Review written by Christian Garcia
This weekend was the biggest show of the year for wrestling fans as WWE presented WrestleMania Goes Hollywood Nights 1 and 2.
Today, I will be reviewing both nights match by match and giving my thoughts.
Was this a box office smash? Or a box office bomb? Let's take a look.
Night 1:
Opening Match - Austin Theory (c) vs. John Cena for the WWE United States Championship
Rating - 2.5 stars out of 5
The Showcase of the Immortals kicked off as "The Now" Austin Theory took on the "G.O.A.T." John Cena.
After a referee bump, Cena believed he had the victory as Theory tapped out to the STF. But the young champion took advantage and hit Cena with a low blow before landing the A-Town Down for the victory.
The match was fine for what it was but I don't think it did what it needed to do in getting Austin Theory over. They tried to build it up like it was a major deal but it was really nothing special. It felt like when Razor Ramon beat Bob Backlund...nothing. It was an average match and far from one of John Cena's most memorable performances.
Honestly, Cena also looked noticeably different than past performances. I do not know if it is a matter of age or maybe he just didn't have enough time to prepare for the match given his busy schedule but he seemed a little less than the "Big Match John" we all expect. Not to say his performance was bad by any means just felt by the numbers and not like something his heart was really into.
I said going in that there wasn't much hype for this match as Cena had barely been around to promote it so I didn't have high hopes and sadly this match was exactly what I expected. Not bad but nothing special either.
WrestleMania Men's Showcase
Rating - 2.5 stars out of 5
In a match that had little to no storyline going in, these four teams went out there and put on a short but fun tag match.
This match was a spot fest giving each member of each team a moment to shine. The highlights for me were seeing Chad Gable suplex Braun Strowman, Ricochet's increible dive outside the ring, Ivar's moonsault attempt and Angelo Dawkins checking Brain Strowman.
Since it was not given a lot of time it felt at points very rushed going from one spot to the next without taking a breather. While not a WrestleMania match that will stand the test of time, it was still a decent outing.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins vs. Logan Paul
Rating - 4 stars out of 5
Seth "Freakin" Rollins put on another spectacular performance against Internet sensation Logan Paul.
Since debuting in the ring at WrestleMania last year, Logan Paul has continuously proven in his short time that he is a bonafide star in the WWE and going against a performer like Rollins only further cemented his place at the top.
Going in, I was expecting these two to put on quite the show and they did just that. This match included great altheticism and great entertainment. Paul's athletic capabilities and wrestling ability was highlight and early on in the match he dominated. A big shout out to Seth Rollins who went out of his way to make Logan Paul look like a million bucks while also still proving why he is one of the best in-ring performers in WWE.
The highlight of the match for me was getting to see Paul's partner in Prime (no pun intended lol) KSI be accidentally put through the announce table. The other highlight was seeing how crazy the crowd went when Rollins started making his comeback showing how throughout all these years, Rollins has earned his fans' respect and love and it was also nice to see him finally get a major victory for what seems like the first in a long time.
These two put on an incredible match and it's one I would love to see a rematch for somewhere down the line.
Becky Lynch, Lita, & Trish Stratus vs. Damage CTRL
Rating - 3 stars out of 5
Women's wrestlings past, present, and future collides in a very entertaining six woman tag team as Becky Lynch and WWE Hall of Famers Trish and Lita took on Damage CTRL.
This match was very good and gave each woman a chance to shine. The performances of Trish and Lita were good and showed that these two legends still have a lot left in the tank as performers. Becky Lynch shined as the Man as she always has and Bayley was a great workhorse though out.
The match ended on a happy note with Becky and the legends coming out on top for a nice feel good moment and an ending to Becky's ongoing saga with Damage CTRL.
While this match was well done and everyone did a great job, once again Damage CTRL came up short and that's pretty disheartening to see. Damage CTRL has honestly felt ineffective as a heel unit as they never seem to win when it really matters or could help elevate them and sadly it was another instance of that here. Bayley has proven her worth as a top star and performer in the women's division and it just seems as though Damage CTRL is a case of her floundering more than thriving.
I am not sure what the future will hold for Damage CTRL. Could they possibly break up after Mania and regroup? Maybe they will be drafted to SmackDown and have a chance at a fresh start? Who knows but right now the future is not looking so bright for these 3 which is a shame because all 3 women are very talented in their own right.
