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WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-6-24 (Night #1)

Results courtesy of PWTorch.com (direct link to LeClair's real-time results).

1) RHEA RIPLEY (c) vs. BECKY LYNCH – Women’s World Championship match

Michael Cole noted that Becky Lynch had been suffering from strep throat all week. Corey Graves said she admitted to him that she had a fever for much of the last few days. Rhea Ripley shoved her challenger to the corner right out of the gate. Becky took it in stride, returning to her feet and stepping to the champion. The crowd broke into a quick “let’s go Mami” chant. Lynch managed to create some separation by attacking Ripley’s arm. McAfee mentioned that Rhea has been suffering from a wrist injury. Becky tossed Rhea to the outside, them leapt off the apron onto her. She quickly tossed the champion back in the ring.

Champion and challenger traded quick blows. Ripley gave Lynch a back slam, then a Suplex with a bridging cover for a two count. Ripley backed Lynch into the corner and drove her shoulder into the challenger’s ribs repeatedly. Becky collapsed to the mat. Rhea dragged her out of the corner by the hair. “You’re nothing!’ she told Lynch. Becky countered a Suplex attempt into a roll up, but Ripley broke out with ease. She hoisted Becky back into a Suplex and dropped her. Rhea gave Becky a couple of weak toe kicks to the back of the head. The two traded blows again. Ripley caught Becky with a dropkick off an Irish whip.

Ripley dragged Lynch around the ring. She slapped her chest and smiled at the crowd before ascending the southwest turnbuckle. She gave a signature Guerrero shake, but Becky ripped her down with an arm drag. Both women were down as the match approached 5:00. As the opponents rose, they began trading body blows. Rhea bounced Becky off her knee, then looked for another Suplex. Lynch turned it into a tornado DDT off the middle rope for a cover and two count. Becky willed the crowd to life, but they booed her. She leapt off the bottom rope and caught Rhea with a kick. Ripley was draped over the middle rope. Becky gave her a diving leg drop, flipping the champion to the floor. Lynch followed up with a Bex-ploder into the barrier at ringside. Lynch tossed Rhea back into the ring and gave her another leg drop, this time from the middle rope. She covered for another two count.

Lynch grabbed onto the injured wrist of Rhea and tried to apply the Dis-Arm-Her. Ripley shoved her away, into the turnbuckle. Lynch tried to use the momentum to leap onto the champin, but Rhea caught her and slammed her. Becky popped to her feet and ate a huge knee to the face from the champion for a two count at 7:45. Ripley set up her challenger for the Riptide, but Lynch floated over her back. She shoved her into the ropes and delivered a back cracker. Becky transitioned right into an arm bar. Ripley writhed on the mat, searching for leverage. She dead-lifted Becky into a trio of Powerbombs, sitting out on the last one for a near fall.

The camera pulled back as Cole reiterated the chilly temperature in the stadium. Back in the ring, Ripley dropped Lynch with another big boot and two count. Rhea began to show frustration. She peppered Becky with quick punches and slaps. Becky rose to her feet and returned several of her own. She side-stepped a charge, running Ripley right into the southeast ring post. Becky climbed the ropes and locked the Dis-Arm-Her against the top rope. Becky used the entirety of the referee’s count, finally letting go. Ripley shook out her arm, tripping Lynch up and quickly applying the Prison Trap. She dragged Lynch to the center of the ring. The crowd cheered for a tap. Becky reached valiantly for the ropes, but Rhea laid into it. Lynch turned her over multiple times, eventually catching the champion in a pin, necessitating a hold break.

Rhea went for Riptide again. Becky blocked it and turned it into the Man-Handle Slam for a cover and near fall at 12:20. Becky sat in the middle of the ring, gasping for breath. She tried again to work Ripley’s arm into position for the Dis-Arm-Her. Rhea blocked it. She managed to hoist Becky up and deliver Rip Tide for a stack cover and last moment kick out. The crowd popped big. Ripley was incensed, believing she scored a three. She climbed to the top turnbuckle. Becky sat her down by shaking the ropes. Lynch met Ripley atop the southeast buckle. The two traded punches. Lyunch managed to deliver a Superplex, then rolled into the Dis-Arm-Her. Ripley fought to her knees, trying to gain leverage. She hoisted Becky onto her shoulders. The two tumbled over the top rope, still in Electric Chair position. Ripley dropped her.

“That was a long way down!” McAfee exclaimed as Ripley tossed the challenger back in the ring. She climbed the ropes and delivered a frog splash for a cover and near fall at 15:45. Graves said you’re going to have to kill Becky Lynch before she gives up at WrestleMania. A small “this is awesome” chant broke out. Lynch rolled to the apron with Rhea in pursuit, taunting her. Ripley tried to dead lift Lynch back into the ring by the hair. Becky fought her off. She hooked the champion for a top rope Man-Handle Slam. Lynch dove, but Rhea blocked the move. She scooped Becky up and gave her a Riptide onto the turnbuckle. Becky bounced back into her arms and Ripley delivered the move again, stacking her for a cover and three count.

WINNER: Rhea Ripley in 17:09 to retain the Women’s World Championship

(Good opener in an advantageous position on the card. Becky and Rhea took advantage of being the first wrestlers out of the gate and came off like major stars. This started off a little bit slowly as the two felt each other out, but picked up as they crossed the 5:00 mark and settled in. Coming off the incredible match with Charlotte Flair last year, it felt like there were some lofty expectations for these two, and while I don’t think they quite reached those levels, I do think they did a good job of delivering a strong WrestleMania opener without taking too much of the energy out of the crowd for what it sure to be a long evening. They really played up Lynch’s sickness, which seems like it could’ve played a part in this never reaching a notable fourth gear. The crowd’s reactions were to be expected, with a heavy amount of respect built in for Lynch, but clear favoritism toward Ripley. There’s some interesting stories they can tell with Becky coming out of this loss, too.)

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-6-24 (Night #1)

(2) THE JUDGMENT DAY (c, Finn Balor & Damian Priest) vs. DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) vs. AWESOME TRUTH (The Miz & R-Truth) vs. NEW CATCH REPUBLIC (Pette Dunne & Tyler Bate) vs. AUSTIN THEORY & GRAYSON WALLER vs. THE NEW DAY (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) – Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships

All twelve men stood in the ring looking up at the two sets of tag team titles. Wrestlers came to blows immediately. The fight left the ring right away, with various people focusing on taking down Damian Priest. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller returned to the ring quickly with two ladders, trying to steal a win. Multiple wrestlers came back in to stop them. Judgment Day returned to the fold and took everybody down. Priest tossed a ladder at Waller, knocking him out of the ring. Finn Balor tossed wrestlers into Priest’s ladder and he batted them down like baseballs. The champions propped a ladder in the corner and tossed Tyler Bate onto it. The “Big Strong Boy” rolled out of the way, sending Priest crashing onto the steel.

Balor grabbed a ladder. Bate hoisted him onto his shoulders, ladder still in tow. He completed an airplane spin, then tossed the dizzied champion onto the propped ladder. On the outside. Xavier Woods traded blows with both members of New Catch Republic. The duo cleared a path and climbed a ladder on the outside. Wrestlers gathered under both sides. Bate and Dunne hit tandem Moonsaults off the top of the ladders onto the crowd of wrestlers below as the match crossed 4:00.

Back in the ring, New Catch Republic set up a ladder and began to climb. Damian Priest pulled Dunne off the ladder and launched him into it,. dropping Bate in the process. Priest re-positioned the ladder in between both sets of titles and began to climb. The Miz pulled him down. He set him up for a Skull Crushing Finale, but the two got their feet tangled in the ladder and stumbled dangerously. R-Truth leapt onto the apron, asking for a tag. The crowd popped big. Miz made a leaping dive, reaching his partner. Cole said that Truth thinks it’s a regular tag team match. Truth completed a standard “hot tag” comeback, finishing it off with a Five Knuckle Shuffle and Attitude Adjustment to Balor onto a ladder. Truth pinned Balor and counted to three for himself. The crowd reacted like he’d just won. So did Truth.

DIY returned to the ring. Truth told him to tune up the band. Miz and Truth fed Priest to Johnny Gargano, who hit Sweet Chin Music. Tommaso Ciampa gave Priest a Pedigree. Truth offered the Raw titles to DIY if he and Miz could retrieve the Smackdown titles. The teams tried, but Austin Theory and Grayson Waller knocked both teams off the ladders. Waller ascended the ladder himself and retrieved the Smackdown Tag Team titles just after 7:30. Samantha Irvin announced them as the new champions. Cole noted that that they could become Undisputed champions if they retrieve the Raw titles. Theory tried, but was quickly pulled down by Pete Dunne. Meanwhile, Tyler Bate grabbed Waller off his ladder in Powerbomb position. He launched Waller over the top rope, through a propped ladder between the ring and announcers desk.

Outside the ring, Ciampa tossed Tyler Bate into the ringside Prime “hydration station.” He and Gargano retrieve a table from underneath the ring, much to the delight of the Philly faithful. On the apron, DIY tried to Suplex Woods over the ropes and onto a pair of tables. Kofi Kingston cut them off. New Day propped a ladder against another ladder and the middle rope. Xavier hit a frog splash onto Ciampa, who was laid out on the ladder. New Day began ascending the ladder as the match approached 11:30. Kofi, too far to reach the belts, delivered a trust fall out of the ring onto a group of wrestlers below.

