John Cena

At WrestleMania 36, The Fiend will meet its creator when Bray Wyatt battles John Cena in what should be a hotly anticipated rematch of their bout six years ago in New Orleans, but it is, instead, set to be an overly cinematic production inside the confines of Wyatt's Firefly Fun House.

The coronavirus pandemic that has swept the nation has forced WWE out of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and into its Performance Center in Orlando, with no live audience set to witness the events that unfold Saturday and Sunday night. The unprecedented circumstances surrounding the event has caused WWE to take a unique approach to some of its marquee bouts.

Aside from the advertised Firefly Fun House match, the card also features Last Man Standing and Boneyard Matches, both designed to take the action out of the fanless PC in an attempt to break up the monotony.

Neither of those matches quite needed the traditional setting of like Cena and The Fiend's war, though.

      

A Wrong Righted...or Is It?

At WrestleMania 30, Cena inexplicably defeated a red-hot Wyatt, cooling his momentum and beginning a downward spiral from a creative standpoint that threatened to ruin the third-generation performer—despite his obvious penchant for high-concept character work.

This year's match was to be redemption for that night for a performer who has earned the right to go over Cena at this point in his career.

Unfortunately, the conditions are not ideal.

Both Cena and Wyatt are performers who feed off the audience.

Cena's entire career has been defined by his ability to command the crowd, inciting reactions in arenas around the globe, regardless of whether they were positive or not. Wyatt's Fiend character is live performance art at its best, a persona with an incredible aura that first captivates and then terrorizes the WWE Universe.

In order to get the absolute most out of their match, they first needed fans. Then, they desperately needed a setting that dabbled less in the entertainment realm than what the Firefly Fun House match is ultimately set up to be.

Almost certain to utilize special effects, camera angles and edits, it will lessen the effect of Wyatt's victory because it will be seen as a gimmicky movie experience rather than a wrestling match by the better man.

Which begs the question: Does such a match really benefit anyone?

     

So, Why Bother?

Literally the only positive that can possibly come out of running Wyatt vs. Cena for a second time at WrestleMania is to give the former back the win he should have scored six years ago. It should be definitive and essentially serve as a mea culpa for the booking mistake that nearly killed off Wyatt's ability to thrive in the industry.

If the match cannot be that because of some ridiculously constructed idea that will ultimately prove more groan-inducing than beneficial, what is its purpose?

To get The Fiend on WrestleMania? To capitalize on Cena's star power?

Both of those could have been accomplished in any number of ways that would have been just as useless as overproducing a match that will be looked back upon with an unpleasant side-eye than a round of applause.

      

What If It's Actually Good?

There is always a chance that the most ridiculous gimmickry on paper will turn out surprisingly well, providing fans the desired entertainment.

The silver lining in the dark cloud that is the proposed Firefly Fun House and what it will presumably entail is that Wyatt and Cena are the levels of performers that they are. They are virtuosos and extremely gifted performers who have mastered their characters and their grasp of psychology to go along with what they can do once the bell rings.

The element of intrigue is also prevalent. What exactly will the match entail, and might the creativity of Wyatt be on full display? It's a very real possibility. Expect things you never imagined in a wrestling setting to be present inside the magical world created by the warped alternative to Fred Rogers.

That provides a certain level of comfort, but there are still more questions than answers.

The negative still seemingly outweigh the positives, and unfortunately for both men, they appear destined to be robbed of what should be significant matches in each of their careers: Cena in what may be his last dance on the grand stage; Wyatt in what should be a definitive match in the second chapter of his WWE career.

Hopefully, the presumptions are wrong. Hopefully, Cena and Wyatt give fans the match all involved deserve.

John Cena went on Corey Graves' After the Bell podcast (h/t Douglas Canavin of Wrestling Inc.) and discussed a few topics related to the WWE's current landscape.

Of note, Graves asked Cena what this current WWE era "needs to define itself": 

"It needs what I'm not sure it can produce, and that's...just the state of where everything is now, which is weird because it kind of always corrects itself so we're in a day and age where it needs a frontman or woman.

"It needs one, maybe two, definable characters to absolutely be the reason, and that's what will be able to define what the era is because it takes on those personality traits of its top star. Like I said it before I don't know if, all things considered, the crowd is so mixed, that if the company puts its faith behind an individual, the knee-jerk reaction of the audience, even if they liked the guy last week, is to say 'f--k you, you're not going to tell me who I like.'"

Cena said he doesn't believe "there has been more potential under one roof than right now." In other words, talent isn't the issue.

