Wrestlemania 32 Kickoff Show
United States Championship Match: Kalisto (c) vs Ryback
Heading into Wrestlemania I thought for sure Ryback would become the new United States Champion. Ryback pretty much dominated the entire match, but it all turned when Kalisto sent him flying into the exposed turnbuckle. Kalisto then hit the Salida del Sol and it was all over. I guess the WWE really is trying to make Kalisto the new Rey Mysterio.
Team Total Divas (Natalya, Paige, Alicia Fox, Brie Bella and Eva Marie) vs. B.A.D. and Blond (Lana, Tamina Snuka, Naomi, Emma and Summer Rae)
This match was far more entertaining than I expected it to be. Lana made her in ring debut and hit a couple of kicks. One of the biggest takeaways from this match was the incredibly negative reaction Eva Marie got from the WWE universe. In the end, Brie Bella got Naomi in the “Yes! Lock” for the submission. After the match, Nikki Bella came out sporting a neck brace and celebrated with Team Total Divas. This was a cool moment, especially since this is most likely Brie Bella’s last match.
https://twitter.com/Sloomzo/status/716752376221286400
The WWE Women’s Championship Belt is Revealed
Lita came out to the ring and unveiled the new belt which is replacing the Diva’s belt. The belt looks absolutely awesome and it is about time the WWE got rid of the word “diva” when it comes to professional wrestling.
Yep, it's a beauty! #WrestleMania #WomensChampionship @AmyDumas pic.twitter.com/WlecOKpLo0
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2016
The Usos vs. The Dudley Boyz
I’ve hated the build to this match. The Dudley Boyz denouncing tables hasn’t made me hate them, it has just made this feud even more boring than it already was. This match was thankfully short but it was decent enough. As expected, the Usos got the victory. After the match, the Dudley Boyz attacked the Usos and brought tables into the ring. However, the Usos fought back and wound up frog-splashing the Dudleyz through the tables. The crowd booed the hell out of this for some reason. I thought it was pretty awesome and it makes sense since the WWE is trying to build up the Usos.
Wrestlemania 32 Main Card
Kevin Owens (c) vs. The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Sami Zayn vs. Stardust vs. Zack Ryder vs. Sin Cara in a Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
This was an incredible match. There were so many amazing spots in this match. The one that stood out the most to me was when Kevin Owens pushed Sin Cara off the ladder and he landed on Stardust. Of course, Stardust was already laying on top of a ladder and they both went smashing through it. I never in a million years thought that Zack Ryder would wind up winning this match. He felt like a throw in, simply in the match due to the injury to Neville. This was a tremendous way to start off the show and the finish was certainly unexpected.
Congratulations to Zack Ryder for becoming the NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion. #WWE pic.twitter.com/EF1E5ETKw2
— WWE Today In History (@WWE__History) April 3, 2016
Chris Jericho vs. AJ Styles
I thought that this match had the potential to steal the show and it did not disappoint. The match started out slow, but when it got going it was incredible. This was another shocking finish to me. I thought AJ Styles would surely get the win at his first Wrestlemania, but Jericho came out on top. I don’t really get why Jericho won but it doesn’t really matter. This feud will most likely continue and that sounds good to me.
What a victory for @IAmJericho! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/lsEhMIV9iG
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2016
The League Of Nations vs. The New Day in a Handicap Match for “Tag Team Supremacy”
Originally, this was going to be a match for the tag team titles but it was changed before Wrestlemania. Once that happened, I figured the League of Nations would get the victory and they did. The match itself was alright but what happened after was legendary. Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley and Stone Cold all came out and whooped the League of Nation’s ass. Xavier Woods tried to get Stone Cold to dance and fell victim to a vicious Stone Cold stunner. This was the quintessential Wrestlemania moment for anyone that grew up in the 80’s or 90’s.
LEGENDS: Mick Foley, Shawn Michaels & Stone Cold at #WrestleMania ! pic.twitter.com/nIdQsolgf1
— SPORF (@Sporf) April 4, 2016
Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose in a No Holds Barred Street Fight
The match started off with a trip to Suplex City for Dean Ambrose. Dean Ambrose fought back a bit but ultimately lost due to 13 german suplexes and an F-5 onto a pile of chairs. Everybody knew that Lesnar would win this match, the question was if the match will help Ambrose in the future. Dean Ambrose looked good and put up a fight against Brock Lesnar, but overall this match felt pretty insignificant. Watching Lesnar suplex the living hell out of people is always entertaining, I just thought there would be more epic moments in this match. It was entertaining but pretty forgettable.
