The showcase of the immortals, WrestleMania 39, took place last weekend at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. 15 matches took place over the two-night show, six of them being title matches. This is the first WrestleMania to be held under Triple H’s creative control and potentially the last, following Endeavor’s purchase of the company. Let’s take a look at what happened at this year’s WrestleMania.
John Cena versus Austin Theory for the United States Championship started the show, in Cena’s first WrestleMania appearance since WrestleMania 36. Cena attempted to hit his finisher, but knocked down the referee during the process. Cena then locked in the STF submission on Theory, who tapped out, but the referee was still out. Theory hit Cena below the belt and hit his finish to retain his championship.
The Men’s WrestleMania Showcase fatal four-way tag team match was next between The Street Profits, Alpha Academy, The Viking Raiders, Braun Strowman and Ricochet. This match was full of non-stop action, with every team getting some shine. Near the end of the match, Angelo Dawkins of the Street Profits laid out on the outside with a massive pounce. He was then hit with a crazy diving Shooting Star Press from Ricochet. Ricochet rolled him back into the ring and tried to hit another high-flying maneuver. Dawkins got his knees up and held Ricochet in position for his partner Montez Ford to deliver a Frog Splash and pick up the win.
Next was Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs Logan Paul, who was accompanied to the ring with a Prime energy drink mascot. Rollins attempted to hit a Curb Stomp in the ring, but the Prime mascot pulled Paul out of the ring and revealed himself to be KSI, social media star and co-owner of Prime along with Paul. He and Paul then put Rollins up on the announce table. Paul attempted a frog splash on Rollins through the table, but Rollins pulled KSI onto it, making Paul inadvertently frog splash KSI through the table. Rollins won after Superkicking Paul out of mid-air and hitting his patented Curb Stomp.
Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY) took on Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus in a six-woman tag team match. Lynch pinned Bayley after a top-rope Manhandle slam.
In a family affair, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio took on his son Dominik Mysterio. This is only the second-ever father-son match at WrestleMania. After interference by the Judgment Day to help out Dominik, the newly reformed LWO came out to take them out. Dominik attempted to hit Rey with a steel chain, but Bad Bunny grabbed the chain from Dominik. Rey hit a 619 and a frog splash to pick up the win.
Charlotte Flair defended her SmackDown Women’s Championship against 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley. Charlotte attempted a top-rope slam, but Ripley countered by driving her face into the turnbuckle. Ripley then delivered a top-rope Riptide to become the new champion.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn took on The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships in the main event of Night one. This is the first tag team championship match to ever main event a WrestleMania, and only the second ever to main event. The only other main event tag match was at the first WrestleMania ever, which saw Hulk Hogan team up with celebrity Mr. T take on “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful”, Paul Orndorff.
The Usos were in control early, beating down Zayn with multiple Superkicks, but Zayn was able to kick out. Owens tried to interfere, but The Usos delivered a double chokeslam to Owens through the announcer’s table. The Usos hit the 1-D on Zayn back in the ring for a two-count. This match was the definition of “too much action to call”. There were so many great moves and near falls in this contest to even recap. The finish saw Owens hit the Stunner on Jimmy, and Zayn hit three Helluva kicks on Jey to pick up the win, ending The Usos’ record-setting tag team championship reign.
Brock Lesnar versus Omos was the first match of Night two. In a short contest, Lesnar won after three German suplexes and the F5.
The Women’s WrestleMania Showcase fatal four-way tag team match was next between Shotzi and Natalya, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville and Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler. Rousey forced Shotzi to tap out with an armbar to give her team the win.
Gunther defended his Intercontinental Championship in a triple threat match against Sheamus and Drew McIntrye in a very hard-hitting affair. Sheamus almost won with a Brogue kick on Gunther, but Drew dragged Sheamus out of the ring right before the referee could count to three. Later in the ring, Drew kicked out of a Brogue kick, and Sheamus kicked out of a Claymore kick from Drew. Sheamus laid out Drew with another Brogue kick, but Gunther broke up the pin with a top rope splash. Gunther then Powerbombed Sheamus onto Drew, then Powerbombed Drew to pick up the win.
Next, Asuka challenged Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship. Throughout the match, Bianca seemed to have an answer for anything Asuka threw at her. Asuka attempted the Asian Mist on Bianca, but she ducked it. Bianca tried to deliver a KOD on Asuka, but Asuka reversed it into an arm bar. Bianca then squat-deadlifted Asuka up on her shoulders and finally hit the KOD for the win. Bianca is now 3-0 at WrestleMania, as Asuka sadly falls to 0-5.
In the main event, 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble winner took on Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Reigns was accompanied to the ring by Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. Multiple times earlier in the match, Sikoa attacked Rhodes when the referee was distracted. He was ejected after hitting Rhodes with his own weight belt.
Later, Rhodes attempted to kick Reigns, instead kicking the referee and incapacitating him. The Usos came out and attacked Rhodes, but were fended off by Owens and Zayn. Owens hit the Stunner and Zayn hit a Helluva Kick, yet Reigns was able to kick out when the referee came to.
Rhodes got the champion up and hit Reigns with his late father’s finisher, the Bionic Elbow. He then hit two Cross-Rhodes in a row and got Reigns up for a third. Heyman got up on the ring apron and distracted the referee, which gave a returning Sikoa enough time to hit Rhodes with a Samoan Spike. Reigns then delivered his second spear of the night to remain the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
With such a wide array of results and storylines stemming from this event, a majority of the WWE fanbase is beyond excited for what will come on both Raw and Smackdown over the next few months.
