Wrestlemania XLI Night Two
Date: April 20, 2025
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Wade Barrett
Star Spangled Banner: Ava Max

It’s the second night of the show and in this case it’s going to be a bit of an odd card. The big main event is Cody Rhodes defending the Smackdown World Title against the now evil John Cena, which sounds good on paper but it might wind up being quite the mess. Other than that, we have a triple threat for the Raw Women’s Title which sounds promising. Let’s get to it.

The opening video is a recap of last night’s show, followed by a preview for tonight. This is rather generic by Wrestlemania standards.

Here is Stephanie McMahon to get things going. She talks about Wrestlemania IX happening when she was 16 years old and now she’s here with her 16 year old daughter. Anyway welcome to the show.

Raw Women’s Title: Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair

Sky is defending. Belair won the Elimination Chamber but Ripley stole the contract and signed it herself (as contracts in wrestling are weird) but Belair was guest referee. It ended in a double DQ so here’s the triple threat. Belair has a double dutch team and a bunch of young girls, which feels like it has to be a charity thing (cool). Ripley gets a ridiculous reaction and is definitely the crowd favorite.

Sky breaks up their staredown to start because she’s tired of being an afterthought. A nice hurricanrana takes Ripley down but she’s right back up with a dropkick to send Ripley outside. That gives us Belair vs. Ripley, with Belair sending her into the corner to hammer away. Sky is back in with a double Blockbuster and Ripley is sent outside,, allowing Belair to roll some suplexes.

Ripley breaks up Belair’s handspring but Belair catches a diving Sky and swings her into the barricade. Back in and Belair has to save Sky from the Prism Trap so they go to the corner for a kind of backwards Tower of Doom. Sky is back up to drop Ripley but gets caught with Belair’s 450. Ripley makes the save and grabs the Riptide for two on Belair and she’s shocked at the kickout. Sky reverses a Riptide into a DDT and puts Ripley on top. Ripley’s super Riptide is countered into a headscissors but Over The Moonsault hits raised boots.

The KOD hits Sky but Ripley makes the save, leaving everyone down. Belair yells at Ripley and gets knocked outside as a result. Sky tries a super poisonrana to Ripley but gets reversed into an Alabama Slam onto the post. Belair can’t hit the KOD but she can whip Ripley with her hair (YEOWCH). Now the KOD connects but Sky comes in with Over The Moonsault for the pin to retain at 14:24.

Rating: A-. This was outstanding, as they basically went out there and did everything they could think of trying, albeit with the match making sense and going until one of them stole the pin. You had a case where all three could have won and it made for an incredible opener. This is one of the Wrestlemania classics and it was great stuff all around. Check this out if you get the chance.

We recap Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest. McIntyre won the World Title last year at Wrestlemania but Priest took it from him via Money In The Bank. McIntyre has blamed Priest for all of his problems, which Priest doesn’t like. They’ve brawled multiple times, with McIntyre’s eye being injured and Priest getting dropped head first onto the steps. Now it’s time for a street fight.

Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest

Street fight.  McIntyre looks like a half Celtic Warrior/half Terminator, while Priest is played to the ring by the guitarist from Slayer. They waste no time in brawling out to the floor and Priest gets the better of things. Priest throws the steps at McIntyre’s head and loads up the table, which takes too long and allows McIntyre to fight back. Another steps shot drops Priest for a change and McIntyre hits him in the side of the head with a chair.

Two more tables are set up next to each other at ringside and McIntyre seems way too pleased. Priest fights back but gets knocked out to the floor, with McIntyre hitting a big running flip dive. The Claymore is cut off with a thrown chair, which McIntyre somehow blocks and hits a Claymore for two. McIntyre wraps the chair around Priest’s neck but Priest fights back again.

That earns him a spinebuster and a table is set up in the ring. That’s broken up so the steps are brought in, with Priest getting Futureshocked onto the steps for two. Priest gets back up and tries Old School, only to take too much time and get knocked off the top and through the tables at ringside. Priest is mostly done so McIntyre puts his head against a chair in the corner. The big Claymore sends Priest’s head into the chair for the pin at 13:57.

Rating: B. The opener was about all kinds of action while this was all about violence and carnage. They beat the heck out of each other with McIntyre getting the better of things for the most part. It was a match between two people who hated each other and wanted to hurt each other in as many ways as they could. Good stuff here, though I could have gone for more offense from Priest.

We recap Bron Breakker defending the Intercontinental Title. Judgment Day, in this case Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio (who are having issues of their own) are coming for the title, with Penta getting in on things as well. Since it’s Wrestlemania, it’s four way time.

Intercontinental Title: Bron Breakker vs. Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Finn Balor

Breakker is defending and goes after Mysterio to start but gets sent outside instead (where Carlito is lurking around too). Penta sends Judgment Day to the floor and hits the big running flip dive. Breakker runs Penta over though and then hits a World’s Strongest Slam. The gorilla press powerslam drops Balor and a Super Spear gets two on Mysterio with Balor making the save.

Breakker is not pleased with Balor’s actions so Penta throws Mysterio and Balor into the corner for the double slingshot dropkick. Breakker doesn’t like that and takes out Judgment Day, only to spear the post by mistake. Mysterio is back up and goes after Breakker, who suplexes Mysterio and Balor at the same time. Breakker’s super Frankensteiner gets two on Balor but he’s able to knock Breakker outside. Mysterio dropkicks Balor in the back and tries a 619, earning himself quite the beating from Balor.

Penta Penta Drivers Balor for two with Breakker making the save. Breakker and Penta trade shots to the face but Carlito low bridges Breakker to the floor. Carlito makes another save after a Mexican Destroyer to Mysterio and goes after Penta, only to get speared through the announcers’ table. Back in and we hit the parade of knockdown, including a Super Spear to Penta but Balor dropkicks Breakker into the corner. The Coup de Grace connects…but Mysterio hits the frog splash to steal the pin on Balor for the title at 10:31.

Rating: B-. This was a way to get the title off of the unstoppable Breakker and dang if they didn’t have a great way out of it. Mysterio is the best choice of the three challengers as the fans are into what he’s doing and it’s easy to see why. He’s a great choice of someone in over his head but making it work out so well. Another rather entertaining match, with Breakker looking safe and getting to move up and Mysterio getting his big moment.

Mysterio celebrates like nuts, even leaving the ring and then running back down the ramp to do it again.

Video on Randy Orton’s Wrestlemania history. Orton was set for a big grudge match with Kevin Owens but Owens needs neck surgery, leaving Orton with no opponent. It’s open challenge time and for once, that’s the best option they had.

Randy Orton vs. ???

Orton (in gear reminiscent of what he wore in his debut) calls out anyone and…TNA World Champion (this is non-title of course) Joe Hendry of all people accepts. I didn’t see this coming at the time and it’s a heck of a surprise. The fans go rather nuts for him and we cut to Orton with a look on his face saying “ok, this guy has something”.

Hendry wrestles him down to start and hits a running shoulder on a slightly surprised Orton. The fans get behind Hendry, who tries the Standing Ovation. Orton is NOT pleased and pokes him in the eye, followed by the snap powerslam. Hendry is right back with the fall away slam and does his spinning pose…right into the RKO for the pin at 3:11.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a great match or anything, but they were stuck in a rough situation here and did the best they could. Hendry was literally a fill in for Owens and had no issue with Orton. It was a cool surprise and the fans were into Hendry so this went about as well as it could have gone. I’ll take this over some thrown together grudge match as it’s certainly more memorable.

Post match Orton helps him up and of course gives him another RKO. Orton does Hendry’s spin into his own pose and gives Hendry a friendly slap on the chest.

We recap Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles. This gets a rather intense build, with the focus being on Styles being a career wrestler who pulled himself up while Paul showed up as a superstar. Therefore, it’s time to fight with a natural issue between them. As usual, sometimes it’s better to keep it simple.

Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles

Paul has a drone filming his entrance, which then flies around the stadium until he catches it back in the ring. That’s certainly different. Paul powers him into the corner to start and grabs a headlock. That’s broken up so Styles gives him a running shoulder into a dropkick. Paul knocks him outside but Styles catches him in the ring skirt (ala Fit Finlay) and chops away.

Styles whips him into the barricade but Paul manages some rams into the post. The drone starts shooting the match as Paul sends him back inside for the frog splash. The Overbomb (Big Show’s Alley Oop) gets two, with Styles having to grab the rope. Styles is back up with some right hands so Paul moonsaults him out of the corner for two. Paul fires off some European uppercuts and poses (makes sense for him), allowing Styles to fight back.

The Styles Clash is broken up though and Paul hits a great looking Lionsault (with some distance on it) for two. Styles catches him in the corner but the Styles Clash is blocked. Instead Paul sends him into the corner and hits a Buckshot Lariat for two. Paul’s big right hand is countered into a torture rack bomb for two.

Paul knocks him back down and hits a Styles Clash, only for Styles to roll into one of his own. They’re both down though so here is one of Paul’s goons with the brass knuckles. Karrion Kross pops up to cut the knuckles off though and Styles sends the good flying. Kross puts the knuckles down but Styles throws them away and decks Kross before going back inside. Back in and Paul hits the big right hand and grabs the Paulverizer for the pin at 17:32.

Rating: B. As usual, Paul gets to show what he can do on the big stage and does it rather well. Styles is someone who can work with any opponent and make them better, which is a big part of why he stayed around at such a high level for so long. This was pretty much exactly what you would expect and it wound up going well. Paul gets a big win and Styles looks fine in defeat. It works fine.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Raquel Rodriguez/Liv Morgan vs. Lyra Valkyria/???

Valkyria and someone are challenging after Bayley was attacked yesterday. The mystery partner is…Becky Lynch, who has been gone since May. Morgan and Lynch start things off but let’s go with Rodriguez instead. Lynch decks Rodriguez but goes after Morgan instead. Valkyria comes in for the springboard wristdrag and the fans certainly seem to approve

Back in and Morgan shoves Valkyria off the top, right into a boot from Rodriguez for two. Morgan comes back in and stomps away in the corner before rolling some suplexes. That means an Eddie Guerrero dance before she knocks Lynch off the apron and covers Valkyria for two. Rodriguez’s slingshot Jackhammer gets two but she misses an elbow drop. An enziguri hits Morgan, who goes outside and pulls Lynch out to the floor.

Lynch comes in to clean a bit of house but she’s sent outside, leaving Rodriguez to give Valkyria a Tour Of The Islands. Valkyria fights up and makes the real tag off to Lynch and the pace picks way back up. Rodriguez has to save Morgan from a cross armbreaker so Lynch low bridges Rodriguez to the floor. Oblivion hits Lynch with Valkyria making the save. Valkyria takes out Rodriguez and it’s the Manhandle Slam to pin Morgan for the titles at 8:39.

Rating: B-. Lynch coming back was a nice surprise, though I think you’re seeing where this is going (mainly because it was a year ago). They would drop the titles back to Morgan and Rodriguez the next night on Raw and of course Lynch attacked Bayley. It was still a nice return, with Lynch showing up after a rather long absence, as she always makes things better. The action was good too, which isn’t a surprise as Morgan and Rodriguez work well together.

Here is Steve Austin on his four wheeler and yes he rams into the barricade, knocking a woman down in the process (cue Nick Khan to check on the woman and probably give here whatever she wants). Austin announces the attendance of 63,226 but thinks that’s low so he demands a recount. He starts counting the fans (complete with WHAT) and gets to about twenty before announcing that it’s a two night total of 124,693 (which would eventually be revealed to be good for about SIXTY SIX MILLION DOLLARS in ticket sales). Also, note that Austin literally just got a reaction for counting. That’s talent.

We recap John Cena challenging Cody Rhodes for the Smackdown World Title. Cena is on his retirement tour and won the title shot by winning the Elimination Chamber. Then the Rock showed up to offer Cody Rhodes a spot on the team (in exchange for his soul). Rhodes turned him down…but Cena didn’t, as he was now evil for the first time in over twenty years and now has the Rock behind him on the way towards getting his 17th World Title. Rhodes will be fighting for WWE, which actually works as the fans do NOT like Cena, who is claiming that he doesn’t need the fans and their abuse.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena

Rhodes has a bunch of motorcycle/motocross drivers on the stage for his entrance. After the Big Match Intros, Rhodes grabs a headlock and then shoulders Cena to the floor, leaving Cena less than thrilled. Back in and a hammerlock sends Cena to the ropes again so he goes outside for another breather. A headscissors puts Cena down again but he’s back up with a headlock this time.

Rhodes isn’t having that and drives him into the corner, where Cena comes back with a right hand to put Rhodes down. Cena stomps away and catapults Rhodes throat first into the bottom rope. A clothesline drops Rhodes again and we hit the chinlock. Rhodes fights up and gets taken right back down with a side slam for two. Some ax handles rock Rhodes again and Cena pokes the eyes to cut him off again.

A tornado DDT gives Cena two and some flying shoulders have Rhodes in more trouble. Rhodes gets up from the Shuffle though and it’s a powerslam into the Cody Cutter for a quick two. The AA out of nowhere gives Cena two and he can’t help but laugh. Cena takes him up top for a super AA and another near fall. That leaves Cena to go up top but he dives into a powerbomb for two. The Cody Cutter gets two but it’s another AA into the STF. Cena tries to pull him into the middle, only for Rhodes to kick Cena into the referee.

Cross Rhodes connects for no cover so Cena ribs a turnbuckle pad off. Rhodes is sent into the buckle twice in a row and there’s the fourth AA for two more. Cue Travis Scott (with a replica Hardcore Title, because that was a thing for him) who comes to the stage….and is finally off of it almost a minute later.

After nearly two minutes, Scott is on the apron as the match has just entirely stopped for this entrance. Rhodes is distracted by Scott but grabs Cross Rhodes, only for Scott to pull the referee. Scott FINALLY gets inside for the staredown with Rhodes, who gives him Cross Rhodes. Cena’s belt shot is blocked so Rhodes teases one of his own, but Cena begs off. Since Rhodes hesitates, Cena kicks him low and hits Rhodes with the belt for the pin and the title at 25:04.

Rating: D+. So this is a weird one, as they had a slow paced match (which was fine) for the most part, which then picked up near the end and felt more like a big main event fight. The problem though is the Scott stuff, which was a mixture of bad and unwanted. I’m still not sure why Cena and Scott were supposed to be friends but it was tied to the Rock, who wasn’t there. At the same time you have Rhodes looking like a moron while Cena got to look that much smarter. This wasn’t a great match, though it was fine enough until everything fell apart at the end.

Post match Cena gets his 17th title and Scott comes back in for the big celebration. Rhodes staggers away to end the show. No Rock, which would be the case for…the rest of Cena’s in-ring career, because the whole thing got dropped, leaving the story with nowhere to go. You know, because that’s a good thing for the biggest story in wrestling.

Overall Rating: B-. There were good matches during the show, with the opener being a classic, but the main event really didn’t work out so well (ok that’s an understatement). If you can get away from the main event, the show is that much better, but dang it drags things down. It’s far from a great show, but the opener and things like Hendry’s surprise appearance and Mysterio winning the title are enough to carry it.

Overall Overall Rating: B. As has been the case with every year since Wrestlemania went to two nights, there is a heck of a one night show in there but there is so much dragging it back down. On the positive sides though, you have the great set and production, some solid matches and Punk finally getting a Wrestlemania main event. I did like the show, but stretching the whole thing to about seven hours, even over two days, is still a long sit. The good here is very good, though you might want to stop it when the Rhodes and Cena recap begins.

 

 

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Wrestlemania XL Night Two
Date: April 7, 2024
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 60,203
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Corey Graves
God Bless American: The War And Treaty

And now, the night after. This is the second half of the event, which features Cody Rhodes challenging Roman Reigns for the WWE Title despite his back being firmly against the wall. Other than that, a banged up Seth Rollins is defending the World Heavyweight Title against Drew McIntyre, plus a not that hot midcard. Let’s get to it.

I was in the stadium for this show, sitting in the upper deck with the entrance on my right.

The opening video looks at Night One before shifting to Meek Mill talking about how if you don’t finish your story, someone else will finish it for you. The rest of the card gets a bit of a look of its own.

The War And Treaty sing God Bless America.

Here is Stephanie McMahon to get things going. She’s glad it’s a bit warmer today (preach it) and calls this the first show of the Paul Levesque Era. With that out of the way, let’s get things going.

Raw World Title: Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins, banged up after last night, is defending and CM Punk is on commentary. McIntyre is played to the ring by a pipe and drums band while Rollins is led out by a group of Mummers (People in very insane costumes, playing instruments. I wasn’t familiar with them but a guy next to me said it was about as Philadelphia of an entrance as you could get.). McIntyre hits a Claymore at the bell for a near fall five seconds in as we’re starting fast.

Rollins immediately rolls outside as he’s in trouble early. A belly to belly drops Rollins and McIntyre grabs someone’s phone for a quick picture. McIntyre stops to yell at Punk though and gets Pedigreed on the floor, with Rollins coming up holding his knee (banged up last night). Back in and a Stomp gets two on McIntyre and they both pull themselves up, exhausted by their three and a half minutes of action thus far.

They slug it out with McIntyre getting the better of things and nipping up. The Claymore is countered into a powerbomb though and the Pedigree connects again. A top rope stomp misses but so does the Claymore. Rollins misses the regular Stomp and gets Futureshocked for two. McIntyre mocks the GTS pose to annoy Punk but the GTS is countered into a small package for two.

Another Claymore hits Rollins for two and McIntyre is stunned. They go outside where Rollins slips out of a powerbomb attempt and hits a basement superkick. Rollins hits a Stomp on the table and they head back inside, where McIntyre hits another Claymore for another two. Punk wants to see another GTS but it’s another Claymore to give McIntyre the pin and the title at 10:34.

Rating: B-. This was more out of the old Lesnar style and that works a lot better when you haven’t see it over and over again. McIntyre getting more and more frustrated before finally getting the pin was a great story as he had been going nuts for so long that he had to win something. This worked well and it was a big opener, even if some of the near falls were a bit nuts at times.

Post match an emotional Rollins leaves and gets something of a look of respect from McIntyre. He kisses his wife and then goes back to Punk, mocking him as you might expect. As you also might expect, Punk trips McIntyre down and hits with the arm brace….and it’s Money In The Bank time.

Raw World Title: Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre

Priest is challenging and wins the title with South Of Heaven at 9 seconds, sending McIntyre further into insanity and furthering the feud of the year with CM Punk.

Judgment Day comes out for the big celebration in a nice moment. Punk mockingly applauds McIntyre to make it even better.

Street Profits/Bobby Lashley vs. Final Testament

Street fight, Bubba Ray Dudley is guest referee and Snoop Dogg is on commentary. B-Fab is here with the good guys while Paul Ellering and Scarlett are here with the Testament. Graves says that this is Ellering’s first appearance at Wrestlemania. I guess he’s forgotten Wrestlemania VIII as well. Lashley and the Profits waste no time in knocking them outside and it’s already time for a table, which Dogg seems to like.

The AOP come back and take out the Profits before being on Lashley with kendo sticks. Kross gives Lashley a neckbreaker onto an open chair for two, with Dawkins making the save. Ford goes up but gets knocked out of the air and it’s the Super Collider to the Profits. B-Fab tries to make the save but gets taken out by Scarlett, with the two of them crashing through a table. Lashley fights up and starts the comeback, with Dawkins hitting a big tackle on the floor to drop the AOP.

Some chair shots to Kross set up Lashley’s spinebuster onto the chair but the AOP is back in. The Doomsday Saito suplex drops Lashley and a DDT through a chair gets two. Kross yells at Bubba, who puts the glasses on, leaving Lashley to hit a spear. Bubba orders a What’s Up on Kross and it’s table time, but the table breaks in advance. Another table is brought in as Kross is beaten with a kendo stick (Dogg: “WHOOP HIM! WHOOP HIM!”). A frog splash through the table finishes Kross at 8:32.

Rating: C. Yeah this was fine, but it was nothing you wouldn’t see on Smackdown. The AOP felt like monsters but it didn’t exactly take much to knock them out. At the same time, Kross is supposed to be the big bad and Lashley beat him up without much trouble. This felt like a way to have a street fight with tables in Philadelphia and that doesn’t get you very far. As usual, Snoop Dogg felt like he was having the time of his life on commentary and clearly loves wrestling.

We look at last night’s main event, with Cody Rhodes getting pinned to make tonight’s main event Bloodline Rules.

Paul Heyman is asked what Bloodline Rules mean. He cites the WWE rule book before saying it’s whatever Roman Reigns wants them to be.

LA Knight arrived in a fast Slim Jim car.

We recap LA Knight vs. AJ Styles. Knight is the crowd favorite and seems to be on his way to stardom but Styles doesn’t like him, to the point of costing him the Elimination Chamber. Styles said he wanted to humble Knight, who said they should fight at Wrestlemania. Game on, with Styles attacking Knight with a chair. Knight showed up at Styles’ house and got arrested to make it more personal.

AJ Styles vs. LA Knight

During his entrance, Knight gives the keys to his Slim Jim car to a sweepstakes winner, who seems to be….not overly excited. Styles charges to the ring and gets punched in the face to start fast. They go to the floor where Styles is rammed into the announcers’ table but he starts in on the leg.

A DDT on the leg keeps Knight down but he fights up with a Russian legsweep. Knight hits a tornado DDT and tries a superplex, only to get reversed into the belly to back faceplant. Styles goes up so Knight jumps the corner and hits a release German superplex. The Calf Crusher goes back to Knight’s bad leg and Knight goes straight over to the ropes.

The leg is wrapped around the post so Knight pulls him face first into said post. It’s time to peel back the mats but Styles knocks him onto the concrete. Back in and the springboard 450 hits Styles’ raised knees but the BFT is countered into a failed Styles Clash attempt. Another springboard is broken up and Knight hits the BFT for the win at 12:24.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t a great match or really anything close, but it did what it needed to do: give Knight a clean win on a big stage. Knight is the definition of someone who needs to win something to validate his popularity and while this wasn’t quite that win, it was the biggest victory of his career. As usual, Styles can work well with anyone and he made Knight look like a star here.

We get the Hall Of Fame video package from Friday.

The Hall Of Fame class is presented:

US Express (in Bray Wyatt shirts, after a Wyatt tribute at the ceremony)
Bull Nakano
Thunderbolt Patterson
Lia Maivia
Muhammad Ali
Paul Heyman (to the ECW theme and carrying the WWE Title, receiving by far the biggest reaction)

We recap Logan Paul defending the US Title against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Paul is a huge star and the other two are sick of him. Orton wants to give him an RKO and Owens was sick of hearing about Paul being a star, including after losing to him at the Royal Rumble.

US Title: Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens

Paul, defending, comes to the ring in a Prime truck and he has a guy in a Prime bottle costume, which cannot end well. Owens comes to the ring and runs into Sami Zayn in a reversal from their meeting last night. Paul bails to the floor to start and tells the other two to start, which doesn’t happen as they would rather go after Paul. The challengers take turns sending Paul into various things, with Owens getting to drop him onto the announcers’ table in something of a tribute to Orton.

That’s not good enough though as Orton shows him how to do it a bit better before they get back inside. Paul sends Owens into Orton to try to start some strife, only for the two of them to beat him up again. They even get in some stereo stomps before Owens hits a backsplash. The two of them both cover Paul though and now it’s clear that things aren’t going to work. Owens blocks an RKO attempt and they know where this is going to go. The brawl is on but Paul knocks both of them down to take over.

Paul even mocks Orton’s pose to be a real villain before sending Owens into the buckle a few times. That’s broken up though as Owen superkicks Paul into the corner but the Swanton hits raised knees. Paul Swantons Owens and rolls into a regular splash for two on Orton in a rather athletic display. Orton actually loses a slugout with Paul but he rakes the eyes and sends Paul outside. Back up and Owens gets clotheslined into a powerslam, allowing Orton to pop his chest a bit (the fans approve).

Paul comes back in and gets powerslammed as well and there’s a double hanging DDT to put Owens and Paul down. Owens snaps off some superkicks though and a Codebreaker to Orton/Backstabber to Paul gets two. They all go to the corner and Paul makes the mistake of trying a superplex on Owens, who reverses into something like a super Jackhammer. A moonsault gives Owens two but Orton is back in with an RKO for the same (that’s not something you see kicked out of very often).

Back in and Paul knocks Orton silly with the brass knuckles for two and the kickout leaves Paul stunned. Owens tries to come in and gets knuckled as well. Paul yells at Orton and gets an RKO for his efforts but Orton is too banged up to cover. Now Orton gets the brass knuckles but hands them to the referee, only for the guy in the Prime bottle to pull Paul outside. It’s….IShowSpeed, one of Paul’s cronies/a popular streamer, who shoves Orton in a really bad idea.

The suit is pulled off and an RKO onto the announcers’ table leaves Speed out cold. Paul uses the breather to miss a frog splash and gets caught with a pop up powerbomb. Owens Stunners Orton for two so he tries another pop up powerbomb, which is countered into an RKO in a sweet reversal. Paul sends Orton outside though and hits a frog splash to pin Owens and retain at 17:39.

Rating: B. This was better than I remember it as they had a good story of the wrestlers fighting each other and treating Paul like an afterthought but Paul got smart and stole the win in the end. Paul continues to come off like a star and someone who keeps surprising people, which is what he did here. It was a good match for everyone and Paul gets a win on the big stage, which will only help him.

We recap Bayley challenging Iyo Sky for the Smackdown Women’s Title. Bayley had started Damage CTRL and the team had success but then they started to move past her. Eventually Iyo Sky won the title and Bayley won the Royal Rumble. One day the Japanese members mocked her in Japanese, but Bayley revealed she knew what they were saying and the match was on. Sky promised to show that she was the real star of the team while Bayley wasn’t sure if they were ever friends in the first place.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Iyo Sky vs. Bayley

Bayley is challenging and is carried to the ring as part of her weird pyramid theme. They start fast with Bayley knocking her outside and shrugging off a shot to the face. A suicide dive hits Sky on the floor, with Bayley coming up favoring her leg a bit. The leg is fine enough to hit a baseball slide to drop Sky again but the dropkick under the ropes misses. Instead Sky wraps the leg around the post and cranks on said leg as we have a target.

Back in and a dragon screw legwhip takes Bayley down again so the fans start singing about Bayley. The power is enough to make her send Sky into the timekeeper’s area, only for her to dive out and right into a Bayley To Belly on the floor. Back in and a spinning side slam (kind of like Victoria) gives Bayley two and she goes up. Sky catches her up top, with Bayley’s leg getting tied in the ropes, followed by a crash to the floor.

A great moonsault hits Bayley on the outside but she’s able to hit a sunset bomb into the corner back inside. Some German suplexes give Sky two each but Over The Moonsault hits a raised knee (as in the already injured one). Bayley, with one good leg, manages to get up top and tries the elbow, only to get pulled into the crossface. That’s broken up in a hurry but Bayley’s basement clothesline is countered into another crossface.

With that not working, Sky switches into a more logical STF, which is broken up as well. Another Bayley To Belly gets two but Bayley spends too much time yelling and gets hit in the face. A backbreaker sets up Over The Moonsault for a near fall, followed by some more moonsaults. The big one misses but Bayley can’t hit the Roseplant. Instead Bayley hits a heck of a clothesline and a suplex sets up the top rope elbow. The Roseplant gives Bayley the pin and the title at 14:22.

