Tag: mainstory

AEW Dynamite live results: Darby Allin vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Posted on by Ryan Howard

AEW Dynamite is live from Portland tonight. Three matches are scheduled for the show, which will be held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The AEW World Championship will be on the line tonight as Darby Allin defends against Tommaso Ciampa.

Also tonight, Will Ospreay faces a former stablemate from United Empire, Mark Davis, who is now a member of the Don Callis Family.

Mina Shirakawa is suspicious of Hikaru Shida and seemed to imply Shida might be responsible for the recent attack on Toni Storm. They will face off in singles competition tonight on Dynamite.

A separate segment regarding Darby Allin is also advertised, with AEW saying that we will hear from the new AEW World Champion on the show.

The full lineup:

  • AEW World Champion Darby Allin defends against Tommaso Ciampa
  • Mina Shirakawa vs. Hikaru Shida
  • Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis
  • We’ll hear from Darby Allin

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

************************************

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us to the show and throws it to a video package on Darby Allin shocking the world and winning the AEW Title last week. We think we’re going to hear from Allin, but MJF’s music hits and he storms to the ring, calling Allin a dirty little cheat, after that skank referee Aubrey counted his shoulders down, despite both being up. MJF calls the fans disrespectful little sh*theads who think Allin could actually beat him in match when he’s full prepared. MJF calls himself the man who has beaten every top name pro wrestling has to offer, the man who made sure Hangman Adam Page could never be World Champion ever again, the man who kicked out of the One-Winged Angel like it was freakin nothing. MJF screamed he is the best wrestler in the world and doesn’t give a sh*t about Darby Allin’s match against the Psycho Killer tonight and demands he comes out to give MJF back his World Championship.

TNT Champion Kevin Knight’s music hits, he comes to the ring and says different city, same Max, whining like a little b*tch. Knight said The Jet just landed and it’s about to get real and before MJF gets to hatin, be honest, doesn’t Knight look clean with a title around his waist? When you’re a real, fighting champion, you’re willing to put it on the line at any time and brings up having a visual pin on MJF a few weeks ago, saying he should be Jet 2 Belts right now.

MJF mocks how eloquent of a speaker Knight is, going over his promo and how he thinks it’s socially acceptable to be friends with Speedball Mike Bailey. Obviously, his memory isn’t great like Max’s, as he beat Knight with a Heatseeker for an easy dub. If anyone deserves to be champion, it’s MJF and MJF alone, but gives props to the new TNT Champion, calling the title cute, saying Knight is a good hand, average joe, someone with a ceiling, someone who will never be AEW World Champion, someone who should know better than to step in his ring and breathe MJF’s air. Knight said he’ll slap MJF’s big ass nose off his face and send him packing, while anyone can look at Knight and see a gold mine. Some of the best wrestlers have held the TNT Title, something MJF wouldn’t know about. Someone like MJF has had everything handed to him, so how about Knight hand MJF an ass whoopin? MJF questions what he would get out of that, but Knight sold him on wanting the TNT Title a little bit. If Knight wants to wrestle MJF, put the TNT Title on the line and he’s got himself a match. Knight agrees, he’s always ready and wants to rip MJF a new one in Rip City, tonight. MJF screams to get him a referee right now. Bryce Remsberg runs to the ring, holds up the TNT Title, but before the bell sounds, MJF bails up the ramp saying Knight will dance with the devil next week. While this was a long opening segment, it did get Knight some promo time against the best talker in the company and I thought he held his own, as the crowd really wanted to see this match tonight, until MJF swiped it away from them at the last moment.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Demand & Jericho, talking about a 6-man tag match on Collision. Ricochet mocks that Jericho doesn’t have teammates, all his bridges are burned and no one wants to be associated with the guy who gets his ass kicked by The Demand. Jericho says that’s copyright infringement, starts doing his Mr. Subliminal act and shows off his new t-shirt in the process (that reads JERICHO The Guy Who Gets His Ass Beat By The Demand Every Week That He Shows Up). Ricochet said he’s going to beat Jericho again with a Rico-sault and Jericho said he doesn’t have to find partners who like him to team with, just two who don’t like Ricochet.

Brody King vs. Lio Rush

(This was a very fun clash of styles, as Rush continues to be fully committed to this Blackheart character and the crowd are into it. I just wish we had some vignettes on AEW to show what brought this character out, instead of Rush just randomly breaking this out one week instead of being with CRU. I very much enjoyed his match with PAC last week and tonight kept up that trend, I hope we see more of Rush and the Blackheart character has a chance to develop on TV, whether it be Dynamite or Collision.)

Rush is doing his Blackheart character and keeps telling the camera “he said it’s his house and it’s not his house anymore.” Meanwhile, the bell sounds and the crowd immediately break out in F*ck ICE chants, as King refused to let go of a handshake, as Rush got free, tried a misdirect, but was slammed and splashed in the corner. Rush bails outside, tries to throw a chop, but King no sold and destroyed Rush with chops of his own. Rush is laughing, as King sat him on a chair, charged and missed a running cross body against the railing. Rush leapt to the announce desk, tried a cross body, was caught, only to slide out, post King and send him into the railing. Rush tried a low Tope, but King caught and planted him on the edge of the apron. Back to the ring, King still is shaking out his shoulder, but it gave Rush a chance to bite the leg and hit a corkscrew kick for the reset.

Rush tried Rush Hour, but King was ready and turned Rush inside out with a lariat. Rush fought back by hanging up King between the ropes to the apron, looking for a Death Valley Driver, which was easily fought off. King wanted a Gonzo Bomb, but Rush slide out and hit a handspring kick, sending King outside. Rush galloped around the ring into a low Tope, following up with a huge cross body off the top onto the floor. Rush went up again and hit a Frog Splash to the back, but King kicked out at one. Rush up top a third time, rolls through a dive, trades standing switches until King drove him down with a Boss Man Slam. Big corner cannonball leads to a Gonzo Bomb to give King the win.

Post-match, King said he’ll be watching the main event and said if Ciampa wins, congratulations and while he’s proud of Darby Allin, he’s not proud enough not to bring the violence.

Match Result: Brody King defeated Lio Rush

-Renee Paquette approaches Tommaso Ciampa backstage and asks how tonight is going to go? Ciampa said he’s been told his entire career he’s not big enough, not passing the airport test, not charismatic enough, not main event material. Ciampa is a husband, father, son, brother, insane work ethic, tonight isn’t about heroes or villains, it’s about passion, glass ceilings are imaginary, tonight is for pro wrestling. Ciampa said you’ve never seen a man more prepared for his moment than he is tonight, go ask Darby Allin if he wants it more than Ciampa needs it. This was a brief, but excellent promo from Ciampa.

**********

-Adam Copeland is backstage and talks about how he & Christian Cage deserve another Tag Title shot, despite FTR denying them last week. Copeland said FTR are one of the best ever and said at Double or Nothing, Copeland & Cage vs. FTR in a New York Street Fight, if FTR wins, Copeland & Cage retire as a team. Copeland knows what his answer would be and if you’re the best tag team of all time, knows what the answer should be. Only one way to prove it, as the balls are in FTR’s court.

Hikaru Shida (w/Kris Statlander) vs. Mina Shirakawa

(First time meeting between these two, as it had a couple spots of miscommunication, but for the most part, I thought both worked well with each other. The fans are so used to cheering Shida, they don’t know how to react to this new heelish character she’s had going since her return. You can tell it’s not a matter of if, but when she’ll have a falling out with Statlander. I do think it’s too obvious for Shida to have played a part in Toni Storm’s demise, so I think it’s back to the drawing board for Shirakawa, though many believe she herself could be a prime suspect in all of this. We have plenty of time for this Who Attacked Toni? story to play out.)

Earlier today, cameras caught up with Shida saying AEW fans will be treated to a great Japanese style of wrestling, may the best Joshi win. Shida spoke in Japanese and Excalibur said he believes she said something about her cat. Shida offered a handshake to start, but Shirakawa declines saying she can’t trust her. Nigel McGuinness bring up a kendo stick being in the locker room the night Timeless Toni Storm was attacked and Excalibur brought up there being a lot of objects in that room, so there’s plenty of suspects.

Both ladies trade hair mares and standing dropkicks, ending in a stalemate. Shirakawa does her slide and shimmy, lured Shida in, ducks a few kicks, takes Shida down with a step-up corner kick and Sling Blade. Both exchange pin attempts for near falls, as Shida missed a corner stomp, but clobbered Shirakawa with a leaping knee that popped the crowd. Disrespectful covers from Shida get two counts, as she dishes out 10 corner punches and punt to the spine. Shida remained in control until Shirakawa battled back with a head scissors and snap dropkick. Crowd loudly behind Shirakawa now, as she hits her Tornillo from the apron for two of her own.

Knee breaker delivered by Shirakawa, who calls for a Figure Four, but Shida fought out, going outside to create some distance. Shirakawa wouldn’t allow it, as she was out after with a dropkick to the leg. Clunky spot, where Shida didn’t get all of a head scissors and Shirakawa kind of just ran and slammed her own head into the ring steps. Shida carried Shirakawa up to the apron and hit a Crunchie on the edge of the ring and Meteora back inside for two. Shida loads up and hits her Tamashii knee for another two. Shirakawa floated over a Falcon Arrow into a rolling elbow for the double down.

Both ladies up and slug it up, as Shirakawa connects with a question mark kick and missile dropkick off the top. Shirakawa up again for a corner Sling Blade for a near fall. Figure Four is applied, but Shida just got the ropes. Shirakawa starts arguing with referee Mike Posey, as Shida went to grab her kendo stick, Shirakawa takes it away and was about to use it, until Statlander pulled it away. The distraction allowed Shida to hit her leaping knee and Falcon Arrow for the win, as Statlander had what I can only describe as a quizzical look on her face. Shida hugged Statlander, who raised Shida’s hand.

Match Result: Hikaru Shida defeated Mina Shirakawa

**********

-Footage of The Young Bucks being attacked by The Dogs on Collision last week was shown. It’s announced that The Bucks & The Rascalz take on The Dogs & Death Riders this Saturday.

Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis (w/Don Callis)

(I genuinely thought this was one of the best TV matches of the year on Dynamite so far, as these two told such a great story and the result made Davis look like an absolute beast. The neck continues to be Ospreay’s downfall and whether he has enough not just to win matches, but make his way to the AEW World Title. The post-match was incredibly compelling, as it looks as if the Death Riders are going to be the ones to potentially get Ospreay back to health? It remains to be seen, but this match was go out of your way one to watch.)

Excalibur said that Ospreay just barely got cleared by doctors prior to tonight, as Davis charged the ring, launched Ospreay from the ring and into the railing as Callis cackled on commentary. They bring up how Ospreay opened his home up to Davis & Kyle Fletcher during the pandemic and how is this any way to repay him? Callis said he’d hate that and said Ospreay deserves what he’s getting. Ospreay cleared the ring steps and dropkicked them into Davis’ legs before springing off them with a hurricanrana. Pip, Pip, Cheerio back inside, as Ospreay grimaced after a two count. Ospreay fired off a chop, but Davis didn’t budge, instead, turned Ospreay into a mannequin, falling lifeless to the mat and outside. Davis wanted a powerbomb on the stage, but Ospreay slid out, hit a thrust kick and somersault dive from the stage. Back to ringside, Ospreay charged, but was popped up to the apron, where his legs gave out and Davis hit a leaping senton.

Callis trash talks Ospreay, saying he owes Callis money and dates, as Davis continues wearing Ospreay down back inside with a standing guillotine. Ospreay escaped, tried another springboard, but got hung up and spiked with a hanging neckbreaker from the corner. Davis hit his sliding corner forearm for two, but Ospreay answered with his handspring corkscrew kick for the double down. Helluva Kick connects and Phenomenal Forearm to the neck for a close two. Davis avoided Hidden Blade, fought off a back suplex, hung up Ospreay on the ropes and swung for the fences with a chop/lariat combo. Wild spinning Angle Slam variation got a near fall, as Callis said he could put Davis in the NFL Draft and he’d go in the first round.

Both trade hook kicks and enzugiris, as Davis charged, right into a desperation standing Spanish Fly for two. Ospreay fights off a Backdrop Driver, fires off forearms, as Davis hit a home run right hand. Ospreay responded with a hook kick, wanted an Oscutter, but Davis was ready with two Backdrop Drivers, until another from the apron back to the ring for two. Davis calls for the finish, leaping enzugiri hits, looks for a bounce back lariat, only Ospreay was there for a wild Hidden Blade for two. Hidden Blade proper was shut down by a Davis lariat, who hit his pull-up piledriver, only Ospreay got his foot on the ropes. Callis left the table irate, as Ospreay rolled to the apron, where Davis spiked him with another violent piledriver. Referee Paul Turner calls over Doc Sampson, checking on Ospreay, who tried to make his way back into the ring, but the doctor refused to let him continue, saying Ospreay told him he had no feeling in his arm, so the match is called.

Post-match, Davis dragged Ospreay back into the ring and was about to deliver another piledriver when Marina Shafir appeared on the apron. Davis turned and Jon Moxley was in the ring staring him down. Death Riders surrounded the ring, as Davis slowly placed Ospreay down and retreated with Callis. Moxley & Castagnoli dragged Ospreay to the floor, as they all carried him away through the crowd and out of the arena.

Match Result: Mark Davis defeated Will Ospreay via doctor’s stoppage

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Alex Windsor asking about her loss to Thekla last week and Jamie Hayter not being cleared still after Dynasty. Windsor said she will rip the legs off the spider and they’re lucky Hayter isn’t there tonight. Persephone walks in and said if she’ll have a God in her corner, she’ll team with her on Collision. Windsor accepts and they challenge any two of the Triangle of Madness this Saturday. Persephone says they’ll kick their asses in Spanish.

