WWE WrestleMania: April 8, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Absolution & The Riott Squad def. Naomi, Mickie James, Natalya, Lana, Alicia Fox & Dana Brooke (Kickoff Match)
Announced just moments before WrestleMania was set to begin, this 12-Woman Tag Team Match acted as an outlet for revenge as six rather angry superstars looked to get their own back on the relentless teams of Absolution and The Riott Squad for their heinous attacks in weeks prior. Uniting as a supergroup, Paige and Ruby Riott led their alliances into battle and were on the receiving end of a beating - well-deserved some might say - from Naomi and Mickie James' team of disgruntled women.
Naomi led the assault, taking down members of The Riott Squad with her Rear View and tagging in the former Women's Champion, Mickie James to get her own hands on the attackers. But the two groups with vicious intent battled back with Sonya Deville and Sarah Logan using their brute force to take down Natalya and Alicia Fox respectively. As the action broke down, a slight misstep by Lana landed her in some deep water as she was dropped by a Jumping Roundhouse Kick from the sinister Sonya Deville, allowing The Raven-Haired Renegade, Paige to crawl in and secure the victory for the six-woman powerhouse group.
Weeks of attacks had actually paid off for Absolution and The Riott Squad as they found themselves victorious in the opening bout of the WrestleMania Kickoff show. If they were unstoppable before as two trios, imagine what they are capable of as a combined force. The women's locker room certainly felt how dominant they can be first-hand, and the six superstars stood victorious in New Orleans, most definitely making a name for themselves on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Cedric Alexander def. Hideo Itami (Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Finals) (Kickoff Match)
Since January, 205 Live has been without a champion. Tonight, on the Grandest Stage of Them All, two of the most premier competitors of the Cruiserweight roster duke it out to crown a new champion for the new era of 205 Live. With 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick sitting at ringside, Hideo Itami and Cedric Alexander were ready to make their mark on the SuperDome in a veritable battle on Bourbon street.
As soon as the bell rung, Hideo and Cedric flung at one another with incredible force in what was a fight to the finish. Hideo unleashed a flurry of strikes that would make any other competitor crumble to the mat, but the fighting spirit that engulfed Alexander’s body was just too strong to go down. Alexander fought back and unleashed a brutal attack on the Japanese Wrestling Machine that included multiple splashes and dives around ringside.
Itami wasn’t ready to bow down just yet, as he fought back with intensity that could only be matched by Alexander. Itami and Alexander beat each other up in the good name of Cruiserweight wrestling as the WWE Universe that filed into the SuperDome were going absolutely bananas. While both men had their eyes on the prize known as the Cruiserweight Championship, only one man was able to walk out of WrestleMania as champion. That man was Cedric Alexander, who after a backbreaking Lumbar Check pinned Itami in the middle of the ring to crown himself the new king of 205 Live.
Elias wins the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (Kickoff Match)
The fifth annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal took place inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome where the match was first debuted at the historic WrestleMania 30. Superstars arrived in their droves, hoping to secure a victory and claim the golden trophy as their own in front of a jam-packed crowd in New Orleans. two former winners of the annual brawl emerged as Baron Corbin and Mojo Rawley joined the fray, but a third also added their name to the star-studded list at the very last minute as the World's Largest Athlete, the Big Show made his return to action to enter the match he won back in 2015. The seven-foot monster quickly stamped his authority, tossing victims over the ropes left, right and center. The giant disposed of Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese and Lince Dorado in the opening moments before clotheslining Curt Hawkins over and out to his doom. Meanwhile, another force of dominance was taking its own control of the multi-man mashup as The Bludgeon Brothers eliminated Fandango and Tyler Breeze, shortly followed by Konnor and Viktor of The Ascension. Drew Gulak was sent parading over the ropes by fellow cruiserweight, Gran Metalik while on the opposite side of the ring, last year's winner, Mojo Rawley dumped his former tag team partner, Zack Ryder down to the arena floor.
The battle raged on as "Woken" Matt Hardy focused his onslaught on the opposition, delivering a Twist of Fate to Aiden English and DELETING him from the bout. Shortly after, there became a clear division of divisions as the remaining six cruiserweights - TJP, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, Mark Andrews, Akira Tozawa, Kalisto and Gran Metalik - stood back-to-back in the center of the ring as the rest of the competitors surrounded them. The 205 Live superstars held their own against the rest of the roster for a moment before all being dumped over the ropes by their adversaries sending the cruiserweights flying sky-high down to the arena floor. Stemming from the ongoing rivalry between Intercontinental Champion, The Miz and Finn Bálor who will collide later in the night inside a Steel Cage, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson clashed with Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas of The Miztourage. Axel and Dallas were unceremoniously dumped over the ropes by their Bálor Club rivals, but Gallows and Anderson joined them shortly after thanks to a sneak attack from The Revival. Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson continued to be dominant as they pulled down the ropes to send Heath Slater and Rhyno crashing and burning out of the bout. But their streak of eliminations came to an abrupt end as Kassius Ohno emerged from seemingly nowhere and went into a KO frenzy, delivering stiff elbows to both Revival members, sending them over and out.
