Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch – Women’s World Championship match

Background: Becky Lynch won an Elimination Chamber match to earn a shot at Rhea Ripley at Wrestlemania. Since then the two girls have mostly aovided one another physically but verbally the two girls have sparred for weeks. Tonught Becky looks to end the year long reign of Rhea Ripley.

Previous PLE matches: This is a first PLE match between these two girls.

Wrestlemania Record: Rhea Ripley is 2-2, Becky Lynch is 3-3.

Match: Becky Lynch’s entrance involved excerpts from her book whilst Rhea Ripley is sung to the ring with a live performance of her entrance music. Rhea has a wrist injury going into this match whilst Becky Lynch has had a fever and strep throat. The match is back and forth in the early going with Ripley utilising her strength and Lynch relying more on her explosiveness. Rhea is the first to attempt a finisher but Becky counters the Rip-tide before looking for her armbar but Rhea powers out of it. Becky applies the disarm-her through the ropes and then looks for a top rope legdrop but Rhea counters into the prism-trap but Becky countered with a roll-up before hitting a manhandle slam for a near fall. Rhea hits the Rip-tide for a near fall. Becky hits a superplex and then applies the disarm-her but Rhea gets out of it, hitting an electric chair drop on the outside. Rhea hits a frog splash for a near fall. Rhea counters a manhandle slam off the middle rope and hits a Rip-tide into the top turnbuckle before hitting another Rip-tide for the win!

Result: Rhea Ripley retains the Women’s World Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match to kick things off. It was a safe match between two talented wrestlers. The duration was spot on, I didn’t think the false finishes were too dramatic and although they’ve both had better matches at Wrestlemania, they can still be proud of this one. Rhea Ripley retains and continues her title reign which has lasted over a year. Nothing wrong with that decision, it’s a big win for Rhea tonight.

Rating: 7/10

The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships

Background: On the March 11 episode of Raw, it was announced that The Judgment Day would defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship in a Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match. Qualifying matches for the five vacant spots—three teams from Raw and two from SmackDown—occurred over the subsequent episodes of Raw and SmackDown. Raw qualifing matches were won by DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth), and The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods). The two teams from SmackDown were determined by two tournament brackets, which were won by A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) and New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate). It was also clarified that both sets of titles under the Undisputed Championship banner (the Raw and SmackDown tag titles) had to be retrieved for the match to end.

Previous PLE matches: This is a first match between these six teams.

Wrestlemania Record: Finn Balor is 1-2, Damian Priest is 1-0, The Miz is 4-8, R-Truth is 0-5, Kofi Kingston is 2-9, Xavier Woods is 0-4, Austin Theory is 1-2, Pete Dunne is 1-1 and all of DIY, Grayson Waller and Tyler Bate maker their Wrestlemania debut tonight.

Match: DIY have a great DX themed entrance. Both sets of titles can be retrieved separately so I’m expecting the titles to be split in this match. There’s plenty of ladder climbing from the moment the match gets underway. Tyler Bate has his moment to shine with an airplane spin on Finn Balor and then moonsaults with Dunne off the top of a huge ladder on the outside. There’s a great spot with R-Truth tagging in off the apron and hitting his John Cena moves before looking for a pinfall. Gargano and Ciampa then hit sweet chin music and a pedigree on Damian Priest. DIY and Awesome Truth climb ladders but Waller and Theory push over the ladders before grabbing the Smackdown Tag Team Championships to win them! The match continues for the Raw Tag Team Championships. New Catch Republic and DIY take each other out with some huge moves off ladders which leaves R-Truth to climb a ladder but JD McDonagh arrives out of nowhere to stop him and help The Judgment Day. New Day get in the ring, launch JD off a ladder through two tables. Damian Priest then climbs the ladder but you can see a referee trying to get his attention. I don’t think she trusts the ladder which looks pretty broken. Priest takes out The Miz, grabs another ladder, climbs it but R-Truth shoves him off and then hits the attitude adjustment. Truth climbs the ladder and unhooks the Raw Tag Team Championships!

Result: Austin Theory & Grayson Waller win the Smackdown Tag Team Championships, The Miz & R-Truth win the Raw Tag Team Championships.

Review: This was a fun match. It’s always hard to keep up with a match with so many people in it but the spots were well thought out and bought some action that we won’t see again tonight. I like Waller and Theory winning the Smackdown titles whilst Awesome Truth winning the Raw belts gave us a wholesome moment. A fun ladder match that served its purpose.

Rating: 6.75/10

Rey Mysterio & Andrade vs. Santos Escobar & Dominik Mysterio

Background: At Crown Jewel in November 2023, Santos Escobar turned heel, costing Rey Mysterio the United States Championship. Weeks later, Escobar confirmed the heel turn by attacking Rey as he was checking on Carlito, injuring Rey’s left knee and striking it with steel steps. After a three-month hiatus, Rey returned on the March 1 episode of SmackDown to help Carlito defeat Escobar in a street fight. Three weeks later, Escobar defeated Rey after interference from the latter’s son, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. One week later, Escobar and his Legado Del Fantasma stablemates thanked Dominik for his actions. Rey interrupted, introduced Dragon Lee as the newest member of the LWO, and Rey and Lee subsequently challenged Escobar and Dominik to a tag team match at WrestleMania XL. The following week, however, Lee was attacked backstage, rendering him unable to compete at WrestleMania. Andrade, who assisted Rey in fending off Escobar and Dominik earlier that night and reunited with LWO’s Zelina Vega, was named Lee’s replacement.