Samoa Joe vs. Cody Chhun

Loud reaction for the returning Joe, as both trade arm locks to start before Joe starts headbutting the wrist. Chhun tries to fire up, but was easily mowed down by Joe, who lit up Chhun with snap jabs. Chhun was able to fight free from the Muscle Buster with an eye rake, tried a leaping cross body, but Joe did his walk off before violently slamming Chhun into the middle buckle. Muscle Buster spiked Chhun for the easy victory. Joe walked up the ramp and HOOK was there to applaud him, as the two Opps members fist bumped.

Match Result: Samoa Joe defeated Cody Chhun

-A great video package of Darby Allin to the tune of “I’ve Got to Be Me” is played, it covered his journey through AEW and winning the AEW World Title last week. What an interesting, but fitting music choice for Allin, who hasn’t changed who he is since day 1.

**********

-Renee Paquette is out in front of Jericho’s locker room and asks if he has found partners for Collision? Jericho (whose locker room says Chris Jericho) said as a matter of fact, he has. Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley walk out of the locker room, along with MVP, as they nod to Jericho, who gets in one more time calling Ricochet bald.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring and welcomes New AEW World Champion Darby Allin to the ring to a big ovation and You Deserve It chants. Allin said this took everything, he had his first match in Portland, as he didn’t think of what to say, as this could all end in minutes when Ciampa comes out here. This is a 15-minute ride, he sees what it does to people, it grows egos, but this isn’t for Allin, it’s for his parents he helped retire, his fiancé he met on the school bus, the sherpas who helped him on the mountain and it’s for the fans. MJF marches out to the stage screaming No, No, No, Allin doesn’t deserve sh*t and tells the pipsqueak to give him his belt now. Allin simply says no and declines MJF’s demand of a rematch. Allin said he’s not giving MJF a rematch until he puts something on the line, as everyone in the back deserves a shot, as he’ll put the title on the line every week until it gives out, screaming for MJF to get his ass out of here. Tommaso Ciampa’s music hits and out comes the challenger for tonight’s main event, as MJF gets in his face, but Ciampa kisses him on the cheek and smirks walking by.

Darby Allin vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the AEW World Title

(My goodness, what a war this was. We’ve seen some excellent showings from Ciampa in his AEW run, but this one tops them all, as he brought his A game. A fantastic way to kick off Allin’s title run, as he wants to defend this as long as his body holds up, which leads you to fully believe this won’t be a long reign, but dammit will it be fun. While I loved the Ospreay vs. Davis match earlier in the night, I thought this topped it. Credit to both champion and challenger, this was a phenomenal main event.)

Bell sounds and both men slug for the fences immediately, with Ciampa dishing out a corner boot, but Allin was there to answer with a John Woo dropkick. Allin looked for a Coffin Drop, Ciampa scurried outside, but Allin quickly repositioned and hit one of the top to the floor. Ciampa nearly got Widow’s Bell, instead, booting Allin, smacking his head hard on the commentary table. Ciampa smashed Allin into the railing, as dueling chants ring out from the crowd. Ciampa followed it up by slingshotting Allin’s face underneath the bottom part of the ring outside, only missing a follow-up running boot, crotching himself on the railing. Allin quickly went to the top, stood on the ring post and leapt from the ring putting Ciampa through the timekeepers table, which was rightfully met with Holy Sh*t chants.

Referee Bryce put a count on Ciampa, who came up bleeding and was about to break the count when Allin flew in with a low Tope. Back inside, Bryce was checking on Ciampa, who crotched Allin in the ropes and put the boots to him. Pretty sick camera shot, as Ciampa’s blood is splattered on the camera. Allin tried a Scorpion Death Drop, but Ciampa held onto the corner buckle, ripping it off in the process. Allin went for a Coffin Drop, but Ciampa rolled to the opposite apron. Allin took too long to capitalize, as Ciampa hung him up in the corner, fired off chops and hit an insane Psycho Driller from the ropes to the floor, as both men went splat and Ciampa is clutching his hip, but screaming at Bryce not to stop it. Meanwhile, Allin hasn’t moved since impact and I’m not sure if the ref even checked on him. Ciampa rolled Allin’s lifeless body into the ring for a two count, as Allin got a rope break. Ciampa fires off chops and they only seem to wake Allin up, who got a head of steam, but both collided with a dueling double cross body into the double down.

Both men slowly rise and trade strikes, with the bloodied Ciampa firing off a series of chops, but missed a charge. Allin was almost slingshot into the exposed buckle, but Allin hopped to the second and hit a double stomp. Allin got a head of steam, but Ciampa flipped him into landing face first and running knee. Allin rose up and spiked Ciampa with Code Red for his closest near fall of the match. Allin struggled to his feet, leapt for a Coffin Drop, only to fall into the clutches of a Ciampa Rear Naked Choke. Allin rolled through into a flash pin attempt for two, charged, but the back of his head smacked the exposed buckle. Ciampa lowered the knee pad and hit his running knee strike again, but Allin kicked out. Project Ciampa connects, as he clobbered Allin with a third knee, but again, Allin was out at two. Ciampa slowly goes for a Scorpion Death Lock, Allin kicks out, rolls through into the submission of his own. Ciampa scrambles to the ropes, but Allin repositions and Ciampa taps.

Post-match, Ciampa shook Allin’s hand and placed the AEW Title on Allin’s shoulder, hugging him before giving the champion the ring. Brody King came to the ring and said he was serious when he said he was proud of Allin and he talked to Tony Khan and with Allin’s permission, next week, Darby Allin vs. Brody King for the AEW World Title. Allin accepts and King raises Allin’s hand with the graphic making it official for Dynamite next week.

Match Result: Darby Allin defeated Tommaso Ciampa to retain the AEW World Title

AEW Collision: Playoff Palooza 4/25/26

  • The Demand (Ricochet & G.O.A.) vs. Jericho & The Hurt Syndicate (Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley)
  • Jungle Jack Perry vs. El Clon for the AEW National Title
  • Alex Windsor & Persephone vs. Thekla & Skye Blue
  • Kris Statlander In Action
  • The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly) vs. Don Callis Family (Andrade El Idolo, Lance Archer & Hechicero) for the AEW Trios Titles
  • The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) & The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz, Dezmond Xavier & Myron Reed) vs. The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) & Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia)

AEW Dynamite 4/29/26

  • Darby Allin vs. Brody King for the AEW World Title
  • Kevin Knight vs. MJF for the TNT Title

AD: Capturing Bigfoot documentary controversy!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

After Dark Radio with Bryan Alvarez is back with a very special show! Our guest no-showed today, so on the fly Bryan decided to finally go IN-DEPTH ON THE CAPTURING BIGFOOT DOCUMENTARY CONTROVERSY. And it went an easy hour. Everything you ever wanted to know about all we know thus far in this fascinating mystery. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOL: NXT TV, WWE WrestleMania hotel security issues, more~!

Posted on by Tom Lawlor

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor is back with TONS to talk about including some house cleaning from WrestleMania weekend, a review of Tuesday’s WWE NXT TV that was filled with carcasses being sent on their way to the main roster, bizarre quotes and tons more.

A fun show as always so check it out~!

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B&V: WrestleMania 2026, Granny segment, BARREL ON THROUGH

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The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with tons to talk about! We had MORE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES which set Bryan off at the beginning of the show but thankfully GRANNY was on to cheer him up masterfully. Then it’s a full review of nights one and two of WrestleMania! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WWE NXT Revenge week two live results: Last Woman Standing

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Sol Ruca and Zaria will attempt to settle their rivalry on WWE NXT tonight.

The lineup for week two of NXT Revenge includes a Last Woman Standing match between former friends Ruca and Zaria. It’s taking place one night after Ruca made her Raw debut on the night after WrestleMania 42, where she faced Liv Morgan but lost due to an interfering Zaria.

The men’s and women’s North American titles will both be on the line tonight. In a casket match, Tatum Paxley defends her belt against Blake Monroe. Men’s champion Myles Borne is putting his championship up for grabs against Dion Lennox.

Another title match will see Lexis King and EK Prosper battle it out to determine a new men’s Speed Champion.

Plus, Joe Hendry, who is heading to the main roster with a call-up to Raw, will take on Keanu Carter.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

NXT is back in on the air in front a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. This is week two of “Revenge”. The show is opening with a title match.

Myles Borne vs. Dion Lennox (with Darkstate) for the NXT North American Championship

—

The Darkstate cohorts involved themselves at ringside, and they distracted Borne so that Lennox could ambush him. Lennox works over Borne through a commercial break, and the beating continues after the break. Borne takes a bump on the ring steps, and he also took a slingshot into a sit-out powerbomb from Lennox for a near fall.

Comeback by Borne, and they trade near falls. Borne is cut off, and he takes a superplex off the top rope. Lennonx goes to cover him, and Borne hulks up. Another distraction from Darkstate at ringside, which allows Lennox to block a finisher from Borne. However, Borne counters Lennox and Darkstate’s interference. Borne then uses zig zag to set up the deciding pinfall.

Good opener.

Match result: NXT North American Champion Myles Borne defeated Dion Lennox via pinfall to retain this title.

— Blake Monroe is backstage with the Vanity Project, and they give her a pep talk as she stares into the reflection in her fake title belt. She says they can go party with “baddies” they matched with on a dating app. They assure her they are a text away, and they will be across the street. Turns out they are catfished by Shiloh Hill, which we learn in another skit after a commercial break where Hill is chatting with NXT Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley. She was concerned about Vanity Project interfering in her match later on against Monroe. Shiloh assures her they will not interfere, and he tells her about catfishing them.

Joe Hendry vs. Keanu Carver

—

The match goes through a commercial break. Carver uses his size to his advantage in the match, but Hendry was still competitive. Hendry gets worked over, with Carver targeting Hendry’s back. Hendry makes a comeback and he does a kip up. Hendry goes for his signature pose, only to walk into a lariat.

Spinebuster by Carver and he starts pounding on Hendry from a mounted position. The referee steps in to stop the match, as he calls her the bell.

Match result: Keanu Carver defeated Joe Hendry via referee stoppage.

— Lizzy Rain is the focus of a personality profile. Her in-ring debut on NXT is next week, and persona is a heavy metal gimmick.

Lexis King (with Birthright) vs. EK Prosper in the WWE Speed Championship tournament final

—

They have an exciting match with what time they had. Birthright members Arianna Grace and Stacks interfere, which allows King to win the tournament and the title. With under two minutes remaining, the fight spills outside.

King takes a bump on the apron and floor. Prosper comes off the top with a moonsault onto a pile of bodies. Under a minute remaining, and Grace slaps Prosper across the face. Prosper then superkicks Uriah Connors and Stacks at ringside. However, that distraction allows King to recover and execute a Coronation. Three count later, and new…

Match result: Lexis King defeated EK Prosper via pinfall after outside interference to win the WWE Speed Championship.

— Following up on a earlier skit, Jackson Drake is with Vanity Project. Drake is upset he got “stood up” by the mystery date, which is a catfish situation.

— Playing off an earlier skit with Robert Stone. Saquon Shugars informs Dion Lennox and Darkstate he got them a rematch for the Men’s North American Championship. Shugars got himself booked in a title match.

Tatum Paxley vs. Blake Monroe in a casket match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship

—

As the story goes, Shiloh Hill built the casket used in the match. They brawl throughout the match. Of course, the casket is frequently used as a prop. Other props used early on in the match include a bouquet of flowers and a dollhouse. Paxley takes a bump on the dollhouse at ringside just before the show cuts to a commercial break.

The brawl continues throughout the break, and they are fighting in the ring when the show returns from the break. They fight standing in the casket and top of it. Spanish Fly off the casket to the floor in a spot where the studio audience chanted “holy s***.”

Monroe sprays Paxley with a fire extinguisher, and Paxlet takes an implant DDT on the floor. Monroe puts Paxley inside the casket and shuts the lid. Monroe thinks she won, but Paxley uses Monroe’s fake title belt to block the casket from closely completely.

Tug-o-war over the fake title belt, and Monroe appears to win that battle. Monroe reveals a loaded pillow she used earlier in the match is filled with gimmicked diamonds. Paxley executes her finisher on the pile of diamonds. Following up with a running dropkick on Monroe, and Monroe tumbles into the casket. Paxley tosses the fake title belt into the casket, and Paxley shuts the win. And still…

Match result: NXT Women’s North American Championship Tatum Paxley defeated Blake Mornoe in a casket match to retain her title.

— Jackson Drake leaves the bar with a muscular woman that he met. They hit it off and she tells him he was catfished. They then leave together.

— NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice enters the ring for her first promo since winning the title. She puts over Jacy Jayne as the former champion. Vice then cuts a good babyface promo before being interrupted by Izzi Dame and The Culling.

Vice is wearing her newly won NXT title around her waist, and her AAA Mixed Tag Team title belt is hanging from her waist. Niko Vance and Shawn Spears circle Vice, and Vance snatches the Mixed title belt. That distracts Vice, which allows Dame to drop Vice with a high kick. Dame poses with the NXT title while standing over a fallen Vice. The theme for heels tonight are distractions often and always.

— New Speed Champion Lexis King is being interviewed alongside Birthright when he confronted by EK Prosper and Dorian Van Dux. This sets up a tag team match against two members of Birthright.

— Kendal Grey is the focus of a great “Chronicle” segment. She narrates a video package talking her upbringing and journey to becoming a wrestler. This is a pretty great personality profile.

— Lola Vice tells Robert Stone she has “the perfect person is mind” to even the score with The Culling after the ambush earlier. A sudden commotion in Stone’s office, and Ricky Saints apparently lured Shiloh Hill into the office by using Stone’s cellphone. Hill was attacked and has a shelf laying on top of him as Stone and security run into the room. This puts their next match in jeopardy. Will Hill recover?

— NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo receivers a mystery gift box while talking with Robert Stone, who tells D’Angelo that next week Stone will have better idea who is his next challenger. Keanu Carver confronts D’Angelo with a warning about “sharks” circling the champ.

Sol Ruca vs. Zaria in a last woman standing match

—

Zaria sneaks into the ring during her entrance for an ambush. Ruca fights off Zaria and Zaria is scrambling at ringside. Zaria turns the proverbial tables with a shot from a trash can. A kendo stick soon becomes involved, as does more trash cans. Zaria whips Ruca with cable wire. They do a modified hangman spot for heat.

The brawling continues back in the ring, where Ruca delivers an X-Factor. They do some spots with a kendo stick, and Zaria has to answer a ten count. They tease a powerbomb off the apron, but Zaria escapes to boot Ruca at ringside.

The studio audience chants for tables as the fight continues. Soon thereafter, they do a stunt where Ruca spears Zaria through a gimmicked wall.

They go through a commercial break with more brawling around ringside. Back from the commercial break, and they perched on the barricade. That set up a stunt where Zaria gives Ruca an F5 on the broadcast booth. The desk implodes on impact, and Ruca must answer a ten count. Ruca barely beats the count as Zaria sets up a table at ringside.

Comeback by Ruca, but she is on rubber legs. More tables are set up ringside, complete with Slim Jim logos.Two tables set side-by-side. That leads to a big spot where Ruca climbed on a perch overlooking the ring. She looks to set up a spot with Zaria laid out on the tables.

Zaria disappears from the tables by the time Ruca climbs on the perch. Zaria surprises Ruca on the perch, but Ruca is able to leapfrog a spear. Ruca then executes a Sol Snatcher on the perch. The move looked to hurt Ruca for real. They both rise to heir feet and trade punches atop the perch. Slugfest develops as they tease knocking each other off the perch.

Teetering on the edge, Zaria flails with Ruca holding on to her. Zaria begs off and pleads with Ruca. Zaria says she is sorry, and Ruca pulls her away from the edge. There is an awkward moment where they look into each other’s eyes. They cry tears and hug. Zaria’s face melts into a sinister grin, and she shoves Ruca off the perch.

Ruca takes an ugly bump off the perch on to the tables. One table broke, and Ruca hit her head on the either table. It looked brutally painful. Ruca cannot answer the ten count, and Zaria is the last woman standing.

Match result: Zaria defeated Sol Ruca in a last woman standing match.

WOL: WrestleMania weekend memories, RAW, Lesnar, WWE security, more

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with TONS to talk about as Bryan has returned from an amazing WrestleMania weekend where he had the time of his life. Thoughts on all sorts of different topics, plus what’s up with Brock, the RAW after WrestleMania, WWE security issues, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOR: RAW after WrestleMania, Brock questions, Cody’s eye, debuts, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including a full recap of the RAW after WrestleMania, the very odd story of Brock Lesnar’s retirement, Cody Rhodes’ eye socket, new debuts on RAW, plus all the New Japan and ratings news and such. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WWE Raw live results: The night after WrestleMania 42

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: April 20, 2026
Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV 

The Big Takeaway —

Jacob Fatu is next in line for Roman Reigns’ world title. The challenge was made for Backlash, but we’ll have to wait until next week for the official announcement. 

Ethan Page and Sol Ruca officially joined Raw, and both were involved in impromptu matches. Page beat Je’Von Evans (thanks to a distraction), and Ruca lost to Liv Morgan (thanks to interference by Zaria). Joe Hendry also appears to be joining the brand, as he has a concert scheduled next week. 

The Street Profits returned, while Rhea Ripley said goodbye to Iyo Sky as she heads to SmackDown full-time. 

Read more below. 

**********

Show Recap — 

The show started with a long recap video of WrestleMania 42, which included a clip of Brock Lesnar removing his gloves and boots in the ring. Michael Cole said Lesnar “has called it a day,” and they would look back at his career tonight. 

Also announced for tonight is a tag match with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky facing Asuka and Kairi Sane. 

Oba Femi kicks off the Raw after WrestleMania 42

Oba Femi entered wearing a suit. He received a big ovation and chants of his name. Femi stated, “The ruler has arrived.” He dropped the mic and basked in the crowd chants. 

That was that. 

********

Asuka and Sane cut a pre-taped promo on Sky and Ripley. Asuka took credit for Sky’s success and told her it didn’t have to be this way. Asuka claimed that Sky had corrupted Sane and that, along with Ripley, she would face the consequences tonight. 

WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane

Ripley entered to a big reaction. During a break, they showed a replay of Ripley beating Jade Cargill for the title, and Sky gave her a big hug. As the match began, there was a single male chanting, “Rhea sucks,” so everyone around him started booing him. 

Asuka distracted the referee so Sane could attack Ripley, but Ripley knocked Sane off the apron without a problem. Asuka used that distraction to kick Ripley in the head and knock her out of the ring, and Sane followed with an Insane Elbow to the outside. 

The heels had control during a break, but Ripley fought back by knocking Asuka off the apron and hitting Sane with a running kick. Sky made the hot tag and hit Asuka with strikes before hitting both opponents with a double dropkick. Sky woke up the crowd by doing her pose and hitting both opponents with running meteoras. 

Ripley gave Asuka a Razor’s Edge, and Sky followed with a missile dropkick, but Asuka kicked out at two (Sane flew in to break it up, but she was late, and Asuka kicked out). Asuka and Sane double-teamed Ripley, but Sky broke up a cover. 

Sky hit Asuka with a suicide dive (basically landing on her head again), and Ripley headbutted Sane. Ripley gave Sane a Rip-tide, and Sky followed with a moonsault for the pinfall win. 

Match result: IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley defeated Kairi Sane & Asuka (11:37)

A decent match. The crowd was pretty quiet for the actual wrestling. 

Sky picked up an expected win here after being left off of WrestleMania. 

********

Adam Pearce congratulated Penta on his win and called the ladder match incredible. He wasn’t sure how Penta could possibly follow that performance. Je’Von Evans congratulated Penta but said he planned to become the IC champion soon. Penta said the title wasn’t leaving him any time soon. Penta left. 

Pearce introduced Ethan Page to Evans as the newest member of Raw. He got a pretty good pop. Page mocked Evans for thinking he deserved another title shot. Page said he always gets what he wants, and he wanted the Intercontinental Championship. Unlike Evans, he wouldn’t need a second shot at it. 

Evans got in his face, so Pearce put them in a singles match tonight. Evans told Page nobody was taking his spot, “especially not you.” 

********

They showed a picture of CM Punk, and people booed. He’s up next. 

El Grande Americano, Bravo and Rayo cut a promo during the break. 

Royce Keys was shown in the crowd. He didn’t get much of a reaction. 

CM Punk and Cody Rhodes segment 

Punk walked through the back and onto the stage with no music. He got a mixed reaction (probably more booing). He entered the stage, and Cult of Personality hit as he made his way to the ring. Punk was booed in the ring, but there were louder chants of his name. (More people liked him than not, but the people booing were louder.)

Punk said he’s been dealing with a lot of loss the past six months or so. He was overseas in Japan and got a phone call that his friend Duke Roufus didn’t wake up that morning. Larry passed away not long after that. 

That was followed by the losses of WWE staffers Kerwin Silfies, Jim Shank, and Davey Coates. These were the people behind the scenes who made this place a well-oiled machine. (Fans gave this a big round of applause.) These people were with him so often that they considered each other family. (Punk encouraged the fans to give them an ovation, and they did.) On top of that, his friend Bo Leuders passed on April 1st. 

Punk also lost last night. All of the aforementioned losses stung a little more than losing the title did. Every week, the fans helped him heal and get through all of these losses. Being the champion gave him an anchor that kept him from slowing down or reducing himself to a puddle of tears, even when he wanted to. He thanked them for helping him process all the grief. Something told Punk they’d help him get through his loss last night. 

Punk said he wasn’t even supposed to be the heavyweight champion. He barely survived Gunther before being cashed in on by Seth Rollins. He was only champion for a few minutes, and maybe that would be enough, but he stayed ready and poured his heart and soul into this. 

Because he stayed ready, he became the number one contender after Rollins got hurt. If he didn’t stay ready, they’d be Yeeted and talking to Jey Uso right now instead. (Some people booed this because they missed Punk’s point, so Punk told them that he liked Jey Uso.) 

He doesn’t know when another opportunity would arise, but he was still smiling because he was still the best in the world. He had a dream since he was a kid, and he proved it last night by main-eventing WrestleMania. It wasn’t his night, but he wasn’t going to cry about it. He was going to stay ready, because you never knew when a title opportunity would fall out of the sky. 

Punk was about to leave, but Cody Rhodes entered. Rhodes walked out with a limp. He removed his shades to reveal a nasty black eye. He also received a mixed reaction. 

Rhodes said this wasn’t quite what he was expecting from Punk. Punk asked if he thought he would crash out after losing. Rhodes said yes. Rhodes said he knew Punk and how he handled things. Punk said he understood why Rhodes felt that way about him crashing out.

Rhodes said Punk was buttoned up, and he was glad that Vegas gave Punk his flowers. (Even though they weren’t.) Rhodes said he (Rhodes) was the one standing there looking and feeling like a loser. 

Punk asked if Rhodes thought he (Punk) should feel like a loser. Punk said Rhodes shouldn’t feel like a loser. He beat a future Hall of Famer and legend on Saturday. Fighting his old friend must have been tough. Punk fought someone he hated, which was easy. Punk enjoyed stomping on Roman Reigns’ face and stomping on his sweet pepper necklace. 

Punk said Rhodes was a winner. The crown was heavy for Rhodes, but Punk felt free right now without the title. Punk wanted Rhodes to keep defending his belt. Punk said he would be ready. He looked at Rhodes’ title belt and said you never know when a title opportunity would fall out of the sky. Rhodes responded, “Just say when.”  

(This was an obvious tease for down the road. It was a bit of an odd segment, because it was laid out as if Punk would get a big ovation. But both he and Rhodes received mixed reactions.)

********

Finn Bálor pre-taped promo 

Finn Bálor said Dominik brought out the Demon, and the Demon put down Dom. Bálor wasn’t finished with Judgment Day. Dom was the first to fall after drawing first blood. He expected this from Dom, but not from JD McDonagh. 

He remembered when McDonagh was a 12-year-old kid when he walked into the gym in Ireland. Bálor helped him grow into one of the best performers in the world. He knew McDonagh would have his back no matter what. But the moment of truth came when McDonagh chose to stick with Dom. Bálor would take out McDonagh tonight. 

Ethan Page vs. Je’Von Evans

The announcers acknowledged their NXT feud.

This went through a break after Evans hit a dive. Evans fought back late in the match and dumped Page from the ring. He went after Page near the announce table, but Rusev suddenly appeared behind the barricade. 

Rusev took a swing, but Evans ducked and punched him instead. Evans leaped at Rusev and knocked him into the barricade. This all happened in front of the referee, who did nothing. 

Back in the ring, Evans went to the ropes, but Page tripped him and hit Twisted Grin for the pinfall win. 

— Rusev attacked Evans and put him in the Accolade. Page smirked and left the ring. Penta ran out to make the save, but Page tripped him off the top rope, and Rusev followed with a Machka Kick. 

Page applauded Rusev. Rusev wasn’t interested, so Page backed off before Rusev put Penta in the Accolade. There were light chants of “Rusev sucks” as he posed with the IC title belt. 

Match result: Ethan Page defeated Je’Von Evans (9:45)

I believe this was Evans’ first pinfall loss on Raw since November, when he lost to Gunther. 

******** 

Danhausen entered during the break. He was sort of dressed like John Cena. He said he was the new GOAT after Cena passed the torch to him. He had a new list of demands: a Danhausen animated series (perhaps a nod to the new AEW animated web series), a Danhausen cereal, and his face on the side of the truck. 

Tyrese Haliburton and Funny Marco were in the crowd. Also in the crowd were Paige, Brie Bella, and Nikki Bella, who all got a nice pop. 

********

Liv Morgan segment 

Liv Morgan entered with Judgment Day. She called herself the greatest Women’s World Champion ever. She thanked her Judgment Day teammates and said she loved them. She also thanked Stephanie Vaquer for reminding her that she was the most talented woman in WWE. This was her ring, her division, her show, and her championship. If everyone thought she was messy and trouble before, just you wait—

Sol Ruca interrupted. She got a pretty good reaction. Ruca called Morgan an inspiration for her after everything she’s done over the past decade. Morgan was the top woman in the division, and Ruca congratulated her. 

Morgan said Ruca had some nerve interrupting her celebration. But since Ruca was so nice to her, Morgan would say this as nicely as she could: “You are no Liv Morgan, sweetie.” Morgan told Ruca to get out of her ring right now. 

Ruca said she wasn’t out there for a fight, but she wasn’t about to back down from one. 

Peace entered and made a match between the two of them right now. (Did he have nothing planned for tonight?) 

Non-title match: Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan (w/ Raquel Rodriguez & Roxxane Perez) vs. Sol Ruca

Ruca used her athleticism early on to catch Morgan off guard, hitting an X-factor followed by a springboard moonsault to the outside. Morgan took advantage of a distraction to hit a backstabber and take control during the break. (They didn’t show any replays and the announcers didn’t mention it, so you’d have no idea this happened if you don’t get to see the action during commercials.) 

Morgan went for three amigos, but Ruca countered with a suplex of her own. Ruca followed with strikes, a German suplex, a missile dropkick, and a running knee for two. Ruca came off the top, but Morgan caught her with a Codebreaker for two. Morgan went for Oblivion, but Ruca escaped by rolling right through onto her feet. 

Ruca followed with a superkick and a Sol Snatcher. The crowd buzzed before she did it because they saw it coming, and they popped big for the move itself. However, Morgan managed to roll out of the ring before Ruca could make a cover. Ruca did a handspring dive over the top and to the outside to wipe out the heels. 

