When an annual event is celebrated for 33 years straight, it becomes a part of history. It may not be a very prominent part, but still, it is a part of history that future generations will hear stories about.
There are plenty of WrestleMania stories the future generations are yet to know about. In a couple of weeks, this tradition will enter its 33rd edition.
WrestleMania is no longer just a part of wrestling history. It has now become a part of the human history as well. The history of pro-wrestling can not be told without touching base upon the grandest stage of them all.
However, as WrestleMania season approaches, we're reminded of all the horrible booking decisions Vince McMahon and his team makes throughout the year so as to properly disappoint in WrestleMania.
WWE is made up of a roster full of under-utilized talents. A locker room that boasts of such accomplished athletes also becomes home to a disgruntled mob fed up by the system. The forced evolution of the WWE locker room over the years is proof of valuable talents gone to waste.
And since it's WrestleMania season, we've brought you a list of wrestlers that could have made this year's WrestleMania an instant classic. Here you go:
#1 Cesaro
For the second year in a row, Cesaro is a part of a WrestleMania match that has too many participants in it. Despite shining in the last year's IC Title match at WrestleMania, Cesaro is yet again going to be far from a one-on-one competition.
If Cesaro was involved in a one-on-one rivalry around WrestleMania time, we could have expected him to create an instant classic of a match at WrestleMania. After Daniel Bryan, Cesaro is the only wrestler that's not only immensely over with the audiences but is also an incredible worker in the ring and a charmer on the mic.
Also read: 5 current WWE Superstars who have never had a singles match at WrestleMania
However unfortunately when you're Vince McMahon, logic and sense don't always prevail. WrestleMania 33 is another instance of the WWE failing to capitalise on Cesaro to recreate the magic Daniel Bryan created at WrestleMania 30.
#2 Sami Zayn
Where to even begin with Zayn! Zayn made a sensational entry and a lasting impression at last year's WrestleMania. His feud with Kevin Owens brought an immense amount of chemistry to the IC Title match last year.
It was only logical for Zayn to receive the support of the writers and the authority. But what actually happened was far from our expectations. Zayn has nailed every angle he was forced into this past year and yet he's nowhere to be seen on the WrestleMania card.
He's another talent who's not only immensely over with the crowd but is also an amazing performer in the ring. His feud with Kevin Owens after WrestleMania one of the more heartfelt feuds of the year. Their rivalry culminated into what could be a 'match of the year' contender.
His rivalry with Braun Strowman was way more intense than fans expected it to be. To have a monster like Braun Strowman witch-hunt for Zayn and for Zayn to go aggressive on Braun is just stuff that legends are made of.
It would have been a step towards a better future had Zayn been a part of this year's WrestleMania in a big way.
#3 Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler is a performer who belongs in the same list as CM Punk and Daniel Bryan.
His in-ring abilities are second to none and his immensely rare talent of selling every crappy angle forced upon him makes him a once in a lifetime wrestler. But that does not deter WWE from underusing him.
In the case of Ziggler however, the blame can't be placed on one party entirely. Ziggler's interest in pursuing comedy as a stand-up has kept him away from the ring, not that he was being properly utilised in the ring anyway. But it's quite evident that wrestling isn't Ziggler's priority anymore and WWE may have a little something to do with that.
By this point in his career, Ziggler should have been a main-event talent at every PPV. Had he been involved in the championship scene, his WrestleMania match would have charmed even the most ruthless critics of the art-form.
#4 Finn Balor
This one's rather unfortunate. When Finn made his much touted WWE main roster debut after being drafted to Raw, the WWE Universe was introduced to a bundle of hope from the creative team.
Finn Balor's first rivalry in WWE was against Seth Rollins where the Universal Championship belt was at stake. When he introduced the "Demon King" character a few weeks later, the WWE Universe was in extreme joy.
Relinquishing the title right after his first PPV win, was an unexpected nail that sealed the coffin of hopes that the WWE Universe had from Balor.
For months now, Balor's return is being speculated among fans online. Those rumours were put to rest when Balor made his return at a recent live show by WWE. It's great to see Balor fit this time of the year but the absence of a WrestleMania match from his resume is incredibly sad.
Now that Balor is around the block again, fans can only hope for WWE to incorporate some last minute changes to bring Finn Balor back in the squared circle at WrestleMania 33. The result of this experiment can be enormously rewarding for the WWE.
#5 Alberto Del Rio
Agreed, Del Rio is the most far-fetched entry in the list, purely due to the fact that Del Rio's second exit from the company has pretty much sealed the doors for a potential comeback.
But in the process of that, let us not forget who Alberto Del Rio was and what he was capable of.
The WWE was lured into getting Del Rio on board to replicate the magic that the legendary Eddie Guerrero created. However, WWE's constant efforts to make Del Rio look like a funny Mexican heel like Guerrero was exactly what made Del Rio quit the company in the first place.
There's no doubt that Alberto Del Rio is a great performer in the ring and his intense promos help build his character. Del Rio has been in numerous feuds in the WWE, however, the company clearly failed to capitalise on his potential, for the second time in a row.
During his second run in the company, Del Rio was in the shape of his life and his in-ring manoeuvres reflected that. Unfortunately for us, he was jumbled around in shallow gimmicks that ruined his run as soon as it began.
There's little to no doubt left that if Del Rio was still in the company, he would have had iconic rivalries with any of the men listed above. Imagine a Del Rio vs Sami Zayn feud. The tickets would have sold themselves.
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