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WWE WrestleMania 31 Preview And Predictions…Who Will Walk Out Of Show As World Champion?

On Sunday, the WWE puts on their biggest show of the year WrestleMania 31.

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On Sunday, the WWE puts on their biggest show of the year WrestleMania 31. Now after last year’s show, many fans felt that besides a few moments here and there, the show lacked the excitement from past years. As this year’s show started coming together, questions arose about the direction the company would go in regards to the match-ups.

While WrestleMania weekend is in full swing in the Bay Area, I will preview this year’s “Showcase of the Immortals” and give some insights about the show. At the end, I will give predictions for every match on the card and what I think could happen at the end of the show. Let’s begin with the WrestleMania pre-show match.

 

Fatal Four-Way For The WWE Tag Team Championship: Cesaro and Kidd vs. The Usos vs. New Day vs. Los Matordores.

Once again the WWE Tag Team Titles are being disrespected and this match will begin during the pre-show. But hey, anything to get Booker T from talking is fine with me.

For a division that seemed to be getting better just one year ago, the tag team scene is lacking to the point where Los Matordores are getting a push. This four way match was thrown together over the last few weeks so no one really cares about this match. I am one of those who do not care.

Prediction: Tyson Kidd and Cesaro retain the WWE Tag Team Championship

 

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

This match was somewhat of a mystery last year. Yes it made sense because it was the 30th anniversary of WrestleMania and Andre was so instrumental in making the event what it is today. Even having Cesaro win the battle royal was perfect because it used a throwaway match has a way to build a new star in the company. Unfortunately, the Cesaro push did not last long and many forgot that he even won the battle royal just months later.

This year, we have some good names and some not so good names in this year’s battle royal. I have a feeling that this match will feature the return of Sheamus and that will be the big draw to the match. We will also see the breakup of The Miz and Damien Mizdow (finally) and that will be it. It was announced on Thursday evening that the match would occur during the WrestleMania pre-show so that shows you how much the WWE actually cares about this match.

Prediction: Don’t care but I see either Sheamus or Mizdow winning.

 

AJ Lee & Paige vs. The Bellas

Everyone knew that this match would be happening weeks ago but the teased dissension between AJ and Paige on Raw along with a blistering promo from Nikki Bella on Smackdown has added something to this match. I’m not a fan of The Bellas at all but the improved wrestling of Nikki has won me over in the respect department.

For months The Bellas have run roughshod over the Divas division so this match will be the payoff for AJ and Paige. Hopefully this match leads into either a feud of Paige v. Nikki, AJ v. Nikki or even better, Paige v. AJ v. Nikki for the Divas Title.

Prediction: AJ Lee and Paige defeat The Bellas

 

Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

This match has me intrigued. For one, we have not seen the Undertaker during the buildup to this match. I said in an earlier article that I didn’t believe that the WWE would be able to hold “The Deadman” out until WrestleMania but they have. To my surprise, Bray Wyatt has carried this feud with his amazing promos for almost two months and made this feud, which seemed thrown together, actually have tons of traction going into the show.

The match itself has me puzzled. With the “The Streak” over, the aura of The Undertaker at WrestleMania is somewhat gone and with his career coming close to an end, a loss here would not be a bad thing. However if Wyatt defeats him, does it make Brock Lesnar’s win over Taker last year seem less important? The bigger question is this…does The Undertaker actually want to lose this match?

For Wyatt, a second consecutive WrestleMania loss could hurt his character. With the major buildup of this match, Wyatt could lose but he must look strong in defeat to The Undertaker. If that happens, there has to be a follow-up for him after WrestleMania. He loses and the WWE will have to push him hard to almost make fans take the loss lightly and move on. This match is a dilemma for the creative team of the WWE and I do not envy those in the writing room trying to figure this out.

