Top Matches Being Discussed for WrestleMania 31 Involving The Rock, Triple H & Sting; Who Will John Cena Face?

[prophet]

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/517599- ... lemania-31

Obviously this is just a rumour and not at all concrete considering I doubt they've even given much thought to the Wrestlemania card as of yet, but who doesn't love a good card speculation report? Matches supposedly being discussed are;

Triple H vs The Rock
Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns
John Cena vs Rusev
Sting vs ?

The Undertaker made an appearance at a Comic-Con the other week signing autographs and taking pictures with fans and it's been reported that Taker was asked about the possibility of one more match and whilst he didn't rule it out, he's not settled on a decision either way and his health following Wrestlemania 30 wasn't great. Stone Cold has also been reported to be training for a comeback.

I really fucking hope that those weren't the earliest plans discussed because that card sounds like horse-shit. Nobody gains anything seeing two part-time workers like HHH/Rock in a match together and whilst I can actually see the Cena rumor being true it'd pain me to see him bury another young talent for the second consecutive year. Lesnar/Reigns would seem to be another absolute cert to main event the show, which is fine as I like Roman but I don't think he's ready for that step and I'd rather see Brock face a returning Daniel Bryan coming back to reclaim that he never actually lost.

Sting wrestling the one solitary match for WWE would make me buy the PPV regardless and I'd mark out whomever he faces, be it a 10 minute spectacle fest against Taker or something that has potential versus someone like Bray Wyatt.

[PorkChop]

That's a pretty shocking card.

[Str8Shooter]

Meh, doesn't seem that bad to me. I have my doubts about Reigns being ready for the title win at Mania, but they seem hell bent on it happening. Cena vs Rusev is going to happen at some point, it's inevitable as long as Rusev keeps getting pushed like this.

Rock vs HHH probably won't be a classic or anything, but both guys can still talk and are smart enough to have a decent match if nothing else. Plus it's a good way to integrate the older guys in in my opinion. People don't want Legends coming back to face young guys because they might beat the young guys, and they don't want them to face each other because it's "meaningless". Well they have to do something.

[Everlong]

The thing is, Rusev vs. Cena is actually the kind of match they SHOULD be putting on at WrestleMania, but we all know it'll end the wrong way.

[The Legend]

The thing is, Rusev vs. Cena is actually the kind of match they SHOULD be putting on at WrestleMania, but we all know it'll end the wrong way.

Wrong way according to what exactly? Truth be told this story has been built from day 1 for Cena to be the one to knock off Rusev. And it would make all the sense in the world from a story perspective for Cena to beat Rusev. Where I don't see it happening though is I don't think this Rusev story has enough legs to make it another 6 months.

[Everlong]

Wrong way according to what exactly?

'

According to all the rules that you follow if you want to have any kind of hope of building a star. At this point, it'd make way more of an impact to have Rusev take down Cena at WrestleMania than it would for Cena to stomp on Rusev's momentum at WrestleMania.

[The Legend]

Wrong way according to what exactly?

'

According to all the rules that you follow if you want to have any kind of hope of building a star. At this point, it'd make way more of an impact to have Rusev take down Cena at WrestleMania than it would for Cena to stomp on Rusev's momentum at WrestleMania.

Except that's not what the story is built for. You may be right in a generic sense, but the story Rusev is in at this point needs a conclusion and the reality is there isn't a conclusion unless he loses to an All-American star that can defend America's honor. That's just the way the story has been built. Like I said, I doubt it lasts until Mania, but you can't name a better guy currently in the company built and designed to beat Rusev than Cena.

[Hanley!]

People don't want Legends coming back to face young guys because they might beat the young guys, and they don't want them to face each other because it's "meaningless". Well they have to do something.

No, they really don't have to do something.

And more importantly, people do want to see legends coming back to face young guys. And putting them over. Whether that's by giving them the win (preferable) or just by helping put them on the map and making them look credible, it doesn't really matter. Young vs old is the compelling choice when a legend returns. But they always seem to go with old vs old.

