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A night filled with unexpected twists and memorable matches resulted in one of the most bizarre WrestleManias in many years.
(More video highlights to follow)
Pre-show:
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal kicked off with JR and Jerry Lawler on commentary. Aiden English was one of the first few people to be eliminated, to the disapproval of the crowd.
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R-Truth and Goldust, former tag team partners, teased a reunion but the Bizarre One turned on his former ally, sending him crashing to the floor. Mike Kanellis, who hadn't made too many television appearances prior to the show, was eliminated without much resistance.
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Tyler Breeze was clinging on to the apron, but Shelton Benjamin eliminated him with a crisp kick. Dolph Ziggler, often the subject of criticism for blatantly ripping off Shawn Michaels, even performed his idol's "skinning the cat" spot when Tye Dillinger tried to eliminate him.
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Zack Ryder looked to be gaining momentum when Mojo Rawley, his former tag-team partner, put an end to his night. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, who were once cult heroes during their days with the Bullet Club, were sent to the floor next. Shelton Benjamin and the Revival met their doom next before a no-nonsense right hand from Kane accounted for Fandango.
Kane and Baron Corbin, the two most prominent giants in this match, came together for a clash of the titans, but the spot was interrupted by the other competitors. The camera also cut to a shot of John Cena, who was supposedly in attendance as a"fan".
A good performance for Goldust then came to a halt at the hands of Dolph Ziggler. Matt Hardy and Tye Dillinger had a brief exchange before the former Impact man eliminated the Perfect One. Corbin then eliminated Kane as he joined Rawley and Hardy as the last three competitors in the match.
Rawley and Corbin looked to double-team Hardy and eliminate him when Bray Wyatt appeared out of thin air and helped the Woken one eliminate Corbin and Rawley.
Result: Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
#2 Mustafa Ali vs. Cedric Alexander (Cruiserweight Championship match)
The match kicked off with some chain wrestling until Ali managed to connect with a hurricanrana. Alexander looked to work on the midsection, but Ali retorted with a flurry of strikes and a bronco buster.
The two competitors traded a surprising amount of ground offense until Ali got out of the doldrums with a flurry of lariats. Alexander connected with a European uppercut but ate a spinning wheel kick for his troubles.
Alexander then hit a Spanish Fly but couldn't capitalise by pinning Ali. He looked for the lumbar check, only to eat a top-rope Spanish Fly.
After putting Ali under some pressure, Alexander began to show signs of frustration and began to stomp his foes head on the canvas. Ali managed to hit a reverse Frankensteiner before following up with the 054, only Alexander to get a foot on the rope.
Alexander managed to escape a second 054 before connecting with a pair of spinning elbows and a lumbar check for the win.
Result: Cedric Alexander def. Mustafa Ali
#3 The Women's Battle Royal
Beth Phoenix and Paige were on commentary for this match. All the women with the exception of Becky Lynch, Bayley and Sasha Banks received the dreaded "jobber entrance".
The bout kicked off with Carmella flaunting her Money in the Bank contract, but all the competitors ganged up on her and eliminated her in no time. Dana Brooke then found herself in the eye of the storm as she was tossed aside in no time.
A group of NXT Superstars cleared out the ring and began chanting the developmental territory's name. Both members of Absolution then met their doom at the hands of the NXT prospects. Bianca Belair even hit an awesome 450 splash on Sonya Deville. The Riott Squad, SmackDown's answer to Absolution, eliminated Kavita Devi and Taynara Conti.
Becky Lynch and Mickie James were quickly eliminated. Banks and Bayley then joined forces to eliminate the Riott Squad and Natalya. The two former NXT standouts appeared to be the last women standing. Bayley offered Banks a handshake as a gesture of respect but proceeded to eliminate The Boss in cold-blooded fashion.
Just when The Hugger thought she had secured the victory, it turned out Naomi hadn't been eliminated. The former Funkadactly hit a rear view and eliminated Bayley for the win.
Result: Naomi won the Women's Battle Royal
Main Card
#4 The Miz (C) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor (Intercontinental Championship match)
Seth Rollins was the first person to come out and his entrance was an homage to the White Walkers from Game of Thrones. He even wore light blue contacts that made him look even more like the Night's King.
The Miz came out next and banished his cronies from ringside, telling them that he would win the bout by himself.
However, it was probably Finn Balor who had the best entrance of all as he paid tribute to the LGBT community.
After a number of attempted small packages, Rollins clotheslined The Miz outside the rope. Balor then attempted to roll-up the former ROH man before sending him outside the ring and connecting with a suicide dive.
