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Wrestlemania 36 was originally scheduled to take in Tampa Bay, Flordia at Raymond James Stadium, but big changes came as the United States banned large group gathering amid coronavirus concerns. WWE decided to host their biggest show of the year in the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. This means no fans, no pyrotechnics, and no grand displays that fans have come to associate with The Grandest Stage of Them All. WWE promised fans that the show would still be spectacular and everything they had been anticipating. But as the event gets closer more and more changes have come to the productions and fans are wary to purchase the two-night pay-per-view.
Location, Location, Location
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Due to the Showcase of the Immortals being held in a much smaller location than anticipated WWE has chosen to feature matches at various locations, including the ring. One location that has been confirmed is a graveyard that will house a boneyard match between AJ Styles and The Undertaker. On Friday Night Smackdown the Undertaker cut a promo for the match that was well received by fans and harkened back to the Undertaker’s days as the American Badass.
John Cena will face “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in the Firefly Funhouse. The Firefly Funhouse has been featured on both Raw and Smackdown as a part of Bray Wyatt’s new gimmick in the past but there has not been a match in Wyatt’s funhouse of horrors.
Rumors are swirling that other matches have been filmed outside the performance center but none are confirmed at this time.
Big Changes to the Card
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Cultaholic reports that several changes have come to the card in recent days, as some WWE superstars have fallen sick and others are concerned for their health. Goldberg was set to take on Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship, but due to his weakened immune system Reigns has pulled out of the match. This match was meant to be a showcase of the finishers, as Goldberg and Reigns both use the spear to finish off their opponents.
There is no confirmation on who will be facing Goldberg for the title. There have been rumblings that Braun Stroman will step in and replace Roman Reigns. This has been met with mixed reactions, but it is Wrestlemania anything can happen.
The six-pack match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship was announced by Paige on Smackdown, but that match has now been changed to a fatal five-way match. Dana Brooke has been reported to be sick and was uncomfortable participating in the match. While Brooke did not confirm this herself she has been removed from promotional material and the official card.
One title that is now up for grabs is the Women’s Tag Team Title. The Kabuki Warriors will take on Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Bliss and Cross have been vying to get the titles back for some time and may become champions again, as Bliss beat Asuka on Monday Night Raw.
The Smackdown Men’s Tag Team Titles will be defended by The Miz and John Morrison against The Usos and The New Day in a ladder match. The match was scheduled to be Miz and Morrison versus either The Usos or The New Day, but Miz and Morrison interfered in the match resulting in a 3 team tag match.
Most Anticipated Matches are a Go
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On the bright side, several long-awaited matches are going on without a hitch. Brock Lesnar will still face Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship. Fans have been waiting a long time to see these two giants face off in the squared circle. Their feud has been building since McIntyre won the Royal Rumble earlier this year.
Becky Lynch will take on Shayna Bazler for the Raw Women’s Championship. Lynch has held the title since last Wrestlemania when she won both the Smackdown and Raw Women’s Championship from Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey. Bazler is favored to win the match.
Rhea Ripley will take on Charlotte Flair for the NXT Women’s Championship. Fans are hoping that Ripley will retain or be moved to the main roster after the match.
Randy Orton will take on Edge in a last man standing match. While this isn’t for a title fans are fired up to see the once legendary tag team take each other on. This will be Edge’s first Wrestlemania since he retired nine years ago due to a neck injury.
Other title matches include Daniel Bryan taking on Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship. The Street Profits will face Austin Theory & Angel Garza for the Raw Tag Team Championships.
Several other long-awaited matches will finish out the two-night card, but not feature titles.
WWE has lowered the price of the pay-per-view to $30-$35 depending on your television provider, or as a new subscriber to WWE Network Wrestlemania is free.