As the ref checked on Morgan in the ring (for a very long time), Zaria ran out and shoved Ruca into the ring post. Zaria also hit a spinebuster while the ref was still checking on Morgan. The idiot ref turned around and saw Ruca down, but somehow didn’t see Zaria on the ramp. 

Ruca avoided a countout, but as soon as she slipped in the ring, Morgan hit Oblivion for the pinfall win. 

— After the match, Vaquer entered and faced off with Morgan on the ramp. 

Match result: Liv Morgan defeated Sol Ruca in a non-title match (11:54)

This was a good showcase for Ruca—until she lost. Losing to the world champion isn’t the worst thing, but the finish still sucked. The referee was distracted for an unbelievably long time. It’s also silly that Vaquer, who was completely screwed out of her title by Morgan, waited until after all the shenanigans to come out and confront her. 

********

Fabolous, Maino, Dave East, and Jim Jones were in the crowd. 

There was a big Brock Lesnar career video package. (I could be wrong, but I don’t think they ever used the word retirement all night when referring to Lesnar.)

The Vision segment

Paul Heyman entered with tag team champions Logan Paul and Austin Theory. Heyman said he had a speech prepared, but he was thrown off guard. His favourite thing about WrestleMania was expecting the unexpected. Yesterday was a moment so unexpected that it will live in his heart—and he suspects the hearts of many—for the rest of his life. 

Despite the fact that, earlier tonight, Punk kissed the asses of everyone backstage, this supposed greatest production team of all time still had his beast in the “Now” portion of the “Then, Now, and Forever” signature that starts the show. Heyman freaked out and wanted them to put Lesnar in the “Forever” portion because he would forever be the baddest man that has ever been in a WWE ring. 

Heyman did want to talk about the now. He claimed WWE was experiencing a resurgence in the tag division thanks to Paul and Theory. 

Paul tried to talk, but the crowd booed him out of the building. He said the only reason the Usos and LA Knight won at Mania was because of the ungrateful IShowSpeed. Paul was sick of these YouTubers and streamers coming into their business and doing what they do. He hated the outsiders. Nothing that happened at WrestleMania mattered because IShowSpeed left with a piece of Paul’s fist in his face, while he still left the show with Theory as the world tag team champions. 

Heyman wanted to acknowledge the favour that Gunther did for him. Heyman knew he owed him one, and whenever Gunther was ready, Heyman would repay. The best assist of the weekend belonged to the man who cut Rollins in half—Bron Breakker. 

Breakker entered. He said it was one year ago that he became the leader of the Vision in this same arena because Rollins was too weak. (I don’t know if he misspoke, because that happened in October and not in Vegas.) Breakker’s favourite part of the weekend was ruining everything for Rollins after he came this close to beating Gunther. 

Rollins’ music hit, and he attacked Breakker from behind with a chair. Paul and Theory attacked Rollins, but Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins ran out to make the save. Ford wiped them out with a dive, and the Street Profits chased the champs away through the crowd. 

Back in the ring, Breakker went for a spear, but Rollins nailed a superkick. Rollins went for a stomp, but Breakker avoided it and hit the spear anyway. Breakker screamed at Rollins before hitting another spear. Breakker stood over Rollins as the segment ended. 

(Breakker was somehow bleeding from the forehead. He was bleeding at ringside when the Profits entered, but the only thing that happened to him at that point was Rollins hitting him from behind.) 

********

McDonagh cut a pre-taped promo on Bálor. He didn’t appreciate Bálor taking cues from Punk and talking down to Judgment Day like he was the leader. Turning on Bálor was easy, and he would do it again. McDonagh would prove that the Bálor we all knew and loved was dead. 

Finn Bálor vs. JD McDonagh

Bálor attacked McDonagh during his entrance and wiped him out with a dive. Bálor attacked him through the crowd before heading back to the ring, where the match began. 

Despite all of that, McDonagh took over clean with a simple back elbow. McDonagh held control through a break, tossing him around ringside. McDonagh hit a corkscrew splash and seemed to land right on Bálor’s mouth. McDonagh checked on him before making a cover, and Bálor came up bleeding from the mouth moments later. 

Bálor hit a spinning headlock elbow drop and a slingblade, but McDonagh avoided a dropkick and hit a headbutt for two. McDonagh went for a moonsault, but Bálor got his feet up, hit a dropkick and followed with a Coup de Grace for the pinfall win. 

— Dom attacked Bálor after the match, but Bálor fought him off and hit a dropkick. Bálor went for Coup de Grace, but McDonagh pulled Dom to safety. 

Match result: Finn Bálor defeated JD McDonagh (6:14) 

********

Jackie Redmond interviewed Gunther. He said he felt great and proved every word he said about Rollins. He wanted to make it clear there was no “we” when it came to him and Heyman. Heyman simply owed him a favour. Redmond wanted to know more. Gunther said the only thing people should expect is the world title back around his waist. 

LA Knight interrupted. Knight informed Gunther that he wasn’t the only one eyeing the world title, and unlike Gunther, Knight didn’t need help to win at WrestleMania. Knight left. Gunther didn’t appreciate this. 

******* 

Next week on Raw: 

  • Becky Lynch appears 
  • Joe Hendry concert 
  • Follow-up to the main event segment 

When they announced Hendry, Corey Graves asked whose name he’d have to say to make Hendry disappear. 

*******

Ripley and Sky say goodbye 

Ripley and Sky had an emotional goodbye backstage. Ripley didn’t want it to be forever, but she told Sky to handle her business on Raw, while she went to SmackDown to be the champion. They said they loved each other and parted ways. 

As Ripley walked through the back, she walked past Morgan. Morgan said, “See you around,” and Ripley responded, “I’m looking forward to it.” Ripley left. 

********

Roman Reigns main event segment 

Reigns entered with Jimmy and Jey Uso. He told Las Vegas to acknowledge him. They did. 

Reigns said he was going to keep it simple tonight: talk about the title and the future. But then he ran into his cousins, so it made sense to discuss family business first. Reigns looked at them and said he missed this. He missed having their full trust, respect, and admiration. He missed doing business with them. 

When they were separated, people like Punk could disrespect them. Some washed rapper from the 90s (Cam’ron) ran his mouth to Jey, despite Jey changing the whole environment (with Yeeting). They belonged together. They were the power, and when they were together, they ran the business. They did it for four years straight. Reigns wasn’t asking the Usos to serve him, he was asking them to be his blood and stand with him. 

Jimmy said Reigns would always be their Tribal Chief, and they would always have his back. Jimmy and Jey held their fingers in the air. (Jey did not say anything.) Reigns was about to join them, but they were interrupted. 

Jacob Fatu entered. Reigns said it’s been a while since he saw Fatu, so he figured there were only a couple of reasons why he would be out there. Reigns said, “I must assume it’s to acknowledge me,” and Fatu quickly responded, “Nah, that ain’t it.” 

Reigns then assumed it’s because Fatu wanted the title. Fatu said he didn’t want the title—he needed the title. Fatu wasn’t out there to be the Tribal Chief, but he needed everything the Tribal Chief had. 

Fatu said, “I need the shoe deal, I need the private jets, I need that Rolex, I need more vehicles, I need a bigger house, I need to put my children in better schools, and I’ll do anything for my family—even if I gotta go through you. So at Backlash, I’m upgrading. At Backlash, I’m levelling up my household. At Backlash, you gonna know, Jacob Fatu is all gas, no brakes with it.” The crowd chanted along as he did his catchphrase. 

Reigns said he wanted all of those things for Fatu as well. Maybe Fatu could beat him, but could he handle the burden of the title? And if Fatu couldn’t beat him, “Can you handle the burden of having to acknowledge me?” Reigns warned that it was thin air at the top with little footing to stand on. 

Reigns would give Fatu a week to think about it, because he would answer him next week on Raw. Reigns left with the Usos. 

(Jacob Fatu was great here. I don’t love Reigns’ promos in general, but he was good here too, and this was a nice, simple setup for Backlash. Reigns is obviously insanely popular, but I wonder how much people will want to see the Bloodline back on top as the focus. It should work for now, as Reigns has a few new potential opponents to keep him busy this summer.) 

WOR: WrestleMania night 2, Lesnar, Punk vs. Reigns, Van Hammer, Cluster, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including a full recap of WrestleMania night 2, a show a million times better than night 1, Brock’s apparent retirement, Oba Femi, Punk vs. Reigns and more! Plus, more on Van Hammer, Saudi Arabia, the Clusterfuck, ratings and more. Thank you all for an incredible weekend, I appreciate you all!

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WWE WrestleMania 42 Sunday live results: CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: April 19, 2026
Location: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV 

The Big Takeaway —

The action tonight was certainly an improvement over yesterday, but I don’t know if two or three pretty good matches over two nights and many, many hours is quite enough. 

WrestleMania 42 was marred by an abysmal first night, mostly average wrestling, excruciatingly long breaks between the action, and ads for a documentary about a man who was booed out of the building the last time he appeared. 

I couldn’t help but think of Roger Ebert’s review of Double Jeopardy, where he wrote, “This movie was made primarily in the hopes that it would gross millions and millions of dollars, which probably explains most of the things that are wrong with it.”

**********************************************

Show Recap — 

NIGHT TWO – COUNTDOWN SHOW 

As with yesterday, the pre-show is three hours long, but stay tuned for updates until the main show begins at 6 pm ET.

The panellists spoke about last night’s WWE Championship match. Highlights were shown in black-and-white because of the blood. Corey Graves acknowledged Pat McAfee’s not-so-fast count. 

Jackie Redmond announced that Cody Rhodes is not medically cleared. He needed three sutures to the face and four staples to the back of the head. His eye is still shut after getting punted by Randy Orton, and there is no timetable yet for his return.

Joe Tessitore called last night spectacular and wildly entertaining. 

There was a graphic of wrestlers making their WrestleMania debuts this weekend, and Tessitore referred to them as the rookie class. Stephanie Vaquer was among them. 

There was a sit-down interview Booker T did with Trick Williams, Lash Legend, and Je’Von Evans. It wasn’t super enlightening, but it was a nice little feature on the NXT stars making their Mania debuts. Evans said he didn’t want to just do flips in tonight’s ladder match because he can—he wanted to win the IC title. This was followed by a quick live interview with Williams on his match tonight.

Vic Joseph interviewed Joe Hendry outside the stadium. They mentioned his debut against Randy Orton last year, but didn’t say what happened in that match. 

Some news for the show: Dominik Mysterio vs. Demon Finn Bálor is now a street fight.

Rey Mysterio told Cathy Kelley he was excited to face some of the newer faces in the IC title ladder match (aside from Rusev, whom he called one of the older faces). 

Tyrese Haliburton joined the panel for a decent amount of time. His favourite Mania moment was John Cena winning the WWE title at WM21, and he was most looking forward to Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar tonight. (Haliburton acknowledged he was only 5 years old when Cena won the title.) 

They counted down the top ten Mania entrances. You’ll never guess who got number one: Triple H.

They aired part two of Tessitore’s sit-down with Triple H. When asked about Cena’s retirement tour, Triple H said he was happy that Cena was happy. He went on to talk about tonight’s show. 

There was a sit-down interview with CM Punk and a feature on Oba Femi. The Femi feature was pretty good, focusing on his time growing up in Nigeria and his time in Alabama as a shotputter. 

Daniel Cormier joined the panel to discuss Lesnar and Femi. Big E said if Femi wins tonight, his next match should be for the world title. 

Peter Rosenberg showed his face and referred to Femi, Williams and Evans as rookies. 

Roman Reigns sat down with Michael Cole. This was the interview where Reigns said he would leave if he lost to Punk. 

Joe Jonas sang the American national anthem. 

***************

WRESTLEMANIA 42 NIGHT TWO RESULTS

Trick Williams (with Lil Yachty), Rhea Ripley, Jade Cargill, and CM Punk were shown earlier today. There was a recap video of last night’s show with Lin-Manuel Miranda, followed by a new intro for tonight. 

John Cena kicks off WrestleMania 42 Night Two

Cena said they kicked off WrestleMania with an incredible night one, and the stage was set for a historic night two. For the first time in history, WrestleMania was live on ESPN (this was booed). That meant they had to start with something big. He said, “Welcome to WrestleMania,” the graphics from last night were updated to the blue graphics for tonight, and fireworks went off.

Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman)

Femi entered to a huge reaction. They did the big in-ring introductions for this match, despite no titles on the line. Heyman did Lesnar’s, while Alicia Taylor did Femi’s. 

They locked up twice to a stalemate as the match began. Lesnar decided to tackle Femi into the corner, but Femi no-sold it and shoved him down. Lesnar failed to knock down Femi with a clothesline, so Femi knocked him down with one instead. 

Lesnar spilled out of the ring as the crowd chanted for Femi. Lesnar was frustrated and paced around ringside. Femi tried to pull Lesnar into the ring, but Lesnar pulled him out instead and drove him repeatedly into the ring post and into the steel steps. 

Back in the ring, Lesnar hit three consecutive German suplexes as the crowd booed. Femi came back with running uppercuts in the corner, but Lesnar blocked the third attempt and hit an F5. 

Before Lesnar could make a cover, Femi got to his feet and hit a chokeslam. Femi followed with the Fall From Grace sit-out powerbomb for the pinfall win. The crowd loudly chanted for Femi. (Femi had a look on his face like he couldn’t believe what he just did.) 

Match result: Oba Femi defeated Brock Lesnar (4:44)

This was all this needed to be. I thought they might do a few more spots, but Femi was definitely put over strong here. He took Lesnar’s best shots, got up, and won with one finisher. 

********

Brock Lesnar post-match segment

Femi made his way up the ramp as replays played. He posed, and Lesnar stayed down the entire time. 

Once Femi was gone, Lesnar sat up. Lesnar removed his gloves and placed them on the mat. He began tearing up as he removed his boots. He paused as the crowd chanted, “No!” Lesnar removed his boots, and the crowd chanted, “Thank you, Brock.” 

