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As they usually do, WWE will be heading overseas shortly after WrestleMania for a series of dates in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.
It's from advertisements for those shows that we often get a first look at the post-Mania booking plans. The early word, coming from marketing by the company and the venues, and a recent report from PWInsider, offers a few hints.
Mostly, it illustrates some anxiety about running WWE Live events without John Cena or Daniel Bryan as active competitors, as they've enlisted Undertaker for the tour. The Dead Man may not work the SmackDown taping scheduled for London, but he is teaming with Big Show against Luke Harper & Erick Rowan in Newcastle.
This may be why the retirement stipulation many fans guessed/hoped would be added to his Hell in a Cell match with Shane McMahon on April 3 seems to be off the table, or WWE may just be saving that for a future Mania.
Another interesting item from the bouts advertised is that tag champs The New Day (provided they're still holding the belts at that time) will be working against a couple of heel teams while overseas. Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have shown signs of moving to the middle, even while working as bad guys in their program with AJ Styles & Chris Jericho.
This could mean that Monday, Mar. 7's title bout with Y2AJ will move them farther along on the alignment scale. We'll likely know more about that - and Jericho & Styles match or matches for the Show of Shows - after Raw.
Here's the bouts making the rounds for the shows:
Birmingham, England (April 16)
- Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt
- The New Day vs. Sheamus & Rusev
Nottingham, England (April 17)
- Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus
- The New Day vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman
Newcastle, England (April 20)
- Undertaker & Big Show vs. Luke Harper & Eric Rowan
- Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Ryback
Taker is listed as appearing (not necessarily wrestling) on shows from April 19 - 23 in London, Newcastle, Brussels, Paris and Málaga.
Anything else catch your eye?