Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – WWE Championship match

Background: At Elimination Chamber, Drew McIntyre won Raw’s Elimination Chamber match to retain the WWE Championship. Following the match, however McIntyre was brutally attacked by Bobby Lashley, allowing The Miz to cash-in his Money in the Bank contract and win the title. As part of an agreement that Miz made with Lashley’s Hurt Business manager MVP, Miz was scheduled to defend the championship against Lashley, who defeated Miz in a Lumberjack match to win the title on the March 1 episode of Raw. On the March 15 episode, Lashley claimed that he destroyed McIntyre at Elimination Chamber and would do it again at WrestleMania 37, confirming that Lashley would defend the title against McIntyre at the event. McIntyre came out and congratulated Lashley on becoming champion, noting how they both had a long road to winning the WWE Championship—16 years for Lashley and 17 years for McIntyre. However, McIntyre mocked Lashley, as McIntyre first won the championship at WrestleMania 36 by defeating Brock Lesnar, whereas Lashley won the championship by making an underhanded deal and defeating Miz on an episode of Raw. McIntyre then declared that he would win back the championship at WrestleMania. The following week, McIntyre defeated The Hurt Business’ Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin in a handicap match, barring Alexander and Benjamin from ringside during the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two men. Drew won the first at Backlash 2020.

Wrestlemania Record: Bobby Lashley is 1-3 at Wrestlemania, Drew McIntyre is 2-3.

Match: It’s a back and forth start to the match as the two men look to out-power the other. The fight soon goes to the outside where Lashley throws McIntyre into the barricade. Back in the ring and McIntyre throws Lashley around the ring with belly to belly suplexes. Lashley hits a dominator but McIntyre fights out of the hurt lock. Drew then hits an inverted Alabama slam for a near fall. MVP shouts to his client from the outside. Drew hits somewhat of a throw from the top rope but then runs into a spinebuster. McIntyre kips up and shouts “bring it bitch”. McIntyre hits three futureshock DDTs and covers Lashley who kicks out at 2! McIntyre looks to hit a claymore but Lashley rolls out of the ring. McIntyre then flies out with a giant plancha, taking out both Lashley and MVP! Lashley counters a move off the top from McIntyre and then hits somewhat of a skull-crushing finale. Bobby then looks to lock on ther hurt lock but McIntyre powers out. Drew applies a kimura lock but Lashley gets to the bottom rope. McIntyre hits a Glasgow kiss and then looks to hit a claymore but gets distracted by MVP and Lashley ducks it. Bobby then applies the hurt lock and as much he tries, McIntyhre can’t escape and passes out.

Result: Bobby Lashley retains the WWE Championship by technical knockout.

Review: This was a really good way to kick off the show. It’s a match good enough to get the fans going, especially after being away for so long. Lashley wins the match and retains the WWE Championship in a match that could’ve gone either way but I think this was the right call.

Rating: 6.75/10

Tag Team Turmoil to determine #1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships

Lana & Naomi vs. Billie Kay & Carmella

Wrestlemania Record: Naomi is 1-2, Billie Kay is 1-0, Carmella is 0-1 and Lana wrestles on the main Wrestlemania card for the first time tonight.

Match: Naomi and Carmella kick off the match and it’s all kicks from Naomi until she tags in Lana. Billie Kay soon tags in but she doesn’t fair well against Lana and Naomi. There’s a couple of mis-timed moves from Billie and Lana. Naomi and Lana hit a double facebuster on Billie for a near fall. Billie rolls up Naomi from nowhere for the three!

Result: Carmella and Billie Kay advance.

Carmella & Billie Kay vs. The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan)

Wrestlemania Record: Ruby and Liv wrestle on the Wrestlemania main card for the first time tonight.

Match: The Riott Squad go right to work on Billie Kay and make quick tags. It’s not long before all four girls go at it. Billie Kay boots Ruby off the apron and then rolls up Liv with help from Carmella but the referee sees Carmella and stops the count. Liv hits a double knees on Kay and Ruby comes off the top with a senton for the three.