Charlotte (c) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Women’s Championship
This was another match that was excellent and another result I didn’t see coming. I thought Sasha Banks would walk out as the new Women’s Champion and once again I was wrong. It is amazing what female wrestlers can do if they are just given some time to perform in the ring. It seems like the WWE is finally figuring that out, better late than never I guess. Charlotte got Becky Lynch in the Figure 8 Leg Lock and Sasha Banks was unable to stop the hold because Ric Flair was holding her back outside the ring. I wish Ric Flair wasn’t involved in this match but it is what it is. This was a fantastic match and Charlotte is the first WWE Women’s Champion.
What an amazing match!!! So proud of @MsCharlotteWWE @SashaBanksWWE & @BeckyLynchWWE! Such inspiring women!!! You guys rule!!! #WrestleMania
— Noelle Foley (@NoelleFoley) April 4, 2016
The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon Hell In A Cell Match (If Shane wins, he controls RAW/WWE. If Undertaker loses, he can never compete at WrestleMania again)
When Shane McMahon jumped off the top of the cell to try and elbow drop the Undertaker through a table I almost lost my mind. This match lived up to the hype and then some. I desperately wanted Shane McMahon to win the match just so the weekly promos from the Authority would stop. Unfortunately, that was not the case and the Undertaker got the win. Thus, Vince McMahon and the Authority remain in control of Monday Night Raw and the painfully boring promos will continue.
https://twitter.com/ThisIsMyHouse02/status/716811129079595008
Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
DDP, Tanaka and Shaq were in the battle royal, so that was cool. Other than that this match’s sole objective was to take up some time before the main-event. NXT’s Baron Corbin wound up getting the win, which was refreshing. I was worried Kane or Mark Henry were going to win it.
After the match the Dallas Cowboy’s cheerleaders came out and danced. Then, for some reason, the Rock came out with a flamethrower. That went on for several meaningless minutes before he finally walked to the ring. He then went on to announce that Dallas, Texas has broken the attendance record but was interrupted by the Wyatt Family. Ultimately, this led a literal six second match between the Rock and Erick Rowan in which the Rock hit a Rock Bottom right away. The Wyatt’s went to attack the Rock but John Cena came out and made the save. It was good to see Cena back, even if he only did a couple of moves. I find it weird that the Wyatt family was once again buried in a big spot. Why take another Bray Wyatt promo seriously if he is just going to get destroyed at every big event? Sure, this was a cool Wrestlemania moment, but it buried the Wyatt family yet again.
Arrive. Make #WrestleMania moments. Leave. @JohnCena @TheRock pic.twitter.com/W9fNyQuUt1
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 4, 2016
Triple H (c) vs. Roman Reigns in a No Disqualification Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
As expected, the boos were deafening for Roman Reigns. The guy is clearly talented but has been the victim of bad booking ever since the Shield disbanded. Stephanie McMahon even cut a promo before the match that pretty much insulted everyone in the audience in a desperate attempt for the crowd to cheer Roman Reigns. It didn’t work. It will never work. Apparently that doesn’t matter to the WWE as they just went ahead and ignored the reaction from crowd after crowd. Roman Reigns gets the win over Triple H and is the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The WWE didn’t turn him heel or anything, he just won the match.
The @WWE World Heavyweight Champion @WWERomanReigns overcomes the odds to close out #WrestleMania!!! pic.twitter.com/gAPqHToP9r
— WWE (@WWE) April 4, 2016
Final Thoughts
This Wrestlemania started out great and unpredictable. Unfortunately, it veered off that path and turned out to be rather safe and predictable. I have no problem with Roman Reigns being champion, I just don’t understand why he wasn’t turned heel. The WWE universe has let it be known that they don’t really want Roman Reigns to be the good-guy champion. It would have made perfect sense for Reigns to turn into a bad guy and walk out champion, the way he won it made no sense at all. Tomorrow night will have to be one hell of a Monday Night Raw for the WWE because people were already sick of Roman Reigns before he was champion. For those who think that Roman Reigns is another John Cena they are wrong. John Cena actually has the capability of entertaining the audience on the microphone and in the ring. Roman Reigns is decent in the ring and can’t cut a promo to save his life. What started out as a great Wrestlemania, ended with the WWE universe scratching their heads at the blind stubbornness of the WWE.
