WWE SmackDown Stars Competing for WrestleMania 33 Title Match Set
Which WWE SmackDown stars will be going for a World title opportunity on Tuesday’s show?
On last Tuesday’s episode of WWE SmackDown, Randy Orton refused his WWE Championship opportunity for WrestleMania 33. This came after Bray Wyatt successfully defended the title against John Cena and AJ Styles in a thrilling main event match.
Later that evening, SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan announced a battle royal for the February 21 show. This will decide who faces Wyatt for his title at WrestleMania.
Earlier Tuesday, WWE revealed the 10 Superstars who will be going for this opportunity. They are the following:
- Dean Ambrose
- John Cena
- Baron Corbin
- Apollo Crews
- Luke Harper
- Kalisto
- The Miz
- Mojo Rawley
- AJ Styles
- Dolph Ziggler
Right off the bat, Crews, Kalisto, Rawley, and Ziggler can be eliminated from contention. They haven’t been made to look like WWE World title contenders in recent months — or ever. Those four could become part of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania. To show how much they matter toward this battle royal, WWE included none of them in the match’s graphic:
A 10-Man #BattleRoyal determines the @WWE Championship's new #1Contender TONIGHT on #SDLive at 8/7c on @USA_Network! https://t.co/kumFFsowyF pic.twitter.com/HHMJBKi44w
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2017
Then there’s Ambrose and Corbin, who are on their way to a feud for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. This comes after the Lone Wolf’s attacks from last week, which saw the Lunatic Fringe get the daylights knocked out of him.
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As for Cena, he just lost the WWE Championship a little over one week ago and got pinned twice in three days by Wyatt. There have been subtle hints about something happening with the Miz at WrestleMania, including Nikki Bella and Maryse’s inadvertent run-in and Cena pinning the A-lister in the Elimination Chamber match.
That leaves Harper and Styles standing. WWE placed the Phenomenal One and Wyatt in the ring with each other last week, leading to a spectacular showcase. Maybe that was a tease of what’s to come at WrestleMania. However, the ideal candidate to win this is Harper. He has the ongoing storyline with the Eater of Worlds and Orton, the latter of whom can’t be ruled out from eventually rejoining the title match. This could mean we’re getting a triple threat between these Wyatt Family members at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
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Of course, WWE could throw a swerve in everyone’s direction and do something we’re not expecting. Who do you think will become the new No. 1 Contender to Wyatt at WrestleMania 33?