Projecting WrestleMania 31: Reigns Will Reign, but for How Long?

We're a little over a month away from the official kickoff to this year's Road to WrestleMania. The formal march takes place the moment the last man is left standing in the Royal Rumble, but we all know that the groundwork is laid months in advance.

At least sometimes it is, when WWE wants to make it look like it is trying to put something entertaining on television. 

With Tables, Ladders & Chairs (and stairs) booked and ready to go on Sunday night, it's a good time for the most fun exercise a wrestling nerd can have: booking WrestleMania way too early. 

Below is how I would book The Granddaddy of Them All based on the current position of the roster. Some of these picks are not what I would necessarily choose if given a clean slate, but a number of blocks are already in place for the show that will broadcast from outside San Francisco this spring. 

The matches are listed as they would appear in the show, not in order of importance. Until I'm told that Daniel Bryan is cleared to compete, I'm presuming he will not be ready for WrestleMania.

The same goes for Undertaker, as I do not believe he will be part of the show until I hear it announced on Raw. Please, wrestling fans, share what you think of my card and share yours in the comments below.

WrestleMania Kickoff Pre-Show

The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

For the second consecutive year, the Andre Battle Royal will feature all of the guys on the roster who didn't get booked on the main show but need a reason to receive a WrestleMania paycheck.

Due to the use of part-time stars on the main card, this is once again a solid field featuring last year's winner, Cesaro, along with Big Show, the returning Sheamus, former tag team champions Goldust and Stardust. There will also be a collection of jobbers and NXT stars who performed Friday night at Takeover IV on the WWE Network.

After dropping the NXT title on Friday night's show, Sami Zayn wins the Andre Trophy, eliminating Cesaro to keep him from back-to-back wins.

Zayn is ready for the main roster, and we all want to see him work Cesaro on the big stage. This would be a great way to introduce him officially to the audience, give him a big rub and kick off a rivalry upon his permanent arrival. 

Winner: Sami Zayn

The Miz vs. Damien Sandow

No longer called Mizdow and no longer the stunt double, the super-talented Damien Sandow finally broke away from his former tag team partner to stand on his own.

At the Royal Rumble, the duo agree to work together to make sure Miz wins the title shot at WrestleMania. Miz is thrown over the top rope but holds on. Mizdow, as only he can, also tosses himself over the rope but misses to hang on.

Irate that his partner just eliminated himself, Miz gets tossed. Miz chastises Mizdow for failing.

The next night, they lose the tag belts on Raw and then lose a rematch at Fast Lane. Mizdow has enough of Miz insulting him, so he snaps, beats him down and challenges him to a match at WrestleMania. 

The match is short, as neither is a great in-ring worker. Both have come a long way since first signing with the company, but both are really much better character performers than they are in-ring wrestlers. We get a lot of theatrics before Sandow wins with a neckbreaker. 

Winner: Damien Sandow

Rey Mysterio and The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) vs. The New Day

Mysterio is still under contract, and I believe Vince will float enough money his way to get him back into the fold, especially for a push to WrestleMania. However, Mysterio is still injury-prone at this point of his career, so committing to a singles match would be risky. 

Sin Cara has worked the main roster, and Kalisto is ready. If we aren't sure how much longer Mysterio is going to stick around, this is a good way to pass the torch. 

I have New Day as the heels in this scenario. They have debuted as babyface but have fallen flat. They don't have a clear character other than all wearing blue outfits, clapping and smiling. But maybe that's what Vince likes about it. 

I'd like to see New Day turn heel on the grounds that they are sick of dancing and clapping to get your attention, so instead they are going to take what's theirs. Xavier Woods can cut this promo with Big E as the muscle and Kofi Kingston as the speed.

To conclude the feel-good Kickoff Show, Mysterio and the Lucha Dragons get the win in a relatively short spring of a trios match filled with high-flying spots that showcase Kalisto as a future megastar. 

Winners: Mysterio and The Lucha Dragons

WrestleMania 31 Main Card

Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins

At TLC, Ambrose vanquishes Bray Wyatt, and Rollins loses to Cena when Randy Orton returns to send him through a table. Ambrose spins his wheels until after Rollins defeats Orton at Fast Lane. Ambrose re-engages Rollins to finally settle their score that started almost a year ago. 

This is the perfect match to open the show, as it features two young talents the company wants to showcase in a big spot.

It will pop the crowd early to set off an electric atmosphere for the night. We know both men can deliver in the ring and haven't disappointed in a big spot. This match gets serious time, and finally Ambrose defeats Rollins with the Dirty Deeds to win clean. 

Winner: Ambrose

Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt

To bring down from a fast-paced opener, we get Wyatt vs. Orton. In this story, Wyatt disappears again after TLC, where he lost to Ambrose in a brutal match. Wyatt returns after Fast Lane to provoke Orton, whom he says is lost and without a mission. 

Orton, having lost to Rollins, has had a roller-coaster year. While defending the belt at WrestleMania last year in the main event, he's fallen far and fast and is questioning himself. We play off his IED history, which Wyatt uses to his advantage to antagonize the dangerous and explosive Viper. 

Orton is a reliable hand to deliver a match that tells a story. Wyatt needs a win against an established name who is reputable to mainstream fans that will be tuning in to see WrestleMania.

