstar. With his rivalry against AJ Styles, a huge fan favourite, coming to an end in the next few weeks, WWE needs an equally popular Superstar as a rival for the former YES! Man and there is only one name that pops up into the mind - John Cena.

Cena stands for everything that Bryan is criticizing at this moment. He is among the biggest merchandise sellers in the WWE and his rapport with the fans is second to none, and this is exactly what will force him to return and challenge the bearded champion. Cena and Bryan have tremendous chemistry with each other and fans would love to these two tear each other apart once again.

Moreover, Cena is just one title reign away from overtaking Ric Flair's 16 World Title Reigns, and a victory at a grand stage like WrestleMania would create a 'Mania moment for years.

#1 Dean Ambrose vs Triple H

Leaving or not, we are getting this match at Mania.
Leaving or not, we are getting this match at Mania.

WWE announcing the departure of Dean Ambrose following Royal Rumble came as a surprise to majority of the fans. While rumours had been circulating for a long time that Ambrose was really frustrated with his direction, WWE announcing the departure of one of their top Superstars three months in advance has only raised the eyebrows of every hardcore WWE fans. Is it a piece of work, or is Ambrose actually leaving after 'Mania in April?

Leaving or not, one thing became abundantly clear on Raw this Monday - WWE hav big plans lined up for Ambrose in the upcoming months. By the look of things, it seems like Ambrose is headed for a clash with none other than Triple H himself. His wild promo on Raw, where he berated HHH right on his face, was actually the best Ambrose has looked since his return last Summer.

With the chances of Batista returning the WWE getting bleaker with every passing day, a program between the COO and the Moral Compass of the company is best direction to go with. Both Ambrose and HHH are phenomenal on the microphone and have shown in the past that they blend well with each other in the ring as well. With Lesnar working limited dates, this rivalry could actually take the center stage and get the fans excited for the WrestleMania season.

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