Booking the perfect card for WrestleMania 32
With WrestleMania taking place Sunday, theScore is celebrating the WWE's annual marquee event throughout the week. Here we ponder how the card would have turned out if the roster wasn't so decimated by injuries.
Related: How injuries have greatly altered the WrestleMania 32 card
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Participants: Randy Orton, Big Show, Kane, Sheamus, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio, King Barrett, Luke Harper, Braun Strowman, Erick Rowan, Cesaro, Neville, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Stardust, Mark Henry, Ryback, Titus O'Neil, Jack Swagger, and Goldust.
If WWE is adamant about making this Battle Royal a yearly tradition, then it needs to have some sort of impact on storylines for fans to be invested in its outcome. Putting the No. 1-contender spot for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship up for grabs would be a good start. Placing credible superstars in the ring who aren't simply there because they have nothing better to do would also be beneficial.
Sting vs. Bray Wyatt
"The Vigilante" Sting deserves a WrestleMania moment greater than getting clocked in the head with a sledgehammer and shaking the hand of the man who dealt the blow. Now Bray Wyatt may not be on his short list of opponents he'd like to work a program with at this stage of his career, but, nonetheless, this pairing leads to so many possibilities in terms of promos and the overall build. For the third year in a row, "The Eater of Worlds" gets a decent rub by working with a big-name star, albeit in a losing effort.
WWE Divas Championship: Charlotte (c) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch
The WWE writing team nailed it by booking three former NXT standouts and the driving force behind the recent "Divas Revolution" in a Triple Threat match. Anyone fortunate enough to catch some of their in-ring work down at Full Sail University when they were training in developmental knows what they're capable of when given ample time between the ropes.
WWE Tag Team Championship (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs): The New Day (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Usos vs. The Lucha Dragons
The New Day, Usos, and Lucha Dragons stole the show in their tag team Ladder match at TLC last December. Adding the veteran Dudley Boyz and their fondness for tables to the fold in a rematch ups the ante in a big way, while also creating nostalgia of some of their legendary matches with The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian from over a decade ago.
A.J. Styles vs. Chris Jericho
The reason no one is making a peep about A.J. Styles and Chris Jericho wrestling for a fourth time in a matter of months this Sunday is because they're innovative enough to keep things new and exciting for the audience. Jericho has done a fantastic job making "The Phenomenal One" look like a million bucks heading into Arlington, Texas. Considering the money WWE has wrapped up in the former IWGP champion, "Y2J" is a foolproof choice to help continue getting Styles over.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Kevin Owens (c) vs. Sami Zayn
With a storied history dating back to their days as stars on the independent scene, it's only fitting for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to have the first of what should be many bouts on the main roster under the brightest of spotlights. The two have worked hard to get to where they're at, and with this being the first WrestleMania for both men, watching the former friends-turned-bitter rivals duke it out will be a treat for anyone who appreciates a good old-fashioned rasslin' match.
The Undertaker vs. John Cena
This confrontation would have meant so much more had Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania still been intact, especially considering John Cena rarely has his shoulders pinned to the mat himself with a respectable 9-3 record at the granddaddy of them all. The two have barely ever crossed paths on television, giving this potential feud a fresh feel and something the WWE Universe can really sink their teeth into.
Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan
It's the ultimate underdog and his technical prowess against the brute force of "The Beast Incarnate." With Daniel Bryan playing the role of David in this David versus Goliath outline, "The YES! Movement" would rally hard behind their beloved hero as he attempts to slay the seemingly indestructible Brock Lesnar.
The Rock w/ Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H w/ Stephanie McMahon (No Disqualifications)
Losing the UFC woman's bantamweight title to Holly Holm derailed Ronda Rousey's progress, but only momentarily. Her name recognition is second to none in the world of sports and pop culture, and a WrestleMania appearance for a second year in a row would be an enormous coup, even if she couldn't get physical per Dana White's orders. Since this is a dream scenario, though, let's assume that she could, and that she and "The People's Champion" would get their hands on the COO and his lovely wife.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose
WWE caught lightning in a bottle when Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose debuted together as The Shield in 2012. Three young studs who were full of promise, uniting as one to dish out their own brand of justice. They've since gone their separate ways, having branched off to feud with one another under different circumstances. A quasi-reunion in the main event would help prove who the real alpha dog of the group was.