WWE WrestleMania 2017: Grading Hype Level for Each Announced Match on the Card

When it comes to WWE's annual spectacle, the hype that goes into the matches at WrestleMania is as integral to the overall success of the show as the matches and moments that unfold on the grand stage.

The chapters in the stories of the show's top Superstars help increase the significance of their matches and help those bouts live in eternity.

Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches of all time because of the extraordinary backstory that accompanied it. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels, a near-classic, is not as vividly remembered due to the lack of a layered and focused background.

As WrestleMania approaches, there are a number of stories fueling WWE program's most notable feuds. How do each of the stories behind the matches officially announced on WWE.com grade out ahead of the April 2 broadcast?

Take a look for yourself.

WWE Championship Match: Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt

Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt have been intertwined for nearly six months by each other's side in some form or fashion since last October.

They have been opponents, allies and enjoyed a leader-follower relationship in that time. Now, at WrestleMania, they will battle with the WWE Championship at stake.

Orton's betrayal of Wyatt ignited a fiercely personal feud. By burning down The Wyatt Family Compound and seemingly with it, the remains of Sister Abigail, he left Wyatt a sobbing mess of a man. The Reaper of Souls recovered, claiming that Abigail's soul is in him and that he will rid this world of infidels, beginning with Orton at WrestleMania.

The darker edge to the story has helped set it apart from the other, more one-dimensional stories on the Road to WrestleMania and should provide the match more heat when the Superstars take to the squared circle for SmackDown Live's premiere contribution to this year's Showcase of the Immortals.

Grade: B+

Universal Championship Match: Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar

Goldberg stormed back onto the WWE scene last fall and proceeded to do what no other Superstars has done over the last five years: making a fool of Brock Lesnar, defeating The Beast Incarnate in 85 seconds at the Survivor Series event.

He would go on to eliminate Lesnar in short order at the Royal Rumble before defeating Kevin Owens to win the Universal Championship at Fastlane.

Now the top dog on the Raw brand some 20 years after his meteoric rise to the top of the industry, Goldberg will look to make it 3-of-3 in singles matches against Lesnar, with his first victory coming in 2004 at The Showcase of the Immortals.

For so long, Lesnar has been the unstoppable beast, plowing through any Superstar unlucky enough to face him. Now positioned as the underdog and the Superstar unable to knock off Goldberg, Lesnar will have to rediscover his edge if he hopes to dethrone his rival.

Grade: B+

The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns

There is no build behind any match as simple or effective as Roman Reigns vs. The Undertaker.

Reigns eliminated The Phenom from the Royal Rumble, costing him the opportunity to headline another Showcase of the Immortals. As The Deadman laid on the arena floor, Reigns looked down at him and exclaimed, "It's my yard now."

Undertaker did not take kindly to that, and the night after the Fastlane pay-per-view in February, he would stare Reigns down, then plant him with a chokeslam.

Never one to back down from a fight, Reigns told the returning Shawn Michaels that he would retire The Deadman at WrestleMania, just as Undertaker had retired the Heartbreak Kid.

On the March 20 episode of Raw, Reigns issued a receipt for the chokeslam he endured, planting Undertaker with a spear and appearing none too rattled by The Deadman's rather speedy recovery and threat to close out the show.

One man has been The Big Dog of WWE for two decades. The other sees the "yard" as his. Now, they battle to see who is superior.

Grade: A

United States Championship Match: Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens

Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens looked to be the best of friends. They were two villains absolutely essential to their parallel rises up the Raw ranks this past fall. No matter how many times, Jericho interfered in matches on behalf of the then-Universal champion Owens, it never felt like the admiration and adulation were returned.

It always felt like Owens was using Jericho to stay at the top of the roster as its champion and No. 1 guy.

When an overzealous Jericho's big mouth got Owens booked in a title defense against Goldberg at Fastlane this past February, The Prizefighter no longer found his "friend" useful and proceeded to dump him.

During a Festival of Friendship, he threw Jericho through glass and left Y2J in need of medical attention. At Fastlane, Jericho avenged the betrayal by distracting Owens and costing him his title.

Furthermore, he embarrassed Owens on the March 20 episode of Raw, suggesting when the Quebecer was 14, he was a huge fan of Jericho's. More than anything, their friendship was more of a fan-idol relationship, he claimed.

An infuriated Owens planted Jericho with a Popup Powerbomb to end the segment and intensify the hype ahead of WrestleMania.

The program is the most layered of any of the already-announced matches. It features real emotion and could, potentially, produce the best match on the card.

Grade: A+

John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Maryse

The feud pitting John Cena and Nikki Bella against The Miz and Maryse should not be as entertaining as it is. If anything, on paper, it looks like an excuse to add drama to an already overproduced reality show in Total Divas.

