Unlike recent years, WWE isn't trying to get absolutely everyone onto the WrestleMania 37 card, and that's a good thing.
WrestleMania is almost upon us and at the time of typing this, the two-night card appears to be set. Seven matches on each night, making the event much more manageable than when Vince McMahon would attempt to cram every Superstar under his employ onto one seven-hour long card. WWE has even decided to have the Andre the Giant battle royal on SmackDown instead this year, suggesting the days of overloaded Mania cards could well be over.
WrestleMania 37 could well be the beginning of WWE returning to the classic days of its biggest show of the year. Giving spots on the card to those who deserve it rather than trying to get everyone in the company on the show. In recent years, wrestlers who have been missing for months have shown up at WrestleMania only to disappear again immediately after.
This year, a number of notable names are not on the card. Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Jeff Hardy, Baron Corbin, Rey Mysterio, Keith Lee, and Peyton Royce, just to name a few. Not to mention SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. Those titles will join the Andre battle royal during the special WrestleMania edition of SmackDown this Friday.
There are also far fewer part-time Superstars on this year's card. In fact, you could argue there aren't any at all. Edge might qualify, but he has hardly been part-time and will probably continue to be more than that after this weekend. Bad Bunny is another, but celebrities tend to have a category of their own. No Goldberg, no Brock Lesnar, and the first WrestleMania to not feature Triple H, Shawn Michaels, or The Undertaker since 1988. Shane McMahon might be the only true part-timer on the card.
Some fans have complained that this WrestleMania feels less than those from previous years. However, this could well be the show that truly launches WWE's future. Not only one without aging stars weighing it down but also a two-night show that isn't watered down by absolutely everyone with a WWE contract making an appearance. Two seven-match cards that won't drag and featuring nothing but matches worthy of the stage. We can't wait.