Wyatt hasn't won a feud since he beat Kane in his first match two SummerSlams ago. I'd also realign Harper with Wyatt because they really need each other this early in their careers. 

Winner: Bray Wyatt

Intercontinental Title Ladder Match

Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris Jericho vs. Shelton Benjamin

Ziggler regains the IC strap at TLC to continue some momentum he earned by being the sole survivor in the Team Cena vs. Team Authority main event. He defends the belt against Cesaro at Fast Lane. He cuts a promo that he wants to prove that he's the greatest IC Champion in WWE history.

That's when Shelton Benjamin (who has been rumored to be making a return) and Chris Jericho step out onto the stage consecutively to accept the offer.

They throw it open to a vote by the WWE Universe to decide what type of match it will be, and a Ladder Match is selected, playing off of all three men's histories as great performers in the environment. 

Probably shorter than most ladder matches, this one is a spotfest showcase for Ziggler to get the big rub from Jericho and remind people of the greatness of Benjamin.

After the match, all three men get together to shake hands, but Jericho sucker-punches Benjamin, then hits the Codebreaker on Ziggler to turn heel. We get an extended Ziggler-Jericho feud going into the summer. 

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

United States Title Match

John Cena vs. Rusev w/ Lana

The entire year of building Rusev has led to this point. He's undefeated, and he's the United States champion. That means there is only one man who can stand up for the American people and defeat this unstoppable Russian brute. You may all roll your eyes as we collectively name John Cena.

Yes, we will put the belt on the line, because Rusev needs to be undefeated going into this match and it would only devalue the belt were it not up for grabs. The whole point should be for Cena to save the U.S. strap for the nation. 

This match gets more time than it should, but it puts Rusev over to be in a confrontation against Cena at Mania. But the mighty Cenation conquers all.

Cena wins the belt, which he defends against some upper-level heel within a month and loses via Rusev interference. Rusev and Cena collide again for the next two months until Rusev is totally buried.

Winner: John Cena

Divas Title Match

Charlotte vs. AJ Lee

This, I believe, will be AJ's last match with the company for the time being. They'll want her to hold on through Mania because she is the best thing they've got in the division right now, after ruining Paige's arrival with hot-potato booking and a weird relationship thing with Alicia Fox for a few weeks. 

Charlotte debuts as a heel, with Stephanie returning in a managerial role. They let AJ cut loose on Triple H and Stephanie regarding their treatment of her husband (as long as they don't specifically reference the supposed medical concerns).

Stephanie and AJ have had beef in the past, so Stephanie says she's bringing in someone she knows will put AJ in her place.

Charlotte has great heel charisma. The only reason she's playing face in NXT right now is because she's gotten so over for being so good and the NXT audience cheers everyone. 

This should be the best women's title match in years. Charlotte is the dominant alpha female and is bred for greatness. Stephanie sees that greatness, as she also ably follows in the footsteps of her powerful and successful father. AJ is nothing but a ring rat who got lucky to be where she is. 

Winner: Charlotte

Sting vs. Triple H

This match was set up at Survivor Series when Sting debuted and stopped Triple H from screwing Ziggler in the main event. After the Royal Rumble, Triple H will return to television without any power and begin lobbying to get his job back. 

When asking doesn't work, he'll begin pulling strings on guys backstage to cause problems with the show. He'll use the power he does have to undermine talents who have caused him problems, until Cena steps up and says that he's got a deal for Triple H.

Cena has been able to contact Sting.

If Triple H can beat Sting at WrestleMania, he can have his job back.

Cena agrees that there needs to be someone setting order around the WWE, and that's why if Sting wins, he's the new general manager.

And to keep anyone from causing problems, grand matchmaker Cena has also called an old friend who will assure no shenanigans take place—guest enforcer The Undertaker. 

This slow match is mostly theatrics. We get the inevitable stare down between Sting and Taker as well as Triple H taking a shot at Taker but getting leveled.

In the end, Sting hits the Scorpion Death Drop and pins Triple H, then has his arm raised by Taker and participates in a tense handshake. 

Winner: Sting

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman

Reigns returns at the Rumble and wins the match, earning at shot at the belt at WrestleMania. He's forced to go through Big Show at Fast Lane to prove how big and strong he is. Lesnar dispatched Cena back at The Rumble in their re-re-re-match. 

With Lesnar looking absolutely unstoppable, this title victory for Reigns is impressive and makes him the heir apparent as the face of the company. 

Winner: Roman Reigns

But not so far, my friends. This is the part where things get good. While Reigns is celebrating and the confetti falls, Lesnar is ordered by Heyman back into the ring where he F-5's Reigns.

Rollins sprints to the ring, shakes hands with Heyman, gets a cold glare from Lesnar then curb stomps Reigns into the mat. 

Rollins hands the briefcase to the ref and pins Reigns to end WrestleMania 31 as the champion. The confetti is still falling as Rollins celebrates.

In this scenario, Reigns is a made man for beating Lesnar, but Rollins is a molten heel for cashing in the briefcase to close the biggest show of the year. He's the first guy to ever do it, and it's revealed he had struck a deal with Heyman.

Rollins is now a Paul Heyman guy, as Heyman wants the power of being the adviser to the WWE champ but knew that Reigns wouldn't work with him. If Lesnar were to lose the belt, Heyman had Plan B, and once again, that man is Rollins.