Tag: wrestlemania 38

Vince McMahon returns to the ring at WWE WrestleMania 38, Steve Austin appears

Posted on by Ian Carey

Vince McMahon wrestled for the first time in 12 years at WrestleMania 38.

McMahon defeated Pat McAfee in an impromptu match on Sunday’s show. McAfee had just defeated Austin Theory when he challenged the 76-year-old to a match as well. McMahon accepted and a referee joined them in the ring. 

Theory attacked McAfee from behind before the bell. With his opponent already weakened, McMahon gave him a few clotheslines and punted a football into his ribs before pinning him. 

McMahon and Theory were celebrating in the ring when “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s music hit. Austin delivered a stunner to Theory before turning his attention to Vince. The two toasted beers together but Austin would eventually give McMahon a stunner too. 

Austin then invited McAfee to join him in the ring. The two of them toasted beers together as Austin’s music played. Finally, Austin gave McAfee a stunner as well before the segment came to a close. 

This was Vince McMahon’s first match since being defeated by Bret Hart at WrestleMania 26.

Damian Priest aligns with Edge at WWE WrestleMania 38

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new ally helped Edge defeat AJ Styles at WrestleMania 38 night two.

Near the end of the Edge vs. Styles match, Damian Priest appeared at ringside as Styles looked to be on the verge of winning. Styles was distracted by Priest being there, which led to a Phenomenal Forearm attempt by Styles being delayed. When Styles did go for the Phenomenal Forearm, Edge hit a spear in mid-air and pinned Styles to get the victory.

Before Priest appeared, there was a near fall where Edge kicked out of the Styles Clash.

Priest got into the ring after the match — and he and Edge both laughed. Edge and Priest posed and raised their arms in celebration.

Edge turned heel leading into the WrestleMania match with Styles. After Styles answered his open challenge for the WrestleMania match on the February 28 episode of Raw, Edge laid out Styles with two con-chair-tos.

Priest lost the United States title to Finn Balor on that February 28 Raw episode. Priest snapped after losing the title. He said the fans never respected him during his entire title reign.

New Women’s Tag Team Champions crowned at WWE WrestleMania 38

Posted on by Joseph Currier

New Women’s Tag Team Champions were crowned on night two of WrestleMania 38.

Sasha Banks & Naomi emerged from a fatal four-way match at WrestleMania Sunday as the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. They defeated Zelina Vega & Carmella, Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan, and Natalya & Shayna Baszler.

Vega & Carmella were champions going into the four-way match. After Banks took out Vega with a meteora on the outside, Banks and Naomi got the win with a combination Glam Slam/Codebreaker on Carmella.

Banks had never won a match at WrestleMania before tonight. She lost the first six WrestleMania matches of her career.

For Banks, this is her third Women’s Tag Team title reign. She and Bayley previously held the titles twice, including becoming the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champions in 2019.

This is Naomi’s first Women’s Tag Team title reign.

Vega & Carmella had been Women’s Tag Team Champions since November 2021.

Wrestling Observer Live: WWE WrestleMania 38 weekend

Posted on by Andrew Zarian

On the Sunday edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Andrew Zarian is joined by Mat Men partner Rich Stambolian and producer Jonathan for a special two-hour WrestleMania edition of the show.

Hour one:

  • They discuss night one of WrestleMania including a returning Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair winning the SmackDown Women’s title, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin having an actual match with Kevin Owens.
  • Ring of Honor ran its first show under Tony Khan’s ownership, which included a Minoru Suzuki title win and maybe the best match of the weekend: FTR vs. The Briscoes. Also, Samoa Joe returned to ROH and will be in AEW as well.
  • We give our thoughts on NXT Stand & Deliver Saturday afternoon which has Andrew gushing over afternoon wrestling shows.

Hour two:

  • The guys preview WrestleMania night two, breaking down every match and what matches will steal the show. What is the likely outcome of the main event and who challenges for the titles after WrestleMania?
  • Also, we have a few additional notes on Cody Rhodes leaving AEW and not liking his executive role while he was there.

All this and more on this special two-hour Wrestling Observer Live! 

