The most fervent speculation in Orlando has been around which match goes on last on Sunday at WrestleMania 33. Tradition dictates that it is usually a world title match, but the rumour, at least among the media fraternity in Orlando, is that will be Roman Reigns going up against the Undertaker in the main event.
Reigns may not have held the world title since June 2016 but he is still being booked as one of the industry’s top guys, while the Undertaker’s record at WrestleMania — he has won 23 of his 24 matches, with a winning streak of 21 that was ended in 2014 by Brock Lesnar — is one of the most enduring aspects linked to the event.
There are a number of reasons as to why this should be the main event.
Undertaker’s rumoured retirement
If the speculation about Undertaker’s long-term future is true, and this is his last match and year in the WWE as an active performer, then his farewell will be hard for almost the entire card to top if they had to go after that.
Ric Flair’s final match in 2008 was so emotional it took the crowd a long time to recover from and it was a mistake to have it deep in the mid-card.
The WWE learnt their lesson with Shawn Michaels bowing out in the 2010 main event, to Undertaker coincidentally. If Undertaker is finally hanging up his working boots, and given how limited his movement appears to be, then it needs to be the last thing the crowd sees in Orlando.
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Keeps the spotlight on Reigns
Reigns may not have held a world title for almost 10 months, but he remains one of the central characters in the company’s narrative. Only Lesnar has beaten Undertaker in a WrestleMania match, and Reigns trying to be the second man to do it is a fascinating story.
If he does win, it will add a whole new level to his rather bland character, though the reaction of fans at the Camping World Stadium will be negative to say the least.
That will not faze Reigns or the WWE. Especially if he wins clean, it will add an extra sheen of confidence that is likely to antagonise those who dislike him already, and make those who support him love him more. If he loses, how he reacts to it — either with dignity or by lashing out in a character change — will be equally interesting and all eyes will be on him, win or lose.
Unpredictability equals excitement
The match is very hard to call. There are the rumours about Undertaker’s health. Then the fact that Undertaker’s record at WrestleMania means it would be a huge deal, and another sign of confidence in him, if Reigns did go over.
Then there is also the match quality aspect? Undertaker has been visibly limping during any rare public sightings in Orlando, but Reigns is coming off the back of a series of outstanding matches, including an entertaining duel with Braun Strowman last month.
It is one of the hardest matches to predict with any certainty on the card. That is what adds to the atmosphere of great matches, when people truly don’t know who was coming out on top. Reigns beat Triple H for the title 12 months ago, but the match was hurt as it was obvious, for storyline progression, that Reigns had to prevail.
That does not factor in here. Reigns winning is likely, but Undertaker staying dominant at his most successful stomping ground is also plausible. When the near falls begin late in the match, expect huge reactions from the fans as they genuinely do not know who is going over, and this is why it should be last.
The title matches do not have what is required to be main event
The final reason that Undertaker v Reigns should be on last, is neither World title match has the strength to hold the role in the way they can.
On Raw, Bill Goldberg v Brock Lesnar for the Raw Universal title is limited by the fact that it will be unlikely to last more than 10 minutes maximum.
Goldberg is untested in match situations, his longest time in the ring since returning from a 12-year absence in November is three minutes at the Royal Rumble in January.
Plus it is almost a given that Lesnar is winning the title off Goldberg, and so it lacks the unknown quantity of Reigns v Undertaker.
On SmackDown, Bray Wyatt v Randy Orton will be a good match, but after an encouraging start, this feud does not have the heat required to close the show.
Plus it feels like the start of their rivalry, rather than the end of it, and though Orton did win the Royal Rumble, which is labelled as going to the “main event of WrestleMania” being fourth or third last on here will be fine.
WrestleMania 33 is available on the WWE Network and on OSN and starts at 3am UAE time on Monday morning, with the pre-show beginning at 1am.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
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