WWE WrestleMania 33: Full Card, Top Unanswered Questions Going into Event
WWE WrestleMania 33 takes place on Sunday, with a massive card of top rivalries between the biggest stars on Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live.
Superstars of the past, including Goldberg, The Undertaker and Triple H, will be fighting alongside the future of WWE in Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt and more.
This is the complete WrestleMania 33 card:
- Kickoff: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
- Kickoff: WWE cruiserweight champion Neville vs. Austin Aries.
- Six-Pack Challenge: SmackDown women's champion Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James vs. Natalya vs. Carmella vs. Naomi.
- Triple Threat ladder match: Raw tag team champions Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Enzo and Big Cass.
- WWE intercontinental champion Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin.
- Mixed Tag: John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Maryse.
- Fatal 4-Way elimination match: Raw women's champion Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax.
- Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles.
- WWE United States champion Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens.
- Non-sanctioned match: Triple H vs. Seth Rollins.
- The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns.
- WWE champion Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton.
- WWE Universal champion Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar.
Even with the card set, though, questions linger about all the top contests at WrestleMania. As it is such a major event, situations are often left uncertain so that the matches tell a more exciting story. This year, the results of all these contests could have huge implications for WWE going forward.
Among those unresolved issues are worries over who will lead the brands, whether the positions of certain performers such as Kevin Owens and John Cena will remain post-WrestleMania and whether the health of both The Undertaker and Seth Rollins will radically affect their huge matches.
The following are the six biggest unanswered questions left hanging before 'Mania, based upon their effect on the landscape of both Raw and SmackDown long past The Ultimate Thrill Ride.
What Is the Purpose of John Cena and Nikki Bella's Roles at WrestleMania?
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Since John Cena's second match with The Rock at WrestleMania 29, he has fallen into the background at 'Mania, taking a backseat to rising stars. However, this year has included the most startling use of Cena since he first wrestled at the event in 2004.
The top star of the biggest mixed tag team match in WWE's history, Cena will battle alongside girlfriend Nikki Bella against married couple The Miz and Maryse. Even with the level of talent involved, a match of this type has never been a serious contest at WrestleMania and comes off as a waste of Cena.
While the build of this match has been at times silly and melodramatic, it has also been compelling thanks to the driven performances of Cena and Miz. Both men have been cutting promos with intensity worthy of 'Mania. Still, it is hard not to question what the point of all this is.
Could this be the last match of Nikki's career? Could this be the chance for Cena to carry out the first proposal inside a WrestleMania ring? Both of these possibilities explain the situation to an extent, but nothing has been made certain just yet.
Have Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens Been Relegated to the Midcard?
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At the end of August, Kevin Owens captured the WWE Universal Championship, and he began a dominant run atop Monday Night Raw alongside best friend Chris Jericho. Only as January's Royal Rumble approached did it seem possible that Owens and Jericho would not have close to top billing at WrestleMania 33.
When Goldberg captured the Universal Championship, KO's status quickly diminished to the point that he and Jericho are battling for the United States Championship at 'Mania in a match that is overshadowed by three other Raw matches. This is not a problem, though, as long as Owens returns to his perch as a main event heel after 'Mania.
The placement and representation of this rivalry at WrestleMania will say quite a bit about how WWE sees both of these stars. If this match does not get at least 15 minutes, particularly when it is likely at least five other matches on this card will get that time, it may be a sign that WWE has moved past Owens for other Raw stars.
Hopefully, the two get time to deliver a compelling match, especially because they have been the best part of Raw over the past few months. This feud could well have been the main event of 'Mania and should get enough of a spotlight to reward both men's strong work.
How Healthy Is Seth Rollins?
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On the January 30 edition of Monday Night Raw, Seth Rollins injured his knee during an attack from Samoa Joe. Details about the injury and Rollins' timetable for return have constantly been kept under wraps by WWE. The promotion's website eventually reported that Rollins had torn his MCL, which would lead to an expected six- to eight-week recovery period.
