Date: April 19, 2025
Location: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV
**********
Show Recap —
COUNTDOWN SHOW
The 3-hour pre-show began with a black screen for about a minute as Michael Cole ran things down. The panel was stationed outside Allegiant Stadium with Cole, Pat McAfee, Big E, and Wade Barrett.
Cole said Rey Mysterio would be a game-time decision for his match tonight. He also confirmed that Gunther vs. Jey Uso will open tonight’s show.
Joe Tessitore and Sam Roberts discussed LA Knight vs. Jacob Fatu, Cathy Kelley and Byron Saxton discussed Jey vs. Gunther, and Jackie Redmond gave us some stats. There was a video package for the main event, and there was a very long discussion about it.
(If you’re not familiar with these pre-shows, they kill a lot of time by showing random videos that always have much to do with tonight’s show. I’m not going to mention them all over the next two nights, but as an example, they had clips of Undertaker and Kane re-watching a match they had at Mania, and there was a video of wrestlers backstabbing each other through history.)
There was another long discussion, this time about Jade Cargill vs. Naomi.
Two hours to go.
There was a video package for El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) where they had a voice dubbed over El Grande Americano’s actual voice.
They aired parts of Triple H’s interview with Peter Rosenberg.
Redmond replaced McAfee and Barrett on the panel.
Cole, Big E, and Redmond spoke glowingly about their boss, Triple H. Cole said, “I just want to remind everyone: We’re all here today because of what he’s built over the past couple of years.”
They aired parts of a Charlotte Flair interview with Barrett.
Cole announced that WWE acquired AAA. There will be a joint show called Worlds Collide on June 7th. Dorian Roldán Peña, Alberto Fasja Cohen, and Triple H joined the panel. Vikingo, Rey Mysterio, Stephanie Vaquer, Penta, Rey Fénix, Dragon Lee, Andrade, Santos Escobar and others stood behind them as they spoke about the joint venture.
Rey Mysterio announced that he was not medically cleared to compete tonight against El Grande Americano. His replacement will be Rey Fénix.
There was a full 15-minute block where they focused on Jey Uso vs. Gunther. There were separate video packages for each guy, a sit-down interview with Jey, and a panel discussion about the match.
One hour to go.
There was another Jey video.
Saxton interviewed New Day. They were appalled by Saxton’s negative question and called themselves the greatest tag team of all time. They planned on winning the belts and celebrating on the strip.
Tessitore and Roberts had a long and arduous discussion about Knight vs. Fatu.
It looks like Bayley is out of action. She was attacked backstage earlier today, and they quickly discovered it was a shoulder injury. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez happened to be nearby, and Adam Pearce was pissed at them. They were amused, but denied any involvement. They also figured there would be no title match tomorrow. Pearce told Lyra Valkyria that she has 24 hours to find a new partner.
Stephanie McMahon joined the panel, and she spoke about her new show. Redmond asked what match she looked forward to most this weekend, but she didn’t want to answer because she didn’t want to have to pick a winner. Her answer made it sound like she doesn’t really follow it. She only mentioned Jey Uso after the crowd started Yeeting.
There was a video about Las Vegas narrated by Dana White.
Jelly Roll sang “God Bless America” as we approached 7:00 pm ET.
WRESTLEMANIA 41 – NIGHT ONE
Roman Reigns (on his own), Seth Rollins, CM Punk and Paul Heyman, Charlotte Flair, and Tiffany Stratton were shown arriving. Charlotte was heavily booed. Reigns and Rollins were dressed up, while Punk wore a Chicago Blackhawks hoodie. Gunther and Jey Uso were shown warming up.
The WrestleMania intro video focused on the company’s popularity, narrated by Triple H. He was in the ring to start the show, and welcomed us to WrestleMania as fireworks went off.
Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers.
Cole and McAfee Yeeted along with Jey Uso’s entrance. Barrett, thankfully, did not.
Jey’s entrance looked great. They had people waving “Yeet” banners along the ramp, and the Las Vegas Raiders cheerleaders posed in stairways as Jey entered through the crowd.