Click To Listen

Johnny Knoxville defeats Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 38, ‘Jackass’ stars appear

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Johnny Knoxville defeated Sami Zayn in an anything goes match tonight at WrestleMania 38 that featured plenty of innovative weapons seen on Knoxville’s ‘Jackass’ series.

Many weapons were used during their match, including a table filled with mousetraps, a kicking machine that at one point kicked Zayn in the groin, and a giant hand that slapped Zayn as he was out of the ring. The finish of the match had Knoxville introduce a giant mousetrap. Knoxville was able to use the mousetrap to pin Zayn’s shoulders to the floor, allowing Knoxville to pin Zayn.

Stars from the Jackass series also appeared in the match, including Chris Pontius under his ‘Party Boy’ character. Wee Man also appeared, at one point body slamming Sami Zayn.

Zayn has spent most of the year feuding with Johnny Knoxville. At the Royal Rumble, Knoxville entered the Royal Rumble match but was eliminated by Zayn. After Zayn won the Intercontinental title, Knoxville challenged him to a match for the title. Zayn initally rejected a match against Knoxville, but eventually accepted after Knoxville cost Zayn the title, losing to Ricochet following a distraction.

Gable Steveson confronts Chad Gable at WWE WrestleMania 38

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Two-time NCAA  Heavyweight Champion and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson appeared at WWE WrestleMania 38 for the second consecutive night Sunday, confronting Chad Gable. 

Following the opening Raw Tag Team Championship match featuring RK-Bro retaining their titles in a three-way also involving Alpha Academy and The Street Profits, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins of the Profits proposed a toast to RK-Bro, then invited Steveson into the ring to join them. 

As Street Profits, RK-Bro and Steveson raised their cups, Chad Gable entered the ring and slapped Steveson’s drink out of his hand. Gable cut a promo announcing that he was going to give Steveson a free lesson, but Steveson knocked the mic away and delivered an overhead belly-to-belly throw to Gable, then mugged for the camera. 

Steveson was introduced by WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon on night one of WrestleMania. 

After retiring from amateur wrestling last month, Steveson is expected to be a regular on the Raw roster imminently. He was drafted to the brand in the 2021 WWE Draft after signing an NIL deal with the company last September.

Triple H appears at WWE WrestleMania 38, leaves his boots in the ring

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Triple H appeared on the second night of WrestleMania 38, putting his boots in the ring.

The start of tonight’s show had Triple H coming out in what was a long entrance. He briefly talked about wanting to welcome us to WrestleMania. Pyrotechnics went off and after they concluded, the camera showed Triple H’s boots in the ring, a symbolic gesture that his in-ring career is now over.

On March 25, Triple H appeared on Stephen A’s World to announce that he will no longer wrestle, citing that he now has a defibrillator in his chest following heart issues that took place last fall.

“As far as in-ring, I’m done. I would never wrestle again. I have a defibrillator in my chest so it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to get zapped on live TV,” he said.

Triple H also appeared Saturday afternoon at NXT Stand & Deliver. As Tommaso Ciampa made his way up the rampway following a loss to Tony D’Angelo, Triple H came out. The two embraced as Triple H left to give Ciampa time to make his own exit.

Rick Boogs grateful ‘for all the love and support’ after WWE WrestleMania injury

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Despite suffering an injury in his first-ever WrestleMania match, Rick Boogs is keeping a positive attitude.

Boogs & Shinsuke Nakamura challenged The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team titles in the opening match of WrestleMania 38 night one on Saturday, but the match was cut short due to Boogs’ injury. When he had both Usos on his shoulders in a fireman’s carry position, Boogs’ right leg gave out.

Boogs immediately grabbed his knee after the injury. He tagged out to Nakamura, who briefly faced both Usos on his own until The Usos retained their titles with the 1D.

WWE has announced that Boogs suffered “a torn quadriceps to patella tendon” and will be undergoing surgery in the coming days.

