Liv Morgan beat Natalya in the pre-show match. I was glad to see Liv get the win. There is some untapped stuff there and the win helped her while losing doesn’t hurt Natty at all.
We got the same pirate open as we did last night, but no America The Beautiful. I would have liked it better the other way around.
We are opening with Rhea Ripley defending her NXT Title against Charlotte Flair. Challenger is out first. The champion is next, wearing a different outfit. No Mad Max look. Instead she is wearing blue, white and gold. It’s kind of superhero looking.
Charlotte was in control the first minute or two but then Rhea hit a big knee and Riptide. Charlotte kicked out at two and rolled to the floor to regroup. Charlotte wouldn’t come in so Rhea wen out after her. They brawled on the floor. They came back in and Rhea was in control. They are yelling a lot so at least we have some noise. They are also working at a fast clip. Charlotte is back in control and took out Rhea's knee and went to work on it. Charlotte is trashing knee while Ripley fights back. She dumped Charlotte but is selling the leg. This has been really good. It's way better than anything from night one. And just as I typed that, both Eps and Mike Johnson wrote me the same thing.
They are trading near falls. Rhea hit a pretty dropkick from the top but selling the knee cost her the pin. Rhea is on par with Charlotte here, for sure. Rhea locked on a cloverleaf but Charlotte got out. They are warring here.
Charlotte kept working on the knee. Rhea kept coming back. Neither one would give an inch.
On the second turnbuckle Rhea went for a superplex but Charlotte dumped her and went for the moonsault but Rhea got the legs up. She ran into a spear but Charlotte only got a two. Charlotte locked on the Figure Four, and turned it into the Figure 8. Rhea finally tapped out.
The story was that Rhea fought hard through the bad knee and was right there with Charlotte. I am guessing they put the Title on her to have her bring star power to NXT. That is the only reason I can think of to do it since despite how good she looked, now both NXT women lost in Title matches. Great match.
Aleister Black is taking on Bobby Lashley, with Lana. Still not entirely sure why, but here we go!
Black tried to take him one head on early. Big mistake. Bobby is dominating him. The noise the workers made in the first match added a lot. These two are silent but violent types.
Black tried coming back but ran into a powerslam. Lashley was in complete control when Lana got on the apron. He had Black but Lana said no, spear him. Lashley ran into Black Mass, match over. That quick. Lana cost him. Fine for what it was, Black should have gotten the win and did.
Bayley and Sasha did an interview with Kayla. Bayley said they are best friends and nothing will come between them. Bayley said interview over and left. Kayla asked Sasha if she wants to win the Title she has never won, wait and see. It's Sasha, the shocker would be if she didn't turn.
Money in the Bank is May 10th. At least for now. We will see.
They interviewed Gronk. As an interview he's a Hall Of Fame Tight End, if you get my drift. He wants the 24-7 Title tonight. For some reason.
Otis vs. Ziggler is next. Dolph is out first with Sonya. If you don't know what has gone down to set this up, well don't count on me to bring you up to speed! Otis came out by himself and went right after Dolph, who bailed. No Mandy. Yet.
Otis is out for blood. But his temper got the best of him and Dolph kicked him and took control. Otis came back and Otis'd up. He is now working over Dolph. But then the big dope went for the Caterpillar. Sonya got on the apron and distracted the ref and Ziggler kicked him in the nads. Then Mandy came out and attacked Sonya. Then crotched Dolph. This would have gotten a huge pop if the crowd was there. Otis hit a Caterpillar, 1-2-3. Mandy hugged him afterward. He scooper her up and they kissed. OK, I see why Otis was happy to work WrestleMania now.
Edge vs. Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match is next.
Edge is out first. I am happy to see him but man, I wish he was out in front of 70,000 people. He deserves that. He's ready in the ring. Randy's music played. Edge is looking at the entrance. Oh Edge, look behind you. Even in know that. RKO out of nowhere. Edge was pretending to be a cameraman so at least that explains why Edge didn't know he snuck up since, well, no one else is there. Edge just pulled a Sting though. Edge says he can go but he is selling he is hurt and took another RKO. Edge got up at ten. They are out on the floor. Randy hit him with a camera. Edge got up at 7. Orton has tied him up in gym equipment and is beating him up. It's all Orton. He loves Edge. Don't forget it.
