WrestleMania 31

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 519 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 3
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: June 1 2015

It's that time of year again when you get to look back on the biggest show of the year with the home video release. This 3-disc set, as ever, brings together the WrestleMania event as well as this year's Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, in addition to a couple of extra features.

WM 31 was lauded at the time as being one of the best Manias ever, and an event which was far better than it had been predicted to be. Upon second viewing, however, while the event remains very entertaining, the context is lost watching it on DVD, so one would not know about the lacklustre build-up or the issues surrounding several matches, and the moments which were so surprising on the night lose their unpredictability when watching the event again because, well, you know that they're going to happen. Those gripes aside, however, WrestleMania 31 is still a thoroughly enjoyable four-hour slice of sports entertainment.

The Intercontinental Title Ladder match is better than I remembered it being, although I did say it was a really good bout at the time, and while it perhaps could have done with a truly timeless ladder "moment", the match is more than adequate as it is (or was). Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins takes on different meaning knowing what is to come later on, but it is a very enjoyable clash (this is probably the match that Orton and CM Punk tried to have at WM 27 but couldn't quite achieve), and the match-winning RKO remains an incredible sight.

Sting vs. Triple H is a truly entertaining piece of nostalgia for those who followed wrestling during The Monday Night Wars era, as members of D-Generation X and the new World order do battle (and does that feel strange to watch now in light of recent events surrounding Hulk Hogan). That being said, the result is as nonsensical in hindsight as it was on the night, since it's obvious that the outcome's sole purpose was to "prove" that WWE and its stars were superior to WCW and its headliners. The subsequent backstage promo involving Daniel Bryan and a group of legends is fun but hard to watch as it marked the final on-screen appearance of the recently-passed Rowdy Roddy Piper.

The Divas tag team match is really odd to watch knowing that AJ Lee would leave WWE just days later; that the bout is built around her getting involved and punishing the Bellas en route to a win for her and Paige is strange unless you assume that WWE didn't know that AJ was about to retire (which is plausible, to be fair, since AJ competed on Raw the following night as well). John Cena vs. Rusev is a good match, but has been trumped in recent months by the Cena-Kevin Owens series. Also, the pro-USA video from before Cena's entrance is not here, presumably due to the cost of including said footage. That being said, from a match quality standpoint, Cena has had one of his best years since becoming United States Champion again, so it's good to see where that run began at WM 31.

We then get the Triple H-Stephanie-Rock-Ronda Rousey segment. This is as entertaining as it was on the night, but it does last a very long time and, in all honesty, you could have removed about five minutes from this and it wouldn't have made a difference. Next up is The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt in Taker's comeback. It felt unnecessary at the time and with Undertaker setting his sights on Brock Lesnar for SummerSlam, it's almost as if the match never happened. On the bright side, it is an enjoyable clash and proves that Undertaker isn't quite finished yet.

And so we come to the main event: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Title. All the talk beforehand was how this would receive horrendous crowd responses due to Brock possibly leaving WWE and Reigns being overpushed. Instead, Lesnar stayed with WWE and Reigns willingly took a brutal beating from the Beast, whilst firing back with hard blows of his own. This was a super-stiff and highly compelling match, but it will always be remembered for its ending where Seth Rollins became the first man to cash in Money In The Bank both during a match and at WrestleMania, leaving as the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, a crown that he still holds at time of writing, nearly five months later.

So, that was the main card for WrestleMania 31. As stated, though, watching it on DVD causes it to lose its context and unpredictability, two of the elements which made the show so enjoyable at the time. Nevertheless, it remains a four-hour pro wrestling thrill ride and, whilst the lack of a true classic match means that it isn't quite a top five Mania as I had suggested a few months back, it is definitely in the top ten (incidentally, expect my rankings of Mania cards, matches etc in the run-up to WM 32 next year).

The Mania-related extras are an energetic and fun four-way tag bout and the fairly good Andre Battle Royal, both from the WM 31 Pre-Show (it's hard to believe how Damien Sandow/Mizdow has been so ignored by WWE considering his popularity here). We also get promos by Cena and Rollins hyping up their Mania matches (or scheduled bout in Seth's case). The standout DVD extra, as always, is the Hall Of Fame ceremony, which is certainly an eventful and memorable one.

We begin with Rikishi, inducted by his sons The Uso's, which is entertaining enough if you ignore the fact that Rikishi ignored Too Cool's contributions to his career, despite that run being the one which got him in the HOF. Next up is Larry Zbyszko (inducted by Bruno Sammartino); Bruno's introduction is good but he never pauses for breath, while Larry finds it hard to cope and ends up repeating himself and making strange analogies in a very long-winded speech (fortunately, this Mania weekend is held in California; had it been in the New York area, Zbyszko would have been shredded by diehard fans for this overly long and at times nonsensical output).

Alundra Blayze (put in by Natalya) has a far more entertaining speech than one would have expected beforehand, before the most emotional HOF speech perhaps ever, as Connor "The Crusher" Michalek is named as the recipient of the first Warrior Award (Warrior's widow and Daniel Bryan provide the intros). Some at the time questioned whether WWE had correctly implemented the suggestion by Warrior at the 2014 HOF; I personally think Warrior would have been satisfied that Connor was honoured in this fashion; it really is the classic situation of something being so positive despite the circumstances being so negative. An unforgettable moment and required viewing for all wrestling fans, especially those who qualm over the most minor of wrestling-related issues.

The Bushwhackers' induction by John Laurinaitis is a lot of fun, although it's sad to see Butch in such poor physical health. Ric Flair's induction of Tatsumi Fujinami is relatively short, partly because Tatsumi is relatively unknown to modern fans outside Japan and partly because the ceremony has already been running way too long at this point (nearly three hours at this point, with three inductees still to go).

Then we get the long-awaited induction of Macho Man Randy Savage, with Hulk Hogan doing the introduction and Randy's brother Lanny "The Genius" Poffo accepting it on his behalf. Some expressed disappointment at the presentation on the night and a few were infuriated that it didn't close the ceremony, but let's face it: if Savage were still alive and on hand in person, there's no question that he would have been the true headliner and delivered a speech to remember. Under the circumstances, it was probably as good as could be realistically expected.

We then get Arnold Schwarzenegger being inducted by Triple H, which for a celebrity induction is again as good as one could hope for. The final inductee is Kevin Nash (note: not Diesel), presented by Shawn Michaels. HBK is very funny here (he jokes how he doesn't want to be the guy to make the HOF go long, over 3 1/2 hours into the show), and Nash is also a source of mirth with his self-deprecating lines (when he was repackaged in WCW as Oz, he wonders aloud why he couldn't have just received a note saying "You're fired"). Despite what some may think, Nash is a more than worthy inductee, and his entertaining speech is a good end to a Hall Of Fame ceremony that covered the entire quality spectrum. Like the Mania card it would be followed by, the 2015 HOF line-up was criticised beforehand but it ended up delivering a very enjoyable show on the night. As far as WWE Hall Of Fame induction ceremonies go, this is definitely one of the better presentations from an entertainment standpoint.

So what of the WrestleMania 31 DVD set as a whole? The best way I can describe it is that, to paraphrase Sheamus, you will be entertained. Every match is at least reasonable and each HOF induction is in some way watchable, and some of the bouts are very good, whilst a number of HOF speeches will always be remembered. And, of course, we get historical moments from Sting's debut (which morphs into DX vs. nWo) to Seth Rollins being the first man to cash in MITB at a Mania to the hugely-demanded Macho Man HOF induction. The one thing lacking on the main show is that five-star, genuine match of the year contender. And as entertaining as the HOF ceremony is, it lacks the appeal of the classes headlined by Hogan, Bruno or even Ultimate Warrior (plus its four-hour running time means that you're unlikely to watch it all in one sitting). And, as I said at the start, the DVD proves that WM 31 had more power watching it on the night under the context of the time period than as a standalone event in retrospect.