On the opposite side of the ring, former André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner, Baron Corbin sent R-Truth over the ropes, coming closer to a historic second victory. But hot on his heels was the Big Show who threw the luchadore, Sin Cara into the air into a group of superstars on the outside. The two former winners came face-to-face in the center of the ring in a clash of the titans of some sort, only to be attacked by the remaining competitors. However, the hope of eliminating these two dominant superstars was quickly dashed as Big Show sent Apollo and Titus O'Neil over and out, while The Lone Wolf claimed another elimination of his own by booting he iconic, Goldust out of the match. Before The World's Largest Athlete and The Lone Wolf could come to blows though, they were confronted by The Bludgeon Brothers in an epic standoff. The four behemoths traded blows, but it was the dominant Harper and Rowan who gained the advantage and shockingly dumped Big Show and Baron Corbin over the ropes, eliminating them and ending their hopes of a second victory in the prestigious bout. As the monsters looked down at their victims, Jason Jordan tried his hand at taking the dominant duo down, only to be sent to join Big Show and Baron Corbin on the outside. The Bludgeon Brothers turn their attention back to the competitors in the ring and go on the warpath, tossing out Chad Gable, Shelton Benjamin and Tye Dillinger.
However, their reign of terror was brought to an end when the rest of the participants united to take down Harper and Rowan, finally ending their streak of dominance and sending them over to the floor of the Superdome. Six men remained, but one had been suspiciously under the radar for most of the bout - The Sinister Songsmith, Elias. He struck at the opportune moment to dump Kassius Ohno over and out, while on the opposite side of the ring, The Modern Day Maharajah finally got his revenge from one year ago, tossing Mojo Rawley out of the bout. Just four superstars remained, fighting for the right to hold the André the Giant Memorial trophy. With the WWE Universe undoubtedly behind the "Rusev Day" movement, The Bulgarian Brute screamed "Matchka" and sent his former ally, Jinder Mahal over the ropes with a sharp superkick, leaving three superstars in the ring. Rusev charged towards The Sinister Songsmith in the hopes of another elimination, but Elias pulled down the ropes and used Rusev's own momentum to eliminate him from the contest. And then there were two.
Elias stood across the ring from The Woken One who led a chant of "DELETE" with the New Orleans crowd, a deafening sound of The Woken Warriors rallying behind their saviour. But as Matt Hardy looked to secure his victory in the Royal Battle of the Giant André, Elias grabbed his guitar from the corner of the ring and smashed it over the skull of his Woken adversary before hoisting him over the ropes to claim the biggest victory of his career and claim the golden trophy as the fifth annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal victor.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos def. The New Day & Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
For eight long years, The Usos had been omitted from the main WrestleMania show. This year, Jimmy and Jey secured their dream of performing on The Grandest Stage of Them All, as SmackDown Tag Team Champions nonetheless. However, now they had finally reached The Show of Shows, they had the task of retaining their titles against two formidable teams - The New Day and the sinister combination of best friends, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Opening up The Showcase of the Immortals in New Orleans, these three teams threw absolutely everything they had into this Triple Threat bout to walk out as SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Things became instantly chaotic as Owens and Zayn utilised the no disqualifications ruling that is standard in Triple Threat matches, and took a pair of steel chairs to their opponents to gain the upper hand just moments in.
With the ball in their court, the dastardly duo isolated Kofi Kingston and delivered a Helluva Kick followed by a Pop-up Powerbomb, hoping to secure the victory. Luckily, The Usos returned to action moments before the three count and saved their title reign for a bit longer. Jimmy and Jey went toe-to-toe with Owens and Zayn in a hard-hitting brawl which led to The Prizefighter and his best friend, falling to the outside and receiving a dose of air Uso, the Tag Team Champions soaring through the sky in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. As the bout returned to the ring, The New Day reinserted themselves and joined forces with their long-time rivals, The Usos to take down Sami Zayn with a Midnight Hour, followed by an Uso Splash. But when it came to who should get the pin, the alliance quickly became short-lived.
The Usos and The New Day traded blows and went back-and-forth until Kevin Owens returned to hit a superkick on an unsuspecting Big E, taking him out of the ring. KO also disposed of Jey Uso by sending him crashing over the ropes and to the floor before being sent over himself by a double clothesline from Jimmy Uso and Kofi Kingston. Jimmy and Kofi united once more to fly through the ropes with a pair of suicide dives, only to end up clashing with their respective partners as Owens slid back into the ring to assist his fallen comrade. Kofi Kingston looked to take the titles home for The New Day as he climbed the turnbuckle and flew through the air with a cross body, taking down Sami Zayn as the former Universal Champion jumped out of harms way.
Owens then struck with a superkick and followed it up with a shocking Package Piledriver which many believed would signal the end of the match and The Usos title reign, but out of nowhere, Jimmy Uso flew from the top and delivered an Uso Splash to Kevin Owens, not only breaking up the pinfall, but securing his own and cementing the legacy of The Usos by retaining the SmackDown Tag Team Championships on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Asuka def. Raw Women's Champion Sasha Banks, Bayley & Alexa Bliss
Who's ready for Asuka? Well according to The Empress of Tomorrow herself, nobody is. And it's hard to argue with it when the Japanese sensation is as dominant as she is. Heading into her first WrestleMania with a winning streak of 914 days, the 2018 Women's Royal Rumble winner hoped to continue her reign of terror by adding the Raw Women's Championship to her resume. However, Bayley and Alexa Bliss were also on the hunt for the gold in New Orleans as Sasha Banks defended her title in this Fatal 4-Way bout. The Boss quickly evacuated the ring as soon as the opening bell rang, leaving Asuka to be double teamed by The Huggable One and Little Miss Bliss, clearly seeing The Empress of Tomorrow as a threat they needed to take care of sooner rather than later.
