WWE WrestleMania 31: Best Potential Booking for Matches Already on the Card
With eight matches already confirmed, WWE WrestleMania 31 looks certain to be a pay-per-view that offers drama, intrigue and excitement like no other.
There are plenty of championships on the line and plenty of rivalries that will culminate on the biggest stage of the year.
However, booking those matches successfully is a challenge that the WWE may find tricky to negotiate in some instances. Keeping the excitement level up is key, but so is making sure there are a couple of dramatic swerves along the way.
Here's how the WWE could best book all eight matches currently locked down for WrestleMania.
AJ Lee and Paige vs. The Bella Twins
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It seems strange that the WWE Divas Championship won't be defended at WrestleMania, but that seems to sum up how the company is booking its female wrestlers at the moment.
In a desperate bid to keep as many different storylines going at the same time, we've been left with a tag match that doesn't really have a great level of intrigue surrounding it.
Surely this match will open WrestleMania, and in terms of booking the match, WWE should at least try to create some buzz about the championship, even if it won't be defended.
AJ Lee, who has just returned from some time away from our TV screens, should start to declare her interest in a title at the Divas Championship, and Paige should also be vocal about her chances, too.
That will prompt both Bella Twins to go on the defensive and create a cat-and-mouse scenario that will hopefully see the title relevant heading out of WrestleMania.
In the match, some tension between The Bella Twins wouldn't be completely wrong, either.
Rusev vs. John Cena
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We all know the best way to book this match, don't we? That would be the direct opposite of how the WWE will book it, as John Cena is likely to be the victor.
With a Cena win inevitable at WWE WrestleMania 31, the spotlight will naturally fall on how Rusev looks heading out of this match.
His first loss via pinfall or submission will be a hugely defining moment in his career, and perhaps the WWE would be wise to create an element of controversy here.
WWE can have Cena dethrone Rusev by all means, but there should be a legitimate reason for Rusev to pick himself up and challenge Cena. For example, one suggestion would be to have the referee call a three-count when Rusev's foot just manages to edge onto the ropes.
It would certainly be a great way to keep the United States champion in a position of prominence heading out of his first defeat.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
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This could quite easily be the toughest match on the card to book, not least because it takes place in an environment in which anything can happen.
There are plenty of stars in the match who could be realistic winners of the match, following in the footsteps of Cesaro 12 months ago.
But there are some interesting subplots in the match which will have to be addressed when it comes to booking this match.
For instance, Damien Mizdow must eliminate The Miz at some point in the match to kick off a feud between those two men. Tensions have been brewing between the men for a good few weeks now, and Mizdow seems ready to break away from the man he's shadowed for the last few months.
When it comes to booking a winner, it's perhaps vital that WWE go with somebody fresh as opposed to the "old guard" involved in the match. Someone like Mizdow himself, or even Curtis Axel, would be savvy picks here.
The match should be used as a springboard to move forward for young talent, not for an older head to have one last hurrah in the sun.
Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
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This could quite easily be the match with the biggest buzz, not least because of the credibility of the men involved.
Guys like Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan bring star power and excitement, and all have a realistic chance of winning the Intercontinental Championship.
And when it comes to booking the match itself, the WWE can be as creative as they like here. We should see a Ladder match with the quality of those in WrestleManias gone by, with stars like Bryan sure to put their bodies on the line all over again.
Booking the winner is a tough ask, but it would perhaps be good to see Bad News Barrett pick up the win in this instance. He's been having no luck lately and is on a pretty rotten run as champion. Barrett is simply much better than that, and a moment in the spotlight would be well-deserved.
The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt
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WWE has done a good job booking this match so far, with The Undertaker's mysterious absence from TV screens hopefully leading to an element of surprise at WrestleMania.
Nobody really knows what Taker is going to look like or what shape he's going to be in. The fact he's been off TV for nearly a year creates plenty of intrigue, which can only be a good thing.
Bray Wyatt has been doing a good job promoting the match all by himself, and his good work should ultimately be rewarded at WrestleMania.
It seems unthinkable that Taker could lose two years in a row at WrestleMania, but a win could give Wyatt's career a major shot in the arm. He's struggled for form since losing to John Cena a year ago, just when he seemed to be at the peak of his powers heading into WrestleMania 30.
Sting vs. Triple H
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Sting's presence at WWE finally seemed real for the first time on Raw this past week when he gave his match against Triple H a huge boost in terms of hype.
The WCW icon seemed genuinely excited about to unleash himself on several other stars inside a WWE ring, and it proved to be a hugely entertaining end to Raw.
There should be more of that in the final Raw before WrestleMania, which should lead to a compelling and enthralling match between Sting and Triple H in two weeks' time.
It's interesting to note that Triple H hasn't had the upper hand on Sting once yet, but that could quite easily occur next Monday.
Regardless, the best booking for this match would result in Sting's emergence as the victor.
After all, it would be incredible to see WWE finally land their man after years of trying, only to have him lose out on his debut.
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins
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Believe it or not, this match could actually steal the show at WrestleMania.
Randy Orton seems to be on a real roll at the moment since his return to TV, one that has created an energetic and entertaining feud with Seth Rollins.
The constant interference of The Authority will make for plenty of swerves along the way, and throwing Sting into the mix to amalgamate two rivalries was a smart move, too.
When it comes to the match itself though, this one is a tough one to project.
It's vital that WWE keep the interference to a minimum, especially in the early stages of the match. These two have some good chemistry, and it would be enjoyable to see them go at it for a good period.
Picking a winner, though? There's a valid argument to suggest Seth Rollins needs it more than Randy Orton.
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
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The main event between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns could be the most intriguing contest of the night, although in reality it might end up being the worst.
Much like John Cena against Rusev, a win for Roman Reigns seems a certainty when looking at the next few months heading out of WrestleMania.
But even if Reigns does win, the best booking decision of the night could come after Reigns has scored the winning pinfall.
That Money in the Bank briefcase is burning a hole in Seth Rollins' hand after months of holding on to it, and now seems the best time to cash it in. After all, Rollins is the top heel in the WWE at the moment, and getting one over on Reigns would boost his profile as a legitimate babyface no end.
And above all else, it would provide a hugely memorable end to what really could be a damp main event.
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