Bet On a Thrilling Night as WWE Return to Florida

By  //  December 16, 2021

It’s been an exciting year in Florida for fans of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Not only was WrestleMania 37 held in Tampa Bay, but regular shows were held in the WWE Thunderdome.

The excitement is far from over though as WWE heads to the Amway Centre in Orlando on December 27 and you can bet on a great night of wrestling.

The December 27 show is part of the WWE Holiday Tour but that’s not all. It takes place days before the Day One PPV that takes place on January 1, 2022. That’s a show that sportsbooks will be offering odds on.

It’s been an interesting year for WWE and a lot of the main moments have been held in Florida. When fans weren’t allowed to attend events, WWE created the bio-secure Thunderdome.  Iniially this was at the Amway Centre last year and in 2021 at Tropicana Field and then the Yeungling Center.

Matches took place in front of a block of screens with fans signing up to be able to watch shows such as Raw, Smackdown and major events such as the Royal Rumble. You can bet that those who were able to be seen live on television watching the matches will never forget the experience.

It’s just another part of Florida playing a key role in WWE. Wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, the late Paul Orndorff and Hall of Fame inductee Hacksaw Jim Duggan have had many a great match in WWE over  the years.

The biggest show of 2021 held in Florida was WrestleMania 37 at the Raymond James Stadium on April 10 and 11. This was the return to performing in front of live crowds for WWE.  A great two-day event but a bit frustrating after rain delayed the start of the first night. Those betting on the matches had an exciting couple of days.

Other PPVs were held at the Thunderdome before WWE finally went back on tour. That now sees them heading back to Florida on December 27, so what can we expect?

The show will feature members of the Smackdown brand. That means Universal Champion Roman Reigns will be on hand (fitness permitting of course). He’ll be wrestling just a few days before again putting his title on the line against the fearsome Brock Lesnar, who he recently beat in Saudi Arabia. Sportsbooks will have odds so check out the betting offers.

Reigns has fond memories of Florida. It was at the ‘Payback’ event held in Orlando in August 2020 that he won the title. He beat ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt that night and has held the belt ever since. It’s not been confirmed who Reigns will face on December 27. The chances are it could be former WWE champion Drew McIntyre who longs to again hold a title in WWE. Could Lesnar make a surprise appearance? Don’t bet on it but Reigns will be wary of that happening.

Another title holder on the show will be Charlotte Flair. The Smackdown Women’s champion is currently feuding with Toni Storm. It’s been a bizarre feud so far with them both throwing pies in the others face. Away from all of that though, Flair and Storm are more than capable of putting on an excellent wrestling match. 

Flair may have more to worry about than the challenge of Toni Storm. Sasha Banks is one of the names announced for the Florida show. The former champion may well fancy a crack at Flair’s title on this show. If she does get one, no one will bet against it being anything but a classic.

The New Day pairing of King Xavier Woods and Sir Kofi Kingston are also due to appear. They are bound to be in a holiday mood, heaven knows what they could get up to. The pair are out to relieve The Uso’s of the Smackdown Tag Team championship. What mischief might they have in store for the champions in Florida?

2021 has been an eventful year for WWE. Despite them still doing well financially they have released plenty of wrestlers in recent months. Some have been surprising releases that few would have bet on. Others are just a case of a company that have a massive roster and want to replace fading stars with up-and-coming performers. 

They still have an impressive roster though, it’s just their writers and storylines that sometimes leave a lot to be desired. On the road though, you can expect plenty of laughs as well as some excellent wrestling. Missing out on the December 27 show, especially with it being one of the last before the Day One PPV wouldn’t be a good idea. In this pre-determined sport, you still don’t know exactly what’s going to happen next.