After dumping the undefeated superstar out of the ring, the two former Women's Champions clashed as The Boss watched on from the sidelines, seeking the opportune moment to strike. Bayley dropped Bliss with a dropkick and became a victim of Sasha Banks' sneak attack, clubbing her former best friend from behind and going for a quick victory. Asuka emerged from the outside the break up the pin attempt and quickly went on the warpath, dropped The Boss with a roundhouse kick and then turning her attention to Alexa Bliss. The Empress of Tomorrow threw the former Women's Champion through the ropes and then laid her hands on Bayley, only to be taken by surprise and sent down to the canvas with a Bayley-to-Belly that almost brought Asuka's impressive streak to a grinding halt. That is if it wasn't for Sasha saving the match and her title reign at the very last second.
The former best friends engaged in an all-out brawl until the Raw Women's Champion was able to drop Bayley with a Bank Statement and lock it in, hoping for a submission victory. Flying from the air, Alexa Bliss delivered her Twisted Bliss to both Banks and Bayley, attempting to secure the victory by hooking the leg of The Boss, but luckily for Sasha, Asuka was there to break it up again. With the WWE Universe now on the edge of their seats wondering whether Asuka will indeed continue her streak, she applied the Asuka Lock to Little Miss Bliss. Bayley grabbed The Empress of Tomorrow to separate the pair, but also fell victim to an Asuka Lock as the 2018 Royal Rumble winner nce again tried to bring the match to an end. It was The Boss who broke up this attempt, but ultimately suffered the same fate as her other adversaries, and with Bayley and Bliss out of the equation thanks to Asuka, Sasha Banks had no alternative but to submit.
The Empress of Tomorrow had not only extended her streak once more, but had become Raw Women's Champion in the process. With Asuka being so dominant in the past three years, is it possible to assume that perhaps she may never be beaten? Nobody is ready for Asuka, and that statement most definitely still stands.
Samoa Joe def. John Cena
When John Cena made his return to Raw, he probably didn't expect to be brutally assaulted by former NXT Champion, Samoa Joe with an intent on using The Cenation Leader to catapult himself into the spotlight. By his own admission, The Destroyer targeted John Cena for one reason only, and that was to prove that he should have been the one to reach the top and have the spotlight that Cena has claimed for so many years. And it came down to this clash at The Show of Shows to find out who the better man truly is. Never one to back down from a fight, the 16-time World Champion rose to the occasion and brought his best to try and defeat the evil Samoa Joe and teach him a lesson in respect. But it didn't quite turn out that way for Big Match John, as he suffered another heinous beating at the hands of his former friend.
Samoa Joe pulled no punches against his adversary and gave a dominant showing against the veteran, but not without a fight as Cena battled back and sent Joe crashing to the outside where they brawled and ended up throwing The Destroyer into the steel steps. With a newfound aggression on Cena's face, he dragged his rival back to the ring and attempted to put an end to Joe's destruction with a (much-needed) Attitude Adjustment, only for Joe to slip off and apply the Coquina Clutch. The Cenation Leader struggled to break the hold, but managed to find reprieve in the bottom rope which forced Samoa Joe to break the hold. The 16-time World Champion was reeling, on his last legs when Joe lifted him to the top rope in an attempt to deliver the dangerously devastating Muscle Buster. However, John Cena avoided the attack, slipping off the shoulders of his adversary and instead driving Joe into the canvas with an Attitude Adjustment!
Somehow, someway, Samoa Joe kicked out of the former World Champion's go-to finish, leaving Cena in a state of shock, wondering what he had to do to put his nemesis away. As he measured Joe up for a second Attitude Adjustment, he was dropped with an impressive exploder suplex instead, followed by a sickening senton that crushed the abdomen of John Cena. As both men's tanks seemed to be running on empty, The Destroyer appeared to close in on a victory as he measured his rival to apply yet another Coquina Clutch, but instead he found himself hoisted up for an Attitude Adjustment. But before Cena could deliver the patented move, Joe raked the eyes of his rival and slid away before shoving Cena into steel ring post shoulder-first. Joe used the opportunity to quickly lift The Cenation Leader onto the top rope and then proceed to deliver the devstating Muscle Buster to secure a career-making victory over John Cena on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Drew McIntyre def. United States Champion Bobby Roode in the Glorious Open Challenge
For weeks now, Bobby Roode has sought a worthy challenger for his United States Championship and made an unprecedented decision to issue an open challenge at The Show of Shows to see which superstar would rise to the occasion and face him in New Orleans. That challenge was answered by none other than former NXT Champion - and former rival of Roode's - Drew McIntyre! Recovering from an injury sustained back in November at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, The Sinister Scotsman made his anticipated return on The Grandest Stage of Them All, leaving both his adversary and the WWE Universe in a state of shock.
