WWE WrestleMania 33: Ideal booking for each match

United States Championship Match: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Kevin Owens

Though it’s not billed with the other main-event type matches at WWE WrestleMania 33, this match has the potential to be better than them all. The build for Jericho vs. Owens has been near-perfect throughout, from the beginning with their friendship all the way to Y2J costing Owens the Universal title. Now they need to be sure to book-end it and stick the landing.

Jericho isn’t going to be a full-time player on RAW for much longer as he starts touring with Fozzy. Even if he isn’t gone for too long, it simply doesn’t make sense for him to retain the US title now. What’s more, they can have Owens look maniacal and vicious throughout this match. Thus, they further establish him as a top heel in the company and someone not to be trifled with. That’s best for all involved.

RAW Women’s Championship Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match: Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax

More than perhaps any match on the card, there are a lot of directions this match could go that would make sense and give the company options moving forward. However, the best course of action is going to be to have Bayley retain the title. It’s all about how they get to that conclusion at this point.

First of all, Charlotte is basically inconsequential in this match. Her role as an established top-heel is teflon for right now. All she needs to do is go through the motions and she’ll be fine. What needs to happen with the other three is the more critical part of the booking. For Bayley, that means overcoming some sort of odds, which in this case would likely be Nia Jax.

Not only did Bayley lose clean to Jax on RAW, but she’s clearly the most physically formidable woman on the roster. Getting the win by lastly pinning Jax would be huge. Before that, though, Jax needs to look the part and assert her will—or at least look like a threat. Meanwhile, Sasha needs to have seeds planted here for a heel-turn. That’s going to be the money coming out of Mania, her turning on her friend, Bayley. Thus, having Bayley leave her hanging in some capacity or at least teasing a change in character is necessary for Banks.