"Woken" Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy is headed to The Hardy Compound, and “Woken” Matt Hardy has Bray Wyatt of all people to thank for it.
In the first match of the WrestleMania 34 Kickoff, at the site of the very first Andre Battle Royal — the sold-out Mercedes-Benz Superdome -- the Woken Superstar procured the prestigious prize by eliminating former trophy winner Baron Corbin to claim The Show of Shows’ annual over-the-top-rope fray.
With dozens of Raw and SmackDown Superstars eying the vaunted trophy, the victory was anything but easy. As soon as the opening bell rang, the field of competitors burst into action. Aiden English had the unenviable distinction of being the first man eliminated, a rough way to mark this particular Rusev Day. Dolph Ziggler doggedly avoided elimination at every turn, skinning the cat more than a fellmonger.
Golden Truth reunited briefly before Goldust double-crossed R-Truth and sent him flying (a feat that The Bizarre One topped off with a celebratory dab). As the pack continued to thin, Zack Ryder signaled for a Broski Boot on Ziggler but was cut off by a brutal pounce from another past Andre Battle Royal victor, Mojo Rawley, resulting in the elimination of his onetime Hype Bro teammate.
Eventually, the Battle Royal dwindled down to Hardy, Corbin and Rawley. Corbin and Rawley forged an unlikely alliance and put boots to Hardy. But just when things looked bleakest for The Woken One, Wyatt appeared seemingly out of thin air, marking his first time back in the ring since before Hardy defeated him in The Ultimate Deletion.
To the astonishment of everyone, especially Hardy, Wyatt’s arrival was a blessing in disguise. The New Face of Fear helped Hardy eliminate Mojo, but was almost immediately met by an End of Days from Corbin. With his attention diverted, Corbin stumbled into a waiting Hardy, who backdropped The Lone Wolf onto the floor for the win.
“Woken” Matt thanked Wyatt (as did the WWE Universe, with chants of “Thank you, Wyatt”), and the two twisted forces embraced.
With his challenge to The Undertaker still unanswered, John Cena sat among the WWE Universe with a stunned expression on his face. His reaction said it all. A new and confounding alliance has arrived in WWE. (Via WWE.com)
In the first match of the WrestleMania 34 Kickoff, at the site of the very first Andre Battle Royal — the sold-out Mercedes-Benz Superdome -- the Woken Superstar procured the prestigious prize by eliminating former trophy winner Baron Corbin to claim The Show of Shows’ annual over-the-top-rope fray.
With dozens of Raw and SmackDown Superstars eying the vaunted trophy, the victory was anything but easy. As soon as the opening bell rang, the field of competitors burst into action. Aiden English had the unenviable distinction of being the first man eliminated, a rough way to mark this particular Rusev Day. Dolph Ziggler doggedly avoided elimination at every turn, skinning the cat more than a fellmonger.
Golden Truth reunited briefly before Goldust double-crossed R-Truth and sent him flying (a feat that The Bizarre One topped off with a celebratory dab). As the pack continued to thin, Zack Ryder signaled for a Broski Boot on Ziggler but was cut off by a brutal pounce from another past Andre Battle Royal victor, Mojo Rawley, resulting in the elimination of his onetime Hype Bro teammate.
Eventually, the Battle Royal dwindled down to Hardy, Corbin and Rawley. Corbin and Rawley forged an unlikely alliance and put boots to Hardy. But just when things looked bleakest for The Woken One, Wyatt appeared seemingly out of thin air, marking his first time back in the ring since before Hardy defeated him in The Ultimate Deletion.
To the astonishment of everyone, especially Hardy, Wyatt’s arrival was a blessing in disguise. The New Face of Fear helped Hardy eliminate Mojo, but was almost immediately met by an End of Days from Corbin. With his attention diverted, Corbin stumbled into a waiting Hardy, who backdropped The Lone Wolf onto the floor for the win.
“Woken” Matt thanked Wyatt (as did the WWE Universe, with chants of “Thank you, Wyatt”), and the two twisted forces embraced.
With his challenge to The Undertaker still unanswered, John Cena sat among the WWE Universe with a stunned expression on his face. His reaction said it all. A new and confounding alliance has arrived in WWE. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander defeated Mustafa Ali.
The epic struggle between friends Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander – the heart and soul of WWE 205 Live, respectively – came to an epic, yet bittersweet end at WrestleMania 34 where Alexander defeated Ali to finally reach the mountaintop and claim the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
It was a long journey for both Superstars. When the WWE Cruiserweight Championship was held in abeyance on Jan. 23, Alexander lost an opportunity that awaited him at Royal Rumble. That same night, Alexander defeated Ali in a fast-paced showcase of each Superstar’s ability, setting the tone for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament that kicked off the next week. Facing off against some of the best Cruiserweights in the world, Ali and Alexander vanquished the competition, earning their chance to compete on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
The mutual respect between the two Superstars was clearly on display as they shook hands before Alexander encouraged Ali to show the WWE Universe what the Cruiserweight division was all about. Once the pleasantries were out of the way, the two exchanged heavy shots and daring aerial maneuvers, encouraging and taunting each other along the way.
Alexander eventually took control of the contest by taking down Ali with an incredible dive to the outside. Utilizing his strength and striking advantage, Cedric focused his attention on his opponent’s midsection and used his technical ability to keep the high-flying Ali grounded.
However, Ali – who took an incredible amount of punishment throughout the tournament – battled back with quick strikes and high-impact moves that left Alexander on the defensive. In an incredible show of resiliency, Alexander stopped Ali’s momentum with an unbelievable Spanish Fly in the middle of the ring.
The battle continued as both competitors made their way to the top rope. Ali kept the pressure on Alexander, executing a jaw-dropping Spanish Fly that left even John Cena – who was in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome crowd – in disbelief. Attempting to seize on his momentum, Ali tried to set up his patented 054, but Alexander launched him off the top rope to the floor. Despite the cringe-inducing landing, Ali regained his composure to execute an incredible sequence of a reverse hurricanrana, tornado DDT and the 054.
Securing the pinfall, Ali had victory in sight until the official noticed Alexander’s foot on the ropes. Frustrated, Ali unleashed on his friend with unbridled rage. Attempting the 054 again, Ali came up short as Alexander rolled out of the way, and once again the heart and soul of WWE 205 Live stood at odds.
