WWE WrestleMania: Comparing WrestleMania 30 vs. WrestleMania 31

Credit: WWE.com

Grading WrestleMania 30

Opening Segment

The opening segment to WrestleMania 30 featured three members of the WWE Mount Rushmore.  As fans we were expecting to see Hulk Hogan as he was set to host WrestleMania, but to get a surprise visit from Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock was the coolest way to start a WrestleMania ever.

Following a botch from Hogan calling the Superdome the “Silverdome”, both Attitude Era standouts would poke fun of the Hulkster in what was just a fun segment.  All three legends gave a mix of original content as well as their trademark catchphrases.

There is nothing that wrestling fans get more excited for than nostalgia and big returns.  The shock, charisma, and history in the ring to open WrestleMania cannot be touched.

Rating: 10/10

Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H

The most hyped match for WrestleMania in New Orleans in 2014 was without question Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H.  The match between The Leader of the Yes Movement and the C.O.O. of WWE was also used as a storyline builder for later on in that same show.

The match itself will not go down as a classic match on Triple H’s long WrestleMania resume, but this match was all about Bryan.  Bryan was forced to take Triple H’s best shot despite not being 100%, but would prevail thanks to a well timed running knee.

Following the match Triple H would attack Bryan’s injured shoulder leaving Bryan’s availability for the main event in question.  This was not a four or five star classic, but the hype and storytelling is what made this match a critical part of WrestleMania 30.

Rating 6.5/10

The Shield vs. The New Age Outlaws & Kane

At this point The Shield was starting to get most of the WWE Universe behind them, and was setting the stage for what would be a showdown with Evolution.  This match was simple.  The combination of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns had to look like a cohesive unit.

The Shield in what felt like no longer than five minutes divided their opponents and conquered.  The match was capped off with a Douple Triple Powerbomb (I think that is the name they decided on), and The Shield stood tall.

The Shield was built as three future main eventers versus what had to be considered three recycled parts from the Attitude Era.  This match was so short that I cannot rate it high, but the match was everything it needed to be.

Rating 4/10

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

The inaugural Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal was held at WrestleMania 30.  Because it was the first year of this battle royal it was met with excitement.

As it turns out the battle royal was used as an excuse to get as much talent as possible featured on the show.  These types of matches usually end up being so clustered that it is too difficult to keep up with what is going on.

What helped the excitement for this year was the idea that the winner might get a push similar to the winner of Money in the Bank.  Cesaro would be the chosen one which excited fans, and the way that he won was just as exciting.

Cesaro would eliminate Big Show with a body slam over the top rope which slightly resembled the body slam from Hogan to Andre.  The newness of the match paired with the fantastic finish is why I am rating this match higher than I probably should.

Rating 6.5/10

John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

Watching John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt on the WWE Network was a completely different experience than watching it live.  Watching it live, it appeared as if Wyatt was trying to lose the match every chance he got.

When re-watching the match through the WWE Network it became clear by the sound bites picked up from the ringside microphones that Wyatt was trying to coax Cena into breaking his code.  To turn Cena on the fans that he has been so loyal to over the years would be the greatest victory of them all.

Wyatt vs. Cena was a story driven match where Cena refused to break his code, and would defeat Wyatt with an Attitude Adjustment.  The compelling story throughout is what gives this match a ratings boost.

Rating 6/10

The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar

Now this is the match that had every member of the WWE Universe talking following WrestleMania 30.  Unfortunately The Undertaker took a nasty bump early in the match that makes it just as difficult to watch each time I view it.

Despite being clearly concussed, The Undertaker powered through the match like only he could.  Keep in mind that this was one of the last high profile matches that Brock Lesnar had before truly becoming The Beast that we all know him as today.

At the time it just seemed like a foregone conclusion that Undertaker would win this match despite how physically imposing Lesnar was.  Even after the third F5, we all anticipated a kick out from The Deadman.

Then the referee’s hand hit the mat for a third time, and the Superdome went quiet.  I did not know that somewhere around 80,000 people could be that quiet.

I mention the live reaction, because every time I re-watch this match it is like I am back in section 147 all over again wondering what I just witnessed.  This certainly was not a great wrestling match, but who cares?

This was hands down the most shocking moment in not just WrestleMania history, but WWE history.

Rating 9/10

Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational

If there is ever a match to be appreciative of how far women’s wrestling has come in the last few years it is this one.  It is to no fault of the talent in this match, but it is nearly impossible to have a 14 superstar singe fall match and make it not look all over the place.

Another factor working against the female superstars was the lack of hype to this match.  The women’s division at this time was still referred to as “divas” and characters were not given enough camera time for fans to be as invested in them as they were with other superstars.

Oh and this match had to follow The Undertaker losing meaning that the crowd was dead.  The superstars that competed in the Vickie Guerrero Invitational deserved better than this, but I unfortunately have to give a low rating.

Rating 2/10

Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton vs. Batista

Think about how bad WWE WrestleMania 32’s main event was.  Why was it bad?  Because WWE was set in their ways and did not listen to their fans.  This match could have been similar, but WWE changed the course and allowed the WWE Universe to have their moment at the end of WrestleMania 30.

At the start of the triple threat match for the WWE Championship it was clear that the fans in attendance were still in shock from Undertaker vs. Lesnar.  As the match progressed the fans became more invested in the outcome as Bryan attempted to capture the gold.

That moment seemed in doubt following a Batista Bomb into an RKO, and through a table, it appeared to be the end for Bryan.  Bryan stopped the stretcher at the bottom of the ramp and refused to give up that easy, and at that moment all of a sudden the fans at the Superdome were 100% back.

The end of the match was fast, and exciting.  Batista executed a Batista Bomb on Orton, but then turned into a running knee which was finally followed by a Yes Lock, which forced Batista to tap.

The story that was told at WrestleMania was one that dated all the way back to WWE Summerslam 2013.  This match had hype, story telling, and a fantastic finish.  While this moment was not as memorable as The Undertaker losing, it was really close.

Rating 8.5/10

Average WrestleMania 30 Segment Rating 6.6/10