u/Mundane-Turnover-913

1. Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk | If Rey loses, he must join the Straight Edge Society
2. Mickie James (C) vs Michelle McCool (C) vs Layla | Women's and Divas Championship Unification match
3. Kane vs Matt Hardy vs John Morrison vs Kofi Kingston vs The Miz vs MVP vs Evan Bourne vs Christian | Money in the Bank Ladder Match
4. The Hart Dynasty w/Bret Hart vs Sheamus & Drew McIntyre w/Vince McMahon & William Regal (C) | WWE Unified Tag Team Championships
5. Randy Orton vs Ted Dibiase Jr. vs Cody Rhodes
6. Edge (RR Winner) vs Chris Jericho (C) | Submission Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
7. The Big Show vs Shaquille O'Neil
8. John Cena vs Batista (C) | WWE Championship
9. Shawn Michaels vs the Undertaker | Career vs Streak with Triple H as the Special Guest Referee

1. The Brian Kendrick (C) vs Paul London | Intercontinental Championship
2. CM Punk vs Kane vs Kofi Kingston vs MVP vs Finlay vs Shelton Benjamin vs Mark Henry vs Rey Mysterio | Money in the Bank Ladder Match
3. Beth Phoenix (C) w/Santino Marella and Rosa Mendes vs Candice Michelle | WWE Women's Championship
4. Randy Orton (RR Winner) vs Triple H (C) | Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
5. Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat vs Chris Jericho
6. John Cena vs JBL | Career Match
7. The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels
8. Edge (C) vs Christian vs Jeff Hardy vs Matt Hardy | Fatal-4-Way Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match for the WWE Championship

• Team Hell No (C) vs the Shield | WWE Tag Team Championships

With the Shield rising in popularity, their quest to win Tag gold is inevitable. Following Team Hell No's feuds with Team Rhodes Scholars and Ziggy & Big E coming to an end, there's no one left to beat, except the very team that had their number back at TLC.

This match is contested is a great way to open the show, as both teams were over as hell at the time and by dropping the belts, the Shield's rise can properly begin.

• Kaitlyn (C) vs AJ Lee vs Kharma | Divas Championship

After Kharma knocked off Beth Phoenix to become Divas Champion at WrestleMania XXVIII, she went on a long run with the belt that lasted into the Fall. However, after she's attacked backstage by various masked women, Eve Torres wins the Divas title at Night of Champions, manipulating Booker T into giving her Kharma's spot in the match. This lead to a period where Kharma was benched and Eve ran over the division, being pursued closely by Kaitlyn whom Eve frames for the attack.

Kaitlyn gets her moment and becomes Divas champion by defeating Eve on Raw in January 2013, in a loser leaves WWE match (Eve genuinely left WWE in January 2013 so why not make it official?) As Eve tries to get everyone to feel sorry for her in a post-match speech, the cackling of Kharma's theme plays and Eve is like oh shit. Kharma storms to the ring seemingly to attack Eve, but then swerve, she attacks KAITLYN. It turns out Eve wasn't framing Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn actually took her out, wanting to take her place as the next strongest woman in WWE.

AJ Lee comes to Kaitlyn's defense but then betrays her, wanting the Divas title for herself. A triple threat is set for WrestleMania, and they have a spirited match, filled with power moves from Kharma and Kaitlyn and submission based resilience from AJ. It's a great little match and in the end, AJ locks in the Black Widow on Kaitlyn and Kharma at the same time, as Kharma had Kaitlyn on her back. Kharma resists but Kaitlyn doesn't, tapping out. This begins a post-Mania feud between Kharma and Kaitlyn one on one and AJ can get the long reign she got IRL but now starting at a more appropriate stage.

• Drew McIntyre vs Sheamus vs Cesaro (C) | United States Championship

If you're wondering where these two have been in my last two WM bookings, well in my timeline, Sheamus doesn't win any world titles between 2009 and 2012, and Drew was never presented as the Chosen One. Instead, they debuted as a tag team, enforcers of Vince McMahon, called the Celtic Connection. This team always got tag team title reigns, but have yet to appear at a WrestleMania. Something that bothers both of them. They began pursuing singles gold for the good of the collective in 2012, with Drew getting an IC title run, and Sheamus getting a WORLD title run. However, their attempts to win Tag gold always fall short and they wonder if this is proof their better off apart. Miscommunications cause Drew to lose his IC title, and eventually after yet another failed attempt to win Tag gold, they finally turn on each other and we get a hard hitting triple threat between Sheamus, McIntyre and Barrett at the Royal Rumble where Barrett wins the gold.

After further encounters in the Rumble match and the Elimination Chamber, it's becoming clear a match for WM is inevitable. However, after they both try and fail to beat Cesaro for the US title (they each cost each other) a brutal triple threat between three of WWE's toughest is set for the Show of Shows. They have a predicably hard hitting triple threat match, that makes all three look like world beaters and gives the US title some much needed recognition. In the end, Drew gets his Mania moment, pinning Sheamus to become champion.

• Goldust vs Cody Rhodes w/Damien Sandow | No Holds Barred

This is the big rematch from the year before. After Goldust won the last feud with Cody, Cody began a team with Damien Sandow and it became common for wrestlers to call his retreat into the tag team division, an admission of fear for his brother which Cody denies. However, out of spite, Cody costs Goldust the Intercontinental Championship to the Miz. Goldust in turn, ensures Team Rhodes Scholars don't become Tag Team Champions.

This eventually boils over and they decide to have a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania. Sandow thinks Cody should get over Goldust and focus on their pursuit of the Tag Titles but Cody is too obsessed with beating his brother to care, planting the seeds for Sandow's later betrayal. In the end, after a hard hitting match with lots of weapons, Cody finally achieves his goal of beating Goldust on the grandest stage, but seeing his fallen brother, Cody doesn't look as happy as he thought he would and he walks away visibly conflicted.