(As big as this entrance felt, it was hampered by two separate cutaways for sponsors. They also cut to Turki Al-Sheikh sitting in the crowd.)
There are nine different sponsors on the ring mat.
The bell rang for the opening match at 7:19 pm ET.
Jey Uso defeated Gunther to win the World Heavyweight Championship (16:23)
Gunther was in control until Jey hit a body slam, which they played up like a big spot, but Gunther chopped him out of the ring. Gunther was back in control until Jey suddenly hit a spear for a nearfall.
Gunther hit a superplex off the middle rope, followed by a dropkick and powerbomb for a nearfall. Jey countered a powerbomb by hitting a hurricanrana. He followed with a spear and an Uso splash for a nearfall.
Gunther grabbed his title back and acted like he would leave. Jey went for a suicide dive, and the referee had to dive out of the way. With the ref momentarily distracted, Gunther nailed Jey with the belt. Gunther followed with a splash for a nearfall.
Gunther applied a sleeper as the crowd Yeeted. Jey went for a rope break, but Guther pulled him to the middle of the ring. Jey did get a rope break moments later.
Gunther attacked Jey with strikes, and Jey invited him to keep going, so Gunther chopped him down. Gunther chopped him repeatedly, but Jey fought back with strikes. They traded blows until Jey dropped Gunther with a clothesline. Jey countered a sleeper into a German suplex, but Gunther came back with a dropkick.
Jey countered a powerbomb into a powerbomb of his own. Jey hit consecutive superkicks, a spear and an Uso splash. Jey hit another splash, and the fans rose to their feet as he hit a third one.
Instead of going for a cover, Jey put Gunther in a sleeper, and Gunther tapped out. Jey Uso is the new world champion.
(When they showed the replays, the graphic was of the Survivor Series logo, not the WrestleMania logo.)
— Jey almost seemed in disbelief when he was handed the title. Jey posed on the announce table and hugged Jimmy Uso in the ring. They posed together and celebrated in the crowd. The fans were into all of this.
As Barrett recapped the closing moments over the replays, Cole randomly started talking over him and excitedly announced that Jey had tapped out Gunther as Barrett was leading up to the moment.
(I wouldn’t call this a great match, but it was laid out well and I liked the definitive finish. Jey pinning Gunther might’ve felt a bit weak after all this time.)
Match result: Jey Uso defeated Gunther
********
Rick Rubin, Criss Angel, and George Kittle were shown in the crowd. Kittle wore a Jey Uso shirt, and he chugged his beer.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods got in Kittle’s face at ringside.
The War Raiders’ entrance was sponsored by Clash of Clans, and they were each dressed like characters from the game.
The New Day defeated The War Raiders to win the World Tag Team Championships (9:12)
Early in the match, Erik body slammed Ivar off the apron and onto New Day. Kingston hit a senton over Erik’s previously injured back/neck, and New Day took over. New Day tried doing a Hardy Boyz spot, but Erik wound up slamming Kingston onto Woods.
Ivar made a tag and knocked down Kingston and Woods with a double handspring elbow. Woods came back with an Honor Roll clothesline. New Day set up for a double-team, but Erik made the save. Kingston gave him a Trouble in Paradise before Ivar hit Kingston with a spinning kick.
Ivar hit Kingston with a moonsault (right onto his legs), but Woods broke up the cover with a flying elbow drop. Erik hit Woods with knee strikes, but Kingston saved him from their finisher.
Woods distracted the referee while Kingston tripped Ivar off the ropes. New Day got rid of Erik and hit Ivar with UpUpDownDown. Woods pinned Ivar, while Kingston held Ivar’s feet down (out of sight of the referee) for the win.
New Day knew they got away with one, so they grabbed the title belts and sprinted up the ramp to pose on the stage.
(This was an ordinary match in front of a quiet crowd. This match was also shorter than the amount of time that passed between the end of the last segment and this one.)
Match result: The New Day defeated The War Raiders
********
O’Shea Jackson Jr., Michael Che, and Jelly Roll were in the crowd.