Rating: B+. This turned into a heck of a match with Bayley working hard to overcome the injury and show that she was able to beat the star in Sky. That’s the kind of match you do not often see and it worked well here, with Bayley showing that she still has it. As usual, Sky is as smooth as it gets in the ring and looked awesome, but this needed to be Bayley’s win and that’s exactly what she got.

Here is Snoop Dogg, with the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders and mascot, to announce the attendance of 72,755. The two night attendance is 145,298, with Snoop saying 145,420 for the joke which is mostly ignored.

We recap Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Title. Reigns beat Rhodes last year in a huge upset, sending Rhodes on a path to get back to the title match and Finish The Story. Now though, the Rock is back and Rhodes is up against the entire Bloodline, meaning, as Cole put it last night, “Cody Is Screwed”.

Reigns isn’t giving it up without a fight though, as he has been champion for three and a half years. This gets the big music video treatment as we look at Rhodes fighting to get to the top after all of this adversity in his quest to finish the story. Of note, the theme here is Rhodes is back after a long hiatus, including photos of him with the Young Bucks, Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns

Reigns, with Paul Heyman, is defending under Bloodline Rules, meaning anything goes. The entrances are of course epic, with Rhodes coming out with his wife Brandi amid a ton of pyro and rising through the stage. Not to be outdone, Reigns has a full orchestra playing him to the ring, which is treatment worthy of a champion. We get the Big Match Intros and Samantha Irvin manages to make this feel all the more incredible.

They stare each other down to start and Rhodes goes for the leg but lets it go for another standoff. We get some more circling as they clearly have a lot of time here. Rhodes hits a right hand and knocks Reigns to the floor as things pick up fast. It’s already time for a table but Reigns cuts him off and puts it back. Rhodes sends him into the steps but Reigns is back up with a kendo stick to start the beating.

That’s taken away though and Rhodes comes back with a quick bulldog. Rhodes gets smart by grabbing a Figure Four, which is quickly broken up with a rake to the eyes. They go outside again and, after a trip through the Prime station, it’s time to fight into the crowd. Reigns takes him onto a platform and tells people to move so he can throw him. That takes too long as well and Rhodes reverses it into a suplex of his own.

Back in and Reigns hits a heck of a powerbomb to drop Rhodes again and we get a double breather. Reigns is back up with a suplex and starts getting cocky, setting up a cravate. A PerfectPlex gives Reigns two but Rhodes is back up with some kicks to the face. They clothesline each other down as we’re nearly fifteen minutes in without things getting too crazy. They slug it out and the Disaster Kick gives Rhodes two (and Heyman a big scared reaction).

Back up and Reigns hits his own Cross Rhodes for two, resulting in Reigns looking like he says something in the vein of “I knew that wouldn’t work”. Rhodes fights up and fires off the jabs but they go outside, where Reigns sends him through the announcers’ table. Back in and a Superman Punch connects for two as the fans are getting a lot more into this stuff. Rhodes pops up with a Cody Cutter for two and a spear gets the same to even the stolen finishers score.

Cross Rhodes connects and the fans get up…as Jimmy Uso runs in (they made it over 20 minutes before getting there) for a superkick. The Superman Punch connects but here is Jey Uso to even the score. The Usos brawl on the ramp and Jey spears Jimmy off of said ramp through some tables. Rhodes grabs a rollup for two but gets speared down for the save. The fans are surprisingly way more into this than I would have expected as you have to know the Rock is on the way.

They go outside again and this time Rhodes spears him through the barricade for the big crash. Back in and two Cross Rhodes connect but here is Solo Sikoa with the Samoan Spike to cut Rhodes off for two. A spear/Samoan Spike combination only gets two and heeeeeere’s John Cena to a ROAR. Cena clears Sikoa out but here is the Rock to go after him (Cena’s look of “oh here we go” is good). A Rock Bottom takes Cena out in a hurry but the Shield music starts up.

Cue Seth Rollins in Shield gear but Reigns cuts him off with a Superman Punch. Rock yells at Mama Rhodes and loads up the weight belt…..and a gong strikes. The lights go out and the Undertaker is here to chokeslam Rock. As great as that was, my goodness what I would have given for the glass to shatter at Wrestlemania one more time.

Reigns gets back up and grabs a chair, but hits Rollins instead. The broken concentration lets Rhodes hit three Cross Rhodes for the pin (with Cole saying FINISH THE STORY in time with the count) and the title at 33:25. Samantha Irvin clearly fighting back tears as she announces the win makes it that much better.

Rating: B. This is a hard one to grade as the entire point of this was to crown Rhodes as the new champion and they got that covered. Given the build, there wasn’t much of anything else that could have been done without killing Rhodes off as a top guy. They had a big match feel and it felt like Rhodes assembled the Avengers to take out the unstoppable force. The build throughout worked too, as Rhodes couldn’t pin him with the single or the double Cross Rhodes but finally did it with the triple.

It did exactly what it needed to do and was a good enough match on the way there. Much like Daniel Bryan winning the title ten years earlier, the ending was the only thing that mattered and everything else was pretty much gravy. Good main event here though, and it did the big goal of ending Reigns’ all time title reign.

One other thing: I watched this show next to a family, including someone who got to come to the show as his high school graduation present. He talked about how this was so much better than anything he could have imagined and the only thing that he didn’t get to see was the Undertaker, his all time favorite wrestler. The gong went off and he started crying over how happy he was at the whole thing. That’s the kind of special reaction you do not get in many things and I love it when you get to see wrestling make it happen.

A bunch of wrestlers come out to celebrate with Rhodes as we get the big crowning of Rhodes as champion. Rhodes even hands the title to his mom as his family gets in the ring. Rhodes gets the mic and asks for Bruce Prichard and HHH to come out here, because it wouldn’t be happening without them. Both come out and HHH holds up Rhodes arm as it’s time to lift Rhodes up on Sami Zayn and Randy Orton’s shoulders. Rhodes goes out and hugs Michael Cole before shaking Rollins’ hand in a nice moment. The ring clears out and Rhodes gets to pose a lot before leaving to end the show.

We get the long highlight package to really wrap us up.

Overall Rating: B+. I liked this one better than Night One overall, with only the six man street fight feeling a bit beneath the standard. The show was built entirely around the main event and that worked well, with Bayley vs. Sky and the US Title match being nice moments. We also had the big title changes to start the show and it made for a good event. As usual though, the whole thing is about a feel good moment and that’s all it needed to be. WWE knows how to do these big milestone Wrestlemanias and they did it again here, as the new era feels like it is officially under way.

Ratings Comparison

Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre

Original: B-
Redo: B-

Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest

Original: N/A
Redo: N/A

Final Testament vs. Bobby Lashley/Street Profits

Original: C
Redo: C

AJ Styles vs. LA Knight

Original: B-
Redo: B-

Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul

Original: C+
Redo: B

Bayley vs. Iyo Sky

Original: B
Redo: B+

Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns

Original: B+
Redo: B

Overall Rating

Original: B+
Redo: B+

Yeah I underrated that triple threat match as it was a lot more fun than that. Still though, pretty solid show all around.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Wrestlemania XXXIX Night Two
Date: April 2, 2023
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Attendance: 67,553
America The Beautiful: Jimmie Allen

After a rather long intermission, we’re ready to wrap up the show and this night has a lot to live up to. The first night was outstanding and now we have the real main event, as Roman Reigns defends the WWE Universal Title against Cody Rhodes. In addition, Gunther defends the Intercontinental Title against Sheamus and Drew McIntyre and we have a Cell match as a bonus. Let’s get to it.

Jimmie Allen sings America The Beautiful.

Kevin Hart gives us the cold open again, this time talking about how the sequel has to be bigger and better. Points for not just redoing the same video from the night before and keeping up with the theme.

Miz and Snoop Dogg welcome us to the show with a quick recap and preview. Snoop is ready to get us going.

Brock Lesnar vs. Omos

The story here is that Lesnar can’t overpower Omos (with MVP). Seriously that’s about it. Lesnar can’t double leg him to start and gets tossed around. Running shoulders don’t do much for Lesnar so Omos hits a headbutt and grabs a slam. Omos throws him around again and hits some forearms to the back. We hit the bearhug, followed by another slam, and another bearhug to keep Lesnar in trouble. Lesnar fights out and is quickly chokeslammed for a near fall. Back up and Lesnar rolls some German suplexes but his back gives out on the F5 attempt. Then Lesnar hits the F5 for the pin at 4:56.

Rating: C-. Well they definitely did the right thing in keeping this short, as the whole thing was about Lesnar doing his power moves but not doing them all that well because Omos is that big. It’s a very basic story and while Omos got in some impressive stuff, it felt more like a way to get Lesnar on the show more than anything else (which granted that’s more or less what it was). Not a great match but the fans liked the big throws so points for that.

Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez vs. Natalya/Shotzi vs. Chelsea Green/Sonya Deville vs. Ronda Rousey/Shayna Baszler

It’s the women’s match of the showcase tag match from last night. Baszler and Rousey (the bullies) didn’t have to qualify here and were just thrown into the match. Morgan Backstabbers Sonya to start and a one kneed Codebreaker makes it even worse. Natalya comes in for the sling shot belly to back drop. The basement dropkick puts Morgan down again but she hurricanranas her way to freedom.

Rodriguez comes in and gets to throw Natalya around, leaving Natalya to hand it off to Green. A missile dropkick has no effect so Sonya comes back in, allowing Green to grab some hair. Shotzi comes in so Baszler throws her outside, where Rousey is waiting on her. That leaves Baszler to get caught in a triplebomb, meaning Rousey has to get on the apron…but the three on one is broken up by Green and Sonya.

Shotzi dives onto people in the ring and on the floor, but Green stops to tell us to get our cameras ready. Rather than face Rodriguez, Green dives onto a bunch of people at ringside. With no one else left inside, Rodriguez powerbombs Morgan onto the pile for the big crash. Back in and Rodriguez fall away slams Shotzi, setting up the corkscrew Vader Bomb. Sonya comes in for the save though and some double teaming puts Rodriguez on the floor.

Green and Sonya celebrate until Natalya and Shotzi are back in for an assisted double Sliced Bread. A Hart Attack gets two on Sonya with Green making the save. There’s the double Sharpshooter to Sonya and Green until Morgan dives off the top for the save. Morgan takes Shotzi down but Rousey and Baszler (now with one boot and limping) come back in to break it up. Rousey armbars Shotzi for the win at 8:22.

Rating: C+. I don’t know if Baszler’s injury put she and Rousey on the floor for so long but they were almost not around whatsoever for a good chunk of the match. The match was pretty similar to its male counterpart but two of these teams felt thrown together and it hurt a lot. Rousey and Baszler winning should set them up as the monsters of the division and they would win the Tag Team Titles in about a month and a half…after Rodriguez and Morgan won them first. As usual, those things are a mess.

We look at Bobby Lashley winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on Smackdown.

Lashley comes out and shows off the trophy.

Xavier Woods and UpUpDownDown preview the Intercontinental Title match.

We recap Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Gunther for the latter’s Intercontinental Title. Gunther is a monster champion and his fellow Europeans want to hit him really hard and win the title. Sheamus and McIntyre are friends but both want the title, meaning they’re willing to fight each other. This falls into the “do we need to draw you a picture here” category. It also falls into the “we saw this video (or something really similar to it) last night” category.

Intercontinental Title: Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Gunther

Gunther is defending and Titus O’Neil is on commentary. Sheamus and McIntyre waste no time in knocking the champ to the floor before starting to lay into each other. Sheamus hits a clothesline and takes McIntyre into the corner for some uppercuts. McIntyre is sent to the apron for the forearms but Gunther is back up with chops for both of them. Gunther sends McIntyre into the post for a crash out to the floor, followed by a big boot to Sheamus’ face.

The Boston crab has Sheamus in more trouble until McIntyre comes in to break it up. McIntyre and Gunther chop it out (and they’re loud chops too) but Sheamus is back in with the uppercuts all around. With Gunther getting back up, Sheamus ties him in the ropes for the forearms to the chest, mixed in with chops from McIntyre. That leaves Gunther down so Sheamus ties McIntyre up in the ropes for almost thirty forearms to the chest.

Gunther is back in to break up the Celtic Cross though and a German suplex drops Sheamus again. The big clothesline gives Gunther two but McIntyre is back up to suplex Sheamus into Sheamus in the corner. There’s a Futureshock to Gunther but the Claymore misses. Gunther powerbombs McIntyre down and goes up but Sheamus is right there with a super White Noise. The Celtic Cross sets up the Cloverleaf so Gunther makes the rope, which means nothing because it’s No DQ.

Sheamus lets go and puts the hold back on anyway, only to have McIntyre come in for the break. That doesn’t go well either as Sheamus knees both of them down but McIntyre cuts off the Brogue Kick. McIntyre headbutts him out to the floor and busts out the big flip dive, leaving everyone down on the floor. Cole to O’Neil: “You never did that!” O’Neil: “AND I NEVER WILL!”

Back in and Sheamus Brogue Kicks McIntyre for two, followed by the Claymore to give McIntyre two of his own. Sheamus drops McIntyre again and covers but Gunther dives in with a top rope splash. Gunther’s powerbomb to Sheamus onto McIntyre leaves them both down, followed by another powerbomb to pin McIntyre and retain at 16:35.

Rating: A. It’s rare that I’ll watch a match back on its own but I’ve seen this one more than a few times now as it’s that kind of brutal. These guys beat the fire out of each other and that is exactly how it was advertised. They didn’t stop and for once it felt like three people having a match. There were stretches where it was two in and one out, but it was a brutal and hard hitting enough match to make up for it. Excellent stuff here, as you probably should have expected.

WWE did charity work this week.

We recap Asuka vs. Bianca Belair for the latter’s Raw Women’s Title. Belair won the title last year at Wrestlemania and has become a huge star during her reign. Then Asuka showed up as an evil clown and Belair is all scared, at least somewhat due to Asuka spraying her with the mist over and over. It’s a simple story but it didn’t exactly work and this never felt like a big feud.

Raw Women’s Title: Bianca Belair vs. Asuka

Asuka is challenging and comes out with a team of masked Asukas, while Belair counters with an all girl kids dance troupe. Eh point to the champ. Belair kicks her down at the bell and hits a dropkick into the corner, setting up the right hands. That’s broken up and Asuka kicks her down, setting up the big missed kick to the head. Asuka puts her on top but Belair flips over her and hits a spinebuster for a fast two.

Something close to a triangle choke has Belair in trouble before Asuka switches to the Asuka Lock. It’s not on quite full though and Belair rolls outside, where she PLANTS Asuka with a sitout powerbomb. Back in and Belair misses a charge into the post, allowing Asuka to pull her into a heel hook. Belair powers out but Asuka grabs an ankle lock, which is rolled away for the break. Asuka is right back up with a missile dropkick for two and things slow down a bit.

They go to the apron where Asuka hits a hard dropkick into the post. Belair sends her into the post to even things up a bit, setting up a deadlift superplex to bring them back inside. Asuka’s kick to the face gets two but a Codebreaker is blocked. A running Blockbuster into a handspring moonsault gives Belair two and frustration is setting in. They go to the corner with Asuka slipping out of a fireman’s carry and hitting a Codebreaker for two of her own. Back up and the mist misses but Asuka slips out of the KOD. The cross armbreaker doesn’t quite work for Asuka though and Belair powers up for the

Rating: B-. This was good but it never hit that next level, save for maybe the final sequence. The story just wasn’t that compelling coming in and it didn’t really feel like a major showdown. Belair retaining the title over a top level challenge is good though as beating Asuka is still an impressive feat.

We look at Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens beating the Usos for the Tag Team Titles in Night One’s main event.

Here are Miz and Snoop Dogg to announce tonight’s attendance of 81,395, giving us a two day total of 161,892. That’s great, but Miz isn’t happy with Snoop for putting him into an impromptu match last night. Dogg: “So you want to do it again?” Of course not, because Miz doesn’t like being humiliated in his town. Snoop says this is the people’s city and introduces….Shane McMahon, because SHANE MUST BE A THING. Shane thanks the fans and sounds like he can barely breathe after his entrance. Time for a match

Shane McMahon vs. Miz

Shane punches him in the corner and yeah they’re as bad as before. Then he drops down, leapfrogs over Miz and….tears his quad on the landing less than thirty seconds in. That brings Snoop in to hit Miz in the face and apparently we have a replacement. Snoop knocks him down again and drops a People’s Elbow for the pin at 2:11. This seems to have been completely impromptu with either the referee telling Snoop to get in there or Snoop coming up with the idea on his own. Either way, major points to Snoop who had no idea what he was doing and gave the fans a very fun moment out of nowhere.

We recap Edge vs. the Demon Finn Balor inside the Cell. Balor threw Edge out of the Judgment Day the night he joined, setting off a feud between the two of them. This led to Judgment Day attacking both Edge and his wife Beth Phoenix, meaning it’s time for the big, violent fight.

The Cell is lowered and we get a voiceover (from Russell Crowe of all people, as part of a movie tie-in) talking about how evil it is as well.

Edge vs. Finn Balor

Inside the Cell and this is Brood Edge (and yes, his Titantron literally says BROOD EDGE), who comes out of the Brood ring of fire with a shiny mask that makes him look like the Terminator while wearing wings, against the Demon. They waste no time in getting the weapons, with Edge grabbing a red chair and Balor grabbing a purple kendo stick (because not only do you need weapons in the Cell, but you need COLOR COORDINATED weapons).

Balor gets the better of things and knocks him to the floor, only to get hammered back inside. Edge knocks him off the apron and grabs a bunch of kendo sticks (two purple, one red), some of which he uses to pin Balor into the corner of the Cell. A dropkick off the apron hits Balor to make it worse, meaning it’s time to set up the table. Balor uses the delay to get out and sends Edge hard into the steps. They get back inside where Edge hits a quick Impaler but the spear is countered with a Sling Blade.

They go outside with Balor being dropkicked through a table, only to come back in with an Unprettier. The Edge-O-Matic gets two more and it’s time to grab a ladder. Edge throws said ladder at Balor’s face and Balor is busted open BAD, meaning we pause for the medic to come inside to check on him (this led to a hilarious reaction from Mick Foley, because apparently YOU CAN PAUSE A CELL MATCH DUE TO AN INJURY).

Edge uses the delay to get a bunch of weapons ready but Balor is back up with 1916. The spear only hits ladder and Balor hits another Slind Blade. Coup de Grace connects for two and Balor climbs the ladder, only to get countered into a super Edgecution for a slightly delayed two.

That takes too long again and Balor is back up with his own weapons shots, including a bunch of chair shots to Edge. Balor climbs up but instead climbs the cage and gets onto the camera platform. This adds a full nine inched above the top rope but the Coup De Grace only hits table. Edge’s spear gets two so he unloads with chair shots to the back. The Conchairto finishes Balor at 18:10.

Rating: B-. This was the modern Cell match and that is not a good thing for the most part. The bell rang and they went straight for the weapons, which didn’t exactly make the Cell itself feel important. It was a violent and hard hitting match but other than one or two spots, I’m not sure how much the Cell was needed. Either use the Cell or don’t, because this was a street fight with the cage blocking the camera view.

We look at the Wrestlemania trailers.

Backlash is coming to Puerto Rico. You should too!

We look at the Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.

Here is the class in the stadium:

Stacy Keibler (who has not aged a day)
Andy Kaufman (represented by his family)
Great Muta (that’s a nice addition)
Tim White (Warrior Award, and his brother looks identical to him)
Rey Mysterio (that’s about as perfect of a choice for an active headliner as you could pick)

Mysterio shakes the other inductees’ hands (bowing to Muta).

We look at Set Rollins’ entrance from last night. Feel free to get on with the show at any time.

We recap Roman Reigns defending the WWE Universal Title against Cody Rhodes. The big idea here is Rhodes wants to finish his story, meaning winning the title in his dad’s honor while also completing his long rise to the top of WWE. Reigns has been champion for two and a half years and isn’t going away that fast, so it’s time for the big showdown. It feels like a main event and Cody is almost the last man standing to fight Reigns.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns

Reigns is defending and has Paul Heyman/Solo Sikoa with him. Rhodes gets his big entrance and goes over to say hi to his family, including giving his weightlifting belt to an unmasked Negative One (the son of the late Brody Lee, who makes occasional AEW appearances). Reigns gets a special entrance of his own, with a team of pianists playing the start of his entrance live. We get an ACKNOWLEDGE ME from Reigns before the bell finally rings.

Rhodes hammerlocks him over to the ropes to start and Reigns isn’t impressed. A headlock takeover and a right hand has Reigns a bit more annoyed so he bails out to the floor. Heyman’s advice is that Reigns isn’t here for Rhodes because Rhodes is here for him. Heyman: “NOW SMASH HIM!” Back in and Reigns elbows him in the face, meaning it’s time to raise up a finger. Rhodes manages a dropkick (Reigns is stunned again) for two, with commentary saying that cover wasn’t about getting a pin but rather sending a message to Reigns. What that message is isn’t clear but I’d guess “Eat At Joe’s”.

The Disaster Kick is pulled out of the air though and Reigns hits a powerbomb for two. Some suplexes have Rhodes in more trouble but he’s back up to send Reigns out to the floor. That goes badly for him as well as Reigns drops him face first onto the apron. A hard slam puts Rhodes down onto the ramp but Rhodes gets in one of his own. Rhodes sends him back inside but Sikoa gets in a chair shot to the ribs, allowing Reigns to come back with the apron boot.

The cravate slows Rhodes down back inside until he fights up, only to have Sikoa interfere again. This time it lets Reigns hit a hard clothesline before whipping Rhodes into the corner to stay on his bad ribs. They go back outside with Reigns loading up the announcers’ table but getting backdropped through the other one for the big hope spot. Back in and Rhodes hits the drop down uppercut into the snap powerslam.

There’s the Cody Cutter for a big near fall so Reigns rolls outside, meaning it’s a suicide dive to hit him again. They try to get back in but Sikoa gets in a weightlifting belt shot….which the referee hears for an ejection. The distraction lets Rhodes hit Cross Rhodes for two (with Heyman looking on in fear for a nice visual). Reigns is back with some shots to the head and a release Rock Bottom gets two.

The Superman Punch is countered into a Pedigree (Heyman even reaches through the ropes this time) for two and it’s time to start the comeback. Said comeback is cut off with a Superman Punch to knock Rhodes out of the air for two more. The spear is countered into a sunset flip for two and Rhodes whips out a Figure Four for a change of pace. Reigns turns it over (while slapping the mat on the way there), with Rhodes getting over to the ropes for the break.

A big spear connects for two and now Reigns is stunned for a change. With nothing else working, Reigns hits him in the face over and over before grabbing the guillotine choke. Rhodes can’t spinebuster his way to freedom but he can slip his head out and hammer away at Reigns for a change. The referee gets bumped though and a double knockdown gives us quite the breather. Cody is back up for the Cross Rhodes but the Usos run in to break it up. The 1D drops Rhodes but here are Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to take out the Usos.

A Stunner into the Helluva Kick leave Reigns down and the other four brawl out into the crowd. Rhodes gets the big dramatic near fall (and thank goodness that wasn’t the pin as Rhodes winning thanks to Owens and Zayn wouldn’t have worked) and they’re both down again. Back up and the slug it out with both of them being staggered off the shots. The Superman Punch is countered with the Flip Flop And Fly into the Bionic Elbow. Rhodes hits back to back Cross Rhodes….but Sikoa comes in with the Samoan Spike. The spear retains the title at 34:36.

Rating: B+. A year removed from this and my goodness I’m still amazed at the guts it took to not pull the trigger here. This was Cody’s chance to win the whole thing and they kept it on Reigns, which is quite the way to go. They beat the fire out of each other and it had the big match feel, but not pulling the trigger here still feels way off. Heck of a main event, but man they had the fans ready for the moment and just didn’t do it.

Replays and a highlight package wrap us up.

Overall Rating: B. There were some weak parts here and there but the good stuff is more than enough to carry this. Much like Night One, you can’t fault the atmosphere and the look/feel of the show, which made for a heck of a showcase for everyone involved. The main event was very good (ending aside perhaps) and the Intercontinental Title match was great, mixed in with some other strong stuff along the way. I liked this one a lot and the slightly shorter running time helped, but it’s just a few ticks below Night One’s instant classic status.

Overall Overall Rating: A-. Wrestlemania has a complicated history but this was going along with the big, epic show feel and it worked to near perfection. It’s one of the best Wrestlemanias ever and what matters is the show feeling as big as possible. Granted it helped that there was some great action, though that ending is one of those things that is going to stick in a lot of fans’ memories for a very long time. I loved the show overall, and my goodness WWE knows how to make these things work so well.

Ratings Comparison

Brock Lesnar vs. Omos

Original: C+
Redo: C-

Women’s Tag Team Showcase

Original: C
Redo: C+

Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus vs. Gunther

Original: A-
Redo: A

Asuka vs. Bianca Belair

Original: B
Redo: B-

Shane McMahon vs. Miz

Original: N/A
Redo: N/A

Edge vs. Finn Balor

Original: B
Redo: B-

Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes

Original: B+
Redo: B+

Overall Rating

Original: B+
Redo: B

Overall Overall Rating:

Original: A
Redo: A-

At least most of them are in in the ballpark. Either way, excellent show.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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Wrestlemania XXXVIII Night One
Date: April 2, 2022
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Attendance: 77,899
Commentators: Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
America the Beautiful: Brantley Gilbert

I’m sure nothing has changed in the last year and that should make things all the more interesting. While I was in the stadium for this show, there are only certain parts of it that stand out as the two night structure leaves some things merging together. The show worked originally and now it is time to see how well it holds up. Let’s get to it.

I was in the stadium for this show, sitting in the next to highest section with the ring to my right.

Brantley Gilbert singes America The Beautiful.

Mark Wahlberg is in the opening video, talking about how this is the show where dreams are made. It’s the night of the big fight and nothing is better, because it’s STUPENDOUS. Yes that really is the best tag line they could find. This is designed to make Wrestlemania feel like the biggest show around and…yeah, well done.

Here are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. They don’t add anything, but there is the local flavor and the obvious appeal so it makes sense.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Usos vs. Shinsuke Nakamura/Rick Boogs

The Usos are defending and dang I miss Pat McAfee dancing on the announcers’ desk. Nakamura and Boogs earned the shot after Boogs beat Jey by faking a leg injury in a clever move. Nakamura kicks Jey down to start and hits the running knee to the ribs for one. Jey comes in off a blind tag though and it’s a top rope forearm to the chest/backbreaker combination to drop Nakamura.

Some strikes don’t get Nakamura out of trouble as Jey enziguris him down for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Nakamura fights up and brings in Boogs to clean house. Boogs muscles Jey up into a delayed vertical suplex for two. Jey gets caught in a fireman’s carry and Jimmy dives on top so Boogs holds them both up….until his knee buckles.

