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WrestleMania 31 picks and predictions

Wrestlemania predictions grid
Wrestlemania predictions grid

The Turnstile will affectionately be known as The Turnbuckle this week as we count down to WrestleMania 31 from Levi’s Stadium on March 29. Check back all week on Yahoo Sports to get your daily wrestling fix.

We rounded up all of our snarky wrestling fans in the office and let them give their predictions for WrestleMania 31. Agree or disagree? Leave your picks in the comments section. 

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns:

Marcus Vanderberg: Welcome home, Brock. Tuesday’s announcement of Lesnar signing a new multi-year deal with the WWE likely sent the creative team scrambling on how to write the finish for Sunday’s WrestleMania 31 main event. Good job, good effort, Roman Reigns.

Joey Gulino: Lesnar re-signing opens up some fascinating possibilities, like the title match with Daniel Bryan we never got (SummerSlam perhaps?). But first, the WWE gives this match a better resolution than the buildup deserves by turning Reigns heel as he wins the belt to rescue his promising career while Lesnar becomes the monster face our cheers suggest he already is. Do the right thing, Vince.

Nick Bromberg: Who better to be the new face of WWE than Roman Reigns? Though the company could go for the short-term boost with Lesnar. Disclaimer: All of my wrestling knowledge comes from what my brother tells me.

Ryan McKinnell: I had this all written up. I said I didn’t care. I praised Paul Heyman as the rightful main event he was … then Brock Lesnar announces on Tuesday that he’s staying with the WWE — forever. This comes as a shock to me personally, as I covered Lesnar’s career in the UFC for its entirety and I thought there was a good chance he was returning. A match we thought was predestined for an entire year (Reigns getting over as Lesnar drops the belt and makes his MMA return) is in complete flux. Anything is up for grabs now that the champ is here … for good.

Sting vs. Triple H:

Marcus: The last major World Championship Wrestling star to never step foot in a WWE ring will not only get his WrestleMania moment, but likely the closure he’s needed professionally in what could be the last match of his career. Soak it all in, Sting.

Joey: I get it. The angle that Sting is pissed about what happened to WCW 14 years ago is ham-handed. Frankly, the angle could be Triple H hates face paint and I’d still be pumped to see Stinger finally perform at WrestleMania.

Nick: Bring back the nWo. You really think he's going to lose in his first match at WrestleMania?

Ryan: I was at Sting’s tag match with Bully Ray in Phoenix at TNA's Bound For Glory 2012. Every time he took a bodyslam, my heart skipped a beat — his did too, probably. Now, at 56, Triple H is carrying him? I want to love it, and when Sting hits a WWE ramp at WrestleMania, I will. However, after that, I’m covering my eyes and hiding in the corner like I just watched the “Exorcism of Emily Rose” for the first time.

The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt:

The Undertaker returns to the ring for the first time since WrestleMania 30. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE)
The Undertaker returns to the ring for the first time since WrestleMania 30. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE)

Marcus: This is a gimmie for The Undertaker since his WrestleMania streak was snapped last year, right? Wrong. The Undertaker is working once a year while his opponent, Bray Wyatt, is still trying to develop his character. A win over The Undertaker could go a long way for Wyatt.

Joey: A passing-of-the-fear-torch scenario is very much in play here, but there’s no way in hell that ‘Taker ends his career on a two-match losing streak at the Showcase of the Immortals, right?

Nick: Is the Undertaker really going to have a two-match losing streak? Make it 22 wins in 23 years.

Ryan: Bray Wyatt is a truly special talent and The Undertaker is one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots. We all expect this to be the Deadman’s last match and I expect him to hold up for one more night in the spotlight. No one has done it better.

John Cena vs. Rusev:

Marcus: Let’s go, Mother Russia.

Joey: No way Cena loses this match. No way. By the way, isn’t it hilarious that Rusev is basically a grown-up version of Cartman’s “Rad Russian” character from a few years back?

Nick: It can be the WWE's statement on international relations. And patriotism for the Stars and Stripes wins out.

Ryan: This is like “Rocky IV” but most of you at home will be rooting for Drago. There is something special inside John Cena. He is one of the most dedicated, selfless and influential wrestlers of the last generation. But for the next, and arguably final, chapter of his career to begin, he needs a change. And I’m not talking about the U.S. title.

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins:

Marcus: Seth Rollins might be the loser against Randy Orton, but he could be the big winner at the end of the night if he decides to cash in his “Money in the Bank” briefcase against Brock Lesnar.

Joey: My pick for showstopping match of the night, informed largely by my fandom of five-tool superstar Seth Rollins. I have a sneaking suspicion his Authority brethren cost him this match and he turns face in the near future.

Nick: I've been told not to rule out something bizarre here and to not be surprised if Rollins walks out with something gold other than what's in the “Money in the Bank” briefcase.

Ryan: This match will be good. Rollins has all the makings of a future WWE titlist. Orton is fine as the methodical Viper. If they can make Orton an umpteen-time champion, Rollins will be in the 20s before he retires.

Daniel Bryan could walk out of WrestleMania 31 with another title. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE)
Daniel Bryan could walk out of WrestleMania 31 with another title. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE)

Intercontinental Championship Ladder match

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Marcus: You remember how The Ultimate Warrior went from winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship and working his way up in defeating Hulk Hogan for the WWE title? Daniel Bryan is about to do the opposite.

Joey: A dark horse, but I think Daniel Bryan gets screwed to set up his next feud, and the other contenders have enough going for them they don’t need a belt to get them over. That leaves Luke Harper, Stardust and R-Truth. I know who I’m taking.

Nick: A lot of big moves in this match and Dolph Ziggler ends up climbing the ladder.

Ryan: Once held by Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and The Rock, the Intercontinental title has lost its luster in recent decades. A Daniel Bryan win could signify a return to prominence for the lost title of greats past.

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal:

Marcus: Good luck trying to explain the Mizdow character — a “stunt double” of The Miz — to a friend who doesn’t watch wrestling. Regardless, he’s the best thing going in this battle royal full of duds.

Joey: The company has always been more infatuated with Ryback more than I am, and I bet it adds this to his resume as a building block going forward. Hopefully it works out better for his career than it did for last year’s winner, Cesaro.

Nick: A Curtis Axel win would be for humor's sake, while a Mizdow win is a reward for being the Miz's assistant.

Ryan: Considering what happened to Cesaro (or didn’t) after he won it last year, I’d be throwing my rear-end over the top rope quicker than you can say, “Yokozuna.” Who cares?

AJ Lee and Paige vs. The Bella Twins:

Marcus: Give these two divas a chance.

Joey: Because The Bellas are great as heels, and they need to be dethroned at WrestleMania by the two best divas working in WWE today.

Nick: Will they be happy with each other when the night is over? Will this match set up another one later on?

Ryan: The women in the WWE (and NXT) are chock-full of talent. Unfortunately, women’s wrestling is still a hard sell to the mainstream audience. This match feels like it could have been done better, but hopefully the ladies use their minute(s) wisely and give us a moment to remember.