WrestleMania Weekend Review

This past weekend was a wonderful reason to be a wrestling fan. Wrestlemania 40 as well as NXT Stand and Deliver giving some great wrestling, officially not only telling us but showing us that is a new era as in the Triple H/Paul Levesque era. But let me start from the beginning on Saturday afternoon with NXT’s Stand and Deliver.

NXT Stand and Deliver

NXT Stand and Deliver was a good show in my view, not too many matches but each match felt major. Show opened with the tag team title match where Axiom and Nathan Frazer challenged the Wolf Dogs Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin. Pretty decent opener Breakker was incredible cannot wait to see him on Smackdown full time, but the team Axiom and Frazer can be a fun high flying tag team if they keep them together.

Noam Dar and his group Meta-Four were the host of the show and did an ok job at it, seems like they have some plans for them if they hosted their biggest show. Next was the North American title triple threat match and was my first-time watching champion Oba Femi not just highlights and that guy is the next big thing! This match might have been the correct way to have what the internet fans call a “Big Meaty Classic” with Femi, Dijak and Briggs who had a good match but was an impressive showcase for Femi who I hope they highlight more going forward.

After the 6-woman tag match which was what it was not to be mean, NXT general manager Ava Raine announced that they were introducing a women’s North American title which a lot of fans have been wanting a mid-card title that hopefully will be useful and their women’s division. Before the NXT women’s championship match, Japanese women’s star free agent Giulia was shown in the crowd sitting next to William Regal which is a great signing for WWE/NXT certainly adding that depth for that division.

The NXT women’s championship was next between Roxanne Perez and Lyra Valkyria, heel Roxanne Perez is a fabulous change for her and more interesting. The match was good especially with Perez regaining the championship, but Valkyria is good in the ring, but something is missing or needs a tweak with her presentation but good match to stand for the NXT’s women’s division potential.

Next was Ilja Dragunov against Tony D’Angelo for the NXT championship, D’Angelo’s entrance with the Sopranos start was cool but D’Angelo in the main event didn’t feel like the time for him but because it was Philly it worked. Dragunov is amazing basically beating D’Angelo up all match while refusing to take any outs from the family like brass knucks, but Dragunov retains the title then shakes hands with D’Angelo, Dragunov is bound to the main roster hopefully very soon after this weekend.

 Then we had our main event, Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes finally go face to face after Hayes attacked Williams 2 months before. Carmelo Hayes entrance gear similar to Killmonger from Black Panther was excellent, Trick Williams music hit, and that crowd went insane which in my opinion the way the crowd reacts to him is equal to or better than Cody Rhodes which is a great sign for the star power Trick Williams can have going forward.

The match was great but felt a bit rushed towards the end, but Williams winning the match was a moment for him but also for fans particularly black wrestling fans coming back and being invested like they were on Saturday is wonderful sign for WWE going forward, but overall Stand and Deliver was good and set the tone for the weekend ahead.

WrestleMania 40 Night 1 (Saturday)

Now we get to WrestleMania which started Saturday night for 1 of 2 nights and we have a brand-new signature, then to kick off the show Triple H comes out to kick things off and say this is truly and finally a new era in WWE.

First match was for the women’s world championship with Rhea Ripley defends her title against Becky Lynch. Both their entrances were impressive, but Rhea Ripley is an absolute super megastar, but the match had a big fight night feel which was great to start the show. But just an impressive match would not expect less from two of the best in the business and mami still is on top.

The 6-pack ladder match for both the tag team titles was a fun wrinkle and smart way to put the titles back on their represented shows as well as reset the division fresh. Not to say about the match especially a multi team ladder match, but Theory and Waller grabbed the Smackdown tag titles and Awesome Truth win the Raw tag titles was a feel-good moment for fans along with a moment for R-Truth’s first WrestleMania win.

Next was another tag match where Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio with the rest of Legado Del Fantasma (Elektra Lopez, Angel & Berto) faced Rey Mysterio and Andrade with the LWO (Zelina Vega, Carlito, Wilde & Del Toro) which was ok match wise but at the end Escobar and Dom try to cheat until two big masked man appeared and prevent that leading to Mysterio and Andrade winning, where after the match Eagle fan favorites Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce were under the mask for that happy crowd/hometown team moment.