• Wade Barrett (C) vs Zack Ryder | World Heavyweight Championship

In my last rebooking of WM 28, I had Ryder beat Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania. In the year since, Ryder was given a long reign with the belt, lasting until Hell in a Cell 2012 when he dropped the title to Sheamus. Sheamus got to hold it until the Royal Rumble 2013, when he dropped it to Wade Barrett in a hard hitting triple threat also including Drew McIntyre.

Zack had to fight like hell to earn this title shot as everyone in management seemed to be against him returning to the main event, calling his last run an embarrassment. However, Ryder finally can't be denied as he wins the Elimination Chamber match. Barrett's physical dominance is put on display in the build, with Barrett beating Zack up a lot with just his bare knuckles, showing how damaging he can be. Barrett even attacks Ryder's father in the build, furthering the tension. Finally at WrestleMania, Ryder (whose been training in bare knuckle boxing on his own in the build), dodges a punch to the abdomen by Barrett and gives Barrett one of his own which knocks the wind out of him. A Rough Ryder later, and that's all she wrote. The Ryder Revolution is back is full swing!

• Randy Orton vs Brock Lesnar

Brock's string of never before seen dream matches continues here. Following victories against John Cena at Extreme Rules 2012, and Triple H at Summerslam 2012, Brock needs another big dream opponent for WM, and Randy Orton makes the most sense. They can bring up their shared history in OVW, the shared connection with Paul Heyman, and most important, how WWE positioned Randy to replace Brock when he left in 2004. Randy says Brock was a coward who knew he couldn't hack it in the WWE and ran away to fail at football. Brock obviously gets heated and they get into a big brawl.

The match at WrestleMania is easily the most fast paced match Randy has had in years and I would NOT make it as one-sided as the Summerslam 2016 match was. But in the end, the Beast becomes the Viper Slayer, and beats Randy, his third major PPV victory since returning to WWE.

• The Undertaker vs Chris Jericho

The fact that these two never had a high profile feud is just insanely weird to me. With CM Punk in the main event, Undertaker needs a new opponent and Jericho makes sense, given he has a lot of momentum from his return at the Rumble and subsequent victory over Dolph Ziggler at the Elimination Chamber. Jericho earns the right to face Undertaker on Old School Raw and the Deadman begins haunting Y2J. Jericho claims he isn't afraid of Undertaker and we get lots of hilarious segments where Jericho cries like a baby when Undertaker shows up. We even see segments of Jericho himself trying to embrace the darkness by visiting occult shops and funeral homes, comedic stuff.

They have a hopefully good match together here, where they tell the story of Jericho being afraid of the Deadman but overcoming that fear to hit his signature offense. He even tries using various items he's picked up but nothing compares to the power of the urn which Undertaker carries with him out of respect for Paul Bearer. In the end, Jericho becomes the 21 in 21-0.

• The Rock (RR Winner) vs CM Punk vs John Cena (C)

At last year's WrestleMania, the Rock beat John Cena just as he did IRL and Cena goes on a fall in the aftermath, losing to Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules, to John Laurinaitis (ugh) at Over the Limit, and to the Big Show at No Way Out. Cena wins the Raw Money in the Bank ladder match but there's some suspicion placed on him after the Big Show was attacked backstage earlier in the night and unable to compete in the match, giving Cena a clearer path to the briefcase. Cena denies any involvement. He cashes in his contract in advance for a match at Raw 1000 against CM Punk for the WWE Championship and the match ends in a DQ because of the Big Show running out and attacking them both (it's theorized of course it's because Cena attacked him). The Rock comes out for the save but instead of Punk turning heel, CENA does. Cena attacks the Rock, just seeing him again makes him see red.

We get an excellent heel Cena vs face Punk feud in the aftermath of Raw 1000, where Cena wins the gold in a triple threat by pinning Big Show at Summerslam and then just gets away with a double pinfall at Night of Champions and then again thanks to Brad Maddox at Hell in a Cell and the debuting Shield at Survivor Series. They continue the story from my rebooking of Mania 27, where Cena can't put Punk away decisively with a straight up 123 so he always resorts to different means of victory.

The Rock makes his shocking return at the 2013 Royal Rumble, but not to challenge for a belt, but to compete in the Royal Rumble match which he wins, by eliminating CM Punk (Punk won the 2011 and 2012 Rumbles in my timeline, he doesn't need to win three). Rock of course challenges Cena for WrestleMania and in this version they bring up how ludicrous it is for them to fight again after Once in a Lifetime the year before. Rock says he didn't want to fight Cena again because he has nothing left to prove, but he says Cena is in his way of becoming WWE champion, and he'll so what he must.

Meanwhile Punk wants another shot at Cena because Cena keeps just barely getting away with his title. Punk and Rock have a match at Elimination Chamber 2013 where the winner gets Cena at WrestleMania 29. The match ends in a draw however, when the Shield cause a double DQ. Cena is happy about this but of course, this just means he must defend against both men in a triple threat match.

They have a ton of history to go over, Cena and Punk's 2011 feud involving WrestleMania 27, Extreme Rules 2011, Money in the Bank 2011, Raw 1000, Summerslam 2012, Night of Champions 2012, Hell in a Cell 2012, Survivor Series 2012, etc. Cena and the Rock have tons of beef too and Punk and Rock also have beef because Punk sees the Rock as everything wrong with modern WWE.