Result: The Riott Squad advance.

The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan) vs. Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke

Wrestlemania Record: Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke wrestle on a Wrestlemania main show for the first time tonight.

Match: Dana and Mandy take a quick advantage against Ruby Riott. Dana hits a blockbuster for a near fall and a spinning neckbreaker for another. Ruby makes a hot tag to Liv Morgan who picks up the pace with a step up enzeguri and stomp for a two count. Liv and Ruby hit a nice double team of kicks but Dana saves Mandy from being pinned. Liv goes to the top but Mandy joins her up there and hits a superplex. Dana then comes off the top with a swanton bomb but Liv reverses the pin and gets the 3! The ring announcer then wrongly announces that the Riott Squad have been eliminated before correcting himself.

Result: The Riott Squad advance.

The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan) vs. Natalya & Tamina

Wrestlemania Record: Tamina is 0-3, Natalya is 0-4.

Match: Natalya and Tamina go right to work on Liv Morgan. Liv avoids a Samoan drop and we get some interesting double team moves from The Riott Squad. They attempt the codebreaker/senton bomb move on Tamina who kicks out of the pinfall at 2. Tamina and Natalya hit a hart attack on Ruby and Natalya then looks to apply a sharpshooter but instead instructs Tamina to hit the superfly splash which Tamina hits for the three!

Result: Natalya and Tamina win

Review: Yeah, this wasn’t great. The quality just wasn’t there. I’m also not arsed about this team of Natalya and Tamina. But I am keen for Tamina to achieve something so I’m glad she won. I’d be happy not to see this match again though.

Rating: 3/10

Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins

Background: Cesaro has been a thorn in Seth Rollins side for a few months now, ever since he swung Rollins around and around. Seth has wanted revenge ever since. Rollins has mocked Cesaro and his lack of singles matches at Wrestlemania but tonight he gets his first singles match.

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

Wrestlemania Record: Seth Rollins is 6-2, Cesaro is 1-3.

Match: Cesaro hits a big uppercut right out of the gate and locks to swing Rollins around but Seth fights him off. Cesaro looks for a gut-wrench suplex off the top but Seth counters and hits a buckle-bomb. Seth hits a big superplex and falcon arrow for a near fall. Rollins looks for the stomp but Cesaro counters and hits the swing! Cesaro sells an arm injury and then locks on a sharpshooter but Rollins gets to the bottom rope. Rollins hits a corkscrew splash for a near fall. Cesaro then hits a neutraliser for a near fall. Seth hits a pedigree for a near fall. Rollins then hits an interesting shining wizard/enzeguri. Rollins looks for a stomp but Cesaro counters with an uppercut and then a no hands airplane spin! The crowd love that one! Cesaro then hits the swing, I counted 19 spins but the crowd counted 23. Cesaro then hits a neutraliser for the win!

Result: Cesaro wins by pinfall.

Review: That was a really fun match. Two very good workers and a Wrestlemania match that Cesaro deserved. I like Cesaro getting the win but it does mark back to back Wrestlemania losses for Seth Rollins. Hopefully Cesar ocan gain some momentum from this.

Rating: 7/10

The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (c) vs. AJ Styles & Omos – Raw Tag Team Championship match

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

Wrestlemania Record: Kofi Kingston is 2-7, Xavier Woods is 0-2, AJ Styles is 3-2 and Omos makes his Wrestlemania debut tonight.

Match: Big E introduces his buddies for this match. It looks as though Omos is going to kick off the match but Kofi manages to coax AJ Styles into starting. It’s a fast paced start to the match between Kofi Kingston and AJ Styles. Kofi and Woods make quick tags, keeping Styles away from his partner. AJ tries running out of the ring and then back into the ring to make the tag but Woods knocks him right back out. Kofi hits a stomp off the top for a near fall. Lots of quick tags between New Day. Kofi hits a springboard standing splash on AJ which I’ve never seen before. Styles finally makes the tag as Xavier Woods watches on. Woods hits kicks and dropkicks but just bounces off Omos. Kofi tags in but Omos just throws him to the mat. Omos dominates both New Day members. AJ springboards off Omos’ shoulders to hit a phenomenal forearm on Kofi. Omos then hits a huge double armed chokeslam on Kingston before placing his boot on Kofi’s chest for the three.