With the former NXT Champion now looking to add another title to his resume, the match began and a rivalry was rekindled as these two traded blows to the delight of the New Orleans crowd. The Glorious One knew that his open challenge would be answered by someone who felt confident enough to defeat him, but he could never have expected it to be The Chosen One. McIntyre gained control of the match and grounded the United States Champion with a Celtic Kiss, using his own head as a weapon and showing that he was willing to do whatever it took to have his WrestleMania moment and secure a win.
Bobby Roode realised that he had to up his game to take down the very man who defeated him for the NXT Championship back in August of last year, and history looked to be repeating itself. Determined not to suffer the same fate as before, Roode pulled no punches and even tried to defeat his Scottish adversary with a handful of tights, but to no avail. Looking to close the curtain on this impromptu title match, Roode aimed to deliver his Glorious DDT, but instead found himself spun out and dropped to the canvas with McIntyre's own version of the move, the Scot Drop. The WWE Universe rallied in excitement as McIntyre backed into the corner and measured The Glorious One before delivering a jaw-jacking Claymore and securing a WrestleMania-sized victory in his main roster return! The United States Championship is now another prize on the every-growing list of Drew McIntyre's accomplishments.
Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey def. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon
The debut of Ronda Rousey was highly anticipated, some would even say the biggest signing in recent memory. But some people just don't want to see others succeed, and that's exactly how Stephanie McMahon and Triple H felt about the former UFC competitor. Raw General Manager, Kurt Angle went behind Stephanie's back to contact Ronda Rousey and confirm her participation in the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match, and then signing her to a contract on Monday Night Raw. Safe to say, The Authority were not best pleased and made sure the Hall of Famer was aware, The Game physically assaulting him for disobeying a direct order. But Kurt Angle has never been one to be walked over, and Ronda Rousey certainly isn't either.
The dream team of Angle and Rousey set foot inside the squared circle - Angle for the first time in 12 years, Rousey for the first time ever - and came face-to-face with the power couple on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Although The Rowdy One was eager to get her hands on The Billionaire Baroness, Triple H refused to let his wife step into the ring with Ronda and instead opted to kick the match off himself with his old rival, Kurt Angle. In a throwback for any fans of the Attitude Era, The Game and The Olympic Gold Medalist clashed in a hard-hitting brawl as their tag team partners looked on from the apron. Angle looked as though he hadn't missed a step as he showed off his technical ability that he is famous for, keeping The Cerebral Assassin grounded with his mat wrestling skills.
It didn't take long before Triple H battled back, however, and regained control of the match with a signature spinebuster. With The Game back on top, he looked to drive his adversary into the canvas with a Pedigree, only for the Raw General Manager to send him over his head and down to the canvas before reaching for the tag. The Rowdy One joined the fray and immediately rushed her rival, dragging The Queen of Queens over the ropes and into the match with vicious intent, dropping her with a hard clothesline. Triple H tried to intervene, only to be German suplexed by the Olympic Gold Medalist, allowing Rousey to finally get her hands on the McMahon who had aimed to make her life in WWE hell. Stephanie tried her hardest to escape, and succeeded at first, raking the eyes of her nemesis and dropping her with a DDT to the surprise of the WWE Universe.
But as Stephanie prematurely celebrated, Ronda Rousey regained her stance with a sinister expression on her face before driving The Billionaire Baroness into the canvas with a uranage. The moment everyone had been waiting for finally came as The Rowdy One applied a bone-breaking armbar and wrenched away at the left arm of Stephanie McMahon. Triple H rushed to break up the submission, only to be taken down by Kurt Angle and trapped in the Ankle Lock. The Game and his wife clutched each other's hands in the hopes of escaping, but ultimately had no choice but to submit and give Angle and Rousey the victory. The Authority had been beaten, and now Ronda Rousey was free to enjoy her time as a WWE superstar.
SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair def. Becky Lynch; Carmella cashes-in and becomes the new SmackDown Women's Champion
The Queen has reigned atop her throne for 145 days, and as she clashed with her close friend, Becky Lynch in a battle for the gold, it seemed as though her reign would continue. Charlotte Flair and The Irish Lasskicker stood face-to-face before the opening bell and shared a moment of respect, shaking hands and preparing to perform in front of the New Orleans crowd on The Grandest Stage of Them All. The two superstars locked horns and engaged in a back-and-forth struggle which neither individual seemed to gain the upper hand in. The SmackDown Women's Champion soon became the controller of the bout as she grounded the number one contender using her technical ability that runs in her bloodline as the daughter of 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, Ric Flair.
As the battle raged on, Becky Lynch gained some offence and came close to dethroning her good friend after hitting a Bexploder on The Queen and hooking the leg, but it wasn't enough to keep Charlotte down for the three and the match continued. The inaugural SmackDown Women's Champion attempted to apply her patented Dis-Arm-Her on the reigning Champion, but before she could properly apply the hold, The Queen was able to roll out of the predicament and somehow transform it into a Figure-Four Leglock, which of course became a crippling Figure-Eight Leglock and left Becky Lynch with no alternative but to tap out and give up on her Championship dreams at WrestleMania. But the night was far from over for The Queen and her SmackDown Women's Championship, which Charlotte Flair quickly discovered.
