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Wrestlemania 34 Odds: Storyline Twists & Possible Retirements

Trevor Dueck

by Trevor Dueck in Entertainment

Updated Mar 20, 2018 · 3:16 PM PDT

Undertaker returns to the WWE as the American Badass at Judgement Day in 2000
Undertaker returns to the WWE as the American Badass at Judgement Day in 2000. The gimmick is rumored to return at Wrestlemania 34. Photo by WWE (YouTube)
  • Will Daniel Bryan get the official nod to return to action at Wrestlemania 34?
  • Will it be The Undertaker or The American Badass taking on John Cena at this year’s Mania?
  • Who is leaving after Wrestlemania is over?

Odds updated on March 20, 2018

Things are starting to heat up as we head into Wrestlemania 34 in New Orleans on April 8th. The seven-hour sports-entertainment spectacle will bombard all of your senses while wrapping up major story arcs and starting a few more.

Lately, there has been online chatter about possible surprises and twists that could go down on the grandest stage of them all. Some have wondered if we will see an in-ring return of Daniel Bryan, while others have speculated about The Undertaker’s return to action against John Cena.

As a precursor to our official Wrestlemania picks, which will be posted once the odds are available at our top betting sites, we are taking a closer look at potential swerves, and post-Mania disappearances as we move towards the biggest show of the year.

Bold Predictions for Wrestlemania 34

Daniel Bryan wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania 30
Daniel Bryan won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania 30. Could he make his in-ring return at Wrestlemania 34? Photo by WWE (YouTube).

Daniel Bryan competes at Wrestlemania 34: 1/4

Due to concussion issues, the WWE forced Bryan to retire in 2015. Although he got second opinions from other doctors, it was WWE’s medical staff who had the final say, and they shut him down. Three years later, and the former World Heavyweight Champion could be inching towards an in-ring return.

“I have done everything in my power — everything they have asked me to — and I have gone above and beyond as far as ‘OK, what doctors do you need me to see? Send me to any doctor you want, any doctor that you want and let’s get their feedback on what is going on with me.’ So far, every doctor has cleared me that they have sent me to, and so there is a chance [I can wrestle],” Daniel Bryan recently said in an interview with The National (UAE).

UPDATE March 20, 2018: Daniel Bryan has been cleared by the WWE to return to the ring. Odds have been changed to reflect that. It’s unclear how fast Bryan will be able to compete in the ring, but his participation at Wrestlemania 34 has greatly improved. There is a chance he may insert himself as Shane McMahon’s tag-team partner against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.

Carmella cashes-in her Money in the Bank briefcase: 3/7

When is the women’s Money in the Bank briefcase going to finally be cashed-in? There really isn’t a lot of time left, so we expect this to happen at Wrestlemania instead of some random episode of SmackDown Live. If reports are accurate, Asuka could end up beating Charlotte Flair, and at some Carmella tries to cash-in and fails. It could be an epic Wrestlemania moment for Asuka.

Braun Strowman becomes the tag-team champion: 2/3

The largest man in professional wrestling, “The Monster Among Men,” Braun Strowman is going to Wrestlemania to compete against RAW’s Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Sheamus, AKA: The Bar. Despite rumors, it is entirely unknown if Strowman will have a tag partner for this match, but we wouldn’t put it past the WWE to have their giant go at it alone and win the tag team titles. As crazy as that sounds, it’s a creative way to put over a guy who has been one of WWE’s brightest stars.

Undertaker returns as American Badass gimmick: 1/1

It appears that John Cena will be facing The Undertaker at this year’s Wrestlemania. Cena is the one rare legend who Undertaker has not met on the grandest stage of them all. This matchup is sort of surprising considering the WWE implied Undertaker was finally buried and retired at last year’s Wrestlemania after he left his gear in the ring.

