Backlash 2025
Date: May 10, 2025
Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We are officially back on pay per view and in this case, it’s kind of an In Your House style card. This show is pretty much all about Randy Orton, the hometown hero, challenging John Cena for the Smackdown World Title. Odds are this is the last match in their very storied rivalry and that’s carrying the show. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at Randy Orton vs. John Cena, some of the other matches, and then Orton vs. Cena again.

US Title: LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest vs. Jacob Fatu

Fatu is defending and the fans are chanting for him at the start. Knight and Fatu slug it out in the corner while the other two head to the floor. Fatu is sent into the post and dropped with a neckbreaker, followed by a slingshot shoulder. A pop up powerslam takes McIntyre down but Knight has to reverse Fatu’s Samoan drop into a reverse DDT. McIntyre is back up with a trio of neckbreakers but Knight is right there to break up the Claymore.

Priest’s super hurricanrana brings Fatu down and he takes out Fatu again on the floor. The fans want tables (because of course), but have to settle for Priest hitting an Old School crossbody on McIntyre. Fatu sends Priest into the barricade and it’s time for the big McIntyre vs. Fatu slugout. The pop up Samoan drop plants McIntyre and the running Umaga Attack makes it worse.

McIntyre gets tied in the Tree of Woe but he superplexes Knight down. Fatu gets superplexed onto Knight in a Swanton and cleans house, with the fans going nuts. The BFT drops Fatu and Priest gives Knight the South Of Heaven, only to turn into a Claymore. Priest falls onto Knight for two, with McIntyre making a last second save. McIntyre sends Fatu outside and drops Knight with the Futureshock.

The Claymore does it again but Priest pulls the referee at two, giving McIntyre something else to hate him about. McIntyre and Priest fight over the barricade, but Knight avoids Fatu’s triple jump moonsault. The top rope elbow hits a standing Fatu, followed by another one to a downed Fatu for two. Priest and McIntyre brawl at the tech area, where South Of Heaven sends both of them through a bunch of tables.

With all that going on, Knight sends Fatu into various things at ringside but Solo Sikoa shows up to pull Fatu off the announcers’ table. Knight goes after Sikoa but gets jumped by the debuting Jeff Cobb, who crushes Knight against the post. Fatu is a bit confused but hits the running Umaga attack and the triple jump moonsault to retain at 17:56.

Rating: B. Hot opener here and the countdown is even more officially on to Fatu breaking free as a massive good guy star. He’s doing things that no one else can do in the ring and the crowd is responding to him. It’s one of those cases where you do not see someone doing this kind of thing very often and that works. We’re also likely coming up on Priest vs. McIntyre again, maybe in a Last Man Standing match, and that’s a fun way to go. Good, hot opener here.

Post match Fatu looks at Sikoa and Cobb but leaves on his own.

We recap Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch. Valkyria grew up idolizing Lynch and they won the Women’s Tag Team Titles together at Wrestlemania. Then they lost the titles on the following Raw, with Lynch beating her down. Valkyria is ready for revenge and is willing to put the Women’s Intercontinental Title on the line. There is another history here as Valkyria took the NXT Women’s Title from Lynch, so the win isn’t a crazy thought.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is challenging and takes her down to start before hammering away. An armdrag has Valkyria looking a bit shaken but she’s right back with a rocking horse to have Lynch in trouble for a change. That’s switched into a surfboard, with Lynch not being able to do much. A northern lights suplex gets two on Lynch and she goes outside for a breather. Back in and Lynch takes Valkyria down and hammers away before rubbing her face into the mat.

A kick to the face in the corner gives Lynch two and she takes Valkyria outside to yell at Valkyria’s fiance. Valkyria strikes away back inside and grabs a fisherman’s buster for two. A sitout powerbomb gets the same and Valkyria takes her up top for a delayed superplex. They trade rollups for two each, with Lynch getting caught grabbing the rope. Valkyria fights back and hits a top rope Fameasser for two more.

Instead of covering, Valkyria hesitates before going up for a moonsault, allowing Lynch to get her knees up. They fight over a cross armbreaker until Lynch grabs the Manhandle Slam for two. A frustrated Lynch hammers away and goes to grab a chair. That’s taken away so she pulls a turnbuckle pad off, only to get caught with a spinning kick to the head. Valkyria hits a middle rope moonsault for two but gets sent face first into the buckle (not the exposed one).

Another Manhandle Slam gives Lynch another two but a quick Nightwing connects…and the referee is busy trying to put the turnbuckle pad back on. The very delayed cover gets two and they trade rollups, until Valkyria actually gets the upset pin at 18:45. Valkyria was touching her nose over and over on the cover so there is a good chance it’s busted.

Rating: B+. This went WAY above and beyond what I was expecting and they pretty much hit it out of the park. Valkyria hung in there with an all time legend and even beat her clean. If WWE is serious about bringing in some fresh blood, that’s exactly what they need to do. Valkyria did it here and Tiffany Stratton did it at Wrestlemania. These two beat the fire out of each other and Valkyria retains to really establish her in a big way. Nice job, and Bayley can come back to feud with Lynch sooner than later.

Post match Lynch grabs the Disarm-Her, with Valkyria grabbing her nose (commentary acknowledges it too).

We recap the Intercontinental Title match. Dominik Mysterio won the title in a four way match at Wrestlemania, also involving Penta. Since Penta didn’t get pinned, he’s getting a title shot here.

Intercontinental Title: Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio

Mysterio, in Psicosis inspired gear (well, Nicho El Millionairio), is defending and kicks him into the corner to start. A handstand doesn’t work for Mysterio as Penta kicks him down, only to be sent outside for a suicide DDT. Back in and a slingshot hilo gives Mysterio two and the fans seem to like his cockiness.

Penta fights out of a chinlock and hits a crossbody to the floor for a needed breather. A crucifix gets two on Mysterio, who grabs a quick Oblivion for two of his own. They crash out to the floor and here is Judgment Day for the distraction. Balor grabs the chair but takes WAY too long, meaning the referee can throw them all out. Penta hits the big flip dive onto Carlito and McDonagh but cue El Grande Americano to headbutt Penta off the top. The frog splash retains the title at 9:25.

Rating: C+. This was a step down from the previous two matches but it was a perfectly serviceable match which would have been fine on any given Raw. The interference should set up something for the future and it was a good way to make Mysterio look like a star. WWE pretty clearly has something planned for him and this was a rare showcase. Not a great match, but it did what it needed to do.

We recap Gunther vs. Pat McAfee. Gunther lost the World Title to Jey Uso at Wrestlemania and McAfee was rather excited. On the following Raw, Gunther yelled at commentator Michael Cole and attacked him, with McAfee stepping up for his friend. McAfee got choked out too and now we have a match to settle things, as McAfee is standing up against a bully.

Pat McAfee vs. Gunther

Michael Cole flat out says he’s not going to be impartial here, which makes sense. Gunther doesn’t seem impressed by McAfee and grabs an armbar. That’s reversed into a headlock before Gunther puts him on the apron for a pat on the head. McAfee tries to jump back over the top but trips a bit, allowing Gunther to knock him down without much trouble. Some shots to the face stagger Gunther a bit but he fires off the chops to cut McAfee right back down.

A quick kick to the back staggers Gunther but he’s back with a kick of his own. Gunther suplexes him down and grabs the sleeper, which is actually broken up. Another German suplex drops McAfee but he slips out of another one. McAfee gets in some punts for two and a pump kick into a superkick has Gunther rocked. Another kick is countered into a powerbomb though and Gunther pulls him into the Boston crab. Cole goes to ringside and tells McAfee to give up so Gunther drags him back to the center.

Some elbows to the head rock McAfee again and Gunther pulls Cole inside. That’s enough for McAfee to get in a big boot but Gunther kicks him right back down. Gunther tries a suplex but Cole grabs the foot to trip him down, giving McAfee two. That ticks Gunther off and the distraction lets McAfee get a sleeper. That’s broken up though and Gunther blasts him with a clothesline. The sleeper goes on and McAfee is in trouble but he fights up again. Gunther pulls him back down though and McAfee is out at 14:08.

Rating: B. This was about as well put together as it could have been. At the end of the day, McAfee and Cole combined aren’t going to be a threat to Gunther and there was no reason to pretend they would be. McAfee got in some punts as his big weapon and while they staggered Gunther, they didn’t put him in any serious trouble. Gunther shrugged them off, along with Cole’s interference, and then won. I was enjoying the story they were telling, but there was no way this was ending any other way without one heck of a surprise.

Post match Gunther actually shows McAfee some respect.

We recap John Cena vs. Randy Orton, which is built around the two of them being all time greats and joined at the hip for the better part of twenty years. Now it’s one more time, with the roles reversed for the first time on the big WWE stage.

Smackdown World Title: John Cena vs. Randy Orton

Cena is defending and Orton is the hometown hero. We get the Big Match Intros and we’re ready to go, with the fans entirely behind Cena. They circle each other a bit to start and Cena pokes him in the eye, only for Orton to do the same, with Cena bailing out to the floor. Back in and Orton grabs a headlock takeover to grind away on Cena. Back up and Cena gets shouldered out tot he floor, where it’s time for a walk up the aisle.

Orton throws him back in and gets punched in the corner, only to reverse it for twenty right hands of his own. The chinlock goes on but Cena reverses into one of his own, only to get belly to back suplexed down. Back up and Cena initiates the finishing sequence but the AA is countered. Orton can’t get the hanging DDT but he can mostly block the STF. Now the hanging DDT can connect but the RKO is blocked.

Cena tries the AA, which is reversed into an RKO in a sweet counter to leave them both down. Back up and an AA gives Cena two so he tries the running shoulders. Orton comes up to counter one of those with an RKO (points for finding new ways to do that thing) but the Punt misses. Another AA plants Orton but Cena misses a Punt…and the referee gets bumped. Cena hits yet another AA, though he realizes the referee is down.

That lets Cena grab the belt, which takes too long so Orton hits the RKO for a delayed two. They go outside and Orton clears off the announcers’ table. That takes too long though and the referee gets bumped again. Cena’s AA is countered though and Orton gives him an AA onto the table. Orton loads up a table (this match did not need a table) and gives Cena an AA through it as the referee is STILL down (I’m guessing because the first one didn’t go well).

The RKO connects and another referee runs in for two so Cena grabs the belt. That hits the new referee so Orton this another RKO for no cover. Cue Nick Aldis and some agents to check on the referee (unlike the one who went into the steps, who was down for about five minutes and got nothing) so Orton RKO’s everyone he can, including Aldis. The Punt is loaded up but here is R-Truth to beg Orton for mercy. Orton clears him out and Cena hits Orton low, setting up a belt shot to retain the title (as the first referee recovers after about ten minutes) at 27:56.

Rating: B. This is going to be one of the more divisive matches you’ll see in awhile. It’s an absolute insane mess of spamming finishers and a ton of ref bumps, but I haven’t laughed so much at a match in a good while. It went so over the top that it was turning into something of a farce, which made me laugh. I’m not sure how much drama there was about a title change, but I can go with these two having one last song and dance for the road.

Post match Cena says he wants competition and isn’t finding it here. He goes to leave and gets cheered, which makes him pause for a second before heading out. That’s some interesting character stuff from Cena. He’s still bitter, but he slipped back into his old self there for a second. Remember that a few weeks ago, he was saying he didn’t need to do anything but show up. Now he wants competition, because in his heart of hearts, he’s a competitor and wants to prove he’s the best, no matter what he might say.

Overall Rating: B+. This one is going to depend on your taste in the main event and I found it absolutely hysterically entertaining. The only match on the show which wasn’t rather good was Mysterio vs. Penta and even that was completely fine. For a show that had a grand total of no expectations coming in, this was a heck of an entertaining night. The fact that it was done before 10pm EST makes it even better. Pretty great show here.

Results
Jacob Fatu b. LA Knight, Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest – Triple jump moonsault to Knight
Lyra Valkyria b. Becky Lynch – Rollup
Dominik Mysterio b. Penta – Frog splash
Gunther b. Pat McAfee – Sleeper
John Cena b. Randy Orton – Belt shot

 

 

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We’re already back on pay per view after Wrestlemania and that isn’t feeling like quite enough time. That’s something that can be a big problem, but in this case the show being in St. Louis is going to help. It instantly boosts up the main event and the reaction alone should be enough to carry quite a bit. There is another short form card this time around and those have a hit and miss record. Let’s get to it.

Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio(c) vs. Penta

What does it say that the least interesting match on the card might be for the Intercontinental Title? The good thing about having someone like Mysterio as champion is that the title feels like it is in jeopardy at any time. While I’m not sure if Penta is going to be the one to dethrone him, it feels like there is at least a chance, which is going to make things all the more interesting.

The more I see from Mysterio, the more I think he might be in for a long run as champion, meaning I’m expecting him to retain here. There is a good chance that we are going to be seeing him do something with Finn Balor in the near future, so having him go over Penta here, likely with Judgment Day’s interference, makes sense. Penta needs to win a bit more, though it isn’t happening here.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Lyra Valkyria(c) vs. Becky Lynch

I feel sorry for Valkyria, who is trying as hard as she can and she isn’t failing, but she’s in over her head with Lynch. There are no women bigger than Lynch in wrestling history and it is hard to find anyone who can step up to her level. Valkyria is trying and the story of Lynch being her idol is a good way to go, but there is only so much that she can do given the circumstances.

I can’t imagine a world where Lynch loses here, as it makes sense for her to win the title. It’s still a new championship and that means it needs something to make it feel more special. There isn’t much that can be done better than by having Lynch win it here and eventually put someone over for it. Valkyria is going to try, but I can’t imagine her leaving as champion, as she shouldn’t.

United States Title: Jacob Fatu(c) vs. Damian Priest vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre

I had forgotten McIntyre was part of this match and that makes things a lot more interesting. Having just Knight and Priest as challengers doesn’t feel as important, but McIntyre is one of the bigger stars in WWE these days and feels like a threat to win anything. I’m not sure I can imagine him winning here, but having him around makes the title feel like it is in a lot more jeopardy.

That being said, I’ll still take Fatu to retain the title here, which is what makes sense. Fatu feels like he should be on the way to a long, dominant reign as champion. At the same time, I want to see McIntyre get a singles match against Fatu, as that feels like it could be quite the showdown. For now though, Fatu gets to smash a lot of people, probably pinning Priest to retain.

Gunther vs. Pat McAfee

Somehow this is the second biggest match on the show and that is because of McAfee’s rather strong promos setting it up. Yeah they have gone on for a long time and he has sucked up to a few towns on the way there, but this is a story that anyone can get behind: he’s standing up to a bully for a friend. That’s an easy to understand concept and even if he’s going down, he’s going down swinging.

That being said, barring one heck of a surprise run in (and by that I mean Goldberg), Gunther is going over here and he should. McAfee is one of the better celebrity wrestlers but he isn’t going to beat someone who was defending a World Title at Wrestlemania less than a month ago. Odds are Michael Cole gets involved in some way, but it isn’t going to matter as Gunther will win here, despite a few nice hope spots from McAfee.

Smackdown World Title: John Cena(c) vs. Randy Orton

This is the match that makes the show feel like an In Your House and that is not a bad way to go. I know this feud has been done to death and I’ve gotten horribly sick of it over the years, but if Cena is done after this year, it would be insane not to have him face off with his greatest rival one more time. Orton is one of the few people who feels close to Cena’s level and having the show be in Orton’s hometown makes it that much better.

And no, I can’t imagine Cena losing here so we’ll say he retains, likely through cheating. The interesting thing about Cena’s title reign is that it has a firm end date, meaning he has to lose before then. I’m not sure when that is going to happen, because he could lose it on his last night in the company, or he could lose it and then have some fallout over the ensuing months. Cena isn’t losing here, but the pressure is going to start building soon and that’s when things get really interesting.

Overall Thoughts

The more I think about the show, the more interested I am about seeing how it goes. The matches are good enough with limited weak spots, which is kind of the point in having the five match card. What matters the most is getting things going as we head towards the summer, which could go in a few different ways. I want to see how this goes and that means they’re doing something right.

 

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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Smackdown
Date: May 9, 2025
Location: Nutter Center, Dayton, Ohio
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

It’s the last show before tomorrow’s Backlash event and that means we might be getting one more match added to the pay per view card. Other than that, John Cena is in the house and that means we should be in for a little more hype up between Cena and Randy Orton. Let’s get to it.

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

Damian Priest is ready to get his US Title back but LA Knight comes in to say he wants the title. They’re willing to work together tonight though.

LA Knight/Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa/Jacob Fatu

Sikoa jumps Priest to start things fast but Priest runs him over without much trouble. A rebound lariat misses for Priest though and Sikoa bails to the floor, where Fatu offers a distraction. Knight and Priest argue until we take a break. Back with Priest fighting out of a chinlock but Sikoa knocks Knight off the apron in a smart move.

The Samoan drop gives Sikoa two and hands it off to Fatu, which the fans seem to like. Priest fights up and drops Sikoa, allowing the hot tag off to Knight to clean house. The spelling elbow hits Fatu and Knight loads up the top rope elbow, only for Priest to tag himself in. Knight does the same to break up the South Of Heaven and the BFT plants Sikoa for the pin at 10:08.