Austin Theory ripped Xavier Woods off the ladder and began climbing. New Catch Republic caught up to him. They manipulated his fingers until he released his grasp on the steel and fell into their waiting arms. They gave him the Burming-Hammer. Meanwhile, Johnny Gargano gave Pete Dunne a tornado DDT off the apron and through a table on the outside. Tommaso Ciampa climbed the ladder to join Tyler Bate. He gave him an Air Raid Crash onto the mat. Cole said he killed him.

R-Truth entered the ring, all alone, as the match crossed 13:30. He began climbing the ladder. J.D. McDonaugh appeared, ripping Truth to the mat. He helped Finn Balor climb the ladder. New Day returned to pull Finn back to the mat. J.D. was left alone atop the ladder. Cole explained that it wouldn’t count if he pulled the titles down. New Day tipped the ladder, sending J.D. crashing through the two tables on the floor. Damian Priest returned and gave Xavier Woods a Big Boot. He delivered a Razor’s Edge to Kofi onto a chair.

Priest began climbing the ladder. Referees tried to get his attention, seeing that the ladder was falling apart. Priest ignored them. Miz ran up the ladder. It nearly broke under his weight. Priest and Miz fought back to the mat. Priest tossed the damaged ladder to the outside. R-Truth returned with a new ladder. Priest took it from him and set it up. He began climbing, but Truth pulled him off and onto his shoulders. He gave Priest an Attitude Adjustment to the floor. Truth climbed the ladder and retrieved the Raw Tag Team titles.

WINNERS: Austin Theory & Grayson Waller in 7:30 to win the Smackdown Tag Team Championships, Awesome Truth in 17:27 to win the Raw Tag Team Championships

(An expected level of chaos and carnage in a very entertaining WrestleMania ladder match. I’m surprised its taken them this long to split the tag team titles, but it certainly made sense for them to pull the trigger here. The two winners made a lot of sense, too. Theory and Waller have been firmly established as a team as of late and should be able to rehabilitate their image some with a strong tag team title run against a variety of capable opponents on Smackdown. On the Raw side, R-Truth and Miz seemed primed for a title win for a long time now, with many having originally predicted they’d face Priest and Balor in a regular tag match at WrestleMania. The crowd was with them every step of the way, and Truth’s antics proved wildly over with the audience. A solid, feel-good moment for this show. I expect they’ll get plenty of TV out of Judgment Day trying to get their titles back from Awesome Truth, unless their break up comes sooner rather than later.)

(3) SANTOS ESCOBAR & DOMINIK MYSTERIO (w/ Legado Del Fantasma) vs. REY MYSTERIO & ANDRADE (w/ L.W.O.)

Rey Mysterio kicked things off with Santos Escobar. Cole and Graves noted that the temperature seemed to drop another few degrees right as the bell rang. After a brief exchange, Santos and Rey tagged out. Andrade caught Dominik Mysterio with a hard shot to the jaw, sending him to the outside. Andrade tagged Rey back in. Mysterio leapt onto Andrade’s shoulders and the duo leapt together off the apron onto Mysterio and Escobar. The camera cut to a shocked and pleased Zelina Vega.

In the ring, Mysterio removed his belt and prepared to use it on his scorned son. Dominik cut him off with a knee to the gut, then tossed him to the floor. Dom called for the referee’s attention so he could tag in Santos. Graves said it was “wisdom beyond his years.” Escobar gave Mysterio a kick to the midsection, then tossed him back in the ring. Graves noted that it must be hard for the tag partners on the outside to keep their muscles warm in this weather. McAfee said it’s nothing like football, where at least they had warm benches.

Escobar tagged in Dominik, who flipped into the ring onto his father for a cover and two count as the match hit 4:00. Dom grabbed a front face-lock as members of L.W.O willed on their faction’s leader. Dominik dropped Rey with a spinning back elbow and covered him for a two count. Dom tagged in Escobar. The duo dropped Rey with tandem back elbows and dropkicks. Santos covered Rey for another two count. The crowd continued to boo Dom as he riled them up from the apron. Escobar hoisted Rey onto the northeast turnbuckle. He rose to meet him, using his leverage to try to rip Rey’s mask off. Rey held onto it, but Santos pulled Rey into tree of woe position. He gave him a kick to the gut. Rey crumbled to the mat.

Mysterio battled out of an abdominal stretch and worked Escobar into the corner. He gave him a quick trio of punches before Santos hoisted him onto his shoulders out of the corner. Rey slid down his back and delivered Code Red. Both men were down in the center of the ring. Both managed to reach their partners for a tag. Andrade exploded into the ring, delivering dragon screws to both Santos and Dominik. Dom retreated to the northeast corner. Andrade caught him with double running knees. He climbed to the top rope and went for a Moonsault. Dominik rolled through. Andrade landed on his feet and hit a standing Moonsault instead. He covered for two just before 8:00.

Dominik Mysterio landed a neckbreaker after ducking a clothesline. He and Andrade reached their respective corners for tags. Rey delivered a Hurricanrana to Escobar, draping him over the middle rope. Dom tried to get involved, but Rey tossed him to the floor. Andrade leapt onto Dom on the outside. Mysterio hit the 619. He climbed the southwest turnbuckle to finish it off, but Angel leapt on the apron out of sight of the referee. He kicked Rey to knock him off balance. Escobar pulled him down. Meanwhile, Elektra Lopez leapt onto the apron to distract the referee. Zelina Vega pulled her down. She flipped onto Lopez below.

L.W.O took out Legado Del Fantasma on the outside. They set up Wilde for a massive dive onto the entrance way. In the ring, Escobar told Dominik to retrieve a chair He tried to, but two large men in Rey Mysterio masks attacked him. They tossed him back in the ring. Rey tripped up Escobar and Dom into the middle ropes. He hit the 619, then a splash from the top rope for a cover and three count.

WINNERS: Rey Mysterio & Andrade in 11:02

The masked men revealed themselves to be Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. They celebrated with L.W.O. and slapped hands with fans.

(The match was fine, but felt like more of a set-up for the action on the outside of the ring and the eventual appearance by Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. It was strange, by keeping them both under masks for such a long time, the crowd didn’t seem to know how to react. It sort of felt like they kind of knew who they were, but they weren’t sure enough to react until they finally took the masks off. The ensuing pop was big, but not quite as significant as I’d have expected for Kelce. Still, a fun moment for what it was. The match more or less did what it set out to do, but it certainly didn’t feel like this settled anything.)

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-6-24 (Night #1)

(4) JEY USO vs. JIMMY USO

Jey Uso continued his onslaught as soon as the bell rang. He clotheslined Jimmy Uso over the top rope to the floor, then launched himself right back onto his brother. Jey tossed Jimmy back in the ring and caught him with a step-up. He climbed the northwest turnbuckle and delivered a big cross body for a cover and two count not event a minute into the match. Jey removed his vest and let his brother collect himself. He charged, but Jimmy hoisted him into the air and caught him with a quick Samoan Drop. Jimmy looked back at his twin with disgust. Jey rolled toward the corner. Jimmy hit him with two big hip checks.

“This it? Him?” Jimmy asked the crowd. Jey crawled out of the corner. Jimmy kicked him in the head. He looked around at the crowd. They booed him loudly. Jey launched himself off the middle rope, but Jimmy picked him out of the air with an uppercut. He dropped his brother with a kick to the chin. “Come on!’ he challenged him before delivering another chin kick. Jey slumped against the ropes. Jimmy lifted him to his feet and kicked him again. “Jimmy sucks!” the crowd chanted. Jimmy shrugged them off and kicked Jey in the head again.

A chorus of boos continued to ring out. Jimmy took his time, sauntering onto the apron and climbing to the middle turnbuckle. He mocked Jey’s bounce before jumping at him back in the ring. Jey cut him off with a boot, finally buying himself an opening. The two brothers rose to knees opposite one another at 4:30. They smiled and started trading punches. The crowd responded with dueling “yeet” and “no yeet” chants. Jimmy hoisted Jey onto his shoulders, but Jey slid free. He kicked Jimmy first in the gut, then in the jaw. He gave him a step-up Enziguri. Cole said it’s been a stalemate thus far. The two rose to center. They began firing off wildly. Jimmy gave Jey a Superkick. Jey shrugged it off and delivered one of his own.

“Right here, big brother!” Jey challenged Jey to kick him in the face. He did. Jey returned the kick again. Jimmy stumbled toward the corner. Jey kicked him again. Jimmy slumped in the southeast corner. Jey kicked him again. “You hear me?” Jey asked. He kicked him again. Jimmy was out on his feet. Jey got a running start and delivered a leaping kick. Jimmy collapsed to the mat. Jey called for his brother to stand. McAfee wondered if Jey is supremely confident, or if he’s unwilling to put his brother down. Jey set up for the death blow. Jimmy put his hand up. Jey kicked air. Jimmy screamed out, “I’m sorry! I was wrong!” He crawled toward his twin. Jey seemed moved. Jimmy offered his hand. Jey took it and helped him up. Jimmy could barely stand.

