Tag: WrestleMania 32

Possible New WrestleMania 32 Plans For Braun Strowman

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter via WrestlingINC

After lots of talk about Braun Strowman vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the match is most likely not happening now.

According to The Observer, the current plan is for Strowman to compete in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and go on to get a major push as WWE’s new monster.

The idea is to build him to a feud with future WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and a potential pay-per-view match with Brock Lesnar. That match could happen at SummerSlam.

We noted before that there was talk of dropping the match due to fan backlash.

WWE Looking To Sign Bill Goldberg For WrestleMania 32?

Source: allwrestlingnews.com

While he hasn’t wrestled in over a decade and turned 49-years-old in December, wrestling companies are still vying for the services of Bill Goldberg. Not only is TNA interested in acquiring the two-time world champion, but WWE is as well.

WrestleMania 32 is a little over three months away and WWE wants to feature as many marquee names as possible. The company, however, is running low on options at this point. And by options we mean big names you usually don’t see on WWE television.

Vince McMahon has pretty much given up on convincing Steve Austin on wrestling at the event. It is highly unlikely that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will wrestle since he will be busy filming a movie adaptation of Baywatch, though he could appear live to speak. Ronda Rousey, who WWE hoped would face Stephanie McMahon in a match, will be busy shooting a movie in Indonesia. Sting is facing neck surgery to alleviate injuries sustained at Night of Champions. Hulk Hogan is out of the question after WWE cut all ties with the wrestling legend over the summer, his termination coinciding with the publication by the National Enquirer and Radar Online of a racial rant made by him on a leaked sex tape.

This pretty much leaves Goldberg as the biggest outside name who could actually wrestle at WrestleMania 32. WWE believes Goldberg would be a draw for the show after sales of its 2013 DVD and Blu-ray on him were strong. Sales of the title topped 100,000 units and was among the top five sellers of 2013 and 2014. It greatly outsold WWE’s biography on Triple H, Triple H – Thy Kingdom Come, and in less time.

In June, Goldberg stepped back in the ring for a one-off spot where he attacked Scott Steiner and Doc Gallows at Citi Field in New York. When asked about his performance that night and his desire to get back into the ring, Goldberg spoke candidly.

The itch will always be there because I am always a competitor and my wife and son have never seen me wrestle. Let me be clear though, that itch won’t supersede my ability to be a businessman. The itch is always there, it’s there three times a week when I walk into my Muay Thai gym and put the gloves and shin pads on. It was a very special circumstance at Citi Field and ironically now the Mets are in the World Series. It was something I chose to do and thought was appropriate at the time. It was not me coming out of retirement by any means. I am a part owner of Legends of Wrestling so if I want to go out there and pick and choose my spot to do something interesting, then that’s what I do with no motives behind it. I am a competitor and always have that itch until the day I die, but I won’t let the itch supersede being a businessman.

It is said that Goldberg is really only interested stepping foot inside a WWE ring one time, for a match at WrestleMania 32. WWE higher-ups, however, want to sign him to a one-year deal and wrestle multiple times. They’re looking at Goldberg as a special attraction who can be used sporadically throughout the year to pop WWE Network subscriptions. There is discussion within WWE of offering Goldberg a six-month deal, which would run from Wrestlemania season through the summer or fall.

Goldberg normally doesn’t have much leverage with WWE, but with the company running low on names who can add to the bottom line and TNA willing to spend money on acquiring him, he’s in a better negotiating position than in years past.

Possible Undertaker VS Braun Strowman At WrestleMania 32 May Have Already Been Nixed

Source: PWInsider Elite via WrestlingINC

I mentioned over the weekend that the planned Braun Strowman vs. The Undertaker singles match at WrestleMania 32 may have been nixed already. While several ideas for The Wyatt Family have been tossed around lately, Taker vs. Braun was penciled in as Vince McMahon was a big fan of doing the match and has taken an interest in building Strowman.

The online backlash in the first 24 hours after the Braun vs. Taker news broke may have changed WWE’s plans, according to PWInsider. A very well-placed source noted that the bad reaction to the match may have caught on within the company and the match may have been nixed within 24 hours of the news getting out. It should be noted that Vince is always changing plans and they could go back to Taker vs. Braun.

