Check out a preview for WrestleMania 32 in Dallas and discuss the show here.
WrestleMania 32 is finally here. The show takes place today in AT&T Stadium in Dallas, and while the lead-up to the biggest WWE event of the year has seen many highs and lows, the lows seem to be eclipsing the highs. I’m not going to lie to you folks – this isn’t exactly the most anticipated WM show ever. Injuries and strange storylines have taken a big hit on the show.
I’ll provide a brief preview of the event here, and this will serve as Bloody Elbow’s live discussion post for the event. The show goes live at 5pm ET/2pm PT with a two-hour pre-show featuring three matches, and the main show kicks off at 7pm ET/4pm PT with eight scheduled matches. You can watch the pre-show and main show on the WWE Network (subscription necessary), or on pay-per-view. The second hour of the pre-show will also air on the USA Network.
Pre-Show
Kalisto vs. Ryback for the U.S. Championship – David vs. Goliath. The diminutive Mexican high-flyer will look to build on an impressive feud with Alberto Del Rio when he takes on the monstrous Ryback. Being that it’s the opening bout and Kalisto is clearly in the spot to get the fans into the show immediately, you’d have to think he retains the title here.
The Usos vs. the Dudley Boyz – This storyline hasn’t clicked for me at all, but the Dudleys work better as heels and their matches with the Usos are always okay, if unspectacular. I’m really not sure who gets the win here, but I’m also not really sure if it matters at all.
The Total Divas (Brie Bella, Paige, Natalya, Alicia Fox and Eva Marie) vs. B.A.D. & Blonde (Lana, Summer Rae, Naomi, Emma and Tamina) – This will likely be Brie Bella’s last match, and it’s Lana’s first. This is one of those matches where they tried to get as many performers as possible on the card so they jam them into a hastily-arranged, little-storylined match. There is a lot of talent in the ring here (and Eva Marie), but they’re not going to get the chance to shine. My guess is that Bella gets the win and rides off into the sunset with Daniel Bryan.
Main Card
The New Day vs. The League of Nations (handicap match) – The League (Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Wade Barrett, Rusev) just don’t click. They’re not a good stable. New Day is one of the most popular acts in the company. It’s easy to see how this goes.
The Andre The Giant memorial battle royal – Total filler. Unless Cesaro comes back or NXT champ Finn Balor wins this, it will probably be lame. The Big Show. Kane. You get it.
AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho – My pick for match of the night. Jericho isn’t what he was at his peak, but him and AJ have very good chemistry and work well off each other. My only worry is that they don’t get enough time to tell a real story, but we’ll find out. Oh, and AJ has to go over here.
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder vs. Sin Cara vs. The Miz vs. Stardust in a ladder match for the Intercontinental championship – Sami just worked an incredible match with Shinsuke Nakamura in NXT on Friday night (go watch it now), and I’d dearly love him to go over here. But this is the KO show, and Owens almost definitely retains in a crazy plunder match.
Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks in a triple-threat match for the Divas championship – My feeling is that Becky shouldn’t be in the match and it would be a lot more special if it was Charlotte vs. Sasha again, just like NXT. Regardless, I think this is the time that they’ll put Sasha over and she will be the face of the division for a while. As it should be.
Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker – Shane coming back was a huge shock and it was great, but the storyline going into this has been very uneven. Shane’s been screwing up his lines and spots, and no one has quite explained why UT is suddenly so eager to help Vince McMahon. Regardless, Taker can cover for Shane’s limitations in the ring and you know the younger McMahon will bust out some crazy spots, so it should be a fun watch.
Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar in a no holds barred street fight – Ambrose is doing the best stuff in his WWE career right now, and he has really made this thing with Lesnar special. Brock is always going to be a spectacle, but Ambrose not showing any fear of him and his work as the never-say-die babyface has been spectacular, so you know this match is going to deliver. Lesnar will win, because he has to. But Ambrose will make it a great match.
Triple H vs. Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship – The storyline is clear as day – Reigns triumphs over the big bad boss, and rides off into the sunset as the top good guy. The problem is, the fans don’t want that. At all. If Vince sticks to the plan, Reigns will be booed out of the building. So I think there will be some sort of screwjob ending here, and it could involve a bunch of different people. The Rock? John Cena? Seth Rollins? A Shield reunion? Maybe even Lesnar? Who knows. But I don’t think the WWE is shortsighted enough to go with the obvious here. We’ll find out soon!
Join us here to discuss the show!
(For comprehensive coverage and fallout from WrestleMania 32, head over to our pro wrestling brethren at Cageside Seats.)