Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins – Universal Championship match

Background: At the Royal Rumble, Raw’s Seth Rollins won the men’s Royal Rumble match, earning a world championship match of his choice at WrestleMania. The next night on Raw, Universal Champion Brock Lesnar’s advocate Paul Heyman tried to discourage Rollins from challenging Lesnar, leading to a brawl between Rollins and Lesnar. Subsequently, Rollins chose to challenge Lesnar for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania.

Previous PPV matches: These two men previously wrestled on PPV at Battleground 2015, a match that Lesnar own by disqualification.

Wrestlemania Record: Brock Lesnar is 5-3, Seth Rollins is 5-1.

Match: Brock Lesnar attacks Seth Rollins as he tries to get into the ring. Lesnar lays into Seth on the outside and hits a first F5 of the match! It’s all Brock in the early going as he throws Rollins over the announce desk. The match finally gets into the ring where the referee is reluctant to call for the bell. Finally the referee calls for the bell and Brock continues to throw Rollins around the ring. Brock nearly runs into the referee which causes the ref to tumble out of the ring. Rollins then hits a low blow and follows it up with three stomps! Rollins hooks the leg and gets the three!

Result: Seth Rollins wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good way to kick off the show. It wasn’t an amazing match and it felt short. I do like a Brock Lesnar match but I think Seth Rollins has much better matches when gives more time and offence. Seth Rollins wins the match though and with rumours that Brock is leaving, could this be the last we see of him? A fun way to kick off the show.

Rating: 6/10

AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton

Background: After weeks of disparaging comments about one another, Randy Orton eliminated AJ Styles in the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship. At Fastlane, Orton attacked Elias from behind only for Styles to attack him. On the following SmackDown, Orton took umbrage with Styles referring to SmackDown as “the house that AJ Styles built,” as Orton began his WWE career on SmackDown in 2002, whereas Styles spent most of that time on the independent circuit until his WWE debut in 2016. Styles responded that Orton had everything handed to him while Styles had to actually work for it. He challenged Orton to a match at WrestleMania and Orton accepted.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Wrestlemania Record: AJ Styles is 2-1, Randy Orton is 6-8.

Match: It’s a cagey start to the match but Orton does try an early RKO but gets shoved away. We’re told that Randy has wrestled the fourth most amount of Wrestlemania matches ever, joint with Big Show. Orton slow down the pace with his stomps. AJ picks up the pace with a dropkick and phenomenal forearm to the outside. Randy re-takes the advantage and slows down the pace once again. AJ manages to lock on the calf crushes but Orton gets to the ropes. Styles then sets up for a phenomenal forearm, Orton looks to counter with an RKO but AJ puts the brakes on and then hits a springboard 450. Randy then ducks a phenomenal forearm and hits a backbreaker. Orton hits a big superplex for a near fall and then a hangmans DDT. AJ counters an RKO the first time but Randy hits it the second for a near fall. AJ is such a once in a lifetime talent, I wish he’d signed to WWE earlier. AJ hits a massive phenomenal forearm to the outside. Styles hits another phenomenal forearm in the ring and pins Orton for the 3!

Result: AJ Styles wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match. Very different to the previous match, AJ and Orton were given more time and the match was allowed to breathe. I liked it. I think they have a lot of chemistry. It was a match that could have gone either way but it’s AJ Styles that picks up the win tonight.

Rating: 7/10

The Usos (c) vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev vs. The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) – Fatal Four Way Match for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships

Background: On the April 2 episode of SmackDown, WrestleMania host Alexa Bliss informed The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) that while forfeiting their gauntlet match against The New Day the previous week was honourable, there would be repercussions. She then scheduled them to defend the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania in a fatal four-way tag team match against The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus), Aleister Black and Ricochet, and Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time fatal four way match between these four teams.

Wrestlemania Record: The Usos are 0-1 at Wrestlemania, Sheamus is 2-5, Cesaro is 1-2, Shinsuke Nakamura is 0-1, Rusev is 1-2, Aleister Black & Ricochet make their Wrestlemania debut tonight.

Match: The Usos walk into Wrestlemania as tag team champions for a third year in a row. Aleister Black and Jey Uso kick off the match but Sheamus soon gets involved. I like this matchup between Sheamus and Black. There’s some good teamwork form Rusev and Nakamura. Ricochet is so impressive as he its a spinning leg scissors on Cesaro. Cesaro responds with a Wrestlemania swing on Ricochet. Meanwhile Sheamus is clubbing everyone he can on the apron! Cesaro locks a sharpshooter on Ricochet but Jimmy Uso breaks it up with a superkick. Aleister Black picks up the pace, taking out Rusev. Lana is on the outside cheering on her husband. Rusev plants Ricochet with a spinning urunage. There’s a big top rope spot involving everyone except Aleister Black. Ricochet then hits a 630 splash on Rusev but everyone breaks up the pinfall attempt. Jey Uso tags in and looks for a splash but Cesaro counters with an uppercut. All 8 men then get involved, hitting their finishers on one another. The Usos hit superkicks on Sheamus and then simultaneous splashes for the three!

