WrestleMania was intense

Saturday night: Rollins triumphs in main event

By Jay’Mi Vazquez

Managing Editor

WrestleMania weekend kicked off with the now former World Heavyweight Champion Gunther going against Jey Uso.   

They had a decent match with Jey Uso claiming his first World Heavyweight Championship title victory.   

This match was kind of boring since Gunther is an overrated talent. With no real character or gimmick, he just seemed lackluster going against Uso who the most popular wrestler in the company is arguably.   

With Uso “yeeting” his way to victory, fans are now looking forward to how his title reign will play out and if his popularity within the company will continue to flourish.   

One of the night’s most jaw-dropping performances came from Jacob Fatu, who remains unpinned after outlasting LA Knight in a dramatic match for the United States Championship. 

 Filled with top-rope chaos, including Knight landing his finishing move, the BFT, on Fatu in mid-air during a moonsault attempt, Fatu still survived it all, pulling out a win after three-consecutive top-rope moonsaults. 

The WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton retained her title by defeating Charlotte Flair. The buildup for this match was arguably one of the better lead ups to any match on the two-night card.   

When Stratton called Flair lonely and husbandless after having three divorces in an unscripted promo earlier in the month, fans were immediately buzzing about this bout being amazing. And it was pure cinema to watch. 

Flair being the veteran talent here, she dominated most of the match. However, Stratton won using her Prettiest Moonsault Ever finishing maneuver to retain her title and her spot as one of the better women talents the company has to offer. 

Saturday night’s main event match was Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins in an action-packed brutal no-disqualification triple threat match.  

The real-life beef between Rollins and Punk has been dramatized for wrestling fans since Punks return at Survivor Series in 2023 and this matchup did not disappoint. Also including Reigns in the mix made it even better.  

Punk, in his first-ever Mania main event, entered with Paul Heyman by his side.  

The action throughout this match intensified with near-falls, announcer table crashes and a stunning betrayal. Heyman teased loyalty to Punk and then turned on Punk, acted to be loyal to Reigns, only to low-blow Reigns and hand Rollins a chair.  

Rollins capitalized, stomping Reigns and pinning him as Heyman shockingly pledged allegiance to Rollins.  

Fans did not expect this at all since Punk and Reigns are notorious for being “Paul Heyman Guys” during their careers. 

WrestleMania Saturday delivered a mix of spectacle, surprise and a glimpse into WWE’s international future since they announced the acquisition of Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. 

Sunday night: Historic night for John Cena

Sunday night of WrestleMania kicked off with a triple threat match for the Women’s World Championship. 

Iyo Sky successfully defended her title against powerhouses Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley.  

The clash of styles made for a dynamic showdown, with Sky showcasing her trademark aerial finesse, while Belair and Ripley relied on raw power to dominate the ring. 

The crowd erupted with chants of “This is awesome” as the action intensified. Belair whipped Ripley with her signature braid, then landed a K.O.D. on her. Just as Belair went for the pin, Sky launched herself from the top rope, connecting with a perfectly timed moonsault to steal the win and retain her title. 

The Intercontinental Championship match delivered on all fronts with relentless pace, countless near falls and creative sequences that kept the audience on edge.  

The bout took a chaotic turn when Carlito interfered, costing Penta the win. Only to then be speared through the announce table by Bron Breakker.  

With momentum shifting rapidly, Dominik Mysterio seized the moment. After hitting a 619 on Breakker, Finn Bálor followed with a devastating Coup de Grâce.  

Mysterio then capitalized with a perfectly executed frog splash to pin Bálor and claim the Intercontinental Championship, marking his first WrestleMania victory and singles title win.  

Randy Orton stepped into his 20th WrestleMania expecting a tough challenge—but no one could have predicted the surprise that awaited him.  

In a jaw-dropping moment, TNA World Champion Joe Hendry made his WrestleMania debut as Orton’s mystery opponent, sending shockwaves through the crowd.  

As Hendry’s catchphrase goes “Say his name and he appears,” and he did. WrestleMania believed in Hendry. 

In a quick finish, Orton delivered an RKO out of nowhere, beating Hendry.  

After the match, Orton showed respect by raising Hendry’s hand in a symbolic passing-of-the-torch moment, only to hit Hendry with a second RKO out of nowhere, reminding everyone that the Apex Predator never truly lets his guard down. 

Becky Lynch made a surprising return after a year-long absence, partnering with Lyra Valkyria to challenge Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. 

Despite a slow start, Lynch and Valkyria claimed victory, with Valkyria now holding both the Women’s Intercontinental and Tag Team titles.  

However, the decision to have the new team win could undermine Morgan and Rodriguez’s momentum. It just does not make sense to give the championships to someone who already holds one and to someone who just returned.  

Morgan and Rodriquez deserved this win to maintain their dominance over the roster.  

In a stunning and chaotic main event at WrestleMania, John Cena wrestled his final WrestleMania match, embracing his full heel persona against undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.  

The slow-burning bout erupted with high-risk spots, including a top-rope Attitude Adjustment and a dramatic STF sequence. 

Travis Scott came out and pulled the referee mid-count and interfering with the matchup, siding with Cena. 

Cody Rhodes then delivered a crossroads to Scott. Cena low-blowed Rhodes and struck him with the title, nearly stealing the win. But Rhodes kicked out at 2.9, igniting the loudest reaction of the night.  

However, despite Rhodes’s ability to try and retain the title, Cena was able to defeat him to capture his record breaking 17-time WWE Championship victory. 

Fans are now left envisioning the match ups for Cena during his final run with championship gold strapped around his waist.