WrestleMania 31 predictions: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

With WrestleMania 31 all set to invade Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California this coming Sun., Mar. 29, 2015, live on pay-per-view (PPV) and the WWE Network, it's time to go about making predictions for the biggest show of the year. The match card is filled out and the cSs staff of learned blowhards will give their best guess on who is going to emerge victorious this weekend.

But instead of doing this all in one post and giving you a wall of text and 3,000 words to read through, we'll give the top five matches their own post then cover the undercard.

Got it? Good. Up next:

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

The General: WWE badly wants Brock Lesnar to sign a new contract for a couple more years of service but if he did so would that change the outcome of this match? When they faced the same backlash this year as they did last year with Daniel Bryan, they stayed the course and waited for television crowds to make like house show audiences. That has yet to happen, at least to enough of a degree to feel comfortable with. Plus, WrestleMania and the Raw the night after will make for one hell of an atmosphere if they decide they don't want a babyface Reigns as champion. But if Lesnar re-signs and retains, what next for Roman? There are a million variables at play here but the safest bet appears to be that Vince McMahon will stand by his guns and usher in a new era with Reigns as the top dog.

Pick: Roman Reigns

Sean Rueter: I hate my life. Or I must, according to The Big Dog, since I am not in his camp come Sunday night. And it's not because I don't think he's "ready", whatever that means. He's great. Great look, plenty of impressive looking moves, knows how to sell and melts my panties with his growl. But he's not interesting. You know who's interesting? That's right, it's that crazy looking slab of Viking-American over there. Vince knows this, and he's not going to let Dana White promote any cards with Brock Lesnar and CM Punk on them (even ones where Phil Brooks is just guest announcing). The crowd will likely be split for the match, which eliminates the usual desire to not have a heel stand tall at the end of 'Mania. And Roman can be made interesting with a loss like the one that Rocky Balboa took to Apollo Creed in their first bout, or Steve Austin's defeat at the 13th edition of this event. By the time Reigns does beat him down the road, you might have the rest of the audience back on his side.

Pick: Brock Lesnar

Keith Harris: Presuming that Brock Lesnar doesn't re-sign with WWE between now and WrestleMania, there is only one possible finish. Roman goes over clean in the middle of the ring. Even if Lesnar recommits, WWE would run the risk of Reigns being badly damaged as a draw by choking at the finishing line of his sprint to become champion if they went with the swerve finish of Lesnar retaining the gold. Moreover, it's time for Lesnar to drop the strap regardless, as it doesn't make sense for WWE to keep their top title on ice for several months longer with no obvious big money program on the horizon for the Beast Incarnate should he return in the summer.

Pick: Roman Reigns

Cain A. Knight: There are so many fascinating elements in play for this match. Can these two guys deliver a high quality match? Will the crowd only reject Roman Reigns, or will they reject both men like at Wrestlemania 20 with Lesnar and Goldberg? How many spears will it take to conquer the beast who withstood countless Attitude Adjustments and Curb Stomps? Will Rollins cash-in? Is Reigns turning heel and aligning with Heyman? Will Undertaker cost Lesnar the match? Is this match even guaranteed to main event the show, or will WWE be so worried about the crowd shitting on it to such an extreme degree that they opt to close the show with the universally loved Sting against the universally hated Triple H? That's an awful lot of questions, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what the answers end up being. WrestleMania 31 is all about making Roman Reigns look like a big star, not Seth Rollins, so I would be shocked if Rollins succesfully cashes in on this night. As far as a potential Roman heel turn is concerned, I think that's the best way to save Roman Reigns from disaster in the coming months, and I hope WWE pulls the trigger on that decision. He could really use Heyman's help going forward, and Reigns could also benefit from a lengthy heel run to build up his credibility in the eyes of the fans before WWE eventually turns him into the next top babyface. Cena and Bryan have enough star power to carry the babyface side for a while. In fact, Cena and Bryan could really play a major role in helping a heel Reigns get over in a big way. Babyface Reigns versus heel Sheamus, Rollins or Wyatt just isn't that big of an attraction right now to be headlining shows going forward. But heel Reigns versus babyface Ambrose, Cena, or Bryan could provide some very compelling television for the remainder of the year. If Roman Reigns wins this match squeaky clean with no heel turn, then WWE is just asking for trouble.

Pick: Roman Reigns

Joshua Gagnon: I'm beyond pumped for this match. With his most important match to date -- and to quiet the haters -- look for Reigns to put everything he has in to this one. From a match-up standpoint, it's tough to see exactly how he will win. Reigns does not have a size, power, or speed advantage, so pure heart, and maybe some luck -- Paul Heyman betrayal? -- will be his only chance. If Brock decides to stay, he's a special talent that could hold the title until WrestleMania 32.

Pick: Brock Lesnar

Jason Martin: In recent weeks, Vince McMahon has engaged in what can only be described as "NFL Owner days before the Draft." All of a sudden, reports have emerged that Triple H is pushing for Lesnar to retain the Championship, for John Cena to defeat Rusev, and for Daniel Bryan to become Intercontinental Champion, all at WrestleMania. Look, that may well be true, and I'm not against any of those decisions overall. Rusev doesn't need to be undefeated to be special; he just needs to be BOOKED WELL. That statement applies to every single person on the WWE roster, the NXT roster, the ROH roster, the New Japan roster, and the roster at that shitbox Indy fed that puts up cardboard posters for shows at your local VFW or National Guard Armory. But, with all that said and granted, Vince McMahon long ago made his choice. Roman Reigns was set to be "The Guy" at WrestleMania 31. The entirety of the Brock Lesnar push, from crushing Big Show to the end of the Streak to the dismantling of John Cena and later of Seth Rollins was all for one end: To make him the most dominant heel since Andre the Giant, so that Vince's handpicked Samoan prince could end the Beast's reign of terror and officially usher in a new era. Vince McMahon's daydreams have been filled with the final shot of WrestleMania, a triumphant Roman Reigns holding up the Championship and Brock Lesnar nowhere in sight. In a perfect world, Brock would hold the title until 2020, until HIS successor was found, but we don't live in that world. Michael Cole will say, after Reigns pins Lesnar following a brutal, physical, likely solid match (better than most expect anyway), "Roman...Reigns, at WrestleMania!" Will Seth cash in after the win? He could, but I say no chance in hell, evoking the man who will make that decision. The show will fade with Roman Reigns standing tall. Is it what should happen? That's for everyone to decide for him or herself. But it's what's going to happen. Roman Reigns - 1-2-3.

Pick: Roman Reigns

__________________________________

Those are our predictions, Cagesiders. What are yours?