Charging forward, Alexander nailed Ali with two reverse elbows before reluctantly hitting a third. Alexander then lifted Ali into the air and executed the Lumbar Check to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. It was a crowning achievement for Alexander, but both competitors will leave New Orleans looking like stars. (Via WWE.com)
It was a long journey for both Superstars. When the WWE Cruiserweight Championship was held in abeyance on Jan. 23, Alexander lost an opportunity that awaited him at Royal Rumble. That same night, Alexander defeated Ali in a fast-paced showcase of each Superstar’s ability, setting the tone for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament that kicked off the next week. Facing off against some of the best Cruiserweights in the world, Ali and Alexander vanquished the competition, earning their chance to compete on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
The mutual respect between the two Superstars was clearly on display as they shook hands before Alexander encouraged Ali to show the WWE Universe what the Cruiserweight division was all about. Once the pleasantries were out of the way, the two exchanged heavy shots and daring aerial maneuvers, encouraging and taunting each other along the way.
Alexander eventually took control of the contest by taking down Ali with an incredible dive to the outside. Utilizing his strength and striking advantage, Cedric focused his attention on his opponent’s midsection and used his technical ability to keep the high-flying Ali grounded.
However, Ali – who took an incredible amount of punishment throughout the tournament – battled back with quick strikes and high-impact moves that left Alexander on the defensive. In an incredible show of resiliency, Alexander stopped Ali’s momentum with an unbelievable Spanish Fly in the middle of the ring.
The battle continued as both competitors made their way to the top rope. Ali kept the pressure on Alexander, executing a jaw-dropping Spanish Fly that left even John Cena – who was in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome crowd – in disbelief. Attempting to seize on his momentum, Ali tried to set up his patented 054, but Alexander launched him off the top rope to the floor. Despite the cringe-inducing landing, Ali regained his composure to execute an incredible sequence of a reverse hurricanrana, tornado DDT and the 054.
Securing the pinfall, Ali had victory in sight until the official noticed Alexander’s foot on the ropes. Frustrated, Ali unleashed on his friend with unbridled rage. Attempting the 054 again, Ali came up short as Alexander rolled out of the way, and once again the heart and soul of WWE 205 Live stood at odds.
Charging forward, Alexander nailed Ali with two reverse elbows before reluctantly hitting a third. Alexander then lifted Ali into the air and executed the Lumbar Check to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. It was a crowning achievement for Alexander, but both competitors will leave New Orleans looking like stars. (Via WWE.com)
Naomi won the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal.
The inaugural WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal was nearly Bayley’s moment. As she tossed her seemingly former friend, Sasha Banks, over the top rope and the WWE Universe erupted in cheers, it seemed The Huggable One had finally squeezed success. It was Naomi, however, who was left glowing on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Only one woman was left standing, but every competitor who entered this over-the-top rope melee — including Superstars from Raw, SmackDown LIVE and NXT — came to make history. And Carmella was the first to do it. Ms. Money in the Bank was attacked by virtually the entire field at the jump, and she became the first woman ever eliminated from the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.
Whether it was Kairi Sane’s dazzling InSane Elbow or Bianca Blair using her hair as a weapon that echoed throughout the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, it was clear that every single Superstar had come to show up and show out.
With alliances forming — particularly between NXT Superstars and within SmackDown LIVE’s Riott Squad — and the numbers dwindling, preexisting personal beefs began to rear their ugly heads. The long-simmering conflict between Bayley and Sasha came to a head on The Grandest Stage of Them All after the two teamed up to eliminate several Superstars, and Bayley got her just desserts for both Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber when she hurled Sasha over the top rope to the ground for what she believed to be the win.
However, as The Huggable One began to celebrate, she turned around to a major surprise when Naomi, who had been down on the outside for most of the contest, got back in the ring.
Bayley charged the former SmackDown Women’s Champion, but after feeling a Rearview from Naomi, the only hug Bayley needed was that of consoling, and Naomi threw the dazed Bayley over the top rope to win the first-ever WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.
A year after she won the SmackDown Women’s Title on The Grandest Stage of Them All, Naomi had again made history.
Glow on, girl. (Via WWE.com)
Only one woman was left standing, but every competitor who entered this over-the-top rope melee — including Superstars from Raw, SmackDown LIVE and NXT — came to make history. And Carmella was the first to do it. Ms. Money in the Bank was attacked by virtually the entire field at the jump, and she became the first woman ever eliminated from the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.
Whether it was Kairi Sane’s dazzling InSane Elbow or Bianca Blair using her hair as a weapon that echoed throughout the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, it was clear that every single Superstar had come to show up and show out.
With alliances forming — particularly between NXT Superstars and within SmackDown LIVE’s Riott Squad — and the numbers dwindling, preexisting personal beefs began to rear their ugly heads. The long-simmering conflict between Bayley and Sasha came to a head on The Grandest Stage of Them All after the two teamed up to eliminate several Superstars, and Bayley got her just desserts for both Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber when she hurled Sasha over the top rope to the ground for what she believed to be the win.
However, as The Huggable One began to celebrate, she turned around to a major surprise when Naomi, who had been down on the outside for most of the contest, got back in the ring.
Bayley charged the former SmackDown Women’s Champion, but after feeling a Rearview from Naomi, the only hug Bayley needed was that of consoling, and Naomi threw the dazed Bayley over the top rope to win the first-ever WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.
A year after she won the SmackDown Women’s Title on The Grandest Stage of Them All, Naomi had again made history.
Glow on, girl. (Via WWE.com)
Intercontinental Championship: Seth Rollins defeated INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION, The Miz & Finn Bálor.
Seth Rollins walked into WrestleMania last year under the gold banner of a Kingslayer. This year, he walked in with the blue eyes of The Night King, and fittingly enough, he brought winter with him.
The Architect is now Intercontinental Champion for the first time, snapping the eighth reign of the preening champion The Miz and denying Finn Bálor to join joined his Shield brothers as a Grand Slam Champion.
If there was one advantage for the incumbent titleholder Miz, it was that Bálor and Rollins were drawn to each other throughout the entire match, fittingly enough given the long rivalry that has recently reignited. Miz, who had hoped to pit the two of them against each other to bolster his own chances, found a lot of success as a spoiler, pouncing with a Skull-Crushing Finale to Rollins, torturing Bálor in the Figure-Four Leglock and catching an airborne Rollins with a bulldog off the top rope.
To his credit, he also dismissed The Miztourage from ringside prior to the opening bell, preferring to go it alone in order to set an example for his newborn daughter, Monroe Sky. As it turns out, he could have used them.
Rollins was a force of nature, appearing without warning and striking without mercy. He broke up the Figure-Four to Bálor by Frog-Splashing Miz, and, crucially, he had no problem biding his time until the opportune moment. That turned out to be after Bálor had landed a pair of Coup de Grâces to The Miz, one to the back and one to the chest. When The Extraordinary Man attempted to cover the champion, Rollins swooped in with a stomp that took Finn out of the running. As Miz struggled to his knees, Seth tuned up the band and administered a second stomp to The A-Lister to win the title.