Embracing her fallen friend after a gruelling hard-fought match, the pair were taken by surprise by a blindside attack from the reigning Miss Money in the Bank, Carmella! Princess 'Mella shockingly clubbed The Queen in the back of her skull, sending her crashing into Becky Lynch and sending her tumbling out of the ring. Capitalising on the chaos, Carmella thrust her briefcase into the chest of the official and made her intentions clear - she was cashing in. The Princess of Staten Island awaited the ring bell, and mere moments after it had rang, she delivered a sharp superkick to the jaw, knocking the SmackDown Women's Champion out cold, and following the exhausting bout with The Irish Lasskicker just moments before, Charlotte was unable to retaliate and a new Champion was crowned in New Orleans.
Miss Money in the Bank is now Miss SmackDown Women's Champion, capitalising on the most opportune moment and on The Grandest Stage of Them All nonetheless. The era of \carmella has begun in the biggest way possible and the Princess now has her crown.
Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins def. Raw Tag Team Champions The Bar
Heading into this Raw Tag Team Championships Match, Sheamus and Cesaro had all the confidence in the world having declared themselves the greatest tag team in history on more than a few occasions. But that claim may be forced to take a backseat after this past Sunday as Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins brought the fight to The Bar in classic Shield fashion - and they didn't do it alone. As The Celtic Warrior and his Swiss comrade awaited their challengers, they were horrified to witness the return of The Lunatic Fringe, Dean Ambrose who accompanied his former Shield brothers to the ring for a full-scale reunion in New Orleans. Perhaps Sheamus and Cesaro would regret their verbal jabs at The Kingslayer after this one was over.
With their brother by their side, The Big Dog and Seth Rollins did battle with their recent rivals in the hopes of claiming the Raw Tag Team Championships as their own, and their hunt for the titles was a roaring success. Despite the best efforts of the reigning champs, even they could not combat the chemistry of two men who alongside Dean Ambrose, decimated the WWE roster for the better part of two years during their reign of terror. The Lunatic Fringe was unwillingly involved in the bout despite still being confined to a sling for his recovering shoulder as Sheamus would drive his boot into the face of the former World Champion with a Brogue Kick on the outside. This altercation would later cost The Bar as Ambrose sought his revenge, but in the meantime, the Raw Tag Team Champions took control of the bout.
The Kingslayer managed to battle back and gain control, dropping The Swiss Superman with a superkick to the gut and measuring him for the devastating Blackout, but in an incredible feat of upper body strength, Cesaro sent Seth Rollins up into the sky by countering the Blackout attempt and catching him on the way back down with a Very European Uppercut! Things seemed to be over for the former Shield pairing until The Big Dog was at hand to break the pinfall up at the very last second. Sheamus tried to keep the former World Champion at bay, but even The Celtic Warrior couldn't restrain the intensity of Roman Reigns and he delivered a thunderous Spear to Sheamus, driving him into the canvas. Cesaro aimed to deliver a Neutraliser to The Big Dog only to be distracted by The Lunatic Fringe from the outside which allowed Reigns to throw Cesaro over his head and follow it up with another Spear which put the nail in the coffin for The Bar.
For the first time since 2013, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins secured the Tag Team Championship and stood tall alongside their ally, Dean Ambrose at WrestleMania in a moment to behold as The Shield reunited at The Showcase of the Immortals in front of the entire world, having conquered their rivals in an epic clash. Are The Shield truly back on track? If they are, the Raw locker room is in some serious danger.
WWE Champion AJ Styles def. Dolph Ziggler & Randy Orton
The WWE Championship had been shrouded in its fair share of controversy over the past month with Dolph Ziggler becoming the number one contender, only to be joined by Randy Orton who secured his own spot as number one contender thanks to a clash of interests between the SmackDown LIVE Commissioner and General Manager. Born from the chaos that ensued was this Triple Threat Match that put AJ Styles' reign as WWE Champion in jeopardy, not even having to be pinned to lose the gold. But the show must go on for The Phenomenal One and it did, in a much more successful way than statistics might have originally suggested. The two contenders came to blows early in the match and allowed Styles to take a breather after the opening moments of the match. The battle was on and the WWE's most prestigious prize was on the line.
The Viper saw an opening for a quick finish, delivering a vintage RKO-outta-nowhere to The Showoff when he least expected it and hooking the leg, but AJ Styles refused to give up the title that easily and broke up the pin attempt with an astounding springboard 450 splash. However, the athleticism of the WWE Champion almost became his downfall as e took to the skies again later in the match for a Phenomenal Forearm, only to be swatted out of the air by a superkick from Ziggler, flooring AJ Styles and coming close to securing the win. If it wasn't for Randy Orton, we may have seen a new WWE Champion at that point, but unfortunately for The #Heel, it was not to be. Orton came closer to claiming his 14th World Championship as he went for another RKO on his blonde adversary, but somehow The Showoff was able to send The Viper packing and over the ropes to the floor.
