WWE WrestleMania 38 (April 2022)

Original Airdate: April 2-3, 2022

From Dallas, Texas; Your Hosts are Jimmy Smith, Byron Saxton, and Corey Graves (RAW); Michael Cole and Pat McAfee (Smackdown)

Night One

Opening WWE Smackdown Tag Team Title Match: The Usos v Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs: It’s WrestleMania, so I’ll be tracking the time between bells for this. 15 minutes before the opening bell here. Nakamura blitzes Jimmy Uso with a kick right at the bell, and he takes him into the corner for a bootchoke, but runs into trouble in the corner with a double team. The Usos take control and dominate Nakamura, until Boogs gets the tag. Boogs puts Jey Uso in a bearhug, then gives him a hanging vertical suplex for two. Boogs tries a double Samoan drop on both champions, but his leg gives out, and he’s forced to pass to Nakamura. And that’s the end of Boogs for the match, as one of his stupid feats of strength bit him in the ass at the worst possible time, causing a legitimate injury. Nakamura dives onto the champs with a plancha, and he tries finishing Jey off, but eats a superkick. That allows Jimmy a flying splash for two, so the Usos work together on a pop-up cutter combo at 6:53. This felt like total filler, and shouldn’t have gotten the opener slot. ¼*

Drew McIntyre v Happy Corbin: 12 minutes between bells. Corbin (dressed like Max Cady here) slugs at him at the bell, and uses a cross corner whip, but Drew rebounds with a clothesline. Another clothesline sends Corbin over the top, but Drew gets chucked into the post as he follows. Too bad they didn’t use those transparent barricades from Stand & Deliver for this show, as literally any change of pace would be welcome for the visual presentation of these shows. Corbin with a vertical suplex as he takes control, and a side suplex gets him two. Corbin continues to work him over in dull fashion, but gets distracted by his own second (Madcap Moss), and Drew capitalizes with a rotating spinebuster. McIntyre makes a comeback, but Corbin blocks the double-arm DDT. Drew regroups with the Claymore kick, but Corbin counters with a Deep Six for two. Corbin stays on him with a chokeslam, but Drew blocks, and gets to the top with a flying axehandle. Claymore time, but Moss pulls Corbin out of the ring before Drew can launch the effort. Drew instead launches a somersault suicada, and he takes Moss out with an overhead suplex on the floor. Drew tries another flying axehandle on the way back in, but Corbin dodges. Claymore, but Corbin dodges that as well. That allows Corbin to land the End of Day, but Drew kicks out of it at two. Corbin is shocked, buying Drew time to recover with the double-arm DDT, and the Claymore finishes at 8:38. They were trying to massage this into a WrestleMania caliber match, but they didn’t quite get there. ¾*

Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio v Miz and Logan Paul: 13 minutes between bells. Rey and Miz start, and Miz pounds him into the corner for a double team with Logan. Paul tags in, but a criss cross goes badly for him, and he wisely passes to Miz. Rey takes him down, and tags Dominik in for a combo for two. Dominik with a springboard moonsault, but Logan runs in to break up the pin, so Dominik sends both heels to the outside. Dominik dives after Miz with a springboard corkscrew bodypress (which only kinda connects), so Paul takes a cheap shot to put Dominik down. That allows Paul a front-powerslam for two, and they go to work cutting the ring in half. Dominik slips away for the tag, and Rey comes in hot on Miz. The ropes are looking crazy loose, I guess they were rushing getting it back up and running after McIntyre literally chopped them off with a sword after his match. But, hey, that was pretty cool. Rey hits Miz with a flying moonsault for two, so Paul comes in, and Roseanne Barr the door! Dominik superkicks Logan as Rey sets up a 619 on Miz, but Miz dodges. Rey tornado DDTs him for two instead, and he delivers the three-alarm rolling vertical suplex, but Paul cuts him off before he can capitalize. Logan hits Rey with his own rolling vertical suplex, and a flying frogsplash looks to finish, but Dominik saves at two. That allows the father/son duo to hit a tandem 619, and a pair of flying frogsplashes follow. That should be enough, but Miz saves, and gives Rey a Skull Crushing Finale at 10:57. This was solid, with hard work all around, and well booked to hide weaknesses. **