At WrestleMania, these three kill each other in a great match that doesn't feel as repetitive as the actual one on one Cena vs Rock II. They do lots of great callbacks to previous matches they've all had together and in the end, Cena just barely escapes with the title, setting up this heel Cena to lose it all to Daniel Bryan at Summerslam 2013. Punk gets his time off and the Rock goes back to Hollywood as he did IRL.

• Kaval vs Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston (C) | Intercontinental Championship

Kaval stays in WWE longer in this timeline, and doesn't blow his NXT won title opportunity at Survivor Series 2010. Instead he racks up wins, builds up a reputation with the SmackDown audience for months, has a fun face-off with Rey Mysterio in the Royal Rumble match, and maybe a fun high-flying spot or two inside the Elimination Chamber, just slowly accumulating fans.

Kaval would finally cash-in his opportunity in advance to be a part of this opening match at WrestleMania XXVII for the Intercontinental Championship. Ziggler and Kingston were in their primes at this point and Kaval was usually very good so I think this would be a FANTASTIC high-octane opener. You could make a case for Ziggler winning this but I think having Kaval win would look great for NXT and make that show seem more mandatory.

• The Miz & Alex Riley (C) vs John Morrison & R-Truth vs the Hart Dynasty vs the Usos | WWE Tag Team Championship Gauntlet Match

Miz still wins Money in the Bank but in this timeline he doesn't cash-in until well after WrestleMania. In the meantime, he gets the Tag Title run with Alex Riley that they really should've done IRL, and with Miz's history with John Morrison it makes sense to put him in here and I'd give him R-Truth for a partner, who he'd been teaming with for a while by this point. Also here are the Hart Dynasty and the Usos who feuded a bunch in 2010 and should've been given a WM payoff IMO.

Miz and Riley are eliminated early in the gauntlet match but to the delight of the fans and the shock and anger of Miz and Riley. Miz blames Riley for them getting eliminated since he was the one pinned, furthering their storyline. The Hart Dynasty and the Usos do their best, but Morrison and Truth are in top form tonight and come away with the belts. This match can act as a sort of farewell to the Hart Dynasty as DH Smith got released not long WM 27, and it's also used to further the break-up of Miz and Riley and make the fans care more when Truth betrays Morrison to replace Riley at Miz's side.

• Trish Stratus vs Michelle McCool (C) | Divas Championship

If you're going to bring back Trish Stratus for a match at WrestleMania, please let it be worth it. IRL, WWE totally blew Trish on a nothing celebrity match where everyone involved deserved better. With Michelle leaving WWE shortly after WM, I'd let her last match at the grandest stage feel deserving of that spot. In the lead-up, both Michelle and Layla want the match with Trish at WM but Layla isn't champion and it's obvious she's jealous of Michelle. If you want your celebrity involvement with Snooki, you can have Trish bring her in to be in her corner and even the odds against Layla, but personally I'd MUCH rather she brought in Lita.

Ultimately, they have a great match, potentially the best women's match in WM history up to this point, but the miscommunication between LayCool costs Michelle the title. Trish gets to hold the Divas title, which she's never held before, and the break-up story of LayCool is clearly established ahead of their loser leaves WWE match at Extreme Rules. As for Trish, the next night on Raw, she gets a standing ovation before being confronted by a debuting Kharma. This leads to Kharma beating Trish for the belt in dominant fashion, after which Trish leaves WWE once again.

• Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes

Just like IRL, Rey Mysterio accidentally breaks Cody's nose with his knee brace in January 2011, and Cody misses the Royal Rumble match. However, in this timeline, I'd have him, while wearing a bag over his head, enter the Rumble and eliminate Mysterio out of spite before leaving, that way it can be implied it's Cody but he can be played by someone else. Then the same thing happens inside the Elimination Chamber, with Cody screwing Mysterio over. Cody doesn't reveal his face at all in the build-up to WM, with the reveal being saved for the Showcase of the Immortals, giving fans extra incentive to watch.

Cody of course reveals his transparent protective mask which Michael Cole gushes in sympathy over while the other commentators just laugh. Cody and Rey have a nice little match here, that ends with Cody going over, using his protective mask to win, just like IRL.

• Daniel Bryan vs Wade Barrett in a Nexus Lumberjack Match

In this timeline, the Nexus beat Team WWE at Summerslam 2010 and the following month at Night of Champions, Barrett cashes-in his NXT won title opportunity to get into the six pack challenge and pins Sheamus to become WWE Champion. In the months that follow, Barrett is booked like a dominant champion over Sheamus, Chris Jericho and Randy Orton. At the 2011 Rumble, Daniel Bryan gets a crack at Barrett, using their history as his justification, plus Bryan has already concluded his feud with the Miz and become US champion. At the Rumble, Bryan takes Barrett to the limit, but can't put him away in the end, the numbers game is too much for him.

However, Bryan does still enter the Rumble match at #2 and makes it all the way to the end alongside #1 CM Punk. Bryan, having had a banger WWE title match AND an Iron Man performance in the one and only 40 man Rumble in the SAME NIGHT, makes Bryan look like a world beater. After Barrett costs Bryan the US title after this out of spite, since Bryan eliminated all the Nexus members in the Rumble, Bryan retaliates by costing Barrett the WWE title to John Cena at Elimination Chamber. This bring us to this match here at WM, the two biggest stars to come out of season 1 of NXT, in the final culmination of the Nexus storyline. The Nexus itself is divided as some are loyal to Barrett while others are sympathetic to Bryan's plight. This leads to this Nexus lumberjack match with every member at ringside.

• Edge (C) vs Christian | World Heavyweight Championship

Christian returns at the Elimination Chamber to help Edge retain his title. However after the match, Christian turns on Edge and attacks him. He explains on SmackDown that he only helped Edge retain because he wants to be the one to beat Edge at WM, and finally get this monkey off his back. Edge is heartbroken by Christian's betrayal and doesn't want to fight him at first but Christian makes it more and more personal in the lead-up to their match. Eventually Edge gives in and the match is set.

