So it starts the Wrestlemania that is too big for just one night.
It started with a kick-off show with only one match. Starting with an entertaining match between Drew Gulack and Cesaro. Cesaro as always was incredibly impressive and still to this day is one of the most wasted talents on the entire roster. However, that does not take from Gulak's impressive performance. Gulack put on a performance that shows that he is one to keep his eyes on. Gulack worked on Cesaro's arm to the point that Cesaro could not do his finisher, the Neutraliser. However, Cesaro walked away with the win after hitting Gulack with a peculiar move which looked to be some sort of no hands airplane spin slam thing. Overall rating: 7/10 MVP: Cesaro, for the ability to adapt. Following this was one of the oddest main card Wrestlemanias to date. The absence of the crowd was very noticeable.
That being said the woman's brawl for the WWE woman's tag team championships more made up for the no existent roar of the crowd. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross really did bring the fight to the champions Asuka and Kari Sane. As talented as all these women are, I still think they need to rather have this rivalry between just Alexa and Asuka and not involve Nikki and Sane as it makes these two women look like sidekicks which takes away from their characters. Also, a forty-minute match between Asuka and Alexa is really something I would love to see as a huge fan of both these women.. Alexa and Nikki became your new tag team champions after Bliss hit Sane with a Twisted Bliss that hit nothing, however, a second before this Nikki hit a devastating spinning neckbreaker. If anyone deserves the win after this match it had to bed Nikki Cross. Overall Rating: 6/10 MVP: Nikki Cross, for proving she isn't only Alexa's sidekick.
Following this was King Corbin versus Elias. This match was still to be confirmed after watching Elias last week fall off a fifteen-foot balcony. Corbin came out to do his usual shenanigans, demanding the ref comes out to raise his hand as the victor via forfeit. After a beat, a guitar strum hit to reveal Elias is not dead and will be competing. Before the bell even rang Elias broke a guitar across Corbin's back. However, once the bell had rung Corbin laid a decisive offense. Towards the end, Elias found his second wind. Elias took the win after a roll-up pin which was a rather disappointing finish to a rather entertaining match.
Overall Rating: 5.5/10
MVP: Baron Corbin, for taking a loss like that
Next up was one of the ones I was most excited for Becky Lynch versus Shayna Bazler. The match started off with essentially a slap fight. Before Shayna gained the upper hand and showed why she is one of the biggest threats in women wrestling today. While Becky did get some good shots in, most of the offense was done by Bazler. Becky Lynch did retain though after countering Bazler's sleeper hold into a pin for the 3 counts.
Overall Rating 7.5/10
MVP: Becky Lynch, for beating Shayne strategically while making them both look like threats.
Next was a peculiar match, Sami Zayn versus Daniel Bryan. While I have honestly never been a massive Bryan fan, I will admit he is incredibly talented. The match throughout had interference from Gulack, Cesaro, and Nakamura. All of who still feel wasted as sidekicks. Sami, as he always, did a lot more running than necessary. But it did end up with Cesaro and Nakamura being removed from the equations which did add to the match. However, after they had recovered they were still the deciding factor. Zayn retained after a Haluva Kick to Bryan as Bryan jumped off the top rope.
Overall Rating : 6.5/10
MVP: Cesaro and Nakamura for ensuring Zayn retains.
Now comes my top pick of the night and the biggest surprise of the night. The triple threat tag team match, between Miz and Morisson, v The New Day, v the Usos. This was changed at the last minute, as Miz had to pull out due to personal reasons, to a match between, Morisson, Kofi(of the New Day) and Jimmy(of the Usos). These three men were outstanding. The match was brutal in the ways of the Wrestlemanias of old. All three men had their chance to shine. Morisson retained the tiles, which seems only fair as Miz could not defend his title. The ending was weird in that all three men unclasped the titles but after being headbutted Morisson held onto the titles as he landed on his back on top of a ladder.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
MVP: Morisson for the final brutal bump and retaining for Miz.
Next was Kevin Owens versus Seth Rollins. I am so thankful that AOP and Murphy were not here to interfere as that would have taken away from a match that was almost as good as the previous triple threat. The match looked like it was going to end in DQ by Seth hitting Owens in the head with the bell, but Owens not wanting to let this go agreed to make this a no DQ match. Turning this into another brutal match. The biggest highlight was Owens jumping off the big Wrestlemania sign and landing on top of Seth sending him through the announcer's table. Owens won for a second time by hitting Rollins with the Stunner for the 3 count.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
MVP: Owens for being stupid or brave enough to give us this no DQ match.
Next was the Universal Championship match, Bill Goldberg versus Braun Strowman. Normally a title should go on last but we will get to the dismal main event later. This was a quick simple match. Goldberg hit Braun with three spears, Braun kicked out. Goldberg went for number four, then for a jackhammer, Strowman countered and hit Bill with three powerslams before hitting a running powerslams. One, two, three Braun is the new Universal Champion. Also Goldberg looks like he was exhausted after that quick match.
Overall Rating: 5/10
MVP: Braun Strowman for not getting winded after 8 moves.
Finally was the night's main event. Oh my word it was bad. AJ Styles versus the Undertaker. This sounded on paper like an all-time classic. Two of the greatest performers in history battling it out to find the dominant superstar. None had any idea what the hell a boneyard match is and after watching the match I want to go back to not knowing what a boneyard match is. I will admit that it did have some cool spots, but pathetic camera work, music(which made it feel more like a movie than a match) and the wasted potential of this match overshadows any moment in this match. Undertaker is and always will be one of the greats and he is my favourite wrestler of all time but he should have hung up the boots after Brock or even Roman beat him. Taker took the win after kicking Styles into an open grave and burying him, got on his bike and rode off into the sunset, hopefully never to compete again. I want to be clear I am not saying do not bring him on for a visit or to chokeslam some asshole like they have been doing with Austin but not compete in any more matches as this is now killing the memories of the Undertaker of yesteryear. Once again all respect to the Undertaker but enough, please. You are killing my childhood hero. Overall Rating: 3/10 MVP: The bike for getting the Undertaker the hell out of there. The first night of Wrestlemania was overall entertaining but either than two matches was nothing special and I can recall better Manias off the top of my head that were better. But here is to hoping that the second night blows my socks off. To be continued... Night 1 Overall Rating: 7/10 Night 1 MVP: John Morisson, for his amazing performance Match of the Night: Tag Team Thriple Threat.
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