By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE WrestleMania 39 Night One
Aired April 1, 2023 live on Peacock and pay-per-view
Inglewood, California at SoFi Stadium
There were no matches on the two-hour Kickoff show… Mike Rome introduced Becky G, who performed “America The Beautiful” while standing inside the ring… A pre-taped “WrestleMania Cold Open” video package hosted by Kevin Hart aired… Michael Cole welcomed viewers to the show…
WrestleMania host The Miz stood in the ring with Snoop Dogg. Miz compared his accolades to Snoop’s and said they are exactly the same. Snoop said it was about the fans tonight. Miz agreed and then listed some of the matches. “Let’s fire it up,” Snoop said to close the segment…
U.S. Champion Austin Theory made his entrance for the opening match. Michael Cole and Corey Graves checked in from ringside. Graves congratulated Cole for calling his 22nd WrestleMania event and noted that it was the most of any broadcast team member in the company’s history. Cole introduced the Spanish broadcast team, who checked in for a moment.
Cole noted that John Cena has delivered a record 600 Make-A-Wish wishes. A Make-A-Wish video aired. A group of Make-A-Wish kids stood on the stage and ring announcer Mike Rome said it was their dream to go to WrestleMania. Awesome.
John Cena made his entrance and greeted the kids on the stage. Cena slapped hands with them, told them to have fun, and said it was time to go to work…
1. Austin Theory vs. John Cena for the U.S. Championship. Cole noted that it was Cena’s 15th WrestleMania match. He said Cena kicked off WrestleMania in 2004 by beating Big Show to win the U.S. Championship. Cena knocked Theory down with a couple of early shoulder blocks.
Theory backed Cena into the corner and then bit his ear (Mike Tyson is smiling somewhere). Cena got upset and chased Theory out of the ring. Theory returned and hit Cena from behind while he was checking his ear. Theory suplexed Cena, who returned the favor with a suplex of his own.
Cena performed a Blockbuster style move and got a two count. Theory went to the ropes and played to the crow for heat. Theory rolled back into the ring into a dropkick and then covered Cena for another two count. Theory went for another rolling dropkick, but Cena dodged it and then hooked him in the STF. Theory bit Cena’s hand to break the hold.
Graves said referee Chad Patton was being lenient because it was a WrestleMania match. Theory put Cena down and then put one foot over him for a cocky cover that resulted in a two count. Theory went for a leaping boot, but Cena caught his foot. Cena powered up Theory for an Attitude Adjustment, but Theory slipped out of it and DDT’d Cena, which led to a two count.
Theory put Cena in a sleeper hold in the middle of the ring. Cena started to fade, then showed signs of life. Theory hopped onto the back of Cena, who fell to his knees. Cena powered up and backed Theory into the corner of the ring to break the hold.
Cena hit a couple of shoulder tackles and a side slam. Cena looked to the crowd and they roared. He bowed to express gratitude and then hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena went for the AA, but Theory grabbed the top rope. Theory’s legs hit the referee. REF BUMP!!!
Cena applied the STF. Theory tapped out. Cena released the hold and assumed he’d won the match. Cena spotted the referee down and then turned back to Theory, who hit him with a low blow. Theory hit the A-Town Down and pinned Cena…
Austin Theory defeated John Cena in 11:20 to retain the U.S. Championship.
Powell’s POV: An entertaining opener with the live crowd showing a lot of love for Cena. I don’t think Theory gained much by winning the match in cheap fashion. It obviously gives his character something to gloat about, but it was a pest heel win, not a star making win that puts him in a better place than he was before he worked with Cena.
Graves thanked The Weeknd for one of the WrestleMania 39 themes…
Ring announcer Samantha Irvin introduced Titus O’Neil, who was seated with the broadcast team and joined them on commentary for the next match… Entrances for the four-way tag team match took place…
2. Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis vs. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar (w/Valhalla) in a four-way tag team showcase match. Graves said Dawkins was looking forward to exorcising some demons on behalf of his Cincinnati Bengals at Sofi Stadium. Titus picked the Profits to win, while Graves went with the Viking Raiders.
Cole made an early point that there would be no rope breaks due to there being no disqualifications in a four-way match. The big men from each team ended up in the ring and then their partners joined them. All eight men brawled while referee Aja Smith essentially threw her hands up. The Raiders hit their Ragnarok move on Ford and then posed with Valhalla.
