You could announce a Bo Dallas vs. Curtis Axel WrestleMania main event a year in advance and people would still buy tickets to the show in droves.

HHH probably carried the most Manias.

Got the most outside press leading in by far

I'd argue Taker played a big role helping carry Manias shortly after the WWE started hyping up his streak as a big deal about Mania. Some years his streak match was the big thing selling the event and other years it being right there with the other big match or star being focused on for the event.

Like Mania 30 is all about Bryan as the main focus but the streak match was also right up there for carrying the event.

Remember that time when Snookie carried Wrestlemania! They should get her back again!

See, I've always had this umming and ahhing about the impact of the streak, in that I'm not sure it ever proved to be a big deal outside of existing fans (until it ended). Mania 30 should have had a great build to Taker/Brock, but it really wasn't at all.

Taker's matches with Shawn and HHH for those four years added a big match backbone, no doubt, but the only time it was put in a position to truly be the big draw on the show, 26, did the lowest Mania numbers in seven years, and that pains me to say because that build-up was fucking outstanding.

Its a mild shame IRS vs Mr Pefect never happened at WM

Blame the numbers on the stupid Batista v. Cena freaking "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start" Championship main event. Nobody wanted to see that.

I wonder if John Cena will hit another AA - that's an attitude adjustment - On Big E again!


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I wasn't looking to go back to the Attitude Era, I was only talking about Manias during Cena's run. My point was Taker's matches and the The Streak played a bigger role than the majority of Cena's matches.

In reality, you take away the program with Rock which covered 3 straight Manias, Cena has never really been the focal point alone. Whereas with Taker every year there was interest in his opponent challenging The Streak. But to be fair to Cena, most of the recent Manias are sold on a handful of matches vs one super match. So nobody really is put in the position of selling the show on their own. I just think if you went year by year, Taker's matches on a whole had more interest.

This is very true

My assumption is Lesnar is not going to increase his workload, so it comes down to can you continue with him beating random guys on the big sis Or do you try to do something different with him?

If Goldberg is positioned as having Lesnar's number, you can get several years worth of big matches out of him. Part of the decision would come down to what's the variance between their pay? Is one far cheaper than the other?

The risk with Goldberg is how many big matches can you promote where he just kills guys before people reject the act? There are more Goldberg matches I can see being intriguing than Lesnar matches at this point. Plus, I could see Lesnar trying UFC again.

What that tells me it's President Elect Trump and Rock are major draws. Everyone else is the same range.

I wasn't making a statement just found it interesting.

Well he just got a 1 year ban.

But this would just be false. Cena hasn't been in the main event since WrestleMania XXIX when he was against Rock, but hb2k broke it down pretty obviously for you. If you want to credit Undertaker for carrying against Triple H, then you also have to give the nod to Cena for carrying against Rusev and Bray Wyatt as well.

"If you take away the Rock programs." That's like saying "If you take away Austin's WrestleMania programs with The Rock, he only really beat Shawn Michaels and had one great match with Bret Hart."

I'm also not sure the streak was entirely a good thing. I believe a lot of money was left on the table in order to preserve it and keep a worked streak looking impressive, often making sure that rising talent couldn't get a big win they needed in order to keep the wheel rolling. And it doesn't just extend to Undertaker. Generally guys take a dive at WrestleMania, and I can't help but feel there is something to do with win-loss records going on there, because there isn't an organic reason a guy like Mark Henry should beat Ryback at WrestleMania.

In terms of sports outlets, ESPN and others usually talked about the streak match the most whenever they'd cover Mania. This was before the WWE started to pay to get more mainstream coverage.

Ever since the WWE started doing the multi-main events for Mania, feel like that is when its possible to talk more about multiple people and matches carrying a Mania regardless of their actual quality. You still have the big major match such as Mania 29 with Cena-Rock II but also the other main event matches bringing in a big chunks of interest as well.

I'd imagine the pay is likely similar. Assuming as much, there's lots of matches on the Raw brand for Goldberg. Off the bat, you have Reigns, Owens, Rollins, Stroman, if he stays put, Jericho.

That's a decent list to run through over the course of a year to keep Goldberg busy. Also could build to him v Cena as an inter promotional draw going into next year.

I think Goldberg has more mileage than Lesnar at this point. Feel like Lesnar doesn't have much higher to go as he's pretty much run thru all of his would be interesting opponents.

