WrestleMania 40 delivered two action-packed nights of wrestling, with a total of 15 matches across the two evenings. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the matches and their grades, combining information from the provided Bleacher Report articles:
Night 1
- Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch (Women’s World Championship): Ripley emerged victorious with her signature Riptide, retaining the championship. (Rating: 4)
- Six-Pack Ladder Match for the Tag Team Championships: R-Truth & The Miz (Raw) and Austin Theory & Grayson Waller (SmackDown) secured the respective Tag Team Championships in a chaotic ladder match. (Rating: 3)
- Andrade & Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar & Dominik Mysterio: The veteran duo of Rey Mysterio and Andrade outsmarted their opponents. (Rating: 3)
- Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso: Jey Uso dominated his brother Jimmy in a heated sibling rivalry. (Grade: 2.5)
- Bianca Belair, Naomi, & Jade Cargill vs. Dakota Kai, Asuka, & Kairi Sane: The trio of Belair, Naomi, and Cargill emerged triumphant. (Grade: 3)
- Gunther vs. Sami Zayn (Intercontinental Championship): Zayn’s emotional journey culminated in dethroning Gunther after an epic reign (Rating – 4)
Night 2
- Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins (World Heavyweight Championship): An emotional rollercoaster! McIntyre wins the World Heavyweight Title in a brutal match vs. Rollins, only to be robbed by a Money in the Bank cash-in from Priest. (Rating: 3.5)
- Six-Man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight (The Pride vs. The Final Testament): The Pride (including a surprising Money in the Bank cash-in by Damian Priest) secured the win in a brutal brawl. (Rating: 2)
- LA Knight vs. AJ Styles: Knight defeated the veteran Styles with his BFT finisher. (Rating: 2.5)
- Triple Threat Match for the United States Championship (Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens): In a shocking turn of events, Logan Paul secured the United States Championship after Owens frog splashed him. (Rating: 3)
- Bayley vs. Iyo Sky (WWE Women’s Championship): Bayley retained her title by pinning Sky. (Rating: 3)
- Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship – Bloodline Rules):
- The main event of WrestleMania 40 saw Cody Rhodes challenging Roman Reigns for the second year in a row. Both men had epic entrances, with Brandi Rhodes appearing alongside her husband and Reigns entering to the music of an orchestra.
- Despite the Bloodline Rules allowing for outside interference, the match initially followed a more traditional style with holds, counters, and takedowns.
- The intensity escalated as Rhodes introduced a table, but Reigns countered and sent the crowd’s frustration soaring by putting the table away.
- The action spilled outside the ring, through the crowd, and utilized various weapons and parts of the set. This match surpassed their WrestleMania 38 tag match, showcasing why these two superstars deserved the main event spotlight. They expertly blended high-flying action with storytelling to create a captivating encounter.
- Several near-falls kept the audience on the edge of their seats, with both wrestlers utilizing each other’s signature moves.
- The Usos and Solo Sikoa all got involved, with John Cena making a surprise appearance to neutralize Sikoa and hit Reigns with an Attitude Adjustment.
- The Rock entered the fray, sparking a tease of the Black Adam vs. Peacemaker showdown fans won’t see in theaters. He landed a Rock Bottom before The Shield’s music hit, with Seth Rollins emerging with a chair. Reigns countered with a Superman Punch.
- Just as anticipation reached a peak, the iconic gong of The Undertaker resonated through the stadium. He materialized behind The Rock, delivered a chokeslam, and vanished as quickly as he arrived.
- After dispatching Rollins with a chair, Rhodes capitalized on a vulnerable Reigns, hitting three consecutive Cross Rhodes to finally dethrone The Tribal Chief and become the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
- Rating – 4 (This overbooked match, in the best way possible, delivered a satisfying conclusion to WrestleMania 40.)
- Notable Moments and Observations
- Snoop Dogg hyped the crowd with the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders, announcing an attendance of 72,755.
- Both Rhodes and Reigns boasted elaborate entrances, with Rhodes’ skull mask drawing particular attention.
- The match took nearly 20 minutes to begin after the initial hype video.
- A surprising moment included Reigns utilizing a Perfectplex.
- Randy Orton’s celebratory hug with Rhodes at the end offered a sense of closure and a full-circle moment.
Overall Analysis
WrestleMania 40 provided a diverse range of matches, catering to fans who enjoy high-flying action, brutal brawls, emotional storytelling, and championship clashes. Night 1 saw the rise of new champions and the continuation of existing rivalries. Night 2 was filled with unexpected victories, thrilling contests, and a chaotic main event. The grades awarded to the matches vary from 1 to 5 reflecting a mix of crowd reactions and match quality.
