We take a look at four stars who are red-hot with momentum heading into WWE WrestleMania 34.
WWE has pulled all the stops on the road to WWE WrestleMania 34 this year. A stacked card like this year’s has brought back a sense of electricity to the whole show and the build towards most of these matches have been superb. Perhaps, the biggest revelation during the road to WrestleMania has been Daniel Bryan getting cleared to return to in-ring action. No star has shared the level of chemistry and admiration with the fans as Bryan has in the past.
A number of big matches and dream matches add further depth to the card. AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura will most likely tear the house down and so could Charlotte and Asuka. Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar will likely pick up from where they stopped three years ago. This time, there is no Money in the Bank briefcase or Royal Rumble winner to get in their way mid-match.
There is also the potential of John Cena taking on the Undertaker in yet another dream match. However, neither Cena nor WWE has yet confirmed that this match would actually take place. Personally, I prefer this match taking place under an unfamiliar fashion.
We have already seen which stars need a win at the Show of Shows the most. Some of them are indeed in dire need of a big moment. However, which stars have the most momentum on their side as we head into WrestleMania?
Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
4. Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman is on a roll now. He is unstoppable. Yes, we know that he is a totally unstoppable Monster Among Men. But Strowman is also literally unstoppable from a creative stand point. Here is a giant who can pull off even the wackiest dose of comedy and make you laugh so hard your drink goes up your nose.
If you weren’t laughing hard at the sight of Brains Strowman last night, then you probably weren’t paying attention. Once you’ve seen it, go back and re-watch it. Listen to every word that Strowman says. It’s really funny when you put it together with the way he speaks. By the time Strowman says “He’s a lot like me” I really can’t help it.
If you thought slamming people into the canvas is all that Strowman could do, then you are horribly mistaken. Am pretty sure nobody has forgotten that whole segment between Strowman and Elias. This is one Monster who is oozing with the same level of charisma when he is slamming people in the ring and when he is doing some nice cosplay.
As for Strowman’s match against the Bar, I really hope he wins the titles. As far as I am concerned, the only bit of intrigue surrounding the match is who will show up as Strowman’s partner. Will it be Elias? Samoa Joe? Big Cass? Or will it be James Ellsworth? Anything could happen at WrestleMania.
Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
3. Roman Reigns
It is almost a certainty that Reigns will be walking out of WrestleMania 34 as the new WWE Universal champion. However, whether the crowd eventually turns on him remains to be seen. If the past few weeks are any sign of the future, then one can be assured that Reigns’s days of being booed around are over.
A vocal portion of the crowd still boos him. They still reject him with every ounce of energy they have. But the truth is, Reigns has been slowly winning over the WWE universe and a major portion of the online community. We have been seeing more praise for the Big Dog over time and he deserves every bit of this.
The whole dynamic of his title match with Lesnar, portraying Reigns as a locker room leader and a work horse and Lesnar as a selfish part timer did manage to get its job done. It might seem cheesy and cliché. Regardless, Reigns has been thriving in his role. This past week, the cheers for him were louder than ever before.
Creative is going all in by presenting Reigns as this rebellious leader of the full time talents. Over the past three weeks, he has been reminiscent of a PG era Stone Cold if I may say. The end result for all this could actually be positive. Reigns might just be over with the fans after all. Yes, there will be some backlash when he wins the title, but for now, he is brimming with momentum and has a chance, unlike what he had to face at WrestleMania 31.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
2. Charlotte Flair
Just like Roman Reigns winning at WrestleMania, a lot of people expect Asuka too to win. After all, the undefeated streak has been a major element of her character. Charlotte will most likely fall to the Empress of Tomorrow come Sunday. However, as for now, the champion has tons of momentum than the challenger.
Asuka is a dominating performer. She has relentlessly taken on all kinds of challengers under all kinds of disadvantages. Regardless, she has always thrived and delivered. But, here is the catch. It was all in NXT. The majority of the main roster fans are yet to witness Asuka in full swing. They might actually do so come Sunday.
When it comes to the Queen though, it’s a whole different story. For years, we have seen Charlotte put on great matches. She is undoubtedly, the standard-bearer of the division, whether she is a champion or not. This week was no exception. Ahead of her greatest challenge ever, Charlotte took on one of her greatest rivals, Natalya, in quite a physical match this week. The mere fact that she had the heart to do this just days ahead of the biggest match of her career speaks volumes about Charlotte’s heart.
The commentary team played up her heart and guts. The Queen even managed to fend off Carmella and cut off Asuka from delivering her trademark line. If that doesn’t light up your momentum meter ahead of WrestleMania, then I don’t know what will. Charlotte may not walk away with the title come Sunday, but she has established herself as a true champion in all sense of the word.
Credit: WWE.com
1. Daniel Bryan
Unlike all the other big names on this list, Daniel Bryan hasn’t wrestled a single match during the road to WrestleMania. We haven’t seen him compete in the ring for a long time now. Yet, Bryan is full of momentum as he heads to WWE WrestleMania 34 to team up with Shane McMahon. The authority figures of SmackDown Live will take on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Bryan is perhaps the purest babyface ever in the WWE. The fans cheer for him and welcome him with open hands every time. As such, the GM of the Blue Brand losing in his first match since his monumental return seems odd. Rather than odd, it seems impossible. That is the biggest testament to his connection with the fans.
The lingering feeling of someone turning heel during the match adds a sense of suspense. After making an emphatic return to the ring, cheered, loved and admired by the fans, if Bryan were to turn on Shane and join hands with Owens and Zayn, it would be a sight for ages. Improbable as it may seem at this point, this might just happen.
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Regardless, at the moment, there is no bigger star than Daniel Bryan. There is no star with more momentum and a sense of definitive victory than the leader of the Yes movement. What are your thoughts? Which other stars do you think would be heading into this year’s WrestleMania with ample momentum?