10 Biggest Things Happening at WrestleMania 32 Weekend

source// wwe.com

WrestleMania may seem like the be-all and end-all of the wrestling year, but for those who are lucky enough to catch the event live and in person, it’s only the crown jewel of a weekend full of action.

Over the past decade, WWE has made WrestleMania into the ultimate wrestling supershow, bringing it from stadiums to open-air arenas and hosting it in front of some 70,000 spectators year in and year out. As WrestleMania has grown and more fans have come into the show’s host city each year, WWE has sought to capitalize on their arrival. The result is a full schedule of company events that gives hardcore fans enough to keep themselves busy for days.

Of course, it’s not just WWE that’s decided to strike when the iron is hot. Most of the tens of thousands of fans who fly in from around the world for WrestleMania each year are avid followers of the sport in general, and so they’re the chief market for some of the country’s top independent promotions. As such, groups like Ring of Honor and EVOLVE Wrestling piggyback off the popularity of the show of shows, offering their own stacked cards that do great business.

There’s a lot out there, and it may be tough to decide which events are right for you. Here are the ten biggest things happening this WrestleMania weekend in Dallas, besides the Showcase of the Immortals:

10. WrestleMania Axxess (Multiple Shows)

Though the name may be a holdover from the misspelling-heavy days of the Attitude Era, there’s no better place to take in the entire history of WWE than at Axxess. Each year, the company runs several sessions of what basically amounts to a WWE convention (typically held Thursday through Sunday) where fans can view memorabilia, meet superstars and legends, and of course, buy merchandise. Even though – like most conventions – a ticket essentially buys you the ability to spend more money, it’s still worth checking out.

Even the most jaded fan can’t help but smile a little when standing in an Elimination Chamber or climbing a ladder to reach for a Money in the Bank briefcase. And while some of the activities – like reenacting superstar entrances or jumping in foam pits – skew decidedly young, others (like superstar imitation contents and a history of WrestleMania “museum” of sorts) are fun for everyone. Best of all, there’s a ring set up where live matches – typically featuring NXT talent – are continuously held.

9. WaleMania II (March 31, 7:30 PM)

Last year, rap superstar and wrestling fan Wale joined forces with Court Bauer and MLW Radio to host WaleMania, a podcast/concert event that advertised a special Q&A with Rey Mysterio and a preview performance of songs from Wale’s The Album About Nothing. The event was a huge success, and as the picture shows, many other wrestling luminaries made surprise appearances.

This year, Wale and MLW Radio are coming together once again, and the event promises to be even grander. Advertised stars include Konnan, MVP, Fenix, Pentagon, Jr., former WWE writer Alex Greenfield, and the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer.

There will be a meet and greet with the Lucha Underground stars before the podcast taping, and Wale will perform at an afterparty beginning at 11:00 PM.

8. WrestleCon Supershow (April 2, 8:00 PM)

The annual supershows promoted by WrestleCon may not have the pedigree of, say, a Ring of Honor show, but when it comes to name value and sheer insanity, they outdo anything not promoted by WWE. Last year’s event was headlined by a dream tag team match pitting Rob Van Dam and Sabu against The Hardy Boyz, and this year’s show looks to be just as wild, with a five man Monster’s Ball main event featuring Jeff Hardy, Trevor Lee, AR Fox, Abyss, and a mystery competitor.

Other bouts on the show include a battle of former WWE Superstars Lance Storm and Matt Hardy, a Marty Scurll versus Will Ospreay singles contest that will advance the hottest feud in UK wrestling, and a ten-man tag team bout with captains Jeff Jarrett and “Master of the YouPorn Plex” Joey Ryan.

Additionally, the group will run a convention from 9:00 to 5:00 on Friday and Saturday. Guests include Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Jim Ross, Rey Mysterio, and Diamond Dallas Page.

7. EVOLVE Wrestling (April 1, 4:00 PM/April 2, 12:00 PM)

EVOLVE Wrestling, via a recent partnership with WWE, has become one of the most talked-about independent wrestling groups in the world. While guest appearances by Sami Zayn, William Regal, and American Alpha certainly haven’t hurt the promotion, the truth is that EVOLVE has been delivering a top-level in-ring product for years.

Once again, the company will have a major presence at WrestleMania weekend, this time in the form of two shows. At EVOLVE 58, two of the top stars in British wrestling will collide as Zack Sabre, Jr. takes on Will Ospreay. Ricochet will be in action against TJ Perkins (formerly TNA’s Manik), and former NXT star Sami Callihan (Solomon Crowe) will also be competing. Additionally, Timothy Thatcher is rumored to be defending the EVOLVE Championship against Matt Riddle.

EVOLVE 59 is being promoted with a “USA versus Europe” theme, and is headlined by the high-flying dream match of Ricochet versus Will Ospreay. Other bouts include Timothy Thatcher versus Marty Scurll, Zack Sabre, Jr. versus Matt Riddle, and an EVOLVE Tag Team Championship contest that will see Johnny Gargano and Drew Galloway defend against Drew Gulak and Tracy Williams.

6. Terry Funk Tailgate And BBQ (April 3, 11:00 AM)

World Wrestling Network, the company that owns EVOLVE and other independent promotions, has a whole host of events scheduled for WrestleMania weekend. One of the more unique ones involves a tribute to Terry Funk, who will be appearing live for the group at a special barbecue party.