Rating: B-. Perfectly nice story advancement here and that’s what it needed to be. The story of the title match seems to be Knight and Priest needing to get together to beat Fatu but not being able to work together. This match showed how well it can work when they are on the same page, but that isn’t likely to be the case tomorrow.

Post match Fatu takes out Knight and Priest but gets Claymored by Drew McIntyre. My goodness McIntyre vs. Fatu one on one sounds glorious.

A rather pro-John Cena R-Truth is in the back (complete with a sign) when Jimmy Uso comes in to ask what he’s doing. R-Truth still isn’t convinced that Cena has really gone bad, leaving Uso confused.

Drew McIntyre isn’t sure why Damian Priest is getting a title shot when McIntyre already beat him at Wrestlemania. He doesn’t think much of Knight either, and Fatu being all gas and no brakes means he’s going to hit a wall at some point. That wall is McIntyre as the US Champion. Good stuff here from McIntyre, as usual.

We recap Chelsea Green’s recent issues.

Green and the Secret Hervice held a funeral for her title reign when Nick Aldis and Zelina Vega came in. The three of them imply that Vega has no friends, so Aldis made a tag match for later tonight.

Video on Aleister Black.

Chelsea Green/Piper Niven vs. Zelina Vega/???

Vega’s partner is….the returning Alexa Bliss. Yeah that works. Vega takes Niven down to start but gets caught with a release World’s Strongest Slam. It’s quickly off to Green, who misses a splash, allowing Vega to hit a double 619. Green is back up to cut off the tag though and Niven elbows Vega as we take a break.

Back with Niven cutting off the tag attempt again but Vega plants her with a DDT. The tag brings in Bliss to clean house, including a running Blockbuster for two on Green. Bliss catches her in the Tree Of Woe for a running dropkick and Twisted Bliss connects but Niven makes the save. Bliss’ superkick sends Niven into a Code Red but Niven rolls out to the floor. Vega takes out Niven and it’s a Sister Abigail DDT to finish Green at 8:17.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to have Bliss back and hopefully she can just be herself without all of the Wyatt Sicks stuff. She’s a big enough star on her own already and doesn’t need to do all of the supernatural nonsense on the side. If nothing else, there is always the chance that she could go after Vega for the title, which isn’t a bad idea for both of them.

Rey Fenix cuts Santos Escobar off because he already beat Escobar last week. Legado del Fantasma runs in to jump Fenix until agents and Andrade come in to clear things out.

We look at John Cena vs. Randy Orton in the Cell in 2014.

Here is Charlotte for a chat. She’s fresh off the greatest women’s match in Wrestlemania history and she took Tiffany Stratton to the limit. Now she’s here to announce her path back to the title. The fans aren’t pleased and she wants to know why they are so disrespectful to her. If they don’t lighten up, she’s leaving and never coming back to this town. Charlotte goes to leave but gets cut off by Jade Cargill, who is here for a #1 contenders match. Cargill even tells her to go to the back of the line, which isn’t likely to go well for her.

Post break, Charlotte goes to leave but Alexa Bliss is waiting in her car for a staredown.

Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax

For a future Women’s Title match so here is Tiffany Stratton to watch from ringside. They trade lockups to start with Jax shoving her down. It works so well that she does it again so Cargill fires off her own running shoulder. The Samoan drop cuts Cargill off for two and we take a break.

Back with Cargill powering her up for her own Samoan drop (nicely done) and grabbing a regular suplex. Some superkicks into a spinebuster give Cargill two but Jax is back with a sitout powerbomb for the same. For some reason Jax goes up top but gets slammed down (there’s your reason), setting up Cargill’s frog splash for two more. A pump kick gives Cargill two more…and here is Naomi to jump Stratton at ringside. The distraction lets Jax run Cargill over and hit the Annihilator for the pin at 10:03.

Rating: B. This turned into a heck of a fight because Cargill was getting to show off her power stuff, which not many people can do with Jax. I was getting into seeing these two hammer on each other until one of them couldn’t get up. Unfortunately they had to go with the screwy ending, but at the end of the day, you can’t have Cargill take a clean fall and Jax needs to get the title shot.

Michin and B-Fab praise the Street Profits for their TLC match.

Here are the Street Profits for a chat. They’ve been the talk of the town in recent weeks and just had the greatest TLC match of all times (eh….) and it even involved a prosthetic leg. Cue Fraxiom to interrupt and say they’re happy to be here. Now they want a title shot, but the Profits are a bit shocked after Fraxiom has only been around for a few weeks.

Street Profits vs. Fraxiom

Non-title and we’re joined in progress with Dawkins (with his bad arm) flipping over Frazer. A headlock takeover takes Dawkins over with a headlock but he’s right back up to tackle Frazer onto the announcers’ table. Ford (with his bad ribs) comes in to take over on Frazer and it’s quickly back to Dawkins for a running splash.

Dawkins’ spinning splash in the corner gets two but Frazer spins up to hit a dive to the floor. Axiom hits his own dive and we take an early break. Back with Frazer and Dawkins making a double tag, with Ford hitting a hard clothesline to Axiom. The standing moonsault gives Ford two and it’s back to Frazer, who gets superkicked down.

Frazer fights back but gets caught in a Doomsday Blockbuster for two, with Axiom making the save. Axiom superkicks a diving Ford in the ribs and super Spanish Flies Dawkins down. Frazer adds the Phoenix splash but Ford dives in for the save, taking out Axiom as well. Ford kicks Frazer down, only to miss the frog splash and bang up the ribs again. A missile dropkick/legsweep combination finishes Ford at 13:32.

Rating: B. Fraxiom continues to have one good match after another and that was the case again here. It’s great to see them getting out there and doing their thing with the better teams, because there was nothing left to do in NXT. There’s a good chance we’ll see this again soon and I’ve heard far worse ideas.

Respect is shown post match.

Tiffany Stratton is looking for Naomi but finds Nia Jax instead. Jax is ready to win the title back, but Stratton is going to send her to the losers’ table with Charlotte.

Video on Gunther vs. Pat McAfee, including a long recap of how they got to Backlash.

Miz gives Carmelo Hayes a pep talk before he faces Aleister Black. Granted this one should go better, because Miz won’t be out of place like Hayes was last week.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Aleister Black

Miz is here with Hayes. Black chills in the corner to start before pulling him into a headlock. Back up and Hayes strikes away in the corner, earning him some glaring from Black. They head outside with Black hitting a middle rope moonsault but Hayes kicks him over the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Black hitting a running boot to the head to catch Hayes on top. One heck of a jumping knee to the head drops Hayes again and it’s time to trade forearms. Black gets the better of things and hits a springboard moonsault but Hayes knees out of a suplex. Back up and Black grabs a brainbuster for two so Miz gets on the apron. Black sends them together and rolls Hayes up for the pin at 9:11.

Rating: C+. I was expecting a bit more, as Black still has one of the coolest finishers in wrestling. That makes a heel collision and a rollup finish a bit less than optimal, especially so soon after Black returned. Not much to this one, but at least some of the spots before the ending were impressive.

Post match Black gives Miz Black Mass. That’s better.

Solo Sikoa says he and Jacob Fatu need a game plan, but Fatu just wants to wreck people. Sikoa: “Ok.”

The Motor City Machine Guns are proud of Fraxiom and they know they’ll face each other one day. DIY runs in and lays both of them out.

Los Garza vs. Rey Fenix/Andrade

Fenix cleans house to start fast, including a cradle for two on Garza. Berto comes in to take Fenix into the corner and a dropkick gets two. Fenix rolls over for the tag off to Andrade to take over without much trouble. We take a break and come back with Andrade grabbing a poisonrana on Berto, allowing a double tag. Fenix hits a quick rope walk kick to the head, plus a wristdrag, to take both of them down.

Andrade comes back in for a knockdown but gets kicked in the head by Berto to leave everyone on the mat. Berto is back up with a moonsault to Fenix with Andrade making a save. Fenix grabs a hurricanrana but gets reversed into a sunset flip, only for Escobar’s distraction to take the referee away. Fenix’s rope walk kick takes out Garza and Andrade hits the Message to pin Berto at 10:25.

Rating: B-. This was more fun stuff and that’s what you would expect from these four. It made for a good showcase of Fenix and Andrade, the latter of whom usually does well when he is given the chance. Los Garza might not win very often, but at least they look good while they are out there.

Post match Escobar yells at Los Garza, with Berto standing up to him and leaving on his own. Garza isn’t sure what to do.

Backlash rundown.

Here is John Cena for the big closing. After getting his corrected introduction, Cena says everyone’s childhood dies tomorrow. Randy Orton is not here tonight and that is because he took Cena’s advice from last week. Cena goes over his history with Orton and how much success they have had. If you are part of this generation, you have picked one of them over the other but tomorrow, everything ends.

Everyone has to pick one more time and the reality is Orton has been lying to himself for years. Orton has never been held accountable for any of failures. He is the greatest of all time at not living up to his potential. Cena is the greatest of all time at hustle. Orton is a Laz-E-Boy and coasts, which is what he describes as loyalty. Cena is the greatest of all time at being loyal.

Orton has to beg for respect because no one knows Bob Orton Sr. and the only thing Bob Orton Jr. ever accomplished was knocking up Orton’s mom. The only thing Randy has ever done is ride on Cena’s coattails. Tomorrow, Randy kills his own legend, by being just like his 2006 drug test (that gets a gasp): a FAILURE. Cena is the greatest of all time because he IS respect.

Someone in a mask comes in to try an RKO but gets caught with an AA. Then the real Orton comes in for an RKO to leave Cena laying. I’m not sure what to make of Cena’s promo, but given that it’s the last time he’ll probably ever talk about Orton (barring a rematch), he probably wanted to get in every line he had about him. I’m not sure the whole thing worked though, as this felt like something Cena would say as a hero rather than a villain.

Overall Rating: B-. As usual, this was a good example of how Smackdown does not need to be three hours. There is a strong go home show to Backlash in there somewhere with stuff being made for later, but a lot of it feels like filler because they had too much time to cover. It could have been a lot worse, but cutting this down by about 30-45 minutes would have been so much better. I’m fairly interested in Backlash and this show boosted it up a bit, so we’ll call it enough of a success.

Results
LA Knight/Damian Priest b. Solo Sikoa/Jacob Fatu – BFT to Sikoa
Alexa Bliss/Zelina Vega b. Chelsea Green/Piper Niven – Sister Abigail DDT to Green
Nia Jax b. Jade Cargill – Annihilator
Fraxiom b. Street Profits – Missile dropkick/legsweep combination to Ford
Aleister Black b. Carmelo Hayes – Black Mass
Rey Fenix/Andrade b. Los Garza – Message to Berto

 

 

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

 

Smackdown
Date: April 25, 2025
Location: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re done with Wrestlemania and that means it is time for things to get started again. That could go in a few different directions, but first of all we have a TLC match for the Smackdown Tag Team Titles as the Street Profits are defending against the Motor City Machine Guns and DIY. Other than that, there is a good chance we’ll hear from some of the new (and old) champions. Let’s get to it.

Here is Wrestlemania if you need a recap.

We open with a long Wrestlemania recap, I believe the same one from Raw.

Here is John Cena to get things going and yes, he again has issues with his ring introduction. Before he can say anything, Randy Orton interrupts and gets a rather lengthy entrance. Orton talks about how we are coming up on twenty five years to the day since they first shook hands. In all that time, Cena has not changed because he really was about hustle, loyalty and respect.

Now though, it’s clear that Cena has a void that needs to be filled. There have been all kinds of generations of children looking up to him and that has to mean something to him. Cena holds the record for the most wishes granted in the history of Make-A-Wish but Orton isn’t accepting that they were just numbers. Orton has figured out what Cena needs to fill that void: children. Imagine a bunch of square jawed, big forearmed like Cenas running around! It would make Cena a better man and make him grow up.

Cena accuses Orton of parent shaming him and says he doesn’t have kids because he has spent 25 years raising everyone else’s children. Cena: “Oh great. A six year old just gave me the finger. CLASSY!” That’s why he doesn’t have kids but Orton says they aren’t done yet. Cena has gone Hollywood but the reality is he has nothing without those fans. Orton has done a lot of things in WWE and is a piece of furniture. He is here to stay, but Cena is just a guest.

Cena says he used to think that same way but now he tries to do something else and the fans go for someone else. That is a dysfunctional relationship and pure manipulation from the fans. Orton calls himself stupid (Orton: “Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!”) for thinking he could come out here and make an impact on Cena in this bizarro world where Orton is good and Cena is bad. Wrestling has meant everything to Orton and his family for generations and it will provide for his family until Orton is put in the ground.

Cena is tired of hearing about this and says that the count between them is 17-14. When Cena leaves though, the counter freezes because Orton can win a title, but that puts his count at 1. He wants to erase the three generations of Cena’s family, which is enough for Orton to issue the challenge for a title match right now. Cena says no, but he’s willing to face him at Backlash in St. Louis.

That’s Orton’s hometown so Orton can spend the day with his family and come in at his best. That means when Orton fails, he has no excuses. Cena says this is as close to the title as Orton is going to get, and then he throws it at him to start the beating. The belt shot is loaded up but Orton ducks and hits the RKO. This was an exchange between two guys who have been tied together for twenty years so they didn’t have much new to say. That being said, they absolutely had to run this match one last time and having the dynamic reversed could be interesting.

Video on Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer/Axiom), former NXT Tag Team Champions who are officially on Smackdown. They’ve dominated the NXT tag team division for a long time now so it makes sense to move them up. There is nothing left for them to do in NXT.

Orton vs. Cena is set for Backlash.

Fraxiom vs. Los Garza

Fraxiom starts fast and clears the ring, setting up some dives to the floor to take Los Garza out. A low bridge sends Axiom outside though and we take an early break. Back with Frazer getting the hot tag to come in and pick up the pace. Frazer gets quite the running start for a forearm to Berto into a Sling Blade. Angel comes in off a blind tag to kick Frazer down and the villains take over. Axiom has to make a save before coming in to strike it out with Angel. They go up top where Axiom hits his super Spanish Fly, setting up Frazer’s 450 for the pin at 8:24.

Rating: B-. Pretty much a perfect start for Fraxiom on the main roster as they got to do what they do best and it worked here. Fraxiom works best when they are flying all over the place and going at a breakneck pace. Putting them in there with Los Garza is a good way to go and they were fun opponents for Fraxiom to start things off.

Here is Tiffany Stratton to brag about retaining her title. There were moments when she wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but she kept hearing that she would be the next Charlotte. The reality is there will only be one Tiffany Stratton. Cue Jade Cargill (oh dear) to interrupt, saying that while Stratton’s win was impressive, it just put a bigger target on her back. It’s time for Cargill to show why she’s here because it’s time to be a champion. Stratton is ready to go right now so get a referee. Cue said referee and we’re ready to go.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill

Non-title. Cargill grabs an early rollup for two so Stratton offers a handshake. That’s enough to pull Cargill into a headlock before an armdrag seems to annoy her. A backbreaker puts Stratton down but she’s right back up with a running hip attack in the ropes. Cargill rolls her up for two but gets caught with a handspring elbow in the corner for the same.

We take a break and come back with Stratton hitting a Regal Roll but slipping on the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. The distraction lets Cargill roll away and hit a sitout powerbomb for two. A basement dropkick gives Stratton two but Cargill is back up with a superplex. Cue Naomi to jump Cargill for the DQ at 10:14.

Rating: B-. Well you knew that wasn’t going to have a clean finish, as it shouldn’t as you don’t want either of them to take a loss here as it’s so soon after Wrestlemania. At the same time, Naomi coming after Cargill again so soon doesn’t quite fit, as Cargill won pretty definitively at Wrestlemania. Let Cargill move on, because she can only destroy Naomi so much.

Post match Naomi beats Cargill down until Stratton chases her off. Then Nia Jax returns, because THIS needs to happen again.

Here is Jacob Fatu, with Solo Sikoa, for a chat. Sikoa introduces Fatu and says he is the only one who wants him. The thing is, Fatu wouldn’t be here without Sikoa, because he brought Fatu here. He wouldn’t be the champion without….and Fatu takes the mic. Fatu says he was going to bring the title to the family with or without Sikoa and that’s what he has done. The title makes him America’s most wanted and a menace to society, but you better get in where you fit in.

Cue LA Knight to say that he dropped Fatu on his head and Fatu had to grab the rope. It can happen to anyone on any night but he wants the title back. Cue Drew McIntyre to say it is hard to be him: tall, dark, handsome and with big guns. He just went through a violent match at Wrestlemania and he just wants to say it was a pleasure to embarrass Damian Priest. The next plan was to challenge John Cena but Randy Orton cut the line again.

It’s always Nepo Wrestling Entertainment and speaking of which, hi Bloodline. McIntyre wants to fight the baddest champion around here but Knight says let him know when this mush mouth is done. McIntyre calls Knight’s latest title reign a joke. Knight says he would say something about McIntyre’s latest title reign but he can’t remember it. The challenge is on but cue Nick Aldis to say not so fast. Tonight, it’s McIntyre vs. Knight in a #1 contenders match. Having big names wanting title shots is just going to increase Fatu’s status and that is great to see.

Zelina Vega is ready to go big or go home tonight.

