Wrestling

Wrestlemania 2018: Time, TV schedule, matches for WWE’s PPV event

WWE’s biggest event of the year is stacked, from Ronda Rousey’s in-ring debut to a potential classic in Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles.

by Hector Diaz

Apr 8, 2018, 1:00 PM UTC

WWE’s biggest event of the year is taking place in New Orleans this year and WrestleMania is shaping up to be one of the most fun cards in recent memory. WrestleMania has evolved from one event to an entire week’s worth of matches and bouts. But no matter how much the festivities evolve, the main focus will be on Sunday’s stacked WrestleMania card.

Though the main event has not been announced (WWE likes to consider multiple matches co-main events) the bout that most speculate will close the show is Roman Reigns versus Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship. Lesnar, the current champion, is reportedly looking to get back into the octagon for the UFC. UFC’s Dana White recently commented on the rumor, saying “Yeah, Brock Lesnar’s coming back,” White said. “I don’t know when, but yes he is.”

Because of this, Roman Reigns seems to be a lock to win back the WWE Universal Champion. But these two have faced each other at WrestleMania before and fans were given a surprise ending with Seth Rollins entering the match and winning the championship instead.

Ronda Rousey will also make her WWE in-ring debut. The former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion will be in a mixed tag team match. Kurt Angle will team up with her as they take on Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in a grudge match. The feud began when Kurt Angle revealed that Triple H and Stephanie, two members of WWE’s real-life management, only hired Rousey to manipulate and embarrass her after their confrontation at WrestleMania 31.

The men’s WWE Championship and SmackDown Women’s Championships have similar trajectories and either of these matches can be the quintessential moment fans will be talking about for years to come. Shinsuke Nakamura won the Royal Rumble back in January and chose Smackdown’s AJ Styles as his WrestleMania opponent. Many consider this a dream match since both of these competitors are regarded two of the best wrestlers in the word. They have faced each other before when they were in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but now fans want the general audience to witness the athleticism and in-ring storytelling that happens when these two meet.

For the Smackdown Women’s championship, Asuka will face Charlotte Flair in a one-one-one match. Asuka won the inaugural women’s Royal Rumble and chose to face Smackdown’s champion, Flair. Flair is already considered one of the best female competitors of all time, holding seven titles in her five-year career. Asuka, on the other hand, is undefeated in WWE since debuting in 2015. Will wrestling royalty break Asuka’s streak or will there be a new Smackdown women’s champion in New Orleans?

Even with all the matches set for WrestleMania, there is still one question mark leading up to it — will The Undertaker appear and accept John Cena’s challenge for a a legendary matchup of two legends? For months, Cena has been pleading for an answer but has gotten no response. The Undertaker had a farewell moment in last year’s WrestleMania, but New Orleans is the city where his incomparable WrestleMania streak was broken by Brock Lesnar four years ago.