Held right across the street from AT&T Stadium in the six hours immediately preceding WrestleMania, the event will give fans the opportunity to mix and mingle with each other, as well as with the former World Heavyweight Champion. Admission includes an autograph and photo opportunity with The Funker, and of course, a variety of barbecued meats will be available for purchase.

5. Supercard Of Honor X (April 1, 7:30 PM/April 2, 2:00 PM)

When it comes to capitalizing on the popularity of WrestleMania, Ring of Honor is a pioneer. Dallas’s events will mark the tenth time ROH has held shows in conjunction with the Showcase of the Immortals, and it has proven to be a money-winning endeavor for the best wrestling company in the United States.

Supercard of Honor X – which sold out before any matches were announced – will take place over the course of two days. Show one will see Jay Lethal defend the ROH World Championship against Lio Rush, The Young Bucks versus the recently-reunited Motor City Machine Guns, and ACH versus Adam Cole. The second show will feature Adam Cole versus Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish versus Roderick Strong, and a four-way tag team match for number one contendership to War Machine’s tag titles.

There’s a lot going on WrestleMania weekend, but just like every year, fans attending Ring of Honor will not be disappointed.

4. WWN Supershow: Mercury Rising (April 2, 8:00 PM)

There are many independent promotions under the auspices of the WWN group, and for the second consecutive year, they’ll all come together under the “Mercury Rising” banner to deliver a memorable night of top-level action.

The show’s main event is a six-man tag match featuring the teams of Will Opsreay, Marty Scurll, and Tommy End and Johnny Gargano, TJ Perkins, and former New Japan Pro Wrestling star Kota Ibushi. Timothy Thatcher, if still the EVOLVE Champion, will defend his title against Sami “Solomon Crowe” Callihan, and Zack Sabre, Jr. and Chris Hero will add another chapter to their long-running feud.

WWN’s other promotions will be represented, as well. Caleb Konley will defend the FIP Heavyweight Championship in a four-way match, while Taylor Made defends the SHINE Championship against Lucha Underground’s Ivelisse. With participation from other great stars like Fred Yehi, Ethan Page, and Catch Point, this could be the weekend’s show to beat.

3. WWE Hall Of Fame (April 2, 6:30 PM)

Each year, WWE takes a night to honor wrestling’s veterans, and this year is no different. What really makes the 2016 Hall of Fame induction ceremony significant, though, is the headliner – the man called Sting.

Without exception, there’s no wrestler as synonymous with WCW as Sting, and for many years, it looked like he’d go down in history as the top star in the industry to never cash a paycheck from Vince McMahon. That changed in 2014 when the multi-time world champion appeared at the Survivor Series and attacked Triple H, setting up a bout between the men at WrestleMania 31. Triple H won, but Sting looked great (especially considering he was 56 years old). He returned later in the year to make his Raw debut and take on Seth Rollins at Night of Champions.

Unfortunately, Sting hurt his neck in the Rollins match, and recent rumors have indicated that the injury has forced him to retire. Not only, then, will the Hall of Fame induction be a recognition of the Stinger, it will also serve as his farewell. Without a doubt, Sting’s speech will be deeply emotional, but it will also be a huge victory for the man – the icon of WCW will be feted by a promotion he never truly called home, but which was still eager to recognize his accomplishments.

2. Monday Night Raw (April 4, 7:00 PM)

Raw may be terrible as of late, but take heart – there’s one episode of the show each year that’s all but guaranteed to be good, and it’s right around the corner.

Each year on the night after WrestleMania, WWE puts its best foot forward to deliver a momentous Raw, often featuring huge returns, debuts, and angles that will carry the company in the months to come. Bolstered by a raucous and (mostly) entertaining crowd, the show has become almost as anticipated as the one that directly precedes it.

Obviously, nothing has been announced for April 4’s Raw, but if last year’s show is any indication, it’ll be a terrific event. In 2015, the company delivered two great matches (Daniel Bryan versus Dolph Ziggler and John Cena versus Dean Ambrose), Brock Lesnar’s annihilation of Michael Cole and subsequent suspension, the debuts of Neville and The Lucha Dragons, and tons more. Going back through the past few years, a pattern of WWE Universe-shattering events readily emerges.

Odds are that this year will be no different.

1. NXT TakeOver: Dallas (April 1, 9:00 PM)

Let’s face facts – this year’s WrestleMania looks like it could easily be the weakest in recent memory. While the undercard could be great, only one of the show’s three main events inspires any confidence. The title match is the latest culmination of a Roman Reigns babyface push that simply hasn’t worked, while the most-hyped bout on the show features Shane McMahon.

Luckily for fans in Dallas, there’ll be another show that weekend that will blow WrestleMania out of the water. NXT TakeOver: Dallas looks to be the most stacked NXT card yet, with a championship rematch between Finn Balor and Samoa Joe headlining. Bayley will defend the Women’s Title against Asuka while The Revival defend the Tag Titles against American Alpha, and world-class talents Apollo Crews and Austin Aries will be in action. Oh, and Shinsuke Nakamura will make his WWE debut against Sami Zayn.

Tickets are sold out and going for more than $200 apiece on the secondary market. Truth be told, WWE probably could have held this show at AT&T Stadium as well. Wherever it airs from and however you manage to see it, though, it’s the most must-see event of the weekend – even including WrestleMania.