(3) SETH ROLLINS vs. LOGAN PAUL
Logan Paul bounced in the corner, smirking at Seth Rollins. The two met in the center and locked up. Rollins wrestled Paul into a disadvantage, then backed away. The crowd serenaded Rollins again. Logan grabbed a quick side headlock. Rollins used the ropes to break out. He dropped down over Paul, leapfrogged him, then caught him with a quick kick to the midsection. Rollins went for the Stomp early. Paul moved in a hurry, selling the close call with his eyes.
The two traded quick drop downs. Paul tossed Rollins over the top rope to the floor. Cole noted that it’s reminiscent of Paul eliminating Rollins at the Royal Rumble. Seth slid back in the ring and pounced on Paul, getting a few punches in before Logan rolled to the apron. Seth held onto Paul’s hair. Logan guillotined him over the top rope. Logan hit a Buckshot Lariat and shrugged. He let Rollins pull himself to his feet. Paul cocked his fist. Seth covered up his head, so Paul went low to the ribs. Cole and Graves noted that Paul’s hand has a titanium screw in it, and he’s already knocked Rollins out with it.
Paul kicked at Rollins’ ribs. He scooped him, but Rollins elbowed free. Paul leapt to the middle rope and hit a quick cross body for a cover and two count. Paul turned Rollins into another cover. Seth kicked again. Paul twisted Rollins’ arm and delivered a side Russian Leg Sweep. Paul held on and applied a seated Octopus Stretch. The match crossed 5:30 as the crowd tried to will Rollins back to life. Seth managed to remove Paul’s leg from the back of his head and break the hold. The two began slapping and elbowing each other in the chest from the mat. They fought to their feet. Seth missed wildly with an open hand strike. Paul turned it into a Gutwrench Suplex for a two count.
“I am shocked,” Graves said, “Seth Rollins has been overwhelmed so far.” Cole noted that Paul has mounted significant offense in all of his in-ring appearances. Paul leapt straight to the top rope and went for a Moonsault. Rollins moved. Logan retreated to a corner. Seth went after him. He fired off quick punches, then delivered two clotheslines in quick succession. Rollins tossed Paul over the top rope to the floor. He looked around at the stadium crowd. They began serenading him again. Seth got a full-ring running start and dove on Paul through the middle rope. He leapt back in the ring and did it a second time, then a third. The crowd came to life. Rollins looked to them for energy.
Rollins stalked Paul. Logan was slumped over the ring steps. Rollins stomped Paul’s foot. Logan tried to create separation, sliding into the ring. Seth followed and set his opponent up for the Pedigree. Paul dead-lifted Rollins out of the move and the two began a series of chain roll-ups for alternating two counts. Paul eventually broke the stalemate and caught Seth with the right hand to the face. Rollins dropped. Paul covered for a very near fall at 10:07.
Paul crouched in the corner as Seth rose slowly. Logan charged, appearing to attempt Seth’s Stomp. Rollins popped him up into the air and delivered a sit-out Powerbomb for a near fall. Rollins retreated to the corner, sizing Logan up. The Prime Energy mascot pulled Logan Paul to safety on the outside. The mascot pulled its face covering away, revealing himself to be KSI, Paul’s business partner. Rollins rolled out of the ring and grabbed him. Paul attacked Seth from behind. He cleared the Spanish announcers desk. KSI filmed the downed Rollins as Paul climbed the top turnbuckle, drinking one of his own energy drinks.
At the last moment, Rollins exploded to life and pulled KSI into his spot. Paul had already leapt from the top. Logan hit his buddy with a massive Frog Splash off the turnbuckle, through the Spanish announce desk. Rollins quickly tossed Paul in the ring and delivered a Pedigree for a very near fall. The crowd began singing again. Rollins hit Paul with a rolling elbow, then a Ripcord elbow to drop him. He stumbled into the corner and went for the Stomp again. Logan picked Rollins out of the air and hit him with a Go-to-Sleep. Paul was momentarily stunned. He eventually climbed to the top rope and hit Rollins with a huge Five-Star Frog Splash. He covered for another very close near fall.
“This is WrestleMania, this is Seth Rollins’ world!” Graves exclaimed. Paul stomped at Rollins as the match crossed 15:30. Seth clutched his ribs in the corner. Paul climbed the adjacent turnbuckle. He dove coast-to-coast, but Rollins popped to his feet and caught Paul with a Superkick in mid-air. He immediately followed up with the Stomp for a cover and three count.
WINNER: Seth Rollins in 16:15
(Every time, Paul delivers. He’d already more or less cemented himself among the best non-wrestler wrestlers of all time. This match continued to cement that legacy. Paul’s not an easy guy to like, but he’s certainly easy to appreciate in the ring. Rollins was a great opponent for him, and their meshing of styles was evident as soon as the match got underway. The hot crowd helped propel this to even greater heights. Paul got all his major spots in, delivering signature moves from a handful of wrestlers and doing each one a fair bit of justice. It was Rollins’ connection with the crowd, though, that really held this one together and carried it from one big moment to the other. Seth’s multiple attempts at the Stomp built into a great crescendo at the end, where the crowd knew it was finally coming and that it would put Paul away. A fitting and very entertaining celebrity-style WrestleMania match.)