It's retroactive to his last fight, no?

You know he's working with WWE till April at least. If he can fight again by August that lines up perfectly to get in a camp and fight.

So you can't attribute this to The Undertaker then? You can't with one breath say that The Undertaker has carried more WrestleMania events and then in another say that no one carries WrestleMania anymore. I mean, there is truth to the WWE trying to use the brand itself as a draw (and hence why wrestling is so cold and no one is really, truly over), but there often seems to be a double-standard when it comes to talking about The Undertaker and WrestleMania.

The Mania events he was put in the chief position to draw didn't do as well as Mania events where he wasn't the focus point. That's just the way history has played out. ESPN might have given the streak a lot of attention, but how much did that tangibly translate to? Wrestling fans that treated it like a sport went away a long time ago and never came back.

Would anyone after Austin Bret were the bigger draw over Taker Sid? Even though the matter main evented, it was clearly not the biggest match on the card.

Are those rose-colored glasses you're looking back with? The WWF still treated the title like a big thing back in the day. There was a reason Austin/Bret didn't headline. Also ask yourself whether or not Austin/Bret was supposed to be a bigger match than Taker/Sid, or whether that was just the case because Austin and Bret were just...better.

I think it was a bigger match because there was a story being built up there that started with them meeting up for Survivor Series, Austin screwing Bret out of the Rumble and the two finally having their blow off match at Mania.

Did Sid v Taker have any kind of build beyond just being the title match?

Taker has been a key focal point in basically every Mania since 24. John has always been the top guys, but he's also been in a lot of throwaway matches. Rusev, Wyatt, some triple threats. Like I said, the only matches where Cena truly was the focal point of the show was with Rocky and maybe one with HHH. Whereas Takers steak was something that was a huge part of every Mania essentially from 24 on.

The biggest star in WWE history is Roman Reigns, then John Cena. Then Umaga.

The hint of Roman/Braun was dropped tonight on RAW. Braun will feud with Big Show while Roman finishes up feuding with KO. Braun might actually win the Royal Rumble.

Weirder things have happened. There's no way he headlines WrestleMania, but if the plan is to have John Cena challenge for the World Title, I can't see them having him also tie Austin's record of three Rumbles. That's just...too much at once for the WWE. It resembles too much of a clear direction. Strowman winning the Rumble and challenging for the mid-card World Title makes perfect WWE sense.

Except they don't have to really play up the Rumble thing. They can just have him win it. I'd hate for the Rumble to determine the winner of a secondary title match.

Stroman v Reigns will prob be a snore fest if they try to draw it out. If the plan is to push Stroman to the moon, having him dominate a 10-12 minute match makes more sense.

This match was talked about, so I will post this awesome promo

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and this will be a must miss WM for me

You'll watch it and you know it.

The last few years Mania's been the one show that even lapsed fans I know will check it out "just to see if it's good again".

Feel like it's tough for people to be 100% done with wrestling forever.

owenbrown, Undertaker vs Cena is a big match, even if you hate Cena.

+

Seth/HHH
Jericho/KO will be really good
Dean/Shane might have some CRAZY bumps

I hope they're at least wrong about Dean/Shane. I have zero desire whatsoever to see Shane McMahon wrestle again. For his own safety.

The title on RAW is the main title.

Would have to see the storyline, but right now it feels forced to put Shane in a match.

The universal title is more prestigious than the WWE title? :lol::lol::lol:

Prestigious is a loaded term. AJ is walking around with the championship that goes back to the beginning of pro wrestling, or at least the beginning of WWE. But that's mark talk.

The RAW brand is the #1 brand, always has been, likely always will be. Make no mistake, internally the big title is the Universal Title because it's on RAW. They did the same thing back in the day. SD got the linear title but big gold belt was higher on the pecking order internally.

That said if John Cena is fighting Taker for the SD Title at Mania, I have no doubt it would go on last. But that's star driven, not title driven. If that makes sense.

Cena beating Taker to tie the record seems like a good move. Actually Taker defending the record would be kinda fun too. But Cena should win.

I can see how they get to AJ vs Shane. It's tough because SD doesn't have a ton of main event talent. AJ v Ambrose has been done a lot. So next option is Styles ends up in the IC title picture.