Jimmy suckered him in. He reared back and kicked Jey in the face. He quickly climbed to the top rope and delivered a frog splash for a cover and near fall just before 10:00. McAfee said he thought the Usos were back. “No chance,” Cole responded. McAfee said Jey wanted it, and Cole agreed. Jimmy called for Jey to stand. He got a running start, but Jey picked him off with a Spear. He climbed to the top rope and delivered a splash of his own for a cover and three count.

WINNER: Jey Uso in 11:04

(Like matches involving the Bloodline have been apt to do, this relied less on the in-ring action and more on the emotional storytelling. In truth, the stock of the Bloodline had dropped so dramatically in recent months that this lacked the impact it may have had months ago. Jey has maintained a strong connection with the crowd, and relied on it heavily here to carry the weight. I don’t think it ever really felt like this program hit a strong crescendo, and so the match felt similarly hollow. Jimmy’s late match ruse proved fruitless, as no one seemed to really buy into it except Jey. Thankfully, the babyface wasn’t full thwarted in the end and Jey managed to counter his way into a win. A fine match, but like the opener, it failed to reach another gear.)

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-6-24 (Night #1)

(5) DAMAGE CTRL (Dakota Kai & Asuka & Kairi Sane) vs. JADE CARGILL & BIANCA BELAIR & NAOMI

Noami began the match with Kairi Sane. She gave one half of the women’s tag team champions a kick and landed herself on the apron. She tried to leap back in, but Dakota Kai gave her a quick kick from the apron. This allowed Kairi to knock her to the outside and hit an Insane Elbow from the apron to the floor. She tossed Naomi back in the ring and covered her for a two count. Cole mentioned that Iyo Sky is not in the building tonight as she prepares for her Championship defense tomorrow.

Sane tagged in Asuka. She worked Naomi into the corner. Damage CTRL worked together to isolate Naomi, but she managed to reach her corner and tag in Bianca Belair. The EST gave Dakota Kai a stalling Suplex, then stacked Sane and Asuka in the corner for double punches. Kai charged her, but Belair telegraphed it and flipped over her. Kai speared her own partners. Belair gave Kai a Gutbuster, then pressed Asuka onto both Kai and Sane. She delivered her signature handspring standing Moonsault to all three women and covered them for a two count just before 5:00.

“We want Jade!” the crowd told Bianca. She looked to honor the request, but Dakota Kai cut her off by pulling on her braid. The heels worked Belair over in their corner. Kai tagged Asuka, who delivered a quick flipping neckbreaker to Bianca. The Jade chants continued. “They want Jade and Asuka does not care!” Pat said. Kai and Asuka tried to give Belair a double Suplex, but she flipped through and landed on her feet. She slid through their grasp and dove into Jade’s waiting hand.

Cargill dropped Dakota Kai, then gave Asuka a Chokeslam. Kairi was waiting for Jade on the top rope. She dove at her. Cargill picked her out of the air and slammed her. Kai charged her. Jade gave her an awkward back drop. Cargill delivered a driver to Kai and hooked both legs, but the Warriors broke up the pin. Bianca returned to the ring. Asuka tried to mist Belair, but she ducked. She sprayed Sane instead. Belair whipped Asuka with her braid. She gave her a K.O.D. Jade hit Kai with Jaded and covered her for a three count.

WINNER: Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair, and Naomi in 8:02

(Not much to this one. The crowd was prepping themselves for the official non-Rumble debut of Jade throughout. They popped respectfully for Belair’s always-impressive offense, but the story of this was getting Cargill in the ring to do some impressive stuff. She succeeded. Each of the three babyface women got a few minutes to do their thing, and Damage CTRL fed into it well enough. I couldn’t help but feel like Cargill and Belair deserved some bigger moments here.)

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-6-24 (Night #1)

(6) GUNTHER (c) vs. SAMI ZAYN – WWE Intercontinental Championship match


Gunther flashed a confident smile at Sami Zayn as the bell sounded. Sami circled him. The two locked up and the champion took early, firm control. He shoved Zayn to the mat and then gave him an arrogant boot to the face. He chopped Sami to the mat. Zayn shook it off and stood up, so Gunther did it again. He helped Sami to his feet and gave him a stiff uppercut. Sami stumbled to the corner and Gunther game him no quarter, following close behind him. Sami returned the favor with a pair of quick chops. The champion largely shrugged them off. He hoisted Sami side-first onto the top turnbuckle and mauled him. Sami collapsed to the mat below.

The referee checked on Sami, asking if he wanted to continue. Gunther just laughed. He gave Sami another brutal uppercut. Zayn collapsed in a heap. The camera cut to Sami’s wife, sitting at ringside. She begged her husband to stand. Gunther chopped him to the mat again. Zayn struggled for breath as the match crossed 4:00. Gunther challenged Sami to chop him. Zayn gave him a couple. Gunther cut him off again, but Zayn hit the ropes and dropped Gunther with a big clothesline. He pounded the mat, willing the crowd to life. Gunther gave Sami another violent chop. Then two more. Sami firing a stiff right straight to Gunther’s jaw. He caught him with a boot, then a half-nelson Suplex. Zayn hit a second one. Gunther rolled right to his feet and dropped Zayn with a huge lariat. He covered for two.

Zayn continued to redden Gunther’s chest with chops. “I think he’s just pissing Gunther off,” Cole concluded. Sami managed to drop the champion with a tornado DDT. Gunther stumbled the corner in retreat, allowing Sami to set up for a Heluva Kick. Gunther telegraphed it and tried to grab a sleeper hold as Zayn charged. Sami fought through it. He pulled Gunther in for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Gunther sunk his hips and prevented the lift. He transitioned back into a sleeper and fell to the mat, locked in deep. Zayn wiggled his lower body free, allowing himself to return to a vertical base. He walked Gunther toward the ropes. “He’s carrying Gunther like a backpack,” McAfee exclaimed. Gunther let go of the hold, but gave Zayn a German Suplex.

Sami used the turnbuckles to pull himself up. Gunther charged, but Zayn caught him with an Exploder. He called for the Heluva. Zayn lifted the leg high, but Gunther pulled him up into a massive Powerbomb with a stack cover for a near fall just before 9:00. Gunther leaned against the ropes, exasperated. He waited for Sami to stand, delivering a big kick in the corner. Sami fell into Gunther’s arms. The champion set his foe back against the corner and looked for a finishing blow. Gunther ran to the opposing corner, but Sami exploded to life and followed him. Zayn hit the Heluva Kick. he hooked the leg, but Gunther kicked out at the last moment. Sami set him up for another Heluva Kick. Gunther flew out of the corner with a massive clothesline, turning Zayn inside out.

“The Ring General has had enough,” Graves said. Gunther gave Zayn a massive Powerbomb. He held onto him, hoisted him up, and delivered a second. Gunther stacked his challenger for another near fall. The champion was shocked. Zayn was slumped lifeless against the bottom rope. Gunther stomped him repeatedly. A dueling chant broke out. Sami used the ropes to pull himself up. Gunther gave him another huge clothesline. “Just stay down, Sami!” Graves exclaimed. Gunther circled his prey. He yelled to Sami’s wife, “do you want to come help him?” He gave Sami another Powerbomb, immediately turning back to Sami’s wife and laughing.

Cole and Graves pleaded with the referee to stop the match. Gunther ascended the southeast turnbuckle. He gave Zayn a big splash, but didn’t even bother with a cover. He climbed the turnbuckles again and crushed Zayn with another splash. He asked Sami’s wife if she wanted to throw in the towel. He laughed. Meanwhile, Zayn began pounding the mat, trying to will himself to life. Gunther climbed the turnbuckles again. Sami leapt to life and gave him a Heluva Kick on the top rope. He dropped Gunther with a massive Brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle. Gunther stumbled to his feet, then to the opposing corner. Sami hit him with another Heluva Kick, this time to the back of the head. Gunther still didn’t go down. Zayn gave him one more for good measure. He fell on top of Gunther for a three count.

WINNER: Sami Zayn in 15:30 to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship

Samantha Irvin announced the result with legitimate emotion in her voice. “The 666 day reign is over!’ Cole exclaimed. He called it one of the biggest upsets in history.

Sami rose to his knees, title sitting against his waist. The crowd gave him a huge ovation. He rolled to the outside and shared a kiss with his wife.

(That was a ton of fun. Incredibly emotional from the start. Gunther was every bit as dominant as regularly advertised, and they sold the idea that he was unbeatable incredibly well. Zayn, for his part, showed off why almost nobody sells better or fights from behind quite as well as he does. The crowd was certainly split in the early going, but as Gunther became more dominant and more cocky, the tides shifted and the crowd got heavily behind Zayn. By the time the big comeback happened at the end, he’d whipped them into a frenzy. I thought this was both guys at their absolute best. A great match with a ton of emotional investment, and a win that seemed to catch most by surprise. Sami can have great matches against a variety of opponents for a title that’s had new life breathed into it, while Gunther can move up the card where he now undoubtedly belongs. Great stuff.)

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-6-24 (Night #1)

(7) THE ROCK & ROMAN REIGNS (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. CODY RHODES & SETH ROLLINS

All four men stood stoically in the center of the ring as the bell rang. They let the crowd work themselves in several different chants. The Rock broke the stare down nearly 90 seconds in. He turned to his cousin and gave him a fist bump before taking his place on the apron. Seth Rollins elected to begin the match with Reigns. The crowd sang his song. Rollins and Reigns locked up. Seth shot the champion off the ropes. Reigns dropped him with a shoulder tackle and threw a finger to the sky. Rock did the same. They shared a quick laugh. Rollins returned to his feet and he and Roman circled one another again.