But overall, this is an extremely fun and enjoyable wrestling DVD set. With a great WrestleMania and a memorable Hall Of Fame event, you can't really go wrong. It may have been slightly overrated at the time, but this year's WrestleMania weekend proves to be a series of shows that you simply must have in your collection. Not the best WM ever but it isn't too far off; buy this DVD set today.

(Incidentally, you can click here to read my original report of the WrestleMania 31 event at the time that it was held.)

Overall Rating: 9/10 - Outstanding

WWE WrestleMania 31

Image Source: SportsKeeda.com

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Genre: Wrestling
Produced By: WWE
Format: Pay-Per-View
Date: March 29 2015
Location: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California, USA
Attendance: 76,976

Projections going into WrestleMania 31 were very low. A build-up characterised by an extremely negative reaction to the Royal Rumble match, a subdued crowd for the Fast Lane show that set the stage for the top WM matches, and weak or inconsequential activity on TV over the last five weeks, meant that whilst most were looking forward to Mania because, well, it's WrestleMania, expectations were not anything more than "there should be some good matches". Fortunately, like in New Orleans last year, WWE pulled off some surprises and all matches were either as expected or better, resulting in this year's WrestleMania being one of the most enjoyable cards in its 31-year history.

The Kick-Off show this year featured two matches, the first being Cesaro and Tyson Kidd defending the WWE Tag Team Titles against The New Day, Los Matadores and The Usos. Jey Uso was attacked early on by Cesaro and never returned, due to a real-life injury presumably. The match was a little slow to get going, as were the crowd to respond. But the fans did raise their voices as it went on and would be vibrant all night from that point, and the bout energised too with a large collection of nifty moves, stunts and spots. In the end, a Jimmy Uso splash on Big E. seemed to give the ex-Champs the gold despite being one man down, but instead Cesaro made a late tag and got the winning pin, allowing him and Kidd to retain the titles. A pretty good tag bout, then, but a step down from the same bout before Mania 30 due to the more choreographed feel to proceedings. Still a nice start though.

Oddly, all the participants returned to join several others for the second Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Of note, Ryback looked dominant, Bo Dallas made an almost-unnoticed return, and Hideo Itami entered a good performance in his first main-stage WWE bout. It came down to Big Show, The Miz and Damien Mizdow, and Mizdow got a massive pop by finally turning on Miz and eliminating him. He put up a great fight against Show, but the big man ultimately prevailed, a result which makes sense in terms of believability but represented a squandered opportunity; Mizdow should have won and gotten over even more. Instead, he looked really good, but this was the night that the giant was chosen to prevail.

WrestleMania 31 then officially began, with a cool rendition of America The Beautiful by Aloe Blacc, and with the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match. There were many key spots and a few truly insane moments, including a painful-looking suplex off a high ladder to Stardust by Bad News Barrett, a powerbomb through a ladder to Dean Ambrose by Luke Harper, and a brutal Zig Zag by Dolph Ziggler to Harper. In the end, Ziggler and Bryan had an exchange of headbutts which Bryan won, and which allowed Bryan to win and become the new Intercontinental Champion. This was a great start to WrestleMania, although a shade or two below the greatest Ladder/TLC matches we've seen at Mania; I thought this was on the level of the later Money In The Bank matches at WM. Speaking of MITB ...

Mr. Money In The Bank, Seth Rollins, was up next against Randy Orton. They were expected to provide a really good wrestling match, and they did that without question. Lots of big moves by Rollins including a dangerous tope and an attempted Phoenix Splash from which he somehow landed on his feet. Orton looked strong too and had some cool moments, such as a double DDT to J&J Security (who had met the original Stooges, Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco, during the Kick-Off) at ringside and turning an attempted Curb Stomp into a powerslam. Rollins survived an RKO, and Orton surprisingly survived a Curb Stomp. One more attempt at a Curb Stomp by Rollins was reversed into a match-winning RKO in the move of the night; Orton forced Rollins to bounce off his back, foot placed down, for him to shoot high up and be drilled by a perfectly-timed RKO. One of the best endings to a WrestleMania match ever gave The Viper his revenge, but would this be the last we would see of Mr. Money In The Bank? We would have to wait and see, although Orton winning suggested otherwise.

We then surprisingly got Triple H vs. Sting in the third match, for reasons which would become apparent later. Sting's entrance was preceded by some unusual yet intriguing Japanese drummers, but this was surpassed by Triple H's Terminator-inspired entrance. This was one of the coolest WM entrances ever, although it did feel slightly over-the-top and it also felt odd for the villain to receive this treatment, making the Icon look inferior. Otherwise, though, a great start before the bell rang, and fans were clearly psyched up for this one.

The action began slow and basic, but by design, and every simple move worked, eliciting the right reaction and keeping fans interested. It slowed further when HHH began taking control, but the Stinger fired back with more than one attempt at the Scorpion Deathlock. His second such struggle was where this match really began to become a thrill ride as the music of D-Generation X unexpectedly hit, and The New Age Outlaws and X-Pac ran to ringside. HHH eventually took advantage of this with a Pedigree which Sting survived, and then the crowd erupted for the nWo music, and the appearances of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Hollywood Hulk Hogan, brother! The Monday Night War had come to life, and the WWE vs. WCW conflict re-ignited for a square-off that people thought they would never see, DX vs. nWo! The two factions collided at ringside (Hogan took a nasty spill off an X-Pac shove), and things picked up even more when another Scoprion Deathlock was broken by Sweet Chin Music from Shawn Michaels! HHH was then handed his sledgehammer, but Sting was handed his trusty black baseball bat. STing caught The Game with the bat, but then took a sledgehammer blow which won the match for HHH.

I loved this match; as a long-time fan, and a supporter during the years when Raw and Nitro battled for ratings supremacy, this was a superb slice of nostalgia. But the decision to have HHH won was shocking, and not in a good way. Why wait all these years for Sting to debut and have him lose his first WWE match? It felt like it was done to "prove" that WWE was better than WCW, which it was, but this match wouldn't have affected anybody's opinions on that. If Sting wrestles again, he will seem weaker, and if he doesn't, then he will have never won a match in WWE. Meanwhile, Triple H didn't really need the victory, and could easily have lost and not been harmed. A senseless end to an otherwise hugely enjoyable presentation. Afterwards, the two shook hands, which I thought would signify a HHH babyface turn; later on, we learned otherwise, making this add-on a bit pointless.

After a musical performance of the WM theme songs by Skylar Grey (Rise) and Kid Ink (Money & The Power), we got a Divas tag team match between Paige and AJ Lee and The Bella Twins. The Bellas continuously attacked AJ off the apron to ensure that Paige was isolated. But the Norwich-born Paige finally made the tag to AJ, and after clearing house on the "Kardashian wannabes", AJ locked Nikki Bella in the Black Widow for the submission win. A respectable showing for the Divas, but I think that it is time to introduce another female from NXT if the recent spotlight on the Divas division is to grow beyond this event.