Boogs commented on the injury in an Instagram post today, saying that he’s still incredibly grateful for the WrestleMania experience and for all the love and support he’s received. Boogs wrote that he plans on coming back bigger, better, and stronger:

From the highest of highs to lowest of lows. Having my beautiful wife with me to experience my first Wrestlemania. Getting the incredible opportunity to open the show! Being able to demonstrate brute strength in front of millions of viewers! Unfortunately, the doctor told me my quad was too strong for the tendon and it was flexing so hard, it ripped the tendon totally off the bone. I’m still incredibly grateful for the experience and for all the love and support. History proves I will come back bigger, better, and stronger. IT’S A MINDSET

WWE WrestleMania 38 night two live results: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

Posted on by Steve Khan

WrestleMania 38 reaches its conclusion as night two of the event takes place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas tonight.

The show will be headlined by what WWE is billing as “the biggest WrestleMania match of all time.” WWE Champion Brock Lesnar faces off with Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a winner-take-all title unification match.

For the first time ever, Edge and AJ Styles will meet in a one-on-one match. Two celebrities will also be in action tonight. Pat McAfee takes on Vince McMahon’s protege Austin Theory, while “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville faces Sami Zayn in an anything goes match.

Also set for tonight are: RK-Bro vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy for the Raw Tag Team titles, Queen Zelina & Carmella vs. Sasha Banks & Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan vs. Natalya & Shayna Baszler for the Women’s Tag Team titles, Bobby Lashley vs. Omos, and New Day’s Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland.

Tonight’s main card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time. There will also be a two-hour pre-show starting at 6 p.m. Eastern.

**********

Show Recap —

KICK-OFF SHOW

The pre-show panel was Kayla Braxton, Booker T, Jerry Lawler, Kevin Patrick and Peter Rosenberg.

The first half-hour featured videos for Edge/AJ Styles, Roman Reigns/Brock Lesnar, and Sami Zayn/Johnny Knoxville.

The panellists spoke about their favourite moments from night one.

Megan Morant interviewed Paul Heyman. Heyman felt sick because he had to mourn the end of his friendship with Brock Lesnar. He felt this way before WrestleMania 30 because he knew that he and Lesnar were about to end of Undertaker’s streak. Tonight’s match was one that neither man could afford to lose, but when it was over, we would be seeing the end of Lesnar. 

There was a Charlotte Flair video and a Hall of Fame recap.

Leonard Floyd of the LA Rams joined the panel. He did Booker’s catchphrase and took a shot at the Dallas Cowboys fans in the crowd.

The panel spoke about the Raw tag title match.

Maria Menounos interviewed Queen Zelina and Carmella. They seem worried about losing their titles tonight. 

JBL joined the panel and spoke about Steve Austin beating Kevin Owens.

Menounos interviewed Austin Theory. Theory looked forward to beating “Fat McAfee” and taking a selfie over him. He took a selfie with Menounos.

Ezekiel Elliot and Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys joined the panel. They both picked Brock Lesnar to beat Roman Reigns. Parsons was a fan of John Cena, and Elliot liked The Rock.

Menounos interviewed Bobby Lashley. Lashley put over Omos before saying he would put an end to the myth of Omos. 

There was a recap of night one.

George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers joined the panel. Kittle talked about Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Austin, Undertaker and Reigns.

They ran down the card one more time and spoke about Lesnar and Reigns.

WRESTLEMANIA 38 NIGHT TWO RECAP 

Jessie James Decker performed America the Beautiful.

There was a video package of night one and the intro once again narrated by Mark Wahlberg.

Triple H is kicking off the show. 

Triple H entered wearing a suit. He hugged his daughters in the front row before shaking hands with Gable Steveson. He did his usual entrance and really soaked in the crowd reaction. The crowd chanted “Triple H” and “Thank you, Hunter.”

Triple H said, “I just wanted to come out here and say, ‘thank you,” and to show you my love the best way I know how. Welcome to WrestleMania!” A big-time, big-ass fireworks display went off.

Triple H left his boots and a microphone in the ring. He hugged his family again before leaving.

********

Gable Steveson waved to the crowd again. (He’s in the front row tonight.)

Triple threat tag team match: Randy Orton & Riddle defeated The Street Profits and Alpha Academy to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships (11:33)

The match had three legal participants in the ring at once.