Naomi wore black and yellow to go with her caution tape theme. Cargill wore gold and white. Cargill’s entrance included a special “weather report” by Jim Cantore to let us know a storm was coming. Naomi has a new rock song as her entrance music.
Jade Cargill defeated Naomi (9:21)
Cargill was in control until Naomi hit an X-factor as Cargill was draped off the apron. Naomi worked her over for a bit until Cargill hit a backbreaker.
There was a very cool spot where Naomi went for a blockbuster off the top, but Cargill caught her effortlessly out of the air and hit a jackhammer for two. Cargill caught her off the ropes again moments later and hit a fallaway slam.
Cargill went to the top, but Naomi brought her down with an avalanche bulldog. Naomi followed with a split-legged moonsault for a nearfall. Naomi applied a Rings of Saturn, but Cargill powered up to her feet with Naomi on her shoulders.
Cargill adjusted and put Naomi in an electric chair drop position and transitioned into a powerbomb. Cargill followed with Jaded for the pinfall win.
(This was a fine match with some cool spots. A few of Cargill’s moves require a bit too much of a setup, but they look impressive.)
Match result: Jade Cargill defeated Naomi
********
Lilly Singh and Lil Yachty were in the crowd.
Solo Sikoa initially entered the stage with Fatu, but returned to the back for the match. Knight was driven on the stage in a white Maserati.
Jacob Fatu defeated LA Knight to win the United States Championship (10:38)
Knight had the edge early on until Fatu hit a big Samoan drop. Knight tried mounting a comeback, but Fatu caught him off the top with a powerslam for two. Fatu tried another Samoan drop, but Knight countered into what was meant to be a crucifix bomb.
Fatu missed a Stinger splash, so Knight booted him repeatedly and hit a running knee. Knight drove him twice into the ring post and hit a step-up elbow drop onto a standing Fatu for two.
Fatu set up for a moonsault, but Knight ran up the ropes and hit an avalanche release German suplex for two. Fatu came back with a superkick, three running hip attacks, and a senton bomb for two.
There were duelling chants as they set up for the next spot. Fatu went for a moonsault, but Knight caught him as he fell with a BFT. Knight presumably had it won, but Fatu got a rope break at two.
Fatu hit a senton with Knight draped over the top rope. He followed with a senton bomb and consecutive moonsaults for the pinfall win.
The crowd liked Knight, but they popped big for the closing sequence and Fatu’s win.
(This started out as another ordinary match, but it wound up being pretty good by the end. Fatu getting a big win and moving up the ladder put it over the top. Even though the fans liked Knight, you could tell they wanted to see Fatu get crowned.)
Match result: Jacob Fatu defeated LA Knight
********
They adjusted the video package for the next match to include Rey Fénix in Rey Mysterio’s place. This was the same video that had a voiceover dubbed for El Grande Americano/Chad Gable.
They used a hefty yellow tint filter for El Grande Americano’s entrance. Alicia Taylor announced him as being from the Gulf of America, but the announcers said he hailed from the Gulf of Mexico.
Vikingo and Dana White were shown in the crowd. White got a mixed reaction.
El Grande Americano defeated Rey Fénix (7:56)
They didn’t know this match was happening before yesterday, so in an unfortunate coincidence, Gable and Fénix both wore the same shade of red and gold gear.
Before the match, Gable shoved Vikingo, so Vikingo kicked him in the face. Gable stumbled into the ring, and the match began.
They went back and forth until Gable launched Fénix into the corner with an overhead suplex. Gable then did a move he’s probably never done before, something similar to a 630 splash, which looked amazing.
Fénix tried running the ropes, but Gable tripped him. With the ref distracted, Gable loaded his mask. Fénix hit a running kick to the face, but of course, Fénix sold his foot because he kicked the loaded mask.
Gable caught his injured foot in an ankle lock, but Fénix reversed into a cradle for two. Fénix came off the top, but Gable headbutted him out of mid-air. Gable hit a diving headbutt for the pinfall win.
— Vikingo helped Fénix to his feet after the match.
(This was good but short. Since the opener, every match has been under 11 minutes.)
