WWE WrestleMania 31: US Championship Rusev vs John Cena - Prediction and Analysis

WM 31 Rusev vs. John CenaIn the past month, two big superstars have left the top of the food chain to now come fight for the smaller championships. One of them being Daniel Bryan who is fighting for the Intercontinental Championship and the other being John Cena who is fighting for the US Championship. After cheating his way to victory at WWE Fast Lane, Rusev is set to face John Cena at WrestleMania 31 for the United States Championship.For those who may be new to WWE, let me explain the importance of this match. Rusev, the US Champion, has never been pinned nor has he submitted in WWE. Not only does he has a massive streak building for the past year, but he talks trash about USA. Therefore, John Cena has come to stop him. Streaks are meant to be broken as we saw the Undertaker lose to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. Could we see another streak end this Mania?Fun fact: The US Championship has not been defended at WrestleMania since WrestleMania 23!

#1 Cena win is beneficial for both

So just like any other match, this match has three outcomes: Cena wins, Rusev wins, or a no result. A Cena win seems to be more beneficial for both superstars. With Rusev losing his streak he is no longer tied down to it. Meaning in the near future it is very likely for him to get pinned again. How is this beneficial though? Well, mainly because now Rusev can fight for the World Championship and not be affected by a loss as much as it would have been if his streak would have still been intact. The one thing WWE have to be very careful about is that Rusev’s momentum can not suddenly just crash. He still needs to keep fighting, he still needs to keep winning. We can not see a repeat of last year’s momentum crash of Bray Wyatt when he lost to Cena. Nor can we see a repeat of Brodus Clay, Tensai, and Kozlov. History suggest Rusev will be tagging with Santino and Zack Ryder and dancing his entrance within the next month. WWE can’t let that happen with the Super-athlete. With Cena winning not only his match against the undefeated Rusev but also winning the US Championship the biggest effect of this would be seeing prestige coming back to the US Championship. Rumours have suggested that a Cena heel turn could be seen sometime in the near future and maybe having him win the US Championship will take him back to his roots where he starts the ‘Thuganomics’ again. After Cena lost to Brock on several occasions, Cena has temporarily been knocked out of the main event. Cena can use this US Championship win as skipping stone on toward greater things.

#2 The unlikely outcome

This brings me to Outcome #2: Rusev wins. This is the less likely outcome, but it is the one that I prefer. With Rusev once and for all beating John Cena he gets this huge push onto greater things and also he gets huge heat after defeating the face of the WWE. He could go on and fight the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. With this outcome, the side effects aren’t as immense as with a loss for Rusev. John after this will be in the dumps. He has been on a losing streak. He lost to Brock, he lost to Seth, and now he will lose to Rusev? It doesn’t make much sense having Cena lose to anyone and everyone unless this truly is his last WrestleMania, which I hope it isn’t and it probably isn’t. A Rusev win will not have a massive effect on Rusev, but will have a massive effect on Cena.

#3 The Third Impossibility

A no result is the least likely. WWE can not let this match end with a no result. This rivalry has picked up a lot of heat heading into WrestleMania and can’t afford to lose all of it’s momentum with it. A no result like both men being knocked out and unable to make it to their feet could build up to a last man standing. The reason this doesn’t work is that because Cena wants to show he can defeat the mighty Rusev by pinfall or submission. Winning by a KO in a last man standing match would still mean that Rusev has not been defeated by pinfall or submission.

This match has a lot going for it and is surprisingly a match I am looking forward to more than the WWE Championship match. This match will definitely be one to change a lot in the WWE. If Cena wins not only will Rusev’s streak end but Cena will be US Champion and the US Championship will get it’s prestige back. This possibility could lead up to a heel turn, but we will just have to wait and watch. If Rusev wins he will have defeated 15 time world champion and will open up great things for himself, but Cena could be out of the business. At WrestleMania we will see if Super Cena is strong enough to beat the Mighty Rusev.