With exactly a month until WrestleMania 32, the WWE flagship event intended to compete for an indoor attendance record is shaping up to be a dud.
Just three matches are announced for WrestleMania 32, none of which have the intrigue of those that headlined WWE’s most attended event in its history, WrestleMania III. That card included Randy Savage vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, arguably the greatest match in wrestling history, and Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant, perhaps the industry’s most important bout.
No, Triple H vs. Roman Reigns nor Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker have the crossover appeal necessary to bring over 100,00 fans to AT&T Stadium. Such a card certainly won’t woo any casual observers to WWE Network. There’s a simple solution for saving WrestleMania 32, and I’ve got just two words for ya!
College football.
More specifically, I have two more words for ya: Harbaugh-Bielema.
There are no two personalities in college football bigger than Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema at the moment. Each has a penchant for making headlines, and are unabashed with their opinions.
Harbaugh’s name is plastered all over college football media, while Bielema is starring in a one-of-a-kind, reality web series.
College football doesn’t have two bigger personalities. And the two just so happen to have an organically grown feud brewing, coinciding with WWE’s Road to WrestleMania 32.
Harbaugh’s whirlwind offseason began with some unconventional recruiting tactics, culminating in a national signing day event that welcomed wrestling legend Ric Flair to Ann Arbor.
Harbaugh’s unorthodox practices — most notably hosting satellite camps throughout the SEC geographic footprint — prompted coaches from that conference to indirectly label him the Dirtiest Player in the Game.
Since Michigan’s signing day extravaganza, Harbaugh’s tour passed through WWE Monday Night Raw, and this week landed in Florida.
The satellite camp concept birthed another means for Harbaugh to plant the maize-and-gold boots to SEC Country. Michigan’s holding spring practices in Florida, further expanding the Wolverine brand into the fertile recruiting territory to which the SEC stakes claim.
Objections leading up to the initial announcement were predictable and immediate, but leave it up to the boisterous Bret Bielema to put some weight behind his words.
After early meetings & lift tomorrow with our players. Thinking about heading to watch an open practice tomorrow at IMG with the staff. #WPS
— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) March 2, 2016
YES! YES! YES! YES!
WWE hasn’t scripted a WrestleMania rivalry this compelling since Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock faced in 2001 at the AstroDome. And the best part? Harbaugh-Bielema is a SHOOT (that’s wrestling lingo for “real,” nerds).
It couldn’t be any more perfect. Celebrity and athlete involvement in WrestleMania dates back to the inaugural event, with Muhammad Ali’s appearance. North Carolina Tar Heels legend Lawrence Taylor once wrestled Bam Bam Bigelow to main event a card. And, given WrestleMania 32’s home has grown into the de facto venue for marquee college football, what better place for the inevitable showdown?
