FTW's infallible WrestleMania 31 predictions
The biggest wrestling event of the year is just three days away. WrestleMania 31 kicks off Sunday at 7 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium, and you can watch on the WWE Network. Before the show, USA TODAY Sports wrestling aficionados Josh Barnett and Nick Schwartz analyzed the card and picked winners for all nine matches.
Tyson Kidd and Cesaro vs. The New Day vs. Los Matadores vs. The Usos
Fatal four-way match for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Simon Hofmann/Getty Images
Simon Hofmann/Getty Images
Barnett: Love tag team wrestling but there might be too many bodies in here when you count the eight in the ring, the third member of the New Day, Natalya and El Torito. Kidd and Cesaro keep the belts in what could be a fun bout.
Schwartz: I’m expecting lots of high-flying spots and constant fighting outside of the ring. I’d like to see the Usos regain the tag titles, but given that they were the champions for the majority of the last year and The New Day has been more or less a flop, it seems more likely that Kidd and Cesaro stay in the spotlight.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale
Barnett: This seems like a spot for Sheamus to make his return and win. WWE has promoted that he is returning longer than I expected. I think this is where we also see the breaking point between The Miz and Damien Mizdow with The Miz ordering his former bodyguard to jump over the top rope and Mizdow refusing. Bigger question is whether the trophy makes it unscathed past Monday’s RAW. Sports entertainment and trophies rarely have a happy ending.
Schwartz: I’m hoping this is the year that the Battle Royale title will actually mean something for the winner in the long run, as Cesaro won the inaugural match at WrestleMania XXX but never did anything with the momentum. I think the WWE cashes in on an opportunity to give the fans what they want here and have Damien Mizdow eliminate The Miz to win, and move on to join the Intercontinental title picture.
AJ Lee and Paige vs. The Bella Twins
Barnett: If WWE really wants to #GiveDivasAChance, here it is. Nikki Bella has taken on an aggressive style and improved immensely since holding the Divas title. The obvious angle is whether the “frenemies” can work together. I think another round between the top two workers in the Divas division seems like the way to go. Bellas get the win, but a split between A.J. and Paige is the story going forward.
Schwartz: AJ Lee won the only Divas match at WM last year in 6:48. I’m expecting the WWE to listen to the fans and give this match at least 10 minutes. In a perfect world, AJ Lee and Paige win on Sunday but turn on each other after the match is over, setting up a triple threat match with Nikki Bella for the Divas title on Raw the next night.
John Cena vs. Rusev
For the WWE United States championship
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images
Barnett: WWE has smartly found a way to get people — or half the people — to stop booing Cena. Hating on Cena here would be going against America and apple pie. Putting Cena in the U.S. title match provides the title instant luster and having him win it would mean even more. Rusev loses the belt but it also opens up a chance for him to do some other things. Where Lana fits in here could be interesting too. I’ve liked the build for this match.
Schwartz: It seems strange that Cena, still undoubtedly the most popular wrestler in the business, is in the running for what is the third-biggest title — but giving Cena the U.S. belt both elevates the championship and gives the WWE a chance to turn U.S. title bouts into highly anticipated pay-per-view highlights each month. Cena doesn’t need the heavyweight title to be relevant, so why not have him prop up a lesser division? Rusev is amazing, and he can be more than just the United States champion.
Seven-man ladder match for the Intercontinental championship
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images
Barnett: I am hoping we are going back to the day when the Intercontinental title is the belt held by the guy who consistently put on the best match every night. (Full disclosure: My favorite WrestleMania match of all time is Ricky Steamboat-Randy Savage for the Intercontinental title at WM3.) I think there will be tons of cool spots in this match and could open the main show. I see another “Yes-tleMania” moment and Daniel Bryan taking home the belt.
Schwartz: If WWE wants to give fans instant gratification, Bryan should win — but having him hold a title would keep Bryan out of the picture for the WWE World Heavyweight title, and there’s already a logjam of wrestlers below main event status. I think it may be wiser if Dean Ambrose or Dolph Ziggler — tremendous talents who aren’t yet ready to be the top guy in the company — take the Intercontinental belt while Bryan goes on to challenge the likes of Lesnar/Orton/Rollins. Ziggler‘s my pick.
