Austin Theory (c) vs. John Cena – United States Championship match

Background: Since April 2022, Austin Theory and John Cena had been teasing a match against each other over social media. The two briefly came face-to-face during Cena’s 20-year anniversary celebration on the June 27, 2022, episode of Raw, where Theory mocked Cena and called him out of touch. In February 2023, during the Elimination Chamber post-event press conference after Theory had retained the United States Championship at the event, Theory was annoyed that everyone was asking about Cena instead of his own accomplishments. After it was announced that Cena would be making his return on the March 6 episode of Raw, Theory stated that he would be giving him a warm welcome back. Theory confronted Cena on that episode and claimed that Cena was an inspiration to him and then challenged Cena to face him at WrestleMania 39 for the United States Championship, however, Cena declined as he felt Theory was not ready. After some coaxing from Theory, Cena allowed his hometown of Boston to decide, and they cheered to see the match, which prompted Cena to accept the challenge.

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

Wrestlemania PPV Record: Austin Theory is 0-2, John Cena is 10-5.

Match: There’s a big VT for the Make-A-Wish work John Cena does and there’s a few of those children on the stage as Cena makes his entrance. It’s a cagey start to the match until Austin Theory bites the ear of Cena and takes control. Theory hits a big blockbuster and slingshot dropkick for a two count. Cena avoids a second dropkick but when he attempts to lock on the STF he gets bitten by the United States Champion. It’s all Theory from here who manages to counter an attitude adjustment attempt with a DDT. Cena finally starts a comeback, hitting his trademark side slams and a five knuckle shuffle before attempting the attitude adjustment but accidentally taking out the referee. Cena locks on the STF and Theory taps out but the referee is down. Austin Theory hits a low blow and then a-town down for the victory!

Result: Austin Theory retains the United States Championship by pinfall.

Review: This match was an alright way to kick off the show. It wasn’t amazing but it did the job. I’m actually a little surprised that Theory won, it’s a huge win for him but I thought it would be Cena taking the title tonight before dropping it on Raw tomorrow night. The biggest win of Austin Theory’s career.

Rating: 5.75/10

The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. Ricochet & Braun Strowman vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) vs. The Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) – Fatal Four Way Wrestlemania Showcase match

Background: There isn’t a lot of history to this match, it was simply announced as a four team Wrestlemania showcase match. On the Raw before Wrestlemania Braun Strowman, Ricochet and The Street Profits beat The Viking Raiders and Alpha Academy in an 8 man tag match.

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

Wrestlemania PPV Record: The Street Profits are 1-1, Ricochet is 0-1, Braun Strowman is 3-0, Chad Gable is 0-1, Otis is 1-1 and The Viking Raiders wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Chad Gable and Ricochet kick off the match and there’s some nice wrestling between the two. It’s not long before all eight men are in the ring going at it. Gable hits an awesome rolling German suplex on Strowman for a two count. There’s a spot with everyone missing moves off the top which includes Ivar missing a moonsault before Braun hits a splash off the top rope. There’s a big tower of doom spot before Strowman hits the Strowman express on everyone. Dawkins then hits a big pounce on Braun before Ricochet hits an incredible springboard shooting star press on Dawkins and Erik. Back in the ring and Ricochet attempts another shooting star press but Dawkins gets his knees up before Montez Ford comes off the top with a frog splash! Dawkins rolls Ricochet up and gets the three!

Result: The Street Profits win by pinfall.

Review: This was a really fun match. It broke down early and just became a big spotfest. There were some nice spots in there, notable Chad Gable hitting the rolling German suplex on Braun Strowman and the springboard shooting star press from Ricochet. A big win for The Street Profits who I think may be on their way to splitting up but we’ll see.

Rating: 6.5/10

Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul

Background: At the Royal Rumble, Logan Paul, who had been out with an injury since Crown Jewel in November 2022, made a surprise return as an entrant in the men’s Royal Rumble match and eliminated Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Following this, Rollins began bad mouthing Paul in interviews, stating that he did not want Paul to be in WWE. At Elimination Chamber during the titular match, Paul snuck into the Chamber and attacked Rollins, costing him the United States Championship. Paul accepted Rollins’ invitation to appear on the March 6 episode of Raw, where Rollins wanted to fight only for Paul to decline and state that he would not fight for free and hinted that they could fight at WrestleMania 39. WrestleMania host The Miz then claimed that he could make the match official, and it was later confirmed. On his Impaulsive podcast, Paul stated that the match would be happening on Night 1.

