It’s WrestleMania week and the go-home editions of Raw and SmackDown brought about some clarity to this Sunday’s ultimate thrill ride. Seth Rollins signed the contract making his non-sanctioned match with Triple H official.
I found it funny that a half hour after the match was made, a video package aired highlighting their feud. We all knew that Rollins was going to sign on the dotted line, however, can’t the production of the show at least pretend to be surprised? I guess that doesn’t really matter because wrestling-isn’t-real.
The triple threat match for the Raw Tag Team Titles got quite the upgrade in what will now be a ladder match. Reigning champs Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson blindsided Ceasro and Sheamus and later did the same thing to Enzo and Cass.
Their weapon of choice? A ladder, which was completely random at first. Now, it makes perfect sense. This stipulation was a gift from the heavens for these six wrestlers because no one cared about this match beforehand. Now, it could steal the show.
What would WrestleMania be without celebrity involvement? The forecast on April 2 is clear skies as famed weatherman Al Roker will be the special guest ring announcer for the Mixed Tag Match pitting The Miz and Maryse against John Cena and Nikki Bella.
Clarity can be a mixed bag of good and bad news when referring to what matches make it onto the main card and those who get kickoff show duty. The fourth annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal and the SmackDown Women’s Title Match will be on the kickoff show. Battle Royal? good. Women’s match? It had to go somewhere.
Austin Aries’ tussle with Neville for the Cruiserweight title will not see the main card of WrestleMania. That really stinks, but it was easy to see coming once the ladder stipulation was added to the tag title match. The match will probably get more time to flourish, however, fewer people will see it because of its placement on the show.
Naomi returned to SmackDown last night after forfeiting the Women’s Title several weeks ago due to a knee injury. The ambiguous open challenge that will see Alex Bliss defend her title is officially a Six-Pack Challenge slated for the kickoff show.
The Usos have been added to the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which means there will be no SmackDown Tag Team Title match. It makes sense considering the division has largely been ignored in the build-up to WrestleMania.
Below is the updated card for WrestleMania 33, which will be hosted by The New Day.
WWE Universal Title Match
Brock Lesnar vs. Bill Goldberg
WWE Title Match
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
Fatal 4 Way Elimination Match for the RAW Women’s Title
Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley
WWE United States Title Match
Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho
WWE Intercontinental Title Match
Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose
Triple Threat Ladder Match for the RAW Tag Team Titles
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Non-Sanctioned Match
Triple H vs. Seth Rollins
Roman Reigns vs. The Undertaker
John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Maryse
Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles
Kickoff Pre-show: WWE Cruiserweight Title Match
Austin Aries vs. Neville
Kickoff Pre-show: Six-Pack Challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Title
Naomi vs. Mickie James vs. Carmella vs. Natalya vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss
Kickoff Pre-show: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Braun Strowman, Sami Zayn, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, Apollo Crews, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Chad Gable, Jason Jordan, Mark Henry, Titus O’Neil, Goldust, R-Truth, Curtis Axel, Primo, Epico, Bo Dallas, Jinder Mahal, Rhyno, Heath Slater, Mojo Rawley, Curt Hawkins, Tyler Breeze, Fandango, Simon Gotch, Aiden English, Kalisto, Viktor, Konnor, Sin Cara
Ringside Logic 