Opinion

Top 5 Ways WWE Is Doing WrestleMania Better In 2018

Published

5 years ago

March 22, 2018

Us wrestling fans are a cynical bunch sometimes. However justified that may be when watching the current WWE product though, is another story. Right now I’d like to dive in to the good things that we’ll get this year for WrestleMania. WrestleMania 34 is showing signs of improvement in some areas of the card, and if all of the below are carried out we can expect a better show than last year (unless Roman/Lesnar main event to choral boos, then it would be bad).

Midcard Title Relevancy

This is mostly referring to the coveted Intercontinental Championship as the US title match did make it to the main card last year. At WrestleMania 33, Dean Ambrose successfully defended his title against Baron Corbin on the pre-show. The match was awful; I know, I was in the audience. A lazy build mixed with two rather bland personalities at the time produced a poor showing for one of WWE’s most historic titles.

WrestleMania 34’s Intercontinental bout will however be filled by three of WWE’s most exciting stars- Finn Balor, Seth Rollins and The Miz, which is a group worthy of a title match on the grandest stage of them all. In addition, the US title will most likely be defended on the main card by Randy Orton, bringing some legitimacy to the matchup with Roode and Mahal, who are well-established in their own right.

WrestleMania 34

Fan Service (for one match)

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE championship at WrestleMania. Doesn’t that just sound great? In the two world title matches, WWE decided to listen to all the fans clamoring for these two to go at it under the WWE banner. Nakamura winning the Royal Rumble initially signaled the possibility of this match, and in turn saved face in lieu of another mild or negative Royal Rumble ending. Nakamura vs. Styles is the match we wanted, and we’re getting it. The fact that it probably won’t go on last is a little ridiculous, but at least it’s happening and at least Styles is going into WrestleMania as WWE champion.

WrestleMania 34

Cruiserweights on the Main Card

This has yet to be confirmed, but it seems that the finals of the cruiserweight title tournament will take place on the main card of WrestleMania. Since taking over 205 Live, Triple H has admittedly made some great moves in the right direction, placing the focus back on competition much like he did with the Cruiserweight Classic. Cedric Alexander is set to take on the revitalized Mustafa Ali and I’m rather excited to see these two tear it up in a spot they deserve.

WrestleMania 34

Tag Team Title Shakeup

Braun Strowman will have a partner at WrestleMania, but is as of now is currently challenging for the RAW tag team titles by himself. Although this buries teams like The Club and The Revival, I think this is an innovative and hilarious move by WWE. There’s a lot of intrigue around who his potential partner will be, which is making RAW quite fun to watch. Braun certainly deserves to be on the card in some capacity and as of now I’m happy WWE aren’t throwing eight tag teams in a large ladder match again.

WrestleMania 34

Women’s Single Matches

This is the biggest stride for WrestleMania 34 as compared to 33. All women’s title matches on last year’s show were multi-women matches, much like those segments on RAW or SmackDown that WWE just throws all the women into just to use them for the evening. That is thankfully not the case this year, as we’re going to get Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka and Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax. Although the latter has me a bit less intrigued, I think that a few singles matches on the WrestleMania card are a huge improvement.

Charlotte and Asuka are set to clash for the first time and put on a classic, and that is what WrestleMania is all about isn’t it? The SmackDown women’s title is also getting the spotlight it deserves at the biggest event of the year, bringing heightened legitimacy to the entire women’s division.

Overall, WrestleMania 34 has all the tools to best WrestleMania 33, but we will see if the matches are as good in the ring as they seem on paper. Regardless, the event is largely set up for success built from the shortcomings of last year, and I aim to enjoy almost all of it.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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Opinion

King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Stone Cold VS. Scott Hall (WrestleMania X8)

Chris King is back with another WrestleMania Rewind, looking at the NWO’s Scott Hall battling Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE WrestleMania X8 from Toronto!

Published

1 week ago

March 14, 2023

Chris King

Chris King is back with another WrestleMania Rewind, looking at the NWO’s Scott Hall battling Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE WrestleMania X8 from Toronto!

Chris King is back this week with another edition of WrestleMania Rewind, where he is rewatching all the past Mania matches and feuds. This week you’re in for a treat as we look back at ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall at WrestleMania X8.

In late 2001, Vince McMahon bought out his competition WCW and acquired the rights to a plethora of talent including Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, and the iconic trio known as NWO. Hulk Hogan; Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall were hell raisers, and what better way to make a name for yourself than take out the two top superstars in the WWE The Rock, and Stone Cold?

The NWO cost Austin his chance at becoming the Undisputed Champion at No Way Out during his match with Chris Jericho. Adding insult to injury, the NWO spray-painted ‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ with their brand logo just like they did in WCW. As you can imagine, Austin was pissed and out for revenge against the group and primarily Scott Hall.

Hall would challenge Stone Cold to a match at WrestleMania 18. Both superstars beat the living hell out of each other leading up to this highly-anticipated match for who runs the WWE.

The glass broke and Stone Cold made his iconic entrance, and black and white NWO covered Halls’ entrance alongside Kevin Nash. With the odds stacked against ‘The Toughest S.O.B’ could Austin or NWO prove their dominance? Sadly the NWO broke up that very night when Hulk Hogan came to the aid of his adversary The Rock after their ‘iconic’ dream match. Stone Cold would ensure the victory with the Stunner. Hall would perform an Oscar-worthy sell over the finisher.

What a time to be a wrestling fan in the 2000s when nothing was impossible for WWE. Who would’ve thought WCW would go out of business and Hogan would make his long-awaited return to WWE?

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens (WWE WrestleMania 36)

Chris King takes a look at the most underrated WWE WrestleMania matches, and starts off with Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 36!

Published

2 weeks ago

March 8, 2023

Chris King

WWE WrestleMania 36 Kevin Owens Seth Rollins

Chris King takes a look at the most underrated WWE WrestleMania matches, and starts off with Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens in the WWE Performance Center at WrestleMania 36!

Chris King is starting a new series heading into WrestleMania season dubbed WrestleMania Rewind. Each week he’ll be going back and sharing his insight over underrated matches at the Show of Shows. First up, is Kevin Owens vs. “The Monday Night Messiah” Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 36.

At the 2019 edition of Survivor Series, Rollins sacrificed himself during the men’s traditional match allowing SmackDown to ultimately gain the victory. The following night the self-proclaimed Messiah, berated the whole roster but KO was not having any part of it. Owens quickly became a huge barrier in Rollins’ cause for the greater good. The Authors of Pain attacked Owens with Rollins’ character in question.

Owens finally had enough of his rival’s mind games and torment and challenged Rollins to a match on the Grandest Stage Of Them All. Rollins mockingly accepted his challenge and the match was made official for night one of WrestleMania. Owens came out of the gate beating the holy hell out of the Monday Night Messiah trying to achieve his long-awaited moment at Mania but, Rollins tried to steal a disqualification victory by using the ring bell.

Owens hellbent on revenge provoked Rollins into turning their encounter into a no-disqualification contest where the fight could be taken all over the empty arena. The highlight of the match, was when KO used the WrestleMania sign to deliver a thunderous senton bomb through the announce table. Owens would secure the victory with a Stunner in an incredible match. Despite having no crowd during the pandemic era, both KO and Rollins put on an intense performance under the brightest lights.

In my personal opinion, this was a great feud that helped both superstars in their transformation as compelling characters for years to come.