But he also spoke about the audience's wants and desires, namely its current segmentation:

"It's difficult because it's like a 'Super Friends', because the audience is so segmented, some people will embrace that underground dude. Some people will embrace the top person. Some people will embrace the midcard. Some people will embrace the cruiserweights, and then there's the split between like, 'I like SmackDown, I like RAW, I like NXT.' It's just really difficult to get one definable figure to stand at the front and be like, 'okay let's go.' I mean, I don't know, so I don't know."

Various WWE eras had clear faces and characters who carry the company forward.

Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, D-Generation X and the Undertaker were the flagbearers during the Attitude Era.

Triple H, his Evolution stable and Brock Lesnar were arguably the top names during the Ruthless Aggression Era.

And Cena largely dominated the PG Era, with CM Punk also taking the company by storm at one point as well.

As Cena noted, it's not entirely clear if there's a definable character in the New Era.

Becky "The Man" Lynch took WWE by storm and might arguably be considered this era's face, and Cena mentioned Reigns as a potential frontman on the podcast: "Maybe Roman is flirting with that territory but it’s not like...actually, Roman does an extremely good job at it, but we need something like that, a frontman to push forward and that’s where the era will get defined."

Cena will face Bray "The Fiend" Wyatt at WrestleMania 36, which will air Saturday and Sunday.

With WrestleMania 36 moving from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, WWE is getting creative and providing the WWE Universe with a unique card.

A few of the matches have out-of-the-ordinary stipulations meant to break up the monotony of fighting inside a ring in the Performance Center with no fans in attendance, and that could help make them some of the most memorable bouts in WrestleMania history.

The Boneyard match between The Undertaker and AJ Styles is chief among them, and it figures to be an entertaining contest given the environment and those involved.

With WrestleMania approaching at the weekend, here are some predictions for how Taker vs. Styles and other unique matches will play out on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

           

The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles

The Undertaker facing Styles at WrestleMania is a dream match that few fans likely thought they would see, but two of the all-time greats will finally lock horns this weekend.

While the rivalry between Taker and Styles hasn't lasted long, it has been quite personal with The Phenomenal One calling The Undertaker an old man and constantly bringing up his wife, former WWE Superstar Michelle McCool.

Styles upped the ante when he announced that it would be a Boneyard match, which is a bout that will likely take place in a cemetery setting of some kind based on the name.

If that is the case, there aren't likely to be many rules, so O.C. members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson figure to get involved on Styles' behalf. That means The Deadman will be working at a disadvantage from the start.

There are major limitations in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but if WWE can make it happen, then bringing in Kane to help The Undertaker would be ideal booking.

Not only would the reunion of The Brothers of Destruction be a nice treat for the fans at home, but it would also allow The Phenom to win the match without completely railroading The O.C. in a three-on-one scenario.

At 55 years of age, The Undertaker isn't one for having five-star matches anymore, but the Boneyard match stipulation will allow more focus to be placed on the story than the wrestling, which should benefit all involved.

       

John Cena vs. 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt

Like The Undertaker vs. Styles, the match pitting John Cena against "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt is far more about telling a compelling story than putting on a technical classic.

The best way to do that is by holding the match somewhere other than the ring in the WWE Performance Center. Cena and Wyatt need theatrics and a cinematic-type presentation, which is why WWE was wise to announce their match is taking place in the Firefly Fun House.

While the Firefly Fun House has been presented as a figment of Wyatt's imagination at times, Seth Rollins did infiltrate it previously, so the precedent has been set for Cena to potentially find his way there.

The Firefly Fun House segments have been among the most creative and entertaining things in WWE over the past year, and involving that in an actual match could make Cena vs. Wyatt one of the best things on the WrestleMania card.

It has often been mentioned during the build to their match that The Cenation Leader beat Wyatt at WrestleMania 30. That match was even replayed during a recent episode of SmackDown.

Because of that, there is no question that Wyatt must win the match and right what was arguably the biggest wrong in his career.

Look for The Fiend to take advantage of a setting he is familiar with, beat Cena and take a step toward regaining the Universal Championship.

         

Edge vs. Randy Orton

Of all the matches that won't be significantly impacted by the lack of a live audience, Edge vs. Randy Orton may be at the top of the list.

The two men are set to do battle in a Last Man Standing match, which means they can battle anywhere in the Performance Center whether it's in the ring, backstage or even out in the parking lot.

Their rivalry is a highly personal one since The Viper tried to end Edge's career again with a con-chair-to after he returned from a nine-year hiatus in the Royal Rumble. With that in mind, they figure to engage in an all-out brawl with plenty of weaponry involved.

Given the stipulation and the story surrounding it, Edge vs. Orton has great potential to be a show-stealing match, and it should be the best on the entire card if the veteran Superstars perform as expected.

