Picking Top Surprises, Most Shocking Moments of WWE WrestleMania 2019 Card
If there's one pay-per-view that proves anything can happen in WWE, it's WrestleMania.
More than any other time of year, this event is when WWE pulls out all the stops to try to make the most amazing spectacle possible and stun audiences for nearly eight hours.
WrestleMania 35 is shaping up to be the most packed event in WWE history, with boundless potential for not just quality action but also big surprises and incredible moments. There's no telling what's in store for the WWE Universe on this wild ride.
With that being said, let's try to get ahead of the game and predict some of the most likely shocking moments and possible surprises WWE has planned for WrestleMania on Sunday.
The New Day Turns on Kofi Kingston
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It will be plenty surprising if Kofi Kingston is able to defeat Daniel Bryan to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, but perhaps the biggest shock that could take place during the night is not for The Dreadlocked Dynamo to be successful but to have his brothers turn on him.
After all they have been through to get KofiMania up and running, it wouldn't make any sense whatsoever for Big E and Xavier Woods to turn their backs on Kingston, but WWE has a longstanding history of doing things that are completely illogical.
Sometimes, WWE will intentionally do something irrational just to swerve the audience and keep everybody on their toes, meaning this can't be ruled out.
Last year, it seemed like Shinsuke Nakamura was poised to win the WWE Championship, but he ended the night a loser who had turned heel by low-blowing his respected opponent. This year, The New Day could crumble.
This may come about during the match as a means to cost Kingston the title, or it could happen after, with Big E and Woods frustrated that they went through all this turmoil only for Kingston to come up short.
In effect, the storyline could be that they see him as having squandered his opportunity and that they are done with trying to lift him up.
Anything short of Kingston celebrating alongside Big E and Woods as the new champion would be a horrible idea, though, as it would negate all the positive energy that has been built for this angle.
We should all clutch our good luck charms and hope that WWE doesn't get the urge to do this and that no heel turns or splits happen with The New Day.
Surprise Superstars Competing in the Battle Royal Matches
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Both the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal and Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal are designed to feature all the available Superstars who aren't busy elsewhere on the card.
WWE never announces everybody who will be competing in them and every year, and there are always surprises inserted into the matches.
There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason behind the inclusion of some participants, making it a total shot in the dark to predict who may pop up, but that's part of the fun.
Will any other Saturday Night Live cast members show up in support or opposition of Michael Che and Colin Jost, similar to how Rob Gronkowski helped Mojo Rawley get his win at WrestleMania 33?
It's possible we could see injured or inactive Superstars, such as Ember Moon, Bray Wyatt, Sami Zayn and Fandango, make their returns in these matches.
In fact, having Lars Sullivan make his main-roster debut by last eliminating Braun Strowman could be a great means to give him momentum after so much lost time.
There is always at least one NXT Superstar who competes, too, so who will get the honor this year?
Will it be someone who is being built to be a big star in the future like Matt Riddle or a completely random pick like Cezar Bononi?
There's just as good of a chance The Undisputed Era make their presence known by helping Adam Cole to win as there is Bianca Belair or Shayna Baszler standing tall in the women's match.
With near-endless possibilities for anybody from Eve Torres to X-Pac to appear, the Battle Royals are sure to have a handful of surprises.
Curt Hawkins' Losing Streak Ends with Raw Tag Team Championships Victory
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After defeating Aleister Black and Ricochet by count-out, The Revival were approached by Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder backstage, who requested a shot for the Raw Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania.
Naturally, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder blew them off, but the contest was still scheduled. After all, there weren't any other challengers in place.
The Revival better watch out and not overlook the two lovable losers, as they will have something of a hometown advantage.
MetLife Stadium is in New Jersey, but WWE loves to refer to it as New York. And since both Hawkins and Ryder are from the area, the plan could be set in motion for an upset.
This will not only be huge just for the WrestleMania moment itself, but it would also mean the losing streak Hawkins has been on would end at 269.
Seeing new tag team champions crowned is one thing, but watching a jobber turn around his record by winning a title at WrestleMania with his best friend nearly 11 years after their previous title reign would be unheard of.
Baron Corbin Isn't Kurt Angle's Final Opponent
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WWE is sticking to its guns when it comes to advertising that Baron Corbin will be Kurt Angle's final opponent, but fans are eagerly awaiting for a revelation that there is more to this one.
That might not be the case, and WWE might be ignorant enough to think that this retirement match can be a success with just Angle vs. Corbin, but there's still hope for a change to the card.
To avoid a backlash, WWE may have it in mind for Angle to beat Corbin and everything feel like a failure, only for someone else to come out for an impromptu real final match with Angle.
The most likely candidate for that role would be John Cena, but it doesn't have to be anybody in particular so long as it is surprising and gives the audience and Angle himself something to feel better about.
Corbin may not deserve all the criticism he's getting, but if WWE doesn't have a trick up its sleeve with this storyline, it will be the creative team and folks like CEO Vince McMahon who get the heat, not the Lone Wolf.
Who Will Interrupt Elias During His Musical Performance?
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The safest bet going into WrestleMania is that Elias will be interrupted in some fashion during his musical performance. You can put your house and life savings on that bet and sleep comfortably because it's guaranteed to happen.
But the related details are up for debate.
Is this going to be how John Cena is incorporated into the show, with him being the one to disrupt Elias mid-song?
Could Joan Jett be responsible for booting Elias off the stage so she can perform for Ronda Rousey?
There is an obvious spot waiting to happen that would see Honky Tonk Man blast Elias in the head with a guitar, but fans could be anticipating that before being shocked by an appearance from The Undertaker.
WWE cannot outright state "wait for the surprise" as the selling point for this, but that is basically what is happening. It will be interesting to see how this moment goes down.
Rey Mysterio's and Dominic's Roles in the United States Championship Match
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Rey Mysterio suffered an ankle injury on Monday Night Raw that has put his United States Championship match against Samoa Joe in jeopardy.
He's still being advertised to compete at WrestleMania, but there's a good chance that match is called off or that another Superstar is slotted in to replace Mysterio.
If it goes ahead as planned, there must be something in mind for Mysterio's son, Dominic, to do during the match, as WWE wouldn't have had him appear twice and specifically mention that he would be ringside just as a red herring.
Whether this means he would distract Joe to help his father win the title or be a victim of Joe's wrath, similar to how The Miz's dad was targeted by Shane McMahon, remains to be seen. But something will happen with Dominic.
That is, of course, if Mysterio is still competing. If he's not cleared for action, the backup surprise will be what WWE does in response.
Is that the role Kevin Owens could play at WrestleMania since he has yet to be announced to appear in any other capacity? If so, WWE could go with the flow and have him win the United States title after feeling guilty the fans wouldn't get the previously advertised match.
Until an official announcement is made regarding this contest, it's unclear which direction WWE will go in or which shocking moment has more potential. But one way or another, a surprise is likely in store for the United States Championship match.
What else do you think may happen at WrestleMania 35? Will The Undertaker make an appearance? Are any shocking title changes going to take place?
Tell us your predictions in the comments section below!
Anthony Mango is the owner of the wrestling website Smark Out Moment and the host of the podcast show Smack Talk on YouTube, iTunes and Stitcher. You can follow him on Facebook and elsewhere for more.
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