Wrestlemania Official Event Guide by Gambit New Orleans

WRESTLEMANIA® 34

WRESTLEMANIA 34 > > > OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE > > > GAMBIT | APRIL 2018

PREVIEW

There’s no night in live entertainment bigger or more exciting than WrestleMania. It’s the opportunity to which all WWE Superstars aspire, the Showcase of the Immortals where legends are born and history is made. A look at some of the top matches on the WrestleMania 34 card confirms that this Sunday, April 8 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, should be the biggest WrestleMania yet. A.J. Styles, the current WWE Champion and a megastar whose presence has anchored SmackDown Live since its move to Tuesday nights, is one of the most exciting Superstars on WWE’s roster. One of the best performers and athletes of his generation, Styles’ demeanor is backed up by a wide-ranging, high-flying and extremely physical in-ring style. Every Superstar has their own strengths, but Styles seems to do things no one else can. He is, as he says, phenomenal. At WrestleMania 34 he faces the winner of the 2018 Royal Rumble, the enigmatic and dangerous Shinsuke Nakamura, a uniquely charismatic Superstar who came to WWE from a legendary career in Japan. Nakamura’s idiosyncratic, slippery kinetic approach often dazzles and bewilders opponents, but it’s his bruising, strike-heavy in-ring repertoire that leaves them staring up at the lights. When these two fan favorites face off for the WWE title, the clear winner will be the fans. Nakamura, who approaches competition as an art form, looks forward to this hottest of spotlights. “I hope it will be not only a good match,” he says, “but my greatest match yet.” Given Nakamura’s already extraordinary body of work, that’s a lofty goal indeed. If Styles vs. Nakamura will be history making, the long-anticipated collision of Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar will also mark a WrestleMania

highlight. Roman Reigns’ showdown with Brock Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania 31 was muddied by then-rival Seth Rollins shocking the world by cashing in the Money in the Bank contract to make it a triple threat match. An even more hectic fatal four-way at SummerSlam 2017 gave neither Reigns nor Lesnar much opportunity to settle the score. At WrestleMania 34, the referee will be the only other person in the ring. Although Reigns never has seemed concerned with what his critics say, even his detractors must admit the Big Dog has grown tremendously as a competitor, delivering compelling, high-caliber matches against a wide array of opponents. Lesnar is one of the all-time greats and for years has been a dominant champion. With his “advocate,” Paul Heyman, by his side, Lesnar shows no signs of slowing down. Reigns emerged from the 2018 Elimination Chamber with immense momentum and his sights set on Brock Lesnar’s Universal Championship; the clash of these two future WWE Hall of Famers, the Big Dog and the Beast Incarnate, is sure to be a top WrestleMania moment. The women’s division has continued to pick up steam in WWE and WrestleMania 34 will be the highest profile showcase yet for how far the division has come. WrestleMania not only will test the mettle of the Raw and SmackDown Live Women’s Champions, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, but will answer some big questions about two more recent additions to the roster, Asuka and Ronda Rousey. We all know Rousey can get it done in the octagon, but WrestleMania 34 will be her in-ring WWE debut. True to form, Rousey hadn’t even signed her WWE contract before she kicked the biggest

Alexa Bliss™

Shinsuke Nakamura™

hornet’s nest on the WWE tree, the merciless power couple of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, known as “The Authority.” These two corporate executives are still nursing a grudge over Rousey’s impromptu interference from ringside at WrestleMania 31. She’s the baddest woman on the planet, but The Authority is determined to make Rousey pay for humiliating them; and they won’t stop until they do. With her historic unbroken WWE winning streak on the line each time she steps inside the ropes, every Asuka match is high stakes, but her first run at a mainroster championship on the grandest stage of them all is a level of pressure and intensity she’s never encountered. If there are any flaws at all in the Empress of Tomorrow’s game or the slightest crack in her confidence, the preternaturally skilled SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, will easily find and exploit them. Holding the title hasn’t improved the bitter attitude of Alexa Bliss; nothing seems to. Despite a record-breaking reign as Raw Women’s Champion, she feels overlooked and disrespected. This vicious and uninhibited competitor has an Andre the Giant-sized chip on her shoulder, which combined with her diminutive stature has earned her the nickname “Five Feet of Fury.” For Bliss, perceived disrespect just fuels the fire. “It’s obvious some people don’t see me as a threat, but I kind of like being underestimated and underappreciated, especially by a man with authority like Raw General Manager Kurt Angle. You don’t think I can do something? Watch me!” At WrestleMania 34, she’ll face off against her former friend Nia Jax and the physical disparity between the two couldn’t be more remarkable. If Bliss can find a path to victory against Jax, it’ll prove she is, as she claims, the