After the 2015 Hall Of Fame inductees took a bow, it was time for John Cena to "fight for America!" Against Rusev for the United States Title, Cena was aiming to become the first man to officially defeat The Bulgarian Brute, whose devotion is to ... Russia. The US Champ entered on a tank as part of an elaborate entrance which reminded me of World War II; whether that was intentional or not is debatable. Cena entered following a patriotic pro-America video, and this thing was on!

Rusev controlled the early portion of the match, but Cena soon turned things in his favour, epitomised by the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. An attempted AA wasn't to be, but Rusev did hit some big moves of his own, most notably a huge flying headbutt. Cena countered with a very impressive second rope leap into a backwards jump into a Stunner, but Rusev survived! The STF also didn't put him away, although Cena himself would also avoid submitting when he managed to break The Accolade. By the way, during the STF, Lana threw a shoe in the ring for reasons which were unclear, but she would get involved again by climbing onto the apron to distract Cena. But, instead, Rusev ran into Lana, knocking her off the apron, and Cena followed up with an Attitude Adjustment to win the match and the US Title, and to hand Rusev his first official WWE defeat.

This was better than expected, although I felt that Cena won a bit too easily; Rusev could have survived an AA (hell, he did at Fast Lane) and gone down swinging, as if beating him was a struggle was akin to Brock Lesnar's (successful) attempt to end The Undertaker's Streak at Mania 30. Instead, Rusev lost having put forth a lot of effort, but not a lot of resistance. Those who had predicted this outcome before Rusev even debuted in early 2014 were proven right, and from here Rusev may struggle to regain his momentum. Cena as US Champ has some possibilities, but my hoped-for big shock of Rusev beating Cena, maybe even by submission, was not to be, and so we would have to look elsewhere for a WrestleMania moment.

That seemed to come next, as an unusual mid-WM promo by The Authority (now you know why HHH's match was third) was interrupted by The Rock. Rock got a great ovation and, as is the norm with him, cracked some rather funny jokes. But a slap from Stephanie McMahon led not to Rock retaliating on HHH's missus, but to Rock bringing into the ring the UFC fighter Ronda Rousey to (eventually) take down Steph, after she even took down HHH following some blows by Rock. This was a fun segment for sure, although it did drag a bit; the show went from having ages left to running out of time from the beginning to the end of this segment. Still, it was great to see Rock (greeted better than at Royal Rumble, fortunately), and it was intriguing to see a UFC fighter take down the WWE's power couple. Obviously, there were no other UFC fighters who have any reason to fight someone such as Triple H ... right?

Next up was The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt, and a collection of question marks if ever there was one. What would Undertaker look like in his first appearance since WM 30? Would he be up for a gruelling Mania match? Would Bray be affected by an ankle injury suffered close to show time? Most importantly, who would win? Would Taker win to regain momentum after the end of The Streak, or would he lose to Wyatt to truly make him The New Face Of Fear? And how would their entrances look in the daylight?

Wyatt's entrance was very cool and creepy, as he gave life to a number of scarecrows who followed him down to the ring. Taker had his standard entrance, albeit in less darkness, and the crowd popped huge to see The Phenom rise. We saw that he now had more hair again, and his condition was much-improved upon last year when he looked like age was catching up with him. Here, he looked ready, and he began with a hard boot to Bray. He delivered some big strikes, and it was great to see him effortlessly perform Old School on Wyatt. But Bray took over with such control that I began wondering if this indeed would be Taker's last stand.

An attempt at Sister Abigail was perfectly intercepted by a chokeslam, following a classically scary Taker expression (his are the best). This didn't obtain victory, though, and neither did the preceding Hell's Gate nor the subsequent Tombstone Piledriver, to the surprise of many. Wyatt then hit Sister Abigail, and victory for Bray seemed certain, but Taker kicked out! With both down, Wyatt then performed a Spider Walk, but he crumbled when he was interrupted by a Taker sit-off in a very cool visual. But Wyatt regained his composure and control of the match, and he had Taker locked for a match-winning Sister Abigail, only for Undertaker to reverse it and hit a Tombstone to win and go 22-1!

As unforgettable a moment as it was when Brock Lesnar ended The Streak last year, there was still a strange feeling; something really didn't feel right, and it felt cruel for Undertaker's career to end this way. Contradictory as this may read after that statement, I was wondering why Taker would return to face Bray Wyatt; surely a rematch with Brock or a dream match with Sting were the only feasible options. But Bray built it up very well via his promos and his claims to revive Undertaker for the sole purpose of destroying him, and Taker silenced naysayers with a strong performance. Was it in the same league as his matches with Shawn Michaels or Triple H? No, but such expectations are no longer realistic. That Undertaker can still go is good enough, and he definitely brought it here in a very good match with Wyatt. The Undertaker is back! For how long, we shall find out. But respect to the man who, despite his loss in 2014, remains The Phenom.

It was now main event time, and the most intriguing of scenarios from a booking standpoint. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship had only two potential outcomes - Lesnar retaining the crown or Reigns winning the title - but neither looked appealing beforehand. For Brock was heading out the door, possibly back to UFC, and Reigns had unwittingly become the most unpopular babyface since, erm, Batista this time last year. The plan for months seems to have been Roman becoming Champ in his crowning moment, but there was a real prospect that he would be booed out of Levi's Stadium; is this the way WWE really wanted someone who was built up as being the next John Cena to be greeted? However, with Lesnar about to leave, they had no choice ... or did they?

Lesnar suddenly announced on Tuesday that he had signed a new WWE contract, and just as suddenly, the chances of Lesnar retaining the title shot up. And it was Brock the supposed heel, who was greeted like a top babyface when he entered the stadium, whilst Reigns received a largely negative reaction during his security-surrounded entrance. Paul Heyman humorously took over Brock's introduction; the sound of nearly 77,000 joining in with him was a memorable moment.

The bell rang, and Lesnar began brutalising Reigns and quickly suplexed and F5'd him. More suplexes followed, with Heyman using his fingers to keep count, and with the fans using their voices to also count along. Despite this, it was Brock who was cut, seemingly off Reigns' very first strike. But Brock didn't allow this to affect him - as if he ever would - and continued punishing Roman with suplex after suplex. A second F5 followed, but Roman kicked out. Cue more punishment and a busted mouth for Lesnar, but Reigns began smiling, as if to say he was enjoying the beating and telling Lesnar to bring some more. That he did, and it resulted in a third F5, but Reigns again kicked out!

Lesnar began showing frustration and took the fight to ringside, but with Reigns ducking an attempted attack, Brock's head bounced off the ring post, busting him open pretty heavy. Reigns then began taking control, hitting a Superman Punch and a Spear, only for Lesnar to kick out. Nevertheless, Reigns could feel that he finally had a chance in this fight, and the crowd could sense it too, with some even beginning to show some support for the challenger. But soon both men went down, and that led to the moment this night will be remembered for most, Seth Rollins rushing out to cash in Money In The Bank during the main event of WrestleMania 31! The singles match was now a triple threat bout, in an unprecedented development. Rollins immediately Curb Stomped Lesnar, but he kicked out! Lesnar intercepted an attempt at another Curb Stomp for a potential F5, but was stopped by a Reigns spear which took the Champ out of the ring. But then Rollins capitalised by Curb Stomping Reigns once more, and scored the three-count to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion! Rollins quickly ran up the ramp with his prize and celebrated as fireworks exploded to mark the end of the show.

