Wrestlemania 31 – A What’s A Geek Preview
It’s that time of the year once again! The biggest, grandest event of all of sports-entertainment takes centerstage this Monday morning (PHL time) as Wrestlemania 31 rolls on! And we at What’s A Geek give you a little preview and offer some predictions regarding the event!
Let’s break down the card! (Note: (c) -> denotes champion)
Fatal 4-way for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Cesaro and Tyson Kidd (c) vs The Usos vs Los Matadores vs A New Day
Backstory: For the second year in a row, a Fatal 4-way for the Tag straps are the highlight of the pre-show. Cesaro and Kidd won the titles from The Usos back at Fastlane, and Los Matadores and New Day have just been added for the PPV paycheck. Other than that, there’s no real story here, just a match that’s thrown together for the heck of it.
Khrysler’s take: Cesaro/Kidd retains via shenanigans involving Natalya, Naomi and El Torito.
Fanboy’s take: I’m with Khrysler on this one, Superman and Kidd have shown fans, on the road to Wrestlemania, that they are capable champs. El Torito can be a game changer in the match with all his nuisances and distractions but the former can take it and dish it out.
The Second Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale
Confirmed Participants: The Miz, Damien Mizdow, Curtis Axel, Fandango, Ryback, Adam Rose, Zack Ryder, Jack Swagger, Titus O’Neil, Darren Young, Big Show, Kane, Erick Rowan, Sin Cara, Goldust, Heath Slater, Mark Henry, Konnor, Viktor, Hideo Itami
Backstory: A battle royale held to commemorate the late, great Andre the Giant. A battle royale that’s supposed to have more prestige involved but has a very bad precedent to date (see: Cesaro in 2014). A match that’s gaining some interest due to some ongoing story bits regarding some participants (namely The Miz and Damien Mizdow). The inclusion of NXT’s Hideo Itami makes for another interesting dynamic: will he hit the Go To Sleep during the Battle Royale or not?
Khrysler’s take: If Mizdow does not win the Battle Royale, expect the payoff of the Miz-Mizdow angle to happen on the Raw After Mania. I’d also pick Itami, for smark reasons.
Fanboy’s take: I want Itami to win too but it feels like creative wants to push the bubbling Miz-Mizdow story front and center.
WWE United States Championship
Rusev (c) vs John Cena
Backstory: Rusev interrupted a post-Royal Rumble John Cena interview to trigger this feud. The undefeated Russian has been making Cena’s life hard for the past few weeks, including a submission win at WWE Fastlane. Cena refuses to relent though and bullies Rusev into this rematch.
Khrysler’s take: I am seriously hoping that Rusev gets the win here, but who am I kidding?
Fanboy’s take: That’s right my friend. Love it or hate it, Cena’s winning this. Expecting to see an interesting match as Rusev’s a pretty big bruiser and Cena might have bitten more than he can chew.
Randy Orton vs Seth Rollins
Backstory: Both Orton and Rollins are part of The Authority faction but a clash of egos forced Rollins to Curb Stomp Orton’s head into the shelf. Orton returned at Fastlane looking for revenge and The Viper has been stalking Mr Money in the Bank ever since.
Khrysler’s take: Rollins would find a way.
Fanboy’s take: For the sake of antagonizing you bro, I’m going for the Viper getting the win mainly because he sorely needs one. We also need to see a strong story beat for Orton and hopefully this “win” lits the fuse.
Ladder match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Bad News Barrett (c) vs Daniel Bryan vs Stardust vs Luke Harper vs Dean Ambrose vs R-Truth vs Dolph Ziggler
Backstory: Bad News Barrett had an IC title match at WWE Fastlane with Dean Ambrose which ended in BNB winning via DQ and Ambrose running off with the belt. For the following weeks, the belt has been in the possession of the participants at least once at various points, culminating in The Authority sanctioning the ladder match. Huge Match of the Year potential here.
Khrysler’s take: I’ll go with either Dolph or Ambrose winning the title, as I feel Bryan is better suited in chasing titles.
Fanboy’s take: THE HOT POTATO MATCH! I love how Truth’s making this an interesting match-up stealing the IC belt; Bad News is my number two pick for a retention but seeing rumblings that Daniel Bryan would be posted as the new Intercon champ, my money’s with the Yes! man.
Tag Team Match
AJ Lee and Paige vs The Bella Twins
Backstory: The Bella Twins have been tormenting Paige the past few weeks. That is, until AJ Lee returned to even the odds. But given AJ and Paige being frienemies, The Bella Twins are seeing a chance to properly cement their place at the top of the Divas division and ultimately crushing their biggest adversaries.
Khrysler’s take: AJ and Paige takes it via a Brie Bella boo-boo, which could then be used for a 4-way Divas title match on the Raw After Mania.
Fanboy’s take: Holy! Much as the Bellas are hot; I want AJ and Paige to win mostly because I like how Paige goes cray-cray whenever she’s excited.
Bray Wyatt vs The Undertaker
Backstory: The Undertaker has not been seen since the end of The Streak. Bray Wyatt is sensing that The Deadman is not what he was before, taunting him with riddles and parables of how he will become The New Face of Fear. Taker accepts Wyatt’s challenge in what could be one of his final matches.
Khrysler’s take: Bray needs the win more here, which could then be the possible cause for Taker’s retirement match.
Fanboy’s take: Restart the streak. Bray might be younger and more aggressive but I’m a hardcore Undertaker fan. The Deadman needs a new win especially since it feels like he’ll be limiting his appearance to big events for the duration of his rasslin’ career.
Triple H vs Sting
Backstory: Sting mysteriously showed up at Survivor Series 2014 and ended up costing The Authority their Survivor Series match. Simply put, Haitch did not like it and has sought for revenge against The Vigilante. Sting just gave Triple H the opportunity that he wanted by challenging him to a match at Wrestlemania during WWE Fastlane.
Khrysler’s take: Ideally, Sting would benefit the most from a win here. Now only if Vince McMahon’s ego would allow WCW winning one against the WWE…
Fanboy’s take: I’m all for the vigilante in this setup. Give the people what they want and make Triple H pay for the atrocities that ‘The Authority’ has done over the past year or so or just after Survivor Series.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship match:
Brock Lesnar (c) vs Roman Reigns
Backstory: On one side, you have The Beast. The one behind 21-1. The man who completely decimated John Cena at Summerslam. On the other hand, you have the Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns. That’s a huge obstacle in front of the newcomer. He BALEEs that he would be able to overcome The Beast. Only time will tell.
Khrysler’s take: I would like to see Reigns win, just to see what would happen at the Raw After Mania
Fanboy’s Take: I never saw a reason to hate Reigns. His big, looks good on TV, has this ‘legacy’ element to him; well maybe except he needs more development in mic-work. Other than that the bull’s ready to go to the rodeo and I’m all for this match.
Wrestlemania 31 airs live at 7AM March 30th if you have a WWE Network subscription, and Fox PH will air it via delayed broadcast at 10:30PM (right after the season finale of The Walking Dead season 5).
