Wrestlemania XXXI is this Sunday, and truth be told, it’s looking similar to Wrestlemania XXVII in terms of it being a transitional Wrestlemania.

Remember Wrestlemania XXVII? That was the one where The Rock opened with a 20 minute promo, the one where Triple H and The Undertaker had either an amazing match or a match where they just laid down most of the time and just did big spots every five minutes, depending on who you ask (they had an amazing match). It was the one where The Miz won the main event of Wrestlemania, beating John Cena after a dubious double countout was overturned by special guest host Rock. In the end, seeds for HHH-Taker II and Rock vs. Cena (the latter of which was set the night after Wrestlemania) at Wrestlemania XXVIII were already planted.

With news about Wrestlemania XXXII already being leaked, Wrestlemania XXXI is that transitional Mania. It’s been reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE is trying to get every part timer to be on the card that they can to pack 100,000 fans in the AT&T Stadium. If that’s true, expect a lot of empty pushes for talent in 2015. It’s going to hard to put a lot of value on some of the matches at Wrestlemania XXXI, especially those with newer talent, if WWE is going to treat them as secondary characters this time next year.

That WWE treatment of newer talent is a big reason why Wrestlemania XXXI feels a bit on the weaker side. Don’t get me wrong, on paper I believe this is a great show and I actually think we are going to get a very good show as well. But after years of Rock vs. Cena and Taker vs. HHH…and even last year’s Cena over Bray Wyatt it’s hard to completely believe in all of these new guys. Hell, if the fans didn’t revolt Randy Orton vs. Batista was your Wrestlemania XXX main event…and even the guy who actually won the main event last year, Daniel Bryan, is in a midcard match this year. Still, this is the pessimistic view. In reality WWE fans should be excited as every year we moan about there not being any new talent, and this year we have four new guys in big matches (Wyatt…although he did fight Cena last year, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Rusev), three of which have done a great job and one that isn’t as bad as everyone says. So, with that being said, how will Wrestlemania pan out?

Pre-show: World Tag Team Championship: Cesaro and Tyson Kidd© vs. The Usos vs. The New Day vs. Los Matadores

At first glance this looks like a way to just give the Usos back the belts to get an opening of the show pop. I do hope I’m wrong though. Kidd and Cesaro have amazing chemistry together and since WWE is looking in restoring credibility with their titles, a long Kidd and Cesaro reign would be the best idea. I think New Day and Los Matadoes have no chance here. I expect Nattie and El Torito to have some interaction as well…and maybe Cesaro spins El Torito around 100 times or something. Anyway, I’m going to go with Cesaro and Kidd. With the battle royal on the pre-show now, perhaps WWE thinks they can get that pop with that. Fans will probably pop for Cesaro anyway.

Pre-show: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Shame this is pushed to the pre-show in only its second running. You know, now that these events are primarily on the Network, why do we even have a pre-show and show. Can’t the whole thing be the show?

Anyway, odds favor Damien Mizdow. Mizdow has been absolutely fantastic in his role as The Miz’s stunt double/personal assistant. Since it’s the only storyline going for anyone in that battle royal other than whatever Kane and Big Show had been teasing and #AXELMANIA, (Curtis Axel has a legit outside shot to win, especially with the Hogan segment this past Monday) it seems like a safe bet.

Or does it? I think it’s far more likely that Mizdow turns on The Miz at some point in the battle royal to cost him the match, but I don’t see WWE giving Mizdow the trophy. Instead, I think they’ll use the battle royal to help re-establish someone, and that someone is Ryback. Before I would be all on the Sheamus bandwagon here, but the match being pushed to the pre-show makes that unlikely now. I pick Ryback.

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins

I think WWE may open with this to tease that Rollins will cash in Money in the Bank at the end of the show. Seth Rollins has made himself a star over the past year and his performance at the Royal Rumble showed he is ready for the main event. WWE will still give this one to Orton though. The loss shouldn’t really hurt Rollins, although it is preferable he’d go over. Rollins will get the win at Extreme Rules I assume anyway. So I’m going with Orton…probably on Rollins’ jumping from the top rope into a RKO.

Seven Man Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

Interesting that they brought back a multi-man ladder match for Wrestlemania. Smart money here is on Daniel Bryan to win the title to give credence to the establishing the secondary titles that has been floating around. I think WWE uses Sheamus here, either in the match to set up a close finish with Bryan and Sheamus, and/or have Sheamus do a post-match attack to set up that feud. I’m going with Bryan.

US Title: Rusev© vs. John Cena

As much as I would love Rusev to retain, they aren’t using Cena to just push Rusev to some higher level. It was a great run and a great story Rusev, and I hope WWE doesn’t ruin you afterwards. But Cena’s winning the US Title here for the same reason Bryan is winning the IC title. I also could see the Sheamus deal going on in this match too, especially since there is history here (Rusev beat Sheamus to win the US Title in the first place). I am picking Cena.

The Bella Twins vs. Paige and AJ Lee

Believe it or not, this is one of the best built Divas’ matches in Wrestlemania history (despite some cringeworthy moments). We have here four legitimate Divas who can wrestle. After Nikki and Paige put on a great match on RAW I wouldn’t be surprised to see this get a little more time than usual. I also have the Bellas winning here with Paige and AJ continuing their story of not being able to co-exist. One will turn on the other here, and my bet is AJ does the turning to freshen her up, leading to AJ vs. Paige for the title once the Bellas leave at some point.

The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

There’s no reason to do this match and have Undertaker win. I love the Undertaker. He’s been my favorite wrestler since I was a kid and I’m thrilled he’s on this show. But he shouldn’t be going over Wyatt. He will draw in whatever match he’s in next year no matter what. Bray Wyatt needs to go over and be the top guy he can be. His promos are off the charts. I think Undertaker understands this. I think Vince McMahon understands this. You can do Undertaker vs. Sting next year anyway. There’s no streak pressure anymore. Bray Wyatt needs this win. And I think he gets it. I hate right now that betting odds have Undertaker as the favorite.

Triple H vs. Sting

It’s a deceptive match, as on one hand you can’t imagine Sting would come in just to lose to Triple H at Wrestlemania. On the other hand, the feud primarily was about WWE vs. WCW, and it would be weird to see WCW go over at Wrestlemania. Good thing Sting said fighting for WCW was ridiculous at this point. Sting is winning. He didn’t wait all this time doing shoot interviews about how was worried about how he’d be used, just to job to HHH right off the bat. Sting wins.

WWE Championship: Brock Lesnar© vs. Roman Reigns

I don’t blame Roman Reigns for his reactions. He was pushed way too fast way too soon for this spot. I also don’t think he’s winning the WWE Title now. The only hope Reigns has now is if The Rock flies in from New York to help him win the title to set up Brock vs. Rock at Mania XXXII. That’ll kill Roman dead though, as that would be twice that Roman Reigns needed The Rock’s help to get things done. I don’t think WWE makes the same mistake twice in regards to having Lesnar lose and thus hurt his special attraction status, at least not yet. Brock Lesnar wins, and leaves as Champion. I expect some Lesnar vs. Reigns vs. Rollins deal (Reigns wins Elimination Chamber perhaps and Rollins’ MITB contract) in the future. Rock might show up to close the show and attack Lesnar, just like he did to Miz at Wrestlemania XXXII. It’s all set up for Wrestlemania XXXII.