In reality, though, it has proven to be an intensely personal program that has seen Miz attack Cena's leadership and legacy, not to mention suggesting that Cena and Bella's relationship is the product of branding and marketing and, thus, fake.

Both Miz and Maryse's promos have been cutting—scathing even—suggesting there is very real dislike between them and their WrestleMania opponents.

Cena and Bella's retorts have been politically correct, with the babyfaces opting to take the high road (for the most part), as they should.

It has hurt them in the eyes of fans, who have booed them for reasons beyond the fact that Cena is the most polarizing star in the industry, but it has provided a sharp contrast to establish them as the heroes in this scenario.

Grade: B

Fatal 4-Way Match for the Raw Women's Championship

What should have been an incredible journey for Bayley, through the tough terrain of the Raw women's division, was instead a disjointed mess of a story that saw her prematurely crowned champion.

The heels now chase the babyface champion in a backward attempt at a tried-and-true plot device.

Bayley is the champion entering WrestleMania 33. Her contenders were determined in a long, overly complicated manner. First, Charlotte was granted a rematch because of Sasha Banks' interference at Fastlane.

Next, Banks earned her opportunity to with a victory over Bayley.

On the March 20 episode of Raw, Jax cashed her ticket to the Showcase of the Immortals by pinning Bayley clean in the center of the ring.

So let's recap: Charlotte earned her title shot because the champion cannot beat her by herself, then the other two received their opportunities after beating the champion in non-title matches.

More than anyone else involved, the champion has been made to look weak and devalued in an attempt to justify the inclusion of her challengers at WrestleMania.

That is ass-backward booking the likes of which have become a hallmark of WWE Creative over the years.

Grade: D

SmackDown Women's Championship Match

When Naomi was forced to hand over the SmackDown Women's Championship due to an ill-timed knee injury, any and all WrestleMania plans involving the dynamic performer were scrapped. Alexa Bliss regained the title, and booking seemed to stall.

Enter Daniel Bryan, the SmackDown general manager who ordered Bliss to defend her title at WrestleMania against any and all available women from the brand's roster.

The vagueness of the decision suggests a surprise may be in store, perhaps a return by Naomi, the re-emergence of Eva Marie or the call-up of Asuka, who recently toured with the SmackDown brand.

Maybe not.

Maybe the field of competitors will be limited to SmackDown's elite female competitors, including Becky Lynch and Mickie James. In particular, James is an interesting case in that she returned as a heel, recently severed ties with Bliss and even beat her on the March 14 episode.

The build has not been particularly excellent, no doubt due to the last-minute change. It has at least made sense, putting the heel Bliss at the center of the story and creating a scenario where babyfaces chase her and her title all the way to Orlando, Florida.

Grade: C

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Austin Aries vs. Neville

Neville exploded back onto the scene in WWE at Roadblock: End of the Line and immediately underwent a heel turn that saw him obliterate the Raw brand's cruiserweights. From there, he lashed out with furious anger, no longer willing to be overlooked and undervalued on the flagship show.

Referring to himself as The King of the Cruiserweights, he quickly dethroned Rich Swann and captured the division's top prize. Since then, no competitor has proven his superior, each falling at his feet.

Until Austin Aries, the 205 Live broadcaster, with the sharp tongue and unmatched wit, took exception to Neville claiming no other Superstar on the roster could stand up to him.

Aries took the fight to Neville and announced his candidacy. One week later, he won a Fatal 5-Way match to earn a shot at the cruiserweight title at WrestleMania.

Since then, Aries has vowed to unseat Neville and end his fantasy world where he is the king of anything.

The sudden ascent of Aries seemingly came from out of nowhere but it was, actually, built over the course of a few weeks before culminating with The Greatest Man That Ever Lived's return to the squared circle.

Grade: C+

Triple Threat Match for the Raw Tag Team Championships

Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows have been infuriating tag teams across the Raw brand for months, dating back their victory over Sheamus and Cesaro for the Raw Tag Team Championship at Royal Rumble.

Since then, they have retained their titles against The Celtic Warrior and Swiss Superman, as well as Enzo Amore and Big Cass.

Now, at WrestleMania, they defend against both teams in a Triple Threat match.

The build is of the same miserable booking style WWE has incorporated in its product for far too long. Teams trade wins, then suddenly are thrown into a multiteam match out of laziness and an inability to pick one team to focus on.

The match should be tremendous fun, especially with the presence of the always underrated Cesaro, but the hype has been lackluster, to say the least.

Grade: C-

2017 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal has no hype.

Entrant Mojo Rawley may take exception to that, but he is not a Superstar who will encourage excitement or anticipation about any match he is in.

Neither will Big Show at this point in his career, Apollo Crews at any point in his main roster run or the criminally mismanaged Dolph Ziggler.

The Battle Royal is typically a mangled mash of Superstars without anything else better to do, and it does not appear as if this year will be any different.

Grade: F