In just a matter of days, fans will pack The Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, for WrestleMania 33. This is the one event that all wrestling fans have circled on their calendar each yea and the time for this year’s grand event has finally arrived.
Many of us are already looking forward to some of the big matches that have already been announced, while others are awaiting further announcements to see what else may be in store for the biggest event of the year.
One of the confirmed matches that we will see, is the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
This will be the fourth year for the annual event and while it may not be everyone’s favourite match of the show, it does appear that the WWE officials are putting a lot of effort into making the match a permanent fixture for WrestleMania.
The first year for the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, was in 2014, for WrestleMania 30.
In the inaugural Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Cesaro came out on top as the winner. In 2015, Big Show won the contest at WrestleMania 31 and this past year, Baron Corbin was the last man standing, winning the match at WrestleMania 32.
Now it's time to take a look at the upcoming Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 33. So far, the following WWE Superstars have been confirmed as participants in the 2017 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Apollo Crews, Mojo Rawley, Big Show and Curt Hawkins.
While WWE has yet to confirm the exact number of participants in this year's Battle Royal, there were 20 entrants in 2016, 30 in 2015 and 31 in 2014.
Here’s a look at my five possible winners for the 2017 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
#5 Mark Henry
Father time is sneaking up on The World’s Strongest Man, which means that we are probably witnessing the last full year of Mark Henrys in-ring career.
Throughout his twenty-plus years in the ring, Mark Henry has had more than his fair share of ups and downs. Nonetheless, Henry has found a way to stick around, which is impressive in itself.
Also read: WWE News: Apollo Crews and Mojo Rawley added to Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Considering that this may very well be his final year, it would be great to see Mark go out with one more notch on his belt, which would be the Andre The Giant Memorial Trophy.
Mark Henry still has a lot to offer to the sport of professional wrestling, even after he’s done with in-ring action. This is why he has made it clear that he wants to help out at the WWE Performance Center, working with the next generation of WWE Superstars.
With Mark’s extensive background in wrestling and athletics in general, he would make a great addition to the coaching staff with NXT.
#4 Apollo Crews
This guy just can't seem to catch a break. Coming into the WWE, Apollo Crews was touted as possibly being the next big thing. His work in the global indie scene was exceptionally impressive.
Known then as Uhaa Nation, he was one of the top free agents in the entire world. However, once he was signed, it just seemed as if no one had any interest in his WWE development.
While in NXT, Apollo struggled to find his place on the tremendously deep roster. Once he was elevated to the main roster, there was once again hope and while he has occasionally shown signs of having a good run, things could certainly be better for Crews.
With the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, this could be a very significant win for Apollo.
While this match may not be very important to some, it could prove to be a catalyst for greater things to come for Apollo Crews, if he gets the win.
#3 Luke Harper
Luke Harper shocked the world when he decided he had enough and viciously left The Wyatt Family. Harper had been a fixture in The Wyatt Family since their inception, so his departure was certainly not expected by many.
Now that Harper is running solo, his search for a new identity is in full-force. Harper is an extremely gifted in-ring performer, one who has been considered underrated for a long time now.
Harper needs a new direction right now. A win in the Andre Memorial could be the perfect starting point for the next chapter in the Luke Harper saga.
#2 Tye Dillinger
No one in the entire company wants to be successful more so than Tye Dillinger. Tye made his first appearance in the WWE developmental system back in 2006. Since that time, Dillinger has been persistent in making a name for himself.
With the current “Perfect 10” gimmick, the fans have gotten behind him more than ever. The reaction Dillinger got when he made his entrance at The Royal Rumble serves as proof that the WWE Universe is ready to get on board and support this guy right now.
Dillinger would probably gain the most out of anyone if he were to win this match. Just like some of the other entrants, this win would be a fantastic coming-out victory for the underdog.
#1 Braun Strowman
I believe that it’s a fairly safe assumption that we are on the verge of witnessing something very significant with the big monster from the mountains of North Carolina. Ever since the brand split, Strowman has been enjoying the best push of his young career.
Once Braun arrived on the main roster, his skill level began to improve significantly. Strowman went from being the relatively new kid on the block to now being ranked as one of the top contenders for the WWE Universal Championship.
With Strowman's feud with Roman Reigns being creatively hijacked in exchange for a Reigns vs. Taker attraction at WrestleMania, it leaves Braun empty-handed, in regards to a WrestleMania opponent.
Strowman certainly has the capability to blast through the Battle Royal, if this ends up being his destiny.
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