It is renowned as the “WWE’s Superbowl” its the biggest show of the year, it is Wrestlemania 30! Wrestlemania is without a doubt the grandest stage of them all, it gets no bigger and it gets no better than Wrestlemania. This will be the FIRST ever Wrestlemania pay per view on WWE Universe Mode and it just happens to be the 30th anniversary of the event! This is the night where legends are made, careers are revived and the new breed battle off against the old breed. The fight for supremecy has never been more prominent than Wrestlemania 30, this is the night where our Universe Mode superstars will step up to solidify their careers as legends on the series.
THE CARD
WRESTLEMANIA 30 PRE-SHOW: DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP:
AKSANA ( C ) VS NATAYLA
The Divas division has a new queen and her name is none other than Aksana. After nearly a year long dominance in the division by former champion AJ Lee, Aksana was able to prove to the world that she is capable of hanging with the best of the best in the division. After many months of flying under the rated, she continued to remain unnoticed whilst winning match after match after match, forcing officials to grant her an opportunity at the Divas Championship at the Elimination Chamber. Aksana would then go on to defeat champion AJ Lee to capture her first ever Divas Championship in WWE Universe Mode.
Perhaps another example of a diva taking the same route as Aksana is Natalya. Throughout the year of Universe Mode she has had her ups and downs, featuring prominently at times on the card, but other times failing to impress and earn her way into the title picture. However in the past couple of months she has managed to win match after match against other viable contenders in the division. These wins included fatal four ways victories over the top divas in the division. So it comes as little surprise that Natalyla finds herself in the title match for Wrestlemania 30.
The question remains though, will the veteran and hart family member Natayla be able to overcome perhaps the fastest rising star in the divas division Natayla? Or will Aksana continue her dominance and defeat Natayla and proving to her critics that she is not a flash in the pan, but she is the real deal.
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP: SIX MAN BATTLE ROYAL OVER THE TOP ROPE MATCH:
BIG E (C ) VS FANDANGO VS CURTIS AXEL VS DEAN AMBROSE VS ROB VAN DAM VS ADAM ROSE
The United States Championship has perhaps featured some of the best matches throughout the past year in Universe Mode, with many different champions and contenders being apart of the many championship matches. However, one champion in Big E has perhaps been the most impressive of them all, winning the championship multiple times in Universe Mode and continuing to hold the championship for many months throughout the year. Big E has been tipped to possibly move into WWE Championship contendership soon, he even featured in the recent Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber PPV. But could this added expectation and pressure towards Big E been his downfall?
The other five participants in this match feature a large mix of superstars that have had their share of success and more than their fair share of failure. Curtis Axel just recently competed against Big E twice for the United States Championship in the lead up and at the Elimination Chamber PPV. Axel was proving likely to knock off the champion and claim his first title victory in the series, but wasn’t able to capitalize on a distracted Big E to win the gold.
Fandango has had his ups, but mainly downs throughout the past year. He has had a couple of chances at gold but never in a one on one circumstance. Once again at Wrestlemania this will be the trend for Fandango, but will he be able to relish in the big fight feel at Wrestlemania 30 to capture his first title in Universe Mode and finally put his doubters to rest?
Dean Ambrose decided it was best for him to break away from his fellow Shield members in Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, to pursue the United States Championship whilst they competed as a tag-team. His counterparts have quickly become the most successful tag team in Universe Mode history, whilst Ambrose has had chance after chance and has had nothing to show for it. Ambrose has been a mainstay in the United States Championship scene, with multiple opportunities for the championship and has always continued to be in contendership matches for many months. However Ambrose cannot seem to put two and two together and defeat the champion to finally have success of his own in Universe Mode. The stage is set for Ambrose to win the big match and prove to his team mates that he is not the weak link.
Adam Rose is a newcomer to the series, he recently debuted not long ago and has yet to set the world alight yet. He’s won a couple of matches to show that he has the potential to be something big on Monday Night RAW, but is he ready to beat 5 other men to become the United States Champion? This is the question, that many fans are wondering and are doubting that he will be able to live up to. Will he prove all of us wrong?