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio
Rating - 3.5 stars out of 5
In a match that was highly personal, Rey Mysterio took on his son Dominik Mysterio.
Before the match even began I was already blown away both the entrances for both Mysterios. I loved the Prison Dom entrance not only for its production quality but just the fact that a concept as ridiculous as prison Dominik has been given so much attention is hilarious to me. And the entrance itself was effective as the crowd in SoFi Stadium was roaring with boos at the young Mysterio.
Rey's entrance was also a great feel-good moment as he rode out in a low rider with Snoop Dogg and then we got a very touching tribute to Eddie Guerrero as we heard "Lie, Cheat, Steal" play one more time.
The match itself was a great contest filled with great wrestling and the added drama as Dominik has really embraced his role as a heel and does a great job at being so despicable going as far as throwing a drink in his own sister's face.
The match came to a head when Dom's Judgment Day brethren Damian Priest and Finn Bálor came to ringside only to be confronted by the newly named lWo. Dom attempted to use a chain to steal the victory but Bad Bunny (who was on Spanish commentary during the match) intervened and stopped the young Mysterio. Rey landed the 619 to get the victory and celebrated in the ring afterwards with his wife and daughter, giving the Mysterio family a happy WrestleMania moment.
The look on the defeated Dominik's face shows that this story is far from over and has only just begun and I am excited to see what these two do next.
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women's Championship
Rating - 5 stars out of 5
In a match that I believe truly stole the show and earned the title of Match of The Night, Rhea Ripley finally got her moment as she defeated Charlotte Flair.
Going in, I had my doubts about this match. Not that it wouldn't be good but that it didn't have enough heat to carry out a great main event. I was happy to be proven wrong as this match not only stole show but proved it would have been a worthy main event. I'm sure Charlotte Flair was determined to steal the show with this match and she accomplished that and then some.
Rhea and Flair's history has shown that these two women have great chemistry in the ring and this match was further proof of it. Charlotte Flair proved once again why she is the best in the WWE today as at many moments I was convinced she was going to win. The 14-Time Women's Champion made her opponent look like a million bucks and gave Rhea a star making performance and even showing the new champion props after her match and smiling at a job well done.
Rhea came out to prove that it was her moment and showed her dominance throughout the match. The spectacular finish of the Riptide off the second rope was a great way to cap off the match and finally give Rhea Ripley her star making moment.
This was easily the match of the night and one of the best Women's Championship bouts in WrestleMania history.
The Miz vs. Pat McAfee
Rating - 1.5 stars out 5
I guess I should probably briefly acknowledge the impromptu match between WrestleMania host, The Miz and Pat McAfee.
After the epic matchup between Charlotte and Rhea, it made sense to give the audience a little chance to cool down before the main event and what better way than a surprise appearance by Pat McAfee. After some taunting and goading by Miz's co-host Snoop Dogg, the two had a very quick and somewhat entertaining match up that saw the Miz humiliated and McAfee standing talk after getting an assist from NFL star, George Kittle.
It wasn't much of a match but it wasn't supposed to be. It was nice to see Pat McAfee back and the match served it's intended purpose of giving the audience a nice surprise while also giving them to time to regain some energy before the main event.
Main Event - The Uso's (c) vs. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Rating - 4 stars out of 5
In a match that was built with a year's worth of storytelling, this main event deliverered Sami Zayn's big moment and then some.
I was very happy when WWE announced that this match would be main eventing the show as I believed this story to be the most compelling and deserving of the main event spot. Sami Zayn has come a long from last year's match against Jackass star Johnny Knoxville. After getting over as a member of the Bloodline, Zayn became an undeniable baby-face and tonight was his crowning moment. I know most fans were not happy after Zayn lost to Roman and felt it was a downgrade to go after the tag belts. However, I felt the story needed to end as the real story was between Sami and Jey Uso and the payoff was still well worth it for me.
The Uso's proved once again why they are the best tag team in WWE with a stellar main event performance. Owens & Zayn of course also hung in their with them and proved why they are also two of the very best. Sami finally got his big moment and the audience was there with him throughout the ride and was on their feet especially in the final moments.
All four men showed why they are at the top with their performances. The Uso's worked very aggressively and came off like the dominant heels. Kevin Owens was the workhorse and Sami Zayn was the resilient baby-face who would not die and kept fighting, kicking out of moves that have put others away.