Now Rollins, who has seemed like a new man since a record-setting Gauntlet Match in February, has the gold to back it up. The Kingslayer has claimed the throne. Say hello to Seth Rollins, Intercontinental Champion, first of his name. Long may he reign. (Via WWE.com)
The Architect is now Intercontinental Champion for the first time, snapping the eighth reign of the preening champion The Miz and denying Finn Bálor to join joined his Shield brothers as a Grand Slam Champion.
If there was one advantage for the incumbent titleholder Miz, it was that Bálor and Rollins were drawn to each other throughout the entire match, fittingly enough given the long rivalry that has recently reignited. Miz, who had hoped to pit the two of them against each other to bolster his own chances, found a lot of success as a spoiler, pouncing with a Skull-Crushing Finale to Rollins, torturing Bálor in the Figure-Four Leglock and catching an airborne Rollins with a bulldog off the top rope.
To his credit, he also dismissed The Miztourage from ringside prior to the opening bell, preferring to go it alone in order to set an example for his newborn daughter, Monroe Sky. As it turns out, he could have used them.
Rollins was a force of nature, appearing without warning and striking without mercy. He broke up the Figure-Four to Bálor by Frog-Splashing Miz, and, crucially, he had no problem biding his time until the opportune moment. That turned out to be after Bálor had landed a pair of Coup de Grâces to The Miz, one to the back and one to the chest. When The Extraordinary Man attempted to cover the champion, Rollins swooped in with a stomp that took Finn out of the running. As Miz struggled to his knees, Seth tuned up the band and administered a second stomp to The A-Lister to win the title.
Now Rollins, who has seemed like a new man since a record-setting Gauntlet Match in February, has the gold to back it up. The Kingslayer has claimed the throne. Say hello to Seth Rollins, Intercontinental Champion, first of his name. Long may he reign. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Women's Championship: SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Charlotte Flair defeated Asuka by submission.
Asuka’s streak is over.
After 267 wins over two and a half years, including an unmatched reign as NXT Women’s Champion, a rampage through the Raw roster, winning the Mixed Match Challenge and a historic victory in the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match, The Empress of Tomorrow finally met her match in SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. The Queen handed Asuka her first loss, forcing The Empress of Tomorrow to tap out to the Figure-Eight Leglock at WrestleMania 34.
Both competitors exuded confidence as they stepped foot on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Clad in gold, Flair arrived on a throne befitting her position as sports-entertainment royalty, flanked by a fleet of gladiators that escorted the second-generation Superstar to the squared circle. The allusions to Charlotte’s own debut as part of Triple H’s WrestleMania 30 entrance in the same venue were not lost on anyone. Asuka, meanwhile, responded by strutting to the ring with the same swagger that helped her rack up win after win between the ropes.
The two competitors proved to be evenly matched in the opening moments of the bouts. Both competitors traded holds in an athletic display that left the WWE Universe in awe. After sending Flair crashing to the arena floor, The Empress of Tomorrow took control of the match, slowing it down as she wrenched on The Queen’s arm.
Charlotte battled back and had her challenger in position for her picture-perfect moonsault. However, Asuka was ready for Flair, catching the champion in a triangle hold as she landed. The challenger continued to zero in on Flair’s arm and shoulder, perhaps preparing to cinch in the devastating Asuka Lock.
The battle made its way to the ring apron, where The Empress of Tomorrow continued to punish the champion, taking Charlotte to the arena floor with a suplex. But despite Asuka’s grueling offense, The Queen persisted, turning a top rope struggle into a breathtaking Spanish Fly. The challenger did not let Flair’s spirit catch her off-guard, as she immediately locked on a series of vicious submissions before fighting off an attempted Figure-Eight Leglock.
But in the face of peril, The Queen persisted. Charlotte locked on the Figure-Eight, and in a moment that many in the WWE Universe never expected, Asuka tapped out.
As a rush of emotions overcame both competitors and the WWE Universe, The Empress of Tomorrow grabbed the microphone and made a simple proclamation: “Charlotte Flair was ready for Asuka!”
The two competitors embraced in the center of the ring, both knowing that the landscape of WWE’s women’s division had changed permanently. Now, Asuka must learn how to deal with her first defeat in WWE. And Charlotte, having defeated the previously undefeated, must continue to assert her dominance. Will anyone step up to try and dethrone The Queen as SmackDown Women’s Champion? (Via WWE.com)
After 267 wins over two and a half years, including an unmatched reign as NXT Women’s Champion, a rampage through the Raw roster, winning the Mixed Match Challenge and a historic victory in the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match, The Empress of Tomorrow finally met her match in SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. The Queen handed Asuka her first loss, forcing The Empress of Tomorrow to tap out to the Figure-Eight Leglock at WrestleMania 34.
Both competitors exuded confidence as they stepped foot on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Clad in gold, Flair arrived on a throne befitting her position as sports-entertainment royalty, flanked by a fleet of gladiators that escorted the second-generation Superstar to the squared circle. The allusions to Charlotte’s own debut as part of Triple H’s WrestleMania 30 entrance in the same venue were not lost on anyone. Asuka, meanwhile, responded by strutting to the ring with the same swagger that helped her rack up win after win between the ropes.
The two competitors proved to be evenly matched in the opening moments of the bouts. Both competitors traded holds in an athletic display that left the WWE Universe in awe. After sending Flair crashing to the arena floor, The Empress of Tomorrow took control of the match, slowing it down as she wrenched on The Queen’s arm.
Charlotte battled back and had her challenger in position for her picture-perfect moonsault. However, Asuka was ready for Flair, catching the champion in a triangle hold as she landed. The challenger continued to zero in on Flair’s arm and shoulder, perhaps preparing to cinch in the devastating Asuka Lock.
The battle made its way to the ring apron, where The Empress of Tomorrow continued to punish the champion, taking Charlotte to the arena floor with a suplex. But despite Asuka’s grueling offense, The Queen persisted, turning a top rope struggle into a breathtaking Spanish Fly. The challenger did not let Flair’s spirit catch her off-guard, as she immediately locked on a series of vicious submissions before fighting off an attempted Figure-Eight Leglock.
But in the face of peril, The Queen persisted. Charlotte locked on the Figure-Eight, and in a moment that many in the WWE Universe never expected, Asuka tapped out.