Women’s United States Title: Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green

Green, with the Secret Hervice, is defending. They start fast with Green being sent outside, where the Hervice takes Vega down. We take a break and come back with both of them down for a breather. Vega fights up with a spinning back elbow into the corner, setting up a middle rope Meteora for two. The 619 is broken up and the referee sees the Hervice interfering, which is enough for the double ejection. Vega grabs a Code Red for the pin and the title at 7:14.

Rating: C. I’m not sure on this one, but after Vega lost so many times already, it was time to either give her some gold or move on. I really don’t like Green, who has been outstanding in this role, to lose, but if it gives her something new to complain about, she should be fine. The match was nothing to see, but I’m going to need to see some fallout to see if this feels like a good idea.

We look at Carmelo Hayes winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal last week.

Miz is proud of Hayes winning and that’s why he sacrificed himself last week. Now, he has a gift for Hayes: a rather large Andre head necklace. Miz is so inspired that he wants to show everyone something in the ring.

Here is the Miz, in a snazzy white suit, for a chat. He has been a featured part of Wrestlemania since 2007 but this year, he was nowhere to be seen. Miz main evented Wrestlemania and successfully defended the title against John Cena, which even Cody Rhodes couldn’t do.

When Rey Mysterio was injured, Miz doesn’t get the spot but rather someone who has been here two weeks. When Kevin Owens got hurt, an internet meme got his spot instead. He is sick and tired of people showing up and getting his spot…and the lights go out. A bunch of candles are on the stage and Aleister Black is back, complete with riser and theme song. The fans say WELCOME BACK so Miz goes after him, only to get kicked in the head. Black coming back was hardly a surprise, but it’s going to depend on how he’s used. He has talent, but it isn’t going to matter if he’s totally unfocused again.

Bianca Belair has a few broken fingers from Wrestlemania but she is so proud of the match she had with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. Belair is fine with what Sky did at Wrestlemania but Ripley slid into a match where she didn’t belong. For now though, Belair is focused on healing so she can get back home on Smackdown.

Nia Jax doesn’t care about Naomi’s quest for revenge, but Naomi tells her to proceed with caution. Jax is confused.

LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre

For a future US Title shot. They take turns taking each other down and showing off the double biceps to start. A belly to back suplex drops McIntyre for two but Knight is knocked off the apron and into the barricade for a crash. Back in and a shot to the ribs gives McIntyre two and he fires off some knees to keep Knight down.

Knight manages a snap suplex into a jumping neckbreaker out of the corner for two. They go outside with Knight sending him into the announcers’ table over and over. Back in and…cue Solo Sikoa to Samoan Spike Knight. McIntyre sees it and isn’t pleased but loads up the Claymore anymore. Cue Damian Priest to pull McIntyre out for the DQ at 9:24.

Rating: B-. Knight was hanging in there and thankfully he didn’t get pinned. In theory this should make McIntyre the #1 contender, but at the same time it wouldn’t surprise me to see Nick Aldis say “that’s not what I meant”, which wouldn’t be a terrible way to go. Otherwise, I again approve of Knight being in the ring with some bigger names, as he has earned that kind of a spot.

Post match the brawl is on, with Priest chokeslamming McIntyre through the announcers’ table. Priest and Knight get in an argument but Jacob Fatu shows up with a huge suicide dive to take both of them out. Fatu’s triple jump moonsaults leave everyone laying as he again looks like the biggest monster in the world.

We look at Bron Breakker becoming a Paul Heyman Guy.

R-Truth comes up to John Cena and offers his help anytime. Cena walks off without saying anything. Jimmy Uso comes in to ask when Cena changed (as apparently he hasn’t been watching for weeks). R-Truth says there are two sides to every story and he wants to be Cena when he grows up. Jimmy: “But you are grown up.” This is called “explaining the joke” and it’s not a good idea.

Tag Team Titles: Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. DIY

The Profits are defending in a TLC match. It’s a brawl to start (of course) and Dawkins gets to clean house with the ladder on the floor. Back in and the brawling continues, with Ciampa (sans beard for a WEIRD look) getting in some ladder shots of his own. Dawkins is tied in the Tree of Woe for some shots to the ribs before a bunch of people head outside. Ford hits a big flip dive onto a bunch of them and Shelley comes up favoring his arm.

Ford goes up but gets Downward Spiraled down by Gargano. Dawkins cuts Ciampa off and gives Gargano a Big Ending off the ladder for a crash to the floor. A brainbuster puts Shelley through an open chair but Dawkins blocks a double suplex onto a pair of chairs. Instead Dawkins hits the swinging butterfly suplex onto the chairs and Ford busts out the huge flip dive over the ropes for a Doomsday Blockbuster onto the pile.

A fan whips out a prosthetic leg for a bonus weapon and a ladder is bridged between the ring and the barricade. Shelley hits a big frog splash to put Dawkins through a table at ringside, followed by Ford hitting a huge running Swanton through Ciampa through a table on the floor. That doesn’t work for Ciampa, who is back up with an Air Raid Crash to send Ford through a ladder and a lot of people are down again.

Skull And Bones puts Gargano through a table, leaving Ciampa to go up top but the Guns move the ladder. Ciampa is hanging from the ladder so Dawkins goes up and spears him down, through a table because of course. Sabin and Gargano go up top with Sabin knocking him down but Ford springboards up the ladder. Gargano pulls him down though and ties him in the ladder for a superkick. Sabin and Gargano go up top but Ford climbs the SIDE of the ladder and knocks both of them down, allowing Ford to pull the titles down and retain at 22:52.

Rating: A-. Yeah I’d call this a winner. It was six guys beating the living daylights out of each other and just trying to go totally insane. That’s what we had here and it worked incredibly well. The ending was creative and Ford looked great in his win, which made for a solid ending. This wasn’t meant to be anything more than a long car crash and they did it very well. Leaving this on Wrestlemania was a great idea, as it gets to stand out on its own here rather than being on the packed Wrestlemania card. Awesome main event.

Overall Rating: B+. That main event alone is enough to carry a bunch of this show and it was pretty entertaining throughout. Orton and Cena’s segment was long and only so good, but at least it set up a big match in short order. The rest of the show was your usual collection of debuts, returns and surprises, with the big TLC main event to wrap it up. Rather great show, though I’m not sure they’ll be able to do this again next week.

Results
Fraxiom b. Los Garza – 450 to Angel
Jade Cargill b. Tiffany Stratton via DQ when Naomi interfered
Zelina Vega b. Chelsea Green – Code Red
Drew McIntyre b. LA Knight via DQ when Jacob Fatu interfered
Street Profits b. Motor City Machine Guns and DIY – Ford pulled down the titles

 

 

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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Monday Night Raw
Date: April 21, 2025
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

So we’re finally done with Wrestlemania and there are a lot of changes to cover. First of all, we have two new World Champions as Jey Uso and John Cena are the top stars in the company, having defeated Gunther and Cody Rhodes. Those are on top of a rather long list that I’m sure we’ll get to this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Wrestlemania if you need a recap.

We open with a long recap of Wrestlemania Week in Las Vegas.

Here is John Cena to get things going, again with the black screen other than just his name. Hold on though as Cena does not like his ring introduction and hands the ring announcer a paper with the proper way to do it. Cena is the Unseen 17 and the greatest of all time, but he says that he doesn’t owe us an apology. On Friday, everyone bullied him but now that he has some gold, the people want to cheer him?

That is an unhealthy relationship and not the way you treat your wife or child. The people should give him an apology but we get a WE’RE NOT SORRY chant. Cena says the people are pathetic and mean nothing to him before soaking in some negative chants. Cena has taken all kinds of shots over the years and this isn’t going to be the crowd that breaks him. What matters is the 36 dates (which appears on the screen).

No matter what happens, Cena is on his way out and runs down the dates he’s already appeared this year. That brings us down to 27 dates (Cena: “Not matches! Appearances.”). The fans say he doesn’t wrestle but he doesn’t have to. All he has to do is show up and do this. When that countdown hits zero, the professional wrestling countdown stops cold. Now of course there will be another Raw and another champion, but the title of Bruno Sammartino, Steve Austin, Roman Reigns and everyone else is coming home with him.

All he has to do is keep playing us like the puppets we are because they lost their best chance to stop him last night with Cody Rhodes. The reality is there is no one in WWE with the strength, speed or RUTHLESS AGGRESSION of John Cena. However, Cena has a heart so he tells us to take out our cameras. Take your pictures because the last real champion is here. Then Randy Orton pops up and Cena turns around (Cena: “S***!”) for an RKO. With Backlash in St. Louis, that makes all the sense in the world. It was also an outstanding promo from Cena, who continues to flow so naturally as a heel that it’s almost unbelievable.

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

Lynch, who returned last night, and Valkyria, are defending. Lynch’s kicks to various parts of Morgan put her down and it’s already off to Valkyria to kick the villains down. Stereo dropkicks through the ropes have Morgan and Rodriguez down again and we take a break. Back with Lynch fighting back and blocking Oblivion. The Manhandle Slam gets two with Rodriguez coming in for the save.

Everyone goes up top and Morgan grabs a sunset bomb on Lynch. Rodriguez hits a super bomb for two on Valkyria, who gets up for the Nightwing to Rodriguez but Morgan makes the save. Lynch gets posted and Valkyria big boots Valkyria in the face for two more. Rodriguez tries to powerbomb Morgan onto Valkyria but only hits raised knees. Valkyria sends Rodriguez outside but knocks her into Lynch, with the distraction letting Morgan hit Oblivion for the pin and the titles at 11:54.

Rating: B. This turned into a heck of a back and forth match and I kind of like the rapid fire title changes. Lynch and Valkyria got their big moment last night with the surprise return, but they aren’t a regular team and this brings back some stability to the titles, with the long term champions holding them again. If also frees Valkyria from being a double champion, which didn’t need to happen.

Post match Rodriguez and Morgan leave and Lynch erupts on Valkyria, beating her down and screaming at her. Lynch teases leaving a few times but comes back for a few Manhandle Slams. That’s either going to make Lynch the second Intercontinental Champion or give Valkyria by far her biggest wins to date.

We look at Paul Heyman turning on Roman Reigns and CM Punk to join Seth Rollins on Saturday.

New Day is coming to the ring and get a nod of approval from Karrion Kross.

Here is New Day for a chat. They tell us to get down on our knees and thank God for them. They are the greatest team of all time and no one, dead or alive, can touch them. Cue the Alpha Academy, with Maxxine Dupri bringing up the Academy beating them in sixty seconds. The challenge is issued and decline, so Dupri dubs them the Minute Men. That’s enough to get the title match and here’s a referee.

Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Alpha Academy

New Day is defending but the lights go dim and…..Rusev is back. New Day bails and Rusev wrecks the Academy with no trouble. No match. He had been rumored to come back and while I’m not sure how far he’ll go, it’s better than having him sit on the sidelines for the better part of ever.

Judgment Day celebrates their new titles when Finn Balor comes in to glare at Dominik Mysterio. Balor breaks into a smile and congratulates him but Carlito thinks he and Balor should get some titles of their own.

Here is Iyo Sky for a chat. Last night was the best night of her career because she beat the best in the world to prove that SHE is the best. Now no one will ever forget her because she is the Genius of the Sky and the Women’s World Champion. Cue Stephanie Vaquer (NXT Women’s Champion) to say that she wants to fight the best. The challenge is on for right now so Adam Pearce makes the match.

Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Non-title. Feeling out process to start with neither being able to get very far. Sky blocks an O’Connor roll attempt and they stare at each other a bit, followed by Sky sending her outside. The big suicide dive connects but Vaquer gets in a dive off the barricade as we take a break. Back with Sky armdragging her off the top and nailing a missile dropkick. The Bullet Train gets two but Vaquer is right back up with a Meteora.

The SVB (a butterfly backbreaker) is blocked and Sky stomps her down for two. Instead Vaquer is back up with the Devil’s Kiss (figure four necklock with Vaquer sending her face first into the mat) to quite the reception. Back up and Sky snaps off a German suplex, only for Vaquer to hit one of her own. They’re both down and get a FIGHT FOREVER chant so they go up top, where Sky hits a super Spanish Fly. Sky gets up and here is Roxanne Perez to jump Sky for the DQ at 13:58.

Rating: B-. They were having a good match and thankfully went with the most logical ending. What mattered here was getting Vaquer a quick look on the main roster with a top talent and she more than lived up to the task. The ending keeps everything going and boosts up Perez vs. Vaquer for the title this week on NXT.

Post match Giulia (from NXT) runs in to go after Sky, with Perez beating on Vaquer. Cue Rhea Ripley for the save. Ripley stares down Giulia and the villains leave, with Ripley saying she’s coming for Sky’s title.

We look at Jey Uso’s rise up to the main event.

Here is Uso for his World heavyweight Championship celebration. After doing the YEET thing again, he says he is so grateful to finally have the title on his shoulder. He is ready to put in the work every week to keep it and asks for the catchphrase. Cue Sami Zayn to interrupt and give Jey a big hug. It was hard for him to miss Wrestlemania because just like Jey, he is a game day player and it’s hard to not be in the ring.

The thing is, he had to be the first one to stand in this ring and congratulate him on being the new champion. Every single person in this building knows that Jey deserves that and we are here to celebrate, so hit his music. The celebration is on and here is Jimmy Uso to join in with no issues. This was a nice moment and it was refreshing to not have another turn from these guys.

Last night, Logan Paul denied any knowledge of interference in his match. He’ll face anyone, anywhere, anytime.

AJ Styles says he’s ok with the loss last night and he’s ready to bounce back. Karrion Kross and Scarlett come in to yell about Styles being the best around here but now he’s legitimized Logan Paul. Styles does not want to be the old, evil version of himself before and tells Kross to go solve the problem himself. Kross: “Maybe I will.”

We come back from a break with Gunther yelling at commentary, getting on Cole for saying negative things about him. Gunther shoves McAfee and chokes Cole, earning a shot from McAfee. Agents and referees come in and Gunther chokes McAfee out while trying to hold back some other people (possibly people from McAfee’s show). Gunther is FINALLY dragged off and McAfee is revived but has to be helped out.

After a break, Cole and McAfee are going to the trainer’s room and Joe Tessitore has taken over commentary. Cole starts to go back to the ring but Adam Pearce tells him to take the rest of the night off. Cole says Gunther might have broken his nose but he isn’t going to let some bully not let him do his job. That gets a big reaction and Cole comes back to commentary to join Tessitore, with the fans cheering for Cole, which you do not hear very often.

Intercontinental Title: Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio

Mysterio, with Judgment Day, is defending and stomps Penta down in the corner to start. Penta fights up and hits a crossbody before knocking Mysterio down again. We take an early break and come back with Penta in control, including a running Canadian Destroyer. Mysterio rolls outside for a breather though and Finn Balor gives him a pep talk. Penta hurricanranas Balor into Mysterio but cue JD McDonagh to shove Penta off the top. The frog 619 and frog splash retain the title at 8:02.

Rating: C+. McDonagh being back is another boost for the team, but it feels like Balor’s days as part of the lineup are numbered. There is something interesting about the idea of Balor constantly acting like the leader but never being able to win anything or come up with a plan. That very well could be leading to a shift in power and that could be rather interesting.

We get an old school style newsreel on El Grande Americano’s win at Wrestlemania, including shots of the massive celebrations in the streets. He’s earned them.

Here are Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman for a chat. The fans want CM Punk or Roman Reigns but Rollins starts talking about how he is a visionary. He is also the winner of the main event of Wrestlemania…and here is Punk. The brawl is on but Punk turns his attention to Heyman, allowing Rollins to beat him down. Heyman says they are going to say this all the way until Wrestlemania XLII, but there is a new reigning, defending, undisputed top star in WWE and he is Seth Rollins.

Cue Reigns (Rollins throws Punk outside) to charge into the ring and hit the spear on Rollins. That leaves Heyman all alone though and Reigns drops him with a Superman Punch. The spear is loaded up…and BRON BREAKKER cuts Reigns off with a Super Spear. Breakker and Rollins have a staredown and Breakker drops Punk with a Super Spear.

Rollins hugs Breakker and tells him to take out Reigns again. Reigns fights back with a shot to the face but Breakker runs around the ring and hits a Super Spear through the barricade. Rollins Stomps Punk and poses with Heyman and Breakker as we now have two Paul Heyman Guys.

Oh that’s a very intriguing way to go as Breakker fits in perfectly as a Paul Heyman Guy and could easily be moved into a main event slot. I like this a lot and it has all kinds of potential. If nothing else, you can see the huge tag match at Backlash from here. Heck of a way to end the show with a big surprise and a smart one at that.

Overall Rating: B. This was a very wrestling lite show and as usual, that’s not the point of the post Wrestlemania Raw. This week was all about the fallout and the big moves going forward. We had returns, a big reveal in the end and several matches/feuds being teased for the near future. I liked this show a lot and it felt more like a traditional post Wrestlemania Raw, which is nice to see after something of an absence.

Results
Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez b. Becky Lynch/Lyra Valkyria – Oblivion to Valkyria
Iyo Sky b. Stephanie Vaquer via DQ when Roxanne Perez interfered
Dominik Mysterio b. Penta – Frog splash

 

 

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

 

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

And then it was Sunday. Last night was already eventful enough and now we have another show with all kinds of stuff taking place. In this case, the biggest story will be John Cena challenging Cody Rhodes in an attempt to win his record setting seventeenth World Title. That should be enough to carry things but of course there is a lot more. Let’s get to it.

