WWE WrestleMania 2015: Matches Under Most Pressure to Deliver

There is a pressure that accompanies any WWE pay-per-view match. Any time people pay money to witness a bout, regardless of the amount, certain expectations come along with it.

The fans demand suitable payoff to the stories they have emotionally invested in, quality matches that are at a different level from the contests they watch for free every Monday and Thursday night and moments that make them feel as if they are witnessing something so special and meaningful that they let their guard down and go along for the ride.

When a match takes place at WrestleMania, those expectations are heightened tenfold, thanks solely to the fact that it is on a card promoted as the most important of the year.

For three decades, WWE has produced matches that have lived up to the lofty expectations, resulting in some of the most buzzed about and celebrated moments in the long and illustrious history of professional wrestling.

Sunday night, when the current crop of WWE Superstars and Divas takes to the ring for the 31st incarnation of the Showcase of the Immortals, certain matches will be under intense pressure to deliver for a number of different reasons. 

Which matches are they, and what happens if they do not?

Take a look for yourself.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar

The main event of WrestleMania is the most important match on the card, the contest the WWE officials lean on to help sell the event. This year, poor build on the part of WWE Creative has increased the pressure on Lesnar and Reigns to deliver a quality match. Failure to do so could result in the headline bout being an unmitigated disaster from start to finish.

WWE is placing all of its proverbial eggs in the Reigns basket, as it is prepared to anoint him the next big thing. If he delivers a performance that is anything but star-making or fails to impress the fans inside Levi's Stadium, the company will be forced to step back and re-examine the decision to push him to the top of the industry.

Lesnar is essentially bulletproof. He is a made man whose outstanding matches with John Cena, Seth Rollins, Kurt Angle, The Rock and The Undertaker have helped establish him in the eyes of the fans. He will see little or no blame should the main event underwhelm.

The future of the company, both long-term and short-term, is at stake when Reigns and Lesnar square off in the marquee match of this year's event. No other match faces such pressure or carries such harsh criticisms if it fails to impress.

The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

The sight of The Undertaker lying flat on his back, looking up at the lights, his undefeated streak conquered by Lesnar, was a startling one for WWE fans. Never before had the Phenom looked as helpless and defeated as he did that night. As he made his way up the ramp, limping and battered, he looked like a man who was too old to compete anymore.

The visual sparked discussion about his future in the industry. When it was revealed that he would return to battle Bray Wyatt at this year's event, there was immense pressure put on the contest to deliver in a way that Undertaker vs. Lesnar did not, if only to quell some of the retirement talk surrounding the Deadman.

A strong performance against one of the most intriguing young stars on the roster would completely erase any doubt that fans have about the Deadman's age or ability to perform under the brightest of lights.

Lackluster performances by either man, resulting in a disappointing or poor-quality match the likes of which fans were exposed to last year, would only intensify retirement talk regarding The Undertaker.

As for Wyatt, it would only further demonstrate his inconsistency when it comes to supporting his tremendous promo work with in-ring performances. At some point, fans will be able to look past the parlor tricks and Emmy-worthy promos to see him for what he really is: a one-trick pony. It is imperative that Wyatt leave everything he has in the ring if he wants to avoid that label.

Sting vs. Triple H

Fans waited more than a decade for Sting to arrive in World Wrestling Entertainment, and now that he has, they eagerly anticipate seeing him step inside the squared circle for his first official match. His opponent? Triple H, who is coming off one of the best performances of his career last year at the sports entertainment extravaganza.

While no one is expecting an outstanding, show-stealing match out of the veterans, they are expecting an entertaining affair that gives Sting that elusive WrestleMania moment and ends his first stint with the company on a positive note.

If it's a good match, the fans will want Sting to come back; if it's a bad one, they'll hope he stays away. The pressure is on him to preserve his legacy before he damages it any further.

AJ Lee and Paige vs. The Bella Twins

One month ago, #GiveDivasAChance took social media by storm, the product of fans' displeasure with the way the women in World Wrestling Entertainment were being treated. After it trended for days, WWE had no choice but to sit up and take notice.

In the weeks that have followed the movement, Paige, AJ Lee and the Bella Twins have seen increased television time and attention from writers. Now entering WrestleMania, there is a back story to their match at last.

With their matches receiving over 10 minutes of air time this past week and strong promo work helping to sell their bout this past Thursday on SmackDown, the Divas will have to prove that they are capable of rising to the occasion and making the most out of their opportunity.

After all, a tag team title match and the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal featuring numerous hardworking Superstars have been relegated to the Kickoff Show. Either of those matches could have easily replaced the Divas tag match, and that is a fact many fans will point to if the Divas fail in their biggest opportunity to demonstrate that the attention paid to them has been worth it.