I'm sorry but Cena/Taker should NOT be for any championship. Even if they brought back the Hardcore title under 24/7 rules. Also, Roman Roids should not be after any World Title either. Unless they want 80,000 people throwing trash in the ring.

Don't worry ROH or some other Indy promotion will be holding matches that weekend that only 300 people care about. I'm sure all the right guys will be in the title matches there.

Shane needs to retire from wrestling

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I don't know if "Raw is more important than SmackDown" is as valid of a sentiment now that both shows are live. When SmackDown was taped and was saddled on Friday when barely anybody stayed in to watch wrestling...they made it abundantly clear which show they cared about more.

But now? I'm just not so sure. Raw has an extra hour and therefore a bigger roster yes, but in terms of guys you could believably plug into the main event on a dime it seems pretty even. That they gave Cena and Orton both to SmackDown was a clear indication to me that they wanted SmackDown to seem important.

I think it'll be really telling if/when they do a draft lottery next year to shift up the rosters a bit. In the old brand split it was always: send SmackDown's red hot guys to Raw, send guys who have cooled off to SmackDown. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Assuming its Styles vs Shane, Dean's probably a lock to be Bryan's personal pick to dethrone Miz's IC reign at Mania. WWE already started teasing it as a potential feud and dropped everything related to Shane wanting to punish Dean for his antics in the Ellsworth-Styles feud.

US belt gets to have the multi-man ladder match this year for Mania.

So we are talking ...

Cena/Taker
Stroman/Roman
HHH/Rollins
Styles/Shane
Jericho/Owens
Something with Orton and Bray
Something with Ladders
Andre Battle Royal
Womens Match

+

Dean/Miz
Big Show/Shaq

Baron Corbin was <s>probably</s> booked the best of all Andre the giant Battle Royal Winners for the remainder of the current year when they won.

They want SDL to be important, yes. But Cena is transitioning to a part timer at this point. SD is Ambrose's show and RAW is Reigns' show, that's how it's seen from a touring point of view. They did somewhat balance the rosters, but RAW will always be seen as the A show.

There are at least two women's matches currently scheduled.

And Goldberg v Lesnar on the kickoff?

Shane McMahon was largely put into his spot against The Undertaker because they needed band-aids because Cena, Orton and Rollins were out and Roman Reigns was flopping bad as "The Guy." You don't need Shane this year. You don't need Triple H. You don't need The Undertaker. All three will likely be promoted as bigger than the usual stars, but it would be nice if we got some proper stories and new stars being pushed this year. A completely naive proposition, I know.

* Styles vs. Cena for the WWE Title
* Owens vs. Rollins vs. Balor for the secondary title

Those matches appeal to me a lot more than any of the part-timers coming in. You've got Goldberg vs. Lesnar as your "special attraction." Pay that off with Goldberg going over thrice and call it a day. Realistically, you have to include Shane McMahon and Triple H though, so just let them fight each other in a McMahon Pride Street Fight. Daniel Bryan can be shown in clips "training" Shane. That way Triple H can get his spiritual win back against Daniel Bryan. Since you also have to include The Undertaker, my personal choice would still be to put him against Rusev and have Rusev go over to set him up as a main event hopeful, but if Taker wants to work Orton it really doesn't matter, and it gets Orton away from other stuff. He feels like a chore to fit sometimes. Wyatt & Harper can defend the Tag Titles against American Alpha or someone. The Miz can defend the IC Title in that giant Ladder Match that is becoming a tradition -- this is where you have Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, Kalisto, Apollo Crews, freshly traded Sami Zayn, Kane and, fuck, I dunno, Heath Slater? Is he still over? Nikki Bella wins the SD Women's Title from Alexa Bliss and then faces Charlotte in a Champion vs. Champion Match with Ronda Rousey as the special guest referee. Chris Jericho wins the US Title from Roman Reigns to complete his Grand Slam (the only meaningful title he hasn't won) and then puts him over at Mania. Everyone else goes into the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal because they aren't really over or important.

