Wrestlemania 31 - United States Championship : Rusev (c) VS John Cena

[FunKay the Inevitable]

Watch a war between worlds at WrestleMania 31, as United States Champion Rusev defends his title against challenger John Cena.

The first meeting between these two warriors took place in February at WWE Fastlane, where The Super Athlete, with the aid of Lana and a low blow, retained his U.S. Championship after Cena passed out in the Accolade.

In the following weeks, Cena demanded a rematch against The Hero of the Russian Federation, only for Rusev to repeatedly deny him the opportunity to go one-on-one. Following a heated exchange with Stephanie McMahon, in which she made clear Cena would only compete at WrestleMania if Rusev conceded to a rematch, it seemed as if, for the first time in 11 years, there would be no Cena at WrestleMania. That changed on the March 9 edition of Raw, though, when the Cenation leader left Lana little choice but to accept his challenge, forcing Rusev to pass out in the STF before Lana granted Cena his long-awaited rematch.

Rusev has been on a path of destruction since making his debut last year, picking up victories over the likes of former World Champions Jack Swagger, Mark Henry and Big Show. With The Ravishing Russian by his side, Rusev was able to conquer Sheamus to win the U.S. Title, his first championship in WWE. Now, after almost one year of not being pinned or made to submit, Rusev looks to cement himself as an unstoppable force with a victory over the 15-time World Champion.

Cena has had nothing short of a legendary 13-year career in WWE, not only becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion 12 times, but also winning the United States Championship, as well as several tag team championships, the Royal Rumble Match and the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. In his 12th appearance on The Showcase of the Immortals, Cena looks to put down The Bulgarian Brute and reclaim the U.S. Title after 10 years of not holding the star-spangled championship.

Can Rusev defeat Cena once again? Will Cena give Rusev his first decisive loss in WWE? And what role might Lana play in this epic clash?

Find out who will stand tall on The Grandest Stage of Them All when WrestleMania 31 takes place live on WWE Network Sunday, March 29!

These two had a good old fashioned slug-out last month that lead us to weeks of taunting by Rusev until Cena finally got him in a compromising situation and Lana was forced to accept on the behalf of her man. Tension appears to be simmering in the Super Athlete camp and Lana is scheduled to film a WWE movies production soon, so could her presence be negated in this match?

I somehow feel that's unlikely. Lana's an essential part of the Rusev character heading into this match. She's needed, even if it is to have her separate or be written off TV so she can film this (likely) painfully mediocre film. I've also thought for awhile that Cena would bring Hulk Hogan in to try and neutralise Lana, and the fact the feud has evolved in to the Hogan special of USA vs. INSERT COUNTRY HERE hasn't lessened my expectation that Hogan's presence will be felt here.

As to who wins, based on prior history and the way the feud has been built up, Cena winning seems likely, for better or worse. Heels are built to lose. Monster heels are built to lose to the top guys. Now Cena did a great job putting Rusev over last month, and I expect him to do the same via the quality of their match, but I have to think Cena's walking out with the United States title and Rusev's undefeated streak shattered.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I actually think Cena will lose. The build for this match reminds me slightly of Lesnar/Undertaker from last year. Cena is dominating Rusev just like Undertaker did Lesnar n the hype for that match. I think Rusev's first pinfall loss will come against Reigns in both of their post-Mania feuds.

As for the match, meh, I saw it last month.

 

[GeTiTT]

I have a strong feeling cena will lose! My question is how will they get the US title off of Rusev

 

[Navi]

I have a strong feeling cena will lose! My question is how will they get the US title off of Rusev

After the look on Cena's face last night and the sneaky tactics he used to get into the match, I'm not so sure he's going to lose. I thought he might earlier but now maybe not. He's already in a way caused friction between Rusev and Lana, but that might be because they have to write her off TV to go film the movie.

So what I think will happen is this. Cena will win and Rusev will blame Lana for putting him into the match in the first place, and ban her from ringside for the foreseeable future. Now that takes her off TV and gives her a valid reason not to be there.

Mind you that is a stupid reason to ruin Rusev's unbeaten streak, but I'm not sure they will do it any other way. Unless someone else can come up with something.

 

[Mac]

Cena is not losing 2 PPV's in a row. You guys should know better than to even suggest such a thing. If Cena loses it might be due to a dq (Rock/Shamrock WM 14)

 

[Aeon Mathix]

I have no interest in this match at all. I am not even sure why they are doing it again after doing it last month. I am not a fan of rematches at Wrestlemania period though.