Here are the problems with Rock vs Triple H:
- We've seen it a bunch already, and it was better and more exciting then than it will be now.
- There are no consequences. Both guys will stop wrestling afterwards and it will be a feud in a bubble.
- Regardless of what this does for Wrestlemania itself, it won't help fill time on Raw, which they need.
- It feels like we've watched enough legend vs legend matches at recent Wrestlemanias. It's boring now.
- Their full-time talent roster is the worst its been in at least 20 years and they desperately need to push people. You don't achieve this by only letting the top talent work with each other.

The thing is, Rusev vs. Cena is actually the kind of match they SHOULD be putting on at WrestleMania, but we all know it'll end the wrong way.

Wrong way according to what exactly? Truth be told this story has been built from day 1 for Cena to be the one to knock off Rusev. And it would make all the sense in the world from a story perspective for Cena to beat Rusev. Where I don't see it happening though is I don't think this Rusev story has enough legs to make it another 6 months.

There's nothing remotely compelling about Cena beating Rusev. It'd be a moronic conclusion to the Rusev build. For starters, after them building him up for so long, you want it to be a nice surprise when he loses. You want the guy he's facing to feel like an underdog. People would know instantly that Cena is going to win. Also, it'd just be underwhelming to see their most recently pushed character running into the exact same obstacle as the 50 before him.

I agree though, that the biggest reason this shouldn't happen is that the Rusev build doesn't have the legs to make it to Wrestlemania and isn't deserving of a major spot on the Wrestlemania card. And if he does get a singles match at Wrestlemania it has to be booked impeccably and against the right opponent. Cena isn't that by any means. This just seems like a terrible idea for a match for the biggest show of the year.

Lesnar/Reigns would seem to be another absolute cert to main event the show, which is fine as I like Roman but I don't think he's ready for that step and I'd rather see Brock face a returning Daniel Bryan coming back to reclaim that he never actually lost.

I wanted Reigns to main event Wrestlemania 31, but they've botched his push badly by failing to add dimension to his character once he split from the Shield. Or finding a unique way to book him that made him a highlight of the show each week. Now I don't think he'll be ready in time. And besides, part of me likes the idea of Bryan vs Lesnar more simply because you get that great big guy/little guy dynamic that works brilliantly when you have a small guy who can work stiff and a large guy who can sell incredibly. I just think the match itself would feel a lot more epic.

As for Sting, that's the kind of novelty match I would enjoy, as it wouldn't be something we've seen 100 times before. For me, the obvious pairing for the guy is Bray Wyatt. But to achieve that they have to try and put the pieces back together with the Wyatt Family within the next 3-4 months.


The way the card looks now, I don't think I'd even bother catching highlights. You couldn't even begin to make me give a shit about the results of Rock/Triple H or Cena/Rusev. They just feel so lazy as choices for Wrestlemania.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Purely from a nostalgia POV, wouldn't mind seeing Rock-HHH again and yes, it would be a pointless feud but it could be a case of two evils. Would one rather Rock or HHH faced a younger guy and ended up beating them, thus decreasing their momentum or better for two part-timers to work together without any palpable story progression and go down a trip to memory lane?

I'd take the latter. Rock/HHH has potential to be a good compliment to a possible big main event, say Lesnar vs. Bryan or Lesnar vs. Reigns. Or Ambrose vs. Cena - IDK, just a good starter for the main course kinda thing.

But I doubt Rock will be motivated to face HHH - imagine that tease, is just that, a tease.

[PorkChop]

Genuinely surprised by some of the positivity for The Rock vs Triple H in this thread.

If you ask me, it's one of the top 5 silliest matches they could put on right now.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Genuinely surprised by some of the positivity for The Rock vs Triple H in this thread.

If you ask me, it's one of the top 5 silliest matches they could put on right now.

My positivity is purely nostalgia. Because I don't watch WWE besides the odd thing here and there on Youtube, if I was invested - in what is a poor product it seems - my take might be different but as I don't give a shit, wouldn't mind watching Rock-HHH again!