Balor got The Miz inside the ring and connected with a number of knife-edge chops before he was felled by a flying crossbody. Rollins followed up with a blockbuster on The Miz for a nearfall.
The Miz then hit a flying axe handle on Rollins before grabbing a chin lock. He then proceeded to work on Balor by putting the Irishman in a sleeper. Balor made a brief comeback which was capped off with an overhead kick to The Miz, who was seated on the top rope.
The Architect hit Balor with a sling-blade and followed up with a suicide dive, but The Miz hit him with a DDT for a nearfall. The defending champion then proceeded to put both Rollins and Balor in a Figure-Four leg lock. Just when The Miz looked like he had Balor in a spot of bother, Rollins hit a frog splash to make the save.
Rollins teased hitting Balor with a buckle bomb on the barricade, but the former Universal Champion reversed and connected with a slingblade. Balor then hit Rollins and Miz with shotgun dropkicks before hitting the Shield member with 1916.
Rollins performed a couple of high spots and hit Balor with a nasty falcon arrow. In the ensuing chaos, The Miz hit his finisher on Rollins but couldn't get the victory. Balor momentarily stunned the reigning champion and teased a Coup de Grace.
The three men found themselves on the top rope, allowing The Miz to hit Super Skull Crushing Finale on Rollins. Balor broke up the pin with a Coup de Grace. He then had the champion dead to rights when Rollins hit both of them with a Blackout before hitting his finisher one more time on The Miz to win the Intercontinental Championship.
Rollins also left WrestleMania as a Grandslam Champion.
Result: Seth Rollins defeated The Miz and Finn Balor to win the Intercontinental Championship
#5 Charlotte (c) vs. Asuka (SmackDown Live Women's Championship match)
Charlotte came out first and had an impressive, Triple H-style entrance. Considering this was one of the most-anticipated matches on the show, the placement of the bout was rather odd. After a chain wrestling exchange, Charlotte hit an incredible drop-toe hold and went for the Figure Four but Asuka reversed into a small package.
The Japanese Superstar then positioned Charlotte on the apron and hit her with a hip attack, sending the Queen crashing to the floor. Asuka then went to work on the champion's right arm, even managing to secure a backpack at one point. Charlotte managed to break free and sent her foe's head crashing to the mat with a knee.
The Queen then attempted to hit her signature moonsault, but Asuka managed to trap her in a triangle choke. Charlotte countered into a Boston Crab before stacking up the undefeated Superstar for a near fall. As the Queen started to cut a frustrated figure, Asuka began to connect with a series of stiff kicks.
The 2018 Women's Royal Rumble winner then hit a suplex off the apron, paying homage to her strong-style roots. Asuka then connected with a missile dropkick and looked to continue working on Charlotte's right arm. However, the Queen managed to connect with a Spanish Fly from the top rope.
Charlotte looked to hit Natural Selection but Asuka rolled through into a modified armbar, putting an enormous amount of pressure on the champion's right shoulder. Just as it looked like Asuka was getting ready to put her foe away, Charlotte managed to connect with a spear for a nearfall.
The Queen then locked in the Figure Eight, forcing Asuka to submit and ending the vaunted undefeated streak.
Result: Charlotte defeated Asuka to retain the SmackDown Live Women's Champion
After the match, a referee sprinted down the ramp and delivered a message to John Cena, who promptly got out of his seat and sprinted to the back.
#6 Randy Orton (c) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Rusev (Fatal 4-way match for the United States Championship)
Randy Orton almost kicked off the match with an RKO on Jinder Mahal, but Rusev cleared the ring before hitting a suicide dive. Roode nearly rolled up the Bulgarian Superstar before hitting a blockbuster.
Orton then took control of proceedings with a superplex on Roode for a nearfall. Mahal looked to confront Rusev but ate a flurry of boots in the corner for his efforts. Orton then intercepted Rusev before dropping the former NXT standout on the barricade.
Meanwhile, inside the ring, Roode hit Mahal with a spinebuster, paying tribute to the legendary Arn Anderson. After some more multi-man chaos, Orton hit Mahal, Rusev and English with RKOs, only to have his cover broken up by Roode.
After Orton and Roode were taken out, Rusev hit Mahal with a Machka Kick and set up the Accolade. However, Singh got on the apron and caused a distraction, allowing Mahal to hit Rusev with a Khallas for the win.
Result: Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton, Bobby Roode and Rusev to win the United States Championship
#7 Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
Triple H and Stephanie McMahon had a grand entrance, but it wasn't as ostentatious as some of their previous numbers. McMahon took a couple of cheap shots at Rousey before the match began.
