After one of helluva night with NXTTakeover: New Orleans, the WWE was ready for their Super Bowl. WrestleMania 34 is finally here and with some great buildups, anticipation was through the roof. You had so many storylines that were intriguing headed into the granddaddy of them all. Will the Undertaker finally accept the challenge from John Cena? How would Ronda Rousey fare in her in-ring WWE debut? What to expect in the in-ring return of Daniel Bryan after finally being medically cleared? Who would Braun Strowman choose to be his partner in his tag team match? How would the “Dream Match” of A.J. Styles versus Shinsuke Nakamura turn out? Could Charlotte end the winning streak of Asuka? Could WrestleMania get anywhere close to exciting as NXTTakever: New Orleans? As you see, there were so many questions looming over WrestleMania 34 before it started? Let’s see how things turned out!
In the opener, we had the Miz defending his Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. Over the last month, the build for this match has been exceptional. Seth Rollins came out with an amazing entrance to start things off. As far as the match, the action started off immediately with all three men going at it with pin attempts to begin with. They all continued to battle at a quick pace and the crowd was showing their appreciation. These put on a clinic with all three of them getting nearfalls in the process. Towards the end, Bálor goes up for his finish but once again Miz cuts him off. Bálor tries to hit the 1916 off the top. Rollins breaks it up. Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale off the top!
Miz tries to pin Rollins but Bálor hits the Coup de Grâs on Miz to break the pin. Bálor hits the Coup de Grâs on Miz again. Rollins hit the Curb Stomp on Bálor as he is pinning Miz. Miz rolls over and Rollins Curb Stomps him! Rollins pins Miz! Winner and New Intercontinental Champion: Seth Rollins
Match Rating: 4.25/5- Phenomenal Opener! These guys put on a great match and Rollins became the 11th Grand Slam Champion in the WWE.
Now it’s on to Charlotte defending her SmackDown Women’s title against the undefeated Asuka. Asuka haven’t loss a match since entering the WWE. In January, Asuka became the 1st ever winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble. At the Fastlane PPV, Asuka chose Charlotte to face at WrestleMania for the SmackDown Women’s title. Before the match, I tweeted out this match should be a classic and it turned out to be a good one. Great spot during the match saw Charlotte goes for a moonsault onto Asuka but was caught and put into a triangle lock. Great sequences towards the end between these two as the fans go crazy.
Charlotte hits a Spanish Fly off the top! Asuka kicks out. Charlotte tries Natural Selection but Asuka counters into an Octopus hold. Charlotte reverses into a Figure Four attempt. Asuka kicks out of it. Asuka tries to lock in the Asuka lock. Charlotte escapes and hits a huge Spear. Asuka kicks out. Charlotte puts Asuka in the Figure Eight and surprisingly, Asuka taps!!! Winner and Still SmackDown Women’s Champ: Charlotte Flair
Match Rating: 4/5- This was a really good match between these two as expected. My face was in shock after Asuka tapped, but this will be good for her going forward.
Time for the Fatal 4-Way match for the United States Championship. Randy Orton defended his title against Bobby Roode, Rusev and Jinder Mahal. Randy Orton took the belt from Bobby Roode at the Fastlane PPV. Jinder Mahal has been creeping and interfering in their feud from the jump. Rusev was added to the match on this past edition of SmackDown Live. The match picked up towards the closing seconds of the match. Randy Orton sends Roode into the ring post. Orton tries to DDT Rusev. Rusev escapes and kicks Orton in the chest. Rusev tries a spinning wheel kick but Orton ducks. Orton crushes Rusev with the hangman’s DDT. Orton calls for the RKO. English gets in the ring and Orton RKOs him. Orton RKOs Mahal and Rusev. Roode hits the Glorious DDT. Rusev Machka kick on Orton.
Rusev kicks Mahal in the head. Rusev tries to put Mahal in the Accolade. Mahal slips out of it. Singh gets on the apron. Rusev hits the Machka Kick on Singh. Mahal grabs Rusev and blasts him with the Khallas for the win. Winner and New United States Champion: Jinder Mahal
Match Rating: 2.5/5- Dear WWE, start listening to the fans because they really wanted Rusev to walk away as the champ. I’m thinking Rusev will turn face and feud with Mahal for the title.