Christian debuts Brodus Clay as his bodyguard in the lead-up to WM as well, being booked as his pro on NXT. At WM, these two go to war and have a very good match on the grandest stage of them all. In the end, with or without Brodus' help (dealer's choice), Christian walks away victorious. The next SmackDown, Christian has an I told you so celebration, but the next week, Edge drops the bombshell of his retirement and Christian can either turn babyface out of this in a feud with Alberto Del Rio or Brodus Clay, or he can mock Edge for being weak, claim responsibility for retiring him and get humbled at the hands of Randy Orton who accuses Christian of being jealous because he and Edge in Rated RKO were better than E&C ever were.

• Triple H vs the Undertaker | No Holds Barred Match

I wouldn't change a single thing about this feud or this match. The only thing I might change is that they acknowledge their previous match at WrestleMania X-Seven and Triple H can say how much he's grown and changed since then, and so on.

• CM Punk (RR Winner) vs John Cena (C) | WWE Championship

Punk enters the 2011 Royal Rumble at #1 like IRL, but not with the Nexus, completely on his own. He and #2 Daniel Bryan last the entire field and Punk eliminates Bryan to win the Rumble. It's a statement victory for Punk, and he makes his intentions clear, he's becoming WWE Champion in the main event of WrestleMania. In the build, the Rock still returns and threatens to take the attention away from Punk like they did with the Miz, but Punk is not the Miz, and he holds his own against the Rock and John Cena, making fans want Punk vs Rock just as much as Cena vs Rock. Punk takes some fun digs at Cena in the lead-up pointing out that Cena only won his last title because of Daniel Bryan and says the future is coming and Cena is scared of it.

In the main event, these two have an absolute CLASSIC that deserves the main event spot. The Rock still interferes to cost Cena in the end but unlike Miz, Punk is NOT happy with the way he won. On the Raw after he tells Rock to stay out of his business and Punk says WM 27 was supposed to be the night he proved he was better than John Cena but the Rock ruined that by doing what he always does, making everything all about him. Cena and Rock still set up their Mania 28 match a year in advance, but in the meantime Cena wants the title back and Punk is more than willing to give him another shot, wanting to prove he's the best in the world.

Inside a steel cage (to ensure it really is just the two of them this time), Cena can't put Punk away no matter what he does. Punk always counters his finishers or kicks out of them. Finally out of desperation, Cena handcuffs Punk to the cage wall and walks out the door to win. Punk is LIVID and calls out Cena for knowing he can't beat Punk clean. This leads to a new storyline of Punk clawing his way back to the title picture while Cena feuds with Miz after she cashes in his contract on Cena. Punk eventually gets his shot for Money in the Bank and we all know what will happen next, but now it has the added context of their Mania and Extreme Rules feud.

• Sin Cara Azul w/Rey Mysterio vs Sin Cara Negro w/Chavo Guerrero | Mask vs Mask Match

In this timeline, Chavo Guerrero ideally holds off on leaving WWE for a year for the sake of this storyline. After being beaten by Sin Cara in the spring of 2011, Chavo begins a feud with Sin Cara but then Sin Cara suddenly turns heel as he did IRL and Chavo likes this new version of him and forms an alliance. However, then the real Sin Cara returns and we get this feud. Since WWE are saving this for WM in this timeline, Sin Cara Azul doesn't get injured at Survivor Series 2011 because he's not in that match. Mysterio is still injured but agrees to be in Azul's corner to make sure there's no cheating.

In the opening match of WrestleMania, the two Sin Caras have a hopefully fun, fast paced, high octane opener that gets the crowd on their feet and gets the Show of Shows off to a hot start. As promised, Rey makes sure Chavo and Negro don't cheat and in the end, Sin Cara Azul forces Negro to tap out to the armbar and though Negro tries to just leave, Azul and Rey force him to go through with the unmasking on the grandest stage. After this, Chavo leaves WWE, Rey returns to the bench until his return in July, and Sin Cara Negro goes back down to developmental to form a new character.

• Wade Barrett vs Randy Orton | Last Man Standing Match

In this timeline, ideally (a lot of those I know sorry) Wade doesn't get injured because he's involved in a different feud and makes it to WrestleMania. After having sent Randy down a flight of stairs, Randy returned in the Royal Rumble to eliminate Barrett just like IRL. Their feud is supposed to take them to the Chamber but Randy violates the Wellness Policy and so they write Randy off with another brutal assault at the hands of Barrett, making the former Nexus leader look like a badass.

Randy returns in March to cost Barrett the United States Championship in a match with Zack Ryder on SmackDown. They get into a big brawl and a Last Man Standing match is set by Teddy Long for WM. These two have a brutal match (as brutal as you can get in PG WWE of course) and they play up Randy's injured ribs from the past attacks and Wade's bare knuckle boxing background as he punches Randy in the ribs.

In the end, Randy tries to put Wade away with an RKO on the announce table but Wade shoves him off through another table next to the announce table. Wade then hits Randy with his own Punt Kick and Randy can't answer the ten count, and Wade stands tall on the grandest stage of them all.

• Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger (C) w/Vickie Guerrero vs Air Boom (Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne) | Ladder match for the WWE Tag Team Championships

In this timeline, Ziggler and Swagger actually do beat Air Boom for the Tag belts at Vengeance 2011, with the pair carrying the belts into 2012 with Vickie Guerrero by their side. WWE holds off on a rematch between the teams, having Ziggler and Swagger defending their belts against other teams like the Usos, Primo & Epico and the Awesome Truth prior to their break-up. As a result, Evan Bourne ideally doesn't get injured in January 2012, and makes it to WM.