GIVES BACK

In 2014, WrestleMania 30 contributed more than $142 million of economic impact to the New Orleans region. It’s no surprise New Orleans was eager to welcome WWE and WrestleMania a second time, but WrestleMania’s beneficial impact on a host city extends far beyond just economics. As a component of its success, WWE’s mission is to put smiles on people’s faces. WWE feels a powerful responsibility to engage in positive social change, partnering with a wide range of non-profit organizations to help those in need. WWE Superstars are everywhere in the community during WrestleMania Week, working to help inspire and empower. The kids at Woodland West Elementary School in Harvey know this well; during WrestleMania Week in 2014, WWE Superstars including Kofi Kingston helped build a brand new playground in partnership with KaBOOM! at the school. Kingston himself has roots here; he attended Lusher High School and his parents taught at Xavier and Loyola universities. This year, WWE will continue to give back during WrestleMania Week by hosting and participating in dozens of local events including a veterans’ employment panel with Hire Heroes USA, multiple hospital visits, a Be a STAR bullying prevention rally at a local Boys & Girls Club, a Susan G. Komen luncheon, a Special Olympics unified event, a First Book reading celebration and multiple events supporting Make-A-Wish. In fact, the 2018 WrestleMania Reading Challenge, a partnership between WWE and First Book, which encourages youth literacy, is already underway. In January, WWE and NXT Superstars visited Bricolage Academy on Esplanade Avenue and Harold Keller Elementary in Metairie

to read Trombone Shorty, New Orleans’ musical superstar Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews’ picture book about his childhood and career. During the six-week WrestleMania Reading Challenge, WWE and First Book donated 20,000 books to New Orleans area schools. All of this is part of how WWE makes dreams — and wishes — come true. In the three decades since WWE partnered with Make-A-Wish, an organization that provides positive experiences to strengthen and empower kids battling critical illnesses, WWE Superstars have granted more than 6,000 wishes. John Cena’s 16 world championships already place him in a super-elite class among performers, but when it comes to Make-A-Wish, he’s in a class by himself. Cena holds the all-time record for wishes granted: more than 550 and counting! If you watched WrestleMania 30, you may remember that after Daniel Bryan’s spectacular championship victory in the main event, he embraced a child in the front row. This was a very special young member of the WWE Universe, Connor Michalek, who was living his best life despite medulloblastoma, a brain cancer that overwhelmingly affects children. Connor forged deep friendships with many at WWE, including Daniel Bryan, Stephanie McMahon and Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Although Connor lost his battle to cancer in April 2014, Connor’s Cure fund founded by Stephanie McMahon and Triple H continues to honor this brave fighter with an awareness and fundraising initiative that has raised more than

$2 million dollars and helped more than 250 families affected by pediatric cancer so that no other children have to endure what Connor endured. WWE’s commitment to leveraging the power of its brand and platforms in the fight against cancer goes back many years, most notably with WWE’s successful ongoing partnership with Susan G. Komen. WWE has raised more than $2 million dollars during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. In 2016, WWE launched a collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, focusing on bullying prevention and providing in-need youth with safe environments. Thanks to WWE’s “Be a STAR” (Show Tolerance And Respect) initiative, more than 300,000 people from every U.S. state and 100 countries have pledged to end bullying. In late 2017, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence partnered to develop a new curriculum that is now available in the 4,300 Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide, as well as to teachers worldwide. In 2015 and 2017 respectively, WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon and WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque were inducted into the Boys and Girls Club of America Hall of Fame. It’s an example of how the power of social change comes full circle and the efforts of WWE continue to demonstrate this commitment in communities around the world.

WRESTLEMANIA 34 > > > OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE > > > GAMBIT | APRIL 2018