We have one of the matches many people were looking forward to. Kurt Angle teamed up with Ronda Rousey to face Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. This was the in-ring debut of Ronda Rousey and all eyes was on her. At the start of the match, Stephanie tried her best to get under the skin of Rousey by pie facing her and pulling her down by her hair from behind. Triple H and Kurt Angle started out the match as they put on a typical wrestling match. Things picked up when Stephanie grabbed Angle from behind and Triple H almost hit her. Angle went to tag Rousey later, but Stephanie came behind her to pull her off the apron hitting her head. Angle suplexes HHH. Angle tags in Rousey as Stephanie screams for HHH to get up.
Angle tags in Rousey. Rousey runs into the ring and drags Stephanie into the ring. Rolling clothesline by Rousey. Rousey obliterates Stephanie with a suplex. Stephanie crawls to the corner. Rousey unleashes a flurry of strikes on Stephanie. Rousey tosses Stephanie clear across the ring. Stephanie screams no more. Rousey suplexes Stephanie clear across the ring. Monkey clip into an armbar by Rousey. Stephanie rolls to her feet so Rousey can’t lock it in. Stephanie pokes Rousey in the eye to break the hold. Stephanie tries to tag Triple H but he isn’t in the corner. He is still out on the floor. Stephanie DDTs Rousey. Running knee by Stephanie. Stephanie puts Rousey in a surfboard. Stephanie mocks Rousey. Rousey grabs Stephanie by the throat. Rousey hits a rolling Samoan drop. As Rousey has Stephanie covered HHH pulls Rousey out of the ring.
Angle and HHH fight on the table. Angle tries to suplex HHH through the announce table. HHH counters and tosses Angle onto the Spanish announce table. HHH checks on Stephanie. Rousey gets in the ring and tells HH to square up. HHH moves the referee out of the way. HHH walks up to Rousey. Rousey unloads on HHH. HHH tries to kick Rousey in the gut. Rousey catches his foot and rolls into a fireman’s carry. As Rousey has HHH up Stephanie pulls him off. Stephanie slaps Rousey in the face. Rousey chases Stephanie. Stephanie sends Rousey into the ring post. In the ring, Angle hits multiple suplexes on HHH. HHH tries the Pedigree. Angle counters and hits the Angle slam. HHH kicks out. Angle pulls down the straps and tries to put HHH in the Angle Lock. Stephanie pulls Angle off HHH. Stephanie tries to kick Angle.
Angle puts Stephanie in the Angle Lock. HHH hits the Pedigree on Angle. Rousey breaks up the pin. HHH tries to Pedigree Rousey. Rousey flips into a hurricanrana! Rousey outs HHH in an armbar. HHH is about to tap but Stephine puts Rousey in a rear naked choke. Rousey puts Stephanie in the armbar. Angle puts HHH in the Angle Lock. HHH rolls out of the Angle lock, which sends Angle crashing into Rousey breaking both holds. Angle is sent shoulder first into the post. Rousey is sent shoulder first into the post. HHH and Stephanie sets up dual Pedigrees. Angle back body drops HHH over the top rope. Rousey flips out of Stephanie’s Pedigree. Rousey rolls into another armbar. Rousey tries to block it, but Rousey sit back, and Stephanie taps immediately! Winners: Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey
Match Rating: 3.75/5- Wow! This match was everywhere! Coming into this match, my expectations for Ronda Rousey was very low, but she shocked me and did her thing. Props to all four of them for the work they put in.
