Wrestlemania 31 World Heavyweight Title Match - Brock Lesnar versus Roman Reigns

Brock Lesnar versus Roman Reigns is not a dream match of mine. I have no real problem with the match, but it is not a match I am looking forward. One reason is that I am not a fan of either men, and the buildup has been bad for a title match.

I am not a fan of Roman Reigns in any aspect of his career. He has no personality, little charisma and most of the time looks like he thinks it is all a joke. I honestly believe he is on the verge of laughing nearly anytime I see him.

Outside of the Superman punch and spear, what does Reigns bring in ring? Not much. He has the look, the build and the style that WWE seems to love so much. That is about it.

All that aside, Roman busted his ass over the last few weeks to promote this match, without Brock around. Yes, there was Heyman, but he isn’t in the match. It fell on roman to do the heavy lifting. He almost succeed and last week’s promo was his best.

Brock, on the other hand, brings so much ability as a wrestler it is ridiculous. He also suffers from the lack of personality and charisma, but it doesn’t affect him as much. Of course, when he does his ‘sit down interview’ he is awesome.

Don’t expect a great Mania World Title Match here. Or a wrestling match. Expect a fight, a brawl, and for Brock to carry the load.

Personally, Roman is not on Brock’s level.

The problem is, Brock’s lack of appearances and lack of defenses have seriously devalued the title to the point of being worthless. The title means nothing in the hands of Brock Lesnar, and his is the worst title reign in WWE history.

Brock has to lose the WWE title, and lose it now. Reigns may not be my ideal champion, but he can restore some luster to the title. At least he will be around to defend the title and be on Raw and Smackdown on regular basis.

Ace Masters

WrestleMania 31 Intercontinental Title Ladder Match

Wade Barrett v Stardust v Dolph Ziggler v Luke Harper v Dean Ambrose v R-Truth v Daniel Bryan

The first person to climb the ladder, retrieve the belt and hopefully NOT get it stolen, is the Champion. Or, in the case of Barrett, remains the Champion.

This is the match I am looking forward to more than any other at Mania, even over Sting versus Hunter. 

This match has had the best build up. Everyone involved in the match has been involved in the buildup, and all of them are scrambling to be the Champion. It is Awesome to see so much talent demanding their time to shine. This brings a whole new level of prestige to the IC Title.

Everyone wants the Championship, and all of them have been in possession of the Belt over the last few weeks, despite not being the Champion. It has been fun watching Barrett chase after his own title as it continual gets stolen, especially in unique and hilarious ways by R-Truth.

Along the way, we have gotten some great matches and intrigue. Dean and Dolph called Bryan a ‘turd,’ is this going to play into the match?

It seems that Barrett can lay out everyone to get the actual belt back, but can’t seem to win a match lately. Good thing they have all been non-title. Good thing all he has to do Sunday is lay everyone out.

R-truth has been stellar in his role in this build up.

With the talent involved, this match should steal the show. With this level of talent, if it doesn’t, some heads need to role.

Ace Masters

Wrestlemania 31 Randy Orton Versus Seth Rollins

If it wasn’t for the IC Ladder Title match, I would call this match to steal the show. In fact it still might.

Randy Orton is a great talent.

Seth Rollins might be an even better talent.

This match has easily the best back story and the best build of any match on the Mania card. It is certainly the most personal. Yes, even over Hunter/Sting.

Orton never trusted Rollins, which lead to his ouster from the Authority.

Rollins tried to end his career then bragged about it.

Orton returned, rejoined the Authority then destroyed Rollins – singlehandedly. He made fools out of the Authority – which is why I expect interference in this match.

This match should be a roller coaster of back and forth action, with neither man able to gain the advantage. The authority should interfere, forcing Orton to overcome great odds and frustrating Rollins with Orton’s will to survive.

This has all the earmarks of a classic.

- Ace Masters

Wrestlemania 31 US Championship Match - John Cena versus Rusev

At least this match is staying on the main card. If Cena wasn’t involved though, it might have gotten bumped down.

I am looking forward to this match. I am not a Cena fan, but I am a massive fan of Rusev. The build up to this match has been good. Rusev won the first match, Cena chased for a rematch. Cena achieved the rematch by putting Rusev in the STF until Lana acquiesced and gave Cena his Mania match.

This past week, Rusev suckered Cena in and destroyed him.

The feud started out as Cena going after the US Title as a way to get back in the World Title Hunt. After his loss to Rusev, and Rusev's Russian chest pounding, Cena took a more patriotic stand.

This could, and should, be a very good match. Will this be a mat classic? On Rusev end, it could be. With Cena, not so much. What this should deliver is an action packed, hard hitting, high drama match with a lot of thrillers and suspense. 

Will Cena be the one to finally defeat Rusev? 

Or will Rusev crush Cena?

WrestleMania 31 Bray Wyatt versus The Undertaker

I have to admit, next to the Divas Match, this is the match I am the least looking forward to.

In the earlier years of his career, I was not an Undertaker fan. When he first showed up, to me he was still Mean Mark Callous, former member of the SkyScrapers and fresh from WCW (and losing to Sting).

However, I have down a turnaround in the last few years and become an Undertaker fan, most because how he keeps evolving.

As for Bray Wyatt . . . I know many people love this guy, but to me he doesn’t work. Nothing this guys does or says is worthwhile. He doesn’t come off and creepy or weird or scary, or someone to be afraid of. He comes off as stupid.

I have yet to see Bray step up for then two or three times. More often than not he looks scared in the ring, unsure what do to, which the commentary pass of for fearlessness.

