Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – World Heavyweight Championship match

Background: As a result of winning the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble match winners choosing to challenge for SmackDown’s respective men’s and women’s world championships at WrestleMania XL, the challengers for Raw’s respective men’s and women’s world championships at the event were decided by Elimination Chamber matches at Elimination Chamber: Perth. Raw’s Becky Lynch won the women’s eponymous match to face Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship, while Raw’s Drew McIntyre won the men’s to face Seth “Freakin” Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship. The Women’s World Championship match was scheduled for Night 1, with the World Heavyweight Championship match set for Night 2. On the March 25 episode of Raw, it was announced that CM Punk, who had issues with both Rollins and McIntyre but had gotten legitimately injured at the Royal Rumble, would serve as a special guest commentator for the World Heavyweight Championship match.

Previous PLE matches: These two men are 1-1 on previous PLE matches.

Wrestlemania Record: Seth is 7-5, Drew McIntyre is 3-5.

Match: Both men have elaborate entrances. Drew hits a claymore as soon as the bell rings but can’t keep Seth down for a three. CM Punk is on commentary for this match. Seth hits a pedigree on the outside of the ring. Back in the ring and Seth hits a stomp for a near fall. Rollins counters a claymore and hits a powerbomb, pedigree and a stomp for a near fall. Both men avoid each others finishers until McIntyre hits a futureshock DDT for a near fall. Seth counters a go to sleep attempt but Drew hits a claymore for another near fall. Outside the ring Seth hits a stomp on the announce desk but as they get back into the ring Drew hits a claymore for a near fall. Drew then hits another claymore and that one is enough for the three!

Result: Drew McIntyre wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a fun way to open the show. Loads of false finishes. Loads of finishers. CM Punk was fun on commentary. A good match between these two though and a huge win for Drew McIntyre. 

Rating: 7.25/10

Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Damian Priest – World Heavyweight Championship match

Background: Damian Priest won the Money In The Bank contract last year and he’s finally cashing it on the new World Heavyweight Champion!

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

Wrestlemania Record: Drew McIntyre is 4-5, Damian Priest is 1-1.

Match: Damian Priest hits south of heaven and pins McIntyre for the three!

Result: Damian Priest wins the World Heavyweight Championship by pinfall.

Review: It was short, sweet and everything a MITB cash-in should be. To the surprise of everyone, Damian Priest is the new World Champion!

Rating: N/A

The Pride (Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross and The Authors Of Pain (Akam & Rezar)

Background: At SmackDown: New Year’s Revolution on January 5, Karrion Kross, accompanied by Scarlett, attacked Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford with help from the returning Authors of Pain, accompanied by Paul Ellering. Kross, Scarlett, Authors of Pain, and Ellering forming a faction called The Final Testament. The two groups would continue feuding over the next couple of months and on the March 29 episode of SmackDown, The Final Testament attacked Lashley and B-Fab backstage, causing a distraction that cost The Street Profits their tournament final match to qualify for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania XL. On April 1, a six-man tag team Philadelphia Street Fight pitting The Final Testament against The Pride was confirmed for WrestleMania XL Night 2.

Previous PLE matches: This is a first six man tag team match between these two teams.

Wrestlemania Record: Bobby Lashley is 3-3, The Street Profits are 2-1, The Final Testament compete at Wrestlemania for the first time tonight.

Match: Tables are introduced early and Snoop Dogg starts making Yogi Bear references. The Final Testament lay into all three opponents with kendo sticks. AOP hit the super collider on the Street Profits but B-Fab breaks up the cover. Scarlett disposes of her and Lashley gets back involved. Lashley lays into Kross with a chair as Montez hits one of his big plancha’s to the outside. Scarlett nails Lashley with a kendo stick so B-Fab takes her out, hitting a side Russian suplex on her through a table. Kross hits a DDT on Lashley for a near fall and then gets in the face of Bubba Ray who puts his glasses on. Lashley and The Profits hit a wassup drop on Kross and the tables are called for. They put Karrion on the table and the table breaks. Oops. They get another table, put Kross on it and Montez hits a frog splash which is enough for the win.

Result: Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits win by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. It wasn’t bad but it was just there really. They didn’t have a lot of time no knew the drill here. Lashley and The Street Profits get the win which will probably end this rivalry. I’d love to see Montez Ford have a singles run. 

Rating: 4.75/10

LA Knight vs. AJ Styles

Background: On the December 15, 2023, episode of SmackDown, AJ Styles made a return from injury and helped LA Knight in fending off The Bloodline, but then turned on Knight and attacked him with a steel chair. Styles later explained that he attacked Knight for taking his spot in a tag team match at Fastlane in October 2023, saying he “stepped over his dead body” to get ahead. Both then participated in a fatal four-way match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble in January 2024, but were unsuccessful. Knight then qualified for the men’s Elimination Chamber match at Elimination Chamber: Perth the following month, but Styles did not. During the match itself, Styles snuck into the chamber and attacked Knight with a steel chair, causing Knight to be eliminated. After more weeks of feuding, Knight challenged Styles to a match at WrestleMania XL and Styles accepted, which was later confirmed for Night 2

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

Wrestlemania Record: AJ Styles is 4-3, LA Knight makes his Wrestlemania debut tonight.

