We are now just days away from the biggest event in the pro-wrestling calendar. The time is upon us, ladies and gentlemen, for WrestleMania.
WrestleMania 32 takes place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas, with the start time set for April 3 at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern. Various cable and online stream services offer plenty of solutions on where to watch WrestleMania 32, though generally the most cost-effective way is to watch it via the WWE Network livestream (free for new subscribers).
The final match card for WrestleMania 32 is now set, with 11 matches scheduled in for the extravaganza. Take a look below for the full schedule, from pre-show to undercard to the main event.
WrestleMania 32 Pre-Show
The Usos vs The Dudleys
Despite its somewhat forgettable build-up, both these experienced teams have the knowledge and wherewithal to put on a smooth tag team match with memorable high spots.
10-Diva tag-team match - The Total Divas vs Team B.A.D & Blonde
For the first time since 2004, this year's WrestleMania will put two women's wrestling matches on the card. This ten-person tag match showcases how deep WWE's bench has become in terms of talented female Superstars, with a mix of NXT wrestlers and Main Roster journeywomen.
It will also mark the first time Lana performs in the ring, having established a feud with Brie Bella that is driving story within this match.
Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale
This pre-show appetiser serves as both a high-tempo spectacle and a convenient way for WWE to give more wrestlers a chance to walk through the ropes at the biggest event of the year. Last year it was that promising upstart Big Show who took the prize, while the year before it was Cesaro's moment in the spotlight.
Those confirmed for the event so far include Heath Slater, Curtis Axel, Adam Rose, Bo Dallas, Big Show, and Kane, but a few surprise NXT cameos are likely too.
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WrestleMania 32 Undercard
Kalisto (C) vs Ryback
Ryback's half-heel turn couldn't have come at a better time considering his babyface run ended with--somewhat surprisingly--fans booing him at the Royal Rumble.
His match against Kalisto, the daredevil luchador who is on the best run of his career so far, has everything in place for a classic David vs Goliath story.
Seven-Man Ladder Match - Kevin Owens (c) vs Sami Zayn vs Dolph Ziggler vs Zack Ryder vs Sin Cara vs The Miz vs Stardust
(For the intercontinental championship)
Foretelling that WrestleMania could be embarking on a new tradition in how it handles its IC Championship matches, this year the belt will once again be decided in a seven-man ladder match.
At WM31 the very same gimmick match concluded with Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan facing one another atop the ladder, with the latter emerging victorious following a last-gasp frenzy of head butts. It was a raucous and encouraging opener to the show.
Will the magic be repeated? Hard to tell. It's both rude and accurate to say last year's IC ladder match had more star power, with Bryan facing off against the likes of Dean Ambrose and Luke Harper. But the influx of NXT talent this time (Owens, Zayn, and even Ryder) means this year's line-up has the energy and raw desire to prove its worth.
AJ Styles vs Chris Jericho
Considering AJ was put over in the most generous fashion possible by Chris Jericho in their rubber match at Fastlane, it was somewhat surprising that a fourth fight has been booked for WrestleMania. Then again, the first three bouts between these two weathered performers started strong and only improved thereafter, so this repeat blowoff has enough pieces in place for a memorable encounter. As a testament to Jericho's positive attitude towards giving full-time talent the rub, he lost to Fandango at WrestleMania 29. That tells you a lot about how this match could unfold.
The New Day (c) vs The League of Nations - Handicap match (3 vs 4)
For the Tag Team Championship
The New Day is the best modern-day example of how far a faction can go in the WWE if their bond is genuine. The League of Nations tells the opposite story of how a seemingly random assembly of ex-champions and men formerly tipped for greatness are not being taken by fans as a serious, long-term venture.
Surely that foretells how this match will play out and conclude. Then again, if WWE sees big potential in the League--and with the talent at its disposal, that is hardly unthinkable--perhaps taking the belts off pro-wrestling's hottest tag team will give it the heat it needs.