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

Wrestlemania PPV Record: Seth Rollins is 6-4, Logan Paul is 1-0.

Match: Logan Paul makes an impressive entrance on a zipwire before being joined by a giant Prime bottle. I’m not sure who’s under there but it isn’t his brother Jake, the arms are too small. A conductor comes out to conduct the crowd into singing Seth Rollins entrance music but it’s clearly piped in. Rollins then walks out in what looks like Jeff Jarrett’s gear. It’s a back and forth start to the match with Logan Paul avoiding a stomp before throwing Rollins out of the ring like he did in the Royal Rumble match. Logan hits a slingshot clothesline and then hits some big right hands. Logan is on top from here, even applying a modified octopus hold. Logan executes an impressive moonsault but Rollins gets out of the way. Seth starts to fight back, hitting three suicide dives, bouncing Logan off the barricade. Rollins stomps on Logan Paul’s hand before Paul counters a pedigree attempt. Logan then hits a big right hand but sells the injury to his hand after. Rollins sets up for a stomp but the Prime bottle pulls Logan Paul out of the ring! He takes off his mask and it’s KSI! The co-owner of Prime.

Logan then sets Rollins up on the announce desk and heads to the top rope, spitting Prime like he’s Triple H. He then dives off the top but Rollins pulls KSI onto the table and Paul hits a frog splash on KSI! Back in the ring Seth Rollins hits a pedigree for a near fall. Logan Paul hits a GTS and a frog splash for a near fall. Logan looks to go coast to coast but Rollins hits him with a superkick and then a stomp for the three.

Result: Seth Rollins wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was a lot of fun. The KSI stuff was great and fair play to him for taking the bump. Logan Paul is so unlikeable that he makes a great heel. Seth didn’t really need to out-do himself but he did everything to perfection and I’m glad he picked up the win. I hope Logan Paul signs another contract, he’s been a fun addition to the roster.

Rating: 7.75/10

Becky Lynch, Lita & Trish Stratus vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai)

Background: At SummerSlam in July 2022, Bayley made her return from injury alongside Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky after Becky Lynch’s match. Lynch would take time off due to an attack from Bayley, Kai, and Sky and the three dubbed themselves as Damage CTRL. Lynch made her return in November, and led her team in defeating Damage CTRL’s team in a WarGames match at Survivor Series WarGames. Over the next few weeks, Damage CTRL continued targeting Lynch and on the February 6, 2023, episode of Raw, during a Steel Cage match between Lynch and Bayley, WWE Hall of Famer Lita returned and prevented Kai and Sky from interfering in the match, allowing Lynch to defeat Bayley. Lynch and Lita then defeated Kai and Sky on the February 27 episode to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, thanks to returning fellow Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus, who prevented Bayley from interfering. The following week, Stratus, who had retired at SummerSlam in 2019, stated that she was coming out of retirement so that she, Lynch, and Lita could challenge Damage CTRL to a six-woman tag team match at WrestleMania 39 and Damage CTRL accepted.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time six woman tag team match involving these six girls.

Wrestlemania PPV Record: Becky Lynch is 2-3, Lita is 0-1, Trish Stratus is 3-2, Bayley is 2-1, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai make their Wrestlemania debuts tonight.

Match: There’s a cool Sin City type video for Becky, Trish and Lita before they make their entrance in black and white. All six girls go at it before the bell before it settles down and the match officially begins with Becky Lynch and Dakota Kai. Dakota hits a scorpion kick and Damage CTRL take control with quick tags. It takes a while but Lynch finally tags in Lita who picks up the pace a little. Lita hits a nice move that she apparently calls “vertigo” on Iyo Sky for a two count. Some triple teaming from Damage CTRL gives them control again. Lita hits a double DDT on Bayley and Iyo before tagging in Trish to a good pop. Trish looks good as she hits chops and neckbreakers, taking on all three opponents. All hell breaks loose with all six girls and Trish hits her trademark head scissors from the top to the outside on Dakota. Lita hits poetry in motion on Dakota and Becky comes off the top with a legdrop before looking for disarm-her but Bayley breaks it up with a running knee.