Both men hit the ropes. Seth leap-frogged Roman and reached to Cody Rhodes for a tag. Roman pulled him back initially, causing Seth to stop and consider. Cody accepted the tag. Roman regrouped in his own corner with Rock, but didn’t tag out. Reigns and Rhodes locked up. Cody worked over Roman’s arm. He whipped the champion toward the corner, but Reigns turned it around and delivered a clothesline. Cole said tonight is about finishing the story, but is meant to “prolong it.” Cody and Roman traded rope runs. Cody cut Roman off with a knee to the gut. He hooked Reigns over with a headlock. Roman shot to his feet and another stalemate ensued.

Cody and Roman engaged in a test of strength as the match approached 6:00. Cody led Reigns into the ropes, allowing Seth to tag himself in. Cody and Seth tried to double team Roman, but he caught himself on the ropes and backed away. The Rock offered his hand for a tag. Roman slapped it. The crowd popped big. The Rock stepped through the ropes, officially in a match for the first time in eight years. He circled Rollins. The two locked up. Rock shoved Rollins across the ring. Seth shook out his wrist and smiled. McAfee said Rollins got tossed around like a bag. Seth rose to his feet and grabbed a waist lock. He shoved Rock in the back and posed for the crowd. Rollins got some boos, but most of the stadium sang his song.

A large “Rocky” chant eventually drowned out the pro-Seth audience. Cole said it’s a city that “loves nostalgia.” Rock worked Rollins into the corner and gave him a punch to the gut. “You shut your mouth!” Rock said. He and Seth traded punches. Seth whipped Rock to the corner. Rock exploded out with a big clothesline. He turned to Cody Rhodes and gave him his signature “bring it” taunt. Cody reached his hand out for a tag. Seth obliged.

Rhodes and Rock stood opposite each other for the first time. “Cody!” chants were quickly drowned out in favor of “Rocky!” Rhodes worked Rock into the Bloodline corner, but Rock passed up a chance to tag out. He kicked Cody in the gut on the comeback. Cody dropped to the mat and caught Rock with an uppercut. He worked Rock into the corner, talking trash and firing off right hands. Cody worked Rock into the babyface corner and tagged in Rollins. They stomped Rock together to a mixed reaction. Roman entered the ring and ate a right from Rhodes. Seth gave him a Slingblade. All four men rose to their feet and returned to center as the match crossed 11:45. Right back to where things began.

Seth and Cody attacked first, knocking their opponents to the outside. Rollins paired off with Rock. They fought into the beverage cart again. Rollins took a sip of Prime and spit it in Rock’s face. The referee began counting. Rock told him if he counts, he’s fired. Meanwhile, Rhodes and Reigns battled on the ramp. Rock tossed Rollins over the barricade and into the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field. They walked and brawled toward the scaffolding above the ring, and eventually toward the extended lower bowl. On top of the stage, Rhodes delivered a Suplex to Reigns. Rock tossed a big green trash can at Rollins. Seth fought back, causing Rock to try to escape back toward the ring. He grabbed a bottle of water, took a sip, poured some over his head, then spit some into Seth’s face. They brawled around the scaffolding and back toward the barrier.

On the ramp, Reigns tossed Rhodes into the barricade. Seth threw Rock back to ringside. Graves mentioned that it takes a while to get your “ring lungs” back. McAfee mentioned his 12 week training camp. Rollins tossed Rock back in the ring. Rock grabbed the shirt of the referee, distracting him. Roman took Seth’s knee out from behind. Rollins pounded the mat repeatedly in frustration. Rock leapt to the outside and kicked Rollins in the knee. Cole said it doesn’t bode well for Seth’s title defense against Drew McIntyre tomorrow. Rock rolled Seth back in the ring. Rollins tried to stand, but quickly collapsed on the injured leg. Rock wrapped the leg around the northeast ring post and slammed it against it repeatedly.

Rock tagged in the Undisputed Universal Champion at 18:05. Graves said he’s “fresh as a daisy.” Reigns worked Seth into the corner and hyper-extended his knee around the middle rope. Cole commiserated with Seth, noting that the referee can’t do anything to break the hold because of The Rock’s threat. Reigns ripped Seth to mat and applied a single leg crap. Seth was left to scream in pain, but eventually managed to turn the hold over and kick Roman away. Reigns sucker punched Cody off the apron. He turned around and ate a clothesline from Rollins, falling to the floor. Rollins leapt outside to continue to his attack, but Rock attacked him from behind. Cody tried to intervene, but the referee held him back at instruction of The Rock.

Paul Heyman held a finger to the sky, acknowledging his tribal chief. Rock did the same. Roman tagged in Rock. The Final Boss whipped Rollins into the corner. Seth collapsed to the mat, exhausted. Rock tagged in his cousin and they worked together to whip Rollins into the corner again. Cole noted Seth’s history of back problems, in addition to the re-aggravated knee injury. Reigns cocked his fist to a chorus of boos. He charged, but Seth ducked it. He turned Reigns over into a Neckbreaker. The World Champion writhed on the mat, crawling toward Cody Rhodes. Roman reached Rock first. Rock dragged Seth out of reach of his partner.

The People’s Champ delivered a low blow to Seth Rollins in clear view of referee Chad Patton. Cole again explained that there’s nothing Patton could do. Patton turned to Rhodes and apologized, selling that Rock had threatened his job. Rock continued his assault. Seth eventually managed to kick himself free of Rock’s grasp to create some separation. Rock tagged in Roman. Reigns shoved Seth against the ropes and charged. Rollins ducked, sending Reigns flying to the outside. Seth dove toward Cody, but Roman managed to pull him off the apron just before the tag was made. Rock turned Seth over into a Sharpshooter. Rollins screamed in agony. Rhodes leapt in the ring and slapped Rock right in the face. Rock broke the hold. Rollins kicked Rock in the face, then caught him with the Stomp.

Both men were down. The crowd willed Rollins to life. He dove to Cody and made the tag. Rock tagged Reigns. Cody dropped Reigns with a clothesline. He sent him to the corner. Reigns exploded out, but Cody caught him with a snap Powerslam. Cody flexed. He dropped Reigns with a Disaster Kick, then a Cody Cutter. He hooked Reigns’ leg for a two count at 27:25. Reigns and Rhodes were alone. Cody set up for Cross Rhodes, but Roman slid free. Cody went for another Disaster Kick. Roman picked him clean out of the air with a Superman Punch. He hooked the leg for a very close near fall.

Reigns checked his nose, finding blood. He snarled, turning to Rhodes to size him up. Reigns threw his arms back. The crowd yelled in unison. Cody leapt over the Spear attempt, catching Roman in a sunset pin for a two count. Cody leapt onto the ropes, tagging in Rollins in one swift move. He leapt at Roman and hit another cutter. Rollins immediately left off the top with a massive splash for a cover and near fall at 29:45. Outside, Heyman remarked that he “hates that damn song” as the crowd began to sing to Seth again. In the ring, Reigns recovered and caught Seth with a Powerbomb. He called for a Spear again. Rollins blocked it with a kick to the face. He tagged in Rhodes. Cody kicked him, too. Seth delivered a Stomp to Reigns. Rhodes hit Cross Rhodes. He hooked the leg. The Rock pulled Patton out at two and dropped him.

Rhodes yelled at Rock for attacking the referee. Rock tossed Rollins into the timekeeper’s area. In the ring,. Reigns caught Rhodes with a low blow. He followed up with a Spear. Reigns covered just as Rock tossed Patton back in the ring. Cody kicked out at the last moment. Reigns and Rock were livid. Reigns stomped away at his biggest foe. He pulled Cody into the Guillotine. Rhodes began to fade. The referee checked the hand, but Cody kept it raised. Rock grabbed Cody’s ankle and pulled him to the mat, allowing Reigns to sink deeper into the hold. Rollins returned and gave Reigns the Stomp to break it up. Rock tossed Rollins back to the floor.

“It’s a pretty wild set of rules here,” McAfee said. Cole laughed, saying it might as well be Bloodline rules tonight. Rock tagged himself in. He thought better of getting in the ring. Instead, he fetched the blood covered weight belt from ringside. He turned to Cody’s mother at ringside. “This is your son’s blood, now it’s about to have your tears,” he told her. He slid in the ring. Cody ripped the belt from his hands. Rock caught him with a pair of rights. Cody fought back with a Bionic Elbow. He sized Rock up, but the Final Boss delivered his signature Spinebuster. He sauntered to Cody’s head. The crowd popped big. Rock removed the elbow pad and tossed it into the crowd. He ran the ropes. Rhodes leapt to his feet, leapt off the middle rope and dropped Rock with a Cody Cutter.

The American Nightmare pulled Rock to his feet, pulling him in for a Cross Rhodes. Reigns appeared and delivered a Superman Punch to break it up. The match ticked toward 37:00. Rock and Cody used each other to stand. Roman threw his arms back again, calling for another Spear. He charged. Seth shoved Cody out of the way. Reigns speared Rock. Rock sold it like he’d been shot by a cannon. Rollins and Rhodes pulled Rock and Reigns in and delivered stereo Pedigrees. They both covered their man for last moment kick outs.

