WWE WrestleMania 31: Full Results and Top Matches from Event | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Daniel Santos Rarely does a WWE pay-per-view get it all right, let alone WrestleMania doing so.
Normally, one or two things irk WrestleMania viewers, which is bound to happen at the promotion's biggest event. WrestleMania garners outside eyeballs and fans who may not tune in on a regular basis.
Not WrestleMania 31. Every booking decision made sense down to the smallest degree, and the ensuing result is not only one of the most memorable events of the modern era but an indicator of a bright future for the promotion.
WrestleMania 31 Full Results
| Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal | André the Giant Memorial Trophy | Big Show |
| The New Day vs. Los Matadores vs. The Usos vs. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd | WWE Tag Team Championship | Cesaro and Tyson Kidd |
| Intercontinental Championship Ladder match | WWE Intercontinental Championship | Daniel Bryan |
| Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins | Randy Orton | |
| AJ Lee and Paige vs. The Bella Twins | AJ Lee and Paige | |
| John Cena vs. Rusev | WWE United States Championship | John Cena |
| Sting vs. Triple H | Triple H | |
| Bray Wyatt vs. Undertaker | Undertaker | |
| Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar | WWE World Heavyweight Championship | Seth Rollins (MitB Cash-in) |
| PPV | ||
Look, the globe didn't know what to expect from this one.
Randy Orton is a great worker but can have hit-or-miss performances. Seth Rollins is one of the best in-ring workers in the company, but his debut as a singles competitor at WrestleMania could have caused a few issues.
Hence the "could" above.
This was a barbaric match through and through. Randy Orton and Seth Rollins spared no expense in attempting to take one another out. Whether it was high-flying moves, brutal beatings and out-of-ring action, the two put on every bit of a believable, hate-filled throwdown.
Then the finish happened.
The official WrestleMania Twitter account captured the first RKO:
WWE WrestleMania @WrestleMania#RKO Outta NOWHERE by @RandyOrton!! #WrestleMania
But the finish of the match (and the second RKO) captivated viewers. The reactions of many an onlooker say it all:
David Bixenspan @davidbixReally good match. Orton with an RKO out of Curb Stomp attempt after lots of finish trading. Finish looked amazing. #WrestleMania
$asha Banks @SashaBanksWWETHAT WAS AWESOME! RKO out of no where #WrestleMania #Wrestemania31
Lance Storm @LanceStormOkay that was freaking amazing #RKO #WrestleMania I'm 2-0 so far
Drake Oz @DrakeOzBRBest RKO of all-time. #WrestleMania
While it was strange to see Orton score even more revenge against Rollins after a brutal beating on Raw a few weeks back, an amazing ending sort of makes it a moot point (as does the show's finish).
Rollins may have lost, but he just took part in one of the most memorable encounters in modern history. It was just the beginning of his night too.
Sting vs. Triple H
This encounter was destined to be memorable, if not for the simple fact the legendary Sting made his WWE debut on the WrestleMania stage and in a dream encounter against Triple .
Of course, Triple H was his usual self when it came time to make his entrance. This time, he incorporated Terminator and Arnold Schwarzenegger to full effect, as WWE Universe captures:
WWE Universe @WWEUniverseThe Skull King, by #SkyNet. @TripleH @Terminator @WrestleMania
Folks understood going into the match it would be a slow-paced encounter as two veterans faced off.
The in-ring action was great, yes, but this was about more than just two competitors. The encounter managed to span the WCW-WWE war in just one match, as DX came to the aid of Triple H and the nWo to the aid of String at various points.
Interferences made the match, although one stands out above all else, as WWE captures:
WWE @WWE#SweetChinMUSIC from #MrWrestleMania!!! #StingVsHHH @ShawnMichaels #DX #NWO #WrestleMania
Triple H wound up with the win, a bit of an odd decision after spending weeks building up Sting. If he does choose to compete in next year's event, he'll enter with a losing record.
Still, there seemed to be a bigger storytelling element at play regardless:
WWE Universe @WWEUniverseIs there finally peace between @WWE's #DX and #WCW's #NWO? #Handshake #StingVsHHH @Sting @TripleH
In the long run, this will go down as one of the top matches on the card not for its quality in-ring work and appearances but for its sense of closure to one of wrestling's most important periods.
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar
Rollins created one of the most memorable moments in WrestleMania history with his decision to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase at the end of the show.
In fact, it's a feat never attempted before Sunday, which perfectly fits with Rollins' character as the architect of The Shield:
WWE WrestleMania @WrestleManiaYour NEW World Hvt. Champion ... and NO ONE saw it coming!! @WWERollins #WrestleMania
While an amazing feat and worthwhile end to what most figured would be a lackluster event, the in-ring action between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns deserves the utmost credit.
Roman Reigns appeared to be fighting a bit stiff, opening up Brock Lesnar right at the opening bell. He played it well, though, laughing off the beating and never surrendering. His opponent, on the other hand, looked as dominant as ever until a hiccup resulting in his head getting smashed in on the ring pole.
The two put on a good story, Lesnar becoming more concerned as the match progressed because Reigns continued to not give up. It led to a believable mistake on Lesnar's part before Rollins' cash-in.
Even better, Reigns ate the pin, and interference protects him from looking weak. Lesnar didn't take the pin, keeping the mystique around his character and brief appearances. Best of all, WWE has a new top star, and he will feature the promotion's top belt at regular intervals.
Everybody wins.