What a main event that was, then! What seemed like the most unappealing of prospects beforehand turned into something that will be talked about for years to come, but it's worth noting that the match had been something special even before Rollins arrived. Indeed, Lesnar lived up to his usual billing of The Beast, but Reigns also brought it in his biggest ever match, and only for the negative reaction surrounding his rise up the WWE ranks, chances are that a victory following his beat-down from Brock would have got him over massively. Instead, the decision was made to have Seth cash in, something that many expected, but not during the match itself; that was a brilliant way to protect Brock and give Roman a reason to seek justice, and set up a main event feud between the two ex-Shield members. Plus, it most likely turns Lesnar babyface, resulting in a potential Lesnar-Rollins title match down the road, and Seth's interruption may even lead to demand for a Lesnar-Reigns rematch. Now, who could have predicted that beforehand?

So, how to sum up WrestleMania 31? Considering that few were excited about it beforehand, WM 31 appears to have been a massive success. None of the matches were disappointing from a wrestling standpoint, there were several nice surprises and jaw-dropping developments, and big story lines culminated on this night in front of a mostly super-charged crowd. From Mizdow turning on Miz to DX vs. nWo to Undertaker returning to Seth cashing in, WrestleMania 31 lived up to the standard set by this event over the years and will never be forgotten. On the downside, some results were questionable, most notably Triple H pinning Sting, and there was no truly classic match in the vein of Taker-Shawn or Savage-Steamboat. But these are minor complaints when ranking this as an overall show; rarely will you enjoy four hours of wrestling more than this.

Beforehand, most wondered whether WrestleMania 31 would be a poor follow-up to the enthusiastically-greeted WM XXX, and some even thought that it would be one of the worst Manias ever. Instead, the show surpassed all expectations and actually topped last year's presentation, now setting a high standard for WrestleMania 32 to live up to. It wasn't quite as good as WM X-Seven, WM XIX or WM XXIV, and possibly one or two others, but it was definitely one of the most entertaining and enjoyables WrestleManias to date. A top 10 Mania, if not top 5, there were plenty of major developments, eye-catching moves and surprising moments to ensure that whilst most will want to forget the Road To WM 31, few will forget what happened when that road ended.

Last year, we saw three icons celebrate, The Streak end and Daniel Bryan achieve the impossible. Next year, we may get Sting vs. The Undertaker, The Rock vs. Triple H or Brock Lesnar, or even the in-ring return of Stone Cold Steve Austin. But between those historic moments and potentially historic matches was a show that will live long in the memory. WrestleMania 31 may not have been greatly anticipated, but it will never, ever be forgotten. Believe that.

Overall Rating: 9/10 - Outstanding

WrestleMania 31 Predictions

Image Source: SportsKeeda.com

Written By: Mark Armstrong

With the biggest WWE show of the year less than 48 hours away, and the card set, I will provide my predictions for WrestleMania 31, in the order that I expect the matches to take place.

Kick-Off

1. Tag Team Title Match

For the second year running, the Tag Team Title scrap is a four-way on the pre-show. The Usos have had the most success as a team, but winning the titles again with no obvious new opponents seems a bit pointless. Los Matadores hadn't been on TV for months until a few weeks ago, and based on crowd reactions, The New Day are becoming the tag team division's answer to John Cena in terms of provoking the undesired response, so I don't see either of these teams winning. Which means a probable successful title defence for Cesaro and Tyson Kidd, which I would have endorsed had the other three teams had more momentum anyway.

Prediction: Cesaro and Tyson Kidd

2. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

That this is now on the pre-show has raised eyebrows, but that's a debate for another time. Ryback, Kane and Big Show are the three who have most talked about winning this one, but none seem like obvious favourites ... which makes me think someone else will win it. My prediction is a returning Sheamus to triumph, but not before more miscommunication between Kane and Show leading to their eliminations, and Damien Mizdow finally turning on The Miz and eliminating him to a huge reaction, with Miz later costing Damien the bout to set up their feud (Stardust could also run in and cause Goldust to lose to reignite their rivalry). I see it coming down to Sheamus and Ryback, and for Sheamus to win.

Prediction: Sheamus

Main Show

1. Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

This should be a great start to WM, with an abundance of talent and no doubt a plethora of stunts. The quality doesn't require any debating; the result is a different matter. I do not see Bad News Barrett retaining the crown, which means a new titleholder. I doubt that R-Truth, Luke Harper or Stardust will win. Dolph Ziggler is a strong contender but, as he has held the title multiple times, a victory here won't boost him that much. Which leaves Dean Ambrose and Daniel Bryan. Ambrose would benefit the most from a victory, especially since he hasn't won on PPV since the demise of The Shield, but the title's prestige would be elevated more if Bryan won, and it would partly satisfy those who wanted to see him in the main event, which is why I predict he will win.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan

2. Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins

Given time, this should be another strong match. This has been anticipated for months, with The Viper aiming for revenge on "The Future" - but I expect Rollins to win here for three reasons. Firstly, he has looked weak since Orton returned at Fast Lane, and a defeat here would harm his standing as the next major star. Secondly, if Orton wins, the feud ends; there's mileage in the rivalry, but it can only continue if Orton doesn't exact full retribution here. Thirdly, it would elevate Rollins for the day when he cashes in Money In The Bank, possibly later on in this show. I predict Rollins winning with help from The Authority, and afterwards Orton destroys J&J Security, but not Rollins who gets away unharmed ... just in case he is required again later.

Prediction: Seth Rollins

3. Divas Tag Team Match

Before the Andre bout was moved to the Kick-Off show, I had the Divas tag down to be the cool-down match before the Sting clash; with this change, I now think it goes on third. Tension between Paige and AJ Lee has been teased, while the Bella Twins have maintained a united front. I think the most likely outcome is a Bellas victory with Nikki Bella (the Divas Champ) pinning AJ (wife to the now-hated-within-WWE CM Punk), but if WWE is smart and books Charlotte to debut by rescuing Paige and AJ from a post-match Bellas beatdown, it would make the match more meaningful and set up an intriguing post-Mania feud.

Prediction: The Bella Twins

4. John Cena vs. Rusev

The United States Title match is a foregone conclusion. The feud has been expected since before Rusev debuted; the obvious outcome is that Cena, as the pro-America hero will vanquish Rusev, the evil anti-American menace and giving him his first official defeat, and bringing the U.S. Title back to America at the same time.

Or so you would think.

I think WWE may be planning a swerve here because, whilst Rusev did beat Cena by stoppage at Fast Lane, isn't it too obvious that Cena will achieve redemption here? Granted, this would be normal procedure for Cena, but it isn't 2007 any more when he would truly conquer his foes. It's 2015 and not only is Cena not in the WrestleMania main event for the second year in a row, but we were told (a little harshly) on more than one occasion that Cena is not a young man anymore. After the shock that was Brock Lesnar ending The Streak at WrestleMania XXX, is it possible that in this match WWE will deliver another shock result: Rusev beating John Cena by submission?

Rusev has been built up over the last year for a reason: to be a monster. Having yet to challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and having teased a confrontation with Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble, it would be daft for WWE to sacrifice a year of building the man up as an unstoppable force only to beat him on the final step before the main event.

Of course, Cena winning is the most likely outcome and has a number of possibilities. But Rusev being victorious is smarter, more shocking and if he can extract a submission win over the man with the mantra "Never Give Up", it would be a WM moment for the ages, and set Rusev up as an unbeaten contender to the top crown. Cena could even face Rusev once more at Extreme Rules and win the U.S. Title there in a Flag match, thus keeping Rusev's official undefeated record alive. So, whilst Cena winning is obvious, I am daring to go against the grain and suggesting that this year's big Mania shock is Rusev getting a career-making submission win over Cena. Okay, so this probably won't happen, but after the end of The Streak last year, you just never know ...