Strowman shoulder blocked Erik and Ivar when they turned around. Gable grabbed Strowman from behind and tried to suplex him, but Strowman avoided it. Gable came right back with his roll into a bridging suplex for a two count. Cool spot. The crowd cheered loudly and Gable took a moment to soak it up. Gable went up top, but Dawkins tagged himself in. Gable went for a top rope splash anyway, but he crashed and burned when Strowman moved.
Dawkins went up top top and was shoved off by Ivar, who tagged himself in. Ivar went for a moonsault that Dawkins avoided. Strowman went up top and performed a big splash on Ivar. The other wrestlers rushed to break up the pin. Otis picked up Strowman and slammed him to the mat. Otis tore off his shirt and swiveled his hips. Otis went to the ropes, but Ford kicked him off.
Ford fought off Ricochet, but Gable crotched Ford on the top rope. They did a big tower of doom spot with Ivar and Otis holding up Gable and Erik with Gable on top. Ricochet dove onto Gable and they all crashed to the mat. The fans chanted holy shit and Titus said he wanted to join them. Strowman did his Strowman Express shoulder blocks on a bunch of opponents at ringside until Dawkins knocked him down with a great shoulder block.
Ricochet performed a shooting star press dive onto Dawkins and Erik. Back in the ring, Ricochet performed a shooting star press on Dawkins, who put his knees up and then held Ricochet in place. Ford performed his top rope frogsplash on Ricochet and then Ford pinned Ricochet to win the match.
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins defeated “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar, “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis, and Braun Strowman and Ricochet in 8:30 in a four-way showcase match.
Powell’s POV: That was a blast. Everyone had a moment to shine and the live crowd ate it up. Really good action from bell to bell.
A video package aired on Brock Lesnar and Omos… Cole said the Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul match was coming up next…
Xavier Woods hosted an Up Up Down Down video game viewing of a simulated Rollins vs. Paul match from the WWE 2K23 video game. Liv Morgan, Ridge Holland, and Butch watched with a couple of non-wrestlers. Rollins won the simulated match. Woods said they learned that Rollins beat Paul in 50 percent of the simulations… A video package set up the actual match…
Logan Paul was shown with a headset mic. “City of Angels, I’m back,” Paul said. “Did you miss me?” Paul was raised from the stage by some type of contraption. He swung over the stage and was then lowered onto the entrance ramp. A bottle mascot from Paul’s energy drink company joined him on the ramp and they headed the ring together.
Powell’s POV: Please let the energy drink mascot reveal himself to be Jay White just so I can watch the internet explode.
Conductor Jasper Randolph was introduced and he conducted while Rollins’ entrance theme played. Seth Rollins made his entrance dressed in a puffy red robe, which he removed on the stage. Rollins revealed that he was wearing a pink version of whatever the top piece of Double J’s outfit was from back in the day, but fortunately he removed that as well. Finally, he removed the red pants he was wearing, and his actual gear was mostly pink with some red…
3. Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul. Rollins played to the crowd while Rollins yawned in response in his corner. The mascot remained at ringside on Paul’s side of the ring. Rollins went for a Stomp about 90 seconds into the match, but Paul avoided it. Paul came back and hit a Buckshot Lariat, but they don’t use that name in WWE.
Paul threw punches to the midsection of Rollins while Cole told the story of Paul having a screw in one of his hands that enhances his punches. Logan performed a springboard crossbody block and followed it up with a standing moonsault for a two count. Rollins showed frustration as he got up.
Paul applied a seated version of an octopus hold, which the broadcast team said was inspired by Antonio Inoki. Rollins escaped the hold and hit Rollins with a chop to the chest. Paul fired back with an elbow and then they traded strikes. They got back to their feet. Rollins took a big swing, but Paul ducked it and performed a gut-wrench suplex.
Paul did a standing leap to the top rope and then performed a moonsault that Rollins avoided. Rollins threw punches at Paul and was pulled away by referee Ryan Tran. Rollins sent Paul to ringside and then hit him with three suicide dives (Jay Lethal is smiling somewhere).
Paul crawled toward his mascot. Rollins stomped Paul’s hand on the ring steps. Graves said it was the same hand that Paul used to knock out Rollins twice before. Back in the ring, Rollins went for the Pedigree, but Rollins powered up. They traded a series of pin attempts. When they stood up, Paul blasted Rollins with a knockout punch. Paul rolled Rollins onto his back and covered him for a near fall.
