WWE WrestleMania 2014: Latest Buzz, Speculation Around Massive PPV for March 6

With the WWE WrestleMania XXX card still a swirl of speculation, there is still hope for CM Punk and Daniel Bryan fans to get what they want.

The latest backstage reports point once again to an opening in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match, and a Hall of Famer thinks there's still a chance that Punk returns. There also appears to be some midcard bouts in the works, with Big E's name coming up more than once.

Aside from Brock Lesnar going after Undertaker at WrestleMania and John Cena battling Bray Wyatt, the rest of the event isn't solidified. Stories are churning and alliances are falling apart everywhere. Not every rivalry will earn Superstars a spot on the grand stage, though.

Digging through the latest rumors, reports and signs from WWE itself reveals some options officials may be opting for at WrestleMania XXX.

Title Bout a Triple Threat?

Word of Randy Orton and Batista not being alone in the WWE title match at WrestleMania's main event is not new, but one report gives fans reason to believe that Bryan will get a championship opportunity, even if he faces Triple H at the event.

F4WOnline's Bryan Alvarez, via WrestleZone.com, writes, "The latest internal line-up for the show is listing the WWE World Title match as 'Randy Orton vs Batista vs ?'"

Bryan's fanbase would of course prefer for that question mark to be replaced with his name, but it sounds as if WWE is not going to stick with a one-on-one match for the championship. That makes sense since Batista has now shifted to the dark side, snarling at fans on the Feb. 28 SmackDown.

It would be an odd choice to have two villains face off with no one to root for at WrestleMania's main event.

That's why when Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, via WrestlingInc.com, reported that "CM Punk is expected to return at tomorrow night's Raw in Chicago," fans speculated that it might be The Best in the World who would slide into the title bout.

Punk didn't show up in Chicago, though. 

That makes Bryan a far more likely candidate for the match's third man. John Canton of TJR Wrestling is among those who have proposed a variety of ways that could happen, including Hulk Hogan using his hosting duties to please the members of the Yes Movement.

The End of a Sabbatical?

All is not lost with Punk, even if he hasn't shown up yet, at least in Jim Ross' mind. 

Ross writes on JRsBarBQ.com, "I'd still not rule out CM Punk's return to WWE in time for a WrestleMania match but my gut feeling is that ship is about to sail. Perhaps it already has."

As a longtime WWE employee and even longer veteran of the mat game, Ross' insights hold significant weight. 

Vince McMahon hasn't given up on Punk making it back, either. PWInsider, via WrestlingInc.com, reports that "Vince still hopes that Punk will get his head on straight and come back to WWE."

Credit: WWE.com

Either he's just been foolishly optimistic or reads the situation as a fixable one. What kind of match would be big enough to entice Punk back, though? Would the company put him into the WWE title match over Bryan? Is there another option he'd go for?

Those questions may be a waste to ask, however. Mike Johnson of PWInsider (h/t WrestlingInc.com) writes of Punk that the feeling backstage is that "he's done with pro wrestling."

That may not hold true forever, but the safer bet is that Punk gets the proverbial itch before WrestleMania 31 rather than rush back now. 

Big E in High Demand

One member of The Shield may be facing Big E—the man who busted him open at Hell in a Cell. However, the members of that splintering squad may instead be facing themselves.

WWE seems uncertain which direction to take the impending breakup of The Shield. A recent report from F4WOnline, via WrestlingInc.com, notes that a Triple Threat bout between Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins is still being considered.

In addition, the report states: "Rollins and Reigns vs. Erick Rowan and Luke Harper plus Big E vs. Ambrose in a title unification match has also been pitched."

The first scenario would allow The Wyatt Family and The Shield feud to continue, albeit in a different form. Big E and Ambrose have history, and with as little as Ambrose has defended his belt as of late, unifying the U.S. and Intercontinental Championships is a probable move.

Officials have Big E in other proposals as well, though.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, via WrestlingInc.com, "While Cesaro vs. Jack Swagger is being teased for WrestleMania XXX, it could end up being a three-way with Big E for the WWE Intercontinental Title."

Could WrestleMania XXX be a showcase of Triple Threat matches, then? Orton vs. Batista vs. Bryan, the members of The Shield all facing each other and The Real Americans colliding with Big E in the middle is overkill on the three-man format.

Perhaps Swagger and Cesaro battle beforehand to determine who faces Big E? That would narrow down the IC title match to two foes, but it feels as if a face turn for Cesaro is imminent with how popular he's become. That makes Cesaro vs. Big E less likely.

Either way, with as much as the former Iowa State defensive lineman is being talked about in WrestleMania meetings, it's clear that the company is intent on highlighting him at the pay-per-view.

Additional Clashes

There's been no official word yet, but WWE has hinted strongly that Sheamus and Christian will collide at WrestleMania.

The two have wrestled several times over the last few weeks, but even more telling is how personal things have gotten. On Monday's Raw, Christian attacked Sheamus backstage, leaving him with a battle scar to show off.

Alvarez's aforementioned report also points to WWE leaning toward Cody Rhodes vs. Goldust and an "NXT match of some sort."

The former is something fans have been expecting and calling for, but there has been no movement on that in terms of narrative. With seemingly every team in the division suffering from infighting, Rhodes and Goldust have remained united.

If this is indeed the plan, WWE need to get moving with it to allow the story sufficient time to build. If they don't start to bicker in the next week, we can assume the company is going with another plan.

The NXT mention is intriguing.

WWE has certainly put added spotlight on NXT as of late, including a wealth of hype for NXT Arrival.

Incorporating the rising stars from WWE developmental is a wise move. The Royal Rumble has been home to debuts for NXT's Bo Dallas and Alexander Rusev in the last two years.

Perhaps WWE finds a way to do something similar for other prospects at WrestleMania.

It's just one idea on the crowded table, though, and the event is just a month away. Stories that don't begin soon likely won't be told until after April 6.