WWE RAW Women's Title Match: Becky Lynch v Bianca Belair: 21 minutes between bells. Glad to see the makeup person on The Eyes of Tammy Faye got their next job already. Belair wants a handshake at the bell, but Becky responds by slapping her, and a uranage gets her a quick two count. She’s flustered, but still goes for the Dis-Arm-Her to put it away early, but Belair blocks. Becky hits her with a series of quick strikes for a series of two counts, and a suplex gets her two. Becky with a flying moonsault, but Belair dodges, allowing the challenger to go for her own fujiwara armbar, but Lynch makes the ropes. Becky with an Oklahoma roll for two, reversed by Belair for two. Belair with a victory cradle for two, reversed by Becky for two, and reversed back by Belair for another two. They spill to the outside, where Belair gets sent into the steps, and Lynch hits a trio of suplexes for two on the way back inside. The champ with a flying guillotine legdrop for two, so she grounds Belair in a chinlock, but Bianca fights free. She tries climbing the ropes, but Lynch cuts that off, and delivers a butterfly suplex. She goes to a cross-armbreaker, but Belair keeps blocking, and shifts into a cradle for two. Becky manages to apply a triangle choke, but Belair powers to a vertical base, and both competitors end up tumbling over the top. Belair manages a vertical suplex on the floor, and a tilt-a-whirl gutbuster gets her two on the way back in. Powerbomb, but Lynch hooks a victory cradle for two, so Belair uses a dragon facebuster to set up a handspring moonsault for two. Belair goes upstairs, so Becky follows for a superplex, only for Belair to counter with a brutal looking drop across the top turnbuckle. Ouch. Belair capitalizes with a 2nd rope 450 splash for two, so Becky bails to the apron, and snaps Belair’s throat across the top when she tries to follow. That allows Lynch to go up with a flying somersault dropkick for two, but Bianca blocks another uranage, and delivers a spinebuster. Belair tries another handspring moonsault, but Becky lifts her knees to block. Dis-Arm-Her, but Belair counters into a cradle, and we get a pinfall reversal sequence. Belair tries the KOD, but Becky holds the top rope to force a block, so Belair dumps her over the top with it instead. Inside to cover, but Becky wisely rolls back out before one can be made, and then bashes Belair into the post when the flustered challenger gives chase. Lynch with a uranage onto the steps out there, and Belair dramatically beats the count. Becky welcomes her with a sunset cradle for two, but Belair blocks another uranage, and delivers the KOD to take the gold at 19:08. A few awkward moments, but this was a good match, and was engaging throughout. *** ½ 

Seth Rollins v Cody Rhodes: 18 minutes between bells. Rhodes is a hyped mystery opponent, making his return to WWE for the first time since May 2016. I wonder what he’s been up to since then. I mean, besides getting that insane neck tattoo. Based on that outfit, I’m going to guess he was trying out for the 49ers. Honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t wear Dallas Cowboy colors to make sure he got the right reaction from the crowd. Posturing to start, dominated by Rhodes. Rollins tries a suplex, but Rhodes shifts, and both guys end up going over the top off of it. Inside, Rhodes continues to dominate things, but a flying bodypress gets blocked when Seth throws a dropkick. That allows Rollins to go to work on the ribs, and a gutbuster gets him two. Criss cross allows Rhodes a powerslam, and a clothesline sends Seth over the top. Cody is on him with a tope, giving us a look at Corey Graves’ insane suit as they crash into the announce table. Even rock stars would look at him sideways on that one. Rhodes with a flying twisting bodypress for two on the way inside, so Rollins bails. Cody dives at him from the steps, but Seth catches him with a powerbomb into the barricade. Seth with a springboard flying kneesmash on the way inside, and a superkick follows. Seth adds a falcon arrow for two, but Rhodes blocks the curb stomp. That triggers a reversal sequence that ends in the Cross Rhodes for two, and he goes upstairs, but Seth sweeps the legs, and Rhodes takes a bump into the top turnbuckle. Seth follows up for an inverted superplex, which he shifts right into a curtain call for two. That was a pretty cool spot. Flying 450 splash, but Cody dodges. That triggers another reversal sequence, and Rhodes botches a bridge, but still manages to deliver a powerbomb. Flying cutter gets Cody two, but Seth comes back with a pedigree for two. Slugfest is won by Rollins, but Cody lands another Cross Rhodes. He adds another one, before standing Seth up, and dropping him with an overhead elbowsmash. Third Cross Rhodes finishes at 21:33. This wasn’t a bad match, but it felt really long, and didn’t really flow well. **