[Str8Shooter]

Wrong way according to what exactly?

'

According to all the rules that you follow if you want to have any kind of hope of building a star. At this point, it'd make way more of an impact to have Rusev take down Cena at WrestleMania than it would for Cena to stomp on Rusev's momentum at WrestleMania.

Pro wrestling is ultimately all about telling stories through the storylines and in ring action. The story of the Russian asshole who comes to America telling everyone how shitty it is and how much better he is than Americans, has the logical conclusion that the big American Hero will end up putting him in his place and showing him he's wrong.

Rocky IV wouldn't have been much of a story if Ivan Drago obliterated Rocky in their fight in Russia, leaving him an unconscious mess.

[Str8Shooter]

Genuinely surprised by some of the positivity for The Rock vs Triple H in this thread.

If you ask me, it's one of the top 5 silliest matches they could put on right now.

Why? It's a four hour show, having a 15 minute match between 2 over guys that the crowd (which has many casual watchers of the product) is into isn't going to be that silly. Ultimately these shows have a ton of filler stuff that doesn't end up meaning much anyway. At least this would be something memorable for people, rather than seeing something like Miz vs Sheamus for the US title which you'll see 50 times on Raw and SD in rematches after.

[The Legend]

Wrong way according to what exactly?

'

According to all the rules that you follow if you want to have any kind of hope of building a star. At this point, it'd make way more of an impact to have Rusev take down Cena at WrestleMania than it would for Cena to stomp on Rusev's momentum at WrestleMania.

Pro wrestling is ultimately all about telling stories through the storylines and in ring action. The story of the Russian asshole who comes to America telling everyone how shitty it is and how much better he is than Americans, has the logical conclusion that the big American Hero will end up putting him in his place and showing him he's wrong.

Rocky IV wouldn't have been much of a story if Ivan Drago obliterated Rocky in their fight in Russia, leaving him an unconscious mess.

Yes. Thank you. This element of things gets thrown out in wrestling by some fans all too often in this era. And the thing about it is there isn't a guy on their roster better fit to play the American hero than Cena. Now, the #1 scenario would be to have Kurt Angle return to face Rusev, but I'm not banking on Angle getting back in WWE, so if he doesn't come back then I dare anybody to point out a better face on the WWE roster than Cena to fill this role.

[PorkChop]

Genuinely surprised by some of the positivity for The Rock vs Triple H in this thread.

If you ask me, it's one of the top 5 silliest matches they could put on right now.

Why? It's a four hour show, having a 15 minute match between 2 over guys that the crowd (which has many casual watchers of the product) is into isn't going to be that silly. Ultimately these shows have a ton of filler stuff that doesn't end up meaning much anyway. At least this would be something memorable for people, rather than seeing something like Miz vs Sheamus for the US title which you'll see 50 times on Raw and SD in rematches after.

Are you seriously arguing that The Rock vs Triple H in 2015 is a good idea?

That was an interesting match 15 years ago. Not now.

[HFX]

I would be down for The Rock vs HHH...

[The Legend]

Forget who they would be facing, I can safely say I have zero interest in seeing either HHH or especially the Rock wrestle at this year's Wrestlemania.

[PorkChop]

Forget who they would be facing, I can safely say I have zero interest in seeing either HHH or especially the Rock wrestle at this year's Wrestlemania.

Same, especially The Rock.

I wouldn't mind seeing Triple H on the card if he lost and put someone over though.

[KaiserGlider]

Triple H vs The Rock sounds good to me, popular opinion or not. These are two guys who can make anything entertaining; I reckon it will be a fun feud and match if nothing else.

[The Legend]

Forget who they would be facing, I can safely say I have zero interest in seeing either HHH or especially the Rock wrestle at this year's Wrestlemania.

Same, especially The Rock.

I wouldn't mind seeing Triple H on the card if he lost and put someone over though.

HHH you can pretty easily come up with an intriguing angle to get him back in the ring with the Authority angle and everything that would make it passable for him to have a match, but the Rock just makes zero sense to come back at this point.