WWE WrestleMania 33: 8 Stars That May Not Get the Spot They Deserve
By Adam O'Brien
WWE.com
8. Neville
Early last year, it was believed that “The Man That Gravity Forgot” had been in line to participate in the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania 32.
A slight mishap against Chris Jericho last March would sadly squander those plans, as the man was placed on the shelf for four months with a fractured ankle.
What makes his absence even more tragic, however, is that his spot in the match was said to have been filled by the eventual winner that night; Zack Ryder.
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That’s not necessarily to say Neville’s inclusion in the bout would’ve resulted in a title win, plans do change every day within WWE, but if this is true, you can imagine Neville’s heart would’ve been broken to see his first WrestleMania opportunity – having debuted the night after the previous year’s big event – go to somebody else
This time around, Neville is a changed man. No longer held back by inconsistent and careless booking, Neville is the rightful new poster child of the cruiserweight division, as its champion and the self-proclaimed “King of the Cruiserweights”.
His character work and facial expressions, paired with his mic and ever-impressive ring abilities have put him at the forefront of 205 Live, and if there is anybody that’s going to represent the division in a match at WrestleMania 33, it’s going to be Neville.
That is a big “if”, mind you.
The aforementioned blockbuster matches slated to be on display could be so overpowering that some of the longer-running divisions may not even get a look in on the main card, save for the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Even if he did get the chance to defend his title on the pre-show, it would feel like a lackluster climax for all the hard work Neville has put into making the cruiserweight division must-see each and every week since December.
There’ve been murmurs lately about Neville potentially going toe-to-toe with a returning Austin Aries in Orlando, which would certainly be a treat regardless of its positioning on the card, but fans of “The Jumping Geordie” will have to keep their fingers crossed for something worthwhile until it’s confirmed.