We have the triple threat match for the SmackDown Live tag team titles. The Usos defended the belts against New Day and the Bludgeon Brothers. Before Harper and Rowen can get in the ring, Kingston and Jimmy dropkick them off the apron. Kingston hit trouble in paradise on Jimmy, but Harper and Rowen pull Kingston out of the ring. Harper and Rowen lay waste to everyone. Jimmy superkicks Harper. The Usos hits double head kicks on Harper. Superkick by Jey, followed by the splash off the top by Jimmy. Harper kicks out. Rowen pulls Jimmy off the apron. Jey kicks Harper in the head. Big E. tries the Big Ending on Harper. Rowen pulls him off Big E.’s shoulder. The Usos try to dive on Rowen. Rowen catches them both by the throat. Jimmy and Jey double suplex Rowen on the floor. Harper is on the top rope. The Usos try to suplex him. Big E. comes in for the tower of doom. Rowen breaks it up. Harper and Rowen hit a powerbomb off the top rope on Kingston for the win! Winners and New SmackDown Live Tag Champs: The Bludgeon Brothers
Match Rating: 2.5/5- This was basically a squash match! This is long overdue because they should’ve won the belts when they were the Wyatt Family with Bray.
After the Charlotte/Asuka match, a referee came from the back to tell Cena that the Undertaker is here. After Cena ran to the back, we figured we would get the match we’ve thought we’d get. John Cena hit the ring, but the referee came out and said that the match wasn’t going to happen. Cena was about to leave the ring disgusted, but the lights go out and it’s none other than Elias. Elias asks the crowd if they were expecting someone else? Elias says the person they were looking for isn’t anywhere close to how great Elias is. Elias tells Cena to leave because he will take it from here. Cena leaves the ring and goes back to his seat. Elias says he is about to make history. Elias starts to sing about Cena wanting Taker but it’s Elias’ night.
Cena runs back into the ring and hits the five moves of doom on Elias. Cena hits the AA on Elias. Cena is in the ring confused as his music starts to play. Cena is dejected. Cena eventually poses on the rope. Cena leaves the ring and walks up the ramp. The lights go out and Undertaker’s gear is in the ring. It gets struck by lightning and disappears. Undertaker’s music hits. The Undertaker appears on the ramp. Cena is in awe. Undertaker kicks Cena in the gut and unloads on him in the corner. Running clothesline by Undertaker. Undertaker hits old school on Cena. Undertaker splashes Cena in the corner. Undertaker hits snake eyes followed by a big boot. Leg drop by Undertaker. Undertaker calls for the chokeslam. Cena reverses it into a back suplex. Cena goes for the five-knuckle shuffle. Undertaker sits up. Cena falls to the ground in fear. Undertaker chokeslams Cena. Undertaker hits the Tombstone for the win. Winner: Undertaker
Match Rating: 3/5- This wasn’t a great match, it was good to see the Undertaker in action.
We finally have the in-ring return of Daniel Bryan as he teamed with Shane to face Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attack Shane and Bryan from behind. Owens sends Shane into the barricade. Owens and Zayn powerbomb Bryan on the apron. Bryan is down he is hurt. Shane calls for the medical staff to come check on Bryan. Owens screams from in the ring that Bryan made him do that. Shane tells the referee to ring the bell. Shane fought as hard as he could while Bryan was down and being hurt himself. It seemed like Owens and Zayn were about to win when Owens hit the frog splash, but Bryan broke up the count. Shane surprises Zayn with a back suplex. Shane manages to tag in Bryan. Bryan slowly gets into the ring. Bryan punches Zayn, then, Owens. Zayn sends Bryan into the corner.
Bryan backflips off the top rope. Running clotheslines by Bryan. Bran hits a running knee off the apron. Bryan missile dropkicks Zayn off the top. Bryan is slow to get up. Bryan kips up to his feet. Bryan hits his running corner dropkicks on Zayn and Owens. Bryan hurricanranas Zayn off the top rope! Owens grabs Bryans’ foot. Zayn hits the Helluva Kick on Bryan. Bryan kicks out. Owens superkicks Shane off the apron. Owens hits the Pop-Up Powerbomb on Bryan. Bryan kicks out. Shane sends Owens to the outside. Shane clotheslines Owens off the apron. Zayn yells at Bryan. “How could you!” Bryan fires up and lands a barrage of strikes. Yes kicks by Bryan. Bryan hits the Busaiku knee! Bryan puts Zayn in the Yes Lock. Zayn has no choice but to tap out. Winners: Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon
Match Rating: 3.5/5- Man it was great seeing Daniel Bryan back in the ring doing what he does best! With Owens and Zayn losing and off SmackDown Live, what’s next for them? What’s next for Daniel Bryan?