[Undertaker’s American Badass character] came out to the “American Badass” song made famous by Kid Rock, who is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

However, for this big match, there are rumors circulating that Taker could come back to the ring as his American Badass character from the early 2000s. It would be a definite swerve, but would make total sense, considering the character came out to the “American Badass” song made famous by Kid Rock, who is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

 

Charlotte Flair ends Asuka’s undefeated streak: 25/1

This idea might be low on the list of probability, but we wouldn’t put it past the creative team at WWE to throw a twist by having Charlotte Flair be the one to hand Asuka her first defeat. What better place to do it than at Wrestlemania. It could also be done by turning Charlotte back to her heel persona and cheating to get the win; just like her dear old dad Ric Flair used to do as the “dirtiest player in the game.” It’s also a great way to continue a feud between the two superstars on SmackDown Live.

Superstars Who Could Leave WWE Post Wrestlemania

Brock Lesnar competing in the WWE
Could Wrestlemania 34 be the last time Brock Lesnar competes in the WWE? Photo by By RayTerston (CC License).

Wrestlemania is usually the time when the WWE hits the reset button, starts a fresh new season of storylines and even shakes up the roster. It’s also around post-Mania that a few WWE Superstars move onto greener pastures. Below are the odds of five men who could be giving up the wrestling tights and exploring other options.

Big Show: 1/4

Big Show might have already retired, and we just don’t know it. Having undergone successful hip surgery last fall, Show could still be out of action for an extra six to eight months after contracting an infection. The WWE has provisions in their Superstar’s contracts that “freeze” the contract while that star is sitting on the sidelines. Big Show’s contract was over in February of 2018 and even if he does heal up, his days lacing up the boots could be over. Last year he told Sports Illustrated that he would prefer to retire with no fanfare and just “ride off into the sunset.” There are some who are saying that Paul “Big Show” Wight has already moved towards a career outside of the ring and has taken on the role of a producer and backstage agent with the company.

Kane: 3/7

Although Kane has been used sparingly in the WWE as of late, the man behind the mask, Glenn Jacobs could find himself as the new Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee which would mean that he would have to settle down on his sprawling estate and do Mayor like things. At nearly 51 years old, Kane is well past his prime and has shown his limitations as an in-ring performer.

Brock Lesnar: 1/1

“The Beast Incarnate” is back at it again. As he likes to do at contract renewal time, Brock Lesnar is playing his long-running game of waging WWE against UFC in a bidding war for his services. UFC President Dana White has remained adamant that he believes Lesnar will return to the Octagon in 2018. A lot would have to happen for that to come to fruition, like serving the remainder of his USADA suspension for two anti-doping violations after UFC 200. The WWE has made it clear they will not allow Lesnar to compete in the UFC if he is under contract with the WWE, so something will have to give.

Right now, Lesnar’s contract is set to expire after Wrestlemania 34 where he is expected to give up his Universal Title to Roman Reigns. Recent reports are also hinting that Lesnar will leave WWE, which means this could be the last time we see him in a wrestling ring for a very long time.

John Cena: 11/9

Yup. John Cena and WWE could be parting ways for the foreseeable future. Recent booking of “The Champ” as a washed up veteran who is on his way out could be art imitating life. Cena has a budding movie career that has even led to him saying that his days with the company “are numbered.” It’s also another reason why the WWE has run through Cena dream matches like they’re going out of style. Although it’s highly unlikely his last match will be at Wrestlemania 34, Cena will most likely take a long hiatus. He’ll always be a WWE lifer, but his career trajectory appears similar to what happened with The Rock. Part time at best.

Daniel Bryan: 2/1

Daniel Bryan has made it clear he wants to wrestle again. As we stated above, the former champ might be getting closer to an in-ring return but will it be in the WWE? It all depends on the doctors and quite frankly whether the WWE wants to take that risk? If Bryan doesn’t get the “Yes” from the WWE doctors, it could pretty much mean he will walk when his contract is up in September. If the WWE feels Bryan will leave, he could be written off of TV after Wrestlemania to cool down his popularity before he takes his services elsewhere. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

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