We're less than a week out from WrestleMania 33 -- billed this year as the "Ultimate Thrill Ride" -- taking place live from Orlando on Sunday, April 2nd. Goldberg defends the Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker faces Roman Reigns, Randy Orton challenges Bray Wyatt for the WWE World Championship, and more!
Now keep in mind that the 'Mania card isn't 100% solidified at this moment. There's some wiggle room, what with RAW and SmackDown Live still yet to air this week. Braun Strowman could be added to the Taker/Reigns fight. Some stipulations might be added to some SmackDown matches, like AJ vs. Shane-O-Mac and the SmackDown Women's Championship melee. Triple H and Seth Rollins still haven't officially signed their contract for their unofficial match, and guys like Samoa Joe and Sami Zayn aren't even on the card yet. So not everything's completely finalized. Still though, we want to check in and see which matches, as of now, we're the most excited about.
So here are five bouts that we can't wait to see. With the Kickoff Show, 'Mania's going to run about 6 hours this year, so let's hope these matches deliver like we think they will or else we're in for an even longer night than anticipated.
Let's get this one out of the way right up front. We do not -- repeat DO NOT -- want Reigns winning this one. It's almost a straight up echo of his match back at 'Mania 31 with Brock. Taker's the hero here and Reigns will get an arena full of boos. But we'll be invested. We'll be on the edge of our seats, and by the end the near-falls will kill us dead.
We don't know if this is Taker's last match, or if a retirement stipulation (or a big fat Braun) will be added to the bout, but how can you not root for the Deadman over the smirking, greasy Big Dog Yard Guy, as we hang our hopes on every pin attempt?
Of course, since Taker will most likely lose this one, it would sure be a swell time to turn Roman heel. Either by having him cheat to win OR by having him snap the next night on RAW after losing.
To be honest, this pairing still doesn't feel quite right and this match seems rushed into (in a big way, with blood and bruisings galore), but these two guys just on their own, separately, would make for a great reason to watch any match. So together, they have to produce something special in there. By law. By science. By all we hold to be true and worthwhile.
Again too, there might be some spice added to the stew in the form of a special stipulation. Nothing fancy. Just a "No DQ" thrown in for good measure since it's hard to imagine Shane getting through this contest without a kendo stick or a trash can or a rocket launcher. It also makes you worry for/wonder about the future SmackDown's management team since this might spell the end for Shane on TV if he takes a header off something ridiculously tall again. You know, one of those those "Vintage Shane" full-on suicide attempts masked as wrestling moves.
As far as one-on-one wrestling matches that are most definitely designed to deliver goes, you've got Aries vs. Neville and this one here, Jericho and Owens. Former best friends undone by a savage attack at a festival celebrating said friendship. That one segment was done so well that we're simply dying to see these two go at it.
This is strong enough to ignore that Owens, basically, gave up his rematch opportunity with Goldberg so that he could focus his attention on ruining Jericho. Sure, there's no 'Mania Ladder Match this year (maybe) since the U.S. title and the IC title are sort of locked into these singles match feuds, and split between brands, but we're all in on this one.
In a dream scenario, perhaps this wouldn't be a four-woman affair (since the RAW tag team championship match AND the SmackDown women's championship match are also pretty crowded), but remembering the tremendous performance that Sasha, Becky, and Charlotte put on last year, it's easy to buy into the hype for this Fatal 4-Way match for the RAW Women's title.
Can Bayley pull off a clean and powerful 'Mania win and prove all her doubters wrong? Will Sasha turn on her friend and use devious tactics to win big? Will Charlotte dominate the division once again with her second 'Mania win in a row? Can Nia Jax swat away everyone in her path and claim the title?
Okay, here's our most polarizing pick.
Firstly, it's great that Miz has a pretty big mid-card 'Mania match this year. He's had a spectacular career revival this past year, especially since the brand split. Coupled with that, it's commendable that Cena's sort of met Miz half way and is out of the main event scene entirely. Having missed having a match last year, Cena's first 'Mania back (not counting his quick run-in to help The Rock against the Wyatts at WrestleMania 32) will involve teaming with his real life squeeze, Nikki Bella, against Miz and his real life wife, Maryse. It's definitely the most disposable match on the card, but it has all the makings of being a supremely entertaining one. Also, a Team Cena win here isn't even a guarantee. Well, not as much as a post-match marriage proposal which, win or lose, MUST happen at this point.
Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association (TCA). Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at http://ift.tt/2aJ67FB.
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