I am still not sold on Rusev yet. I still believe hes going to be part of the rosebuds or in a tag team with Curtis Axel by the end of the year. There is just nothing about him that seperates him from past foreign heels. Or any heel for that matter. His in ring abilities are nothing to be in awe of and without Lana no one would give Rusev a second look.

Hoping Cena wins and Rusev goes down the card a bit. But if he gives a good showing and Cena actually loses then I will be surprised and think wow maybe this guy might actually be something.

 

[laodaron]

Old American Johnnie Boy Cena fights evil Bulgarian Russian-sympathizer Rusev. Great build, great feud, Rusev looks stronger now that I could have imagined 14 months ago when he popped up in the Royal Rumble.

I have to believe that Cena gets the win here, because I believe that he has to hold the belt for a while. A third match that hinges on the future of Brock Lesnar, since I think that Cena should be the person that FINALLY gets to strip Lesnar if Lesnar stays in the WWE.

Cena wins this match, after Rusev tries some more "dirty tricks".

 

[rmp0012002]

I think Cena wins but I would rather see Rusev retain the belt and knock Cena down the ladder another notch and have him beat on some competition for a while. If they need Cena then climbing back up the ladder works as a start for a storyline. It also keeps Lana out in the limelight.

 

[Shocky]

Well damn, what do you do with this match? I honestly think this could be a sleeper MotN candidate. Cena is Cena, and is going to deliver a kick ass performance per the usual, but can Rusev show up on the big stage and keep up? If he does, potential gold will be displayed.

The outcome of this match, along with the IC title, can tell you what is happening with WWE Creative. If Cena manages to win the US Title, then I believe the mid card titles are going to become the focal point of the shows while Brock holds onto the main strap.

Part of me doesn't like the idea of building Rusev up for more than a year, only to have an established guy like Cena being the guy to end it. Then again, it takes a superstar like Cena to defeat Rusev, so how badly can it hurt him?

Personally I'm pulling for Rusev, but I feel Cena will and should win. It's better for the company as a whole to elevate the mid card belts.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Well, their match at Fast Lane exceeded the low expectations I had for it so I'm going into this one with much higher expectations this time around. We've seen them pull off a good match before, and you know the quality's going to increase when it's a Cena match at Wrestlemania. I hope they both have cool entrances too. It's pretty safe to say Cena is winning here. If ANYONE can make the US Championship matter again at this point it's Cena. However, if Rusev manages to defeat Cena at Wrestlemania then that's a sign that they have big plans for him. Either way.... it should be pretty good. I'd say it goes on 2nd or 3rd in the night. Even though John Cena is involved it's for a midcard belt. Cena wins and becomes the next US Champion. I doubt it will be the end of their feud.

DAGGER'S PREDICTION
John Cena will win the United States Championship.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Lots of fans believe Rusev's career will be ruined if he loses, but I figure.....he's got to lose some time, no? I doubt his standing will suffer if he loses to a 15-time world champion, especially since Cena put Rusev over already. Besides, those fans who want Cena to become a total jobber need to realize that a name opponent who sometimes helps get others over (as Cena has) has to win occasionally, or else his value as a "talent enhancer" shrinks to nothing.

Plus, like it or not, this match is another in the long history of U.S. vs Russia battles, and Rusev/Lana have painted themselves as way too nationalistic to be allowed to humble the old U.S. of A. this time around. They've already had too many chances to unfurl the Russian flag and Cena has already made too much of defending his country's honor to lose to Rusev.

Cena wins.....and Rusev's career still rolls along.

 

[Terry Gyimah]

Cena if he wins the title becomes a 4-time WWE United States Champion and considering the last time Cena was ever WWE United States Champion was 2005 when he was The Doctor of Thuganomics and that was before he main evented WrestleMania 21 against JBL for the WWE Championship he lost his spinner WWE United States Championship to Orlando Jordan, JBL's Chief of Staff in The Cabinet so fast forward 10 years later Cena being a 15-time World Champion, the face of the company, Cena I can see him being the one to finally end Rusev's undefeated streak and in the process USA finally going over Russia

 

[Dave]

I really hope that Rusev wins this. I should probably say that first and foremost.

Firstly, John Cena doesn't need a WrestleMania moment, he's pretty much made a career of having them at this point. He has started at the bottom of the card and built himself into a bona fide legend in the world of wrestling. His name will be mentioned alongside the likes of Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Stone Cold Steve Austin for decades at least. I can't stress this enough; he does not need to go over Rusev at WrestleMania.