Cole said that Rollins stomping the hand of Paul may have saved him, as Paul was slow to cover Rollins due to the pain he felt after through the knockout punch. Paul ran and leapt at Rollins, who put him down with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Rollins waited for Paul, but the mascot pulled Paul to ringside.
The mascot revealed himself to be Paul’s buddy and business partner KSI. Rollins went after KSI, but Paul ran Rollins into the ring post. Rollins was placed on the Spanish broadcast table. KSI stood over Rollins and filmed him. Rollins pulled KSI onto the table while Paul leapt from the top rope and ended up putting KSI through the broadcast table.
Rollins took Paul to the ring and hit him with a Pedigree. Rollins went for the cover, but Paul kicked out at the last moment. Rollins hit a rolling elbow and then hit another to the back of Paul’s neck. Rollins went for a Stomp, but Paul hoisted him up and gave him a GTS. Paul went to the top rope and performed a frogsplash for a near fall.
Paul had Rollins seated in a corner of the ring. Paul went up top and dive across the ring at Rollins, who superkicked him in mid-air. Rollins performed his Stomp finisher on Paul and then pinned him…
Seth Rollins defeated Logan Paul in 16:15.
Footage aired of fans attending a BT Sport viewing party in the UK while Cole hyped Money in the Bank for London. Rollins celebrated his win and slapped some hands at ringside while Paul tended to KSI. Rollins stopped at the bottom of the ramp and said, “Stomp heard around the world, baby, Stomp heard around the world”…
Powell’s POV: Awesome. That was even more fun than I thought it would be, which is actually saying a lot. Paul is terrific and I can’t even imagine how good he could be if he wanted to do this full-time. Working with one of the best in the business helps, but Paul has exceeded expectations in each match to date. Rollins going over felt like the obvious move considering that Paul dominated everything that led up to the match.
Cole hyped the six-woman tag match. He said fans who were watching on Peacock Plus could watch the video package on the match (ad-based users got a commercial break instead)…
Damage CTRL made a standard entrance. Becky Lynch, Lita, and Trish Stratus received a Sin City style video. They made separate entrances in black and white with bad CGI rain. The color returned as they met on the stage and walked to the ring together…
4. Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus, and Lita vs. “Damage CTRL” Bayley, Iyo Sky, and Dakota Kai. The six women met in the middle of the ring and traded punches. The babyfaces cleared the ring. Cole noted that the match had not officially started. Lynch performed a baseball slide and then threw Kai into the ring. The referee called for the bell to start the match.
The heels isolated Lynch quickly and Sky performed a nice springboard dropkick. Kai tagged in and joined Sky in elevating Lynch into a Bayley neckbreaker. Kai covered Lynch for a two count. Kai performed a running kick in the corner and made the cover, but referee Danilo Anfibio was tied up with Sky and was slow to make the count.
Lynch eventually made it to her corner and tagged in Lita, who got the better of Sky until Kai caught her with a kick from the apron that the referee missed while checking on Sky. Bayley tagged in. The Damage CTRL trio threw a triple kick and then Bayley covered Lita for a near fall. Lita was isolated in the heel corner. Lita eventually performed a double DDT on two opponents and then tagged out.
Trish checked in for the first time and got a flurry of offense on. She went for her head-scissors takedown on Kai, who shoved her to the mat. The action spilled over to ringside. Lynch and Lita elevated Trish, who executed the head-scissors move on Kai and pulled her onto Bayley and Sky on the floor.
Back inside the ring, Lita tagged in and then she and Trish hit Poetry in Motion on Kai. Lynch tagged in and performed a leg drop from the middle rope. Lynch went for the Disarmer, but Bayley kicked her to prevent it. Bayley dragged Kai to her corner and then tagged herself in.
Bayley went for the Roseplant, but Lynch countered out of it. Bayley shoved Lynch into the ropes and then Sky took a cheap shot from the floor. Bayley hit the Roseplant and had the pin, but Lita broke it up. Trish hit Kai with her Stratusfaction bulldog. Bayley hit Trish with a Bayley to Belly. Lynch tackled Bayley and they tumbled to ringside.