Finally, perhaps the favourite to win this match is Rob Van Dam. Van Dam holds a major victory over the WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, which is something that not many have been able to say Rob Van Dam has been apart of many major matches in Universe Mode including the Survivor Series match against The Authority and a WWE Championship match against Brock Lesnar at TLC. So its fair to say that Van Dam has had his share of success throughout the past year, but still has yet to win any championships. Will Van Dam’s transition to the US Championship division be a blessing in disguise for his career on RAW?
It goes without saying, this match is every man for himself and every superstar in this match is desperate for the victory.
WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
THE SHIELD ( C ) VS EDGE AND CHRISTIAN
The first name that comes to mind when thinking about the top tag team in WWE Universe Mode is without a doubt The Shield. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns have teamed together to form the most dominate tag team on the roster in the past 12 months. The past year has included a title reign from July to January the longest title reign for the tag team division in Universe Mode history, this title reign is also the second longest title reign ever in Universe Mode! But with the all star team losing the titles at the Royal Rumble and scraping through and regaining the titles at the Elimination Chamber, the question remains; Can they do it all again?
Making his triumph return to the WWE on an episode of Smackdown a few weeks back, Edge and Christian have reunited and these two look as though they never stopped teaming up together. Edge and Christian (E&C) had the arduous task of fighting off against multiple tag teams to earn their way through the “WWE Tag Team Championship Number One Contenders Tournament”, where they knocked off the likes of The Usos, Big Show & Rey Mysterio and The Punjabi Cobra to earn their title shot. E&C have the fans heavily behind them, the fans want to see Edge complete his fairy tale comeback to the WWE by finishing off The Shield who arguably are no longer at their best anymore.
Will The Shields dominant reign come to an end by the hands of one of the greatest tag teams of all time?
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
WADE BARRETT ( C ) VS MARK HENRY VS RUSEV
Its hard to ignore Wade Barrett’s dominance on the blue brand throughout the year of Universe Mode. Ever since removing Kofi Kingston out of title contention Barrett has dominated Smackdown like no other man, plowing through competitor after competitor, including the likes of Christian, Mysterio, Swagger and many more. Barrett has got many fans talking, suggesting that its time he makes the move into the World Heavyweight Championship division, but first the Intercontinental Championship has two huge fish to fry first in the newcomer Rusev and the former World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry.
Rusev has sent a strong message throughout the WWE locker room that he has arrived and hes ready to make a big impact on Smackdown. Rusev has proven that he worthy of contending for the Intercontinental Championship after many impressive wins on Smackdown since debuting at the Royal Rumble PPV. Many have doubted Rusev’s ability in the ring, stating that he is undeserving of the opportunity to the champion at Wrestlemania, but its hard to look past the Russian Super-Athlete in this match.
A man that forced his way into this match was the former World Heavyweight Champion and The Worlds Strongest Man Mark Henry. Henry managed to knock off Rusev a couple of weeks ago on Main Event. But it was the after match attack on Rusev by champion Wade Barrett that forced Mark Henry’s hand, Henry would interfere and stop Barretts attack, helping Rusev uncharacteristically. Mark Henry has been one of most dominate forces on Smackdown on Universe Mode and has yet to contend for the Intercontinental Championship. Will he sneak in and steal the title away from Barrett?
TEAM SMACKDOWN VS TEAM RAW 6 MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
SHEAMUS & CESARO & ??? VS JOHN CENA & CM PUNK & DANIEL BRYAN
The bitter rivalry of the two brands is ready to explode and at Wrestlemania 30 RAW General Manager and the new mystery Smackdown General Manager will square off. It will be two teams, both with three members of their respective brand on each, battling it out for one prize. The opportunity to win the first draft pick in the 2014 draft for their brand.
Paul Heyman has assembled what many have labeled “The Dream Team”, with two former WWE Universe Mode Champions in John Cena and CM Punk, plus the ever so courageous Daniel Bryan on the one team. But it could be argued that this “Dream Team” hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in recent months in Universe Mode. John Cena and CM Punk have been on a heavy losing rut, with both men being a major player in the WWE Championship scene, but now have seen a huge downturn in their career. Daniel Bryan perhaps could be the man to keep this team together, with Bryan impressing over past months without having anything to show for it. These three men have fought each other throughout the past year, so the question remains, can these three men coincide?
