So both brands' top titles will be on the line at WM after one month feuds each?

These are rumors, but that just sounds dumb. Plus, if they take the belt off Cena after only a month, then they should have given Styles a third win over Cena to keep the streak alive, have Styles lose the belt in the Chamber after not being pinned, and save Cena beating Styles for a moment that can last longer.

Give Lesnar the belt so that Goldberg has a reason to face him. That seems obvious...

Yeah the Berg/Brock thing does seem backwards. But it's been built for more than a month. Bit of an unfair criticism.

With you on the SDL thing though. Really not into Orton/Wyatt for the belt, or a potential AJ/Shane match. The latter would have made more sense if AJ had retained against Cena, then lost 2 weeks later in the EC, AJ would have a bigger axe to grind with Shane. Although AJ can't lose the belt in the EC "without being pinned", unless he gets injured out of the match.

Update on Ambrose/WrestleMania from Dave Meltzer this morning:

Well fuck.

But the Intercontinental Title is supposed to be the most prestigious its been in years!

With the rumors of them wanting to make New IC and US belts and also Dean wanting a new one they should just unveil the new one at Wrestlemania and have the ladder match for it. Not sure about the US though maybe Jericho or Owens turn it into the Canadian championship and who ever beats them gets a new one.

Dean said he wanted a new one on Smackdown one week, but then on the Royal Rumble pre-show they asked him in the social media lounge about an IC title redesign and what his ideal title would look like, and he answered that he loves his current one and it is the design he grew up with and that it was his ideal belt design already.

Assuming the above is correct, the Universal title will be on the line in a program that has been going on since the early Fall, and the WWE title in a program that started around the same time.

It's funny when people complain about stuff that is just plain wrong.

Ambrose hurts any program or title because he has this I dont give a crap aura about him.

I would look to get the title on Corbin or back to Miz ASAP.

With Seth seemingly out of the picture and the reveal that Foley is having surgery and will have to give up the GM job, I could see this as the opportunity for Kurt Angle to come in as the new Raw GM.

Here's a potential possibility: If the WWE grants clearance for Kurt Angle and Daniel Bryan for one last match, you can have the battle of the GM's at Wrestlemania. And if it can't be one-on-one, you can have Kurt Angle & Triple H (fighting for Steph) vs. Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon.

I, for one, would love to see that as opposed to AJ vs Shane.

Daniel. Bryan. Is. Never. Wrestling. For. WWE. Again.

Amazing to me that people think they would ever clear him.

Even if the WWE wanted to consider the idea, they are never going to do it as long as the class-action lawsuit involving concussions is active. WWE got lucky the general public doesn't care as much about wrestling as they do with NFL or else they'd be dealing with a lot more public pressure.

they've been building to him wrestling the Miz since the brand split. There's no reason to have the Miz mocking him every week if its never going to happen.

Shane/Bryan vs Miz/Styles would work

Sure there is. It gets the Miz heat for picking on a guy who can't defend himself anymore.

Yeah. Bryan is not rassling.

Which is the kind of thinking that will cause the biggest pop ever for when he does

Will he outpop DX?!

Given the way things currently are, I'd have John Cena retain the WWE Championship in the Elimination Chamber. Everybody is expecting him to lose it. Have him beat Wyatt in the final fall and actually retain. AJ Styles, who never got his one-on-one rematch and gets shafted in the EC somehow (or maybe he's just the first entrant and is worn out by the end) says he wants to be in the WWE Title match at WrestleMania. Shane McMahon is reluctant, but Daniel Bryan understands what Styles is going through and places him in the match.

* John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship

This would be a cathartic "End of an Era" match. Cena and Orton represent the WWE since the shift from the Attitude era, and AJ Styles coming in as a man less than two years into his WWE stint but already regarded as the best wrestler in the world makes a great story. The fans want to cheer AJ Styles so much, and this positions him as the change Shane McMahon promised. They finally have a guy that can do it.