Before the next match there was an incredible video package about the Usos and how we got to Saturday night where they fought, this may have been the letdown match of the weekend. Something just felt flat, rushed and ended up being the WWE’s version of a superkick party sadly but Jimmy tries to trick Jey, but main event Jey doesn’t fall for it and winning the Uso civil war for now.

The 6 women tag match between Damage CTRL and Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Jade Cargill was up next, and it was all about the new big 3 of Belair, Naomi and Cargill who looked like absolute superheroes and should be something to showcase on Friday nights. Cargill was the main attraction here where she looked good and could only get better from here, boy what a difference a year and new environment can make for her and her potential.

The Intercontinental title was on the line next where Gunther and his historic reign faces the ultimate underdog Sami Zayn who with help from Chad Gable may do the impossible. Right away the theme for this match was Rocky III and IV from Sami seeing his family before the match, the pep talks from Gable then his best friend Kevin Owens is there before he goes out to hype him up made that theme very clear.

Gunther throughout the match just dominated Zayn where at points would mock Zayn’s wife, not cover Zayn, not take the match too serious, but Zayn would not stay down which led to a comeback where Zayn did the unthinkable by winning the match and ending Gunther’s 666 day reign (A bit eerie I know) but Sami as IC champion should be good for Raw hopefully does an open challenge similar to John Cena with the US title so we’ll see.

Then came 1 of the 2 big main events this weekend the big tag team match where Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins were against the bloodline consisting of Roman Reigns and The Rock. The entrances were amazing it was a big match that had incredible big fight energy before the bell.

This was a fun match where chaos was done right, the Rock completely stepped up after such a lay off lasting the entire match (almost 45 minutes) but was great especially enforcing his power being on the board of directors all match was good. In the end The Rock catches Rhodes with rock bottom and people’s elbow to win the match making Sundays main event under Bloodline rules stacking the odds against Rhodes trying to finish the story.

WrestleMania 40 Night 2 (Sunday)

Night 2 of WrestleMania was here and we were given a pleasant surprise to kick off the night with the return of Stephanie McMahon who proudly ushered in the Triple H/Paul Levesque era that a lot of us fans have wanted to see finally happen.

Again, the kick the show with another big match with a big fight feel where WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins versus Drew McIntyre, McIntyre’s entrance starting with the bagpipe band doing the Roddy Piper theme was great especially having guest commentator CM Punk say it was sacrilege. As soon as the bell rings McIntyre hits his claymore almost winning the match right there, but the match was good with both guys going for the kill all match, but Rollins banged up from Saturday night hurts his knee which gave McIntyre the advantage he wanted.

But McIntyre hit the claymore for the fourth time in the match to win and finally got his WrestleMania moment in front of fans after winning the title at the pandemic WrestleMania. But while celebrating the post-match, McIntyre goes over Punk and begins to taunt Punk which was ironic because up to this weekend McIntyre told Rollins he needed to focus on this match, or it will cost him.

Yet in an ironic twist it was McIntyre not following his advice where his fixation with CM Punk led to another WrestleMania moment where Punk takes McIntyre out using his brace for his injury then out comes Damien Priest who jumps at the opportunity to finally cash in his money in the bank briefcase defeating McIntyre to become the new world heavyweight champion making McIntyre’s WrestleMania moment and title reign last all of 5 minutes with Punk laughing and clapping at ringside but a pleasant surprise with Priest cashing in.

Next was the Philly Street fight between The Final Testament and Bobby Lashley with Street Profits and B-Fab. For this match there was guest referee who Bully Ray/Bubba Ray Dudley which got the crowd going with the ECW legend. Snoop Dogg was a guest commentator who hopefully doesn’t become a regular thing (laughs) just a so bad its good situation, but the match was better than I expected probably because of Bubba and the crowd but Lashley and Profits win and raises the question what is next for final testament? Regardless feel good, make fans happy match and nailed it.

LA Knight vs. AJ Styles was to follow, and the match was good because both guys are professional and great, AJ Styles will be AJ Styles regardless of wins or loses but LA Knight (YEAH!) winning his first WrestleMania match was the only result and hopefully will pick up some steam after this weekend back in the main event picture.

