It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here!!! Welcome to Wrestlemania 35, emanating live from Metlife Stadium in New York. We at Pro Wrestling Journal have been looking forward to this night for months. We hope you’ve enjoyed our build up, particularly our predictions articles and Wrestlemania themed editorials. There’s been so much going on in the New York area over the last few days and we encourage you to check out our website, as our contributors have been working round the clock to bring you the most up to date content across a range of promotions.
But for now, hold on tight, as Rox, Wynter and CB give you their reviews and reactions to the spectacle of spectacles, the event that to every WWE fan, feels like Christmas. Welcome to Wrestlemania! Thank you for joining us on this ride.
A reminder of the card (This is not the running order)
Raw Women’s Championship -Ronda Rousey vs Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch-Winner Take All
Universal Championship – Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins
WWE Championship – Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston
Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre
AJ Styles vs Randy Orton
Triple H vs Batista-No Holds Barred/Triple H’s Career on the Line
Intercontinental Championship – Bobby Lashley vs Finn Balor-
United States Championship – Samoa Joe vs Rey Mysterio-
Women’s Tag Team Championships – Sasha Banks and Bayley vs Beth Phoenix and Natalya vs Nia Jax and Tamina Snuka vs the IIconics
The Miz vs Shane McMahon-Falls Count Anywhere
Kurt Angle vs Baron Corbin-Angle’s Retirement Match
Smackdown Tag Team Championships – The Usos vs Ricochet and Aleister Black vs The Bar vs Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev
Yolanda Adams sings America The Beautiful
Alexa Bliss takes the stage, clicks her fingers and Hulk Hogan’s music hits and the crowd goes nuts!! He delivers a very warm introduction, delivers his catchphrases and poses with Bliss. Actually quite a nice moment until Paul Heyman walks down to the ring and takes the mic. Oh my, the Universal Title Match is the first up.
WWE Universal Heavyweight Championship
Seth Rollins vs Brock Lesnar (c) – CB
This match was rescheduled for right now! Rollins has an awesome entrance video and he makes his way down to a huge reaction! But Lesnar attacks Rollins before the match starts. He hits an F5 and throws him around like a rag doll outside! German announce table chairs got decimated time and time again, Rollins was not able to get up before Lesnar attacks him. Rollins back is all kinds of black and blue before the bell actually rings and Rollins takes some more punishment and German Suplexes begin, because that’s 1 of the 4 moves that Lesnar knows. Rollins’ back is absolutely destroyed. Ref got knocked down and Rollins hit a low-blow! Seth has a chance, he nails a stomp but Lesnar is still rolling around, so he hits a second, then a third and those 3 stomps were symbolic of what came next! 1.. 2.. 3!! We have a NEW WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion!!! Yes!!! I’m absolutely losing it at the moment! I’ve been wearing my Rollins tee all day & my partner, Abi, has also been wearing hers all day – we wanted Rollins to bring the belt home! He did! This is AWESOME! What a way to start Wrestle frickin’ Mania!! Also, I just want to point out that all titles that have been on the line have so far changed hands..
Randy Orton vs AJ Styles-Wynter
Jerry Lawler is our guest commentator for this match! Styles and Orton lock up and they have some back and forth included Orton doing a quick rake of the eyes. Lawler is doing a good job talking about Orton’s past and his familial ties to WWE.Styles tries to go for the Styles Clash but can’t lift Orton up for it. Orton’s attempt at a RKO is stopped. Styles successfully rolls into a calf crusher and Orton sells the agony but is able to grab the rope to force the break. Orton commits to doing the RKO but lands on his back and Styles hops down from the ropes, following up with a 450. Orton snatches Styles out of his Phenomenal Forearm smash and nails a backbreaker.