The Hall of Fame class of 2022 (Undertaker, Vader, The Steiner Brothers, Shad Gaspard, and Queen Sharmell) come out to take a bow. They had a strong class this year, though it’s too bad they couldn’t get around to Vader before he passed. Undertaker’s speech was actually kind of a letdown, any I think he was telling quite a few tall tales, to boot. Like, according to every record I can find, that match with Sid in Houston (where his mom supposedly tried to charge the ring) does not exist. And all his squashes from Rochester did not feature him taking any liberties against opponents. The Steiner’s also barely said anything at all. While I like that the shows have been trimmed down to a reasonable length (some of the earlier ones were real slogs), I do miss the road stories, and I wish they could find a balance

WWE Smackdown Women's Title Match: Charlotte Flair v Ronda Rousey: 26 minutes between bells here. Flair strikes first, and starts pounding, but Rousey chases her off. Flair hides in the ropes and tries a takedown, but Rousey nearly gets her in an anklelock, and Flair backs off. Flair regroups and managers a takedown, but a figure four gets countered with a triangle choke. Flair quickly escapes, so Rousey corner whips her, and Flair flips to the apron. Ronda is on her with a headscissors on the ropes, but Flair pulls her onto the apron, and drops her. Rousey responds by trying the anklelock, so Flair dumps her to the outside, and sends her into the post out there. Inside, that gets Flair a two count, and the champion slaps on a cravat. Rousey fights to a vertical base, so Flair forearms her back down for two, and applies a dragon sleeper. Rousey escapes, so Flair tries another takedown, but Ronda is ready with a knee for two. Ronda with an ugly tornado DDT out of the corner for two, and she throws the champion around a bit, but Flair finds a spear for two. Somersault cutter, but Rousey blocks, so Flair uses a side suplex instead. That sets up a flying moonsault, but Rousey dodges, so Flair regroups with a standing version for two. Nice of Ronda to give her a two count despite the move not even coming close to connecting. Flair with chops, but Rousey finds a suplex for two, so Flair hangs her in a tree of woe for some abuse. Charlotte turns that into a weird rope-hung crab hold that goes nowhere (and doesn’t look especially cool), until Rousey fights her off with an armdrag off the top for two. Rousey with a Samoan drop, and it’s armbreaker time, but Flair hides out in the ropes. That allows the champion a big boot when Rousey comes after her, but Rousey manages a powerslam for two. Samoan drop, but Flair blocks, so Rousey reroutes to the anklelock. Charlotte manages a reversal, so Rousey sends her into the turnbuckles to escape. She goes for the arm, but Flair manages a powerbomb to block, and she covers for two. Figure four, but Rousey counters to the anklelock, and she manages to get the kneebar on to really tie it up. Flair is far from the ropes, but she manages to throw kicks to force a break. Back to the figure four, but Rousey counters to the armbreaker - only for Charlotte to counter back to the figure eight! Rousey reverses, but Flair gets into the ropes, and they spill to the outside. Flair goes up for a dive, but Rousey snapmares her off of the apron, and Flair just smacks into the floor. She hit it so hard that she really owes that poor floor an apology. Flair suplexes her into the barricade to recover, and both struggle to beat the count, but make it in time. Rousey with another Samoan drop, but Flair is in the ropes at two, and Ronda is practically in tears. That allows Flair a somersault cutter for two, but Rousey blocks the figure four again, bumping the referee in the process. Rousey gets the cross-armbreaker on, but there’s no referee, of course. Rousey lets off to revive him, but that allows Flair to recover with a big boot, and Charlotte retains at 18:21. This was a pretty major disappointment, as I loved their match back at the Survivor Series in 2018, but this one lacked all the intensity and urgency that made that one so good. Both workers also looked mighty sluggish here, and it looked like they were having a really hard time finding a groove. * ¾ 