With the WWE Champion in his sights, Dolph Ziggler closed in only to receive a flurry of hits from AJ Styles as The Phenomenal One pulled a comeback from deep within and dropped Ziggler with an ushigoroshi before mounting an offence to
hopefully retain his title. The WWE Champion applied the necessary holds to deliver a Styles Clash to one of his two challengers, but Randy Orton returned to the bout and stopped him from delivering the signature move, instead dropping Styles with a spine-jarring backbreaker. It was then that The Viper seemed to enter "that place" and stalked his prey, hoping to strike with another RKO on Dolph Ziggler, but instead he was met with yet another evasive effort and ended up receiving a superkick to the jaw that sent the former World Champion tumbling through the middle rope. And then came his opportunity - Ziggler took it and rushed the WWE Champion, leaping into the air to deliver the Famouser, only to be caught and hung upside down before being planted in the center of the ring with a Styles Clash! One, two, three and it was all said and done.
The Phenomenal One had somehow overcome the odds and retained his WWE Championship at The Show of Shows, despite many considering his chances to be slim. At least for tonight, AJ Styles remains to be The Champ That Runs the Camp, and he couldn't have chosen a better time to pull through. Truly
phenomenal.
The Undertaker def. Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman's path of destruction has captivated the WWE Universe ever since he arrived on the red brand following the brand split. Since then, The Monster Among Men has decimated opponents and left pure carnage in his wake. One such victim of his diabolical domination was The Big Red Machine, Kane who engaged in a heated rivalry with the big man and it ultimately resulted in The Demon being shelved by his barbaric adversary. Of course, everyone knows that you don't usually get one Brother of Destruction without the other, and once again rising from the depths below, The Undertaker emerged to avenge his fallen brethren and punish Braun Strowman for his transgressions.
Many believed The Deadman to be retired following his defeat to Roman Reigns at last year's Showcase of the Immortals, but family ties brought the iconic Phenom back to life and this titanic clash ensued. Making his bone-chilling entrance into the Superdome - the same place the legendary Streak came to an abrupt end at the hands of Brock Lesnar - The Undertaker arrived to confront The Monster Among Men and took part in an intense staredown as the WWE Universe made their voices heard, chanting repeatedly for their beloved Deadman. Showing no signs of intimidation, Strowman made the first move and flattened the legendary Phenom with a clothesline, mounting his opponent and driving down right hands into his skull, surprising everyone with his aggression.
The Monster Among Men has always been a force to be reckoned with, and even The Deadman struggled to combat his aggressive offence. Looking to finish things early, Braun Strowman hoisted his adversary into the air and drove him into the canvas with a Running Powerslam that sent shock waves through New Orleans. But as he hooked the leg, he was stunned to have The Undertaker kick out at two. The big man may have become accustomed to destroying his opponents, but it was going to take a lot more to keep one of the most resilient WWE superstars in history down for the count. Strowman went to the well again for a second Running Powerslam, connecting with impact and going for another cover, only for the supernatural being to once again escape before the count of three. It quickly became clear to Strowman that this was no ordinary battle.
Looking to finally finish off his extraordinary adversary, The Monster Among Men once again raised The Phenom onto his shoulder, but before he could deliver a third powerslam, The Undertaker escaped and unleashed a flurry of shots, sending the big man reeling into the ropes. The Deadman even took Strowman back to school with his vintage Old School manoeuvre, and looked to put an end to Strowman's reign of terror with a Tombstone Piledriver, but perhaps even The Undertaker didn't have the power to hoist up such a large athlete and collapsed backwards, the tables turning and Strowman now having his opponent on his shoulder. a third Running Powerslam connected and the end seemed to be in sight as The Monster Among Men looked out into the WWE Universe with a sadistic grin.
But that's when his moment of ego may have cost him as The Deadman sprung back to life and pulled Braun Strowman in to lock in the devastating Hell's Gate submission. Strowman bellowed in agony as The Undertaker wrenched away, cutting off the air supply by the second. An eternity seemed to pass as Braun Strowman struggled to escape the hellish submission hold and after many attempts to break the clutches of The Last Outlaw, he ultimately had no choice but to submit for what could possibly be the first time in his entire career. The Undertaker had successfully avenged his brother, Kane and vanquished the monstrous Strowman on The Grandest Stage of Them All, not only achieving his goal, but reminding everyone that The Deadman is still very much
alive.
Finn Bálor def. Intercontinental Champion The Miz (Steel Cage Match)
April 2, 1986. WrestleMania II. The last time the Steel Cage lowered over the squared circle at The Show of Shows. A environment that contained two titans of WWE, Hulk Hogan and King Kong Bundy as they clashed over the WWE Championship. This year, as a result of the constant outside interference that has plagued this rivalry, Kurt Angle issued the announcement that The Miz would defend his Intercontinental Championship inside the structure against Finn Bálor, thirty-two years after it last graced The Grandest Stage of Them All. Much to The Miz's chagrin, however. But the stage had been set and The A-Lister entered the four steel walls and awaited the arrival of his challenger, but not just any challenger, as he was greeted by a special WrestleMania appearance of The Demon King!
For the first time in a long time, The Demon King returned from the depths of Finn Bálor's conscience to confront the Intercontinental Champion, and it's safe to say that The Miz was less than happy with having to be contained within the Steel Cage with such a dangerous individual. As both men stood face-to-face with their accomplices all absent from ringside, the bell rang and the battle got underway. It became obvious fairly quickly that the cage wasn't only going to be used as a barrier, but also as a weapon. Bálor wasted no time putting it to work and throwing The Miz face-first into the steel mesh, damaging his Hollywood features with no remorse. The Demon King opened up a relentless beating on the Intercontinental Champion, showing a much more aggressive side to Finn Bálor as the match went on. But it wasn't long before the Steel Cage came into play as its primary use, The Miztourage arriving at ringside.