Randy was about to use a 45 pound plate on him but Edge drove it into him and now he is on the offense. Edge is ripped by the way, looks great. He is letting out his anger, which he should be doing.
They are fighting in the gym. It's a bad ass gym by the way. Now they are in the back. Edge makes Randy eat a rolling door. Back in the ring, Randy threw Edge off of the stage, neck first into the barricade. He sat and waited to see if Edge would get up. He did at 9. They are going everywhere in the building and beating the count. It's going long. They are in a storage area. This match could definitely use some fans. They are working har, and sweating, but it just feels long to me.
Orton is down on a table. The ref is finally counting. Edge climbed a ladder up about ten feet, dropped an elbow and through the table they go. That isn't it though. Randy has blood on his back and now he is working over Edge again.
They are on a pickup truck. DDT from the roof into the covered bed by Orton. Edge finally got up and went to the top of a tractor trailer. Orton got up. He's chasing. Well, coming for him I guess makes more sense. The announcers are really hard to hear, I guess on purpose. They are on the top of the trailer. Edge hit a spear. Both got up. Edge went for the spear but ate an RKO. Edge got up at 9 and then fell down again. Randy went to the ground but came back. Randy was coming but locked on sleeper. He had Orton out but stopped the ref from counting at 5, using an F Bomb. He was going to use the chair but then started crying. He got up and did a conchairto, in the same, slow manner Orton would have used. The count started. Ten count, Edge wins.
This was really long. I liked that Edge wanted to dish out a little more pain before the end. They worked hard and were sweaty as all hell from doing so. But it was long. I hand it to them for how hard they worked. It was really long. It heated up at the end and got really good. And, it was really long. Personally if they would have cut ten minutes out I would have liked it better. Edge showed he can go though so I hope he works some more matches, in front of the crowd he deserves to work in front of.
Mojo has a bunch of people chasing him for his Title. He got over near Gronk, who did a backward splash on the crowd and pinned his friend to win the Title. New 24-7 champ.
The Street Profits will defend their Tag Titles against Angel Garza and Austin Theory. This one is sooooo random. Profits are walking around the ring. Wait a second, I think I see more than ten total people there!
Champs are in control early. They are happy it's WrestleMania. Making lots of noise. Good, fast match. As should be expected, the champs retained. That is what should have happened.
Smackdown Women's Title time. It was all about Sasha and Bayley working together. They got it down to them and Lacey when Saab accidentally hit Sasha. Sasha was mad and confronted Bayley. Lacey hit the Right and Sasha was eliminated. So, Sasha didn't turn. Bayley went to work on Evans. She tied up her right hand to take away her finisher but Lacey fought back. She hit the moonsault but only got a 2. The Sasha came out of nowhere and hit a Backstabber to save her friend. Bayley won and Sasha put the Title belt on her so the story continues.
Time to go to the Funhouse. John Cena looks thin. I expect this to be tonight's version of the Boneyard match.
Last night I said, about that match, "What the hell am I am watching." Had I seen this, I would would have never said that. This is so bizarre, I really don't even know what to say. For real.
I am longing for Hulk Hogan's "It's cold here, there's no Hulkamaniacs" promo. The Fiend won one of the most odd things I have ever seen in wrestling. And now that I have seen it, I never need to see it again. Whoever came up with that should put down the pipe. ASAP.
Time for the main event. Good luck following what we just saw. And I don't mean what we just saw was good, I mean I wonder if anyone is left watching after that.
Drew McIntyre is out first. The champ is out next, with Paul Heyman.
Starts fast with Brock charging. Drew Claymore. Brock kicks out. Brock ducks second Claymore and starts suplexing and stuff. Heyman said, "It will be quick, but it won't be painless". F5, kick out at one. Brock is stunned.
F5. Kick out at two. Brock still stunned. Another F5. Drew kicks out at 2.75. Brock is mad. Paul says he's good, keep doing it. All night long. He went for the fourth but Drew got out and hit a Claymore. Brock got up. Claymore. Brock got up. Claymore. Three count. Drew wins the Title!
I am so happy for the man. Watch the Chronicle he did. He has earned it. The dude is so worthy. I wish there was a crowd there for it, but it is what is. New Champion: Drew McIntyre. Brock is still selling. And still selling minutes later. That's cool because it makes Drew a killer.