WWE WrestleMania 31: Match Card, Potential Spoilers, Predictions and More

The annual Showcase of the Immortals is upon us, and one of two things will happen when World Wrestling Entertainment rolls into Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara for WrestleMania XXXI: Roman Reigns will ascend the WWE mountain and become the new face of the company's bright future, or Brock Lesnar will conquer another challenger to his throne.

Either way, fans are sure to be buzzing at the conclusion of the event, which will kick off at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on both pay-per-view and theWWE Network. The pre-show, which will feature the Fatal 4-Way for the tag team titles and the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, begins at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

Sting will see his first in-ring action inside a Vince McMahon-owned ring as he battles Triple H, The Undertaker will return to the squared circle as he wages war with Bray Wyatt, and John Cena will attempt to wrest the United States Championship away from the mighty Rusev.

The young stars in WWE will be on display, sharing the ring with established veterans. While fans are likely to focus on the here and now, it is the long-term health of the company that will be affected in the show's wake.

With no clear winner in the main event, and an undercard rife with potential show-stealing contests, one thing is for certain: The 31st incarnation of McMahon's grand creation should prove interesting, intriguing and wildly entertaining.

Credit: WWE.com



News and Potential Spoilers

A fan report posted on WrestlingInc.com noted that during a Saturday appearance at Axxess, Sheamus possibly teased a heel turn:

One fan in attendance noted that Sheamus came out to a huge pop but teased a heel turn. Sheamus said there will be no more laughing and no jokes when he comes back. He also talked about how it was fun knocking Daniel Bryan around. While Sheamus did "heel it up" in the ring, he stayed around and posed with fans and signed autographs on his way out.

Fan reports are always tricky, largely due to the fact that a lot can be lost in translation between said fan and the website filing the report. If the news proves correct, it would seem as though WWE is not even hiding the idea that the Celtic Warrior will, in fact, undergo a character transformation when he returns to television.

Given the recent video packages promoting his comeback, that could be as soon as Sunday's WrestleMania telecast.




The Irishman has long been one of the most talented in-ring workers. His series of matches with Big Show were inexplicably great, and his matches with Rusev, Dean Ambrose, Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler and Cesaro have helped establish him as one of the most talented heavyweights in the industry.

At the same time, his character has become extremely stale. The corny jokes did nothing to help him stand out at a time when the edgier Superstars like The Shield and Wyatt have dominated airwaves.

If the report is accurate and Sheamus has already teased that the smiling, laughing character that wore out audiences a long time ago is a thing of the past, fans will be in for a treat when the former world champion injects some life into booking post-WrestleMania.

Credit: WWE.com



Match Card
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Featuring The Miz, Damien Mizdow, Kane, Big Show, Mark Henry, Ryback, Curtis Axel, Fandango, Zack Ryder, Adam Rose, Titus O'Neil, Darren Young,Viktor, Konnor, Heath Slater, Goldust, Sin Cara, Erick Rowan, Jack Swagger and NXT Superstar Hideo Itami
Fatal 4-Way Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship: Tyson Kidd and Cesaro vs. The Usos vs. The New Day vs. Los Matadores
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins (with Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury)
Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. R-Truth vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Bad News Barrett vs. Luke Harper vs. Stardust
Paige and AJ Lee vs. The Bella Twins
The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt
United States Championship Match: John Cena vs. Rusev (with Lana)
Sting vs. Triple H
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman)



Predictions
Ryback wins the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Tyson Kidd and Cesaro retain the tag team titles.
Seth Rollins defeats Randy Orton with assistance from J&J Security.
Daniel Bryan wins the intercontinental title.
Paige and AJ Lee defeat The Bella Twins.
The Undertaker defeats Bray Wyatt.
John Cena wins the WWE United States title.
Sting defeats Triple H.
Roman Reigns wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Credit: WWE.com



The Brock Lesnar Factor

The most intriguing story to watch Sunday night will involve Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

All signs, from the very beginning of the feud this past January, had pointed toward Reigns becoming the face of the WWE by knocking off Lesnar and winning the heavyweight title.

A lack of excitement from the crowd in regards to Reigns, coupled with the fact that Lesnar re-signed with WWE this past week, leads some to wonder whether or not the company would consider keeping the title on The Beast Incarnate and maybe continuing to establish the champion as a special attraction.




It is a solid idea in that Lesnar is one of the last legitimate draws still in the industry. He has not been overexposed in the way that other Superstars on the roster have been. When he pops up on Raw or appears on a pay-per-view to defend his title, it still means something because it is not an everyday occurrence.

Keeping the title on him while simultaneously building up the midcardtitles, making them the centerpieces of live events and weekly television, would be a fresh bit of storytelling that would enhance the importance of all three championships.

If the tremendous marketing of Reigns in the Bay Area is any indication, he will be leaving Santa Clara with the gold around his waist.

Should the company have any second thoughts, the option for Lesnarto continue his dominance over WWE certainly exists.