In regards to what the back-up plan for Taker would be, a source noted that those details had not trickled down to other sources yet and likely only a small circle of people were aware of exactly what those plans are. It was noted that Taker’s opponent at WrestleMania will likely be someone totally unexpected.

Could Undertaker VS John Cena At WrestleMania 32 Still Happen?

Source: PWSlam.com

There has been speculation on plans for Braun Strowman at WrestleMania 32. One of the rumored matches for the show is Braun Strowman against The Undertaker. In the latest Wrestling Observer newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that as of this writing, nothing is locked in for The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32.

If John Cena is able to recover in time then the plan is still for him to face Taker at the show. Based on how fast Cena has been able to come back from previous injuries and the fact that this show is going to be their biggest ever, I would not be shocked if Cena was able to come back in time. If Cena is healed enough from his shoulder injury, then they could just have him appear on Raw for 3 to 4 weeks leading up to WrestleMania and just not have him do anything physical until the match happens.

Braun Strowman is being protected so it looks like they do have long-term plans for him. Whether or not it will be against The Undertaker remains to be seen.

Update on Plans For Undertaker VS Braun Strowman At WrestleMania 32

Source: F4WOnline via WrestlingINC

As noted earlier this week, multiple sources reported The Undertaker vs. Braun Strowman and Brock Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt matches currently penciled in for WrestleMania 32. Vince McMahon is high on Strowman and really wants to do the match with Taker.

Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live today that it’s still unknown if The Undertaker has been asked to do the match and it’s assumed by some that Taker may say no.

It sounds like those two singles matches are currently the plan but other ideas are still being bounced around. It was noted by Alvarez that there’s also been talk of having Strowman in an Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal or having a multi-person match, possibly with The Undertaker, Kane and Big Show vs. Strowman, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper or some other combination.

Possible WrestleMania 32 Plans For The Undertaker & Brock Lesnar

Source: WrestlingINC

PWInsider reports that the plan as of Monday was to do Braun Strowman vs. The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt vs. Brock Lesnar singles matches at WrestleMania 32. Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live yesterday that Vince McMahon really wants to do the Braun vs. Taker match and loves the idea of the two going at it. Vince previously wanted to do Braun vs. Brock, and pushed for the match to happen, but it appears he was talked out of it.

 

Stephanie McMahon Training For WrestleMania 32

Stephanie McMahon noted on Twitter that she was training last night to get in shape for WrestleMania 32,  indicating that she may be wrestling a match at the biggest show of the year.

At one point, WWE wanted Stephanie to do something with Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 32, but Rousey’s status is still up in the air. It was believed she would not be appearing but if she did, she likely would not wrestle.

Stephanie’s last match came at SummerSlam in 2014, where she defeated Brie Bella.

Steve Austin Reveals His WrestleMania 32 Status

The 100th episode of Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast features Steve Austin and can be heard at this link. Austin said he’s sure he will be at WrestleMania 32 this year and added that there are creative plans in place that he’s not able to discuss yet.

Hogan Says He’s Wrestling At WrestleMania 32

During a press conference for this August’s WWE tour of Australia, Hulk Hogan claims he stopped Vince McMahon at a WWE show and told Vince that he would be wrestling at WrestleMania 32.

Hogan stated that he told Vince that he would be on the show wrestling whether that he meant a farewell match or whether that meant he was winning his next WWE title. Hogan said Vince shook his hands and said, “I look forward to it.”

Hogan last competed at a WrestleMania against Vince at WrestleMania 19. Hogan last wrestled at the 2011 TNA Bound For Glory PPV.

News On Possible Ronda Rousey VS Stephanie McMahon At WrestleMania 32

F4WOnline reports that while there is no deal in place for a Ronda Rousey VS Stephanie McMahon match, there is said to be an understanding between the two sides that they want the match to take place at WrestleMania 32.

According to Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE has wanted to do the match between Rousey and Stephanie since Rousey attended the 2014 SummerSlam pay-per-view when the 4 Horsewomen helped Stephanie with her ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

There are many factors to be worked out in order for Rousey to compete in a WWE ring due to her being under contract with UFC, if UFC would even consider it. With that said the Rousey VS Stephanie singles match could easily end up being something like The Rock VS Triple H with Rousey and Stephanie in their corners.

Source: F4WOnline via WrestlingINC.com