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Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was introduced at WrestleMania 30, as a tribute to WWE's most gigantic personality, Andre the Giant. There's no doubt in how important Andre was to make WWE a huge success in its initial days. He was like a wonder and a show-stopper.
Hence, when this Battle Royal was introduced, it was very positively greeted by fans and critics. Firstly, it gives more superstars to be a part of the match card of the biggest show of the year. Secondly, it was assumed that the wrestler winning would be given a good push throughout the summer, just like a Royal Rumble Winner.
But as we all know, this hasn't been the case. Cesaro was the first one to win this trophy and had a small alliance with Paul Heyman that didn't go too far. After him, Big Show, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, and Matt Hardy have won this battle royal. It's safe to say none of them really benefited from it.
WrestleMania is known as the Show of Shows, and while just being a part of it is a huge honour, but it's sad to see a lot of great talent being misused by competing in the meaningless Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
This year as well, Braun Strowman has announced that he will be competing in it. A superstar of his calibre, The Monster Among Men, definitely deserves better than this. Not long ago he was competing for the Universal Title, and now he has no direction heading into WrestleMania this year.
In this article, let's take a look at the 5 top WWE superstars who might be forced to join Braun in competing in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 35.
#5 Kevin Owens
Ever since making his return last month before FastLane, Kevin Owens is playing a face with a gimmick of a normal man (that's WWE creative team for you). First of all, there's something in him which makes him a natural heel and it just feels weird to see him as a face.
After being unsuccessful to win the WWE Championship at FastLane, he's currently being used as a side act to promote Kofi Kingston, Charlotte and Becky Lynch on SmackDown. With no clear direction heading into WrestleMania, we might as well see KO competing for the Andre the Giant trophy. Sad!
#4 Shinsuke Nakamura
To everyone reading this, I won't be shocked if you forgot that this man won the Royal Rumble last year by last eliminating WWE's modern poster boy, Roman Reigns.
Shinsuke Nakamura had a pretty good first half of 2018, but the second half took a huge hit on his credibility and aura. His heel turn failed horribly as fans don't even care much about him anymore. With a lacklustre US Title reign and no plans heading into WrestleMania, don't be surprised to spot him among the sea of wrestlers during the Battle Royal.
The saddest part is, he won't even win that one! :(
#3 Andrade
Andrade is yet another victim of the WWE creative not having a clue of what to do with him. Being a sensational athlete and wrestler, Andrade deserves to get a proper spot on the WrestleMania match card.
His string of matches with Rey Mysterio earlier this year was applauded by both fans and critics, and it was speculated that he might be in the US Title match at WrestleMania. But with Rey Mysterio announcing that he will be challenging Samoa Joe for the US Championship, Andrade might just get restricted to the Battle Royal.
While I do hope WWE adds him to the US Championship match, but that doesn't look so likely as of now.
#2 Rusev
Much like his recent tag team partner Shinsuke Nakamura, this man was very over with the fans not so long ago. I'll even say he still is. But the way he has been booked, it's not possible for the fans to take him seriously.
Rusev is a great athlete and entertainer. The way his "Rusev Day" chants got over automatically was amazing. Being mostly in the mid-card scene for the last year, Rusev isn't able to break that glass ceiling yet.
Expect him to show up at the Battle Royal this WrestleMania.
#1 Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali has had one of the best debuts on the main roster in quite some time. Pinning the WWE Champion Daniel Bryan on his debut night just made everyone know how much the WWE Officials were high on him.
With all the hype around KofiMania, we often forget that if Ali hadn't got injured, maybe he would have been the one to have that Iron Man performance in that Gauntlet Match and Elimination Chamber. After all, he is one of the top wrestlers in the world.
His high flying abilities are awe-inspiring to say the least, maybe at par with Ricochet. But with no plans heading into WrestleMania, he'll either watch it from the sidelines or compete in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
Will a cruiserweight win the trophy named after a giant? Would be interesting to see!
Who do you think can win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal this year? Will it be someone from this list or a surprise entrant or debutant? Sound off in the comments section below.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