It’s off to Nakamura as Boogs goes outside holding his knee, which now has a torn quadriceps and patella tenon injury and would keep him out for nine months. Nakamura hits the sliding German suplex on Jey, who superkicks him down. Jimmy adds the Superfly Splash for two, followed by the 1D to retain at 6:54.

Rating: C. The injury makes this one hard to grade as it derailed everything they had going on. Boogs was great at getting the hot tag and cleaning house but that only goes so far when your leg more or less exploded. The rest of the match was good enough, but the injury is what is remembered here, as it changed everything they were doing. This already feels like a lifetime ago as Boogs was out and Nakamura has vanished again. That’s on top of the Usos evolving into the monster team with individual personalities they would become soon.

We recap Happy Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre. Corbin’s life fell apart last year in a hilarious story but then he gambled his way up to success and happiness. Then he and his associate Madcap Moss attacked Drew McIntyre to write him off TV due to an injury. McIntyre came back and beat up Moss and now it’s time to do the same to Corbin, who stole McIntyre’s sword to make it personal (don’t worry as McIntyre got it back). It wasn’t any more interesting the first time around.

Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin

Madcap Moss is here with Corbin. McIntyre starts fast and they slug it out until a clothesline puts Corbin down. They go outside with Corbin being sent into the barricade, only to come back and send McIntyre into the post. A whip into the corner drops McIntyre again and a suplex lets Corbin yell some more.

Corbin hits a running shot to the face so Moss gets on the apron to cheer, allowing McIntyre to grab a spinebuster. There’s a neckbreaker to drop Corbin again but the Futureshock is blocked. Deep Six gives Corbin two more but Moss has to bail Corbin out of the threat of the Claymore.

That’s fine with McIntyre, who hits the big running flip dive over the top to the floor. Back in and the Glasgow Kiss sets up the missed Claymore, allowing Corbin to grab End of Days for two (the first ever kickout, because Corbin’s finisher needed to be protected for years). McIntyre has had it and hits the Futureshock into the Claymore for the pin at 8:38.

Rating: C-. This feud wasn’t interesting when it was taking place in real time and it wasn’t any better watching it back. Corbin just doesn’t feel like he is on the same level as McIntyre and there is no way around it. That left McIntyre in little more than an extended workout, which wasn’t an interesting watch. McIntyre needed to get out of this feud as soon as possible because it wasn’t working.

Post match McIntyre grabs the sword and threatens Moss before cutting the top and middle ropes apart.

We recap the Mysterios vs. Logan Paul/Miz. Dominik Mysterio beat Miz, who wasn’t happy about things. That made him bring in Paul for a partner, setting up the tag match.

Miz/Logan Paul vs. Mysterios

Miz and Paul have matching gear, though Miz’s doesn’t come with the world’s most expensive Pokemon card ever to be purchased in a private sale (That thing again?) around his neck. Rey and Miz start things off, with a Paul distraction letting Miz take him into the corner. It’s off to Paul to hammer on the ribs in the corner before Miz comes back in. A hurricanrana gets Rey out of trouble and it’s off to Dominik (who appears to be in gear inspired by Eddie Guerrero from When Worlds Collide), who drops Rey onto Miz.

The Mysterios clear the ring and Dominik hits a springboard twisting dive to drop Miz again. Paul gets in a cheap shot though and grabs a powerslam to plant Dominik. The villains fire off the YES Kicks to Dominik as the pace slows down. A Blockbuster gives Paul two on Dominik, who manages to knock down the rather cocky Miz. The diving tag brings in Rey to take over on Miz, including the top rope seated senton and a kick to the head for two. A moonsault press gets the same as Paul has to make a save this time.

Miz is ready for the 619 so Rey tornado DDTs him instead. Three Amigos are broken up though and Paul hits his own version (to some rather strong heat). The frog splash (with Eddie dance) gets two on Rey as Dominik has to make another save. Dominik dives onto Miz on the floor and it’s a double 619 back inside. Back to back frog splashes hit Paul….but Miz grabs a quick Skull Crushing Finale to finish Rey at 11:15.

Rating: B-. This is almost all about Paul, as the Mysterios and Miz were doing their usual things. Paul came off like a total natural who just gets it when it comes to wrestling. The fact that he is an exceptional athlete makes it even better. This was one of the best celebrity matches you’ll ever see and Paul backed up everything he had been saying for the entire build to the match.

Post match Miz and Paul pose….and Miz turns on Paul to take him out. This was designed to make Paul a good guy, which is quite the path to take.

And now, Stephanie McMahon joins us to thank the fans for being here. She also brings out Gable Steveson to….wave! Yeah this has happened a few times for Steveson without him actually having a match. I’m sure he’ll be fine.

We recap Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Title. Lynch returned and beat Belair at Summerslam in less than a minute to win the (Smackdown Women’s, but it doesn’t exactly matter) title. Belair needs to prove herself again and now she is getting her chance in the big scheduled match (rather than the impromptu title change at Summerslam). There was also a weird thing involving hair cuts and it really didn’t add much. This has been a really well built feud and feels like a major, Wrestlemania worthy showdown.

Raw Women’s Title: Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch

Becky is defending and gets a huge entrance, with a Marvel Cinematic Universe style highlight package before her entrance. She even rides out in a Cadillac Escalade for a bonus. Belair on the other hand comes out to the full Texas State University marching band for a Wrestlemania worthy entrance. Belair’s gear looks awesome too, with the red and black theme and a pair of lips as the top.

They stare each other down until Becky hits her with a right hand and the Manhandle Slam (how she won at Summerslam) for two. Becky goes for some very rapid fire covers and the kickouts have her even more annoyed. A small package frustrates Becky even more but she’s fine enough to reverse a suplex into a DDT (that looked good) for two more. A moonsault (a rare move for Becky) misses though and Belair is right back with her own Disarm-Her.

They fight over rollups for two each until Becky kicks her in the ribs. Becky gets serious by using the hair to pull her to the floor and Belair is shoved hard into the steps. Back in and Belair is sent flying with a suplex as things slow way down. The Fameasser in the ropes gets two on Belair and it’s already time for Becky to get frustrated. The chinlock goes on before Becky tries an armbar, only to get powered up so they can crash out to the floor.

Belair muscles her up for a suplex (with a hard landing) and they go back inside to slug it out. A backbreaker gives Belair two but her powerbomb is countered into a rollup for two. Belair grabs a release Glam Slam, setting up the handspring moonsault for another near fall. Becky catches her on top but Belair manages to reverse into a fireman’s carry drop HARD onto the top rope for a heck of a crash. Belair’s middle rope 450 gets two but Becky knocks her down.

A Molly Go Round is left a bit short though, with Becky’s foot slamming into Belair’s face for two (followed by the referee checking Belair for….well probably quite a few things). Belair is back with a spinebuster but the handspring moonsault hits knees. Belair tries another Glam Slam but gets reversed into a cradle. That’s reversed into another cradle, which is kicked off to send Belair into the corner.

Back up and Belair KOD’s her out to the floor (might work better in the Royal Rumble but it looked good here too). Becky goes for the hair and Manhandle Slams her onto the steps for a nasty crash. That’s good for a nine count and Becky is LIVID. A super Manhandle Slam is loaded up but Belair flips out and hits the KOD for the pin and the title at 19:03.

Rating: A-. I loved it live, I loved it later that night at the hotel and I loved it a year later. This was a BATTLE that felt like a major showdown between two women who wanted to destroy each other and prove that they were the best. It completes Belair’s redemption and seeing Becky FINALLY get pinned made it feel like an even bigger moment. Awesome showdown here and one of the best women’s matches WWE has ever had.

Post match Becky collapses to the floor and looks up as Belair poses with the title on top for an incredible visual (it looks good on TV but it was even better in person).

We recap Seth Rollins vs. a mystery opponent. Rollins was given the annual ridiculous treatment of “how is this former multiple time World Champion and one of the biggest stars we have going to have a Wrestlemania match?”. After losing over and over in attempts to get on the card, Vince McMahon said he can go to Wrestlemania (Vince: “All you had to do was ask.”) but it will be against an opponent of Vince’s choosing. I see no way in which this can go badly.

Seth Rollins vs. ???

Rollins is sung to the ring by a choir and then has to wait for a good while. Some pyro finally goes off and the lights go dark before……”Wrestling has more than one royal family”! Cody Rhodes is back (complete with riser entrance and the Kingdom theme), leaving Rollins smiling and then glaring. This was INCREDIBLE live and a genuine Wrestlemania moment where you could feel the energy and the excitement (which I still pop up on YouTube every so often). Cody had been rumored as the opponent and it made for an outstanding moment. You can see how much it means to Cody and this is some great stuff.

Sidenote before we get to the match: who is the royal family that Rhodes is referring to in the opening? I get that he means the Rhodes family, but is he talking about the McMahons? Is there another family that would count at that level? I’m not sure who else it could be and it would make sense for Rhodes to have that mindset once he left WWE (not so much once he came back, but it’s part of the Cody presentation).

Anyway, the fans are VERY happy to see Cody back, even as he shakes the referee’s hand. Feeling out process to start with Rhodes grabbing a headlock and then turning a cartwheel to get inside Rollins’ head a bit. Rollins is sent into the corner and now the CODY chants seem to be getting to him.

Back up and Rollins tries a suplex but crashes over the top rope, leaving both of them down on the floor. They head back inside with Rhodes working on an armbar into a short armscissors. With that broken up, Rhodes goes up to but gets dropkicked out of the air, meaning Rollins can start in on the ribs. A gutbuster gets one and Rollins grabs a bearhug, which always looks weird from someone who isn’t huge.

Cody fights out and knocks him outside, which of course means the suicide dive to send Rollins over the barricade (for a huge bump). Back in and a moonsault press (which doesn’t quite connect properly) gives Cody two more and they both need a breather. Rollins rolls outside and this time pulls Cody down for a barricade bomb (ouch, as always). A springboard knee to the head and the basement superkick into the Falcon arrow (nice sequence) gives Rollins two more and they’re both down again.

The Stomp is countered into the Cross Rhodes for a very close two and Cody goes up top. That takes too long though and Rollins crotches him down, setting up the reverse superplex, which is rolled into the reverse suplex for another two. Rollins’ Pedigree is blocked but so is Cody’s, leaving Cody to settle for a tiger bomb instead.

The Cody Cutter gets two but Rollins snaps off a Pedigree for the same. Some hard shots to the face and another to the back of the head put Cody down. That doesn’t seem to matter though as Rollins takes too long to follow up, allowing Cody to snap off back to back Cross Rhodes. That’s not enough for a cover though as it’s a Flip Flop and Fly into the Bionic Elbow. One more Cross Rhodes finishes Rollins at 21:31.

Rating: B+. This was another great match and it felt like it belonged on Wrestlemania. Rhodes had to prove that he could hang with this kind of talent and beating a multiple time World Champion in Rollins is a great choice. Rhodes fought through the rib injury and hung with Rollins every step of the way before finishing him off. They had a heck of a match here and it would kick off an even better feud for the first half of the year.

Cody celebrates for a long time, including his signature kissing of the mat.

We look back at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I’m still getting used to it being in the ring, but I think I like it better. It still feels wrong to hear the name Mark Calaway on WWE TV though. Undertaker wrapped up his speech by saying “never say never”. At his Q&A session with fans that weekend, he said Vince asked what exactly that meant. Undertaker: “Vince, no. We’re not going there.”

This year’s class is presented:

Steiner Brothers (WAY overdue)
Shad Gaspard (perfect Warrior Award winner)
Queen Sharmell (sure why not)
Vader (again, way overdue)
Undertaker (eh he’s ok)

Undertaker gets the big entrance and comes out to pose, which seems like an excuse for one more Wrestlemania entrance and….well sure, as it’s still one of the coolest things ever in wrestling. Not so cool: the CGI Undertaker, which feels so out of place for something like this. Just let his entrance speak for himself.

We look back at Rick Boogs’ knee injury and see him carried out of the stadium. He officially has a torn quadriceps and a patella injury.

Tonight’s attendance: 77,899.

We recap Charlotte vs. Ronda Rousey for Charlotte’s Smackdown Women’s Title. Charlotte is the most successful woman in WWE history. Rousey returned at the Royal Rumble and won the title shot, setting up what is described as a huge showdown after a collision course. Charlotte has also beating Rousey up multiple times on the way here, which should set up a big revenge beating. Charlotte having a title match at Wrestlemania is rather played out at this point. Then again Rousey hasn’t exactly been inspiring since her return so it’s almost a wash.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Ronda Rousey

Charlotte is defending. Rousey powers her straight into the corner to start but Charlotte gets in a cheap shot behind the referee to take over. It’s too early for the ankle lock but Charlotte can’t get the Figure Four either. Rousey knees her in the head and grabs a choke with her legs over the rope. Since that can’t last long, Charlotte knees her down and hits a backbreaker on the apron to take over.

A hard posting sets up a right hand/elbow for two on Rousey back inside. Rousey can strike as well and hits a knee to the face, only to get sent face first into the buckle. Charlotte misses a knee though and Rousey snaps off a tornado DDT. With Rousey getting fired up, Charlotte spears her down for two and they both need a second. The moonsault kind of connects to give Charlotte two but Rousey is right back with a suplex.

Charlotte is fine enough to tie her in the Tree of Woe, where she grabs a Boston Crab of all things. You don’t do that to Rousey, who pulls her way up and…gets forearmed right back down. Rousey gets back up and hits a super judo throw for two as frustration is setting in (much like those chops, which have the top of Rousey’s chest VERY banged up). Piper’s Pit connects but it’s too early for the armbar.

Instead Charlotte kicks her in the face as Rousey gets cut off again (and again and again). A slam (kind of a snap hiptoss) gives Rousey two and now the ankle lock can go on. Charlotte reverses that (I’m stunned) into an ankle lock but gets sent into the buckle for the break. The armbar is countered into a powerbomb for two but Rousey is right back with the ankle lock, including a kneebar. Charlotte kicks that off for another break, only to have the Figure Four countered into an armbar.

That’s reversed into the Figure Eight, which is countered as Rousey turns it over. They fight to the apron where Rousey flips her down to the floor, only to charge into a fall away slam into the barricade. Back in and they glare at each other until Rousey snaps off a Piper’s Pit for two, as Charlotte gets a foot on the rope. Rousey yells at the referee enough that Charlotte can grab Natural Selection for two, leaving frustration to set in. Charlotte gets kicked into the referee so there is no one to see Charlotte tap to the armbar. Rousey goes to check on the referee, allowing Charlotte to boot her in the face to retain at 18:24.

Rating: B. It was a rather good and hard hitting match, but is anyone surprised that Charlotte is the first one to pin Rousey in a singles match? This match featured Charlotte taking Rousey out and cutting her off time after time, which isn’t the biggest stretch, but it certainly was deflating. Rousey got in some visible falls, but egads it was hard to take Charlotte winning AGAIN, as Rousey’s momentum (whatever there was of it) is cut off at the knees.

Night Two rundown.

Video on Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar, tomorrow night’s main event.

Wrestlemania XXXIX is in Los Angeles.

We recap Steve Austin being the guest on the Kevin Owens Show. Owens has been insulting Texas for months and he finally invited Austin onto the show. Austin cut a rather fired up promo about how he wrestled his last match nineteen years ago but Owens has lit a fire in him that has been out for a long time. Violence has been all but guaranteed, though no match was officially announced.

Here is Kevin Owens (with yet another awesome KO Mania shirt, this time based on the Ultimate Challenge at Wrestlemania VI) for the Kevin Owens Show (because the glass ceiling can in fact be shattered through hard work). Owens talks about how much he hates Texas but some people have suggested that he apologize. That is in fact what he does….for saying the absolute truth about Texas.

Now the people here much be waiting for him to bring out his guest, but we’re going to wait on that for a bit. Owens doesn’t want to hear about Austin being mad, because he will beat Austin up and drop him with a Stunner. As Owens is ready to insult Texas some more, cue glass shatter and MY GOODNESS the reaction to Austin is on another planet. Austin walks back and forth but then goes through the entrance to get his ATV (ok fair enough).

After a few laps, Austin gets in the ring and wrecks the set, leaving only the two chairs (and Owens). Hold on though as Austin has to get the off the charts hero’s welcome….until Owens tells him to take a seat (giving us a great Austin glare into the camera). They finally sit down and Austin isn’t happy with just wanting to have a conversation. Therefore, Austin insults Owens’ hair so Owens rips on Texas some more. Austin: “You’re about to have 75,000 people calling you an a******.”

Owens has to admit that he has been lying, because he didn’t call Austin out here for a talk. Even though Owens has a bad back, he is here to challenge Austin to a match. Sure it has been 19 years and Austin’s neck, knees and back were shot back then. Actually let’s make it a no holds barred match, which has Austin looking around a bit. There is some great stuff from Austin here, as you can see him thinking about it really hard.

Austin doesn’t say anything so Owens tells him that if he knows he can’t beat him, get his beer and go back to his ranch. That just makes the AUSTIN chants all the louder and he looks around quite a bit. Austin says he wrestled his first match in Dallas, Texas….and he could have his last match right here in Dallas, Texas (the fans like that). As he asks for the H*** YEAH, you can see Austin’s hand shaking….and he wants a referee. I’m not even an Austin fan and I was losing it at the idea that I was actually going to see this live, which is the kind of feeling that you do not get that often in wrestling (or anything for that matter).

Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens

No Holds Barred. They stare each other down to start and Austin wins the slugout and stomps the mudhole (with a brief look to the crowd) in the corner. Austin sends him hard into the corner but let’s stop for some beer. Another mudhole is stomped and Austin sends him over the top to the floor. More beer drinking ensues (and yes it is Austin’s beer) and Austin turns him inside out with a clothesline (you know Owens is going to bump as much as he can here).

Owens manages a posting and right hands but takes too long setting up a table against the barricade. Austin whips him through it instead and NOW you can see the old eyes coming out. They fight into the crowd and Owens suplexes him on the concrete (I never would have bet on Austin taking that big of a bump).

Now it’s Owens being a bit fired up himself and they head back to ringside, where Owens is slammed onto the announcers’ table. More beer is consumed as Austin gets to hammer away on the table (Graves: “If Popeye had his spinach, Austin has his Steveweisers!”). Owens gets in a shot of his own and goes over to the ATV, which he can’t start. That takes too long as Austin is there to hammer away….and they go riding up the ramp.

Austin suplexes him on the stage (Owens’ sell is great) and then takes him to the other side of the stage for a second suplex. We pause for Austin to soak all of his in (yeah fair) before Austin throws him down the ramp. They get inside with Owens hitting a quick Stunner for two before grabbing a chair. The chair hits the top rope and bounces back into Owens’ face, setting up the Stunner to give Austin the pin at 13:58.

Rating: B. Special. That is the word that you could feel throughout this entire thing and my goodness it holds up on another viewing. Whether you are a fan of his or not, there is no way to deny how big of a star Austin was or what he meant to wrestling. Seeing Austin come back after NINETEEN YEARS and have an actual match rather than some two minute segment disguised as a match was amazing. Austin deserves this kind of treatment and I can’t even imagine what this meant to a lifelong fan like Owens. I would absolutely love to see his face when he was told that he would be in this spot, as it would have been incredible.

Oh yeah the match itself. This was a hard hitting fight that felt like a callback to the Attitude Era. That was the only thing they could do, as there was no way to have Austin wrestle a normal match. They beat each other up for the better part of fifteen minutes here and it was a heck of a fight, with Austin looking like an older version of his normal self. This was pretty amazing and my goodness it actually gave me chills.

Post match Austin drinks a lot of beer and throws one to his brother in the crowd. Owens gets another Stunner and is taken out by some Texas police (complete with hats). Austin says it’s great to be back in Dallas and hits the catchphrase. Byron Saxton is called into the ring and gets Stunnered (you can see/hear the utter joy from Corey Graves in a great moment). Austin’s brother gets in the ring for some beer and the big celebration ends the show. After it was over, Austin took some laps in the ATV before leaving for good to end the night.

Overall Rating: A-. This show started off slowly but after the second match, everything took off and it was one awesome match after another. What mattered the most though was it felt like a Wrestlemania, with some great moments like Belair winning the title, Rhodes’ return and the Austin stuff to cap it all off. All in all, this was one of the better Wrestlemanias in a good while and it kept me interested all night. Well done, as WWE continues to know how to make the big shows work.

Ratings Comparison

Usos vs. Shinsuke Nakamura/Rick Boogs

Original: C
Redo: C

Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin

Original: C
Redo: C-

Miz/Logan Paul vs. Mysterios

Original: C
Redo: B-

Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair

Original: B+
Redo: A-

Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes

Original: B+
Redo: B+

Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte

Original: B-
Redo: B

Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens

Original: B
Redo: B

Overall Rating

Original: B+
Redo: A-

It was a very good show to start and it actually improved a year later. Nice job.

 

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Wrestlemania XXXVII Night One
Date: April 10, 2021
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 25,675
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Samoa Joe, Byron Saxton
America the Beautiful: Bebe Rexha

Here we have an interesting one, as it’s the first show in a LONG time with fans. While this wouldn’t be a permanent change, it was more than a big deal as it felt like an actual Wrestlemania after the previous year’s…whatever you want to call that at the Performance Center. We’re still doing the two night thing and that should make for a big difference. Let’s get to it.

Just like last year, the theme is pirate related, as we’re in the home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This means a big WWE themed pirate ship, which looks incredible. WWE knows how to do this stuff and it pretty much never fails.

Here is Vince McMahon on the stage, with a bunch of the roster behind him, to talk about how the wrestlers have worked to get us through the pandemic. There has been something missing though and that is all of the people. McMahon thanks the fans and welcomes us to Wrestlemania. That’s a nice moment and it makes things feel that much bigger.

Bebe Rexha, and her guitar player, perform America The Beautiful.

The opening video talks about how the company is back in business after a very long wait. This is going to be a high seas, high stakes adventure and it’s going to be bigger than the history of history. Hold on though as the Jack Sparrow impersonator from last year comes in to say that line was rotten so we’ll go back to where we were last year.

The video switches into a Pirates Of The Caribbean style look at various stars, followed by a more standard opening video. Sparrow: “Now how’s that for a cold open?” The other voice wants a big finish though, meaning we get the big WELCOME TO WRESTLEMANIA voice. Points for creativity and a bit of humor at least.

Commentary welcomes us to the show…and for the first time ever, we have a WEATHER DELAY. The fans bust out the ponchos as commentary tries to fill in time by talking about the announced opener of Drew McIntyre challenging Bobby Lashley for the Raw World Title.

Thankfully WWE gets smart and lets its wrestlers talk to fill in some time. Shane McMahon is ready to take Braun Strowman out but he doesn’t have a problem with him. Yeah he suggested Strowman was stupid, but think of the things he can do when they’re in a cage tonight.

MVP and Bobby Lashley come in to say this will be the crowning moment of the Almighty Era. It’s all over for Drew McIntyre, who is going to lose his dignity, his consciousness, and the match. McIntyre comes in to tell MVP to keep talking but say it to his face. Mother Nature can’t save Lashley because McIntyre will fight him back here if he has to. Everything is broken up and McIntyre is a bit shaken up, saying he needs to be out there in front of the fans because he’s waited for such a long time for this to happen. McIntyre really doesn’t seem smooth at talking off the top of his head.

The Kickoff Show panel chats a bit with JBL hyping this up as much as he can.

New Day is ready for AJ Styles and Omos because they’re fighting champions. Are Omos and Styles even a registered tag team? New Day knows there are bigger people out there and they really don’t care. Big E. comes in to sing the team’s praises and my goodness this man missed his calling as a preacher. Woods: “I AM DELIVERED!”

Commentary laughs about the rain delay and Cole tries to dub it Wrestlerania, which goes over as well as most of his jokes.

Braun Strowman is ready to prove that bullies do not win as he gives Shane McMahon the beating of his life. Not a bad promo here.

The Kickoff Show panel praise Vince McMahon’s opening of the show. This feels like filler as they try to find someone else to interview, which is fine.

Kevin Owens, naturally in the KO Mania V shirt, talks about meeting Sami Zayn back in 2002 and seeing the passion in him. They’ve wrestled each other around the world, literally doing this hundreds of times. People told them that they wouldn’t make it to the show and now they’re doing it again at Wrestlemania. They’ve been through all kinds of things and now he’s going to Stun someone. If Logan Paul, who is going to be at the match, has something to say about that, he’ll be in the ring. Good stuff here, as Owens can talk and was handed a microphone to do just that.

Cole and Joe are now in ponchos (Saxton’s microphone has died) and now they have about five minutes before the show can start up.

Bianca Belair isn’t scared of Sasha Banks because she’s ready to prove herself. The best thing though is that the fans will be there to see it. You could tell this was off the top of her head and she did fine.

Seth Rollins can’t remember Kevin Patrick’s name (“It’s Mike right?”) and doesn’t like being asked about “Zazaro” swinging him a record number of times. He doesn’t get the disrespect but he’s ready to show why he’s the new Mr. Wrestlemania. Rollins wraps it up and dubs him “Kevin-Mike”. Rollins: “Can we hyphenate?”

Miz and John Morrison are ready for the scumbags that are Damian Priest and Bad Bunny. Priest can never be as moist as Johnny Drip Drip. Miz hypes up the show as being the biggest in the world but I’m trying to get over the Drip Drip thing.

The Kickoff Show says the announcement has been made and the fans are coming back in.

We get a video on Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre for the Raw World Title. Miz cashed in the Money In The Bank briefcase on McIntyre but Lashley beat him a few days later. McIntyre has been on a roll lately but wants to get the title back because he wants his moment in front of fans after beating Brock Lesnar in an empty Performance Center last year. Fair enough. Of note: you can hear some of the production audio leaking over the video, which is always interesting.

Commentary fills in a bit more time as the fans get back to their seats.

Here are Titus O’Neil (this year’s Warrior Award recipient) and Hulk Hogan, this year’s hosts. They hype things up and the fans don’t seem thrilled to see Hogan. We’re kicking it off with the Raw World Title match and thankfully Hogan doesn’t make any major blunders.

Of note: absolutely none of the delay stuff is on Netflix, which goes from the opening video to O’Neil and Hogan’s entrances. This is better than Peacock’s version, which was cut into two parts and all messed up. I’ll call it progress, even with less content.

In what I’m guessing is another issue with the editing, here’s the Lashley vs. McIntyre video again.

Raw World Title: Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre

Lashley, with MVP, is defending. They fight over a lockup and trade knockdowns off some shoulders. With that going even, they hit each other in the face with Lashley getting the better of things. McIntyre’s clothesline puts Lashley on the floor, where he rams McIntyre into the barricade to take over again. A neckbreaker gives Lashley two and he shrugs off McIntyre’s attempt to go after the arm.

McIntyre fights up with the clothesline comeback, followed by the overhead belly to belly. A northern lights suplex gives McIntyre one but Lashley is back with the spinning faceplant. McIntyre charges into a spinebuster for two more and Lashley is getting mad. The Hurt Lock attempt is broken up though and McIntyre sends him into the corner for the reverse Alabama Slam. McIntyre loads up a superplex but gets knocked into the Tree Of Woe. As is his custom, McIntyre sits up for the belly to belly superplex to send Lashley crashing.

