WrestleMania 29: Undercard Matches That Will Generate Mainstream Buzz

WrestleMania 29 is less than three weeks away, and the WWE is doing its best to build a quality undercard full of matches that will generate mainstream buzz.

From Chris Jericho and Fandango to The Miz and Wade Barrett, the potential for an intriguing match card at WrestleMania is through the roof as long as the WWE builds its storylines fast and makes them interesting enough for casual fans to care about.

All of the following matches should happen at WrestleMania 29 and would generate plenty of mainstream buzz from the casual fans of the sport.

Chris Jericho vs. Fandango

While there is a very vocal contingent of fans that does not like the idea of a superstar like Chris Jericho squaring off with a debuting wrestler like Fandango on the WrestleMania stage, this is an undercard match with an intriguing storyline that will get would get casual fans to tune into Raw the following Monday to see what happens next.

Jericho was a contestant on the show Dancing with the Stars, and coupled with the new season of the program kicking off this week (h/t ABC), a feud with Fandango—a character that uses dancing as his gimmick—is the natural way to appeal to a broader audience.

WrestleMania season isn’t about the hardcore fans; it’s about the casual fans tuning in for that one night only.

If those part-time members of the WWE Universe see Jericho and Fandango working together, the fresh face will be instantly elevated to an upper-midcard status. It’s a win-win for the WWE.

The Miz vs. Wade Barrett

Despite having almost no build between these two stars thus far, a match for the Intercontinental Championship between defending champ Wade Barrett and The Miz would be a smart move for the company on many different levels.

The WWE loves the idea of having The Miz and Wade Barrett square off because it gives the company free advertisement for both men’s new movies, The Marine 3 and Dead Man Down respectively.

As much as the hardcore fans don’t want to hear about WWE Films, mentioning the movie titles to the casual fans on the WrestleMania stage would likely increase the number of people that watch each.

The WWE is a business first and foremost, and this matchup is a no-brainer.

Not only will these men be able to sell their movies, the lack of expectations for this haphazardly thrown together feud will take all pressure off this duo.

Both stars have main-event talent, and the hope is that the lack of hype around this match—especially considering the stage its on—will allow The Miz and Barrett to show the WWE Universe just how talented they really are.

The Shield vs. Big Show, Randy Orton & Sheamus

The WWE has been teasing this storyline for weeks, but the addition of the Big Show into the mix now that Ryback is on a collision course with Mark Henry adds serious intrigue to the likely Shield vs. Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show six-man tag match.

Orton and Sheamus are beloved fan favorites that will get the casual fans excited no matter what they do, but as much as the crowd at WrestleMania will be all-in for this match, there are still serious questions that must be answered.

Not only are there possible issues about how Sheamus and Orton can work with the heel Big Show, there is a thought that this could be the start of a Big Show face turn and a Randy Orton heel turn.

The Shield needs a win to continue looking like a dominant force and convincing the WWE Universe that they’re future stars, so if there was ever a time for a double-turn, it would be in this match.

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