They fight to the top and after some more traded shots, Orton hits a superplex on Styles for two. Orton uppercuts Style pretty much over the ring and then does his rope-suspended DDT. He goes for the RKO after some showboating but Styles hits the pele kick. Orton hits the RKO, but Styles kicks out! Orton tries the RKO from the top rope, but Styles slips through and hits another pele kick, knowing him to the outside. Phenomenal Forearm from the top rope to the outside! Styles is limping something fierce at this point. Orton goes for another RKO but Styles ducks it. Another Phenomenal Forearm and the match is over!
Winner: AJ Styles
Thoughts: This match pace definitely suited Orton more, but Styles matched it very well. It was a little slower than most AJ Styles matches usually are, but the two were definitely able to keep it interesting. I liked all the attempted RKOs and Styles has learned his lesson after falling victim to the RKOs over the past couple of weeks. All in all, this was a solid match and I quite enjoyed it. There was a time when I didn’t think I’d ever see this match, so it was a thrill to see it on WrestleMania!
Grade: B+
Lacey Bomb
Lacey Evans does one of her struts in a very lovely red and black dress. She walks the length of the stage before going back to the locker room. At least she looks nice.
Smackdown Live Tag Team Championships – Rox
The Uso’s (c) v The Bar v Ricochet and Aleister Black v Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev
I am delighted to see that Ricochet’s little bump at Takeover didn’t affect his ability to compete. How amazing is is that these two guys said goodbye to NXT last night and are now competing at Wrestlemania?! It speaks volumes about the faith the company has in these two incredible athletes. Are we going to see another title change hands?
The match is swift and nicely paced in the early going, swift and cheeky tags, ensuring all teams are involved. Samoan drop from Jimmy Uso to Black lands well. Cesaro and Ricochet have this incredible reversal and flip sequence before Cesaro sends him swinging and swinging and swinging as Sheamus batters everyone with clubbing blows to the chest. Black unleashes hell on Rusev with his educated feet and executes and nice looking Moonsault. I’m not sure Rusev is built for this pace. Rusev and Nakamura work well together and unleash interesting tandem offence. Ricochet breaks up a pinfall with a Shooting Star Press but pays for it with a Rusev beatdown. No-one can sell like Ricochet. The Bar appear to be mounting control, they set up Ricochet for a Superplex, assisted by the Uso’s and The Bar and Ricochet still lands on his feet!! Top rope….. 630 splash, near fall. Jey Uso flies off the top rope but meets a Cesaro uppercut. Then it’s a showcase of finishers. Black Mass, Kinshasa, Brogue Kick, double Superkick from the Uso’s. Double Frog Splash to Sheamus and the Uso’s retain!
Hall of Fame recap. All inductees are welcomed to the stage. DX BAYBAY!!
Shane McMahon vs The Miz-Wynter
Falls Count Anywhere
Shane McMahon comes out with his evil shuffle. He makes the announcer do his “Best in the World” intro twice. We see Mr. Miz sitting ringside. The Miz comes out and hugs his dad. They start with some cat and mouse chasing around the ring and in and out of it. McMahon threatens Mr. Miz to goad Miz into attacking him. They trade strikes and McMahon drives Miz into the ring post. The action spills out to the announce tales. McMahon hits Miz with a monitor, busting him open. McMahon is up on the top rope when Mr. Miz comes out and tries to protect his son, getting in the ring. McMahon does some more evil shuffling before attacking Mr. Miz, but Miz is back all over him like a cheap coat. Miz gets some medical attention for his dad before launching himself at McMahon in the WWE Universe.
They’re fighting on a structural support with McMahon getting in some kidney shots before DDT-ing Miz on the structure. Miz swing kicks McMahon off the support and he smacks his head against a guardrail. Miz has a chair and he’s beating McMahon with it in the WWE Universe. They’re in the announcers’ area and Miz launches McMahon through a table for a two count. Miz drops McMahon down a whole level; he hits a golf cart before landing on the concrete. Another two count!