Prediction: The Undertaker defeats Bray Wyatt

 

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins

Great job by the WWE of holding Orton off television for months, letting his feud with Rollins build. His return meant a WrestleMania match for the two and with Rollins being the best bad guy in the WWE, everyone is looking for him to get his comeuppance against Orton. Orton just wants to punish Rollins so this match will be physical and tough.

I don’t see the WWE allowing Rollins to lose after all the work put into his character for almost a year. Orton is a major star in the company but a Rollins win would cement to the fans that the WWE are building for the future and not just going back to the well once again.

Predicition: Rollins defeats Orton

 

Triple H vs. Sting

I will say this…I never thought I would be happy to see Sting in the WWE but he has been a pleasant surprise. He seems in shape and it looks like he is excited to be in this position at this point in his career. They started this feud talking a lot about WCW which bothered me but they have slowly gotten away from that part of the angle. The fact that Triple H is showing fear towards Sting also makes Sting look strong heading into his first WWE ever.

The outcome of this match is pretty simple. Triple H will put over the legend Sting and we will see “The Stinger” get his WrestleMania moment in his very first event. Next up…hopefully a final match between The Undertaker and Sting in front of 100,000 fans next year at WrestleMania 32 in Texas.

Predicition: Sting defeats Triple H

 

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

I was feeling great about this match. Bad News Barrett as champion, Dolph Ziggler chasing, Dean Ambrose being a wild card and Daniel Bryan wanting to steal the show in this ladder match. But then I looked at the rest of the match. R-Truth, who was not on television for months before being inserted into the match, bothered me. Then they add in StarDust, even though everyone and their mom wants to see him and GoldDust battle before Goldie calls it a career.

Bryan in this match scares me considering he is coming off of a major neck injury and one bad fall off a ladder could create a bad situation. Other than that, this will be in the running for Match of the Night because Ladder Matches cannot be fubar’ed at all ( I think). Hopefully R-Truth and StarDust does not equate into the final decision.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan Wins Intercontinental Championship

 

John Cena vs. Rusev

The Cena/Rusev rivalry started out of nowhere after the Royal Rumble but picked up steamed at the Fast Lane PPV. The undefeated Russian is U.S. Champion and was somewhat suckered into the match after Cena went nuts and Lana agreed to the match. They went the typical way of a match…a contract signing (with some guy with a terrible Russian accent) and the heel destroying the babyface wrestler, putting the good guy in peril prior to the PPV.

Cena winning the U.S Title may seem like a demotion for but Cena holding the belt could actually help to bring some respect back to a title that no one really cares much about. If Lesnar retains, Cena could defend the title regularly and bring the prestige of the title up, to the point where whoever has the title after him is a legitimate contender for the WWE Title in the near future. Throw in Bryan possibly winning the IC Title and you have two big names with two midcard titles that could mean a lot more in the coming months.

Prediction: Cena defeats Rusev to win United States Championship

 

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

With Lesnar announcing that he signed a new multi-year deal with the WWE, the result of this match has had me going nuts for three days. Does the WWE still pull trigger on Reigns winning the title or do you let Lesnar retain the belt and continue working his part-time schedule as champion? Does Lesnar and Reigns both turn during the match where we see a Paul Heyman swerve and the birth of a new “Paul Heyman Guy?”

There are so many directions that they can take this match and with Lesnar staying. It also sets up some pretty amazing possible long-term feuds for Summerslam and beyond. Don’t forget that we have a certain person with a briefcase with a title shot that he could cash in at any time. I’m looking forward to this match and the possibilities that could occur. For the first time in a long time, the WWE actually has me on the edge of my seat with an outcome for a match.

Prediction: Reigns defeats Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Champion

 

What are your predictions for WrestleMania 31? Let us know in our comments section.

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Kahlil Thomas

Kahlil is the College Sports Editor for DoubleGSports.com as well as a columnist, hosting the Bump 'N Run column once per week. He also co-hosts a weekly basketball podcast, The Box Out, every Thursday evening with fellow DoubleGSports.com writer Jason Cordner.
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