Original Airdate: Saturday, April 4th, 2020
WWE Performance Center
Orlando, Florida
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Stephanie McMahon is here to introduce the show. She specifies that there will be "other locations". She says that she hopes that this is a diversion from the current events and to enjoy the show. This leads to a highlight package of some of the people who have performed "America The Beautiful" over the years and they combine them together to create the song. Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin's are both home run versions for the record.
We still get the pirate themed intro video. I actually really wanted to see what they were going to do with the set in Tampa. It finishes off with Vince's favorite, AC/DC. Rob Gronkowski is now here and introduces the first ever two night WrestleMania. He says he's the right guy for the job because he can start a party and finish it 30 hours later. He brings in Mojo Rawley, who he chops four times for the fun of it. Yeah...no.
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. The Kabuki Warriors
Kairi Sane makes fun of Alexa Bliss's bow and Bliss fires back with a slap to the back. These four ladies are extremely vocal here. Cross dumps Asuka outside the ring and tags in Bliss, who hits a baseball slid kick to knock out Sane. Nikki leaps off the apron to take out Sane. They start brawling outside the ring. Asuka and Sane use some nice teamwork back in the ring to take control of Cross. I wonder if this would have been the opener had this been one night? Hot tag to Bliss, but Asuka helps Sane to slow her down. She then does a stomp off the second rope to Bliss's face. That seems like a risky move for Bliss, who has a history of concussions. Bliss escapes a bulldog, but Asuka nails her with a high knee. Cross tries to clap Bliss back into the match in a nice moment. Both women make a tag and Cross is all over Sane. Cross hits a flying crossbody off the top rope, but Sane kicks out at 2. Cross has Asuka pinned for the win, but Sane makes the save off the top rope. Bliss hits a Twisted Bliss on Asuka to break up that pin, but then eats a spear from Sane. Asuka hits a Codebreaker, but is able to stop Sane from the top rope. Asuka has Cross up in a powerbomb position and Sane hits a forearm off the top rope, but Cross is able to kick out. Asuka misses Cross and hits her shoulder on the ring post. Cross is able to tag Bliss and she heads up top. She hits Twisted Bliss again and gets the victory to crown new Tag Team Champions. All four women put in a lot of effort here, but there were a few awkward spots. Not a bad opener, but it really is weird crowning new champions with no reaction.
Match Rating: **1/4 (out of 5)
Sami Zayn is here along with Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura and says that he is going to do something that few men do, which is walking into WrestleMania as Intercontinental Champion and walking out as champion too.
King Corbin vs. Elias
Corbin says that he is demanding that they raise his hand in victory since Elias isn't here. Elias then comes out and Corbin goes out to the ramp and Elias hits him in the back with the guitar. Corbin continues the attack and throws him in the ring. The referee stops Elias and checks on Corbin to make sure he's able to compete. The bell rings and Elias goes right after him again. Corbin is able to dump Elias over the top rope to buy himself some time. JBL and Cole compare Corbin to JBL, which is pretty fair, although JBL's heat was more legit than Corbin's. Corbin continues the attack and slams Elias's shoulder into the ring post. Elias returns the favor and throws Corbin into the ring post. So for the record, this has happened three times in the first two matches. Elias misses off the top rope and Corbin hits Deep Six for a 2 count. Elias hits a jumping high knee to the jaw of Corbin. Corbin rolls Elias up and puts his feet on the rope and is caught by the ref. Elias then rolls up Corbin and gets the victory. This seems like a good time to remind everyone that Corbin was the man selected to beat Kurt Angle in his last ever match last year. Good choice.
Match Rating: *3/4
Becky Lynch is shown driving a semi-truck with her face on there and says "The Man" on it.
Raw Women's Championship Match
Shayna Baszler vs. Becky Lynch
I thought that this match was main event worthy once they announced WrestleMania as a two night show. They go right at it and are quickly out to the floor. Becky slams Baszler into the announcer table and then into the steps. Lynch hits a missile dropkick and then attacks her in the corner. After a nice little bit of counters, Baszler hits a spinebuster. They fight out on the apron and Baszler hits some stiff shots. Lynch then hits a Rock Bottom on the HARDEST PART OF THE RING. Lynch goes up top, but Baszler greets her with a kick and then puts her in an armbar in the middle of the ring. Lynch counters it into a pin, but Baszler puts her in the Disarmher. Lynch gets out but eats a kick right to the chin, but kicks out. Back outside again and Baszler swings Lynch twice into the announcer table. I'm not a diehard Baszler fan, but I do love her look and the way she carries herself as a heel. There is a distinct brutality to her matches and it stands out among the other women. Just as I type that Lynch rolls through on a sleeper hold from Baszler and gets the surprise victory. That was certainly not the ending I would have picked for that match. This easily had another five minutes left in there. This was the best of the night so far.