Here is Night One if you need a recap.

The opening video is a recap of last night and a preview of tonight’s show. Simple and to the point here.

Here is Stephanie McMahon to get things going. The last time Wrestlemania was in Las Vegas, she was 16 years old. Now they’re back here and her middle daughter is 16 years old. That’s because WWE is family and welcome to Wrestlemania.

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

Sky is defending and Belair has a double dutch team during her entrance. Ripley on the other hand gets an absolute eruption as she’s certainly the crowd favorite. After the Big Match Intros, they start fast with Sky firing off some shots to the face and a hurricanrana. Ripley breaks that up so Belair wrestles her to the mat. Belair hammers away in the corner until Sky pulls her down by the braid.

Back up and Ripley gets clotheslined to the floor as Belair takes over on Sky. Ripley pulls Belair tot he floor, where Sky’s hurricanrana is pulled out of the air. Sky gets double swung into the barricade but comes right back in with a dive. The Prism Trap is broken up though with Belair trying the KOD on Ripley. That’s broken up and they hit stereo faceplants to leave everyone down. They go up top for a reverse Tower Of Doom, with Sky being belly to back superplexed onto her face.

Belair runs Sky over again and everyone is down again. A 450 hits Sky for two but Ripley grabs a Riptide for two. Ripley takes Sky up top for a super Riptide but Sky armdrags her way out. Over The Moonsault hits raised knees though and Belair hits the KOD for two with Ripley making the save. Belair and Ripley go up top with Belair being knocked to the floor. Sky’s super poisonrana is countered with a faceplant onto the post but Belair is back with the KOD. Ripley slips out and lands on her feet but gets caught with the hair whip. Now the KOD can connect but Sky comes in with Over The Moonsault to pin Belair and retain at 14:27.

Rating: A-. I got way into this as they were laying in the offense and had me wondering where it was going. You had a match where all three could have come out with the title and that’s a great situation to be in. Sky is getting into that top tier of active stars in the women’s division and she has earned that spot. This is the kind of win that can help her a lot and she could still have a singles match with either of the two. Or you have the Ripley vs. Belair option as well, which would be quite good in its own right.

We recap Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre. As usual, McIntyre blames someone else for all of his troubles and Priest is tired of it. They’ve been fighting for a good while now and it’s time for a street fight.

Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre

Street fight and Priest is played to the ring by the guitarist from Slayer. The fight starts fast and they go to the floor, where McIntyre plants him on the ramp. It’s time for the weapons but McIntyre takes too long, allowing Priest to get in a few shots. Some steps to the face and back put Priest back down, allowing McIntyre to take a selfie with his brother’s phone. Two tables are set up at ringside but Priest is back up to cut McIntyre off again.

McIntyre knocks him back to the floor for the big flip dive and a big pose. Back in and Priest throws a chair at McIntyre’s head (and it comes in at a bad angle which could have gone much worse) but the Claymore connects for two. McIntyre hammers him down with the chair and wraps it around Priest’s head. Another Claymore is cut off with a chokeslam for two and now it’s Priest’s turn to chair him down.

The table is set up in the corner but a super White Noise is broken up. Instead it’s a Razor’s Edge through the table for two and they need a breather. McIntyre counters another chokeslam into a Futureshock onto the steps for two and they’re both down again. Priest tries Old School and gets shoved off the top through the two tables at ringside for the big crash. Back in and a Claymore into the chair in the corner finishes Priest at 13:56.

Rating: B+. I got more into this one than I expected to as they beat the fire out of each other. That’s one of the perks of having a match like this, as the two of them are big enough to be able to hammer on each other until one of them couldn’t get up. The ending spot was great too and while Priest didn’t feel like he was a major threat, he was a good hurdle for McIntyre to overcome on the way to something bigger.

We recap the Intercontinental Title four way. Bron Breakker has been dealing with the Judgment Day, who are fighting over the team’s future. Penta wants the title as well so Breakker is defending against all three of them.

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

Breakker is defending and Dominik has a Rey Mysterio mask on for his entrance in a nice trolling moment. Breakker charges at Mysterio to start but can’t hit a Super Spear. Instead Penta sends Balor and Mysterio to the floor for a big flip dive. Breakker dives over both of them to take out Penta in a huge crash. Back in and Breakker hits the gorilla press powerslam on Balor and the Super Spear gets two on Mysterio with Balor making the save.

Penta is back up with the slingshot dropkick to Balor and Mysterio in the corner. Breakker is back up with a double German suplex but the spear hits the post. Judgment Day fights back but Breakker is right there with a super Frankensteiner to Balor. Back up and Mysterio goes after Balor but can’t hit the 619. Instead Balor stomps on Mysterio but gets caught in the Penta Driver for two.

That leaves us with Breakker vs. Penta, which the fans certainly like. Balor breaks that up and Penta gets in a Canadian Destroyer, only for Carlito to make the save. Breakker is back up to spear Carlito through the announcers’ table, followed by another spear to Penta back inside. Balor is there to cut Breakker off though and the Coup de Grace connects, only for Mysterio to hit a frog splash to pin Balor at 10:34.

Rating: B. That’s the right ending and there is nothing wrong with having it go this way. The big story here is that Mysterio wins a title and after everything that he has done over the last few years, that is the right thing to do. Mysterio getting to hold the title over Balor is going to be great and Breakker can move up to something else on the card. I’m not sure where this leaves Penta, but this was the correct way to go and I’m wanting to see where it goes.

Mysterio goes nuts celebrating and even runs back down the ramp to get in the ring and celebrate again.

We get a video on Randy Orton’s Wrestlemania history as this is his 20th Wrestlemania (which is not a 20th anniversary). He was supposed to face Kevin Owens but Owens is out with a neck injury so it’s mystery opponent time.

Randy Orton vs. ???

Orton (in a tribute to his original trunks) makes the open challenge and it’s….TNA World Champion Joe Hendry for a pretty awesome surprise. Hendry gets the big entrance and the fans are WAY into him, as you knew was coming. An early RKO attempt is countered into a rollup and Orton is surprised. Back up and Orton hammers away but Hendry is back up with some shots of his own. Hendry grabs the fall away slam and gets to do his pose…and that’s enough for the RKO to finish for Orton at 3:09.

Rating: C. To be clear: this wasn’t a squash, this wasn’t Hendry being buried and this wasn’t bad. Hendry is indeed the reigning TNA World Champion. He’s also nowhere near the star Orton is and was little more than a warm body here. There are very, very, very few wrestlers who are bigger stars than Orton in history and Hendry losing to him at Wrestlemania in a short match is not some death sentence. The fact that Hendry got this spot and got to do that entrance on this stage is what matters and it went perfectly fine.

Post match Orton shows him some respect and then lays him out with another RKO. Orton even mocks Hendry’s pose and gets a nice reaction.

We recap Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles. Paul is the celebrity and Styles is the traditional wrestler so they don’t like each other. This feels like the “here’s a match where Paul can look good against someone who has nothing else to do”.

Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles

As usual we get a special Paul entrance as he livestreams his entrance, which is quite the visual. Paul backs him into the corner to start but gets knocked out to the apron. Styles hits a dropkick for an early one, with the kickout sending Styles into a camera. Paul gets tied in the ring skirt for a beating and a shot to the face leaves him down on the floor for a needed breather.

Back up and Styles sends him into the barricade, only to get sent into the post for a needed breather. That’s not enough for Paul as he dives onto Styles to take him out again. Apparently learning on the job, Paul ties Styles up in the ring skirt and hammers away, setting up a frog splash for two as we seem to be watching the match from a drone camera, which is such a change of pace from the standard way WWE has been shot forever.

The overbomb (powerbomb into a faceplant) gets two and Paul does some Hogan posing. The big boot into the legdrop gets two on Styles and the slow beating continues. Styles fights back and hits a brainbuster for two but Paul hits him with a Regal Roll. A Lionsault gives Paul two and a Buckshot Lariat gets the same.

The torture rack spinning powerbomb gives Styles two and they’re both down. The springboard 450 hits raised knees though and Paul hits the Styles Clash (not very well). Styles does the real thing….and one of Paul’s goons comes out with the brass knuckles. Cue Karrion Kross to cut that off and tries to hand them to Styles, who decks Kross instead. The Phenomenal Forearm misses though and Paul hits the big right hand. The Paulverizer finishes Styles at 17:43.

Rating: B-. They were running with an anchor here as there was pretty much no way around this being Paul’s match to win. There never was much of a story coming into this one and it felt like a way to make Paul look good. Styles is perfectly skilled at doing that and the match wasn’t bad, but it was pretty cold and that is going to overcome just about anything they do in the ring.

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

Morgan and Rodriguez are defending and since Bayley is injured, Valkyria has a mystery partner in the form of….fellow Irishwoman Becky Lynch. Yep that tracks and Morgan is terrified with some great facial expressions. Valkyria starts fast with Morgan, who brings in Rodriguez for the power instead. That’s fine with Valkyria who fights back but gets kicked out of the air to slow her down.

Morgan comes in for the Eddie Dance and Three Amigos and hands it back to Rodriguez. Valkyria fights up but Morgan is right there to cut Lynch off. Glaring ensues as Valkyria fights back and brings Lynch in to pick up the pace. Lynch cleans house and fires off the Bexploder but Rodriguez breaks up the Disarm-Her. Oblivion gets two with Valkyria making the save and taking Rodriguez outside. Back in and the Manhandle Slam finishes Morgan for the titles at 8:48.

Rating: C+. Lynch was one of the most logical choices the second Bayley was attacked and there was no way you could have her lose if she was making her big comeback here. That’s a good way to bring her back as she does have a history with Valkyria (in NXT) and Lynch is still a huge star. I’m not sure how much sense it makes for Valkyria to be a double champion, but we’ll have to see how long that lasts.

Here is Steve Austin, on his ATV, which he crashes into the barricade and seemingly knocks a fan over. After checking on her, Austin announces the attendance of 63,226 but that doesn’t feel right. Therefore, it’s time for a recount and he goes fan by fan up until about 19. The two night attendance is 124,693 and beer is consumed. Austin goes over to check on the woman he crashed into again (as is someone who appears to be WWE President Nick Khan, which can’t be good).

We recap John Cena challenging Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship. Rhodes is the family friendly champion and the new face of WWE. Cena then won the title shot at Elimination Chamber and then turned full evil to become Rock’s corporate star. Rock hasn’t been seen since and the two of them have traded some very personal barbs at each other.

Smackdown World Title: John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes

Cena is challenging and comes to the ring with a simple JOHN CENA graphic and black shirt for a great touch. Rhodes has some motorcycles for his entrance (without riding one himself) and his family is in the crowd. After the Big Match Intros we’re ready to go, with Rhodes grabbing a headlock. That’s broken up and Cena slugs away, including a big boot of all things to put Rhodes down.

Cena knees him in the head and takes him outside as the beating continues. Back in and a running clothesline drops Rhodes again, setting up the chinlock. A side slam puts Rhodes down again and a middle rope ax handle makes it worse. Rhodes fights back but charges into a boot in the corner, allowing Cena to hit the tornado DDT. Cena initiates the finishing sequence (in slow motion) and gets poked in the eye, allowing Rhodes to hit a powerslam.

The Cody Cutter connects for two but Cena is right back with an AA for two. Cena catches him going up top for a super AA and now Cena is getting worried. The top rope Fameasser is countered into a sitout powerbomb and the top rope Cody Cutter gets two more. Cena is right back with another AA into the STF, with Cena pulling him back to the ring a few times. The referee gets bumped off the escape though and Cena pulls the turnbuckle pad off. Two rams into the buckle sets up a fourth AA for two as the referee is back in there.

With both of them down, cue Travis Scott (because this needs to be a thing), taking his sweet time getting to the ring. Rhodes hits Cross Rhodes but Scott pulls the referee out. That brings Scott into the ring for the showdown and Rhodes takes him out, leaving Cena load up a belt shot. Rhodes blocks it and teases hitting Cena with the belt but stops. That’s enough for Cena to kick him low and hit him with the belt (Cole: “John Cena has absolutely no problem being a bad guy.”) for the pin and the title at 25:02.

Rating: B-. They had to do it. Otherwise, Cena’s turn would have felt like a huge waste of time and there wouldn’t have been much of a point. At the same time, Rhodes had a heck of a run with the title and is still the biggest star in the company. Cena gets the record and Ric Flair has something new to complain about so this was the right way to go. Cena holding the title until the end of the year and teasing retiring with the title for Rhodes to win it back in December could be rather interesting. Not a great match as Cena was going rather slowly (understandable) and it sets up a bunch of options.

Cena and Scott celebrate and Rock is nowhere to be seen to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. The first two matches more than carry the show and you have the big moment in the end to wrap it up. That’s a great way to go and I liked this one better than the first night. It might not be a classic and the middle of the card was a bit weak, but it was certainly an eventful show and I liked what we got here rather well. Good show, and there are a lot of options as they move forward.

Overall Overall Rating: B. This might not be in the all time pantheon of Wrestlemanias, but it was absolutely eventful and had enough good matches to make things work. Last year’s show was the really big event with the happy ending and now we get the sad version as the good guys (well some of them at least) have to regroup.

Tiffany Stratton and Iyo Sky are the new faces of the women’s division with Becky Lynch being right there with them. Throw in Mysterio and Jey Uso winning and there is some fresh blood in the title picture. I had fun with this show but I’m also excited for where things are going, which is very important in its own right. Rather good, albeit not great Wrestlemania.

Results
Iyo Sky b. Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair – Over The Moonsault to Belair
Drew McIntyre b. Damian Priest – Claymore into a chair
Dominik Mysterio b. Bron Breakker, Finn Balor and Penta – Frog splash to Balor
Randy Orton b. Joe Hendry – RKO
Logan Paul b. AJ Styles – Paulverizer
Lyra Valkyria/Becky Lynch b. Raquel Rodriguez/Liv Morgan – Manhandle Slam to Morgan
John Cena b. Cody Rhodes – Belt shot

 

 

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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Smackdown
Date: April 18, 2025
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re less than a day away from Wrestlemania and that means it is time for the final push towards the biggest show of the year. In this case we have the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal and a Tag Team Title match, with the Motor City Machine Guns challenging the Street Profits. Let’s get to it.

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

Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga arrived earlier but LA Knight slammed Tonga’s car door on his arm, Larry Zbyszko style.

Here is Seth Rollins to get things going. He’s not used to being on Smackdown but he’ll try the catchphrase anyway. Naturally the fans chant for CM Punk so Rollins sits down, ala Punk. Now it’s an OTC chant but Rollins would rather talk about Punk first (the fans are ok with this). Those chants for ten years brought Punk back to the ring, but it wasn’t a WWE ring.

It wasn’t for the fans, but rather because someone wrote him a big fat check. After he burned that bridge, he came back to WWE because they wrote him another big fat check. Rollins: “Tell me when I’m telling lies.” The reality is that Punk doesn’t care about anyone, and the reality is that Roman Reigns only cares about himself. Reigns is Mr. Private Jet and Mr. Handpicked Opponent because Reigns is always about making himself look bigger.

Every year, Reigns kept getting treated as the biggest thing in the world, but there were always some CM PUNK chants. While this was happening, Rollins was working every day, sacrificing his body. Last year at Wrestlemania, he was there despite his knee hanging on by a thread and his stepfather dying of cancer. Now the fans sing Rollins’ song as he talks about how the story ends at Wrestlemania, where he will lay it all on the line to move this business forward. And yes, that is a spoiler. This was a pretty straightforward promo as Rollins tries to remind us that he is part of this story.

Wrestlemania rundown.

Video on Andre The Giant.

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Rey Fenix, Shinsuke Nakamura, Andrade, Otis, Berto, Angel, Kit Wilson, Elton Prince, Akira Tozawa, Santos Escobar, Carmelo Hayes, Carlito, Julius Creed, R-Truth, Brutus Creed, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro, Miz, Karrion Kross, Tyler Bate, Pete Dunne, Ludwig Kaiser, Grayson Waller, Austin Theory, Chad Gable, Dragon Lee

R-Truth poses with Carlito to start and then throws him out, only to get booted out by Miz for some fast eliminations. Karrion Kross goes after Miz and we actually get a Bloodsport reference for a weird thing to hear on WWE TV. Legado del Fantasma goes after Fenix, who gets rid of Berto and Angel in quick fashion. Pretty Deadly beats up Bate but get tossed by A-Town Down Under. Bate is sent over the top but skins the cat, only to get dropkicked out by Kaiser.

Things slow down a bit as Escobar tries to get an alliance going with Fenix, who tosses him instead. Otis uses Tozawa as a projectile, allowing Julius Creed to throw Tozawa out. A double clothesline gets rid of the Creeds but Otis goes with them as the ring is clearing out in a hurry. Andrade tosses Waller and Theory and Fenix gets rid of Gable. Wilde and del Toro are out and Lee gets rid of Kross before grabbing a hurricanrana to Nakamura.

That just earns Lee a shot to the face and Nakamura tosses him out. Dunne and Kaiser fight to the apron but get back in, only for Dunne to eliminate Kaiser. Miz saves Hayes but gets dropkicked out for his efforts. Hayes tosses Dunne and we’re down to Hayes, Andrade, Nakamura and Fenix. Nakamura misses a charge into the corner and gets dropkicked out by Andrade to get us down to three. Fenix throws both of them over but they hang on for the save.