Thanks to the walls of steel, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas were unable to gain access to the ring and help their leader. But this didn't stop them trying to acquire the key from the ringside official and break in through the door. Before they could progress with their plan, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson arrived and engaged in a brawl with their rivals outside of the steel confines, once again rendering this bout one-on-one. The Miz utilised the distraction to plant Finn Bálor with a Skull-Crushing Finale and attempted to escape the Steel Cage by scaling the wall. However, Finn Bálor was quick enough to get to his feet and drag The A-Lister back down to earth with a crushing back suplex, laying both superstars out. Clambering for the upper hand, they traded blows on the mat in exhaustion, the bout taking its toll on both individuals.
In the closing moments, The Miz delivered a crushing DDT to The Demon King and looked to escape once more, scaling the wall in the corner and trying to reach the top, only for Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to be stood awaiting him at the bottom. Quickly hitting the rewind button, Miz retreated back into the ring where he was joined on the top by The Demon King and he sent Miz crashing to the canvas from above, leaving him vulnerable in the center of the ring. Finn Bálor ascended the cage wall and sat atop the steel with uncertainty in his eyes. On one side, he could descend the wall and claim victory, becoming the new Intercontinental Champion on The Grandest Stage of Them All. On the other side, he could deliver one final killing blow to his arch-rival and get a measure of revenge that he may never get the opportunity to take again. Bálor chose the latter.
In a true WrestleMania moment, The Demon King descended from the cage wall with an horrifying Coup de Grâce that all but drove his boots through the chest of his A-List opponent. Hooking the leg, Finn Bálor secured the victory and picked up one of the biggest victories of his career, overcoming The Miz and ending his eight reign with the gold at The Show of Shows in front of a jam-packed New Orleans crowd in his WrestleMania debut. It couldn't be sweeter, and in fact, you might say that this monumental win could be considered to be "Too Sweet!".
Daniel Bryan def. Shane McMahon
Four years ago inside the very same arena, Daniel Bryan captivated the entire world with the culmination of his Cinderella story when he defeated Triple H, Randy Orton and Batista in the same night to capture the WWE Championship in arguably the most feel-good moment in WrestleMania history. Four years on from the game-changing moment, and Daniel Bryan is once again cleared to compete, albeit under controversial circumstances. The ongoing professional-turned-personal rivalry between The Yes Man and his superior, Shane McMahon have boiled over to the point of physicality, and that led to this 'Mania matchup between these two SmackDown LIVE figureheads. But while the rivalry had clearly been at the forefront of this match, it couldn't be taken away from the WWE Universe that they were ecstatic to be witnessing Daniel Bryan's in-ring return.
With chants of "Welcome back" resonating through the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Daniel Bryan squared off against The Prodigal Son in what was sure to be - in the words of Hall of Famer, Jim Ross - a slobber knocker! The former World Champion wasted little time getting this one started by slapping Shane across the face in an ultimate sign of disrespect. Shane-O-Mac retaliated in kind with a closed fist that dropped the SmackDown LIVE General Manager, repeatedly delivering right hands that sent Bryan down to the canvas. Shane made an attempt to deliver a clothesline to his colleague-turned-rival, only to be sent over the ropes and onto the apron. As Shane hung on for dear life, he was introduced to the educated feet of Daniel Bryan who sent him down to the arena floor with a roundhouse kick. And in a heart-in-your-mouth moment, Bryan struck with a suicide dive, sending both men crashing into the announce tables.
Daniel Bryan certainly hadn't lost a step as he laid into his nemesis, mounting the announce table to deliver hard forearms to Shane's face over and over again. But the son of Mr. McMahon was able to respond by pulling Bryan's feet from under him and sending him face-first into the announce table. Showing that he too can throw caution to the wind, Shane laid The Yes Man out on the Spanish announce table and ascended the ropes inside the ring. The voice of the WWE Universe said it all as Shane leapt from the ropes and drove an elbow through the heart of his adversary, crashing through the announce table in vintage fashion. Officials rushed to ringside to check on the pair, who both agreed that they were willing to continue. The bout returned to the ring where Shane attempted to pick up the victory, only for Bryan to show his resilience was still a factor, kicking out at two.
Wondering what he had to do to put the former World Champion away, Shane ascended the ropes once more and aimed to deliver a stunning Shooting Star Press, but Daniel Bryan had the wherewithal to move and cause Shane-O-Mac to crash and burn. And this was the moment that led to Shane's downfall as the Daniel Bryan we all know and love in the ring made a fully-fledged return. Delivering a series of ten kicks to Shane's chest and a final one to the back of the head, Daniel Bryan's return was in full swing. He climbed the turnbuckle and delivered a signature diving headbutt from the top, right into the heart of The Prodigal Son. And then came the moment everyone had been waiting for as he backed into the corner and lead a chorus of "Yes" chants as he measured McMahon for the running knee. And moments later, it connected! But instead of covering his adversary for the win, Bryan rolled him over and applied the Yes Lock, forcing Shane McMahon to submit and serve Daniel Bryan his return victory in front of the WWE Universe.