Cody and Seth helped each other to their feet. They shook hands and took to opposite sides of the ring. Rollins dove onto Reigns near the ramp. Cody came after Rock near the announcers desks. Rock cut Rhodes off and cleared the Spanish announce desk. He spit some water in Cody’s face. Rock bounced Cody’s head off the desk. He scooped him into Powerslam position, then turned to Cody’s mother. “Mama Rhodes! You look at your son!” he said before dumping Cody onto the desk. He climbed up to meet him. Rock pulled Cody into position for a table-busting Rock Bottom. Seth grabbed Rock’s leg. The distraction was enough to allow Cody to switch position. He gave Rock a Rock Bottom off the Spanish announce desk through the main commentary table. Seconds later, Reigns speared Rollins through the timekeeper’s barricade.

“There are bodies everywhere!” Cole exclaimed as the match ticked beyond 40:00. A weathered Rhodes tossed Rock back into the ring, but was dropped by a drive-by from Roman Reigns. Rock tagged in the Tribal Chief. Roman stumbled in the ring and stomped his challenger. “He don’t belong here!” he told the crowd. Cody slumped against Reigns’ legs. Graves said there’s no quit in the heart of the American Nightmare. He and Reigns began trading punches. Reigns knocked Cody toward the ropes with an uppercut. Rhodes fell toward the ropes, bounced back and caught Roman with Cross Rhodes. He pulled him up and hit a second one. He turned him over for a third, but Rock cracked Cody in the back with the weight belt. Cody crumbled. Reigns dropped him with a Spear. Roman rose triumphantly and tagged his cousin.

The Rock stalked Cody Rhodes, hands on hips. He pulled him in and delivered a Rock Bottom. Rock walked to Cody’s head and threw a finger to the sky, looking down at Cody’s family. He delivered the People’s Elbow and hooked the leg for a three count.

“Cody is screwed.” Cole said with immense disappointment. Graves said it’s time for Cody to find a new story and a new dream. Cole said The Rock burned the book, and we’re not finishing a story. The crowd, who had largely backed The Rock throughout, now booed loudly.

The Rock and Roman Reigns sauntered up the ramp slowly. Reigns waved his title in the face of booing fans. In the ring, Seth rejoined Cody. The sat opposite each other, disappointment plastered on their faces. They showed a close-up of Cody’s face with the Bloodline standing tall in the background, mimicking prior year’s shots. Seth let out an exasperated sigh. Cole bid the audience goodnight, saying he’d see everyone tomorrow night.

WINNERS: The Rock & Roman Reigns in 44:31

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-7-24 (Night #2)


(1) SETH ROLLINS (c) vs. DREW McINTYRE – World Heavyweight Championship match

Drew McIntyre exploded out of his corner and delivered a Claymore to Seth Rollins in the opening second of the match. He hooked the leg for a very close near fall. CM Punk called it “smart.” Graves agreed. Drew lined up for a second one, but Rollins astutely rolled to the outside to save himself. McIntyre followed. He gave Seth an overhead belly-to-belly, then took a cell phone from his wife in the front row. He pretended to text somebody and take a selfie, then handed the phone back and promptly delivered another overhead belly-to-belly. Drew turned to CM Punk at the announcers desk. “You recognize this one?” he said as he hooked Rollins for the Future Shock DDT. Seth slipped free and gave McIntyre a Pedigree.


The World Heavyweight Champion rolled his challenger back in the ring and delivered a quick stomp. Seth landed awkwardly, selling the injured knee. He covered awkwardly. McIntyre kicked out at two. The two began trading punches as the match crossed 3:30. Punk talked up the merits of both wrestlers, saying he respects their games as much as he dislikes them both. McIntyre broke the right hand stalemate with a Glasgow Kiss. He shook off the cobwebs and delivered a neckbreaker. Drew kipped up and trounced to the corner, calling for another Claymore.

“3, 2, 1!” the crowd chanted with McIntyre. He charged for another Claymore, but Seth moved. He pulled Drew in and hit him with another Pedigree. Rollins followed up immediately with another Stomp. He hooked the leg for a believable near fall. Punk said Rollins’ offense is compromised and he’s hurt. “Rollins’ body is beginning to fail,” Graves said. Seth began to ascend the northeast turnbuckle. He went for a super Stomp, but McIntyre moved. Drew went for another Claymore. Seth broke free. Rollins tried the Stomp again. McIntyre blocked it and delivered a Future Shock DDT. He covered for a near fall at 6:45. A “this is awesome” chant broke out as McIntyre turned his attention to CM Punk. He did Punk’s signature “go to sleep” taunt.

McIntyre set Rollins up for the G.T.S. Seth slid down his back. Rollins missed wildly with a clothesline. Drew hit the ropes and dropped Seth with a Claymore on the bounce back. He hooked both legs for another near fall. Both men were down. Drew rolled to the outside and began clearing off the announcers desk. Punk said that doubt is creeping into the mind of McIntyre, within earshot. Drew wasn’t phased. He dragged Seth outside and set him up for a Powerbomb. Seth fought free with punches to the head. Drew put him down gently on the table. Seth slammed McIntyre’s head against the desk repeatedly, then gave him a kick to the head. Rollins crawled to the Spanish announcers desk, clearing a path for himself to get a running start. Rollins gave Drew a Stomp on the table.

Seth rolled Drew back in the ring, looking to put him away. Drew popped to his feet and gave Rollins another Claymore. He hooked the leg for another near fall at 10:05. “McIntyre is about to go insane,” Cole exclaimed. Punk said he’d have to steal his stuff to get the job done. Instead, McIntyre shrugged off the frustration and hit another Claymore. He hooked the leg again, and this time, scored a three count.

WINNER: Drew McIntyre in 10:32 to win the World Heavyweight Championship

McIntyre sat in the middle of the ring, clutching his new Championship. Seth Rollins rolled to the outside and looked back at the ring. Tears were forming in his eyes. McIntyre left the ring and gave his wife a kiss. He circled ringside and climbed atop the announcers desk, laying the title in front of CM Punk. He started talking trash. “I want you know I can’t hear a word you’re saying because I have cans on,” Punk said. Drew told Punk he’d end his career, “I’m serious. Get a shot, I want this framed on my wall.” McIntyre held the title in Punk’s face. He turned to leave, but Punk grabbed his ankle, tripping him.

Punk removed his elbow brace and clocked Drew in the head with it. The crowd went wild. Judgment Day’s music hit and Damian Priest ran to the ring. He got a running start and cracked McIntyre over the head with the briefcase. Punk just stepped aside. Priest rolled Drew in the ring as Samantha Irvin announced the cash-in.

(2) DREW McINTYRE (c) vs. DAMIAN PRIEST – World Heavyweight Championship match

Damian Priest delivered South of Heaven and pinned McIntyre for a three count.

WINNER: Damian Priest in :07 to win the World Heavyweight Championship

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-7-24 (Night #2)

After a brief break, Snoop Dogg was introduced as a special guest commentator. Bubba Ray Dudley was introduced as the special guest referee for the Philadelphia Street Fight. The Final Testament was out first. Cole noted that it’s the first time any of them are appearing at WrestleMania, including Paul Ellering. Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits entered to a decent reaction.

(3) THE FINAL TESTAMENT (Karrion Kross & Akam & Razar, w/ Scarlett & Paul Ellering) vs. BOBBY LASHLEY & THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins, w/ B-Fab) – Philadelphia Street Fight

Bubba Ray called for the bell by yelling “ding ding ding.” The Street Profits and Bobby Lashley immediately cleared the ring. Karrion Kross and Authors of Pain used the opportunity to retrieve Kendo sticks from underneath the ring. They surrounded the Street Profits and forced them outside the ring, then beat Lashley mercilessly with sticks. Kross gave Lashley a violent neckbreaker on the edge of the chair. He covered, but Angelo Dawkins dove in the make a last moment save.

Authors of Pain immediately beat Dawkins senseless with Kendo sticks. Montez Ford flew off the top rope, but was quickly taken out by Akam and Razar. AOP stacked the Street Profits on top of one another and Kross went for the cover. B-Fab entered the ring with a Kendo stick and broke up the pin. Scarlett entered and hit B-Fab with a trash can. Snoop Dogg called it “trash.” Lashley returned to the ring and gave Kross an overhead belly-to-belly. Montez Ford leapt clear over the ring post onto the Authors of Pain.

The crowd, who’d been chanting “turn the screen on” since the match started, finally popped, indicating that they’d finally…turned the screen on. Bobby slammed Karrion on a chair and set him up for the Hurt Lock. He applied the hold, but Scarlett cracked him across the back with a Kendo stick. B-Fab returned and gave Scarlett a pump kick as the match crossed 4:30. B-Fab worked Scarlett out onto the apron, and the two went crashing through a table. Kross gave Lashley a back Suplex, then set up another chair. He gave him a DDT on the seat and covered for a near fall. Kross began arguing with Bubba about the count. Dudley confirmed it was a two count. Kross gave him a shove. Bubba reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of glasses. He put them on just as Kross turned around and ate a Spear from Lashley. Snoop said Kross may need Pepto.