Triple H has worked with the mystery Smackdown GM, to put together a mixed bag of a team in the Celtic Warrior Sheamus and the Swiss Superman Cesaro. Sheamus a former World Heavyweight Champion who has also experienced a downturn in his career in recent times with him exiting the Main Event picture. However Cesaro has been on the rise, since coming over from RAW Cesaro has proved to be a difficult force to contend with, but hasn’t quite managed to score himself the big victory in his career. Smackdown has left the third spot up in the air, this could either be a fantastic strategic move from the Smackdown GM or could be the nail in the coffin. Smackdown leaving the spot open, will not allow Heymans men to prepare for this superstar, but it could also make it difficult to build team chemistry with one another.
What we know though is this match is going to be physical, this is war, this is Smackdown vs RAW and the stakes could not be higher.
“THE STREAK” HELL IN A CELL MATCH
CHRIS JERICHO VS THE UNDERTAKER
Chris Jericho has been a prominent superstar throughout the year that was. But its been no secret that Chris Jericho has been plagued by the fact that he has failed to win “the big one” time and time again.
The Undertaker made his WWE 2k14 Universe Mode debut by entering the Royal Rumble Match. He then was signed to Smackdown where he took down Jericho to earn his spot in the Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber PPV. Jericho, frustrated that he failed to win the big one again, attacked Undertaker moments before the match to sneak into the match.
Jericho was once again unable to win the match and he was left to deal with an angry deadman on Smackdown, as Undertaker challenged Jericho to a match at Wrestlemania. Interim general manager Triple H made the match official, but decided to raise the stakes by making the match a Hell in a Cell match.
There is no bigger match than the streak match, if Jericho wins this match he will kill the greatest streak in wrestling history. Can he submit his name in the history books and win the biggest match of his life?
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
RYBACK ( C ) VS BATISTA
Perhaps the most successful change of brands in the history of Universe Mode came from the current World Heavyweight Championship. A man that was stuck in the middle of the card, barely featured on the weekly shows has now made the transition over to Smackdown and has become arguably the most dominant man on the roster.
One man who helped establish Smackdown was the returning Batista. Batista returned to the WWE at the Royal Rumble where he was in the final two of the match only to lose to Randy Orton. Randy Orton went on to sign Batista to the blue brand to represent Smackdown in the Elimination Chamber where he was narrowly edged out in the Elimination Chamber match. However Batista vowed to earn his way into the title match at Wrestlemania by challenging Ryback to a match at Wrestlemania, which Ryback declined.
Ryback was unimpressed by Batistas returning, referring to Batista as washed up and a has been. He asked Batista to earn his way into the match by proving that he still had it, that he was still the Batista of old. Batista began facing off with Smackdowns best superstars, where he began with a rocky start against Mark Henry but he went on to dominate the likes of Sheamus and Chris Jericho to prove to COO Triple H that he was the rightful Number One Contender. Triple H made the match official for Wrestlemania 30.
Ryback is the self proclaimed King of Smackdown, but will Smackdowns former champion Batista cap off his grand return by dethroning the king and taking back his position as the face of the blue brand?
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
BROCK LESNAR W/TRIPLE H ( C ) VS RANDY ORTON
It is without question that the greatest champion in the history of Universe Mode is the current WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. For eight straight PPVs, Brock Lesnar has dominated countless RAW superstars to retain his championship and retain his status as the face of the Authority & WWE.
Randy Orton was appointed by the Authority to be the new Smackdown general manager, Orton went on to do vastly improve the brand with new initiatives such as the “Beat The Clock Challenge”. But being the GM was not satisfying enough for Orton, who wanted to step back into the ring once again to take down arch nemesis The Rock, which he successfully achieved at the Elimination Chamber.
Orton would then go on to challenge The Authority’s champion, by turning against Brock Lesnar in attempts to reclaim is position as the face of the WWE. Brock Lesnar feels he needs to prove that he can win without The Authority’s help, but with this feud becoming so personal, Triple H has insisted he be in the corner of the Beast come Wrestlemania.
Can the Beast extend his streak to 9? Or will Randy Orton complete his comeback by becoming the NEW WWE Champion.