Bayley tags in and picks up the pace but Becky counters a roseplant. Bayley hits the roseplant after a shot from Iyo for a near fall. All six girls go at it with Trish hitting Iyo with Stratus-faction. Bayley hits Stratus with a Bayley to belly and then Iyo hits a moonsault to the outside on all five opponents. All six girls go at it in the ring and Lita hits twist of fate on Iyo. Trish hits Dakota with a chick kick and Lita then hits a moonsault on Iyo and Dakota! Becky hits Bayley with a man-handle slam off the middle rope for the win!

Result: Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus win by pinfall.

Review: This was another fun match. It was basically all six girls going at it for the most part but it made for some fun spots. Lots of nostalgia in there and Trish in particular was over as hell. A big win for Becky and the legends. I can’t see Damage CTRL continuing for too much longer.

Rating: 6/10

Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio

Background: Rey Mysterio would also have his own issues with The Judgment Day, which only heightened when his own son Dominik turned on him to join Judgment Day at Clash at the Castle in September 2022. Rey refused to fight his own son and was about to quit WWE, but he was convinced to stay, and he was traded to the SmackDown brand to avoid Judgment Day on Raw. However, their paths would cross again at the Royal Rumble. Rey was supposed to compete in the men’s Royal Rumble match, but he never came out when his entrance music played. Dominik then entered, carrying Rey’s mask, implying that he attacked his dad to prevent him from entering. With Judgment Day’s Rhea Ripley winning the women’s Royal Rumble and choosing to challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, the group began appearing on SmackDown, thus Dominik began tormenting his dad again. On the March 10 episode, after it was announced that Rey would be the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023, The Judgment Day interrupted and Dominik said his dad did not deserve the recognition. The following week, an emotional Rey said he wanted Dominik by his side for his Hall of Fame induction, but Dominik instead tried goading Rey into a match at WrestleMania 39. Rey, however, affirmed his position that he would not fight his son. On the March 24 episode, the Mysterio family were in attendance for Rey’s match, which he lost thanks to interference from Dominik. Afterwards, Dominik disrespected his mother and sister, forcing Rey to intervene and hit Dominik. Rey then stated that Dominik forced him to do so and accepted his challenge for a match at WrestleMania 39.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between this father and son.

Wrestlemania PPV Record: Rey Mysterio is 4-6, Dominik is 0-1.

Match: Bad Bunny joins the Spanish commentators for this match. We know Bad Bunny will be at Wrestlemania Backlash, why do I get the impression he could be wrestling Dominik. There’s a video for Dominik being taken out of prison and put into a police van. Dominik then makes his entrance in said police van, I love it. He’s also wearing a Rey Mysterio mask. Rey comes out in a low rider driven by Snoop Dogg to Eddie Guerrero’s theme music. Rey’s music then hits as he walks down to the ring. It’s a cagey start to the match as both men jockey for position. Rey’s mask looks different to usual, more like the shape of The Great Muta’s mask. Rey pulls off his belt and whips Dominik with it. Dom then throws his sister Aliyah’s drink in her own face which enrages Rey but causes him to make a mistake. Dominik hits a top rope arm drag and then a Michinoku driver for a near fall. Dominik’s mother Angie slaps him in the face and Rey takes advantage pushing his son into the ring post before picking up the pace inside the ring.

Finn Balor and Damien Priest show up at ringside. Dominik hits an inverted powerbomb into the bottom turnbuckle in an uneasy looking spot. Rey counters the three amigos and hits the 619! Rey heads to the top but Finn Balor distracts the referee and Priest distracts Rey long enough for Dominik to knock Rey off the top. The Mysterio’s topple to the outside in front of Priest and Balor but out comes Legado Del Fantasma to fight them off. Meanwhile Dominik hits Rey with a 619 and then a splash for a near fall. Dominik takes off a turnbuckle pad which distracts the referee. Dominik then rushes over to Damien Priests blazer which has a chain in it. He picks up the chain but Bad Bunny takes it off him. Rey then dropkicks his son, hits a 619 and a splash for the win!

Result: Rey Mysterio wins by pinfall.

