Fantasy Booking WrestleMania



We all do it. Every single wrestling fan around the world without exception does it. We all sit and think this is what I would do…. Well with WrestleMania season about to kick off with the Royal Rumble, here is what I would like to see on the showcase of the immortals. The very first thing that I would like to do is take at least an hour, maybe more off the show time. I genuinely believe this would overall improve the general content of the show, and give the matches on the card more time to develop into what we are sold as WrestleMania level matches, so you will probably see fewer matches than you are used to. Also, sticking with the theme my Hall of Fame would have Undertaker as the "headline" act. That may be information you need for later. Anyway, on with the show.


PRE-SHOW




Andre The Giant Battle Royal


I am not going to be that guy that kicks anything remembering Andre off Mania, however winning it is meaningless so Mojo Rawley can go over again, mainly to keep Leah happy.





Shinsuke Nakamura vs Rusev (US Title Match)


Let's face facts for one second, Nakamura in WWE has been a bust. Well, more than a bust, a colossal waste of talent and will rank up there in the list of missed opportunities. Who is to blame? Mainly booking, however, some of the blame must fall on the wrestler, maybe a discussion point another time? Anyway, I think it's about time Rusev had a title again, I also think that if he was booked right he could still become a strong main event level star for the company, but have WWE missed the boat on Rusev Day? I personally still think it is there, maybe not as white-hot as it once was, but still there. Nakamura needs a strong rebuilding, so dropping the title here will give them that chance to do that. Rusev wins.

MAIN SHOW





AJ Styles vs Finn Balor


The match that these two had at TLC 2017 was great. Considering they had zero time to prepare or promote it if I remember correctly, it was one of the highlights of that show. Imagine what they could put together given proper time and promotion. To get there I would have them clash in the Rumble, perhaps Finn eliminates AJ, the other way round or both together it doesn't really matter, we just need to get to a reason for these two to beef. In the lead into Mania these two could be sending barbs to one another without actually coming to blows, building anticipation and getting everyone excited until the announcement is made. I would have AJ take the win on the night, which would, of course, mean a rubber match between the pair, perhaps at Summerslam, where Finn would win the series 2-1, allowing Balor to be shot straight to where he should be, the title picture.




Seth Rollins vs Brock Lesnar (Universal Title Match)


What's that, Brock Lesnar second on the card? Have you gone mad? No, I haven't. I have numerous reasons why they would be second, and I shall list them now (Have to get a list in, it is what I do):

1) Cruiserweights should be higher up the card to make for the crap over the last few years.
2) Same again, but just swap Cruiserweights for Tag Teams.
3) The WWE Heavyweight title is a bigger prize and should be treated as such.
4) The Ladies get the main event.

Anyway, I digress, Seth I think will win the Royal Rumble, picking Brock as his opponent. I don't think anyone would disagree with that matchup, Brock is better against smaller opponents, he looks like a monster, the little guy looks great, it is a win-win. The only question is the IC title, I think Seth drops that to Drew McIntrye in any way you see fit. Personally, a screwy finish protects everyone involved. As for this match, Seth Rollins gets the W, it is finally time to let Rollins be the man.




The Bar vs SAnitY (Tag Team Championship Match)


To things to clarify here, By SAnitY I mean Killian Dain and Eric Young, and secondly I went with the Smackdown tag division as it is the stronger one of the two brands, The Revival and AOP really need to get to Smackdown. SAnitY haven't been given a fair go, not yet, but with some solid wins against The New Day, Usos and others on the lead into Mania it would re-establish them as force quite quickly. The Bar are great and the only thing they need to do is lose the completely pointless Big Show. Sorry big man, it is time to go. I still think The Bar should win here, they could do it without damaging the now rebuilt SAnitY boys, cheat basically.




Buddy Murphy vs Rey Mysterio (Cruiserweight Title vs Career Match)


Rey Mysterio was great, a wonderful wrestler you could always be relied upon to step up and perform. However, now I just don't see that, sure his return in The Royal Rumble was marvellous but being around now, he doesn't really offer a lot. Until now that is, he goes to 205 Live and instantly demands a title shot, claiming he put Cruiserweights on the map and deserves another shot at the gold. Murphy in the meantime doesn't seem so sure but accepts for the Rumble. Murphy wins, but barely. Rey borrowing from Christain, campaigns for one more match, and while we are borrowing I will go back to the year 2000 and steal from Cactus Jack vs Triple H, Murphy agrees, but only if Rey puts his wrestling career on the line. Obviously, Rey is all for it and the match is set. It doesn't go well for the "biggest little guy" as Murphy scores the 1, 2, 3. Everyone is sad. Brings us to the next episode of 205 Live, Drake Maverick resigns as GM of 205 to focus on something else (he has now lost all credibility since pissing himself), but before he goes he announces his replacement, guess who! Everyone is happy. I also think that Buddy Murphy deserves that notch on his belt to be immortalised in wrestling trivia, he also has been awesome in the ring since joining the Cruiserweights.