Main Event: No Holds Barred Match: Kevin Owens v Steve Austin: This is Austin's first match since WrestleMania XIX way back in 2003. Kevin’s KO-Mania shirt is a real letdown this year. The deal here is an impromptu match, with Austin appearing as a guest on Kevin’s talk show, and having enough of Owens’ insults and challenges. 33 minutes between bells, and Austin looks uncharacteristically nervous. Slugfest to start, won by Austin. He stomps a mudhole (in much slower fashion than in the old days), and a cross corner whip follows. Steve stops to drink a beer before stomping a second mudhole, and he tosses Owens over the top, following to whip him into the barricade, but Kevin reverses. Steve took that bump at about the speed an old man settles into a warm bath. Steve rebounds with a clothesline on the floor, and he beats Kevin around ringside, but gets reversed into the post. At least he wasn’t afraid of the ball on that one. Owens tries whipping him through a table, but Steve reverses, and they spill into the crowd for a brawl. Steve tries a suplex on the floor out there, but Kevin reverses, and I’m honestly surprised Austin agreed to take that bump. Dude already lives with so much pain, why bother with that. Back to ringside, Steve slams him off of the barricade, with Owens taking the bump onto the announce table. Steve takes another beer break before brutalizing Owens with mounted punches on the table, and inside we go, but Kevin snaps his throat across the top rope on the way. Kevin decides to bail, and tries stealing Steve’s ATV on the way out, but Austin cuts him off. They ride the ATV to the entrance stage, where Steve vertical suplexes him a couple of times, before chucking Kevin down the ramp back to ringside. Inside, Steve takes a few more sips, but that allows Owens to recover with a stunner for two. Owens grabs a chair, but a swing misses, and it rebounds off of the ropes - Kevin knocking himself silly. That allows Steve the stunner, and goodnight at 13:55. I love Austin, but as much fun as it was seeing him work a match for the first time in so long, he clearly had no business in a wrestling ring anymore, and I kind of wish he’d just stayed retired. It was harmless, but completely unnecessary. The crowd loved it, though, and I’m sure I would have if I were there live as well. ¾*

Night Two

Opening WWE RAW Tag Team Title Triple Threat Match: Randy Orton and Riddle v The Street Profits v Chad Gable and Otis: 20 minutes before the opening bell here. First fall wins here. Gable gets in Riddle’s face to start, getting him kicked in the face. That allows Montez Ford to schoolboy Riddle for two, so Gable suplexes Ford for two. That draws the three partners in, and Otis cleans house to take the high ground. Ford does a wild dive over the corner for a dogpile spot, and then Gable does a dive of his own for a second pile. The craziest part of Ford’s leap was that he cleared the post with ease, hit the dive, and then landed on his feet - all in one fluid motion. That was insane. Inside, Chad hooks Riddle in a northern lights suplex for two, so Ford hits Gable with a dropkick. Tag to Orton, and he comes in hot. Gable takes a suplex onto the announce table, and he works with Riddle to give the Profits stereo rope-hung DDTs. Gable and Otis cut off stereo RKOs, however, and they hit Ford with a reverse electric chair/flying bulldog combo for two. Otis climbs for a pump-splash, but gets shoved over the top, and the Profits hit Gable with an electric chair/flying blockbuster combo for two. Ford goes upstairs for another dive, but Riddle brings him down with an RKO off the top. That allows Gable to try a dive, but he lands in the RKO from Orton at 11:30. Great athleticism throughout, and it kept a great pace, but there was nothing in the way of storytelling here. * ¼ 

Bobby Lashley v Omos: 11 minutes between bells. Omos brings the clubbering in the early going, and he’s giving off some serious Giant Gonzalez vibes there. Lashley tries the full-nelson, but Omos easily overpowers him to block, and sends Bobby over the top. Omos with a fireman’s drop on the way back in, and he slaps on a bearhug, wearing Lashley down for more abuse in the corner. Lashley slugs back and manages a vertical suplex, and Bobby makes a comeback. Lashley with a pair of spears to put it away at 6:33. Omos looked really bad here. Taking him out of a tag team where a partner can hide his weaknesses was a terrible mistake. I should note that we’re over fifty minutes into the show at this point, and the total match time has only been about eighteen. ¼*

Anything Goes Match: Sami Zayn v Johnny Knoxville: A brisk 8 minutes between bells. Sami hits him with the Helluva Kick right at the bell, and he dumps Knoxville to the outside to abuse in front of his crew. Sami wastes time messing with them, however, allowing Knoxville to find a fire extinguisher to spray Zayn in the eyes with. Knoxville finds more weapons, but Sami nails him before he can use anything, and he beats on him with a cookie sheet. It’s pretty funny listening to the announcers list off all the insane stunts Knoxville has done over the years, and then trying to convince us that getting hit with a tin foil cookie sheet is going to be the death of him. Sami wastes a bunch of time setting up a mousetrap covered table, which allows Knoxville to recover, and nail him with some weapons. Knoxville tries a suplex through another table, but Zayn reverses, and he hooks the leg for two. Helluva Kick, but Knoxville uses an airhorn to block, and Chris Pontius comes in to mess with Sami some. He’s fallen pretty far from working with Sophia Coppola, that much is for sure. The distraction allows Knoxville a schoolboy for two, but Sami quickly fights him off, and beats Chris up for good measure. McAfee is just having a ball calling this one. Wee Man runs in to attack Sami, and he actually manages to bodyslam him, which is pretty ridiculous. That allows Knoxville a tornado DDT for two, as the announcers put Wee Man’s bodyslam over like he just piledrove Zayn through a table. It’s really not surprising that he kicked out, the drop was all of, what, two feet? If he died, it would have been of embarrassment. Zayn goes to the top, but one of Knoxville’s buddies sets up pyro from the post, and it burns Sami. That allows Johnny to roll a bowling ball into Sami’s crotch, and he uses an artificial leg to take another shot at the part. Knoxville finds a taser to stalk Sami with, but Zayn manages a vertical suplex before he can use it. Sami goes back upstairs, but Knoxville uses the taser before he can dive, and Zayn takes a bump through the mouse table. Knoxville follows up by bringing a giant mousetrap into the ring, and he traps Sami in it for the pin at 14:25. Well, maybe Sami can get his heat back in a Guys & Dolls match, or something. ¼*