Montez Ford did an insane spot where it looked like he was going for a Stinger Splash but leaped right over Chad Gable and did a flip dive wiping out everyone outside the ring. Gable followed with a moonsault onto the group as well.

Alpha Academy worked over Riddle for a while as Ford remained on the outside. Ford got back in but Gable turned him inside out with a monkey flip. Angelo Dawkins made a tag but Otis squished him to remain in control. Riddle fought off Gable and Dawkins before making a hot tag to Randy Orton.

Orton hit Ford with clotheslines, a powerslam, and a backdrop on the table. Gable ate a table backdrop as well. Orton and Riddle gave Ford and Dawkins draping DDTs. They set up for RKOs to the excitement of the crowd but they were yanked out of the ring by Gable and Otis.

Alpha Academy gave Dawkins a Steinerizer. The Street Profits gave Gable a spectacular-looking blockbuster for a nearfall.

Ford went to the top but Riddle brought him down with an awesome RKO. Gable came off the top and Orton brought him down with an RKO for the pinfall win.

Very fun match and the crowd loved it.

********

After the match, Ford and Dawkins handed red cups to Orton and Riddle. Ford poured something special into their cups. Ford invited Gable Steveson into the ring to join them.

Before they could take a drink, Chad smacked the cup out of Steveson’s hand, which was hilarious. Chad told him to shoosh. Steveson took the mic away and gave Chad an overhead suplex. Steveson toasted with the babyfaces. 

********

There was a video recap of night one.

Bobby Lashley defeated Omos (6:35)

I’m not sure it came across this way on Raw, but Omos looked gigantic even next to Lashley.

Lashley smacked Omos in the face which fired up Omos. Omos charged at him in the corner but Lashley kicked his leg out of his leg. Lashley went for the Hurt Lock but Omos simply powered out of it and hit a clothesline. Lashley tried a high cross but Omos caught him and dropped him like he was nothing.

There was a nasty spot where Omos drove Lashley into the corner and the back of Lashley’s head hit the ring post. Fortunately, Lashley seemed fine.

Lashley battled out of a bearhug and hit a snap vertical suplex, which popped the crowd. Lashley followed with a spear to the back followed by a regular spear for the pinfall win.

This match was completely fine (outside of the spot I mentioned earlier). The crowd liked Lashley. 

********

There was a video featuring the company’s charity work.

Pat McAfee was on commentary with Michael Cole despite having a match tonight.

There was a long video package for the upcoming match (2:46).

Anything Goes match: Johnny Knoxville defeated Sami Zayn (14:26)

Knoxville was announced as being two cheeseburgers away from 175 lbs.

Zayn immediately hit a Helluva kick. Zayn bragged to Knoxville’s Jackass friends in the front row until Knoxville sprayed him in the face with a fire extinguisher. Zayn fought him off and hit him with a baking sheet, crutch and garbage can.

Zayn pulled out a table from under the ring that was covered with mousetraps. Zayn figured Knoxville put it there. Knoxville attacked him with garbage can lids and set up a table in the corner. He tried a suplex but Zayn countered and put Knoxville through the table with an Exploder for a two count.

Jackass’ Party Boy entered the ring and did his thing that he does. He removed his shirt and tearaway pants (to reveal his thong). Zayn was disgusted and decked him. Knoxville used the distraction to apply a schoolboy for a nearfall.

Zayn pushed “Naked Boy” under the ring. Wee Man popped out from under the ring and wildly attacked Zayn. He also gave Zayn a perfect bodyslam and the crowd popped huge. Knoxville followed with a tornado DDT for a close nearfall.

Knoxville and Wee Man pulled out some sort of robot leg from under the ring but Zayn booted Wee Man and the crowd booed.

Zayn went to the top but Knoxville somehow set off fireworks from the ring post behind him and Zayn fell. Knoxville followed by chucking a bowling ball into Zayn’s groin. He also used the robo foot to give Zayn a low blow. (He could have just used his own foot to do this.)

Knoxville chased Zayn with a taser and Zayn ran right into a giant swinging hand. Zayn didn’t sell this for long as he followed with a suplex.

