The Kickoff show was alright. The right matches were on the show. It was definitely hurt by the crowd only really being half-filled. 1053 Ridge brother Josh was in Dallas and didn’t get in until right around the third Kickoff match – apparently there were issues with the ticket scanners. So the reactions were weak for a bit, and it really didn’t feel like the show kicked off until the Ladder Match (well, I guess you could argue it kicked off when the crowd began booing the shit out of The Usos).
Thought Corey Graves killed it on the Kickoff Show, with great fan interaction and talking like a guy not completely mindfucked by the cult of WWE (see: Saxton, Byron).
0. WWE U.S. Title: Kalisto [c] vs. Ryback
Kalisto vs. Ryback was pretty good. Fun big guy vs. little guy match, as advertised. Unfortunately seemed a little off with the crowd still filing in, but not their fault – they ran through their planned match and I dug it. **3/4
0. The Total Divas (Brie Bella, Paige, Natalya, Alicia Fox & Eva Marie) vs. Team B.A.D. & Blonde (Naomi, Tamina, Emma, Summer Rae & Lana)
I liked The Total Divas vs. Team B.A.D. & Blonde 10-man, though at times it was a bit of a cluster. Everyone got a moment to shine, and let’s just be honest: Eva Marie pulling out two sweet moves and blowing a kiss to the crowd was AMAZING. She ain’t great, but talk about hiding weaknesses and playing to strengths. The roll-through YesLock for the finish by Brie was flippin’ sweet too. **1/2
0. The Usos vs. The Dudley Boyz
Usos vs. Dudley Boyz was OK, but really not much better than your standard TV tag match. The Dudleys basically played good guys, which sure doesn’t fit the story but was the right move for the crowd they were in front of. Then the Usos put them through tables to glorious boos from the Mania crowd… talk about not the right move for the crowd they were in front of. **1/4
The opening was pretty incredible. I freaking love when WWE just goes full-blown over-the-top “this professional wrestling show is the most important thing to happen in HISTORY” with their video packages.
1. Ladder Match – WWE Intercontinental Title: Kevin Owens [c] vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Sami Zayn vs. Sin Cara vs. Zack Ryder vs. The Miz vs. Stardust
Ladder Match was great. Ended up being my favorite thing on the show. This was a total car-crash but the big spots were laid out really well, and the thread of Owens vs. Zayn carried the rest of the match. A lot of WWE ladder matches these days blend together, but when there’s a consistent story surrounded by big spots, that’s when they go from fun to great. Loved all the Owens/Zayn collisions … those two punching each other is just the best. The polka dot ladder was great, as was ultra-heel Owens throwing it to the floor. Owens’ big bump at the end was amazing too, as was him selling it like death all through the finish and Ryder celebration. And yes. Ryder. What at unexpected but AWESOME moment. Kind of weird given his de-push over the last few years, but the guy has been crushing it on C-shows lately and really did deserve a moment like this. And then his DAD CAME IN THE RING AND CELEBRATED WITH HIM!!! This whole thing was what WrestleMania is all about. ****
2. AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho
AJ Styles and Jericho was really, really good, but not as great as a match basically built as the two “best in the world” probably should’ve been. But it hit all the notes of a match between two seasoned, world-traveled pros. AJ rallying the crowd on the apron before the springboard was great. The counters on the closing stretch were awesome. I really loved their SmackDown! match, but I think this was the best of their series. ***3/4
3. The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The League of Nations (Sheamus, Alberto del Rio & Rusev) w/ King Barrett
The New Day entrance was great, but selfish spoiled me wanted more. A longer promo. Something crazier. I dunno. New Day vs. League of Nations was good though … a pretty standard 6-man tag, with Woods taking heat and League dishing punishment. The Sheamus 10 Beats to “New! Day Sucks!” was pretty awesome, as was the WrestleMania-sized Unicorn Stampede. The finish fell really flat though, and just made the hottest act in the company look like total losers. **3/4
Then there’s the post-match angle. King Barrett, only was was the cornerman for the League, gets his Mania moment as he cuts a promo saying the League could beat any 3-man team. And out comes Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Welp. This was probably crazy fun live, and 1053 Ridge brother Josh attests to that, but watching from home it just felt kind of forced and shoehorned in. To WWE’s credit they didn’t really advertise any of these guys, though it was pretty common knowledge that they’d be there. The legends clean house, and the New Day dances with them – which was sweet. Then Woods gets a Stunner. All in good fun, but classic WWE making two big acts look like total chumps at the expense of a quick pop. But still. Stone Cold Steve Austin danced. So yeah.
