NEW ORLEANS -- One night after NXT served up quite possibly its strongest TakeOver card in history, the pressure was on WWE WrestleMania 34 to deliver. And it did just that for a variety of unforgettable reasons. From a pair of thrilling matches to open the main card to a thrilling swerve in the main event, which brought a dying crowd to its feet in unison, Sunday's card from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome had something for just about every kind of professional wrestling fan.
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey's in-ring debut was arguably the show's highlight at the midpoint of the card when she teamed with Kurt Angle to defeat Stephanie McMahon and Triple H in a fun and expertly booked match. But the main event undoubtedly created the most water cooler talk for Monday morning as a bloodied Roman Reigns, after kicking out of four F5 finishers from Brock Lesnar, surprisingly succumbed to the universal champion. Because of the surprise finish amid rumors of Lesnar's return to UFC, the crowd of 78,133 went from hating the night's final match to cheering it in an instant.
The night also featured The Undertaker's return in a surprising squash victory over John Cena, and SmackDown women's champion Charlotte Flair ending the unbeaten streak of Asuka in one of the best women's matches in WrestleMania history. While the card wasn't void of low moments, those that were moved along fairly quickly. Even a Raw tag team title victory by Braun Strowman and his surprise pre-teen partner plucked from the crowd received an overwhelmingly positive response from the crowd.
WWE WrestleMania 34 results, grades
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal -- Matt Hardy eliminates Baron Corbin (Kickoff Show): The annual 30-man cluster to start the kickoff show, featuring a smattering of mid-card performers, was boosted considerably by an entertaining finish. After Corbin dumped Kane to narrow the field down to three, he teamed up with Mojo Rawley for a double stomping of Hardy. Suddenly the lights went out and a former foe of the "Woken" one, Bray Wyatt, appeared in the ring with a slightly altered look. After helping Hardy eliminate Rawley, Wyatt got caught on the business end of Corbin's finisher. But Hardy dumped Corbin from behind to win the match. Wyatt and Hardy faced off in the center of the ring until Hardy maniacally clapped and the two embraced, likely adding a new member to the extended "Woken Universe." Grade: C
Order of elimination: Aiden English, Konnor, Curt Hawkins, R Truth, Primo Colon, Mike Kanellis, Tyler Breeze, Viktor, Zack Ryder, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Apollo, Shelton Benjamin, Rhyno, Dash Wilder, Scott Dawson, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel, Sin Cara, Fandango, Heath Slater, Chad Gable, Titus O'Neil, Goldust, Tye Dillinger, Dolph Ziggler, Kane, Mojo Rawley, Baron Corbin
Cruiserweight Championship -- Cedrick Alexander def. Mustafa Ali via pinfall to win the vacant title (Kickoff Show): The self-proclaimed "uncrowned cruiserweight king" finally ascended the throne. In the finals of the tournament created to crown a new champion, Alexander outlasted Ali in a showcase of what makes the 205 Live brand so exciting. The match, pairing two babyfaces, was contested in a physical and intense style as both properly sold how hungry their characters were to become champion. There were plenty of aerial highlights throughout, including a beautiful Tope Con Hilo by Alexander onto the floor and Ali's insane springboard Spanish fly. Ali appeared to have the match won following a tornado DDT from the top rope and his inverted 405 finisher, but Alexander barely got his foot on the ropes to break the pin. Ali then missed a second 405 and Alexander landed his lumbar check finisher to secure the 1-2-3.
WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal -- Naomi eliminates Bayley (Kickoff Show): The inaugural women's match produced a memorable swerve finish to pop the crowd. With the entire storyline for the match built around the breakdown in the friendship between Bayley and Sasha Banks, WWE did well to give the fans a false finish involving the two. After Bayley saved Banks by eliminating Sarah Logan, Banks reached out her hand to squash their ongoing beef. Bayley initially accepted only to then dump Banks over the top rope, which both Bayley and the crowd thought was the end of the match. But Naomi, who had been thrown out of the ring under the second rope earlier, reappeared into the match. She hit Bayley with her Rear View finisher before tossing her, setting off a wild celebration. Grade: B-
Order of elimination: Carmella, Dana Brooke, Mandy Rose, Sonia Deville, Kairi Sane, Lana, Kavita Devi, Taynara Conti, Bianca Belair, Dakota Kai, Becky Lynch, Mickie James, Peyton Royce, Natalya, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, Sasha Banks, Bayley
Intercontinental Championship -- Seth Rollins def. The Miz (c) via pinfall and Finn Balor to win the title: Talk about an electric way to kick off the main card. The pace was off the charts for this one, as was the sequences of near falls and late saves. The Miz's decision to send The Miztourage backstage before the match, telling them "I've got this," removed any outside interference. It also cleared the way for an incredibly smooth and entertaining match. The trio received its first "This is awesome" chant from the crowd following a creative sequence midway through. Rollins hit a superplex on Balor yet nearly lost on a subsequent roll up. The Miz then snuck in for a Skull Crushing Finale on Rollins but could only get two. The finish to the match was also well set up as The Miz hit his finisher on Rollins from the top rope before Balor broke the pin with a Coup de Grace. Shortly after, Balor appeared to have the match won after a Coup de Grace on Miz until Rollins snuck in to hit The Stomp on Balor before one more for Miz to get the pin.
SmackDown Women's Championship -- Charlotte Flair (c) def. Asuka via submission to retain the title: The unbeaten streak of Asuka in WWE, which dates back to her October 2015 debut in NXT, is over following a women's match for the ages. In a pairing between arguably the top two female performers in the world, both were willing to risk it all in a showcase of physicality. The match was also incredibly emotional with both left in tears afterwards as Asuka exclaimed "Charlotte was ready for Asuka" before the two embraced in the center of the ring.
You want big spots? This match had plenty, including Asuka intercepting a moonsault by catching Charlotte into a triangle choke, only for Flair to then reverse into a Boston crab. Asuka later hit an incredibly stiff suplex off the ring apron and onto the floor. But Flair received the biggest pop late when she hit a breathtaking (and dangerous) Spanish Fly off the top rope. Following a huge spear, Flair then applied her Figure 8 leg lock to produce a surprising tap out from Asuka.
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