WrestleMania 31
From Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Results by Matt Boone (@MBoone420)
WWE WrestleMania 31 Kickoff Show
The panel kicks off the “Kickoff Show” for this year’s WrestleMania, consisting of Renee Young, Byron Saxton, Booker T and Corey Graves. The guys talk about how excited they are for tonight’s show.
Backstage: Lana Returns
Backstage we see Lana and Rusev talking. Lana promises Rusev she will never show copassion again, basically apologizing to him for accepting the match with John Cena on his behalf a few weeks ago. Rusev promises to crush Cena tonight and kill America’s dreams.
More Kickoff Panel & Clips
Highlights are shown of John Cena’s recent appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show. From there, we head back to the panel and the four talk in-depth about tonight’s U.S. title match between Cena and Rusev.
Backstage: Eden & Kane
We shoot backstage where Eden is outside Triple H’s locker room trying to secure an interview with “The Game.” As she knocks on the door, Kane walks up and warns her not to do that. He tells her to excuse him so he can prepare for the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. We head back to the panel.
Backstage J&J Security
Backstage, we see J&J Security — Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury. Noble talks about how Seth Rollins is gonna kick Randy Orton’s ass tonight while Mercury stays silent. They try to get a cup of coffee, but there’s no sugar. In walks The Stooges — Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe, who say they used the sugar for “Mister Mac-Mahon.” J&J Security leaves as Patterson and Briscoe call them stooges.
WWE Tag-Team Championship
– The Usos vs. Los Matadores vs. The New Day vs. Tyson Kidd & Cesaro
After more panel discussion, video packages and a quick check-in with Tom Phillips, who will be joined in the “Social Media Lounge” by Lita for a “#AskLita” segment later on in the Kickoff Show, we head to the commentary team of Michael Cole, JBL and Jerry Lawler for our first Kickoff Show match of the evening.
From there, The Usos, accompanied by Naomi, make their way to the ring. Out next are the Los Matadores, who come out with El Torito. From there, The New Day make their way to the ring. Finally, the WWE Tag-Team Champions, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, accompanied by Natalya, make their way to the ring
The bell sounds and here we go. Almost from the very beginning, an angle was shot to explain why Jey Uso, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, won’t be able to do much in this one. Uso sells outside the ring for a while, with the announcers pointing out the fact that he’s working with a bum shoulder.
The action is all over the place from bell to bell, with bodies flying everywhere. El Torito, Naomi and Natalya all got involved at different points in the match. In the end, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro manage to score the pinfall and pick up the victory to retain the WWE Tag-Team Championships. We head back to the Kickoff Show panel.
Winners and STILL WWE Tag-Team Champions: Tyson Kidd & Cesaro
Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Monday Night Football’s Jon Gruden previews this year’s Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Back in the arena, while the panel hypes up the match, the wrestlers are filtering in the ring.
The bell sounds and here we go, as everyone starts going after each other. Almost immediately, Curtis “Axelmania” Axel is put on top of everyone, crowd-surfacing all the way to elimination. That fast, folks!
Early on, the fans in Santa Clara seem to be behind Hideo Itami, with “Hi-de-o” chants. Eventually, Itami is eliminated by the Big Show.
On commentary, the announcers hard-sell the fact that despite his size and obvious advantages, Big Show has never won a battle royal or Royal Rumble match. Is that a hint of things to come? We’ll find out soon enough!
Once Itami is eliminated, Damien Mizdow becomes the crowd favorite. Cesaro nearly does the same elimination to Big Show that he did last year, but no dice. Big Show turns the table and eliminates Cesaro. Everyone boo’s.
We’re down to the final three, which are Big Show, The Miz and Damien Mizdow. It’s obvious that the fans want Mizdow to win. The Miz and Mizdow stand on one side of the ring, while the Big Show stands on the other.
Miz tries bossing around Mizdow, with the fans urging Mizdow not to listen to him. Miz pushes Mizdow around one time too many, so Mizdow yells “I Quit” and eliminates The Miz. Miz is pissed, complaining on the outside as Mizdow watches on.
Big Show just stood back and watched as all that happens and now we’re down to the final two Mizdow and Big Show. They do a couple of teases of Mizdow winning, but in the end, Big Show eliminates him. The fans boo as Big Show celebrates with the big Andre statue.
Winner of the second annual Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Big Show
