WWE WrestleMania 2016: Full Card Breakdown, Bold Predictions and More
WrestleMania 32 is here. The moment that fans have been waiting on for so long has finally arrived. Soon the speculation will end, the debates will finish and everyone will see what the company has planned. With any luck, it's going to be big.
It's hard to believe that would even be a concern.
But the fact is that this is perhaps the most controversial WrestleMania of all time, and that controversy has everything to do with WWE's apparent lack of direction. Booking Shane McMahon against The Undertaker might have seemed like a good idea to the minds behind the scenes, but it left fans wondering what was happening.
Was this the result of a depleted roster? Was the company this desperate that it would use a guy that's not even been associated with the business against Mania's most storied performer?
Triple H vs. Roman Reigns is a match that so many fans want nothing to do with. Reigns' story has been told for over a year, and he still has not garnered full fan support along the way. Why has WWE insisted on going this route instead of turning him heel?
Was this the best WWE could do?
Fans have surely tried to make the best of it, and the company has done a good job during the past few weeks of getting the top matches over. But no matter how much fans are hoping for the best here, there's still plenty of reason to be cautiously optimistic.
Whether or not that optimism will be well-deserved is anyone's guess. But if any company can make it work—and shock the world in the process—it's WWE.
Kalisto vs. Ryback, United States Championship Match
1 of 11
Kalisto is WWE's modern-day answer to Rey Mysterio. He's quick, he's exciting, and he has tremendous heart for the business. He is one of the company's best and brightest, but he's running into a semi-truck at WrestleMania 32.
Ryback should be one of WWE's top stars, a monster to top all monsters. But he has never quite reached that main event mountain. He's worked hard, he's stayed the course and it's obvious he wants it. The fans have just not felt it like WWE probably hoped they would.
But Mania could be the start of something new.
Ryback has been that loud and overly dramatic big guy. He's also been somewhat goofy and stereotypical at times. But the Ryback fans have seen lately has been something different. He's not as outspoken, he's not eccentric and he seems more focused in his character.
He could very well be on his way to winning the United States Championship on April 3.
But this match should not be annihilation. It should not be a mauling, which leaves Kalisto destroyed in the middle of the ring. Kalisto has worked too hard for this moment—and has too much upside—to be left for dead in this fashion.
This match could actually go better than fans expect. Ryback could come out looking strong but not like a bully. He should get the pin and then perhaps help Kalisto up to shake his hand. This match has been about Ryback's belief that a good big guy always beats a good small guy.
But Kalisto will surely prove himself, not only to Ryback, but to fans as well.
The Total Divas vs. B.A.D. and Blonde
2 of 11
This is what happens when WWE decides there's not enough talents booked on the card.
There are 10 women in this match, and many fans are likely asking why. Why is this match happening, and what good comes of it? Is there a chance that it could actually go past five minutes, and if so, why? This criticism does not come from a hate for the Divas division but from the mishandling of it by WWE.
The Divas division centers on Total Divas, and that's how it is.
Many have not been happy about this, and their voices have been heard through the amazing response that Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch have received. They are believed to be wrestlers, while their peers are actresses.
Unfortunately for her supporters, Natalya is among that group. As good as she is, even she has not been able to rise above the Total Diva level and continues to be left behind. Now she has the chance to perform next to women who surely respect her and appreciate what she's done for them in the business.
But while the women are likely going to have fun in this one, it's the fans who are just wondering what the point of it all really is.
It will be a quick match, with fast tags, and every girl will get her finisher in. There may be no long-lasting implications for this one, but hopefully everyone involved will work hard to make the bout as entertaining as possible.
If anyone deserves the pin here, it's definitely Natalya. She's put her time in and remains one of the best female performers of all time. But considering Daniel Bryan's departure has left Brie Bella as a sympathetic figure, she will likely be the one to get the win here. With any luck, the crowd will pop, and Brie will get a shining WrestleMania moment.
The Dudley Boyz vs. The Usos
3 of 11
The idea that this match is about passing the torch in the tag team division is an odd one to say the least.
The reason for that is because The Usos were already over when The Dudley Boyz turned heel. The company evidently put Bubba Ray and D-Von in this role because the company needed a strong antagonist duo to work in the tag division.
What better duo than The Dudleys?
Bubba and D-Von defined tag team wrestling for so many years, and their return to WWE was a long time coming. While they have always been fully capable of popping the crowd and getting great reactions, they work well as heels. They've made the best of this and have done all they can to get over.
They are the veteran maulers, the ones whom no other team can quite measure up to.
Their betrayal of The Usos was indeed shocking, and that has fueled the fire between both teams. It was probably meant to be much bigger than it was, but fans have just not seemed all that interested since it happened.
Perhaps WWE is to blame for this, as the feud has not been directly spotlighted as often as it should have been. Indeed, this match seems as though it should be more important, but it's falling short of that expectation.
This match should be entertaining; however, fans seem to be of a take-it-or-leave-it mindset. The guys involved will surely do all they can to get it over, but will the crowd play along? This is what these guys do best, and they deserve the best stage on which to do it.