Lashley and Ford split Kross’ legs for Dawkins to come off the top with a headbutt to the lower extremities. The Profits and Lashley shared friendly shoves with Bubba. The referee instructed them to get the tables. “Tables!” the crowd chanted. Dawkins and Lashley set one up as the crowd chanted “ECW!” They hoisted Kross onto the table and it broke. The crowd booed. The Profits rushed outside and grabbed another one, much to the crowd’s delight. Ford snapped a Kendo stick repeatedly over Kross’ back. Lashley and Dawkins placed Kross carefully on the table. Ford splashed him through it from the top and covered him for a three count.

WINNERS: Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits in 8:32

(The crowd spent most of this chanting for production to turn the screens on, so it can assumed they couldn’t see much. Once they did, there was a second, less audible chant that sounded like it may have had something to do with the lights. I guess if there was a time for it to happen, it’d be here. The only real investment in this came from Bubba Ray’s involvement, where the crowd popped for the Street Profits recreating classic Dudley spots. Not much to speak of otherwise, here. The Final Testament doesn’t really have any juice as an act, and Lashley and the Profits have felt like they’ve been floundering for a while.)

(4) LA KNIGHT vs. A.J. STYLES

The referee rang the bell right away. The crowd immediately launched in boos for A.J. Styles’ punches and big “yeahs” for LA Knight’s. Knight got the better of the exchange early, clotheslining Styles over the top rope to the floor and then sliding through the ropes to smash Styles’ head against the announcers desk. The crowd yeah’ed every hit. Knight posed atop the Spanish announce desk as the referee counted both men out. He reached a count of eight before Knight returned Styles to the ring.

Styles attacked Knight as soon as he stepped through the ropes. He took him out from the back of the knee and began driving his boot into it repeatedly. Cole noted that LA Knight won two Slammy’s earlier in the day – Breakout Star and Fan Chant of the year. Styles worked Knight into the corner and continued to work over the leg, kicking him back to the mat. A.J. dropped Knight on his own knee. The crowd began booing and chanting about the lights again. Knight worked his way to his feet, but Styles continued to kick at his knee. Knight managed to get him in a quick slam and Russian Leg Sweep for a cover and two count.

Knight worked Styles into the northeast corner. He stomped a mud-hole, then hit a running knee to the face. Knight leapt off the middle rope and delivered a nice tornado DDT for a cover and near fall just before the 4:00 mark. Knight walked Styles to the northwest corner and hoisted him onto the top turnbuckle. Knight delivered a hard knife-edged chop, then climbed the turnbuckle himself, preparing for a Superplex. Styles slid underneath Knight’s legs and pulled him into an Electric Chair, tossing him face first onto the ring post. Knight stumbled to the center of the ring. Styles gave him a sit out slam for a cover and two count. McAfee said Styles appears to be in the best shape he’s ever see him. Graves agreed.

A.J. slipped out to the apron and began climbing the turnbuckles. He appeared distracted by the crowd’s chants. Knight used the opportunity to meet Styles at the top and bite him on the forehead. Styles returned the favor by raking Knight’s eyes. The referee missed both transgressions. Knight managed to deliver an avalanche German Suplex off the top for a cover and near fall just after 6:30. LA Knight paced the ring, trying to rile up the crowd. He tried to grab Styles, but A.J. rolled him into a Calf Crusher. Knight fought valiantly, eventually breaking the hold. Styles didn’t let up, though. He dragged Knight to the southeast corner and wrapped his legs around the ring post repeatedly. Styles talked trash to the crowd.

LA managed to pull A.J. in, bouncing his body off the ring post. It bought him enough time to slide outside and remove the protective padding surrounding the ring. Knight hooked Styles up for a Piledriver on the floor system. Styles blocked it and back dropped him. A.J. rolled in the ring and requested a count out. Knight answered the count just before ten. Styles was livid. He gave Knight a stiff kick to the gut, then set up shop on the apron. Styles went for a springboard 450 splash, but Knight got his knees up. The camera pulled back for a quick drone shot looking toward the ring from the entrance way.

Both men hit a series of punches. Styles broke the stalemate with a Pale Kick. He headed back to the apron for the Phenomenal Forearm. Knight blocked it and pulled him in for the B.F.T. Styles blocked that. He went for the Styles Clash, but Knight wiggled free. Styles kicked him and went back to the apron. He leapt up for the forearm, but Knight knocked the ropes, dropping Styles in the ring. LA immediately pulled him into Blunt Force Trauma for a cover and three count.

WINNER: LA Knight in 12:27

( I had relatively low expectations for this going in, and I’d say it exceeded them marginally. I thought both guys worked hard and told an effective story for their spot on the card with the time they were allotted. This feud never felt much like a heated issue to me, and so they were working from behind the 8-ball out of the gate. I applaud the extra work they put it on social media this week to try to get there, but it just came off more generic and uninspired than I assume they’d hoped. Knight’s in-ring work tends to leave a fair amount to be desired, and Styles has grown comfortable working a very specific type of match. They did that here, but with just enough flourish to make it an entertaining breather.)

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-7-24 (Night #2)

(5) LOGAN PAUL (c) vs. KEVIN OWENS vs. RANDY ORTON – WWE United States Championship Triple Threat match

Michael Cole opened the match by stating Randy Orton is competing in his 19th WrestleMania. Logan Paul slid from the ring as soon as the bell rang. Orton and Kevin Owens cornered him and tossed him back and forth, delivering hard chops to his chest before eventually slamming him against the edge of the ring, the steel steps, and the announcers desk. Orton gave him a back drop onto the desk. Graves said it might be a good idea for them to move. “I’ve seen a Randy Orton match or two,” he said.

Owens copied Randy, giving him another back drop. Orton said he was okay, but he needed to get a little bit higher. Orton demonstrated, giving Logan some extra elevation. “I totally see it!’ Owens said. They tossed the champion back in the ring. Owens asked to try again. He hoisted Paul up, but Logan flipped over him and shoved Owens, who collided with Orton. KO and Randy talked it out and turned right back to Paul. They beat him down again. “This is our show!’ Owens told the crowd. They roared. Kevin asked Paul if he was having a good time. Logan screamed in pain.

Randy dropped Paul with a back elbow. Owens gave him a Senton. Both men covered the champion at the same time. Both Kevin and Randy shrugged. Kevin suggested they wait a little while a continue beating Logan up. Randy agreed. Orton then tried to give Owens an RKO. Owens blocked it. The two stared each other down. Orton just shrugged. “Do you want to do this now?” Kevin asked. Orton nodded. They began firing wildly at each other. Almost immediately, Paul flipped into the ring and clotheslined them both.

“Logan sucks!” the crowd said as he mocked Orton’s taunt. The U.S. Champion bashed KO’s head against the middle turnbuckle repeatedly as the match crossed 5:00. The crowd started a loud “Gatorade” chant. Logan downed Orton in the corner. KO took Paul down and climbed to the top rope. Owens went for a Swanton, but Paul got his knees up. He leapt to the top rope and delivered a Swanton of his own. He immediately rolled to his feet and gave Orton a Senton for a cover and two count. Owens rolled to the side. Orton and Paul rose slowly, trading punches. Paul got the better of the veteran, peppering him with uppercuts. He dropped Orton to his knees. The crowd booed louder than they had all night to this point. Orton returned to his feet and tossed Paul to the outside.

The challengers traded blows. Owens hit the ropes, but Orton caught him with a snap Powerslam. He tossed Owens to the apron and set him up for his signature DDT. Paul broke it up. Logan looked for the Buckshot Lariat, but Orton caught him with another Snap Powerslam. He tossed Logan to the apron and pulled Owens back in, delivering his signature DDT to both men. “Vintage Orton!” Cole called. Randy dropped to the mat and pounded his fists. He looked to both opponents. He went to Paul first, who shoved him away. Owens caught him with a Superkick. KO landed a kick on Paul, then stunned Orton. Randy slid to the outside. Owens covered Paul for a two count.

Orton returned quickly, cutting off Owens’ attempt to climb the turnbuckles. The two teetered at the top. Paul joined in, setting Orton up for a Powerbomb. Randy punched him, too. Owens gave Randy a pair of headbutts, knocking him to the floor. Paul caught Owens with a right hand. Kevin scooped Paul and gave him a strange looking Powerslam off the top. He climbed the ropes quickly and hit a Moonsault for a cover and near fall just past 10:30. Orton went for another RKO on KO, but it was blocked again. He rolled Randy up for two. Both men popped up. Kevin went for a Stunner. Orton blocked it, spun Kevin around and landed the RKO. He hooked the leg, but KO got a shoulder up. McAfee said everyone in the world thought he had it.

KO rolled to safety on the floor. Orton nearly got caught with a brass knuckle shot from Logan Paul, but he ducked. Paul swung back and connected the second time. He hooked the leg, but Orton kicked out at the last moment. Paul was shocked. He sized Orton up for another shot. KO leapt onto the apron, grabbing Paul by the hair. Logan turned around and punched KO with the knuckles, first in the gut, then in the head. Paul pulled Orton to his feet, talking trash. He reared back for another punch with the knuckles. Orton hit him with an RKO out of nowhere. He was too dazed to make the cover. Both men writhed on the mat as the match ticked toward 14:00.

