Happy WrestleMania Weekend! This blog will be updated throughout the evening, and feel free to check out our Required WrestleMania Reading section for tons of unique columns are articles.
I enjoyed the Triple H intro for what it was, and glad they didn't turn it into some sort of angle.
RKBro vs. Alpha Academy vs. Street Profits was just about the perfect WrestleMania opener. It showed off the highlights of each team, and there was a really great story going into it. The right team won here, as RKBro still has a lot of mileage until the inevitable turn. I wasn't mad at the Gable Steveson introduction here, either.
Bobby Lashley vs. Omos accomplished exactly what it needed to. People give Omos a lot of flack for being green, but I thought he handled himself well in a short but structured match. Lashley is of course a superstar and I'm hoping this win puts him back in the title hunt.
Hot take: The two best signings WWE has made in the past decade are Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, because they can take virtually any situation and make it better. In the case of Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn, this was thoroughly entertaining with everything you may have expected and then some. Not sure why they wouldn't have brought Hornswoggle back for a cameo to counter Wee Man, but beggars can't be choosers. A really fun and silly match that will live on largely because of Zayn's efforts.
The Womens Tag Team Championship Fatal Four Way Match was better than I would have expected it be (particularly given last year's mediocre one). A few highlights throughout from each team, and Sasha and Naomi showed tons of great teamwork. Plus it hit the sweet spot between not being too short or too long.
AJ Styles vs. Edge was a fantastic match. It may have gone a bit longer than it needed to, but it delivered what it needed to, being one of the top matches of the weekend. What's interesting about the Damien Priest thing is that he and Edge both turned heel the same night a few months back... so this could end up being a really interesting pairing.
I almost missed the entire New Day vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland match while I went to say goodnight to my wife. I don't regret the decision. While I think most people expected New Day to win, let's not forget last time when WrestleMania was in Dallas, Sheamus and friends also defeated New Day.... Whatevs.
Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory was insanely fun. Every time I see McAfee get into the ring, he just seems to get better, and he was perfectly matched here with Theory, who is coming into his own as a heel. The post-match shenanigans with Vince McMahon (and bonus match) were a bit uncomfortable to watch, but still made for an interesting spectacle. Add to that the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin and it's hard to not to be happy with the whole sequence.
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns may not have been the greatest WrestleMania match of all time.... but it was sure amazing. This was the greatest hits of both guys in a physical and hard-hitting match. And I'm glad The Tribal Chief was the one to survive here... it just makes sense.
All in all, one of the better WrestleManias I've seen in many years. What a weekend!
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