411 Fact or Fiction Wrestling: Will Shane McMahon Really Wrestle at WrestleMania?

Welcome back to 411 Fact or Fiction, Wrestling Edition! Stuff happened, people loved/hated it and let everyone else know. I pick through the interesting/not so interesting tidbits and then make 411 staff members discuss them for your pleasure. Battling this week are 411’s Jeremy Lambert & Robert S. Leighty Jr.

Questions were sent out Tuesday.

Participants were told to expect wrestling-related content, as well as possible statements on quantum physics, homemade pharmaceuticals, the Turtle Total Trip Theorem, pizza and hydroponics.

1. You like Rusev being added to the US Title match at WrestleMania.

Jeremy Lambert: FACT – It’s better than him being in the battle royal. And it’s better than a triple threat match between three uninteresting characters. The match probably won’t get much time and it’s probably best served on the pre-show, but at least it’s a use of Rusev on Rusev Day. Just a shame that they can’t find something more substantial for one of their most diverse and over performers.

Robert S. Leighty Jr: FACT – There is no denying that Rusev has been one of the most entertaining acts in the WWE for years and he has caught fire with his Rusev Day gimmick. It sure looks like he has been shoehorned into the US Title match, but I don’t care as it is just great to see him getting to be part of a match at Mania. I just assumed he would be reduced to the Andre Battle Royal and unless he was winning then he would just be the guy everyone cheered and then would boo when he would be eliminated. The US Title match is definitely a step-up and adding a 4th keeps it a little different than the Triple Threat from RAW for the IC Title. It will also give the match more juice as he will be the most over person in the match and it will help keep it from being the designated bathroom break (assuming the match makes the main card).

2. Shane McMahon will not wrestle at WrestleMania.

Jeremy Lambert: FACT – I’m not doubting Shane McMahon. The man survived a helicopter crash. He’s learned how to fall off 20-foot ladders. He tries this at home. I can’t care if they have to amputate his leg on 9 p.m. ET on April 8. This man will show up and wrestle Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at WrestleMania.

Robert S. Leighty Jr: FACT – This one is tough as I am not sure what to believe about Shane’s injury, and I am not a doctor so I don’t know the severity. If the news is legit, then it sure seems like Shane should be out at Mania. I will just assume the news is legit and that the WWE is hoping against hope that Shane will be there, but have a backup plan for when he can’t go. Part of the reason I think they still announced the match is to make sure the crowd knows Daniel will be wrestling and I think they are avoiding doing a mystery partner angle because RAW already has that market cornered with the Braun Strowman storyline. I would not be shocked if Shane shows up and really since this started from the KO/Shane feud, it would suck to not see it come to a conclusions. However, I assume he will be out and the WWE is not above announcing someone to boost ticket sales and then play the “card subject to change” card. Shane was a major draw with his return at Mania 32 and perhaps the WWE feels his name still has juice, so it’s best to advertise him and see if he can make it. If not then have a Plan B and at worst have Shane show up without killing himself inside the ring.

3. The Cruiserweight title match will end up on the WrestleMania pre-show.

Jeremy Lambert: FACT – I hope I’m wrong because 205 Live has been great since the reboot and the segment between Ali and Alexander on Tuesday was really good. But there are a lot of matches on this show and most of them are more important than the Cruiserweight title match. It’s probably better served on the pre-show, as long as it’s not in front of 20 people. I’d put it on as the match before the main show starts, give them 15-20 minutes, and get the crowd hot heading into a long evening. Who knows, maybe Triple H will sacrifice his main event spot if it means getting his new baby on the main show.

Robert S. Leighty Jr: FACT – Something has to be on the pre-show and I think the CW division will get the nod again if only because they have been under Vince’s radar and been left alone on 205 Live. I also don’t think it is a bad thing as much like Neville/Aries from last year, they will likely get more time on the pre-show. Now what could suck is if they get left off the BluRay release and that is something that should never happen again. I understand it can be watched on the Network anytime, but they really need to include everything on BluRay releases. It would be great to see these guys rewarded by being on the Main Card, but this card is stacked and this match seems like the best bet to be placed in the warm-up position.

SWITCH!