They fight up to the tech area. A Skull Crushing FInale gets a two count. McMahon climbs up a camera platform, but the Miz is close behind. McMahon tries apologizing but Miz is not having it! Superplex off the camera platform! McMahon landed on top of the Miz so the match goes to him.
Winner: Shane McMahon
Thoughts: I was not let down by this match! I think Mr. Miz was involved just enough to invoke some emotions but not so much so that he pulled focus from the match. The Miz was fired up and McMahon took some utterly brutal bumps in this. I kind of wish McMahon had actually jumped off of something ridiculous but I’ll take that massive superplex from the camera platform.
Grade: A-
Women’s Tag Team Title Match – Rox
Boss n Hug Connection (c) v Nia Jax & Tamina v Natalya & Beth Phoenix v The IIconics
Paige on guest commentary, looking fierce and beautiful as always! How lovely to see Bret Hart come out to cheer Nattie and Beth on and even more endearing to see them sporting the Hart Foundation colours.
I’m not going to do a play by play of this match. I am simply going to shine a spotlight on the highlights of this match, Such as Jax being thrown into the steps by Phoenix and how lighthearted and hilarious The IIconics are but also how they are the most established team in this match. Frequent tags keep each other fresh and Royce has this instinctive way of selling everything thrown at her. The crowd appear disinterested in this match. Phoenix reverses a suplex attempt and delivers a double Suplex to the IIconics. Banks turns a Hurricanrana attempt into a Banks Statement Submission, which looks really nice and fluid. Nattie sets up the Boss n Hug Connection into a combined Sharp-Shooter and locks it in but Tamina breaks it up. The IIconics end up on the end of a Samoan Drop from Tamina and Jax, who clean house. Have I mentioned how much the crowd don’t give a hoot? Jax and Tamina head up top but Jax ends up on the floor (heaven forbid she should take a pin) Phoenix kicks out of a mediocre splash from Banks. It’s all oversold with no real grit. Phoenix lands a Glam Slam off the top rope but just as she’s about to take it home, the IIconics push her out the ring and secure the 3 count.
#AndNew Women’s Tag Team Champions – BIllie Kay and Peyton Royce – The IIconics
This match was a bit of a snore-fest but I’m glad the IIconics won!
WWE Championship Match – Rox
Daniel Bryan (c) v Kofi Kingston
AWWWWW Wrestlemania!! Don’t you dare be sour!
The match begins with a sequence of technical exchanges between these two as they get a feel for what each other has to offer. A nice backstage shot shows the entire Smackdown locker room behind Kingston. Back in the ring the pace quickens as Kingston bounces off the ropes but he’s stopped in his tracks, in true heel fashion, by an innovative submission move from Bryan. A couple of ‘not quite’ high altitude spots follow. Bryan keeps the action close to the mat, where’s most comfortable. Kingston belongs in the air and the conflicting styles are making it hard to find a rhythm initially, Kingston flies and ends up bouncing off the announce table in the most interesting spot so far. Bryan, off the top rope, knees Kingston in the back of the neck as Kingston teeters on the top rope. A Waist Lock from Bryan sees the action back on the mat once again. It stays there too long if I’m honest.
Momentum shifts as Bryan delivers a thunderous Drop kick into the corner. Kingston bursts out of the corner but gets caught in a Boston Crab. He keeps it alive as he crawls to the ropes to break the hold. New Day are willing Kingston on. Bryan is like a pitbull trying to take Kingston down off the top rope. Kingston’s elbows fire the crowd up and he then flies with a splash to Bryan’s back but only manages a 2 count. Exchange of fists has the crowd even more fired up. Trouble in Paradise, reversed into another Boston Crab. Close Range Crossbody from Kingston, Label Lock attempt from Bryan.
SOS from Kingston reversed into a Label lock again but it’s not locked in deep enough and Kingston manages to move away and catch his breath, A series of No Kicks from Bryan has Kingston spent but he makes it to his feet, digs deep and strikes back. Kingston lands an instinctive Reverse Suplex for another 2 count. Rowan attempts to interfere, laying out Woods and E, Kingston delivers an SOS to Rowan and E drops him.