As a rush of emotions overcame both competitors and the WWE Universe, The Empress of Tomorrow grabbed the microphone and made a simple proclamation: “Charlotte Flair was ready for Asuka!”
The two competitors embraced in the center of the ring, both knowing that the landscape of WWE’s women’s division had changed permanently. Now, Asuka must learn how to deal with her first defeat in WWE. And Charlotte, having defeated the previously undefeated, must continue to assert her dominance. Will anyone step up to try and dethrone The Queen as SmackDown Women’s Champion? (Via WWE.com)
United States Championship: Jinder Mahal defeated UNITED STATES CHAMPION, Randy Orton, Bobby Roode & Rusev.
It seemed WrestleMania was going to be the happiest of Rusev Days with The Bulgarian Brute prevailing in the Fatal 4-Way Match for the United States Title. Instead, Jinder Mahal spoiled the holiday, as his flunky Sunil Singh created the distraction The Modern Day Maharaja needed to secure the victory and claim the U.S. Championship.
Mahal, Rusev, incumbent titleholder Randy Orton and Bobby Roode wasted no time letting both fists and high-impact maneuvers fly in equal measure. The Super Athlete impressed early, toppling his competition with a rolling dive off the apron, while The Viper delivered a ring-rattling Superplex to Roode.
Orton then went on an RKO-spree, derailing Rusev’s associate Aiden English, Rusev himself and Mahal with the outta-nowhere maneuver before The Glorious One could come in to curtail Orton’s chance at victory.
However, just when it looked like The Bulgarian Brute had a chance to walk out of WrestleMania as United States Champion by locking The Modern Day Maharaja in the Accolade, a diversion by Sunil Singh led to The Super Athlete being struck with the Khallas. With that, Mahal became the grinch who stole Rusev Day — and your new United States Champion. (Via WWE.com)
Mahal, Rusev, incumbent titleholder Randy Orton and Bobby Roode wasted no time letting both fists and high-impact maneuvers fly in equal measure. The Super Athlete impressed early, toppling his competition with a rolling dive off the apron, while The Viper delivered a ring-rattling Superplex to Roode.
Orton then went on an RKO-spree, derailing Rusev’s associate Aiden English, Rusev himself and Mahal with the outta-nowhere maneuver before The Glorious One could come in to curtail Orton’s chance at victory.
However, just when it looked like The Bulgarian Brute had a chance to walk out of WrestleMania as United States Champion by locking The Modern Day Maharaja in the Accolade, a diversion by Sunil Singh led to The Super Athlete being struck with the Khallas. With that, Mahal became the grinch who stole Rusev Day — and your new United States Champion. (Via WWE.com)
Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle defeated Stephanie McMahon & Triple H by submission.
Signing Ronda Rousey may have been great for business, but it did not pay dividends for Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 34. The power couple who thought they could control the former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion instead found themselves on the losing end of Rousey’s dreaded armbars — not to mention Kurt Angle’s Ankle Lock — in a Mixed Tag Team Match at WrestleMania 34 that will be tough for The Authority to swallow no matter how boffo the box office.
Doubly tough, it turns out, because Triple H and Stephanie’s teamwork was second to none in the early goings of the match. Each time Angle began to roll against The Game, Stephanie would goad Ronda into near-interference that drew the ref’s eye, allowing The King of Kings to go dirty and reclaim the lead. As long as this chemistry remained intact, Rousey & Angle faced a long road, and sure enough, soon as The Game and his wife suffered the first miscommunication, Angle took advantage of the lull to tag in Rowdy Ronda.
Rousey, it turns out, is a natural in the ring. Not only did she go after Stephanie with near unbridled ferocity, she even turned Triple H himself into a human heavy bag during a stretch where Stephanie and Angle got taken out and The Game convinced the ref to allow the action to continue anyway.
Impressively, Stephanie managed to answer Rousey’s dreaded armbar each time she attempted to apply it, and her resilience paid off when The Game managed to throw Angle into his partner while The Olympic Gold Medalist was applying the Angle Lock on The King of Kings.
With their opponents down, the power couple attempted stereo Pedigrees on the two Olympians, but at this point, it was Angle and Rousey who were rolling with The Authority playing catchup. Angle tossed The Game over the top rope, Rousey maneuvered her way into armbar position once again and Stephanie’s pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. When the armbar was finally locked in, the Raw Commissioner tapped within seconds — although possibly too late to save her appendage — and The Baddest Woman on the Planet claimed her first win in WWE.
In a way, Triple H and Stephanie should be feeling somewhat satisfied by all this. They went big to sign Rousey, and not only did she take to the ring like a veteran, but they got a bona fide WrestleMania moment out of her first match to boot. In short? Ronda Rousey means business. And business, it seems, is good. (Via WWE.com)
Doubly tough, it turns out, because Triple H and Stephanie’s teamwork was second to none in the early goings of the match. Each time Angle began to roll against The Game, Stephanie would goad Ronda into near-interference that drew the ref’s eye, allowing The King of Kings to go dirty and reclaim the lead. As long as this chemistry remained intact, Rousey & Angle faced a long road, and sure enough, soon as The Game and his wife suffered the first miscommunication, Angle took advantage of the lull to tag in Rowdy Ronda.
Rousey, it turns out, is a natural in the ring. Not only did she go after Stephanie with near unbridled ferocity, she even turned Triple H himself into a human heavy bag during a stretch where Stephanie and Angle got taken out and The Game convinced the ref to allow the action to continue anyway.
Impressively, Stephanie managed to answer Rousey’s dreaded armbar each time she attempted to apply it, and her resilience paid off when The Game managed to throw Angle into his partner while The Olympic Gold Medalist was applying the Angle Lock on The King of Kings.
With their opponents down, the power couple attempted stereo Pedigrees on the two Olympians, but at this point, it was Angle and Rousey who were rolling with The Authority playing catchup. Angle tossed The Game over the top rope, Rousey maneuvered her way into armbar position once again and Stephanie’s pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. When the armbar was finally locked in, the Raw Commissioner tapped within seconds — although possibly too late to save her appendage — and The Baddest Woman on the Planet claimed her first win in WWE.
In a way, Triple H and Stephanie should be feeling somewhat satisfied by all this. They went big to sign Rousey, and not only did she take to the ring like a veteran, but they got a bona fide WrestleMania moment out of her first match to boot. In short? Ronda Rousey means business. And business, it seems, is good. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown tag Team Championship: The Bludgeon Brothers defeated SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, The Usos & The New Day.
Although The New Day put smiles on faces with an unforgettable entrance (featuring human short stack pancakes, no less) and The Usos finally got their moment on the WrestleMania stage, it was The Bludgeon Brothers who truly left their mark on The Grandest Stage of Them All, winning the SmackDown Tag Team Championships after a dominating performance.
