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Fantasy booking WrestleMania 32
Chandan Khanna/Getty Images

Fantasy booking WrestleMania 32

The Royal Rumble signifies the start of WrestleMania season where all the storylines start to form and the WM card comes into focus. Last year, it started with Roman being booed out of the building following an uninspired Rumble win, which then seemingly forced the WWE to call an audible and shift their focus over to his former mate from the Shield, Seth Rollins.

Now, with this year’s Rumble now in the books and Triple H perched as the new champion, it only makes sense to look ahead to 'Mania and fantasy book the whole card. Usually there are seven to nine matches on the WM card, including the pre-show match and the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. The pre-show is covered here but the Battle Royal is not, since that usually just ends up featuring the wrestlers who have nothing else specific to do that night. Also, there is no mention of Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Cesaro, Tyson Kidd, Nikki Bella or Sting as serious injuries have their immediate futures way too up in the air right now to make any type of educated guess as to when they will return to the ring.

Onto the booking...

Pre-show: Kalisto vs Chris Jericho for the WWE US Championship

The reason this gets relegated to the pre-show is because the US title has really lost it's sheen once it left John Cena's waist. It changed hands twice in four days for no apparent reason, then changed once more a few days later at the Rumble. Plus they haven't really set up any kind of storyline progression with this feud either. If you've seen one ADR vs. Kalisto match, you've seen them all. Pitting Kalisto against Y2J allows the WWE to book a big name in Jericho in a championship bout. It also gives Kalisto a chance to live up to all those Rey Mysterio comparisons, putting him in a match with someone who had some great battles with the master of the 619. Jericho definitely knows how to work with someone of that size and skill set and working with another veteran is only a positive for Kalisto's development. Also, heel Jericho > everything.

New Day vs Dudley Boyz vs League of Nations vs Social Outcasts for WWE Tag Team Championship

This wouldn’t need a huge story to set up, which works because WWE doesn't do tag team drama all that well. The state of the tag team division is currently treading water, with each week giving us a round-robin of stale New Day feuds with either The Usos or the Dudley Boyz. The easy answer to this is to make the tag titles mean something by having factions try and attain them to show their dominance. This is what New Japan does each year at Wrestle Kingdom, their version of WrestleMania. Just throw three or four of your top teams into a match for the titles. And since the WWE has no shortage of stables, why not do it? It would give some legitimacy to the Social Outcasts. It gives the League of Nations direction and purpose, which it currently does not have, since it doesn’t even have their full squad most of the time at shows. So who knows which two members will be teaming here, basically whoever isn’t injured or battling backstage drama. It also injects some life into the New Day's gimmick, as you can only watch them mock the Usos so many times before that gets stale as well. This match also works because we know the New Day have chemistry with Rusev, Heath and Axel. And with each group here consisting of at least three of more members, there is plenty of possibility for outside the ring shenanigans here as well.

Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte for the WWE Divas Championship

The ultimate fantasy that most of the IWC is looking for here is Bayley vs Sasha Banks III, I mean IV, but the timing just isn't right. It would require rushing Bayley up to the main roster while she is currently running the women's division down in NXT. And simply put, Bayley is a special talent who is going to be a fan favorite for a long time so there just isn't a need to rush her onto the biggest stage in wrestling. She’s just 26 years old, let her continue to hone and shape her character as the queen of NXT. Besides, WWE is finally starting to find their way with the other Four Horsewomen (Sasha, Charlotte and Becky), albeit six months after they made their main roster debut. They need to learn from their mistake of calling up all their young stars at once to create a ‘Divas Revolution’ that never really came to fruition. Bayley has earned her character getting a big build before debuting, not being reduced to a footnote. But what would be smart is to capitalize on what has been great development for Becky. It looked like Charlotte, Becky and Sasha would be facing off in a triple threat match at Fastlane order to set up a 'Mania between Charlotte and Sasha. But instead we are getting the Lass Kicker and the Boss teaming up, while Charlotte has turned her attention to Brie. So it looks like the triple threat is on for 'Mania. While Sasha is the crowd pleaser and Charlotte is the champ, Becky has earned the right to be in this match with her character work since breaking up with her BFF. Plus we know that these three can put on a hell of a multi-person match.

Bullet/Balor Club (Finn Balor, AJ Styles, Machine Gun Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows) vs The Wyatt Family

With the Phenomenal One debuting at the Royal Rumble, it seems like only a matter of time before his Bullet Club family join him on the main roster. And when they do, there is no way they're going to be heels, at least not initially. So, WWE might as well embrace that and book them opposite their current go-to heel stable, the Wyatt Family. Getting there is a little complicated as Bray and company seem destined to feud with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. It would all start with Finn Balor debuting on the main roster, which would obviously have to happen soon and similar to the issue with Bayley mentioned above, it could make the whole thing feel rushed. But Balor's demon character seems like a natural foil for Bray Wyatt, who just happens to have a history of targeting anyone with some kind of supernatural aura. Wyatt has gone to great lengths to make himself the new face of fear. Then you can either debut Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows before or at WrestleMania, but the very first time the Bullet Club debuts as a faction is in Dallas. Yes, realistically, this would never happen this year, but it could actually have some legs for next year's WrestleMania, but if it did happen in Dallas, it would just be too sweet.

Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship

Owens and Zayn still have an unfinished storyline from NXT after Zayn got injured over eight months ago, but his return during the Rumble re-ignited what was already a red-hot feud before. The good thing about this matchup is that it really needs no setup as everything these two have done over their career is well-documented, even within the WWE Universe. The story is simple, after Owens wins the Intercontinental Championship (which will be explained later), Zayn starts showing up on the main roster. But instead of immediately fighting, Zayn would bait KO into putting the title on the line at 'Mania in Zayn's first official main roster PPV match. This mirrors the exact story they told in NXT with the roles reversed, which makes the tale come full circle. And what better time to replicate one of the best stories ever told in NXT and push the next wave of talent then the biggest stage in wrestling.