Goddess of WWE. Having learned from her loss to Naomi at WrestleMania 33, Bliss confidently predicts victory in New Orleans. “I do whatever it takes to win. People may not like my tactics, but winning at all costs is why I’m a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion, a twotime Raw Women’s Champion, and the longest-reigning Raw Women’s Champion.” A successful WrestleMania title defense, Bliss says, “legitimizes what I’ve been saying all along: there’s no-one better than me. There’s no better champion in WWE.” With both Finn Bálor and Seth Rollins coming for The Miz’s prized Intercontinental Championship, the deck seems stacked against the “must-see” Intercontinental Champion. Still, The Miz has considerable WrestleMania experience; if anyone can finagle a loophole or shortcut to escape with title intact from this triple threat match, it’ll be the self-proclaimed A-Lister. While The Miz’s two ultra-competitive challengers want gold, they’ve also got a grudge to settle with each other. The Miz has demonstrated there are no lengths he won’t go to (and no depths he won’t stoop to) to preserve his Intercontinental reign, so Rollins and Bálor had better keep their wits about them. The WrestleMania lineup is broad and deep. Many fans point to WWE’s tag team division as a dark horse within the roster. There’s no denying the high quality of tag-team matches, week after week; at WrestleMania, will the tag-team specialists steal the show? Who will mint their own WrestleMania moments in the finals of the WWE Cruiserweight Title Tournament and the 5th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal? When this Sunday arrives, we’ll have our answers. Whether you’re watching in person or streaming live on WWE Network, only one event promises memories that will last a lifetime: WrestleMania the Show of Shows!

WRESTLEMANIA®

WRESTLEMANIA 34 > > > OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE > > > GAMBIT | APRIL 2018

GET AXXESS!

WWE is all about the fans and nowhere is that clearer than at WrestleMania Axxess, WWE’s four day interactive fan event. WrestleMania Axxess provides the WWE Universe unmatched opportunities to interact with WWE Superstars, a wide range of activities and exhibits, and an atmosphere of freewheeling fun where attendees of all ages can create memories to last a lifetime. From this Thursday through Sunday at New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Axxess offers autograph signings, photo opportunities, matches and Q&A sessions with today’s biggest WWE and NXT Superstars and Legends. General Admission, VIP and Premium VIP tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets; they also can be purchased at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center box office beginning this Thursday, April 5. Axxess will be open Thursday, April 5 from 6-10 p.m., Friday, April 6 from 5-9 p.m. and then for three sessions on Saturday, April 7 — 8 a.m.-12 noon, 1-5 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. For those who want to get an Axxess experience in before WrestleMania itself, Axxess will be open on Sunday, April 8 from 8 a.m.12 noon. In addition to Superstar autographs and scheduled appearances, There are also live matches, fan contests, the WrestleMania Superstore and exciting new memorabilia featuring 2018 Hall of Fame inductees. Because it’s New Orleans, there are sure to be plenty of cosplayers too — fans who dress up as their favorite WWE Superstars. Join the fun! General Admission Tickets include all of the above; VIP and PVIP tickets also include an autograph & professional photo and an 8x10 glossy photo of the appearing Superstar.

WWE & NOLA: ®

TWO GREAT

HISTORIES VIP SESSIONS THURSDAY, APRIL 5 6:00 p.m. – Sasha Banks FRIDAY, APRIL 6 7:00 p.m. – Andrade “Cien” Almas

with Zelina Vega & Ember Moon

SATURDAY, APRIL 7 1:00 p.m. – Alexa Bliss 3:00 p.m. – Finn Bálor 3:00 p.m. – Randy Orton 6:00 p.m. – Hardy Boyz 8:00 p.m. – Charlotte Flair SUNDAY, APRIL 8 8:00 a.m. – Daniel Bryan

PREMIUM VIP SESSIONS THURSDAY, APRIL 5 8:00 p.m. – Goldberg FRIDAY, APRIL 6 5:00 p.m. – Shinsuke Nakamura SATURDAY, APRIL 7 8:00 a.m. – AJ Styles 8:00 a.m. – Asuka 10:00 a.m. – Seth Rollins 10:00 a.m. – Braun Strowman 1:00 p.m. – Roman Reigns SUNDAY, APRIL 8 10:00 a.m. – Sting & Ric Flair L I M I T E D T I C K E T S S T I L L AVA I L A B L E .

WWE and New Orleans go back a long way. Many WWE Hall of Famers got their start here, including Jake “The Snake” Roberts, “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, The Fabulous Freebirds and The Junkyard Dog. Many of WWE’s biggest events have unfolded here over the years, including the legendary 2001 Royal Rumble that included championship victories for three of the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame inductees. At that event, Ivory defended her Women’s Championship against Chyna and the Dudley Boyz won the WWE Tag Team Championships from Edge and Christian. (For more WWE New Orleans history, check out our special “Top 10 WWE NOLA Moments” on page 6). Of course, nothing can compare to the pageantry and spectacle of WrestleMania. As its popularity has grown, WrestleMania has expanded into a week’s worth of events, including the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, NXT TakeOver, Monday Night Raw and now SmackDown Live on Tuesday ... all in New Orleans beginning this Friday! Last year’s WrestleMania sold out five consecutive nights of live events in Orlando, Florida, proving the WWE Universe’s insatiable appetite for WWE action. This will be the second WrestleMania in New Orleans and 2014’s WrestleMania 30 offered no shortage of jawdropping moments. It started off with surprise appearances from “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock joining host Hulk Hogan in a history making moment. The hero of WrestleMania 30 was mega-popular underdog Daniel Bryan, who defeated longtime adversary Triple H to win entry into the night’s main event Championship match. There, under the bright