Harper & Rowan had smashed their way along The Road To WrestleMania, and continued to do just that when the bell rang, absolutely pulverizing their competition, even Powerbombing Xavier Woods onto the ring post, despite him not being in the contest.
Refusing to give in, The Usos and The New Day fought back ferociously, stepping to The Bludgeon Brothers without fear. Jimmy and Jey used their dynamic chemistry and a barrage of kicks and dives to try and slow down the massive tag team, while Big E and Kofi Kingston attempted to combine their freakish strength and incredible athleticism, but nothing could topple the Bludgeons.
Having weathered every storm, Harper & Rowan brought the hammer down on their WrestleMania moment by double Powerboming Kingston off the ropes for the academic win.
Arrive. Bludgeon. Leave … as SmackDown LIVE’s newest Tag Team Champions (Via WWE.com)
Harper & Rowan had smashed their way along The Road To WrestleMania, and continued to do just that when the bell rang, absolutely pulverizing their competition, even Powerbombing Xavier Woods onto the ring post, despite him not being in the contest.
Refusing to give in, The Usos and The New Day fought back ferociously, stepping to The Bludgeon Brothers without fear. Jimmy and Jey used their dynamic chemistry and a barrage of kicks and dives to try and slow down the massive tag team, while Big E and Kofi Kingston attempted to combine their freakish strength and incredible athleticism, but nothing could topple the Bludgeons.
Having weathered every storm, Harper & Rowan brought the hammer down on their WrestleMania moment by double Powerboming Kingston off the ropes for the academic win.
Arrive. Bludgeon. Leave … as SmackDown LIVE’s newest Tag Team Champions (Via WWE.com)
Undertaker defeated John Cena.
Ask, and ye shall receive.
In the very building where The Undertaker’s Streak met its demise, The Last Outlaw rose from the abyss and laid John Cena to rest in quick and brutal fashion, giving the 16-time World Champion exactly the kind of legacy-affirming match he asked for — though, perhaps, not the one Cena had thought he’d get.
For Cena, the opportunity to face Undertaker was less about getting one over on the WrestleMania legend and more about putting on an epic, sui generisshowcase that was free of politics or championship implications. He got pretty personal in his attempts to bring Undertaker back, but The Phenom’s continued silence left Cena more disappointed than anything. It seemed that The Deadman was content to call it a day after losing to Roman Reigns at last year’s WrestleMania.
Cena, too, had resigned himself to the front-row seat he had initially chosen to take when The Deadman failed to respond to him. And the arrival of Elias — a great hoodwink by the Raw Superstar — enraged Cena to the point that he had no choice but to punk him in the ring. And then The Deadman finally answered.
This was The Undertaker in perfect form, from the ghoulish theatrics — his duster and hat reappeared in the ring, then vanished in a bolt of lightning before the man himself arrived — to the epic entrance, to, especially, what happened inside the ring. Quickly, it became apparent that Cena was not going to get the 12-round battle between living legends he was advocating for.
To put it simply, The Undertaker absolutely trounced Cena. Nearly all the offense The Cenation Leader got in at this WrestleMania was against Elias. Instead, he was subjected to Soup Bones, Snake Eyes, Old School, and the rest of The Deadman’s repertoire in instantaneous, relentless fashion. At one point, Cena had The Deadman down for the Five-Knuckle Shuffle, but his opponent sat bolt upright as Cena ran the ropes and dropped The Cenation Leader with a massive chokeslam and, finally, the Tombstone Piledriver.
As The Undertaker made his long walk back up the ramp, a few things became clear: Cena got what he asked for, the WWE Universe was reassured that the iconic Superstar would not fade so easily into the black, and Undertaker proved he was far more than the sum of his win-loss record. As The Deadman raised his fist to the heavens, it was apparent that it was not just a night of restored glory, but, perhaps, the conclusion of a long journey that has brought the storied warrior some measure of peace. (Via WWE.com)
In the very building where The Undertaker’s Streak met its demise, The Last Outlaw rose from the abyss and laid John Cena to rest in quick and brutal fashion, giving the 16-time World Champion exactly the kind of legacy-affirming match he asked for — though, perhaps, not the one Cena had thought he’d get.
For Cena, the opportunity to face Undertaker was less about getting one over on the WrestleMania legend and more about putting on an epic, sui generisshowcase that was free of politics or championship implications. He got pretty personal in his attempts to bring Undertaker back, but The Phenom’s continued silence left Cena more disappointed than anything. It seemed that The Deadman was content to call it a day after losing to Roman Reigns at last year’s WrestleMania.
Cena, too, had resigned himself to the front-row seat he had initially chosen to take when The Deadman failed to respond to him. And the arrival of Elias — a great hoodwink by the Raw Superstar — enraged Cena to the point that he had no choice but to punk him in the ring. And then The Deadman finally answered.
This was The Undertaker in perfect form, from the ghoulish theatrics — his duster and hat reappeared in the ring, then vanished in a bolt of lightning before the man himself arrived — to the epic entrance, to, especially, what happened inside the ring. Quickly, it became apparent that Cena was not going to get the 12-round battle between living legends he was advocating for.
To put it simply, The Undertaker absolutely trounced Cena. Nearly all the offense The Cenation Leader got in at this WrestleMania was against Elias. Instead, he was subjected to Soup Bones, Snake Eyes, Old School, and the rest of The Deadman’s repertoire in instantaneous, relentless fashion. At one point, Cena had The Deadman down for the Five-Knuckle Shuffle, but his opponent sat bolt upright as Cena ran the ropes and dropped The Cenation Leader with a massive chokeslam and, finally, the Tombstone Piledriver.
As The Undertaker made his long walk back up the ramp, a few things became clear: Cena got what he asked for, the WWE Universe was reassured that the iconic Superstar would not fade so easily into the black, and Undertaker proved he was far more than the sum of his win-loss record. As The Deadman raised his fist to the heavens, it was apparent that it was not just a night of restored glory, but, perhaps, the conclusion of a long journey that has brought the storied warrior some measure of peace. (Via WWE.com)
Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon defeated Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens by submission.
Was Daniel Bryan’s in-ring return at WrestleMania 34 successful? In a word, yes.
Still, after spending three years fighting to be able to compete once again, Bryan’s dreams were nearly dashed before the bell even rang. In a match where their WWE futures were at stake, the “Yep!” Movement of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn attacked Bryan and his partner Shane McMahon from behind, throwing Shane into his family at ringside and savagely powerbombing The “Yes!” Man onto the edge of the apron.