Match Rating: ***
Intercontinental Championship Match
Daniel Bryan vs. Sami Zayn
Of the limited amount of current day WWE TV that I watch, Sami Zayn is easily among one of the most entertaining performers that they have. Then again, Daniel Bryan is also as entertaining as ever. Sami is doing everything he can to stall the match so far. Bryan eventually chases after him, but Cesaro gets in his way. Bryan finally gets a hand on him, but Cesaro and Shinsuke block him again. Gulak comes flying off the apron and takes both of them down. It's great to see all of these guys getting some time. Bryan then tells Zayn go walk up the ramp and get counted out. Zayn walks up the ramp and chases him up the ramp and attacks him. He throws him back in the ring and starts the beatdown with some calculated shots. Bryan hits a missile dropkick and once again has to drag Zayn back in the ring. Bryan begins clubbing Zayn in the back of the head and then stands him up and hits some stiff slaps. Zayn is able to slip an elbow in and get in control. It doesn't last long and Bryan hits a running clothesline and follows it up with the Yes Kicks. Bryan is really laying it in here. Gulak then begins the "Yes" chants and he is attacked by both Shinsuke and Cesaro. Bryan hits them both with a suicide dive and then goes up top but Zayn hits him with a Helluva Kick and gets the victory. Back-to-back abrupt finishes to otherwise good matches.
Match Rating: **3/4
Ladder Match For The SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Kofi Kingston vs. Jimmy Uso vs. John Morrison
This is a singles match due to Miz not being quarantined. After a quick start to the match, all three men go and grab ladders and bring them into the ring. Morrison is able to knock Jimmy off the ladder, but then pulls Morrison off his. Kofi hits a crossbody onto Uso and Morrison is back to climbing. He goes back down and knocks both men down for the time being. Kofi has his hands on the belt, but Morrison is there to stop him. Jimmy pulls him down and hits him with a right hand. Kofi launches himself through the ladder, but he is caught and then dumps him over the top rope to the floor. Morrison slides under the ladder, but Jimmy dumps the ladder on him but it doesn't hit him and he hits Jimmy with a thumb to the eye. Morrison positions Jimmy on a ladder that's hung on the second rope and hits him with a corkscrew off the top rope. That looked pretty good. Kofi then leaps onto a climbing Morrison and hits a hurricanrana off the ladder. In comes Jimmy, but Kofi hits him over the rope again. Morrison comes up with a ladder, but Kofi leaps over the top rope and hits Morrison. Jimmy tries to scale the barricade, but Kofi launches the ladder at him. Kofi lays Jimmy on a ladder that's lying across the ring to the barricade. Morrison goes up top, but Kofi stops him. Kofi climbs to the top rope, but Morrison is back up and walks across the top rope and hits a Spanish Fly from the top. Jimmy then comes in and hits a splash in a nice segment. Jimmy and Kofi are both climbing up the ladder. Jimmy is able to knock Kofi off, but Kofi then climbs up the inside of the ladder and knock Jimmy off. Kofi has his hands on the belts, but Morrison is able to meet him up there. Kofi knocks him off with a headbutt and then hits a dropkick off the ladder. Jimmy tries to bring in a ladder, but Kofi stops him. They then set it in between the ladder in the middle ring to create a bridge. Kofi climbs it, but Jimmy hits him with a kick and then slams him face first into the ladder. Morrison leaps off of it next and eats an Uso superkick. Morrison is laying face first on the ladder and Uso climbs up another ladder in the corner. Morrison gets up and dumps him to the floor. Morrison is alone in the ring and takes his time climbing up the ladder. Kofi comes in at the last second. Here comes Jimmy with another ladder and all three men are fighting at the top. They all have their hands on the belts and take them down, but they are fighting over them. Uso headbutts Morrison off the ladder, but he has the belts in his hands so Morrison retains for his team. A little contrived, but a decently clever finish to an otherwise great match. I really liked that match and thought they overcame a huge obstacle here by working extremely hard. Plus, Morrison walking the ropes into the Spanish Fly was awesome.
Match Rating: ****
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins
Rollins is out solo. They obviously start brawling right away. They continue the brawl until Rollins hits a back body drop onto the HARDEST PART OF THE RING. Rollins then follows that up with a Falcon Arrow onto the HARDEST PART OF THE RING. Rollins then hits a suicide dive and drives Owens into the barricade. Rollins then hits another one, but on the third attempt Owens hits him with a fist. Rollins bounces back and hits the Sling Blade. They have a real nice spot with some reversals that ends with Owens hitting a DDT. Rollins really has found his groove with this character here. Owens hits a cannon ball and hits a senton off the top rope. We get another back and forth segment that ends with Rollins hitting an enzuigiri, but Owens bounced off the ropes and hit a clothesline. Owens goes for a superplex, but Rollins rakes the eyes and hits a sunset buckle bomb and hits two superkicks. Owens hits a Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Rollins kicks out. Outside of the ring, Rollins grabs the bell and hits Owens in the head with it and tells them to ring the bell. They call for the disqualification, but then Owens gets on the mic and says that this isn't how this is supposed to end. Owens says for them to finish it with a no disqualification match. Rollins comes back in and they re-start the match. Rollins hits a running knee and then dumps Owens out of the ring. Rollins then gets a running start and drills Owens with the steel steps. He then hits him three times with a chair. As Rollins taunts Owens, he grabs the ring bell and hits him twice in the head. Owens then goes and climbs the WrestleMania sign and hits an elbow drop onto Rollins on the table. That was quite a leap there. Back in the ring, Rollins begs for mercy, but Owens hits the Stunner and that is all. That was another really good match with two guys that have great chemistry with one another. This match was definitely worthy of playing in front of 80,000 fans.