Having followed Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens from their time on the independent scene, seeing these two main event a WrestleMania is something that 10 years ago I would have never imagined and it is amazing to see. These two have worked so hard and given so much to prove their worth and star power and this match was a special moment for them and their fans to get to watch them prove why they belong in the main event.
Night 2:
Brock Lesnar vs. Omos
3 stars out of 5
In the opening bout, as expected, Brock Lesnar defeated the "Nigerian Giant" Omos.
What was not expected was for this match to have worked as well as it did. When this match was first announced, fans were not happy and were expecting a disaster with the very inexperienced Omos being put in a big match spot. This match was far from a disaster and was honestly the best match that Omos has ever had and may ever have.
Brock made Omos look like a giant and like a threat and sold a lot for him. It was a classic David vs Goliath style match and in the end Brock was able to suplex the giant a few times and land the world's biggest F5 for the win.
WrestleMania Women's Showcase
1.5 stars out of 5
In a match that already had no heat going in, the Women's WrestleMania showcase was a forgettable spot fest that worked around the injuries of Ronda Rousey and the apparent injury of Shayna Baszler.
As I predicted, Rousey and Baszler came out victorious but not as I had expected. I was expecting them establish themselves as a dominant force in the women's tag team division but due to injuries both barely played a factor in the match until the very end. While that is a heelish move, it does nothing to make me interested in seeing them more as a team.
The other six women worked very hard to put on a decent match but they were already in a tough spot being put in a match that had no hype nor any stakes to it and in the end the match was nothing special and brought down even more by having the winning team be the team that did practically nothing.
GUNTHER (c) vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus for the Intercontinental Championship
4.5 stars out of 5
In a match that was easily the match of the night, GUNTHER, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus tore the house down in one of the most brutal and physical matches of the evening and of the entire weekend.
When this match was announced, everyone was expecting it to be a hard hitting contest and this match over delivered and then some. Drew and Sheamus once again showed their amazing chemistry as they beat the hell out of each other trying to stake their claim for being the Intercontinental champion while GUNTHER proved why he is the Ring General and the most dominant Intercontinental Champion there is. In the end, GUNTHER came out on top and continues his reign of dominance.
The only negative I have about this match is the dreadful guest commentary by Titus O'Neil that at times was too distracting and took me out of the match.
Aside from that, all three men left the ring looking like they just went to war and this match was a war. It is easily the best match on Night 2 and one of the best matches of both nights and one that I highly recommend you check out.
Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka for the RAW Women's Championship
3 stars out of 5
Bianca Belair proved why she is "The EST" in a very strong showing against Asuka.
Asuka proved to be one of Bianca's toughest opponents yet and pushed the champion to her limits. Asuka's hard hitting style has made her one of the best performers in the women's division and it was effective to the point that there were moments I thought she could have walked away with the victory.
The champion showed off her power and strength throughout the match including a superplex from outside into the ring as well as the finish with her powering out of an armbar and landing the KOD for the win.
Bianca has proven her worth as the top women's star on RAW and this match was just another example of why she's on top.
The Miz vs. Shane McMahon/The Miz vs. Snoop Dogg
.5 star out of 5 (the .5 star is just because of Snoop's improvising)
In one of the most awkward and chaotic moments in WrestleMania history, we witnessed an unforgettable spectacle but for all the wrong reasons.
Snoop Dogg looked to once again put his WrestleMania co-host The Miz in an impromptu match this time against a shocking return of Shane McMahon.
However, fate was unkind to Shane as only a minute into the match he legitimately blew out his knee and had to be taken out. This incredibly awkward moment threw the segment into shambles and Snoop Dogg was forced to improvise and wound up decking Miz and laying him out with a People's Elbow before pinning him for the win.
This was far from the successful segment the night before with Pat McAfee and was an example of what can go wrong on live TV. Best wishes to Shane McMahon on a speedy recovery and props to Snoop Dogg for being able to improvise on the fly.
Edge vs. Finn Bálor inside Hell in a Cell
3 stars out of 5
In a match that had been a year in the making, Edge and Finn Bálor tore each other apart inside Hell in a Cell.
This match saw the return of The Demon and you could tell that Edge was going out of his way to make the Demon look like a threat in this match. Edge worked the match like he was in a horror movie battling a demon as he had to go to great lengths to put Bálor down.
