Is it just me, or does anyone else have zero interest in WrestleMania this year? Cause I have zero interest in any of the matches announced so far.

Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley? Been there, done that at Mania and have no interest in seeing it at the showcase of immortals once again. I suppose it would be fine if the Raw women's title match was interesting, but two of the women that have been entertaining me a lot lately didn't even win the Elimination Chamber (Carmella and Liv Morgan) and I don't care for what KanAuska is doing at the moment. At this point, the only way to make me interested in the women at WrestleMania is if they do a six-women's tag team match between Damage CTRL and Becky Lynch/Lita/Trish Stratus.

As for Roman Reigns, all I can say is yawn, for reals, Paul Heyman, The Usos and especially Sami Zayn are the ones that made The Bloodline work, Reigns has always been the weakest part of this story for me. Yet somehow he gets rewarded for half-assing it (compared to the others) and even took his ball home at one point with yet another Mania main-event. I have zero interest in Roman Reigns ending yet another Mania, it's funny I came back at the beginning of the year, full-on properly giving the WWE another chance (instead of just watching clips), yet not even two full months in and they are losing me again.

I don't know what they have to do to get me fully invested in WrestleMania, however, what they are currently doing isn't working.

I just wanna take this time to say, god damn is time flying by.

Seemed like only yesterday Austin joined sides with McMahon.........

Roman/Cody is the most excited I’ve been for anything in wrestling for a long time. I’ll give the rest of the card time to flesh out.

Admittedly, if they actually go with Rollins/Paul I might be interested in that, I'll give Logan credit in that he's been surprisingly entertaining with what he's done so far, but at the end of the day he's a glorified celebrity and Seth deserves better than that.

Feb 19, 2023 16:17:03 GMT Todd said:

Roman/Cody is the most excited I’ve been for anything in wrestling for a long time. I’ll give the rest of the card time to flesh out.

Same here. Especially if this is the culmination of The Bloodline angle. You just know HHH will go all out for this and have the USO’s, Sami, KO, and Heyman all factor somehow in the fall of Roman. I think it’s going to be epic.

I do wish they would’ve given us better Women’s match ups. I would rather Bianca/Ripley and Ronda/Becky for the championship matches personally.

Cody Rhodes/Roman Reigns is the best match the WWE has booked since Rock/Cena.

Everyone has been fantastic in their roles in the Bloodline and it's one of the best stories that's ever been told in the WWE. On the other hand, Cody is lifting to the occasion and I'm genuinely curious to see if he can continue his success because there's still some potential landmines he'll have to navigate pass.

I think they've been keeping something in reserve during these past couple of Roman defences, I expect them to take it up a notch at Wrestlemania.

Can't ask for two better women's matches honestly and I'm very curious to see how Rhea performs this time. I thought the WWE really did her (and NXT) dirty at Wrestlemania 3 years ago. All that momentum they built up in those initial Wednesday Night Wars just completely evaporated as they just had Charlotte completely eclipse her to keep Flair's stock strong.

The only shame is that Ronda's star has diminished so much there's no real interest in Becky/Ronda.

Feb 19, 2023 16:40:25 GMT Big Pete said:

Can't ask for two better women's matches honestly and I'm very curious to see how Rhea performs this time. I thought the WWE really did her (and NXT) dirty at Wrestlemania 3 years ago. All that momentum they built up in those initial Wednesday Night Wars just completely evaporated as they just had Charlotte completely eclipse her to keep Flair's stock strong.

The only shame is that Ronda's star has diminished so much there's no real interest in Becky/Ronda.

Honestly, I think that's why I don't care for Flair/Ripley... nothing against Rhea, but Charlotte is the John Cena of the women's division. I should be happy about Rhea Ripley possibly getting another title run (as I'm a fan of hers), I'm just sick of Charlotte Flair always being in the title picture (I genuinely enjoyed the women's division on Smackdown while she was gone). There are so many women who have busted their asses off and deserve better but get tossed to the side because they (the WWE) insist on shoving Charlotte Flair down our throats.

As for Rousey, I have given up hope for Lynch/Rousey one-on-one at WrestleMania for the title. Honestly, as I said, I would love to see Damage CTRL vs. Becky Lynch/Lita/Trish Stratus at Mania, however, it wouldn't surprise me if Rousey/Baszler end up taking the titles off of Damage CTRL as well.

Personally I'm just fascinated whether they use the show to put over Bianca and Rhea strong. I think they should and Asuka + Charlotte are big enough stars to warrant that Wrestlemania spotlight.