The Claymore is countered into the spinebuster…and McIntyre nips up. McIntyre is back with three straight Futureshocks for two and McIntyre seems to know he’s in trouble. The threat of the Claymore sends Lashley outside so McIntyre hits the big no hands flip dive take out both Lashley and MVP.

Back in and McIntyre dives into a Downward Spiral but the Hurt Lock is blocked. Another spinebuster is countered into the Kimura of all things, with Lashley making the rope. The Glasgow Kiss looks to set up the Claymore but MVP yells at McIntyre, allowing Lashley to get out of the way. Now the Hurt Lock goes on and McIntyre can’t even use the corner to roll out. McIntyre passes out at 18:50.

Rating: B. This was exactly what it should have been with two big strong guys beating the fire out of each other. You don’t get that kind of a fight very often and it worked rather well, with Lashley getting a genuinely impressive win. McIntyre didn’t so much get beaten as much as he got caught, though Lashley was looking awesome here, even in defeat. Rather good opener.

Titus O’Neil and the NWO are in the back when Bayley interrupts. She knows they’re the hosts of Wrestlemania and she hosts her own show. She does the Too Sweet deal but no one will do it back to her. X-Pac says he’s a big fan and does it, with Hall pretty clearly having no idea who Bayley is but doing it anyway. The rest walk away. You know this was a blast for Bayley.

Women’s Tag Team Turmoil

For a Women’s Tag Team Title shot on Night Two. Naomi/Lana are in at #1 and Billie Kay/Carmella are in at #2. Even commentary admits that Carmella and Kay are thrown together but Graves would rather just look at Carmella. Naomi takes Carmella down to start and Lana is in for a bulldog and some dancing back up. Lana gets sent into the wrong corner but fights out in a hurry, allowing Naomi to come in and clean house. The springboard kick to the face lets Lana tag herself in and…complete miss on…something commentary didn’t even recognize. A double X Factor plants Carmella but Kay makes the save. Kay rolls Naomi up and Carmella’s assist gets the pin at 2:21.

The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott/Liv Morgan in this case) is in at #3 and Riott starts cleaning house. Morgan gets sent into the wrong corner but fights out rather easily, allowing the tag back to Riott. A backbreaker into a top rope backsplash (crushing Kay between Riott and Morgan’s knees) gives Riott the pin at 4:58.

Carmella isn’t happy and superkicks Morgan (who shoves Riott out of the way) as Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose are in at #4 (with the camera hiding Rose slipping on the ramp). Rose starts fast with a running knee and a Blockbustr for two on Riott, with Morgan making the save. Brooke’s running flipping neckbreaker gets two more but Riott rolls Rose up for two. The Riott Kick connects and Morgan comes back in as everything breaks down. Riott is sent outside and it’s a superplex into Brooke’s Swanton for the…not pin on Morgan as she reverses into a small package to pin Brooke at 9:18.

Even the ring announcer gets the elimination announcement wrong and has to issue a correction. Natalya and Tamina are in at #5 and things slow down. Natalya powerbombs Morgan for two and Tamina grabs a fireman’s carry. That’s escaped as Morgan makes it into the corner and grabs a Codebreaker, allowing Riott’s top rope backsplash to connect for two. Morgan comes back in and charges into Tamina’s superkick. That means a Hart Attack (right after commentary brought up Natalya not wanting to live off of her family’s name) into the Superfly Splash to give Tamina the final pin at 14:06.

Rating: D+. What am I supposed to get out of this? The tag division was basically non-existent at this point with a bunch of thrown together teams just like this. Natalya and Tamina aren’t interesting on their own so having them together isn’t going to make it much better. There was about one regular team in here and that’s not enough to carry a five team match.

Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro

This is over Rollins mocking Cesaro for never winning anything on his own, while Rollins is a big success. They were playing up something like a Rollins political campaign, which didn’t exactly work but a lot of people have tried it over the years. Cesaro charges at him with the uppercut to start but a pair of early Swing attempts are blocked. Rollins grabs a buckle bomb for two and we slow way back down.

A superplex floated into the regular version gives Rollins two more and frustration is setting in. Back up and they strike it out with Cesaro getting the better of things but the Swing is countered again. Rollins kicks him in the headbutt misses the Stomp, allowing Cesaro to get the Swing. Cesaro tries the Sharpshooter, sending Rollins over to the ropes. An uppercut misses in the corner though and Cesaro’s arm is banged up.

Rollins knocks him down again and hits a corkscrew top rope splash for two. Cesaro hits a quick Neutralizer for two, only to get caught in the Pedigree for the same. Rollins yells about surviving the Swing and hits him in the back of the neck, followed by a kick to the back of the head. Cesaro isn’t having this and hits an uppercut into the UFO (because that’s something a human can do). A 23 revolution Swing sets up the Neutralizer to finish Rollins at 11:34.

Rating: B. This was about Cesaro showing that he could do this on the big stage and it worked rather well. It’s something that fans had been wanting to see for a long time and it lead to Cesaro’s World Title shot in the main event of Backlash. They set up the Swing as being the big deal to make Rollins eat his words. In other words, build up the story and then pay it off with the good guy winning. Nice stuff.

We look at Jey Uso winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal and Robert Roode/Dolph Ziggler retaining the Smackdown Tag Team Titles last night.

Roode and Ziggler brag about their success but think Omos and AJ Styles are going to take out the New Day.

Raw Tag Team Titles: AJ Styles/Omos vs. New Day

New Day is defending. Kingston can’t get an SOS on Styles to start but can escape an attempt at the Calf Crusher. Styles gets knocked into the corner and it’s time for some trombone inspired dancing. A blind tag brings in Woods for an elbow and a near fall so we hit the chinlock (Woods: “AJ! YOU ARE NOT A TAG TEAM WRESTLER! WE ARE EFFECTIVELY CUTTING THE RING IN HALF!”).

The unicorn Stampede has Styles down in the corner and Woods grabs a headlock but has to drag Styles away from the corner. It’s back to Kingston to continue the game of “keep the giant out of here”, including a middle rope double stomp to Styles. An enziguri misses and Kingston is back in with a springboard splash to the back.

Styles gets in a quick shot though and it’s off to Omos, who doesn’t seem pleased with Woods. The kicks to the leg and a dropkick are shrugged off and Kingston is knocked down as well. Some running elbows in the corner set up a backbreaker to Woods and Kingston is swatted away as well. A Phenomenal Forearm off Omos’ shoulders drops Woods and it’s a chokebomb finishes Kingston for the titles at 9:49.

Rating: C. This was a weird one as it was mostly Styles getting beaten up with the champs trying to avoid getting massacred by Omos. That’s a formula that has been done before (the Horsemen basically did the same thing against Kevin Sullivan and the Giant at Bash At The Beach 1996) and it still works. Omos and Styles don’t need to be this all time team, but they were good enough as a way to make Omos look like an unstoppable force.

We recap Shane McMahon vs. Braun Strowman. McMahon has decided to bully Strowman vs. being stupid (making it brains vs. brawn) but then kept running instead of fighting (including faking a knee injury). The result if a cage match and McMahon can’t run anymore.

Jerry Lawler is on commentary.

Shane McMahon vs. Braun Strowman

Inside of a cage (somehow the first non-Cell cage match since Wrestlemania II). McMahon won’t let the door open so here are Elias and Jaxson Ryker (McMahon’s cronies) to chair Strowman down. Strowman is sent inside and McMahon starts chairing away, only for Strowman to take the chair away. A shot to Strowman’s knee cuts him off again but it’s still not good enough to keep Strowman down.

Strowman threatens McMahon with GETTING THESE HANDS but some quick strikes slow Strowman again. McMahon tries to climb out and grabs a metal sheet off the top of the cage. Some shots to the back and another to the head get one on Strowman, who launches McMahon off the cover. McMahon gets launched into the cage a few times and a splash crushes him against the steel again.

The running powerslam is broken up though and a spinning DDT drops Strowman. A Coast To Coast hits Strowman in the ribs for two so Ryker and Elias try to help McMahon climb out. Strowman knocks the two of them off the side of the cage, sending McMahon crashing down. McMahon goes back up and finds a well placed toolbox to knock Strowman off.

That lets McMahon climb down…but Strowman rips the cage open and pulls him back inside for another beating. They both go back up top and stand on top of the cage, with Strowman just throwing McMahon back down. It’s time for vengeance though as Strowman goes back inside, yells at him, and hits the running powerslam for the pin at 11:27.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what to make of this, as Strowman wrecked McMahon the second he got his hands on him, as he should have. At the same time, it wasn’t exactly a great cage match, as it didn’t really come off as something that belonged at Wrestlemania. Maybe Extreme Rules, but not here. Good enough, but nothing special save for McMahon’s big crash.

Here’s some pyro. No idea why, but here it is.

Commentary talks about the Hall Of Fame but Bayley interrupts to call Michael Cole an idiot. She throws us to the package on the 2020 Hall Of Fame class, who didn’t get to have a special induction due to the pandemic.

Here’s the Class Of 2020:

John Bradshaw Layfield (yeah fine)
William Shatner (sure why not)
Bella Twins (moving on)
Jushin Thunder Liger (yep)
Titus O’Neil (Warrior Award, and they might as well rename it after him for all the stuff he does)
British Bulldog (perfectly acceptable)
New World Order (Hogan/Hall/Nash/X-Pac (yes X-Pac) only and….yeah again can’t argue that)

Batista was supposed to be in this class too but it was postponed due to the pandemic. He wasn’t mentioned here.

Wrestlemania XXXVIII is coming to Dallas (close enough), as announced by Steve Austin. Like he’d have anything to do at that Wrestlemania.

Booker T. joins commentary.

Miz/John Morrison vs. Bad Bunny/Damian Priest

Cue a bunch of bunnies to the ring, which brings out Miz and Morrison for their Bad Bunny diss track, Hey Hey Hop Hop (which is far catchier than it should be). This sends us to the video package, which is basically “Bad Bunny is a celebrity, Miz and Morrison don’t like him, Priest stands up for Bunny, tag match is on”. Bunny comes in on a semi truck for quite the visual.

Morrison backs away from Priest to start so it’s off to Miz vs. Bunny instead. Bunny gets in a right hand to the jaw and Miz realizes he’s in trouble. Another punch sends Miz in to the cornere, where Morrison declares it luck. Miz gets serious and drives him into the corner to take over. Back up and Bunny reverses a hiptoss into an armdrag and Miz is sent outside. Bunny’s la majistral gets two and he stops to dance a bit.

Miz slows things down and sends him face first into the ropes but Bunny snaps off a very spinning headscissors, with Priest getting VERY fired up on the apron. Morrison comes in and gets sent into the corner for a running elbow but the second is cut off. Miz gets in a cheap shot from the apron and Bunny is in trouble for a change. A sunset flip doesn’t get Bunny out of trouble as Miz kicks him in the face for another knockdown.

Bunny gets knocked outside and Morrison even busts out a Spinarooni in front of Booker T. Back in and Priest gets drawn into the ring so the double bunny stomping can ensue. Bunny manages to kick Morrison outside though and it’s a tornado DDT, allowing the tag off to Priest to clean house. The kicks set up South Of Heaven to Miz with Morrison making the save.

Stereo head claps and Falcon Arrows get two each and the villains head outside, with Bunny hitting the big dive onto both of them. Back in and Priest’s Cross Rhodes is countered into the Skull Crushing Finale with Bunny having to make the save. Bunny grabs a Canadian Destroyer to Morrison on the floor, setting up a Doomsday crossbody to give Bunny the pin on Miz at 15:14.

Rating: B-. This is a weird one to look at, as it’s ALL about Bunny, who had some pretty good athleticism and can do the big spots well enough. The match did go on a bit too long and that dragged it down a bit, though it gave the fans what they wanted. Bunny was one of the better celebrity wrestlers and Priest was there to do the heavy lifting. Good enough stuff, but it needed to be a few minutes shorter.

We look back at Lashley beating McIntyre earlier tonight.

We run down the Wrestlemania Sunday card.

We recap Sasha Banks defending the Smackdown Women’s Title against Bianca Belair. This was set up as Belair won the Royal Rumble but Banks wasn’t impressed, setting up their title match.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks

Belair is challenging. They stare at each other to start and then lock up with Banks shoving her down, only for Belair to pop back up. That means more shoving until Belair pulls a leapfrog out of the air. Belair backflips out of a sunset flip attempt and does her dance, allowing Banks to strike back. A wheelbarrow rollup is countered into a double chickenwing, which Banks reverses into a roll out to the floor.

Banks sends her from the apron into the post to set up a suicide dive…but Belair pulls a suicide dive out of the air. Belair gorilla presses her and walks up the steps for a toss back inside. That has Banks realizing this is different and pulls Belair down, only to get dropped with a running shoulder. A slam, with some squats thrown in, has Banks more in trouble but she gets smart by grabbing the hair. That lets Banks hit a running knee for two before she hammers away on the mat.

The chinlock doesn’t last long as Belair fights up and powers her to the apron. Banks tries to jump back inside and gets caught in a spinebuster so they head outside. That lets Banks grab the hair but Belair uses it to pull her into the steps. Banks’ running knees only hit the barricade and Belair heads back inside. A double slingshot suplex (with Belair having to muscle her up as only she can) puts Banks down and Belair starts running her over to pick up the pace.

Belair hits a running shooting star press to the back, followed by a double chickenwing faceplant. The 450 hits raised knees though and Banks knees her in the face, only to charge into a double powerbomb for two. The third powerbomb is countered into a faceplant and they’re both down again. Banks gets creative with a tornado DDT out of the corner and into a springboard to plant Belair for two more. A frog splash gets two and Banks sends her outside for a ram into the steps.

Back in and Banks ties Belair’s hair around Belair’s arm (ouch), followed by the Bank Statement. Somehow Belair gets over to the ropes so Banks goes up, only to miss a top rope double stomp. Belair’s 450 connects this time and the kickout has her screaming in shock. They fight over the hair and Banks gets in the whip, which sounds like a freaking rifle going off. Again, I know it’s been covered, but that’s from someone’s HAIR. How is that even possible? Anyway the KOD gives Belair the pin and the title at 17:17, with Cole screwing up and saying it’s a kickout before going into celebration mode.

Rating: B+. This turned into a fight and it felt like it belonged in the main event spot. The biggest thing here is that Belair elevated herself, which is something that had to happen. While the Four Horsewomen had done some great things, at some point you need a new generation to follow them. People like Belair were at the top of that list and this was the moment where she arrived. That hair whip spot was insane and Belair won clean, so you can’t ask for much more than that, even with Cole screwing up.

Belair celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It’s a good show with some weak spots, though nothing really stood out as a classic/must see moment. The catch with this one was that it was all about getting to be in front of live fans, which really is a big deal after being cooped up in the Thunderdome for so many months. It’s not exactly a must see show, but there’s nothing overly terrible and it has enough good to carry things through.

Ratings Comparison

Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley

Original: B-
2022 Redo: B
2026 Redo: B

Tag Team Turmoil

Original: D
2022 Redo: D
2026 Redo: D+

Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins

Original: C+
2022 Redo: B-
2026 Redo: B

AJ Styles/Omos vs. New Day

Original: C+
2022 Redo: C
2026 Redo: C

Braun Strowman vs. Shane McMahon

Original: D
2022 Redo: D
2026 Redo: C

Miz/John Morrison vs. Bad Bunny/Damian Priest

Original: C
2022 Redo: B
2026 Redo: B-

Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks

Original: B
2022 Redo: B
2026 Redo: B+

Overall Rating

Original: B-
2022 Redo: B-
2026 Redo: B-

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Wrestlemania XXXVI Night Two
Date: April 5, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield

It’s the second half of one of the weirdest shows ever and I’m not sure what that is going to mean. Even a year later, this show is mostly forgotten outside of the main event and I’m curious to see how the rest of it holds up. I was actually surprised by some of what’s on the card as it has completely escaped me over the last year. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Natalya vs. Liv Morgan

You know, you don’t have to have a Kickoff Show match if this is as good as you can get. Natalya headlocks her down to start but lets it go for an early standoff. A rollup gives Morgan two and she gets some sarcastic applause for a bonus. Morgan ducks a clothesline with the Matrix and rolls her up for two more, allowing her to get in her own sarcastic applause.

Natalya is right back with her belly to back drop into the step over basement dropkick for two more. The surfboard goes on and Morgan screams a lot but she avoids a charge in the corner to grab another rollup. A Codebreaker gives Morgan two and Natalya’s sitout wheelbarrow faceplant gets the same. The Sharpshooter attempt is countered into a step up enziguri and Morgan grabs another rollup for the pin at 6:22.

Rating: C-. This was as interesting as it was going to get with Morgan trying one rollup after another to little avail until the ending. Morgan always seems like someone they want to push to the moon but can’t figure out how to get there. This win isn’t going to be some game changer, but at least they gave her something, even if this was nearly depressing as a way to start the night.

Stephanie McMahon gives us a quick welcome.

We get the same still pretty great pirate parody opening video.

Rob Gronkowski talks about knowing a thing or two about dropping the hammer on a championship Sunday.

NXT Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley

Ripley is defending and it’s a shame that she didn’t get the big moment after the pretty cool video of her walking into the empty Raymond James Stadium. We get the recap video after Charlotte’s entrance, as Charlotte won the Royal Rumble and Ripley threw her hat in the ring, meaning it was time for Charlotte to go after the NXT Women’s Title again. Ripley looks a bit weird in blue tights but Wrestlemania has had some strange choices over the year.

Charlotte takes her down to start and we hit the trash talk in a hurry. Ripley seems to be favoring her knee as they lock up and Charlotte drives her into the corner. The chops, with more trash talk, have Ripley in more trouble but she comes out with the Riptide for a quick two. That’s enough to send Charlotte outside for a breather so Ripley follows her out with an elbow to the face.

A flip dive off the steps takes Charlotte down again and Ripley sends her face first into the mat back inside. Ripley gets two more off a snap suplex and it’s time to kick Charlotte in the back. The bodyscissors stays on the ribs but Charlotte gets in a shot to the leg for a breather. Another kick to the knee has Ripley in trouble and Charlotte twists it around to make things even worse.

The leg is wrapped around the post but Ripley comes back with a belly to back faceplant. Ripley is back up with some good knees to the face, setting up a dropkick to a kneeling Charlotte. A lot of shouting at the knee drives Ripley on but Charlotte sends her to the apron for another kick to the knee. Ripley catches her on top for an electric chair faceplant but Charlotte hits her in the face. The knee to the knee in the corner misses though and Ripley scores with a missile dropkick, which bangs up the knee even more.

Charlotte is back up with a chop block but Ripley grabs the legs for the Prism Trap (such a cool name). That’s reversed into a Boston crab but Ripley powers out into a pinfall reversal sequence. Back up and Ripley scores with a big boot for two and frustration is setting in. Ripley takes her up top but gets shoved down, only to get the boots up to block the moonsault. Charlotte hits a spear for two so it’s time for the Figure Eight for the tap and the title at 20:27.

Rating: B+. This felt like a battle and a struggle, which is exactly how it should have felt. They made it feel important, but I really can’t get behind the idea of Charlotte winning here. It’s like she came in and showed NXT how little they mean compared to the main roster. Charlotte has won everything there is to win in WWE, so why did she need to win this too? Ripley needed this win a lot more than Charlotte, but that has never stopped WWE before.

Long video on night one.

Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley

Lana is here with Lashley and this might be the greatest example of “what a difference a year makes” in recent memory. Black has horns on his shoulders because of course he does. Lashley powers him around to start and then does it again to make his point clear. A leg dive doesn’t work for Black as Lashley supelxes him down and hammers away.

Lashley misses a charge and falls out to the floor but Black misses the middle rope moonsault, earning himself a suplex. There’s a running shoulder to the ribs in the corner, setting up a neckbreaker to drop Black again. Black knees his way out of the delayed vertical suplex but Lashley snaps off a powerslam for two more.

Now the suplex can connect for two but Black is back with kicks to the legs. Another kick puts Lashley on the floor and now the middle rope moonsault connects. Back in and Lashley hits a crossbody of all things for two but Lana gets on the steps for no logical reason. The Dominator is loaded up but Lana demands a spear….which charges into Black Mass to give Black the pin at 7:16.

Rating: C. Not a bad back and forth match here but the ending didn’t do it many favors. Lana and Lashley was an idea that went on too long and pretty much never worked but WWE didn’t seem to get the idea for a good while. Then there’s Black and egads what happened with him? He had a nice push in the spring and summer but then it just all fell apart later on, because WWE. I don’t get it either, because he just pinned a big star clean here and then WWE just gave up.

Bayley and Sasha Banks aren’t worried about the five way tonight. They are united to keep Bayley’s Smackdown Women’s Title because they are best friends. Bayley leaves but when asked if she wants to win the title, Banks says we’ll see.

We look at Mojo Rawley winning the 24/7 Title last night.

Rob Gronkowski wants the 24/7 Title.

We recap Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler. Otis and Mandy Rose seem to have a thing for each other but Ziggler doesn’t get it. Then he and Sonya Deville got together to split them up before they could get together, with Mandy getting together with Ziggler instead. The Smackdown hacker intervened and shows the plot, meaning Mandy and Otis can be on the same page once Otis deals with Ziggler. Yeah this was kind of nuts but it was funny and oddly charming.

Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler

Sonya Deville is here with Ziggler, who is chased outside before the bell. Otis splashes him in the corner to start but Ziggler is right back with a superkick to the floor. A posting gives Ziggler two back inside and we hit the choke. There’s a dropkick for two more and the choking moves to the ropes this time. The jumping elbow sets up something like a rear naked choke, which Otis breaks up in a hurry. Otis starts the jiggling and hammers away, including the running clotheslines.

A slam lets Otis step on Ziggler’s back and a whip into the corner puts Ziggler down again. Otis sends him outside for a whip into the barricade, followed by a posting for a bonus. Back in and a pop up World’s Strongest Slam has Ziggler in trouble and Sonya demanding that he get up. A Sonya distraction lets Ziggler get in a low blow and they’re both down for a bit. Cue Mandy Rose (you knew this was coming) to slap Sonya and hit Ziggler low, setting up the Caterpillar to give Otis the pin at 8:09.

Rating: C-. The match was nothing beyond a Smackdown level match but I was stunned by the result. I really would never have bet that Otis would have beaten Ziggler so well done on the surprise ending and going the right way. There was no logical reason for Ziggler to win here, which was exactly why I would have expected it. Otis and Mandy were never going to be a long term angle, but for a one off moment, this was very well done.

Post match Otis picks Mandy up and they have their first kiss, which would have been a great moment with a crowd.

We recap Edge vs. Randy Orton. Edge returned in the Royal Rumble for the huge surprise, where he eliminated Orton. This made Orton ask if Edge wanted to reunited Rated RKO one more time, only to surprise Edge with a big beatdown. With Edge gone, Orton gave his wife Beth Phoenix an RKO, which was treated like the worst thing ever, because Beth went from a Hall of Famer to a damsel in distress. Orton explained that he was doing this to save Edge from turning into what Orton had become, even if it meant ending his career all over again. Makes wrestling sense and it set up a Last Man Standing match, so who am I to complain?

Edge vs. Randy Orton

Last Man Standing and dang it must be awful for Edge to put in all that work and his Wrestlemania entrance is in front of an empty building. Orton runs in from behind (thanks to the classic cameraman disguise) with the RKO and the referee has to ask Edge if he wants to do this. That’s an of course so Orton hits another RKO for an early nine. They head outside with Orton hitting him in the face with the camera for seven so let’s go backstage.

It’s off to the gym first with Orton using a strap from a gym machine (in a moment whose accidental significance went completely over my head live) to choke him but Edge gets back up and hits him with a chain. Edge hammers him onto a table and then into a chair to pound away even more. We go aerial as Edge grabs a machine and uses it to pull himself up and land on Orton in the chair. Edge shouts about nine years but gets whipped into a wall to put him down.

Orton can’t quite crush him with a sled so Edge sends him into some equipment. They fight into a rather narrow hallway where Orton goes face first into a garage door. That’s only good for six though as Edge wants to beat him up some more. It’s back into the arena now with Orton throwing Edge into the barricade. Edge uses said barricade to pull himself up at nine so it’s time to go backstage again, this time to the office area. They take turns ramming each other into a board room table until Edge sends him face first into a wall.

Orton is thrown onto the table and Edge pulls himself up on the….whatever the chain link stuff is above the table to drop an elbow. We lose a cameraman so another has to run in to catch them in a storage room. Orton staggers away with his left arm pretty banged up, but he is able to knock Edge onto an anvil case. They go through more stuff with Edge finding some chairs, which Orton throws away in a hurry. A whip into a bunch of stuff gives Orton nine and they wind up in what loos like an interview area.

Edge gets in a few more shots of his own, including a kick to the ribs, and they’re both down for a breather. With Orton knocked onto a table, Edge climbs a ladder onto a scaffold and drops a huge elbow through Orton through said table for a double eight. It’s time to stagger around some more, this time with Orton’s shoulder bleeding. Orton sends him into more equipment for another eight and then takes him onto the back of a covered pick up truck.

The hanging DDT onto said cover gives us another double eight and they climb onto the top of a big production truck. Edge cuts off a Punt with the spear for nine but another spear charges into an RKO. With Edge getting up again, Orton drops down and grabs some chairs to take back to the top of the truck. Orton sounds like he mentions Edge’s daughters but the Conchairto is countered into a standing choke. That’s enough to knock Orton out but Edge says stop counting. The Conchairto crushes him for good and Edge wins at 36:40.

Rating: B-. I liked this one way more the first time around as this really did feel long here. They had some good violence and beat each other up but you easily could have cut out ten plus minutes and done the same thing. You also get into the same problem that so many Last Man Standing matches have, in that you spend so much time waiting on the counts that the match loses a lot of steam. I still like it, but cut this stuff down.

Back in the arena, Mojo Rawley runs from the menagerie of numskulls but Rob Gronkowski dives off a balcony onto the pile to win the title. Apparently this took HOURS to film as Gronkowski wouldn’t do it, even after Vince McMahon himself demonstrated the dive (the video released of Vince doing it is kind of awesome).

Raw Tag Team Titles: Austin Theory/Angel Garza vs. Street Profits

The Profits are defending and Theory is a last minute replacement for an injured Andrade, just to hammer home how messy this show is. Zelina Vega is here with the challengers too. Dawkins headlocks Theory to start and then runs him over with a shoulder. The champs start taking turns on the shoulder but Theory sends Dawkins outside. That means Garza can hit a superkick, allowing him to come inside and TAKE OFF HIS PANTS.

Some kicks to Dawkins’ ribs set up a seated abdominal stretch but Dawkins flips out without much trouble. Ford comes in to clean house and there’s the big flip dive onto Theory (and Dawkins by mistake). Back in and Garza kicks Ford down, setting up a Lionsault for two. The Wing Clipper is countered with an enziguri though and the hot tag brings in Dawkins. Theory catches him with a quick TKO but Ford comes in with the frog splash to give Dawkins the retaining pin at 6:23.

Rating: D+. There was a very firm limit to what they could do here with no real feud between one of the teams hadn’t even been together for a week and they didn’t even have seven minutes to do their thing. It felt like a Raw match and in this case, that is about as good as you could have expected. The Profits were brand new champions here and as usual, there weren’t exactly a ton of teams for them to challenge them. Take away one of the only ones around and how good could this have been?