For some reason Fenix tries a rope walk so here is El Grande Americano to pull him out. We’re down to Andrade vs. Hayes as commentary talks about their history together. A double knockdown gives us a double breather before Hayes grabs a suplex cutter. For some reason Andrade tries a springboard and gets tossed to give Hayes the win at 15:28.

Rating: B-. Why not? This is a match where you can give someone a somewhat important victory without having to pin someone at the same time. Its winners don’t have the best track records but I can go for Hayes getting a win and possibly feuding with the Miz over being more successful than he has been lately. It’s not the most important match but it could mean something for Hayes.

Miz comes out to celebrate.

HHH Hall Of Fame video, looking at the Cell match with Undertaker. Didn’t we already see that one?

We get a sitdown interview with Charlotte who doesn’t like where her feud with Tiffany Stratton has gone but she’s ready to be on the big stage. This is how you make things happen.

Here is Rhea Ripley for a chat. This is going to be her sixth Wrestlemania and she’s always in a title match, but this feels like the most important. She lost her title right before Wrestlemania and this Sunday, she wins back what she lost. Cue Iyo Sky to interrupt but before she can say anything, Bianca Belair cuts her off.

She wants the title but here is Naomi to interrupt as well. Naomi has been trying to talk to Belair because she wanted to handle this in private. Instead though, we have to do this in public because Jade wasn’t there…and here she is too. Ripley gets in Jade’s face but Naomi knocks Jade into her. The big brawl is on and Sky hits the moonsault to wipe everyone out.

American Made mocks Rey Fenix but Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio come in and a fight is teased. Fenix says we should have a six man tag and it seems to be on.

Tag Team Titles: Motor City Machine Guns vs. Street Profits

The Profits are defending and get jumped during their entrances to start fast. The Guns take over on Ford to start but he comes back with a clothesline to Sabin. Dawkins comes in for a clothesline of his own and the champs take over as we take a break. Back with Shelley diving over for a tag off to Sabin. House is cleaned, including a missile dropkick for two on Ford. Back up and Dawkins tosses Sabin into Ford for a belly to back suplex but Shelley is right back in. The Dream Sequence hits Ford but he breaks up the Skull & Bones to hit a big flip dive over the top. And cue DIY for the double DQ at 8:25.

Rating: C+. The match was getting going when the interference brought it to a halt but they only had so much time in the first place. Normally this would set up some kind of ladder match at Wrestlemania but I can’t imagine they would put that on with so little time left before the show. If nothing else, it should give them something to build off in the next few weeks as this story still has some steam.

DIY steal the titles and leave.

Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice serve Nick Aldis with an official complaint. Aldis says there is a complaint, so tonight’s six woman tag is now a singles match with Green against Zelina Vega, with the Hervice barred from ringside. Screaming ensues.

Cardi B is hosting Summerslam. I was hoping we were getting away from that dumb idea.

Nick Aldis cuts off DIY from leaving with the titles. The Guns and the Profits come in and Aldis takes the titles. Next week, it’s TLC for the titles. Well that’s big.

Here is Randy Orton for a chat. As of right now, he does not have a Wrestlemania opponent. His father was at the first Wrestlemania and 20 years later, he made his Wrestlemania debut at the Garden (try again). He’s going to show up on Sunday in his gear and with just the right amount of baby oil, so anyone in the back can come test themselves. Just be ready for an RKO. Simple and to the point here since he doesn’t have an opponent.

Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre got in a fight at the Wrestlemania Kickoff event.

Priest is tired of McIntyre being a victim, but tomorrow Priest is going to beat him so badly that he wishes he was future endeavored again.

The smoke person is here next week.

Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green

Non-title. They start fast with Green having to get her skirt out from underneath her feet. Green pounds away to start but gets sent outside and over the barricade. Back in and Vega wins a slugout but the 619 is cut off with a kick to the head. They go up and a super Code Red gives Vega the upset win at 3:34.

Rating: C. This didn’t have time to go anywhere and it’s rarely a good idea to have a champion lose a clean fall. Last week’s countout was nothing of note but this felt more like it was out of the older WWE days. Hopefully we get something better for Green, because she shouldn’t be losing like this.

We look at Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker at Wrestlemania. The first time.

Here is LA Knight for a chat. He talks about trying to take out Jacob Fatu’s relatives so it’s one on one at Wrestlemania. This US Title means the most in WWE because he’s around the most so Solo Sikoa can get out here right now and take his beating.

LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa

Non-title and the brawl starts on the floor as we take a break. Back with the brawl continuing on the floor before they both get inside, with Sikoa getting two. Knight’s neckbreaker gets his out of trouble but Sikoa drops him again. Sikoa cannonballs down onto the ribs a few times, only to land in a low blow so Knight can fight back. A DDT connects…and Jacob Fatu runs in to beat Knight down for the DQ at 3:38.

Rating: C. They didn’t have time to get anywhere here but that wasn’t the point of the match. Odds are someone is going to run in and help Knight after the match and a tag match will break out. Knight and Fatu’s match is already set up so this was just one more push to get us to the showdown.

Post match Braun Strowman runs in for the save and it’s time to do that tag match thing.

Braun Strowman/LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa/Jacob Fatu

We’re joined in progress with Fatu being low bridged to the floor and Strowman coming in to clean house. The Strowman Express drops Sikoa on the floor but Fatu is back with a jumping clothesline back inside. Sikoa and Fatu take turns working on a neck crank until Strowman fights up and brings Knight back in. Everything breaks down and Strowman is sent over the announcers’ table. With Fatu outside, Knight hits a BFT to pin Sikoa at 4:34 shown.

Rating: C+. This was another short match but they got a decent amount of stuff in there, which is always good to see. Knight gets another win on the way to Wrestlemania, but there is a very good chance that he is losing the title to the monster Fatu. For now though, they’ve done a nice job of setting it up and that’s a positive sign.

We get a preview of Tiffany Stratton talking to Wade Barrett, with the full interview airing on the Wrestlemania Kickoff Show. She’s tired of being taken advantage of so she’s retaining the title at Wrestlemania.

LWO/Rey Fenix vs. American Made

Fenix punches away at Brutus to start and takes him down with a flying headbutt. Lee comes in with a slingshot dropkick in the corner but Brutus takes him over for a tag of his own. Back up and Lee sends Julius to the floor for a big flip dive and it’s off to Mysterio vs. Gable. Mysterio chases him outside but gets pulled down…and he’s in trouble. Gable suplexes Lee inside and American Made hit a triple top rope headbutt as Mysterio can be seen limping off.

We take a break and come back with the Brutus Ball hitting Lee for two. Mysterio is gone as Lee ties American Made in the Tree Of Woe (at the same time) for a top rope triple stomp. It’s back to Fenix to clean house but Julius catches him with an overhead belly to belly. Fenix’s springboard armdrag sets up a running hurricanrana as Lee is back in to drop Julius. A top rope Meteora gives Fenix the pin at 9:10.

Rating: B-. The fact that Mysterio is gone is not a good sign and there is a strong chance that he is not going to be at Wrestlemania. Fenix taking his place would make sense if that is where they want to go, but hopefully the injury isn’t as bad as it seems. For now though, it was a fast paced match, even if it wound up being a handicap match.

Video on Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins, with the music video treatment.

Here is Cody Rhodes for his final face to face confrontation with John Cena. Before Rhodes can say anything, here is Cena to get to the point in a hurry. Cena tells him to “shut your mouth kid”, because this is going to be his last Wrestlemania. No one has had the courage to finish their career like he has, to the point where no one believes he’s really leaving. Everyone else comes back because they all need these people, but Cena has happiness on his own.

Last year, Rhodes won the title but Cena told him that it is going to get heavier every day. Cena defeated Rhodes when Rhodes said no to the Rock because it was over then. On Sunday, the title reign comes to an end when Cena proves that the fans don’t matter. Rhodes has been wanting to be somebody and on Sunday he will find out that he is just a kid playing in a man’s world. Rhodes brings up Cena saying that he doesn’t bury talent, but there is a graveyard of people who would disagree.

Cena doesn’t know the wrestlers’ names, but the reality is Cena is out of time, paler than Sting at Starrcade 1997 (WHOA!) and it’s 2025 and he still can’t wrestle. Cena says the fans don’t know what they want and he doesn’t have to wrestle to beat Rhodes. Cena goes for a shot to the face and the AA but gets reversed into Cross Rhodes. They were bringing the intensity here but they didn’t really say anything new here.

One more Wrestlemania rundown wraps us up.

Overall Rating: C+. This was exactly what you would expect here as it’s the last Smackdown before the biggest nights of the year. They had the battle royal, a few other matches, and then the big closing segment. Hopefully Mysterio is healthy enough to wrestle tomorrow, but that doesn’t seem likely based on what we saw. It’s not a particularly good show and definitely not worth seeing, but this could have been far worse.

Results
Carmelo Hayes won the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal last eliminating Andrade
Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns went to a double DQ when DIY interfered
Zelina Vega b. Chelsea Green – Super Code Red
LA Knight b. Solo Sikoa via DQ when Jacob Fatu interfered
LA Knight/Braun Strowman b. Solo Sikoa/Jacob Fatu – BFT to Sikoa
LWO/Rey Fenix b. American Made – Top rope Meteora to Julius Creed

 

 

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 XXVII
Date: April 3, 2011
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 71,617
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Josh Matthews

There’s a bit more to the main event than Rock just returning. The night he returned, he cut a long promo about how things had changed, including John Cena being the top star in the company. There is real tension between the two of them and people are expecting it to boil over soon. Let’s get to it.

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

Bryan (I think you know him) is challenging and it’s almost strange to see him with short hair and clean shaven. Daniel moonsaults over the champ to start before the yet to be named YES kicks send Sheamus outside. That’s not cool with Mark Henry as he throws Sheamus back inside for more kicks from Daniel. Sheamus grabs a quick tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two but the High Cross is broken up. The champ is sent to the floor where he gets in a fight with the lumberjacks, triggering a huge brawl to throw the match out at 4:19.

Rating: D+. These two would later get to show that they have good chemistry but the four minute clock here didn’t give them time to go anywhere. It doesn’t help that the match was designed to set up something else instead of having a definitive ending. We’re not done with these two though.

Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long comes out to say let’s have a battle royal.

Pre-Show: Battle Royal

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

Curtis is a generic guy who would later be known as Fandango and I think you know the Usos. Khali throws out Reks and Hawkins in the first twenty seconds and Henry tosses Tatsu a few seconds later. The match slows down a lot and everyone brawls with everyone with no one getting close to an elimination. Jimmy Uso is hanging onto the ropes and pulls them down to eliminate Truth.

Henry dumps both Usos a few seconds later and a big group of people gets rid of Mark. Primo and Ryder go out in quick succession and Drew has to last on the apron. Chavo tries to knock McIntyre out but gets backdropped to the floor and Khali knocks out Hart-Smith. JTG is dumb enough to go up top and gets chopped out by Khali. Bryan throws Kidd out and McIntyre eliminates Trent.

Curtis tries to fight Regal, Sheamus and McIntyre at the same time for reasons that aren’t clear, earning himself an elimination. Masters chops at Drew but gets sent to the apron where he tries the Masterlock. Oh come on dude you’re smarter than that. Drew goes down and Evan tries Air Bourne, only to have Sheamus throw Evan down after the crash. DiBiase eliminates Regal and Drew kicks Ted in the face for an elimination. Bryan dumps McIntyre but gets pulled to the apron by Sheamus who kicks Bryan to the floor. Khali and Sheamus are the last two in and a clothesline gives Khali the win at 8:29.

Rating: D. This is becoming the standard operating procedure for these matches and again, it’s hard to really complain when it’s a relatively short battle royal just there as a DVD bonus. Khali winning is fine as he hadn’t done anything for years at this point so throw him a bone to make a victory over him mean a little bit more.

Keri Hilson sings America the Beautiful.

The set is a big sign saying WRESTLEMANIA and a big arch over the stage. It’s a simpler design but it works quite well.

The cylinder from last year has been replaced by an even bigger cube.

We don’t go straight to the opening video as a voiceover which sounds like a daytime game show host or a late night talk show announcer introduces “a supernova of entertainment” named The Rock. It’s pretty safe to say that Rock is still incredibly over as the fans practically worship at his feet.

Rock walks around a bit before hitting the FINALLY line about Atlanta and Wrestlemania. He wants to know if we can feel, taste and smell the electricity. I don’t think you can taste electricity but if you try you’ll certainly feel something. It’s time to do something special and have some fun. Therefore, when Rock says wrestle, the fans will say mania. After that wastes some time, Rock wants to talk about someone who is deciding which Fruity Pebbles shirt to put on tonight (if that line makes no sense, Rock had said Cena looked like a great big bowl of Fruity Pebbles because of all his shirts).

The fans chant CENA SUCKS and then switch to FRUITY PEBBLES. Rock stops for some of the People’s Water (his words) before saying yabba, which means he wants the people to say dabba. He rhymes a bit with his catchphrases (“Always defiant and standing taller than Andre the Giant!”) and says this is bigger than Christmas (“Sorry Santa but the Rock is bringing it all over Atlanta!”) before having the people join him for IF YA SMELL to wrap up this ten minute monologue, which really wasn’t funny.

The opening video is the standard operating procedure: talking about the history of the event with the major highlight clips before an assortment of stuff on the major matches. This still works so why mess with it?

Cole: “This is the fabric of Americana!” Cole, in his own plastic box, is one of the top heels in the company and is already arguing with Lawler, who he’ll be facing tonight in Lawler’s first ever Wrestlemania match.

Smackdown World Title: Alberto Del Rio vs. Edge

Alberto (who won the 2011 Royal Rumble to earn this shot) is challenging and comes out in a Rolls Royce (he was a car guy, to put it mildly) with his personal ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez doing his introduction. Del Rio also has Brodus Clay as his bodyguard so Edge brings out Christian as backup. Feeling out process to start until Edge gets shoved into the corner but he comes out with a slap to the face.

The champ gets stomped down in the corner and they head outside with Del Rio sending Edge and his bad arm into the barricade. Back in and we hit an armbar as Del Rio starts getting ready for his cross armbreaker. The bad arm is wrapped around the middle rope as you can’t argue with Del Rio’s psychology so far. Edge avoids a charge to send Alberto outside and follows with a big over the top flip dive.

Back in and Edge heads up top, only to get armdragged back down to the mat in a big crash. A big boot and flapjack get two for the champ but a Codebreaker to the arm looks to set up the armbreaker. Edge counters into the Edge-O-Matic for two but Del Rio grabs the armbreaker a few seconds later, only to have Edge roll his feet into the ropes. Del Rio follows up with a running enziguri but Edge gets his foot on the ropes again. Rodriguez tries to break it up, triggering a brawl between Christian and Brodus.

The Edgecution (impaler DDT) looks to set up the spear but Del Rio sidesteps it and Del Rio pulls the arm into the post. Now the armbreaker goes on in the middle of the ring until Edge rolls onto him for a cover, forcing Del Rio to break it up. There’s the Edgecator (a variation on the Sharpshooter) as Christian takes Brodus out. Del Rio escapes but walks into the spear (with the bad arm to no pain from Edge) to retain Edge’s title at 11:09.

Rating: C+. Good enough match but Edge not selling the arm really hurt things. If he’s not going to sell it, why waste our time watching Del Rio try to get the submission? That’s the major problem with a heel using a submission hold: almost no top face ever taps out so the finisher isn’t all that effective.

Now for the interesting part: this would be Edge’s last match due to another neck injury and the title would be vacated. If he was leaving less than a month later, why not drop the title here and put Del Rio over as a career killer? That’s never set well with me, but it did at least give us a good moment for Edge’s last win.

Post match Edge and Christian destroy Del Rio’s car. I’m sure there will be rapid legal ramifications for their actions of course. Then again, if Matt Hardy doesn’t get arrested for burning down Jeff’s house, this is pretty tame. Also you would think Del Rio would go up there to save his car or at least try to but the crowbars Edge and Christian are holding might have something to do with it.

Tough Enough ad.

Cole brags about his Slammys and promises to win tonight.

Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio

This was an interesting story as Cody had been a narcissistic man who believed he was the best looking person on the roster. Then Mysterio hurt Cody’s face with the 619, forcing Cody to undergo facial reconstruction surgery. Cody returned and wore a mask to hide the horrible surgery scars. Then the mask came off to reveal that Cody looked fine but he still swore the scars were there. He kept wearing the mask and looked like Dr. Doom for a really interesting psychological character which should have taken him up the card.

Mysterio is Captain America this year and he starts hammering Cody’s ribs as Cody is still in the hard mask. Cody headbutts him down and goes for Rey’s knee brace, followed by the Disaster Kick (springboard kick to the face) for two. We hit a one arm camel clutch followed by an Alabama Slam for two more.

Cody slaps on a nerve hold as Cole continues to rip on Rey for not doing enough to make up for the injury. A delayed superplex (that’s a rare sight) drops Rey for two but he gets out of Cross Rhodes (a rolling cutter) and sends Cody to the floor. Rey sends him into the apron with a headscissors but dives into a wheelbarrow suplex for two. The 619 is broken up (Cole is thrilled) and Cody gets the knee brace off.