4. No Holds Barred Street Fight: Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. Dean Ambrose
Brock/Dean was dumb fun, but MAN was I disappointed. This was the match I was most hyped for going in, so I guess that’s my fault. But damn. They had a pretty run-of-the-mill Street Fight, and Ambrose didn’t get to use the two weapons they built the match around. I know he’s not going to use a freaking chainsaw, but it didn’t even start!! And Ambrose, who has kind of looked like a chump this whole feud, looks like an even bigger chump in defeat. He didn’t even really have any Cool Dean Ambrose moments beyond the slap. And I HATE the WWE trope of babyfaces using nut shots to stop Brock Lesnar. It was neat, but could’ve been so much more. **1/2
5. Triple Threat Match – WWE Divas Title: Charlotte [c] w/ Ric Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks
The Triple Threat Match was great. Second best thing on the show. These Women’s matches are not resonating yet as well as they did in NXT, but this was the closest they have gotten. First off – the ENTRANCES. Sasha getting rapped to the ring by Snoop Dogg was amazing, as was the Charlotte robe. And then the match – it was just pure non-stop fun, with big spots built to really well. One thing about Sasha Banks – she is good, and has done some GREAT stuff, but I don’t think she’s a GREAT wrestler yet. BUT, she has a charisma and presence that make people think she’s great anyways, and that’s honestly more important. A lot of folks seemed disappointed by the finish, but I dug it. Sasha gets screwed, perennial underdog Becky loses, and The Champ goes over. There’s way more story to tell with these three. ****
6. Hell in a Cell – If Shane Wins, He Controls RAW: The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon
The Hell in a Cell was basically a Popcorn Match – had its’ faults, but sure was fun to look at. This match was basically how Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose should’ve been worked, but I guess they had to save that story for this match, with Shane giving everything he had against Big Red. Shane’s big bump was as crazy as advertised, and the spots with each guy telling the other to bring it were amazing. I had a lot of fun with this one. ***3/4
7. Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (Featuring: Big Show, Kane, Mark Henry, Shaq, Diamond Dallas Page, Tatanka, R-Truth, Goldust, Jack Swagger, Damien Sandow, Darren Young, Fandango, Heath Slater, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel, Adam Rose, Konnor, Viktor, Tyler Breeze and Baron Corbin)
The Battle Royal… was a Battle Royal. Nothing to really make it stand out from other Battle Royals, and no real key moments. Shaq, DDP, and freaking Tatanka showing up was neat. And the right guy really did go over. There was nothing special about this and at less than 10 minutes it still felt like it went too long, but I’m excited to see if they do anything with Baron Corbin. *1/2
8. The Rock vs. Erick Rowan w/ Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman
The Rock/Wyatt’s/Cena stuff was alright. A little cringey with the Rock’s verbal takedown on the Wyatt’s, but at this point you have to expect that. The Rock’s entrance was cool, but after all the hype kind of fell flat. Like, “HEY GUYS! LOOK! I GOT A FLAMETHROWER!!!” Calm down, Rocky. I think it’s amazing that Erick Rowan had a match against The Rock at WrestleMania, even if it was 6 seconds long. John Cena showing up was neat, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how much cooler it all would’ve been if Cena and Austin’s spots were reversed. Yeah you miss Austin dancing, but there’s an actual story to tell with Cena and the New Day, and Rocky and Austin beating up the Wyatt’s would’ve blown the damn roof off of AT&T. As for the match? A classic DUD.
9.No DQ Match – WWE World Heavyweight Title: Triple H [c] w/ Stephanie McMahon vs. Roman Reigns
The main event was a really good TV main event. But this was WrestleMania, and wow – way to not read your crowd. This was like Hillary Clinton showing up at an NRA convention. There’s something to say in WWE picking a story and sticking to it, but yeah … they went with the exact thing that everyone feared they were going with. And there was no Rollins’ cash-in moment to save it. The Stephanie McMahon/Triple H entrance was AMAZING, and a real highlight of the show. Other than that… yeesh. They just had a basic Triple H main event match. And Triple H worked heel. And Roman Reigns worked face. In front of a crowd that wanted nothing to do with it. And they went LONG, too, almost half an hour. I like Triple H and all he’s done for the industry lately, but this type of thing is just ugly – he’ll get credit for main eventing the biggest Mania ever, which is kind of gross, and a performance like this certainly doesn’t help the guy’s case as one of the all-time greats. **1/4
This was a fun night of wrestling matches surrounded by so many questionable decisions. So basically, most WWE shows. As far as modern day Mania’s, it didn’t touch Mania 31 or 30, but was way better than whatever 27 through 29 were. Being such an average show for Mania is kind of a crime though. 5/10