Review: Another really fun match. Rey and Dominik can be proud of the match they put on tonight. The psychology was great, the chaos was great at the end and the unpredictable match ends with Rey having his hands held high. I can’t fault this one. I did wonder whether it would be Rey’s retirement match putting Dominik over but that wasn’t the case. A really solid match between these two.

Rating: 7.5/10

Charlotte (c) vs. Rhea Ripley – Smackdown Women’s Championship match

Background: At the Royal Rumble, Raw’s Rhea Ripley won the women’s Royal Rumble match to earn a women’s championship match of her choice at WrestleMania 39. On the following episode of Raw, she chose to challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, setting up a WrestleMania rematch between the two from WrestleMania 36 in 2020, where Flair had won that year’s Royal Rumble and had chosen and defeated Ripley for the NXT Women’s Championship. This subsequently marks the first women’s WrestleMania rematch to happen at a WrestleMania.

Previous PPV matches: Charlotte is 3-0 against Rhea Ripley in PPV matches.

Wrestlemania PPV Record: Charlotte is 4-2, Rhea Ripley is 1-2.

Match: We’re told it’s a first in Wrestlemania history with all female competitors, referee and ring announcer. It’s a back and forth start to the match. It’s pretty stiff between the two as both girls try to maintain a prolonged advantage. Rhea’s offence is more slow and methodical whereas Charlotte is more explosive. She’s not a natural babyface but the crowd seem to be behind her. Charlotte counters a riptide with a DDT. Both girls then knock each other down with boots. Charlotte nips up and heads to the top but Rhea hits her with a German suplex off the top for a near fall. Charlotte counters riptide again and hits a German suplex. Charlotte then hits another German suplex before Rhea hits one of her own. Charlotte landed face-first there. Charlotte hits a running boot for a near fall and then attempt to lock on a figure four but Rhea kicks her off.

Charlotte hits a moonsault from the top rope to the outside and again looks for a figure four inside the ring but again Rhea counters. Ripley then hits a riptide but Charlotte kicks out at 2. Charlotte gets a very near fall out of nowhere but rhea then locks on a standing version of a cloverleaf but Charlotte gets to the ropes. Rhea gets flung into the referee before Charlotte hits a spear for a near fall. Rhea and Charlotte exchange stiff forearms. Charlotte hits a boot and then locks on the figure four but Ripley is very quickly to the bottom rope. Rhea smashes Charlotte into the ring post and then hits a riptide off the top rope for the three. Rhea definitely thanked Charlotte on the way down.

Result: Rhea Ripley wins the Smackdown Women’s Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was a fantastic match. A real star making performance for Rhea Ripley. There was a lot of questions over which match would go on last tonight and this one could easily have main evented. I hope Ripley has a really dominant reign. We know Charlotte is the greatest women’s wrestler of all time but tonight Rhea showed that she is en route to being right up there with her. The false finishes were fantastic and the pacing was bang on. A great match tonight and one that could go down as the best of this weekend and of the year.

Rating: 9/10

Pat McAfee vs. The Miz

Previous PPV matches: Well this is a first time match.

Wrestlemania PPV Record: Pat McAfee is 1-1, The Miz is 4-6.

Match: Pat McAfee goes right to work on The Miz with right hands. He hits a spinebuster and then superkicks Miz who flies off the top. Corey Graves motivates Miz who instead walks away. Miz then shoves that Kettle guy sat at ringside. Kettle lays out Miz with a clothesline. McAfee flies out of the ring from the top, hitting a big plancha. Pat then hits a huge punt for the win.

Result: Pat McAfee wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a joke match but reasonably entertaining. It wasn’t terrible but it was short and the crowd seemed into it. McAfee holds PPV wins The Miz, Austin Theory and Baron Corbin.