Post match the beatdown is on but Bianca Belair runs in for her debut and takes out Vega.

Titus O’Neil has taken over hosting duties, meaning he says he’s hosting.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Lacey Evans vs. Tamina vs. Naomi

Bayley is defending under elimination rules and Naomi’s entrance is still cool even in an empty arena. Everyone goes after Tamina to start because it is Wrestlemania season and therefore she matters again. With Tamina knocked to the floor, the other four pair off until Bayley and Banks double team Evans for two. The mini tag match breaks out with Lacey and Naomi hitting stereo dropkicks for stereo near falls.

Tamina (sorry, the POWERFUL Tamina) gets back in to wreck everyone and gets a few near falls. Bayley and Lacey are kicked to the floor, leaving us with a Team BAD reunion, assuming more than about 4% of the audience actually remembers that weird trios period at the start of the Women’s Revolution. Tamina gets double teamed down and it’s a parade of finishers to get rid of her at 6:26 (because Tamina is Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania).

With the unstoppable monster stopped, Bayley starts beating on everyone else with the trash talk thrown in for a bonus. Naomi comes back in to beat up Bayley and Banks at the same time, including a Rear View to Banks and a middle rope kick to both. That’s about it for the Offense though as the Bank Statement makes Naomi tap at 10:15. Bayley: “DANCE TO THE BACK!”

Bayley and Banks double team Lacey, including something like a double powerbomb for two. A running knee (Bayley: “THIS IS FOR SUMMER”!, meaning Lacey’s daughter) hits Banks by mistake and the cracks seem ready to form. The distraction lets Lacey hit the Woman’s Right to finish Banks at 13:26 (with Cole’s call being heard on the replay, because the building is that quiet).

So it’s one on one with Evans hammering away and grabbing a neckbreaker for two. Bayley sends her shoulder first into the post though and the stomping ensues. More shouting and right hands in the corner have Lacey in trouble but she gets up a boot to cut Bayley off. The slingshot Bronco Buster connects and the double springboard moonsault gets two. Cue Sasha with a Backstabber to Lacey though, allowing Bayley to hit the bulldog driver to retain at 19:18.

Rating: C. It worked well, even after the awesome force that is Tamina was gone. At least these four have some backstories and characters so it is a little bit better than having five random people in there doing all of their spots as fast as they can. Bayley retaining is fine enough, as she has a tendency to do well at Wrestlemania, though Lacey winning the title would have been a nice feel good moment.

Wrestlemania 37 is in Los Angeles. I’m sure.

We recap John Cena vs. the Fiend in the Firefly Funhouse Match. Cena returned a few weeks ago and didn’t a Wrestlemania match but the Fiend showed up to point at the sign (because THE FIEND has to point at the sign) and the challenge was on. Bray Wyatt then explained that this is fallout from Cena beating him at Wrestlemania XXX, which is what send Wyatt completely over the edge and led to the creation of the Fiend. It makes enough sense and that’s all it needs to do for the most part.

John Cena vs. The Fiend

Cena does his full entrance and we cut to the Funhouse, where Wyatt says Cena will be fighting himself. Cena follows him through the door and I guess we’ll say the match starts there. With Cena standing in the dark, Puppet Vince pops up to ask if Cena has the ruthless aggression to be a star. If not, he’s fired. Bray appears in the ring and calls out someone for a fight and here’s Cena in his 2002 gear to say RUTHLESS AGGRESSION (ala his debut against Kurt Angle) but he can’t hit the slap on Bray. Wyatt: “You can look but you can’t touch!”

Bray disappears and we hit the Saturday Night’s Main Event intro (yeah don’t bother to try and make sense out of some of the pieces of this). Bray does a Hulk Hogan impression (behind a piece of the big blue cage of course) and talks about how his partner Johnny Largemeat is all about the muscles. Cena, lifting weights, comes in and does a Hogan/Randy Savage hybrid impression. He lifts so much his arms won’t come up anymore and now it’s off to the Dr. of Thuganomics Cena.

Wyatt and Cena are in the ring again with Cena realizing that he can only speak in rhyme. We get a Husky Harris joke and Cena talks about taking chances. That’s too much for Wyatt, who calls Cena a bully to takes others’ weaknesses and turns them into jokes. Cena throws the nuts at Wyatt, who knocks him out with a chain. Now it’s cult leader Wyatt and we go to the Wrestlemania XXX match, which Wyatt calls his grandest failure. Back in the ring now, with Wyatt saying it is time to rewrite his own story.

Bray hands Cena a chair (again ala Wrestlemania) and tells Cena to fix his mistake. This time Cena swings….and now we’re on Nitro, with Bray as Eric Bischoff to introduce the Hollywood Hogan version of Cena. Puppet Vince: “IT’S SUCH GOOD S***!” Cena freaks out and realizes he is beating up Huskus the Pig. The Fiend pops up behind him for the Mandible Claw and, after hearing Cena calls Bray overhyped and privileged, Sister Abigail finishes at about 13:30.

Rating: A+. This is one of those things that was amazing live and then it gets even better when you have a chance to think about the thing. This was a huge deconstruction of the entire John Cena legacy, down to what would have happened if he had finally turned heel like so many people wanted him to.

It turns into a What If/Road Not Taken idea and that is amazing to see, as Cena really does have a detailed and incredible rise to the top. Wyatt sees him as a fraud who has done everything he can to hold others, including Wyatt himself, down and he needed to avenge his Wrestlemania XXX loss. This was outstanding and one of the most well thought out and incredible ideas that I’ve seen WWE ever present, and I’m probably missing big parts of the whole thing.

Titus O’Neil isn’t sure what he just saw.

We recap Drew McIntyre vs. Brock Lesnar. McIntyre was the Chosen One but screwed up and got fired, so he reinvented himself and came back to WWE as a man. Then McIntyre won the Royal Rumble, eliminating Brock Lesnar in the process. Cue the title match, as McIntyre is finally ready to achieve his destiny.

Raw World Title: Drew McIntyre vs. Brock Lesnar

Lesnar is defending and for once, Paul Heyman doesn’t’ handle his introduction. Drew hits the first Claymore for the first two count at 17 seconds. Another Claymore is countered into the German suplex, followed by a second for a bonus. There’s the third and McIntyre is in trouble. The F5 gets one (that’s Drew’s thing) and another gets two. There’s a third F5 for another near fall (Heyman: “He’s really good. Hit him again! He can’t keep kicking out all night!”) but McIntyre escapes the fourth. Three straight Claymores make Drew champion at 4:32.

Rating: C+. It was fun and energetic but I’m completely over watching this style. It has been done to death and I could go for something fresh. Is it asking too much for a ten minute match instead of ten finishers in four minutes? McIntyre winning was the only way you could go here as Lesnar has been champion for so long recently that it no longer has any impact. This went as it should have, but egads find a better way to do them.

McIntyre celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked this one better than the first night by a good stretch as the matches certainly felt bigger. The main event and some other things came off like they belonged on Wrestlemania, but there are still things that make this show feel like absolutely nothing. Again though, you can only put so much of that on WWE as they were up against the wall and had to do a lot of things at the last minute. It was good if you give them a lot of breaks and really, how can you not with a show like this?

Overall Overall Rating: C+. Of course this didn’t feel like Wrestlemania and that is because it barely was Wrestlemania. The problem is that with so much build and setup for the whole thing, WWE absolutely had to do something, especially if television was going to continue as usual. No it isn’t good by comparison to other Wrestlemanias but nothing was the same around this time. Things would get better going forward but this was still the dark ages of the pandemic. They did what they could here and in that regard, this show worked out as well as it could have.

Ratings Comparison

Liv Morgan vs. Natalya

Original: D+

2021 Redo: C-

Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley

Original: C+

2021 Redo: B+

Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley

Original: D+

2021 Redo: C

Dolph Ziggler vs. Otis

Original: D+

2021 Redo: C-

Randy Orton vs. Edge

Original: B

2021 Redo: B-

Street Profits vs. Angel Garza/Austin Theory

Original: D+

2021 Redo: D+

Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Naomi vs. Tamina vs. Lacey Evans

Original: D

2021 Redo: C

John Cena vs. The Fiend

Original: N/A

2021 Redo: A+

Brock Lesnar vs. Drew McIntyre

Original: D

2021 Redo: C+

Overall Rating

Original: C-

2021 Redo: B-

Overall Overall Rating

Original: C

2021 Redo: C+

That’s one of the biggest changes I can remember having as the matches almost all went up and then the overall rating barely goes up. This was hardly a normal show though so the drastic swing a year later isn’t surprising.

Here is the original review if you are interested:

https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2020/04/05/wrestlemania-xxxvi-night-two-the-wwe-psyche/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Wrestlemania XXXVI Night 1
Date: April 4, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton
Host: Rob Gronkowski

A year has passed since this show and it still does not seem real. Aside from the main event, this show has almost been erased from history as it is barely ever discussed whatsoever. The Coronavirus wiped everything out and the show was moved to the Performance Center, making it feel like a show that they had just to say they had it. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Cesaro vs. Drew Gulak

Their respective friends (Shinsuke Nakamura/Sami Zayn and Daniel Bryan) are feuding so these two are having a match as well. Yeah it’s weak but what else are they supposed to do? Cole is calling this one on his own and it sounds so strange. Gulak goes for the arm to start but a short armscissors is countered into a powerbomb. They head outside with Cesaro getting in another shot but the arm is banged up.

An armdrag on the bad arm sets up a whip into the steps but Cesaro uppercuts him out of the air for two. A Fujiwara armbar is broken up so Gulak settles for two off a sunset flip. Cesaro boots him in the face and loads up a torture rack airplane spin (with no hands at one point for a crazy visual) before just dropping Gulak for the pin at 4:27.

Rating: C. The match was fine but EGADS this is bizarre. It’s like we’re watching a training session that was recorded and they slapped a Wrestlemania logo on the thing. It was watchable enough and would have been acceptable as a warmup but I can’t believe that this is Wrestlemania. Of course it isn’t on WWE given the circumstances but my goodness this is weird and that isn’t likely to change over the course of the show.

Stephanie McMahon welcomes us to the show and says that while this is going to be the most different Wrestlemania ever (due to the current circumstances, with no mention of the virus, which was a weird WWE thing for a LONG time).

Rather than someone singing America the Beautiful live, we get a montage of previous performances. Fair enough and actually a pretty cool idea.

The opening video continues the pirate theme but someone doing a pretty bad Jack Sparrow impression cuts it off, saying it sounds like they are starting at the end. He says the video isn’t trying and calls for the “classic movie trailer voice”. The trailer voice is cut off by the Sparrow impression (which is how he refers to it) but the video still doesn’t work, so he says go to the shots of our heroes looking all serious. These people are larger than life and are marred by the work of hundreds of days and nights.

This is their quest for gold, glory and immortality. Tonight, forget EVERYTHING you know because fate leads the way, and fate can surprise us. History waits for no one and tonight, their chance to shape history begins right now. The traditional montage takes over from here. I love pirate movies and while this was pretty much a parody of the idea, it makes me wonder how good the real thing would have been with the WWE budget behind a pirate themed show.

Host Rob Gronkowski (erg) welcomes us to the show and does some fine script reading as he talks about how this is a two night event. He talks about being able to start a party on a Saturday night, even if that might be a little difficult in a mostly empty building. Mojo Rawley joins him because you need the hype here. Gronk gives him some pretty lame chops and we’re off to the first match.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors (Asuka/Kairi Sane) are defending and commentary points out that they took the titles from Bliss/Cross back in October. This is their first title defense since DECEMBER, because the titles really don’t mean much in WWE. Asuka and Bliss get things going with a lot of laughing but it’s off to Sane without any contact. Sane shoves Bliss around a bit, drawing Bliss back up to knock Sane down. That sets up the double knees to the ribs and a tag off to Cross, who is taken into the champs’ corner.

Some forearms stagger Asuka though and Bliss tags herself in. That means a baseball slide can knock Sane outside, followed by a flip dive from the apron. Back in and Asuka punches Cross in the face, allowing the tag back to Sane. Everything breaks down again with the Warriors taking over on the floor. Back in again and a bulldog into a basement dropkick rocks Cross but Sane gets a bit cocky.

That means Cross can kick her away, allowing the tag back to Bliss. House doesn’t have time to be cleaned though as Asuka offers a distraction, allowing Sane to catch Bliss in the ropes. The Alberto double stomp gets two and Bliss is in trouble, despite Cross trying to get….well no one here to clap. The referee yells at Asuka, allowing Sane to snap Bliss’ neck across the ropes.

Bliss forearms Asuka in the face so Asuka kicks her head off. Another shot from Bliss allows the hot tag to Cross, meaning it’s a lot of screaming as she forearms and bulldogs Sane. A high crossbody gives Cross two but Sane gets in a cheap shot from the apron. The Reckoning gets two on Asuka with Sane breaking it up off a top rope elbow (and possibly with a camera edit because that count looked ready to go down before Sane appeared).

Asuka tries the Asuka Lock on Cross but Bliss breaks it up with Twisted Bliss. Back up and Asuka hits a Codebreaker on Cross but the Insane Elbow is broken up. Instead it’s a powerbomb/top rope forearm to knock Cross silly….for two. Nikki avoids a charge to send Asuka into the post. The Reckoning sets up another Twisted Bliss for the pin and the titles at 15:11.

Rating: C. That was a lot longer than I would have bet on but the title change was the right way to start. If nothing else, just so Bliss can do her pose with a title again. You can only have the Warriors hold the title so long before it stops meaning anything due to a lack of defenses. I can’t imagine this makes a huge difference, but it was the right move here.

Sami Zayn brags about taking the Intercontinental Title from Braun Strowman, even though people thought it was inevitable that Strowman would destroy him. Tonight, people think it is inevitable that Daniel Bryan will take the title from him, but we’ll see about that.

King Corbin vs. Elias

This is fallout from Corbin knocking Elias off a platform here in the arena. That should have, you know, broken most of his bones, but instead it put him out for eight days. Corbin insists that Elias isn’t here but the comeback is here before the referee can even start to count. Corbin goes outside to start the fight in the aisle so Elias blasts him in the back with the guitar.

Elias sends him into various things and they head inside for the opening bell. An elbow to the face gives Elias two and it’s time to choke near the ropes. Corbin tosses him over the top and wants the countout but settles for right hands to the ribs back inside. The slide underneath the rope in the corner clothesline gets two on Elias and it’s time to hammer on Elias’ bad shoulder (because he has a bad shoulder after crashing off the balcony last week).

Said bad shoulder goes into the post for two and Corbin yells at the referee, which you can hear a lot more of in the empty arena. Back up and Elias sends him shoulder first into the post to even things up a bit. A kick out of the corner sends Corbin into another corner and Elias hammers away. Elias has to roll through the top rope elbow and charges into Deep Six for two. Back up and Elias nails a jumping knee to the face but gets sent throat first into the ropes. A rollup with feet on the ropes gives Corbin two but the referee catches the cheating and yells a lot. Instead Elias grabs a rollup and tights for the pin at 8:52.

Rating: C-. That’s one of the least interesting matches I can remember in a long time, but what were you expecting given who was in there? It’s bad enough that Elias’ big revenge was a rollup pin after getting beaten down for a few minutes, but the fact that it came over Corbin made things even worse. Just not an interesting match and it would have felt a lot better as the nothing Kickoff Show match instead.

We recap Shayna Baszler vs. Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Title. Becky Lynch has been champion for about a year and is out of people to face. Baszler showed up from NXT and….bit Becky’s neck for some reason, drawing a bunch of blood. Then Baszler demolished the Elimination Chamber match to become #1 contender (in other words she beat up a bunch of losers and Asuka), setting up Lynch’s biggest challenge in a long time. Lynch reminding Baszler that she beat Ronda Rousey to get the title was a great response and this was a heck of a build.

Raw Women’s Title: Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler

Lynch is defending and drives to the arena in a semi truck because…something about the Man I guess? They go straight to the slugout to start and the threat of the Kirifuda Clutch sends Becky bailing out to the floor. Baszler is sent into the steps to put her in trouble, followed by a missile dropkick back inside. Lynch comes up favoring her back but hammers away in the corner anyway.

A hard knee rocks Lynch but she slips out of the Kirifuda Clutch to grab a rollup instead. Baszler grabs a cutter for two but can’t hit a running knee. They fight to the apron with Lynch talking trash as they forearm it out. Lynch Rock Bottoms her onto the apron for two and the champ looks a bit surprised.

Baszler slams her off the top and grabs a quickly broken cross armbreaker. Instead Baszler puts on her own Disarm Her but Lynch is out in a hurry. This time Lynch grabs the Disarm Her on the ropes, only to have Baszler knock her off the rope for a big crash. Baszler picks her up for a hard swing into the announcers’ table (geez that always looks rough) before throwing it back inside. The Kirifuda Clutch goes on but Lynch backflips over for the pin to retain at 8:32.

Rating: C. Yeah I’m not sure I get this one, as Lynch was ready to lose the title and Baszler seemed primed to take the thing from her. Throw in the Lynch was about to go on maternity leave (fair enough that she didn’t know it at this point) and there was no reason to not switch the title here. It seemed that they were setting up a submission rematch, but at some point you need to just change the title and be done with it, which should have been the case here.

Intercontinental Title: Sami Zayn vs. Daniel Bryan

Bryan, with Drew Gulak, is challenging and Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura are here with Zayn. Rob Gronkowski and Mojo Rawley do the YES chant from the balcony, which just looks sad with two people in there. Sami bails straight to the floor and then does it again to get in Bryan’s head. Back in and the third exit ensues, which finally causes Bryan to go after him, only to have Cesaro and Nakamura get in the way.

Gulak dives onto the two of them and hammers away, meaning Gulak and Zayn get to have their own staredown. Bryan finally gets his hands on Zayn thanks to a suicide dive and it’s time to crank on the leg. Zayn is sent outside again for another suicide dive, followed by a missile dropkick back inside. Bryan slaps him in the face and shouts that Zayn is the loser because he hasn’t beaten anyone.

The running dropkick in the corner might have Zayn crying (JBL: “You shouldn’t be crying at Wrestlemania.”) but he cuts Bryan’s charge off with a shot of his own. Back up and Bryan hits the running clothesline, followed by the rapid fire strikes. Hold on though as Bryan needs to go after Cesaro and Nakamura, only to dive into the Helluva Kick to retain Zayn’s title at 9:18.

Rating: C. Another rather disappointing match here but again, it’s kind of hard to complain about much on this show. The biggest problem continues to be the lack of time, as you can only make a match feel so big in just over nine minutes. It’s also another situation where the title should have changed hands, as Zayn went home because of the virus (fair) and had to vacate the title without wrestling again in nearly six months.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: John Morrison vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Jimmy Uso

Morrison is defending for Miz and John Morrison and this is a ladder match. Injuries and virus concerns took away enough of the partners that this is as good as we can get here. Everyone misses a kick to start and Morrison and Kingston both stick the landings on a monkey flip attempt, meaning it’s an early standoff.

Everyone goes out to grab a ladder (Morrison gets the only regular sized one) and they all climb up, with Jimmy being knocked down and coming up clutching his knee (always a good sign). He’s fine enough to get to his feet but Kofi dives off the ladder to take him down. Morrison is right there to go after Kofi but they both miss kicks and takedowns. Kofi knocks Jimmy off the ladder but Morrison takes him down as well, meaning Jimmy has to make a save of his own.

A springboard lets Kofi dropkick both of them through the ladder (cool), only to have Morrison clear the ring again. Morrison stabs Jimmy in the knee with the ladder but Jimmy sends him face first into the ladder in the corner. That’s fine with Morrison, who knocks him onto the ladder and hits a corkscrew flip to crush Jimmy again. Kofi is back up with a springboard hurricanrana to pull Morrison off of the ladder, because of course he can do that.

After knocking Jimmy outside, Kofi hits a big dive over the top to take Morrison down again. Jimmy tries to run the barricade so Kofi throws the ladder at him for another knockdown. It’s time to bridge the ladder between the ring and the apron, which never winds up going well. Jimmy is laid on said ladder but Morrison walks the rope to get from one corner to another and Spanish Fly Kofi off the top.

That leaves Morrison down so Jimmy can hit a Superfly Splash to crush him all over again. Kofi and Jimmy climb the same ladder (with Kofi climbing from inside because he’s a bit unique) and Jimmy gets knocked off in a heap. Morrison gets knocked down as well and Kofi comes off with the jumping double stomp to make it worse. Back up and Jimmy bridges the ladder between the rope and the standing ladder (uh oh) and then sends Kofi face first into the bridged one.

Morrison gets superkicked out of the air so Jimmy goes up another ladder, only to be shoved down. It must have been quite the fall as he went down with his feet facing the entrance and landed with his head facing the entrance. Or maybe WWE just needs better editors. Morrison throws a ladder out and goes up, only to have Kofi climb the same ladder. Jimmy is back in to climb another ladder and they all get a hand on the titles. A double headbutt knocks Morrison down….and he comes up with the titles for the win at 18:33.

Rating: B. This was the big spotfest match that you knew was coming here at one point or another on the show and there is nothing wrong with that. They did their thing all over the place here with one crazy spot after another. That’s how a match like this is supposed to be and it was as fun as you could have imagined a triple threat match for the Tag Team Titles would be. Granted there is one thing wrong with the match, which would be the horrible knee injury that Jimmy suffered, which would keep him out of action for over a year.

We recap Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens. Rollins is doing his evil messiah deal and Owens doesn’t want to hear it, nor does he want to deal with the beatdowns Rollins and company have given him. Grudge match time.

Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

Dig that KO Mania IV shirt with the Andre the Giant/Hulk Hogan style as Owens continues an awesome tradition. After a quick bit of hiding in the ropes, Rollins starts the slugout and it goes about as badly as you would go. Owens hammers him down, shrugs off a kick to the face, and hits a hard clothesline. There’s a backsplash to crush Rollins but it’s too early for the Cannonball.

Some chops have Rollins in trouble on the floor but he manages a backdrop on the apron to avoid a rather painful powerbomb. A Falcon Arrow on the apron plants Owens again as Rollins is already focusing on the back. Rollins hits a hard suicide dive to knock him into the barricade and he does it again for a bonus. Back in and Rollins keeps the trash talk up but misses a pair of Stomps. Owens doesn’t miss a DDT though and a superkick lets him hit the Cannonball.

The Stunner is countered and Rollins nails an enziguri, only to have Owens nail a rebound lariat for another knockdown. A superplex is loaded up but Rollins blocks it, setting up the buckle bomb. Some superkicks rock Owens, who is still fine enough to hit a pop up sitout powerbomb for a close two. They go outside and Rollins blasts him in the head with the ring bell for the DQ at 10:09.

And no this isn’t what we’re doing because Owens says let’s keep it going with no countout or DQ. That’s fine with Rollins and the bell rings, allowing him to hit a jumping knee to the face. Rollins takes it outside again and sends him into various things, followed by a steps shot to the face.

A bunch of chair shots have Owens in big trouble but he comes up with a HARD bell shot to the head. With Rollins mostly done, Owens climbs onto the big WRESTLEMANIA sign and dives off, though he is nice enough to ask if Rollins thinks this is a Wrestlemania moment. Back in and Rollins tries to talk his way out of trouble, earning himself a Stunner for the pin at 17:15.

Rating: B-. I didn’t remember liking this one all that much but they beat each other up rather well and it was entertaining enough. The bell to the head sounded great and the violence was good, once you got part the pretty worthless pause in between the falls. Owens can brawl with the best of them, but unfortunately he got hurt here too and would miss time of his own, because this show is cursed.

R-Truth comes up to Mojo Rawley and Rob Gronkowski and complains about being 24/7. I think you know what happens here and Rawley celebrates with the title.

Paul Heyman scares the heck out of Charly Caruso and talks about how great how sure he is that Drew McIntyre is losing. Brock Lesnar is going to destroy McIntyre and leave him a broken man because Lesnar is the most awesome fighter ever. He gets the message across with a bit more emotion as you might guess.

We run down the night two card.

Smackdown World Title: Braun Strowman vs. Goldberg

Goldberg is defending and there is no recap because there is no story. Goldberg won the title in Saudi Arabia so he could lose to Roman Reigns here, but then Reigns pulled out due to the Coronavirus concerns (again, fair). After about twenty seconds of staring each other down, Goldberg kicks him in the ribs and hits an early spear.

Strowman is back up so Goldberg hits two more spears for a near fall. Make it four, but the Jackhammer is countered into a powerslam. We’ll make that two powerslams and the third sets up a fourth to make Strowman champion at 2:11. The entire match was three moves and one of them was a kick to the ribs.

Wrestlemania XXXVII is in Los Angeles. Just like it was in the Memorial Coliseum in 1991.

We recap AJ Styles vs. The Undertaker. Styles didn’t like Undertaker being a broken shell of himself so he insulted Undertaker the man, including Undertaker’s wife. This did not wind up going well and for the first time, it seems that this is Mark Calaway fighting instead of Styles, which should make things all the more interesting. Oh and they’re in boneyard to make things a little spicier/more cinematic.

Undertaker vs. AJ Styles

The hearse rides into the boneyard and the druids pull out the casket, which of course has Styles in it for a chuckle worthy moment. In a bit cooler moment, we get Biker Taker again, riding to the boneyard to Now That We’re Dead by Metallica. AJ wastes no time in talking trash, asking if Michelle McCool knows Undertaker is out this late. Undertaker knocks a brick out of his hands and the fight is on, with Undertaker dragging him around. He even calls AJ Alan to make it more freaky.

AJ is sent into the closed casket but Undertaker’s punch goes through the hearse window (cue the Goldberg flashbacks). He is fine enough to throw him through the windshield and they fight on top of the hearse, with Undertaker still getting the better of things. Undertaker hammers away while yelling at AJ to not talk about his wife and then quotes Clubber Lang by saying he has a lotta more. AJ gets smart by throwing dirt in the eyes and then trying to punch Undertaker into a grave.

It turns out that standing in front of someone who can’t see and talking a lot makes you easy to punch so Undertaker drills him in the jaw. That’s enough to knock Undertaker into the grave but the Good Brothers show up, complete with imitation western music. Undertaker goes after them….and we’ve got druids for some reason. They don’t really do much good though, as they stand there while Undertaker goes in a circle punching them. Now Undertaker can beat up Gallows and Anderson in peace, including beating on them with the handle of a shovel.

AJ is back with a tombstone (the stone, not the move) though and shatters it over Undertaker’s back. That means trash talk from AJ and weird sounds from Undertaker….and they are both knocked through the wall of a shed. Undertaker wheezes and backs away, allowing AJ to break a shove over his back to knock him into a grave. With Undertaker down, AJ jumps in the dump truck (or whatever you call it)….and Undertaker appears behind him in a big ball of light. Eh it’s not that insane really.

