Welcome to the WrestleMania Season Roundup! Over the next four weeks, I’m going to take a look around the landscape of the WWE and – you guessed it – round up all the news and updates as to how the show is shaping up. LFG.
WrestleMania Season Roundup: March 20, 2019
- Is it actually WrestleMania season? I mean, there are only four more Raws and SmackDowns to go before the big show, and it still feels like there’s so much up in the air. I don’t know – maybe it’s the lack of “Greenlight.” Maybe it’s the lack of a theme for this year’s show – no ‘ultimate thrill ride,’ or ‘big time’ this year. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the usual excitement just doesn’t seem to be in the air this year. The main programs (Lesnar/Rollins, Flair/Lynch/Rousey) have cooled off recently – it all just feels kinda ‘meh.’ Oddly enough, I think the McMahon-Miz match may have the most thorough and consistent build of all of these WrestleMania programs.
- A lot of rumored matches were made official since our last roundup – Randy Orton vs. A.J. Styles, Shane McMahon vs. The Miz, and the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, for which Braun Strowman was announced as the first entrant. Plus, we got Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio announced for the United States Championship.
- Kofi losing the gauntlet match was a bit of a surprise, but it still feels like a match with Daniel Bryan is the end game here.
- Kurt Angle came out on Raw Monday night and announced that Baron Corbin would be his opponent at WrestleMania in his retirement match. Of course, this was met with uproar from the WWE Universe. Reportedly, this was Vince McMahon’s decision and not Angle’s. We’ll see if this stays intact, but from a storyline perspective, it makes sense.
- Drew McIntyre challenged Roman Reigns to a match at WrestleMania. I’m all for it – expect this one to be official soon. I mean…it has to be, right? Only a couple of weeks left before ‘Mania!
- Beth Phoenix and Natalya issued a challenge for Sasha Banks and Bayley’s Women’s Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania. The match wasn’t accepted before Nia Jax and Tamina hit the ring to cause havoc. Last night, The IIconics defeated Banks and Bayley on Smackdown. Looks like we’re getting a multi-team bit here.
- Elias will be the ‘headlining musical act’ at WrestleMania, according to Elias. I imagine this bit will be used for a big return. The Undertaker, maybe?
- Reports have trickled out that The Demon will be returning at WrestleMania. Hopefully, it won’t just be for a multi-man Intercontinental Championship match. If I had to guess, I’d say we get another Balor-Lashley one-on-one.
- An excellent piece here on Kofi Kingston being the most (kayfabe) successful superstar to never win a world title.
Updated official card
- Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins
- Raw Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey
- Cruiserweight Championship: Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander/Tony Nese
- No Holds Barred: Triple H vs. Batista
- Randy Orton vs. A.J. Styles
- Shane McMahon vs. The Miz
- Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin (Angle’s retirement match)
- Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
- United States Championship: Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio
Rumored: Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns (seems certain at this point), John Cena vs. R-Truth, multi-man Intercontinental Championship match, Women’s Battle Royal, The Usos vs. The Hardy Boyz, multi-team Raw Tag Team Championship match, Asuka match.
MORE WRESTLEMANIA COVERAGE
I’m All For A Big Batista Match At WrestleMania 35
Matches I Do and Don’t Want to See at WrestleMania 35
People Were Mad About Charlotte Being Added to ‘Mania Main Event
Re-grading WrestleMania 21
Catch ya next week, wrasslin’ fans.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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