Result: The Usos retain their Smackdown Tag Team Championships by pinfall.

Review: This was another good match. 8 very talented guys involved and in a difficult situation with a fatal four way match but it was good. The Usos retain which is fine by me.

Rating: 6.5/10

The Miz vs. Shane McMahon – falls count anywhere match

Background: At Crown Jewel, Shane McMahon won the WWE World Cup, replacing The Miz in the finals, who was unable to compete after a pre-match brawl. Following this, The Miz and Shane formed a tag team. They won the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at the Royal Rumble, however, they lost the title at Elimination Chamber After failing to recapture the titles at Fastlane, Shane attacked Miz and Miz’s father, who was seated in the front row. On SmackDown, Shane accused Miz of using him and he wanted to beat him up again, and challenged Miz to a match at WrestleMania. Miz challenged Shane to make their match falls count anywhere and Shane agreed.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between these two men.

Wrestlemania Record: The Miz is 3-4 at Wrestlemania, Shane McMahon is 3-2.

Match: The match starts with The Miz chasing Shane McMahon around the ring. Shane soon gets a cheap shot in and takes the advantage. McMahon looks for an elbow drop through the announce desk early but Miz’s father jumps the barricade and stands in the way. Miz senior then gets in the ring and puts his fists up but Shane gets a cheap shot in the 68 year old and lays into him in the ring. Miz makes the save but it’s too late, Mr Miz looks dead. The fight goes into the crowd where they both smash each other into an LED board. Miz whacks Shane with a chair and gets a near fall. The fight goes all through the crowd and Miz nails McMahon over a barricade, bouncing Shane off a golf cart. They fight up some scaffolding where a camera is stationed. Miz hits a skull-crushing finale on top of the scaffolding for a near fall. Shane climbs even higher to the very top of the scaffolding and Miz follows. They are very close to the end and Shane begs for mercy. Miz then suplexes Shane off the top of the scaffolding! As they fall in a heap Shane is on top of Miz and the referee counts the 3!

Result: Shane McMahon wins by pinfall.

Review: This was another fun match. They are delivering at Wrestlemania. You knew there was a big spot coming but I wasn’t quite expecting that. Miz hits a massive suplex but Shane lands on top and wins the match. I’m not sure if this feud will continue but it’s Shane with a big win tonight.

Rating: 6.75/10

Sasha Banks & Bayley (c) vs. Natalya & Beth Phoenix vs. Nia Jax & Tamina vs. The Iiconics (Peyton Royce & Billie Kay) – Fatal Four Way match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships

Background: After becoming the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions at Elimination Chamber, The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection (Bayley and Sasha Banks) stated that they would defend the titles across Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. They retained their championships against Raw’s Nia Jax and Tamina at Fastlane, and were then called out by SmackDown’s The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce). On the March 18 episode of Raw, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix came out of retirement to reform her tag team with Natalya and challenge for the championship at WrestleMania. The next night on SmackDown, The IIconics defeated The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection in a non-title match. The champions were then scheduled to defend the titles against Jax and Tamina, Phoenix and Natalya, and The IIconics in a fatal four-way tag team match at WrestleMania.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time fatal four way match between these four teams.

Wrestlemania Record: Nia Jax is 1-1, Sasha Banks is 0-2, Bayley is 1-0, Natalya is 0-3, Tamina is 0-1 and Beth Phoenix is 1-3 and the Iiconics make their Wrestlemania debut tonight.

Match: Bayley and Tamina start the match and it isn’t long before Tamina is hammering everyone off the apron. It all breaks down before long and Beth Phoenix throws Nia Jax into the ring steps. There are plenty of quick tags in the match with all of the girls getting their offence in. Beth takes a beating from The Iiconics until Beth hits a double suplex on both Aussies. Beth and Natalya hit a Hart Attack on Billie Kay. Sasha locks the bank statement on Beth Phoenix but Beth powers out of it. Natalya locks a sharpshooter on both Bayley and Sasha Banks at the same time but Tamina breaks it up. Nia hasn’t been in the match for a long time but she gets back involved. Nia and Tamina double team Beth and then hit Samoan drops on The Iiconics. Nia and Tamina head to the top but Beth pushes Nia off the top to the outside. Bayley hits a top rope elbow on Beth and Sasha follows it up with a frog splash for a near fall. Phoenix hits a glam slam on Bayley off the middle rope! The Iiconics then throw Beth out of the ring and pin Bayley for the three!