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins
Steve Haag/Gallo Images
Steve Haag/Gallo Images
Barnett: This match could steal the show if the match actually happens. Among J&J Security, Big Show, Kane and whomever else ends up around the ring, the action could get lost in the shuffle. That would be a shame. This is the type of match I’d want to see more than once. Figure on a funky finish (Orton by disqualification) and a rematch at Extreme Rules next month.
Schwartz: Rollins and Orton could turn in one of the best matches of the card and I hope they get enough time in the ring to really put on a show. I like Orton to win this match, mostly because I’ve got a hunch that Rollins could be cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase later in the show (there’s only a few months until the next MITB pay-per-view, so it has to happen sooner or later).
The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt
Courtesy of WWE
Courtesy of WWE
Barnett: Hopefully, this one goes on late on the West Coast so the cool effects of each entrance happen in the dark. The Undertaker wouldn’t be back unless he was sure that he could put on an Undertaker quality match. It doesn’t even matter if Wyatt wins here — The Undertaker’s WrestleMania record is littered with guys who were greats or would go on to be greats. Being in the ring on this stage with the Dead Man makes Wyatt a winner in the long run even if The Undertaker gets his hand raised.
Schwartz: I never thought The Undertaker would be back in the ring after losing to Lesnar (it was a perfect way to go out!), and I’m still a little stunned this is actually happening. That being said, there’s no way The Undertaker loses twice in a row, if only because Wyatt wouldn’t get the same boost from the win that Lesnar did. I just hope the quality of the match is equal to what will undoubtedly be jaw-dropping entrances.
Sting vs. Triple H
Screen Shot 2015-03-25 at 5.55.36 PM
Barnett: Would it be best for business if the guy running the show behind the scenes beat Sting in his WWE in-ring debut? At 57, not sure how much Sting has left but he looks in great shape and Triple H is always in great shape despite the long layoff. I am not sure they end this after one bout. I figure an unsatisfying victory for Sting by DQ. Could you see a bat vs. sledgehammer match in the future?
Schwartz: Triple H doesn’t have much to gain by beating Sting, so I think it’s pretty safe to assume that Sting wins a match that includes at least six Pedigrees and Scorpion Death Drops. After the bell, The Game uses a sledgehammer on Sting to keep the feud running, perhaps for a rematch at SummerSlam.
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
For the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Courtesy of WWE
Courtesy of WWE
Barnett: The dynamic changes now that Lesnar has announced he is going to stick with WWE. I have seen scenarios that suggest Reigns turns heel and leaves with Paul Heyman and others where Lesnar remains Lesnar. No point in making this a Lesnar squash in the long run. This will be a great match. Seth Rollins plays into this somehow, even if he doesn’t cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase. WrestleMania needs to end with a clean finish and I think Lesnar retains.
Schwartz: After putting Reigns through approximately 10 F5’s, Lesnar keeps his title in a brutal match — but after the confetti settles at Levi’s Stadium, Seth Rollins sprints down the ramp, cashes in his briefcase and becomes the new WWE World Heavyweight champion.
Best match of the show:
Barnett: If the outside the ring stuff is held to a minimum, Rollins-Orton could be a great bout with two guys who know how to tell a story and aren’t afraid to take chances.
Schwartz: I have high hopes for Sting vs. Triple H, but the match people are going to be buzzing about Monday is the seven-man ladder match. Ladder matches never disappoint at WrestleMania.
Worst match of the show:
Barnett: Would be easy to say the Divas match, but it’s WrestleMania, there shouldn’t be any stinkers here. I think the tag team bout could be in danger of falling into below expectations territory if it doesn’t get any sort of flow going.
Schwartz: Before Lesnar announced he’s staying, I was worried that the main event was going to be a dud, but everything changed when Lesnar went on SportsCenter. I’m keeping my expectations in check for the Battle Royale.
Best entrance:
Barnett: WWE is going to go all out for Sting‘s wrestling debut.
Schwartz: If you only watch 10 minutes of the WWE all year long, it should be to see The Undertaker‘s entrance at WrestleMania. It’s worth the 9.99 by itself.