Rey gets two more off a moonsault press but Cody loses his mask. The 619 to the exposed face sets up the top rope splash but Rey puts the brakes on when Cody raises his knees. Rey puts Cody’s mask on for some headbutts, sending Cole into hysterics. The fans chant for Cody as the referee gets rid of the mask, leaving Cody to hit Rey in the head with the brace. Cross Rhodes finishes Rey at 12:01.

Rating: B. This was a lot better than I was expecting, even if you ignore Cole’s incessant heel commentary (we’ll come back to that later). Mysterio putting the mask on was a stupid move on his part but at least the right guy won. Cody was running with this character but unfortunately this was pretty much the peak as he became just Cody Rhodes again, which isn’t really interesting. Good match here though.

Snoop Dogg is here to scout talent for his upcoming tour so Teddy Long has set up some auditions. Snoop: “Let the dogs loose.” First up is William Regal who raps about being a heel. Regal: “Was that gangster enough for you?” Beth Phoenix and Great Khali sing Summer Lovin from Grease. Zack Ryder sings Friday (a big hit at this point) until Roddy Piper breaks a coconut over his head. Yoshi Tatsu sings We Will Rock You as Chris Masters does his pectoral dance to the beat. Hornswoggle comes in but Teddy says he can’t talk so Snoop leaves. After they’re gone, Hornswoggle raps as the Bellas dance.

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

Corre is Justin Gabriel/Heath Slater/Wade Barrett/Ezekiel Jackson in a spiritual successor to Nexus. They’re having some success too as Slater (a country boy) and Gabriel (a high flier) are Tag Team Champions (finally with two belts between them) and Barrett (a British brawler) is Intercontinental Champion. Jackson is a very muscular powerhouse. Show has been having issues with the team as of late, Kingston lost the title to Barrett and Corre put out Santino’s partner Vladimir Kozlov. Santino and Slater start but it’s quickly off to Show to destroy Heath. Everything breaks down and Show KO’s Slater for the pin at 1:35.

Santino dances a bit, probably thrilled with getting a Wrestlemania payday for such a quick match (really the only reason for this match to exist and there’s nothing wrong with that).

The Rock is in the back with Eve Torres and lets her feel his arm. Eve describes the weekend as magical so Rock offers to make magic with the next person that comes around the corner. As you might guess, cue Mae Young who wants the people’s strudel (guess what that means). Rock makes some old age jokes (Rock: “This is Eve. Like your childhood friends Adam and Eve.”) so Eve gives him a little spank. Rock wants anyone else to come around the corner and here’s Steve Austin. It’s serious Austin tonight and they say it’s good to see each other and say they both remember. You could feel the electricity here.

We recap CM Punk vs. Randy Orton. Punk had taken over the Nexus after they threw out Wade Barrett and targeted Orton, costing him the World Title at the 2011 Royal Rumble. This was all due to Orton costing Punk his Raw World Title back in 2009, causing Punk to promise that Orton won’t be champion again on his watch. Orton took out the New Nexus one by one (in about six weeks after Cena couldn’t do it in six months).

CM Punk vs. Randy Orton

Orton comes in with a bad right knee after Punk hit it with a wrench. Punk dives after the leg but gets punched in the face for his efforts. They head outside where Punk dives over the steps and kicks them back into the bad knee to take over. A cross body gets two back inside but Punk stops to do Orton’s pose, earning himself a backbreaker. Something like a Stunner to the leg puts Orton right back in trouble though and Punk cannonballs down on it.

Orton gets tied up in the corner for a top rope double stomp. The GTS is countered into an RKO attempt but Punk kicks him in the face for two. Punk gets crotched on the top for a superplex but it bangs up the knee again. There’s a figure four around the post (you can’t fault Punk’s strategy here) followed by something like an Indian deathlock.

Some headbutts get Orton out and an Angle Slam gets two. The Anaconda Vice (Punk’s arm trap choke) out of nowhere has Orton in trouble until he rolls on top to make Punk break it up. The elevated DDT looks to set up the Punt but the knee gives out. Punk blocks an RKO attempt and goes up top for a clothesline, only to dive right into the RKO for the pin at 14:40.

Rating: B-. Another good match here as the first hour and a half of this show have been on a roll. Punk losing here was a surprise but it gave us the sweet RKO out of nowhere for the year. Orton was starting to get into a weird place as he was the upper midcarder on call for whatever you needed him to do. Punk would be back later in the year though so he didn’t have a lot to be worried about.

Gene Okerlund is in the back with Rock and they meet John Cena’s #1 fan: Pee Wee Herman. Rock recruits him to be a man and the payoff is Gene in Cena gear. This really isn’t funny.

No Hall of Fame video this year as they just come out. The Class of 2011 includes Abdullah the Butcher (legendary hardcore wrestler), Sunny (never likely to be mentioned again in WWE after basically going crazy), the Road Warriors (long overdue), Drew Carey (he was in the 2001 Royal Rumble), Bullet Bob Armstrong (famous Georgia wrestler), Jim Duggan (with a bowtie on the 2×4) and Shawn Michaels as the headliner, getting his own entrance.

Clip from this week’s Raw of Lawler beating up Cole’s trainer Jack Swagger. Lawler tried to go after Cole and got coffee thrown in his face.

Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole

Austin is guest referee and this is Lawler’s chance for revenge after Cole treated him like garbage for months, including costing him a Raw World Title shot. Booker T., Josh Matthews and JR will be on commentary. As he almost always did, Cole cuts off JR’s entrance to call Lawler and Ross old and fat. Swagger does his push-ups on the ramp entrance but Austin’s music and ATV cut him off.

Cole hides in the Cole Mine (his plastic box) and warms up until Austin rings the bell. Lawler takes out Swagger and Cole (showing off a lot of tattoos) immediately starts begging off. Cole offers a handshake through the box wall but Lawler doesn’t let go. Instead he pulls Cole’s head against the wall over and over before climbing in to pull Cole out (after a beating inside the box of course).

Lawler rams Cole head first into his public speaking platform (for official announcements from the anonymous Raw General Manager). Swagger gets in a cheap shot and puts on the ankle lock. Austin doesn’t see it but he counts even slower than Bruce Hart did last year. Cole bends the ankle around the bottom rope and does a very slow motion Vader Bomb from the middle rope for two. With Lawler in trouble, Cole pulls down the strap and puts on the Ancole (yes Ancole) lock.

Lawler gets out and stomps Cole down in the corner as Austin doesn’t seem interested in intervening. Swagger throws in a towel but Austin throws it back. That’s not cool with Swagger so he gets a Stunner for his troubles. Cole slaps Austin and eats a BIG right hand from Lawler, who easily pounds Cole down. The middle rope fist drop (with the real strap lowering) gets two as Lawler pulls him up. The ankle lock makes Cole tap (Austin: “DO……..YOU…….QUIT?”) at 13:45.

Rating: D. The match was bad for the most part and Cole got in WAY too much offense but the whole thing had to end with Lawler beating him definitively. I know they can’t use the piledriver but at least we got something good enough. Maybe this shuts Cole up for the night if nothing else.

Post match a lot of beer is consumed (not by Lawler, a noted non-drinker) and Booker gets in the ring for a Spinarooni for absolutely no apparent reason. Austin gives him a Stunner for coming in uninvited. Serves that rude Booker right. The celebration continues…..and we get an e-mail from the GM, saying that the decision is reversed due to Austin overstepping his bounds so Cole wins.

I know a lot of this show is poorly remembered and this is the biggest reason why. The first two hours of this show were breezing by and then this happened. You could feel the air going out of the stadium and that’s the last thing you want to do at any point and especially halfway through.

There was no logical reason for Lawler to lose here. Cole had been built up for months and was finally going to get what was coming to him. We had the moment and then he loses to keep this whole thing going for two more months, until Lawler beat Cole in a match no one remembers. This killed what the show had going and it’s going to take a miracle to recover.

Austin Stuns Matthews for making the announcement.

Wrestlemania week video.

We recap Undertaker vs. HHH which is really just the fallout from Shawn’s retirement and HHH trying to do what his best friend couldn’t. Both guys talked about how big this was but somehow avoided talking about their first Wrestlemania match. This is another match that really doesn’t need a big explanation.

JR and King are doing commentary now.

HHH vs. Undertaker

No holds barred. HHH comes out to Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls with a phalanx of soldiers and battle armor. Undertaker doesn’t quite one up him with Johnny Cash’s Ain’t No Grave but it’s close. HHH punches him into the corner to start so Undertaker throws him over the top and out to the floor. A whip into the steps has HHH in early trouble and it’s already time to load up the Spanish announcers’ table, only to have HHH spear him through the Cole Mine.

That only makes Undertaker do the sit up and power glare, followed by a jumping clothesline back inside. Old School is broken up though and it’s time to load up the announcers’ table. The chokeslam and Pedigree are broken up, the latter with a backdrop to send HHH crashing back to the floor. Dueling chants of 19-0 and 18-1 are quickly broken up by the return of the Taker Dive and both guys are down on the floor.

It’s Undertaker up first and he sets up the steps in front of the Spanish announcers’ table, only to charge into a spinebuster through it instead. Back in and Undertaker grabs a quick chokeslam for two. The Last Ride and Pedigree are both countered, followed by Undertaker charging into a spinebuster for two. This has been a war with nothing but big bombs so far. Undertaker kicks a chair away, only to walk into a Pedigree for two.

The Last Ride and Tombstone (complete with tongue out) both get two and now it’s serious. A DDT on the chair drops Undertaker and a second Pedigree is good for another near fall. The third Pedigree gets the same so HHH massacres him with the chair, including a big shot to the head. For some reason HHH doesn’t cover so Undertaker gets up. HHH: “JUST DIE!” Undertaker grabs him by the throat but there’s nothing behind it and HHH easily shoves him away.

HHH uses a Tombstone for two and people act like it’s some huge deal. This never worked for me as I’ve seen people use that on Undertaker for years and save for Kane, IT HAS NEVER WORKED ONCE! Why is this supposed to be some big, huge deal? HHH goes to get the sledgehammer but walks into Hell’s Gate and finally taps after a ridiculous minute and forty eight seconds to give Undertaker the win at 28:54.

Rating: A-. It’s really good but the last five minutes or so where they tried to turn it into theater took a lot of it down. If HHH wanted to end him that badly, why didn’t he just cover? That and the big Tombstone spot really hurt it as it stopped making sense. This was treated as one of the best matches of all time and it’s just not at that level, especially with Punk vs. Cena coming later in the year.

That’s not to say this wasn’t an awesome match because it certainly was. These guys were just hammering each other out there and it made for some really entertaining spots. The problem for me though was I never bought the Streak as being in jeopardy. I felt that with Shawn at times but it never came here. If you don’t have that drama, you’re missing a little something. It’s a step beneath both Shawn matches, but not a long step.

19-0 flashes on the screen and both guys are done. HHH slowly gets up as the trainer comes in to check on Undertaker (thankfully in silence). Undertaker gets out of the ring and falls on his face, eventually needing to be carted up the ramp.

Wrestlemania XXVII is in Miami.

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

Snooki is from Jersey Shore, a fad which has thankfully died down. Vickie Guerrero introduces Laycool because she’s still around. The bad guys jump our heroes from behind so Snooki slaps Dolph. McCool and Trish get us going and Trish takes over with chops, including one with Snooki licking her hand for good luck. An early Faithbreaker attempt is countered with a facebuster and a big Chick Kick gets two. The guys come in and Morrison knocks Ziggler to the floor for Starship Pain (split legged corkscrew moonsault). Snooki comes in with a handspring elbow into the corner followed by a splash to pin McCool at 4:16.

Rating: D. This was your lame celebrity match of the year but at least they kept it short and didn’t do anything too bad. They didn’t try to do anything too complicated or big here, even though the show really didn’t need anything else packed into this. Trish hadn’t lost a step either.

The new attendance record is announced. Notice that they said for any entertainment event, which excludes football.

We see someone watching videos jumping back and forth between wrestling legends and Miz on the Real World and his rise up the WWE card from joke to World Champion. The song playing talks about how someone isn’t stopping even if everyone hates him. This is really, really good stuff and a great middle finger to all of Miz’s detractors. The problem for Miz is the shadow of the Rock over this entire thing which no one was going to be able to shake. Cena won an Elimination Chamber to earn this shot.

Raw World Title: The Miz vs. John Cena

Cena is challenging. Miz and his crony Alex Riley walk through balloons spelling out “AWESOME!”. Cena’s big entrance involves a gospel choir and a man saying a prayer talking about how Cena is here to do good work and that he wished he had more than one life to do it. Cena might actually be booed louder than Miz. Feeling out process to start with Cena getting dropped off a shoulder but coming back with a hiptoss.

Miz takes over in the corner and whips Cena hard across the ring, setting up his running clothesline for two. A gutwrench suplex gets the same for Cena as the crowd is just silent. Miz misses the second running corner clothesline and takes the top rope Fameasser for two. The champ slowly stomps him down and a baseball slide sends Cena out to the floor. Back in and a knee lift gets two as Cena has shown no fire so far.

Cena fights back with some of his normal stuff including the Shuffle but the AA is countered into a low DDT for two more. Miz goes over and rips off a turnbuckle pad but we’re not ready for that yet. Instead Miz has to counter another AA so Cena takes him down into the STF, sending Miz crawling for the ropes. Back up and Miz sends him into the buckle, setting up the Skull Crushing Finale (full nelson faceplant) for two.

There goes the referee (of course) and Cena hits the AA (to silence, as the fans aren’t that stupid) for no count. Riley sneaks in with a metal briefcase shot to the face for two and now the fans are waking up. Now it’s Miz trying his own briefcase shot but it hits Riley by mistake, followed by one of the biggest AA’s of all time for a very close two (and the fans applaud). Miz heads outside so Cena spears him over the barricade (legitimately giving Miz a concussion)…..and that’s a double countout at 14:43.

Rating: D-. The last few minutes got better but this was AWFUL otherwise as the fans were sitting there in silence. Miz had a great build to this match but that didn’t mean he was ready for the main event of Wrestlemania. Also, A DOUBLE COUNTOUT? That’s dull on Raw and they try it here?

Never mind maybe because here’s the Rock. Before he can say anything, we get an e-mail from the GM. Rock reads the message but decides it doesn’t matter what the GM thinks. Wrestlemania isn’t ending like this so let’s keep going with No DQ. The bell rings and Cena takes a Rock Bottom, giving Miz the pin to retain about 40 seconds after the restart.

Miz goes after Rock for no logical reason so Rock lays him out and drops the People’s Elbow. A lot of posing and four minutes of highlights end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. It’s amazing how much two matches can destroy an otherwise solid show but that main event and the Lawler decision being reversed crushed this thing into the ground. Aside from those two matches, this is actually a heck of a show with nothing really bad (aside from the mixed tag which was kept short). Those two bad matches are devastating though and the ending left a REALLY bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, which I can easily understand.

The other major issue is the Rock, who loomed over the entire thing. That opening monologue was something a 16 year old could have written and after the thing with Austin, he pretty much disappeared. The ending sets up more down the road, but that doesn’t make for a good way to close out the show. It’s not the worst show ever but those two holes are way too much to overcome.

Ratings Comparison

Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio

Original: C+

2013 Redo: C+

2015 Redo: C+

Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio

Original: B

2013 Redo: B-

2015 Redo: B

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

Original: N/A

2013 Redo: N/A

2015 Redo: N/A

CM Punk vs. Randy Orton

Original: B-

2013 Redo: B

2015 Redo: B-

Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler

Original: C

2013 Redo: D-

2015 Redo: D

Undertaker vs. HHH

Original: B

2013 Redo: B

2015 Redo: A-

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

Original: N/A

2013 Redo: D+

2015 Redo: D

Miz vs. John Cena

Original: C-

2013 Redo: D-

2015 Redo: D-

Overall Rating

Original: C-

2013 Redo: D

2015 Redo: C-

That HHH vs. Undertaker match really is great.

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

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/04/03/wrestlemania-27-not-sure-on-this-one/

And the 2013 Redo:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2013/04/05/wrestlemania-count-up-wrestlemania-xxvii-rocky-cant-save-this-one/

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/03/23/new-paperback-kbs-grab-bag/

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

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: March 31, 2025
Location: 02 Arena, London, England
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Wade Barrett

We’re wrapping up the European shows this week with one more show in London. They’re getting a big one here too, with John Cena and Cody Rhodes going face to face again, plus Rhea Ripley getting another shot at the Women’s Title. Gunther is also getting to face Jimmy Uso to get ready for Wrestlemania so let’s get to it.

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

Here is John Cena to get things going but as he puts the mic to his mouth, cue Cody Rhodes to interrupt. Rhodes says we’ve seen Cena talk for two weeks now so let Rhodes do his job for him. Let’s see: Rhodes has a bit of a lisp, so some S words don’t come out right. Like STARDUST. That’s who Cena is facing in his final Wrestlemania match in the main event: STARDUST. What else? Oh yeah: Rhodes has an arm tattoo his neck and he created his own wrestling company.

