Every year at WrestleMania, there are certain Superstars who miss the card. While many of the "lower card" Superstars end up in the Battle Royals, some top stars tend to miss out on WrestleMania altogether.
WrestleMania 36 was an exception, with several full-time Superstars missing the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. WWE had to make the most of what they had with little time in hand.
In 2021, there are quite a few top Superstars who are set to miss WrestleMania, despite the fact that crowds are returning for the first time in over a year:
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#7. Brock Lesnar - Has been away from WWE since WrestleMania 36
Brock Lesnar technically shouldn't count on this list since he isn't under contract with WWE. The last time we saw Brock Lesnar on WWE TV, he lost to Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36.
Since then, he took a hiatus, and his WWE contract expired in the summer of 2020. Brock Lesnar was quietly removed from the WWE roster, but that doesn't mean he will never return.
Some reports stated that WWE didn't want to utilize Brock Lesnar for shows without a crowd, as it would take away from his aura and overall drawing ability. In a bid to maintain the larger-than-life presence of The Beast Incarnate, WWE decided not to re-sign him.
While Brock Lesnar was expected to return for WrestleMania 37, that isn't the case. The speculation of Brock Lesnar's return was fueled by the fact that Bobby Lashley became the WWE Champion, with many fans hoping that the dream match between Lesnar and Lashley would take place.
However, WWE decided to go with Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre instead. It's understandable, but even without a contract, Brock Lesnar is arguably the biggest superstar missing WrestleMania 37 this year.
#6. Triple H - Will miss his second WrestleMania in a row
Triple H is a name that is synonymous with WrestleMania. He has the second-most appearances in Wrestlemania history, only behind The Undertaker. His last WrestleMania appearance was in 2019, where he defeated and retired future WWE Hall of Famer Batista.
While that wasn't his last match, Triple H told SportsCenter that he was glad not to be a part of the WrestleMania 36 card. Stating that he is now a full-time office guy, there doesn't seem to be much time for Triple H to get back in the ring.
While we don't believe that 2019 was his last WrestleMania appearance, it may very well have been one of them. But for the second year in a row, Triple H is set to miss WrestleMania.
He seems to have no desire to get back on regular WWE programming and perhaps there aren't many opponents left for him to face.
In the last decade, Triple H lost to The Undertaker (twice), Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Ronda Rousey (with Kurt Angle) at WrestleMania. He has put over several Superstars at The Grandest Stage of Them All.
#5. Bayley - One of WWE's biggest stars in 2020 will miss WrestleMania
The Four Horsewomen have dominated the WWE Women's division since 2015, with several dominant WrestleMania performances. Each Superstar has gotten their own time in the spotlight.
Bayley got hers between mid-2019 and late 2020 - having enjoyed a 380-day reign as SmackDown Women's Champion. Except for a brief and pointless Charlotte Flair Title reign, Bayley was the SmackDown Women's Champion for a year-and-a-half.
She retained the Title at WrestleMania 36 and held on to it for six more months before losing to Sasha Banks at Hell in a Cell 2020. Bayley was considered one of WWE's best Superstars in 2020, which is why it's a shame that she looks likely to miss the WrestleMania 37 card.
A spot in the Women's Battle Royal means nothing, especially since no positive has come out of anyone winning the event on the men's or women's side. This could be the first WrestleMania that Bayley has missed since her career on the WWE main roster began.
#4. Goldberg - A surprising absence from WrestleMania 37
Goldberg is one of the legends that was expected to be a lock for WrestleMania 37. He returned to WWE in early 2021 on RAW Legends Night to challenge Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble.
They had a short but explosive match where Drew McIntyre walked out as the WWE Champion. It was surprising to see WWE call Goldberg for a match at the Royal Rumble while leaving him off the WrestleMania card.
While Goldberg isn't popular among the smaller hardcore fanbase, his presence at WrestleMania always draws more attention. He is one of the few WWE legends with drawing power, which is why he comes back time and again for WrestleMania.
Edge is the main part-time legend who will be a central figure at WrestleMania this year. It also marks the first time in years that a part-timer hasn't been the World Champion heading into WrestleMania.
WWE could have found different opponents for Goldberg, but perhaps they didn't see the value in utilizing him at WrestleMania this year.
#3. Charlotte Flair - A bizarre reason to miss WrestleMania
Charlotte Flair was expected to challenge Asuka for the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania 37. However, things went awry. While there was speculation that WWE's decision to pull Charlotte from WrestleMania had to do with the Andrade release situation, it was a bit different.
Andrade revealed that WWE doctors wrongly diagnosed Charlotte Flair as pregnant, and further tests proved that she wasn't. That was the supposed reason why Charlotte Flair was removed from the WrestleMania 37 advertising. However, she ended up testing positive for COVID-19 and is now medically clear.
Rhea Ripley stepped up on her RAW debut and challenged Asuka at WrestleMania 37. With no sign of Charlotte Flair on the penultimate RAW to WrestleMania, it seems as though WWE has decided to remove her from the card. This makes it the first WrestleMania that The Queen will miss since her WWE main roster debut in 2015.
Charlotte Flair's WrestleMania record is 3-2, with victories over Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Asuka, and Rhea Ripley.
#2. John Cena - A big loss for WrestleMania 37
John Cena last competed at WrestleMania 36. It's been over five years now since John Cena transitioned into being a part-timer, and his last appearance at WrestleMania was a unique one.
Rather than a traditional match, WWE opted to go with their second cinematic match at WrestleMania 36 - with a unique twist in the Firefly Fun House match against Bray Wyatt.
It was a trip down memory lane for John Cena. Surreal visuals, black comedy, and a little horror were mixed in to give fans a different experience at WrestleMania.
John Cena's last actual match was over two years ago when he lost to Finn Balor in a Triple Threat match on RAW. It's the longest John Cena has been away from the ring in his WWE career, but it's only to be expected as his Hollywood profile continues to grow.
While there were some rumblings about John Cena potentially competing at WrestleMania 37, that won't be the case.
#1. Becky Lynch - hasn't competed since WrestleMania 36
Becky Lynch hasn't competed since WrestleMania 36, where she defeated Shayna Baszler. Becky Lynch is the greatest RAW Women's Champion, more so than Bayley's status as the greatest SmackDown Women's Champion.
In her run between 2018 and 2020, Becky Lynch emerged as one of WWE's most popular stars. The culmination and peak of that run came at WrestleMania 35. She became the first of three women to headline WrestleMania and walked out with the RAW and SmackDown Women's Championship.
Her reign as RAW Women's Champion was a significant one. While many thought it would end against Shayna Baszler, The Man completed a year as RAW Women's Champion post-WrestleMania 36. She then vacated the title, handing it over to Money in the Bank winner Asuka.
Asuka took over her mantle as RAW Women's Champion and has held the title for most of the last 10 months. Becky Lynch is arguably the biggest full-time Superstar to miss WrestleMania this year. Will she return on the RAW post-WrestleMania 37?