Well, may as well try my hand at flexing my Armchair Booking Muscles, feel free to tell me from a scale of 1 to 'YOU FUCKING HACK' how my creativity is.
Just a couple of notes:
1. No Celebrity/Part-Timers involved in the card... except if you count Brock Lesnar. No Rock, No Punk, No Stone Cold, No Taker... any of these guys might be on the show, but they won't be wrasslin'.
2. Didn't bother with any stipulations for the card.
3. Lost some steam by the end of it, and because I tried to document the path leading to WM, this card will be all but gutted after NoC this sunday.
Match 8: World Heavyweight Championship
-Brock Lesnar(Champ) vs. Daniel Bryan(Challenger)
How We Get Here:
-Unless Bryan's return fails to produce the pop he had during his underdog run, his most likely route to THIS Wrestlemania will be more conventional than last; a Royal Rumble victory. (Make no mistake, Roman Reigns can be penciled in as the backup plan with virtually no difficulty if Bryan is somehow not over enough)
-The Authority by and large will have buckled if not dissolved between now and Wrestlemania, and the potential paths are numerous. But before that, here's a Dark Horse concept; The Authority, after John Cena has been discarded at NoC, tries their hardest to take the Title from their Mercenary Champion, via any means necessary. It makes the most sense as it plays to Triple H's track record (Remember how Evolution fell apart?) but unlikely to occur as it does something you don't want; it paints Brock Lesnar in the eyes of the fans as a babyface. The stark difference between Daniel Bryan(the intended loser) and John Cena(the fill-in) is already plainly obvious, so sustained heat makes Brock a required part of the Authority machine. (Had it been Bryan all along, you could have the Authority try to screw Brock, get wrecked until they break down, and ultimately be forced to turn TO the guy they conspired against in order to keep the Title 'within the company'. Imagine that, Bryan genuinely getting the respect he deserves from those directly in charge.)
-What actually happens to the Authority will go one of two ways; either an increasingly useless and rankled Randy Orton, perhaps fresh off a failure at HiaC and upstaged frequently by Seth Rollins, turns babyface and rebels, forcing Triple H to cut him off like dead weight. Or Seth Rollins gets too big for his britches and refuses to do his part in the Regime, forcing the Authority to gang up and dispense justice to the upstart. Orton is more likely to be the rebel, because right now Rollins is too good of a heel to turn babyface and needs his comeuppance in another form.
-With Orton out and Kane either STILL in that annoying Ric Flair role of spoiler- or potentially beat down by Reigns to the point of uselessness- that leaves Triple H with just Brock and Rollins. Batista comes back, now Anti-Authority, to face Brock at Survivor Series, and gets beat down for his troubles. A rematch at TLC is likely, with the same result. And by Royal Rumble, you're so spent for Main Event players who can potentially take Brock that you're going back to the Big Show, only this comes with a twist; It's a one-on-two handicap match with Mark Henry thrown in, just to make it more interesting.
-In the actual Royal Rumble match, Batista comes in very late in the order AGAIN, as if they were going to do the same exact angle from last year. He eliminates Reigns to be alone in the ring, but this time #30 hasn't yet come out. The timer runs out... and Daniel Bryan shows up at #30 and ideally, the freaking roof EXPLODES. I shouldn't have to explain that Bryan somehow beats Batista one-on-one, right?
-Naturally, Triple H has to conduct some form of skull-duggery for Elimination Chamber, forcing Daniel Bryan to put up his #1 contendership in a match(he'll rationalize this to the fans by saying after Batista last year, the Royal Rumble winner can't just be automatic anymore- and by the way, don't scoff at the notion, because this is an ideal heel move). I see it being a Chamber Match like the Title Bout later on, with some surprise entrants(Rollins in particular, who still holds the briefcase anyways but would be cajoled by Triple H to go in there and rub him out regardless) but Bryan ultimately prevails. Some interference, The Wyatts actually doing what they did last year but this time taking Rollins instead. More on that below.
-Do I need to mention that Brock Lesnar smacks the other five participants ruthlessly en route to retaining once more?
Match 7: Divas Championship (say what!?)
-AJ(Champ) vs. Paige(Challenger)
How We Get Here:
-Make no bones about it, Nikki Bella will take the title on NoC, thanks to no small amount of Paige/AJ strife and a good deal of interference on behalf of Stephanie. What results will likely be a total disgrace of the Divas division, and I mean it's 'Lay down for the champ or cheat for her or be FIRED' levels of disgrace, mostly to mask how underwhelming Nikki is in the ring. In the meantime, poor Brie gets to be ganged up on by anyone wanting to suck up to the Champ and her 'handler' (because that's what Stephanie will be) until she finally gets her chance to challenge Nikki directly. HiaC ends with a Nikki victory via MORE interference. But Brie still won't walk away. So a Career vs. Career stipulation will be added for Survivor Series. (Side Note: It sounds awful, but a real Survivor Series 5-on-5 matchup of Divas would do nicely. Team Brie- featuring the best of those stepped on by the new regime, versus Team Nikki- and all the suck-ups.) Needless to say, Brie loses, and is subsequently forced out of WWE kayfabe-wise.
