Wrestlemania Iii Puns

Match 1: André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Build

On the episode of Raw following the Fastlane PPV, it is announced that the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will be taking place on the second night of Wrestlemania 37. Immediately, multiple wrestlers start declaring themselves in the match, including many people who have already been put in Wrestlemania matches on Night 1, such as Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn, who says that he will become Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Winner and Intercontinental Champion on the same night. Mojo Rawley and Baron Corbin are the focus of a couple of WWE.com exclusive videos, stating that they’re going to become the first ever two-time Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winners.

As with previous Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royals, not every participant is made known before the match, and the match basically functions as a good way of getting a large number of people a (fairly small) Wrestlemania pay-day. And so it remains, heading into Night 2 of Wrestlemania 37.

Match

Night 2 of Wrestlemania 37 kicks off with a different video package, including some shots of winners from the previous night’s action. When that ends, we get pyro, commentators welcoming everyone to the show, and - much like 24 hours previously - a short opening segment with Hulk Hogan and Titus O’Neil, which is interrupted by Bayley. The former Women’s champion is cheered by the crowd, and her chemistry with Hogan and Titus help keeps the energy up, before generic music hits, and multiple superstars start making their way to the ring to take part in the Battle Royal; the camera moving from shots of them to shots of the trophy at ring-side.

The match starts, and quickly people start to be eliminated. In an entertaining, but still fairly short, match, the group of superstars that started get whittled down to Ali, Kalisto, Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode. Kalisto is next eliminated by both Roode and Ziggler, who then turn their attention to Ali. The Cruiserweight fights back, and gets in a position to eliminate Dolph Ziggler, but is pushed off the apron by Bobby Roode, who quickly grabs Dolph back into the ring. Neither of the two men realised that Ali landed on his back, and that both his feet didn't hit the floor yet, so he remains in the match! As Ali slowly makees his way back towards the ring, careful not to have his feel touch the floor, Roode and Ziggler have now tried starting to eliminate each other. Roode eventua

For nearly four decades, Wrestlemania has been the Showcase of the Immortals, the Superbowl of Sports Entertainment, the Grandest Stage of them All. At its very peak, Wrestlemania represents the catharsis of up to a year’s worth of storytelling, with performers and audience alike getting an emotional payoff for all their investment in WWE as a product and a company. Wrestlemania 37 had the potential to be an even more of an emotional lightning rod than any other, given it was the first time a WWE show had taken place in front of a live audience in over a year. This was the night to celebrate the return of fans, give them a really great show and start to usher in the post-pandemic era of WWE.

In this booking, I propose a two-night Wrestlemania 37 card, Night 1 being covered in parts 1 and 2, and Night 2 being covered in parts 3 and 4. In it, I try to change as little as possible, in terms of available wrestlers, and attempt to make better use of the stacked roster of superstars on both Raw and Smackdown that WWE had on their hands as of April 2021. Hope you enjoy!

Match 1: Kevin Owens Vs Daniel Bryan Vs Ricochet Vs Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Cesaro Vs Sami Zayn - 6 man Ladder match

Build

On the Smackdown after the Fastlane PPV, where Big E had a successful defence of his WWE Intercontinental title against a newly heel Apollo Crews, it is announced that a series of matches over the next couple of weeks will help determine who gets an opportunity at the WWE Intercontinental title at Wrestlemania. Pitting a superstar from RAW against one from Smackdown, the winner of each match would go into a 6 man ladder match at Night 1 of Wrestlemania, with the winner earning a shot at Big E’s title on Night 2. In a backstage segment, Big E says that it doesn’t matter who he faces, be they from Raw or Smackdown: he will continue to outwork everyone and ensure he leaves Wrestlemania as champion.

Over the next two weeks, 6 matches happen across Raw and Smackdown, in which Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Dolph Ziggler, Sami Zayn defeats Buddy Murphy, Kevin Owens defeats King Corbin, Cesaro defeats Bobby Roode, Ricochet defeats Chad Gable and Daniel Bryan defeats The Miz; setting up ladder match at Wrestlemania. For each match, Big E is on commentary, and helps to build up each of the competitors who ultimately end up in the ladder match.