Match result: El Grande Americano defeated Rey Fénix
********
Shawn Michaels entered the stage, and he announced an attendance of 61,467. They called this a sell-out. (The number was written for him on a card in the biggest lettering possible.)
Stephen Amell and Israel Adesanya were in the crowd. Dana White was shown a second time for some reason, and he was booed.
Tiffany Stratton entered first. Every other champion tonight has entered last. She had a Barbie-themed entrance, and entered out of a custom Barbie doll box they said was made by Mattel.
Charlotte was driven to the ring in a Rolls-Royce. She was heavily booed again.
They both wore sparkly pink outfits, although Flair had pink and blue, while Stratton was all pink.
Tiffany Stratton defeated Charlotte Flair to retain the WWE Women’s Championship (19:10)
Charlotte did Stephanie Vaquer’s signature Devil’s Kiss move early in the match, and the crowd booed. The announcers even referenced Vaquer when she did it. Stratton came back later with a spinebuster, rolling senton, and basement dropkick, but Charlotte cut her off with a big boot.
Charlotte called her a bitch and hit a few chops. Stratton responded with some aggressive strikes, but Charlotte booted her again. Stratton avoided Natural Selection, but Charlotte hit a sit-out powerbomb for two. Stratton avoided another boot and hit a spinebuster for two.
Stratton countered a flying crossbody into a cradle for two. Charlotte set up for a moonsault to the outside, but Stratton shoved her off the top rope. Charlotte sold it like she hurt her knee (which has a heavy brace), so Stratton immediately attacked the leg. Charlotte managed to boot her again anyway with the other boot.
Charlotte began attacking Stratton’s knee before applying the Figure Four. Stratton got out of it by punching Charlotte’s injured knee. Stratton chop-blocked her and hit a Finlay roll. Stratton went for a PME, but Charlotte got her knees up and applied a small package for two.
Charlotte dropped Stratton off the top rope and followed with a Natural Selection (sort of) for a nearfall. Charlotte trash-talked, so Stratton smacked her. Charlotte went for a figure four again, but Stratton got out of it and hit an Alabama Slam into the turnbuckle (not really).
Stratton followed with a Finlay roll and BME for the pinfall win.
The crowd wasn’t super into this (a recurring theme), but they did pop big for Stratton’s win.
(This match was a slog. Not only that, but Stratton came out of this with a bruised forehead and chipped tooth or teeth. It happened the hard way, but at the very last, Stratton probably gained more steam with the crowd, even if this wasn’t good.)
Match result: Tiffany Stratton defeated Charlotte Flair
********
They aired clips from the 2025 Hall of Fame. The Triple H clip was as long as everything else combined.
Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Michelle McCool, and Tugboat and family were on the stage and introduced to the live crowd. (Lex Luger was not there.) Triple H got his own entrance, and he shook hands with everyone.
They showed Iyo Sky taking a trip on the Goodyear blimp. (They’re a sponsor.)
********
Seth Rollins entered first. He had a flamethrower and pretended to light the stage on fire. It looked pretty cheesy, because it was just the video boards lighting on fire. The flamethrower by itself would’ve been fine.
The lights turned off, and his music stopped. For a brief moment, I very dumbly thought he was getting new music. But they just turned the lights on, and his usual music played again. The lights going out was to reveal that he changed his outfit. He was wearing all black but switched to white.
Roman Reigns did his usual entrance, wearing the Ula Fala.
CM Punk entered last, and he got a special video before his big entrance. He redid one of his old promos as they spliced in clips of young Punk, and they showed footage of his accession in the company. It was basically the type of video they would do for his eventual HOF induction.
Living Colour played “Cult of Personality” live as Punk entered with Paul Heyman.
After they all entered, Reigns and Rollins looked as they always do, but Punk was taking it all in and took a deep breath before they got started.
Triple Threat Match: Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns and CM Punk (w/Paul Heyman) (32:40)
Punk immediately left the ring to consult with Heyman. Rollins tried to get Reigns on his side to go after Punk, but Reigns punched him instead. Punk got back in the ring, but Reigns took the early advantage over both guys.