Sky went up top and performed a moonsault onto the pile of partners and opponents on the floor, which left all six wrestlers down. The wrestlers returned to the ring to beat the referee’s count. Both teams did a series of tags and then all six women fought. Trish hit Sky with a Twist of Fate.
Trish hit her big kick on Kai. Lita performed a moonsault onto Sky and Kai and cleared them to ringside. Bayley set up for a Bayley to Belly on Lynch from the ropes, but Lynch avoided it and hit a Manhandle Slam from the second rope and scored the pin…
Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus, and Lita defeated “Damage CTRL” Bayley, Iyo Sky, and Dakota Kai in 14:40.
Powell’s POV: Everyone worked really hard and the legends did more than I expected them to do. It felt like they all wanted this to be special, but it just doesn’t mean anything to beat Damage CTRL at this point. Here’s hoping that the creative forces have a real plan in place to get the women’s division on track again coming out of WrestleMania.
A video package set up the father and son match…
Bad Bunny joined the Spanish broadcast team and was introduced to the live crowd…
A video showed Dom being released from his prison cell, being handcuffed, and placed in the back of a van. Two police motorcycles pulled into the stadium through a side entrance and then the correctional facility van backed in behind it. A bunch of correctional offers exited the fan and then a purple mask wearing Dom exited the van. The correctional officers walked Dom through the crowd to the ring and he removed his mask before he got to ringside. Cole called it the most ridiculous thing he’d ever witness.
A low rider was shown driving slowly through the backstage area. Snoop Dogg drove the car and Rey was in the passenger’s seat. One of Snoop’s songs played and then Eddie Guerrero’s entrance theme played. Rey bumped fists with Snoop once they pulled into the stadium area. Rey’s theme played and Snoop bobbed his head to the beat. Rey went to the stage and played to the crowd before heading to the ring.
Cole plugged the cereal sponsor and an f’n cereal mascot was at ringside…
Powell’s POV: Those entrances were so fantastic that not even a bad cereal sponsorship spot could ruin them. I guess it’s the official cereal for middle-aged fathers who want to beat the shit out of their mouthy 20-something children?
5. Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio. Angie and Aalyah were seated at ringside. Rey sent Dom to ringside. Dom returned and shoved Rey, who shoved him back. Rey performed a head-scissors takedown and then Dom begged off on the corner while Angie was shown applauding. Rey went to the ropes and played to the crowd.
A short time later, Rey sent Dom into the corner. Rey removed the belt from his gear and spanked Dom with it. The Mysterio family and the rest of the crowd applauded loudly. Dom went to ringside and mouthed off, then took a drink from his sister and threw it on her. Rey ran over to check on his daughter, but Dom hit him with a cheap shot to take offensive control.
Back in the ring, Dom put Rey in an abdominal stretch while a fired up Cole complained that Dom needed to be put in his place and questioned what he’d be like if he actually won the match. Dom performed a nice double jump into an arm drag and then executed a Michinoku Driver for a two count.
Dom leapt over the top rope and clotheslined Rey with it. Dom approached his family again and asked his mother what she was going to do about it. Dom told Angie to shut her mouth and then she slapped him. Rey shoved Dom into the ring post casing and then kissed his wife.
Back in the ring, Rey picked up a two count off a crossbody block. Rey used a sunset bomb to get another two count. Rey did the Eddie shimmy while playing to the receptive crowd. Dom begged off. Rey told him to get up and then kicked him. Rey set upf or a move, but Dom drove him into the corner.
Damian Priest and Finn Balor both showed up at ringside. “Judgment Day rolls deep and Dominik is one of them,” Graves said. Dom caught Rey in powerbomb position and threw him overhead so that he went face first into the corner. Cool spot.
Dom hit the first suplex of the Three Amigos, but Rey cut him off. Rey hit a 619. Rey went to the ropes. Balor distracted the referee while Priest grabbed Rey’s foot to stop him from performing a move. Dom hit his distracted father.
Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro ran out dressed in their Latino World Order t-shirts and roughed up Balor and Priest. Cole said they were Legado Del Fantasma, but they are now the LWO.
In the ring, Dom hit the 619 on Rey. Dom went up top and performed a frog splash, but Rey kicked out of the pin. Dom removed a turnbuckle pad. Referee Eddie Orengo caught him and tended to it. Meanwhile, Dom pulled out a chain that Priest had left for him in a bag in the corner of the ring. Bad Bunny took the chain from Dom. Rey dropkicked Dom into the ropes and hit him with a 619, then performed a top rope splash and scored the pin.
Rey Mysterio beat Dominik Mysterio in 14:55.
After the match, Escobar put Rey on his shoulders. Rey was left in the ring and then had Angie and Aalyah join him. Dom watched and seethed while Priest an Balor held him up…
Powell’s POV: This won’t be remembered for match quality and yet I still view it as an awesome match due to the storytelling and how engaged the crowd was. I was surprised to see Rey win, but the Bad Bunny tie-in made it a logical move, as I assume it leads to something involving him and Dom for Backlash.
A video aired for WWE Backlash with Bad Bunny as the host of the May 6 event that will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The end of the video showed Roman Reigns holding up one of his title belts…
Cole apologized for getting carried away during the Rey vs. Dom match. Cole and Graves worked in some tourism hype for Puerto Rico, and then showed fans cheering at a viewing party in Cologne, Germany…
A video package aired for the Smackdown Women’s Championship match (while ad-based Peacock viewers saw commercials)… NFL player George Kittle was shown in the crowd…
Rhea Ripley made a fairly standard entrance. Charlotte Flair’s entrance looked terrific thanks to the lighting on the stage. She wore a cool black rope and had some type of crown. Referee Jessika Carr held the ropes open for Flair…
6. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Samantha Irvin delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Cole said this was the first time in WrestleMania history that a match had female wrestlers, a female referee, and a female ring announcer.
Flair went for a shoulder block, but Ripley didn’t leave her feet. Ripley knocked Flair down with a shoulder block and then crotch chopped her. Flair came right back with a shoulder block that put Ripley down. When Ripley stood up, Flair clotheslined her over the top rope.
A short time later, Ripley ducked a chop and then performed a release German suplex. Ripley covered Flair for a two count. Flair battled back and went up top. Flair performed a crossbody block, but Ripley rolled through an powered her up. Ripley transitioned into a Riptide attempt, but Flair countered into a great DDT and covered her for a near fall. Cool sequence.
Flair showed some frustration over not getting the pin. Flair went for a figure four, but Ripley kicked her off twice and then caught her in an inside cradle for a two count. Both women stood up and threw simultaneous kicks, which left them both down for a moment.
Flair performed a fall away slam and then kipped up. There were more boos than cheers. Flair went up top, but Ripley came up behind her and suplexed her into the ring. Ripley covered Flair for a near fall. Ripley showed disbelief that she didn’t get the pin.
Flair rallied with a Natural Selection for a near fall of her own. Ripley rolled out of the ring to regroup. Flair charged Ripley, who moved, and Flair ran into the ring steps. Ripley brought Flair back inside the ring and slammed her face first to the mat and then covered her for a two count.
Ripley went for her finisher, but Flair slipped away and performed a German suplex. Flair followed up with another German suplex and held onto the waist of Ripley, who elbowed her way free. Ripley suplexed Flair, who landed face first on the mat.
Flair put Ripley down with a big boot and got a near fall. Flair had mat burns on her nose from the previous suplex. Flair went for the figure four, but Ripley avoided it. They got back to their feet and then Flair booted Ripley to ringside. Flair went up top and performed her moonsault onto Ripley at ringside and nailed it.
Flair rolled Ripley back inside the ring and went for the figure four, but Ripley kicked her off. Flair went for a spear. Ripley moved and Flair stopped short of running into the referee. Ripley hit her Riptide finisher and only got a near fall. Ripley expressed shock over Flair kicking out of her finisher.
Flair caught Ripley in an inside cradle for a near fall. Ripley caught Flair in her cloverleaf finisher hold the Prism Trap. Flair reached the ropes. Ripley nearly collided with the referee. Flair speared Ripley and covered her for another great near fall. Flair expressed disbelief and then pounded on her chest while Graves said she had the look of a champion who was doubting herself.
Flair and Ripley traded forearm shots on their knees and as they stood up. Ripley dazed Flair with a kick, but then Flair blasted her with a big boot and put her in the figure four. Ripley grabbed the bottom rope before Flair could bridge into the Figure Eight. Ripley rolled to the apron.
Flair and Ripley ended up on the ropes together. Flair fired a chop at Ripley, who dropped off the apron and pulled Flair’s head onto the top of the ring post casing. Ripley looked up and smiled. Ripley went to the ropes and screamed that it was her time. Ripley performed her Riptide finisher from the ropes and got the 1-2-3.
Rhea Ripley defeated Charlotte Flair in 23:35 to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
Both broadcast team members raved about the match and said it was among the best and most physical they had ever seen. Footage aired of a viewing party from Sydney, Australia that showed fans cheering when Australian native Ripley got the pin. Ripley stood inside the ring and held up the title belt while looking down at Flair. Pyro shot off on the stage while Ripley held up the title belt. Flair was shown smiling as she sat on the floor…
Powell’s POV: An excellent match and the best of the night thus far. It was physical and both wrestlers are going to be feeling it tomorrow, but they worked one hell of a match with great back and forth near falls. All of that said, I’m still happy that they put the tag title match in the main event slot. Flair and Ripley’s performance was absolutely WrestleMania main event worthy, but the story going in just wasn’t as epic as The Bloodline saga. This has been a terrific show thus far.
Byron Saxton interviewed Austin Theory in the backstage area about his win over John Cena. “I said it, I did it, and I made John Cena believe,” Theory said. He looked into the camera and asked if you believe in Theory now…
Powell’s POV: Because of a nut shot finish? Um, no.
The Miz and Snoop Dogg held another in-ring segment and announced the attendance as 80,497. Snoop said the only thing would be better than those numbers would be if Miz had a match on the show. Miz said he agreed and issued an open challenge on social media, but no one responded because everyone is afraid of him.
Pat McAfee made his entrance. Cole stood up from his chair and wondered if it was an April Fools joke. McAfee entered the ring and said, “Hello, beautiful people.” McAfee greeted Snoop Dogg and called him a legend. McAfee said no one saw Miz’s open challenge. McAfee said he was wearing his WrestleMania tank top. He said that if Miz wanted a match, he could beat his ass.
Miz asked the fans if they wanted to see the match. Cole stood up and cheered. Graves said Cole was embarrassing himself. Miz said that he’s the host, but he couldn’t make matches. McAfee said Miz’s tiny balls were showing. McAfee said there were 80,497 people in attendance and someone should be able to make the match. Snoop said he was the Dogg Father and said he was making the match official…
7. Pat McAfee vs. The Miz. A referee entered the ring. McAfee punched Miz and then put him down with a spinebuster. McAfee placed Miz on the top rope. McAfee joined him and went for a superplex, but Miz punched his way out. McAfee did a backflip onto his feet. Miz leapt from the ropes and ate a superkick on the way down. Miz rolled to ringside.
Graves shouted encouragement to Miz. “Marbles, big,” Graves said. Funny. Miz teased leaving. NFL player George Kittle booed him. Miz shoved Kittle, who hopped the barricade and clotheslined Miz. Kittle told McAfee to go up top, which he did. McAfee performed a swanton dive onto a standing Miz. McAfee and Kittle tossed Miz back inside the ring. McAfee delivered a punt kick and scored the pin…
Pat McAfee defeated The Miz in 3:40.
Powell’s POV: Good dumb buffer match fun. The crowd was behind McAfee, but he didn’t seem to be as mega over with the fans like he was prior to his hiatus from the company.
A WrestleMania 40 video aired. The event will be held “next April” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Lincoln Financial Field…
Powell’s POV: It was previously announced as taking place on April 6-7, so I’m not sure why they didn’t list the dates.
Graves thanked Kool & The Gang for the other WrestleMania theme song… Cole and Graves ran through the WrestleMania night two lineup… Miz and Baron Corbin were featured in an ad for the daily fantasy sports partner’s WrestleMania contest… A video package set up the main event… An ad aired for the event’s corporate sponsor…
Lil Uzi Vert was introduced and he performed briefly and remained on the stage when the Usos’ regular theme played and they made their entrance. The Usos wore white gear and you know what that means (wait, not in WWE). Kevin Owens’s music played and he walked onto the stage and played to the crowd, and then Sami Zayn’s music hit and they headed to the ring together…
8. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles. Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match. Jey and Sami started the match. Jimmy made a blind and held the top rope down, causing Zayn to tumble to the floor. Jey hit Zayn with a suicide dive. Owens ran over, but the referee ordered him back to his corner. Zayn was isolated.
Owens took a tag and then performed a top rope dive onto both Usos at ringside. Owens threw Jey back in the ring and then went to the apron and splash Jimmy on the floor. Owens went up top and frog splashed Jimmy in the ring and got a two count.