-Raw after Survivor Series lets Nikki take center stage with Stephanie to crow about finally doing away with her sister and being Divas champion, only to have Stephanie book her that night with a surprise participant for the title. And surprise surprise, it's Paige(if the Divas Teams happen on SS, I'd have Paige be a betrayer of Team Brie to further cement this) only Stephanie utterly and blatantly screws Nikki out of the title, and in the ensuing beatdown, confesses that she was only valuable because of who her sister married, and now Nikki is promptly fired and cast out.
-With Paige set as Champion- and Heel without question- there are two avenues of drama. On the mat there's a prompt feud with Natalya, babyface and probably the lone proponent of the Good Girls remaining. Outside the mat, there's the return of the AJ/Paige drama which apparently is borderline-Lesbian but could stretch either way. Think of AJ supposedly 'falling' for a Bad Girl harder than ever. The fact that she'd be in Paige's corner to watch her beat Natalya in TLC if not interfering outright probably cements the relationship.
-There comes a wrinkle after TLC; Paige is assaulted by Brie Bella. Groan-inducing, I know. But unavoidable. Stephanie demands Brie be arrested, Brie demands to be reinstated, Paige demands a match, yadda yadda. Stephanie eventually allows a one-on-one match between Paige and Brie, only to make it a handicap match at the last minute, imposing herself on the action to ensure poor Brie gets kicked right back out, only during the beatdown.... well, no avoiding it, it's Nikki. If you haven't puked by now, please do so. Anyway, Nikki comes out to the ring... and suddenly is defending her sister as if they've never feuded. Not that the Bellas can stop the loss, but they can aggrivate Stephanie dearly in the process. She decides to put the reunited Bella Twins in a match against Paige and AJ, non-title, for the Royal Rumble. At stake, their reinstatements.
-Naturally, the Bellas win. But it comes with a twist; AJ betrays Paige unexpectedly(big whoop), and admits that, frankly, she was more attractive when she wasn't sucking up to Stephanie. This requires the two women settle this in the ring on the Raw after. And this time, it's AJ who beats Paige and takes the title.
-Elimination Chamber, AJ against.... well shoot, whichever Diva is the hottest around that time. It honestly doesn't matter, because we're still milking the Paige/AJ angle like blood from a stone. Only this time it's Paige who interferes, though AJ retains via disqualification. Naturally, Paige wants the title AND AJ all at once, at Wrestlemania.
Match 6:
-Roman Reigns vs. Triple H
How We Get Here:
-Put bluntly, Reigns is put down by Seth Rollins at NoC. With Dean Ambrose returning, Reigns is left to vy for the #1 contender status for HiaC. Unfortunately, he loses out to Randy Orton via interference from Kane. Again. Incensed, Reigns goes after Kane. He doesn't take him on directly in a match; but rather he jumps him every chance he gets. Finally, Reigns demands a one-on-one match at HiaC with Kane, which is promptly accepted. Reigns prevails after a brutal confrontation, as a match with Kane can only go these days. That part is notable because Randy Orton is in place to interfere, but chooses not to, a decision that leads to his downfall in the authority.
-Survivor Series, Team Rollins versus Team Ambrose. Grudge Match to end Grudge Matches. Reigns is on Team Ambrose, joined by Randy Orton in a surprise twist; expected to join Team Rollins to redeem himself, he RKOs Rollins and proclaims his allegiance to the other side. This time, Ambrose prevails, though Reigns is instrumental in knocking out the most participants in the match a la last year.
-Leading up to TLC, Reigns takes on Batista in a bid to face Brock Lesnar, only Reigns is screwed. This time by the Wyatts, who seem to be fresh off their latest feud with Big Show/Mark Henry and back to working for Triple H(or so the fans will see). A 3-on-3 match is set up with Reigns and Rollins, with Randy Orton as the surprise addition. The Wyatts win by the seat of their pants.