In the penultimate segment of the last episode of Smackdown before Wrestlemania, the 6 superstars who qualified for the ladder match sta

Match 5: Matt Riddle (c) Vs Bobby Lashley Vs Braun Strowman - Triple Threat match for the WWE United States Championship

Build

Coming out of the Royal Rumble, Bobby Lashley remains US Champion, having won the title in August. On the run-up to the Elimination Chamber, Matt Riddle and John Morrison have a match to determine the number 1 contender for Lashley’s title, which Riddle wins. Heading into the PPV, both Riddle and Lashley keep up their momentum, both winning a couple of matches. In promos, MVP builds up Lashley as an unstoppable monster, who will claim “yet another victim” at Elimination Chamber. Riddle, on the other hand, plays on their shared history in MMA. He says “Bro, it doesn’t matter if it’s in an octagon or a squared circle, I know I can beat Lashley, and *Lashley* knows I can beat Lashley”.

At the Elimination Chamber PPV, in a decent match based around Riddle avoiding the Hurt Lock, Lashley’s 7 month title reign comes to an end after he is hit by a BroDerek. The following night on Raw, Riddle has a title celebration, in which he says he will channel the spirit of the US Open Challenge, and use his title to fight some of the best talent Raw has to offer.

The following week a match between Braun Strowman and Keith Lee is made, to determine the number 1 contender for Riddle’s title at Fastlane. Riddle sits on commentary, putting over both performers, but particularly Keith Lee, who he considers a close friend from their time on the indies. Keith Lee, having lost in the men’s Elimination Chamber match at the previous PPV, loses again, this time to the Monster Among Men. Riddle gets in the ring afterwards, and the pair stare off. Riddle says “See you at Fastlane, bro”, with a big dumb smile on his face, and makes his way to the back. As he turns round, holding up the US title from the top of the entrance ramp, he is ambushed by the Hurt Business. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander start the onslaught, but quickly give way to Lashley, who swiftly and mercilessly applies the Hurt Lock. Riddle ends up passed out at the top of the ramp before Raw cuts to a commercial.

The following week, MVP says in a backstage segment that Riddle was naive to think that he didn’t ensure his client, The Almighty Bobby Lashley, didn’t have a rematch clause after their match at Elimination Chamber. “And what’s more, I’ve put the Business in Hurt Business. I’ve managed to get the Almighty Bobby Lashley a pay-day to remember, as he gets his rematch on

I Quit match - Aliester Black vs AJ Styles At Spring Stampede they had an Ironman match. Time expired while Black was setting up for the Black Mass, meaning AJ won by a single point. He hit the move anyway before storming out of the ring. This led to a heated backstage brawl the next week. Smackdown GM Triple H set up this match as a result

3 Stages of Hell - James Storm vs Bobby Roode In the beginning, they were together as Beer Money Inc. But Bobby turned on James, kicking off the feud. The two were supposed to have a match at WrestleMania II, but Roode had edited the contract. The match was now James Storm vs Bobby Roodes personal bodyguard Mark Henry. Storm was badly injured in the match and forced to retire. But he made a shocking return by interfereing in the Royal Rumble and eliminating Bobby Roode. Storm was still not officially cleared to wrestle, so they signed a liability waiver since the match could not be sanctioned. But this time it was Storm who changed the contract and if Bobby Roode loses he must also retire.

Ronda Rousey vs Shayna Baszler Ronda made a surprise debut a couple months ago in a #1 contenders ladder match. She didn't win, but would go on to be undefeated 1 on 1. She cut a promo declaring herself the new face of the Women's division, something that Shayna, the former "final boss" of the division, took issue with. They decided to have a match to determine who the top dog really is

WWE Tag Team Championship - Ladder Match - Undisputed Era (Adam Cole and Kenny Omega)(c) vs The Hardy Boys These two teams have a bit of history. Jeff Hardy was the World Heavyweight Champion very briefly. His first match after winning the belt he was assaulted by the Undisputed Era which allowed Kenny to cash in Money in the Bank. A couple months later The Hardys won a tournament to challenge for the titles, but Kenny decided to up the stakes. He allowed the challengers to choose the stipulation, but if they lose they must disband as a tag team.

