WWE WrestleMania 37: Ranking each match on Night One by its potential quality

By Divesh Merani
Modified Apr 09, 2021 22:05 IST
Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon; Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair
Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon; Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair

We are one day away from WrestleMania 37 and the world is truly ready for the Granddaddy of Them All. Saturday night will be the first WWE event to properly feature a crowd since last March.

The fans are set to show up and create a memorable night, injecting some external energy into the in-ring action. Seven matches have been scheduled for both nights of WrestleMania, with hopes pretty high amongst fans for a few of them. But will all of them deliver?

Each match at the Show of Shows has a purpose. They all have potential of some kind. Whether WWE told an effective story in the lead-up to WrestleMania or not, we can expect most matches to prosper on the night. Night One certainly has its fair share of potential 'Mania classics.

Multiple matches could steal the show on either night, but WWE has booked quite a few attractions for Saturday. Let's take a look at the prospects for each one of them.

Here is each match scheduled for WrestleMania 37 Night One, ranked by its potential quality.

#7 No.1 Contender's Tag Team Turmoil Match; Winners face Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler on Night Two of WrestleMania

It could be argued WWE has not booked its women's division well on both RAW and SmackDown. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler are at the center of the issue. They have been all over both shows, having been inserted into both Women's Title feuds heading into WrestleMania.

Most prominent female Superstars are now seemingly in tag teams. But the duos have had minimal character development in the lead up to the event and, as a result, there is hardly any story to speak of. The Tag Team Turmoil match at WrestleMania will simply be one short match after the other. The Riott Squad are the team to look out for here, as they could be the ones who end up carrying the entire match.

The one positive of this multi-woman situation is the application of the two-night format, tying 'Mania together. Billie Kay could steal the show from a character standpoint as she is apparently set to be added to the match alongside Carmella. However, this match likely belongs to Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott.

The quality depends on how well each team works with the opposing team at the time. But a multi-person match with limited heat always has a ceiling, especially at WrestleMania. Sadly, don't expect the subsequent Women's Tag Team Title match on Night Two to be that much better.

#6 WrestleMania Night One: Shane McMahon vs. Braun Strowman in a Steel Cage Match

Possibly the most counterproductive build this WrestleMania season, the Steel Cage Match between Shane McMahon and Braun Strowman isn't the most exciting contest. The story could have been told so much better, with Strowman and McMahon having some history through brand warfare and RAW Underground.

Unfortunately, a lack of fan enthusiasm for both characters could hurt this match at WrestleMania. Neither man is particularly great in the ring either. Truthfully, it feels like WWE booked this match so Shane could wow the live fans with a huge spot once again.

The contest between Braun Strowman and Shane will likely drag until the finish, but the former Universal Champion might throw Shane O'Mac off the top of the cage on Saturday. Another option would be The Strowman Express ramming his "boss" through the side of the cage.

Either way, Shane McMahon's stunt will save this match from being a complete dud. It will likely be a lesser version of his Hell in a Cell bout against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32.

#5 WrestleMania Night One: The Miz and John Morrison vs. Damian Priest and Bad Bunny

Celebrity matches at WrestleMania are usually hit-and-miss. But this tag team contest has the potential to surprise the fans. Bad Bunny relocated to Orlando and has been training at WWE's Performance Center for about three months, taking his time on RAW seriously.

He could spring a surprise at the Show of Shows alongside fellow WrestleMania debutant Damian Priest. The former NXT Superstar could get some serious shine on himself as he assists the Latin pop icon against The Miz and John Morrison.

WWE's last-minute decision to make this a tag team contest was an inspired one. It will be much better than a singles match between Miz and Bad Bunny and could end up being very decent. Bad Bunny has three good workers around him, which would help in hiding all of his limitations.

Priest will likely do the heavy-lifting at 'Mania, with exchanges between him and Morrison an exciting prospect. The Dirt Sheet will make Bad Bunny look like a million bucks as well, ensuring this program will be a success. Hopefully, this could be among the greatest celebrity matches in WrestleMania history.