Prediction: Rusev

5. The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

Which brings us to the man who went 21-1 at WM last year, The Undertaker. After that match, I thought for sure he was finished, or at least he would only return to try and beat the conquerer Brock Lesnar. So, ever since it was rumoured at the beginning of 2015, I couldn't understand why he would fight Bray Wyatt. Taker is not in the best of shapes, by all accounts, and it would be damaging to see him struggle through a pointless Mania match. Even if he is ready to go, from a storyline point of view, has Wyatt really done enough to provoke the return of the Phenom? I see this as more of a chance for Wyatt to face a legend than a dream match between two dark characters.

Since it was officially announced, I accepted the match was happening and am at least intrigued that Undertaker will reappear this Sunday. The potential quality of the match is questionable given the uncertainty on Taker's condition, but as the Andre match being moved to the Kick-Off was done to provide more time for other important bouts, I can't see this one being a short match, so one has to assume that Taker will at least be capable of wrestling a long, grueling match. Whether it measures up to his previous Mania classics is debatable, but hopefully it will be a chance for the Dead Man to show that he still has something to offer after the disappointment of his showdown with Brock at Mania 30.

Then there's the result. Personally, I think that Taker has to win. His legacy took a huge hit by losing last year, at a time when fans weren't ready for The STreak to end; if he loses again here, it will be a slap in the face to the man behind the greatest character in WWE history. I do not see this being his last match, so if he is to wrestle at least one more time, I believe that he simply must win here. Some say that Wyatt should win because Taker only wrestles once a year and because he would suffer if he lost, but let's face it: Wyatt will do just fine even if he does lose, unless he is crushed beyond belief. Wyatt winning against the part-time legend would work on almost every other icon, but not The Undertaker. Taker is someone whose mystique relies on his apparent invincibility, an aura weakened by the events of WM 30. No doubt, it would make Wyatt's career if he does win, but if so, why didn't WWE keep Taker unbeaten at Mania and then have him fall here to truly make Bray's career? And, besides, how realistic would it be for Undertaker to win 21 WrestleMania matches in a row and then lose two consecutive WM bouts having once been unbeaten on the grand stage since 1991? That's why Undertaker has to win for me. If he loses, it won't be as much of a shock, but I firmly believe that fans would be a lot more disappointed this year than they were in 2014.

Prediction: The Undertaker

At this point, I see the Hall Of Fame inductees taking their bow before what is, to me, the most anticipated match on the card.

6. Sting vs. Triple H

Finally, Sting wrestles in a WWE ring! At WrestleMania! Against a true legend in Triple H! Never mind the long wait for his arrival or their ages or their part-time status; all eyes will be glued on these two when the bell rings. This match is the draw for me to see WrestleMania 31 (okay, I'd be watching anyway, but this is the one most likely to produce a WrestleMania moment).

I think it will be a good match, although a last-minute announcement for it to be No Holds Barred would have given the performers more scope and allowed them to whip the crowd into more of a frenzy. Since we have waited literally decades for Sting to wrestle in WWE, I am 100% of the mindset that he wins. A loss for the Stinger would be ridiculous. How he wins is another matter.

He could win cleanly and nobody would complain. But as HHH is the head of the Authority, chances are that the Vigilante will have to fight off interference en route to victory. And that might be a good thing, because it could help to set up a future WM match: either Sting is being beaten down and is rescued by The Rock, who could cost Triple H the win to set up their teased Mania match for 2016, or The Undertaker could help Sting win, and the two legends discuss the matter the following night on Raw where the challenge for their rumoured dream match at WM 32 is made and accepted. Still, even if this remains one-on-one, I think this will live up to the hype, and I see no result other than a Sting victory.

Prediction: Sting

7. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

And so we come to the main event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Lesnar was a Champ on his way out the door; Reigns was a contender who the fans weren't appreciating. Well, Reigns is still likely to be booed in Levi's Stadium, but Lesnar has now confirmed that he is staying with WWE, so the result of this match is much more unpredictable. I had originally planned to write a potentially great storyline for this match that could have happened, with Lesnar in the CM Punk circa MITB 2011 role, but with Brock now guaranteed to stay, that would be pointless.

Not many people have commented lately on how good this match could be, and I think Lesnar and Reigns could surprise people. I see this being a very competitive, all-action big-man match which, if it incorporates big spots like a running spear off and through an announcer's table, could actually be a pretty enjoyable main event for WM 31. If it does, most will credit Brock, but hopefully Roman will step up and deliver a performance to show that he certainly does deserve to be in this spot.

But who wins? Before Tuesday's announcement by Brock on ESPN, most believed that Roman would win, or at least that Lesnar wouldn't leave Mania without the title. Since the news that Lesnar is staying, though, more people are of the mindset that Brock will win. I am genuinely unsure who will triumph, which is a good thing. However, I have decided that my prediction is for Brock Lesnar to defeat Roman Reigns, after a hard-fought battle.

But wait! I see a major post-match development. Afterwards, I see Lesnar turning babyface by shaking Reigns' hand, and Paul Heyman apparently turning babyface by also endorsing Reigns. Then, Seth Rollins' music hits and he comes out with his Money In The Bank briefcase. He steps on the apron, Lesnar and Heyman looking concerned, Reigns still standing in the ring. Then, out of nowhere, Dean Ambrose appears in the ring, having lost the Ladder match and complained afterwards about his defeat and losing his chance to create a WrestleMania moment. Lesnar and Heyman realise what is happening, and are very upset ... until Heyman flashes an evil smile. Brock looks worried. Heyman points at the Champ and shouts "Go!" and Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose jump Lesnar at Heyman's request. The three triple-powerbomb the Champ, and Rollins gives the referee his briefcase to cash in immediately on Lesnar. The bell rings, and Rollins pins Lesnar ... but he kicks out! Rollins stands back and Curb Stomps Brock for the win, but he STILL kicks out! Rollins is furious and as he distracts the ref, from ringside Reigns gives Brock a Superman Punch. Rollins then hits one more Curb Stomp and pins Lesnar to win the WWE Title. The reunited Shield then celebrate with their new manager Paul Heyman, who explains that Reigns becoming Champ was Plan A; Rollins cashing in was ... Plan B.

Such a development would create a true Mania moment and satisfy anyone disappointed with the structure of the main event. It also turns Reigns and Ambrose heel, reunites The Shield, and turns Lesnar into a major babyface whose defeat he could not have helped. And with Heyman now backing the reformed Shield (who we later learn are linked with The Authority), it creates an exciting storyline with tons of possibilities going into the spring and summer months, culminating with a babyface Lesnar regaining his title later in the year.

Or Reigns could just beat Lesnar at Mania, get booed out of the building, and thwart Rollins' cash-in on Raw the next night. Meh, my version is better, and whilst the Shield reunion may be a development too far, I do see Lesnar winning, and I do see Rollins leaving Mania as Champ.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar (Seth Rollins leaves WM as WWE Champ)

Overall, then, despite the disappointment at the line-up and the less-than-stellar build-up, it is still shaping up to be an exciting night and a memorable card. From the Ladder match to Undertaker's return to Sting's in-ring WWE debut, there is something for everyone. I think the success of the show relies on how well the main event is received, and my suggesiton above creates a scenario that would achieve a positive reaction from fans, even if it ends with four villains standing tall. Those are my predictions; we'll see if they play out but, even if they don't, WrestleMania 31 is still likely to be a memorable night in WWE history.

