WrestleMania 41 weekend in Las Vegas is shaping up to be filled with lots of great things. The WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony is on Friday. On Saturday, NXT Stand & Deliver and Night 1 of WrestleMania happen. The festivities come to an end on Sunday during Night 2 of WrestleMania.
However, Friday night will bring back another WrestleMania weekend tradition. It was announced last week that the Andre the Giant Battle Royal will return for another year. The match consists of people not booked for WrestleMania, allowing them to showcase what they can do that weekend.
However, there have been some major names that have won the Andre the Giant trophy before. Wrestlers like Braun Strowman, Bronson Reed, and Jey Uso have been victorious before. With lots of wrestlers vying for that win, here are three wrestlers that deserve that victory.
Carmelo Hayes Deserves To Finally Be In The Spotlight
If you watched NXT, you know that Carmelo Hayes is an outstanding performer. He holds his own on the microphone while having great wrestling abilities. His 182-day reign as NXT Champion showed that he has what it takes to be successful in WWE. However, his run so far on the main roster should be better than it is.
He was unsuccessful at winning Money in the Bank in Toronto and failed to win the United States Championship at Crown Jewel last year. A few weeks ago, he was placed in a partnership with The Miz. It looks like, for the time being, WWE sees him as a tag team guy.
If he were to win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, that could catapult him to singles stardom. A great way to get him over as a singles competitor will be for him to win on Friday.
A Win Could Turn Things Around For Karrion Kross
For many wrestlers, an Andre the Giant Battle Royal can be the turning point in their careers. If Karrion Kross wins, then his stock will rise within WWE.
AOP and Paul Ellering got released in February, disbanding his stable. He has been reduced to talking segments, having wrestled for the first time since December on Main Event two weeks ago. It was also reported that his contract is up this year, making fans of his worried about his future.
Knowing what he’s been given since the start of the year, it would be understandable if people think he won’t be around much longer. But a huge win has helped tons of wrestlers resurrect their careers. In order for Kross to prove to WWE management that he’s worth keeping, he needs a win or at least a good showing on Friday.
A Surprise Entrant in Omos Could Shock Everyone
The last time Omos was seen on WWE television was last year’s Andre the Giant Battle Royal. Since then, the only in-ring action he’s seen has been in Pro Wrestling NOAH on excursion. He returned to the United States after a month in Japan in January but hasn’t been used at all.
It seems like WWE is waiting for the right time to bring him back. As a 7-foot-tall giant, he is mainly used as a special attraction for battle royals and the Royal Rumble. The last one-on-one match he had was against Seth Rollins at Backlash in 2023, which he lost.
It’s clear that his current ceiling in WWE is doing “huge man eliminating half the competitors” spots. Omos winning the Andre the Giant Battle Royal could reintroduce him to the WWE audience while showcasing his power and strength in the ring.
The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal is a Fun Way to Kick Off WrestleMania Weekend
Many fans often lament their favorite male wrestler yet again missing WrestleMania. However, the Andre the Giant Battle Royal allows them to make their mark on an always fun-filled weekend.
One of the best things about the match is that jobbers are competing alongside heavy hitters that didn’t make it to WWE’s premier event that year. Most of them have exemplary showings in the match, such as Bronson Reed winning last year after a runner-up finish the year before. He went on to have an incredible year, highlighted by a nice showing at Survivor Series: WarGames.
A lot of winners have turned their careers around after becoming victorious. Carmelo Hayes, Karrion Kross, and Omos are three wrestlers who can benefit from a win. If one of them can be the last man standing, then their WWE career will get boosted hugely.
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