AJ runs off (as you should) and climbs onto the roof of the barn so Undertaker shoots fire out of the roof foo. Cue Gallows and Anderson so Undertaker beats them up again and throws Gallows into the abyss. A Tombstone onto the roof drops Anderson and Undertaker says it’s just him and AJ. For some reason AJ swings at him and gets chokeslammed off the roof and through a big piece of wood. Undertaker climbs down and asks AJ what his wife’s name is. Or maybe AJ can tell Undertaker how old he is.

AJ is out on his feet as Undertaker picks him up and talks about how AJ is tougher than he gave him credit for. It’s time to go to the grave and AJ says he’s sorry. Undertaker wants to know what for and then picks AJ up by the throat. AJ begs him not to bury him and Undertaker hugs him while saying AJ put up a great fight. Then Undertaker boots him into the grave and fills it in with the dirt. The gong sounds and we’ll say that’s the match at about 19:12 (your individual times may vary).

Rating: A. Yeah this is still great and is the pinnacle of the cinematic stuff. It doesn’t get too goofy (I mean, Undertaker stuff is weird by definition) and it felt like two guys having a fight. AJ being all cocky and sure of himself until he finally realized what he was up against is a classic Undertaker story and it worked well here. Above all else, this felt like Undertaker having one last brush with greatness before hanging it up and I can see why he was ok with this being the big ending. Go out doing something different and special, which is what he did here. I loved this when I watched it and still do here, so well done.

AJ’s gloves hand sticks out of the grave as Undertaker gets on his bike, throws up the fist to make the fire go off again. Undertaker’s symbol goes up on the barn wall and he rides away to end the show. And to end Undertaker’s career it seems, as he has not wrestled since and announced his retirement at Survivor Series about seven months later.

Overall Rating: B-. Like I said at the beginning, this show has kind of been forgotten and it is easy to see why. I’m not sure how you could expect anything else here, as the show was cobbled together from whomever was left and they did what they could to still have a Wrestlemania. It’s a Wrestlemania in name only for the most part, but it isn’t like they had any control over the thing. What we got was good enough, but don’t expect this to be anything more than an historical curiosity, because it doesn’t feel like Wrestlemania.

Ratings Comparison

Drew Gulak vs. Cesaro

Original: C

2021 Redo: C

Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross vs. Kabuki Warriors

Original: C

2021 Redo: C

Elias vs. King Corbin

Original: D

2021 Redo: C-

Shayna Baszler vs. Becky Lynch

Original: B-

2021 Redo: C

Daniel Bryan vs. Sami Zayn

Original: C+

2021 Redo: C

Jimmy Uso vs. John Morrison vs. Kofi Kingston

Original: B

2021 Redo: B

Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

Original: C

2021 Redo: B-

Goldberg vs. Braun Strowman

Original: N/A

2021 Redo: N/A

Undertaker vs. AJ Styles

Original: A+

2021 Redo: A

Overall Rating

Original: C

2021 Redo: B-

Mostly in the ballpark, but it’s not like this is a show that is going to feel the same after a year.

Here’s the original review if you’re interested:

https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2020/04/04/wrestlemania-xxxvi-night-one-broken-undertaker/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Wrestlemania XXXV
Date: April 7, 2019
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Attendance: 82,265
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips
America the Beautiful: Yolanda Adams

We’re back to this show after a year away and I’m not sure what to think about this one. I wasn’t in the stadium for this one and for once that is making me remember the show a little bit better. This whole thing is centered around a few matches, as Wrestlemania always tends to be. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Cruiserweight Title: Buddy Murphy vs. Tony Nese

Murphy is defending and this is during Nese’s (who won a tournament to get here) not so great face run. First good thing: there are a bunch of people in their seats already so the place doesn’t look ridiculous. Murphy misses a running knee at the bell so Nese hammers away in the corner and tells the fans that this is his Wrestlemania moment. A cartwheel off the apron lets Nese hit him in the jaw but Murphy grabs a fireman’s carry drop onto the corner (Colt Cabana’s Chicago Skyline) as we take a break.

Back with Murphy holding a chinlock but getting suplexed into the corner to cut things off. Some running elbows to the face rock Murphy and the Lionsault, with Murphy hanging in the ropes, gets two. Nese catches him on the ropes with a palm strike, only to get pulled into a Cheeky Nandos kick. A powerbomb into a spinning faceplant gives Murphy two as we get the “still filing in line” from commentary. Murphy’s Law is countered and Nese hits a reverse hurricanrana to put them both down again.

Murphy wins a strike off but Nese is right back with a sunset driver for his own near fall as the fans are finally getting into this. The running Nese doesn’t get to launch so Nese hits the Fosbury Flop instead. Back in and the 450 gets two in a surprising near fall. The jumping knee connects out of nowhere and Murphy’s Law gets two as Nese gets a foot on the rope. Ever the villain, Murphy tries his own running Nese, which is cut off by a superkick. The real running Nese finishes Murphy at 10:44.

Rating: C. The 205 Live guys had several matches that would blow this one away but at least they had a nice moment in the end with the fans getting into things. Nese as a face didn’t exactly click but beating Murphy felt like a bit deal. It’s a nice mini feel good moment to start what is going to be a long night.

Kickoff Show: Wrestlemania Women’s Battle Royal

Zelina Vega, Kairi Sane, Ember Moon, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott, Mandy Rose, Carmella, Maria Kanellis, Asuka, Sonya Deville, Candice LeRae, Naomi, Nikki Cross, Lana, Dana Brooke, Mickie James

Only Naomi and Asuka get entrances. Nikki goes nuts to start and it’s a big brawl, as a battle royal should be. Maria is out in a hurry and Asuka knocks out Candice and Nikki back to back. Ember and Naomi trade hurricanranas until the former hits a quick springboard Eclipse on Lana. Another Eclipse gets rid of Naomi and there’s the real version to Mandy. Ember goes up again but Lana (the one in the designated Captain Marvel attire) shoves her out.

Sane hits an Alabama Slam on Lana and goes up like a schnook, only to get shoved to the apron by Logan. Even the bigger schnook, Logan doesn’t eliminate her but rather joins the rest of the Riott Squad to go after Lana. The elimination doesn’t take long but Sane drops Logan. The Insane Elbow connects, only t have the Squad get together and eliminate Sane without much trouble. An assisted flipping Stunner rocks Vega but AGAIN Logan doesn’t get the elimination.

Instead the Squad goes after Asuka and again they don’t eliminate her. Brooke gets to fight off all three of them and manages a slow motion Thesz press on Morgan. Riott goes after Brooke and gets tossed, with Morgan following her out. Brooke’s handspring elbow hits Vega’s knees though and the running knees in the corner make it worse. Rose and Deville get rid of Vega and Brooke, meaning we can get a big hug.

We’re down to Rose, Deville, Asuka, James, Logan and Carmella, the latter of whom seems to be on the floor because that’s something you have to have in battle royals these days. James hurricanranas Rose to the apron and superkicks her out, only to get dropped by Deville. Asuka beats up Logan and Deville at once but she manages to toss Deville. Logan gets rid of Asuka but, say it with me, Carmella is still in and superkicks Logan out for the win at 10:33.

Rating: D. Holy sweet goodness I can’t stand that finish and yet we seem to get it in every few battle royals (including last year’s women’s battle royal). I know Carmella getting the win is for the sake of the New York fans but egads this feels like a waste of a match, which tends to be the case with so many of these pre-show battle royals. In other words: more of the same stuff that wasn’t good in the first place.

Kickoff Show: Raw Tag Team Titles: Revival vs. Curt Hawkins/Zack Ryder

Revival is defending and picked the match because they thought it would be an easy win. See, Hawkins hasn’t won a match in two and a half years so of course he gets a Wrestlemania title shot (you have to keep the New York crowd happy you see). Dawson shoves Hawkins down to start and then pats him on the cheek in the corner. We get a recap of the Edgeheads as Dawson headlocks Hawkins down.

Ryder comes in as we hear about how the show in “the shadow of New York”, which is acknowledged as New Jersey, likely for one of the only times tonight. A middle rope missile dropkick puts Wilder down but Dawson low bridges him out to the floor. Something close to a top rope Demolition Decapitator gets two and the armbar goes on. Dawson comes back in and rips at the face before working on his own armbar.

That’s enough of that so Wilder grabs another armbar (he’s up 2-1 on Dawson) to keep Ryder down. Ryder fights up again but neckbreakers his way out of a double suplex. With Hawkins being distracted, the champs cheat to set up a hard clothesline for two more. The assisted legdrop gives Wilder two and we hit the chinlock as this keeps going. Ryder finally suplexes his way to freedom and there’s the hot tag to Hawkins.

House is cleaned until it’s a double clothesline to put Hawkins and Dawson down at the same time. The middle rope Rough Ryder hits Dawson but Ryder and Wilder crash out to the floor. Wilder saves Dawson at two and tornado DDTs Ryder on the floor. A brainbuster drops Hawkins outside as well and they’re all down for a bit. Back in and Hawkins is dead but manages a small package for the pin and the titles at 13:20. Hawkins slowly realizing that not only is the match over but that they won is kind of awesome.

Rating: D+. This went on too long but the ending was fine after setting everything up for so long with the losing streak. Hawkins and Ryder are a likable team so it’s not like them winning the titles is a bad idea. Besides, WWE has already taken away anything that the Revival could offer (and yet it would still get worse) so the loss doesn’t do a ton of damage to them anyway.

Kickoff Show: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Otis, Karl Anderson, Andrade, Gran Metalik, Chad Gable, Heath Slater, Bo Dallas, Colin Jost Jeff Hardy, No Way Jose, Lince Dorado, Bobby Roode, Konnor, Tyler Breeze, Viktor, Luke Harper, Ali, Apollo Crews, Michael Che, Titus O’Neil, Tucker, Braun Strowman, Shelton Benjamin, Jinder Mahal, Matt Hardy, Curtis Axel, Rhyno, Luke Gallows, EC3, Kalisto

So the big deal here is Jost and Che are from Saturday Night Live and Strowman doesn’t like them. The two of them bail to the floor and hide under the ring as Axel is out in about ten seconds. Dorado takes a SCARY bump to the floor with Breeze, EC3 and Benjamin following him out. There goes Dallas as well but it’s time for a staredown with Strowman and Harper.

That’s broken up in a hurry and Titus gets rid of Slater. As expected, Titus is out a few seconds later off a missed charge and Ali gets rid of Jose. Ascension sends Strowman shoulder first into the post for a crash to the floor (through the ropes so no elimination). Anderson isn’t so lucky as he gets tossed and the Hardys do the same to Rhyno. Roode and Metalik are out next as the ring is starting to empty a bit.

Andrade tosses Kalisto onto Metalik but Gable rolls Andrade with German suplexes. Since it’s Gable though, Andrade throws him out in a hurry, leaving Otis to hit a double Caterpillar on the Ascension. They’re both out as well but Strowman is back in to get rid of Gallows, Tucker and Otis in a row. There goes Mahal as Harper tries to suplex Ali over the top. With Ali hanging upside down, Strowman kicks Harper out, nearly dropping Ali on his head in a very near miss.

We’re down to Strowman, Andrade, Matt, Jeff and Crews in the ring with Che and Jost still underneath the ring. Andrade and Crews go to the apron and Andrade tries a hurricanrana for no intelligent reason in a double elimination. Strowman puts the Hardys on the apron in the battle of North Carolina as Che and Jost get back inside. They can’t get rid of Strowman, who dumps the Hardys and is ready for the destruction.

Jost grabs a mic though and says this doesn’t need to end in violence. He presents his personal therapist, whose breathing exercises earn him a chokeslam. Che tries to eliminate himself but Strowman punches himself out instead. Strowman misses a charge and almost gets eliminated but powers through it and tosses Jost for the win at 10:27.

Rating: D+. Yeah it’s stupid and the SNL guys added nothing to the whole thing but Strowman won in the end and there were some nice spots (granted they went with some scary ones) throughout. It isn’t anything better or worse than your usual “get them all in there” battle royal and it could have been worse. That’s high praise for something like this anymore.

And with that Smackdown length Kickoff Show out of the way, we can get on with the real show. Isn’t modern WWE great?

Yolanda Adams sings America the Beautiful and we get the big helicopter flyover.

The opening video, complete with a WWE Presents, features the wrestlers talking about how Shakespeare said all the world’s a stage. Tonight, this is their stage and they are the players. We get the classic moments of course because this show is built around history. They do a good job of starting this slowly and then building it up into a big feeling. As usual, WWE’s promo videos are nothing short of incredible and somehow they manage to get better a lot of the time. That being said, wrestlers calling themselves storytellers doesn’t sound right.

Maybe it’s how many times I’ve heard the song on highlight packages since then, but that Love Runs Out theme song is really catchy.

Here’s Alexa Bliss, the host for the evening, to open things up. Bliss talks about how this show needs a goddess and if she snaps her fingers, she can make a Wrestlemania moment. A snap of her fingers produces Hulk Hogan, who is happy to be back here in the Silverdome. That gets a chuckle so then he calls it the MetLife Center in a joke that doesn’t go over as well. Hogan and Bliss pose together in a cute moment.

Hold on though as Paul Heyman storms out and says we’re doing the Universal Title match RIGHT NOW. The faster Lesnar wins, the faster he can go to Las Vegas where he is ULTIMATELY appreciated.

Raw World Title: Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins is defending after winning the Royal Rumble and gets a big BEAST SLAYER intro. At least BURN IT DOWN gets a big reaction so they’re doing something right. Lesnar jumps him before the bell and knees Rollins off the apron. An F5 plants Rollins on the floor and a hard whip into the barricade makes it even worse. Rollins gets tossed over the announcers’ table as the beating is on in a big way. That’s not enough for Lesnar so he throws Rollins over another table before throwing Rollins inside.

Heyman and Lesnar talk the angry trash but it’s back to the floor before the opening bell. Cole: “Seth Rollins never had a chance!” And there’s your usual WWE line that gives away the ending. Brock throws Rollins over the announcers’ table for a third time and then through the cover of the announcers’ table. They go back in for the opening bell and there’s the first German suplex. Lesnar: “SUPLEX CITY B******!” Give him his t-shirt money.

The second suplex sends him flying again as Cole brings up the Wrestlemania XXXI cash-in. The F5 is countered though and Rollins gets in a low blow. That means a low superkick and three straight Stomps make Rollins champion at 2:30. It was an exciting start and the whole thing from Lesnar’s first attack ran about 7:00. They had to get the title onto Rollins here (though more importantly off of Lesnar) and this was certainly a memorable way to do it. Certainly more so than when they did it again in a longer form four and a half months later.

AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton

This is your “here are two big names without much else to do” match. Orton eliminated him from the Elimination Chamber and they got in an argument about who built Smackdown. Orton’s big CGI snakes really don’t look great but those things are hit and miss for everyone. AJ headlocks him to start and is promptly driven into the corner. A very early threat of an RKO sends AJ bailing to the corner and it’s another standoff.

Orton pokes him in the eye and hits a dropkick to take over, including a boot across the eye to make it even worse. AJ gets in his own dropkick though as they’re pretty even in the early minutes. With Orton taking a breather on the floor, AJ scores with the slingshot forearm, only to get knocked off the apron and hard into the barricade. Back in and the chinlock goes on as the fans start chanting something I can’t understand.

That’s broken up so AJ hits the sliding forearm, setting up the fireman’s carry backbreaker for two. An early Styles Clash attempt is countered into a powerslam to give Orton his own near fall as the slow pace continues. The Calf Crusher attempt is countered without much trouble but the second attempt is slapped on in the middle of the ring. Not that the fans are exactly interested but AJ did get it on. That’s broken up in a hurry so AJ heads to the apron for the Phenomenal Forearm.

Orton jumps up to RKO him out of the air (as he had done last week) but AJ holds back, leaving Orton to crash. The springboard 450 gets two but Orton is right back with the backbreaker. Orton’s rather good looking top rope superplex has AJ crashing down for two and an uppercut gets a crazy loud pop (that had to be for something else). The hanging DDT gets no reaction but Orton walking around does, as I’m almost scared to imagine what had the fans’ attention.

AJ hits an enziguri to block the RKO, only to walk into it on the second attempt. That’s only good for two as well and Orton is shocked. With nothing else working, Orton loads up a super RKO, which is escaped without a lot of effort. A Pele sends Orton to the floor and the Phenomenal Forearm knock him even sillier. Back in and Orton still can’t hit the RKO, meaning it’s another Phenomenal Forearm to give AJ the pin at 16:12.

Rating: C-. Things got a bit better by the end but it never got going at any intense level. These two are capable of a lot but it was rather slow paced for the most part and when the match is going that long, it can get pretty tiresome in a hurry. It’s not bad in any sense but it wasn’t exciting and you know these two could do a lot better. That makes it more frustrating than anything else, as I kept waiting for them to get going and they never really did.

Here’s Lacey Evans to continue doing her thing of walking around, smiling, and then walking back.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Usos vs. Rusev/Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bar vs. Ricochet/Aleister Black

The Usos are defending and it’s one fall to a finish. There is something so awesome about seeing the look on Ricochet’s face as he walks onto the stage. You can see what it means to him and there is no faking that kind of a feeling. This also marks Ricochet and Black’s third shot at different titles this week, after Raw and NXT title shots earlier in the week. Jimmy and Black start things off with a feeling out process until Sheamus tags himself in to face Black.

The armbar doesn’t last long as Rusev tags Sheamus and runs Black over. Nakamura comes in for a kick to the back but the rapid fire tags continue, with Jimmy coming in to Samoa drop Black. Nakamura kicks Jimmy into a tag to Ricochet, who does a very spinny headscissors on Cesaro. Since it’s just a headscissors though, Cesaro uppercuts Ricochet down and starts swinging him, as Sheamus forearms everyone else.

After a nearly 40 second swing (geez), the Sharpshooter goes on in the middle of the ring. Black makes the save and strikes away, setting up a springboard moonsault for two on Rusev. Nakamura is back in with some running knees to Black, meaning Ricochet has to make a save of his own. That earns him a swinging Rock Bottom from Rusev and it’s time for the nine man Tower of Doom. Just to show off, Ricochet flips out and lands safely in the corner, setting up the 630 for two on Sheamus. We hit the parade of kicks to the face with the Usos superkicking Sheamus down. The Double Us retains the titles at 10:05.

Rating: B. This was almost all action from bell to bell and that’s all you can do with a match like this one. Let them do whatever they want and get in spot after spot for a little while. They didn’t overstay their welcome either, as this match got in the right amount of time. Good stuff here and one of the more entertaining things all night so far.

Hall of Fame recap. Thankfully Bret being attacked isn’t mentioned whatsoever.

Here’s the class being presented in the stadium:

Honky Tonk Man (How was he not in yet?)

Harlem Heat (Perfectly fine.)

Torrie Wilson (The new low benchmark.)

Brutus Beefcake (Again, how was he not in yet?)

Hart Foundation (Should have been earlier so Neidhart could be there but long overdue as well.)

Sue Aitchison (Warrior Award.)

D-Generation X (I’m sure they had to twist their arms to get here. Deserved of course.)

We recap Miz vs. Shane McMahon. Somehow Shane won the World Cup despite not being in the tournament and Miz, the man he replaced in the finals, was jealous. Miz’s dad thought they should team together so they won the Tag Team Titles. The reign didn’t last long though and they split up, with Shane turning on Miz. Tonight, it’s Falls Count Anywhere. This was in the middle of Shane’s RIDICULOUS run near the top of Smackdown where he was all over the show and beating main eventers, including that Tag Team Title win. Of course he gets a big Wrestlemania match, because that’s what makes sense for such a star.

Shane McMahon vs. The Miz

Falls Count Anywhere, but hang on as Shane needs to hear his introduction three times in a row. With that out of the way, Shane bails to the floor at the bell so the chase is on, with Shane hitting his horrible punches. In a smart move, Shane grabs Miz’s dad (in the front row) and again, the chase goes badly for Miz as Shane hammers away. They head outside again with Shane loading up the announcers’ table.

A monitor shot to the head puts Miz on the table but Miz’s dad blocks the big elbow. Shane gets down so Miz’s dad gets inside for the showdown, with Miz’s dad doing the pose that launched a subplot on the upcoming season of Miz and Mrs. Shane takes him into the corner and stomps away, drawing Miz back in for the beating. They fight to to the floor with Shane falling over the barricade but hold on as Miz wants someone to check on his dad.

With the medics doing their job, Miz dives over the barricade to take Shane down again. They fight over towards one of the big pillars that holds up the canopy over the ring but Shane fights out of the Skull Crushing Finale. Instead Shane grabs a DDT for two but Miz kicks him down off the stage. Shane is sent knee first into a barricade and Miz beats on him with a chair to blow off some more steam.

They wreck announcers’ row with Miz throwing him over every chair he can find, plus throwing some chairs around. Shane gets sent through a table for two, followed by a monitor shot to knock him over a barricade and onto the top of a well placed golf cart. That gives Miz a delayed two so he punches Shane up towards a production tower. A Skull Crushing Finale onto the platform gets two, because he’s Shane and Miz is just a former World Champion.

Shane fights back (of course) and climbs up to the top of the tower. Miz pursues so Shane begs off, even dropping to one knee. That earns him some left hands to the head and Miz superplexes him all the way down (after asking if Shane is ready) onto a crash pad. Worry not though as Shane lands on top for the pin at 15:25.

Rating: D-. I knew the ending was coming here and I still shake my head at the ending. Shane is the boss’ son but my goodness how hard can you push him? The worst part is that it is only going to get worse as the summer goes on, but this was a punch to the gut as Shane wins AGAIN, meaning he isn’t going away anytime soon. The superplex was a nice idea but showing the landing on the pad (which just happened to be there) took away all of the impact that it had. That is, whatever was left before Shane won of course.

Paige joins commentary.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: IIconics vs. Beth Phoenix/Natalya vs. Nia Jax/Tamina vs. Sasha Banks/Bayley

Banks and Bayley are defending and it’s one fall to a finish. Bret Hart is here with Beth and Natalya (who really feel like fill ins for Trish Stratus/Lita), though he doesn’t go beyond the stage. Tamina shoves Bayley down to start and superkicks Natalya for a bonus. Everything breaks down in a hurry with Nia being sent outside for a ram into the steps. Back in and Peyton rolls Sasha up for two and it’s a double kick to put drop Sasha again.

The Hardys’ Spin Cycle gets two on Banks but she’s right back with a backslide for the same. It’s back to Bayley for a sliding clothesline for two on Beth but Billie tags herself in. The IIconics take over on Beth, who is right back with a suplex to both of them at once. Natalya comes in for two but Bayley makes a fast save. The champs get in a fight with Beth and Natalya and it’s a Bank Statement to Phoenix. That’s broken up but the Glam Slam is countered into a rollup into the corner.

Natalya drops Sasha onto Bayley and they get the always fairly dumb looking double Sharpshooter treatment. This time it’s Tamina making the save and Nia comes back in to wreck everyone else. The IIconics get crushed with stereo Samoan drops but Beth shoves Nia off the top to break up a splash. Sasha takes Beth down as well and Bayley drops the top rope elbow, followed by Banks’ frog splash. The Tower of Doom is broken up so Beth hits a super Glam Slam on Bayley, with Kay making a blind tag. With Beth sent outside, Kay steals the pin and the titles at 10:47.

Rating: D. This went on too long and wasn’t all that interesting in the first place. The titles were brand new at this point and they already seemed pretty worthless, which would be proven over the next year. The fallout here is more interesting than the match itself, as you Nia would go away for about a year with double ACL surgery and Sasha (allegedly) threw a fit over losing and took the summer off.

The pilots from the Kickoff Show flyover are in the crowd. That’s always cool.

We recap Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan for the Smackdown World Title. Kofi replaced the injured Ali in the Elimination Chamber and got down to the final two. That set up one of the most dramatic things that WWE has ever done, as Kofi got inches away from winning the title and the fans ate it up. It was clear that Kofi had to get the title at Wrestlemania or he never would, which sent Kofi and New Day into a crusade to finally get the title shot that had eluded him for eleven years.

After jumping through all kinds of hoops set by Vince McMahon, it took New Day winning a gauntlet match to get the shot, with their longtime rivals the Usos stepping aside in a great show of respect for Kofi. At the same time, Bryan said that Kofi was a B+ player in an awesome role reversal from his legendary run five years earlier.

The match was finally set and it was a heck of a story, as Kofi had put in so many years of building credibility to get here and was finally cashing in. This wasn’t JBL jumping up to the main event scene, as Kofi had pretty much won every title other than the World Title. That’s not a big jump, but it was hard to believe that they would actually pull the trigger here. In other words, this was EXCELLENT and would have headlined any other year.

Smackdown World Title: Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan

Kofi is challenging and has New Day in his corner, while Bryan has Rowan. Big E. has a gift for Kofi and promises it for after the match. I had forgotten how nice of a touch Bryan’s eco-friendly belt really was. They stare each other down to start and the fans are behind Kofi, which is almost hard to fathom until you realize that Bryan might be a better heel than face. Kofi’s headlock doesn’t get anywhere so they fight over a backslide. Bryan monkey flips him so Kofi lands on his feet, setting up a dropkick to the floor.

The big dive takes Bryan down again and the roster is behind Kofi in the back. Things slow down a bit as Bryan needs a breather with Rowan. Back in and Bryan uppercuts him a few times to set up the surfboard, which always looks awesome. That’s broken up in a hurry as usual, allowing Kofi to kick away in the corner. Bryan’s moonsault into the running clothesline is countered into something resembling the standing double stomp (almost a Thesz press as Kofi can’t hit it properly) for two.

Kofi’s jumping clothesline works a bit better and the Boom Drop connects. Bryan heads outside again so Kofi tries a springboard dive, which lands ribs first on the announcers’ table. You don’t have to ask Bryan twice to go after the ribs like that so he drops Kofi ribs first across the top rope. The ribs get sent into the corner and it’s off to a waistlock, which works a lot better this time around. Kofi fights up and elbows in the corner but a very quick Trouble in Paradise is countered into a Boston crab.

Bryan’s belly to back superplex is broken up with elbows to the face and Kofi hits a top rope splash to the back for two. They slug it out but Trouble in Paradise is countered again, only to countered into a small package to give Kofi two more. Kofi’s crossbody is rolled through though and Bryan pulls him into a failed LeBell Lock attempt so they’re both down for a second. The running knee is countered into the SOS but Bryan reverses into the LeBell Lock, with Bryan letting go for some more elbows to the ribs.

Kofi finally gets his foot on the rope and you can hear the sigh of relief. Bryan YES Kicks at the ribs even more but Kofi fires up and tells Bryan to kick him even harder. As Bryan backs away, Kofi throws his own kicks and busts out a reverse suplex for two. They head outside again so Rowan can go after New Day, earning himself Trouble in Paradise. The Midnight Hour on the floor takes care of Rowan and Kofi blocks Bryan’s suicide dive.

Back in and Bryan hits the running knee…..for two and a big pop on the kickout. Bryan has had it and unloads with stomps to the head to set up the LeBell Lock. Kofi breaks out again and blasts Bryan with forearms to the face with more aggression than you usually see from him. Bryan won’t let go of the wrist so Kofi stomps him right back, knocking Bryan silly. Trouble in Paradise gives Kofi the clean pin and the title at 23:45.