-You know what happens to Reigns at the Royal Rumble, setting up Batista as the hump he just can't quite get over. Knowing the Animal is likely to be in the WWE Title Match at Elimination Chamber, Reigns pulls out all the stops to qualify for said match. In the match itself, Reigns gets his revenge on the Animal FINALLY, by eliminating him decisively. He finishes 2nd... beat down last not by Brock Lesnar, but by the Authority. He comes close enough to warrant such a blatant cheat by Triple H, which in turn sets up the Grudge angle. It'll take a couple of weeks after EC to goad Triple H into agreeing to a match, but he'll agree. Do enough damage to the man and he'll agree that splitting your skull with a sledgehammer is good for buisness.
Match 5:
-John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose
How We Get Here:
-Cena gets puts down at NoC... maybe not as badly as at SummerSlam, maybe he's a great deal more brutal in the fight, but he can't close the deal and Brock beats him again. His 'last' appearance for a while is the Raw after, where he snaps and brutalizes someone and realizes how far he's sunk. (Kinda doesn't matter WHO he brutalizes after the fact, just that he snaps. Not a 'heel' turn, but a genuinely sold character conflict). Ambrose meanwhile has returned to resume the feud with Seth Rollins, as unpredictable and aggressive as ever. Hell, if anything Dean is much more ruthless than before thanks to being curb-stomped and put away for some time. Ambrose goads Rollins into a genuine Hell in a Cell match at HiaC, where the rules do not apply and the blood can flow. Ambrose somehow loses by DQ via a crooked ref but gets to pound on Rollins anyways. That sets up Team Rollins vs. Team Ambrose at Survivor Series.
-Meanwhile, John Cena is nowhere to be found at HiaC. But he does come back for Survivor Series. And predictably, he gets put in a program with Rusev.
-The Rusev program is long lasting. It has to be. It can't be a one-off. And it has to be downright even. Here's how I see it; Survivor Series puts John Cena through the proverbial meat-grinder, selling Rusev as this powerful, dominating wrestler while at the same time demonstrating that Cena is a class above Swagger and Henry in terms of ring prowess. You have to sell Cena's increased importance at the same time. And unlike the others, Cena won't tap out. Make him pass out in Rusev's submission move (is it the Accolade? I'm not too sure). 0-1 Rusev. Cena can try to avenge his loss at TLC, but bring back the demons from before with a more ruthless performance (hell, have him slap Lana right in the face for a DQ to underline where John's trying to crawl out of). 0-1 Rusev with one 'draw', leading up to the Royal Rumble, and here's where Cena finally picks up the good guy baton once more and gets the victory. Cheesy, queasy, downright sickening, YES, but that's what you do in a A-Grade PPV like the Royal Rumble, and MAYBE after several months of doubt and strife, it might sell better as a result. The twist I would have at the end is Rusev unexpectedly TURNING on Lana and becoming face in the process by embracing the country he has 'opposed' all this time.
-Elimination Chamber comes, naturally John Cena is one of the participants in the WWE Title match. Between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, Cena's no better than 3rd and just shy of window dressing in the matchup. But it gives Cena one more chance to maybe get the Beast in his sights and finally do away with him, sadly to no avail. Who knows, maybe he somehow 'an heroes' himself for someone like Reigns.
-As for Dean after the Wyatts in TLC? He goes right back after Rollins, goading Seth into a match at the Royal Rumble. Seth responds with putting Bray Wyatt in his place, in a scrap that Ambrose barely survives. Wyatt continues to 'feud' with Amrbose all the way up to EC, to supposedly keep him off the #1 Contenders match, but Dean manages to get in. Dean gets to eliminate Rollins, but not before the Wyatts make their appearance... and for some reason screw Rollins instead. Dean sadly finishes #2 to Daniel Bryan as a result.
-So how do you get these two guys together in the ring after all of that? It's quite simple; You have Ambrose out in the ring at some Raw down the line, cutting a promo about being left out in the cold for pretty much every last Title match on the card, and how, apparently, there's no one willing to take him on directly. Cue Cena's music. Cena responds that naturally, he never walks out on a challenge, and that Ambrose will have to go through him to prove his worth. No Face/Heel dynamic to speak of, for there's no need. It's the sort of match you expect Cena to have from now on- the deliberate elevation of younger talent.
Match 4:
-Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt
How We Get Here:
-By now we know where Rollins goes all the way up to after Survivor Series. Bray Wyatt doesn't seem to be scheduled for NoC and just vanquished Chris Jericho.
-Bray teams up with his brothers to torment Big Show leading up to HiaC, mostly as a means to continue the Tag Team feud. What follows is Show bragging he can take on all three of them at once, setting up a 3-on-1 handicap match which provided the Wyatts do a fantastic job with 90% of all the motion works better than it should have any right to. Beating Big Show under such unfair conditions sets up a Tag Team match at Survivor Series while Bray goes on to join Team Rollins. After SS, the Wyatts seemingly go after Ambrose/Reigns via Triple H in TLC. Rollins meanwhile is given a supposed cake-walk in Damian Sandow, as part of the 'Spoiled Golden Boy' angle they're doing. It's Sandow in a PPV match against a refutable opponent. Go nuts.