Few women have the credibility of Charlotte and the WWE would absolutely agree that she's the Cena of the division. Cena is a star, Wrestlemania is the all-star show ergo...

EDIT: Maybe there's a way you could make Liv Morgan/Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez/Rhea Ripley or Shotzi/Rhea Ripley more intriguing but Charlotte is the safer bet.

Feb 19, 2023 17:22:12 GMT Big Pete said:

Personally I'm just fascinated whether they use the show to put over Bianca and Rhea strong. I think they should and Asuka + Charlotte are big enough stars to warrant that Wrestlemania spotlight.

Few women have the credibility of Charlotte and the WWE would absolutely agree that she's the Cena of the division. Cena is a star, Wrestlemania is the all-star show ergo...

I hope they do use WrestleMania to make Bianca and Rhea look strong and I know Belair/KanAuska will absolutely deliver a banger of a match, as both women are incredible athletes. Honestly, I just think Liv Morgan has stepped her game up big time over the past year and I would have loved to see her get that WrestleMania title opportunity.

Feb 19, 2023 17:22:12 GMT Big Pete said:

EDIT: Maybe there's a way you could make Liv Morgan/Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez/Rhea Ripley or Shotzi/Rhea Ripley more intriguing but Charlotte is the safer bet.

Personally, I'd probably go with these women's matches at WrestleMania...

Raw Women's Championship
Bianca Belair(c) vs. Liv Morgan
(with Liv having won the Royal Rumble Match)

Smackdown Women's Championship
Charlotte Flair(c) vs. Asuka
(If you need Charlotte at Mania, this way Asuka still wins the Elimination Chamber and Liv gets a Mania title shot)

Singles Match
Beth Phoenix vs. Rhea Ripley
(that way Rhea gets the singles legends match, just like Charlotte did with Trish and Becky with Lita, hell maybe make it a gimmick match)

and then either...

Six Women's Tag Match
Damage CTRL vs. Becky Lynch/Lita/Trish Stratus

or of course...

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match
Damage CTRL(c) vs. Ronda Rousey/Shayna Baszler

If you can't get Lita and Trish back for WrestleMania.

The concern with Liv/Rhea is that it's the blind leading the blind. Both have some upside but there's some weaknesses there and that's where the experience of a Charlotte comes into play. I never got the sense the Liv run was going anywhere and as much as Liv has improved her work leaves something to be desired. She has flashy offence but her ring positioning, selling knowing how to pace a match etc. all need work and Wrestlemania isn't the show for it.

Again, she had her run and while booking did play a role she didn't set the world on fire either.

I can guarantee that we're going to get a Drew v Sheamus match on the card, only a matter of time before the 'Banger Bros' fall out.

I'm more interested in WWE than I have been since Wrestlemania 30. The Bloodline storyline brought me back. Everyone involved has been amazing. Jey Uso is getting the Best Actor oscar in my book, but Reigns, Sami and Heyman have all been great as well. The best pro-wrestling story in a very, very long time. They're not putting a foot wrong, and how they've written the outsider Cody into the story has so far been phenomenal, I have every faith they'll bring this to the best possible conclusion at Wrestlemania (and perhaps beyond). It is genuinely must-watch television.

However it's not just the Bloodline, other characters and storylines have grabbed my attention too.

The Judgment Day are very interesting, especially Rhea and Dominik. Dominik really is a slimeball piece of shit heel. I don't know if I care enough right now to watch the inevitable Rey vs Dominik match (I'm cold on Rey these days), but there's a chance they hook me. The Edge/Beth vs Judgment Day arc has been great.

Pivoting to Rhea/Charlotte, they've managed to find a way to make a Charlotte match interesting. Charlotte is apparently a babyface now, and she's surprisingly bearable as she's had to wean off some of her natural cuntiness to be more appealing. The premise of the match really interests me. Hand waving it away because it's been done before is short-sighted. It's wrestling - there's a limited roster and feuds are always going to be revisited from time to time. In the case of Charlotte and Ripley it's been three years, and both women have changed a lot since then, which they've been correctly emphasising in their promos. There's also that extra level of intrigue because Rhea hasn't been wrestling too much in the women's division recently, she's a dark horse.

Logan Paul vs Seth Rollins intrigues me. As does Bianca vs Asuka. I'll probably check them out.

WWE is strong at the moment.

Liv’s not quite at Wrestlemania singles title matches yet. A triple threat/fatal four way, sure…

I think the build for Wrestlemania, especially now off the back of Elimination Chamber has been the best build in a long time. Obviously The Bloodline storyline has been a phenomenal arch, built over nearly 3 years. The addition of Sami into the storyline and arguably giving KO some purpose have been brilliant.

