Sunday 29 March 2015

WrestleMania 31 Official Match Card Preview and Final Predictions

wrestlemania31It is available to watch on the WWE Network and Sky Sports Box Office from Midnight in the UK and 7pm ET/4pm PT in the US.

The WWE Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way:Tyson Kidd and Cesaro (with Natalya) vs Los Matadores (Diego and Fernando) (with El Torito) vs The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) (with Xavier Woods) vs The Usos (Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso) (with Naomi)

Prediction:Tyson Kidd and Cesaro
From also-rans to champions, we can't get past the holders retaining at the pre-show. The threat from The Usos should not be taken lightly, but the injury sustained by Jimmy Jey one of the brothers will make this extra-hard for them.

Los Matadores will have some great spots with the help of El Torito but it won't be enough. And while The New Day's momentum is building, it'll be a few more months before we can consider them serious challengers.

This is the tag era of Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, and they're not dropping the titles at WrestleMania.

André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal:The Miz vs Curtis Axel vs Ryback vs Fandango vs Adam Rose vs Zack Ryder vs Jack Swagger vs Titus O'Neil vs Darren Young vs Big Show vs Kane vs Erick Rowan vs Damien Mizdow vs Sin Cara vs Goldust vs Heath Slater vs Mark Henry vs Konnor vs Viktor vs Hideo Itami
Prediction:Hideo Itami
Adrian Neville was our original shout for this one, so it makes sense that his vanquisher Hideo Itami takes his place as our favourite.

Having beaten not only the longest-reigning NXT champ in the Axxess tournament, he also nudged the impressive Finn Balor out the way.

With a hell of a background in the indies, Hideo will not only make a hard-hitting impression against the main roster at the Battle Royal - he'll also go all the way and win the thing.

Randy Orton vs Seth Rollins
Prediction:Seth Rollins
It's been a while since Seth Rollins has had a really big landmark win, and short of finally cashing in that briefcase, the bleach-blonde Traitor is due a big victory.

Randy Orton is driven by vengeance, but having already kicked seven bells out of Seth, does he still have the drive to do it all over again?

Seth really has something to prove at WrestleMania - is that briefcase just a joke prop, or is he really The Future of the WWE? Regardless of whether or not he actually cashes in, a solid victory against a Superstar as decorated as The Viper will put him back on track and maintain that Authority support.

WWE United States Championship:Rusev vs John Cena
Prediction:John Cena
Rusev has never been pinned or forced to submit. John Cena never gives up. Unstoppable force meet immovable object. Rusev is younger and hungrier than his opponent, but Cena has experience on his side

For all his impolite bad mouthing of his hosts, Rusev's willingness to speak his mind regardless of offence is in fact the WWE's own embodiment of the First Amendment, rather than John Cena's explosive desire to kick everyone's ass for having a different opinion. Is Rusev deep down a Real American?

But rights and wrongs to one side, with his wiley know-how and the California crowd behind him, John Cena should just about pick up a third WrestleMania win in three years.

AJ Lee and Paige vs The Bella Twins (Brie Bella and Nikki Bella)
Prediction:Paige and AJ Lee
The Bella Twins have been impressive in recent weeks and months, and there is the feeling that Paige and AJ's alliance isn't as strong as it needs to be going into such a high-profile match.

But for all their bluster and Nikki's powerful Rack Attack, Paige and AJ have just too much in their arsenal to be defeated.

AJ has the Black Widow and Paige the PTO - not to mention the Rampaige which could put a brutal end to either Bella Twin. With Brie as an official tag partner, the potential for shenanigans from Nikki is diminished, and with it, the Bellas' chance of victory.

Bray Wyatt vs The Undertaker
Prediction:Bray Wyatt
Of all the matches at WrestleMania 31, this feels like one where both Superstars desperately need the win.

Bray Wyatt has long been able to talk the talk, but having failed to rip apart John Cena's legacy, he must soon have something to show for all the promises.

And while there will be no shame in finishing his career at 21 and 2 at WrestleMania, a second consecutive defeat will suggest that the Deadman really should have stayed dead after that third F-5.

Why has The Undertaker come back if he's not going to win? I think he feels last year was an aberration and he's able to somehow hold on to his command of The Underworld. He's wrong. The mystique is gone. The Phenom will remain buried.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match:Bad News Barrett vs R-Truth vs Dean Ambrose vs Luke Harper vs Dolph Ziggler vs Stardust vs Daniel Bryan

Prediction:Daniel Bryan
I would love to see either Dean Ambrose or Stardust walk out of WrestleMania as champion, but Daniel Bryan is just a class above the rest of the competition.

He may still harbour a grudge for never having lost the WWE Title fair and square - Brock Lesnar has seemingly defended it only as many times as Bryan managed, and he's not even been injured. But he seems to realise now that being in the IC frame most certainly isn't slumming it.

To contradict our earliest statement, perhaps Daniel Bryan doesn't need the Intercontinental Championship. Maybe the IC belt needs Daniel Bryan? We'll find out when he climbs to the top of that ladder and grabs it for his own.

Triple H vs Sting
Prediction:Sting
Triple H is a liar. I know that, you know that. Sting isn't in the WWE to end it- he's there to protect it from an overreaching Authority that crushes the real future, embodied in the likes of Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler. 

The Stinger sees himself in those men, and knows that the likes of Seth Rollins are just puppets for the men in suits who fluff him.

After being dismantled by Daniel Bryan, Triple H is in dire need of a big win to hold on to that locker room. He won't get it at WrestleMania.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship:Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns 

Prediction:Brock Lesnar
Last year, everyone thought that The Undertaker would beat Brock Lesnar and make The Beast just another notch on the Deadman's tombstone. How wrong they were. 

As Paul Heyman pointed out, all the signs were there. His forecast of Lesnar's victory was not a prediction, it was a spoiler. And so it came to pass.

Similarly, in the face of overwhelming evidence, some people seem to think that Roman Reigns will lean on his family history to Spear his way to victory.  Brock Lesnar at this phase in his WWE is career is unbeatable. Believe That.



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WrestleMania 31 Official Match Card Preview and Final Predictions
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