We now move on to Alexa Bliss defending her Raw Women’s Championship against her former best friend, Nia Jax. Before the bell rings, Jax attacks James. Jax rag dolls James into the barricade repeatedly. Bliss tries to attack Jax from behind. Jax just looks at Bliss. Jax Samoan drops James on the floor. The bell rang and Bliss slaps Jax in the face and Jax screamed at her, then Bliss screamed back while trying to run away. Jax got the advantage, but Bliss grabbed her title and tried to leave, but Jax stopped her. Bliss poked Jax in the eye to gain the advantage for a long time. Bliss dropkicks Jax into the ring post. Bliss hits a DDT. Jax kicks out. Bliss slaps Jax in the face. Jax fires up and power slams Bliss.
Bliss pokes Jax in the eye again. Bliss tries a hurricanrana. Jax stuffs it. Bliss tries a sunset bomb. Jax stuffs that and sends Bliss into the top turnbuckle. Jax tells Bliss that she loved her. Jax destroys Bliss with an Alabama Slam. Jax picks up Bliss and hits a top rope Samoan drop! Bliss is FINISHED!!! Winner and New Raw Women’s Champ: Nia Jax
Match Rating: 3/5- Congrats to Nia Jax for finally winning gold in the WWE.
We finally have the “Dream Match” in the WWE on the biggest stage. A.J. Styles defended his WWE Championship against 2018 Royal Rumble winner, Shinsuke Nakamura. For the past few weeks, these two have been playing mind games with each other. Throughout the first part of the match, this was a feeling out process between the two. They began to get physical with one another with punches and knee strikes. Nakamura tries to kick Styles. Styles catches Nakamura’s foot and kick Nakamura in the knee. Nakamura tries a suplex, but Styles rolls out of it and puts Nakamura in the Calf Crusher.
Nakamura reverses it into a triangle. Styles is fading fast. Nakamura won’t let up. Styles lifts Nakamura up. Styles drops Nakamura in what looked like a DVD. Nakamura is not moving. Styles sets up the Styles Clash. Styles can’t get Nakamura up. Styles back is bothering him. Nakamura misses a knee lift in the corner. Styles hits the Phenomenal Forearm. Nakamura kicks out. Styles tries the 450 but Nakamura gets his knees up. Nakamura rolls Styles into a pin. Styles kicks out. Nakamura and Styles trade strikes. Neither can get the advantage. Pelé kick by Styles. Nakamura staggers. Nakamura hits a Kinshasa to the back of Styles’ head. Styles kicks out. Nakamura knees Styles in the head repeatedly. Nakamura slaps Styles in the head. Reverse exploder by Nakamura. Nakamura calls for the Kinshasa. Styles rolls through and turns it into a Styles Clash. Styles gets the pinfall. Winner and Still WWE Champion: A.J. Styles
Match Rating: 3.25/5- Man I expected so much more out of this match from these two. After the match, Nakamura and Styles hug. Nakamura grabs the WWE title. Nakamura drops to a knee and hands Styles the title. Styles leans in and says something to Nakamura. Nakamura low blows Styles. Nakamura stomps Styles out of the ring. Nakamura hits the Kinshasa on the outside of the ring. I’m digging the heel turn from Nakamura as this will help his character in the long run.
It was time for Cesaro & Sheamus to defend their Raw tag titles against Braun Strowman and a mystery partner. Strowman hit the ring and said that he’ll pick someone from the audience to be his partner. Honestly, I thought this would turn out to be a wrestler in the crowd, but it wasn’t. The person Strowman picked was a 10-year-old kid named Nicholas, who turns out to be the referees son. Strowman dominated the Bar until Cesaro dropkicks Strowman’s knee. Double suplex by The Bar on Strowman. Sheamus hits a knee off the top rope. Cesaro stands on Sheamus’ shoulders hit a senton onto Strowman. Strowman kicks out. The Bar stomps Strowman in the corner. The Bar suplexes Strowman. Strowman surprises the Bar with a cross body. Strowman tags in Nicolas. Nicolas tags Strowman back in. Cesaro tries a springboard but Strowman catches Cesaro and powerslams him for the win. Winners and New Raw Tag Champs: Braun Strowman and Nicholas
Match Rating: 2/5- I’m sure there will be something to come out of this, so I’ll wait for Raw. For me, I’m thinking Strowman’s partner would be Bray Wyatt, Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, Chris Jericho or someone from NXT.