Zayn went to the top again but Knoxville grabbed his dick with tongs before tossing him off into the mousetrap table. The entire Jackass crew pulled out a giant mousetrap.

Knoxville used the taser on Zayn before unleashing the mousetrap on Zayn. Knoxville pinned Zayn, with help from the mousetrap, for the win. The Jackass crew celebrated in the ring. 

********

There was a video of Drew McIntyre’s win last night before he destroyed the ring ropes (2:27).

Fatal four-way match: Sasha Banks & Naomi defeated Queen Zelina & Carmella and Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan and Natalya & Shayna Baszler to win the Women’s Tag Team Championships (10:52)

Banks and Naomi entered in a Lamborghini.

Ripley and Banks had an exchange that Ripley got the better of. Banks and Morgan each hit dives on opposite sides of the ring. Natalya and Baszler double-teamed Morgan to take control. Carmella tagged herself in so that her team could take advantage. Zelina gave Morgan a Code Red but Ripley broke up the cover.

Everyone jumped in and traded moves. Carmella brought Ripley down off the top with a hurricanrana and Zelina followed with a dive to the outside. Moments later, Morgan and Ripley each brought down three opponents with their own tower of doom spots.

Ripley and Morgan gave Naomi a combo Rip-tide/Backstabber but Banks broke up the cover. Natalya and Baszler double-teamed Naomi but Morgan broke up the cover. Carmella stopped a Hart Attack attempt and gave Naomi a superkick for two.

Banks gave Carmella a frog splash for a nearfall. Banks applied a crossface but Zelina saved her partner. Banks wiped out Zelina with a double knee strike off the apron.

Banks and Naomi hit Carmella with a combo Glam Slam/Codebreaker and Banks pinned her for the win. Banks and Naomi are the new tag champs.

********

There was a replay of Miz and Logan Paul beating Rey and Dominik Mysterio (2:25).

Dallas Cowboys players Micah Parsons and Ezekiel Elliot were shown in the crowd. 

There was an Edge/AJ Styles video package (4:07).

Edge defeated AJ Styles (24:27)

Styles was bleeding from his cheek during his entrance. (Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez both tweeted that it was a pyro mishap.)

Edge entered on a throne that popped out from under the ring, surrounded by flames. Edge wore black and purple, Styles wore white and blue.

Styles had the early advantage after clocking Edge right in the chin with a sliding knee but Edge gained control after getting his knees up on a springboard 450 attempt. Styles tried fighting back but Edge drove him into the buckle. Styles came back with a suplex into the buckles.

Styles hammered away on Edge but Edge went back after his injured shoulder. They traded reversals until Edge applied an STF but Styles got a rope break. Styles avoided a spear and hit a springboard DDT. Styles followed later with a rack bomb for two. Edge came back with an impaler DDT for two. Styles followed that with a snap German suplex.

They traded strikes until Styles hit a PelĂŠ Kick. They countered submissions again until Edge applied a crossface but Styles fought out. Edge hit an Edge-o-match for two. Edge also hit a rebound powerbomb (which Dax Harwood used on the ROH show) for two.

Styles hit a vertical suplex off the bottom buckle onto the ring apron, which looked brutal. They barely beat the ten count getting back in the ring. Styles hit a springboard 450 to the back for a nearfall. They countered finishers until Styles hit a Styles Clash for a close nearfall.

Styles set up for the Phenomenal forearm but was momentarily distracted by Damian Priest who randomly appeared at ringside. Styles went for the forearm and Edge hit him with a spectacular mid-air spear for the pinfall win.

Priest and Edge were on the same page and they posed together post-match.

This was a really good match but it wasn’t a classic or anything. 

********

There was a commercial followed by a commercial for Backlash.

They announced a night two attendance of 78,453.

There were several replays setting up the upcoming match, including a replay of Big E breaking his neck.

Byron Saxton replaced McAfee on commentary.

Sheamus & Ridge Holland (w/Butch) defeated Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods (1:44)

New Day wore singlets like Big E. Cole said the colour/theme was the same that Big E wore when he won the world title.

