WrestleMania 31: Match Ratings for the Pay-Per-View

Was WrestleMania 31 a success? The answer to this question depends on the way you see the pay-per-view. Each fan is going to have a different perspective about the show. While some would have loved it for all the mark out moments others would despise it for some bad booking decisions from the company.Either way, one cannot simply take away the efforts that the superstars put into the matches. This year’s WrestleMania had nine matches in the card and each of them had a different story to tell. So if you are wondering which match stole the show and which match failed to live up to the expectations? Find out with the match ratings for WrestleMania 31.

#9 Andre the Giant Battle Royal 5.5

This is basically how you should not book a match at WrestleMania. The match was slow and typically booked throughout and Big Show winning didn’t do any help as well. It was WWE’s opportunity to shine the spotlight on an upcoming star but instead, they went with Big Show, who apparently has nothing exciting ahead of him.

The Ryback – Big Show confrontations we saw might be WWE’s idea of building a feud between the two post WrestleMania but then again, why would we want to see that?

Apart from this, there were some bits to cheer about. The Miz – Mizdow plug was finally blown while Cesaro, at one point made it seem like he was going to win it for the second time in a row.

#8 AJ Lee and Paige vs. The Bellas 6

The give the divas a chance hashtag apparently worked after all. WWE gave the divas some good time to build their bout and also had a solid storytelling throughout.

AJ Lee and Paige were expected to be good in between the ropes and they were. Bellas on the other hand exceeded expectations and complemented the other team perfectly.

Despite all the criticism that comes their way, the Bellas are improving as wrestlers and the signs were there to be seen. WWE not exploiting the friction between AJ and Paige was a big surprise. AJ being out for most of the match and then coming back to win the match was some great narrative and it is what the Divas division needs in the coming weeks and beyond.

#7 Fatal Four- Way Tag Team Match 6.5

With four solid teams in the mix, this was destined to be a show stealer and to an extent, it was. There was a chaotic feel all around the match and every team got enough time to shine. Unlike the previous outings in the Tag Team Division, WWE also managed to tell some story in between the match thanks to the injury of Jey Uso.

There were some memorable spots along the match and at the end of the day, Kidd and Cesaro deservedly retained the championship but every team deserves their credit. It wasn’t clearly a classic match but it was definetly fun and should have been on the actual show rather than being on the pre-show.

#6 Rusev vs. John Cena 6.5

The result of this one was clear as the day right from the start. WWE was not going to allow the United States lose at such a big stage and this made the match predictable. From the pre-match vignette to the post match celebration, everything was designed to make the country look good except the grand entrance of Rusev.

As far as the match is concerned, it was nothing special. Cena’s spring board stunner (or whatever that was) was a fresh thing. Everything else were the regular flavors of a Cena match and Rusev’s lose capped it off. The crowd was chanting for Lana and Rusev at certain points and it is time for WWE to rethink about what they have in store for Cena. Cena won the US title nevertheless and the midcard looks set to be important once again.

#5 Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt 7

Now it is a bit hard to say whether this match was good or bad. From a wrestling point of view, it was not a classic mainly due to the shortcomings of Undertaker. Taker was faster and sharper than he was last year but he was still not at his best and you cannot blame him for that.

Bray was given a good amount of offense during the match and he did his part perfectly. Taker winning was expected and it was not a shocking moment. The hardcore fans of Undertaker would be happy about the result and for Bray; he needs some rebuilding to be back on track.

On a whole, it was a reminder that Undertaker still got something in him while Bray looks set to be the future face of fear.

#4 Sting vs. Triple H 7.5

This match was overbooked, but it was overbooked in a good way. WWE banked in on the nostalgic soft spot of the WWE fans and bought the Monday Night Wars to WrestleMania. Seeing DX and NWO come out in-between the match was a great thing indeed but arguably, the real show stealer was Shawn Michaels. His sweet chin music reminded us about how much we miss him.

Keeping apart all the outside interferences, it was just an above average match. The ambience of having two legendary names in the business was there to be seen and both superstars showcased their experience factor to the maximum.

Hunter winning was a surprise and though people will complain about how Triple H buried Sting in the coming weeks, it’s the same people who complained about how predictable the match is before it started.

#3 Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins 7.5

Ever heard the term WrestleMania special finishers? Well, Randy Orton’s RKO at WrestleMania 31 was just that. Rollins and Orton started off the match slow and during the initial stages it was hard to believe that Orton had a score to settle.

But as we went by, the pace intensified. The way in which WWE used J&J security was intelligent. Orton’s experience in the big stage was the game changer here as he knew how to warm the crowd before going for their big ending. After some exchanged finishers, Orton won the match with a wild RKO and went home with a win.

Rollins losing was a surprise but the fans wouldn’t be complaining about it after seeing an insane RKO like that at the pay-per-view.

#2 Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match 8

There is only one word to describe the Intercontinental Championship Ladder match: Holy Shit. Well, it might be two words but you get the idea don’t you? The match was full throttle from the starting bell and spots were flying in from everywhere.

Almost all the superstars apart from R- Truth contributed big time into the match and the results were there to be seen.

The best part about the match was probably the crowd as they were hot for the entire thing. Daniel Bryan winning was a fan favorite decision as well. He is now a Grand slam champion and only three men in the history could boast such an achievement. The positives were there to be seen but WWE should have given some more time to the match.

#1 Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns 8.5

WrestleMania 31 witnessed the ultimate heist. After seeing Brock Lesnar destroy Reigns, the fans expected a John Cena type booking for the Samoan but instead they got something they didn’t bargain for. The match was a showcase of Lesnar’s dominance and Reigns’ ability to take a beating. With some moulding, he could be the next Cena with that attitude but the show stealer here was Seth Rollins.

When Rollins lost to Orton earlier in the night, everyone expected it to be a forgettable WrestleMania for him but he proved everyone wrong. Probably the best Money in the bank cash in in the history of the business, Rollins came in, made it a triple threat match and pinned his former partner to win the World heavyweight champions, poetic isn’t it?

The amount of drama and action was sky high and it was hands down the best match of the night.