The Viper found the brass knuckles on the mat. He picked them up and handed them to the referee. Instead, Orton got set up for a punt. The Prime bottle pulled Paul from the ring. He took his cap off, revealing IShowSpeed, a YouTuber. He barked at Orton, then kicked him in the gut. Orton slammed him against the the announcers desk and tossed him onto it. Orton barked back at him and gave him an RKO through the desk.

Paul tossed Orton back in the ring, leapt to the top rope, and went for a Frog Splash. Orton moved. Owens gave Paul a Stunner. Orton went for an RKO on Owens, but KO blocked it an stunned him, too. KO lifted Randy to his feet and tossed him off the ropes, looking for a Pop-up Powerbomb. He hoisted him into the air, but Orton turned his body and hit an RKO on the way back down. Paul immediately returned to the ring and blindsided Orton, driving him into the ring post and out of the ring. Paul climbed the northeast turnbuckle and hit a splash on Owens for a cover and three count.

WINNER: Logan Paul in 17:37 to retain the WWE United States Championship

(Really entertaining triple threat match that had the crowd invested from the get-go. Orton and Owens’ friendship at the start was endearing, and I loved the fact that KO basically narrated their inevitable downfall. There was an obvious understanding that they’d eventually come to blows, and I thought they did a fun job setting the whole thing up. Once Paul was able to get involved with his offense, the pace quickened and all three guys managed to get some great spots in. I could’ve done without the appearance of the YouTuber. It didn’t really seem like the crowd necessarily knew the guy, but rather, just wanted to see anyone associated with Paul get beat up. I’m glad that, if nothing else, his involvement didn’t directly lead to the finish. It made sense for KO to take the fall here, as he always sort of felt like the third wheel in this match. I’d imagine we’ll see Orton face Paul one on one before too long.)

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-7-24 (Night #2)

(6) IYO SKY (c) vs. BAYLEY – WWE Women’s Championship match

Michael Cole talked up Bayley and Iyo Sky’s accolades as the crowd settled in and the referee called for the bell. Bayley immediately took Iyo down with a shoulder tackle. The champion slid from the ring to regroup as the crowd began to sing to Bayley. Sky wrestled Bayley to the mat and tossed her to the outside. Bayley smiled as the crowd sang to her. Sky threw her arms out wide. The two locked up again, working to the mat. They rolled all the way to the floor. Bayley gave Iyo a hard shove. Sky pushed her right back. The two women traded punches before the champion tossed her challenger back in the ring.

Iyo landed a quick dropkick on Bayley. The challenger rolled to the outside and circled the ring. Sky tried to catch her with a baseball slide, but Bayley caught her legs. She leapt onto the apron and hit a quick guillotine. Sky fell to the floor. Bayley hit the ring and, with a running start, dove through the middle rope onto Sky. She came up favoring her right leg. Bayley shook it off and charged at Sky. Iyo moved, sending Bayley crashing into the ring post. Sky noticed Bayley favoring her leg and quickly wrapped it around the post, wrenching it the wrong way. Bayley scream in agony. The referee broke it up before too long.

Back in the ring, Sky worked Bayley into the corner and gave her a dragon screw back to center as the match approached 4:00. McAfee said Sky had a brilliant strategy. Graves agreed. Iyo drove her knee into Bayley’s mid-section and covered her for a two count. Bayley rolled back to the outside, wincing. Sky mocked the crowd for singing. Bayley managed to use the momentary distraction to pull Sky down to the floor. She tossed Sky over the barricade and into the timekeeper’s area. She grabbed Sky by the hair, trying to retrieve her. Sky fought her off. McAfee noted that George Kittle was sitting in front of Bayley, cheering her Bay Area buddy on. Bayley and Sky worked back into the ring. Bayley managed to catch the champion with a quick kick to the face. Sky stumbled to the northeast corner. Bayley littered her with clubs to the back. She hoisted Sky onto her shoulders and gave her a spin-out side slam for a cover and near fall at 6:00.

From the apron, Bayley ascended the southeast turnbuckles. Sky met her there. She knocked Bayley all the way to the floor to a chorus of boos. She leapt onto Bayley and threw her arms in the air. She slid Bayley back in the ring and hit a Springboard dropkick, covering for a two count. The crowd continued to sing to Bayley. Sky hooked Bayley for a German Suplex. Bayley countered. Sky countered. They traded a number of standing switches, all the way to the opposing turnbuckle. Bayley finally hit a German Suplex, right into the turnbuckle. She tried to pull Sky into a small package, but she couldn’t bend the knee all the way. Sky kicked at two.

Sky side-stepped Bayley, sending her to the apron. Bayley landed awkwardly on her injured knee. Sky pulled her back in the ring and gave her a bridging German Suplex for a near fall. Iyo called for the Moonsault. She leapt to the top and flipped, but Bayley got her legs all the way up. The right knee buckled under Sky’s weight. Bayley limped to her feet and climbed the same turnbuckles, looking for an elbow. Sky blocked it and turned her right into a Crossface. Bayley slipped free and popped up, landing an elbow. She went for another, but Sky pulled her into a Crossface again. Bayley used her legs to scoot her body toward the ropes. Just as she was about to reach it, Sky turned her over and into an STF. Bayley used her elbow to break the hold. Both women rolled to their feet. Bayley delivered a Bayley-to-Belly for a cover and near fall at 11:10.

Champion and challenger struggled to their feet in the center. Bayley looked for the Rose Plant, but Iyo held firm on the mat. She fired off a right at Bayley and laughed. Bayley returned it. “You were never my friend, Iyo!” she said. Sky punched her again. They fired rapidly. Bayley went for another Bayley-to-Belly, but Sky blocked it. She gave Bayley a double-underhook Backbreaker, then climbed to the top turnbuckle. Sky delivered the Over-the-Moonsault and hooked the leg. Bayley kicked out at the last moment to a big reaction. Sky was furious. She pounded on Bayley’s stomach, then gave her a standing Moonsault. She climbed to the middle rope and delivered another. Not satisfied, she leapt to the top rope for another Over-the-Moonsault. Bayley rolled out of the way. She limped to Sky on the opposite side of the ring and gave her a Rose Plant. Sky immediately popped up. She gave Bayley a strong lariat. Bayley popped up. She gave Sky a back drop, then climbed the turnbuckle.

Bayley hit the diving elbow and immediately pulled Sky up and into the Rose Plant for a second time. She hooked the leg for a three count.

WINNER: Bayley in 14:23 to win the WWE Women’s Championship

(Very good match with an excellent closing stretch. It felt really cathartic to see a crowd cheer for Bayley again, and be invited to do so. She’s had a great run as a heel, particularly her work during the pandemic, but it was time to see what this new iteration could do in this role. Though I thought this feud lacked some of the juice it probably should have had, they did a nice job selling the gravity of the moment. I liked the story the match told, with Sky working over the leg that Bayley has had problems with for a long while. The closing sequence was a lot of fun, with a fitting no-sell of the first Rose Plant, a fitting end to Sky’s chapter as Women’s champion. I thought this delivered.)

WWE WrestleMania XL PLE Results: 4-7-24 (Night #2)

(7) ROMAN REIGNS (c, w/ Paul Heyman) vs. CODY RHODES – WWE Undisputed Universal Championship, Bloodline Rules match

A huge wave of emotion rang out from the crowd when the bell rang. The camera pulled back wide to show the lower bowl moving about as the first “Cody” chant took hold. Roman Reigns took the match’s first steps forward. He got within a foot of Cody Rhodes’ face and talked some trash. Cody was having none of it. He circled the champion and motioned to the crowd. They sprang to life on command. Cody and Roman locked up, but Reigns quickly broke the hold. He turned to Paul Heyman briefly, nodded in affirmation, then went in for another lock up. Rhodes grabbed a waist-lock. Roman turned it over. He shot Cody off the ropes and dropped him with a shoulder.

Cody popped to his feet and shook out his shoulder. Roman gave him an apathetic point. He smirked at the crowd as they cheered his opponent. Rhodes grabbed a side headlock. Roman shoved him off the ropes. Cody slid under his legs and caught him with the uppercut. Reigns tried to shrug it off. He ran at Cody, who side-stepped him. Reigns went crashing into the southwest ring post and crashed to the floor. Rhodes slid out the opposite side. He pulled a table from underneath the ring. Cole called it smart. “Rock and Roman did it last night, Roman did it last year. It’s Bloodline rules, anything goes!”

Just as Cody stood the table up, Reigns dropped him with drive-by. He grabbed the table and slid it back under the ring, much to the crowd’s chagrin. Cody recovered and tossed Reigns into the steel steps as the match crossed 4:00. Rhodes stopped to look at the Universal title. Cole told him to focus. Cody tossed the champion back in the ring, but before he could catch him, Reigns rolled back to the outside. Cody went to retrieve him. Roman had a Kendo stick in hand. He cracked Cody in the forehead. Roman returned to the ring and beat Cody with the stick repeatedly. “Shut your mouths!’ he told the crowd as they booed.


Kendo stick in hand, Reigns sized up his challenger. He swung and missed wildly. Cody picked up the stick. Roman begged off. Rhodes charged and caught him with it, then gave him a bulldog out of the corner. Cody immediately applied the Figure Four. Reigns writhed. Cole noted that no break will occur if Reigns reaches the ropes, under Bloodline Rules. Reigns used the stipulation to his immediate advantage, poking Cody in the eye to break the hold relatively quickly. “Cody’s going to have to keep chipping away, “Graves surmised, “you’re never going to get sustained offense against the Tribal Chief, few ever have.”