Rating: 3/10

The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) (c) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn – Undisputed Tag Team Championship match

Background: Since late 2020, Kevin Owens had an off and on feud with The Bloodline. At Survivor Series WarGames in November 2022, Owens was on the opposing team in a WarGames match against The Bloodline, which included Owens’ best friend, Sami Zayn, who joined The Bloodline as an honorary member in mid-2022. The Bloodline was victorious at Survivor Series thanks to Zayn betraying Owens. After Bloodline leader Roman Reigns defeated Owens at the 2023 Royal Rumble, Bloodline members The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) and Solo Sikoa attacked Owens, while Zayn watched on in uncertainty. Reigns ordered Zayn to attack Owens with a steel chair, but Zayn turned on Reigns and attacked him instead. Zayn apologised to Jey, who he had become close with, only for Jimmy, Sikoa, and Reigns to attack Zayn as an emotionally distraught Jey left the ring as the rest of The Bloodline continued the assault. This led to a match between Reigns and Zayn at Elimination Chamber where Reigns won, but after the match, Owens prevented The Bloodline (except Jey) from further attacking Zayn. On the following Raw, Zayn said that despite their rough history, he and Owens should work together to take down The Bloodline. Owens said that he only assisted Zayn so that Zayn’s family would not have to see him get destroyed like Owens did in front of his own family at the Royal Rumble and he told Zayn he would continue fighting alone. Over the next weeks, Zayn tried to convince The Usos that Reigns was manipulating them. Jimmy maintained his loyalty to his family, while Jey’s uncertainty continued until the March 6 episode of Raw where he seemingly sided with Zayn, but then turned on him, because Zayn was not family. The following week, Reigns’ WrestleMania opponent Cody Rhodes attempted to help resolve issues between Owens and Zayn, but Owens refused; however, later that night, Owens came to Zayn’s aid, who got ambushed by The Usos, and Owens and Zayn embraced. On the March 20 episode of Raw, The Usos accepted Owens and Zayn’s challenge for a match at WrestleMania 39 for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.

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

Wrestlemania PPV Record: Jimmy Uso is 2-2, Jey Uso is 2-1, Kevin Owens is 3-3, Sami Zayn is 1-4.

Match: Sami Zayn and Jey Uso kick off the match and it’s not long before The Usos are double teaming Zayn to take control early. Sami makes a hot tag to Owens whilst both Usos are outside the ring which is something you don’t see often. KO picks up the pace taking on both Usos outside the ring. He hits Jimmy with a frog splash outside the ring and then Jey with a frog splash inside the ring. Jey hits a pop-up neckbreaker out of nowhere for a near fall. Jimmy hits an Uso splash for a near fall. Owens hits a cannonball on Jimmy and then heads to the top but Jey Uso hangs on to him. Zayn hits Jey with a brainbuster on the apron and Owens hits a senton bomb on Jimmy for a near fall. Sami then hits a top rope splash for a near fall. Jey hits Sami with a couple of superkicks as Michael Cole references El Generico. The Usos superkick the life out of Sami Zayn and nail Owens with one for good measure. Zayn won’t stay down though.

The Usos make quick tags to keep control over Sami Zayn before looking for a 1D but Owens drags Jimmy out of the ring. The Usos then launch Owens through the announce desk with a huge double spinebuster type move. The Usos then hit Zayn with 1D but Sami kicks out of the pinfall that follows! Jey slaps Zayn who can barely stand on his two feet. Jey then hits Sami with a helluva kick but Zayn instantly replies with an exploder suplex into the corner. Owens gets back to his corner and Sami tags him in. Owens hits both Usos with pop-up powerbombs. Sami hits Jimmy with a helluva kick and KO hits Jey with a stunner. Owens hooks the leg but Jey kicks out at 2! All four men get to their feet and slug it out. The Usos superkick their challengers repeatedly. Jimmy and Jey then head to the top and hit stereo Uso splashes but Owens kicks out of the pinfall attempt!

The Usos hit Owens with more superkicks. Zayn drags Jimmy out of the ring leaving KO to hit Jey with a fishermans superplex. Owens tags in Zayn who hits Jey with two helluva kicks . Owens stuns Jimmy out of the ring and Sami hits Jey with a third helluva kick. Zayn pins Jey and gets the three!

Result: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens win the undisputed tag team championships by pinfall.

Review: This was incredible. The false finishes, the psychology, the crowd, everything. It was as near perfect as you can get. The culmination of a perfect storyline. This was truly Sami Zayn’s moment (and Owens of course). I love these two as tag team champions. I don’t know what more can be said, it was a great match from start to finish, I loved it. If you haven’t seen it then I suggest you do. The best two on two tag team match in WWE history.

Rating: 9.75/10