Sheamus and Holland attacked New Day during their entrance. When the match started, Kingston immediately hit Holland with Trouble in Paradise but Sheamus broke up the cover.

Sheamus gave Kingston a Borgue Kick outside the ring as Woods gave Holland a superkick. Butch caused a distraction which allowed Sheamus to give Woods a Brogue Kick behind the referee’s back. Holland followed with Northern Grit for the pinfall win.

This was extremely lame. 

********

There was a video of Cody Rhodes’ return (2:24).

Undertaker entered on the stage and the crowd cheered for him. (They congratulated the other Hall of Famers but they didn’t enter the stage like they did last night.)

They aired two commercials and plugged Peacock by showing Jefferson White from Yellowstone.

There was a video package for the upcoming match (2:43).

Pat McAfee defeated Austin Theory (w/Vince McMahon) (9:38)

Vince McMahon entered. He introduced Theory as a future world champion. Theory took a selfie with McMahon.

McAfee entered to Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes and the crowd hummed along. He entered with the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders.

McAfee got an early nearfall after a back elbow and hurricanrana. The crowd chanted for McAfee. Theory dropped him with a backbreaker and took over as the crowd hummed Seven Nation Army. McAfee came back with a vertical suplex. He drove Theory off the apron and Theory bounced off the announce table.

McAfee put the headset on so he could trash talk. McAfee doused water on Theory and bounced his head off the table.

McAfee tried a swanton but Theory dodged it and hit a backdrop for two. Theory tried pushing McAfee off the top but McAfee did a back flip and landed on his feet. McAfee leaped on the top and gave Theory a superplex for a nearfall. Crowd popped big for that.

Theory dodge a punt and and dropped McAfee with a left hand. Theory went for the ATL but McAfee slipped out and used a schoolboy for the pinfall win.

The crowd went nuts. McAfee was good here and the crowd was really into him. 

********

After the match, McAfee called out McMahon. McMahon took his coat off and the crowd cheered but he put it back on and the crowd booed. McMahon decided to remove his coat and shirt and he got in the ring. A referee did too. It seemed like they were about to wrestle when Theory decked McAfee from behind. As McAfee got to his feet, the ref called for the bell to start the match.

Vince McMahon defeated Pat McAfee (3:44)

McAfee ran into a few clotheslines. McAfee got to his feet but Theory tripped him and crotched him using the ringpost. Theory handed McMahon a football. McMahon teased punting it into the crowd but instead he kicked it into McAfee’s ribs. Vince pinned McAfee and that was somehow enough to get the win.

Theory posed around the ring as the crowd booed.

********

Steve Austin’s music hit and the crowd exploded.

Austin attacked Theory and gave him a stunner. Austin looked at McMahon who tried pleading with him. Austin called for some beers and handed one to McMahon.

McMahon took a sip of Austin’s beer and seemed impressed. They both took a gulp before Austin kicked him in the gut. McMahon fell before Austin could give him a stunner but Austin did his best to get him up and hit the worst stunner ever. Austin couldn’t help but laugh.

Austin invited McAfee in the ring and they shared some beer before Austin gave him a stunner too. The crowd popped and Austin posed. He waved at the crowd one last time before leaving. 

********

They reaired Bianca Belair’s entrance from last night and aired a commercial for next year’s WrestleMania.

There was a Reigns/Lesnar video package (3:27). 

Roman Reigns entered with Paul Heyman and the Usos but the Usos returned to the back before the match. Heyman did Reigns’ introduction and Lesnar did his own.

Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) defeated Brock Lesnar to win the unified Universal Championship and WWE Championship (12:17)

Lesnar removed his gloves when the bell rang and that seemed to worry Reigns. (This didn’t really play into anything in the match.)

Lesnar was in full control to start, handing out three overhead belly-to-belly suplexes. Lesnar cornered Heyman who kept repeating “I love you,” and “Please take me back!” Of course, that was a distraction to allow Reigns to spear Lesnar through the barricade.

Lesnar barely beat the ten count but he ran right into a spear by Reigns for a nearfall. Reigns followed with two superman punches. Lesnar got to his feet, laughed, ducked another punch, and hit five straight German suplexes.