Final card:

* Styles vs. Cena for the World Title
* Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar III
* Owens vs. Rollins vs. Balor for the other belt
* The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton
* Triple H vs. Shane McMahon
* Champion vs. Champion: Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella with Ronda Rousey as referee
* The Wyatt Family vs. American Alpha for the Tag Titles
* Chris Jericho vs. Roman Reigns for the US Title
* Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (featuring Big Show, Shaq, Cesaro, Sheamus, Braun, Corbin, The New Day, Enzo & Cass, the cruiserweights, Gallows & Anderson, James Ellsworth, Rhyno, The Hype Bros, etc.)
* The Miz vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kalisto vs. Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn vs. Heath Slater vs. Kane

Having Lesnar, Shane, Taker, and Triple H on the card is taking away so many spots but lets be devils advocate and be honest, the guys who will wind up in the Battle Royal or Ladder Match because the part timers need one on one matches, well they are aren't as interesting for Wrestlemania as the part timers. And that's just a fact.

I'd rather see Goldberg, Triple H, or The Undertaker (you can keep Shane) than most of the up and commers on Raw or Smackdown.

The more I think about it, the more I'd be "at peace" with that card. Whilst I prefer the Rumble winner to headline, I can imagine the WWE counterbalancing the actual interest in Cena challenging Styles for #16 with Rollins winning the Rumble and challenging Owens, as I suggested earlier in the thread. It's not really a prediction so much as "compromised fantasy booking within a realistic scope." It's just annoying and 50/50 enough for the WWE to actually do it -- like putting the Women's Champions against each other or having Dolph challenge for the IC Title in another Ladder Match despite him previously being stated to be out of title opportunities).

* The Miz would probably retain the IC Title in order to drop it to Shinsuke Nakamura on the SmackDown After Mania, in a special title defense ordered by Daniel Bryan. Kalisto would do something spotty off the ladder and Heath Slater would probably be there to kill himself too, just to prove he is grateful for the spot. Kane's there to accumulate legacy points whilst Ziggler & Ambrose are thoroughly uninteresting but have to be part of the card somehow. They also "justify" the Ladder Match as being former World Champs.

* I'm not a big fan of Battle Royals, but at least the Andre Battle Royal provides the slot to kind of focus programs that aren't interesting enough for their own spots on the main card. Enzo & Cass can do some mic work on their way to ring, a few bigger guys can get shine, Kofi Kingston can do some funky avoiding elimination things, Sheamus & Cesaro can bicker as champs that sorta have each other's backs but can't both win, and Shaq can slam the now svelte Big Show. Braun can yell before a whole bunch of guys team to take him out as the predictable winner. It could be passable fun.

* Jericho has got a much better chance of making Roman Reigns look good than Braun Strowman does. I also think Jericho "deserves" a US Title run about as much as anybody. He can help generate interest in the belt and Roman would benefit from working with Jericho in an isolated little program. This would actually be a tremendous way to open the show.

* Alpha haven't really been working on the main stage, but I can't see the WWE giving up on them. They have an Olympian and a really good looking black guy with a motor. They're going to try and turn them into an act people can get behind. If The Undertaker works away from WrestleMania, I could see a six-man with him teaming up with Alpha to face The Wyatt Family. That could be the main event of the SmackDown After Mania or something. I could see them keeping the belts on The Family because I can see them wanting Orton to be in the match where they lose them and they'll probably realize that Bray hasn't won at a Mania, but it'd be a feel-good moment for Alpha if they did get the belts here. That being said, you're bound to get some wonky booking at Mania somewhere, and this can be where that happens. I can also see the rationale being that you need to have The Family strong in order to effectively back Orton later in the night against Taker.

* Charlotte will be at WrestleMania. Nikki Bella will be at WrestleMania. There might be more interesting/over acts in each division, but I can see Vince being somewhat "done" with Sasha Banks and cooled down on Bayley. Indeed, it seems Sasha has to be out of the title picture on RAW. Logistically, having two Women's Title matches could be "Um, WTF?" for a lot of people, and focusing them into this sort of situation kind of works in a streamlining sort of way. I imagine that you'll see other girls on the show somewhere -- whether it's Sasha in a segment with The Rock or Stephanie McMahon hogging the spotlight before someone comes out and starts something with her. Maybe there's a clusterfuck on the pre-show? They could all run out and get involved here in some sort face vs. heel stand-off where all their problems blow up in a physical altercation that Ronda has to break up. Whatever the case, I think having your top star heel go against your top star face is the best decision, and that just happens to be Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella -- at least in the company's eyes.