WWE Women's Tag Team Title Fatal Four-Way Match: Carmella and Zelina v Sasha Banks and Naomi v Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan v Shayna Baszler and Natalya: 13 minutes between bells. First fall wins it, and we get lots of posturing over who will start. They settle on Banks and Ripley, but literally nothing happens, and Liv tags in. She and Sasha each take dives for stereo dogpile spots, and then Morgan hooks Banks in a schoolgirl for two. Banks comes back with an Oklahoma roll for one, so Liv uses a few facebusters. Natalya comes in before a cover can be made, so Baszler blasts Morgan with a knee of her own. The champs try coming in, but Baszler shoots them a look, and they back right off. That allows Baszler to put the hurt on Morgan’s leg, but Vega tags in, and gives Liv a Canadian destroyer for two. Everyone comes in to trade spots, and we get all the classics: dogpile, tower of doom, trading signatures, everyone knocked out. You know the drill. Finish sees Sasha get Carmella in the Bank Statement, but Zelina saves, and I’m pretty sure half the people in this match are dead, because they’ve disappeared completely. Banks and Naomi manage a combo on Carmella, and we have new champions at 10:34. This was just a bunch of directionless stuff. ½*

Edge v AJ Styles: 14 minutes between bells. AJ is somehow bleeding before the bell even rings here. What is this, 1985 Crockett? Measuring to start, until they spill to the outside, where Styles catches Edge with a knee to send him into the steps. AJ with a springboard flying 450 splash on the way back in, but Edge lifts his knees to block, and goes to work on the ribs. AJ fights him off with a vertical suplex into the turnbuckles, but Edge uses an armbuster to block the Clash. Edge takes it to the mat for a bow-and-arrow, so Styles tries a pele kick, but Edge blocks. Back down for a crippler crossface, but Styles makes the ropes. Styles with a rackbomb for two, but Edge blocks a fireman’s carry with a DDT for two. Clothesline, but Styles ducks, and hooks a German suplex. They stagger up for a slugfest, won by Styles with a pele kick. That allows AJ the Calf Crusher, but Edge counters to the crippler crossface again. He slaps on a modified version that really stretches AJ, but Styles won’t quit, so Edge delivers an Edge-o-Matic for two. Edge with a slingshot sitout powerbomb for two, so Styles hides out on the apron, but Edge follows. He takes Styles to the top for a superplex down to the floor, but AJ blocks, and superplexes Edge onto the apron. That leaves both guys looking up at the lights, but Styles recovers first, and delivers a springboard flying 450 splash for two. Phenomenal Forearm, but Edge dodges. That triggers a criss cross, and Styles delivers the Clash for two. Good nearfall there. Back to the Phenominal Forearm, but AJ gets distracted by Damian Priest, allowing Edge to spear him out of the air at 24:26. Edge is officially the new Triple H of WrestleMania, with these extended pseudo psychological battles that put stadiums to sleep. ½*

The New Day v Sheamus and Ridge Holland: 7 minutes between bells. The challengers attack before the bell, and apparently Pete Dunne is now their manager, and known simply as ‘Butch.’  Well, that’s… something. Kofi Kingston nails Holland with Trouble in Paradise as the match officially begins, but Sheamus saves at two, so Xavier Woods hulks up. Holland tries side suplexing him, but Woods blocks, so Butch distracts him. That allows Sheamus a Brogue Kick, and Holland covers Woods to win the gold at 1:42 (2:33 total). DUD