The attack put Bryan in bad shape, prompting medical personnel to come attend to him and forcing Shane-O-Mac to go it alone. The SmackDown LIVE Commissioner bravely opened up with a fury on his opposition, but Owens & Zayn took advantage of the injuries they’d previously caused to Shane and took firm control.
The “Yep!” Movement’s assault on The Prodigal Son was both unsettling and intensely personal, as they talked copious amounts of trash while relentlessly targeting Shane’s vulnerable mid-section. Bryan, meanwhile, continued to be looked at with a stretcher looming by on the outside.
Forever a McMahon, Shane-O-Mac refused to surrender, battling back with everything he could muster. He even astonishingly connected with a Coast-to-Coast dropkick on Zayn despite the intense pain he was in. That amazing act was not enough to keep Shane in control, but the tides turned when Bryan miraculously returned to the ring, changing the landscape and making it a fair fight.
Zayn and Owens did everything they could to keep Bryan at bay on the apron, but he eventually found his way into the contest, showing no signs of ring rust as he unleashed an offensive onslaught. It seemed nothing could stop The “Yes!” Man, as he neutralized both opponents with his signature running dropkicks into the corner and then a massive hurricanrana to Zayn off the tope rope.
Owens and Zayn finally found their opening when KO caught Bryan off-guard by grabbing his foot, which allowed Sami to connect with a vicious Helluva Kick. Owens then hit a Pop-up Powerbomb on the former WWE Champion, but Bryan refused to stay down.
Shane returned to the contest to down Owens on the outside, allowing Bryan to absolutely demolish Zayn with a barrage of strikes and his patented “Yes!” Kicks. From there, Bryan had all of the 78,133 WWE fans in attendance chanting “Yes!” as he executed his Running Knee and then applied the “Yes!” Lock for the tap-out victory.
Owens and Zayn were permanently banished from SmackDown LIVE, and Team Blue’s management had only a one-word thought on their exit. Yep, “Yes!” (Via WWE.com)
Still, after spending three years fighting to be able to compete once again, Bryan’s dreams were nearly dashed before the bell even rang. In a match where their WWE futures were at stake, the “Yep!” Movement of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn attacked Bryan and his partner Shane McMahon from behind, throwing Shane into his family at ringside and savagely powerbombing The “Yes!” Man onto the edge of the apron.
The attack put Bryan in bad shape, prompting medical personnel to come attend to him and forcing Shane-O-Mac to go it alone. The SmackDown LIVE Commissioner bravely opened up with a fury on his opposition, but Owens & Zayn took advantage of the injuries they’d previously caused to Shane and took firm control.
The “Yep!” Movement’s assault on The Prodigal Son was both unsettling and intensely personal, as they talked copious amounts of trash while relentlessly targeting Shane’s vulnerable mid-section. Bryan, meanwhile, continued to be looked at with a stretcher looming by on the outside.
Forever a McMahon, Shane-O-Mac refused to surrender, battling back with everything he could muster. He even astonishingly connected with a Coast-to-Coast dropkick on Zayn despite the intense pain he was in. That amazing act was not enough to keep Shane in control, but the tides turned when Bryan miraculously returned to the ring, changing the landscape and making it a fair fight.
Zayn and Owens did everything they could to keep Bryan at bay on the apron, but he eventually found his way into the contest, showing no signs of ring rust as he unleashed an offensive onslaught. It seemed nothing could stop The “Yes!” Man, as he neutralized both opponents with his signature running dropkicks into the corner and then a massive hurricanrana to Zayn off the tope rope.
Owens and Zayn finally found their opening when KO caught Bryan off-guard by grabbing his foot, which allowed Sami to connect with a vicious Helluva Kick. Owens then hit a Pop-up Powerbomb on the former WWE Champion, but Bryan refused to stay down.
Shane returned to the contest to down Owens on the outside, allowing Bryan to absolutely demolish Zayn with a barrage of strikes and his patented “Yes!” Kicks. From there, Bryan had all of the 78,133 WWE fans in attendance chanting “Yes!” as he executed his Running Knee and then applied the “Yes!” Lock for the tap-out victory.
Owens and Zayn were permanently banished from SmackDown LIVE, and Team Blue’s management had only a one-word thought on their exit. Yep, “Yes!” (Via WWE.com)
RAW Women's Championship: Nia Jax defeated RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Alexa Bliss.
There’s no better place for a Superstar to experience the sweet feeling of redemption than on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Nia Jax did exactly that when she crushed her tormentor, Alexa Bliss, to capture the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.
For Nia, this moment was a long time coming.
After a bitter betrayal by her former friend, in which Nia overheard Bliss decrying her weight and appearance, Jax used the hurtful experience to fuel her all the way to WrestleMania.
At The Show of Shows, Jax quickly got to work, slamming Bliss’ cheerleader Mickie James to the arena floor before the match even began, leaving her ineffectual on the sidelines.
With James out of the picture, The Irresistible Force got off to a quick start with a dominating offense. The champion was able to battle back, however, sending Jax reeling and crashing to the arena floor. Bliss capitalized with a soaring leap from the top rope and kept up her offense with a solid in-ring attack, punctuated by a series of verbal assaults.
Those hurtful words proved to be a huge mistake, however, as it only served to light a fire in Jax.
After slamming Bliss’ head into the turnbuckle, Nia followed it up with a brutal slam to the canvas. Then, she hoisted the champion onto her shoulders before delivering a resounding Samoan Drop from the second rope for the win.
The victory was a monumental accomplishment for Nia Jax, but, more than that, it was a win for anyone who has ever been bullied for feeling different. (Via WWE.com)
For Nia, this moment was a long time coming.
After a bitter betrayal by her former friend, in which Nia overheard Bliss decrying her weight and appearance, Jax used the hurtful experience to fuel her all the way to WrestleMania.
At The Show of Shows, Jax quickly got to work, slamming Bliss’ cheerleader Mickie James to the arena floor before the match even began, leaving her ineffectual on the sidelines.
With James out of the picture, The Irresistible Force got off to a quick start with a dominating offense. The champion was able to battle back, however, sending Jax reeling and crashing to the arena floor. Bliss capitalized with a soaring leap from the top rope and kept up her offense with a solid in-ring attack, punctuated by a series of verbal assaults.
Those hurtful words proved to be a huge mistake, however, as it only served to light a fire in Jax.
After slamming Bliss’ head into the turnbuckle, Nia followed it up with a brutal slam to the canvas. Then, she hoisted the champion onto her shoulders before delivering a resounding Samoan Drop from the second rope for the win.