Heyman entered the ring and hugged Lesnar. He posed for the crowd, waved goodbye, slammed his hands against the mat one final time, and left the ring. The crowd chanted “Thank you, Lesnar” as he went up the ramp with Heyman. Lesnar said “Thank you” before leaving the stage. 

******** 

I’m not going to mention it every time tonight, but they’re continuing to run the Hulk Hogan documentary commercials during each ad break again. 

Intercontinental Championship six-way ladder match: Penta (c) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rusev 

Penta wore a Shao Kahn Mortal Kombat mask for his entrance (it was a paid sponsorship tie-in). Rey and Penta both wore full red gear—red mask, red sleeveless shirt, and red tights. 

McDonagh pushed over a ladder with Evans and Rey. Evans flew straight over the top and dove onto someone outside the ring. Evans recovered quickly and used a springboard to leap onto the ladder in the ring to knock off McDonagh. Later on, Rey gave Dragon Lee a 619 into a ladder. 

Evans had another flashy springboard spot before Penta suplexed him onto a ladder. (Rusev suplexed McDonagh onto a ladder earlier in the match, and McDonagh’s back bounced off the edge of the ladder.) Dragon hit Rey with a missile dropkick into a ladder. 

Rusev slammed Evans onto a ladder bridge. Penta assisted Rey into hitting a big springboard seated senton over the top rope to the outside, crashing Rusev through a ladder bridge. (Rey’s face collided with the ladder on the way down, but he was checked on by the referee, and he seemed fine.) 

Rey gave Penta a 619 and tried climbing the ladder, but Dragon got in his way and eventually gave him a Styles Clash. Dragon climbed the ladder, but McDonagh met him there and hit a Spanish Fly off the ladder. 

A battle on the ladder led to Penta hitting McDonagh with a Canadian Destroyer onto a ladder bridge, which looked incredible. 

The ring was clear, so Evans climbed the ladder and grabbed the belt harness, but Rusev yanked the ladder away, and Evans fell down. Rusev chucked him out of the ring. 

Rusev climbed the ladder, but Evans reemerged and brought Rusev down off the middle of the ladder with an impressive-looking OG Cutter. (Rusev had to lean forward to make sure Evans caught him. Rusev sold it as well as he could have.) 

As Evans struggled to his feet, Penta sprang in and nailed a Canadian Destroyer. Penta climbed the ladder and grabbed his belt to retain the title. 

Match result: Penta defeated Je’Von Evans, Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh and Rusev to retain the Intercontinental Championship (15:09)

A very fun match, and Evans came across like a burgeoning star. I’m sure many will think he should have won, but as long as they follow up with him, that’s not the worst feeling to leave the fans with. 

********

They aired a recap of last night’s WWE Championship match in black-and-white thanks to the blood. (This aired between the usual string of ads.) 

JOP, Rick Rubin, Jahmyr Gibbs, Daniel Cormier, and Joe Jonas were shown in the crowd. 

If you missed it on the pre-show, the Dom/Bálor match is now a street fight. 

The ladder match went 15 minutes, and even more time than that elapsed between the end of that match and the start of this one. 

United States Championship match: Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams (w/ Lil Yachty)

Zayn entered first and was booed. Williams’ fancy white coat had such a long extension at the end of it that it went the entire length of the 75-yard ramp. (I think there was a mechanism on the stage that was unravelling it as he walked, but he had to pause a few times, likely to let more of it unfurl so he could continue down the ramp.)

Zayn was briefly in control until Williams came back with a back slap and neckbreaker. The crowd booed Zayn’s offence and followed with chants for Trick. Williams hit a version of the Book End for two. Zayn responded with a big boot and Blue Thunder Bomb for two. 

Zayn booted Williams as he tried to regroup in the ropes. Lil Yachty checked on Williams, so Zayn left the ring, decked Yachty and chucked him into the barricade. 

Zayn repeatedly rammed Williams into the ring post before hitting a brainbuster on the apron. As Williams made it back to his feet, Zayn flew in with a Helluva Kick into the barricade. (Cole casually called this a boot.) Williams just barely avoided a countout by getting into the ring at nine. 

Zayn set up for a Helluva Kick in the ring while the ref checked on Williams. With the ref distracted, Yachty wrenched Zayn against the top rope, and Williams hit a Trick Kick for a nearfall. 

Zayn avoided a Trick Shot and hit an exploder into the corner. Zayn went for the Helluva Kick, but Williams shot out of the corner with a Trick Shot for the pinfall win. Williams is the new champ. 

— Williams embraced his mom and dad at ringside before continuing his celebration in the ring. 

Match result: Trick Williams defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship (7:07) 

We know the deal by now. This match was perfectly fine, but too short to be anything special. The right guy won, at least. 

********

Tyrese Haliburton handed George Kittle a beer at ringside, and he downed it (as he did last night). Rob Gronkowski was shown next, drinking his beer more sensibly. When Kittle was shown again with another (half-full) beer, he chugged it again, so Gronk chugged his, too. Tony Hinchcliff was there too, and he was lightly booed by the people who cared enough to emote upon seeing him. 

Street Fight: Dominik Mysterio vs. “Demon” Finn Bálor

Dom is the AAA Mega Champion and refers to himself as the king of the luchadores, so he entered on a throne flanked by about 20 masked men. Bálor entered with his familiar demon entrance. 

Bálor was all over Dom early on until he went for a table, and Dom hit a suicide dive. Dom used a kendo stick, a steel chair, and a slingshot senton. Dom set up two chairs in the seated position, but Bálor dropped him on the chairs instead and hit a slingblade. 

Dom came back with a 619 and a frog splash, but Bálor kicked out at one. Bálor hit consecutive dropkicks but missed a Coup de Grace. Dom drove a steel chair into Bálor’s head, but Bálor kicked out at two. 

Dom set up a corner table, but Bálor avoided it and hit a slingblade. Dom managed to drive him through the table moments later anyway. Dom wrapped a chair around Bálor’s head and hit a 619, followed by another frog splash for a two count. 

Dom wildly attacked Bálor with a chair before setting up another table. Bálor popped to his feet, snarled, clotheslined Dom and attacked him wildly with the chair. 

Bálor wrapped a chair around Dom’s neck/chest and dropkicked him into the corner. Bálor placed Dom on the table and hit a Coup de Grace through it for the pinfall win. 

(Cole made it sound like we’ll be seeing more of the Demon after this win.) 

Match result: Finn Bálor defeated Dominik Mysterio (10:26)

This was a pretty forgettable street fight that’ll blend in with every other WWE street fight we’ve ever seen. The crowd didn’t seem to care at all, and it’s no wonder. This was Bálor’s first televised win since September—seven months ago. 

********

Somebody named Adam Weitsman joined commentary to watch the next match.

WWE Women’s Championship match: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley

Cargill entered first, but was introduced last for the in-ring intros. The crowd loves Ripley. 

Ripley was selling big fairly early in the match, after a simple powerslam about two minutes in. Cargill remained in control and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. 

Ripley smiled and invited Cargill to keep it coming. Ripley took a wild swing, but Cargill ducked and applied a crossface. Ripley got out of it and hit an up kick to back off Cargill. They traded right hands until Ripley hit a leaping enziguri and facebuster for two. 

Cargill countered a Rip-tide with a hip toss and followed with a thrust kick and spinebuster for two. Ripley countered a Jaded into a rollup for two. 

Michin distracted the referee while B-Fab saved Cargill from a Razor’s Edge. Ripley missed a corner charge and went shoulder-first into the ring post. Cargill distracted the referee while Michin booted Ripley’s head into the post. 

Cargill followed with a version of the One-Winged Angel for a nearfall. Michin and B-Fab were about to attack Ripley outside the ring, but the referee caught them. He was about to kick them out, but Iyo Sky ran out to beat them up instead. 

Sky wiped out the heels with an Asai moonsault before Ripley headbutted Cargill. Cargill avoided a Rip-tide and hit a big boot, but Ripley slipped out of Jaded and hit Rip-tide for the pinfall win. The crowd popped big for the win. 

Ripley celebrated with Sky after the match. 

Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to win the WWE Women’s Championship (10:10)

Another average WrestleMania match. Cargill looked a bit better than usual in some spots, but a lot of her stuff looked clunky, too. 

********

John Cena and Danhausen segment 

Cena announced tonight’s attendance as 55,255, with the two-night attendance of 106,072. 

Cena said that was it for them and wanted to leave them with one final message, but he was interrupted by The Miz and Kit Wilson. Miz complained about not getting his WrestleMania moment. Cena offered a handshake to both men, but he didn’t know who Wilson was. 

Cena gave Miz the floor, but he was interrupted by Danhausen. Danhausen entered, along with about ten little people dressed as him. Cole loudly called them ‘midgets’ and didn’t want anyone on social media to get mad at him because he said that’s what they asked to be called (so he knew this was happening, I guess). 

Danhausen said he was a fan of Cena, but Wilson told all the little Danhausens that they were toxic. One of the little Danhausen’s punched Wilson in the dick, and they all swarmed him. Danhausen punched Miz in the dick and did Cena’s five knuckle shuffle. The Danhausens carried Miz away up the ramp, but they eventually just dropped him. 

Danhausen was in the ring with Cena, and a puff of smoke went off. That was Danhausen’s cue to vanish, but he isn’t actually magic, so under the stadium’s bright lights, he scampered under the ring to hide as some people laughed. 

The announcers did their stupid fake laughter for all of this. 

The main event is next (after some ads, including another long Hogan commercial). 

********

23 minutes elapsed since the end of the Ripley celebration and the entrances for this match. Bell to bell, about 40 minutes elapsed between the two matches. 

World Heavyweight Championship match: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns 

There was a live performance for the first portion of Reigns’ entrance. 

Punk walked through the back to the tune of Miseria Cantare. The music cut as Punk entered the stage. Cult of Personality hit, and Punk made his way to the ring. 

Punk wore a white jacket with a patch for Larry and a Puerto Rican flag for AJ Lee. His jacket also had the names of Bo Leuders, Kerwin Silfies, Jim Shank, and Davey Coates, all of whom passed away recently. On the back of his jacket was a crown to pay tribute to Harley Race.

Punk dropped Reigns with a shoulder tackle. Reigns didn’t appreciate him bragging about it, so they got into a shoving match. Reigns dropped him next and returned the brag, so they shoved each other again. Reigns got the better of the next exchange with a Samoan drop. 

Reigns knocked Punk outside the ring, tossed him around ringside and over the barricade. Punk fought back and hit a leaping clothesline off the apron. Punk did the Bloodline pose while standing on the announce table, so Reigns chucked him off it. 

Reigns continued to get the better of Punk, hitting ten clotheslines in the corner, followed by a leaping clothesline for two. Punk ducked a Superman punch, and hit a clothesline, a high cross, a lifting knee strike and a bulldog. 

Reigns slipped out of a GTS, tossed Punk into the ring post, and hit a Superman punch for two. Reigns did his big pose in the corner as he set up for a spear, but Punk sprinted in with a lifting knee strike (which was a great spot). Punk was amused with himself. He hit another knee, followed by consecutive neckbreakers, and a suicide dive. 

With Reigns laid out over the announce table, Punk went to the top rope, but Reigns recovered and went after him. Punk wound up trapped upside down in the corner, so Reigns hammered away at him and hit three consecutive Superman punches. 

Punk was bleeding, and because he was still upside down, blood dropped down to the mat below. Reigns wasn’t done, and he hit Punk in the face with the steel steps. Punk finally managed to free himself from the ropes (no thanks to the referee, who just watched this all transpire). 

Reigns cleared the announce table and powerbombed Punk through it. Reigns went for a spear back in the ring, but Punk hoisted him up and hit a GTS for two. Reigns countered another GTS and hit a spear for a nearfall. 

Reigns was frustrated, so he shoved Punk’s face into the mat and rammed his head into the mat repeatedly. Reigns went for a GTS, but Punk blocked it and kicked him in the head for two. Punk hit a weak-looking Superman punch for two. (I don’t know why they insist on stealing finishers in every main event match.) 

Punk grabbed a Ula Fala away from someone in the front row and put it around his neck. Punk went for a spear, but Reigns caught him in a guillotine. Punk countered that into a schoolboy for two. Punk applied the Anaconda Vice, but Reigns punched his way out of it and reapplied a guillotine choke. Punk countered into a cradle for two, and both men dropped each other with clotheslines. 

They traded strikes, but neither man could get the edge. Punk threw a piece of wrist tape at Reigns, and the referee picked it up to toss it out of the ring, and that brief distraction allowed Punk to hit a low blow. Punk followed with a GTS for a close nearfall. 

Punk placed Reigns on the announce table and hit a flying elbow drop off the top rope. Punk followed with a GTS in the ring. Reigns fell against the ropes and back onto Punk’s shoulders. Punk was about to hit another GTS, but he collapsed after all the previous damage caught up to him. 

Reigns speared Punk, but Punk would not stay down. Punk got to his feet, and Reigns hit another spear for the pinfall win. Reigns is the new champion. 

Match result: Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Championship (33:58)

This was a really strong world title match, paced very much like a Roman Reigns main event. I thought Punk did well as world champion and was one of the lone bright spots on Raw during his run, so hopefully they have a good follow-up for him. 

It should be noted that this match was 34 minutes long. There’s nothing wrong with that, but as we know by now, most of the Mania matches this year were quite short for such a big show. 

In fact, if you add up the match times for all four women’s matches across both shows (all of which were title matches), it adds up to a total of 34 minutes.

WOR: Dave & Bryan recap WWE WrestleMania night one, Van Hammer’s passing & news

Posted on by F4W Staff

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back live from Las Vegas with tons to talk about including the highs and mostly lows of night one of WWE WrestleMania 42, where things are going with the top match finishes, what was changed, and more.

