As a huge wrestling fan of more than two decades, my skepticism of how the Grandest Stage of ‘Em All would play out.  WWE has been mired with disappointment in recent shows and years through: terrible pushes, burials, repetition, shotty storylines, unwanted stars, not getting what the people want, etc. in a sense, it was baaaaaad. The best product they have produced was NXT, because it seemed like they truly care about wrestling…on Wednesday’s. But then, there was hope. 

Shane McMahon made his WWE return to face the Undertaker and The Rock was making an appearance to share a big announcement. There was true excitement resuscitating the WWE Universe. Hell, even the world. WWE’s partnership with ESPN has made the WWE become more mainstreamed astronomically and less cult classic, which truly helps the promotion of the end of WWE’s season. The end of a season, that in a sense was extremely epic.

WWE Kickoff

The Kickoff show was a staunch warmup to the main card to follow. Kalisto would face off against Ryback for the US title in a David vs Goliath battle, that Kalisto would win. It was not memorable and gladly it was over. Overdone storyline. We get it, bully’s never win and are not cool! Enough please. Moving on.

  
The Total Divas from the same title of the E! Network show faced off with Team B.A.D. And Blondes. This match did have some potential, and exceeded it. For starters, NO ONE LIKES EVA MARIE. No matter how much they shove her down the throats of the masses, they hate her. However, she can sort of wrestle better. She’s a work in progress from Model to Wrestler, and still has work to do. Natalya  needs to not put people over anymore and contend, for real this time for the title. She is one of the best female wrestlers in this company, and deserves it. Lana made her first in ring debut and was protected by spots, but made the most out of it and did really well. Glad she made the in-ring transition. Great charisma can go far despite lack of skills. 

The Total Divas won, and long injured Nikki Bella made an appearance with her neckbrace to celebrate with her cast members that garnered a huge pop from the crowd.

   
 Following the women, Hall of Fame Women’s Wrestler Lita, debuted a new title for the women’s division. No longer will they have the girly stereotypical Barbieish Diva’s title, they will be wearing the new Women’s Title. It’s similar to the Men’s but different, just like their style in the ring. Love the WWE has taken the egalitarian route and left behind the chauvinistic sexist antics of the attitude era to now. Respect women and respect their craft. It’s time for a change and change is here. Thank you.

Finally, the Uso’s took on the legendary Dudley Boyz. The Uso’s are the face and Dudley Boyz are the heels. I say this because the Uso’s got booed out of the building, because the fans are tired of seeing them win doing the same damn thing every damn time. Plus, c’mon it’s the DUDLEY BOYZ!!! The wrong team one and the wrong team went through the tables. I get it’s for putting them over, but if no one wants them, there’s no point. Booso’s won the match.
  

Intercontinental Title Ladder Match

The I.C. Title match saw Kevin Owens defend his title against: Sin Cara, Dolph Ziggler, Zack Ryder, Sami Zayn, Stardust and The Miz. Many fans expected a Sami Zayn win over his longtime NXT rival and former friend, but it wouldn’t be. Some crazy spots were taken in this match. Stardust was annihilated through a ladder by Sin Cara. Zack Ryder did his best Shawn Michaels impression by dropping an elbow from the top of the ladder.  And, Kevin Owens like died after being Explodered into a ladder and just like, laid there. Forever. Motionless. And no one helped. That gave time for Zack Ryder to climb the ladder and take the belt for the first time in his career. His first WrestleMania, his first win. As a longtime Ryder fan I’m stoked he won. From burial to US Title reign to re-Burial he has never quit. The fans love him, he deserves this and to be at this stage.

   
   
Jericho Vs. Styles

A great match vs great competitors, except for one thing. The guy from TNA didn’t win even high he should have and it killed all of the build up of the match. I love Jericho and how he puts talent over, like Fandango at WrestleMania this should’ve been the time for that. It wasn’t so, meh.

  
The New Day vs The League of Nations

Fresh off and entertaining HOF introduction for induction of the Fabulous Freebirds, The New Day jumped out a box of Booty O’s for their entrance. It was glorious and hilarious. 

  
They took on the League of Nations and wasted talent and actually lost to the chagrine of everyone. King Barrett took to the mic and talked some smack about not any three could step in the ring with them, even though the New Day beat them many times except the last weeks. Then the music hit. 

    
Mr. WrestleMania himself, Shawn Michaels took to the ramp in ring gear. *Cue mark out*. Next, Legendary Mick Foley took to the ramp *more mark out*. Finally, Stone Cold’s music hit and I’m pretty sure grown men wet themselves. *cue potty accidents*. They met the League of Nations in the ring and did their respective finishers to clear house. The New Day came in to do their booty dance with them, which Xavier Woods became too eager. He promptly got a stunner and beers were shared with the legends to the biggest pop of the night..so far.

    

 
Brock Lesnar vs Dean Ambrose Street Fight

This was built up to be a massacre, but it wasn’t. The one who should’ve won, won. But damn did Ambrose put on a show! He may legit be crazy to do a street fight with Brock Lesnar but held his own and didn’t break. At least on camera. He sold well and held his own. It’s just Brock Lesnar is a a legit beast. He beat the Undertaker, he’s going to beat Ambrose that’s a given. But at least they put on an entertaining show.

   
    
 WWE Women’s Title

The crowd was pumped for this one. Last year, three NXT divas, this year on the main card of WrestleMania to fight for the inaugural WWE Women’s Title. 

