WrestleMania 33: 10 Huge Predictions You Need To Know

9. Stealing The (Pre) Show

Finn Balor 24
WWE.com

WWE's 2016 lightweight relaunch hasn't captivated crowds in quite the way the company probably expected after last summer's Cruiserweight Classic, but it was pleasing to see the urge resisted to throw the entire division into a multi-man cluster for the not-so-coveted title.

Instead, the organisation have shown rare patience in rewarding far and away the two strongest performers in the league with a singles match that looks destined to be one of the hottest contests of the night.

Austin Aries has rapidly ascended from commentator to competitor, whilst Neville has been revelatory in his reborn heel role as the 'King of the Cruiserweights', adding wicked submission holds and strikes to his vast array of aerial wizardry.

Alas, WWE gives with one hand and takes with the other, as the two will duke it out on the WrestleMania kickoff at some point during the protracted 2-hour build up to the main broadcast.

This seems a cruel swipe at the myriad of talents shared by both, but champion and challenger will undoubtedly look at it as an opportunity to give the box office an incredibly tough match to follow, as long as people can actually get in the building to watch this year.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett