By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WrestleMania 39 Night Two Kickoff Show
Inglewood, California at SoFi Stadium
Streamed April 2, 2023 on Peacock/WWE Network and WWE social media pages
This will not be a full-on recap of the Kickoff Show with listings of all the video packages or the match predictions from the hosts. Rather, I’ll stick to listing any notable developments from the two-hour show.
-Kayla Braxton hosted the show and was joined by the panel of Booker T, Wade Barrett, and Kevin Patrick on the same elevated outdoor desk set from Saturday.
-After failing to offer his chair to celebrities who had to stand at the desk on Saturday, Peter Rosenberg was clearly demoted to backstage interview duties (okay, not really). Rosenberg caught up with Liv Morgan as she was being driven through the backstage area on a golf cart and spoke with her briefly. Rosenberg took an elevator to another area and bumped into Bronson Reed, who told him to watch himself.
Rosenberg walked past a last minute makeup table and down to the Gorilla Position area. Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins were standing by outside. Ford said they were there for EST. Rosenberg showed viewers a mirror the wrestlers use before they head into the Gorilla Position area. He walked through the curtain and onto the WrestleMania stage. He said the ramp was about 80 yards to the ring and took a stroll down it.
Powell’s POV: That was a fun segment. They didn’t really show anything unexpected, but it was still more interesting that most of the Kickoff Show content.
-They replayed footage from night one of John Cena’s entrance with the Make-A-Wish kids, which was just as enjoyable the second time around.
-Adding insult to injury, Rosenberg joined the panel and they had a fifth chair for him. Yes, Rosenberg was given a chair while the Saturday celebrities had to stand. I’ll bet that won’t happen on Endeavor’s watch!
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Paul Heyman backstage. Heyman paced around her while she recalled The Usos losing the tag titles. She asked if the fall of the Usos means the fall of Roman Reigns. “Wow, that’s just direct,” Heyman said. He added that it merits a direct answer. Heyman said tonight is Roman’s night. He recalled a conversation he had when he just started in the industry and said the biggest event at the time was Starrcade, which he said was nothing close to WrestleMania.
Heyman recalled seeing Dusty Rhodes, who commended his promo, but asked him “where’s the money?” Heyman said he thinks of that question every time he delivers a promo. He said the money is Roman Reigns. Heyman said it’s the highest grossing WrestleMania and Reigns is on top. He spoke about how hot WWE is and said Reigns is on top. Heyman said it’s not Cody Rhodes. Heyman said Cody didn’t wilt under the pressure and he’s ready for the main event of WrestleMania, but he’s ready to lose to “the money Roman Reigns.”
-Greg Miller of Kinda Funny joined the panel. He had a chair, so the company has really upped their chair game for night two.
-Cody Rhodes, Brandi Rhodes, and their daughter Liberty were shown exiting a tour bus and then walking through a backstage area. There’s no word yet as to whether the mighty Pharaoh made the trip.
-NFL star George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers joined the panel and spoke about taking part in Pat McAfee vs. The Miz on Saturday. He said he was asked to do it and immediately asked, “Where do I sign?” He said he felt like a 13 year-old kid and added that he wouldn’t stop smiling for eight months. Barrett asked if Kittle would do more now that he’s had a taste. Kittle said McAfee and “Mr. H” have his number. Kittle spoke about the main event and questioned how the winning streak of Roman Reigns could end when they are so close to 1,000 days. Kittle said that’s never been done (I won’t tell George if you don’t).
-Rosenberg announced that Brock Lesnar vs. Omos will open night two.
-Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair was shown walking backstage in non-wrestling attire and was all smiles.
-Byron Saxton was saddled with interviewing the unwashed masses again.
-A video package focused on Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes with roughly five minutes remaining in the pre-show. I’m moving over to my WrestleMania 39 night two live review. I hope to see you there. I also encourage you to check out Will Pruett’s live blog from the WrestleMania press box.
I want Wade Barrett’s jacket (in MY size, of course). As Mr Simmons would say, “DAMN!”
I could never pull it off, but I am happy that these wild designs have arrived and the awful plaid suits are out of style again. People my age used to laugh at our father’s when we saw photos of their bad beards and plaid suits from the late seventies. I never thought that look would become “cool” again over forty years later.