-Anyhoo, it's time for the Royal Rumble. And Seth employs Bray to take his place in a match with Dean Ambrose. In truth, Seth is now ordering the Wyatts to harrass and terrorize Dean at every opportunity. This leads up to Elimination Chamber, where Seth secretly instructs the Wyatts that they are to cost Dean his chance at the #1 contender status after Triple H makes Rollins get involved in said match to screw Daniel Bryan. The Wyatts come to the cage as planned, once Dean has outright beat down Rollins and is ready for the pin... instead they screw Rollins directly.
-Bray explains that the depravity and disregard Rollins has shown to others, both his former comrades and his enemies, and his greed for fame and fortune, have conspired to bring him down and Bray is the avatar of that downfall. Imagine that context molded into the typical Wyatt ravings and you get the idea. Basically Bray Wyatt is turning quasi-face to punish Rollins for his indiscretions.
Match 3: Intercontinental Title
-Dolph Ziggler(Champ) vs. Bad News Barrett(Challenger)
How We Get Here:
-Yes, this is prevalent on Barrett returning by this point, ideally by the Royal Rumble, and recovered enough to compete. And no, Ziggler has NOT been a champion since Summerslam.
-Really, given how little storyline this belt has gotten recently, there's not much to tell. Anyway, here's how I see it going down; Ziggler defeats Miz to retain in NoC, then he defeats Big E to retain at HiaC(because who else is there?).
-At Survivor Series, there's a treat; Team Ziggler(Intercontinental Title) versus Team Cesaro(US Title). Team Cesaro takes the match, and the titles aren't defended.
-TLC is a shocker, freaking Bo Dallas beats Ziggler to take the title. Ziggler takes back the title at Royal Rumble.
-Barrett meanwhile makes his comeback at Royal Rumble, albeit in a limited fashion. Elimination Chamber is spent with neither wrestler actively participating, but with Barrett proclaiming that as a former champ who never lost the title, now he has first rights to challenge for the title at Wrestlemania. Basically, he'd BAAAAAD NEEEEEEWWWWS for the Zig.
Match 2: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale
-Big Show, Mark Henry, Randy Orton, Sheamus, Big E, Bo Dallas, The Miz, Jack Swagger, Damien Sandow, Kofi Kingston, Sin Cara, Titus O'Neil, Justin Gabriel, Xavier Woods, Tyson Kidd, Heath Slater, Zach Ryder, Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville, Kalisto, about ten other guys between WWE/NXT but who gives a crap about them.
How We Get Here:
-It's the freaking Battle Royale featuring people who didn't get onto the rest of the card!
Match 1: US Title
-Rusev(Champ) vs. Cesaro(Challenger)
How We Get Here:
-We know about Rusev as far as the Royal Rumble where he finally loses to John Cena and turns on Lana.
-Cesaro takes the US Title from Sheamus at NoC, retaining at HiaC. Team Cesaro beats Team Ziggler at Survivor Series. Then he gets to beat on The Miz at TLC to retain, with a rematch at the Royal Rumble, because why not.
-Elimination Chamber. Rusev, now free from Lana, is picked up by Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger in a upside-down twist. Rusev should be portraying the foreigner freed from oppression and utterly engrossed in the American Melting Pot. He takes the US Title from Cesaro in a surprisingly powerful matchup, and Rusev is hailed as if he's an AMERICAN Hero.
-On the Raw after, Rusev is out on the ring with Colter and Swagger, the three of them cutting a promo over their obtainment of the US Title, and Rusev obtaining the American Dream... which brings out Lana and her new 'client', Cesaro. The rematch at Wrestlemania is ON.
Dark Match: Tag Team Championship
-Golddust/Stardust(Champs) vs. Wyatt Family(Challengers) vs. The Usos(Challengers) vs. The Ascension(Challengers)
How We Get Here:
-The 'Dust' Brothers take the title form the Usos at NoC, rebuffing them twice more at HiaC and Survivor Series. Dunno who they take on at TLC.
-The Wyatt Family finally conquers The Big Show and Mark Henry at Survivor Series. At Royal Rumble, they take the titles from the 'Dust' Brothers, only to give them up in the rematch at Elimination Chamber.
-The Ascension arrive after the Royal Rumble, and quickly prove to be an ideal addition.
-The Usos.... are the Usos. What's to be said?
