By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WrestleMania 38 Night Two Kickoff Show
Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium
Streamed April 3, 2022 on Peacock/WWE Network, and WWE social media pages
-Kayla Braxton hosted the show and was joined by Jerry Lawler, Booker T, Kevin Patrick, and Peter Rosenberg. Lawler pointed out that it was windy and felt compelled to let everyone know that he had gas and wasn’t afraid to use it. They ran through the show’s lineup.
-A video package spotlighted the Edge vs. AJ Styles match. The panel discussed the match.
-A good Roman Reigns video package aired. It included footage of him training and also speaking about beating Brock Lesnar and headlining his sixth WrestleMania.
-Footage aired of Undertaker predicting the outcome of the match. He said you know you’ll be in a really physical match when you face Brock Lesnar. Taker said Reigns exudes confidence. He said Reigns was on the rise when he faced him at WrestleMania. Taker said Reigns has a much calmer demeanor, and he said he enjoyed working with him. Taker said Lesnar is physical and brutal, whereas Reigns is more calculated and explosive. Taker said the outcome was hard to call, but he predicted “Roman retains” in what he said may possibly be an upset.
-The panel pointed out that the match isn’t about retaining because it’s a unification match. They had a long discussion about the Reigns vs. Lesnar match.
-A Sami Zayn and Johnny Knoxville video package aired (while commercials aired for those who have the ad-based version of The Cock). The panel discussed the match. Matt Camp checked in with fans screaming behind him. He spoke briefly with a woman who was rooting for Knoxville and a man who was pulling for Zayn.
-Jackie Redmond checked in from the stadium floor with more screaming fans behind her. She spoke with fans who took a 20-hour flight from Bangladesh to be at WrestleMania.
-The panel spoke about their favorite WrestleMania Saturday moments.
-Megan Morant interviewed Paul Heyman inside the stadium and said he seemed to be a little nervous. Heyman said he was more than a little nervous. He said he didn’t feel well. He said he has to mourn the end of a friendship and a career that has spanned more than 20 years. Lesnar ran through Brock Lesnar’s accomplishments and said he has to mourn the end of Lesnar’s career and their friendship.
Heyman said he has deja vu from WrestleMania 30 when Heyman knew he was going to conquer Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak. Heyman gave Lesnar some of the credit for that. Heyman said he knew it was the of a career and he feels the same way about Lesnar. Heyman said there would be a winner and he and Reigns would look down at the end of Lesnar’s career.
Powell’s POV: The usual great stuff from Heyman.
-A Charlotte Flair video package aired (likely during a Peacock break).
-A WWE Hall of Fame 2022 recap video aired.
-LA Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd joined the panel. He was booed by the Dallas crowd and assumed there were a lot of Cowboys fan in attendance. He had a WWE title belt with the Rams side plates. Floyd spoke about being a fan of Undertaker and Booker T. Floyd stood up and did his Booker impersonation. Floyd said he’s been taking the title belt with him wherever he goes and said the symbolism means the Rams are world champions. Floyd predicted a Lesnar win in the main event.
-A video package spotlighted the Raw Tag Title match and then the panel spoke about RK-Bro vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy.
-Maria Menounos interviewed WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Carmella and Queen Zelina on a ring set inside the stadium. Zelina used her queen voice and said they would retain their titles. Carmella listed each of their challengers and Zelina talked smack about all of them.
-Around the top of the second hour, the panel spoke about the four-way for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.
-JBL replaced Jerry Lawler on the panel.
-Camp interviewed a guy who was jacked up about seeing Roman Reigns, and a younger fan who wanted to see Pat McAfee, and another young fan who was looking forward to seeing Edge.
-Redmond checked in from the floor of the stadium again and spoke with a fan who was pulling for Reigns, and another who was pulling for Lesnar.
-A video package spotlighted the Kofi Kingston and King Woods vs. Sheamus and Ridge Holland match. The panel discussed the match.
-The great Pat McAfee video package aired (presumably during the Peacock break).
-Menounos interviewed Austin Theory, who said Vince McMahon has full confidence in him in his match against the retired NFL punter. Theory said he would take “the most stupendous selfie in WrestleMania history” after he beats Pat McAfee.
-Dallas Cowboys’ players Micah Parsons and Ezekiel Elliot joined the panel and were cheered loudly by the fans. Zeke said he was excited for McAfee and “will be cheering my brother on.” Rosenberg asked Parsons if he would consider being a wrestler. Parsons said yes, then Booker T tried to set him up in a match against Rosenberg.
Parsons said he was excited about the main event. He picked Lesnar to win and was booed. Zeke also picked Lesnar. Parsons said his favorite wrestler as a kid was John Cena and he was hoping to see him. Zeke said he’s a big Rock guy. Rosenberg said Michael Cole became the first undefeated commentator at WrestleMania when he beat Jerry Lawler eleven years ago today. He said that might bode well for McAfee. Rosenberg said he’s a Washington Commanders fan and encouraged Parsons to leave the NFL for WWE so that he didn’t have to see him face his team twice each year for the next ten years.
Powell’s POV: For those who don’t follow the NFL, those are two star players for the hometown Cowboys. I guess Zeke really wants to be recognized, as he was wearing his own jersey. Or maybe it was just laundry day. Correction: Zeke was actually wearing an Emmitt Smith jersey. My apologies.
-A Bianca Belair video package aired during a Peacock break.
-Menounos interviewed Bobby Lashley, who was warming up in the backstage area. He put over Omos for taking out tag teams all by himself. Lashley said Omos may be unbeaten, but that doesn’t make him unbeatable.
-The panel spoke about Lashley vs. Omos.
-A WrestleMania Saturday recap video aired.
-San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle joined the panel. They pointed out to the crowd that the Niners beat the Cowboys in the playoffs. Kittle, who wore a Bloodline shirt, said his favorite moment from night one involved Steve Austin. Kittle said Seth Rollins is his favorite as a fellow Iowan, and he was happy about seeing him wrestle Cody Rhodes.
Powell’s POV: Kittle is another NFL star player and a big pro wrestling fan. A Super Bowl champion and three legit stars – nice gets for WWE.
-A video package aired on the Reigns vs. Lesnar match.
-The panel spoke to close out the show.
Powell’s POV: A better pre-show than day one, but still needlessly long at two hours and uneventful without any matches.
Join me for my live review of WrestleMania 38 via the main page.
Here’s hoping that Lawler’s gas makes your hit list tomorrow.
Micah Parsons said he would join WWE tomorrow if Vince matched his rookie contract. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing him on Raw soon. Lol
“Or maybe it was just laundry day.” As a lifetime Badgers and Packers fan, I give you an upper Midwest high-five. But nonetheless, I choked on my pop reading that.
Zeke was wearing an Emmitt jersey I think.
Doh! I think you’re right. I got my Cowboys RB numbers mixed up. I’ll make a correction.