We finally reached the main event of the evening. Brock Lesnar put up his Universal Championship against the #1 contender in Roman Reigns. Reigns called Lesnar out for never showing up, got temporary suspended by Mr. McMahon and Lesnar showed up. After leaving Reigns laid out over the last three weeks, we’ve finally reached the match. Lesnar drives Reigns into the corner. Lesnar drives his shoulder into Reigns. Reigns fights out of the corner. Lesnar proceeds to his three German suplexes in a row. Reigns hits two Superman punches. Lesnar rolls to the outside. Reigns hits a Superman punch off the ring steps. Reigns clotheslines Reigns over the top rope. Reigns tries another Superman Punch off the steps but Lesnar catches him and belly-to-belly suplexes Reigns. Lesnar suplexes Reigns again on the outside. Lesnar suplexes Reigns into the announce desk. Lesnar sends Reigns back into the ring.
German suplex by Reigns. German Suplex by Lesnar. Reigns gets to his feet. Lesnar lands two more belly-to-belly suplexes. Lesnar clears one of the announce desks. Lesnar tries to slam Reigns through the table but Reigns sends Lesnar into the ring post. Lesnar struggles to his feet. Reigns Spears Lesnar into the announce desk. Reigns sends Lesnar into the ring. Reigns Superman Punches Lesnar. Reigns hits two Spears and Lesnar kicks out. Reigns sets up another Spear. Lesnar knees Reigns in the head. Lesnar only gets a two count. F5 by Lesnar. Reigns kicks out. Lesnar stalks Reigns. Lesnar hits another F5. Reigns kicks out again! Lesnar hits a third F5. Reigns kicks out. Lesnar yells “motherfucker”. Lesnar sends Reigns to the outside. Lesnar F5s Reigns through the announce table.
Lesnar sends Reigns into the ring. German suplex by Lesnar. Lesnar lands yet another F5. Reigns kicks out… again. Lesnar takes off his gloves and lands a few elbows to Reign’s head. Reigns is busted open, badly. Lesnar tries another F5. Reigns is a bloody mess, gets in Lesnar’s face and look crazy and hits two Spears. Lesnar kicks out, Reigns tries another and Lesnar picks up Reigns and hits another F5. Finally, it’s over and Lesnar. Winner and Still Universal Champ: Brock Lesnar
Match Rating: 2.5/5- Listen Vince and WWE, please start listening to the fans and giving them what they want. If anything, maybe let Triple H finally take over because he knows what the fans want, and it wasn’t for this to be the main event. You could clearly hear the displeasure as the fans chanted This is Boring and other obscenities.
Overall Rating: 5/10- This was a less than stellar WrestleMania for me. Maybe I had my expectations too high because this was a damn good card. Hopefully, moving forward they start listening to the crowd because the WWE stated without them it wouldn’t be no WWE. I’m not going to list my favorite matches as usual, but my favorite moments.
Daddy’s Hangout Top 7 WrestleMania Moments
- Daniel Bryan In-Ring Return
- Ronda Rousey In-Ring Debut
- Undertaker Return
- Triple Threat Intercontinental Match
- Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka
- Nia Jax Finally Winning Gold
- Nakamura Turning Heel
Did you happen to catch WrestleMania 34? What are your thoughts about the event? What did you think about the in-ring debut of Ronda Rousey? How about the return of Daniel Bryan? What about Shinsuke Nakamura turning heel? What was your favorite match of the night? What was your favorite moment of the night? Leave a comment below about anything related to WrestleMania 34 and moving forward.
