WWE: 3 Months Away, How Is the WrestleMania Card Shaping Up so Far?

WrestleMania 28 doesn’t take place until April 1, but—make no mistake about it—the road to the WWE’s biggest pay-per-view of the year has already begun. 

Main-event caliber wrestlers are beginning to establish themselves as major baby faces or heels (I’m looking at you, Daniel Bryan), feuds are starting to take shape and hints are being dropped that point toward certain matches taking place on the grandest stage of them all. 

So, now that we’re inching closer toward WrestleMania, let’s take a look at how the show’s card is shaping up so far.

The Returning Money in the Bank Match 

Although this rumor hasn’t been confirmed by the WWE, F4Wonline.com (via SEScoops.com) is reporting that the Money in the Bank match could be returning to WrestleMania this year after moving to its self-titled pay-per-view in 2011.

I love the MITB match as a show-opener at WrestleMania, so I’d be all for this move. However, I’m not sure what the exact format of the match would be. 

We’ve seen six, seven, eight and even 10 competitors in this match in the past, but I’d personally prefer six or eight. It doesn’t matter which brands the participants come from, either, because the WWE Draft will likely take place shortly after WrestleMania anyway. 

If the WWE indeed decides to hold this match at WrestleMania, though, I’d expect the competitors to look something like this: Dolph Ziggler, Brodus Clay, Kane, Jack Swagger, Christian, R-Truth, Zack Ryder and Alberto Del Rio. 

Zack Ryder vs. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (or something along these lines) 

If Zack Ryder isn’t in the Money in the Bank match or defending his United States Championship, then beware—he may be do something with Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino from MTV’s Jersey Shore. 

Well, at least that’s the rumor floating around, courtesy of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via WrestleNewz.com). 

While I really, really, really (Did I say, really?) don’t want to see this match go down, we all know that Vince McMahon loves having celebrity involvement at WrestleMania. 

So, I wouldn’t even be remotely surprised to see this match take place. 

The Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal 

I suppose we could see celebrities involved in two matches at WrestleMania, but I think it’s much more likely that this is the match that goes down. 

We’ve already seen Shaq and Big Show get physical in a WWE ring before, and according to F4Wonline.com, Shaq was in discussions at one point for the two behemoths to have a match on the grandest stage of them all. 

I definitely hope this match comes to fruition because this is one of the few celebrity/wrestler match-ups that I think could be a huge draw for the WrestleMania card. 

Intercontinental Championship vs. Career: Cody Rhodes vs. Goldust 

Goldust has been campaigning for a “Career vs. Title” match against his real-life brother Cody Rhodes for the last several months now, and the WWE finally decided to kick off the feud between the two a couple of weeks ago. 

The main question I have about this feud is: Will it culminate with a match at Royal Rumble or a match at WrestleMania? 

If the WWE doesn’t rush this feud and host it at this month’s pay-per-view, then I could see a situation where Goldust eliminates Rhodes from the 30-Man Rumble match, leading to Goldust’s desired “Career vs. Title” match at WrestleMania. 

Makes sense to me. 

If Rhodes isn’t going to be competing for the World Heavyweight title at the show (which I don’t think he is), then you might as well give him a pretty high-profile match like this one. 

The Rock vs. John Cena 

I’m pretty sure this match has been confirmed for like a year now, right? 

This is undoubtedly the main event on the card, though I certainly don’t think it will be the best match on the show. 

The Undertaker defends “The Streak” Against Triple H 

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via SEScoops.com), the latest plan is for The Undertaker to face Triple H in a rematch from last year’s WrestleMania. 

There is also a chance that Triple H could put his career on the line or that Shawn Michaels could get involved as the special guest referee. 

I honestly wouldn’t bet on either of those happening, but regardless, I’m still pretty convinced that we’ll see Taker vs. Triple H again, even if I don’t really want to. 

After all, Triple H probably didn’t take that shot at The Undertaker for no reason. 

WWE Championship: CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho 

Chris Jericho returned to the WWE two weeks ago and hasn’t said a word since then, but the widespread expectation is still that he will face CM Punk for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. 

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via WrestleNewz.com), the WWE’s current plan is indeed for the dream matchup between Punk and Jericho to go down on the grandest stage of them all. 

And I think we all know that the feud itself and the match should be nothing short of great. 

World Heavyweight Championship: Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton 

At one point, there were plans in place for Randy Orton to win the Royal Rumble (which takes place in his hometown of St. Louis), but his back injury threw a wrench into this plans. 

Or did it? 

From WrestlingInc.com: 

"

According to The Wrestling Observer, officials have discussed having Orton do a surprise return late in the Rumble, win it and then take more time off to heal leading into WrestleMania 28.

"

I still think that’s the likeliest outcome, and that Orton will win the Royal Rumble and go on to face Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.

Bryan has been showing some serious heel tendencies over the last couple of weeks, and I think his inevitable heel turn is being done in order to set up what should be a phenomenal World title match with Orton.

I’d expect those two to absolutely tear the house down if given enough time. 

Final Thoughts 

A lot of things could change between now and WrestleMania time, but I would bank on the card looking pretty similar to this when it’s all said and done.

This isn’t a complete card, because I still think we could see some sort of Divas match involving Kharma, Beth Phoenix and Natalya and another surprise or two, but this is what it looks like the WWE is building toward at the moment.

And I have no real complaints about that card. At all.

There are some really great matches throughout, and at least wrestling-wise, this should be an absolutely fantastic show.

Hopefully, though, we will find out in the near future exactly what’s in store for us at WrestleMania 28.

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