Then, the guys talk the night two lineup, WWE not credentialing reporters like Andreas Hale, the death of Van Hammer, Brodie Lee Jr.’s debut, and tons more.

Click here to listen (sub needed)

GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break: The Immortal Clusterf— live results

Posted on by Marc Quill

GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break: The Immortal Clusterf— takes place tonight at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas.

Coming off the 10th edition of Joey Janela’s Spring Break on Friday, GCW will be back at it late Saturday evening.

The GCW Ultraviolent title will be on the line in a Hardcore Kingdom steel cage match, with Otis Cogar defending against Matt Tremont.

The Clusterf— match is also back. Names announced for it include Nate Webb, Human Tornado, Beastman, Dark Sheik, Dr. Redacted, Krule, Haley J, Parrow, Killer Kelly, KJ Orso, Man Like DeReiss, Vipress, Brooke Havok, and Ricky Sosa.

The 2025 edition of the Clusterf— was won by Brody Lee Jr. The match lasted just under two hours and 20 minutes and featured 90 participants, with Brody eliminating Joey Janela last.

The show is available on TrillerTV as part of The Collective for this year’s WrestleMania Week in Vegas.

Our live coverage begins at midnight Eastern.

*****************************************

– The show opened with a recap of Matt Tremont’s journey to tonight’s showdown against Otis Cogar in a Hardcore Kingdom Steel Cage Match., which will kick off the show.

GCW Ultraviolent Championship (Hardcore Kingdom Steel Cage Match): Otis Cogar (c) vs. Matt Tremont

The eponymous steel cage was surrounded with various weapons lining the walls, including lots and lots of light tubes.

As this match got underway, a GCW official locked the cage doors down while Tremont yelled to the crowd. Tremont and Cogar sized one another up before exchanging strikes to get the action going finally. Cogar bit Tremont’s forehead and ran right at him afterwards. Tremont barely dodged as Cogar went crashing into a pane of glass in the corner. Tremont then threw Cogar into one of the light tubes set against the cage. Tremont held a fork in his hand and jabbed at the forehead of Cogar with it to bust him open.

Cogar found himself once again thrown into another light tube by Tremont, who once again used the forks to draw blood from his opponent. Even more fork-based violence from the challenger as Cogar’s forehead was busted open from the onslaught of forks. Tremont tried to go up top, but Cogar finally got some offense in with a light tube shot. He then threw Tremont into a barbed wire-laced door to continue the pain. Cogar set a pane of glass againt the back of Tremont and smashed it with a chair. Cogar took a pair of baseball bats covered in thumbtacks and battered Tremont with them, as blood began to pour from the challenger’s head.

Cogar produced a blade and began to use it across Tremont’s head, which had thumbtacks embedded on it. Cogar smashed multiple tubes over the stunned Cogar, who was bleeding from the mouth after what was done to him moments ago. Cogar headbutted Tremont’s bloodied head, followed by a trashcan lid shot to the dome.

Cogar put a chair on Tremont’s head and climbed to the top. However, Tremont recovered and tried to fight back. A chair shot from Cogar knocked Tremont down momentarily. Tremont dodged a splash from Cogar as he took a barbed wire-covered door and slammed the champion through it. Pin attempt, but Cogar managed to kick out of it.

Tremont took duct tape and taped Cogar’s arms to the ropes as he had something brutal planned for his foe. Tremont took many light tubes and smashed it over Cogar’s head. Meanwhile, Atticus Cogar tred to enter the cage, but he was warded off by Tremont. Xavier entered the ring by way of ladder and attacked Tremont, as the Cogar brothers had a three-on-one advantage over Tremont.

Tremont recovered and took down Xavier and Atticus with a double clothesline. Otis smashed Tremont over the head with a chair and headed back up to the top. He climbed to the very top of the cage and tried for a moonsault. Tremont avoided calamity as Otis Cogar crashed into the glass. Tremont taped up Atticus and Xavier to keep them trapped. He then took a chair and smashed everyone with it across to their heads.

With a roll of light tubes in his hands, he put it over Otis’ body and went to the top rope to hit a massive frog splash for the three.

Matt Tremont def. Otis Cogar via pinfall to become the new GCW Ultraviolent Champion

This isn’t my usual beat, so it’s hard for me to fully judge, but I’ll say if very bloody deathmatches aren’t your thing, then this match will probably not be for you, as this one got really brutal at times.

************************

– A recap of last night’s Joey Janela’s Spring Break X was shown while the ring was being set up for the Immortal Clusterf—. This was followed by what seemed to be an entire half-hour of GCW recap videos.

The Immortal Clusterf—

Entrant #1 was Man Like DeReiss, who started rapping with the crowd as he made his way to the ring. Entrant #2 was Marcus Mathers.

Our match got underway as Mathers and DeReiss traded pinfall attempts with nobody getting the clear advantage. The fast pace continued as both men used their speed in the hopes of getting the upper hand. DeReiss was sent over the top rope, but he hung onto dear life to avoid elimination. Mathers slid under the top rope and hit DeReiss with a superkick. Entrant 3 was introduced by Alex Abrahantes as Sam Holloway.

Holloway entered the ring and immediately made an impact with a big boot to Mathers. He then chopped down DeReiss. Next entrants were Jordan Oliver and Alec Price. They were then followed by the Backseat Boys.

Oliver and Price brawled it out with the Backseaters and looked like a cohesive unit until a double blockbuster stopped their momentum. Angel Orsini entered the ring and hit a moonsault on everyone outide the ring as Thomas Shire entered and hit a double chokeslam on both Backseat Boys to eliminate them. Holloway and Shire confronted one another in the ring as Shotzi Blackheart was next to enter as she took down both Shire and Holloway with a double DDT. Holloway was eliminated by a clothesline over the top rope from Mathers.

Alex Abrahantes returned with another entrant by the name of Brick Savage. Mathers and DeReiss tried their hand at attacking Brick, but got sent away for their troubles. Powerbombs for Price and Oliver at the hands of Brick, as Shotzi tried for a high-risk maneuver. Brick powerbombed her instead. Shire entered the ring and we got big meaty men slapping meat as the two big men battled it out. Brick speared Shire out of commission as the next entrant in the Clusterf— entered: Nate Webb. Webb’s entrance was interrutpted by B3CCA and her allies, as she sang her song. We got more singing as Kingsley was the next entrant. Things suddenly turned into a dance party while everyone stopped fighting in the ring. The wrestlers started singing before they were rudely interrupted by K.J. Orso, who entered next.

Orso talked trashed to everyone for dancing and singing, wich led to everyone ganging up on him with stomps and punches. Shotzi tried to clothesline Orso, but she ended up hittiing DeReiss instead to eliminate him. Sam Stackhouse barrelled into the ring next and went after everyone. We got a flurry of eliminations after Stackhouse’s arrival as he and Orso showed great teamwork to clear the ring. Brick re-entered the match and hit an impressive pop-up slam on Orso. That didn’t do him much good as Stackhouse eliminated Brick. Then Stackhouse got eliminated afterwards. One Called Manders joined the match next as Shire was in the ring. Oliver and Price fought it out with Manders and Shire, but found themselves flattened with stereo clotheslines.

Flyin’ Ryan was our next entrant and showed some great offense against Orso, Manders, and Shire. Ryan threw Orso over the top rope, but that wasn’t enough to eliminate him. The Texas Outlaws (sons of Dustin Rhodes) entered jointly as they took it to their foes. The two Rhodes boys had a moment with Manders and Shire, but Flyin’ Ryan interrupted it. That earned him stereo bionic elbows from Manders and Shire. The cowboy quartet took Ryan and threw him over the top rope for the elimination. Mathers soon found himself the victim of an elimination from the cowboy crew.

Manders and Shire started to fight with the Rhodes boys, as Wyatt hit a Cross Rhodes on Shire. The Buster and the Brain eliminated both Texas Outlaws soon after. After Brooke Havoc entered, Dark Sheik joined the Clusterf— and impressed with a DDT on Manders. Havoc and Sheik showed excellent teamwork with the Total Elimination on Jordan Oliver before sharing a kiss. Orso barged in with a knee to Shiek, but Havoc took him down. Matt Mako was our next entrant as he and Havoc faced off. Orso shoved Mako from behind right into Havoc, but got met with a back elbow. Spinning kick by Mako on Orso wasn’t enough for the elimination. Mako connected with the superplex and the powerbomb on Sheik.

Beastman entered next was a force of nature against Mako and Havoc. The powerbomb on Havoc right on a downed Mako earned Beastman a double elimination with the in. Sheik tried to go for a diving attack on Beastman, but that had little effect. Beastman powerbomb Sheik over the top rope, but couldn’t get the full elimination. Sheik turned it around and took Beastman out of the match with a feint kick. Next up in the Clusterf— was Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful.

SRS hit Shotzi with a knee to the gut and taunted her as he then choked her with a boot. WON/F4W’s Bryan Alvarez, whomst Sapp antagonized on the way to the ring, entered the ring and began to enter a chop battle with Sapp. A superkick by Alvarez to Sapp eliminated him. Orso then got rid of Alvarez with a kick of his own. Shotzi got raked in the eye by Orso, but turned that around into a tornado DDT. She then threw Orso out of this match. PowerSlap’s Stunt Marshall was our next entrant.

Juicy Finau made his way to the ring as he faced off with the PowerSlap man. Finau gave Marshall whatfor with a headbutt, followed by a slap that took him out. Finau faced off with Manders and struck him dow with one slap. Haley J. was our next entrant, as she tried to fight Finau, but couldn’t do anything. Stunt Marshall returned and helped Haley eliminate Finau from the match. Killer Kelly entered the match and fought Haley with ferocity. She flattened Haley with a clothesline to the back of the head, as she then followed it up with repeated headbutts. Airica entered the match but got hit with a crossbody from Sheik just as Gisele Shaw joined the Clusterf—.

Shaw planted Airica with a modified backstabber as she then hit Sheik with a kick. Tornado DDT by Shaw on Kelly. Airica tried to throw Shaw out, but she found herself thrown over the top rope instead. Killer Kelly began to bite everyone in the butt quite literally. Kelly was thrown out by all the remaining women after they all bit her in the butt.

Sheik grabbed Shaw by her feet as the two fought it out on the top ropes. In the ensuing melee, both women took each other out of the match. Gold Ship entered as a group, as they were then followed by another Alex Abrahantes aided-entry… The Invisible Man!

The Invisible Man entered the ring and was on a warpath as he cleared the ring with ease. Price and Oliver tried their hand, but were both taken out of the mach by The Invisible Man. Manders and Shire attempted a double team on Invisible Man, but they couldn’t get the job done. Invisible Man threw Manders out of the ring, but Shire got him in the airplane spin. Shire got reversed and thrown out by Invisible Man. Even more eliminations as Invisible Man was on fire. Headscissors and a DDT on Terry Yaki by the Invisible Man got the elimination.

Invisible Man continued the rampage with a slew of eliminations, including a roll up on Emily Jaye and a submission with a chair on Channing Decker. Next up was Joey Janela himself. Janela fought with the Invisible Man in the ring and seemed to have the upper hand on his unseen foe. Janela tried for a running attack, but Invisible Man countered with a kick. Janela recovered and lifted Invisible Man up for a stalling brainbuster on the top turnbuckle! One, two…. 2.999999!!!!!!! Janela tuned up the band and hit Sweet Chin Music to finally get the pin on Invisible Man.

Starman (Yes, from the NES game Pro Wrestling) was our next entrant, much to the confusion of Janela. Starman and Janela posed for a bit until the latter hit a cheapshot on the former. Starman found himself frozen while Janela kept running the ropes. Janela eventually stopped running and just began to unmask Starman… and it’s Starboy Charlie!

Starboy hit Janela with a spinning kick, followed by the standing moonsault, but that wasn’t enough for the pin. Starboy missed with the splash from the top rope, as Janela hit a Death Valley Driver for a near-fall. Charlie eliminated Janela from the match with a hurricanrana pin. Shotzi slid back in and hit an exploder suplex into the corner on Charlie, followed by the cannonball. Charlie fought back briefly, but he got reversed into a powerbomb by Shotzi. While Charlie and Shotzi fought, “Jimmy Lloyd” was our next entrant.

Lloyd hit an electric chair slam to get the cover on Charlie and eliminate him from the match. Don Freeze joined the match next and he showed some great offense against Lloyd with a suplex followed by the kip-up. Maya World entered and put her glasses on Freeze, followed by the jacket. That was an attempted distraction, but Freeze wasn’t going to have any of it. Maya performed a nice hurricanrana from the ropes to ground Freeze. The moonsault was not enough for the cover, though. Lloyd tried to get back into the match, but got a double stomp from Maya instead.

LJ. Cleary joined the match next, as did D’Lo Brown (who was on commentary) and Monomoth. Cleary tried to be vain, but Brown threw him out. Freeze brought himself back into the match, but Brown dropped him with a vintage powerbomb. Freeze was then thrown out by Brown. Monomoth tried to fight with Brown, but his attacks had little effect on him. Brown grabbed Monomoth and threw him over the top rope for the elimination.

Maya World slid back in and got into Brown’s face before slapping him. Brown looked frustrated as he tried to powerbomb Maya. That got reversed into a hurricanrana that sent Brown out of the ring. Nixi XS brought herself into the match and showed off with her fan. The two traded kicks, but nobody could hit their mark. Nixi finally got Maya with a spinning kick. Sleepy Ed sauntered his way with pillow in hand and just begain to sleep in the middle of the ring. Nixi took advantage and tried for a pin, but she got caught in a literal sleeper hold by Sleepy Ed instead. Nixi escaped and shouted at Ed to wake up.

