WWE kicks off their ESPN era tonight with their first-ever Wrestlepalooza premium live event from Indianapolis, Indiana.
In one of the featured matches, John Cena takes on Brock Lesnar who returns for the first time in more than two years. The two last clashed more than a decade ago.
In another high-profile return, AJ Lee competes for the first time in a decade, joining husband CM Punk against rivals WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes returns after a month off to defend his title against Drew McIntyre after McIntyre put him out of action. It’s Rhodes’ first defense of the title he regained at SummerSlam.
IYO SKY takes on Stephanie Vaquer with the vacant WWE Women’s World title on the line.
Jimmy & Jey Uso will reunite to take on Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed.
The pre-show begins at 5 PM Eastern. The show airs on Netflix outside the U.S.
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When you think of the great “Paloozas” of time, Lollapalooza, Chillipalooza, etc, there has until now not been a wrestling even worthy of joining the great “Palooza” lexicon. Fear no more friends for that time is over as WWE presents Wrestlepalooza from the great state of Indiana and for the first time under a newly struck deal, on ESPN.
ESPN viewers got their first taste of the legally mandatory “Wrestlers Arriving To Work” montage and you’ll be happy to know everyone made it there OK. After that, it was right into match number one!
Hahaha gotcha! No, there was an extensive promo package that played comparing WWE and ESPN over the years, showing wrestling and sports have been intertwined over the years and entertainment is key to both.
After it was over, The Triple One himself, HHH appeared in the ring a said that tonight is the “final form” of sports entertainment (take that how you will). He welcomed everyone in and cued the fireworks.
But the show still wasn’t ready to start yet because a black truck pulled up and Mr Indianapolis, Pat McAffee climbed out and sauntered to the join the announce team to a huge ovation.
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
OK, I don’t want to deal with this, you don’t want to deal with this, but they are getting it out of the way early, so lets just hold hands and get through it.
Lesnar is 4-2 when it comes to singles matches against Cena. The last time they met was 2014, and Cena walked away with a DQ victory, but took quite a beating in process. Since we last saw him, Lesnar has been lifting presumably large logs and working on his Canadian accent.
Cena came to the ring with a hoard of children all dressed like him and I swear at one point Lesnar looked confused as to which one he was. Bold strategy, John. Lesnar stomped around the ring as Cena took a moment to highlight the ever present “let’s go Cena/Cena sucks” chant before Alicia Taylor announced the participants.
She got through Cena just fine, but when it came to Lesnar we suddenly heard “Ladies and Gentlemen…” and who should appear but Paul Heyman, longtime manager and mouthpiece for Lesnar. Heyman did his thing and people were excited about that.
The bell rang and Lesnar jumped Cena, sending him into the corner for some shoulders to the gut. Cena punched his way out of it, but Lesnar sent him to the mat with a clothesline, followed by another. Lesnar whipped Cena into the corner, raising welts all over Cena’s back.
Lesnar hit a British Bulldog style powerslam and then threw Cena out of the ring with a suplex. Cena climbed back in and Lesnar locked in a bear hug. Cena fought out of it, and hoisted him up on his shoulders, but Lesnar got free and hit another clothesline.
Lesnar took Cena back to Suplex City (hopefully in time for Suplexpalooza) and tossed him clear across the ring. Cena got up and shoved Lesnar into the turnbuckle. The then hit a dozen shoulders and two back to back AA’s. Cena hit a third AA and Lesnar kicked out at two.
Cena went for his You Can’t See Me Elbow, but Lesnar intercepted and delivered two F5’s. He landed a third F5, but seemed to be in pain doing so. Lesnar hit him again with an F5, bringing the total to four. He didn’t try to pin him though.
Cena staggered to his feet and Lesnar hit a fifth F5, then a quick sixth. Finally he pinned him and the ref counted 1,2,3 to give Lesnar the victory.
Match Result: Brock Lesnar defeated John Cena
After the match, Lesnar went back into the ring and hit an F5 on the ref, then one more on Cena for good measure. Lesnar then took off his gloves and left. Cena staggered out of the ring and up the ramp to “Thank You, Cena” chants.
Not for nothing, but when Lesnar won the match there was barely a cheer from the crowd and no one in the section behind the ring was standing. I can’t for the life of me figure out what this match accomplished, so I’m just going to move on and enjoy whoever Cena faces next on his retirement tour.