The victory was a monumental accomplishment for Nia Jax, but, more than that, it was a win for anyone who has ever been bullied for feeling different. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Championship: WWE Champion, AJ Styles defeated Shinsuke Nakamura.
AJ Styles survived WrestleMania 34 with his WWE Championship intact, so Shinsuke Nakamura promptly went and turned this “Dream Match” into a nightmare.
The King of Strong Style, who seemed to view his WWE Title clash against The Phenomenal One as a formality, had been living rent-free in Styles’ head since his Men’s Royal Rumble Match victory in January, drilling a three-word prediction into the champion’s head at every possible turn: Knee to face. He entered The Showcase of the Immortals with most of his eccentricities in check, opting to blister Styles with fists, kicks and the occasional knee, though not to the face.
Styles was forced to fight from underneath, and he did so by slapping The Artist clean across the face and administering his own knee to the mush. Given Nakamura’s mental advantage and the shadow of their shared history (the only other time these two fought, it was in Japan and Styles lost), The Phenomenal One subsisted on a mixture of textbook skill and cold, hard pragmatism. He took away
Nakamura’s knee to face by kicking said knee as hard as he could before tenderizing it with the Calf Crusher.
WWE’s Rockstar switched gears to his mat game, trapping Styles in a gnarly triangle hold that nearly put The Phenomenal One’s lights out, though it was difficult for him to go back to his original game plan once they squared up. Each knee he threw caused him an increasing amount of pain. Nakamura was still able to keep the match at an even keel, but a slap to Styles’ face revealed the frustration that was steadily building. When he finally had AJ lined up for the Kinshasa, the champion used Nakamura’s aggression to his advantage, rolling his opponent up mid-sprint into a picture-perfect Styles Clash that The King of Strong Style was unable to kick out of.
Regardless of who came out on top, however, the match seemed to validate the gambles both Superstars had made to pursue a WrestleMania moment — that they got there was victory enough for both. At least, that seemed to be the implication when Nakamura embraced the victor, then knelt on one knee to present Styles the title. But what seemed like a gesture of respect was simply a way to give Shinsuke a better opening to uppercut AJ where the sun don’t shine.
Nakamura changed before the WWE Universe’s eyes as Styles crumbled to the mat. Gone was the quirky Artist and in his place was a dead-eyed striker who recklessly booted AJ out of the ring while muttering rapid-fire trash talk in Japanese. As the final insult to injury, Nakamura delivered that promised Kinshasa, outside the ring, to leave Styles in a heap while he made his exit.
All of which seems unlikely to free Styles from Nakamura’s specter anytime soon. This will go as a win in the champion’s record book, but just as Nakamura promised, it’s the knee to the face that AJ Styles will be seeing in his dreams. (Via WWE.com)
The King of Strong Style, who seemed to view his WWE Title clash against The Phenomenal One as a formality, had been living rent-free in Styles’ head since his Men’s Royal Rumble Match victory in January, drilling a three-word prediction into the champion’s head at every possible turn: Knee to face. He entered The Showcase of the Immortals with most of his eccentricities in check, opting to blister Styles with fists, kicks and the occasional knee, though not to the face.
Styles was forced to fight from underneath, and he did so by slapping The Artist clean across the face and administering his own knee to the mush. Given Nakamura’s mental advantage and the shadow of their shared history (the only other time these two fought, it was in Japan and Styles lost), The Phenomenal One subsisted on a mixture of textbook skill and cold, hard pragmatism. He took away
Nakamura’s knee to face by kicking said knee as hard as he could before tenderizing it with the Calf Crusher.
WWE’s Rockstar switched gears to his mat game, trapping Styles in a gnarly triangle hold that nearly put The Phenomenal One’s lights out, though it was difficult for him to go back to his original game plan once they squared up. Each knee he threw caused him an increasing amount of pain. Nakamura was still able to keep the match at an even keel, but a slap to Styles’ face revealed the frustration that was steadily building. When he finally had AJ lined up for the Kinshasa, the champion used Nakamura’s aggression to his advantage, rolling his opponent up mid-sprint into a picture-perfect Styles Clash that The King of Strong Style was unable to kick out of.
Regardless of who came out on top, however, the match seemed to validate the gambles both Superstars had made to pursue a WrestleMania moment — that they got there was victory enough for both. At least, that seemed to be the implication when Nakamura embraced the victor, then knelt on one knee to present Styles the title. But what seemed like a gesture of respect was simply a way to give Shinsuke a better opening to uppercut AJ where the sun don’t shine.
Nakamura changed before the WWE Universe’s eyes as Styles crumbled to the mat. Gone was the quirky Artist and in his place was a dead-eyed striker who recklessly booted AJ out of the ring while muttering rapid-fire trash talk in Japanese. As the final insult to injury, Nakamura delivered that promised Kinshasa, outside the ring, to leave Styles in a heap while he made his exit.
All of which seems unlikely to free Styles from Nakamura’s specter anytime soon. This will go as a win in the champion’s record book, but just as Nakamura promised, it’s the knee to the face that AJ Styles will be seeing in his dreams. (Via WWE.com)
RAW Tag Team Championship: Braun Strowman & Nicholas defeated RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, Cesaro & Sheamus.
Even if you were there to witness it, it’s still hard to believe. At WrestleMania 34, Braun Strowman picked a random child out of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome crowd to be his mystery partner, and the two of them went on to defeat Cesaro & Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team Titles.
So, yes, a kid named Nicholas is now one-half of your Raw Tag Team Champions.
Before that unbelievable turn of events, however, Cesaro & Sheamus made a festive entrance on The Grandest Stage of Them All as they arrived on a Mardi Gras float full of costumed characters throwing beads out to the WWE Universe. This, seemingly, upset Braun Strowman. When The Montser Among Men arrived, he chased off several of the mascots that The Bar had with them and then, incredibly, tossed the float they rode in on completely off the stage.
From there, The Monster Among Men revealed who his tag team partner would be — a random WWE Universe member. Strowman walked through the 78,133 WWE fans in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome until he landed on the perfect partner: a young child named Nicholas.
When they made it to the ring, Strowman told Nicholas that all he would have to is stand on the apron and that Braun would take care of the rest. The Bar, baffled by Strowman’s choice, first felt Strowman’s wrath, but then the essential two-on-one advantage that they now possessed came to the forefront as they cornered The Monster Among Men, wearing him down.
Strowman fought back ferociously, knocking The Bar down with an impressive crossbody and then eliminating Sheamus with a massive upheaval out of the ring. Then — in what may go down as one of the most shocking moments in WrestleMania history — Braun tagged in Nicholas. The smart kid quickly realized that trying to compete against Cesaro might not be the best idea, however, and tagged Braun right back in.