For some reason, a trio of guys in T-Rex costumes joined the fray. There is no rule that dinosaurs can’t wrestle, after all. The dinosaurs unleashed a flurry of eliminations in their wake. Sleepy Ed had NyQuil and spat it at two of the dinosaurs to knock them out. The blue dinosaur tried a full nelson on Ed, but their arms were too short. He too got a blast of NyQuil for his troubles.

Parrow entered next as he knocked Ed down with a big boot. This prompted Ed to go back to sleep. Parrow gently tried to roll Ed into a pinning position as he tried to get everyone to stay quiet. Once he did, the referee counted slowly, but Ed kicked out.

A bevy of “twink” entries, including Anakin Murphy, Jimmy Underwood, among others joined in, but were dispatched in short order by Parrow. He then threw out Sleepy Ed onto the eliminated twinks. Cereal Man, was the next entrant and he had a box of cereal in his hands. Parrow was baffled by this, as Cereal Man bopped him repeatedly with his box of cereal. With Parrow in the corner, Cerael Man poured the bag of cereal down his face. Cereal man pulled down his pants completely as Parrow threw him out of the ring.

Nixy XS stepped back into the ring and got Parrow with the purple nurple, followed by a smooch and a headbutt. Parrow recovered with a powerbomb as he then threw Nixy out of the match. A man by the name of C.P.A. entered next as Parrow tried to throw him out. He grabbed the tie instead and that only angered Parrow. Bear Bronson stepped in next and he was more than a match for Parrow with a black hole slam. Gabby Forza teamed up with Bear and eliminated Parrow from the match as the two shared a kiss. Bear tried to eliminate his own wife, but that backfired as she hit a super suplex instead.

Haley J. showed off her PowerSlap title to Gabby, as 25 Cent appeared. 25 Cent punched Haley J. and rolled her up for the elimination pin. Another Jimmy Lloyd showed up and eliminated 25 Cent. The other Jimmy Lloyd appeared and did the Spider-Man pointing bit with the apparent original. The other Lloyd was eliminated by the real deal. It didn’t matter as the original flavour Lloyd was soon eliminated by Heath Slater. A chap by the name of Mullet Man stepped in next and got immediately kicked by Slater. Mullet Man psyched himself up but missed with the leg drop. Slater got him with a leg drop of his own, but that wasn’t enough. Tombstone Jesus was next and Slater soon found himself out of the match. Mullet Man and Tombstone fought it out with chops in the corner. Gabby Forza eliminated Tombstone from the match and got help from Shotzi to take Mullet Man out. Vipress was next as she and Gabby fought it out. Frank The Clown walked out next and cut a promo about how he hated GCW, but he found himself stomped away by Vipress, Gabby, and Shotzi.

***** Ian Carey subbing in for Marc Quill on slight delay

Vipress, Gabby and Shotzi beat up Frank until Slade came out and pinned him. The Production (Derek Dillinger & Katie Arquette) were the next out. They attacked CPA until being eliminated by Gabby, Shotzi, and Vipress. Tara Zep was the next out, she attacked Slade with a chair. Toby Klein with Billy Gram were next out. Conor Claxton came out and pinned Zep shortly after.

The 69th and final entrant was Dr. Redacted, who brought a barbed wire board into the ring, misted Claxton, and put him through the board. Klein then swopped in and pinned Claxton. Redacted and Gabby worked together to pin Gram. Redacted then hit Gabby with a chair shot. Slade eliminated her by tossing out of the ring shortly after. Redacted then pulled a Mil Mascaras and eliminated himself by jumping off the top turnbuckle onto Claxton on the floor.

Slade, CPA, Vipress and Shotzi were the last four left. Slade eliminated CPA next. Then Slade dumped Vipress over the top to leave just him and Shotzi. Commentary brought up that Shotzi had been in there for well over an hour now.

Slade hit Shotzi with a chair and it looked all but certain that he would eliminate her shortly after. But as Shotzi was up against the ropes, Slade charged at her with the a chair, Shotzi ducked and sent Slade over the top rope to the floor. Shotzi has won the Immortal Clusterf—!!

Shotzi celebrated in the ring as the show came to a close.

WWE WrestleMania 42 Saturday live results: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: April 18, 2026
Location: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV

***************************************

Show Recap — 

NIGHT ONE – COUNTDOWN SHOW 

The pre-show is three hours on both nights. Stay tuned for updates, but due to the length, I’ll keep it to the most noteworthy stuff. 

Joe Tessitore welcomed us to Las Vegas. Wrestlers were shown arriving, and the very first talent mentioned by Tessitore, appropriately, was “One of the biggest social media influencers, IShowSpeed.” 

There was a big WrestleMania video package where talent spoke about their favourite moments.

I think Tessitore casually mentioned that Bret Hart would be interviewed. I’ll update if that happens. (Update: he likely meant Shawn Michaels, who joined the panel later.)

AJ Lee told Jackie Redmond that tonight meant everything. Beating Becky Lynch (again) was her Mount Everest, and she planned on walking out as champion again. 

There was a video of all the promotional media on ESPN and other networks over the past few weeks. 

Sol Ruca spoke to Vic Joseph about Tuesday’s NXT and her goal to be on WrestleMania as early as next year.

Stephanie Vaquer told Redmond that she worked her whole life to get to WrestleMania as world champion, but sadly for Liv Morgan, it was all about the fame. Vaquer planned on beating her tonight.

There was a video package all about past WrestleMania stages, which included a line about it involving “artistic genius,” which is funny given how plain this year’s set is. Redmond and Peter Rosenberg made sure to remind us that they only had five days to build the stage, thanks to a Bruno Mars concert.

There was a long video package outlining the history of Hulk Hogan and WrestleMania, written and narrated by Michael Cole, who noted this would be the first Mania without Hogan. (They showed this when fans had yet to fill the arena.) 

Drew McIntyre cut a promo on Jacob Fatu. McIntyre said he was in university studying criminology while Fatu was in jail. He learned that criminals eventually reoffend. Fatu stole his title and his Mania main event. McIntyre would take out Fatu for the benefit of the roster, the fans, and Fatu’s wife and children, because he would eventually reoffend and end up back in the joint. McIntyre wasn’t the hero people wanted, he was the hero they needed.

There was a video package for the Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels Ironman match before Michaels joined the panel. (Hart was among those interviewed for the feature.) Michaels was proud of the risk they took with the match, and he wouldn’t have wanted to be in the ring with anyone other than Hart that night. 

Michaels also talked about how proud he was of the new NXT stars we’re seeing compete at Mania this weekend, including Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, and Oba Femi, but gave a special shout-out to Lash Legend. 

There was a top ten countdown of celebrity moments at WrestleMania.

Cathy Kelley interviewed IShowSpeed. He seemed genuinely excited and nervous to be competing at WrestleMania. 

Miz cut a promo backstage but was cut off by Danhausen, who was seemingly flying above the stadium in the Goodyear blimp. He cursed the Miz, who had no idea any of this was happening.

Less than two hours into the three-hour pre-show, they replayed a Mania video package and a video of wrestlers arriving that they had already shown earlier. 

AJ Styles joined the panel. He looked forward to scouting the independent scene for diamonds. He didn’t know what to make of Pat McAfee’s involvement with Randy Orton. He figured Orton could just be using McAfee and would give him an RKO when he was done with him. 

There were separate sit-down interviews with Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.

Sit-down interview with Paul Levesque 

Tessitore sat down with Triple H for an interview. Tessitore started with a ridiculous claim that many pro athletes couldn’t make the transition to a management job the way Levesque had. (I know some athletes don’t do well in those roles, but sports front offices are filled with former players.) 

That was followed by Levesque talking about Vince McMahon getting him involved on the production side of things early on, and they even showed clips of McMahon and Levesque together. 

(He also talked about Mania and what fans should expect.) 

********

I think Redmond said the ramp to the ring is 75 yards long. 

Tessitore really wants people to know that IShowSpeed will be wrestling on ESPN 2. 

The Las Vegas Mass Choir sang God Bless America. 

***************

WRESTLEMANIA 42 NIGHT ONE RESULTS

Lin-Manuel Miranda narrated the WrestleMania 42 intro video. 

John Cena kicks off WrestleMania 42

Cena entered wearing a three-piece suit and told the cameraperson that he was not going to run to the ring like he used to. He walked down the long ramp, but did wind up jogging down the final few steps, probably because he realized how long it was taking. 

Cena entered the ring to a nice ovation, and he thanked the crowd. He said the road to WrestleMania has been chaotic and unpredictable, and people from all sides have been vocal. It’s been polarizing, which probably explains why he got the hosting gig (because of his historically polarizing crowd reactions). 

But the show was on, and it was time for people to step up and deliver. Welcome to WrestleMania. Fireworks went off, and the Usos’ music hit. 

********

Wade Barrett congratulated Michael Cole on calling his 25th WrestleMania. Cole was quick to say he was only able to do so thanks to the performers in the ring. 

Six-man tag team match: LA Knight, Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso vs. IShowSpeed & World Tag Team Champions Logan Paul & Austin Theory

The Usos immediately dropped Logan Paul and Austin Theory with superkicks as the bell rang, leaving IShowSpeed alone to start against LA Knight. 

Speed applied a side headlock, but Knight easily hoisted him up high off his feet. Speed tried coming off the top rope moments later, but Knight dropped him with a clothesline. Speed managed to give Knight a body slam and celebrated upon doing so, but Knight immediately got up. Speed bailed from the ring while tagging in Paul. 

The babyfaces worked over Paul until Theory made a blind tag (even though he let go of the tag rope) and dropped an unsuspecting Jimmy Uso with a dropkick. 

The heels worked over Jimmy briefly until he made a hot tag to Jey Uso, who speared Theory for a two count after Paul broke up the cover. The teams traded moves until Speed used a head scissors takedown to knock Jimmy out of the ring. 

Speed blocked a Knight BFT and shoved him into Paul, knocking Paul off the apron. Theory was pissed and demanded that Speed help him with the next spot, but Knight shoved Theory into Speed. Knight gave Theory a BFT for the pinfall win. 

— Paul got in Speed’s face for costing him a Mania moment. Paul clocked Speed with a right hand. Paul put Speed on the announce table and went to the top, but the Usos brought him down and gave him a 1D. 

The babyfaces encouraged Speed to do the spot instead, so Speed reluctantly got to the top rope and gave Paul an impressive-looking splash off the top through the announce table. Speed Yeeted with the babyfaces. 

Match result: LA Knight & The Usos defeated Austin Theory, Logan Paul & IShowSpeed (7:06)

A very ordinary match. It barely felt like a pre-show match. The match quality doesn’t matter, though—it was all about the IShowSpeed splash for ESPN. 

******** 

George Kittle, Jahmyr Gibbs, Tyrese Haliburton, and Stephen A. Smith were shown in the crowd. Kittle downed his beer, grabbed Haliburton’s beer, and downed that, too. The crowd enjoyed that because they did not like Haliburton (who did the mock-choking gesture). Stephen A. Smith was loudly booed. 

The opening match was shorter than the time that elapsed between the end of that segment and the start of this one. 

Unsanctioned match: Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre

Fatu gave McIntyre a suicide dive as he entered, and the bell rang to start the match. Fatu was going to use a toolbox as a weapon (like CM Punk did to McIntyre in their feud), but McIntyre begged off, and Fatu stopped for some reason. McIntyre used the hesitation to kick his leg out of his leg. 

McIntyre drove the back of Fatu’s head against the side of the ring. McIntyre’s brother was filming from the front row on his phone, so McIntyre grabbed it to film up close as he attacked Fatu, and even used the phone as a weapon. (The crowd laughed, thinking the phone belonged to a random fan.) 

Fatu responded in the ring with a running hip attack and a pop-up Samoan drop. McIntyre tossed him out of the ring and hit a big Undertaker flip dive. Fatu avoided a Claymore and drove McIntyre’s head into a chair that was wedged in the corner. 

Fatu followed with a Mighty Moonsault for a nearfall, and the announcers wondered if that was the first time someone had kicked out of Fatu’s moonsault. 

McIntyre used a wrench as a weapon and drove the sharp edge into his forehead. McIntyre slammed Fatu onto two upright chairs for two. Fatu came back with a superkick before whipping McIntyre repeatedly with a belt. The crowd chanted for Fatu. 

Fatu grabbed the toolbox but took too much time to use it, so McIntyre nailed a Claymore Kick for a nearfall. 

Fatu placed McIntyre on a table and went to the top, but took too long again, so McIntyre chucked a chair at his head. McIntyre then shoved Fatu off the top, and Fatu crashed through a table that was set up outside the ring. 

However, mere moments later, Fatu came right back with consecutive superkicks in the ring, and he landed the Mighty Moonsault for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Jacob Fatu defeated Drew McIntyre in an unsanctioned match (14:09)

A pretty good match. Nothing too memorable, but Fatu gets a big win. A match like this should probably get more time so his win would feel bigger, but they needed to get this done in time to transition to the ESPN app for the second hour (but not before a long commercial break). 

That being said, this match got about the same amount of time as Edge’s win over Mick Foley, but that match had one of the most memorable spots in show history. 

********

During the first two ad breaks so far (on the international Netflix feed), they showed commercials for the Hulk Hogan Netflix special. The second ad included an interview with Vince McMahon. (He wasn’t shown, at least not in this clip; it was just his voice.) 

This was such a long break that it would be easy to forget that you’re watching WrestleMania. 

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way Match: Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Brie Bella & Paige (w/ Nikki Bella)

The Bellas entered last instead of the champs. Nikki entered with a crutch and a walking boot. She said she tried hard to get cleared, but couldn’t do it. She didn’t want Brie to lose her Mania moment, so she called an old friend to take her place. 

Paige entered. Her music hit, and she got a pretty big pop. 

The crowd chanted “Yes” as Brie used Yes Kicks on Flair and Valkyria early in the match, but she was stopped from tagging in Paige. Lash brought down Bliss and Valkyria off the middle ropes with a double powerbomb before Brie hit Lash with a missile dropkick. 