The Usos vs. Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker
Jey Uso and LA Knight were in a tag match against Breakker and Reed that went awry. So, it was announced earlier in the night that LA Knight would be the special guest referee for this clash of tag team heavyweights. The Usos have reunited to avenge Roman Reigns who was injured at the hands of Breakker and Reed.
Once Indianapolis was satisfactorily YEET’ed, the bell rang and Reed and Jey kicked things off with a lockup. Reed came out the better and pounded Jey in the corners. Jey turned the tables with a kick to the ear and tagged in Jimmy. They double superkicked Reed and splashed him in the corner.
Reed fought back though and tagged in Breakker. Breaker isolated Jimmy in the corner and laid in some shoulders before throwing him outside. Breakker distracted ref Knight and Reed went for a chair, but Knight saw it and told him to stop. Jimmy picked it up and Knight “turned away” allowing Jimmy to nail Reed with the chair. That brought Breakker to the outside and Jey hit a splash from the top on all three of them.
Back in the ring, Jimmy and Reed fought in the corner, while Jey and Breakker battled on the outside. Breaker got the best of Jey and pulled the rope down so that Jimmy spilled back to the outside. Breakker took a running leap and hit a shoulder on Jimmy. He tossed him back in the ring and went for a cover. Before he could complete it though, he tagged in Breakker and they double teamed Jimmy.
Back on the outside, Reed tried the chair thing again, this time hitting Jimmy in front of Knight, but for some reason he allowed it. Reed tossed the chair and Jimmy back in the ring, with Uso clutching his left knee.
Reed set up the chair in the ring and after a back and forth, Jimmy went for the hot tag, but Reed got one first and Breakker stormed across the ring to take out both Usos. Reed got Jimmy up on his shoulders and Breakker bulldogged him from the top rope.
Breakker went for a pin and argued with Knight when it was only a two count. Reed tagged in and went for a senton, but Jimmy rolled away. When no one was looking, Jimmy set up the chair in between the ropes and lured Reed into it face first.
Jey reappeared on the apron and Jimmy finally got that hot tag. Breakker ran in and Jey punched him into the corner. He hit a crossbody on Breakker but only got a two count. Jimmy pulled a table from under the ring and sent it in to his brother. They both set it up in the middle of the ring, but Brekker and Reed popped up and took them out.
Reed set up the table in the corner with an assist from Knight, the ref. Jey staggered up and Breakker went for a spear, but Jey caught him in a superkick and Jimmy hit one on Reed. The Usos went for a 1D but Reed broke up the pin at two.
Reed put Jey up on the turnbuckle, but Jey fought him off. Breakker ran up for a frankensteiner and then Reed hit Jey with a moonsault. Jimmy got involved and ate a spear from Breakker. Jey then speared Breakker and went up top for an Uso splash, but Breakker would not go down and kicked out at two.
Knight and Reed began arguing at ringside, allowing Jey to hit a superkick and a dive through the ropes. Knight questioned if he was aiming at him, and Heyman threw a chair to Breakker to try and sneak a shot at Jey. Jey intercepted and went to hit Breakker, but Breakker ducked and Jey almost hit Knight. He then threw the chair at reed.
Breakker hit a spear on Jey coming across the ring, covered in Jey’s blodd. Breakker then speared BOTH Usos through the table in the corner. He set up Jey and Reed went up top for a Tsunami. That did it and Reed got the pin, 1-2-3.
Match Result: Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker defeated Jimmy and Jey Uso
I’ll say, it was a fun match, but there was absolutely no reason for LA Knight to be the referee. It would have been easier just to have a No DQ or tables match. Regardless, it was fun and I mean it when I say that Breakker was covered in Uso’s blood.
WWE Women’s World Championship Match: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
For those not in the know, Naomi had to vacate the championship a little more than a month into her reign due to becoming pregnant. That set up this match between Vaquer, who was owed a title shot for winning a Battle Royal at WWE Evolution, and IYO SKY, who was next in line to face Naomi. So, the winner of this match is the new Champion.
The two locked up off the top with Vaquer sending Sky to the mat. The two chain wrestled with Vaquer ending up getting Sky in a waist lock. Sky fought out of it and the two ran the ropes ofr a second before flipping in a few pinning combinations, with the crowd cheering the technical showcase.