Angle and Triple H kicked off proceedings while the Commissioner of Raw continued to taunt Rousey from outside the ring. Even though Angle started out strong, Triple H gained the advantage quickly and kept the Olympic Gold Medalist from making the tag. On one occasion, Angle managed to get to this corner but McMahon yanked Rousey off the apron.
The Pittsburgh native finally managed to backdrop Triple H over the ropes and made a hot tag to Rousey, who came out of her corner like a bat out of hell. Rousey's spots were crips and incredible as she put the beating of a lifetime on McMahon.
The WWE's resident Ice Princess managed to fight off an armbar with a rake to the eyes and even got a nearfall with a DDT. She then went to work on Rousey but the former UFC Champion grabbed McMahon by the throat and hit a Samoan Drop.
Triple H pulled the referee out of the ring before he could administer the three count. Angle looked to put The Game through an announce table but Triple H managed to fight him off.
Just as he was about to tend to his fallen wife, Triple H was confronted by Rousey, who destroyed The King of Kings and nearly crushed him with a Samoan Drop. McMahon managed to save her husband. This confrontation spilled outside the ring and resulted in McMahon sending Rousey face-first into the ring post.
Meanwhile, inside the ring, Angle hit Triple H with three belly-to-belly suplexes and an Angle Slam before applying the Ankle Lock. McMahon broke up the submission but was placed in an Ankle Lock for her troubles. Triple H managed to saved his wife, hitting the Raw GM with a Pedigree.
Rousey and Angle teased the double submission spot but the Authority managed to escape and tease a double Pedigree. The Olympians blocked the Pedigrees before Rousey forced McMahon to submit to the armbar.
Result: Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey def. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
#8 The New Day vs. The Usos (c) vs. The Bludgeon Brothers (SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship match)
Kingston started the match by knocking Harper off the apron and connecting with a Trouble in Paradise. The Bludgeon Brothers looked set to run through this match with ease until Jimmy Uso tagged in and started a comeback.
The Usos and Big E tried hitting their finishers but were foiled on multiple occasions. The Usos hit Rowan with a double suplex outside the ring, leaving the giant writhing in pain. The Usos set up a double superplex on Harper but Rowan ran in for the save.
The Bludgeon Brothers cleared the ring and hit Kingston with a double powerbomb off the top rope for the win.
Result: The Bludgeon Brothers defeated The New Day and The Usos to win the SmackDown Live Tag Team Championships
#9 John Cena vs. The Undertaker
John Cena came out for his match with The Deadman, but a referee came out to deliver some bad news to the 16-time World Champion. Just as Cena got ready to return to the back, the lights went out. With everyone anticipating the appearance of The Deadman, Elias made his way to the ring.
As Elias started to perform, a disappointed Cena returned to his seat at ringside. However, the Drifter started to provoke Cena, prompting the Massachusetts native to destroy Elias. The lights then went out and Cena turned around to see The Undertaker's hat and robe inside the ring.
The trademark gong then went off, and The Deadman finally made his WWE return. The match got underway with The Undertaker hitting a flurry of strikes. He even connected with a flying clothesline and Old-School.
The Phenom looked far better than he had in years. He sat up while Cena teased the Five-Knuckle Shuffle and finished the 16-time World Champion with a chokeslam and tombstone piledriver. To the disbelief of every wrestling fan in the world, The Undertaker squashed John Cena.
Result: The Undertaker defeated John Cena
#10 Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn ambushed the babyfaces before the match got underway. Shane McMahon was thrown over the barricade while Daniel Bryan, who was easily the most popular performer on the card, took a powerbomb on the apron.
As the medics tended to Bryan, Shane started the match against Owens. Despite putting on a valiant fight, Shane couldn't fend off the advances of the heels who started to toy with the Commissioner of SmackDown Live.
Owens and Zayn concentrated their attack on the mid-section of Shane while mocking him relentlessly. Vince McMahon's firstborn looked to be in excessive discomfort after receiving an exploder from Zayn.
The former El Generico looked to wrap up the bout with a Helluva Kick, but Shane reversed and trapped him in a tree of woe. The 48-year-old followed up with his trademark coast-to-coast move. Owens quickly tagged in and hit a splash on Shane, only to have the pinfall broken up by Bryan.
Despite trying their best, Owens and Zayn couldn't stop Shane from making the hot-tag to the American Dragon. Bryan stepped into the ring to a thunderous ovation and nailed the heels with a barrage of strikes. He performed his signature black flip before hitting Owens with a flying knee and Zayn with a missile dropkick.