Result: The Iiconics win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships by pinfall.

Review: This match was decent enough. It wasn’t terrible. It’s a great moment for the Iiconics and a surprising one too, I didn’t expect Sasha and Bayley to lose the titles so quickly.

Rating: 5.5/10

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston – WWE Championship match

Background: On the February 12 episode of SmackDown, Kofi Kingston replaced an injured Mustafa Ali in a gauntlet match to determine who would enter last in the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber; during the match, Kingston pinned WWE Champion Daniel Bryan in the first match of the gauntlet. At the event, Bryan retained the title by last eliminating Kingston. On the following SmackDown, Kingston was granted a WWE Championship match at Fastlane after pinning Bryan in a six-man tag team match, however, Vince McMahon replaced Kingston with the returning Kevin Owens. On the SmackDown following Fastlane, The New Day (Big E, Kingston, and Xavier Woods) confronted Mr. McMahon for tricking Kingston into believing that he was added back into the title match at Fastlane. Mr. McMahon decided that if Kingston won a gauntlet match, he would receive a WWE Championship match against Bryan at WrestleMania. Kingston subsequently won the gauntlet match, however, Mr. McMahon added one more opponent, which was the WWE Champion himself, who defeated Kingston. On the March 26 episode, The New Day teased leaving WWE and once again confronted Mr. McMahon, who decided that Kingston would in fact receive the championship match if Big E and Woods won a tag team gauntlet match, which they subsequently did.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time singles PPV match between these two men.

Wrestlemania Record: Daniel Bryan is 5-1, Kofi Kingston is 1-6.

Match: It’s a cagey start to the match as the WWE locker room are shown watching on from the back. Rowan is at ringside for Daniel Bryan whilst Kofi has Big E and Xavier Woods in his corner. Kofi hits a dive out of the ring which brings the crowd to life. It’s back and forth in the early going, Kofi getting slightly more offence in, hitting a boom drop but Bryan sidesteps a splash to the outside and Kingston hits the announce desk. It’s all Bryan from here, he hits a knee off the middle rope to the back his challenger for a near fall. The WWE Champion has slowed the pace right down, executing a waistlock. It’s pretty back and forth from there, Bryan hits some yes kicks but Kofi counters. Rowan tries to get involved but Big E takes him out with the midnight hour. Back in the ring and Bryan hits the running knee for a near fall. The crowd are really into this match. Kofi hits trouble in paradise and gets the 3!

Result: Kofi Kingston wins the WWE Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was a really good match. The crowd were really into it, the story has been built so well that the crowd were desperate for Kofi to win. Kofi finally wins the big one, it’s been well deserved, it was built perfectly and he and Daniel Bryan put on a great match tonight.

Rating: 8/10

Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio – United States Championship match

Background: Samoa Joe recently won the United States Championship from R-Truth and since then Rey Mysterio has been a thorn in Joe’s side. Rey gets his title shot for a title that he has never won tonight.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time singles match between these two men.

Wrestlemania Record: Rey Mysterio is 4-4 at Wrestlemania, Samoa Joe makes his Wrestlemania debut tonight.

Match: The show starts quickly with Joe attacking Mysterio as the bell rings. Rey soon takes the advantage, hits a 619 and then looks for the west coast pop but Samoa Joe counters and locks on the coquina clutch! Rey Mysterio is out and the referee calls for the bell!

Result: Samoa Joe wins by knockout.

Review: Well this was very short. It’s a huge result for Joe to win so quickly. The commentators excuse Rey as he got injured in a match against Baron Corbin last week.

Rating: N/A

Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre

Background: Roman Reigns, who had been on hiatus due to leukemia since October 2018, returned on the February 25, 2019 episode of Raw and stated that his leukemia was in remission. After Fastlane, Drew McIntyre attacked Reigns, defeated fellow Shield member Dean Ambrose in a Falls Count Anywhere match, defeated fellow Shield member Seth Rollins, and then challenged Reigns to a match at WrestleMania. McIntyre claimed that he destroyed The Shield and brought up Reigns’ leukemia and family, prompting Reigns to accept the challenge.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV singles match between these two men.

Wrestlemania Record: Roman Reigns is 4-2 at Wrestlemania, Drew McIntyre is 1-2.