Pat McAfee v Austin Theory: 20 minutes between bells. Theory is presented as Vince McMahon’s mystery opponent for McAfee, and Pat gets the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders as part of his entrance. McAfee dodges a charge at the bell, and slugs Austin down. Theory hides in the ropes to sucker McAfee into a cheap shot, but a cross corner whip fails, and Pat nails him with a backelbow. McAfee with a rana for two, and the guy can barely contain his joy at just being a part of this. Theory grabs him with a backbreaker to wipe the smile off of his face, and the crowd is actually really into this. Austin stays on him with a pair of vertical suplexes, but Pat reverses a third, so Austin bails to the apron. McAfee responds by checking him into the announce table, and he stops to do commentary on his own match, pounding on Theory while cracking wise. Not quite Jerry Lawler, but fun. McAfee tries a flying somersault senton splash on the way back in, but Austin dodges, and delivers a side suplex for two. Theory goes up for his own dive, but McAfee superplexes him off for two. Punt, but Theory dodges, and slugs him down. Austin tries a fireman’s carry, but McAfee slips out into a schoolboy at 9:37. This wasn’t a great match, but man, McAfee impressed me. Very few guys are able to move both like a heavyweight and a cruiserweight, but he has it. If he’d gone into wrestling instead of football, he probably could have been an all-timer. Afterwards, Vince is all mad bro, and has Austin rough Pat up before ringing the bell for an impromptu match. *

Vince McMahon v Pat McAfee: 3 minutes between bells. This is Vince's first match since WrestleMania XXVI in 2010, and he’s either had some procedures done, or is naturally starting to age into a chipmunk. Vince connects with a clothesline on the battered McAfee, and a turnbuckle smash leaves Pat laying. Both guys are dressed identically, which is probably pretty confusing for the folks in the cheap seats. Vince with another turnbuckle smash, triggering a ‘you’ve still got it’ chant. Really? Even my untrained ass could pull off a turnbuckle smash and a clothesline. Theory takes a cheap shot for good measure, before passing Vince a football, which he punts right into McAfee’s ribs for the pin at 3:44. I’m honestly surprised Vince put himself over, that’s actually quite unlike him. So then afterwards, Steve Austin shows up to give everyone stunners (including McAfee, in a fun sell) to at least end things on a happier note. Vince’s attempt at selling the stunner at seventy six years old was depressing. This was objectively a negative-star match, but it was really meant more as an angle than a match, so I’ll be generous. DUD

Main Event: WWE Title v WWE Universal Title Match: Brock Lesnar v Roman Reigns: 28 minutes between bells. Brock pulls his gloves off at the bell, and pounds Reigns into the corner right away. German suplex, but Reigns keeps blocking, so Brock goes with an overhead suplex instead. Another pair lead to a clothesline to send Reigns over the top, so Paul Heyman begs off on Roman’s behalf, and the distraction allows Reigns to spear Lesnar through the barricade. Brock beats the count, so Reigns drills him with a spear for two. Superman punch finds the mark, but Brock gets back up, so Reigns nails him with a second one. Brock gets up again, so Reigns tries a third, but Lesnar is ready with a German suplex. He takes Reigns to suplex city, but Roman blocks the F5, and Supermans him. Spear, but Lesnar counters with the F5 for two. Another F5, but Roman rakes the eyes to block, and connects with a spear - bumping the referee in the process. That allows Reigns a low blow, and he nails Brock with the title belt for a dramatic two. Roman with a weird looking bulldog for two, and another spear, but Lesnar counters with a kimura lock! Reigns makes the ropes, so Brock tries another F5, but Reigns spears him to win at 12:16. Both guys were in full videogame mode for this one. *

BUExperience: You know, if you’re going to have the audacity to run a near 8 hour show, spread over two very long nights, you’d think you’d at least have the decency to book more than one good match on it. 

At 7 hours and 49 minutes this easily breaks WrestleMania 36’s record for the longest ‘Mania (by nearly 90 minutes), and boy did you feel every bit of it. This was a long, long show. And with a ridiculous 262+ minutes of entrances, promos, videos, ads, celebrations, etc, it dragged like crazy. Even worse, after dedicating 8 hours to watching it, it already feels like a forgettable ‘Mania. This was total junk food, with no nutritional value whatsoever.

WrestleMania used to be unique. Even in the modern era, they always turned up the pageantry, and, if nothing else, you could simply enjoy how grandiose the presentation was. Now it’s just another show, but in front of a big crowd. And even that aspect isn’t really unique anymore since they’re regularly doing SummerSlams and Rumbles and random Saudi shows from stadiums too.

DUD