Rating: A. That is the definition of the Wrestlemania moment and it holds up to perfection a year later. The fans completely bought into the idea of Kofi fighting through everything and winning the title in the end and that’s all it should have been. Kofi is the kind of guy who has been around forever and built up so much good will that when he finally went after the title, everyone was on his side. That made for a special moment and it was amazing throughout as it’s something that I never thought I would see, but here it is. That’s a great thing to see as rare as it can be.

On top of that, this was an awesome match with both guys giving it everything they had. The story here was perfect with Kofi not being the wrestler Bryan was but knowing that this was his one shot and giving everything he had to achieve his dream when he could. The fans believed in him and there was no way he could lose in this spot. Outstanding stuff and if not for the historic main event, this would have headlined in a landslide. Watch this again and smile a lot.

Post match Woods and Big E. pull out the classic WWE Championship and hand it to Kofi for the first time (Kofi kneeling in the ring and waiting to have it presented to him is a great visual). The pyro goes off and Kofi’s sons get in the ring to celebrate with him and one of them holds up the title, which is almost bigger than he is. We’re not done yet though as Big E. brings in the present from earlier. It’s the first New Day shirt featuring Kofi as champion and his kids get to hold them up for a perfect visual. Woods: “THEY SAID WE COULDN’T MAKE IT! WE MADE IT TO THE TOP!” Outstanding.

Che and Jost are banged up so Bliss introduces them to Dr. Scott Hall and Dr. Kevin Nash. Ok then.

Booker T. is the next guest commentator.

US Title: Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio

Mysterio is challenging and this year’s comic gear is…..well Mysterio appropriately enough. Now how did he never do that one before? Joe kicks him in the face but Rey is right back with the springboard hurricanrana. The 619 connects but Joe pulls him out of the air into the Koquina Clutch and Rey is out at 1:00, which may have something to do with Rey injuring his ankle on Monday. Booker being annoyed at wasting all the time on prep work is good for a chuckle.

Sneak peak of Batista’s new movie Stuber.

We recap Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre. Reigns returned from leukemia after a four month absence and he needs a first victim. Drew has run through the rest of the Shield as a bonus. This is your likely layup result of the show and that’s fine.

Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre

Drew gets played to the ring by the New York Bagpipe Band. They trade shots to the face to start so Reigns snaps off a Samoan drop for an early two. McIntyre is right back with a spinebuster into a jackknife cover for two of his own. The Glasgow Kiss knocks Reigns down again and McIntyre throws him into the corner for two. The chinlock/armbar goes on until Reigns powers out and knocks him to the floor. Reigns’ running kick to the face is blocked though and McIntyre suplexes him down.

Back in and the reverse Alabama slam gives McIntyre two so he takes Reigns up top. That earns him a crotching, only to have Drew pull himself up from the Tree of Woe to send Reigns flying with a belly to belly superplex. Reasons of general heelishness cause McIntyre to slap him in the face, meaning the comeback is on. McIntyre gets knocked outside again for the Samoan drop on the floor, followed by the Superman Punch back inside. The spear finishes McIntyre at 10:06.

Rating: D. The fans didn’t care and why should they have? As usual, it was clear that Reigns was going to win and that happens far too often at Wrestlemania. It’s amazing that Reigns got to come back here but it’s Reigns, who almost always wins, winning again in a match where the ending was obvious throughout. Nothing to see here, and the fans were silent throughout.

Post match Reigns gets to pose in a rather emotional moment.

Here’s Elias for his self described greatest performance ever. He’s on screen playing drums, with a second Elias joining him on piano and the real thing in the ring playing guitar. They jam for a bit and guitar Elias says the other two deserve a standing ovation. Elias teases more members of the band and gets in his catchphrase before loading up the song….but here’s a SPECIAL BULLETIN on Babe Ruth calling his shot in the 1932 World Series.

Cue John Cena in Dr. of Thuganomics gear and the fans seem rather pleased. Cena raps about how he’s about to turn heel and how bad his own movies are. WWE doesn’t stand for Walk With Elias because it really means Wasted Wrestling Experiment. We get a nuts joke, followed by the FU to leave Elias laying. They have history together so this was as good as you were going to get. This was funny for a change if nothing else and that’s a cool Wrestlemania feeling.

We recap Batista vs. HHH. Back at Smackdown 1000, Batista had mentioned that HHH never beat him but laughed it off. Then in February, Ric Flair was having a 70^th birthday celebration but Batista attacked him, while asking HHH if he had his attention. This set up the match, with Batista demanding that HHH give him what he wanted (over and over and over). HHH has put up his career just in case the ending was in the slightest bit of doubt.

Shawn Michaels is guest commentator.

Batista vs. HHH

No holds barred with HHH’s career on the line. Batista goes out to glare at Shawn but here’s HHH, riding in a Mad Max style cart because of course he is. Batista drives him straight into the corner to start so HHH is back with some right hands to the face. A backdrop sends Batista outside but he throws HHH over the announcers’ table in a crash. HHH is right back up with a ram into the barricade and busts out a chain to whip Batista over the back.

The chain is pulled into Batista’s mouth (Shawn: “That’s not going to help his movie career.”) and HHH whips him into the steps. To ramp up the pain, HHH busts out some pliers to bend Batista’s fingers around a bit. HHH isn’t done with the toolbox so he grabs some needle nose pliers and ribs Batista’s nose ring out. To be fair, that thing looked horrible. Cole: “HHH just ripped a nose ring out of the nose of Batista.” So the nose ring in his ear is still intact.

Batista’s nose is good enough to drop HHH onto the announcers’ table and then he does it again onto a different one. A chair to the back sets up the shoulders in the corner for two as things have slowed way down. Batista slams him down for two more and let’s go outside again. The steps are set on the table and another table is cleared off as this is taking quite a long time for one big spot.

The huge Batista Bomb through the table is countered with a backdrop onto (not through) the other table and they’re both down again. HHH gets up, spinebusters him through the table, and we get another breather. HHH pulls out the sledgehammer but it’s a spear to cut him down for two. This time it’s HHH knocking the sledgehammer away from Batista, earning himself a spinebuster in the process. The Batista Bomb, which makes HHH drop the sledgehammer again, connects for two.

With nothing else working, Batista brings in the steps but goes up top for some reason. That reason would be so HHH can powerbomb him onto the steps, setting up a Pedigree for two (Because this MUST KEEP GOING!). They’re both down again so here’s Flair to slip HHH the sledgehammer. HHH gets up and uses the steps as a launchpad to hammer Batista in the head. Since that’s not enough to pin him (or KILL HIM as it probably should have), Batista pops up to take the Pedigree for the pin at 25:45.

Rating: D. Why does HHH do this? They could have had the same match with at least ten minutes chopped off but for some reason we needed to get HHH’s latest big epic match, no matter how much people aren’t interested in seeing it. This was terrible with Batista looking like a shell of his glory days (fair enough) and the match going WAY longer than it should have. Horrible match, and did you expect anything else given this style of match’s history?

The B Team model Daniel Bryan WWE Champion shirts but here’s Ron Simmons for the joke.

JBL is your next guest commentator.

Baron Corbin vs. Kurt Angle

This is Angle’s retirement match as he can barely get in the ring without injuring himself these days and needs to limp away for good. Corbin is here because we all did something horrible in a past life. Angle goes after him to start but gets knocked into the corner to put him in early trouble. Corbin takes it to the corner and pounds away before mocking Angle’s family a bit. A missed middle rope ax handle sends Corbin throat first into the rope so Angle snaps off some suplexes for two.

Angle walks into a big boot but is fine enough to grab a quickly broken ankle lock. Deep Six gives Corbin two more but he misses a charge, allowing the Angle Slam to connect for two. The straps come down and the ankle lock goes on until Corbin rolls him into the corner for the break. Corbin throws in a You Can’t See Me so Angle punches him into more rolling German suplexes. The moonsault misses though and the End of Days finishes Kurt’s career at 5:59.

Rating: D. Angle does seem fine with putting Corbin over on the way out but this was another step in the seemingly eternal nonsense that was/is the Corbin push. It’s a lot to take and while I can live with Angle going out on his back, it’s a lot to take because Corbin really is going way above his pay grade every time he’s in a match like this.

Post match Angle thanks the fans and asks for one more YOU SUCK chant for the road.

Intercontinental Title: Bobby Lashley vs. Finn Balor

Lashley, with Lio Rush, is defending and they’ve traded the title, so tonight it’s the Demon to make the match feel big. Balor gets a special entrance by coming down off a raised platform, though it’s not as creepy as his NXT entrances. Lashley has very bright green contacts in for some reason. Some early dropkicks put Lashley on the floor and Balor takes him out with a dive for a bonus.

A hard drive into the apron cuts Balor off though and there’s a suplex to make it worse. Lashley clotheslines him hard to the floor but a Sling Blade gets Balor out of trouble. Rush’s distraction lets Lashley hit a HARD spear through the ropes though and a regular one gets two back inside. Balor fights out of a powerbomb and hits one of his own, setting up the Coup de Grace for the pin and the title at 4:01.

Rating: C. The match was entertaining enough for something that was going so fast but at the same time, the booking still doesn’t make a ton of sense. Balor has already shown that he can beat Lashley so now he needs to bring up the powers to win? And the extraordinary thing was just a powerbomb? I’m glad to see the Demon again but this wasn’t exactly the most logical thing in the world.

Here’s Alexa Bliss to announce the attendance record of 82,265. Cue R-Truth and Carmella for the Wrestlemania Dance Break (Remember those?).

We recap the main event of Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey and Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte defending against Becky Lynch in a winner take all match. Rousey is the unstoppable force, Charlotte is Charlotte and Becky is here because she’s the hottest name in wrestling at the moment and won the Royal Rumble. Tonight the winner leaves with both titles and it’s the biggest women’s match in history.

Raw Women’s Title/Smackdown Women’s Title: Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is challenging both. In a nod to her father and the Four Horsemen, Charlotte lance in a helicopter outside and walks into the stadium. Already inside, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts play Rousey to the ring. There is something so cool about watching Becky walk down the ramp in a wide shot as Cole talks about how she has started a movement. I’m not sure if that is the right term but it looked awesome. The bell rings and even a year later I still can’t believe this happened. The women’s division was a joke just a few years ago and now it’s the biggest match of the year. That’s hard to believe and it’s very cool.

They stare at each other for a good bit to start until Becky goes after Rousey’s arm. Rousey kicks her to the floor without much trouble and that means a Samoan drop into the barricade. Charlotte follows and takes Piper’s Pit but pops right back up for a fall away slam to send Rousey into the barricade for a change. That sets up the required Charlotte vs. Becky fight with Becky getting the better of things but can’t get the Figure Four, allowing Rousey to come and hammer away.

Charlotte breaks up an armbar attempt but gets pulled into a triangle choke over the ropes. Becky hits a running dropkick though and Rousey falls HARD onto the floor in a nasty crash. That leaves Charlotte to knee Becky in the head as the fans get behind Becky in a big way. Charlotte’s moonsault hits knees and Becky gets the Disarm-Her but Rousey make the save in a hurry. A double Natural Selection gives Charlotte two each and it’s Becky going outside this time.

For some reason Charlotte tries to slug it out with Rousey, earning herself a knee to the head. Charlotte pulls her into a Boston crab, drawing Becky in for her own save. Becky and Charlotte slug it out again until Charlotte is sent to the apron. Charlotte gets caught up top with a super Bexploder for two but Rousey drops both of them with a high crossbody for a double near fall. The double armbar goes on so Becky and Charlotte powerbomb her for the break. It took three attempts but they finally got out.

Everyone is down for a bit until Becky hits a Rock Bottom for two on Charlotte. Rousey goes after Becky and gets pulled straight into the Disarm-Her so she uses the ropes to power up in the corner. That’s fine with Becky, who puts it on again in the corner until Charlotte boots her in the face. Charlotte’s super Spanish Fly gets two but she might have banged up her knee. Rousey’s knee is banged up as well so Charlotte stomps away and grabs the Figure Four around the post.

After sending Becky into the barricade, Charlotte grabs the Figure Eight but Becky dives in off the top for another save. Just because, let’s bring in a table but Charlotte decks Becky for taking too long to set it up. Rousey shoves Charlotte off the top and turns the table over because she doesn’t need it. A double spear takes down Becky and Rousey so Charlotte sets up the table in the corner.

Charlotte sends Rousey face first into the table and spears Becky for two more. Back up and Charlotte gets hiptossed through the table, leaving Becky and Rousey to have the slugout we’ve been waiting for. They throw some serious hands but Piper’s Pit is countered into a crucifix (with Rousey’s shoulder a good six inches off the mat in a bad botch) to give Becky both titles at 21:28.

Rating: B. I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t watch it in one sitting this time around but I liked the match a good bit better on a second viewing. These three beat each other up and while Becky winning was the presumed finish, it wasn’t entirely a lock given who she was in there against. It was a heck of a fight and the three of them all came out looking great. This is much more historic than good, but it’s really rather good and that’s always a positive way to go out.

Rousey is ticked as Becky celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The positives are better than the negatives but not by much. There are some flat out bad matches on here but they are overcome by some great feelings with the faces winning all of the big matches for a change. That felt like an old school style as for the first time in what felt like forever, they didn’t cut the fans off for the sake of dragging things out until later. For once it felt like a season finale and that’s what Wrestlemania should be when it gets the chance. Good show, but it could have been a lot better.

How you ask? CUT THE SHOW DOWN! Look at how long this show is and tell me that it’s well put together. There is no need for a sixteen match card, especially with some of the matches that feel tacked on. All three Tag Team Title matches feel like they’re here for the sake of being here and some of the matches just need to be shortened. Either that or find a way to get people to the ring faster. I know it seems simple but how much of these shows are spent on ring entrances alone? Just find a way to shorten things, please.

Overall there are more good things than bad, but this isn’t a show that you need to watch in one sitting. As soon as you get to the point where the show is five hours plus an episode of Smackdown before it starts (and a Smackdown with more wrestling than usual at that), you’re hitting a firm ceiling of how much you can enjoy this. I know you can’t cut out big chunks, but find a way to get this under six hours. Do that and it’s a lot better, but that has been the case for years now and it keeps getting longer. Either way, at least we had enough nice stuff on here, but don’t watch it all at once.

Ratings Comparison

Tony Nese vs. Buddy Murphy

Original: C+

Redo: C

Women’s Battle Royal

Original: D

Redo: D

Revival vs. Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins

Original: C

Redo: D+

Men’s Battle Royal

Original: D

Redo: D+

Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins

Original: N/A

Redo: N/A

AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton

Original: B-

Redo: C-

Usos vs. Shinsuke Nakamura/Rusev vs. The Bar vs. Aleister Black/Ricochet

Original: C+

Redo: B

Shane McMahon vs. The Miz

Original: C-

Redo: D-

Boss N Hug Connection vs. Natalya/Beth Phoenix vs. IIconics vs. Nia Jax/Tamina

Original: D

Redo: D

Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan

Original: A-

Redo: A

Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio

Original: N/A

Redo: N/A

Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns

Original: C-

Redo: D

Batista vs. HHH

Original: D+

Redo: D

Baron Corbin vs. Kurt Angle

Original: F

Redo: D

Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley

Original: C

Redo: C

Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte

Original: B

Redo: B

Overall Rating

Original: B-

Redo: C+

About the same all around, but some of those earlier ones are a good bit off. Still though, too long, despite some of the very good parts.

Here’s the original review if you’re interested:

https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/04/08/wrestlemania-xxxv-so-much-for-no-happy-endings/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: April 10, 2026
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re just over a week away from Wrestlemania and that means it’s time to start talking a lot more. That’s likely going to be the focal point of the show, though unfortunately a lot of that is probably going to be done by Pat McAfee. Last week’s big reveal was certainly a choice and I’m almost scared to see what we’re getting with the followup. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Pat McAfee being revealed as Randy Orton’s associate last week and the ensuing beatdown on Cody Rhodes. Later in the night, Rhodes gave a rather angry response to McAfee.

Rhodes runs into Nick Aldis, who says McAfee is on his way. Aldis is under strict orders for Rhodes to not touch McAfee, but he won’t say who gave the orders. Jelly Roll comes in to say this is about Rhodes’ relationship with Orton and wants him to deal with this.

Here is Rhea Ripley for a chat. She congratulates Jade Cargill for finding her one weakness when she attacked Iyo Sky. Ripley wants Cargill out here but gets Sky instead. She’s angry at Cargill too and knows Ripley will get her at Wrestlemania…but Sky wants Cargill tonight. Nick Aldis comes in to make the match for tonight’s main event.

Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss

Lyra Valkyria and Charlotte are here too while Bayley is the hometown girl. Bayley shoulders her down to start but they go to a quick standoff. Bliss gets in a knockdown of her own and stands on Bayley’s back, only to be sent outside. A dropkick through the ropes rocks Bliss as we take a break.

We come back with Bliss striking away and hitting a running Blockbuster for two. Back up and Bayley sunset bombs her into the corner but gets caught with a tornado DDT. The Sister Abigail DDT is countered into the Bayley To Belly and they’re both down again. Bayley gets up for the top rope elbow and a near fall before taking Bliss outside. Some chops have Bliss in more trouble and Bayley even mocks Charlotte’s strut. Charlotte isn’t having this and throws her jacket at Bayley, which is enough for Bliss to grab the rollup pin at 10:08.

Rating: C+. This was just a little taste to help boost up the four way tag at Wrestlemania and that’s a fine idea. The match is already set so there is no real point in messing with the whole thing. Go with what is set up and don’t mess with it too much, which seems to be what they’re doing here.

We look back at Sami Zayn retaining the US Title last week by taking advantage of Carmelo Hayes’ injury. Then Trick Williams called him Ginger Snap.

Matt Cardona gives the still injured Hayes a pep talk but Williams, with Lil Yachty, comes in to say Hayes can watch him win the US Title. Hayes says he’s coming for the title after Wrestlemania but Cardona sets up a match with Williams tonight.

Drew McIntyre talks about how Jacob Fatu’s family is probably in the arena tonight but reveals he’s sitting in a prison cell, which is what Fatu will always be about. This is where Fatu always belongs and after Wrestlemania, he’ll screw up and wind up right back here. At Wrestlemania, McIntyre is the judge, jury and executioner.

Fatu isn’t happy but Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s come in to mock him, including losing Fatu his teeth the last time he was here. That doesn’t work for Fatu, who seems likely to get a match with Tama Tonga tonight.

We meet Royce Keys, who grew up around here and saw all of the violence and drugs. He and his friends had Royal Rumbles, where you had to toss someone over the fence to eliminate them. Things have changed for him now and he refuses to be defined by where he is from. So yeah basically the same intro as Powerhouse Hobbs. That’s not a bad idea but it took them this long?

Royce Keys vs. Berto

Angel is here too. Berto grabs a headlock and is promptly sent flying. Keys pulls him from the mat into a powerslam (nice) but Angel gets in a cheap shot. That lets Berto get in a posting but Keys is back with a fall away slam. A running powerslam and spinebuster finish for Keys at 2:50. Not quite a squash but close enough. Now how did this take two and a half months after he started at the Royal Rumble?

Pat McAfee arrives and confirms with Nick Aldis that no one from WWE is allowed to touch him. McAfee gives him a thank you with a rather bad British accent but runs into Jelly Roll. He wants to know what McAfee was thinking with everything and teases a fight but Aldis cuts that off. McAfee wants Roll out of here and goes off to save WWE.

Royce Keys is glad to be here in front of his hometown. Solo Sikoa comes in to say long time no see. He runs things around here so if Keys needs anything, let him know. Keys doesn’t say anything.

Here is Pat McAfee for a chat and he doesn’t like San Jose. He mocks the fans and moves on to CM Punk, who had a WWE jacket over a WWE Punk shirt on Raw. Punk has 283 things to sell right now but where does that money go? To the fans who can’t afford Wrestlemania tickets or to the “I’m sorry Saudi Arabia” fund?

The difference is that McAfee gets things done, which brings him to the Wrestlemania ticket prices. He called Ram Trucks and got them to pick up 25% of the bill for a Saturday night Wrestlemania ticket from now until the end of Raw. Sunday? Who cares, as Randy Orton isn’t on that show. This city has never won a Stanley Cup but this city will see Orton win the title at Wrestlemania.

Cue Cody Rhodes, with McAfee mocking his theme song in a bit of a funny bit. Rhodes knows that he can’t touch him but McAfee can go to the back and get a nice replica title and pretend to face anyone he wants. Then he can go back to whomever sent him here and say “thank you daddy”. There’s a term in wrestling called “play wrestler” and he never got it until he saw McAfee talking about the Attitude Era.

That was THIRTY YEARS AGO and Orton watched it in high school! Rhodes brings up Paul Boesch, who didn’t like the term “marks”, which McAfee was using on his show this week. Boesch called them CUSTOMERS and when you have everything because of those people, whether it’s the collector at the airport with 70 Pops or that kid in the front row with the cool jacket, they become FAMILY.

McAfee has one talent though: he has made the fans actually agree that they want to see Orton at Wrestlemania, but not McAfee, so go home. Rhodes goes to leave but McAfee says he’s here because he was born for the business while Rhodes was born into the business. He sees a fake man in Rhodes and if Orton doesn’t win the title at Wrestlemania, he’s out of this business forever. Fans: “GO HOME PAT!”

Rhodes brings up McAfee saying he’s tired so let’s get Gunther out here to put him to sleep for good. Rhodes leaves and McAfee calls him the “Elite runaway artist, eh Stardust?”. He suggests that Rhodes is going to go suck up to HHH, which brings Rhodes back, sans jacket. Orton pops up on screen, having attacked Jelly Roll.

Orton drags him into the arena and a McAfee distraction lets Orton get in a cheap shot on Rhodes. Roll gets up and grabs McAfee by the throat, with Orton making the save. A hanging DDT drops Rhodes, as does a belt shot. McAfee even leaves with the title. This was certainly better than last week, but that’s a far cry from it being good. McAfee as a heel manager/mouthpiece (for someone who doesn’t need one) is fine, but DANG Roll feels wedged into this thing.

Post match McAfee and Orton leave with the title.

We look at CM Punk’s promo from Raw.

Miz and Kit Wilson tell Nick Aldis that he needs to do something about the referee last week. Aldis: “He was cursed.” Miz: “NOT YOU TOO!” Aldis says fixing the curse is beyond him but he can put Wilson in the ring with Danhausen. Aldis: “Unless you’re afraid of the….curse.” Miz: “THERE IS NO CURSE!” This is the goofy fun I love in wrestling.

Jacob Fatu vs. Tama Tonga

Fatu backs him into the corner to start but misses a charge, allowing Tonga to strike away. A headbutt works a bit better for Fatu as Tonga is sent outside, where a suicide dive sends him over the announcers’ table. We take a break and come back with Fatu winning a slugout and hitting a splash in the corner. The running Umaga Attack connects but Tonga is back up with a kick to the face. A reverse rolling cutter gives Tonga two but he charges into a pop up Samoan drop. The triple jump moonsault finishes for Fatu at 8:07.

Rating: C+. Fatu hasn’t been in the ring much lately so it’s a good idea to have him out there getting a win. At the same time, I’m not sure what is going on with Tonga at the moment. He was teasing going after the US Title for the better part of ever and had the thing with Shinsuke Nakamura but nothing really came of either. That could change, but for now it’s not working out so well.

Post match Fatu grabs the mic but Drew McIntyre runs in for the brawl. A chair to the back and Futureshock on the floor knock Fatu silly so McIntyre handcuffs him around the post. McIntyre asks him how it feels to be back in chains where he belongs. Fatu tries to fight back but gets knocked cold, with McIntyre throwing him back inside for another Claymore and a belt whipping.

R-Truth explains how to get the ESPN App and Danhausen seems to understand. Damian Priest comes up to say that R-Truth thought that was Asuka last week…but R-Truth says Priest thinks Danhausen is Asuka. Priest is flummoxed but we cut to Rhea Ripley attacking B-Fab. Ripley: “One down, one to go.” R-Truth: “I don’t think Rhea wants her in Judgment Day.” Priest: “I’m the crazy one?” R-Truth could make the phone book amusing.

Here is Sami Zayn to a mixed reaction, which he acknowledges. People have been telling him that he needs to change and maybe that is what the fans want. He has always tried to be something more than a catchphrase and he does this for the fans. There is no way he will ever change on the fans who love him. Now as for the fans booing him, what did he do? As soon as he knew he had fans who were with him no matter what, the pressure was off.

Cue Trick Williams and Lil Yachty to interrupt, with Williams thinking that the fans are sick of hearing Zayn talk. The reality is Zayn hates Williams and his sauce, because Williams is the anointed one. Everyone loves him, but Zayn thinks it’s just a crush. Zayn tells Williams to understand what he’s up against at Wrestlemania, but Yachty thinks Zayn should be worried. Cue Matt Cardona for his scheduled match with Williams.

Trick Williams vs. Matt Cardona

Yachty and Zayn are still here too. We’re joined in progress with Williams grabbing a headlock but getting driven into the corner. The running knee out of said corner cuts Cardona off and Williams chops him down. A running clothesline connects for Cardona and he dropkicks Williams through the ropes. Back in and Cardona’s right hands in the corner are cut off and we take a break.

We come back with Williams hammering away but getting caught in a belly to back suplex. The Reboot connects and an Unprettier gives Cardona two. Williams is right back with a pop up neckbreaker for two his own and Cardona is sent outside for a clothesline. Zayn gets shoved down so he gets on the apron, where Yachty pulls him down. That earns Yachty a Helluva Kick but the Trick Shot finishes Cardona at 11:05.

Rating: C+. This was a good way to keep Williams’ momentum up, as it feels like we’re coming up on a double turn. Williams is only going to be able to be a heel for so long and WWE seems to know that. Zayn is someone who can work both ways at any time and he seems ready to switch, though I’m not sure how necessary that’s going to be. The story here is Williams though, and he seems ready for the task.

Video on Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar.

Class Wrestlemania Moment: John Cena vs. HHH vs. Randy Orton at Wrestlemania XXIV.

Danhausen vs. Kit Wilson

Danhausen is billed from 1311 Mockingbird Lane, which works well for an old school TV fan. Miz is here with Wilson. Danhausen actually dropkicks him and grabs a northern lights suplex for two before going outside to pose with a clueless Miz (ala Shawn Michaels and Sunny back in the day). Back in and Wilson hits a running elbow in the corner before insisting that the curse is NOT REAL. Wilson goes up but Danhausen curses him again (the fans are into it this time) and some pyro goes off in the corner, crotching Wilson on top. Miz gets poked in the eye and a pump kick finishes Wilson at 3:01.

Rating: C. That was exactly what it should have been as this was all about a goofy heel getting beaten by something that doesn’t make a ton of sense but has everyone in on the joke. Danhausen is doing exactly what he should be doing and it’s working out. It’s a good, silly story and they’re not pretending it’s anything else.

Post match the lights go out and Danhausen runs off before Miz can get him.

Michin has been attacked as well. Jade Cargill is ready for revenge.

Here’s what’s coming next week, including the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Wrestlemania rundown.

Rhea Ripley tells Iyo Sky about her previous work tonight. Sky is appreciative but asks Ripley to stay back here for the match. That’s fine with Ripley, but she wants Sky to save some for her at Wrestlemania.