They were basically trading spots until that moment to set up Paige finally getting a tag. She handed out clotheslines before giving Bayley a fisherman’s suplex. Paige hit knee strikes on Lash and tried a flying crossbody on Valkyria, but Valkyria caught her and rolled through to her feet. Paige avoided a Nightwing and hit a Paige Turner, but the pin was broken up. 

Everyone traded moves until the ring cleared, leaving Paige and Flair alone. They traded strikes until Flair went for a Figure Eight, but Paige countered into a small package for two. Flair responded with a Natural Selection. 

Bliss went to the top, but was distracted as Nikki yanked Flair out of the ring and attacked her with the crutch. 

Bliss went for Twisted Bliss, but Paige got her knees up and hit RamPaige for the pinfall win. Brie Bella and Paige are the tag team champions. 

Paige was emotional and celebrated with both Bellas. Nikki held up Pagie’s arm as fireworks went off. 

Match result: Paige & Brie Bella defeated Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, and Nia Jax & Lash Legend to win the Women’s Tag Team Championships (8:34) 

This match was ok, and Paige looked fine. She looked a step slow in AEW, but in a match like this, that can easily be hidden. 

Winning the title was a nice moment for Paige, and it plays into the story of her also winning the Divas title on her Raw debut. Helping the Bellas was a little odd, given that Paige, as a wrestler and character, felt like a precursor to the newer generation of women who came in to replace the Bellas. Cole did explain that they were friends in real-life, at least. I do hope they can find a good role for her beyond what will likely be a short title reign. 

********

There was another long break, including another Hogan commercial. (They’re showing enough of this thing during breaks that you can probably skip the actual documentary.) 

Tony Hinchcliffe and Jeff Ross were in the crowd. 

Women’s Intercontinental Championship match: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch

The band The Wonder Years performed Becky Lynch’s theme live on the stage. AJ Lee’s entrance included about 20 little girls dressed as Lee skipping down to the ring with her (they left for the match, of course).

Early in the match, Lynch gave Lee a fallaway slam into the barricade and hit a middle rope leg drop for two, followed by an exploder for two. Lee made a quick comeback after Lynch got into a brief encounter with referee Jessika Carr, and Lee hit a missile dropkick for two. 

A few more moves and counters led to Lynch countering a Black Widow by swinging Lee into the middle turnbuckle. Lynch followed with a Man-Handle Slam for two.  

Lynch stomped Lee in the corner until Carr backed her off. Lynch got in Carr’s face and started poking her until she stood up for herself. Lynch shoved Carr, so Carr shoved her back. Lynch charged at Carr, but Carr stepped aside, and Lee gave Lynch a Man-handle Slam for two. 

Lee tried the Black Widow, but Lynch countered it by getting to the rope and also by grabbing Lee’s hair. Barrett tried to claim it happened behind Carr’s back, but she could clearly see Lynch with a handful of hair. 

Lee tried a corner charge, but Lynch pulled Carr between them to block it, and Lee stopped. The distraction allowed Lynch to drive Lee face-first into an exposed turnbuckle. Lynch followed with Man-handle Slam for the pinfall win. Lynch is the new champ. 

Match result: Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee to win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (8:16)

Another average match that went about eight minutes. The crowd was into it, though, and they popped for the title change. Lynch worked well with Lee, but she’s long overdue to face someone closer to her level after months of matches against only Lee and Maxxine Dupri. 

Lynch has not had a singles match against anyone other than Lee or Dupri since August 2025—seven months ago, when she had separate matches against Nikki Bella and Natalya. 

********

Chuck Zito (along with George Kittle, who chugged another beer), Terrence Crawford (who was scrolling on his phone but looked up for the camera), Funny Marco, and Conor Benn were in the crowd.

Gunther vs. Seth Rollins 

Rollins wore full contacts that turned his eyes completely black for his entrance, but removed them for the match. 

Before the match began, Gunther dropkicked Rollins as he entered the ring and immediately followed with a back suplex and powerbomb. Rollins fought back outside the ring by gauging Gunther in the eyes and tossing him over the announce table and into the barricade. 

Cole said that if we were expecting a five-star wrestling match, we weren’t going to get it, because this would be a fight. 

When the dust settled, they both entered the ring, and the match began. Rollins aggressively stomped Gunther, but Gunther fired back with a clothesline to take over. Rollins came back with a buckle bomb, but Gunther hit a German suplex. Rollins hit a German of his own, and they traded clotheslines. 

Rollins tried to fire up with chops, but Gunther planted him with a powerbomb for two. Gunther countered a Pedigree by Rollins, but Rollins came back with a knee strike. Rollins followed with the Pedigree and a curb stomp for a nearfall. The crowd popped big for that. 

They traded counters until Gunther applied a sleeper. Rollins fought out of it and hit consecutive discus forearms. He went for a third, but Gunther clobbered him with a clothesline. 

Gunther went to the top, but Rollins met him there and hit a superplex and a falcon arrow for a nearfall. Rollins immediately applied a sleeper, and the crowd chanted for Gunther to tap, but he got a rope break. 

Rollins hit consecutive suicide dives, but Gunther blocked a third and powerbombed him onto the edge of the ring. Gunther also powerbombed him onto the announce table. 

They climbed on the table, and Gunther set up for another powerbomb, but Rollins hit a Pedigree. Rollins followed that with a stomp on the table. 

As the referee checked on Gunther, Bron Breakker sprinted to ringside and speared Rollins right into the barricade. (I thought this would be a DQ, but the referee was really distracted, I guess.) 

Gunther applied a sleeper, and Rollins passed out. 

— After the match, Breakker sprinted down the 75-yard ramp and speared Rollins. (This spear could have looked better, but Breakker held up after running down with all that momentum.) 

Breakker hugged Paul Heyman at the stage.

Match result: Gunther defeated Seth Rollins (15:49)

A really good match elevated by the crowd, which was really into it, and I didn’t mind the interference finish. It wasn’t a WrestleMania classic or anything, though. This is certainly something they can go back to later once Rollins is done with the Vision.

******** 

They honoured the most recent Hall of Fame inductees. On the stage were Nick Hogan, Robin Roussimoff, and Jimmy Hart (for Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant), Demolition, Dennis Rodman, as well as the families of Bad News Brown and Sid Vicious. AJ Styles and Stephanie McMahon received separate entrances. Stephanie came out last. 

******** 

There was yet another long clip from the Hogan documentary during a break. 

Liv Morgan and Steve Austin will be playable characters in Fortnite. 

Women’s World Championship match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan 

Morgan’s entrance incorporated her new Trouble music video. She’s still sporting a knot on her forehead and two black eyes. 

Vaquer was aggressive early on, but Morgan powerbombed her out of the corner for an early two count. Morgan followed with three amigos and did Eddie Guerrero’s shimmy. 

She went for a frog splash, but Vaquer got her knees up and hit a back suplex. Vaquer hit Devil’s Kiss, and the fans grunted along, although it wasn’t that loud. (I was wondering why Vaquer hit this move only two minutes into the match, but we’re about to find out.) 

Vaquer followed with a facebuster (to Morgan’s already messed-up face) for two. Morgan came back with a backstabber and smacked Vaquer’s head repeatedly. Morgan set up for Devil’s Kiss, but Vaquer rolled into a cradle for two, followed by a backbreaker for two. Morgan hit a Codebreaker, but Vaquer hit Oblivion for a two count. 

Roxanne Perez ran down to distract the referee while Raquel Rodriguez dropped Vaquer off the top rope, and Morgan hit Oblivion for a nearfall. 

Vaquer kicked Perez and Rodriguez off the apron as Cole pleaded with the referee to actually do something. Morgan tried to wipe out Vaquer, but Vaquer moved, and Morgan dove into Rodriguez. Vaquer followed with a slingshot dive to take out Perez and Rodriguez. 

However, that allowed Morgan to shove Vaquer from behind into the steel steps. Morgan followed with a Codebreaker and Oblivion for the pinfall win. Morgan is the new champ. 

— Dominik Mysterio slid into the ring to celebrate with Morgan. Judgment Day was celebrated together as fireworks went off. 

Match result: Liv Morgan defeated Stephanie Vaquer to win the Women’s World Championship (6:52) 

Six minutes and fifty-two seconds. 

The action was fine, but this did not at all come across like a big world title match, and all the interference completely dragged it down. I was about to say this belonged on Raw, but that would suck, too. 

********

Attendance announcement and Bianca Belair announcement 

John Cena announced the fake attendance number of 50,816. 

This normally gets a pop, but the fans barely reacted. I mean barely. A few fans applauded before fireworks went off. 

The crowd popped instead for the return of Bianca Belair. 

Belair entered wearing a big, blue feathery coat. She said she missed the fans and appreciated all the love and support she’s received from them. 

She had a big WrestleMania announcement. She removed her coat to reveal that she was pregnant. The crowd cheered, and Cena hugged her. Upon hearing that Belair was carrying WWE’s youngest fan, he updated the attendance to 50,817. 

********

Another Hogan ad. (This was a repeat.) 

There was also a vodka ad with Cody Rhodes. A guy in the commercial held up a Rhodes poster that was clearly made with AI. 

They plugged WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. 

Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton (w/ Pat McAfee)

The combined entrances of Orton and McAfee lasted longer than the women’s world title match. Rhodes’ entrance alone was just 20 seconds shorter than the match. 

Rhodes’ entrance included four pods on the stage that had Rhodes mannequins dressed in his old outfits (like something you’d find in a sad Batcave). He entered draped in gold attire and a gold skull mask. He greeted Brandi Rhodes and his daughter at ringside.

McAfee did Orton’s in-ring introduction instead of Alicia Taylor. She did do Rhodes’ introduction, and he was mostly booed. 

Before the match could start, McAfee hit Rhodes over the head with a microphone. Orton put the boots to Rhodes, but Rhodes fought back and laid out McAfee with a Cross Rhodes. 

Rhodes placed McAfee on the announce table. Jelly Roll appeared at ringside, climbed another table, and elbow-dropped McAfee through the table. 

Attention remained on McAfee as they brought out a stretcher to wheel him out. The crowd was glad to see him taken out. This took a long time. McAfee raised his middle finger to the crowd as he was wheeled away. 

Orton joined Rhodes in the ring, and the match finally began. Orton was briefly in control until Rhodes did the Goldust uppercut and powerslam, but Orton came back with a backbreaker. 

Cole mentioned the rumours that Orton might be injured, and he sold his own back after that spot. Rhodes went after him, but Orton poked him in the eye. Rhodes managed to hit a back suplex, and Orton sold it like his back was hurt—and Rhodes noticed. 

Rhodes drove Orton back-first into the corner before applying a single leg crab. Rhodes let go of the hold but kept targeting the back. Things moved along very slowly until Orton tripped Rhodes on the top rope. 

Orton met him on the top turnbuckle and hit a superplex—hurting his own back in the process. Orton hit clotheslines, a powerslam, and a draping DDT. Orton continued to sell his back. Instead of dramatically dropping to the mat to set up the RKO, he went down deliberately. (I mean, he doesn’t need to drop down at all to do the move.) 

Rhodes blocked the RKO setup, but Orton blocked Rhodes’ suicide dive. Orton gave Rhodes a back suplex on the other announce table as the crowd watched on silently. Rhodes drove Orton into the ring post, and there was a very light smattering of boos. 

The crowd gasped upon seeing Orton’s forehead busted open. (Barrett said the ring post is made of steel, but it isn’t—it’s a video board.) Rhodes saw the blood and hammered away on Orton. Rhodes did the Garvin stomp and hit a Disaster Kick for two. 

Rhodes wiped blood over the ‘Dream’ tattoo on his chest before dramatically setting up a draping DDT. Rhodes hit the move and banged the mat to set up for an RKO. Orton blocked the attempt and hit a Cross Rhodes for two. 

Orton fired up as he set up for an RKO, but Rhodes turned it into a backslide for two. Rhodes popped up and hit an RKO for a nearfall. Rhodes shoved Orton into the announce table, and Cole erroneously claimed this was a new side of Rhodes we haven’t seen. 

Rhodes set up Orton for a Cody Cutter, but Orton suddenly hit an RKO for a nearfall. 

They traded strikes until Rhodes poked Orton in the eye (which Orton did earlier). Orton was momentarily blinded, and he accidentally gave referee Charles Robinson an RKO. 

Orton went for a low blow, but Rhodes gave him one instead, and the fans booed. Rhodes went for a Cody Cutter, but Orton nailed him with an RKO. 

The referee was still down, so McAfee ran down in a referee shirt (and soft neck brace) to count the fall, but Rhodes kicked out at two. 

Orton gave McAfee an RKO for his efforts, but the distraction allowed Rhodes to hit Orton with Cross Rhodes for the pinfall win. Rhodes retains. 

— As Rhodes posed after the match, Orton yanked his title belt away and hit him over the head with it. Orton backed up and punted Rhodes in the head. 

Match result: Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to retain the WWE Championship (22:40)

This thing was all over the place. They went into this match with Rhodes as the babyface and Orton as the heel. They figured Orton would be the crowd favourite regardless, so they had Rhodes take out McAfee to get him cheered. But Orton then sold his back as if he was really hurt, making him sympathetic. The finish saw Rhodes hit a low blow, maybe a heel tactic—except it was justified, so not a heel move. Orton took out McAfee like a babyface, but turned heel anyway after the match. 

They completely overthought all of this, and McAfee was the wrench whose involvement was completely pointless. You could justify it all if the crowd was into it, but they weren’t. And the feud will continue.

WOR: Dave and Bryan live Q&A from Las Vegas

Posted on by F4W Staff

Live from Las Vegas and WrestleMania weekend, our Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez answer questions and give answers from subscribers, fans and friends as part of our annual convention at The Circa.

If you’re in town, here’s some of the other events you can attend.

Click here to listen (sub needed)