Chicago Cubs: Opening Night competing with powerhouses for ratings

On Sunday evening, the Chicago Cubs will be taking on the St. Louis Cardinals to begin their year. After winning the World Series in 2016, Chicago is looking to prove that they have what it takes to contend again.

A few weeks ago, I found myself staring at the calendar. All I could look at was this Sunday, April 2 – which is a big day. For those of you who aren’t aware, the Chicago Cubs open up the 2017 campaign in St. Louis.

Putting Dexter Fowler in the spotlight against the team in which he helped make history last November. That series against the Cleveland Indians drew in millions of views. Especially Game 7 of that dramatic battle between the two clubs.

Now, Joe Maddon and his boys are ready to make another championship run. Chicago Cubs baseball is what most of us live for.

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Sitting around the television and or radio with our loved ones, listening to those who make the call from a booth. Our favorite players and heroes take the field, hoping to end the day with a W.

An important day that pretty much sets the tone for the remainder of the season. Not only is Sunday a huge day for Major League Baseball, the same goes for WWE and AMC’s The Walking Dead.

Night of Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment is currently holding their WrestleMania Weekend in Orlando, Florida. On Friday evening, they held their live WWE Hall of Fame special on the WWE Network.

Names such as Beth Phoenix, Ravishing Rick Rude, Diamond Dallas Page, and Kurt Angle were all inducted. Professional wrestling, like any other sport, has had their athletes attend baseball games across North America.

For instance. Last year, Charlotte and her Father, Ric Flair, visited the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Charlotte tossed out the first pitch on May 1st as WWE prepared for their pay-per-view, Payback.

Also, you can’t forget former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk. Punk is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. In addition to his love for the Cubs, Punk is all Chicago-everything.

From the Cubs to the Blackhawks, to the Bulls, to the Bears — the current UFC fighter loves his city. And he spent a lot of time at Wrigley Field, even conducting the 7th Inning Stretch prior to retiring from professional wrestling.

Fatal Four

While the Cubs battle it out with the Cardinals on ESPN, Charlotte will look to regain her WWE RAW Women’s Championship in a Fatal Four Way Elimination match. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and slugger Kyle Schwarber are well-known WWE fans.

Both men have attended WWE events within the last year. Schwarber most recently when he went to WWE Elimination Chamber. Could you imagine Kyle as a professional wrestler? He’s definitely built like one.

Revenge?

Meanwhile, AMC’s The Walking Dead will hold their season finale the very same night. A lot of hype is surrounding this episode as Rick and his group aims to stop Negan and The Saviors.

Ever since that dramatic and traumatizing season premiere, Rick has vowed to seek revenge on the man who murdered his friends. Admittedly, most of the season was spent building up to something bigger.

Something that could only be expected to go down during the extended season finale. Will Rick and company manage to wipe out The Saviors? Or will the writers do what they can to extend the storyline?

Next: Five Chicago Cubs who will improve in 2017

Either way, it will be a battle of ratings on Sunday evening. I, personally, will be watching both WWE and Opening Night at once. Due to the fact that they’ll both be on at the same time.

That’s the great thing about having ESPN and the WWE Network streaming on either or my laptop and television. So, I’m definitely googling ratings come Monday morning to see who managed to come out on top.