As for the Universal Title, I'd actually put it on The Undertaker at Fastlane. Taker isn't looking good, but in the fans' eyes he carries a lot of respectability. He will help wash the mid-card stank off the RAW Title. Something Court Bauer said in his podcast gave me the idea for a really good angle to take on the Taker/Reigns story. Taker is the "conscience of the WWE" and a man who shows up to right the wrongs. Reigns used to fight for justice, but right now has become an injustice. The fans do not feel he is worthy of his spot and Undertaker is here to test him. "Endorsing" Reigns will not work, given that they've already had The Rock do that and it backfired. But Undertaker symbolically acquitting Reigns of being a failure might have some story value.

* The Undertaker (c) vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship

Brock/Goldberg doesn't need the title. They are two men fighting for personal pride. I don't know what you have Goldberg do at Fastlane, but I honestly don't really want him there. Maybe he can squash Handsome Rusev? I dunno. I also don't want Brock beating Goldie. I think the story should be that Brock never truly gets one over him. I like the rock/paper/scissors dynamic between Taker/Goldberg/Brock that they could sort of get going -- Taker always trumps Goldberg; Goldberg always trumps Brock; Brock always trumps Taker. Whatever. I'd keep Goldberg as a special attraction and I don't particularly want to see him lose if that is the case. That being said, I don't really know if beating Brock again is particularly smart. Many will hate this, but a thought I keep entertaining is the idea of SAnitY interrupting the match. It'd be a great way for Eric Young to grab the world's attention. I've long felt that the act should grow on the main roster. I don't know if you back pocket Brock and Goldberg after that or you have them form a super team to face SAnitY in a Handicap Match at the next PPV, but you can certainly play with some intriguing dynamics.

* Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar III

Finally, fuck Triple H, I'd have Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. If Seth is not good to work a long match, have him re-injure the leg in a valiant effort and put Joe over that way. Triple H's promo on RAW was apparently pretty good, but the content implied that he was done creating -- yet here is a Samoa Joe? To me, the story should be that Joe is now Triple H's pet project and there's no reason for The Game to get into the ring while that is the plan. Triple H could gain major political points by sitting out a WrestleMania when he is not needed. He can pop a show later in the year if he really wants to. Seth should sit out and be forced to contemplate retirement at the hands of Joe, only to make his valiant return and to go into a fight against the odds at Mania.

* Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins

As for what Bray Wyatt does? I think the tensions between Wyatt and Harper can be fostered into a successful program, with Harper finally breaking free and fighting his former mentor. I'd like to see this be the IC Title program at WrestleMania. Neither guy seems like a great fit for the title, but given how flat everything else is, I think it would at least be a little extra incentive for Harper to fight Bray.

* Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Luke Harper for the Intercontinental Championship

The more I think about it, the more I like AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon, there's no one better for Shane to face. Don't understand why people wouldn't wanna see it

Not sure it matters, but i'm going to Smackdown on March 7th and the local tv is advertising Cena vs Styles for the main belt and Ambrose vs The Miz for the IC belt.

I'm also feeling The Revival being in that Tag Team Turmoil as the last team in to dethrone Alpha, leading to Hulk Hogan backing them up for a Tag Title rematch at WrestleMania. I'd leave the RAW Tag Team Titles off the card then, unless they can get The Hardy Boyz back to do a TLC and Matt can bump his head and tease a better version of the Broken Matt stuff, since people are dorks enough to eat it up.

I can buy Matt Hardy as an insane veteran who breaks after never achieving the success he wants in professional wrestling. That much is easy. It's just the backyard shit and special effects. I'm fine with Matt Hardy getting eerie piano music as a theme, dying part of his hair grey and acting like a master of all men in the RAW mid-card. Give Matt creative input and lay out some key dates and matches for him (like a bout against his brother at SummerSlam) and win him from TNA. Give him and Jeff a RAW Tag Team Title run (something they have never had) and let them drop the belts to The New Day in that TLC Match or something.

* The Hardys (c) vs. The New Day vs. Gallows & Anderson vs. Sheamus & Cesaro in a TLC Match for the RAW Tag Team Championship

The SmackDown Women's Title can be on the line in a Scramble Match between the six girls that are currently involved in that division. You might as well have Naomi head in champion at this point, because who really gives a fuck, right? I want the final fall to be between Becky and Mickie so that Alexa and Mickie can split off and Becky can move into a feud with Sasha Banks when she jumps over to SmackDown.