Vaquer hit a back drop but Sky was able to avoid the Devil’s Kiss. Sky hit a chop block and a dropkick to sent Vaquer to the ropes. Then she stomped her and hoisted her up for a scoop slam. Sky then dropped double knees on Vaquer and rolled her over for a knee lock. Vaquer kicked her way out of it and wrangled Sky into a tarantula around the ropes.
Sky emerged clutching her arm and Vaquer hit a running leg drop. She then hit a big suplex (a Suplex Burrough as opposed to City, if you will) followed by another. She put Sky in a modified surfboard but Sky was able to slide back and turn it into a lock of her own.
After an exchange, Sky hit a stalling backbreaker on Vaquer and both women collapsed. Sky got back to her feet first and hit a missile dropkick from the top turnbuckle. The crowd was into it and Sky hit a suicide dive onto Vaquer on the outside.
They staggered to their feet by the light of the Old Spice signs and Sky tossed Vaquer back into the ring to avoid a countout. Sky tried a sunsetflip pwerbomb, but Vaquer had it scouted and sent Sky off the apron with a double knee. Vaquer dove on her and then threw her back into the ring to hit a springboard crossbody.
Vaquer picked up the speed and snap suplexed Sky. She charged, but Sky caught her and hit a suplex of her own. Vaquer got back up and suplexed Sky in retaliation. The striking began as they traded punches chops and head butts.
Vaquer went back to the suplex well and the crowd was on their feet. Vaquer took too much time to get the Devil’s Kiss in and Sky managed to knock her down and lock in a crossface. Vaquer flipped out of it and right into a knee from Sky.
Sky went up top, but Vaquer caught her in a dragon screw, yanking Sky’s leg through the ropes. Sky recovered and kicked Vaquer square in the temple. Sky started punching her leg to keep going and pulled Sky into position for an Over the Moonsault. Vaquer got her knees up though and Sky bounced across the ring. Vaquer set her up and hit a second dragon screw.
Vaquer dragged Sky to the center of the ring and locked in the Devil’s Kiss, pounding Sky’s head against the canvas. She hit her signature bomb and went for a pin, but Sky kicked out at two.
Vaquer went up top, but Sky went after her and they battled on the top turnbuckle. Sky set up Vaquer and hit a Spanish Fly, but seemed to knock her own knee in the process. Sky went for the pin, but Vaquer kicked out at two.
Digging deep, Sky exposed her knee for a Bullet Train attack in the corner. She then hit a running knee right to Vaquer’s head and dragged her in position for an Over The Moonsault. Sky leapt, but Vaquer rolled out of the way. Vaquer went up top and hit a spiral moonsault. She landed it and pinned Sky for the three count to become the new WWE Women’s World Champion.
Match Result: Stephanie Vaquer defeated IYO SKY
The crowd was hotter for this match than they have been for anything else tonight. These two put on a hell of a show and Vaquer really earned the Championship here.
-For reasons unknown, Pat McAffee signed off after the Vaquer/Sky match, so Cole and Barrett carried on from here.
Mixed Tag Team Match: CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
Rollins and Punk have been trying to kill each other for years, but they’ve never gotten their wives involved until now. The exciting part is of course the return of Punk’s wife AJ Lee who hasn’t been in WWE in over a decade. Punk and AJ are 2-0 in mixed tag matches, while Lynch and Rollins went 3-0 in 2019. So, someone’s streak is coming to an end, presuming there’s a winner in this match.
The Rollins Family Entrance for this match began on a platform raised about 40 feet in the air. It lowered into a circle of fireworks and they stomped off of it in matching suits with GIGANTIC shoulders and lapels. It was, by definition, very extra.
Punk arrived in an amazing “AJ’s Husband” jacket and announced that it was clobberin’ time. Lee arrived next to a massive ovation and then walked/skipped down to the ring (I’ll let you guess who skipped and who walked. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised).
Lee wanted to start the match, but Lynch waved her off and Punk and Rollins faced off. Then, Lynch decided she wanted in and started shoving punk. The crowd chanted for a GTS, but instead they got an AJ Lee who tagged in and the match actually started.
Lynch bailed from the ring and Lee chased her until she popped back in and tagged Rollins. Rollins and Lynch started making out so CM Punk hit them both with a suicide dive. He then threw Rollins into the barricades and leapt off them, fighting him in the crowd.