Hardcore Championship - Death match - Brock Lesnar (c) vs Rey Mysterio Rey was a heel for a while and formed an alliance with Lesnar. But an increasing series of disagreements fractured the team. The split was made official when Lesnar interfered in the MitB ladder match costing Mysterio the contract. He would later win the Hardcore title from Mysterio, and this match was made to finally settle the score

Women's Championship - Ashley Gray (my CAW) (c) vs Asuka Asuka won the first a

Roman Reigns vs John Cena

In a match to decide the top guy in the WWE, the two most dominant competitors on Monday night's battle it out, as both Roman Reigns & John Cena collide for the first time ever, hoping to finally prove once-and-for all who is the better man out of the two. Immediately out of the gates, Cena proves that ring rust is non-existent tonight, as he fires on all cylinders, attempting to get the absolute best out of his opposition. In-which he receives, both men admittedly giving it the best they can offer, not letting the magnitude of this event slow them down any, The raging offense between the two, eventually began to form into a one-sided affair, as Reigns slammed Cena down with a SAMOAN DROP ONTO THE CANVAS! 1....2...KICKOUT! The furiosity of "The Big Dog" only growing as this contest progresses, but it unfortunately slows down a bit, when he's knocked back into reality with a LARIAT!

With Cena finally back on the offense, he tears into Roman, knocking him into a loopy state, good enough to send him down to the center of the ring. From there, he attempts for the vintage Five Knuckle Shuffle, but to no avail, as Roman CONNECTS WITH A SUPERMAN PUNCH! Sensing this is possibly his moment, he slowly backs into the corner, lining him up for the finish, as he attempts for a running SPEAR, BUT CENA CATCHES HIM AND LANDS WITH A ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! 1...2...KICKOUT! Looking to roll through, he attempts for yet another finishing maneuver, but falls to his knees from the pain, with a bit of luck and possible rust on his side, Reigns takes his moment to shine AND LANDS A DEVESTATING SPEAR TO HIS OPPOSITION! 1...2...3!!!

Roman Reigns def. John Cena (29:56)

Charlotte Flair (c) vs Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch

In the second-to-last title match of the night, three of the most versatile woman on the roster today, all battle it out to decide who is the very best, but aswell as earning the right to call themselves the inagural Women's Champion! They all make their individual entrances to the ring, with some heavy, energetic, or even dead-right cold, it's quite the scene to see ahead of a history-making moment. Eventually the three would battle it out, with the women all using their versatile arsenals to benefit them. Whether it was from Banks' METEORA, LYNCH'S DISARM-HER, or CHARLOTTE'S MOONSAULT EXTRANVAGSNA, they all individually showcased why they deserve to be Woman's Champion. Obviously, only one of them could walk out with the

Note 1: This booking is not affected by Covid-19.

Note 2: Damian Priest stays in NXT. Let him have a proper NXT run.

Note 3: Adam Pearce is the official Raw and Smackdown General Manager.

Note 4: Billie Kay is the Wrestlemania host!

Note 5: Wrestlemania 37 is followed by the return of the Superstar Shake-Up on Raw and Smackdown.