Back in the ring, Bryan delivers his fierce running knee finisher but Kingston kicks out. Oh my God, he kicked out!! Bryan reigns down his face kicks, locks in the Label lock again for the third time but Kingston doesn’t give in. He’s fighting back again returning Bryan’s signature face boots. Trouble in Paradise and a three count. #AndNew WWE Champion…. Kofi Kingston!!
The New day unveil the original WWE Championship with Kofi’s plates on it!! His kids are in the ring with him, new shirts are revealed and everyone is in tears!! What an incredible moment!!
Alexa Bliss meets the Saturday Night Live guys backstage, who are icing their injuries but Scott Hall and Kevin Nash are the doctors and y’all know it’s going downhill for them.
WWE United States Championship
Rey Mysterio vs Samoa Joe (C) – CB
This match is one I’ve been really looking forward to. I love both of these dudes! But sadly, Samoa Joe, vicious as he is tonight, he chokes Mysterio out in about a minute and a half. He’s ruthless. He’s an animal. Rey was hurt on Raw though, this is why they did this I imagine. Quick match due to Rey’s injured ankle. Not really much else to say other than Rey’s ankle buckled during the final spot he had to do. So it definitely a good thing it was rushed, but I think someone like Ali or Andrade could have replaced Mysterio here to put on a full match. Still, we have lots of matches yet to come!
Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre-Wynter
Drew McIntyre comes to the ring with his music being played by the NYPD bagpipe band. Roman Reigns punches a row of fireworks into the sky. Commentary is really gassing up his recent leukemia battle and the question of whether or not Reigns is at 100%. Reigns starts out with some shots to McIntyre’s face and goes into a Samoan Drop. Spinebuster by McIntyre goes into a jackknife cover for two. Reigns hits a Leg Drop on McIntyre, who is hung up on the ropes. Massive headbut from McIntyre and then he tosses Reigns across the ring. McIntyre works the shoulder but Reigns manages to power through, tossing McIntyre over the ropes.
Reigns attempts a Drive By but lands spine-first on the apron and McIntyre takes advantage, suplexing him onto the floor. They get back into the ring and McIntyre runs into Reigns’s elbow before delivering an Alabama Slam to the Big Dog. McIntyre gets up in Reigns’ face on the top rope, saying he should’ve said no to the match. A shot to the face shuts up the Scottish Psychopath, but he uses some great core strength to throw Reigns to the mat. Reigns is fired up after a slap and some more trash talk from McIntyre.
The Drive By connects this time. Reigns kicks McIntyre into the barricade and hits another Samoan Drop on the floor. Reigns catches McIntyre with the superman punch and it looks like he’s setting up for the Spear. Oooahhh and the Spear connects!
Winner: Roman Reigns
Thoughts: After last year’s injustice and Reigns’ battle with cancer, this win is definitely emotional. It wasn’t the best fought match by a long shot, but the sentiment behind the match is really strong. I’m so glad he was able to even have a WrestleMania match.
Grade: B-
Ladies and gentlemen, Elias…
Elias is playing a drum set on the stage. There’s another Elias playing the piano. And there’s a third (the real one) playing guitar in the ring. They play a little tune before taking a bow. Elias asks who wants to walk with Elias, lights in the crowd show Elias, and the crowd chants “Walk with Elias” to the tune of Seven Nation Army. WWE stands for Walk With Elias! He’s interrupted by a special bulletin on the titantron. We’re shown footage from a Babe Ruth game.
John Cena is here as the Doctor of Thuganomics! He’s spitting bars at Elias, calling him a Wasted Wrestling Experiment. He strikes Elias before giving us the “You can’t see me” taunt and the five knuckle shuffle. He gives Elias the FU (the original name of the AA) and then swaggers off back to the locker room.