Previous PLE matches: This is a first time tag team match involving these four men.

Wrestlemania Record: Rey Mysterio is 5-6, Dominik Mysterio is 0-2, Andrade and Santos Escobar wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar kick off the match. I’m predicting a Carlito heel turn in this match. Rey and Andrade have the advantage early on, hitting a nice double cross body to the outside but Santos and Dominik soon take control. Andrade gets the hot tag and takes the advantage before tagging Rey back in who hits a 619 on Santos. Humberto soon gets involved, kicking Rey in the face. All hell breaks loose with everyone on the outside. Dominik grabs a chair but he’s stopped by two men in masks. Rey then hits a double 619 and a West Coast Pop on Santos for the win. The masked men were two football players.

Result: Rey Mysterio and Andrade win by football.

Review: This match was decent enough, nothing wrong with it. A good performance from all involved but I would have preferred to have seen a big multiman match. Rey and Andrade win but I doubt this is the end of this rivalry.

Rating: 5.75/10

Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso

Background: Prior to the summer of 2023, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso were a unit of their family’s stable, The Bloodline, on SmackDown. However, due to the manipulations of its leader, Roman Reigns, The Usos left the group which eventually led to a “Bloodline Civil War” tag team match at Money in the Bank against Reigns and Solo Sikoa, in which The Usos won. Jey then faced Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam that August, but Jimmy interfered and cost his brother the match. On the following SmackDown, Jimmy explained that he cost Jey the match to keep him from gaining power and becoming corrupted like Reigns. Jey subsequently attacked Jimmy and “quit” WWE, but was later reinstated as a member of the Raw roster. Despite being on different shows, Jimmy, who rejoined The Bloodline, would often appear on Raw and attack Jey or cost him matches. The two would also face off in the men’s Royal Rumble match in January 2024 as the first two entrants. Jimmy then cost Jey a match for the Intercontinental Championship the following month. On the March 11 episode of Raw, fed up with his brother’s actions, Jey challenged Jimmy to a match at WrestleMania XL, which Jimmy accepted on that week’s SmackDown.

Previous PLE matches: This is a first ever match between these two twin brothers.

Wrestlemania Record: Jey Uso is 2-2, Jimmy Uso is 2-3.

Match: Jey attacks Jimmy before the bell. Jey has control in the early going but it’s not long before Jimmy takes the advantage. Jimmy hits a lot of superkicks and the referee checks on Jey a lot. It’s back and forth for a while as the brothers exchange superkicks. As Jimmy takes the brunt of the offence he begs for forgiveness but it’s a ruse and he hits a superkick and splash for a near fall. Jey then hits a spear and a splash for the win.

Result: Jey Uso wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. Something didn’t quite click for me. It was the match of a hundred superkicks. The psychology was ok. Jey wins though and I can’t help but think Jimmy should’ve won before continuing the rivalry into a gimmick match next month. There’s definitely more legs in this one.

Rating: 5/10

Bianca Belair, Naomi & Jade Cargill vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane & Asuka)

Background: Concurrent to their feud with Bayley, Damage CTRL (Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane) were also feuding with Naomi and Bianca Belair. On the March 29 episode of SmackDown, following Belair’s win over Kai, Damage CTRL engaged in a beatdown of Belair and Naomi. Jade Cargill, who was making her debut as an official roster member of the brand that night, made the save after weeks of teasing a feud with the faction. Later, it was announced that Cargill, Naomi, and Belair would face Damage CTRL (Kai, Asuka, and Sane) in a six-woman tag team match at WrestleMania XL Night 1.

Previous PLE matches: This is a first six women tag team between these six women.

Wrestlemania Record: Bianca Belair is 3-0, Naomi is 2-3, Dakota Kai is 0-1, Kairi Sane is 0-1 and Asuka is 0-4.

Match: Naomi and Asuka kick off the match. Damage CTRL dominate early on against Naomi but Bianca gets a hot tag and lays into all three opponents. Damage CTRL soon get the edge again until Jade Cargill gets the hot tag. Asuka accidentally sprays the mist in the eyes of Kairi Sane! All six women then go at it until Naomi, Bianca and Jade hit their finishers and Jade pins Dakota for the win.

Result: Bianca Belair, Naomi & Jade Cargill win by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. It was a match of two hot tags. Damage CTRL showed a lot more chemistry, especially the Kabuki Warriors. It was Jade Cargill’s coming out party and definitely not missed thst she got the win for her team. An alright match here.