4. Shinsuke Nakamura will defeat AJ Styles at WrestleMania to win the WWE Title.

Robert S. Leighty Jr: FICTION – I still don’t think the time is right to take the title off AJ yet. The only way I can see it, is if they want to get the title off of him so he can be sent to RAW. That may happen, but I think AJ survives Mania and then either loses a rematch to Nakamura, or some new challenger. I am hopeful AJ stays on Smackdown as it has been his show since the brand split and now we live in a world where we can get AJ vs. Bryan. We also have a chance of Bryan/Nakamura, so I would be happy seeing Shin win the title as really either man winning is fine. Everyone is expecting a show-stealing classic and as long they deliver the winner will be secondary to the fans as both will be cheered.

Jeremy Lambert: FICTION – I’ve gone back-and-forth on this and I’m still undecided. But we all assume that the Universal Title will change hands. There’s a good chance that both women’s titles will change hands. Braun is probably winning the tag titles no matter who his partner is. The other title matches are multi-man matches and WWE tells me that the champion only has a 33 percent chance (25 percent in the case of Orton) of winning those matches. So, someone has to retain, right? It’s a good problem to have if you’re WWE as you can either continue to roll with AJ Styles and cement him as the best in the world or you can go in a new direction with Nakamura.

5. Becky Lynch will win the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.

Robert S. Leighty Jr: FICTION – I would have Becky around 3-5 range in terms of favorites, but she is behind Sasha and Bayley. I think one of those two win this match to play into their rivalry and it should as the have the best story going in the division. You can make a case that they deserve a match against each other on the card, but this first Battle Royal needs star power and having 3 of the 4 Horsewomen helps in that regard. Becky winning would be a fine choice, but for me it needs to come down to Sasha/Bayley as the final two and let them have a good run against each other before someone gets the win.

Jeremy Lambert: FACT – Sure, why not? Lynch has been criminally underutilized over the last year and it’d be nice if she got this moment, but it’s not really a big moment if they treat the winner the same way they treat the men’s battle royal winner. I guess Bayley or Sasha would be a nice story as it could add an extra layer to their feud, but they don’t need it. A win for Lynch makes her, in theory, the immediate contender for the Smackdown Women’s title.

6. What is your excitement level for WrestleMania 34?

Robert S. Leighty Jr: 10 out of 10 – Simply: It’s WRESTLEMANIA. I know the cool thing is to downplay WrestleMania, the build to it, and the WWE in general, but that doesn’t work for me. I am 36 years old and have been watching wrestling since my dad started me on it around the age of 3. I grew up the biggest Hogan fan ever and watched WrestleMania III in my grandma’s house. I was terrified about what would happen to Hogan, so I didn’t watch that match and instead hid in the kitchen until my parents came in to tell me Hogan won. From then on I watched every Mania where I could or if needed watching through the scrambled signal and basically listened hoping to catch a frame or two of what was happening. I then got to live a dream when I attended Mania XXV in Houston and during the show opening I got chills and had a few tears in my eyes as I saw highlights of Manias past. That was my childhood playing out in front of me and it dawned on me that I was there for the biggest show of the year. It was so amazing that I made it to XXVI and XXVII as well. All that history alone makes me beyond excited every year for WrestleMania. This year add in the stacked card and the fact that this show, on paper, looks like one of the best in years. I mean we are getting AJ Styles vs. Nakamura, Cena vs. Taker, Daniel Bryan returning to a ring, Rousey’s debut, Asuka/Charlotte, Angle back in a ring at Mania, etc. That is an insane lineup! There is also the fact that I now have a 10-month-old son and it is going to be a special moment for me to have him sitting next to me during the show. Of course he won’t really know what is happening (though he finds it hilarious when I show him video of Matt Hardy screaming “delete”), but I will and that is enough. This Mania looks amazing on paper, will be special to me for personal reasons, and just the fact that this is WRESTLEMANIA puts my excitement as high as it can go.

Jeremy Lambert: 10 out of 10 – Longtime readers will know that my excitement level is always high for events because wrestling is so accessible nowadays that it’s just easy to be excited for wrestling. And while I know this show is going to drag, I’m still very excited for it. The only match I could live without is the US title match and they at least added Rusev to give me some interest in that one. Everything else looks like it could be a good to great match, with the only exception being the mixed tag match. But that will at least be a train wreck if nothing else. We’re getting Styles vs. Nakamura and Daniel Bryan’s return. That alone is enough for me.