The Undertaker™ lights on the grandest stage of them all, Bryan overcame the odds against both Batista and Randy Orton to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It was an iconic “WrestleMania Moment,” the culmination of a tremendous hero’s journey. When it comes to WrestleMania New Orleans’ moments, however, it’s hard to think of any occurrence at any WrestleMania anywhere — maybe in live entertainment ever — to equal the impact and shock of Brock Lesnar ending The Undertaker’s 21-year WrestleMania undefeated streak. WrestleMania 30 holds the record for the Mercedes-Benz Superdome’s highest-grossing entertainment event. It was a WrestleMania for the ages, but all signs point to WrestleMania 34 topping it, providing a new batch of indelible New Orleans WWE memories for fans all over the world. Who will make history this year?

THE

HALLOF

NXTTAKEOVER work, but it offers every NXT episode and NXT TakeOver ever, on-demand. It’s the perfect way to get caught up on the action. Among the things making NXT special is the unusual intensity of its live crowds. The WWE Universe in attendance aren’t shy about making their voices heard. The weekly NXT program on WWE Network is taped in a state-of-the-art facility at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida and its production crew includes many current students, giving them valuable firsthand film and television work experience. Since the 2011 launch of WWE’s partnership with Full Sail, dozens of Full Sail graduates have found positions working with WWE and the company has provided more than $385,000 in scholarships to Full Sail, changing countless lives. According to NXT Superstar No Way Jose, one key to NXT’s success is the backstage vibe. “We just have a lot of people here with a ton of heart and drive. We’re like a family. We support each other, we push each other every single week-and at every show we want to show up and open some eyes.” More and more eyes are on NXT, and NXT TakeOver New Orleans will offer the clearest look yet at this brand’s unique vision.

When it comes time for the annual WWE Hall of Fame inductee announcements, there’s just one question everyone wants to know: Who’s next? The first name announced for the 2018 Hall of Fame Class was a big one: the intense, magnetic Goldberg, known for a stunning 173-match undefeated streak in the late 1990s and a shocking 2016-2017 comeback run that included winning the WWE Universal Championship and defeating Brock Lesnar in under two minutes. The 2018 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this Friday at the Smoothie King Center. Amid the excitement and action of WrestleMania week, the WWE Hall of Fame is an opportunity to honor the men and women who have made WWE what it is, paving the way for the Superstars of today and tomorrow. It’s a night for both celebration and reflection. Every WWE Hall-ofFamer has played a unique role in the success of live entertainment; each contributed a unique personality and flavor. This year’s inductees have taken many roads to achieve WWE Hall of Fame immortality. Superstars, Legends, past Hall of Famers and fans will gather in New Orleans to celebrate Goldberg’s meteoric rampage through WCW and his awesome return to the ring after 12 years away, Ivory’s path through the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling into the edginess of the WWE Attitude Era, Jeff Jarret’s globe-spanning, multifaceted body of work both

Goldberg™

WRESTLEMANIA 34 > > > OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE > > > GAMBIT | APRIL 2018

WWE NXT is a full-fledged phenomenon. For millions of fans, anticipation for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans this Saturday runs right along with the anticipation for WrestleMania itself. NXT is many things — a hugely popular weekly program on WWE Network and WWE’s third global touring brand next to Raw and Smackdown Live. Many of the most popular WWE Superstars of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live came through NXT, including Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair, Seth Rollins, Alexa Bliss, Bray Wyatt, Sasha Banks and New Day’s Big E and Xavier Woods. The winners of the 2018 Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches, Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka, both got their WWE start in NXT; NXT is where Asuka began her unparalleled undefeated streak, a legacy of dominance that’s carried over to Raw. NXT’s distinct approach to in-ring competition and storytelling has won over both longtime WWE fans and new viewers, with the buzz around WWE’s newest brand continuing to grow year after year. NXT specials, including TakeOver, routinely sell out quickly, but you can see for yourself what all the buzz is about: Not only will NXT TakeOver: New Orleans be streaming live on WWE Net-