Result: AJ Styles and Omos win the Raw Tag Team Championships by pinfall.

Review: This was exactly as expected. New Day and AJ had a really fun match, keeping AJ away from Omos until eventually the big man tagged in and dominated the match. AJ and Omos win the Raw Tag Team Championships which is fine, it’s a new direction for the titles.

Rating: 6/10

Braun Strowman vs. Shane McMahon – Steel Cage match

Background: Incensed at being left out of Raw’s Elimination Chamber match, Braun Strowman took issue with WWE officials Shane McMahon and Adam Pearce. After a failed attempt to rectify things with Strowman, Shane then began to insult Strowman’s intelligence. Strowman then challenged Shane to a match on the March 15 episode of Raw. The match, however, never officially started and the two instead brawled with Shane calling Strowman stupid. This led to a match being scheduled between the two at Fastlane. This match also did not take place due to Shane injuring his knee while training; he selected Elias as his replacement to face Strowman, who defeated Elias. The following night on Raw, Shane, along with Elias and Jaxson Ryker, continued to taunt Strowman, who came out and defeated Elias in a rematch. Following the match, Shane attacked Strowman with his crutch, revealing that Shane had feigned his injury. Shane then retreated, after which Strowman challenged Shane to a match at WrestleMania 37 and Shane accepted. The following week, Strowman chose a Steel Cage match as the stipulation.

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

Wrestlemania Record: Braun Strowman is 2-0 at Wrestlemania, Shane McMahon is 4-2.

Match: Elias and Jaxson Ryker attack Braun Strowman with a chair as he makes his entrance. Shane then grabs the chair and lays into Strowman with it inside the cage. Strowman tries to fight back but Shane hits his trademark quick blows. McMahon then rips some metal off the top of the cage and lays into Strowman with it. Strowman won’t let Shane exit the cage and he squashes Shane into the side of the cage. Shane hits a DDT and then hits coast to coast for a near fall. Elias and Ryker help pull Shane over the cage until Strowman launches himself into the cage knocking all three men down. The two men climb the cage where shane finds a tool box on top of the cage and smashes Braun in the head with it. Shane climbs down the outside of the cage but Braun peels back the side of the cage and pulls Shane through it! The two men fight to the top of the cage where they both stand on their feet. Braun then throws Shane down to the mat below before climbing down in the cage (why didn’t he just climb down the outside and win?). Braun says “this is for anybody that has been called stupid” and hits the running powerslam for the win.

Result: Braun Strowman wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a fun match but not a show-stealer. You always know you’re going to get some fun spots in a Shane McMahon match and this one was no exception. I loved Braun peeling back the cage and pulling Shane through. Strowman gets the win in a match that could have gone either way.

Rating: 6/10

Damien Priest & Bad Bunny vs. The Miz & John Morrison

Background: At the Royal Rumble, The Miz attempted to persuade rapper Bad Bunny, who had performed his song “Booker T” at the event, to a deal to become a WWE superstar under his tutelage; however, Bad Bunny rejected the offer. Later during the Royal Rumble match, as Miz made his entrance, he destroyed Bad Bunny’s DJ equipment. An irate Bad Bunny came out and distracted Miz, allowing Damian Priest to eliminate him. The following night on Raw, Bad Bunny was a guest on “Miz TV.” Miz apologized for his actions and Bad Bunny accepted the apology but did not apologize for his own actions. Bad Bunny then stated that one of his dreams was to become a WWE wrestler, which Miz again claimed he could help him with, but was again rejected. Bad Bunny then stated the only reason he was there was for his friend Priest, who made his Raw debut and defeated Miz in a match. Over the next few weeks, Miz and his tag team partner John Morrison continued to constantly taunt Bad Bunny. On the March 23 episode of Raw, Miz challenged Bad Bunny to a match at WrestleMania 37. Following Miz’s match, Bad Bunny attacked Miz and accepted. However, after Miz and Morrison vandalized Bad Bunny’s US$3 million Bugatti and attacked Bad Bunny on the April 5 episode, the stipulation of the match was changed as Priest and Bad Bunny challenged Miz and Morrison to a tag team match that Miz and Morrison accepted.