* Scramble Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship: Naomi (c) vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya vs. Nikki Bella

Neville should defend the Cruiserweight Title against Kota Ibushi, the best cruiserweight in the world today. Really simple build-up, no shenanigans -- simply a great little wrestling match that Dave Meltzer would give seven stars if it happened in the main event of a Japanese show.

* Neville (c) vs. Kota Ibushi for the Cruiserweight Championship

The final match I would include on the main show is Dean Ambrose teaming with Renee Young against The Miz & Maryse in a mixed tag. Renee Young, given how endearing she is, could make a tremendous babyface, and I am sure she is at least somewhat prepared for some sort of physical involvement. The Miz and Maryse are perfect antagonists for her and Dean Ambrose, who can be the aloof loner fighting with the woman that some know he is secretly involved with, but probably doesn't want involved in his physical business (in this sense). Probably the most "heavyweight" thing Dean deserves at this point in time.

* Dean Ambrose & Renee Young vs. The Miz & Maryse

Oh, and then there is that Andre Battle Royal. I still maintain this is where Big Show and Shaq should be. Baron Corbin and Braun Strowman too. Enzo & Cass can do some hype work heading into it. This could be Mark Henry's "retirement match" too. Will they give it to him just because it is his last night with the company? There could be some drama mined in there. A pissed off bald Ziggler from a Hair vs. Mask Match with Kalisto on the pre-show could come out and participate and do quite well. You can have some surprises and some veterans in there too. Given who would currently be scheduled, I'd have it come down between Sami Zayn and Strowman with Strowman winning.

* Andre the Giant Battle Royal; Sceduled Winner: Braun Strowman

Honestly? Because Shane couldn't really wrestle before and is 10 years older. There is nothing he can do that we haven't already seen, and the current best in ring guy in the company deserves a match against a high caliber opponent.

Shane is a 47 year old non-wrestler. I am the exact opposite to you. I don't understand why anyone would want to see it.

But yeah...I guess if he has to wrestle...

Final card:

(edited to include two more "opening portion" matches to get it to five a-piece)

Main Event Portion:

* John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship
* The Undertaker (c) vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship
* Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar III
* Neville (c) vs. Kota Ibushi for the Cruiserweight Championship
* Charlotte (c) vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax for the RAW Women's Championship

Middle Portion:

* Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Luke Harper for the Intercontinental Championship
* Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins
* The Hardys (c) vs. Anderson & Gallows vs. Cesaro & Sheamus vs. The New Day in a TLC Match for the RAW Tag Team Championship
* Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Final two are Braun Strowman and Sami Zayn
* Chris Jericho (c) vs. Kevin Owens for the United States Championship

Opening Portion:
* The Miz & Maryse vs. Dean Ambrose & Renee Young
* Dolph Ziggler vs. Kalisto in a Hair vs. Mask Match
* Naomi (c) vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James vs. Natalya vs. Nikki Bella for the SmackDown Women's Championship
* Tyler Bate (c) vs. Jack Gallagher for the WWE UK Championship
* The Revival (c) vs. American Alpha for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship

In between the blocks they can do Network commercials, adds for future PPVs, show folks training in the back, cut to the panel, etc. Basically an intermission. Edge & Christian can do some entertaining during the first break with Enzo & Cass and maybe a heel team like Rusev & Jinder Mahal. The Rock can take over the second segment and segue into the RAW Women's Title match.

Because they shouldn't be looking for someone for Shane to face? He came in last year to make up the numbers on a depleted roster, this year they're going to struggle to get all of the champions on the card. The mentality of "there's no one better for Shane to face" is backwards; they should be looking for the best opponent to showcase AJ.

SETH ROLLINS UPDATE, THE MATCH THAT HAS BEEN PITCHED AS A POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR HHH VS. ROLLINS (POTENTIAL SPOILER)
By Mike Johnson on 2017-02-03 10:16:00

WWE announced on their website that Seth Rollins has been pulled from this weekend's live events as he is not medically cleared to wrestle after injuring his knee again this past Monday. Rollins was in Birmingham, Alabama getting the knee examined.

WWE promised a medical update on Rollins for this Monday's Raw, so they are saving that news for TV.