Match: Roman goes right to work on Drew McIntyre as the bell rings. Surely not another squash? Nope, Drew gets back into it and the two battle to the outside briefly. Drew slows down the match with an armbar but Roman powers out and knocks McIntyre out of the ring. Drew hits an inverted Alabama Slam for a near fall and then a belly to belly off the top rope. Reigns fires up with a running boot which sends McIntyre out of the ring again and then hits a drive-by. Reigns hits a superman punch and then a spear for the three.

Result: Roman Reigns wins by pinfall.

Review: Yeah, this was an interesting match. It was a slow pace for the most part. The ending felt really flat. I’m not sure why, maybe the crowd just weren’t too interested. I dunno, it wasn’t an awful match, there was just something that didn’t click.

Rating: 4/10

Triple H vs. Batista – no holds barred match with Triple H’s career on the line

Background: On SmackDown 1000 on October 16, 2018, Batista, who had last wrestled in WWE in 2014, took part in an Evolution reunion. He praised fellow Evolution member Triple H for having done everything in the wrestling business except defeat him. Batista then attacked fellow Evolution member Ric Flair before the latter’s 70th birthday celebration on the February 25, 2019 episode of Raw, seeking Triple H’s attention. Batista demanded a final match against Triple H at WrestleMania; Triple H accepted and made the stipulation a No Holds Barred match. Batista accused Triple H of always having kept him down, and demanded that Triple H put his career on the line and Triple H agreed.

Previous PPV matches: These two men have wrestled singles matches on PPV three times before and Batista has won every single one.

Wrestlemania Record: Triple H is 9-13 at Wrestlemania, Batista is 3-3.

Match: Batista is out first in a hummer and slips over when getting into the ring. Triple H is second and he enters in a Max Mad type car. The match starts in back and forth fashion but Triple H takes the advantage using a tool box and a chain. Triple H then uses some big plier things to squeeze the fingers of Batista. Triple H then uses pliers to pull out Batista’s nose ring. Batista re-takes the advantage and lays into Triple H with a steel chair. Batista places the ring steps on the Spanish announce table, climbs up them and sets Batista up for a Batista Bomb but Triple H counters and back body drops The Animal onto the English announce desk. Triple H then spears Batista through the German announce desk. Triple H pulls his trusty sledgehammer out from under the ring but doesn’t get to use it yet as Batista nails him with a spear. Batista hits a spinebuster and hits a Batista Bomb for a near fall. Triple H powerbombs Batista onto the ring steps and then hits a pedigree, hooks the leg and Batista kicks out! Batista counters a spear to hit a DDT on the ring steps Ric Flair then shows up and hands Triple H a sledgehammer! Triple H nails Batista with the sledgehammer and then hits a pedigree for the three!

Result: Triple H wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was good. It was a classic no holds barred match with a few good spots. The nose-ring spot was certainly unique. I like how the story came full circle with Ric Flair helping Triple H to win. I doubt we’ll see either of these guys for a while unless there’s a PPV in Saudi. A novelty match but it was fun.

Rating: 6.75/10

Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin – Kurt Angle farewell match

Background: On the March 11 episode of Raw, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle began his farewell tour, culminating with his farewell match at WrestleMania. The following week, Angle chose Baron Corbin as his final opponent as Corbin had caused Angle many problems during the latter’s tenure as Raw General Manager (2017–2018) and eventually supplanted him, temporarily becoming Acting Raw General Manager.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between these two men.

Wrestlemania Record: Kurt Angle is 4-4 at Wrestlemania, Baron Corbin is 1-0.

Match: Kurt Angle starts the quickest but Corbin soon takes control. Kurt gets back into it hitting three consecutive German suplexes for a near fall. Corbin counters an Angle Slam and hits a big boot. Corbin hits deep sex for a near fall. Kurt hits an Angle Slam for a near fall and then locks on the ankle lock but Corbin manages to get out of it. Corbin mocks John Cena, who was the fan favourite to take on Kurt Angle and Kurt goes back to the German suplexes. The crowd give a standing ovation and Angle goes to the top for a moonsault for Corbin moves and hits end of days for the three!

Result: Baron Corbin wins by pinfall.

Review: The crowd seem shocked and disappointed by that result. The crowd are dead for the finish. It was an ok match, it wasn’t terrible. It’s a massive win by Corbin and a sad end for the storied career of Kurt Angle.

