WrestleMania is the biggest card of the year, often giving you first-time matches you have never seen before.
While this year will offer you those same first-time encounters, it is also set to feature at least FIVE matches we have already seen before, and all in the last 8 months. So in this list, I will narrow down those five matches that you will see yet again at ‘Mania and how they played out the last time:
#5 Bayley vs. Charlotte vs Sasha – From Clash of Champions 2016, 25th September 2016
Charlotte defeated Sasha Banks and Bayley in a Triple Threat match at WWE Clash of Champions, to retain the Raw Women's Championship.
The match saw a series of near-falls, with one wrestler coming in to break up the pin until Charlotte took Sasha Banks out of the equation and pinned Bayley. Charlotte delivered a big boot to Bayley, and he Hugger’s momentum knocked Sasha off the apron.
As Bayley came back off the ropes, Charlotte connected with a second big boot and pinned Bayley to earn the win. At the time, this took Charlotte’s pay-per-view winning streak to 12-0. The streak was underwhelmingly ended at Fastlane last Sunday, when Bayley defeated Charlotte, with help from Sasha Banks.
#4 American Alpha vs The Usos – From SmackDown Live, 6th September 2016
This was the match that saw The Usos turn heel. It took place in the semi-finals of The SmackDown Live Tag Team Tournament. The Usos attempted to jump Alpha off the bat, however, Alpha rebounded to score the win in super-quick time.
The Usos, angry and embarrassed, destroyed Alpha after the bell. This resulted in American Alpha not being able to continue in the Tag Team Tournament, which was won by Heath Slater and Rhyno, who defeated The Usos in the Final.
It was strange booking to allow The Usos back into the tournament after they injured American Alpha, but it can be forgiven as a rare case of bad booking by the usually solid SmackDown brand.
#3 Dean Ambrose vs Baron Corbin – From SmackDown Live, 30th August 2016
In a match you have probably forgotten, Corbin defeated Ambrose via DQ when AJ interfered. The end came when AJ Styles got up from commentary and demanded Corbin stay on him. Corbin got in his face and said, “no one tells him what to do.” Ambrose attacked Corbin from behind and subsequently knocked Styles down.
AJ returned to the apron and Corbin tried to throw Ambrose into Styles, but the Lunatic Fringe ducked and Styles accidentally hit Corbin with a knee to the face! The referee called for the bell and disqualified Ambrose.
After the match, Ambrose dropped Corbin with Dirty Deeds and countered Styles’ attempt to Phenomenal Forearm him by crotching Styles on the top rope. Styles screaming in pain as Ambrose put a hand on his shoulder and spoke to him, was the take away visual of the match.
The take away visual from Ambrose vs. Corbin at WrestleMania is likely to be Baron Corbin holding up the Intercontinental Title after he defeats Dean Ambrose to win his first singles Championship.
#2 Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt – From No Mercy, 9th October 2016
The storyline going into their first encounter had one question that needed to be answered: who was the predator and who was the prey? That led to an interesting game of cat and mouse between the two Superstars with Wyatt leading Orton through a backstage maze.
Rather than falling into his maniacal opponent's traps, however, Orton created his own path and eventually managed to both find and attack Wyatt, sending the Wyatt family scurrying. After weeks of anticipation and build-up, Orton and Wyatt finally met in the Main Event of No Mercy.
Bray Wyatt got the better of Randy Orton when Luke Harper emerged to distract Orton, allowing Wyatt to execute the Sister Abigail and land the three-count for the win.
The build-up to the match definitely outshone the actual match itself, something that is likely to repeat itself at WrestleMania, following the dramatic segment last week on SmackDown, where Randy Orton burnt down Sister Abigail’s resting place.
#1 Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg – From WrestleMania XX and Survivor Series 2016
WrestleMania 33 will be the third encounter between Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, with Goldberg currently being 2-0. The first encounter was the disastrous encounter at Wrestlemania XX, where both men were booed out of the building by the MSG crowd, who knew that the 2 Superstars were leaving the company.
Their second encounter took place at Survivor Series 2016, where Goldberg shocked the world, defeating Brock Lesnar in just 86 seconds. The stakes have now been heightened with a new stipulation of the title being on the line for the third and final encounter, following Goldberg’s triumph at WWE Fastlane.
Now, The Beast Incarnate is out for not only redemption on Sunday, April 2nd but also Goldberg’s newly won Universal Championship. Despite the fact he will be 1-2 after he defeats Goldberg at WrestleMania 33, Brock will hold the final and most significant win of the three-match series because his win will be for a Title.