Should Rollins not be able to work Wrestlemania 33, there will obviously be a change in plans. One pitch that has made the rounds over the last 24 hours is for Triple H to wrestle Shane McMahon at the show. We will see if that ends up being the direction if Rollins' injury requires an extended period of absence from WWE storylines.

:y:

There are pros to AJ Styles facing Shane McMahon. It's a trusted spot. Vince is obviously impressed with the work AJ does if he's going to let him wrestle his son at WrestleMania. And whether or not we like it, Shane is also over. AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon is a more important match than, say, AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose, and that's just a fact of life at the moment.

That being said, I'd actually rather see Triple H vs. Shane McMahon. Let me scrap that, I'd rather Triple H sit off the WrestleMania card entirely, but if we do need him on there, it's a match between two non-wrestling characters with a lot of emotional stakes.

God I hope they go with this. If Triple H and Shane have to be on the card I'd rather they face each other and let AJ Styles do something of actual consequence.

Even if Seth Rollins is healthy, they should still go with Triple H vs. Shane McMahon and Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe.

It would also be a good way to get Seth over to SmackDown, where I think he could have a more interesting and less mired run as a babyface.

Triple H vs Shane as a possible match sounds very interesting solely based on the supposed real life backstage heat between the two ever since Shane returned.

Pretty much would be trading away a better in-ring match with Styles in return for a better story with Triple H for Road to Mania.

I find it crazy that there's heat between the 2. Though I know Shane was never fond of H getting with Steph but jeez y'all are familia. Shouldn't be anything anyone knows about.

If I remember the heat itself is pretty small but mostly regarding the post-Vince plans for the WWE. Triple H has way more heat against those who brought Shane back like Kevin Dunn since those people were planned on getting fired once he officially took over.

I'm actually wondering if the US Title will be on the line in some sort of Ladder Match. It seems "too gimmicky" for the station that Owens and Jericho are at, but Owens loves his spotfests and Jericho is a team player. I could see Jericho vs. Owens vs. Zayn vs. Strowman vs. Sheamus vs. Cesaro with Rusev possibly being in there. It seems random, but given that seeds are being planted for a Sheamus/Cesaro split again (and I doubt they give him time for a proper Mania program) and that Zayn and Strowman kind of get left in the dark when it comes to rumored scheduled Mania plans, a Ladder Match gives them a chance to all get some shine and fight over the RAW mid-card title.

I dunno, it's just a suggestion. I just still think that Jericho vs. Owens is going to be one "personal grudge over a title" too many when it comes to the PPV in terms of tone. I mean, Orton and Wyatt will already likely be doing the split thing.

Also, allegedly The Hardys have not re-upped with TNA yet. I can see them going to the WWE in return for that greater creative control. Or at least with major tentpoles set up -- ie. Matt hitting his head at Mania, coming back as Broken Matt, feuding with Jeff, converting him, going back after the RAW Tag Titles, PPV in Raleigh, etc. Why not accommodate some of Matt's wishes in order to snag him away from TNA and get those giant merch movers back into the company and helping to pump up that mid-card of yours?

The Hardys winning the RAW Tag Titles from Gallows & Anderson (I can see Matt being the sort of guy that would request to work with them) before feuding with The New Day heading into WrestleMania seems like something that would really spice up the card. I originally had them in a TLC Match, but I can see them just wrestling a plain tag and Big E's Spear through the ropes to Matt being what causes him to go ga-ga. Gallows & Anderson can go into the Battle Royal.

I think with how it's been said of Strowman's push, her deserves better than a multi man cluster fuck match for a secondary title.

Really the roster is so seemingly thin there's not a lot of options for him. An inter promotional match was mentioned but who from Smackdown do you put him against?

20 years later and we're still getting Wrestlemania feuds built around the McMahon family for fucks sake.

I actually enjoy watching him and I think its rather interesting how his personality is developing the more he is on camera

Hell, Strowman vs Henry (just start building Henry up now) will get him a 1 on 1 victory at Mania. Of you could even do a Henry and Zayn vs Strowman to make it a more solid win.

Stowman totally has earned a big spot on the card so I really hope his story is big on the show of shows. Also with Nakamura not on the NXT tapings I'm thinking he may be called up, but for what? Well Strowman and Nakamura would probably be awesome.