This is supposed to be the best time of year to be a wrestling fan. Everyone getting excited for the annual Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment and the memorable moments that are expected on such a big stage. It’s a special time of year indeed!
Though this year…well…this year has raised some questions. Thanks to an injury bug that is apparently still taking down superstars left and right, the WWE Universe has been skeptical to say the least of the card that has been put together with the remaining healthy scraps.
WrestleMania is still WrestleMania though. Some are better than others but the allure will always be there. But even if this year’s rendition of the Granddady of Them All fails to live up to WrestleMania expectations, keep this in mind…there’s always next year!
And next year has the potential to be on a WrestleMania 17 level! Taking a look at the stars at every level of WWE is a quick way to get you excited about what could be on the horizon! Let’s take a look at the potential roster this time next year. As long as they avoid injuries, there are endless possibilities for the WrestleMania 33 card! (I knocked on every piece of wood within a 45-foot radius as I said that!)
Part Timers Expected On The Card
The Undertaker – It’s WrestleMania…and it’s The Undertaker! Have you seen the video going around with his dead lift and 40 inch jump? Age be damned, The Dead Man will be around for the foreseeable future! And if you really think that the greatest WrestleMania legacy of all time will end with a loss to Shane McMahon, you need to stop!
Brock Lesnar – It’s now been two years since The Beast Incarnate did the unthinkable and ended the streak. Apparently with
that Lesnar also took some of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania allure. A match with Lesnar on the biggest stage has turned into nearly as big a goal as a match with The Phenom.
Triple H – The boss can still go! An up and coming superstar standing up to the authority is a classic storyline that will always be in play – and having The Cerebral Assassin as that authority means that a solid match will be on the horizon.
Been On Top For A While Now
John Cena – This is the first year that WrestleMania will be without the leader of the Cenation in the ring since 2003. I’m pretty sure that Cena will be back at the top of the card once he returns. Hopefully this time WWE will realize that someone needs to beat Cena at WrestleMania…like they should have done with Bray Wyatt and/or Rusev the last two years.
Randy Orton – It’s hard to come up with a more underrated top level talent than Orton. He has never been seen as “the face of the company” but he is ALWAYS good for a solid match and entertaining build up.
Newer Established Main Eventers
Roman Reigns – DEAL WITH IT!
Seth Rollins – 2015 was Rollins’ year…though I guess it probably could have ended a little better for him. Rollins is a top guy and looks to have a strangle hold 
on a top spot for years to come. It isn’t hard to imagine The Architect in a high profile match in Orlando next year.
Dean Ambrose – Remember way back when I mentioned that a WrestleMania match against Brock Lesnar is now something to shoot for? Welp, the Lunatic Fringe has made it. Ambrose is one of the most popular guys on the roster right now – interesting to think about where his character will be this time next year.
Need To FINALLY Be Main Eventers
Bray Wyatt – Seriously! Why is Bray Wyatt STILL in this section?? Wyatt was set to face Lesnar at WrestleMania this year before plans were changed. Rumors swirling around have Wyatt ready to get a big push after WrestleMania with a Lesnar match still in the cards. Hopefully that momentum will carry to next April.
Cesaro – So many brass rings grabbed and still room in his pocket for more apparently. Cesaro seemed to be getting a little more attention on Raw right before going down with an injury. The Swiss Superman is expected to be back next month though. It’s about time that WWE shows the world what Cesaro can do!
New Guys Ready To Be Main Eventers
Kevin Owens – Is there anyone better at in-ring trash talk than Owens? Not only that, but Owens does things in the ring that quite
honestly a guy his size shouldn’t be able to do. He can be one of the top heels in the business, hopefully WWE can see that in the next 12 months.
AJ Styles – After years in exile – otherwise known as TNA – The Phenomenal One finally made his way to WWE at the Royal Rumble this year. In just a few short months Styles has set himself up for a solid one-on-one match with a future Hall of Famer. Imagine what he can do with a full year! Maaaaaaaaybe reuniting with some former, um, club buddies!
Sami Zayn – The Chicago crowd was electric when Zayn made his return to the main roster a few weeks back. Zayn can be considered a leader in the new wrestling style that is primed to take WWE over in the near future. Zayn could very well be in a more high-profile spot in Orlando.
Can They Get A Chance?
Dolph Ziggler – At this point, it’s hard to see Dolph in something other than a 6-10 man match, if anything. But a guy can still hope, right?
Neville – If WWE does go in the direction of the smaller wrestler like I mentioned in the Sami Zayn line, Neville could be a big time player.
Kalisto – Sure he will be going into WrestleMania this year with a belt around his waist, but WWE wants more for him – like next Rey Mysterio level more. Could it be for WrestleMania next year?
NXT Stars Ready To Come Up
Finn Balor – The Demon is ready to rise to the main roster. So many reports have that rising taking place shortly after this year’s WrestleMania with the 
introduction of the Bullet Club. Balor and his demon alter-ego are sports entertainment personified. Imagine Balor and Rollins ending WrestleMania 33 for the title – instant classic!
Samoa Joe – The Samoan Submission Machine is also primed to head to the main roster. While new to WWE, Joe can provide a veteran feel to the show as well. Imagine Joe vs Reigns for Samoan supremacy in Orlando next year!
SOOOOO many tag teams! – I mean just SO many of them! Enzo and Big Cass, American Alpha, The Vaudevillians and the current champs The Revival. THAT’S an epic four-team WrestleMania match right there!
Divas Revolution Part Two
Bayley – The last of the Four Horsewomen is ready for the main stage. Bayley and Sasha Banks had an epic encounter last summer – those two could put on what could be considered to be the greatest womens match in WrestleMania history.
Asuka – Arguably the most intense competitor in the Divas division, Asuka can very easily find her way to a Divas title match at WrestleMania next year.
Nia Jax – If booked right, Nia Jax could very well be what Kharma should have been a few years ago – the giant dominant woman that manhandles the entire Divas division.
Haven’t Even Seen Them Yet…But They’ll Be There
Karl Anderson/Doc Gallows – The last of the big New Japan signings should be making their debut on Raw in the next month. Hopefully it will be to reunite with Balor and Styles to reform the Bullet/Balor/Whatever the hell they want to call it Club! If so, that’s a group that can easily last a full year!
Shinuske Nakamura – Last but oh so certainly not least is The King of Strong Style. Nakamura is set to make his debut 
in what should be an epic match with Sami Zayn at NXT TakeOver : Dallas on April 1. Plans are already rumored to be in place for a summer match against Chris Jericho. Nakamura has had classics around the world against the likes of Kevin Owens, AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar. Nakamura should find his way to the top of the WrestleMania 33 card over the next 12 months.
Look at that list! That doesn’t even include the likes of The Rock, Chris Jericho, Sheamus, Rusev, The New Day, Alberto Del Rio, Ryback, other Wyatt Family members, current Divas and others! WWE has the chance to have a lot of fun mixing and matching this roster together for what has the potential to be an unthinkable card next April!
Imagine this top of a card … Triple H vs Seth Rollins – Kevin Owens vs Brock Lesnar – John Cena vs The Undertaker – Finn Balor vs Bray Wyatt – Sami Zayn vs Cesaro – Randy Orton vs AJ Styles.
I am still holding out hope that WrestleMania this year will provide us with a memorable moment or two. But, if not, at least we have WrestleMania 33 to think about and put that smile back on our face!