Rhodes knew Cena would go with some of these things but Rhodes is dealing with the idea that Superman is really dead. The truth is that they used to ride together and Rhodes knows that Cena cared about the people. Cena finally responds, saying he’s not going to punch down to Rhodes’ level. Instead he’s going to bury Rhodes at Wrestlemania. Cena is always accused of burying talent, but the reality is he is talent but buries mediocrity. He isn’t going to call out Rhodes for things like a lisp because Rhodes is just a chauffeur.

Rhodes thinks he found the blueprints so he can run the kingdom. For years, Rhodes sat by Cena and learned from him, then he tried to do it himself. Now he relies on cheap gimmicks like having fans chant his name to get by. Rhodes is a pied piper, as he uses cheap tricks to get people to follow him. All we get is some big mixture of every TV show that Rhodes has ever watched from a kid who is still scared of public speaking.

Cena hates seeing a pathetic nepo baby carrying the title when he had his gimmick tattooed on his neck. Rhodes is nothing but a common fan, who can go buy the Fanatics toy title and be the People’s Champion (nice touch of Cena calling out Rhodes for doing the same thing as the Rock, who got Cena to turn). Rhodes says that the people chose him, just like one man chose Cena but we don’t talk about him anymore (the fans OOO at that one). The reality is that Cena has more dick in his promo than in his jorts and he hangs out with Zac Efron and wishes he was 16 anymore.

Sure Rhodes left for his own company, but Cena didn’t even clean up his room before he went Hollywood. There are two of them in this ring right now, and which one of them sold out to the Rock? Rhodes: “John, you are still my hero, but you’re also a piece of s***.” Cena says Rhodes’ mind is full of feces and not facts. He sold out because no one is worthy of following him.

After all these years, he still finds ways to make things great, including Rhodes. Cena: “I make empires for billionaires. All you’ve ever done is steal money from their kids.” Cena goes to leave, but Rhodes says that not once have the fans told him that he can’t wrestle. THAT touches a nerve with Cena, who gets back in and they go face to face. Cena teases leaving but tries a right hand, only to walk into Cross Rhodes. With Cena down, Rhodes tucks his tie in (nice touch) and points to the Wrestlemania.

Cena was starting to go over the top supervillain here but then he and Rhodes started throwing bombs at each other. What mattered here was Cena gave something more of a clear explanation for why he turned. That gives both of them something to prove, with Rhodes needing to show that he can beat one of the best of all time and Cena wanting to prove that he still has it. Heck of a segment here.

Video on Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky.

New Day comes out for a match and Adam Pearce introduces their surprise opponents.

New Day vs. New Catch Republic

The team is back and Tyler Bate has cut off a lot of his hair, looking a lot more like he did when he made his WWE debut. Dunne easily takes Woods down so Bate can hit a Swanton, followed by a pair of dives to the floor as we take a break. Back with Dunne in trouble and Woods hitting a running dropkick in the ropes.

Kingston knocks Dunne down again but misses a charge, allowing the tag to Bate. A suplex sends Kingston out of the corner so Bate can do his airplane spin. The German suplex/rebound lariat combination gets two, as does Kingston’s SOS. Dunne is back up with a kick to Kingston but Bate’s springboard is broken up. The Daybreaker finishes Dunne at 8:52.

Rating: B-. It was nice to have the Republic getting back in the ring as they’re a good team and there will always be a place for a team like them. That being said, New Day needed the win as they have fallen pretty far since their nuclear heat after turning on Big E. Having them win the titles at Wrestlemania would be nice, but dang there would be something to having Big E. cost them the match.

Post match New Day says they want a title shot so here are the War Raiders to say come get it.

Jimmy and Jey Uso fire each other up for their matches with Gunther. Jey tells him to be careful.

Gunther vs. Jimmy Uso

Non-title. Gunther starts fast with the chops and they’re on the floor in a hurry. Back in and Jimmy sends him outside for a suicide dive but the Superfly Splash hits raised knees. Jimmy catches him on top for a superplex into the Superfly Splash for two as the hot start continues. They go outside again where Gunther drops him onto the apron, setting up that hard lariat. We take a break and come back with Gunther hitting his big dropkick. The powerbomb gets two, with Gunther pulling him up. The sleeper puts Jimmy out at 8:35.

Rating: C+. I was surprised and a bit disappointed by this one as Jimmy felt like he was going to be getting this big shot at Gunther and then it was barely a step above a squash. Gunther kicked out of the Superfly Splash and then just mauled him. That’s not the most thrilling match, but at least Gunther looked like a monster again.

Post match the beatdown is on but Jey Uso makes the save.

Post break Jey helps Jimmy out but Gunther runs back in and beats both of them down. Gunther isn’t done and zip ties Jey to the ropes, allowing him to beat Jimmy up even more. He taunts Jey and gets in a belt shot to knock Jimmy off the apron. Jimmy is busted open and Gunther rubs the blood on his own chest. Jey tries to pull Jimmy to him but Gunther pulls him back for elbows to the head and a sleeper. Gunther: “HELP YOUR BROTHER!” Agents and security finally come in for the save. This was awesome and some good, old school heeling from Gunther, who is going so far that Jey is going to want to get his revenge.

We recap the CM Punk/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins contract signing for Wrestlemania, with the announcement that it’s closing the show, making Punk a Wrestlemania main eventer. Punk made it clear that is NOT the favor Paul Heyman owes him though.

Finn Balor is ready to bring gold back to the Judgment Day, but doesn’t seem pleased with Raquel Rodriguez for losing last week. Balor and most of the men leave but Carlito stays behind, only to be thrown out by the women.

Judgment Day vs. Bron Breakker/Penta

Penta gets knocked down to start but Breakker comes in to take over without much trouble. It’s already back to Penta for the slingshot dropkick in the corner to Balor, followed by a backbreaker to Mysterio. Breakker pulls the top rope down so Penta can hit a big running flip dive to the floor as we take an early break. Back with Penta hitting the Backstabber and handing it off to Breakker to clean house. The running clothesline hits Balor and a super Sling Blade takes out Mysterio. The Super Spear hits Penta by mistake though and Balor adds the Coup de Grace for the pin at 9:12.

Rating: C+. It seems that we’re getting ready for a big multi man match for the Intercontinental Title at Wrestlemania and Balor getting the pin here should getting him back into the title picture. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dominik Mysterio added to the whole thing too, and having him steal the title would be great. Penta losing is a bit annoying, but it came after two finishers and miscommunication in a tag match so it’s hardly a terrible idea.

Chad Gable is still out with a medical issue, but he’ll be fine by next week for a match in his hometown. Adam Pearce says nothing is more important than his health, so next week, it’s El Grande Americano in action instead. Gable goes to leave and runs into the Alpha Academy, who he calls clowns and an idiot (Otis). Maxxine says she and Natalya have been talking and they want in the Women’s Tag Team Title picture. Oh dear.

Penta yells at Bron Breakker for the spear.

Here is AJ Styles to call out Logan Paul, who doesn’t leave him waiting long. Paul mocks the fans for not liking him, saying they’re on his time. As for Styles, Paul has had a change of heart. He’s a girl dad now, and he forgives Styles for what he did to him at Madison Square Garden. Styles has a daughter too, and forgives Paul for being the biggest douchebag ever in WWE. Paul can have all the money and fame that he wants, but the people care about what he can do in the ring.

The fans get on Paul for Prime being awful before the insults continue (with Styles kind of stumbling over his line about not letting your mouth write a check you a** can’t cash and Paul having to save it). Styles seems ready to fight but Paul teases a Wrestlemania match instead. Paul calls the fans poor and then tries a kick to the ribs, with the fight being on. They go outside but Paul gets in a low blow, setting up the Paulverizer to leave Styles laying. The Paulverizer looked great, but this feud isn’t clicking for me. It doesn’t help that it feels like the “these two have nothing else to do” feud.

Lyra Valkyria is happy with her title defense last week but now she wants to even the score with Bayley. She’ll do that next week in their title match.

Finn Balor says “he” won the tag match and wants an Intercontinental Title shot. With Balor gone, Liv Morgan says Dominik Mysterio shouldn’t be happy with this and is going to talk to Adam Pearce.

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

Ripley is challenging and Bianca Belair is guest referee. After the big match intros, Ripley hammers away into the corner but Sky fights out in a hurry. They trade rollups for two each until Ripley takes over again and we take an early break. Back with Sky hitting a running dropkick, followed by a missile dropkick to put her on the floor. Sky’s suicide dive takes Ripley down again and they go back inside, where Ripley gets caught up top.

Sky tries a super poisonrana but Ripley blocks it, setting up a….I think super Samoan drop but Sky seems to get the better of it. Weird sequence. Anyway, Sky hits the Bullet Train and goes up, only to get headbutted out of the air for two. A toss Razor’s Edge sends Sky flying for two but Belair accidentally gets decked. Riptide connects but there is no referee, with the fans counting up to about thirteen.

Back in and Sky kicks out (over a minute after Riptide connected so it’s fine), leading to an argument between Ripley and Sky. Ripley hammers on Sky in the ropes but gets wrestled down, with Ripley hitting Belair in the face. Sky comes in off the top with a (accidental) missile dropkick to Belair, who calls the double DQ at 14:45.

Rating: B. This was a big time angle with a match included and that worked well. The double DQ is a way to avoid either of them taking a fall and should get us to what will likely be a triple threat title match at Wrestlemania. This one does have a story, though dang I could go for some more singles title matches for a change. Either way, good stuff here and they did it as they should have.

Post match the big three way brawl is on with Ripley getting to stand tall. Ripley adds a super Riptide to Belair to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. It’s always impressive when there can be so little wrestling (only four matches) and yet it felt like a show that did so much for Wrestlemania. You can see most of the card from here and some of the other matches are just waiting to be set. The Rhodes/Cena segment was great and made me want to see the match that much more. This was the moving day show for Wrestlemania and that is a great feeling in Wrestlemania season. It’s the kind of show they needed to do and the next two weeks should be similar.

Results
New Day b. New Catch Republic – Daybreaker to Dunne
Gunther b. Jimmy Uso – Sleeper
Judgment Day b. Penta/Bron Breakker – Coup de Grace to Penta
Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky went to a double DQ when both attacked the referee

 

 

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 XXI
Date: April 3, 2005
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 20,193
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz

It’s the big one as things have to change at some point in WWE. I’m curious to see how this show goes as I haven’t seen the television leading up to it since the show aired so maybe the show will feel a little bit different. The theme is Wrestlemania Goes Hollywood, which has included some outstanding movie parody trailers. Oh and Batista and John Cena look more than ready to become the top stars in the company. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Battle Royal

Tajiri, William Regal, Rhino, Hurricane, Rosey, Maven, Simon Dean, Gene Snitsky, Chris Masters, Val Venis, Tyson Tomko, Sylvain Grenier, Rob Conway, Viscera, Hardcore Holly, Charlie Haas, Nunzio, Billy Kidman, Mark Jindrak, Funaki, Akio, Orlando Jordan, Doug Basham, Danny Basham, Heidenreich, Luther Reigns, Booker T.. Paul London, Spike Dudley, Scotty 2 Hotty

This is your “get them all on the show” match, which was likely just the DVD extra. They’re all in their show colored shirts with Eric Bischoff and Theodore Long at ringside. Before the bell, Hurricane gives Heidenreich his own mask so Heidenreich punches him in the face. Must be a villain. The fighting starts with Spike being sent to the steps as Hurricane makes the mistake of hammering away in the corner, making him the first elimination.

Reigns is out next as the ring is still very full. A bunch of the cruiserweights hold Viscera down so Scotty can hit the Worm. That high level of missing the point could explain why they don’t get on television very often. Masters doesn’t like that line of thinking and dumps Scotty, Funaki, Spike and Kidman in a hurry. Haas is tossed as well as the ring is clearing out a bit.

Masters dumps Nunzio, though it might not have been over the top. With nothing else to do, Heidenreich destroys a turnbuckle and tears off his mask before clotheslining the heck out of Venis for an elimination. Dean and Grenier are out as well, followed by Rosey, all at Heidenreich’s hands. Rhyno is out next and it’s Dupree following him in a hurry. Both Bashams go out as the fans are behind Regal.

With about twelve people left, we get the always natural looking Raw vs. Smackdown showdown with Akio and Holly being tossed, followed by Regal to even things up a bit. Tajiri mists Heidenreich so the blind monster gets rid of London. Heidenreich and Tajiri fight on the apron until Snitsky gets rid of them, leaving us with Jindrak, Booker, Masters, Snitsky and Viscera.

Jindrak gets rid of Snitsky and hits the big left on Viscera….which staggers Jindrak so much that Masters can get rid of him. Nunzio does the “I’M STILL IN” deal, only to be tossed seconds later. Viscera crushes Booker in the corner but he’s fine enough to low bridge the monster to the floor. The full nelson is broken up and a superkick gives Booker the win.

Rating: D+. It’s kind of hard to get too annoyed at a match like this as the whole point is getting people on the show and therefore onto the DVD, which is a nice bonus for the talent. I know this isn’t the most important match but it came and went fast enough and wasn’t terrible. Assuming you can ignore the RAH RAH RAH Raw vs. Smackdown aspect, it’s nothing too bad.

Lilian Garcia sings America the Beautiful. She’ll have a job in WWE as long as she wants one for how good she can make that sound.

The Titantron is revealed with the red curtain coming up. They’re nailing the theme this year.

We get a montage of the trailers, leading to the big reveal of the final trailer: Gladiator, featuring Steve Austin as Maximus. It’s a cool idea and suitable casting but there were better trailers.

It’s strange to see Wrestlemania in an arena. That’s one of those things you’ll probably never see again.

Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio

Not a bad way to start and the red carpet in the aisle makes it even better. They’re the Smackdown Tag Team Champions but Eddie isn’t sure if he can beat Rey. There’s no superhero outfit this year as Rey has Mexican/American flag inspired gear. Rey flips out of an armbar to start and hits a running knee but has to adjust the mask. A second armbar works a bit better for Eddie and but Rey pops up and climbs onto Eddie’s shoulders.

The sunset flip is countered into a catapult to the floor but Rey switches places and teases a dive to take us to an early standoff. Eddie takes him down into a keylock to stay on the arm before sending Rey outside. Since he’s a luchador as well, Eddie busts out his own dive to the floor, with the fans rather pleased with him. Rey adjust his mask again, as he isn’t wearing the regular kind and the clasp is different, causing a lot of issues.

Back in and Eddie stays on the arm (instead of the leg because Eddie is smart, since working on Mysterio’s leg hasn’t worked well for most people) before switching over to a surfboard. That’s broken up so Rey armdrags him to the floor, meaning the big corkscrew flip dive can take Eddie down. A backbreaker gives Eddie two though as Rey can’t keep the momentum going. Rey gets back up and tries the 619 but walks into another backbreaker for two, allowing Rey to fix the mask again.

Three Amigos connect, with Rey holding his mask the whole time. The extra vision lets Rey avoid the frog splash and now the 619 connects. The West Cost Pop is countered into a hard powerbomb for two as they go back to the back. Eddie tries another powerbomb but this time Rey reverses into a hurricanrana for the pin and one final mask adjustment.

Rating: B-. I don’t know how much the mask stuff messed with Rey but it seemed to be causing at least a bit of a problem. He had to mess with that thing probably a dozen times in a twelve minute match and it was becoming really noticeable. The idea here is to continue Eddie’s descent into jealousy over not being able to beat Mysterio and that could be a heck of a story.

JBL and the Cabinet meets Evolution. HHH says Ric Flair is the wrestling god and maybe one day someone will believe that JBL is that good. A staredown over belt importance and a WOO to Orlando Jordan ends a terrifying prospect. Somehow, JBL and HHH only had one singles match ever against each other and it was on a random Raw in 2008. You would think they would have met at least a handful of times.

Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider are here.

Edge vs. Christian vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Benoit

Money in the Bank with Tyson Tomko out with Kane. Kane gets a cool entrance where the ladders on the set are on fire. Almost everyone goes after Kane in the aisle and a variety of double teams take him down. Christian tries to use the melee to bring in a ladder but Jericho slams it into his face. A springboard dropkick sends Edge into Benoit to knock them both off the apron, followed by Jericho’s dive onto Edge.

Shelton hits the big running flip dive onto a bunch of people, with Kane adding the top rope clothesline to take down the same pile plus Benjamin for the wipe out. Back in and Jericho dropkicks a ladder into Kane but Benoit German suplexes Jericho, sending the ladder flying in a cool shot. Benoit’s climb is cut off so he Crossfaces Kane and then Edge, the latter of which allows Kane to hit Benoit with the ladder.

To make it worse, Kane crushes Benoit’s arm in the ladder over and over. Edge spears Kane down and it’s the big reunion with Christian, who grabs his own ladder to smash Kane at the same time. Now it’s Shelton coming in to send Christian outside and flapjack Edge into the ladder. Shelton and Jericho fight on top of the ladder until two more ladders are brought in (Lawler: “It’s like open house at Home Depot!”), meaning it’s everyone but Kane on top at the same time.

Benoit, Jericho and Christian are knocked down, leaving Shelton to hit the exploder on Edge off the ladder for the huge crash. Jericho is left to go up but Shelton runs up a second ladder to clothesline Jericho off because he can do something like that. Christian knocks Shelton off the ladder as Kane returns from the short term death that afflicts wrestlers in ladder matches. Tomko comes in and kicks Kane in the face before helping Christian to the top in a bit of a call back to TLC II.