Hall Of Fame Segment


Remember right at the beginning I said Undertaker would headline Hall of Fame, here is why. They do the normal introductions with everyone waving and looking happy until Undertaker when it goes dark, the familiar DONG and out comes the Deadman. He gets in the ring, microphone in hand, just as he is about to talk the lights go out again and we hear the opening riff to Aleister Black's music. Black straight down to the ring, no messing, straight in Takers' face, he takes his mic says "I am the phenom now" and BOOM kicks Undertakers face off with the Black Mass, and just leaves. Taker, wouldn't be able to sit up and is carried out by druids. This would put Black over as a straight up killer to the main audience, also if everything I have read about Undertaker and his "old school" values is to be believed, then going out putting someone over is what he would want to do.




Charlotte Flair vs Asuka vs Nia Jax vs Sasha Banks (Number 1 Contenders Match, Fatal 4-way Elimination, Winner Can Pick Who They Face)


By having the winner being able to decide who they face it allows a for bit of cross-brand fun. I would have Asuka start like the proverbial house on fire, figuratively kicking the shit out of everyone. The other three ladies retreat to the outside and decide they have to join together to take out the buzzsaw Asuka. Yes I know, I have gone for the Big Show elimination, I would have her fall to the combo of Banks Statement and the Figure 8. Jax would be the next to leave leaving Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair to do what they do best, put on fantastic wrestling matches. Flair would go over, and later on would decide to face Ronda Rousey to carry on from there fantastic effort at Survivor Series. This would allow Nia Jax to slip into Smackdown to lose to Becky Lynch.




Daniel Bryan vs Samoa Joe (World Heavyweight Championship)


Who doesn't enjoy watching these two wrestle? I think a match on the Grandest Stage Of Them All between these two is more than overdue. Joe could win a number 1 contenders match on Smackdown to begin the build, hype packages could be put together highlighting their long and storied history, in the meantime, Joe is becoming the face that everyone wants to cheer, and when he wins (which in this scenario he does) I think the crowd would lose their shit. Fireworks, a big you deserve it chant, the works! I also think that with Joe probably winding down soon, a good strong run on top would be great.

MAIN EVENT





Ronda Rousey vs Becky Lynch


After being cruelly robbed of this match at Survivor Series, with huge fan disappointment, what better way could WrestleMania close than with these two? The question is, how do we get here, while still having both ladies champions of their respected divisions? Let me paint this picture for you, its the women's Royal Rumble match and as per last year both champions are sat at ringside, we go through the normal entries and surprise entrants, nothing out of the ordinary until we hit a nice high number, say 22. At the end of the countdown the buzzer sounds but no music plays, it is left like that for maybe 10 seconds, maybe do a split screen of officials racing around the back to find out what has happened or Vince and Triple H screaming at people in the Gorilla Position, both champs are up and looking confused, that is until Becky calmly places her title on her chair, flashes a smug look at Ronda, and jumps into the ring. Of course, she wins and in the post-match interview tells Ronda she is coming for her. I would have Lynch win, but it would be by pinfall and here is why, the story of the match would be both women looking for their respected armbars, however as the match draws on Becky realises she can not out grapple Ronda Rousey because, well she is Ronda Fucking Rousey, and uses her superior pro wrestling experience to earn the clean pinfall. Losing wouldn't damage Ronda at all, and would only add intrigue to the eventual rematch. Lynch, of course, would carry on being probably the most entertaining wrestler in the company right now. Fireworks shoot into the sky and the final image is of a victorious Becky Lynch.

WrestleMania 33 ran for six and a half hours and had (I think) 13 or 14 matches, this card has 9, and could be easily done in 4 hours. 9 solid great matches, for me, is better than flooding a card and making it so full that they have a hard time to breath. Also, for the last two years, I have missed the main event, live, through a mixture of Carling and just being worn out. WWE expects us to consume a lot of wrestling during the year, 3 hr Raw, 2hr Smackdown, 1 hr NXT, 1 hr 205 live then the PPV's it is a lot of time. Less is more, not every wrestler has to be involved in every event, not every title has to be on the line and that is why I structured it this way, and it is the kind of card I could get excited about, the names may differ, but the concept would remain the same.

Comments