FAME GAME

in and outside the ring. and the gritty tagteam longevity of ECW Originals the Dudley Boyz. Mark Henry’s decades of dominance within WWE showcased his versatility; he proved he was not only the World’s Strongest Man but an inspiring Superstar both inside and outside the ring. Hillbilly Jim, lovable icon of the ‘80s, is a perfect example of the sport-entertainers who helped WWE break out into new markets. Goldberg, this year’s headliner, is eloquent when asked about what the induction means to him. “If this was a one word answer I would say startled, honored, flabbergasted, appreciative or all of the above. Pick one word that encompasses all of those feelings.” The WWE Hall of Fame ring is the ultimate honor, the biggest possible capstone to a career in sports entertainment. While it might have been hard to imagine achieving Hall of Fame status back when he was just starting out, Goldberg says,”Reaching the pinnacle of your profession is something everyone should aim for. The aim is to be the best. So, I would say I indirectly pursued the Hall of Fame in the vein of perfection in what I do.” Goldberg’s career in WCW was notable for a 173-0 undefeated streak, an accomplishment only one other Superstar has ever matched, albeit in a different division. Asked about Asuka’s ongoing win streak, Goldberg says, “”It’s extremely impressive. Anyone who can accumulate such dominance nowadays is very special!” When Goldberg stepped away from in-ring competition after WrestleMania 20, few expected to see him return to WWE, let alone create one of WrestleMania 33’s standout matches. This late-career comeback burnished Goldberg’s reputation as one of the all-time greats with a whole new generation, including Goldberg’s young son, who for the first time got to see his Dad perform in the ring. “That is the reason why I came back and did it,” Goldberg says of competing in front of his son. “It means everything to me, meant everything to me and will always mean everything to me.” This Friday, at the Smoothie King Center and streaming live on WWE Network, the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will give the families and fans of the 2018 inductees one more big reason to be proud.

The most memorable moments from

WrestleMania® 30 in New Orleans

Brock Lesnar becomes the “1” in “21-1” when he ends The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania.

Daniel Bryan defeats Batista and Randy Orton to become WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock make surprise appearances to join host Hulk Hogan in the opening of WrestleMania 30.

Bray Wyatt’s Voodoo Themed Entrance.

Daniel Bryan defeats Triple H (w/Stephanie McMahon) to enter the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match later that night.

Top 10 WWE® Moments

WRESTLEMANIA 34 > > > OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE > > > GAMBIT | APRIL 2018

in New Orleans

April 7th, 2014 - Monday Night RAW In what would be his final time in a WWE ring, Ultimate Warrior addresses the WWE Universe after entering the WWE Hall of Fame.

January 21st, 2001 - Royal Rumble payper-view - “Stone Cold” Steve Austin wins the Royal Rumble match for the third time.

June 7th, 2009 - Extreme Rules pay-perview - After Jeff Hardy defeats Edge in a Ladder Match to become World Heavyweight Champion, C.M. Punk successfully cashes in his Money in the Bank Contract on Hardy capturing the Word Heavyweight Championship for the second time.

April 7th, 2014 - Monday Night RAW Paige debuts on RAW and defeats AJ Lee to become WWE Divas Champion.

February 17th, 2013 - Elimination Chamber pay-per-view - The Rock retains the WWE Championship against C.M. Punk.

January 21st, 2001 - Royal Rumble pay-per-view - The Dudley Boyz defeat Edge and Christian for the WWE Tag Team Titles.

October 2nd, 2011 - Hell in a Cell payper-view - Mark Henry retains the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a Hell in a Cell Match.

January 9th, 2017 - Monday Night RAW - Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho defeat Roman Reigns for the United States Championship.

October 2nd, 2011 - Hell in a Cell payper-view - Alberto Del Rio defeats C.M. Punk and John Cena in a Hell in a Cell Match to become WWE Champion.

January 9th, 2017 - Monday Night RAW - The Undertaker crashes RAW General Manager Mick Foley’s job evaluation.