The Tribal Chief walked his foe from corner to corner, bouncing him off the turnbuckles. He tossed him to the outside, talking trash. “I’m gonna miss whoppin’ your ass!” he told Cody. He tossed Cody into the hydration table, knocking it over. Cody stumbled over the barricade and into the crowd. Roman followed. They traded punches near the scaffolding rig. Both men climbed atop a string of covered crates. Reigns told people to move out of the way, as he planned to Suplex his opponent into the crowd. Cody blocked it and delivered one of his own onto the hard surface they stood atop. Rhodes worked Reigns back to ringside.

9:00 in, Cody tossed Roman in the ring and went for an early Disaster Kick. Reigns picked him out of the air and gave him a Powerbomb. Both men were laid out. Roman used the ropes to help himself stand. Cole mentioned that they’re not even 24 hours removed from the grueling tag team match. Reigns gave Cody a quick snap Suplex and covered him for only a one count. “That was all psychological,” Cole said. Reigns got in Cody’s face. He told him he was going to “send him to Hollywood with the rest of them.” He said it’s his company. Reigns delivered a back Suplex in the center and covered him with a forearm for a weak two count. Paul Heyman shouted instructions. “A 3 count means a $3 million bonus,” Roman smiled. He grabbed a cravat hold on Rhodes. Cody worked himself to a knee, then to his feet. He broke the hold and kicked Reigns in the gut. Roman shrugged it off and delivered a bridged Fisherman Suplex for a two count.

With the pace slowed dramatically, the champion settled in. He worked Rhodes into the southeast corner and gave him slow, plodding right hands. The fans tried to rally, booing Reigns and showing him middle fingers. Roman delivered ten short-arm clotheslines in the corner. He wound up for an eleventh, but Cody exploded out of the corner with a kick. He hit another one. Roman hit one of his own. Rhodes shrugged it off and dropped Reigns with one more.

Both men were down in the center. Cole said it’s the conclusion of the most intense rivalry of the past year. Champion and challenger reached their feet, trading punches. “A true heavyweight battle,” Cole said. They turned to gut punches, then back to rights. Cody dropped the champion with a body tackle. He followed up with a snap Powerslam. Cody flexed, bringing the crowd to life. He hit the ropes, connecting with a Disaster Kick for a cover and two count at 15:45.


Cody dragged Roman to his feet. He hit the ropes again, looking for the cutter this time. Reigns caught him in a waist-lock and pulled him into a Cross Rhodes. He hooked the leg, but Cody kicked out at two. “That move sucks,” Roman said. “That move ain’t beating nobody. This is fun. I just like shoving it in his face,” he said to Heyman. Paul laughed. Reigns stood, cockily. He sauntered to the corner and cocked his fist. Reigns charged, but Cody ducked. He gave Reigns a number of quick jukes, capped off with the bionic elbow. Reigns rolled to reprieve on the outside. Cody followed. He stood over the toppled champion, contemplating. Rhodes turned to the announcers desk and cleared it off. “Bloodline rules also applies to what Cody is allowed to do,” Graves explained. Rhodes tried to retrieve the Tribal Chief, but Reigns caught him with a low blow.

Roman Reigns gave Cody a Powerbomb through the announcers desk. He wasted no time, quickly tossing him back in the ring and delivering a quick Superman Punch for a cover and near fall just after 19:00. Both men writhed on the mat as the camera pulled back to a wide shot of the stadium. “Cody!” the crowd pleaded. Reigns motioned for them to quiet down. He motioned for the Spear. Rhodes blocked it with a kick to the face. He hit the ropes and hit the Cody Cutter for a cover and near fall. Graves pleaded with Cody to keep his foot on the gas pedal. “I’m not sure anyone can pin Roman Reigns,” McAfee concluded.

Rhodes set up for Cross Rhodes. Reigns blocked it with lifting knees to the face. He hooked Cody in for a Uranagi, but Cody blocked it, hit the ropes and drove Reigns through the mat with a Spear. Cody hooked the leg for a very close near fall. Heyman looked on, shocked. Cody dragged Roman to his feet and delivered the first Cross Rhodes. He held on, setting up for another. Before he could execute, Jimmy Uso leapt in the ring and gave Cody a Superkick. He held Cody in place for Roman to deliver a Superman Punch.

“It’s just me, uce!” rang out. Jey Uso bounced onto the stage. Jimmy left the ring and ran up the ramp to meet him. The two traded punches atop the stage. Jey speared Jimmy off the stage, through a pair of tables waiting below. In the ring, Cody rolled Reigns up for a near fall. Roman bounced up, hit the ropes, and delivered a Spear for a last moment kick out. Roman began threatening referee Charles Robinson. The Head of the Table was incensed. He lifted Cody and applied the Guillotine. Cody flailed desperately. He ran Roman’s body against multiple turnbuckles, then straight through the ropes and out the ring, breaking the hold.

Reigns was hunched by the timekeeper’s area. Cody got a running start and speared him right through the barricade as the match approached 25:00. Rhodes walked the champion back into the ring. He pounded the mat, stalking his prey. Graves wondered when was the last time anything like this happened. Cody hit a first Cross Rhodes, then a second, then primed him for a third. Solo Sikoa entered the ring and gave Rhodes the spike. He dragged Reigns’ lifeless body over Cody’s chest, then turned his back, knowing the result. But Cody kicked out. Solo turned back and wiped his face. He mounted Rhodes and punched him repeatedly. He hollered at his cousin, “get up! Finish him!” he ordered. “I know!” Reigns barked back. Solo told Roman to “finish the story.”


Solo Sikoa held onto Cody. He delivered the spike in tandem with another spear from Roman Reigns. Roman hooked the leg, but Cody kicked again. Sikoa was enraged. He stomped around the ring. Suddenly, John Cena’s music rang out. He bolted to the ring, and tossed Solo Sikoa out of the ring. He grabbed Roman and delivered an Attitude Adjustment. Cena wasn’t done. He retrieved Sikoa on the outside and gave him an Attitude Adjustment through the Spanish announce desk.

Cena removed his hat and slicked back his hair, satisfied with his work. Then The Rock’s music hit. The Final Boss marched to the ring, talking trash. Cena returned to the ring. McAfee said The Rock is furious with John Cena for sticking his nose in the Bloodline’s business. Rock and Cena stood opposite one another. Cena removed his shirt and tossed it in the crowd. Both he and Rock paused to look around at the crowd. Cena taunted him and took a swing. Rock caught him and delivered a Rock Bottom. “Get the f— out of The Rock’s ring!”

Suddenly, The Shield’s music hit. Rock looked around as crowd looked around frantically. Roman Reigns caught something out of the corner of his eye. He charged and caught an approaching Seth Rollins, decked in Shield gear, with a Superman Punch. Rock laughed. The gong sounded and the lights went out. When they returned, The Undertaker was standing in the ring. He gave The Rock a chokeslam. The lights went out again, then Taker was gone.

The Undisputed Universal Champion was left alone in the ring with a steel chair. He cracked Seth Rollins in the back with it, in homage to the Shield’s destruction. Roman called for another Spear. He charged, but Cody blocked it. He pulled Reigns in and hit one Cross Rhodes. Then another Cross Rhodes. Then a third Cross Rhodes. He hooked the leg for a resounding three count and absolutely thunderous pop.

WINNER: Cody Rhodes in 33:24 to win the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship

Samantha Irvin choked her way through the announcement, overcome with emotion. Brandi Rhodes entered the ring, embracing her husband. The crowd continued to cheer, singing Cody’s theme. Cody retrieved the Championship, climbing the turnbuckles and hoisting it above his head for the first time. “And now the celebration begins,” Cole said over a number of highlights. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Randy Orton, and LA Knight rand down to the ring. John Cena and Jey Uso returned. Sami and Jey hoisted Cody onto their shoulders. Cole said he’s known Cody since he was a boy, and he knew he’d be a star. He talked about Cody leaving the company disgruntled and heartbroken, only to come back as a Superstar.

CM Punk joined Cody in the ring, giving him a big hug. Cody’s mom entered the ring, embracing her son. “Dammit, I love professional wrestling,” Michael said. Cody gave the title to his mother, having her pose with it in front of the camera. More family and friends joined the celebration.Even Brodie Lee’s son. Seth Rollins re-emerged. Cody grabbed a microphone. He asked for Bruce Prichard and Triple H to come to the ring. They did, and celebrated with the others.

Cody left the ring momentarily to shake Michael Cole’s hand and give him a big hug. He shook hands with Graves and McAfee, then returned to the ring. Everyone cleared the way. KO helped Seth out of the ring. Cody and Seth shared a moment between the ropes, shaking hands. Rhodes left the ring, hugging some fans at ringside and a couple of cameramen, too. He celebrated on the ramp as the broadcast faded to the recap video package.

Another year...another WrestleMania. Hope everyone here is alive and well. See you again in the future, God willing

a classic pixie p recap

This is the greatest "WWE WrestleMania 40 PLE Results: 4-6-24 and 4-7-24" thread EVAR!1!

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