Rating: 4/10

Bobby Lashley (c) vs. “The Demon” Finn Balor – Intercontinental Championship match

Background: At Elimination Chamber, Finn Bálor defeated Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush in a handicap match to win Lashley’s Intercontinental Championship. Lashley regained the title on the March 11 episode of Raw thanks to assistance from Rush. On the March 25 episode, Bálor earned another title match at WrestleMania by defeating Lashley and Jinder Mahal in another handicap match, and Bálor warned Lashley that he would be facing his alternate persona, “The Demon”.

Previous PPV matches: This is actually the first singles match between these two men on PPV.

Wrestlemania Record: Finn Balor is 0-1, Bobby Lashley is 1-1.

Match: The bell rings and Finn Balor goes right to work on Lashley, hitting kicks, dropkicks and a plancha to the outside. Lashley gets back into the match hitting suplexes following a distraction from Lio Rush. Lashley forces Balor to the outside and throws him into the barricade. Balor manages to hit a dropkick and throws Lashley into the ring but again Balor gets distracted by Lio Rush and Lashley spears Finn off the apron. Lashley hits another spear in the middle of the ring for a near fall. Finn hits a powerbomb and then heads to the top and hits a coup de gras for the three!

Result: Finn Balor wins by pinfall.

Review: Well I expected Finn to win as he never loses as The Demon but powerbombing Lashley was a shocker. The match was short due to time constraints but it was decent. A longer match would have been really good but they did well with the time they had. It was fast paced with a few good spots. Finn Balor gets a big win tonight over a very credible opponent.

Rating: 5.75/10

Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch – Raw & Smackdown Women’s Championship match

Background: At SummerSlam, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair were involved in a triple threat match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship against defending champion Carmella, which Flair won. Afterwards, Lynch attacked Flair, ending their friendship. Lynch defeated Flair for the championship at Hell in a Cell and successfully defended her title against flair in a Last Woman Standing Match at the inaugural all women’s pay-per-view Evolution. At Survivor SeriesLynch was originally scheduled to face Raw’s Ronda Rousey in a non-title match, but was replaced by Flair due to a legit injury; during the match, Flair brutally attacked Rousey with weapons. Rousey then interfered in a tables, ladders, and chairs championship match between Lynch, Flair, and Asuka at the namesake event, costing both Lynch and Flair the match. Lynch failed to regain the title at the Royal Rumble, but won the women’s Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Flair, despite injuring her own knee, and chose to face Rousey for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.

Lynch was then suspended for refusing a medical examination on her knee. After getting medically cleared, however, Vince McMahon suspended her again and introduced Flair as Rousey’s WrestleMania opponent. Over the following weeks, Lynch continued to violate her suspension and attacked both Rousey and Flair until the suspension was lifted. At Fastlane, Lynch defeated Flair by disqualification when Rousey attacked Lynch. Per the stipulation, Lynch was added back into the championship match at WrestleMania to make it a triple threat match. After Flair defeated Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, the WrestleMania match was made Winner Takes All with both titles on the line. The match was also confirmed as the first-ever women’s match to main event WrestleMania.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time triple threat match between these three girls.

Wrestlemania Record: Ronda Rousey is 1-0, Charlotte is 2-1 and Becky is 0-2.

Match: Charlotte arrives in a helicopter. Ronda is played to the ring by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. The match starts with Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch going at it snd Charlotte watching on. Charlotte soon gets involved but Ronda hits her with Pipers Pit on the outside. Ronda throws Becky into the barricade which allows Charlotte to take the advantage. Ronda manages to lock on arm bars on both opponents at the same time over the top rope but Becky breaks free and baseball slides Ronda to the outside. No girl can keep an advantage for long. Charlotte hits a double natural selection and gets near falls on both girls. Charlotte chops away at Ronda who tells her that she chops like a bitch. Lynch hits a Bex-ploder from the middle rope for a near fall. Ronda locks a double arm bar on both opponents but they scoop her up and powerbomb Ronda in the mat three times. Ronda locks the disarm-her on but Ronda gets to the ropes to force the break. Charlotte hits a Spanish fly on Becky for a near fall. Charlotte then locks a figure four on Rousey around the ringpost until Becky breaks it up. Lynch pulls a table out from under the ring and sets it up in the ring but Ronda Rousey tips it over. Becky and Ronda hiptoss Charlotte through a table. Ronda then looks for Pipers Pit on Becky but Lynch counters and crucifix pins Rousey for the three! Ronda’s shoulders definitely looked up at one point.

Result: Becky Lynch wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a great match. Three great talents and they didn’t disappoint in the Wrestlemania main event. Becky Lynch winning was the result everyone wanted and the result they got. The only disappointment was the finish as Ronda’s shoulders were clearly up. It’s a fitting end to Wrestlemania and a match deserved of the Wrestlemania main event.

Rating: 8.5/10