The matches set to kick-off this year’s WrestleMania on the Preshow have finally been announced but not all is as expected. Both the men’s and the women’s battle royal matches will be taking place early, which comes as a little surprise to most, but the announcement of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship bout joining them has to be questioned, especially after the events of last year’s ‘Show of Shows’.
At WrestleMania 33, 205 Live had two great superstars fighting over the WWE Cruiserweight Championship in Austin Aires and Neville. The two of them are great in-ring competitors and are capable of putting on instant classics every time they step inside the ring. With Vince McMahon overseeing the purple brand, however, a combination of “bad booking” and their match being cut from the DVD release of the event led to Neville walking out of the company and Aries receiving his release.
Triple H has since taken control of the brand and introduced us to Drake Maverick as the General Manager. The reins have been loosened and the athleticism is back on display. The ‘Game’ has said 205 Live is a “work in progress” but with the show being on fire at the minute I don’t think anyone saw them making the same mistakes again, relegating the cruiserweights to the Kickoff show. This, unfortunately, once again illustrates to the superstars of 205 Live that they are nothing more than an afterthought to the hierarchy of WWE.
Below is the card as of print for WrestleMania this Sunday.
Confirmed matches:
WWE Universal Championship match
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar (c)
WWE Championship match
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles (c)
Triple threat for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Bálor vs. The Miz (c)
Fatal four-way for the WWE United States Championship
Rusev vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton (c)
WWE Raw Women’s Championship match
Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss (c)
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship match
Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair (c)
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship match
Braun Strowman and a partner vs. Cesaro and Sheamus (c)
Triple threat for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships
The New Day vs. The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The Usos (c)
Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Zayn and Owens will get their jobs back if they win, they will remain fired if they lose.
Pre-Show
Finals of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament
Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali
Inaugural WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
Mickie James, Bayley, Naomi, Becky Lynch, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott, Lana, Natalya, Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, TBA
Fifth Annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Scott Dawson, Dash Wilder, Baron Corbin, Tye Dillinger, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, Tyler Breeze, Fandango, Goldust, Heath Slater, Rhyno TBA
Rumored Matches
John Cena vs. The Undertaker
6 years ago by Wrestle Talk
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