Reigns distracted himself by looking on in dismay at Heyman, so Punk posted him before Rollins wiped him out with a dive. This led to a brawl between Punk and Rollins. They fought through the crowd, and Punk was mostly getting the better of it until Reigns wiped them out with a dive over the barricade.
The crowd chanted for tables, so Reigns cleared one of the fancy new announce tables. The fight went back into the ring before he could use it. Punk mocked Reigns’ pose, but Reigns hit a Samoan drop. Rollins tried a springboard move, but Reigns caught him with an uppercut.
Punk gave Reigns a neckbreaker and handed out running knees to both opponents. He hit both guys with a simultaneous DDT and reverse DDT combo. Reigns put Rollins on his shoulders, and Punk brought him down with a clothesline (a Doomsday device by happenstance). Reigns followed with a Superman punch on Punk for two.
Punk got the better of a strike exchange with Reigns and followed with a Rock Bottom for two. (None of the announcers called the move.) Punk put Reigns in an Anaconda Vice, but Rollins broke it up by hitting Reigns with a frog splash for two.
Rollins hit each man with buckle bombs. Punk avoided a Pedigree but ate a spear by Reigns instead. Reigns tried to spear Rollins, but Rollins countered into a Pedigree. Rollins followed with a stomp, shoved Punk out of the ring, and covered Reigns for a nearfall.
Reigns went to spear Punk, but Punk moved, and Reigns speared Rollins. Punk hit Reigns with a GTS for a close nearfall. Rollins hit Punk with a Pedigree for two.
Rollins explained to Reigns that they needed to take out Punk for the greater good. Rollins booted Punk and cleared the other announce table. Reigns went to the outside, but did not immediately get involved.
Reigns sized up the situation and called for the Shield powerbomb. Rollins set up Punk for the move, but Reigns punched Rollins instead. Reigns powerbombed Punk through the table on his own instead. Reigns then powerbombed Rollins through the other table. Reigns speared Rollins in the ring for a close nearfall.
Reigns put Punk in a guillotine while he looked over at Heyman. Punk reversed into a jackknife cover for two, followed by an Anaconda Vice. Rollins broke that up by putting Punk in a Sharpshooter. (Rollins flipped off Punk, and they actually blacked out the full screen for a second while he did.)
Reigns put Rollins in the guillotine, but Rollins countered into a Northern Lights suplex. Reigns reapplied the hold, but Punk curb-stomped Reigns. Punk hit Rollins with a GTS for another nearfall.
Punk gave Rollins a GTS, Reigns speared Punk, and Rollins stomped Reigns. Everyone was down, which led to Paul Heyman.
Heyman grabbed a chair and walked toward the ring. Punk and Reigns both looked up at him. Heyman slid the chair to Punk, and the crowd gasped. You knew that wasn’t all, because Heyman entered the ring.
Punk held up the chair to use it on Reigns, but Heyman gave him a low blow from behind. Heyman handed the chair to Reigns, and he hit Punk with it repeatedly. Heyman showed Reigns that Rollins had his back turned (the same way Reigns’ back was turned when Rollins turned on the Shield).
Reigns set up for a chair shot to finally get revenge on Rollins, but Heyman gave Reigns a low blow.
Rollins didn’t even turn around to look at what happened, because he already knew.
Heyman gave Rollins the chair (as the fans sang his damn song). With Reigns’ back turned, Rollins nailed him with the chair. Rollins followed with a curb stomp for the pinfall win.
Heyman held up Rollins’ hand in victory.
Cole overreacted big time, acting like this betrayal was the worst thing he’s ever seen.
This was easily the best match on tonight’s show, and they were given more than enough time to do it.
Match result: Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns and CM Punk
********
The opening and closing matches produced memorable moments, but this was still a pretty forgettable show. The closing angle was cool, but it was no bigger than angles we often see throughout the year, including the one we just saw at Elimination Chamber. The aura of WrestleMania often adds to the magnitude of the show’s matches, but that didn’t really happen tonight, and I certainly don’t blame the fans in attendance.