What are your predictions? Leave your comments below!

My History Of WrestleMania

Image Source: Wikipedia

Written By: Mark Armstrong

As we edge close to WrestleMania 31, you will see a lot of stories discussing the history of WrestleMania. This is one of those articles, but with a difference: this charts the history of WM via my own personal experiences of each Mania. Call it a life story of WrestleMania; hopefully it will be a fun journey!

Image Source: Dirtsheets.com

I was born in 1988, meaning that I wasn't around for the first four WrestleManias. I would obviously learn in future how important they were, especially the first one. Had WM 1 not succeeded in 1985, the WWF would not have continued to exist, and who knows what professional wrestling would be like 30 years later? The company put so much of its financial muscle behind the event that it simply had to work. Fortunately (and obviously), it did, with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T's win over Rowdy Roddy Piper & Mr. Wonderful capping off a card that seems dull today, but was the biggest thing of all-time back then.

WrestleMania 1 Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

WM 2 in 1986 was held in three cities, each having four matches apiece, and with at least one major match in each location. The Battle Royal pitting WWF wrestlers against NFL American footballers was a novelty at the time, and the Piper-T feud continued via a boxing match. Hogan main evented in a Steel Cage win over King Kong Bundy, his first WWF title defence at Mania. This was a moderate success commercially, but it would be dwarfed the following year.

WrestleMania 2 Highlights Link

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WrestleMania III drew 93,173 to the Pontiac Silverdome in 1987.They were drawn by the epic main event, arguably the biggest of all-time, which ended with Hulk Hogan shockingly bodyslamming and legdropping Andre The Giant to remain WWF Champ. In hindsight, the classic Intercontinental Title match between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat is more fondly remembered, but both ensure that even today, WM III is considered one of the biggest and best Manias of them all.

WrestleMania III Highlights Link

Image Source: CultureCrossFire.com

My earliest memory of at least being aware of WrestleMania was via WM IV. I wasn't born when it happened in early 1988, but I remember getting the VHS (video for younger readers) of the show, which was on two tapes, and being stunned that the Hogan-Andre rematch only partly ended on tape one, and you had to watch the rest on tape two! Randy Savage won a tournament to become WWF Champion at a show which, for a variety of reasons, couldn't match the incredible event held one year prior, but was still a big success nonetheless and turned the Macho Man into a legend.

WrestleMania IV Highlights Link

Image Source: Wrestling101.com

The first WrestleMania I actually remember watching, again via video, was WM V in 1989. (I was 5-years-old when I got the video; I can't remember me as a 10-month-year old baby.) Main evented by Hogan regaining the World Title from Savage, the event had a lot of matches, many of which were filler, but the vast majority of which included some classic WWF names, which means that even today I enjoy watching this show for nostalgic purposes.

WrestleMania V Highlights Link

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But not as much as I do with WrestleMania VI in 1990. The main event between Hogan and Ultimate Warrior was and remains the first match I think of from the Hulkamania era, as the two most popular names of the late 80s/early 90s went at it in a great old-school match. The rest of the card was again filler but in terms of the "golden era" roster of the WWF, this Mania and the previous one showcased those names perfectly.

WrestleMania VI Highlights Link

Image Source: Rankopedia

Mania VII in 1991 was the last one I got on video before I started watching the WWF on Sky TV, and my copy is signed by The British Bulldog, although I don't know if it was purchased signed or if it was later autographed. (By the way, I never did get WM 2 or WM III on VHS for unknown reasons, although I do have the DVDs.) Without question, the highlight was the Career match between Savage and Warrior; I said before that Hogan-Warrior was my favourite match of this era, but Macho Man-Warrior is a close second. Even now, I have a smile on my face watching or even thinking about the whole presentation, from the match itself to the post-match reunion of Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Ooooh Yeahhh!

WrestleMania VII Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

WrestleMania VIII in 1992 was the first WM that I watched on TV as a kid just under 4-years-old, and it was on Sky Movies for some reason. By now, the older names were fading away, and the New Generation was bubbling as Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker all won here (who knew that all three would perform at Mania 18 years later?). But the best part for me was the totally unexpected return of the Ultimate Warrior after the Hogan-Sid Justice match; in the pre-Internet days, such comebacks were not even slightly predictable, and this remains one of the most unexpected returns of all-time.

WrestleMania VIII Highlights Link

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By WrestleMania IX in 1993, I had become a proper WWF fan (I attended my first WWF show the previous September in Sheffield), so I was well into the shows and into WrestleMania. Bret Hart was my hero, but he lost here; however, at the time I thought Hogan's completely unexpected WWF Title win over Yokozuna at the end was incredible. In hindsight, I can see why fans did not take kindly to it, but as a kid it excited me greatly. I also have to mention the appearance of two Doinks, which I thought was hilarious at the time, and still find funny today.

WrestleMania IX Highlights Link

Actually, before I continue, WM IX was preceded by a music video which somehow made the UK charts and actually began Simon Cowell's rise to music production prominence (does that make him worthy of the WWE Hall Of Fame as a celebrity wing inductee?). It was so cheesy yet so enjoyable for nostalgic purposes that I have put the link to the video below; if you're a long-time fan, watch this and then tell me that it doesn't in some way get you in the mood for this year's WrestleMania.

WrestleMania Music Video

Oh, what the heck ... If we're putting that one in, then we have to include the equally cheesy Slam Jam from the year before. Enjoy before we return to the main article!

Slam Jam Music Video

Image Source: Wikipedia

WrestleMania X in 1994 had several memorable matches, including the Intercontinental Title Ladder match between Michaels and Razor Ramon, although I only appreciated how good it was when I was older. But my hero remained Bret and, although he lost to Owen Hart in a great opener, he went on to beat Yokozuna in the main event for the WWF Title. I was ecstatic; I was cheering the Hitman as if he was a local sports team, such was my liking for Bret back then. I saw Bret later that year in Birmingham on the Hart Attack Tour, and was chedded.

WrestleMania X Highlights Link

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By WrestleMania XI in 1995, the WWF was losing a little bit of its sheen. I was still watching every week, but I wasn't quite as excited as I had been a few years earlier. WM XI didn't help by having few matches for me to care about even then, and being main evented by someone (Lawrence Taylor) who UK residents had never heard of. It didn't help from a personal standpoint that due to a faulty video recorder, I only ever saw this event on a dodgy tape until I got the DVD years later. By the way, although WM IX was shown live in the UK, that was a one-off at the time; here, WM XI has begun a trend of Mania being shown live in the UK (as were all PPVs since then, and some before then actually, but this began the trend for Manias).

WrestleMania XI Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

I have a confession to make about WrestleMania XII in 1996: being a 7-year-old kid with a short attention span, at the time I did not watch the Iron Man Match for the WWF Title. So, sorry to Shawn Michaels, but you had become Champ, formed DX, screwed Bret, retired and come back before I watched your crowning moment in its entirety. My hero Bret lost anyway, so missing it didn't hurt me. I saw the rest of the show, although it didn't last long with the main event taking up so much time.

WrestleMania XII Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

By coincidence or otherwise, my feelings with the WWF over the next year mirrored those of longtime fans much older and much more knowledgeable than me. I was only occasionally watching the TV shows in 1996 and 1997, partly because Bret was off TV. I had no idea that over in WCW, a revolution was happening via the nWo which was destroying the WWF for a long time. For that reason, I viewed WrestleMania XIII in 1997 as I did any other Mania, although even as an innocent 8-year-old, I had noticed that swear words and middle finger gestures had crept onto WWF shows. However, I didn't realise how important the Bret Hart-Steve Austin match would be in launching an era which would make me a fan for life.