What's more, it would be good to see a young star go over an established veteran at this WrestleMania. For me, I don't think that Rollins, Wyatt or Reigns are going to be picking up wins this Sunday and Rusev has the best potential shot to pick up an upset victory over a top level talent.

That said, the booking of the match has really backed the WWE into a corner. I recently watched John Cena on Jimmy Kimmel talking about how he was doing this for everyone in the USA and I though to myself “there is no way that Rusev is leaving Mania with the Championship”. I wish someone would just tell the WWE that there is no way that they are going to get Cena over like this. It doesn't matter who they put him up against, the fans who pack out their shows are never going to want to see John Cena as a Champion. He might be a face but he is the least over face I have ever seen at this point.

In the end, the good ol' USA are going to put the young Russian to the sword and strip him of his undefeated streak and his US Championship; there is no doubt about it. I just want it to be different but I realise that mentality is not shared by the WWE.

I see Lana getting involved somehow but it will likely to be to cause a distraction for Rusev and for Cena to pick up the win. Sad really.

Dave's Prediction: John Cena wins the United Stated Championship

 

[Mitch Henessey]

Of course Cena wins, because that’s what pro wrestling and damn near every form of storytelling is about: the hero or the forces of good rising to the occasion to defeat a seemingly unstoppable evil power or villain. Rusev, the nasty anti-American heel, tore through all of his challengers, and now John Cena, the ultimate hero/patriotic flag bearer of the WWE, is stepping up to stop him.

I expect a good match, and If he gives Cena a strong fight, and if the match is highly competitive, Rusev will be fine after the loss. Also, I think a lot of people are looking at this the wrong way with Cena winning. Well, yes, Cena doesn’t need the win for obvious reasons, but it’s not about that. After all the challengers and Rusev’s past victims, John Cena had to be the one to stop him. I’m sure WWE will play up the fact it took some of Cena’s stature to end Rusev’s streak, and I’m really looking forward to the gimmick rematch at Extreme Rules.

 

[kadroan]

Cena got this. It sucks it's predictable but I guess that's the cost of Rusev getting the shocking win at Fast Lane. I assume this will be a good match between the two.

 

[Dave]

So, in familiar fashion, lets have a look at the build up to this match. The whole "American Super Patriot" thing is not something I have enjoyed quite frankly key. I think that, at this point, the WWE fans are perfectly within their rights to boo for Cena. This gimmick has been going on for as long as I can actually remember seeing John Cena. And obviously it has been dialled up a few notches lately because of his opponent. But surely there was another route this match could have gone down? Surely. Regardless, Rusev and Lana have been awesome lately and have added another dimension to this match. Lana's absence recently has shown us how much that Rusev needs her and it's awesome to see her return for the big event.

The entrances this year were something to behold and this match was nothing short of that standard. Rusev's entrance in particular was fantastic. I mean, it's not every year that you see someone arrive at Mania on a fucking TANK! even if one of the soldiers with the flag was waaay out of step with the others, it didn't matter. Honestly, this was exactly the spotlight that Rusev needed and he made the most of it. It was so old school it was reminiscent of Rocky and Ivan Drago. Really awesome stuff. Cena's entrance wasn't that special in all honesty; making use of patriotic sentiment and old school footage. But following Rusev's entrance, nothing was going to come close. Rusev cutting off the announcer to make her announce him first was a nice touch also.

As for the match itself, it was a really good encounter actually. The crowd seemed really hot for Rusev but Cena got a really negative reaction. And when you can't get an American crowd to cheer for you after showing an entrance video like Cena did, there is something really wrong. Throughout the match, the action was kept at a decent pace; the fans seemed indifferent for both parties in actual fact. However, I have to give credit to John Cena for making Rusev look like an utter Champ. In actual fact, Rusev looked like a dominant beast throughout; controlling the match for large portions of time before Cena would invariably rally. This match showcased the wide array of Rusev's moveset and really put him over as a dangerous heel, even if he didn't pick up the win. A lot will be said about this match and Cena going over but seeing him do a crazy Jumping Stunner was worth all of that discussion. But really, the focal point of any discussion should be about the future of the former US Champion because he looked incredible.

In terms of the result, it was never really in doubt, right? With how the match was booked, it was always very likely that Cena would be leaving as the Champion. With it likely that the WWE is going to try to elevate the mid card Championships, I can see Cena holding onto that title for a long time. That much I can learn to tolerate. What I won't tolerate is having Rusev fade into obscurity now. He's no longer undefeated, his submission was finally broken, and he's not the US Champion. Rusev needs something now more than ever and I hope that the WWE reward him for his efforts here, he's got a massive future.

Rating: 8.5/10