#4 WrestleMania Night One: The New Day vs. AJ Styles and Omos for the RAW Tag Team Championship

This match could fall on either side of the Bad Bunny tag team match on WrestleMania Saturday, with one primary factor determining how well it does. The performance of Omos will be crucial to the RAW Tag Team Championship match, pitting him and AJ Styles against The New Day.

WWE has set up a scenario where nobody can truly go wrong, as the near eight-foot giant will step into the ring with three world-class workers at WrestleMania. Anything other than a great showing from Omos may be disappointing. However, he may not even feature for most of it.

Styles will likely wrestle a sizeable portion of the match against Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston before the big Nigerian comes in for the grand finish. How he finishes New Day off is anybody's guess. It's an intriguing prospect, to say the least.

This has the higher ceiling of the two tag team matches on Night One of WrestleMania thanks to the level of star power, as well as the lasting effect of Omos' showing. He is set to embark on a Tag Team Title reign alongside AJ Styles. Hopefully, WWE will handle the belts better following the event.

#3 WrestleMania Night One: Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship

When it comes to the placement of each match at WrestleMania, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley should open Night One. The main event may go elsewhere, so the WWE Championship match could fall anywhere on Saturday night.

McIntyre being the first person to come out in front of a live crowd in over a year makes all the sense in the world. He lost his moment at WrestleMania 36, so he should be the first to get one this year. The Scottish Warrior will receive a huge ovation upon his entrance, or at least that is the hope.

There are some doubts due to the match's questionable build. Lashley is soaring high as the WWE Champion, but the break-up of The Hurt Business hurt his stock a tad. Meanwhile, McIntyre has not been booked that well on RAW for a while now. Regardless, the match is expected to deliver at WrestleMania.

McIntyre and Lashley both look unstoppable heading into the Show of Shows, so that's a positive. This will be a hard-hitting slugfest, possibly a notch above their last match at Backlash. Both men are familiar with each other, even beyond WWE.

Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley are set to kick lumps out of each other and we shouldn't expect anything different. We could be in for one of the most physical matches in WrestleMania history with these two. Hopefully, McIntyre isn't too beat up to celebrate his likely victory.

#2 WrestleMania Night One: Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro

WrestleMania is usually a variety show. So far, we have covered a celebrity match, a car-crash brawl, and a heavyweight bout. Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro will fulfill the work rate portion of Night One. It could be the best technical contest on the show, based on both Superstars' in-ring credentials.

Rollins always delivers at WrestleMania. His catalog of matches and moments on the Grandest Stage of Them All speaks for itself. He will hope to elevate Cesaro on Saturday. The seven-time Tag Team Champion is out to prove his brilliance and break out as an upper-card star in WWE.

The two of them may steal the show from a midcard position, possibly resulting in a WrestleMania classic that is revisited in future years. Rollins and Cesaro should be given at least 15 minutes to create absolute art.

While the story has focused on the Giant Swing, there is so much more to the Swiss Superman. However, many would love to see him swing Seth Rollins around 100 times. This is Cesaro's moment for the taking, as he blows the fans at Raymond James Stadium away.

#1 WrestleMania Night One: Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women's Championship

It seems like Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair will main event Night One of WrestleMania 37, with several factors making it the right choice. WWE will probably give this match the works. From special entrances to fireworks, the fans may be amazed by the spectacle of it before the opening bell.

The company might want to make up for its messy build. That being said, the match can be something truly special. It could turn mishaps into magic. The opportunity is right there.

Banks is an in-ring phenomenon and her track record speaks for itself. She has earned the right to headline WrestleMania, both in terms of technical ability and star power. Meanwhile, Belair herself is a fantastic talent. The EST of WWE is set to be elevated in such a spot, with the story within the match writing itself.

The Legit Boss is the established world-class veteran, taking on the newer, younger, and hungrier star. The clash of styles at WrestleMania is perfect as well, pitting Belair's power and athleticism against Banks' quickness and technical prowess. The latter could bump all over the place for her opponent.

While the wrestling is set to be great, the match will be enhanced by the live crowd. They will know the significance of Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair main eventing WrestleMania. All things considered, the SmackDown Women's Championship could be the best match on Night One of WrestleMania 37.

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