WrestleMania XIII Highlights Link

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Come WrestleMania XIV in 1998, the WWF had completely changed. It was now an edgy, racy, adult-orientated product. At one point, I questioned whether I wanted to keep watching (the day after In Your House: Badd Blood; beforehand Brian Pillman died, and on the show the scary-looking Kane debuted at the end of a very violent Hell In A Cell match between Taker and Shawn; hey, I was young and got frightened!), but I soon realised that I was actually loving the new WWF. Should I have been watching at the age of 9? Hey, it was the WWF that changed, not me. And WM XIV was a big milestone, as my new hero Stone Cold Steve Austin became WWF Champ for the first time. A few days later, I went to my first WWF show since 1994, Mayhem In Manchester, and beforehand I met Stone Cold amongst others, the first of many times that I have had the pleasure to meet my WWF/WWE heroes.

WrestleMania XIV Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

Over the next 12 months, the WWF was the best it had ever been; cool, entertaining, controversial, funny - it was everything that you wanted from a wrestling show. WrestleMania XV should have marked the peak of the Attitude Era, but even when I was 10, I thought this show was a bit disappointing. I think that was down to a then-inexperienced Michael Cole commentating on most of the show, and my video recording of the event having "weird audio" during the Taker-Big Boss Man match (the next day, a friend of mine excitedly told me "Big Boss Man's dead!" due to the post-match capers on this card). I still loved Stone Cold vs. The Rock, though, and though I felt slightly underwhelmed, I still enjoyed Mania XV. As with WM XIV, I went to a WWF show in Birmingham a few days later (the same date as MIM actually, April 4) and loved seeing the stars of the Attitude Era do their thing at their peak. Also, due to Easter holidays in school, this was the first Mania that I watched as it was happening live, although the 2am start time meant I was flagging after an hour and went to bed watching the rest of the show the next day. Incidentally, this was the last Mania to last 3 hours; each WM since has lasted more than three hours, four hours or longer.

WrestleMania XV Highlights Link

Image Source: Hoffco-Inc.com

The next year of the WWF was equally as fun, although I felt it was a notch below the 1998-9 period. WM 2000 was weakened by Austin and Undertaker being injured, but there were a lot of new, exciting faces which were changing the WWF to ensure that the matches would become more entertaining. I was 11 and starting to understand more about how wrestling really worked, but the fan in me was stunned that The Rock didn't become WWF Champion because of Vince McMahon turning on him in favour of Triple H. I loved the Triangle Ladder Match, but the rest was unmemorable in hindsight. This WM was significant because one of my cousins actually attended it, apparently as a one-off, but it soon became a trend. I was very young, but the seed was planted to one day attend a Mania myself ... although I never, ever envisioned that it would happen.

WrestleMania 2000 Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

If WM 2000 was slightly disappointing, WM X-Seven in 2001 certainly was not. I couldn't believe that Austin aligned with Vince after his WWF Title win over The Rock, a phenomenal match and probably my favourite bout of all-time. As a kid in school, though, I had to fast-forward through the event before a school-day, so all the greatness was shown to me in the show-closing highlight reel. Once I watched it in full, though, I appreciated that this had been a truly special card: from the Street Fight to TLC II to the Gimmick Battle Royal to Taker-HHH to Austin-Rock. I also have to mention My Way by Limp Bizkit, a great song which helped make the event presentation awesome. There's a full review of this event on this website tomorrow, but suffice it to say, this is my favourite WrestleMania to watch ever, but not my favourite Mania ever; that comes later, and for good reason.

WrestleMania X-Seven Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

WM X8 in 2002 marked the end of a crazy year which saw the WWF buy WCW and most of the top names from there and ECW eventually come to the WWF. This gave Mania X8 the feel of a WWF vs. WCW show, embodied by the classic Rock-Hogan bout. I had only seen Hulk in the tail-end of his prime when I started watching, but this encounter began my true appreciation for the almighty Hulkster. Again, the school-kid in me had to skip through it before anyone at school told me the results (seriously), so I only saw the final moments of Rock-Hogan before watching it back. Still, it was a great match to watch as a fan, and the unquestionable highlight of this particular card. A few weeks later, I attended my first WWF show since Rebellion 1999 in Birmingham, which was actually one of the very last WWF shows since the company was renamed WWE just days later. I have attended at least one show, sometimes several, in nearly every year since, but of note for 2002, I attended Rebellion later that year and happened to meet two wrestlers afterwards, one of whom seemed a let-down at the time. After all, it was just some unknown kid called John Cena. How ironic.

WrestleMania X8 Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

After skimming through the highlights of the most recent Manias, I had vowed with WrestleMania XIX to wait until after school, attempting to completely avoid people who could spoil it for me during the day, and watching the card in full when I returned home not knowing the results. I succeeded, and it was worth it because WM XIX in 2003 was amazing! It was surreal seeing HBK at Mania again, and it's strange that even though this marked his return to the big stage, it was here where he really began to build his legacy as Mr. WrestleMania. I was disappointed by Booker T losing to Triple H, but the Hogan-Vince Street Fight erased memories of that and blew me away, especially when Rowdy Roddy Piper made a surprise appearance. Afterwards, a graphic came on for Austin-Rock 3, and knowing that Kurt Angle-Brock Lesnar was still to come, I thought "this is the greatest show ever!" It was certainly up there, and should be more fondly remembered. Nobody at the time realised that Stone Cold had just retired, although some did suspect it, and the lasting memory of the WWE Title match was Lesnar's blown Shooting Star Press. Still, a phenomenal WrestleMania, the first after the Brand Extension.

WrestleMania XIX Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

For WrestleMania XX in 2004, the hype was brilliant, although the card was a bit underwhelming and I kind of thought that a planned match had been changed because it felt like something was missing, even though it was the longest WM ever (over 4 1/2 hours). It was still entertaining, although its legacy was forever harmed by the 2007 Benoit Tragedy, making Chris Benoit's World Title win here uncomfortable to watch ever since. This Mania was significant because my brother attended, and while I was happy for him, I was so jealous! I was 15 then, so I had school commitments, but now more than ever, I so wanted to attend a WrestleMania, but it would never happen ... would it?

WrestleMania XX Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

The next year in WWE was the poorest quality-wise since I became a fan; few things were exciting, and many big names left to be replaced by vastly inferior ones. So, I was not very excited when WM 21 rolled around in spring 2005, even though the card looked promising, big storylines were culminating, and three legends (Hogan, Piper and Austin) were returning. But on the day I suddenly got super-excited, and when it was live I was buzzing! I had to go to bed after Money In The Bank due to Sixth Form, but could hear Hulk Hogan returning as I was trying to sleep, and the next day when I learned that a lesson was cancelled, I thought "Come on, it's WrestleMania!" and went home early to see the likes of the Michaels-Angle classic (a match I had wanted to see for years) and Stone Cold on Piper's Pit. Cena and Batista became Champs at the end, and although I was thinking "Batista?" at the time, the two new titleholders went above expectations and, via this show, kicked off a new, exciting era in WWE.