Rating: 5.25/10

Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn – Intercontinental Championship match

Background: After several wrestlers declared their intentions to challenge Gunther for Raw’s Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania XL, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that a gauntlet match would be held on the March 11 episode of Raw with the winner facing Gunther for the title at WrestleMania. The gauntlet match was won by Sami Zayn, and the Intercontinental Championship match was later confirmed for Night 1.

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

Wrestlemania Record: Gunther is 1-0, Sami Zayn is 2-4.

Match: There’s plenty of physicality in this back and forth match. There’s a good mix of strikes and wrestling. Gunther counters a helluva kick and a blue thunder bomb before applying a chinlock. Gunther hits a dropkick and powerbomb but only for a near fall. Gunther hits his own helluva kick but Sami replies with one of his own for a near fall. Gunther hits two powerbombs for a near fall and then talks trash at Sami’s wife. Gunther hits another powerbomb and two splashes off the top rope before heading to the top again but Sami hits him with a helluva kick and a brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle. Zayn hits two more helluva kicks and pins Gunther for the three.

Result: Sami Zayn wins the Intercontinental Championship by pinfall.

Review: Ok this was the best match of the night so far. The psychology was spot on. It was physical, it had a story, it was the best match of the night so far. I’m shocked Gunther lost his title in such a clean way, it’s a huge rub for Sami Zayn. But for Gunther it can only be onwards and upwards.

Rating: 8.5/10

Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns & The Rock – Tag team match to determine the stipulations for Roman Reigns v.s Cody Rhodes on night 2. Bloodline Rules or Bloodline banned from ringside.

Background: At Elimination Chamber: Perth on February 24, Rhodes challenged Rock to a one-on-one match at any time, and Rollins again asserted that he would be in Rhodes’s corner in facing The Bloodline. On the following SmackDown, Rock rejected Rhodes’s challenge and instead offered a counter: a tag team match featuring Rhodes and Rollins against Rock and Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania XL Night 1 with an added stipulation that if Rhodes and Rollins won, then The Bloodline would be barred from ringside during the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match on Night 2, however, if Rock and Reigns won, then the championship match would be contested under The Bloodline’s rules in which anything goes. Rhodes and Rollins appeared on the next week’s episode where they accepted the challenge. Additionally, due to Rock’s position on the TKO board of directors, he claimed that the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match would be a last chance match where if Rhodes did not win, he would never be able to challenge for the title again.

Previous PLE matches: This is a first time tag team match between these four men.

Wrestlemania Record: Cody Rhodes is 2-6, Seth Rollins is 7-4, Roman Reigns is 8-2 and The Rock is 6-5.

Match: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns kick off the match. Cody is soon tagged in and we get a preview of tomorrow night. Cody is getting some boo’s. The Rock gets a big pop when he tags in. Seth and Rock go at it until Rocky hits a big knockdown and tells Cody to just bring it. Cody tags in and takes control before all four men get into it. The fight goes to the outside where The Rock tells the referee that if he counts them out then he’s fired. The Bloodline dominate from here as the action spills around the arena and then back to the ring. Seth takes a lot of the offence from his opponents as Rock and Reigns keep him from tagging out to Rhodes. Rollins counters a superman punch but The Rock hits him with a blatant low blow. The Rock applies a sharpshooter to Rollins but Rhodes breaks it up with a slap. Rollins hits a stomp to The Rock and both men make tags. Rhodes hits a Cody Cutter to Reigns for a near fall. There are more Cody Cutters and Frog splashes from Rhodes and Rollins on Reigns but they can’t keep him down.

Rollins hits a stomp to Reigns and Cody hits Cross-Rhodes but The Rock pulls the referee out of the ring so he can’t count the three. Reigns hits a low blow and a spear to Rhodes who kicks out of the pinfall attempt. The Rock and Roman double team Cody and The Rock then grabs the weight belt that he blooded Rhodes with on Raw. He doesn’t get chance to use it though as Rhodes takes it off him. The Rock then looks for a people’s elbow but Rhodes counters with a Cody Cutter. Reigns looks for a spear but Rollins saves Cody and Reigns spears The Rock! Rollins and Rhodes then hit pedigrees on both opponents for near falls. Cody hits a Rock Bottom on The Rock through an announce desk and Reigns then spears Rollins through a barricade. Back in the ring and Cody hits two consecutive cross-Rhodes to Roman but The Rock stops a third by whipping him with the weight belt. Roman then hits a spear and tags in The Rock who hits a Rock Bottom and a People’s Elbow for the win.

Result: The Rock and Roman Reigns win by pinfall.

Review: This was a solid main event, if a litte long. But a huge main event win for Roman Reigns and The Rock nonetheless. I can’t see Seth Rollins retaining tomorrow night but the main event could go either way. The Rock was super impressive in this match and everyone else played their role well. It was an attitude era throwback with The Rock playing the role of Vince McMahon in some ways. The odds were stacked against Rhodes and Rollins and that will continue tomorrow night. A good main event tonight.

Rating: 7.5/10