We know what Bray is capable off, hopefully he can step it up in this match. This is the Undertaker.

We know what the Undertaker can do, but can he do it? Is he healthy and can he go? We don’t want a repeat of last year.

With no Undertaker around, just a token lightning bolt, we have been stuck with Wyatt's promo to build up the match. Horrendous, and unfair to Wyatt. Even if you are a fan of Wyatt, there is no way he, or most anyone, can build up a match like this to any good degree.

If the Undertaker is good to go, expect him to carry and save this match.

If the Undertaker isn’t good to go, don’t expect much.

I hope for the first, fear for the second.

Ace Masters

WrestleMania 31Pre Show - The 2nd Annual Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

I was really looking forward to this Battle Royal, much like I was the World Tag Title Match, not so much anymore. On Smackdown they announced this will now be part of the Pre Show.

Seventeen men, plus possible surprise entrants, will vie for the Andre trophy, buried on the Pre Show. Is this being done as a possible promo to try to get more people to order the PPV or sign up for the Network at the last moment? I think so.

Battle Royals are standard staples of wrestling that really do two things, they are great filler spots for a card and are almost always fun.

The talent involved in this match should turn this Battle Royal in a fun event for everyone who sees the Pre Show. Coupled with the Four Way World Tag Team Title Match, I hope it does get people to purchase the PPV or network.

I just don’t understand how, with a four hour show, this get bumped down. This makes me believe there are going to be a number of musical spots, too many promos and lots of filler. Hopefully I am wrong and it will lead to longer, better matches.

That said, the Battle Royal should be fun, but it should be on the main card.

- Ace Masters

State of the WWE - Part 4: The Championships

We all know what pro wrestling is. Those that claim that championships are meaningless in the world of pro wrestling should stop watching or reading any form of entertainment.

Why do I say that? Let me give an example.

In Star Wars the goal is to defeat the empire. It gives our heroes something to achieve and fight for, and it gives the villains a reason for their actions. Since it is just a movie, they shouldn’t do anything at all, right.

Championships in the world of pro wrestling are that goal all the wrestlers are motivated for, it is what they must achieve. For this who have it, they must defend it.

The WWE has five titles: DIVAS, US, Intercontinental, World Tag Team and World Heavyweight. Let’s take a quick look at them.

DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP

This started life as a separate title from the Women’s title, and eventually became the main title. It does not have the prestige of the women’s title. Yes, Nattie, Beth Phoenix, Mickie James and AJ Lee do ad prestige to the title, but when the most reigns are held by Eve Torres and her name is held up as a premiere DIVAS champion (tied with AJ Lee) that doesn’t mean much.

None of them have the prestige of Mullah or Medusa (Alyndra Blaze).

It doesn’t help how the WWE treats the DIVAS as an afterthought. Give the divas better treatment and the title will mean more.

US CHAMPIONSHIP

This is a major title with a long heritage and history that could almost rival the NWA and WCW World Titles. Harley Race, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, Sting, Magnum TA, Lex Luger are just a few of the great names who have held it prior to the WWE.

There have also been some great WWE US champions, MVP for One. Rusev for another.

This is a MAJOR title in the history of pro wrestling, and it being treated like such at the moment. It still has meaning.

WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

The sad fact is that these are not the original World Tag Titles, but the second version introduced few years ago. Still, right now these titles are gaining prestige – except for being put down to the Mania Pre-Show.

We have not had this strong of a field going for the titles in a long time. This is good and it gives the title more meaning.

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The second most important and prestige title in the WWE. Arguable the second most important and prestige in all of pro wrestling.

Perhaps the greatest WrestleMania Match of all Time (Savage versus Steamboat) was for the IC Title. Perhaps the greatest Summerslam match of all time (Bulldog versus Hitman) was for the IC Title. The IC Title is the only other WWE Title to headline a PPV.

There are many times in the history of the WWE that the Intercontinental title has be more hotly contested for then the World title. Right now is one of those times.

The Intercontinental title is an important part of the history of the WWE. How it is being treated right now, with so many talent vying for and demanding the title for themselves, its future looks bright.

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE CHAMPIONSHIP

What I am going to write actually pains me. The WWE World Title, despite being unified with a version of the WCW World titled twice, is still the same title held by Sammartino, Morales, Backlund, Hogan, Savage, Warrior, Hart, Michaels, Austin, Rock.

Almost every champion held this title with pride. It meant something . . . until Summerslam 2014.

Brock Lesnar has defended the title only twice in 7 months. WrestleMania will mark only his third title defense.

Because of Lesnar’s absence, there has been no feud for the world title. No one has been fighting for a chance to face the champion. Rollins has only tried to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase once.

Instead, what did we get? Five months of Cena versus the authority.

I wrote in the opening that titles are the goal for any wrestler. But what if there is no goal, nothing to achieve? Then one has nothing to do and they have no direction.

This is what it pains me to write: The World Title has been too absent, and it is currently meaningless and worthless.

RANKING THE TITLES:

The following is a ranking of the titles from least important to most important.

LEAST IMPORTANT:

WORLD: Rarely around, rarely defended, rare importance.

DIVAS: At least this is around on a regular basis.

WORLD TAG: Hotly contest right now.

US: Rusev takes on all comers and doesn’t back down, and wins in dominate fashion.

MOST IMPORTANT: 

INTERCONTINENTAL: Right now this is the most important title in the WWE. What other titles are seven men fighting for?

Ace Masters