Rollins ran back ro the ring and Punk went for a head lock. Rollins sent him into the corner and Lynch reached over and choked him behind the ref’s back. Punk shook it off and returned the favour, driving Rollins into the corner for Lee to mess with him out of the ref’s sight.
Punk grabbed Rollins for an atomic drop followed by a big chop. He landed an axe handle on Rollins’ head and went up top for a shot from the top rope. Rollins crumpled and Punk tried it again, but Rollins kicked him instead. Punk bounced off the ropes and caught a kick from Lynch. Rollins stomped him until he rolled out of the ring where Lynch sent him into the steps.
Lee ran around to help, but Rollins got in her way. Rollins grabbed Punk and laid him out on the announce table, punching him. He then tossed him back into the ring and hit an axe handle from the top rope. Punk tried to stand, but Rollins stomped his hand and delivered some chops before kicking him in the face.
Rollins went over and kissed Lynch (which apparently didn’t count as a tag) and then threw Punk onto the ropes for a big knee to the back of the head. Punk reached for Lee, but Rollins wouldn’t let it happen. Punk threw punches, but Rollins held him back.
Lee bounced on the ropes as Rollins whipped Punk back into the corner. Punk tried to crawl to the tag, but Rollins intercepted and tried for a suplex. Punk blocked it and tried for one of his own that Rollins blocked. They went back and forth until Punk executed a suplex and crawled over to get the tag. Rollins cut him off again though.
Punk fought hard against Rollins, pushing him closer and closer to finally get the hot tag, but the ref didn’t see it. She put Lee back in her corner allowing Rollins and Lynch to double team Punk. Rollins lifted Lynch up to throw her at Punk, but Punk rolled out and Rollins dropped her right on the mat.
Rollins charged Punk who sent him out and just before he could get the tag, Lynch pulled Lee off the apron. In the ring, Rollins hit a Falcon Arrow, but Punk kicked out at two. Rollins then skipped around thr ring, mocking Lee. He rolled out of the ring and skipped around her before climbing back in.
The mocking might have gone on too long though as Punk scooped him up and hit a GTS, knocking Rollins cold. Punk went to tag Lee, but Lynch grabbed his foot trying to prevent it. Punk blew her a kiss and made the tag anyway.
Lee entered the ring with a Thez press and rained down shots on Lynch. She threw Lynch to the corner and stomped her, then delivering a splash in the corner. Lee climbed the turnbuckles and punched Lynch exactly 10 times before laying Lynch out with a spin kick.
Lee went up top for a crossbody and got a two count, with Lynch just kicking out. Lee pulled Lynch up to her feet and the two traded slaps. Rollins rolled back in and pulled Lee off of Lynch. Lee then punched him in the face about it and then hit a DDT on Lynch. Rollins grabbed her, but Punk arrived and hit a sliced bread with is own wife.
Lynch and Rollins were dazed in each corner and Lee and Punk hit duelling bulldogs and shining wizards. Lee tried for a black widow submission, but Lynch thew her off. Lee tried it again and managed to lock it on. Rollins tried to save his wife, but Punk grabbed him and locked in a sharpshooter. Rollins kicked his way out of it though and Lee put a Black Widow on Seth. Lynch broke it up and she and Rollins hit a double Pedigree on Punk and Lee.
Rollins and Lynch made motions like they were going to hit duelling GTS’s, but Punk sent Rollins to the outside. Lee took advantage and hit Lynch with a Bexploder. Rollins grabbed her ankle and dropped Lee in the ring. Punk then hit a curbstomp on Rollins and Lynch began hitting Punk.
Punk caught her foot through when she went for a kick and looked to put her in a sharpshooter. Rollins interfered, and Lynch put the sharpshooter on Punk! Punk powered out of it and reversed it. Rollins then broke it up with a Pedigree and curb stomp.
Rollins went for the pin, but Lee broke it up. Lynch grabbed her and hit a Manhandle slam, but Lee kicked out at two.
Lynch got to her feet first and threw a few shots at Lee. Lee hit a few of her own until Rollins and Punk pulled them apart so they had room to brawl. Lee and Lynch then pulled them apart and started a brawl of their own. Then everyone brawled.