Brock Lesnar vs Dean Ambrose - Street fight
There are no greater mismatches at the grand stage than this. In the three years since WrestleMania 29, the popular shield alumnus Dean Ambrose has been circling WWE's creative black hole of 50/50 booking, losing to a whole manner of rivals such as Bray Wyatt and Bad News Barrett. In fact, for more than a year he failed to win at any single pay-per-view event.
By contrast, in that same time frame Brock Lesnar hasn't been pinned once. He conquered John Cena at SummerSlam 2014 in what should be remembered as the most-watched squash-match in WWE history. Even more unbelievably, he put an end to The Undertaker's 21-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania.
But that's part of the magic. WWE is treating this as a true underdog match, with Ambrose showing no fear (or indeed sense) in his pursuit of Lesnar. This is a street fight too, which gives WWE's creative team options in portraying a more convincing way for Ambrose to get over.
If he does, and that's a huge if, he would be propelled to main event status. That alone should tell you this contest isn't as much a foregone conclusion as the tale-of-the-tape suggests.
Charlotte (c) vs Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch - Triple-Threat Match
For the WWE Women’s Championship
This makes it three WrestleManias in a row where a major singles championship has been decided in a Triple-Threat Match. While that’s usually the telltale sign of an eleventh-hour fix to a patchy storyline (with Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins both thrown into the past two main events), this time the circumstances are a little different.
Because as tremendous it would be to see Charlotte and Sasha Banks bring their NXT-style of mercilessly physical and emotional fights to the biggest stage in pro-wrestling, Becky Lynch is simply becoming too good to overlook. All three competitors, in fact, have begun to ascend the Divas division in the manner that fans initially hoped, following a rather clumsy introduction to the main roster in July. Charlotte has become one of the best heels in WWE, Sasha Banks is gradually showing how she adds spark to her matches, and Becky continues to rise to the occasion when it matters most.
Only eight months ago these three passionate female wrestlers were in the gradual process of graduating from NXT. Seeing them share the ring at WrestleMania, even before the bell rings, will be a sight to behold.
The Undertaker vs Shane McMahon - Hell in a Cell
- (Shane takes control of Monday Night RAW if victorious)
- (Undertaker will not compete at WrestleMania again unless victorious)
Succeeding as one of the most scintillating and epic moments in the past several years that even the most hardcore fans did not see coming, on Monday, February 22nd Shane McMahon made his triumphant return to WWE after a seven-year absence. The immediate response to his appearance was borderline delirium; you need to check it out in the video here if you've not seen it.
His match against The Undertaker is fascinating, as his win condition (taking control of RAW) could foretell a brand split between Smackdown and RAW--something which has been rumoured for weeks. Meanwhile, the stipulation of Undertaker's loss is perhaps even more drastic; he will not compete at WrestleMania unless victorious. With Undertaker's retirement now being openly discussed by WWE, perhaps WrestleMania 32 will mark his final appearance.
So, as unimaginable as it seems that this 46 year-old entrepreneur will defeat the man with a 22-1 record at WrestleMania, there is a chance. A chance. A chance that Shane McMahon will beat the Undertaker. In a Hell in a Cell. At WrestleMania. I know; crazy times.
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WrestleMania Main Event
Triple H (c) vs Roman Reigns
For the WWE Championship
This year's Royal Rumble was unique in that the champion on the night, Roman Reigns, defended his title in the thirty-man battle royal. To the deafening roar of hardcore thirtysomethings, he lost, finishing at 28th after an (unsurprising) surprise entrance from WWE chief operating officer Triple H.
A rivalry between Triple H and Roman Reigns dates as far as two years back, when Evolution and The Shield had a feud in the aftermath of WrestleMania 30. Twelve months ago, that rivalry appeared to lose steam, but since Survivor Series in November, on-screen tension between the two characters has gradually built again.
After losing his belt at Royal Rumble 2016, Reigns went on to win the triple-threat match for the number-one contender spot at the Fastlane pay-per-view, thus earning his rematch babyface style. The next night on Raw, he received a bloody beat-down at the hands of Triple-H. The two have been caught up in various skirmishes ever since.
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Stay tuned to GameSpot for all the WrestleMania 32 Results and Review.
