If anything came across during Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, it was how success in the TKO has positioned WWE so that it doesn’t need to do things just to juice up WrestleMania. Pop culture, not to mention corporate sponsors, are now firmly entrenched in the product in the TKO era, so Saturday’s seven-match card was very straightforward.
It was almost too by the books, to be fair, with much of the drama leaning on the Triple Threat match between CM Punk (in his long, long delayed first WrestleMania main event), Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. And even though it was a fantastic match, it also showcased the twisty storytelling that the company has become so adept at over the past few years.
The question was a simple one: Would Paul Heyman side with his beloved Tribal Chief, Reigns? Or would he back his good friend for years, Punk? As it turned out, the answer was neither, delivering a compelling ending that raises questions that fans will surely tune in next week to see answered.
Here’s how WrestleMania Saturday played out in real time.
WrestleMania Night 1 Results
Jelly Roll is on hand to sing “God Bless America,” a WrestleMania tradition. The song, that is, not Jelly Roll.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque is the first person to hit the ring, telling fans it’s his distinct honor to welcome everyone to Las Vegas. He also lets everyone in the venue know they’re being seen by people all over the world live, which is definitely true if not revolutionary.
Salvatore Ganacci comes up from below the stage to introduce a video game and Pat McAfee acts like he knows who that is. But it looks like we’re ready to get things started in earnest with a world title match.
Jey Uso vs. Gunther (c) – World Heavyweight Championship Match
Jey has everyone doing his Yeet dance during his entrance as usual, and I have to say that the Spanish announcers do it better than Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. Gunther stays on brand by pretty much doing his regular ring walk.
A slow start sees both men get the attention of the other while the announcers talk about how important it is to keep the crowd out of it. Getting the first near fall will probably only galvanize the fans behind Uso, and he needs their support and belief to kick out after getting powerbombed and stacked by the champ.
Jey runs through a flurry of offense that includes a spear and an Uso Splash, but Gunther is able to kick out at two and catch a breather out on the floor. Or maybe more than that as he grabs his world title, using it to good effect by hitting Uso in the face trying for a suicide dive. Gunther hits a top rope splash (yes, really) and locks on a sleeper after Uso kicks out again.
The most impressive spot so far sees Uso give Gunther a taste of his own medicine with a big powerbomb. Another spear and Uso Splash follow, then two more Uso Splashes, the last one landing on Gunther’s back. Jey takes Gunther’s back and locks in a rear naked choke/sleeper with a bit of a body scissors, and to my surprise, Gunther taps out fairly quickly. Yeets all around as Jimmy joins Jey in the ring to celebrate.
Winner … and new World Heavyweight Champion … Jey Uso by submission
The announcers take some time to point out celebs in the crowd, including Rick Rubin, Criss Angel and George Kittle.
The New Day vs. The War Raiders (c) – World Tag Team Championship Match
The TKO era is definitely all about more ads and more product placement, but the War Raiders coming to the ring dressed as “Clash of Clans” characters still wasn’t on my bingo card. It’s amusing that after New Day’s heel turn that Wade Barrett is firmly on their side.
The fans want to see Ivar fly but Xavier Woods puts a stop to that. Erik responds with a nasty forearm shot to Woods but gets hit by Trouble in Paradise from Kofi Kingston. Ivar gets a second chance at a moonsault and barely rotates it enough to land on Kingston, who needs to get saved by Woods.
The champs look for the War Machine only to see it get disrupted by some cheeky work by the New Day. Woods and Kingston hit a double team move and cheat on the pin as well, winning the gold and then sprinting away with it like they stole it, which they kind of did.
Winners … and new World Tag Team Champions … The New Day by pinfall
Another celeb check. O’Shea Jackson Jr., Michael Che and Jelly Roll are featured, though the Roll was already part of the show.
Naomi vs. Jade Cargill
Jade’s entrance features Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel, which is actually pretty cool. OK corny, but still an interesting idea to make Jade’s solo WrestleMania debut a little special.
This should probably be a Cargill squash, except Naomi is too big a deal to be on the losing end of that. Jade pulls off a truly impressive spot when she catches Naomi trying a Blockbuster and turns it into a Jackhammer for a near fall. Absolute powerhouse.
Naomi flips the bird to my squash idea with a massive top rope bulldog and a split-legged moonsault, which still aren’t enough to put Jade away. Barrett seems legit surprised, which is good acting.