* Triple H vs. Shane McMahon would happen if they wanted to do it. For some reason, I can see their egos not wanting to get involved with each other, but Orlando is the place for Triple H to do it, because he's got a better chance of being "NXT God" Triple H there and out-popping Shane. I can imagine that their kids would love to see the match and Vince would love it too. It's that McMahon drama bullshit stuff that they think USA Network still likes. If it's contained to limited segments, it has a very WWE place. This is also a match that Triple H should win, which I can imagine him liking.

* Taker vs. Orton would be fine. It is what it is. At least if Orton wins he can pass some of that prestige onto The Wyatt Family.

* I'd like Owens vs. Rollins vs. Balor to be called by Tom Phillips and Corey Graves, on account that they are former NXT Champions fighting over a new belt. It can be used to segue onto the "New Voices of RAW" and Michael Cole can move into other roles and still do his interviews. Gallows & Anderson helping Finn Balor win the belt was my initial feeling, but I can see them wanting to try babyface Balor a bit longer and then go the The Balor Club if he starts to flop. I suppose they could always just put the belt on the face that is more over by this point. We've seen Seth Rollins choke enough just to get back up as it is. Once more surely won't convince the WWE to stop trying.

* Goldberg Spears and Jackhammers Lesnar even though Brock's had his Weet-Bix. Everyone would be expecting another Brock blow-out but Goldberg shocks the world again. Brock re-ups with the WWE for an even more reduced schedule and even more money.

* I'd like to see a double-turn in the main event with Cena turning heel when Gallows & Anderson help him win the belt to become the Cenation, but that isn't happening. I'd also like to see Styles force Cena to submit to prove that he is the new franchise player in WWE. I imagine we'll just get Cena winning #16 to close the show however. Maybe we get a Samoa Joe confrontation to end the show and get some buzz going? Just kidding.

In the WWE's defense, you don't want to jam too many people through the door either. WrestleMania XXX was really magical to me, because it looked like we were getting Daniel Bryan, Bray Wyatt, Cesaro and The Shield -- which was a digestible number, until they fucked it. If they just slipped a through guys through, it would be nice. You can give them more focus and make sure they actually get to that star level. Less is more and what have you.

ugh why does anyone want Cena & Reigns anywhere near world titles at this point? That's basically alienating your audience. This is turning into Nitro/WCW PPV endings at this rate with trash being thrown in the ring.

Cena is nowhere near as hated in the internet community nowadays. He's excellent.

Because those are the top two guys in the territory.

Cena is their biggest name and he's been reinvigorated since the move to the midcard and the US title run. He belongs and deserves a big role in possibly his last big time mania main event.

Won't be his last time. Even if more things in Hollywood work out the way he hopes, he'll be still headlining Manias to come.

Ooooooooo. Nobody considered a Ladder Match for the Cruisers. Could be interesting. Nothing on there for Styles or Reigns though.

Cena hasn't been the World Champion for over two years now. He's gaining more and more ground in Hollywood. I think he'd be a good choice for your main event, especially given the absence of other stars.

Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley Martinez is apparently the rumored RAW Women's Title match. I don't know how they pad it out until then. Sasha Banks is apparently scheduled to have a big match at the show too. I think this card is going to be too long, and as a result the benefits of getting time to shine will be diluted and distributed too far.

* Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella

* Sasha, Bayley & Becky vs. Nattie, Alexa & Carmella on the Kickoff or something. Nia Jax attacks the babyfaces after winning to "make a statement."

Let's try this again. Card is probably still going to be too long but whatever. I'm listing the SmackDown matches first but aside from the main event this isn't reflective of match order.

WWE Championship
John Cena vs. The Undertaker (C)

I'm sticking with my guns on this one, because I'm certain it's the match they want to do - and I just can't see them not having a moment like Cena passing Flair not being at Mania. So that just leaves figuring out how to get to this match. I'm thinking Styles will refuse to give Cena a title match because he's already beaten him, which leads to a surprise Taker return and AJ having to face him instead. Taker wins the belt at the Rumble in Texas. Do they want Cena to win the Rumble or is that overkill? Let's say Cena comes up just short but then earns #1 contendership in the Elimination Chamber instead.