The biggest wrestling event of the year is just three days away. WrestleMania 31 kicks off Sunday at 7 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium, and you can watch on the WWE Network. Before the show, USA TODAY Sports wrestling aficionados Josh Barnett and Nick Schwartz analyzed the card and picked winners for all nine matches.
Tyson Kidd and Cesaro vs. The New Day vs. Los Matadores vs. The Usos
Fatal four-way match for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Simon Hofmann/Getty Images
Simon Hofmann/Getty Images
Barnett: Love tag team wrestling but there might be too many bodies in here when you count the eight in the ring, the third member of the New Day, Natalya and El Torito. Kidd and Cesaro keep the belts in what could be a fun bout.
Schwartz: I’m expecting lots of high-flying spots and constant fighting outside of the ring. I’d like to see the Usos regain the tag titles, but given that they were the champions for the majority of the last year and The New Day has been more or less a flop, it seems more likely that Kidd and Cesaro stay in the spotlight.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale
Barnett: This seems like a spot for Sheamus to make his return and win. WWE has promoted that he is returning longer than I expected. I think this is where we also see the breaking point between The Miz and Damien Mizdow with The Miz ordering his former bodyguard to jump over the top rope and Mizdow refusing. Bigger question is whether the trophy makes it unscathed past Monday’s RAW. Sports entertainment and trophies rarely have a happy ending.
Schwartz: I’m hoping this is the year that the Battle Royale title will actually mean something for the winner in the long run, as Cesaro won the inaugural match at WrestleMania XXX but never did anything with the momentum. I think the WWE cashes in on an opportunity to give the fans what they want here and have Damien Mizdow eliminate The Miz to win, and move on to join the Intercontinental title picture.
AJ Lee and Paige vs. The Bella Twins
Barnett: If WWE really wants to #GiveDivasAChance, here it is. Nikki Bella has taken on an aggressive style and improved immensely since holding the Divas title. The obvious angle is whether the “frenemies” can work together. I think another round between the top two workers in the Divas division seems like the way to go. Bellas get the win, but a split between A.J. and Paige is the story going forward.
Schwartz: AJ Lee won the only Divas match at WM last year in 6:48. I’m expecting the WWE to listen to the fans and give this match at least 10 minutes. In a perfect world, AJ Lee and Paige win on Sunday but turn on each other after the match is over, setting up a triple threat match with Nikki Bella for the Divas title on Raw the next night.
John Cena vs. Rusev
For the WWE United States championship
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images
Barnett: WWE has smartly found a way to get people — or half the people — to stop booing Cena. Hating on Cena here would be going against America and apple pie. Putting Cena in the U.S. title match provides the title instant luster and having him win it would mean even more. Rusev loses the belt but it also opens up a chance for him to do some other things. Where Lana fits in here could be interesting too. I’ve liked the build for this match.
Schwartz: It seems strange that Cena, still undoubtedly the most popular wrestler in the business, is in the running for what is the third-biggest title — but giving Cena the U.S. belt both elevates the championship and gives the WWE a chance to turn U.S. title bouts into highly anticipated pay-per-view highlights each month. Cena doesn’t need the heavyweight title to be relevant, so why not have him prop up a lesser division? Rusev is amazing, and he can be more than just the United States champion.
Seven-man ladder match for the Intercontinental championship
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images
Barnett: I am hoping we are going back to the day when the Intercontinental title is the belt held by the guy who consistently put on the best match every night. (Full disclosure: My favorite WrestleMania match of all time is Ricky Steamboat-Randy Savage for the Intercontinental title at WM3.) I think there will be tons of cool spots in this match and could open the main show. I see another “Yes-tleMania” moment and Daniel Bryan taking home the belt.
Schwartz: If WWE wants to give fans instant gratification, Bryan should win — but having him hold a title would keep Bryan out of the picture for the WWE World Heavyweight title, and there’s already a logjam of wrestlers below main event status. I think it may be wiser if Dean Ambrose or Dolph Ziggler — tremendous talents who aren’t yet ready to be the top guy in the company — take the Intercontinental belt while Bryan goes on to challenge the likes of Lesnar/Orton/Rollins. Ziggler‘s my pick.