With WrestleMania nine weeks out at the time and taking Rollins' previous knee injury into account, The Architect's chances of competing at The Ultimate Thrill Ride were good but far from certain. Even with Rollins getting physical with Triple H in the weeks leading up to Sunday's contest, he has to be careful competing on a repeatedly damaged knee.
With a non-sanctioned match allowing other wrestlers to get involved and more use of weapons than pure wrestling, Rollins can be protected from doing too much, even if it is likely to be a long contest. His role will largely showcase how healthy he is.
If we see Rollins hitting flying knees off the arena set and landing a Phoenix Splash, it will be clear he has recovered and is ready to return to the spotlight on Raw. However, if stars like Finn Balor, Sami Zayn and Samoa Joe all get involved while Rollins takes a more technical approach to the contest, it will be less clear how ready Rollins is to return to an active role.
Could This Be The Undertaker's Last WrestleMania?
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Since The Streak ended at WrestleMania 30, the question of The Undertaker's status has lingered over the Showcase of the Immortals each year, but Taker has still returned to compete at the next event. This year, though, even the promotion has been teasing that this could be the final time Taker walks down the long aisle and steps into a WWE ring.
At 52, Taker has wrestled a long time, far beyond most of his peers. His matches at 'Mania are always hard-hitting, which has put a steady strain on the legend's body. It is remarkable that he will be competing in his 25th WrestleMania. To even assume he could compete at a 26th would be unfair to Taker.
The result of his match against Roman Reigns should speak volumes on how WWE perceives Taker's future. If this is his last match, the ending will likely be definitive one way or the other, leaving The Deadman in the ring to soak in the fan's adulation one last time.
A loss to Reigns would indicate he is on his way out, as veterans often go out after putting over younger talent. This might cause ire among fans, with Taker's record at 'Mania such an integral part of his legacy, but that is just an aspect of the business.
Either way, by the end of WrestleMania, it should be clear whether Undertaker has any plans to wrestle again.
Has WWE Fully Committed to the Era of Wyatt on SmackDown?
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For years, Bray Wyatt has been an important part of the WWE roster but never been allowed to take a step too far into the main event scene, losing his feuds with Cena, Reigns and Undertaker. It was clear WWE valued him highly, but it was not presented fully until Wyatt won the WWE Championship at WWE Elimination Chamber 2017.
Now SmackDown Live's top champion and set to headline WrestleMania versus Randy Orton, he has never been in a better spot in his career. However, a victory against Orton will be essential to Wyatt's future, as he has only held the championship for just over a month with only one title defense.
In order for SmackDown to enter the era of Wyatt, the Eater of Worlds must reign supreme. If Orton wins his 13th world championship at 'Mania, it would indicate WWE does not have complete faith in Wyatt to carry SmackDown.
Victories at the Show of Shows define careers, and Wyatt's record at the event is less than spectacular to date. A victory could solidify his status, while a loss may just leave him without the necessary credibility to ever take the next step in WWE.
Who Will Be Raw's Universal Champion, and Will They Stick Around?
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The WWE Universal Championship hangs in the balance, as Brock Lesnar gets one last shot at Goldberg. While this clash between these two legends of the business may not affect the main roster significantly, the title they are battling over cannot stick around on the shoulder of a performer who only competes once every three months.
While Lesnar has been wrestling more dates in WWE lately, being champion would require him to compete at every Raw pay-per-view to sustain the title's prestige. Meanwhile, no one knows the full details of Goldberg's WWE contract, and he has not yet shown he can put in the time necessary for repeated main event title defenses.
Both are huge question marks as champion, which leaves fans wondering what is next for Raw. With many young talents ready to take the next step toward the main event scene, either man as the imposing obstacle for them to overcome is enticing as long as the champion is willing to stick around and defend the title.
At worst, Goldberg walks out victorious then retires as champion, forcing Raw to begin building up title contenders all over again. At best, Lesnar could compete once every month against stars like Reigns, Rollins, Owens, Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman and more until one can dethrone him.
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