Undertaker vs John Cena

Because....reasons? You could sub in anyone for Cena here to matchup with Taker for his annual 'Mania match and it would make the same amount of sense from a storyline standpoint. Basically anyone not named Brock Lesnar who faces the Deadman gets just a couple weeks to scrape together some sort of backstory for this match. But there was reportedly legitimate talk about having this match before Cena got shelved with an injury so it still makes some sense. Plus, it's easy to explain: Cena wants to prove himself against the best on the biggest stage in the Phenom's home state. Done and done. Now the injury to Cena is supposed to keep him out of action past 'Mania, but come on. Are we really supposed to believe that the man who always seems to heal himself in miraculous fashion is just going to sit this WrestleMania out? Cena will almost assuredly be in some sort of match at WM and with Undertaker still lurking without a dance partner himself, this just makes way too much sense.  

Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs Roman Reigns w/ The Rock

Roman Reigns is kind of a mess right now, after finally being cheered by the majority of the universe, WWE decided that was the best time to take the strap off of him and knock him back to where he was exactly a year ago after last year's WrestleMania. If the company really feels like Reigns is the face of the next generation now is the time to use the Brock rematch they’ve been holding onto. They could arrange it easily within the triple threat match they’ve set up for Fastlane with Reigns, Ambrose, and Lesnar. Either Lesnar or Reigns screws the other out of the win and just like that this feud ignites again. Add in complementary pieces Heyman and The Rock to Don King for either side which keeps Reigns far away from a microphone. Maybe the second time will go better than the first. Then you're also able to get the "pissed off, I just want to fight" Roman as opposed to the overly-arrogant, "I'm a juvenile dickhead" Roman. They put on a show at last years 'Mania and that was when Roman had Donald Trump level heat and before he added another layer of polish to his ring skills. Putting Reigns with Lesnar gets him out of this him vs The Authority storyline, which is not elevating his character at all and maybe will give him some kind of definite direction. 

Triple H vs Dean Ambrose for the Heavyweight Championship

Many have voiced their opinions on Hunter putting the belt on himself and main eventing 'Mania again but in the wise words of Mrs. Game, it’s truly what's best for business. In a perfect IWC-booked world, WrestleMania would be headlined by the NXT roster and all the new indie stars the WWE has recently signed. But back in reality, WWE has to play to a solipsistic audience that realistically has no idea who anyone is outside of the company. So while they may eventually ascend the throne of WWE, right now the King of Kings is the one they have to turn to in order to sell tickets, especially as they continue to deal with a roster that has been gutted by injuries. We've seen plenty of Triple H and Roman together the past few months. It worked a little to elevate Reigns but it seems like no matter what they do with Roman the smark community refuses to buy in to his character as currently constructed. So the rub he’d get from working with Triple H at 'Mania probably wouldn’t make much of a dent in his public popularity. But someone who really could use that rub is Dean Ambrose. Remember when Ambrose was the A1 face in the company? After Seth Rollins turned on The Shield, Dean was over as much or more than any other face in the WWE. We’re talking hands on the stove hot. That angle kind of fizzled out but the ceiling Ambrose showed should be enough to try and give him a legit run as a main eventer. And with The Game entrenched as the top heel as of now this would go a long way in solidifying Ambrose’s spot. The story is already in motion and with WWE blatantly telegraphing the end of the Royal Rumble for weeks, they might be best to pull a swerve here and not have Triple H v. Reigns main event at WrestleMania. But to add some intrigue Triple H should stipulate that in order for Dean to get his shot at the Heavyweight Championship he would first half to vacate the Intercontinental Championship. There really doesn’t need to be a reason for this other than Trips is a vindictive boss who hates anyone who defies authority. Ambrose giving up his title would get the fans even more on his side and from there it could create a tournament for the championship or Triple H could just gift it to Authority favorite Kevin Owens. Either way the end result is a huge push for Dean and another main event for the COO.

Can you name every WWE Heavyweight Champion?

Starting in 1963, the Championship title changed names multiple times and includes all reigns recognized by WWE. Clue: Year of first win by the Wrestler.

SCORE:
0/53
TIME:
15:00
1963
Buddy Rogers
1963
Bruno Sammartino
1971
Ivan Koloff
1971
Pedro Morales
1973
Stan Stasiak
1977
Superstar Billy Graham
1978
Bob Backlund
1983
The Iron Sheik
1984
Hulk Hogan
1988
Andre the Giant
1988
Randy Savage
1990
The Ultimate Warrior
1991
Sgt. Slaughter
1991
The Undertaker
1992
Ric Flair
1992
Bret Hart
1993
Yokozuna
1994
Diesel
1996
Shawn Michaels
1996
Sycho Sid
1998
Stone Cold Steve Austin
1998
Kane
1998
The Rock
1998
Mankind
1999
Triple H
1999
Mr. McMahon
1999
Big Show
2000
Kurt Angle
2001
Chris Jericho
2002
Brock Lesnar
2004
Eddie Guerrero
2004
John "Bradshaw" Layfield
2005
John Cena
2006
Rob Van Dam
2006
Edge
2007
Randy Orton
2008
Jeff Hardy
2009
Batista
2009
Sheamus
2010
The Miz
2011
CM Punk
2011
Rey Mysterio
2011
Alberto Del Rio
2013
Daniel Bryan
2015
Seth Rollins
2015
Roman Reigns
2016
Dean Ambrose
2016
AJ Styles
2017
Bray Wyatt
2017
Jinder Mahal
2019
Kofi Kingston
2020
Drew McIntyre
2021
Bobby Lashley

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