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins
Steve Haag/Gallo Images
Steve Haag/Gallo Images
Barnett: This match could steal the show if the match actually happens. Among J&J Security, Big Show, Kane and whomever else ends up around the ring, the action could get lost in the shuffle. That would be a shame. This is the type of match I’d want to see more than once. Figure on a funky finish (Orton by disqualification) and a rematch at Extreme Rules next month.
Schwartz: Rollins and Orton could turn in one of the best matches of the card and I hope they get enough time in the ring to really put on a show. I like Orton to win this match, mostly because I’ve got a hunch that Rollins could be cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase later in the show (there’s only a few months until the next MITB pay-per-view, so it has to happen sooner or later).
The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt
Courtesy of WWE
Courtesy of WWE
Barnett: Hopefully, this one goes on late on the West Coast so the cool effects of each entrance happen in the dark. The Undertaker wouldn’t be back unless he was sure that he could put on an Undertaker quality match. It doesn’t even matter if Wyatt wins here — The Undertaker’s WrestleMania record is littered with guys who were greats or would go on to be greats. Being in the ring on this stage with the Dead Man makes Wyatt a winner in the long run even if The Undertaker gets his hand raised.
Schwartz: I never thought The Undertaker would be back in the ring after losing to Lesnar (it was a perfect way to go out!), and I’m still a little stunned this is actually happening. That being said, there’s no way The Undertaker loses twice in a row, if only because Wyatt wouldn’t get the same boost from the win that Lesnar did. I just hope the quality of the match is equal to what will undoubtedly be jaw-dropping entrances.
Sting vs. Triple H
Screen Shot 2015-03-25 at 5.55.36 PM
Barnett: Would it be best for business if the guy running the show behind the scenes beat Sting in his WWE in-ring debut? At 57, not sure how much Sting has left but he looks in great shape and Triple H is always in great shape despite the long layoff. I am not sure they end this after one bout. I figure an unsatisfying victory for Sting by DQ. Could you see a bat vs. sledgehammer match in the future?
Schwartz: Triple H doesn’t have much to gain by beating Sting, so I think it’s pretty safe to assume that Sting wins a match that includes at least six Pedigrees and Scorpion Death Drops. After the bell, The Game uses a sledgehammer on Sting to keep the feud running, perhaps for a rematch at SummerSlam.
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
For the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Courtesy of WWE
Courtesy of WWE
Barnett: The dynamic changes now that Lesnar has announced he is going to stick with WWE. I have seen scenarios that suggest Reigns turns heel and leaves with Paul Heyman and others where Lesnar remains Lesnar. No point in making this a Lesnar squash in the long run. This will be a great match. Seth Rollins plays into this somehow, even if he doesn’t cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase. WrestleMania needs to end with a clean finish and I think Lesnar retains.
Schwartz: After putting Reigns through approximately 10 F5’s, Lesnar keeps his title in a brutal match — but after the confetti settles at Levi’s Stadium, Seth Rollins sprints down the ramp, cashes in his briefcase and becomes the new WWE World Heavyweight champion.
Best match of the show:
Barnett: If the outside the ring stuff is held to a minimum, Rollins-Orton could be a great bout with two guys who know how to tell a story and aren’t afraid to take chances.
Schwartz: I have high hopes for Sting vs. Triple H, but the match people are going to be buzzing about Monday is the seven-man ladder match. Ladder matches never disappoint at WrestleMania.
Worst match of the show:
Barnett: Would be easy to say the Divas match, but it’s WrestleMania, there shouldn’t be any stinkers here. I think the tag team bout could be in danger of falling into below expectations territory if it doesn’t get any sort of flow going.
Schwartz: Before Lesnar announced he’s staying, I was worried that the main event was going to be a dud, but everything changed when Lesnar went on SportsCenter. I’m keeping my expectations in check for the Battle Royale.
Best entrance:
Barnett: WWE is going to go all out for Sting‘s wrestling debut.
Schwartz: If you only watch 10 minutes of the WWE all year long, it should be to see The Undertaker‘s entrance at WrestleMania. It’s worth the 9.99 by itself.
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