Jade turns the electric chair position into a powerbomb, which is something you don’t see every day. She hits Jaded right after that and it’s a wrap.
Winner: Jade Cargill by pinfall
Jacob Fatu vs. LA Knight (c) – WWE United States Championship Match
Fatu comes to stage wearing a werewolf match and with Solo Sikoa by his side, but he ends up making his way down the ramp without either of them. Knight gets driven to the stage in a white Maserati that I lent to him specifically for this. The driver better not ding it up.
(Kidding, obviously, we don’t quite make that kind of money writing up wrestling news and events, sadly.)
Knight gets off to a strong start but sees the BFT countered and looks a little surprised by the counter. The announcers sell the damage Knight took during the week, perhaps making him look less weak if he drops the belt here.
The champ pulls off an arm drag while stuck in the fireman’s carry position, which is a creative escape. He tries to pour it on to keep Fatu down, slamming home a running knee and hurling his challenger’s shoulder into not one but two ringposts. Knight hits a lariat and a top rope elbow but can only get two.
Knight hits a huge release superplex that sees Fatu land face first, but the match rolls on. Fatu responds with a thrust kick and multiple running hip attacks. His Swanton Bomb is on target too, but Knight still has enough left to kick out.
Another fun spot comes when Fatu’s moonsault is countered into a BFT, getting the fans roaring even though Fatu grabs the bottom rope to avoid a pinfall. The challenger fires right back with a top rope Samoan Drop and multiple moonsaults, and even the Megastar can’t shine his way out of that. Three title matches, three title changes.
Winner … and new WWE United States Champion … Jacob Fatu by pinfall
El Grande Americano vs. Rey Fenix
Befitting his status in the lucha libre landscape, El Grande Americano has a mariachi band play him to the ring. Vikingo is in the front row and gets in a kick on El Grande Americano before the bell. Barrett is furious, naturally.
It’s definitely intriguing watching Americano run through some of the more traditional lucha exchanges. It’s less fun seeing Fenix land on the outside hard since he’s had his share of injury issues over the past few years.
The guy who definitely isn’t Chad Gable hits a crazy somersaulting senton off the top (an inverted 450, maybe?) that gets a two count. Fenix responds quickly with a Black Fire Driver that also can’t end it. Fenix’s attempt to walk the top rope goes poorly, giving Grande a chance to load his mask.
Rey’s rope walk kick might have injured his foot since it connected with the loaded mask. El Grande grabs an ankle lock, then nails a headbutt with Fenix flying out of the corner. A diving headbutt is next, and it’s enough to seal the deal for El Grande Americano, who gets a successful WrestleMania debut. Heh.
Winner: El Grande Americano by pinfall
Shawn Michaels comes out with a card in his hand. Attendance, maybe? Yes, it’s 61,467 for WrestleMania Saturday, which they are calling a sellout. Another scan of the crowd finds Stephen Amell, Israel Adesanya and Dana White (who gets more boos than cheers) in the crowd.
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair – WWE Women’s Championship Match
Even though she’s the champ, Stratton enters first, walking out of a custom Barbie package courtesy of Mattel (TKO getting that product placement in there again, relentlessly). Flair gets driven to the stage in a Rolls Royce and is greeted by what sounds like a mixed reaction from the crowd. The fans appear to be up for some Tiffy Time, so let’s see if she can be the lone champ tonight to retain.
The fight spills outside in the first few minutes, then returns to the ring for Stratton to show off her gymnastics ability. Flair is sporting a bedazzled knee brace which helps a bit since both women are wearing strangely similar ring gear.
Flair is definitely getting in more and stiffer offense, but Stratton is getting in quick bursts and a fast pace feels right for her. Flair nails a big boot and covers for a near fall. She gets another after a sitout powerbomb but shows frustration when the champ kicks out again.
As both women battle in the corner, the announcers point out they both have notable moonsaults. Stratton wins their scuffle and goes for a spinebuster instead. The challenger hammers Tiff with knees and throws her face first into the turnbuckles. Flair thinks about a moonsault to the outside, but Stratton attacks the knee with the brace to prevent it. Flair connects on a kick to the face and gets another near fall.
Turnabout is fair play for Flair as she smashes Stratton’s knee into the post. Charlotte applies the Figure Four, but can she bridge back? Tiffany tries to stop her by attacking the knee in several ways. Flair looks like she is in trouble but instead gets her knees up on the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Flair also hits Natural Selection off the top rope yet it’s still not a match ender.
