WWE Considering "Just About Everything" For WrestleMania XL
WWE has been forced to make major changes to the original 'Mania XL line-up.
While WWE clearly had certain plans cemented in place for WrestleMania XL, some of those plans have been thrown up in the air in the past week.
As per WrestleVotes, WWE management is currently taking its time in deciding which direction to go for 'Mania XL, with "just about everything" being considered right now - including moving certain superstars higher up the card than originally intended.
Between the unfortunate injury to CM Punk, the questionable status of Seth Rollins and the pulling of Brock Lesnar, the WrestleMania card has took a sharp turn.
AdvertisementSource said there are a number of brand new “card variations” on the table, including some superstars who were not…
— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) January 30, 2024
Of course, the CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins match at WrestleMania XL is now off the table, with last night's Raw seeing Punk reveal that he suffered a torn triceps at the Royal Rumble. Likewise, Rollins himself is dealing with a torn MCL and a partially torn meniscus. Should the World Heavyweight Champion make it the Showcase of the Immortals, it remains to be seen who'll fill that CM Punk void, with Drew McIntyre and GUNTHER a couple of obvious favourites for that spot.
As for Brock Lesnar, plans called for him to be a part of the men's Rumble last weekend, where he'd have had the exact role that Bron Breakker did. That means Lesnar would've been eliminated by Dominik Mysterio, in turn setting up Brock vs. Dominik at WWE Elimination Chamber from Perth, Australia. At WrestleMania XL, Lesnar would've then faced GUNTHER, likely for the Intercontinental Title. It's known at this stage whether the original Brock creative will simply be switched to Breakker, with Bron facing Mysterio and then going on to challenge Der Ring General.
All of those Lesnar plans changed last week, with Brock identified by The Wall Street Journal as the "world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract" as part of Janel Grant's lawsuit brought against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and others for sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Lesnar was subsequently "withdrawn" from that scheduled Royal Rumble appearance.
While certain changes are now being made to the intended WrestleMania XL line-up, the belief is that we will still get Cody Rhodes vs. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Bayley vs. WWE Women's Champion IYO SKY, and Becky Lynch vs. Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley at the this year's Granddaddy of Them All.