Orton has arguably been the best heel in the business since turning on Edge, and he could soon be in line for a main event and world title run, but the match at WrestleMania is about creating a feel-good moment for The Rated-R Superstar.

The match will be Edge's first singles bout since WrestleMania 27 in 2011, and he will prevail in a hard-fought and entertaining encounter.

        

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

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The seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic has forced WrestleMania 36 out of a stadium in front of tens of thousands of fans for the first time in 17 years and into the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, where there will be zero fans in attendance.

BREAKING: #WrestleMania 36 is now set for a historic two-night presentation on @WWENetwork with former New England @Patriots @RobGronkowski hosting The #ShowOfShows at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 4, AND Sunday, April 5! https://t.co/3K5vgxL0SB

— WWE (@WWE) March 18, 2020

Despite these unique, never-before-seen circumstances, the show still features a multitude of high-profile matches and championship clashes, including Drew McIntyre's attempt to dethrone Brock Lesnar as WWE champion in the night's marquee bout.

       

PPV Schedule

Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET

Available to stream on WWE Network, FITE.tv, Fox and traditional pay-per-view outlets

     

Predicting the Match Listing

With two nights to work with and three hours for each broadcast, there is an opportunity for WWE officials to spread its massive, 16-match card out and not allow one match to overshadow another, as has been the case in years past.

But what does that potentially look like?

Here's a prediction.

    

Saturday Night

Raw Women's Championship Match: Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler

WWE Universal Championship Match: Braun Strowman vs. Goldberg (as reported by Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio)

Firefly Funhouse Match: John Cena vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt

Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

Ladder Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The New Day vs. The Usos vs. John Morrison and The Miz

Elias vs. King Corbin

Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. The Kabuki Warriors

Intercontinental Championship Match: Daniel Bryan vs. Sami Zayn

     

Sunday Night

WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Brock Lesnar

Boneyard Match: The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles

Last Man Standing Match: Edge vs. Randy Orton

SmackDown Women's Championship Match: Naomi vs. Lacey Evans vs. Tamina vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks

Raw Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits vs. Austin Theory and Angel Garza

NXT Women's Championship Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair

Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley

Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler

       

Drew McIntyre's Big Moment

When predicting the real main event of WrestleMania 36, there are a few factors to weigh, and one of them is which Superstar, on a card full of them, is the greater priority.

Throughout the build to the event, it has become abundantly clear that McIntyre is the golden goose of this year's show. From eliminating Lesnar from the Royal Rumble to leaving him lying twice in one night weeks later on Raw, he has been positioned as the conquering hero ready to slay The Beast and take his WWE Championship.

If that is the plan, then his coronation absolutely should be the last thing fans see as this year's Showcase of the Immortals goes off the air.

The only other option? Strowman defeating Goldberg, which will lack the emotion given its thrown-together nature in the wake of Roman Reigns reportedly pulling out of the event among concerns over his health and well-being.

        

Women Headline for a Second Straight Year

Speaking of Goldberg vs. Strowman and its lack of emotional consequence for fans, it creates an opening for another match to headline night one of WrestleMania. That match should be Becky Lynch's defense of the Raw Women's Championship against Shayna Baszler.

There has been no bigger star for WWE over the last 12 months than Lynch.

Not Seth Rollins, not Roman Reigns, not Brock Lesnar.

The Man has been all over the place, appearing in print and digital media beyond the wrestling industry. She has more than carried her weight as champion and has earned the opportunity to stand atop the WrestleMania card as she faces her toughest challenge to date.

Given her star power, the strength of her rivalry with Baszler and the fact that it is likely to be a better match than the minutes-long Universal Championship bout only further proves it belongs on top.

     

Spreading Out the Gimmicks

The unenviable task facing WWE's production team is deciding which of the high-profile gimmick matches to put where.

Styles vs. Undertaker and Edge vs. Orton just feel like bigger deals than Cena vs. Wyatt, even if the backstory to that particular match is the easiest told. Thus, they feel like prime candidates for a Sunday card that is shaping up to be the more prestigious of the two.

Then there is the proposed ladder match between The Usos, The New Day, and Miz and Morrison that is destined to change because of Miz's illness and absence from the card. Where does that go in relation to the much more significant matches?

In order to strike a perfect balance, WWE should put it on the same night as Cena-Wyatt to avoid overshadowing the two more significant matches on the card featuring returning legends Edge and Undertaker.

Either way, one night is destined to appear more significant because of the jam-packed nature of it in relation to the other night. It is a fine line management must walk to make each night feel equally important, and the fact that as of April 1 there is still no definitive lineup suggests the company realizes the significance of the match order and is working to provide the best possible listing for each broadcast.