WWE WrestleMania 31 Must Be the Beginning of a New Era for the Company

The WWE hype machine is on the verge of kicking into full gear with WrestleMania 31 just around the corner.  The company's biggest night of the year promises to be full of drama and intensity as only Vince McMahon's creation can deliver.  

But this time around, there is much more hanging in the balance than the usual showcase of high-profile matches.  WrestleMania 31 must be the beginning of a new era for WWE.

"The future is now."  Fans have heard the mantra repeated for quite a while in WWE circles, but it's caught fire over the past two years.

The immediate future of WWE is currently happening on both Raw and SmackDown.  Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Rusev, Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns are dominating the major storylines.  Each man has something different to offer, and each man provides a different glimpse into a potential future direction for WWE.

The winds of change are blowing in WWE; it's evident from the aforementioned talent to the overall vibe of the programming.  Something just feels different than before.  There's more urgency in WWE's booking and more willingness on its part to put fresh faces in prime spots on TV.

That urgency will surely carry over into WrestleMania, which happens to be the perfect night for WWE to hit the start button on its evolution.

credit: wwe.com

Rusev is part of that evolution, as he will probably face John Cena in a rematch from Fastlane.  Rusev hit a cheap shot on Cena at that event and forced the referee to call the match when Cena passed out in The Accolade. 

Cena's John Wayne complex is in full effect now, and that will surely mean he will not give up until The Bulgarian Brute agrees to face him at Mania.  Considering that Cena is part of what could be considered the old guard, it's entirely possible that somehow he does not go over on the grandest stage of them all.

And if that happens, it would be the biggest moment of Rusev's career to that point.

The same could be said of Wyatt's career after WrestleMania.  The Eater of Worlds is likely to face The Undertaker in a match that could potentially steal the show that night.  Taker's age may be an issue for some, but the truth is that every time he works, he delivers.

Merely locking horns with Taker is huge for Wyatt.  This match would be proof positive the company believes in Wyatt and is confident in his ability to get it done with the man who is arguably WWE's biggest star of all time.

Rollins' career could potentially go nuclear after WrestleMania if he cashes in his Money in the Bank briefcase.  The guaranteed contract in the case is just waiting to be handed over to a referee, and if that happens at Mania, the whole landscape of WWE will change overnight.

Of course, fans cannot forget that Rollins would be taking the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from either Reigns or Brock Lesnar.  Reigns is the favorite of many to be the next top guy in the company, and Lesnar is an absolute killer in the ring.  Neither victory would be an easy one for him.

But much of the focus and debate among fans right now is on Reigns.  

Reigns is the key to helping WWE advance past its current state.  If he walks out of WrestleMania as the new undisputed WWE world heavyweight champion, then it could be the most important signal that the company has ever sent in regards to its future.  

Reigns is young, he's eager to learn, and he has gotten better in the ring.  If he is indeed WWE's next top star, then his legacy will begin at Mania. 

There is perhaps more on the line at this WrestleMania thanks to these four matches than at any other time in recent memory.  In each instance, a future main event workhorse is facing off against a current WWE mainstay in a collision of today versus tomorrow.

WWE undoubtedly recognizes this and will surely take steps to ensure that the transition from one era to the next continues to take place.  The next line of top guys cannot be held down and should not be held down for any reason.  The time for them to take the reins of WWE is now because the only way to know if each man can handle the pressure is to just give him the ball and let him run with it.

The company could wait another year.  It could even wait two more years.  The men and women in NXT are paying their dues and preparing for their numbers to be called. WWE could take its time right now.  More time could be spent on current stars and veterans while the younger talents on the main roster wait their turn.

But there could perhaps be no better moment for WWE to change the dynamic of its main event scene than WrestleMania 31.  The future is now.