If Reigns v Cody was another " I'm better than you " storyline, I'd get it. That's the build for pretty much every other main event. But you'd be reaching, suggesting the main event of Wrestlemania is anything but exciting due to the layers upon layers of depth in the story. Bloodline aside, there's Cody's legacy arch, Cody redemption arch - the prodigal son returning to WWE, the Reigns God-like title reign, the relationship between Sami and KO...

I love BB but the LOL Biaica wins things is old. Has WWE learned nothing from Cena & RR?

Feb 19, 2023 16:14:11 GMT @ness said:

I just wanna take this time to say, god damn is time flying by.

Seemed like only yesterday Austin joined sides with McMahon.........

I am the same age as WrestleMania. Every single year. This fucking sucks. 

Feb 19, 2023 23:19:05 GMT Ed said:

I love BB but the LOL Biaica wins things is old. Has WWE learned nothing from Cena & RR?

The fans still love Bianca Belair, they aren't giving her go away heat like Cena and Reigns had. I don't see a problem with her booking.

Some of the proposed matchups aren’t interesting on paper, I agree. Women’s matches, for example. Rhea/Charlotte has already been done and they haven’t even begun to build it up. There’s also no way Asuka is winning at Wrestlemania against Bianca. It’s streak vs (losing) streak. However, Elimination Chamber was top tier PPV quality and that’s what gets me really excited for Wrestlemania. There were so many standout MVP performances for a show that isn’t one of the Big Four… imagine what they’ll do for the biggest event of the year.

Logan Paul takes on Seth Rollins...

What do you do now? Put theory in a fatal-4-way with Johnny, Montez and Priest and let them slap their thighs silly?

If it is two nights, yeah likely be some just random get people a slot matches. What you got to do to fill 10 hours.

Theory v Cena.

Thought they were setting up Bayley vs Lita, likely in a group tag. Ronda and Shayna should also get a tag match.

Feb 20, 2023 0:12:53 GMT Emperor said:

Feb 19, 2023 23:19:05 GMT Ed said:

I love BB but the LOL Biaica wins things is old. Has WWE learned nothing from Cena & RR?

The fans still love Bianca Belair, they aren't giving her go away heat like Cena and Reigns had. I don't see a problem with her booking.

Normally I would agree, but Alexa got heavily cheered for thrashing her, including ‘one more time’ chants. (And Alexa’s not been seen since). She’s also going up against a revitalised and absolute savage Asuka who is just as universally beloved as Bliss…you heard the ‘Asuka’s gone kill you’ chants at EC…this isn’t going to be a lay up of a feud for Bianca in my eyes. And I say that as a huge Bianca fan.

I'm a huge fan of Belair. I'm just saying, Bianca could have stumbled against Bayley & Bliss & she wouldn't have been affected at all. Have Bliss use dark magic to pester Bianca for a little bit. These long reigns are tiring.

It’s been said multiple times before but it’s especially evident this year that the Wrestlemania card doesn’t matter, it’s about the spectacle.

I’m excited for Rhodes/Reigns but I think giving Zayn a title match was a mistake if they aren’t going to pull the trigger and potentially end up with a Daniel Bryan situation again. Telling that this is supposed to be the biggest match of the year and Reigns didn’t even turn up for a face to face with Rhodes as they don’t need to sell tickets or PPV purchases

Sami will not miss his moment as it is not a moment. He blew away everyone and clearly is a top guy now that can draw. Everyone was talking about him, including old workers who do not really follow the modern product much. People like Austin and Undertaker had to be like youtubing Sami to put him over so much. He just needs something to do for WM, then he can get back to Roman after the Cody match, whether Cody wins or loses.

Sami may not have the belt, but he has the top babyface spot. Moreso since we all know Cody as a top face with the belt gets old REAL fast as his gimmick becomes him just being smug, and the fans turning on him.

HHH summed up Sami the best IMO.  He is not the next DB, but the next Foley.  And when the boss is saying that, you know the future is good as HHH loved Foley.

I said that a long time ago. He's this generation's Foley - and maybe they go with a Foley style win? Reigns beats Cody at Wrestlemania, then Sami challenges on the RAW afterwards. Cody pops the crowd with a chair shot to Reigns as the bodies hit the floor and a lifeless Sami Zayn gets dragged on top for the win.

Sami has become a made man. He will create many memorable moments. Winning the tag team titles at WM 39 is the next moment.

I am decked at the story that OMOS v Lesnar is HHH's idea.