Kane is back up though and shoves the ladder over, sending Christian down to the floor and onto Tomko. Jericho and Kane knock each other off the ladder and everyone is down as we need a breather. With Kane down, Benoit (bleeding from the head) hits the Swan Dive off the ladder. Benoit goes up but has to headbutt Kane off but the arm is too banged up to get the briefcase. Edge blasts Benoit in the arm with a chair though and that’s enough to pull down the briefcase for the win.

Rating: A-. Yeah this was great with more time for drama and fewer instances of having the people laying around forever because there are too many people in the match at the same time. Edge winning is the best call as no one has been chasing the title like him and now he can steal the title down the line. It’s a heck of a fight though with a bunch of awesome spots and stuff that kept the fans interested without many dead spots. Great stuff and an awesome way to debut the concept.

Here’s the still injured Eugene, whose music doesn’t start until halfway down the aisle. This is his second favorite Wrestlemania moment every, after the midget army getting together to fight off King Kong Bundy at Wrestlemania III (Hillbilly Jim was included as well, and he spent a good hour talking about it during his Hall of Fame speech). Cue Daivari and Muhammad Hassan to complain about not being on the show (that they’re on) and rant about the prejudice in Los Angeles.

Hassan is ready to make his own Wrestlemania moment and jumps Eugene, setting up the camel clutch. Cue Hulk Hogan or the REAL AMERICAN save, including a double noggin knocker. Hassan gets sent outside so Daivari can hit Hogan with a chair. Since that doesn’t work, it’s a big boot and another toss to the floor so the posing can commence. Hogan even gets to do the big pose in front of the huge American flag on the stage. Yeah it’s old hat but I’ll always be a Hulkamaniac so this made me smile.

We recap Randy Orton vs. Undertaker. Orton won the World Title last fall but lost it in a hurry and has been on a slow downward spiral since. He needs to get back on track so he’s going after Undertaker and the Streak while turning heel in the process. Orton’s dad Bob is helping him a bit, because Orton has slid far enough that he needs that kind of help.

Randy Orton vs. Undertaker

The druids with the torches are here so you know it’s serious. Undertaker glides to the ring for a pretty cool entrance, which goes much faster than usual for a bonus. Orton comes out second for some reason, albeit with his own cool entrance of pyro raining down behind him as he poses with the still awesome Burn In My Light playing. After some early dodging, the first right hand gets Orton launched into the corner.

The dropkick out of the corner gets two and Orton backdrops him for a bump you don’t see from Undertaker that often. The early RKO attempt is shoved over the top as Undertaker is starting a bit slowly here. Old School connects but Orton is back up with a dropkick to the floor to take over. Undertaker’s running DDT gets two and Snake Eyes connects. The ensuing big boot is cut off with a running elbow though, sending the fans straight into a LET’S GO UNDERTAKER/RANDY SUCKS chant.

The slugout goes to Undertaker and we hit the dragon sleeper as Undertaker busts out some different stuff for a change. Orton breaks out and grabs a sleeper, which doesn’t please the crowd. The counter before Orton can take him to the ground is more appealing but Orton is back with a powerslam.

For some reason, Orton hammers away in the corner, meaning he has to escape the Last Ride. The referee gets bumped though and here’s Bob with a cast shot to Undertaker’s head for the close two. Undertaker boots Bob off the apron and grabs the chokeslam, which is reversed into the RKO in midair (one of my favorite counters ever) for two and a big sigh of relief from the fans. For reasons of general cockiness, Orton tries his own Tombstone, which is reversed into the real thing to make Undertaker 13-0.

Rating: B-. It’s a good match but it never came close to that higher level. It would take a little longer for Undertaker to get that much better at Wrestlemania so for now it’s just a good one. Orton was trying here and looked better than he has in a long time, though aside from that one RKO, he never felt like a real threat here. Still though, one hot near fall is better than none and it wasn’t bad by any stretch.

We recap Trish Stratus vs. Christy Hemme. It’s the annual Playboy match as we’re now supposed to believe that Christy can wrestle and isn’t just there because of her looks. Lita has been training Christy and is more interesting than anything Christy has been doing. Keep in mind that Christy isn’t at fault here. She isn’t a wrestler and is being thrown into a match because she won a modeling contest. That’s on WWE, not Christy.

Women’s Title: Trish Stratus vs. Christy Hemme

Trish is defending and Christy has Lita with her. The bell rings and Trish drops to the mat but kicks Christy away in a rather heelish move. They head outside with Trish sending her into the steps, followed by some chops in the corner back inside. The Chick Kick misses and Christy hits one of her own as the fans are just gone for this.

Christy does the splits on top to set up a sunset flip for two, only to have Trish spear her down. We get the BORING chants as Trish stops to yell at Lita, allowing Christy to start in with the kicks. The reverse Twist of Fate and a rollup give Christy two each but Trish has had it. That means the Chick Kick to retain the title and end Christy’s wrestling run.

Rating: D-. Yeah what else were you expecting? Trish was wrestling herself here as Christy was only good for some tumbling and that Twist of Fate. The women’s division is all but dead at this point and it’s likely going to be a long time before things get better. Christy was trying here but had no business in this spot.

We recap Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels. Angle was annoyed that Shawn eliminated him from the Royal Rumble and beat him up, setting off the big feud. Kurt is annoyed that people were talking about Shawn in 1996 when Angle was an Olympic champion. Now Angle wants to prove that he is the better man on the biggest stage. Shawn is down with that because he’s Shawn Michaels and it’s Wrestlemania. This is more or less WWE saying “yeah it’s going to be a classic and everyone knows it.”

Various celebrities are here.

Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels

They stare at each other both before and after the bell until Shawn slaps him in the face. That makes Angle take him to the mat and Shawn is completely outclassed there. A headlock takeover works a bit better for Shawn as the fans are behind Angle for a bit of a surprise. The headlock stays on for a good while as they probably have a lot of time here. Shawn switches over to a short armscissors, allowing Angle to power out ala Bob Backlund (his old mentor).

Shawn is right back with the headlock but this time Angle powers up and takes him into the corner. The ankle lock is quickly broken up and it’s Shawn with a Cactus Clothesline to put them both on the floor. The announcers’ table is loaded up but Angle hits an Angle Slam into the post to take something out of Shawn. A suplex gives Angle two and it’s off to the bodyscissors to stay on the ribs/back.

The belly to belly gets two and it’s a reverse chinlock with a knee in Shawn’s back. Angle’s belly to belly superplex is broken up but Shawn misses the top rope elbow. Shawn is fine enough to backdrop Angle to the floor and he’s crazy enough to hit a high crossbody to the floor with the knee possibly hitting Angle in the face. Angle gets back up and teases the German suplex off the apron to make the fans a little nervous.

A low blow gets Shawn out of trouble and that means the springboard spinning splash onto Angle onto the announcers’ table for less of a pop than you might have expected, mainly because the table doesn’t break. They head back in for the slugout into Shawn’s forearm and nipup so things can pick up again. Sweet Chin Music (way too early) is countered into the ankle lock, setting up the big crawl to the rope. Angle gets it again but this time Shawn reverses into a rollup for two.

Another Sweet Chin Music attempt is countered into the Angle Slam for two as frustration is setting in. In another awesome moment, Angle pulls his straps up so he can pull them right back down again because you know it’s serious. The moonsault misses though (probably spent too much time with the straps) so Shawn goes up, only to get caught in the super Angle Slam for two, meaning Angle looks ready to cry at the kickout.

Angle talks a bunch of trash so Shawn snaps off Sweet Chin Music to shut him up. That gets a very delayed two and they both need a breather. Angle picks the ankle into the ankle lock as he’s right back up but this time Shawn can’t kick away. Shawn fights everywhere but finally gets pulled down into the grapevine for the tap (after a nearly goofy amount of time).

Rating: A+. Yeah what else do you want here? They told an outstanding story with Shawn going with the natural talent but Angle just wanting it that much more and turning up the intensity to a level Shawn couldn’t reach. It made Shawn look like he couldn’t beat Angle on his best night, all while putting in an instant classic. These two went back and forth with one big spot after another and Angle took away a lot of Shawn’s strength by working on the back. Check this one out if you haven’t in a while as it’s worth seeing again.

Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young are here.

It’s time for Piper’s Pit (and I think there was an edit in there as the set was put together in the blink of an eye). Piper thanks the fans for the Hall of Fame but wants to get down to business. He wanted the meanest and baddest man in WWE so his guest is Steve Austin. Cue Austin (with a glass breaking transition as we cut to the stage), with JR saying that he’s back at Wrestlemania. He hasn’t missed one since 2000 so that’s not the biggest accomplishment. Piper asks if Austin is the rebel and slaps him in the face so Austin calls him an SOB and returns the slap. Piper: “I kind of like you.”

With that out of the way, Piper talks about respecting Austin but gets cut off by the WHAT chants, which he doesn’t seem to understand. Piper takes issue with one thing: he was ticking Vince McMahon off when Wrestlemania didn’t even have a number. Austin and James Dean have nothing on Piper when it comes to being a rebel. Austin runs down Piper’s appearance and they get in each other’s faces, allowing Piper to quote Cool Hand Luke about a failure of communication.

Cue Carlito, with Piper and Austin accusing each other of bringing him out. Piper: “I’ll get back to you.” Carlito accuses both of them of arguing like girls, before declaring them both non-cool. Piper: “Who the h*** are you? You look like Alfalfa.” Carlito wants the two of them out of here and loads up the apple but Piper takes it away.

It’s Carlito taking the spit this time so Carlito hits him in the face as Austin laughs. Bored of that, Austin beats Carlito up and Piper sends him outside. Beer is consumed until Austin Stuns Piper. This completely missed as Piper and Austin didn’t have anything to say to each other. Carlito getting to be out there was a nice few moments for him but this was all about the legends, who didn’t need to be there.

It’s immediately time for the sumo match with a much harder cut to Cole and Tazz. They had to edit something out of there and we get a VERY long crowd shot during the next entrance. That was probably to remove the ropes, but it still felt like something was cut.

Upon further review, they aired the You Talking To Me trailer here and announced it as winning the Best Overall Trailer award. They’ve aired that on Raw and Smackdown, so why cut it here?

Akebono vs. Big Show

They do the full traditional opening as the fans are really not interested in this one. We finally get going, they slap each other, pull at the gear a bit, Show lifts Akebono and spins him around, and then Akebono wins. This didn’t work again as it came and went as it just wasn’t the right thing for a show like Wrestlemania. Akebono never wrestled for WWE again and I don’t know if he ever appeared again so I’m not sure what the thinking was here.

We recap John Cena vs. John Bradshaw Layfield for the Smackdown World Title. It’s built around a culture clash with JBL being the old, rich traditionalist while Cena lives by his own rules and cares about the people. Cena won a tournament to get the shot so JBL talked about how people like Cena didn’t deserve to be champion. He couldn’t get Cena to go too far though and Cena is ready to explode here.

Smackdown World Title: John Cena vs. John Bradshaw Layfield

JBL is defending and gets a police escort into the arena. Just to show off, we get a shower of JBL dollars, which are always a nice touch. They trade shoulders to start with JBL getting the better of it (the big boot out of the corner probably helped a bit). A suplex gives JBL two and he chokes Cena on the ropes for a bit. Back up and Cena is fine with getting into a slugout but JBL catches him with a Ron Simmons style spinebuster. A neckbreaker and some clotheslines stay on Cena’s neck, followed by a sleeper to do something similar enough.

Cena slips out and it’s a double clothesline to keep up the slow pace. JBL sends him outside for another neckbreaker before going up top for some reason. That earns him a slam out of the air but Cena can’t follow up. Cena starts his comeback but the fans aren’t quite thrilled. The Shuffle gets some energy flowing and after ducking the Clothesline From JBL, the FU gives Cena his first World Title out of nowhere.

Rating: D. Very bleh match here as there was no drama and the match just ended out of nowhere with Cena shrugging off the first ten minutes and winning with very little drama. I know the match itself doesn’t matter that much but Cena wasn’t ready to carry something like this and JBL was never capable of carrying something like this, leaving us with a very underwhelming match.

That’s also the end of JBL’s long title reign and really, it was a lot better than I remember. JBL can talk very well and while his matches weren’t great, it didn’t come close to dragging as a lot of people (myself included) remember. Maybe it was knowing when it was going to end but I didn’t mind this nearly as much as I expected to. JBL winning the title in the first place was a big stretch but he held it a lot better than I would have guessed.

Hall of Fame video. Hogan and Piper were long overdue. Heenan on Iron Sheik’s speech: “WHAT THE H*** DID HE SAY???”

Gene Okerlund brings out the year’s class:

Nikolai Volkoff (sure why not)

Iron Sheik (just don’t let him talk….or maybe let him talk….it could go either way)

Paul Orndorff (belongs in for 1986 alone and is smart enough to point at Miss Jackie)

Bob Orton (always good for a solid performance and still selling the injury from earlier)

Jimmy Hart (yep, and comes off as one of the nicest guys ever in wrestling)

Roddy Piper (would have headlined almost any other class)

Hulk Hogan (odds are we’re not here without him)

We recap the Raw World Title match. HHH has dominated the World Title scene for a long time and has used Evolution to help him hold onto the title. Batista has proven to be unstoppable and then won the Royal Rumble. HHH tried to talk him into going to Smackdown but Batista overheard the evil planning, sending Batista onto a path towards Wrestlemania and the title. This isn’t the hardest result to figure out and the fans are begging to see Batista take the title away from HHH for good.

Raw World Title: HHH vs. Batista

HHH is defending and has Ric Flair with him, plus Motorhead plays him to the ring, just in case you thought Batista was cooler. I mean, you can barely understand the words because Lemmy butchers it in a great Brutus Beefcake impression but HHH rising up through the stage makes up for it a bit. Batista doesn’t get much of a pop, mainly due to the lack of the famous band performing his music.

The early power lockup lets them drive each other to the ropes but it’s only good for a standoff. They do it again with HHH’s running shoulder having no effect other than waking HHH up a bit. Another shoulder drops Batista but he’s right back up with something close to a powerslam. Batista hits a backdrop, only to have HHH knock him outside to cut the momentum off again.

Flair’s distraction lets HHH send Batista into the steps and Flair gets in some choking with the jacket. Back in and HHH gets two off a suplex, setting up more Flair choking. Whatever emotion the fans had for Batista after that HHH entrance is long gone now as HHH has beaten him down for about seven of the eight minutes the match has been going so far. Batista slugs away but walks into the spinebuster, because of course HHH needs to hit a spinebuster as he dominates Batista in the biggest match of Batista’s career.

A backdrop breaks up the Pedigree attempt but HHH is RIGHT BACK with the facebuster, leaving him on defense for all of three seconds. HHH goes up and gets clotheslined out of the air to no reaction as the fans are gone. They’re smart enough to realize that HHH is going to cut Batista off again and, as expected, Batista charges into a big boot in the corner just a few seconds later. Batista sends HHH over the corner, only to have HHH whip him into the steps.

The Pedigree onto the steps is countered into a catapult into the post and we’ve got some blood. Back in and it’s time to hammer on the cut as the fans finally have something to cheer about. The big running clothesline in the corner rocks HHH and a powerslam gets two as there isn’t quite the energy in the offense that you would expect. It feels like they’re just doing stuff to fill time until the ending instead of of building something up.

Batista sends him outside but goes after Flair, allowing HHH to grab the chair, which hits the referee by mistake. Flair’s belt shot is countered with a spinebuster but HHH’s belt shot gets two. The fans react to the kickout and Batista hits the spinebuster for the big reaction. That’s too much cheering for HHH’s liking so he hits Batista low. Batista blocks the Pedigree with raw power though and hits something like White Noise. The Batista Bomb finally makes Batista champion.

Rating: C. It was miles better than Cena vs. JBL but egads this didn’t do Batista any favors. This was more about giving HHH a big sendoff as champion than making Batista look like a star and….I can’t say I’m surprised. Batista has looked so dominant and smart for the last six weeks that HHH probably couldn’t help himself from cutting him off. HHH did put him over, but it could have been a lot stronger without HHH beating him up and outsmarting him for the first half of the match. Much like the previous match though, it’s all about what comes next rather than what happened here, but HHH made sure to make himself look good.

The big celebration and highlight package wrap things up.

Overall Rating: B. Much like last year, this really needed forty five minutes to an hour trimmed off (and again it’s easy to see what should be gone) to make it great. As it is it’s quite good but there are a lot of times where it felt like it was dragging. The two World Title matches were outclassed by Money in the Bank and Shawn vs. Angle (not exactly shocking on either front) but they got the endings right and aside from the sumo match and Piper’s Pit (which wasn’t that long), only the very short women’s match is bad (and that has various other positives).

What we got here was a strong Wrestlemania, but it needed some time trimmed off to really make it great. That being said, this is still far better than the five hour monstrosities we get now. It’s a completely watchable, at times great and very important show though, meaning it feels like Wrestlemania. The streak of good Wrestlemanias continues, though the show getting longer isn’t the most encouraging sign. Check out the ladder match and Shawn vs. Angle if you have the time though as they’re worth a second look (or nineteenth look in some cases).

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