WrestleMania 31: 3 Predictions For WWE's Biggest PPV Of 2015

While the build for WrestleMania 31 has been questionable, there is still a lot of anticipation surrounding the event. Not only will the pay-per-view feature Sting’s WWE in-ring debut and The Undertaker’s first appearance since his streak was ended, but the finish to some of the matches are very unpredictable.

Since Brock Lesnar announced that he’s staying with WWE and not returning to UFC, it’s anyone’s guess who will leave WrestleMania 31 with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Last year’s match proved that The Undertaker isn’t unbeatable at WrestleMania, and there are a few legitimate candidates who have a chance to win the battle royal and the ladder match.

Other than the matches on the card, the PPV could feature a few other big moments. Below are three predictions for WrestleMania 31.

Surprise Returns

WrestleMania 30 began with a few surprises that helped create, possibly, the best opening segment in the event’s history. Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock joined Hulk Hogan at the start of the show, and at least one of those legendary wrestlers could make an appearance on Sunday.

There hasn’t been any indication that Stone Cold will be a part of WrestleMania 31, but Hogan was on WWE TV as recently as Monday. The Rock isn’t advertised for the event, but he’s hinted that there’s a possibility he’ll be at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday. Considering The Rock has been at WrestleMania in each of the last four years and there are rumors that he might have a match with Lesnar at WrestleMania 32, it would make sense for him to show up. At the betting website Paddy Power, The Rock has been given 10/11 odds of appearing at WrestleMania 31.

Even if The Rock doesn’t make a return, a lesser wrestler could come back for the first time in several months. Sheamus hasn’t been on WWE TV since November, but there have been promos for his impending return. He could get involved in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal or the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match.

Multiple Title Changes

It isn’t often that multiple belts change hands at WrestleMania. There hasn’t been more than one title change on the main card of any of the last five WrestleMania’s, but that is likely to change on Sunday.

Since Lesnar re-signed with WWE, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match is being considered a tossup. But two other champs are heavy underdogs in their title matches. Even though Rusev has never been pinned or submitted in WWE, John Cena is expected to win the United States Championship for the first time in 11 years. Bad News Barrett is in a match with six other wrestlers for his Intercontinental Championship, and he isn’t even one of the top favorites to win the ladder match. Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler all might have a better chance of winning the belt.

Cesaro and Tyson Kidd have the best chance of retaining their title. It’d be a major surprise if WWE put the belts on The New Day or Los Matadores, and The Usos were champs long enough over the past year.

No Cash-In Attempt

Seth Rollins is running out of time to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase, and many have speculated that the former Shield member could use it to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31. But Lesnar or Reigns will likely end the night with the title.

WrestleMania usually ends with a babyface standing tall, so a win for Reigns isn’t likely to be interrupted with a cash-in attempt by the company’s biggest heel. If Lesnar hadn’t signed a new contract with WWE, a win for him could have been followed by Rollins winning the championship. But Lesnar’s new deal means there is no reason for WWE to take the belt off the current champ, if they aren’t ready to put it on Reigns. The odds of Rollins not cashing in have been set at 4/7.

No Money in the Bank winner has ever tried to win the title at WrestleMania. There’s a much better chance that Rollins will cash in his briefcase the following night on “Monday Night Raw,” much like Dolph Ziggler did two years ago.