The Hall of Fame inductees’ part of the show is always good, the US Express wearing Bray Wyatt shirts put me in my feelings but both nights acknowledging Bray just made and probably others miss him more and wish he was a part of this weekend and new era. Heyman coming out last and having that stadium chanting “ECW!”  was magical.

After that was the triple threat for the US title with Logan Paul, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens where this match could of stole the night. But I have to admit that I was extremely hesitant to Logan Paul but man he has been excellent and seems meant to be pro wrestler, regardless the match was fun but in the end Logan weasels his way to keeping his championship.

Up next was the WWE women’s championship where Bayley faces Iyo Sky after being backstabbed and kicked out of her creation Damage CTRL. Bayley’s new entrance was cool, but the match was awesome, and the crowd was for Bayley where in the end Bayley pulled out the victory and has her WrestleMania moment becoming the new champion.

And finally, we get to the mega main event where Cody Rhodes gets another chance to finish the story against Roman Reigns under bloodline rules. Cody’s entrance with the fans singing the song and yelling “WOAH OH” give me chills every time. This main event should be what every wrestler should aspire to want to be in a main event of this level on a huge stage like Wrestlemania! (No offense to the Tokyo Dome but it’s not the same) Big fight feel, big energy on the biggest stage wrestling has instead chasing bogus star ratings from bogus journalists.

The match was absolutely sensational, Roman Reigns trash talking all match is just gold every time, I often like to make comparisons to things, but this was for me at least the WWE equivalent to Marvel’s Avengers Endgame where everything was going to come to a head. Starting with the interference from the bloodline with Jimmy Uso coming out super kicking Rhodes but Rhodes kicks out only for Jey Uso to come out even the odds and spear Jimmy off the stage through a table.

Cody has Roman ready to win until Solo Sikoa appears when Rhodes looks over the wrong shoulder looking for Solo (like last year at WrestleMania 39) but is hit with spike and Rhodes kicks out, after multiple attacks and Rhodes refusing to stay down Solo is pissed telling Roman to get up and finish this which was interesting but led to the Spike/Spear combo only for Rhodes to again kick out.

Then John Cena’s music hits and the crowd goes crazy, Cena gets his revenge on Sikoa putting through the table even the odds again until… Rock’s music hits and things pick up a bit where Rock and Cena face off the same way The Rock and Hulk Hogan did at Wrestlemania 18, Cena goes for the attack only for Rock to counter with a Rock Bottom taking him out leaving Rhodes outnumbered. As the Rock stood over Rhodes with the customized “Mama Rhodes” weight belt then… GONG! Lights out then lights come back on and behind the final boss is the true final boss himself the Undertaker where Rock turns in fear and is choke slammed by the Deadman then lights out and vanishes.

But we heard a familiar song, and it was the old SHIELD theme confusing Rock and angered Reigns, but the place goes wild again only for Rollins to be speared by Reigns saving the Rock from now famous chair attack leaving Reigns standing holding the chair with Rhodes and Rollins down. So, what should Roman do? Hit Rhodes and end the story for good or get revenge for what Rollins did to him and breaking up the SHIELD? Reigns and his rage for never getting past what Rollins did to him and the group won as Reigns hit Rollins with the chair crumbling like Roman did all those years ago, but Rollins kept his promise of being a shield for Rhodes by taking that shot.

Reigns then sets up for the signature spear only for Rhodes to counter with a trio of Cross Rhodes to finally finish the story and is the new WWE Undisputed Universal Champion. That moment, that crowd, everything was perfect and ring announcer Samantha Irvin’s emotional call was the cherry on top (who was the low-key MVP of the entire weekend) but that feel good hero moment we wanted came true.

All the good guys come to celebrate (Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, John Cena, LA Knight and CM Punk) the end of the bloodline and Cody as champion. Cody grabs the mic thanks the fans, everyone in the ring, then calls for Bruce Prichard and Triple H to come out and have that moment, then goes outside to hug Michael Cole as they both are emotional.

WrestleMania ends with Cody on the ramp with the title high and shows everyone that is a new era in WWE but this weekend and specifically Michael Cole said something that reinforced my passion and feelings that “DAMN IT I LOVE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING!” and “PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL”. Great weekend for WWE, great weekend for professional wrestling and the lifelong die-hard fans while showing us when it is done right nothing can touch this.