5 WrestleMania 36 matches that may not take place

WrestleMania 36 takes place in just over two weeks' time but instead of the 16 match card that was being pushed at the beginning of the month, WWE could put on a show that features just eight matches over two nights.

Reports suggest that the company wants to minimize the number of live matches since there will be no audience in the Performance Center, which means that many matches have been axed from the card.

At present, it appears that there are just eight matches which include Drew McIntyre challenging Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, Becky Lynch defending the RAW Women's Championship against Shayna Baszler, John Cena taking on The Fiend and Edge battling Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match, once that match is made official.

There will also be Roman Reigns taking on Goldberg for the Universal Championship, The Undertaker vs AJ Styles, Rhea Ripley defending her NXT Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair and Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens.

Many fans believe that two more matches could be announced to make each night consist of five live matches from the Performance Center, but even then there will be so many matches that won't make the card.

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#5. Women's Tag Team Championship

A few weeks ago on SmackDown, Alexa Bliss called out the Kabuki Warriors which was WWE's way of planting a seed that would later grow into a Women's Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania in a few weeks time.

Whilst Asuka has continued to be a thorn in the side of many members of the Women's Division, and even interfered in Alexa Bliss' match last week on SmackDown, there has been no real continuation of this feud and WWE could now be happy to present WrestleMania with just two women's matches instead.

#4. Rey Mysterio vs Andrade - United States Championship

There is a chance that this match could still take place since the US and Intercontinental Championships have continued storylines in recent weeks, with Rey Mysterio building a lot of momentum and even managing to defeat Andrade this past week on RAW.

This win would automatically give Mysterio a United States Championship match, one that was obviously planned for WrestleMania before the show was moved to a much smaller venue.

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that WWE is still looking to add this match, but there is still a chance that it could be axed like so many others.

"Rey Mysterio beating U.S. Champion Andrade in a non-title match would seem to set up a title match. We are told that the match is possible but not a lock as matches not announced right now are not confirmed yet."

Initially there were rumors that this was set to be a Hair vs Mask match but it appears that this isn't the case and if the match is able to go ahead then it would be a straight up Championship match.

#3. Women's SmackDown Championship match

The women of WWE will already be represented at WrestleMania, since there are already two Championship matches officially on the card, but there are no SmackDown women set to be part of the show.

Paige's return last week on SmackDown was believed to be so that the Championship match could be set up as a six-pack challenge and include the like of Naomi, Carmella, Sasha Banks, Lacey Evans and the Women's Champion herself.

The match needed just one more competitor but since Paige was unable to travel to SmackDown last week, the angle wasn't included in the show and instead the company pushed forward the Women's Tag Team Championship angle, which also may not go ahead.

Bayley will be the only solo Women's Champion who doesn't defend her title at WrestleMania, but since she is the only women to defend her title in the Middle East, it may be the way that WWE balances out this decision and instead gives Bayley the chance to defend her title the following week on SmackDown.

#2. Memorial Battle Royals

With the latest CDC recommendations regarding large groups, WWE simply cannot go on as is for WrestleMania. No crowds larger than 50 people for 8 weeks is the recommendation. Also, I would expect all TV events to be from the Performance Center for the foreseeable future.

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) March 15, 2020

Over the past six years, 30 men have competed in the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal at WrestleMania and a number of stars including Cesaro, The Big Show, Mojo Rawley and even Matt Hardy have emerged victorious.

This year there won't be a way for WWE to include the entire roster in the show, since there are rules surrounding social distancing and mass gatherings, so WWE is trying to limit the amount of stars that are in the building at any one time.

WrestleMania is reportedly taking place over two nights so that only 50 people have to be in the building to be part of the show. This means that 30 men or women will not be availble to compete in the usual battle royals that weekend.

The women were set to be part of a number of matches at WrestleMania and the Women's battle royal was where The Riott Squad were reportedly finally set to do battle, but with this match no longer going ahead, it's easy to see why Ruby Riott is unhappy.

#1. Six person mixed tag team match

Prior to all the changes, a mixed tag team match was scheduled for WrestleMania: Heavy Machinery & Mandy Rose vs. Ziggler/ Roode & Sonya. No telling on if that happens now, as comedy spots like I’m sure would have happened won’t go over without a crowd.

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) March 17, 2020

One of the stand out storylines on SmackDown over the past few weeks has revolved around the intense relationship between Mandy Rose and Otis. Whilst it appears that Rose has already decided to step into a relationship with Dolph Ziggler, Otis is still pushing for his woman and it was supposed to reach its climax at WrestleMania.

The two stars were not part of SmackDown this past week and it's thought that their match may be pushed to another show in future so that fans will finally get the pay off of the feud.

Interestingly WrestleVotes reported that the planned match for WrestleMania was a six-person mixed tag team match which would have seen Rose team with Heavy Machinery whilst her team mate Sonya Deville was set to team with Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler. This means that Rose and Deville were set to split leading into WrestleMania and now the whole angle could have been scrapped.

It will be interesting to see whether or not the angle is picked up again heading into SummerSlam