The match's pace did come to a halt after a ladder shot to Bálor's face resulted in a bad gash and doctors and officials had to step in to clean him up and stop the bleeding. Afterwards, it felt as though they had to rush through the rest of the match, and given reports of the severity of Bálor's injury, probably for the best. However, they were able to recover and put on a hellacious battle which included Bálor attempting a coup-de-Grace and landing through a table and ended with Edge landing a Con-chair-to for the win
While it will probably not go down as one of the greatest Hell in a Cell matches in history and I thought Bálor needed the win more, it was still a very good bout and good way to conclude Edge's saga with the Judgment Day.
Main Event - Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
4 stars out of 5
Besides the Sami Zayn vs The Bloodline feud, Cody Rhodes' return and rise to the top has been the hottest storyline going in WWE. After Rhodes return at last years WrestleMania, he quickly established himself as the top baby-face in the company.
With his triumphant return and victory this past January at the Royal Rumble, it appeared that the cards were in place for Rhodes to achieve his dream and have his crowning moment at WrestleMania and the fans were behind him the entire time.
The match was an incredible main event that had the fans on the edge of their seats. Throughout the match, Cody's name was being chanted and it was clear that audience believed that he was the one that should dethrone Reigns and end his legendary title reign. Sadly, it was not to be and after interference from Solo Sikoa, Reigns was able to capitalize and beat Rhodes to retain the championship and the audience was left in stunned silence.
In one of WWE's most baffling moves, Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
As a fan who has seen WWE make a lot of baffling and stupid booking decisions over the years, this is by far the worst call they have ever made. Cody Rhodes has proven in the last year that he is a bonafide main event star and the audience was ready to accept him as The Guy. The fact that WWE had a star prime and ready to take that spot and run with it, and instead chose to fumble it, makes this the most baffling and the worst decision they have ever made. The loss has relegated Cody to being just like everyone else on the roster and even if they are going for the long chase, it is too little too late. Even if Cody beats Roman at SummerSlam, he will never be as hot as he was going into WrestleMania. The moment has passed and WWE has missed the boat on having a fresh new main event star and a refreshed product.
As for Roman Reigns, there is no reason for him to still be the champion as he has defeated everyone there is to beat and has more than established himself as the top star in the company. He is a big enough attraction that he doesn't need the world championship and if anything it saddles him more than helps him. Even if we get Roman vs. The Rock at next year's WrestleMania, having another year of Roman I think will make fans turn on him as an attraction and not in a manner that will draw.
This match was an excellent main event that could have gone down as one of the great WrestleMania moments but instead will be remembered as the biggest blunders in WrestleMania history and one of the worst decisions the WWE has ever made.
Final Thoughts:
WrestleMania Night 1 was an excellent show filled with entertaining matches and two epic main event matches that sent the audience home happy and filled with hope that the WWE product was finally heading in the right direction. WrestleMania Night 2 was the cold hard slap in the face of reality that left fans stunned and and frustrated.
Once again as with the previous two night WrestleMania's, Night 1 was the superior show. The crowning of Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and Rhea Ripley as top stars gave fan's that feeling of satisfaction that comes from WrestleMania. The Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley match was the Match of the Night for Night 1 and the match of the weekend overall. The Main Event Tag Match also delivered and gave Sami Zayn his big moment on the Grandest Stage of Them All and for fans who have followed Owens and Zayn from their time on the independent scene to now, gave us an even more special feeling of joy.
Night 2 prior to the main event finish was also a good show as most of the matches delivered and even Brock vs Omos was a pleasant surprise. The triple threat with GUNTHER, Drew, and Sheamus was match of the night for Night 2 and the second best match of the weekend. It is easily the one match to go back to Night 2 of 39 to see. However, all of that is overshadowed by the baffling decision in the main event and to end the show on such a disappointing note was deflating for me as a fan. It felt like a giant middle finger to the audience for believing in Cody Rhodes and for supporting him and honestly ruined the night and the experience for me. And this isn't that upset feeling like "oh I want to see Roman get his cummupance", it was more of a feeling that my time supporting WWE and their product may be coming to an end. At this moment as a fan, I have given up any remaining hope that their product will get better and with the return of Vince McMahon to power, that lack of hope feels validated.
Despite such a downer feeling towards the ending of Night 2 ruining the experience for me, I will say that Night 1 is a great show and one worth checking out.
What were your thoughts on WrestleMania 39 Nights 1 and 2? Did you enjoy both shows? How did you feel about the ending of the Night 2 main event? Let me know and share your thoughts on the show!!