Reigns slipped out of an F5 attempt and hit a third superman punch. Lesnar countered a spear into an F5 for a nearfall.

Lesnar tried another F5 but Reigns raked his face. Reigns speared him into the corner but smushed the referee in the process. Reigns immediately followed with a low blow. Heyman handed Reigns the title belt and Reigns clocked Lesnar in the head with it for a nearfall.

Reigns ran off the ropes and hit a spear to the back. This didn’t look good and I think Lesnar knew it because he didn’t waste any time grabbing the ropes to break up the pin. (Corey Graves mentioned that Lashley used a spear to the back earlier tonight.)

Reigns went for the spear again but Lesnar caught him in a kimura. Reigns got a rope break but seemed to tell Heyman that his shoulder popped out. (Heyman also pushed the rope closer so that Reigns could get the rope break.)

Lesnar went for an F5 but Reigns slipped out and hit another spear for the somewhat abrupt pinfall win.

Reigns posed with both belts as fireworks went off. 

This match was nothing special and felt like a letdown after all the build. 

Ronda Rousey: ‘An absolute honor to perform under Steve Austin’ at WWE WrestleMania 38

Posted on by Josh Nason

In a Sunday tweet, Ronda Rousey addressed a report that she was upset about not being in the main event of Saturday’s first night of WWE WrestleMania 38, in addition to why she wasn’t at Friday’s Hall of Fame ceremony.

Our Bryan Alvarez said on Saturday’s Bryan & Vinny Show that he was told by someone close to Rousey that she was “furious” when told her match against Charlotte Flair wasn’t going on last and walked out of Friday’s SmackDown prior to the Hall of Fame.

While not directly denying she was upset about the decision, Rousey said that it was “an absolute honor” to perform under Steve Austin Saturday.

In the tweet, Rousey said had to take care of her child on Friday after SmackDown which is why she wasn’t at the Hall of Fame.

The main event of Saturday was the Austin appearance on Kevin Owens’ KO Show. It turned into a no holds barred match that Austin won in his first match back in 19 years.

Rousey was unsuccessful in unseating Flair, the SmackDown Women’s Champion, losing after being kicked in the face and pinned. Rousey was trying to revive a downed referee and had Flair visually submitted prior to that, setting up a likely rematch.

VIDEO: ‘Behind the scenes’ of Cody Rhodes’ WWE WrestleMania 38 return

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has released a video documenting the “behind the scenes” of Cody Rhodes’ return at WrestleMania 38 night one.

Rhodes spent the afternoon being hidden in a bus at AT&T Stadium. He had to put a hoodie and sweats on as he was brought to go position for his match against Seth Rollins.

Rhodes didn’t see the crowd or the set-up for the stadium until he entered for his match. As he was about to make his entrance, Brandi Rhodes told Cody how happy and excited she was for him.

“That’s a moment I’ll never forget,” Rhodes said about seeing the crowd. “And to be able to follow with a classic wrestling match with an insanely good pro wrestler, sports entertainer, whatever you want to call him — just insanely good. And to be able to get the victory. Because that’s what we do, it’s about winning, it’s about losing. And I spent a lot of my career losing. But to be able to get that win — that was tonight. Tomorrow’s another night of WrestleMania. And then Monday — the Raw after WrestleMania. So, ready to play the game.”

Rhodes will be on Monday’s Raw to address what his intentions are in returning to WWE.

Rhodes defeated Rollins in their match at WrestleMania Saturday. It was the first match that the former AEW executive vice president has had for WWE since 2016.

Cody and Brandi Rhodes both announced this February that they were leaving AEW.

New Day vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland moved to WWE WrestleMania 38 night two

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

WWE has announced that Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland will now take place at WrestleMania 38 night two on Sunday.

**********

One of the matches that was scheduled for WrestleMania 38 night one on Saturday didn’t end up taking place.

Despite being announced for WrestleMania Saturday, New Day’s Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland didn’t happen tonight. PWInsider reported that New Day vs. Sheamus & Holland was pulled “due to a number of matches on the show going long.”