Smackdown Women’s Championship

Bayley (c) vs Sasha Banks

Best of 3 Series

It was announced after the Royal Rumble that Sasha Banks would be defending her Smackdown Women’s Championship inside the Elimination Chamber against 5 of the best Smackdown has to offer, those 5 being Bianca Belair, Carmella, Bayley, Sonya Deville, and Billie Kay. To start things off, old rivals Sasha and Bayley fought until they were joined by Carmella, then Sonya Deville, then Bianca Belair, and then Billie Kay. Carmella was eliminated by Banks and Kay was eliminated by Deville, but what no one saw coming was the shock elimination of Banks following a roll-up from Bayley! A title change was confirmed as the crowd popped for this major elimination, Bayley laughing as she watched Banks crumble in disbelief, and after Bianca eliminated Sonya, it came down to Bayley and Belair, Bayley pulling off a great counter by reversing the KOD straight into a Rose’s Thorns (Arm Trap Headlock Driver)! Bayley has reclaimed the Smackdown Women’s Title, but the former champion wasn’t done yet.

Sasha Banks and Bayley would reignite their feud from 2020, this Mania program having a ‘Final Match’ feel to it as the build to this fight presented it as such. At Fastlane, Bianca Belair, Bayley, and Sasha Banks all competed in a Triple Threat for Bayley’s Title, however, Bayley was able to retain, hitting Sasha with a Rose’s Thorns after Banks hit Belair with a Backstabber, allowing Bayley to land an Elbow Drop on Belair for the win, stealing the victory from Sasha. And it was revealed that Wrestlemania would see its first-ever Best of 3 Series, as Sasha Banks and Bayley would go head to head in three separate matches over the course of the show. On Night 1, we’d see them compete in a Steel Cage Match, followed by a Last Woman Standing Match later on, and if the score is tied at 1 – 1, they’ll compete in an ‘I Quit’ Match on Night 2, but only if necessary. It started in NXT all those years ago and will now culminate here; the Boss N’ Hug Connection will be dead once by the night is over.

Smackdown Women’s Championship

**Bayley (c) vs Sasha

Match 5: Asuka (c) Vs Charlotte Flair Vs Rhea Ripley - Triple Threat match for the Raw Women’s Championship

Build

• At the Royal Rumble, Asuka and Charlotte Flair lose their Women's Tag Team Championships to Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
• On the run-up to the Royal Rumble, and during the Women’s Royal Rumble match itself, Peyton Royce has been building some momentum.
• The night after the Royal Rumble, an in-ring segment by Asuka is interrupted by Peyon Royce, who accuses Asuka of disrespecting the Raw Women’s title. She ends her promo by saying “You made a name by saying that everyone else wasn’t ready for Asuka. I say, that you’re not ready to be Raw Women’s Champion anymore, and that you’re not ready for Peyton Royce!”
• Royce beats Lacey Evans in a number 1 contenders match the following week, and sets up a match against Asuka at Elimination Chamber.
• The rest of the build features Royce beating “local talent” quickly, followed by promos hyping her rise to the top of the Raw Women’s Division at Elimination Chamber. Asuka has warm-up matches against women lower down on the card. She says that she hasn’t been the fighting champion she hoped she would have been, but that ends now, and that she will win at Elimination Chamber.
• Meanwhile, after an impressive showing in the Women's Royal Rumble match, vignettes air on Raw hyping up the debut of Rhea Ripley, which is eventually scheduled for the week after the Elimination Chamber PPV.
• At Elimination Chamber, Asuka ends up submitting Peyton Royce, after Royce gets a couple of close near-falls.
• The night after Elimination Chamber, Rhea Ripley makes her Raw debut, confronting Asuka in the ring. She respectfully demands a title match at Wrestlemania.
• Charlotte Flair makes an appearance, saying that rocking up and demanding a title shot is her thing, taking umbridge with Rhea. Peyton Royce then appears asking what Ripley and Flair have been doing the past month - “not much! Whereas I have been giving Asuka the closest match she’s had in months, and you know I deserve another shot at that championship.”
• A tag match is made for later that evening pitting Auska & Ripley vs Flair & Royce, which Asuka wins after making Charlotte Flair tap out in the Asuka Lock.
• The following week on Raw, Rhea Ripley beats Peyton Royce in the opening match, setting up the main event later in the night against Asuka, who she pins after hitting the Riptide, earning herself the number one contendership.