WWE WrestleMania 35: 3 reasons why Tony Nese should win the title

On the Mar. 19 episode of 205 Live, Tony Nese defeated Cedric Alexander in an exhilarating finals match, emphatically punching his ticket to WWE WrestleMania 35, where he will face “workout partner” Buddy Murphy in a Cruiserweight Title match.

Despite being with WWE 205 Live since the beginning, Tony Nese has never held the Cruiserweight Championship. In fact, for most of the Purple Brand’s existence, Nese has been an afterthought, once reduced to a conceited, workout-bro heel character who counted his abs, did ab exercises in the ring, and cut bland promos to back an even blander move-set.

But over the past several months, Nese has become one of 205’s most important superstars, and he will have his first career WrestleMania match at WWE WrestleMania 35. In order to earn this opportunity at Buddy Murphy’s Cruiserweight Title, Nese had to defeat some of the brand’s best in a tournament, including the dominant Cedric Alexander, the brand’s first champion under Drake Maverick’s reign as general manager, in the finals on Mar. 19.

Now that Nese is set to face his close friend at WrestleMania, it’s time to consider his chances of winning his first title in WWE. He’s come a long way since his days with the ‘Zo train, and, interestingly enough, the only other time he received an opportunity at the Cruiserweight Championship came when he was with the ‘Zo train. His opponent? Enzo Amore, in a match that was a sham, ending in a DQ that garnered tremendous sympathy for Nese, which went nowhere.

But now, Nese has the full respect of the WWE Universe, and here are three reasons why he should win the title at WrestleMania.