After several brawls that lead to high flying spots every week on Raw and SmackDown, John Laurinaitis and Teddy Long argue over how to settle this feud which is causing them both so much chaos. They eventually agree together to make this a ladder match which Vickie and the heels are predictably against but their decision is final. At WM these two teams have a fantastic ladder match with lots of fun high spots that show why Kofi, Bourne and Ziggler are the future of WWE (well not Bourne as it turned out sadly but maybe things will be different here).

During the match, Vickie actually hijacks the production truck to lower the belts so the heels can get it, and raises it when Air Boom get close, ala King of the Ring 1999. But Vickie is attacked by her old NXT protege: Kaitlyn and this ensures that Air Boom win clean as a whistle.

• Kharma vs Beth Phoenix (C) | Divas Championship

In my rebooking of WrestleMania XXVII, I had Trish Stratus win the Divas title from Michelle McCool and then drop it to a debuting Kharma the next night on Raw. Whether that still happens or if she debuts at Extreme Rules 2011 like IRL, it doesn't matter because she still has to go away on maternity leave. In her absence, Beth Phoenix wins the Divas title, and proudly calls herself the strongest woman in the WWE and proves it by going on a tear, beating every opponent put in front of her: Layla, the Bella Twins, Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres, Natalya, Melina, you name it.

After Kharma's electric return in the 2012 Royal Rumble match, she does initially disappear again as Phoenix bests Tamina Snuka at the Elimination Chamber. After the match she grabs a mic and once again boasts that no one is stronger than the Glamazon and that's when Kharma comes out for an epic staredown. The fans are into it, and the match is set for WrestleMania. If WWE want to keep Maria Menonous' celebrity involvement, have Phoenix pushing Maria around on her show only for Kharma to make the save, making headlines on a major TV show, and from there Kharma can ride that notoriety. Maybe Maria can accompany Kharma at WM.

In the match itself, it doesn't disappoint, with these two physical specimens beating the living hell out of each other in a truly epic encounter. In the end, Beth tries to bodyslam Kharma but can't do it. Kharma smiles that great evil smile she always used to do and easily lifts Beth up for her finisher and wins the Divas Championship. After this, they can feud all the way through to the end of Beth's contract, with Beth passing the torch to Kharma on her way out of the WWE.

• Cody Rhodes (C) vs Goldust | Intercontinental Championship

Cody gets his dominant IC title reign between July 2011 and April 2012, just as he did IRL. He debuts the new and improved classic IC title design at Hell in a Cell, and he scores major wins against the likes of Ezekiel Jackson, Ted Dibiase, John Morrison, Booker T and the Big Show. Cody also gets a strong showing in the 2012 Royal Rumble (he's still wearing his mask btw in my version). He lasts almost to the end of the match and eliminates everyone's favorites like Mick Foley, Road Dogg and Jim Duggan just as he did IRL. However, late in the match, Shattered Dreams appears on the titantron and Goldust returns to a big pop. Cody is shocked to see him and after a face off, Goldust eliminates Cody from the Rumble to a big pop. Cody ever the sore loser, re-enters and eliminates Goldust from behind, and they have a big brawl on the outside.

The pair's feud continues inside the Elimination Chamber where Goldust really wants to follow in Dusty's footsteps and become World Heavyweight Champion but so does Cody. The pair cancel each other out and both gets eliminated by Mark Henry. Dusty Rhodes gets involved during the build and tries to get the brothers on the same page but he fails at every turn. When it becomes clear violence can't be avoided, a match is set for WM.

It all comes down to WrestleMania, where they finally settle their beef in a straight up one on one encounter for the Intercontinental title. They bring up the many times Goldust has been champion in the past and how he hasn't held singles gold in over a decade. In the end, these two have an emotional, epic match at WrestleMania, which they really should have had IRL. Dusty comes out during the match and Cody accidentally hits his father with a dropkick and lays him out. There's a moment where the brothers stop fighting to check on their dad but Cody just attacks Goldust from behind. In the end, Goldust knows Cody so well, that he scouts the attempt to use the mask as a weapon, and is able to beat Cody clean. After the match, Goldust tries to show respect and a now recovered Dusty is encouraging them to finally be brothers again. Cody is crying and looks like he's gonna forgive him but he just beats him up with the mask and leaves the mask on top of him, so ends the run of the Undashing One. Dusty is emotional while Cody walks away smiling wickedly.

• Daniel Bryan (C) vs Zack Ryder | World Heavyweight Championship

Following TLC 2011, where Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank on Mark Henry (not the Big Show), Bryan stays a babyface initially and feuds with heel Mark Henry. However, they play up the idea of Mark being hurt and at the end of his run (like in the Adam Blampied booking) and Bryan begins mocking Henry and showing signs of turning heel. Meanwhile, Zack Ryder wins the US title from Dolph Ziggler at TLC, and gets a nice little run with it, no Embrace the Hate storyline, no Eve romance, just riding the wave of the Ryder Revolution. Zack gets into both the Rumble and the Chamber, and performs admirably but can't get the job done either time.

Bryan mocks Ryder for tapping out to the Yes Lock inside the Elimination Chamber and Ryder says he thought Bryan was a cool dude but the title has made him arrogant. Bryan says this is what a winner looks like and Ryder will never be anywhere near his level, in terms of talent, charisma or accomplishment. Bryan then out of spite, costs Ryder the US title to the Miz on an episode of Raw. Ryder wants Bryan at WrestleMania for the World title but John Laurinaitis doesn't think he deserves it. Ryder is forced to run the gauntlet against several heels and Bryan tries to help them win but Ryder manages to overcome it all and become #1 contender anyway.