This should be The Usos' match to win, despite The Dudleys' work to get over as heels. Jimmy and Jey need a second wind, and beating The Dudley Boyz at WrestleMania will provide exactly that.
The New Day vs. The League of Nations
4 of 11
New Day rocks.
Kofi, Big E and Xavier Woods are on fire right now. Every time their music hits, fans immediately jump up. They breathe life into every program they're on, and it's obvious they're not only having fun working together, they're having fun with the gimmick.
The New Day is goofy and crazy, and fans can't get enough of it.
The League of Nations is New Day's evil counterparts. Rusev, Wade Barrett, Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus are the opposite of fun, and they're perfectly happy with that. The League doesn't care about making people laugh; they care about hurting their opponents.
In many ways, this is the perfect rivalry.
The League has stepped up since working with New Day; they've proven they can get great heat and give a good match every time. They've worked with The New Day and not against them. Both sides have fared well thus far, and that should be the case at WrestleMania 32.
But while The League should likely get the win here, it's hard to bet against The New Day. New Day should pick up the victory and retain the tag team championships. They are just rolling along too well to be stopped now.
The League can live to fight another day, while New Day moves on to the next challenge.
The New Day needs good heels to work with, so The League of Nations may not be leaving the title picture any time soon. But whether or not the rivalry continues, the fact is New Day should get the win and continue entertaining fans as only it can.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
5 of 11
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal is happening once again, and this match has the potential to pull off some real surprises.
The reason for that is because of the match itself and the possibility that anything can happen. The bigger men will be talked about, of course, and each one has a great chance to win. But one wrong move and even the biggest competitor can be thrown out.
This brings intrigue to an otherwise stereotypical gimmick match, but one that should receive a lot of respect from the WWE faithful.
This one is done in memory of Andre, so it immediately means more than just the ordinary Battle Royal. WWE is obviously paying respect to him, and the guys involved will surely be thinking of this as an important moment for WrestleMania.
Hopefully the fans will as well.
Many believe Big Show will be getting the win here. He is the resident giant of WWE and has always been closely associated with Andre. He does deserve the acclaim for his years served and for always being a flexible performer who's willing to leave it all in the ring.
But there is that possibility that someone could shock the world and eliminate him for the win.
That someone could be Mark Henry, a Texas native and a guy whom many would perhaps not envision winning. Henry would definitely have the crowd support, and he deserves a WrestleMania moment before he finally hangs up the boots.
Henry could get the crowd on its feet and make them care about this match. If anyone competing deserves to win on a stage like this, it's The Strongest Man in the World.
AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho
6 of 11
Fans often talk about guys finally getting their WrestleMania moments, but AJ Styles deserves it right now.
AJ has worked all over the world and has always been considered as one of the industry's best talents of all time. He can fly in the ring, he can mat wrestle with the best and he has a tremendous amount of charisma.
He is precisely what WWE has always wanted in a main event player, and now he's once again lacing up the boots against one of the company's all time greats.
There's no one better to work this match than Chris Jericho. Though the two men have battled before, this is a different night for both of them. This is WrestleMania, a night in which all talents are expected to step up their games.
That is exactly what these two have been doing their entire careers.
Jericho has given as good as he's gotten in this rivalry, once again proving he can still get it done in the ring. Fans have accepted Styles, and he is fitting right in with the rest of the WWE locker room. He could potentially become one of the company's top babyfaces, and Y2J can help him get there.
Though they've already told most of their story in the ring, this is more about showing off.
WrestleMania is supposed to be exciting, it's supposed to be captivating, which is exactly how Styles works. He knows how to wow a crowd, and fans are surely anxious to see what he will do on the grandest stage of them all. This is a match that he should win, and any other outcome is much less than phenomenal.
KO vs. Sami Zayn vs. Sin Cara vs. Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Stardust vs. Zack
7 of 11
Much like the 10-person Diva match before it, this one is filled with talent, and there seems to be no good reason for it.
This could have been Sami Zayn going after Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Championship, in a match that surely would have generated some real excitement among fans. The two men have a history, and that history could have led to a match on the grandest stage of them all.
But instead, WWE chose to book seven guys in this one. Of that seven, one is the champ, three are legit contenders and three are not. But Owens has six different guys going after him in this match, and his belt will be suspended high above the ring.
That is how WWE stacks the deck against a heel.
KO is surely up for the challenge however, as he has proven himself in the ring. This is his moment to shine, to show what he can do and that he can do it with some of the best in WWE. But this match is perhaps more about the Intercontinental Championship and its real value to the company.
When guys go full throttle after a title belt like this, it's safe to say that belt deserves respect. The Intercontinental Championship definitely fits that description and will be elevated at WrestleMania 32.
Sami Zayn is the man who should come out on top here. He is the newest NXT arrival and is still working to prove himself as Owens did. There is no better way to get that process moving in the right direction than with a championship win on the grandest stage of them all.
Sami is part of the future in WWE, and a win in this match will help establish him as a true player on the main roster.
Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch, Divas Championship Match
8 of 11
This one could be perhaps the most anticipated match of the night.
