5 Matches that could have saved WrestleMania 32
WrestleMania 32 took place last year on April 3, 2016, and was home to one of the biggest crowds in the history of professional wrestling. Unfortunately, despite the huge crowd, last year’s WrestleMania was largely regarded as a dud.
There were a few good matches like the one between Chris Jericho and AJ Styles, as well as the Intercontinental Championship ladder match, but that was practically all there was as far as enjoyable matches go.
The New Day lost their match but didn’t defend their Championships, Brock Lesnar squashed Dean Ambrose, the Hell in A Cell match between Shane McMahon and The Undertaker was only good for the dive off the top of the cell, The Wyatt Family weren’t even on the show, and the main event for the WWE Championship between Roman Reigns and Triple H fell flat.
WrestleMania 32 was considered by many a disappointing pay-per-view, but it really didn’t have to be. While it is true that several top stars like Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, John Cena, and Sting were all out due to injury, that doesn’t excuse the lacklustre card that the fans were presented with.
There were other options that the WWE could’ve considered, but they went with what they went with and the fans didn’t care for it at all. So, to give a fan’s perspective on how the show could’ve been better, this article will look at 5 matches that could’ve vastly improved WrestleMania 32 based on who was available at the time.
Sidenote: The matches between AJ Styles and Chris Jericho, the Inaugural Raw Women’s Championship match, and the match between The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon would remain on the show. As far as outcomes go, only Styles vs. Jericho would need to be changed to Styles winning the match.
Also, the Undertaker and Shane McMahon match wouldn’t put The Deadman’s career on the line.
#5 Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens – Intercontinental Championship Match
The Intercontinental Championship Ladder match was probably one of the better matches on the WrestleMania card, but it didn’t really make much sense. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn had a solid storyline that could’ve easily been built up with the time they had, but the WWE decided to throw several wrestlers into the match who weren’t even qualified to win it.
And to make matters worse, they gave the title to a wrestler they neglected for years, just to take it away from him the next night. All they had to do was play off the Owens-Zayn rivalry, and the storyline for the Intercontinental Championship would’ve been great.
Aside from their backstory on the independent circuit, the narrative built in the confines of WWE was easily building up to a big win for Zayn. Owens brutalised Zayn, took his NXT Championship and put him on the shelf for months.
Then, when Zayn returned, he cost Owens his shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble and would continue to attack him heading into WrestleMania. This was the perfect scenario for Owens and Zayn to battle for the Intercontinental Championship and give Zayn a big win that means something.
These two men have been regarded as some of the best wrestlers the WWE has employed and their matches have not disappointed. This was their best chance to introduce Zayn as someone who mattered, while also giving both men a high-profile match and it more than likely would’ve been a highlight of WrestleMania.
IF they did even half of what they did at Battleground last year, they could’ve stolen the show.