An extended series of counters goes Stratton’s way as she hurls Flair into the buckles. This time the Prettiest Moonsault Ever is on target, and Tiffy Time will continue.
Winner … and still WWE Women’s Champion … Tiffany Stratton by pinfall
Wouldn’t be a WrestleMania broadcast without doing highlights of the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Loved seeing Triple H’s parents get props during his speech, or as I call them, Mr. and Mrs. H.
Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk
Rollins can actually burn it down tonight since he walks out with a flamethrower. Then the lights go out completely so he can change to all white. It’s strange indeed for Reigns to come out with no title belt and no Paul Heyman. Just him.
For his long awaited WrestleMania main event, Punk gets not only a video package but also has Living Colour on stage to play his entrance theme live. Michael Cole poses the question of where Heyman’s loyalty truly lies, as Reigns doesn’t look crazy about seeing his Wiseman in someone else’s corner.
And here we go! Punk is grinning as the bell rings and Rollins looks like he’s saying something to Reigns. Punk leaves the ring to get some “wisdom” from Heyman. Reigns decides to try shutting Rollins up, but Punk wants a piece of Seth as well.
Reigns appears he may have slightly tweaked a hamstring but he’s still flying around and hits the drive-by kick on Rollins. Seth responds quickly, hurling Reigns into the steel steps as the fans start to sing his entrance theme. That allows Punk and Rollins to take their long simmering beef into the crowd.
Weapons come into play there as Punk takes a few shots from a trash can. Punk suplexes Rollins onto the can, making for an effective reply. But it’s Reigns who gets the last laugh, leaping over the barricade onto both of his opponents.
Roman uses one of the large Prime bottles as the battle returns to ringside and hits a Samoan Drop on Punk, followed by a big right hand to a jumping Rollins back in the ring. Reigns goes for a Superman punch on Punk, who reverses it into a swinging neckbreaker.
Punk grins again as he sees a chance to go corner to corner to hit both former Shield members with jumping knee shots. He pulls them out to hit a DDT/inverted DDT in the middle of the ring. Pausing briefly on the top rope, Punk drops an elbow on Rollins, and wants the same for Reigns. All three men battle into the corner, where Rollins takes a Doomsday Device from his opponents. Reigns delivers a Superman punch to Punk right after that, but Punk kicks out at two.
Is it spear time? Not if Punk can help it, which he does with a knee to Reigns’ head. They stand and trade right hands before Punk’s uranage gets him a near fall. Punk transitions to the Anaconda Vice, which is broken up by a Rollins frog splash.
Rollins does his best to keep both of his foes on the mat, and buckle bombs seem like a good tool to accomplish that. A sequence of counters leads to Rollins countering a spear with a Pedigree, followed by a Stomp which seems like it will end it … but does not. Maybe the two seconds he took to kick Punk out of the ring were the difference, Barrett offers.
Another batch of counters gives Punk the opening for a GTS on Reigns, good for only two as Heyman looks like he doesn’t know what to think. Rollins returns to give Punk a Pedigree, and yet again it’s not sufficient to finish the match.
It’s still Rollins feeling best at the moment, and his verbal jabs at Reigns seem to have him agreeing to team for a Shield Bomb on Punk. Except he blasts Rollins with an uppercut instead, then powerbombs Punk through the English announce table and Rollins through the Spanish announce table. Back to the ring they go for a spear to Rollins, who somehow manages to kick out anyway.
An enraged Reigns stares down Heyman as he tries to choke out Punk. That doesn’t work as Punk responds with the Anaconda Vice. Rollins sneaks in and grabs Punk for a Sharpshooter. But Reigns applies the guillotine choke to Rollins, who’s able to suplex Reigns without breaking the hold. Punk comes by to Stomp Reigns and nail the DTS on Rollins, but we’re rolling on.
All three men hit others with their finishers, leaving everyone down on the mat. Who will recover first? And what is Heyman doing? The Wiseman grabs a steel chair, walks slowly to the ring … and slides it to Punk. But Heyman heads into the ring and hits Punk with a low blow. Paul gives the chair to Roman, who unloads on Punk before Heyman shows Rollins is vulnerable.
Except Heyman hits Reigns with a low blow, and the fans go wild as he walks over and hands the chair to Rollins. Seth waits for Reigns to rise, hits him with the chair and connects on a Stomp to win the match.
