Earlier, it was reported that Shane McMahon was hospitalized with acute diverticulitis and an umbilical hernia.With Shane-O-Mac laid up, rumors are swirling about what this means for the WWE’s WrestleMania plans. More specifically, what does this mean for a returning Daniel Bryan and their match against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn?
Hopefully, tonight at SmackDown Live, we’ll get an answer to how WrestleMania will proceed. There’s all the potential that this will become a triple threat/ glorified handicap match. However, if the tag team match continues as planned, who will step up to take Shane’s place in this storyline? We’ve asked around the office and here are some of our favorite candidates.
Dishonorable Mentions:
Josh Howey: “It will 100% be Dolph Ziggler.”
Matt Tennant: “I’m… all in favor or Santino.”
Please, leave your vitriol for Josh & Matt’s terrible ideas in the comments below.
6. Big Show
WEEEEEELLLLLLL, it’s kinda a letdown, yeah. Big Show has almost as many surprise returns as he does face/heel turns. However, with the World’s Largest Athlete all but retired, giving him one more, big WrestleMania moment would be a great send off the giant superstar.
5. Rusev
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMIKXTRIC0c
This would be the ultimate fan service. The Lion of Bulgaria, and the reason for this glorious Rusev Day, pairing with the American Dragon would be greatness. Rusev would finally get the face turn he so desperately needs. Plus, since this year WrestleMania actually falls on ‘Rusev Day’ it would be a waste to have the man in the Battle Royal or just messing around backstage with Aiden English.
4. Braun
Braun is the least likely on this list. They’re on different shows and have no reason to cross paths. However they do have one thing in common: the need for a tag team partner at the ‘Show of Shows’. This scenario would have the wrestlers pulling double duty for the night, with Daniel Bryan helping Braun defeat The Bar in exchange for Braun helping D-Bry with KO and Zayn. I don’t know if I speak for everyone but I could watch either of them wrestle all night so I’d be more than willing to sit through two Braun and Bryan matches. That means post-mania you would have arguably the two most popular guys on the roster holding the tag team titles together. It may be a stretch but it’ll be more popular than obnoxious colors in Cena’s closet.
3. Matt Hardy
Woken Matt Hardy has officially declared himself for the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. What a waste; especially after the Ultimate Deletion did so much for him and Bray. So, since they put Hardy in the official “We have nothing for you” match this could be something for him to do. However, story wise this makes little sense outside of keeping the momentum behind Matt going. Bryan hasn’t even put on tights yet and no matter what, he will be the real star and focus of this match. In saying that, we must realize that anyone paired with him will only benefit from being part of this WrestleMania moment. However, the appeal is the same as with Braun: you pair two of your hottest acts into your modern day Mega Powers, so to speak.
2. Chris Jericho
While Fozzy has a Tour Date in New Hampshire on April 8, Chris Jericho and the WWE are not beyond swerving us all at the last second. Now, since there’s a tour date booked and cancelling it would have great, real world implications (refunds, angry fans, etc.) this may be the least likely option on this list. However, let’s just indulge ourselves for a minute over how awesome it would be. Even though it’s nearly impossible, this is actually the one person which it makes sense to plug into fight with Kevin Owens. So, in one match you would have D-Bry return, a surprise Jericho return, and the blow off for the Festival of Friendship. The hospitals worldwide will be full of people who’ve fainted due to excessive marking out.
1. Kane
Perhaps reforming Team Hell No for one night only might be the best fit. Kane doesn’t have anything to do at WrestleMania, and even though he spends most of his time putting the younger guys over, he’s still believable as a threat. Plus, reforming this popular team for Daniel Bryan’s in-ring return would stand to make an epic moment all the more epic. We’ll ignore Kane’s lights-out beat-down of D-Bry last year; that’s usually how the WWE deals with plot holes. Also, kidding aside, this would allow the Big Red Machine one more WrestleMania moment before his career winds down.
Who do you think could replace Shane McMahon at WrestleMania as Daniel Bryan’s tag team partner? Will it be one of the names above or will it be someone we haven’t thought of? Sound of in the comments below or on Twitter by tweeting @WrestleTalk_TV.
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