Match: These two men waste no time going at it. AJ Styles has new entrance music by the way. LA Knight takes control early, smashing Styles off the announce desk a few times. Styles gets back into it and works the leg of Knight. It’s a back and forth match with Knight picking up the pace when he needs to. AJ is still so crisp in the ring. He heads to the top but Knight meets him up there, bites him and hits an avalanche German suplex for a two count. Styles applies a calf crusher but LA Knight manages to break it. The fight goes to the outside where LA Knight pulls back some mats and looks for something but Styles back body drops him onto the concrete. AJ looks for a springboard 450 splash but Knight gets his knees up. Both men counter each others finishers, Knight hits the BFT and that’s enough for the win.

Result: LA Knight wins by pinfall.

Review: This match could have gone either way and I did lean towards AJ Styles but this was as big win for LA Knight. The match was alright, it was a fairly standard back and forth match. It wasn’t bad though.

Rating: 5/10

Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – United States Championship match

Background: At the Royal Rumble, Logan Paul defeated Kevin Owens by disqualification to retain SmackDown’s United States Championship. Paul had attempted to use his signature brass knuckles, but Owens instead used them and was caught, thus was disqualified. The following month at Elimination Chamber: Perth, Paul, Owens, and Randy Orton were participants in the men’s Elimination Chamber match. Orton eliminated both Owens and Paul, who in turn caused Orton to be eliminated by punching him with the brass knuckles. On the March 8 episode of SmackDown, Paul and his business partner KSI announced that their energy drink company, Prime, would be an official WWE sponsor with the Prime logo placed in the center of the ring mat for PPV and livestreaming events, in turn becoming WWE’s first center ring mat sponsor. Orton interrupted and attempted an RKO on Paul, but Paul escaped with KSI instead receiving the RKO. The following week, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis announced that Paul would defend the United States Championship against Owens and Orton in a triple threat match at WrestleMania XL, which was later confirmed for Night 2.

Previous PLE matches: This is a first time triple threat between these three men.

Wrestlemania Record: Logan Paul is 1-1, Kevin Owens is 4-3, Randy Orton is 8-10.

Match: Logan Paul comes out in a massive Prime truck with a cannon. He’s also joined by a walking Prime bottle. KSI again? I guess we’ll find out. Kevin Owens comes out next on a golf cart and then goes back for Randy Orton to bring him down to the ring. Orton and Owens double team Logan Paul in the most blatant way for a good while. It gets to a point where Orton and Owens both want to win the match and Orton looks for an RKO. Owens avoids it but the two men agree to go at it. From there it’s more of a triple threat match. Logan Paul gets his offence in but generally gets thrown out of the ring. Owens hits a big top rope powerslam and moonsault on Logan for a near fall. Orton hits an RKO on KO who kicks out.

Logan Paul then knocks out Orton with brass knucks but Randy kicks out! Logan then knocks out Owens with the knucks. Orton hits the champion with an RKO but hasn’t got the energy to capitalise. The Prime bottle pulls Logan Paul out of the ring, saving him from a punt and then reveals himself to be IShowSpeed who apparently is a Youtuber. Orton hits IShowSpeed with an RKO in the announce desk. KO hits a pop-up powerbomb on Logan and a stunner on Orton for a two count. Orton counters a pop-up powerbomb into an RKO but Logan Paul throws Orton out of the ring and hits KO with a frog splash for the three!

Result: Logan Paul wins by pinfall.

Review: I’m not sure I saw Logan Paul winning this but it makes a lot of sense. Logan Paul appeals to an audience that WWE hasn’t reached before and him carrying the United States Championship around brings a lot of new eyes to the product. This match was chaotic, it was fun, it had some nice spots and the crowd were into it. A good match.

Rating: 7/10

Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley – WWE Women’s Championship match

Background: At SummerSlam in July 2022, Bayley made her return from injury alongside Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky with the trio dubbing themselves Damage CTRL. Kairi Sane, who returned to WWE in November 2023 and who had previous issues with Bayley before her departure, forgave Bayley and joined with Damage CTRL, followed by Asuka joining the group, subsequently reuniting The Kabuki Warriors in the process. The group would attain success on SmackDown, including multiple WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship reigns, as well as Sky winning the WWE Women’s Championship. Bayley then won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match, thus earning a women’s championship match of her choice at WrestleMania XL. Bayley had previously said she would be going after Raw’s women’s championship so that Damage CTRL would hold all the women’s titles of Raw and SmackDown; however, on the February 2 episode of SmackDown, after Bayley overheard Sky, Asuka, and Sane talking behind her back, Bayley revealed she understood Japanese and how they made fun of her. Bayley was then kicked out of Damage CTRL after Asuka and Sane attacked her, turning face for the first time since 2019. After fighting off the rest of Damage CTRL, Bayley decided that she would challenge Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania XL. Kai was absent when Sky, Asuka, and Sane turned on Bayley and although she seemingly sided with Bayley the next week, Kai also turned on her on the March 1 episode.[46] On April 1, the WWE Women’s Championship match was confirmed for Night 2.