From there, Strowman was able to catch a flying Cesaro in mid-air and connect with the Running Powerslam for the win.
And, with that, Braun Strowman and a young child became the Raw Tag Team Champions, proving definitively the old adage that anything can happen in WWE. (Via WWE.com)
So, yes, a kid named Nicholas is now one-half of your Raw Tag Team Champions.
Before that unbelievable turn of events, however, Cesaro & Sheamus made a festive entrance on The Grandest Stage of Them All as they arrived on a Mardi Gras float full of costumed characters throwing beads out to the WWE Universe. This, seemingly, upset Braun Strowman. When The Montser Among Men arrived, he chased off several of the mascots that The Bar had with them and then, incredibly, tossed the float they rode in on completely off the stage.
From there, The Monster Among Men revealed who his tag team partner would be — a random WWE Universe member. Strowman walked through the 78,133 WWE fans in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome until he landed on the perfect partner: a young child named Nicholas.
When they made it to the ring, Strowman told Nicholas that all he would have to is stand on the apron and that Braun would take care of the rest. The Bar, baffled by Strowman’s choice, first felt Strowman’s wrath, but then the essential two-on-one advantage that they now possessed came to the forefront as they cornered The Monster Among Men, wearing him down.
Strowman fought back ferociously, knocking The Bar down with an impressive crossbody and then eliminating Sheamus with a massive upheaval out of the ring. Then — in what may go down as one of the most shocking moments in WrestleMania history — Braun tagged in Nicholas. The smart kid quickly realized that trying to compete against Cesaro might not be the best idea, however, and tagged Braun right back in.
From there, Strowman was able to catch a flying Cesaro in mid-air and connect with the Running Powerslam for the win.
And, with that, Braun Strowman and a young child became the Raw Tag Team Champions, proving definitively the old adage that anything can happen in WWE. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Universal Championship: WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION, Brock Lesnar defeated Roman Reigns.
Roman Reigns walked into Suplex City at WrestleMania 34, but he didn’t walk out.
In fact, the gory, motionless mess that Brock Lesnar left in the middle of the ring could only be charitably described as Roman Reigns. If anything, it was a husk of the proud challenger who had promised to change the culture of Monday Night Raw by taking the Universal Title from the “part-time” goliath who had claimed it as his crown jewel. Instead, Roman’s return trip to Suplex City ended much as the first one had — with disaster and disappointment.
Reigns’ righteous march from the Elimination Chamber to WrestleMania seemed to be the stuff of destiny — the specter of his WrestleMania 31 shortcoming still lingered over The Big Dog’s ascent, and he had grown vocally agitated over Lesnar lording his privilege over the rest of the Raw Superstars. Add onto the fact that Lesnar and his advocate Paul Heyman promised that The Beast would leave WWE if he was not champion, and it was looking like the best chance Reigns had yet to seize control of WWE’s destiny.
No one can say he didn’t rise to the occasion. Reigns was subjected to no less than five F-5’s (including one through the German announce table), six German suplexes and five belly-to-belly suplexes (one on top of another table), and he managed to kick out every single time The Beast Incarnate went to make the cover. The Big Dog gave as good as he got, too, hitting Lesnar with a handful of Spears and Superman Punches, not to mention some heavy punches to the head that had Lesnar swelling up just seconds into the contest.
It became clear that the longer Reigns held on, the more Lesnar would have to resort to some truly gruesome tactics to put his challenger away. It also became clear he had no issue doing so. He took off his gloves and busted Reigns open with elbows to the forehead. Rather than lead to a TKO ruling like when Brock did the same thing to Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2016, it only kicked Reigns into higher gear. The Big Dog, energized by the agony, blasted Brock with another pair of Spears, only for Lesnar to kick out and hit a sixth F-5 that finally put Reigns down for three.
Much like the last time Brock Lesnar rolled into New Orleans with a seemingly preordained loss hanging over his head, the shock was palpable. Much like the last time, Heyman’s “not a prediction, it’s a spoiler” mantra was vindicated. Much like the last time, the challenger was left to make the long walk up the ramp, wondering what went wrong and where he could possibly go next.
Wherever he does go, Brock Lesnar will likely be there. If nothing else, WrestleMania 34 made it clear he’s not going away anytime soon. (Via WWE.com)
In fact, the gory, motionless mess that Brock Lesnar left in the middle of the ring could only be charitably described as Roman Reigns. If anything, it was a husk of the proud challenger who had promised to change the culture of Monday Night Raw by taking the Universal Title from the “part-time” goliath who had claimed it as his crown jewel. Instead, Roman’s return trip to Suplex City ended much as the first one had — with disaster and disappointment.
Reigns’ righteous march from the Elimination Chamber to WrestleMania seemed to be the stuff of destiny — the specter of his WrestleMania 31 shortcoming still lingered over The Big Dog’s ascent, and he had grown vocally agitated over Lesnar lording his privilege over the rest of the Raw Superstars. Add onto the fact that Lesnar and his advocate Paul Heyman promised that The Beast would leave WWE if he was not champion, and it was looking like the best chance Reigns had yet to seize control of WWE’s destiny.
No one can say he didn’t rise to the occasion. Reigns was subjected to no less than five F-5’s (including one through the German announce table), six German suplexes and five belly-to-belly suplexes (one on top of another table), and he managed to kick out every single time The Beast Incarnate went to make the cover. The Big Dog gave as good as he got, too, hitting Lesnar with a handful of Spears and Superman Punches, not to mention some heavy punches to the head that had Lesnar swelling up just seconds into the contest.
It became clear that the longer Reigns held on, the more Lesnar would have to resort to some truly gruesome tactics to put his challenger away. It also became clear he had no issue doing so. He took off his gloves and busted Reigns open with elbows to the forehead. Rather than lead to a TKO ruling like when Brock did the same thing to Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2016, it only kicked Reigns into higher gear. The Big Dog, energized by the agony, blasted Brock with another pair of Spears, only for Lesnar to kick out and hit a sixth F-5 that finally put Reigns down for three.
Much like the last time Brock Lesnar rolled into New Orleans with a seemingly preordained loss hanging over his head, the shock was palpable. Much like the last time, Heyman’s “not a prediction, it’s a spoiler” mantra was vindicated. Much like the last time, the challenger was left to make the long walk up the ramp, wondering what went wrong and where he could possibly go next.
Wherever he does go, Brock Lesnar will likely be there. If nothing else, WrestleMania 34 made it clear he’s not going away anytime soon. (Via WWE.com)