WWE Survivor Series is over for another year and still we don’t have much idea what the main matches at WrestleMania 33 will be. Will WWE again look outside their roster to try and pile on the PPV buy rates?
WWE is still having problems creating their own stars and must keep looking to other sports and their past in order to try and boost WrestleMania sales. The likes of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, A.J. Styles and Kevin Owens aren’t going to produce the kind of figures that WWE crave at WrestleMania time. Sure, they can put on solid performances but they just lack that selling power that former stars have had in the company.
It’s no surprise that WWE is chasing Conor McGregor for a possible WrestleMania appearance. The guy is box-office gold at present and he’s likely to outgrow UFC in time. Triple H has made no secret of his desire to bring him into the company at some point in the future, could that be as early as WrestleMania 33?
McGregor wouldn’t let anyone down on the mic and has already spent plenty of time being highly critical of current WWE stars such as John Cena and Brock Lesnar. He may lack weight in the ring but it doesn’t have to be an all-out fight for him at WrestleMania. Just a scheduled appearance and interaction with a WWE superstar, as was the case two years ago with another WWE target, Ronda Rousey, would be enough to boost sales.
Time is running out though and we don’t know what McGregor’s plans are for next April. If he has a UFC title defence on the horizon, he’s unlikely to be appearing at WrestleMania. Who else could WWE chase in order to get some outside help from other sports to get those much needed PPV sales?
Boxing has helped WWE in the past and could well do so again. Floyd Mayweather is no stranger to WWE after his match against Big Show at WrestleMania 24. Big Show looks booked for a match with Shaquille O’Neal in April but Mayweather would still be a healthy addition to any WWE card. Why not have him as the special guest referee for the Big Show vs O’Neal showdown? Easy money for Mayweather (like he needs it) and just imagine the look on the WWE veteran’s face if the multi-weight boxing champion stuck his nose in his business again…!
WWE might also want to keep a close eye on Tyson Fury. There are some big heavyweight fights in the pipeline and plenty of boxing betting opportunities at bet365 including 8/11 on Anthony Joshua to win his upcoming title defense inside three rounds. While Fury sits at home recuperating, perhaps his future could lie in a WWE ring. WWE remains popular in the UK with Ricky Hatton and Lennox Lewis involved in the past. Fury can certainly talk till the cows come home and he has the size WWE love too.
There are plenty of options for WWE in the coming months. They know that the current roster will struggle to sell massive numbers, especially if fans must pay for a minute-and-a-half main event as we saw at Survivor Series.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