Yet another monumental moment for Daniel Bryan in the Superdome as he claims victory over Shane McMahon in his first match in more than two years. The Yes Man enjoyed an emotional celebration with the WWE Universe, but it was put on hold as Shane McMahon struggled to his feet and confronted the SmackDown LIVE General Manager. You could have cut the tension with a knife, but it was diffused when Shane-O-Mac put their differences aside and embraced Daniel Bryan in an emotional moment, the pair burying the hatchet and sharing the moment of Bryan's in-ring return. You might not agree with Shane McMahon's decisions all the time, but you can't deny his sportsmanship, raising the hand of Daniel Bryan in celebration for a WrestleMania moment we will all remember for years to come.
Shinsuke Nakamura def. Universal Champion Brock Lesnar
It was a historic night at the Royal Rumble when Shinsuke Nakamura defeated 29 other men to win the Royal Rumble Match and earn himself a main event title match at WrestleMania. But nobody expected The Rockstar to jump ship from blue to red and challenge The Beast for his Universal Championship. Doing so was a bold move considering nobody else had been able to topple the monstrous Brock Lesnar for almost a year. Shinsuke Nakamura aimed to be the man that could do the impossible as he went head-to-head with The Beast on The Grandest Stage of Them All. But his journey to the title was far from easy, suffering several setbacks thanks to a brutal assault at the hands of his adversary just one week after revealing his intent to challenge for the Universal Championship. But fighting through the injuries, The King of Strong Style made his way to New Orleans and aims to claim his throne on The Show of Shows.
With Paul Heyman in tow, Brock Lesnar returned to the Superdome where he ended the Streak of The Undertaker just four years prior, looking to put an end to Shinsuke Nakamura in much the same fashion. But with The Artist set on slaying The Beast, it would be easier said than done. The physicality was clear from the start as Lesnar drove Nakamura into the corner and repeatedly buried his shoulder into Nakamura's sternum over and over in a scene difficult to watch for some. Brock Lesnar's aggression had been a focal point of the rivalry leading up to this bout so it was expected that it would show its face. The King of Strong Style tried everything he could to escape the predicament, eventually slipping away to deliver a spinning heel kick to the Universal Champion and sending him to the outside. Going high-risk, Nakamura ascended the turnbuckle and flew through the air, taking Brock Lesnar down with a crossbody as Paul Heyman looked on in horror.
The tables turned on The Beast as Nakamura became the aggressor, throwing his adversary over the announce table into the team of Corey Graves, Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman. Utilising his surroundings, The Artist climbed atop the table and delivered a hard kick to the face of his opponent, causing Lesnar to stumble over the chairs and back towards the apron. Continuing to pull out all the stop, Nakamura threw himself from the table and delivered a missile dropkick, sending the WWE Universe into a craze. The fight returned to the ring where Shinsuke attempted to secure the victory, only for Lesnar to power out at the count of one, proving that it would take a lot more than that to silence The Beast. The Rockstar measured his adversary for the jaw-jacking Kinshasa, but instead he found himself flung into the air and driven back down with a vicious F-5 which many believed could have been the end of the number one contender, but he surprised everyone by kicking out of the move that finished off The Undertaker just four years ago.
The kickout only angered The Beast and he proceeded to toss his challenger around the ring with one German suplex after another, the future looking bleak for Shinsuke Nakamura. Brock Lesnar initiated the closing moments of this bout when he pummelled Nakamura with right hands, opening up the forehead of the 2018 Royal Rumble winner and turning this match into a bloodbath. Seemingly on his way onto the victim list of Brock Lesnar, Nakamura struggled to pull himself to his feet as The Beast once again raised him onto his shoulders and went for an F-5, but in a tide-turning moment, Nakamura landed on his feet and delivered a big roundhouse kick to the Universal Champion, sending him stumbling back into the ropes. The King of Strong Style wasted no time and struck with a stiff Kinshasa, taking The Beast off his feet! But before Nakamura could even capitalise, Lesnar was already starting to stir... so Nakamura went back to the well and delivered a second Kinshasa! And it didn't end there, as Lesnar once again starts to move around the canvas, using the ropes to climb to his feet, and as Nakamura went for a third Kinshasa, he was hoisted up onto Lesnar's shoulders! But once again avoiding the F-5, Nakamura landed on his feet, backed into the corner and delivered the third and final Kinshasa, securing the victory and conquering The Beast to become the
new Universal Champion!
Shinsuke Nakamura had done the unthinkable and dethroned Brock Lesnar after a year long reign of terror. The King of Strong Style proved his worth, defeating the most dangerous man in the WWE and claiming the Universal Champion as his own on The Grandest Stage of Them All, cementing his legacy as one of the greats. Looking on in pure shock, Paul Heyman didn't know where to put his hands as he held them over his mouth in utter disbelief. Brock Lesnar rolled out of the ring and left Shinsuke Nakamura to have his moment of glory with the New Orleans crowd, sending the Superdome into a frenzy. Shinsuke Nakamura won the Royal Rumble Match, jumped the border to Monday Night Raw and conquered The Beast all in the space of just a few months. He truly earned his place on this night as The King of Strong Style, and the new WWE Universal Champion!