Predicting WrestleMania 33

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

With WrestleMania 32 officially in the history books, the early speculation begins for WrestleMania 33. To be frank, the show isn't for nearly twelve months (obviously) and it will not even enter storylines until very late this year or in early 2017, but it's still interesting to consider what might go down on April 2 2017 at the Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Florida (which also hosted WM 24, which I attended).

I will base my predictions on the current roster and the most likely special guests at this point in time, since one cannot obviously not predict 100% who will be active a year from now (who imagined in early 2015 that AJ Styles would appear at the 2016 Mania?). So, here it goes ...

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WrestleMania 32 Predictions

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

Having looked at the road to WrestleMania 32 a few days ago, I will now provide my predictions for all of the matches this Sunday at AT&T Stadium.

Before beginning with the bouts, I'll speculate on the potential involvement by legends and/or injured stars. The Rock is confirmed to be on hand, which I see most likely being as part of a talking segment with Steve Austin. I can also see Mick Foley being part of this to deliver a feel-good moment for the fans (albeit one not quite as memorable as the Austin-Rock-Hulk Hogan interaction at WM XXX). As for other stars, I can say Seth Rollins popping up in a backstage moment, and Shawn Michaels will probably appear at some point, although the Texas location means that Shawn will have to favour a babyface if his involvement is to leave the desired impact.

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WrestleMania 31 Predictions

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

With the biggest WWE show of the year less than 48 hours away, and the card set, I will provide my predictions for WrestleMania 31, in the order that I expect the matches to take place.

Kick-Off

1. Tag Team Title Match

For the second year running, the Tag Team Title scrap is a four-way on the pre-show. The Usos have had the most success as a team, but winning the titles again with no obvious new opponents seems a bit pointless. Los Matadores hadn't been on TV for months until a few weeks ago, and based on crowd reactions, The New Day are becoming the tag team division's answer to John Cena in terms of provoking the undesired response, so I don't see either of these teams winning. Which means a probable successful title defence for Cesaro and Tyson Kidd, which I would have endorsed had the other three teams had more momentum anyway.

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My History Of WrestleMania

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

As we edge close to WrestleMania 31, you will see a lot of stories discussing the history of WrestleMania. This is one of those articles, but with a difference: this charts the history of WM via my own personal experiences of each Mania. Call it a life story of WrestleMania; hopefully it will be a fun journey!

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I was born in 1988, meaning that I wasn't around for the first four WrestleManias. I would obviously learn in future how important they were, especially the first one. Had WM 1 not succeeded in 1985, the WWF would not have continued to exist, and who knows what professional wrestling would be like 30 years later? The company put so much of its financial muscle behind the event that it simply had to work. Fortunately (and obviously), it did, with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T's win over Rowdy Roddy Piper & Mr. Wonderful capping off a card that seems dull today, but was the biggest thing of all-time back then.

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Predicting WrestleMania 32

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

After a lacklustre build-up and somewhat disappointing card for WrestleMania 31, the onus is on WWE to rebound when it comes to WrestleMania 32, especially given their hopes of breaking the all-time company attendance record at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. But what can WWE do to ensure that Mania 32 is a vast improvement on this year's offering?

The first thing is to deliver a match that fans truly want to see and, right now, there is no bigger dream match which could realistically happen than The Undertaker vs. Sting. This is a bout that people have wanted to see for many years, and with Undertaker fast approaching retirement and with Sting on a part-time basis himself, not only is WM 32 the best chance to hold this match, it may be the last chance. Plus, it is in Taker's home state, the Streak not being a factor means that the result could go either way, and it would be the perfect send-off for both, making what could be a double retirement match a massive potential draw.

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How the Invasion could have been done

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

Watching the WWE Network series The Monday Night War rekindles memories of the WWF vs. WCW ratings battle. Yet fewer people remember what should have been the biggest storyline feud in wrestling history - erm, the WWF vs. WCW. Well, WWF vs. WCW/ECW. Although I enjoyed it at the time, I appreciate that it could have been better executed and generally lived up to the anticipation that people had had for years regarding such a rivalry. But how could it have been done? What exactly was the 'right' way to book the Invasion? Here's my take ...

Dateline: March 26, 2001. Vince McMahon announced that he has bought WCW, only for Shane McMahon to announce that in fact he bought WCW. Shane beats Vince in their Street Fight at WrestleMania X-Seven, and makes only brief televised appearances thereafter.

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Should Vince step aside?

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

This August, WWE chairman Vince McMahon turns 70 years old. But don’t let this opening sentence be the basis of the argument stated within the title; rather, it is a statement designed to emphasise that despite hitting an age that most would have long since retired by, Vince remains in total control of WWE, as much as he has since taking the reins of what was the WWF way back in 1982. But is it time for a change?

Let’s begin by acknowledging the incredible success of McMahon’s stint in charge of WWE. This is not just about Vince being a successful promoter of this one organisation; this is a man who revolutionised and forever changed the professional wrestling industry. Pre-1982, pro wrestling in America was territorial and was popular outside of the United States as well (particularly here in the UK), but no one US organisation was a truly national operation (the NWA World Champion roamed many territories, but the NWA itself essentially did not), never mind international, and wrestling was considered to be a “sport”, even if most sports did not see the main star covered in blood after being rammed into a steel cage. Wrestling attracted older audiences, mainly, in smoke-filled and dimly-lit arenas. In short, wrestling was popular – and could attract huge crowds, depending on the match and the area – but in hindsight, it could easily have fallen apart had it not modernised and offered something more than what it had done, essentially since the early 20th century.

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