  
Sasha Banks had recent WWE HOFer Snoop Dogg do a variation of her song, may be new, Charlotte had her father’s robe from his last match form fitted for her, and Becky Lynch…all by her lonesome.

   
  I’m a huge fan of these competitors, but they kind of disappointed in the beginning. It was probably from nerves but they sorted it out quickly. It seemed as if it was up for grabs the whole time, except we see me to have forgotten of the dirtiest player in the game. Ric Flair grabbed Sasha Banks’ Eddie Guerrero inspired tights so she couldn’t break the hold Charlotte had on Becky causing her to tap to the Figure 8. 

The women showed up despite a slow start and solidified their place in WreslteMania history.

  
Undertaker vs Shane McMahon

This might have been the best Undertaker match since CM Punk. Shane McMahon threw the woodwork at him and the kitchen sink.  Coast to Coast with the trash can, Hell’s Gate, Steel Steps fists and dropkicks. He even cut open the Hell in a Cell to create a WrestleMania moment. He did. He climbed up the steel structure with a prone Undertaker laid out on the announce table after a hit to the head of a monitor, to lay down a 20 ft elbow drop. He hit one from the top rope at the go home show of Raw, why not WrestleMania? Except, the Undertaker moved. And he hit the ground. Hard. A la Mick Foley. And that was it. A Tombstone Piledriver and he was out of it. 

   
   
Shane held his own against the Taker. If he won, he’d be in control of Raw (Yes!) if he lost, the Undertaker wouldn’t be allowed to wrestle anymore (Yes! I honestly don’t want to see him die out there). Alas, Shane was stretchered out in front of the thousands of fans in attendance and his 3 kids he shared the ramp with. He fought hard, but hopefully all isn’t lost with Shane McMahon and hopefully we see more of him. 7 years is too long.

Andre the Giant Battle Royal

Big Show and Kane were the favourites in this match because well, they’re giants. Then a surprise contestant came, “The Big Diesel” Shaq. After the formidable big man battle with Shaq and Show chokeslamming Kane and by their abrupt elimination, the match officially started.

  

 Oh yeah, Tatanka and DDP were there too! In the end Baron Corbin would win. Yes, the Lone Wolf of NXT. The one everyone in NXT booed for being too dominant but is extremely bad ass. He won. And the place went NUTS! NXT chants and Corbin chants galore. He finally made it. Now if only Enzo and Cass would be brought up…
  
The Rock

The Rock made his highly anticipated appearance at WrestleMania. He was preceded by the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and he came out hot. Not just from sweating or the pop he got, he literally came out with a flame thrower and lit his name on fire.

  
He gets to the ring and shares with the crowd they have broken an attendance record for WrestleMania (yeah bask in it! It’s a big deal) and is interrupted by Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family (I was hoping he’d be there!!!).

   
 Bray gives a great promo to why he’s there, while The Rock shows him love and it seems like a face turn until it gets more heated. The Rock then proclaims to have an impromptu match. Strips to his gear and goes toe to toe with Erick Rowan (because Bray’s the Cowardly Heel). Rock breaks the WrestleMania match record with a 6 sec pin. But the Wyatt’s weren’t done there. 

  
They crowded the ring to jump The Rock when a certain song hit.

  
John Cena returned to the WWE. Now I’m not a huge Cena fan but at this moment, I kind of got on the bandwagon. Fresh off injury and looking better than ever, he ran to aid Rock. They hit their respective finishers, to clear house and celebrated with the crowd. It was the biggest pop of the night.

   
 Main Event: Roman Reigns vs Triple H

The King of Kings’ entrance began with a powerful theatric speech by his leather clad wife Stephanie McMahon and foot soldiers carrying belts to the ring. 

   
 He was met with cheers and love throughout his entrance. Then, Roman Reigns came down. He was booed more than Batista. They called him Bootista so it’s now going to be Booman Reigns. Seriously, it was bad. 

Reigns was getting beat down the whole match by HHH and the crowd. They loved to see him get beat down. The tied up on the ropes to HHH dropping his patented knee on the back of his head put glee to the crowds faces as it seem to solidify The Games dominance and cement a win for him in the Main Event. 

Reigns’ ‘I did and I Will Again’ mantra was trying to take effect in the match when he injured his arm busting HHH through the barricade. Sympathy pop spot. However, once The Cerebral Assassin Took notice he hit him with the Fujiwara Armbar to the crowds delight that the ‘Chosen One’ wouldn’t win the title. 

   
 Except, Reigns’ two well timed and hulked up Superman Punches rallied him. An inadvertent spear to Stephanie McMahon, who recently interfered with a count, set HHH in a rage dropping him with a Pedigree. She passed him the Sledgehammer (no shovel? Jk) to finish him off. Reigns dodged on multiple attempts and hit him with a Spear to end the match. 1-2-3. 

   
 Contfeti remained down, and unfortunately for Reigns so did the boos. They were ill-advised because he had a hard fought match and put on a great performance. He may not be what the universe wants, but it’s what we have. Embrace it.

WreslteMania Rundown

This WrestleMania was the best in years. Old faces and new shines bright under the big lights in Dallas. Diva’s division evolved into the Women’s division. Boyhood and girlhood dreams were achieved, millions of fans delighted, maybe some were crushed, but either way we were all entertained at the Greatest Spectacle of Them All.

With the season over, a new one begins tonight at 8pm on USA on the hottest Raw of the year! Be sure to tune in!
All photos via WWE.com

Cover photo via annoyedcritic.com