If there is one thing to know about WrestleMania, it is that it is by far the biggest wrestling event of the year. Since the dawn of the Pay-Per-View Kickoff Show, it is only fitting that WrestleMania 33’s Kickoff Show is an hour longer than most events throughout the year. The Kickoff Show starts at 5 pm Eastern time on the WWE Network, the USA Network, FaceBook, and more. With two hours to spare, three matches on the Grandest Stage of Them All will take place before the main card: Neville vs. Austin Aries for the Cruiserweight Championship, Alexa Bliss defending the SmackDown Women’s Championship against every available woman on the roster, and the fourth annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries – WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Just a year ago, there was no possible way this match was happening at WrestleMania. Neville was supposed to compete in the Intercontinental Championship ladder match, but he injured his ankle. Austin Aries had just signed with WWE and made his debut for NXT at TakeOver: Dallas one night prior against Baron Corbin. To top it all off, the Cruiserweight Championship was not revived until the finale of the Cruiserweight Classic, which took place on September 14th of last year.
Since the revival of the Cruiserweight Championship, WWE debuted 205 Live, which gave Cruiserweights a chance to shine alongside time on Monday Night Raw. Neville made a huge impact in the division when he returned at Roadblock: End of the Line to attack TJ Perkins and then champion Rich Swann. The King of the Cruiserweights would then defeat everybody in his path, and since the Royal Rumble, he has held the Cruiserweight Championship.
Austin Aries started his WWE career in NXT, feuding with Baron Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura, and even teaming up with Roderick Strong in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Aries would eventually be sidelined with an eye injury after Nakamura kicked him too hard, which was a blessing in disguise that would put Aries on commentary for every Cruiserweight match. Fans would come to know Aries, and he already has a huge following when he made his in-ring debut a few weeks ago. Aries would then win a Fatal Five-Way Match on 205 Live to earn his #1 Contender spot.
Prediction:
From his in-ring ability to strength and quickness, Neville is the total package. While Austin Aries is a great wrestler, Neville has more recent proof that he is the better competitor. This match could definitely swing either way, but I’m thinking that the title stays with the King of the Cruiserweights. Winner, and STILL Cruiserweight Champion: Neville
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
For the fourth year in a row, WrestleMania hosts the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Cesaro and Big Show won the first two without much career advancement, while Baron Corbin’s victory in last year’s Battle Royal has only increased his value. The participants in this match are essentially the WWE Superstars who didn’t have anything else to do.
List of entrants: Sami Zayn, Braun Strowman, Goldust, R-Truth, Curtis Axel, Primo, Epico, Bo Dallas, Jinder Mahal, Apollo Crews, Mojo Rawley, Big Show, Curt Hawkins, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Jason Jordan, Chad Gable, Heath Slater, Rhyno, Tyler Breeze, Fandango, & Dolph Ziggler
Prediction:
There is some room for surprise entrants, like Samoa Joe or an NXT Superstar that is not busy at TakeOver. However, it seems like there is only one obvious pick for a winner, and that man is Braun Strowman. Winner: Braun Strowman
SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
Naomi won the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Alexa Bliss just a few weeks ago, but she was temporarily out of action due to a knee injury. Bliss would face Becky Lynch the following week, where she became the first-ever two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion. Every woman on the roster outside of Nikki Bella and Maryse tried to convince Daniel Bryan that they should be competing for the title next. Instead of choosing one of them, Bryan made the WrestleMania match open to any woman available on the SmackDown roster.
This led to the women in the division fighting each other at all times, with almost every match ending in a brawl. Mickie James ended up turning on Alexa Bliss and going her own way after Bliss disrespected her in a tag team match. The chaos even led to the surprise return of Naomi this week, who is the last confirmed entrant alongside Mickie James, Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch, Carmella, and Natalya.
Prediction:
This could be a huge moment for someone like Naomi, who never lost her championship and goes into WrestleMania in her hometown of Orlando. It could also be a huge surprise win for someone like Carmella, Tamina returning from injury, or even an NXT call-up like Asuka. For this match, I’m going to have to go with the only woman to have never lost the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Winner, and NEW SmackDown Women’s Champion: Naomi