Match Rating: ****
R-Truth jumps up to where Gronk and Mojo are and asks if he can chill with them for a little bit, so he can hide from everyone chasing after his 24/7 title. Gronk hits him with an elbow, but Mojo pulls him off Truth and Mojo wins the title.
Paul Heyman is backstage and says that we are one day from exposing Drew McIntyre.
WWE Universal Championship Match
Braun Strowman vs. Goldberg
They continue to not mention why Strowman has replaced Roman Reigns here. Goldberg quickly hits a spear, but Strowman gets up. He hits two more and Strowman kicks out. Goldberg hits a fourth spear and goes for the Jackhammer. Strowman counters and hits a powerslam. Strowman hits two more powerslams and tells Goldberg to get up. Strowman hits another one and that's all. Strowman gets his big moment about two years too late in a cold match with no one in attendance. If that doesn't sum up WWE booking in 2020, then I don't know what else does. This obviously wasn't much of a match and it wasn't as eloquently booked as Goldberg/Lesnar from a couple of years back. Oh well, it was quick.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Boneyard Match
Undertaker vs. AJ Styles
After a good highlight package, we are off to a cemetery where we see an old hearse drive up. Two druids come out of car and pull out a casket. Of course it is AJ Styles and he calls out Undertaker. Taker comes in on a motorcycle to a Metallica song. Taker immediately takes it to Styles and then slams him repeatedly into the casket. Taker tries to attack Styles against the hearse, but Styles ducks and Taker breaks the glass, causing his arm to bleed. Taker then tosses Styles onto the windshield. On top of the hearse, Taker continues to pound on Styles. Back on the ground, Styles throws dirt in Takers face and then hits him with a kick below the belt. Styles tries knocking Taker into the empty grave, but Styles ends up there instead. In walk Anderson and Gallows, who say that things are just getting started. Then a bunch of druids surround Taker. They all of course don't attack him at once, so Taker takes out the druids one by one. Anderson and Gallows jump him and take him down. They try to attack him with the wooden part of a shovel, but Taker miraculously fights back. Styles then comes out of nowhere to take him down. Styles then drives Taker into a fence and knocks it down. Styles continues to talk trash of how Taker doesn't have it anymore. Styles picks up a shovel and tells him that he's doing the world a favor. He breaks the shovel over his back and Taker falls in the grave. Styles gets into the plow to dump the dirt on the grave and then behind him it's magically Undertaker. Styles then runs up a ladder to the top of a building and then there's some random fire. Gallows and Anderson are there and Taker knocks them out. Taker throws Gallows off the roof and then Tombstones Anderson. Taker then chokeslams Styles off the roof through some wood. He brings Styles over to the grave and sets him up for the chokeslam. Styles says he is sorry. Taker gives him a hug and tells him that he gave him a fight that most people haven't been able to give him. Taker turns around, but turns back and kicks Styles into the grave. Taker dumps the dirt into the grave and I guess that's the end of the match. He pulls some plants off the tombstone and it reveals that it says AJ Styles on it. They show Styles glove sticking out of the dirt. Taker then rides off and we are done. Some people will like this, but I would say that was the worst main event in WrestleMania history. No thank you.
Match Rating: 0 stars
I'm not sure that I can remember a show that had a wider range of star ratings from me. On the plus side, we got two legitimately great matches where the five performers worked their tails off. Both matches deserved to have a capacity crowd backing them. The Lynch/Baszler and Bryan/Zayn matches suffered from abrupt endings. My problem comes with the last match. Like I said, some people will have enjoyed this (and more power to you). Unfortunately, I absolutely hated it. I don't have much desire to see Undertaker wrestle/fight any more, let alone in some cheesy, over the top wannabe action movie. I just don't understand how you main event with this match? Speaking of match order, WWE had the opportunity to put these matches in the perfect order and instead they came up with a pretty mind boggling order here. I really was good with this show up until the Owens/Rollins match and was fine with the Strowman match. I just wish I could pretend I didn't just watch the main event. I'm probably being a little kind on the overall score, but I did appreciate the effort given here and really did enjoy the majority of it.
Overall Rating: 63%
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