LOLTNA Match
AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe

This is another one I'm sticking with from my last card but admittedly it's out of hope that they don't do AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon or haphazardly toss AJ into the IC Title match. Joe debuts in the Rumble and ends up being part of the SmackDown brand. Maybe these two have a run-in backstage and AJ ends up screwing Joe out of his Elimination Chamber qualifying match? At least it plants the seeds for something. You could easily put the winner of this match against Cena in the title match at the next SmackDown PPV.

7-Man Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
Apollo Crews vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kane vs. Sami Zayn vs. vs. The Miz (C)

My initial plans for this was to have all former IC Champions plus Sami (who I can still see being acquired in a trade after Braun Strowman kills him on an episode of Raw), but with Luke Harper now a tag champion and Zack Ryder injured I'm putting in Crews and Corbin to fill out the field. Still not at all convinced that Daniel Bryan is wrestling, but I could totally see him booking this match to try to screw with Miz.

SmackDown Women's Championship
Nikki Bella vs. Becky Lynch (C)

I still think this is their planned SmackDown women's match despite neither being the champion right now. If Raw can hot potato their Women's belt, so can SmackDown. Becky takes the strap off of Alexa soon enough and Nikki ends up getting her "WrestleMania moment".

SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family (C)

I thought they'd rush through Orton leaving the Wyatt Family, but in his recent interview he gushed about how much he's enjoying it. So I'm going to be optimistic and say they roll with it for a while. I would've gone with American Alpha/Wyatt Family but now it seems they're going to need to go to that program already. Maybe The New Day do something to piss off Stephanie again, hence they get traded? This could hypothetically even be a six-man tag.

Universal Championship
Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns (C)

If Cena isn't winning the Rumble, then that means I'm predicting Braun Strowman will. I could actually see WWE doing it as a shock. Cena and Braun as the final two, everybody expects Cena to overcome the odds. Picks Braun up for an AA over the top but Braun slides off and just chucks Cena out. I think it would actually take the crowd off guard because everybody is used to Cena conquering the monster. I imagine Braun would take his first clean pin here but who knows.

The Beast vs. The Berg: Part 3
Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg

We already know this one is happening.

Battle of the Pedigree
Seth Rollins vs. Triple H

Ditto.

United States Championship
Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho (C)

A few weeks ago they talked up the US Title being the one title Jericho hasn't held yet. I could see him getting another shot and winning it during this Reigns/Owens feud, although that's mostly to avoid Reigns having both belts as he'd probably never defend the US Title otherwise. I do hope Jericho sticks around long enough to have a proper end to the Owens storyline.

Raw Women's Championship Triple Threat Match
Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte (C)

Much like I have Ziggler getting another IC Title opportunity, I don't think they'll pass up the chance to get Sasha added to this match even after it was meant to be over between her and Charlotte. Plus, making a triple threat means Bayley can get her first title win in a big spot while Charlotte also keeps her one-on-one PPV streak alive, which seems to be a critical issue for WWE.

Raw Tag Team Championships
American Alpha vs. Sheamus & Cesaro (C)

Well, I had The New Day getting traded - so somebody has to go to Raw in return. And really, once they do Alpha/Wyatts, what else is there for them to do on the blue brand? This would be a fun match, and hopefully The Revival could join the party after Mania and we'd get some killer matches between these three teams.

6-Man Tag Team Match
Shaquille O'Neal, Enzo Amore, and Big Cass vs. Big Show, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson

In my last card I had New Day in for Enzo and Cass, but since they're on SmackDown now I needed to change this up. This could very well end up being a one on one match but I think they could add other people so Show would have someone to promo with when Shaq's not there. It could also set up Cass going over Show during the build or the next night on Raw when Show formally retires. He strikes me as someone who would want to put over a young guy on the way out.

Cruiserweight Championship
Kalisto vs. Neville (C)

That Kalisto for Zayn trade makes too much sense to not happen, dammit! But yeah, if you're doing it you may as well get Kalisto right in the title picture. This would almost certainly be one of the pre-show matches but they could get the crowd going.