Owens performed a Swanton on Jey, who put his knees up. Legal man Jimmy splashed Owens from the top rope for a near fall. Jimmy went for a hip attack that Owens avoided. Owens superkicked Jimmy twice and then hit him with a cannonball in the corner. Owens went up top, but Jey stopped him. Zayn grabbed Jey and hit a brainbuster on the apron. Owens performed a Swanton on Jimmy for a near fall.
Zayn tagged in and went up top. Zayn hit Jimmy with a splash for another near fall. Graves said Zayn turned on The Bloodline and actually thought he was going to beat Jimmy with an Uso Splash. The crowd sang “Ole Ole Ole.” Jimmy came back and superkicked Owens on the apron. Jimmy tagged in Jimmy before taking a Blue Thunder Bomb. Jey blasted Zayn with a kick.
Jey shot Zayn into the ropes and then caught him with a leaping kick and covered him for a near fall. Jey superkicked Zayn once he started to get up. Jey removed his t-shirt and threw it at Zayn before tagging out. The Usos hit a series of superkicks on Zayn and then Jimmy covered him, but Owens broke up the pin. Jey took out Owens with a kick that sent him to ringside.
The Usos dominated Zayn. Cole called for Zayn to stay down while Jey covered him, but Zayn kicked out. Jimmy tagged in and then the Usos hit Zayn with a double superkick. Jimmy covered Zayn for a near fall. Jimmy barked at the referee about his count.
The Usos set up for 1D, but Owens pulled Jimmy to the floor. Zayn rolled Jey into a pin for a near fall. Owens slammed Jimmy’s head onto the Spanish broadcast table a few times. Owens set up for a powerbomb, but Jey ran out and stopped him. Jimmy superkicked Owens and then the Usos slammed Owens from the Spanish broadcast table through the English broadcast table.
Zayn stumbled as he got back to his feet. The Usos hit him with their 1D finisher and Jimmy made the cover, but Zayn kicked out at the last moment. Jimmy and Jey showed disbelief while Cole said that no one had kicked out of the 1D before. Graves said Zayn was just bringing further punishment on himself.
Jey slapped Zayn several times in the corner and jawed at him. Jey threw a series of forearms at Zayn, who was being held up by the ropes. Cole said it was sickening brutality. Graves said the Usos wouldn’t stop until the job was done. Zayn fell to the mat and then pulled himself up by the ropes.
Jey hit Zayn with his own Helluva Kick finisher. Jey caught Zayn before he could fall to the mat. Jey told Sami that he never should have left The Bloodline. Suddenly, Zayn grabbed Jimmy and gave him an exploder suplex into the corner.
Owens was shown struggling to pull himself into his corner. Zayn tagged in Owens, who hit powerbombs on both Usos. Zayn hit Jimmy with a Helluva Kick. Owens kicked Jey and then gave him the Stunner. Owens covered Jey for a great near fall.
Owens helped Zayn to his feet while Jimmy pulled up Jey. The fans cheered and the fans opposite the hard camera were on their feet as the teams met and threw punches at one another. Jimmy sent Zayn to the ring with a superkick. Owens superkicked Jimmy, who made a blind tag. The Usos hit superkicks on Owens and then superkicked Zayn back to the floor after he’d climbed onto the apron.
The Usos went to opposite corners and hit a simultaneous splash on Owens. Jey covered Owens, but it only resulted in a near fall. “I don’t even know what to say anymore,” Cole said. Jey grabbed Owens and pulled him to his feet in the corner. Jimmy tagged in and the Usos hit Owens with a double superkick.
Jimmy said it was time for a big one and then tagged in Jey. Zayn pulled Jimmy outside the ring and threw him over the broadcast table. Jey had Owens on the ropes, but Owens slammed him from the ropes to the mat. Zayn returned to his corner and fired up while begging for a tag, which he got.
Zayn entered the ring and stared at Jey, who was leaning in the corner. Zayn blasted Jey with a Helluva Kick. Zayn said something to Jey and then hit him with a second Helluva Kick. Jimmy returned to the ring, but Owens cut him off with a Stunner. Zayn hit Jey with a third Helluva Kick and then covered him for the win…
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defeated Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso in 24:15 to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
The crowd popped huge. Cole said it was the first time that Owens and Zayn had won the WWE tag team titles together. Owens and Zayn hugged in the middle of the ring. Footage of the finish was replayed. Owens and Zayn held up the title belts in the middle of the ring while pyro shot off on the stage.