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

Wrestlemania Record: Bayley is 2-2, Iyo Sky is 0-1.

Match: Bayley’s entrance is a bizarre ancient Egypt vibe. She has updated music. It’s a cagey back and forth start to the match. Bayley appears to have injured her knee on a suicide dive which Iyo takes advantage of. They fight to the outside where Bayley counters a springboard something with a spinebuster. It continues to be a back and forth match with both girls hitting some impressive moves. Iyo hits a moonsault to the outside and later on a couple of stiff German suplexes. Bayley gets her knees up to counter a moonsault before heading to the top herself and missing with an elbow drop which gets countered into a crossface. Bayley gets out and hits a Bayley to belly for a near fall. Iyo blocka a roseplant and tries to reason with Bayley before dropping her with a forearm. Sky hits a moonsault for a near fall. Bayley avoids another moonsault and looks for a roseplant but Sky counters! Bayley hits a side suplex, flying elbow drop and a roseplant for the win!

Result: Bayley wins the WWE Women’s Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was a really good match. The psychology was great and it was a battle of the incredible athleticism in Iyo and incredible selling in Bayley. I really enjoyed this one. Bayley sold the knee the whole match and Iyo just kept piling it on. I’m a big fan of Bayley and I welcome this result. Iyo deserves her flowers though, she’s one of the best in the business.

Rating: 8.5/10

Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – Bloodline rules for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

Background: Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Royal Rumble match to earn a title shot of his choosing. Although he previously handed a match with Roman Reigns over to The Rock, Rhodes would u-turn on his decision and instead announce that he would face Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania in a rematch from last year’s event.

Previous PLE matches: This is a second PLE match between these two men following Roman’s victory over Rhodes at Wrestlemania last year.

Wrestlemania Record: Roman Reigns is 9-2, Cody Rhodes is 2-7.

Match: Roman Reigns’ entrance is an all timer. It’s a back and forth start to the match and Cody slides a table into the ring early. Reigns slides it back under the ring before swinging a kendo stick at his challenger. The fight goes into the crowd where Rhodes hits a suplex. Back in the ring and Roman dominates. Cody fights back and hits a disaster kick for a two count. Roman hits Cross-Rhodes for a two count. Cody avoids a superman punch and hits jabs and a bionic elbow. Rhodes clears an announce desk but Roman hits him with a low blow and then powerbombs Cody through the announce desk before hitting a superman punch for a two count. Rhodes counters a spear and hits a Cody cutter for a near fall. Rhodes hits a spear for a near fall.

Cody hits Cross-Rhodes and looks for a second but Jimmy Uso appears and nails him with a superkick. Roman hits a superman punch and out comes Jey Uso who battles with his twin brother, spearing him of the stage through a table. Reigns hits a spear for a near fall and then Rhodes hits a spear through the barricade. Rhodes hits Cross-Rhodes twice and looks for a third but Solo Sikoa appears and hits him with the Samoan spike! Solo and Roman hits a double spike/spear but Cody kicks out of the pinfall attempt. John Cena’ music then hits and out comes Cena! Cena clears the ring of Solo and then hits Roman with an attitude adjustment. Cena then hits the attitude adjustment on Solo through an announce desk! The Rock’s music hits and out walks the ghost of Cena’s past! The Rock nails Cena with a Rock Bottom but then The Shield’s music hits and in comes Rollins with a chair but Reigns takes him out with a superman punch.

The Undertaker’s music then hits to a mammoth pop! The lights go out and Undertaker appears in the ring and chokeslams The Rock! Roman picks up a chair and decides to hit Seth Rollins with it. Cody then hits Cross-Rhodes on Roman Reigns three times which is enough for the win! Babyfaces like LA Knight, Jey Uso, John Cena, Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, CM Punk and Sami Zayn come out to celebrate with Cody. Rhodes gets on the mic and asks for two men to come out, Bruce Prichard and Triple H.

Result: Cody Rhodes wins the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship by pinfall.

Review: What the hell have I just watched. The end of this match was like watching the attitude era and not just because of who was involved. Cody Rhodes wins the match and weirdly I’m a little surprised. But I’m happy. Cody Rhodes is the babyface WWE needed to topple Roman Reigns. Weird considering he wasn’t even supposed to be in the match. But in all serious, this was an amazing main event and the perfect way to end the event.

Rating: 9.25/10