4th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Aiden English, Curt Hawkins, Fandango, Heath Slater, Jack Swagger, James Ellsworth, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Konnor, Mojo Rawley, Rhyno, Simon Gotch, Tyler Breeze, Viktor, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel, Darren Young, Epico, Finn Balor, Goldust, Jinder Mahal, Mark Henry, Primo, R-Truth, Rusev, Sin Cara, Titus O'Neil

You can give 3 more spots to cruiserweights or whoever to make it an even 30 if you want. Hell if you add the entire cruiserweight division it would break the previous record for largest battle royal ever. But anyway, the name that stands out like a sore thumb is Finn Balor. I'd have him be one of the surprise guys that gets his own entrance like DDP and Shaq last year. I wouldn't announce him in advance because otherwise it'd just stand out that they found nothing for him to do. He gets the win in a good return moment and then can try to get the Universal Title match at the next show.

Not a bad card at all. Replace Samoa Joe with Shane McMahon and I think you have something pretty realistic. :p

I actually like the trade of American Alpha and The New Day. I'm not totally sold on The Wyatt Family vs. The New Day as a feud/tag team program, but I like Alpha on RAW.

Let's say Shawn Michaels is willing to come back for a bit of a run to give 2017 a good rub at the start. Would it be too insane to have HBK return, win the 2017 Royal Rumble and challenge AJ Styles for the Real World Championship at Mania? Styles could be a really jerk heel and Michaels can be the legend looking for one last drink from the fountain of youth. If you absolutely have to do Taker vs. Cena, you can have Taker cost Cena the Royal Rumble as a "I choose you as my opponent" deal.

There's actually some semblance of a building block there as they feuded before the split and had a pretty fun match at Battleground. And that was the Strowan/Rowan version of the Family.

The only problem with this scenario is SmackDown would still only be left with one face tag team unless they decide to hold off on splitting Slater and Rhyno. Daniel Bryan being the one to sign DIY to the main roster would make a lot of sense and they'll probably drop the belts to Sanity that weekend, but I don't know how long they'll be needed in NXT beyond that.

I would cum buckets for HBK/Styles.

If they give Styles Taker because he refuses Cena, can we please have him pleading "I pick Cena! I pick Cena!" into the microphone or after Taker comes out and grabs his throat before eating a chokeslam?

Yeah, it led to that awful compound segment. That's a large part of why I would be hesitant to put them in a program against each other. Right now I still like Big E winning the Andre Battle Royal and Kofi and Woods riding on his coattails.

They could always turn The Fashion Police babyface. They are funny enough to get over. Breeze is sympathetic and could take a beating fairly well. They could also move The Shining Stars over and have them turn face. There are options there. I'm kind of sick of Enzo & Cass on RAW, so they could jump over too.

That being said, I think people overstate the need for depth in tag team divisions in WWE. You realistically only need to be building up three teams at a time with some entertaining side attractions in the division to keep them heated. On SmackDown, if you've got The Wyatt Family and Alpha as your main teams (for example), you don't really need too much else as long as you've got a few teams to feed to each side and more coming through the pipeline.

I continue to be strangely intrigued by the idea of The Ascension having a short-term feud with the Wyatts. Wouldn't even have to formally turn them or anything. They made Konnor actually look credible in the tag team battle royal last week. The promos would be weird as fuck.

It's not the worst idea in the world. Not that they have been completely burnt to the ground, Vince can re-build them as he sees fit. Viktor is a good worker and Konnor finds ways to get himself strangely over. I find them pretty boring as a team, but I hate most things these days.

They're so far removed from their disappointing main roster debut that you can almost forget about it and just randomly make them credible again.

Just remember that we only get 8-9 matches usually. Going over 10 is probably unrealistic. Folks keep clamouring for a Joe call up and spot on the card but I don't see them giving him a spot over someone already called up. I also don't really think Shaq/Show is a lock just because Show said it was like a year ago.

Undertaker/Cena
Roman/Stroman
Lesnar/Goldberg
Styles/Shane
Rollins/Triple H
Jericho/Owens
Orton/Wyatt
Andre The Giant Battle Royal
IC Title Ladder Match (8 man?)
Sasha/Charlotte/Bailey (maybe???)
Lynch/Bella (maybe???)

That is 11 matches and I don't even think they will go that high, for the main card. I am not sold that Owens and Jericho will get a one on one. I also didn't even include a tag title match which isn't going to happen, so ... I dunno. Maybe they will do 12/13 matches I just don't see it.

