Welcome brothers and sisters, to the biggest spectacle of the wrestling calendar. We had two nights of awesome and not so awesome matches. Let’s break down Night 1.
1. The Usos defeated Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs by pinfall for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship in 6:55
I was hopeful to see new champs but an injury to the Freddy Mercury of Smackdown saw Boogs incapacitated for most of the match. He tried to lift both the Usos to show case his strength and injured his knee. Nakamura was left with a mountain to climb but what could’ve been turned into what should’ve been with the champions retaining. Bit of a wobbly start but on with the show. 5/10
2. Drew McIntyre defeated Happy Corbin by pinfall in 8:35
It was a fine match ending with the Scottish warrior dispatching Corbin. Drew even went as far as being the first superstar to kick out of the End of Days. Also seeing a man his size doing a kip up or jumping headfirst over the top ropes is mindboggling. Drew finished the match with a future shock DDT and a Claymore. Handing Happy Corbin his first loss since he embraced his Happy persona. Still not sold on the new Corbin but that’s why the writers get the big bucks. 6.5/10
3. The Miz and Logan Paul defeated Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio by pinfall in 11:15
I was hesitant about Logan entering the squared circle but give the devil his due. Logan is a very fit cruiserweight and clearly has spent some time learning the ropes. He drew massive heat impersonating the great and late Eddie Guerero’s moves. He came of very stiff at times, maybe he was caught up in the spotlight of Wrestlemania. Logan and Miz pulled of the win with the Miz turning on Logan delivering a Skull Crusher Finale after the match leaving us to ponder if we’ll see more of Logan? I’m not a fan of him as a person but he draws volcanic amounts of heat so maybe? 7/10
4. Bianca Belair defeated Becky Lynch (c) by pinfall for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship in 19:10
It came full circle. After a quick shock defeat at Summerslam at the hands of Becky last year Bianca finally got her title back. Surviving Lynch’s manhandle slam on the steel steps and taking a vicious boot to the face resulting in a black eye after the match. Later there was a great spot with Bianca hitting a handspring on to the apron into suplex to the floor. There’s few people I think that can pull this off with ease. The EST showed her resilience despite Becky’s constant offense and counters delivering the KOD and winning back the title. One of the best matches of the evening. 9/10
5. Cody Rhodes defeated Seth “Freakin” Rollins by pinfall in 21:40
Seth was looking at missing out on a Wrestlemania for the first time since Wrestlemania 32. But Mr. McMahon promised him a match with an opponent of Vince’s choosing. Out came the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes after being absent from the WWE for six years to the roar of the crowd, what followed was a display of athleticism and acrobatics seen rarely in the ring these days. Seth can make anyone look great in the ring, not that Cody was a slouch. Cody has clearly matured during his time away. And Seth is turning into one of those stars that doesn’t need a title to shine in the ring, much like the Undertaker. I pray a feud develops between these two. In the end Rhodes was able to hit Rollins with the Cody Cutter for the win. If there’s one match you watch this year this is the one. 9/10
6. Charlotte Flair defeated Ronda Rousey by pinfall for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship in 18:30
Ronda picked Charlotte after winning the Royal Rumble fully confident she could claim the title, but it wasn’t meant to be. During the match she became the first woman to escape the figure eight from Charlotte though it wasn’t enough. With the referee down for the count after being taken out accidently by Charlotte, Ronda managed to apply her patented armbar. Yet with the ref down and Charlotte tapping there was no one to award the win. At the end Ronda got distracted while attending to the referee. Just long enough for Charlotte to deliver a big boot and pick up the win. Tried and true method for a heel to win. 8/10
7. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin defeated Kevin Owens by pinfall in 13:55
Kevin invited Steve on his KO show after spending weeks talking trash about Texas and mocking Steve Austin. Austin who came down in a foul mood wrecked the set which Kevin didn’t take kindly to. Throwing down the gauntlet Kevin challenged Steve to a no holds barred match. The Rattlesnake would compete for the first time since 2003 and he immediately accepted. What followed was more of a homage than an actual match. It spanned the entire arena. Steve even stopped multiple times for a beer. (Take a sip every time he does 😜) Surviving Kevin’s stunner Austin would deliver his own and claim the win. Celebrating afterwards with even more beers he invited commentator Brayn Saxton into the ring only to deliver a stunner to Bryan as well to the roar of the crowd. 7/10
All in all, a decent start to Wrestlemania. A real pity about Boogs getting injured. All the best to him and I wish him a speedy recovery.
I like beer. All of the beer. Also I took a selfie with a emu once and didn't die.