These three women know how to get it done in the ring. They have fought for this moment and have worked hard to get it. They came in at a time when women's wrestling was stagnant in WWE, when the matches were basic and short, with no rhyme or reason.
They changed the world of women's wrestling, and they changed it for the better.
Charlotte is in her element as the top heel of the group. Becky is the hard-working hopeful fans can truly rally behind, and Sasha Banks has all the swagger as The Boss. Sasha was expected to move up the ladder and challenge Charlotte for the Divas Championship, but it never happened.
Now fans can't complain anymore.
Sasha is finally getting the Superstar treatment she deserves, and she's getting it on the WrestleMania stage. Becky is good, and Charlotte is a fine champion. But this is Sasha's night, and she's earned every second of it.
This match will be good, it will be exciting and all three will leave it in the ring as they always do.
But Sasha should leave Dallas as the new Divas champion. She will wear it with pride, and she will defend it against either Becky or Charlotte or any other woman who's put before her. This is the ascension fans have been waiting for a while, and it's all finally happening at WrestleMania.
Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose, No Holds Barred Street Fight
9 of 11
Brock Lesnar is finally in a match that he could potentially lose.
This is always the case when any Superstar steps into the ring, but Brock is not just any Superstar. He is The Beast Incarnate, and he is nearly unstoppable.
But weapons are the great equalizer here, and Dean Ambrose will have an abundance of them at WrestleMania. This is what Dean should be doing, a gimmick that he should have been using all along. After all, why would a guy called The Lunatic Fringe ever work a match without using everything at his disposal to win?
This is, of course, being done for Lesnar's benefit.
Lesnar needs an opponent, someone who can hang with him in the ring. Since there are few fitting that description, WWE had to create one. This is not to say that Ambrose can't shine in this match, but if he is to win, then he must have a weapon at all times.
In that way, it's also being done for Ambrose's benefit as well.
Ambrose didn't really have a chance before the stipulation was added, and now he does. He can grab anything he wants and go after Lesnar. Ambrose has the opportunity to go over, and that is exactly what he should do at WrestleMania.
Ambrose is not a physical specimen. He's not big like his best friend, Roman Reigns, and he's not the chosen one like Seth Rollins. All he has is his fighting spirit and a lot of toys that he can use in the ring.
Brock needs to come out of this looking good, of course, but he ultimately must lose. This match is not about getting Lesnar over again; it's about getting Ambrose over. Ambrose is the future, and there's no reason why that future can't start now.
The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon, Hell in a Cell Match
10 of 11
Undertaker has lost only once at WrestleMania, but that one loss has been debated upon since it happened. He has carried it with him everywhere he goes, and it's not that fans want to hold it against him, but they are ready for him to move past it.
The problem is he might be facing his second loss on April 3.
If he goes down to Shane McMahon in this match, then Taker is done at WrestleMania. It's a fact that has led many to believe he will not lose. How could he lose? How could WWE take one of its top draws of all time and make him do the job when he's probably not got much left in the tank as it is?
It's because the most important thing here is fixing Monday Night Raw, which McMahon gets if he beats The Deadman. A new voice on Raw means a new mood has begun, and it all starts with The Authority being taken off TV.
This is good for the fans who are sick of the routine and for the company that's ready to move in new directions.
Raw deserves more than fans have been getting, and this match could be the catalyst for change everyone has been hoping for. But this is assuming McMahon can get past Taker.
This is a match that definitely needs some outside interference. As brave as McMahon is, and as much as he wants it, he is outgunned and outclassed in the ring. Only a helping hand or a distraction will help him win and achieve his goals.
Taker must look good, of course; WWE surely doesn't want him to lose a step in terms of his character. But if there is a way to put McMahon over without hurting The Deadman in the process, then WWE needs to do it.
This one is so big it could close out WrestleMania, and if it ends with promise for the next night, then it most definitely should.
Triple H vs. Roman Reigns, WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
11 of 11
This should have been Roman Reigns' crowning achievement.
This should have been the biggest night of his career, the night in which he finally reached the top and proved all his doubters wrong. This should have been the night when Roman Reigns became the next top guy, and fans were ready for it to happen.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
Many fans want nothing to do with this match. Triple H is a guy who's supposed to be able to shine up the babyfaces and get them over. But this is just not the case, and Reigns is struggling because of it. He just can't connect, and it's only getting worse.
He has the potential to do great things, but he is hindered by the negative crowd reaction. Fans don't want him in that top spot, and Reigns can't change their minds.
But that does not mean he will not win the belt at Mania.
This is Reigns' night, and he should walk away with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The timing might be wrong, but it was never going to be right; WWE just didn't want to admit the problem and change direction.
But the coronation will happen regardless, and it will happen on April 3. This is what WWE wants, despite what the fans want, which means it's going to happen. Triple H will do the job, Reigns will ascend the ladder and then he will finally be over as a top babyface.
That is exactly what WWE thinks is going to happen, and it's infuriating to know the company actually believes that. Reigns has worked hard to get here, but the negative reaction he will get will drown out any good he's done. WWE has put itself in this position, and now it must make the best of it.
That seems to be a recurring theme for this whole event.
Tom Clark can regularly be found on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.
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