At WM, Bryan and Ryder have a great match (not 18 seconds), with the crowd firmly behind both men due to the Ryder Revolution and Bryan's fans starting to chant Yes alongside him. AJ Lee does try and help Bryan win but this nearly costs Bryan who screams at her at ringside. This distraction is enough and Zack turns the tide, hitting the Rough Ryder and becoming World Heavyweight Champion on the biggest stage possible. This sets up Bryan's downfall and subsequent break-up with AJ Lee, and positions Ryder as a firm babyface main eventer, in the place of Sheamus who wasn't ready for it at the time IMO.

• The Undertaker vs Triple H | End of an Era Hell in a Cell Match | Shawn Michaels is the Special Guest Referee

The build and the match itself are not touched by me at all. This was perfect and easily the best match of WM 28. Since Kane didn't make it on the card in my version, you could have him tear the Cell door down, paying homage to Badd Blood 1997 which also featured Undertaker, Shawn, and Triple H. If they did this, I'd have Kane wearing the classic mask and suit, not the 2011-2012 variant. Other than this, no changes necessary.

• Chris Jericho (C) w/Vince McMahon vs CM Punk | WWE Championship

In this version of events, the summer of Punk still happens all the way until Money in the Bank itself. However, in the aftermath, Punk stays gone from the WWE for several months, defending the title in ROH, New Japan and TNA, just as he promised he would. In his absence, instead of just creating a new WWE title, the World Heavyweight title is upgraded to the #1 spot and this remains the case until January 4, 2012. Shortly after Punk's departure, Vince McMahon fired Alberto Del Rio for failing to cash-in his briefcase before Punk left. Needing a new holder, Vince promises to give the briefcase to someone more deserving but then Triple H shows up to fire Vince like IRL. Vince noticeably keeps the briefcase as he leaves. At Wrestle Kingdom VI, Punk is facing Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event. The match is a five star classic of course.

During the match, Vince McMahon shows up in a shocking crossover moment, to interrupt the match and bring out his new chosen Mr. Money in the Bank: CHRIS JERICHO. He instructs Jericho to cash-in on Punk during the match and he does, with Jericho coming away as the new WWE champion in an unheard of crossover moment. This makes serious headlines.

Punk then returns to WWE as a shock entrant to win the 2012 Royal Rumble (becoming a back to back winner if we're following my rebooking of WrestleMania 27). Punk challenges Jericho at WrestleMania and we get so many epic promos with Punk, Jericho, Vince and John Laurinaitis. Punk is white hot heading into Mania, everyone wants him to take back the WWE title. After an epic match where Vince gets involved repeatedly and even brings Alberto Del Rio back to try and screw Punk over, Punk overcomes it all and regains his WWE Championship.

• The Rock vs John Cena

Nothing has to be changed about this match at all. The build was great, the match was great, the right guy won, all that. The only thing I'd change is that if WWE insist on doing the Embrace the Hate storyline, 1) it doesn't involve Zack Ryder and 2) Cena actually shows serious signs of turning heel. In the end, it's Cena's arrogance in trying to do the People's Elbow that costs him just like IRL.

• Kaval vs Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston (C) | Intercontinental Championship

Kaval stays in WWE longer in this timeline, and doesn't blow his NXT won title opportunity at Survivor Series 2010. Instead he racks up wins, builds up a reputation with the SmackDown audience for months, has a fun face-off with Rey Mysterio in the Royal Rumble match, and maybe a fun high-flying spot or two inside the Elimination Chamber, just slowly accumulating fans.

Kaval would finally cash-in his opportunity in advance to be a part of this opening match at WrestleMania XXVII for the Intercontinental Championship. Ziggler and Kingston were in their primes at this point and Kaval was usually very good so I think this would be a FANTASTIC high-octane opener. You could make a case for Ziggler winning this but I think having Kaval win would look great for NXT and make that show seem more mandatory.

• The Miz & Alex Riley (C) vs John Morrison & R-Truth vs the Hart Dynasty vs the Usos | WWE Tag Team Championship Gauntlet Match

Miz still wins Money in the Bank but in this timeline he doesn't cash-in until well after WrestleMania. In the meantime, he gets the Tag Title run with Alex Riley that they really should've done IRL, and with Miz's history with John Morrison it makes sense to put him in here and I'd give him R-Truth for a partner, who he'd been teaming with for a while by this point. Also here are the Hart Dynasty and the Usos who feuded a bunch in 2010 and should've been given a WM payoff IMO.

Miz and Riley are eliminated early in the gauntlet match but to the delight of the fans and the shock and anger of Miz and Riley. Miz blames Riley for them getting eliminated since he was the one pinned, furthering their storyline. The Hart Dynasty and the Usos do their best, but Morrison and Truth are in top form tonight and come away with the belts. This match can act as a sort of farewell to the Hart Dynasty as DH Smith got released not long WM 27, and it's also used to further the break-up of Miz and Riley and make the fans care more when Truth betrays Morrison to replace Riley at Miz's side.

• Trish Stratus vs Michelle McCool (C) | Divas Championship

If you're going to bring back Trish Stratus for a match at WrestleMania, please let it be worth it. IRL, WWE totally blew Trish on a nothing celebrity match where everyone involved deserved better. With Michelle leaving WWE shortly after WM, I'd let her last match at the grandest stage feel deserving of that spot. In the lead-up, both Michelle and Layla want the match with Trish at WM but Layla isn't champion and it's obvious she's jealous of Michelle. If you want your celebrity involvement with Snooki, you can have Trish bring her in to be in her corner and even the odds against Layla, but personally I'd MUCH rather she brought in Lita.