WOMEN’S EVOLUTION At WrestleMania 32, when Charlotte Flair stood with the new WWE Women’s Championship held high and fireworks filling the sky behind her, it wasn’t just a WrestleMania moment. Her victory and the newly renamed championship signified the birth of a new era for WWE’s female performers: The Women’s Evolution. Women have been part of sports entertainment from its earliest incarnations, including WWE Hall-of-Famers like Mae Young and the Fabulous Moolah. 2018 WWE Hall of Fame inductee Ivory contributed to this history, including in 1999 when she defended her Women’s Championship against Tori in the first-ever Women’s Hardcore Match. But the last few years have seen an unprecedented ascent for women within WWE, with female Superstars achieving landmark after landmark. The last year alone has brought us the first-ever women’s Money in the Bank match, the first ever women’s Hell in a Cell match, the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble (which main-evented the 2018 Royal Rumble event) and the first-ever women’s Elimination Chamber match. This renewed focus on women’s in-ring competition has been welcomed by both fans and the female Superstars themselves, who’ve stepped up to show they can carry these huge new opportunities. “I know I have to over-deliver every time, because the reason we continue to get these opportunities is because we continue to succeed,” SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Charlotte said. “That means always evolving,

golden masks as extras in Triple H’s ring entrance. Heading into WrestleMania 34, two of them now hold gold of their own: Alexa Bliss as the Raw Women’s Champion and Charlotte Flair as the SmackDown Women’s Champion. At WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans, some of the most highly-anticipated matches include female Superstars. We may mourn The Undertaker’s broken WrestleMania win streak, but the mesmerizing and fearsome Asuka’s WWE undefeated streak remains alive and well, though she’ll surely face her toughest test yet here at her first WrestleMania. Charlotte Flair’s win at WrestleMania 32 was also her WrestleMania debut. “That WrestleMania stage is unlike any other,” she says. “You need to have been mentally preparing for it. That first time, you’re thinking: Am I the right girl? How do I do this opportunity justice? I would say having WrestleMania experience gives me an advantage, but actually with every WrestleMania, the pressure piles on to shine even brighter.” We all know how the feats of athletes and Superstars can inspire and WWE Women’s Evolution has ignited a fire of possibility in a whole new generation of fans. The SmackDown Women’s Champion, unsurprisingly, doesn’t shy away from the prospect of competition. “I think it’s great,” she said. “A larger division means more competition, and I welcome it. It just makes me up my game.”

Charlotte Flair™

finding ways to get better whether it’s inside the ring or out. It’s a responsibility I take seriously.” Men and women alike find this new era of female Superstars inspiring and exciting. It takes a high caliber of competition to attract someone like WWE’s newly signed Superstar Ronda Rousey, a global icon of women’s athletics. It’s remarkable to think that in New Orleans’ previous WrestleMania, just four years ago, hardly anyone knew of contemporary main-roster mainstays Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. While those three were present for WrestleMania 30, they appeared incognito, wearing

WATCH WRESTLEMANIA® YOUR WAY! While there’s nothing quite like being inside the Superdome for WrestleMania, you don’t have to buy a ticket to witness all the action and pageantry of WrestleMania 34 this Sunday, April 8. Thanks to the award-winning WWE Network, you can experience WrestleMania 34, NXT TakeOver, the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and more from the comfort of home on any connected device, and the first month is free, cancel anytime. WWE Network is a video streaming service

available on TVs, game consoles, tablets, computers — even your mobile phone. The one-of-a-kind spectacle, WrestleMania, will stream on the WWE Network, plus you get access to every WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-view in history; thousands of hours of original on-demand programming like NXT and the high-flying cruiserweights of 205 Live; buzzworthy exclusive specials like the Mae Young Classic and even replays of your favorite Raw and SmackDown Live episodes. To learn more visit wwenetwork.com.

S U N D AY, A P R I L 8

WRESTLEMANIA® AXXESS Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 NOON F R I D AY, A P R I L 6

WRESTLEMANIA® AXXESS Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 5:00 – 9:00 P.M.

WWE® HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY Smoothie King Center 6:30 P.M.

(DOORS OPEN AT 5:00 P.M.)

WRESTLEMANIA® BLOCK PARTY Champions Square 1:00 - 3:30 P.M.

WRESTLEMANIA® 34 Mercedes-Benz Superdome 4:30 P.M.

(DOORS OPEN AT 2:30 P.M.)

S AT U R D AY, A P R I L 7

WRESTLEMANIA® AXXESS Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 NOON 1:00 - 5:00 P.M. 6:00 - 10:00 P.M.

NXT TAKEOVER: NEW ORLEANS Smoothie King Center 6:15 P.M.

(DOORS OPEN AT 4:45 P.M.)

WRESTLEMANIA 34 > > > OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE > > > GAMBIT | APRIL 2018

WRESTLEMANIA AXXESS CLEAR BAG POLICY