10 Matches WWE Could Have Booked For WrestleMania 38

2022’s Road to WrestleMania has been equal parts intriguing and incomprehensible.

In the weeks since two former UFC stars commandeered both Royal Rumble matches and the men’s Elimination Chamber match, WWE assembled a loaded, albeit peculiar lineup. On one hand, fans have fantasy booked Edge vs. AJ Styles for over a decade. Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair's seven-month arc appears headed for a wild conclusion. Unification stipulation notwithstanding, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar seem destined for the best match in their WrestleMania trilogy.

Conversely, the interim was weirder perhaps than any year that preceded it.

With days remaining before The Showcase of the Immortals, RAW has hosted a qualifying match to determine who hosts an interview segment. A 15-year veteran is the developmental brand's lead champion. Seth Rollins has been scrambling around like an ostentatious Hamburglar trying to poach other superstars' WrestleMania slots. YouTube stars, podcasters and the guy from ‘Jackass’ received coveted WrestleMania spotlights while trusted regulars were shortchanged, sidelined or shown the door. Peak insanity.

Admittedly, certain aspects of WWE’s build to Dallas have been engaging. However, some of the following contests would have supplied some desperately needed damage control.

There have been sporadic instances in WrestleMania history where neither the Intercontinental Championship nor the United States Championship were defended. However, this will mark the first time in the event’s history that neither is involved at WrestleMania. Yes, seriously.

This is inexcusable.

In WWE’s quest to promote WrestleMania as a week-long festival, both Intercontinental Champion Ricochet and United States Champion Finn Bálor were docked from the actual two-night Premium Live Event. As a consolation prize, Ricochet will defend the former workhorse championship in a last-minute triple threat addition to the go-home SmackDown 24 hours before WrestleMania. Bálor, alongside former United States Champion and presumed challenger Damian Priest, will compete on Friday evening as well… in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

WWE had all the pieces for a rematch in front of them for a month. On 28 February 2022, Finn Bálor upset then-champion Priest to become the new United States Champion. Since his RAW debut in early 2021, ‘The Archer of Infamy’ had assembled a pristine track record including a six-month run as champion and losses counted on one hand. After months of struggling with a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ gimmick, Priest finally snapped after dropping the title to Bálor and fully embraced his dark side. One good turn deserves another right? Finn’s ‘Demon’ persona is right there waiting to erase the bitter taste of Extreme Rules 2021.

Alas, no stakes and no stadium show. At least WrestleMania found time over two evenings for three celebrity matches and an interview segment.