“To be in the business for an extended duration of time is to experience the highest of highs as well as lowest of lows,” Kingston tweeted. “Yes, it hurts; but we take it and we use it to propel us forward. #WrestleMania”

Sheamus commented on the match being cut by tweeting a scissors emoji:

Before Big E suffered a broken neck last month, it appeared that a six-man tag match with New Day (Big E, Kingston & Woods) vs. Sheamus, Holland & Butch (Pete Dunne) was originally being set up for WrestleMania 38.

Cody Rhodes says he will make his intentions clear on WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

In an interview taken after his match against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 38, Cody Rhodes said he would be on Raw this Monday and opened up about his departure from AEW.

In an interview with David Shoemaker, Cody said that he would be on Raw to discuss his intentions. He will also be part of an Axxess panel tomorrow at 11:30 pm.

“I feel so vindicated,” he said following the match. “To go from just nowhere on the card, nowhere to have me, and to go out into the wilderness to make noise…I felt appreciated and I appreciated them.”

He said that Bruce Prichard and Vince McMahon both flew down to meet with him. Cody emphasized McMahon that he needed to be ‘The American Nightmare’, which he developed outside of WWE. He said that McMahon agreed.

“I remember saying it had to be The American Nightmare,” Cody said. “To hear Vince say ‘well it’s not broke,’ it’s vindication to prove people wrong who doubted you and prove people right who were on board with you. I’m going to talk about it all on Raw, but it’s pretty clear what I am here to do, there’s unfinished business for my family that we never got, and I am going to be the one to get it.”

He also said that leaving AEW this past February to come back to WWE was the easiest decision he ever made.

“No bad blood in the best of ways but it was the easiest decision that I ever made,” he said. “It was just time. That show is doing well, people are getting paid that weren’t getting paid. How much are you going to do for everybody else until you say ‘you know what, I want one for me’. I felt like that tonight. It felt real good.”

“It was time for me to move on,” he later added. “I wrestled everyone I wanted to wrestle, I didn’t want to be a 15 time TNT Champion or hold the belt hostage, I wanted to move on to maybe another piece of leather.”

When Shoemaker brought up the promo Rhodes cut prior to leaving AEW, Rhodes said he was not aware that he would soon be leaving the company.

“I think everyone knew that something was wrong,” he said. “I was so happy to set the table. Then Bryan [Danielson] came, and Punk came, and [Adam] Cole came, great. I can do my thing now. And to be there for MJF, to be there for Sammy [Guevara], and the kids. Looking at that interview, I didn’t know, but if I did know, I need to [get that] out.”

Rhodes also emphasized that he had signed a full time, multi-year deal with WWE. and was not part time.

At tonight’s WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes returned to the WWE after six years, defeating Seth Rollins. Prior to the match, Rollins’ opponent was billed as an opponent of Vince McMahon’s choosing.

Steve Austin defeats Kevin Owens in WWE WrestleMania 38 no holds barred match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

What was originally advertised as a KO Show talk show segment turned into a match, with Steve Austin defeating Kevin Owens in a no holds barred match tonight at WrestleMania 38.

The match was agreed to after the two exchanged words in the main event of WrestleMania. They brawled around the ring and into the crowd. At one point, Austin took a suplex onto exposed concrete. The finish of the match had Owens hit Austin with a stunner, but Austin kicked out. Owens grabbed a chair, entered the ring and went to strike Austin with it, but instead hit the ropes, with the chair recoiling and striking himself in the process. Austin then hit the stunner on Owens for the win.

After the match had ended, Austin celebrated in the ring and drank beer. He gave a second stunner to Owens, then another to announcer Byron Saxton as he attempted to celebrate with Austin. The show ended after Austin celebrated with his brother in the ring.

Prior to the match, Owens told Austin that he wanted to have a nice chat. He then started to say disparaging remarks about Texans, a recurring theme in the weeks prior to tonight’s show. Owens eventually told Austin that he wanted a no holds barred match. Austin said his first match in Dallas, and could end tonight in Dallas. He then asked for a referee as the match began.