Owens and Zayn hugged. Cole questioned whether the end was near for The Bloodline. He questioned whether it would be the end of an era when Roman Reigns faces Cody Rhodes on Sunday. The celebration continued while Cole wrapped up the live portion of the show… A video package recapped the event…
Powell’s POV: An awesome main event with the show closing feel good finish. The crowd went bonkers and rightfully so. Overall, this was a fantastic show. It’s going to be tough for WrestleMania Sunday to top this. I will return later tonight with Jake Barnett and Will Pruett for our same night audio review of WrestleMania night one for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it and voting for the best match below. I’ll see you right back here tomorrow night.
What is up with Cena’s hairstyle?
Theory feels like an Al Perez or Wendell Cooley type. He could be the guy in a small territory, and occasionally have a short stint near the top in the Carolinas or WCCW, but despite having the size, look, promo, etc. he just doesn’t seem like a long term top guy for the biggest company.
Holy hell Chad Gable!
That spot Gable and Strowman did was amazing. Just WOW
Yeah, jury is still out for me on Theory. We do know he can sell really well – look for that stunner he took from Austin. It rivaled The Rock. But I’m not seeing a lot of that lately. He’s really got to start finding good heel performance because this is just textbook stuff he’s doing…nothing special at ALL.
Trish on the verge of spilling out of her top.
Excited for this Rey vs Dominik match. Possibly the match I most have been looking forward to this weekend! Crazy but awesome
I wish this match would stop interrupting the Cinnamon Toast Crunch commercial.
Gotta love Dom out there in the bodysuit looking like Above Average Sized Gonzalez.
Gotta love losers without a life criticizing something he knows absolutely nothing without and showing what a bitter old man he is
Go fuck another goat. It wasn’t a criticism you ass licking shitstain.
This again? Stop with the over the top cussing. Brian, stop with the trolling because the troll can’t handle a taste of his own medicine without having a complete meltdown.
And once again, everyone is having a good time commenting on wrestling and Brian enters his personal attack cocksucking self into the mix for no fucking reason other than trolling.
Was I talking to you? Did I mention your name? You accusing someone of being a troll is rich. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Oh I forgot she died 60 years ago. And what is this obsession you have with bestiality?
That was maybe the greatest womens match of all time.
Fantastic women’s title match. The way Rhea is so over as a face, with Dom so over as a heel, is fascinating. Can’t wait to see her with the title and him trying to rebound from being spanked.
And just think Cole used to be Miz’s biggest fan.
Cole said “Miz may never win another match” and I think he could be right about that lol.
Wow. Corbin’s a pretty good commercial spokesman.
Perfectly done main event. Tomorrow night is going to be very interesting.
Jason, you know what would have been perfect? Pat MacAfee Coming out for his match with the miz to dolph’s shitty entrance music. Just so I could see you write about it. 🙂
I loved night 1 and the theatre, staging, and storytelling was great. But I was disappointed in the “wrestlemania” feel by the lack of legends present -but overall good first night 🙂
That is one of the top 5 best women’s matches of all-time. The women have put on a show all day today starting with Stand & Deliver. It proves when the women are booked correctly they can compete with the men. Awesome night though as I loved Dom & Rey and great finish with The Usos and KO & Sami. Night 1 set the bar high as Night 2 might be a letdown.
Great recap. Had fun reading it. But one of the “non-wrestlers” you mentioned in the Xavier video game segment was Tyler Breeze. SHOW SOME LOVE!!!!
The guys told me when we recorded audio. Forgive me. I think I’ve seen one too many wrestlers since Thursday night!
Understandable. Just having a little bit of fun with it
This was one of the best Mania’s I can remember. Every match was really strong. The set, the entrances, and the crowd – from top to bottom it was really strong.
It shows when you allow wrestlers to shine. Even the 8-man tag match was incredible.
Have to admit I’m a little surprised. After seeing Dom throw that drink in his sisters face, I thought there would at least be one comment accusing them of ripping off MJF.
Great show indeed. With the exception of Cena/Theory, I’m getting the sense that WWE creative is taking cues from Ted Lasso. A whole lot of feel-good (including Flair-Ripley).