WrestleMania 21 Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

I was more excited for WrestleMania 22 in 2006, but Sixth Form again meant only seeing the first chunk live and watching the rest the next day. I loved it at the time, especially the Hardcore match between the red-hot Edge and Mick Foley. I felt like something or someone was missing by the end, so my view of the show was tainted slightly, but in hindsight WM 22 stands up as a great representation of this period in WWE history, and the night that John Cena truly became the face of WWE, despite the growing resentment that was unprecedented at the time.

WrestleMania 22 Highlights Link

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WrestleMania 23 in 2007 was one of those were I thought, the hype was "alright", the show was "alright", but breaking it down, it was actually pretty good. The top four matches all delivered, and the huge crowd made this Mania feel huge; each WM since has been in a massive stadium. Of note, as I was on a break between University terms, this was the first WrestleMania where I watched the entire show live as it was happening. But just days before, it was revealed that WM XXIV would be in Orlando, Florida. It seemed unlikely, but as time went on, it became a reality: the travel package was booked later that year, and I would finally be going to WrestleMania!

WrestleMania 23 Highlights Link

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So, WrestleMania XXIV in 2008, then. My expectations as an attendee for the first time were high, and the experience lived up to them! From the hotel where you knew something special was happening to the Hall Of Fame to (the then-downsized) Axxess to the event itself, plus the Orlando location allowing for tourist visits like Disneyland and Universal Studios, the entire thing couldn't have been any better and fulfilled a lifelong dream. Plus, I was on camera throughout, on the third row wearing a Liverpool FC hat and shirt, and taking in the unforgettable matches like Ric Flair's last WWE match against Shawn Michaels, Floyd Mayweather fighting Big Show and The Undertaker going 16-0 against Edge. Flair's overly long HOF speech meant leaving that show early, but then being stranded, so leaving Mania was a worry but everything went well, although the HOF incident meant relinquishing tickets to a Raw that in hindsight was incredible for Flair's farewell ceremony. These issues aside, WrestleMania XXIV was phenomenal to attend but, even if I hadn't gone, I would still rank this show amongst the best Manias ever. Sometimes, something you really look forward to does not live up to the hype; WrestleMania did, via WM XXIV.

WrestleMania XXIV Highlights Link

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In 2009, it felt odd watching WrestleMania 25 now that I had actually been to a Mania. Even so, after about an hour, this event felt like it was a bit of a let-down, a view shared by most. Mind you, it did provide maybe the greatest WM match of all-time between Undertaker and Michaels. I remember goiong "Ohhhh!" when it looked like Taker had broken his neck, but fortunately he got up and continued an unbelievable match. Overall, though, not a great Mania. Mind you, I had read online that John Cena had challenged The Rock to return and face him at WM XXVI. This coupled with rumours of Shawn Michaels' impending retirement meant I wanted to go to WM again, as the main gift for my 21st birthday in May 2009, and so it was booked!

WrestleMania 25 Highlights Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

My personal Road To WM XXVI in 2010 had bumps since the flights to USA were cancelled shortly beforehand, causing total distress. More chaos over there meant that it was a relief to be in the University Of Phoenix Stadium, although the experience besides these mishaps was very enjoyable and pleasant. Mania itself was cool, largely because Bret Hart had finally returned, and although his win over Vince is looked down on now, I just appreciated seeing Bret back, It was a loaded card which perhaps didn't quite meet expectations, but it was still much better than WM 25, topped off by the best match I've ever seen live, Streak vs. Career as Undertaker retired HBK. No, Cena didn't face Rock, but Rock was never coming back to WWE, especially to face Cena ... right?

WrestleMania XXVI Highlights Link

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Having graduated from University by now, I was at a point in my life where I was looking for work when WrestleMania XXVII came about in 2011. WWE seemed weaker than it had been in years as the Road To WM began ... then The Rock returned and things changed. The build-up was great, but the show itself was rather flawed. Still, I remember sitting up later than I should have considering I had an early job's event to attend the next day so that I could see Taker go 19-0 against HHH in a brilliant No Holds Barred match. Afterwards, though, it was clear that the focus had changed so that this WM would actually be used to set up WrestleMania XXVIII, main evented by John Cena vs. The Rock. What about that, eh?

WrestleMania XXVII Highlights Link

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The one-year road to Cena-Rock made WM XXVIII in 2012 feel like one of the biggest ever, plus Taker-HHH in Hell In A Cell refereed by HBK and other promising matches increased my anticipation. It lived up to the hype, I thought, as the Cell match was incredible, and Cena-Rock was the entertainment spectacle that everyone hoped it would be. Rock beat Cena to my surprise, but nobody was surprised that Taker won, because of course he was never going to lose at WrestleMania. By now, I was in regular employment, but before then tickets went on sale for the 28th WM. I nearly attended this Mania but, due to concerns about the Miami area, it was decided not to go (although I still really wanted to go!). When the New York/New Jersey location was confirmed for Mania the following year, though, it was on!

WrestleMania XXVIII Highlights Link

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Many look back on WrestleMania XXIX in 2013 with disappointment. Having attended it live, my third Mania, I certainly didn't think it was that bad, although the fact that the top matches had already occured fairly recently made it a little underwhelming. But it was still a great show, with a lot of major star power, and the end of a great WM experience in NY/NJ, which included my first ever event at Madison Square Garden for the most star-studded Hall Of Fame ceremony to date. Oh, and I got to see Cena-Rock (2)! Thanks to WrestleMania, I had been to Florida, Las Vegas (on the way to Phoenix) and New York. Where next? I hope to attend WM 32 in Dallas, but more on that later.

WrestleMania XXIX Highlights Link

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WrestleMania XXX in 2014 felt big beforehand but as if something was missing. If it was, the card provided it: blowing everyone away, it was one of the most historic WrestleManias ever. I was shaking with excitement as Hogan, Austin and Rock convened in the ring, and was very happy for Daniel Bryan when he became WWE World Heavyweight Champion. But when I think of Mania XXX, my immediate thought is of the "1-2-3" when Brock Lesnar pinned The Undertaker to shockingly end The Streak. I genuinely couldn't believe it; no doubt everywhere around the world, rooms went silent in shock, none more than the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (or Silverdome to quote Hogan) in New Orleans. 21-1 was an image nobody thought they would see, and nobody will ever forget seeing.

WrestleMania XXX Highlights Link

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Which brings us to WrestleMania 31 this Sunday, March 29 2015, from the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The hype has been disappointing, the card itself feels a little strange, and the main evented could be the most negatively-received in WM history. But as this article shows, everyone will still get excited, and everyone will be watching.

To me, WrestleMania has been a constant, something up there with Christmas and birthdays, and despite the lacklustre build-up for this year's event, I will definitely be watching on Sunday to see Sting finally wrestle in WWE, to see Undertaker return, to see what promises to be an epic Ladder match, to see if Rusev remains undefeated, to see if Seth Rollins cashes in MITB, to see who will provide that timeless WrestleMania moment, and to see just what will happen in the ring and in the crowd when Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar clash for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

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When WrestleMania first began, I ... well, I was years off even being in the womb in 1985, but I have watched WM from being a little kid to a more educated pupil in school to a more knowledgeable student in University to a more mature employee in employment to the freelance writer of WWE-related material that I am today. The history of WrestleMania has been an incredible journey, and it mirrors the journey of life for fans such as myself who have watched wrestling almost since birth. I personally hope that I will get to experience WrestleMania one more time, hopefully at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas on April 3, 2016.

My predictions for WM 31 come later this week, but for now here's something to get you ready for WrestleMania 31. I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it (I really did, believe me), and I hope you enjoy WrestleMania 31!

WrestleMania 31 Promo