Ultimately, they have a great match, potentially the best women's match in WM history up to this point, but the miscommunication between LayCool costs Michelle the title. Trish gets to hold the Divas title, which she's never held before, and the break-up story of LayCool is clearly established ahead of their loser leaves WWE match at Extreme Rules. As for Trish, the next night on Raw, she gets a standing ovation before being confronted by a debuting Kharma. This leads to Kharma beating Trish for the belt in dominant fashion, after which Trish leaves WWE once again.

• Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes

Just like IRL, Rey Mysterio accidentally breaks Cody's nose with his knee brace in January 2011, and Cody misses the Royal Rumble match. However, in this timeline, I'd have him, while wearing a bag over his head, enter the Rumble and eliminate Mysterio out of spite before leaving, that way it can be implied it's Cody but he can be played by someone else. Then the same thing happens inside the Elimination Chamber, with Cody screwing Mysterio over. Cody doesn't reveal his face at all in the build-up to WM, with the reveal being saved for the Showcase of the Immortals, giving fans extra incentive to watch.

Cody of course reveals his transparent protective mask which Michael Cole gushes in sympathy over while the other commentators just laugh. Cody and Rey have a nice little match here, that ends with Cody going over, using his protective mask to win, just like IRL.

• Daniel Bryan vs Wade Barrett in a Nexus Lumberjack Match

In this timeline, the Nexus beat Team WWE at Summerslam 2010 and the following month at Night of Champions, Barrett cashes-in his NXT won title opportunity to get into the six pack challenge and pins Sheamus to become WWE Champion. In the months that follow, Barrett is booked like a dominant champion over Sheamus, Chris Jericho and Randy Orton. At the 2011 Rumble, Daniel Bryan gets a crack at Barrett, using their history as his justification, plus Bryan has already concluded his feud with the Miz and become US champion. At the Rumble, Bryan takes Barrett to the limit, but can't put him away in the end, the numbers game is too much for him.

However, Bryan does still enter the Rumble match at #2 and makes it all the way to the end alongside #1 CM Punk. Bryan, having had a banger WWE title match AND an Iron Man performance in the one and only 40 man Rumble in the SAME NIGHT, makes Bryan look like a world beater. After Barrett costs Bryan the US title after this out of spite, since Bryan eliminated all the Nexus members in the Rumble, Bryan retaliates by costing Barrett the WWE title to John Cena at Elimination Chamber. This bring us to this match here at WM, the two biggest stars to come out of season 1 of NXT, in the final culmination of the Nexus storyline. The Nexus itself is divided as some are loyal to Barrett while others are sympathetic to Bryan's plight. This leads to this Nexus lumberjack match with every member at ringside.

• Edge (C) vs Christian | World Heavyweight Championship

Christian returns at the Elimination Chamber to help Edge retain his title. However after the match, Christian turns on Edge and attacks him. He explains on SmackDown that he only helped Edge retain because he wants to be the one to beat Edge at WM, and finally get this monkey off his back. Edge is heartbroken by Christian's betrayal and doesn't want to fight him at first but Christian makes it more and more personal in the lead-up to their match. Eventually Edge gives in and the match is set.

Christian debuts Brodus Clay as his bodyguard in the lead-up to WM as well, being booked as his pro on NXT. At WM, these two go to war and have a very good match on the grandest stage of them all. In the end, with or without Brodus' help (dealer's choice), Christian walks away victorious. The next SmackDown, Christian has an I told you so celebration, but the next week, Edge drops the bombshell of his retirement and Christian can either turn babyface out of this in a feud with Alberto Del Rio or Brodus Clay, or he can mock Edge for being weak, claim responsibility for retiring him and get humbled at the hands of Randy Orton who accuses Christian of being jealous because he and Edge in Rated RKO were better than E&C ever were.

• Triple H vs the Undertaker | No Holds Barred Match

I wouldn't change a single thing about this feud or this match. The only thing I might change is that they acknowledge their previous match at WrestleMania X-Seven and Triple H can say how much he's grown and changed since then, and so on.

• CM Punk (RR Winner) vs John Cena (C) | WWE Championship

Punk enters the 2011 Royal Rumble at #1 like IRL, but not with the Nexus, completely on his own. He and #2 Daniel Bryan last the entire field and Punk eliminates Bryan to win the Rumble. It's a statement victory for Punk, and he makes his intentions clear, he's becoming WWE Champion in the main event of WrestleMania. In the build, the Rock still returns and threatens to take the attention away from Punk like they did with the Miz, but Punk is not the Miz, and he holds his own against the Rock and John Cena, making fans want Punk vs Rock just as much as Cena vs Rock. Punk takes some fun digs at Cena in the lead-up pointing out that Cena only won his last title because of Daniel Bryan and says the future is coming and Cena is scared of it.

In the main event, these two have an absolute CLASSIC that deserves the main event spot. The Rock still interferes to cost Cena in the end but unlike Miz, Punk is NOT happy with the way he won. On the Raw after he tells Rock to stay out of his business and Punk says WM 27 was supposed to be the night he proved he was better than John Cena but the Rock ruined that by doing what he always does, making everything all about him. Cena and Rock still set up their Mania 28 match a year in advance, but in the meantime Cena wants the title back and Punk is more than willing to give him another shot, wanting to prove he's the best in the world.

Inside a steel cage (to ensure it really is just the two of them this time), Cena can't put Punk away no matter what he does. Punk always counters his finishers or kicks out of them. Finally out of desperation, Cena handcuffs Punk to the cage wall and walks out the door to win. Punk is LIVID and calls out Cena for knowing he can't beat Punk clean. This leads to a new storyline of Punk clawing his way back to the title picture while Cena feuds with Miz after she cashes in his contract on Cena. Punk eventually gets his shot for Money in the Bank and we all know what will happen next, but now it has the added context of their Mania and Extreme Rules feud.