Here are my picks

WWE Championship match
Universal title Championship match
Raw Tag Championship match
SDL Tag Championship match
US Title Championship match
IC Title Championship match
Raw Womens Championship match
SDL Womens Championship match
Cruiserweight Championship match
UK Title Championship match
Pre-Show Andre the Giant Battle Royal.

Everyone gets in a title match. Participation titles for the losers. Prestige-a-plenty.

But the show is also now four hours long with a two hour preshow...so 15-17 matches is actually pretty plausible.

This is what I think we're getting:


WrestleMania 33:


Title VS Career
Undertaker (c) vs. John Cena


Universal Title
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Braun Strowman


Brock Lesnar vs. Bill Goldberg


Seth Rollins vs. HHH


Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho


Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt


RAW Woman's Title:
Charlotte (c) vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks


Cruiserweight Title Ladder Match w/ multiple wrestlers
Rich Swann, TJ Perkins, Daivari, Jack Gallagher, Neville, The Brian Kendrick, Noam Dar, etc.


Big Show/The Club vs. Shaq/The New Day


Shane McMahon vs. Baron Corbin


AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor


Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz


The Rock appears


Hall of Fame inductees make an appearance


Pre-Show:

Andre The Giant Battle Royal
Dolph Ziggler, Samoa Joe, Luke Harper, Big Cass, Enzo, James Ellsworth, Sami Zayn, Rusev, Mark Henry, Heath Slater, Rhyno, KANE, Goldust, etc.


SmackDownLIVE Woman's Title
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Nikki Bella


RAW Tag Titles
Sheamus/Cesaro vs. The Revival


Fabulous Moolah Battle Royal
Nia Jax, Natalya, Carmella, Lana, Naomi, Mickie James, Dana Brooke, etc.

Nah, because an hour will be taken up with music, celebrity entrances and those cheerleaders.

This year's Mania had 12 matches and now with more titles and a bigger roster (baring a Papa Shango Curse rampage), WWE could easily go it over by 2-3 matches.

All depends on how they handle the pre-show and how many of the big matches hog the 4 hour event.

I'm just going to say it. If Braun vs reigns and Cena vs taker are for the titles of their respective shows then this will by far be the worst Wm of all time. Making taker champion ever again destroys the credibility of said title and whoever he beats for it.

I'd like to see Styles vs HBK at the Rumble. Styles could play up how no one left on Smack down can beat him and then HBK challenges him at the Rumble. I still think the money is in Styles vs Cena at Mania. Styles refuses to give Cena a shot because he's already.beat up John Cena enough. Cena then wins the Rumble and challenges Styles at Mania to the Flair. Don't care one bit about Taker vs Cena. Would be some rushed story they would try to squeeze in after the Rumble that I have no interest in.

I don't mind a taker cena match. Just not for the title.

Reigns should never be near a world title ever again

What about a universal title?

That one too

The Roman Empire will defeat whoever it faces at WrestleMania! :kiss:

I'd take the match wherever I could get it, but if they have HBK for the Rumble, I don't see why they couldn't get him for Mania too. I think we're building towards Styles vs. Ziggler vs. Corbin for the belt at the Rumble.

If they're gonna do Style v HBK, why not do it at Mania? Give Styles the big match he deserves.

Yeah, that's it. Have HBK win the Rumble and build to this awesome showdown.

I dunno. I still like the idea of Taker putting Cena over for the title.

HBK and Styles doesn't need the title.

Cena and Taker don't need the title. It's a moot point. Styles currently has the belt, so is it worth putting Taker over him at this point in each man's career? Probably not. Styles could use a win over Taker more than Cena could, frankly.

You'll have to settle for a victory over Kane on the SmackDown! leading to the 'taker match.

I was very hopeful when Brock ended the streak. He was the right person at that time. But what they did with it was atrocious. They could've accomplished the same thing having Taker win and Brock manhandle him after the match during his yearly posedown. Cena-Taker would be insane if the streak were still alive.

I just feel like Styles/HBK would be a great match for the Rumble to build Styles up more for Mania. Styles would be real cocky coming off a win over HBK and then be real pissed when Cena wins the Rumble and gets his title shot. HBK could stick around for Mania as well. Ziegler could finally turn heel and have HBK/Ziggler at Mania.

I hear what you're saying, but the downside is that you're not going to top Styles/HBK. You should probably build to your biggest and best.

Shawn is not coming back, that's just a dream.