WWE WrestleMania 31: Superstars Who Will Exceed Expectations

It's impossible to overstate the pressure that performing at WrestleMania puts on a WWE Superstar.

There's no bigger platform in the industry, and for many wrestlers, it's a lifelong dream just to be a part of the show. Expectations are always very high, and that can make it difficult for some to deliver quite as much as they would've hoped on the night.

However, there are others who shine under that sort of pressure. These are the men and women who will exceed expectations Sunday night in Santa Clara, California, producing moments that will define WrestleMania 31—and perhaps the rest of their individual careers.

AJ Lee, Paige and the Bella Twins

Credit: WWE.com

While the women of the WWE roster often get the short straw at WrestleMania, this year's lone female competition has the potential to far exceed its uneven build.

It's not a perfect match on paper—a defence of the Divas Championship would be more apt for The Show of Shows—but the talent involved make this bout quite an intriguing prospect. While Brie Bella is something of a weak link, she has more than enough support to make this a great showing for the division.

Little needs to be said of the qualifications of the other three women in the match. AJ Lee and Paige are supremely capable athletes, and they've established that reputation by having excellent matches, both with each other and the rest of the female portion of the roster.

However, particular credit has to go to Nikki Bella. Once the weaker half of the Bella Twins, Nikki has put the work in over the past year to develop her own in-ring style, and the results have been remarkable. The reigning Diva's champion fights with a more physical style than any other woman in her division.

Expectations for WWE Divas seem to be perennially low—and a large part of that is thanks to their presentation. A great match at WrestleMania 31 could be the shot in the arm the division needs to continue to grow and evolve.

Hideo Itami

Credit: WWE.com

We know now that Hideo Itami will be the NXT representative in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal—and he's the ideal man for the job.

WrestleMania should feel like the biggest event in pro wrestling, and getting a bona fide international sensation like Itami on the card helps to achieve that. The influx of Japanese fans attending WrestleMania 31—not to mention the NXT faithful—will definitely appreciate seeing such a respected performer.

Itami's progress in adjusting to his new surroundings has been slow and steady, but that seems quite intentional. It's clear that great care is being taken to ensure that he doesn't become another Sin Cara. Nevertheless, it's clear that he's become more and more confident in recent months.

There's no definite implication that Itami will join the main roster after WrestleMania, but regardless of what his future holds, his presence in the Battle Royal will be good for both him and the match. Many might worry about how Itami will perform on such a grand stage, but he looks primed to prove his doubters wrong.

Bray Wyatt

Credit: WWE.com

Speculation as to the condition of the Undertaker has dominated response to his match against Bray Wyatt, but the pairing will likely put on one of the best WrestleMania performances of the Deadman's illustrious career.

A concussion meant that Undertaker's match against Brock Lesnar at last year's 'Mania didn't quite go to plan—and you can bet that a wrestler as dedicated as the Phenom will be looking to set that right this time around. That said, it's Wyatt who will really impress later tonight.

The Eater of Worlds has carried the build to this match single-handedly with excellent promos and an unparalleled dedication to his character. Now, all that's left to add is a great match to cap off this passing of the torch.

Wyatt is less reliable in the ring than he is on the mic—but he can pull out all the stops when he needs to. Tonight, he takes his place as the New Face of Fear, and he'll prove a lot of naysayers wrong after he does it.

Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns will exceed expectations in the main event tonight for one simple reason: If he doesn't, he's done.

Whatever you think of Reigns' ascent to the top, we'll know by the end of the night whether it has been a success or a failure. If the match bombs, even being crowned the new WWE world heavyweight champion won't save the Juggernaut. If he fails to come up with a great performance in the main event, his chances of being the face of the company are finished.

This is the knife edge Roman stands upon. It's never easy for any wrestler to reach the highest echelons of the industry, but for someone as inexperienced as Reigns to be exalted so soon, the road was always going to be rockier than most.

Reigns has one last chance to win over the masses. A loss could easily stunt his momentum and leave him doomed to the midcard forevermore, but a win followed by a muted reaction could be even more disastrous. If the people aren't behind Reigns, then months and months of work will have been for nothing.

It's a do-or-die situation. Anything less than the best performance of the Big Dog's career won't be enough. WWE obviously trusts Reigns to deliver. We'll have to wait and see whether the company's confidence is well-placed.

Who do you think will exceed expectations tonight? Let us know in the comments section below.