William Regal still becomes the General Manager of Raw in August of 2007 and still wins King of the Ring in April of 2008 by defeating CM Punk. From here, assuming Regal wasn't suspended, we'd go down the same alternate timeline laid by the YouTuber: Hapex. In his scenario, Regal begins a feud with CM Punk after Punk cashes in his Money in the Bank contract on Edge to become World Heavyweight Champion. Regal would find a stooge in JBL who challenges Punk at the Great American Bash but falls to Punk.

Regal decides to do it himself and challenges Punk for the title in a one on one match at Summerslam 2008, where thanks to help from JBL, Regal finally becomes world champion. He has the GM role, the crown and now the belt, he really is the most powerful man in WWE.

Following Summerslam, Regal wouldn't have long to celebrate as he'd have to defend the belt in a Championship Scramble at Unforgiven. In the lead-up, tensions between Regal and JBL begin coming out, as JBL wants a title match and Regal is pushing that off, saying you'll get your chance later. It's clear JBL is going to betray Regal at Unforgiven and take the title for himself. Backstage earlier in the show, JBL and Regal attack Punk, leaving him unable to enter the match, leading to JBL taking his place. (I know the HBK/Y2J feud deserved the world title, but having Regal lose it right away would suck and to be honest, it's not like that feud NEEDED the world title to be a great feud.) Despite JBL betraying Regal, Regal saw it coming and is still able to retain the title by pinning JBL.

At No Mercy, Regal would defend against both Punk and JBL in a triple threat match, and once again Regal is just able to leave with the belt, pinning JBL after Punk had hit him with the GTS. Punk finally gets his one on one rematch with Regal at Cyber Sunday where the fans vote for a steel cage match to keep JBL or anyone else from getting involved. In this match, despite Regal being brutal as hell, Punk still beats him clean to become the new World champion (Jericho can now finally move up the card and beat Punk for the belt in late 2008).

Following this, Regal plans to use his authority to get a rematch at Survivor Series, but is confronted by Vince McMahon and JBL (JBL is now allied with McMahon). Vince says he's disappointed that Regal couldn't hold onto the belt without help, and he's tired of the complaints and the low ratings, so he tells Regal he's fired as General Manager. Regal SNAPS at this and beats the hell out of Vince. JBL has to get Regal off of him but Regal is able to take JBL down too, looking crazy as hell while doing so.

After this, Regal is suspended and is set to miss Survivor Series while JBL gets into the world title match with Punk but loses when Regal hops the barricade and screws JBL out of the title, allowing either Punk to retain or Jericho to win. Left with no other choice, McMahon puts Regal and JBL in a one on one match at Armageddon and if Regal loses, he leaves Raw. In the lead up, JBL talks about an insurance policy and at Armageddon the insurance policy is revealed to be Shawn Michaels who helps JBL win, kicking off the HBK being JBL's servant storyline.

Regal is banished to the ECW brand which McMahon laughs about, knowing Regal will hate it and think the brand is beneath him. However, Regal rises up the card quickly, and is the one to defeat Matt Hardy for the title instead of Jack Swagger. Regal makes it to WM 25 but instead of defending the title, he's in the Money in the Bank ladder match which he loses, after he and Christian get taken out in some big high spot. This leads to Regal and Christian beginning their underrated feud, which ends with Christian beating Regal for the belt at Summerslam 2009 in a match that hopefully lasts longer than a matter of seconds.

After failed attempts to regain the belt, Regal falls down the card a bit, possibly being given a much deserved break, but returns in 2010 to be a Pro on the game show version of NXT. Daniel Bryan admits he wanted Regal to be his Pro instead of the Miz which both the Miz and Michael Cole take exception to. After Regal's rookie: Skip Sheffield is eliminated (Bryan wouldn't be eliminated first in this timeline thank you very much), Regal begins arguing with the Miz over how Bryan should be coached. This leads to Miz attacking Regal and Bryan defending him. Regal turns babyface for the first time since he was with Eugene. However, Bryan turns heel when the Nexus debuts and (HOPEFULLY!) Bryan doesn't get fired for choking out Justin Roberts with his tie.

Regal is mixed on Bryan being with the Nexus, believing Bryan doesn't need them as much as they need him. Bryan is noticeably soft on Regal and doesn't attack him which Barrett calls a weakness and encourages Bryan to betray Regal and be done with it. Finally Bryan does so, laying Regal out in a brutal beatdown, though Bryan looks visibly conflicted as he does so.

Regal returns in the 2011 Royal Rumble match and eliminates many Nexus members including Bryan, who is now United States champion. Regal and Bryan begin a feud that takes them to WrestleMania 27. They're both in the Raw Elimination Chamber match. At Mania itself, Regal challenges for the US title but loses. After the match, Regal shows Bryan respect and he takes it, despite being a heel, ala Orton shaking Benoit's hand at Summerslam 2004.

However, for his weakness, Barrett attacks Bryan on the Raw after WM and expels him from the Nexus. This leads to Bryan and Barrett feuding, a feud where Barrett costs Bryan the US title to Dolph Ziggler. Eventually Regal returns and screws Barrett out of the World Heavyweight title at Money in the Bank against Christian and earns Christian's respect after all they went through in 2009. Finally at Summerslam 2011, Bryan and Regal team up and defeat Barrett and either David Otunga or Justin Gabriel. After this, Regal would praise Bryan as the future of WWE and would retire quietly but gracefully.