Iyo Sky vs. Jade Cargill

Non-title and Sky is taped up from last week’s attack. Cargill powers her into the corner to start and knocks Sky down without much trouble. Sky is back up with a pop up dropkick to send Cargill outside, only to have the suicide dive cut off. We take a break and come back with Sky striking away, including snapping the arm across the top rope. The running knees in the corner rock Cargill, who is right back with a gorilla press.

Sky slips out of that and grabs a choke, which is broken up as well. Cargill’s pump kick is countered into a rollup for two, followed by Cargill grabbing a Blue Thunder Bomb for the same. Sky kicks her outside for an Asai moonsault but Cargill gets in a wheelbarrow drop onto the steps. Back in and Cargill nails a pump kick, followed by Jaded for the pin at 9:09.

Rating: B-. This was far from some kind of epic showdown, but Cargill getting a win over a star like Sky makes her feel all the more dangerous on the way to facing Ripley. Sky even has the injuries to give her an out in the loss. This is what it should have been given the circumstances and they got the ending right, which is what matters.

Post match Cargill grabs a chair but Rhea Ripley comes in for the save. Cargill sits down to stare at Ripley (for about a second) to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show’s biggest benefit was coming off of last week’s mess. While McAfee still played a big role here, he didn’t come off as completely out of nowhere as he did last week. It’s still not a good story, but they do seem to have tweaked it a bit (thank goodness). The rest of the show feels like it’s all about getting ready for Wrestlemania, which is all but locked into place. This week and next week are bout pushing what is already set and this show did a nice enough job.

Results
Alexa Bliss b. Bayley – Rollup
Royce Keys b. Berto – Spinebuster
Jacob Fatu b. Tama Tonga – Triple Jump Moonsault
Danhausen b. Kit Wilson – Pump kick
Jade Cargill b. Iyo Sky – Jaded

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Wrestlemania XXVII
Date: April 3, 2011
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 71,617
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Josh Matthews
America The Beautiful: Keri Hilson
Host: The Rock

So the big story here is the return of the Rock, who is back for the first time in a good many years and serving as the show’s host. That is already bleeding into the main event, which features John Cena challenging the Miz for the Raw World Title. Other than that, we have the worst Wrestlemania match of all time so let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: US Title: Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan

Bryan is challenging in a lumberjack match and I think you know where this is going. Also, this wasn’t your traditional pre-show match, but rather a DVD extra. Sheamus starts fast and knocks him into the corner but Bryan gets in the moonsault into the running clothesline. Bryan fires off the kicks to the chest and Sheamus is sent outside, with Mark Henry throwing him back inside.

Back in and Sheamus hits a hard clothesline before knocking Bryan outside. Bryan is sent back inside and we hit a crossface chickenwing of all things. The comeback is cut off with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two but Bryan slips out of the High Cross. Sheamus is low bridged to the floor and the lumberjacks have to be dispatched. The big brawl is on and the referee throws it out at 4:19.

Rating: C+. This was pretty clearly designed to set up the pretty obvious Wrestlemania battle royal, which is something that happens almost every year. At the same time, that doesn’t exactly make the people in the match feel overly important, which isn’t a great way to go. I like that the title is involved in some way, but dang this wasn’t the best use of the US Title.

Post match the brawl is on and here is Teddy Long to…well dance a bit, and then make the battle royal

Battle Royal

Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Yoshi Tatsu, Evan Bourne, Ted DiBiase, Drew McIntyre, William Regal, Tyler Reks, Curt Hawkins, R-Truth, Zack Ryder, Chavo Guerrero, Jey Uso, Great Khali, Jimmy Uso, David Hart Smith, JTG, Trent Beretta, Tyson Kidd, Johnny Curtis, Chris Masters, Mark Henry, Primo

Non-title. Sheamus isn’t even in the ring to start and Khali throws out Reks and Hawkins in a hurry. Tatsu is out and things slow down a bit as the brawling on the ropes ensues. Khali chops Masters down in the middle of the ring and R-Truth is low bridged out. Henry gets rid of the Usos so a bunch of people get together to toss him. Khali tosses Primo and Ryder is out after him. McIntyre and Guerrero go to the apron with McIntyre eliminating him and Hart Smith being chopped out after him.

JTG gets the same treatment and Sheamus kicks Khali down, which doesn’t seem that smart. Bryan eliminates Kidd and McIntyre does the same to Beretta. Curtis is gone as well and for some reason Masters grabs the Masterlock on the apron. Naturally he’s knocked out and it’s Bourne hitting Air Bourne on McIntyre. Regal unloads on DiBiase but misses a charge and gets eliminated. McIntyre kicks DiBiase out and gets thrown out by Bryan. That leaves Bryan, Sheamus and Khali, with the non-Khali guys going to the apron. Sheamus knocks Bryan out and goes after Khali, who clotheslines him out for the win at 8:28.

Rating: D+. As you can guess, this is the “get everyone on the show” match and that’s not a bad thing. Unfortunately it was a mostly bad match, with the string of people being eliminated that almost always happens in these things. Khali winning is fine, but the US Title being used to set up this less than important match isn’t a great sign of where the title was at this point.

Keri Hilson sings America The Beautiful.

Here’s the Rock to get things going, naturally with a big over the top introduction. This is a pretty big deal as he hasn’t really don anything important in WWE since around 2004. Rock hits his catchphrases and says we’re making history with all kinds of things tonight. He has the fans say MANIA when he says WRESTLE and then mocks John Cena with the Fruity Pebbles stuff.

Then he pauses for a bit and has some of the people’s water as this is not exactly going well. He has the fans get involved with a YABBA DABBA chant then hits some rhymes about how big this show is going to be. It’s bigger than Christmas, though there’s no offense to Santa. The big catchphrase wraps everything up after….pretty much nothing.

The opening video mostly looks at the history of Wrestlemania and hypes up the Rock’s return, plus the biggest matches.

Smackdown World Title: Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio

Del Rio is challenging (after winning the Royal Rumble) and has Ricardo Rodriguez doing his custom entrance, as usual, plus bodyguard Brodus Clay. Edge has Christian with him to even things out a bit so there are quite a few people here. There is also a giant cube that comes down over the ring and plays Edge’s logo (plus I’m assuming others later throughout the night, otherwise it’s kind of odd).

They lock up into the corner to start before Del Rio starts in on the (previously injured) arm. A backdrop sends Del Rio outside for the big crash but he sends Edge arm first into the barricade. Back in and we hit the armbar before Del Rio bends the arm around the rope. Another armbar is broken up and Del Rio misses a charge, sending him crashing out to the floor. Del Rio is fine enough to grab a super armdrag for two, followed by some basic right hands to the head.

Edge manages a spinwheel kick to leave them both down until Edge is able to grab the flapjack. The Edge-O-Matic gets two but Del Rio manages to get the cross armbreaker. Edge is right into the ropes and goes up, where it’s a jumping enziguri to bring him down for two. Clay and Cage get into it on the floor, with Edge grabbing a rollup for two of his own. The spear doesn’t work and Clay sends the bad arm into the post. The cross armbreaker goes on again but Edge switches into the Edgecator as Christian tornado DDTs Clay on the floor. Del Rio goes to the arm for the escape but Edge spears him down to retain at 11:08.

Rating: C+. It’s a fine enough way to go, though Del Rio winning the Royal Rumble and then just losing the title match feels like quite the downgrade. Edge was doing well enough but it felt like a setup for a tag match, which is kind of a weird way to go for the Wrestlemania World Title match. It’s not bad, but felt more like a big Smackdown main event and that’s about all.

Post match Edge and Christian destroy Del Rio’s Rolls Royce. Del Rio cries a lot and the Canadians celebrate as Cole wants them arrested. Then Edge would retire eight days later and vacate the title, because that’s the right way to go rather than putting Del Rio over here.

Cole taunts Lawler before their match later tonight. Oh….can we just not?

Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio

Rhodes is in his Dr. Doom phase here, as Mysterio injured his Dashing face and left him with emotional scars after the facial surgery. This was an outstanding character run for Rhodes and the first time I saw the star power and potential in him. Mysterio’s awesome superhero outfit this year is Captain America, sending Cole into a big rant (as usual around this time). Mysterio strikes away to start and hits a quick top rope hurricanrana.

Rhodes headbutts him down though and puts Mysterio in the ropes for a running headbutt. A running kick to the head sets up the one armed camel clutch but Mysterio is back up with something like a Black Widow. That’s reversed into a Hardcore Holly kick to the rather low stomach, followed by the Alabama Slam for two. Rhodes peels up Mysterio’s tights to expose the knee brace (how Rhodes was injured in the first place) before grabbing a nerve hold.

Mysterio fights up and sends him outside for a dropkick through the ropes. Rhodes is sent into the apron, followed by the top rope seated senton back inside. A wheelbarrow suplex drops Mysterio again but he’s right back with a headscissors. The 619 is blocked though and a catapult sends Mysterio throat first into the ropes.

Mysterio is back up with a 619 and pulls Rhodes’ mask off, which he puts on over his own mask. Some running headbutts put Rhodes down and a top rope headbutt gets two. The mask is removed so the referee takes it away, leaving Rhodes to hit Mysterio with his own knee brace (which was taken off somewhere in there). Cross Rhodes finishes Mysterio at 11:58.

Rating: B. These guys worked well together, and I still love the Dr. Doom period for Rhodes. It might not have had the longest legs, but this was the big win that he was needing. This felt like Rhodes getting his revenge and winning one of his biggest matches to date, which I’ll certainly take from both of them. Good stuff here and a nice way to have some hope for Rhodes’ future.

Big Show/Kane/Kofi Kingston/Santino Marella vs. Corre

Kingston is replacing an injured Vladimir Kozlov, who was taken out by the Corre. Marella goes after Slater to start but gets taken down, allowing Show and Kane to come in and clean house. Everything breaks down and we get the parade of knockdowns, including a great looking Trouble In Paradise to Barrett. The Cobra and WMD finish Slater at 1:33. Just a “get these people on the show” match.

The Rock meets Eve Torres and lets her feel his arm. Rock talks about the magic of Wrestlemania and offers to create magic with whomever comes around the corner next. It’s Mae Young, who wants the People’s Strudel. Rock makes some jokes about Young being old and Eve escorts her out (with Mae pinching Rock as she leaves). Rock says it couldn’t have been anyone else….and Steve Austin pops in. The fans get quiet as they know this one is important and they seem to show some respect while saying they remember each other at Wrestlemania. Austin coming in was pretty obvious but these two together is always special.

We recap Randy Orton vs. CM Punk. Orton was challenging for the World Title when Punk and his New Nexus interfered to cost him. As it turns out, Punk was mad at Orton for costing him the World Title TWO YEARS EARLIER and was finally getting around to going for revenge. Orton was fine with getting violent and we’re ready to go.

Randy Orton vs. CM Punk

New Nexus is barred from ringside. Punk goes for Orton’s injured (at Punk’s hands) knee to start but Orton knocks him outside. A dropkick to the steps knocks them into Orton’s knee though and Punk takes over, with a high crossbody getting two back inside. Punk gets cocky and hits a kind of Stunner onto the knee out of the corner, followed by a drop down onto the knee for two.

A top rope double stomp knocks Orton out of the Tree Of Woe for two but the GTS is countered. The RKO is countered as well though as Punk kicks him in the face for two. Punk gets caught up top though and it’s a superplex to bring him back down. Punk is fine enough to wrap the bad knee around the post, followed by the Hartbreaker for a bonus. Back in and Punk ties up the leg again and starts ripping at the bandage, only for Orton to punch him in the face for the break.

Orton starts the comeback but Punk goes right back to the leg and grabs the Anaconda Vice. They finally roll over to the ropes for the break and Punk heads to the apron, where Punk sends him into the post. The hanging DDT drops Punk and Orton gets all angry, only for the leg to give out on the Punt attempt. A desperation RKO attempt is shoved away so Punk tries a springboard…and dives into the RKO (that looked AWESOME) for the pin at 14:45.

Rating: B. This was a perfectly acceptable match with Punk working on the leg for a long time but getting a bit too cocky and walking (or diving) into the RKO. The ending looked outstanding, as Orton’s Wrestlemania RKO’s tend to do, and it came at the end of a good match. Sometimes you need a match between two good hands with some time and that was the situation here. Nice job.

Gene Okerlund is with the Rock and praises him for going well so far. Rock says John Cena’s #1 fan is here and….it’s Peewee Herman. Rock insults him and the payoff is Okerlund in Cena gear. This is as funny as you would expect.

We get the Hall Of Fame Class Of 2007:

Abdullah The Butcher (makes sense in Atlanta)
Sunny (yeah about that….)
The Road Warriors (nonsense that they weren’t in already)
Drew Carey (sure why not)
Bob Armstrong (perfectly fine in Georgia)
Jim Duggan (yes his 2×4 has a bowtie)
Shawn Michaels (eh he’s ok)

Oddly no highlight package this year.

We recap Jerry Lawler taking out Jack Swagger and going after Michael Cole, who threw a drink in his face to make Lawler hate him even more.

Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole

Let’s get this over with. Booker T. and Jim Ross come out to join commentary, Jack Swagger is with Cole and Steve Austin is guest referee. Cole has been a full on heel for months now and has tormented Lawler for a good while, including costing Lawler the WWE Title. Therefore, it’s time for revenge. Ross comes to the ring but Cole cuts his entrance off to talk about how Ross and Lawler are overrated and over the hill.

Cole says this is his first Wrestlemania match too and after he gets rid of Lawler, Ross will be back to making bad barbecue sauce and Cole will be the new Mr. Wrestlemania. Austin rides out on his ATV and almost runs Swagger down, as only Austin could get away with doing. After the entrances alone take the better part of ever (including Cole hiding in his Cole Mine), we’re FINALLY ready to go. Lawler jumps Swagger to start and sends him into the barricade before going after Cole in the Cole Mine.

Cole immediately begs off and apologizes, with Lawler accepting a handshake. Lawler then pulls the arm through the hole, with Cole’s face getting stuck against the wall in an actually funny moment. Lawler climbs into the box and pounds on Cole before throwing him inside. Swagger gets in a cheap shot and Cole baseball slides Lawler down. The ankle lock has Lawler tapping on the floor, and we begin the meat of the match: Cole badly working on Lawler’s ankle.

Cole tries to stand on the ankle while leaning on the ropes but can only get his toes to reach it. A punt to the ankle is a bit better but Cole can’t get a Vader Bomb to work. Instead he does a bottom rope version for two as JR can’t believe it was a near fall. Cole takes the straps down and puts on the ankle lock but Lawler kicks him away. Lawler stomps him in the corner so Swagger throws in the towel, which Austin doesn’t seem to like.

Austin towels himself off and throws it back before giving Swagger a Stunner. Cole begs Austin for mercy but Lawler punches Cole down and hits the dropkick. The middle rope punch connects but Lawler pulls him up and grabs the ankle lock. Cole taps and Austin makes VERY certain that he’s giving up, slowly asking a few times before FINALLY calling for the bell at a mind numbing 13:48.

Post match beer is consumed, with Booker T. getting in for a Spinarooni and getting Stunned as well. Everyone is happy…..and we get an email from the Anonymous Raw General Manager. Since the Raw GM has authority over Wrestlemania, the GM says that Austin overstepped his bounds and Cole wins by DQ. Josh Matthews, who read the email, gets a Stunner of his own. A ticked off Austin rids away on his ATV and Lawler joins JR on commentary.

Rating: -F. Hokey smoke it’s worse than I remember. This is, without a doubt, the worst Wrestlemania match of all time. Where do you even start? Well first of all, the match ran the better part of thirty minutes when you add in the before and after. This should have been “Swagger distracts Lawler, Cole gets in some shots, Lawler Hulks Up, punches, dropkick, piledriver (if Cole would take it) or a flying fist drop, Lawler wins in about four minutes and we celebrate.

Instead, it’s Cole working on the ankle (which is a weird enough thing to do) in a “funny” way for far too long as the joke is run into the ground. That’s in addition to Lawler already tapping on the floor (fair enough as it’s to someone like Swagger, but it didn’t need to be there at all) and making him look like a loser right out of the blocks. The match itself is abysmal, but somehow that’s nowhere close to the biggest problem.

At the end of the day, all of those problems can be weakened a bit with Lawler getting the win in his first Wrestlemania match and wrapping up the Cole arc for good. That wouldn’t be a good way to go, but it would have at least been something position. BUT WAIT! Why do that when we can have Cole not only win, but win again at the next pay per view before Lawler FINALLY got his revenge at the end of May by beating Cole in about three minutes.

But why do that when you can kill the crowd instead? That stupid email sound going off guaranteed that things were about to go from bad to worse and there was no way around it. You could practically see Vince McMahon in an otherwise silent Gorilla Position cackling about how “THAT’S GOOD S*** PAL!” while everyone around him realizes that this was the dumbest thing they could have done. This was the dumbest finish to a Wrestlemania match ever and it’s in the running for worst finish to any match anywhere in history.

We look at Wrestlemania Week. All the charity stuff they do is cool.

We recap Undertaker vs. HHH. Undertaker beat Shawn Michaels last year and ended his career, so HHH is out for revenge and to end the Streak. That’s about all you need here, plus a Johnny Cash song of course.

Undertaker vs. HHH

No Holds Barred. HHH gets the big entrance behind a wall of shields and has Metallica’s For Whom The Bell Tolls, while Undertaker goes with Johnny Cash’s Ain’t No Grave. The bell rings and HHH pounds him into the corner, only to be thrown over the top for the early crash out to the floor. Undertaker sends him into the steps and then loads up the announcers’ table.

That takes too long so HHH spears him through the Cole Mine and goes back inside, where Undertaker comes back in for the slugout. The jumping clothesline drops HHH but Old School is broken up. They crash out to the floor and Undertaker is whipped into the barricade to bust it (and him) up a bit. HHH loads up the announcers’ table this time but the Pedigree is countered into a backdrop onto the floor. The slow stand up allows Undertaker to hit the big dive and they’re both down for a bit.

Undertaker loads up something onto the steps but gets spinebustered through the other announcers’ table instead. Back in and Undertaker hits a quick chokeslam for two but HHH rams him into the corner. For some reason HHH hammers down right hands and gets caught in the Last Ride. Thankfully he knows what will happen because Undertaker did it to him about ten years ago and slips out.

Another spinebuster gives HHH two and it’s time for the chair. One heck of a chair shots to the back has HHH in trouble, only for him to come back with a sudden Pedigree for two more. For some reason HHH tries to rain down right hands in the corner AGAIN, this time getting caught in the Last Ride for two and leaving Undertaker ticked off in the process. The Tombstone, complete with tongue, gets two and Undertaker grabs the chair.

Another Tombstone onto the chair is broken up and HHH hits a DDT onto the chair to leave them both down. They very slowly pull themselves up and it’s another Pedigree for another near fall. Another Pedigree gets another two and they’re both down again. Back up and HHH hits eight straight chair shots to the back but doesn’t cover, seemingly out of exhaustion. Or dramatic intensity.

Somehow Undertaker gets back up and it’s a chair to the head to knock him back down. That’s only good for a two so HHH hits his own Tombstone for two. This is treated like the biggest kickout ever and…yeah I still don’t buy it. I remember watching this live and actually saying out loud “you’re not Kane, that won’t work” and not being surprised at all by the kickout. With nothing else working, HHH grabs the sledgehammer but gets pulled into Hell’s Gate. The hold stays on for a good while and HHH drops the hammer before wearily tapping out at 29:24.

Rating: B+. Here’s the thing: it might not have the drama of the Michaels matches (it doesn’t) and it might not have the action of the Michaels matches (it doesn’t) but it’s still a heck of a fight. They didn’t bother with the wrestling side of things here and instead just beat the living daylights out of each other.

The problem here though is that despite everything that Undertaker went through, I never really bought the Streak being in jeopardy. It was more “how much is he going to survive” rather than “how much can he survive” and that brings it down a notch. Still though, it’s quite the fight and set up the much better rematch the following year.

Post match HHH is able to get out on his own and Undertaker slowly follows…but falls down on the way out of the ring. A golf cart has to come out and take Undertaker to the back, which is quite the exit for the winner while HHH walks out. Undertaker wouldn’t be back until January to set up the rematch.

John Morrison/Trish Stratus/Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler/Laycool

Vickie Guerrero is here with the villains. While it isn’t mentioned anywhere here, this is the result of Snooki gust appearing on Raw and arguing with Guerrero, who helped Laycool beat Stratus that night. Snooki helped Stratus fight and the men were added shortly thereafter, setting this up.

It’s a brawl before the bell with Ziggler and Morrison having to break it up, with Ziggler earning a slap from Snooki. Stratus chops at McCool to start but she’s right back with a knockdown. The Faithbreaker is countered into a faceplant and Stratus slugs away some more. The Stratusphere is blocked and they crash to the floor, where Stratus has to cut off an invading Layla.

Stratus hits a Chick Kick on McCool and Morrison knocks Ziggler outside, setting up the Starship Pain to the floor. Snooki comes in for a handspring elbow and cartwheels over for a falling splash and the pin on McCool at 3:17. Snooki might have been in the ring for thirty seconds, which I believe is about thirty seconds more than Layla was legal.

Rating: D+. This was designed to have Snooki and WWE appear on various Hollywood shows and TMZ. That’s all it was going to be and while Snooki seemed to be putting in the effort, it wasn’t exactly much to see. Then again they were only out there for a few minutes so it couldn’t get that bad. Just not something that held much interest outside of the celebrity involvement, which is acceptable enough.

Tonight’s entertainment record for the building: 71,617. This is about 9,000 lower than a college football game, which isn’t entertainment and WWE isn’t a sport, at least for the sake of their record this time around.

We recap the Raw World Title match, which is one of the better videos WWE has ever done. Miz is standing with his back to the camera watching a bunch of monitors, showing videos jumping between clips of classic main eventers and Miz’s slow rise up WWE. Eventually he won the World Title (hi Miz Girl) and we see his face, with the song kicking in to say that he can’t stop now and you can keep hating him.

Miz talks about how you can hate him for what he is, which he’d rather be over something he isn’t. Like him or not, he’s the face of the WWE and he’s not stopping. Here’s the thing: no, Miz isn’t an all time star in the ring. No, he isn’t the best heel ever. No, he doesn’t feel like he belongs in the main event of Wrestlemania. The problem with that? He made it here, after starting with the wrestling equivalent of American Idol.

Miz put in the work and got SO MUCH FURTHER than anyone would have ever believed possible. That deserves all kinds of praise and while he’s a third wheel here, he’s defending the World Title in the main event of Wrestlemania. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t a wrestler or whatever the insults are about him this week.

Raw World Title: The Miz vs. John Cena

Miz, with Alex Riley, is defending and Cena got his shot by winning the Elimination Chamber. As a bonus, Miz and Riley walk through a series of balloons that spell out AWESOME and you can tell Miz is fired up. Cena’s Wrestlemania entrance is being sung out by a gospel choir, complete with a prayer over clips of Cena growing up and eventually becoming the huge star.

After the Big Match Intros, Cena shoves him down and grabs a hiptoss before we calm down a bit. Miz is able to knock him into the corner and stomp away, followed by the running corner clothesline. Cena grabs a gutwrench suplex and the top rope Fameasser for two each, only to miss a charge into the corner. Miz kicks him down for two and avoids the flying shoulder to send Cena outside.

Back in and Cena fires off the shoulders, which actually connect this time, followed by the Shuffle. It’s too early for the AA though and Miz’s short DDT gets two. A turnbuckle pad is pulled off so the referee replaces it, meaning a Cena small package doesn’t get a count. The pad is still not on but Cena blocks a ram into the buckle and grabs the STF. Miz makes the rope so Riley sends Cena into the buckle, setting up the Skull Crushing Finale for two.

The referee gets bumped, just before Cena hits the AA, meaning there’s still no count. Riley comes in with a briefcase (he has a briefcase) shot to give Miz two so Miz grabs the briefcase, only to hit Riley by mistake. They go outside and Cena clotheslines Miz over the barricade. That’s not enough as Cena tackles Miz over another barricade, with Miz’s head bouncing off the concrete (yes he had a concussion and no he doesn’t remember anything about the match). They’re both down and it’s a double countout at 14:40.

The fans are not pleased but here is the Rock…who is cut off by an email from the Raw General Manager. JR and Lawler both offer to read the email but Rock has them sit down. Rock reads the email, which starts with “I think” but Rock doesn’t seem to care. As the host of this show, Rock is restarting this match, No DQ (Lawler should be ticked off as Rock didn’t get involved earlier but we can just add that to the dumb things about that mess). The bell rings, Cena throws Miz back inside, Rock gives Cena a Rock Bottom, Miz retains at 19:40 total.

Rating: D-. And no. They were trying with some of the shenanigans to get Miz in there, but it was a stupid finish, despite the legitimate concussion. Have Miz get disqualified for cheating or something, but come up with something a bit better than this. The ending didn’t help either, as having Rock just come out and restart the match came out of nowhere, though I guess it’s better than the GM overturning a match. Miz was trying but the chemistry wasn’t there and the ending was awful, so there was only so much they could do, which didn’t wind up working.

Post match Miz is clearly somewhere over Pluto but Rock goes in to beat him up anyway. The spinebuster sets up the People’s Elbow and Rock celebrates to end the show. Cena wouldn’t be happy and the next night, Rock vs. Cena would be set up for a year later, which they actually stuck to, much to my shock, and yeah the build was incredible, despite a not so great start.

The long highlight package wraps us up.

Overall Rating: C-. There are parts of this show that work, with Mysterio vs. Rhodes, Punk vs. Orton and of course the HHH vs. Undertaker match, but that’s not enough to overcome the gaping holes that are the main event and Lawler vs. Cole. Rock didn’t do much here, save for the stuff at the end and that’s not exactly enough. The show isn’t the worst Wrestlemania ever, but it has two really big problems and those are enough to bring it down. Just watch some selected matches here and move on, because it’s not a great Wrestlemania.

Ratings Comparison

Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan

Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
2026 Redo: C+

Battle Royal

Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
2026 Redo: D+

Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio

Original: C+
2013 Redo: C+
2015 Redo: C+
2026 Redo: C+

Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio

Original: B
2013 Redo: B-
2015 Redo: B
2026 Redo: B

Corre vs. Kane/Santino Marella/Kofi Kingston/Big Show

Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
2026 Red: N/A

CM Punk vs. Randy Orton

Original: B-
2013 Redo: B
2015 Redo: B-
2026 Redo: B

Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler

Original: C
2013 Redo: D-
2015 Redo: D
2026 Redo: -F

Undertaker vs. HHH

Original: B
2013 Redo: B
2015 Redo: A-
2025 Redo: B+

Snooki/Trish Stratus/John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler/Laycool

Original: N/A
2013 Redo: D+
2015 Redo: D
2026 Redo: D+

Miz vs. John Cena

Original: C-
2013 Redo: D-
2015 Redo: D-
2026 Redo: D-

Overall Rating

Original: C-
2013 Redo: D
2015 Redo: C-
2026 Redo: C-

Yeah pretty much the same as last time, which is a rarity.

 

 

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