Thoughts: Back in time to 2002! I thoroughly enjoyed that trip down memory lane. That may have been the first time some of these kids have seen this version of John Cena; wish I could’ve seen more of their reactions.
Grade: A-
Batista vs Triple H-Wynter
No Holds Barred/Triple H’s Career on the Line
Batista rolls up in a car; he’s got an entrance fit for a movie star. He’s got his pyro back and he’s also covered in some new ink! Unfortunately he trips into the ring, taking away some of the intimidation factor. He also stares down Shawn Michaels, who is a guest commentator, and Triple H’s parents. Triple H comes out on the back of a customized Mad Max car and it’s epic. They have a bit of a staredown right as the bell rings before Batista goes right for Hunter. Batista throws Hunter over the announce table, but the game jumps back at him. Hunter slings a toolbox at Batista from behind the barricade. Hunter whoops Batista with a length of chains before wrapping them around his face and skull.
Hunter grips Batista’s hands in a wrench and twists it, putting all his body weight on the tool. He then props a chair across the throat of Batista, sitting on it before pulling his nose ring out with a pair of tweezers. Hunter wraps his hand in chains and tries to come at Batista but he slams Hunter on the announce table. Batista throws Hunter into the barricade and then slams him on the announce table again.
They’re back in the ring clobbering at each other. Hunter goes for the Pedigree, but Batista counters it for a near fall. Batista runs into Hunter with the steel steps before re-arranging stuff on the announce table. He piles a prone Hunter onto the ring steps, setting up for a Batista Bomb but Hunter reverses it into a back body drop. Crotch chop taunt from Hunter and then he drives Batista through the German announce table with a spear.
Hunter digs around under the ring for some toys and brings out the sledgehammer but a spear from Batista sends it flying. Hunter recovers the sledgehammer and runs into a spinebuster. Batista bomb connects for a near fall! Batista drags the stairs back into the ring and sets up Hunter on the top rope. Hunter slips through and power bombs Batista on the steps before hitting a Pedigree. Batista is still in this match though! Ric Flair hand-delivers a sledgehammer to Triple H, who smashes it into Batista’s face and hits the Pedigree to win. Triple H’s career is still intact!
Winner: Triple H
Thoughts: I had my doubts that this match was going to hold up, but I was completely wrong! Coming out the gate with the tools and then having the hellacious table spots kept the excitement levels up. The pace did slow down a little bit near the end but the spot with Ric Flair was great.
Grade: B+
This is incredibly clever booking. If Angle loses there is a possibility of Finn and Becky going over but there is no way on earth we’re going to get HHH, Angle, Finn and Becky going over As this goes on, I can’t help but think Becky isn’t going to win. Never have we ever had all events turn out as we want – Rox
Kurt Angle vs Baron Corbin-Wynter
Kurt Angle’s Farewell Match
Baron Corbin has his special entrance, with all his accolades being read out. Kurt angle enters, wearing his snazzy America singlet. They lock up and trade some strikes. Corbin taunts Angle’s family, who are sitting ringside. Angle tries to lock in the Ankle Lock but Corbin fights out of it. Angle eats a Deep Six but gets an Angle Slam on Corbin. He locks the Ankle Lock on Corbin in the middle of the ring. Corbin is trying to reach the ropes, but manages to roll through and out of the lock. Corbin mocks John Cena and gets three German suplexes for his efforts.Angle goes for the moonsault but Corbin moves out of the way. End of Days and Corbin wins!
Afterwards, Kurt Angle gives a little farewell speech before going over to his family.