Bryan then came up with a perfect top-rope hurricanrana before setting up the running knee strike. However, Owens foiled Bryan, allowing Zayn to connect with a Helluva Kick. The former WWE Champion kicked out and even survived a pop-up powerbomb from Owens.
After Shane and Owens were sent crashing into the barricade, Bryan nailed Zayn with the Yes Kicks and the running knee strike. He then forced Zayn to submit to the "Yes!" Lock.
Result: Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
#11 Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax (Raw Women's Championship match)
As soon as the match started, Jax went after Mickie James, assaulting the former Women's Champion at ringside. She then started to dominate Bliss, who decided to walk away from the match with her strap.
Jax grabbed a hold of the champion and started to launch her attack when she was thwarted by a rake to the eye. Bliss then went to work on the knee and hit a Twisted Bliss, sending Jax to the outside. Bliss connected with a Snap DDT, but her foe powered out.
Just as Jax started to gain a head of steam, Bliss raked the eyes and looked to escape. Unfortunately for her, Jax wouldn't be denied as she connected with a powerslam and Super Samoan Drop for the win.
Result: Nia Jax defeated Alexa Bliss
#12 AJ Styles (c) vs Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Championship match)
Nakamura came out of the blocks with a barrage of strikes. He kept the pressure on Styles until the Phenomenal One caught him with a knee. Styles proceeded to taunt the former IWGP Intercontinental Champion before connecting with a suplex.
Styles then responded to another flurry of Nakamura offence with a backbreaker. He then grabbed a chinlock, but the King of Strong Style managed to get back to a vertical base. Nakamura then sent Styles crashing to the canvas with a leg-sweep. The Japanese Superstar then hit a flying dropkick and a knee to the ribs.
Styles attempted a Styles Clash, but it was reversed into a Falcon Arrow for two. Styles kicked Nakamura in the knee and put him in a calf crusher, but it was reversed into a triangle choke. The former Bullet Club man responded by planting Nakamura on his head. Styles connected with a Phenomenal Forearm but still couldn't put Nakamura away.
Styles nearly connected with a 450 splash but Nakamura got his knees up and rolled up the Phenomenal One for a count of two. After another exchange, the King of Strong Style set up the Kinshasa but ate a Styles Clash that put an end to his night.
Result: AJ Styles defeated Nakamura to retain the WWE Championship
After the match, Nakamura hit Styles with a low blow, turning heel in the process. Even though he couldn't connect with it in the match, Nakamura finally laid out Styles with the Kinshasa.
#13 Sheamus and Cesaro (c) vs. Braun Strowman and Nicholas (WWE Raw Tag Team Championship match)
It turned out that there was no mystery Superstar to partner Strowman; it was a child from the audience named Nicholas. At first, Strowman had the advantage on the Bar, but they managed to fight back and isolated the Minster Among Men.
At one point, Strowman tagged in Nicholas, leaving Cesaro perplexed. Strowman then tagged himself in and hit Cesaro with a powerslam for the win.
Result: Braun Strowman and Nicholas defeated Sheamus and Cesaro to win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships
#14 Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (Universal Championship match)
Brock Lesnar came out of the blocks with the shoulders to the mid-section and three German Suplexes but was sent scurrying out of the ring by two Superman Punches. Reigns then proceeded to manhandle the Universal Champion, sending him flying over the top rope with a clothesline.
Reigns attempted a Superman Punch but ate a Belly-to-Belly Suplex outside the ring. Lesnar then hit him with two more, including one on the announce desk, as a round of CM Punk chants broke out. Inside the ring, the Beast Incarnate connected with two more Germans and a round of Belly-to-Belly Suplexes.
Lesnar then attempted to hit an F-5 on the ring post, but he was sent face-first into it. Reigns then speared Lesnar onto the announce desk before sending him back into the ring. He followed up with a Superman Punch and two Spears for a nearfall. As Reigns went for a third Spear, Lesnar intercepted him with a jumping knee.
The Beast Incarnate then hit Reigns with an F-5, but the Shield member kicked out. Reigns then proceeded to kick out of a two more F-5s, making him the only person to kick out of Lesnar's finisher in a year.
Lesnar then proceeded to F-5 Reigns through an announce table. He then hit another in the middle of the ring, but Reigns kicked out of the devastating move for the fifth time.
Lesnar then removed his gloves and started to punch Reigns with his bare knuckles, leaving the Samoan in a pool of blood. The Big Dog retorted with two spears for a near fall, but he ultimately fell at the hands of The Beast after a sixth F-5.
Result: Brock Lesnar defeated Roman Reigns to retain the Universal Championship
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