Lee and Punk sent Rollins and Lynch out of the ring and Punk flipped Rollins over the announce table. Lee took the monitors off the Spanish Announce Table and Punk began to clear Cole and Barrett’s table. They grabbed Lynch and Rollins and put them on the tables.
Rollins and Lynch woke up and reversed it though, with Lynch sending Lee into Punk and Rollins, collapsing their table. Lynch grabbed Lee and threw her back into the ring. Lynch went for a Manhandle, but Lee locked in a Black Widow, forcing Lynch to tap out.
Match Result: CM Punk & AJ Lee defeated Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
That was a ton of fun. Lynch and Rollins are some of the best characters in WWE right now and Punk and Lee made her return a really good one. It was a great match that ticked all the boxes without making them feel like a list. Great work by all four.
We were all set for the Main Event when suddenly we were interrupted by the Undertaker’s dong. The American Badass rolled down to the ring on his motorcycle and hopped into the ring while Stephanie McMahon clapped at ringside.
Undertaker grabbed a mic and asked her if he could sit next to her in the crowd. They sat down and discussed what they did last weekend. They had a pleasant conversation and then Undertaker asked her “… are you ready?” He then announced that Stephanie would be be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2026. They hugged as the crowd cheered.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
Cody Rhodes wears big coats. Drew McIntyre occasionally wears a big coat. That has nothing to do with this match, but they are some nice coats. Anyway, McIntyre put Rhodes out of action for a month via Claymore to the face, so there’s some animosity there. Rhodes issued this challenge to settle the face-kicking thing once and for all, here in the Main Event of the only palooza that matters, Wrestlepalooza.
McIntyre started off the match by approaching Rhodes and opening his arms as if asking for a hug. Rhodes didn’t go for it though and the two started to fight with McIntyre sending Rhodes into the ropes and landing a headlock.
They traded blows with Rhodes landing a bionic elbow and bringing McIntyre to his knees. Rhodes went for a Cody Cutter, but stalled and seemed to fall over, indicating that maybe he isn’t at 100%. He put a waist lock on McIntyre to fought out of it and armdragged Rhodes. Rhodes hit a disaster kick and sent McIntyre out of the ring.
Rhodes went for a suicide dive but McIntyre caught him and sent him into the ring post before throwing Rhodes over the announce table. He put Rhodes back in the ring and he stumbled again, allowing McIntyre to get a couple of belly-to-belly throws in.
McIntyre charged and Rhodes moved, sending him into the ring post. McIntyre lured Rhodes out of the ring and hit an Alabama Slam onto the steel steps. He thew Rhodes back into the ring, but could only get a two count.
Rhodes covered up as McIntyre stomped and punched him. McIntyre went up to the top turnbuckle, but Rhodes followed and landed a superplex. Both slowly got to their feet and started trading punches. Rhodes landed a powerslam and then a disaster kick. He landed a Cody Cutter but looked dazed in between.
He set up McIntyre for a Crossrhodes, but McIntrye got a way and delivered a Glasgow kiss. He then grabbed Rhodes on the top turnbuckle and hit a while noise for a two count. He tried for a Claymore, but Rhodes caught him and stacked him up for a two count.
Rhodes then wrapped McIntyre up in a figure four, but he was able to throw him off. While the ref checked on Rhodes, McIntyre pulled the turnbuckle pad off. McIntyre stacked up Rhodes, but the ref was out of position and couldn’t count the three in time. Rhodes took advantage of the situation and hit a Crossrhodes. McIntyre kicked out at two. McIntyre then landed a Claymore kick, but Rhodes wouldn’t go down and kicked out at two.
On the outside, McIntyre set Rhodes up against the announce table for a big boot. The ref tried to stop McIntyre, but he went for it and Rhodes rolled out of the way. McIntyre kicked through the Announce table, screaming with pain. He went back in and hit a Glasgow kiss. Mcintyre tried for a Claymore, but his leg buckled, allowing Rhodes to hit a super cutter.
Rhodes hit a picture perfect Crossrhodes and pinned McIntyre 1,2,3 to get the victory and retain the title.
Match Result: Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre
Pretty good main event! I liked Cody selling the potential head injury and McIntyre is very good and playing a villain. The stuff with the Ref might come back to haunt Rhodes, but for the most part, lots of fun and a good night of wrestling!
