A lot can change between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, but we're finally starting to get some insight into the plans for what might go down in Orlando on April 2nd, on the Grandest Stage Of Them All.
According to a report in The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, AJ Styles and Kevin Owens are not expected to go into WrestleMania 33 as champions for their respective brands, despite currently holding the WWE Title and the Universal Title, respectively.
Styles will be defending his title against John Cena on Sunday while Owens heads into a match versus Roman Reigns. We already know that the WWE Title will be defended inside the Elimination Chamber at the eponymous SmackDown pay-per-view on February 12 in Phoenix, Arizona, and, although no title programs have been announced, the RAW brand will put on the Fastlane pay-per-view on March 5 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
According to the The Observer, the WrestleMania 33 card is expected to contain these matches, among others:
- Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar
- Triple H vs. Seth Rollins
- Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho
- Shaquille O'Neal vs. Big Show
- The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns
- Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton
- RAW Women's Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks
There currently rumors circulating of Orton winning the Rumble match this Sunday and Wyatt winning the Elimination Chamber match, which would mean their Mania match would be for the WWE Title.
Former Two-Time NXT Champion Samoa Joe is expected to be called up soon and given a pretty big push, which could land him in a match at Mania vs John Cena. The plans for AJ Styles are kind of up in the air, with the scuttlebutt being a match vs SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon.
On the RAW side of things, it looks like the Universal Title will be on the line for either Taker vs. Reigns, Jericho vs. Owens or Goldberg vs. Lesnar. However, since Jericho is currently the United States Champion, it makes more sense for him to defend the US Title versus his erstwhile best friend, Kevin Owens.
As is often said, though, plans can always change. If that happens, we'll let you know.