Winner: Baron Corbin
WWE Intercontinental Championship – CB
The Demon vs The Almighty
Finn Balor vs Bobby Lashley (c) w Lio Rush
Lashley made his entrance, wearing Gold contact lenses and they made him look really bloody intimidating, as if he wasn’t already. But then out comes The Demon looking insane and crawling down the ramp and up the steps and all that. The body paint work is exquisite on this design too! Lashley and Balor look insanely good against one another with their gimmicky badassery. This was a very strong match in terms of moves, signature moves like a Shotgun Dropkick and Tope Con Hilo happened in the first 15 seconds! Lashley took a page out of Big E’s book when he speared Balor off the apron and then appeared him again! But The Demon kicked out.. then reversed a powerbomb.. kicked Lashley in the face and frickin’ Powerbombed Lashley! Like.. double his weight and change, he lifted and slammed down! Hit a Coup De Gras to the solar plexus and pinned him for a 3 and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion, ‘The Demon’ Finn Balor. Congratulations to Finn Balor on becoming 2 time IC champion! The match was actually really cool. It wasn’t very long, but the hits were hard and the pace was fast! I’m happy with this, despite being pissed at WWE for taking the Title off of Balor, only to put it back on him 3 weeks later.
Thoughts: Though many fans did not expect, or want, Baron Corbin in this match, I think this was a good call. It kind of finishes up the story of Corbin taking Angle’s authority figure job. Corbin did a fantastic job of selling in this match. This is surely going to add to Corbin’s heel heat going forward.
Grade: C+
Women’s Championship – Winner Takes All – Raw and Smackdown Live women’s title match. Charlotte v Ronda Rousey v Becky Lynch – Rox
Charlotte (c) Smackdown Women’s Champion arrives by helicopter v Ronda Rousey (c) Raw Women’s Champion arrives to a serenade by Joan Jett. Stop smiling Ronda!!! Oooh she did! Charlotte looks very confident and the fanfair is tangible. Becky Lynch means business and the look on her face says it all and the Kill Bill outfit is killer!!
Are you ready?!
Initial stand-off. And we’re off!!
Rousey unleashing her educated and calculated offence. Pipers Pit to Charlotte. Charlotte targeting the broken knee of Lynch. Becky and Charlotte work together to try and drop Rousey out of the ring, Rousey drops hard to the mat and she sells that landing, but had to watch it twice to check. Charlotte firmly in control in the early going. A Moonsault from Charlotte and an Arm Bar from Becky keep it light and swift in the early going.
Natural Selection from Charlotte and Becky kicks out. Rousey too, kicks out.
The emotion is tangible, you can’t help but feel it. Rousey begs for more and Charlotte full on slaps her. Becky lands a double reverse DDT to both but only manages a 2 count. Charlotte and Becky are the workshorses, up on the top rope and Bex-poloder off the top rope and another near fall for Lynch. DOuble Crossbody response from Rousey. Double Arm Bar. Rousey picked up and slammed not once, not twice but three times before she breaks the hold. Near fall for Charlotte.
Rock Bottom from Becky to Charlotte, Becky is wearing the pace down, showing her stamina. Arm Bar from Lynch to Rousey, Rousey lifts her up and drops her. Becky locks in the Arm Bar round the ropes but Charlotte breaks it, capitalising with a Spanish Fly from the top rope. Beautiful move!!
Charlotte locks in a Figure Four to Rousey around the ring post. A back and forth between Rousey and Charlotte enthralls but is broken by a Leg Drop from Lynch off the top rope.
Becky gets a table out. Triple threat AKA, No Disqualification.
Slight mele around the table, as Rousey tips it over, but shortly after unleases shots to Becky but out of nowhere Charlotte double Spears them both. All but Charlotte are down and she sets up the table again. Rousey’s face gets bounced off the table in the corner, Spear to Becky! Charlotte is firmly in control.
Charlotte goes into the table but it didn’t give. Becky and Rousey go at it, Rousey getting the upper hand executes a Pipers Pit but a shift of weight meant Becky Lynch got the pin and the 3 count and Becky emerges victorious!!! Winner takes all Becky Lynch takes all. Even though, technically Rousey’s shoulders were up.
For once, in the history of Wrestlemania, the fans got exactly what they asked for!!
