WrestleMania 31: Preview and Predictions

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

The ladder match and WrestleMania are like kindred spirits, as some of the greatest and most innovative matches at the grandest event have involved ladders in some form, from TLC to Money in the Bank. And after a five year absence, the ladder makes its return to WrestleMania in a match for the Intercontinental Championship. This has been a fun and captivating feud between some of the most accomplished wrestlers on the roster, as Bad News Barrett has had trouble not only fending off his rivals, but even keeping hold of his belt.

Barrett will have to defend his title against six of the fiercest competitors around. Dean Ambrose was the first man to throw his name into the hat by promoting what an honor it would be to capture the Intercontinental title due to its prestige and history. He was swiftly followed by Dolph Ziggler, Luke Harper, Stardust and R-Truth, four men that have been mid-card champions and have a sincere desire to win the belt, whether it is for the first time or the fifth time. And finally Daniel Bryan, after falling short in his attempts to make it into the main event, placed himself into the battle to earn the only belt that has alluded him since joining the WWE in 2010.

As such, I believe it is Bryan’s opportunity to not only win the Intercontinental Championship, but restore its prestige in the process after the stellar work of Ziggler and the Miz in 2014. As an established main event talent with a huge fan following, Bryan could cement that title’s relevance and importance in the eyes of the fans, as well as produce some amazing matches with other superstars involved in this contest and beyond. And, as a further prediction, this match has all the qualities necessary to steal the show like previous ladder contests.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan