By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WrestleMania 38 Night One Kickoff Show
Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium
Streamed April 2, 2022 on USA Network, Peacock/WWE Network, and WWE social media pages
-Kayla Braxton hosted the show and was joined by Booker T, JBL, Kevin Patrick, and Peter Rosenberg on a set outside of AT&T Stadium. Booker congratulated his wife Sharmell on her WWE Hall of Fame induction. They ran through the WrestleMania night one lineup.
-A video package aired on Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair’s feud over the Raw Women’s Championship. The panel discussed the match.
-A Steve Austin video package aired.
-Footage aired from Thursday’s WrestleMania set release with Dude Perfect.
-The panel discussed the Smackdown Tag Title match with Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso defending against Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs.
-Maria Menounos interviewed Seth Rollins, who said the world was buzzing about who Vince McMahon would choose to be his opponent. Rollins wondered whether it would be a legend or someone from NXT or even Vince McMahon. Rollins said that no matter who his opponent it, it will be about him. Rollins said it’s his time and his WrestleMania.
-The panel spoke about the Rollins match.
-Footage aired of the unveiling of the Undertaker statue at WrestleMania Axxess. Triple H introduced Taker, who drove to the ring on a motorcycle. Taker was shown speaking briefly as he said he was humbled and thankful.
-A video package recapped the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. Booker joked that there was a lot of pollen in the air. JBL called him out for crying.
-Influencer Josh Richards joined the panel and was booed when he was introduced. He said he loved it and was just happy to be there. Richards recalled getting his start online by performing WWE finishers on Instagram.
-A video package recapped the build to Steve Austin appearing on The KO Show.
-Jackie Redmond checked in from the floor of the stadium where a bunch of fans screamed behind her and a dude had Undertaker painted on the back of his head. She spoke to a young fan who said Ronda Rousey is his favorite wrestler “because she won the Royal Rumble.” Redmond had the kid show off his Stone Cold Stunner on the adult who was with him.
Powell’s POV: But don’t try this at home, kids.
-Footage aired of Kevin Owens at WrestleMania Axxess on Friday. He knocked over a rack of Steve Austin t-shirts and then punched an Austin cardboard cut-out. Finally, Owens spray painted over an Austin mural.
-The panel ran through the WrestleMania Sunday lineup.
-At the top of the second hour, Matt Camp checked from outside the venue with more screaming fans.
-Jerry Lawler replaced JBL on the panel. He said he thought he was replacing Kevin Patrick because he had the flower disease. “He’s a blooming idiot,” Lawler said. Ugh. Patrick correctly labeled it a Madcap Moss joke.
-A video package aired on Rey and Dominik Mysterio that included old footage and photos of young Dom at his father’s matches. It led to footage their feud with The Miz and Logan Paul.
-Jake Paul took Patrick’s spot on the panel and encouraged the boos of the fans. Jake said Rey Mysterio is old and continued to taunt the crowd. “It’s time for new people to come in and take the W out of WWE,” Jake said. Rosenberg asked if Jake was nervous for his brother Logan. Jake said he wasn’t nervous at all. He said his brother fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. and mocked Rey.
Booker brought up Miz heeling on Cleveland while pointing out that the Pauls are proud of their city. Jake said Logan can’t control what Miz says. He said the Mysterios will be “easy work” for his brother and Miz. Rosenberg asked if Jake would consider getting in a WWE. He said he was thinking about taking people out now. He said he would have to take out anyone who boos his brother.
Powell’s POV: You know it’s been an uneventful pre-show when that lousy Jake Paul segment was the highlight thus far. Why is this two hours? Why are there no matches?
-Redmond interviewed a young fan who was dressed like Rhea Ripley and had her do the Ripley entrance stomp.
Powell’s POV: The Jake Paul segment has already been topped.
-The panel recapped the New Day feud with Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch. They included footage of Big E being injured and giving a thumbs up while being taken to the back on a stretcher.
-Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were interviewed by Menounos. Kingston spoke about how they clown around, but there are times when they need to remind people that they will not hesitate put their feet between the cheeks of their opponents.
-The panel spoke about the Kingston and Woods vs. Sheamus and Holland match. They showed footage of Big E’s social media videos from the hospital when he announced that his neck was broken, but he would not require surgery. The panel spoke favorably about Big E. Lawler recalled Big E stating early in his career that he was going to wrestle until he turned 35. Lawler wondered how it affected him that this injury occurred a year after he turned 35. Awkward.
-A video package recapped how Happy Corbin became a thing, along with his feud with Drew McIntyre.
-Madcap Moss joined the panel and was wearing his douchey outfit. He told one bad joke. Booker T had him tell two more and laughed uproariously along with him. Booker called for one more, but Moss said the fans didn’t deserve another one.
-Titus O’Neil stood on the WrestleMania stage and introduced members from various organizations that worked with WWE’s community outreach program. They all had title belts.
-Lawler told another awful joke. American Ninja Warrior’s Akbar Gbaja-Biamila joined the panel to discuss the Raw Women’s Championship match. He also spoke about how “Stone Cold” Steve Austin “was my entire childhood.” Lawler guaranteed there would be a fight between Austin and Kevin Owens.
-Lawler said this show would be like WrestleMania meets the Royal Rumble. He said the Royal Rumble has all the surprises, but WrestleMania typically does not. He plugged the Rollins match.
-Lawler said wait until you see Becky Lynch. He said he almost didn’t recognize Lynch when he walked by her earlier. The panel put a merciful wrap on the Kickoff Show.
Powell’s POV: This was two hours of my life that I’ll never get back. Gee, I can’t wait to this again tomorrow. If you were fortunate enough to have missed the Kickoff Show, there’s no reason to go back and watch it. On the bright side, the only way things won’t get better from here is if the power goes out in the stadium. Hell, even that would be an upgrade over this long and worthless pre-show.
Join me for my live review of the WrestleMania Saturday main show in a separate story available via the main page.
Won’t be able to see the show, so thank you for these, Jason. You continue to be my only trusted wrestling site.
My pleasure. Thank you very much.
I only saw the second hour of the kickoff show because I thought the show started at 6. My favorite part of the kickoff show was missing the first hour, because that second hour was super boring
thanks for this recap, i did miss the preshow… and i guess lucky me 😉