Wrestlemania 34: Fascinating matches up and down the card

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Months of buildup -- much of it starting way back at the Royal Rumble -- are finally set to reach a climax at Wrestlemania 34 in New Orleans on Sunday evening.

Who's ready for all 49 matches to take place at Wrestlemania 34?

To be fair, my math on this is shady and there won't be that many matches.  A jam-packed card, though, almost guarantees fans will be treated close to six hours of action.

Outside of the Cruiserweight division, I imagine most of the active roster will make an appearance one way or the other at Wrestlemania on Sunday night.

This doesn't include the surprise appearances likely to happen, with speculation going back and forth as to whether The Rock will walk with Elias.

The preceding is only one of many questions heading into the event. Usually, before a big pay-per-view, there is a good sense of how each match is going to play out. Outside of a the presumed coronation of Roman Reigns, there's a lot up in the air. Calculated guesses are being made -- and I usually try to avoid the rumor mill -- but it's good going into Wrestlemania that surprises and swerves might be in store.

And this is not even including the return of Daniel Bryan. (Okay, this one might be in the bag for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Their victory equals keeping their jobs and a loss by Bryan ensures his return to the full-time wrestler role.)

Titles galore are up for grabs, with one I see switching hands is the women's title on RAW. The time for the Nia Jax to hold the title should be Sunday night.

Another big question out there that needs to be answered is who will Braun Strowman's partner be? Strowman takes on The Bar in tag team title action. I'd like nothing more to see Strowman win this event on his own, but a surprise partner is surely in store. (The Big Show?)

Or does The Big Show make a surprise comeback in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal? Will the women -- who have their own battle royal -- deliver another epic match? (Likely)

And who will win the match years in the making when A.J. Styles takes on Shinsuke Nakamura? (Going with Nakamura here.)

So much to get to and such little time.

Match likely to tear the roof off

The Intercontinental Title, triple-threat match is number one on my list of matches to watch. The Miz has been a delight over the past year and only seems getting better. I'd like to see him keep the belt but even if it doesn't happen, the two men he is wrestling both deserve it.

Seth Rollins has been a man on fire over the past three months. His epic gauntlet match on RAW -- if you needed proof -- proved what a hard worker he is. And Rollins has continued to do so over the past few weeks.

Finn Balor, he who injured himself almost immediately after winning the Universal Championship a few years back, has slowly climbed his way back to the top. 

No matter who wins, I can see all three circling around this belt for months to come.

Women's match most looking forward to

Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss will certainly have their moment, but it's safe to say fans are looking forward to Charlotte Flair vs Asuka.

Asuka is putting her winning streak on the line to face the Smackdown Live champion Flair. We've seen a few cross-brand promotions between the two, but part of the beauty of having the two on different shows is the lack of actual wrestling between the two.

Making things more interesting is the Money in the Bank winner, Carmella, has been teasing the cashing in of her briefcase. Does she find a chance to capitalize this weekend?

Match I'm 50/50 on

Look. I'm all for the chance to see John Cena vs The Undertaker. Two legends going toe-to-toe at the company's biggest event is always something to be proud of.

And Cena has been working his ass off on the mic the last month selling this fight.  And I hope they keep selling throughout Wrestlemania with Cena actually in the crowd.

But last year's sendoff for Taker was the perfect way to go out. (Outside losing the match, that is). I realize a wrestler is never fully retired when it comes to the WWE, but last year's exit out of the ring and the arena was perfect.

Maybe that's why he will (possibly) be back. Cena has been putting people over the past year. Not that The Undertaker needs it, but maybe he's back for one last 'mania to go out on top. 

Let's hope so.

Match I could care less about

Ronda Rousey w/ Kurt Angle vs Stephanie McMahon w/ Triple H

I was never a fan of the UFC so maybe that's why. But I haven't felt invested at all in this. Triple H can still put on a good show but I have no clue what's left in the tank of Kurt Angle. McMahon has always been better on the mic than in the ring and Rousey is still green.

Hoping for the best on this one.

Match that could surprise us

The United States Championship buildup hasn't been the greatest, but there are three pretty great wrestlers (and Jinder Mahal) in this match. 

Okay. Fine. Four great wrestlers and three great characters.

Bobby Roode vs Randy Orton vs Rusev vs Mahal. I'm a glad they added Rusev to this match because this man deserves to be featured at the company's biggest event.

Storyline aside, this match -- if given enough time -- has an outside chance to steal match of the night. It's long shot, considering the Usos and New Day are involved in a triple-threat match with The Bludgeon Brothers, but still entirely possible.

Other questions still remain. Who will Matt Hardy delete? Will we see a Becky Lynch push during the women's battle royal? Or will the event be entirely too focused on Sasha Banks and Bayley?

Will we see a surprise return from Dean Ambrose or Samoa Joe?

What will the post-Wrestlemania landscape look like with stars possibly switching brands? 

No matter what happens, I'm still ready to walk with Elias. (Seriously. This guy needs a bigger push. Now.)

photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org
Twitter: @jasonrh_78

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