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With only two weeks to go, the matches for WrestleMania 34 have mostly taken shape. There are a few unannounced matches, but they're already essentially official. It's a stacked card. On paper, it's one of the best WWE has ever had, and this show has the potential to be one of the best WrestleManias if the company does its job right.
When looking at the card, there are seven potential classics which could be the match of the night. Which one will steal the show?
#1 Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali (Cruiserweight Championship)
Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali punched their tickets to WrestleMania in the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament on 205 Live. The two finalists will square off for the vacant title. Unfortunately, they won't make the main show, but this match will be the pre-show's best.
Why it will be match of the night:
Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali are both talented in-ring competitors who have had very good matches with each other in the past. Undoubtedly, they'll want to kick things up a notch on the grandest stage. 205 Live has been on a role, and Triple H is the one that will book this match, which gives it an advantage no other match on the card has. Triple H has rarely disappointed when calling the shots.
Why it won't be match of the night:
Unfortunately, most fans are still ambivalent about the Cruiserweight division. The crowd will likely be mostly quiet, especially since this match will come very early in the night when many fans may not yet have arrived at the Superdome. Finally, the ending will likely disappoint, as Cedric Alexander will probably win, even though Mustafa Ali connects far better with crowds.
#2 The Usos vs. The New Day vs. The Bludgeon Brothers (SmackDown Tag Team Championship)
This match is still as yet unofficial, but it's definitely coming. SmackDown's tag team division has been its best asset this year. This match will be the showcase of that asset.
Why it will be match of the night:
The Usos and New Day had show-stealing matches every time they locked horns in one of the best feuds of 2017. At WrestleMania, their motivation will be that much greater. The Bludgeon Brothers add an explosive new element to that equation and have been perfectly built as a monstrous duo. Additionally, if some kind of stipulation is added, this match could be made even more explosive. It may well have the highest ceiling of all.
Why it won't be match of the night:
Time constraints may make this match shorter than it otherwise should be, taking away so much more of what these guys can do out there. Its position on the card could also influence things. It needs to have a good spot.
Other than that, though, there's really no reason why this match shouldn't be match of the night. In my opinion, it has the best or second-best chance of being the show-stealer.
#3 Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz (Intercontinental Championship)
For the first time in years, the Intercontinental Championship actually feels important at a WrestleMania. Miz looks like he's getting his wish.
Why it will be match of the night:
Seth Rollins has been burning down Raw lately. His sublime performance in last month's gauntlet match gave him a new lease on life after repetitively feuding with The Bar for the previous eight months.
Finn Balor remains very popular, and should he emerge as the Demon for WrestleMania, things will definitely get more interesting.
The Miz, meanwhile, is closing in on an important record: the most total number of days as Intercontinental Champion, which he'll pass if he wins this match, so he has a lot on the line. He will definitely use some unpredictable and underhanded tactics to walk out of this match with the gold.
Let's also not forget that these three already had a tremendous match with each other on Raw last year.
Why it won't be match of the night:
Much like before, there's a danger that this match won't be given the appropriate amount of time or place on the card to really shine. Most people also want Seth Rollins or Finn Balor to walk away with the title, so if Miz wins, there could be a lot of disappointed people in New Orleans.
#4 Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Before Daniel Bryan's return, this wouldn't be here. What a pleasant place we find ourselves in! Though this match hasn't been made official yet, it's definitely on the way.
Why it will be match of the night:
Daniel Bryan's return to the ring alone makes it a strong contender. This is where the crowd will be at its hottest all night. Additionally, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are both solid performers and we can always rely on Shane McMahon to do a crazy stunt at WrestleMania.
Why it won't be match of the night:
Though he didn't look it last Tuesday, Daniel Bryan might have some ring rust. Unlike the previous two matches, there is a chance that this one drags on too long, especially with Shane in it. The payoff is to see Daniel Bryan standing triumphant at the end of about 10-15 minutes of good action. If that doesn't happen, New Orleans will be very disappointed.
#5 Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair (SmackDown Women's Championship)
Asuka won the inaugural Women's Royal Rumble match in January and, after weeks of keeping both women's divisions in suspense, decided she wanted a challenge, and so set her sights on Charlotte Flair.
Why it will be match of the night:
Being billed as a showdown between a queen and an empress, the entrances alone will be spectacular. In a rarity of this era, it's a first-time-ever mega match between two stellar competitors.
In one corner stands the dominant cornerstone of women's wrestling in WWE for the past few years. In the other stands an undefeated juggernaut. Both competitors are great ring workers. And because this match is likely a test for a future women's WrestleMania main event, it will probably get the time and spot on the card it needs to really shine.
Why it won't be match of the night
Asuka and Charlotte have never had a match with each other, so we don't know how their styles will mesh. It's entirely possible that great performers as they are, they just don't have good chemistry together.
Perhaps they do have a good match but it simply doesn't live up to the tremendous expectations fans have about this match, leaving them with a sense of disappointment. Additionally, the specter of Carmella looms large over this match. If she cashes in mid-match (which is far from impossible), its atmosphere will be completely ruined.
#6 AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
For the first time in a few years, a fresh, popular competitor won the Royal Rumble. It was even better in that it set up a match WWE fans have been wanting for two years when both AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura came into the company.
Why it will be match of the night:
We already know the kind of performance these two can put together. Moreover, AJ Styles never seems to have a bad match and Shinsuke Nakamura will be motivated to have a good one on this stage and with this opponent. Since the WWE title is at stake, it will be given the time it deserves, though its placement on the card remains in question.
Why it won't be match of the night:
There's no reason why it shouldn't be unless the nature of AJ Styles' rumored injury is more severe than we've been led to believe. Like Asuka and Charlotte though, the match does have the burden of high expectations.
Perhaps it simply can't live up to them. We won't know until it happens, but along with the SmackDown Tag Team title match, this probably has the highest chance of being the match of the night.
#7 Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
While AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura might be the dream of fans, this is the dream of Vince McMahon. The headlining match gets a lot of flak, but maybe not all of it is warranted?
Why it will be match of the night:
Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns had a tremendous match at WrestleMania 31, and if this match is anything similar, we can expect a very enjoyable fight, especially if some kind of stipulation gets added, which is possible with the build that's been happening.
Though. many don't want to see Roman Reigns as champion, it will at least be a relief to see the title back on TV regularly after this match concludes.
Why it won't be match of the night:
Obviously, this is a match most fans didn't want to see again. The ending will disappoint many, and WrestleMania will close with Roman getting a chorus of boos. It's also important to note that there will be no Seth Rollins this time to really push the match over the top as he did at WrestleMania 31.
Additionally, if this is Brock Lesnar's last match in WWE, he might be totally apathetic and fall far short of his WrestleMania 31 performance.
So what do you think will be WrestleMania 34's best match? Sound off!
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