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

Wrestlemania Record: The Miz is 3-5, John Morrison is 2-2. Damien Priest and Bad Bunny wrestle at Wrestlemania for the first time tonight.

Match: Bad Bunny arrives in the arena on top of a massive truck. Damien Priest starts the match against The Miz but Miz wants Bad Bunny. Bad Bunny takes the bait. Bad Bunny hits some big jabs on Miz. Miz soon takes control but Bad Bunny hits an arm drag. That fires Miz up, he throws Bad Bunny into the ropes which wasn’t pretty. Miz and Morrison make quick tags, keeping Bad Bunny away from his corner. Miz and Morrison wind up Booker T too with Morrison performing a spineroonie. Plenty of heel tactics from Miz and Morrison. Bad Bunny hits a tornado DDT on Miz and then makes the hot tag to Damien Priest! Priest fires up, laying into both opponents and getting a near fall on Miz. All four men get into it, Priest and Bunny both hit falcon arrows for near falls. Priest flies to the outside, taking out Miz and Morrison before Bad Bunny goes to the top and hits a cross body to the outside on his opponents. Back in the ring and Miz hits the skull-crushing finale on Damien Priest but Bad Bunny makes the save. On the outside Bad Bunny hits a destroyer on Morrison. Bad Bunny then hits a cross body on Miz off Damien Priests shoulders for the three!

Result: Damien Priest and Bad Bunny win by pinfall.

Review: This was a really good performance from Bad Bunny. It made for a really fun match. Miz and Morrison were perfect opponents tonight. I’m all for these sort of matches at Wrestlemania. Damien Priest has “star” written all over him.

Rating: 7/10

Sasha Banks (c) vs. Bianca Belair – Smackdown Women’s Championship

Background: At the Royal Rumble, SmackDown’s Bianca Belair won the women’s Royal Rumble match to earn herself a women’s world championship match of her choice at WrestleMania 37. Belair discussed facing the three brands’ champions over the next few weeks, but had primarily gotten involved in segments with SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks. Although Banks complimented Belair, she claimed that Belair was not the best as she did not have the SmackDown Women’s Championship, playing off Belair’s “EST” gimmick. On the February 26 episode of SmackDown, Belair decided that she would challenge Banks for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37.

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

Wrestlemania Record: Sasha Banks is 0-4 at Wrestlemania, Bianca Belair wrestles on the Wrestlemania main show for the first time tonight.

Match: Bianca Belair looks as though she’s gong to cry as the bell rings. There’s a good feeling out process in the early going as both girls look to take an advantage. Sasha hits a good suicide dive but Bianca rolls through, presses Sasha and takes her back into the ring. Banks counters a moonsault, grabbing Bianca’s hair and laying in some knees. Bianca hits a lovely roll through into a suplex, bouncing Sasha off the ropes and then powering the champion back up and hitting the suplex. Bianca hits a standing shooting star press and a facebuster before looking for a 450 splash but Sasha gets her knees up. Bianca hits two powerbombs for a near fall. Sasha starts to fire up and uses Bianca’s braid to put the Banks statement on but Belair gets to the bottom rope. Bianca avoids some knees and a dropkick and then hits a 450 splash for a near fall. Banks counters the KOD but Bianca whips her with her braid. Both girls counter each others finishers until Bianca hits the KOD for the win!

Result: Bianca Belair wins the Smackdown Women’s Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was a fantastic main event, well worthy of their billing. Bianca Belair is not out of place whatsoever in the main event picture and this win is well deserved. Sasha was great in her role but she now goes 0-7 at Wrestlemania, only Goldust has a worse record. Great way to end a subpar show.

Rating: 8.25/10