WWE WrestleMania Saturday is here, and say what you want–I for one am excited to sit down and watch. Why not take this journey with me…in bullet point form with my Results & Reaction!

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Rock Boogs & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Usos (champions)

Shinsuke Nakamura has a storied WWE WrestleMania history, including a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 34 against AJ Styles. For Rick Boogs, this is his first WrestleMania. The Usos have been around forever–seven time Smackdown Tag Team Champions–and They The Ones.

• Kinda shocked this is going on first–last year we had “big matches” to open each night of WrestleMania.
• Pretty basic to start until Rock Boogs’ knee buckles. There was a VERY VERY close nearfall (superkick/Uso Splash combo) that the crowd bit on big time.
• I feel like we are waiting for the super-human comeback for Boogs.
• But then we get the One-D, and it’s all over.
• Rick Boogs continues to get checked on at ringside, and he’s leaving with help (but not on a stretcher).

Winners, and STILL WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions – The Usos (pinfall on Shinsuke)

Serviceable opener, but honestly this would have been better served as a middle of the card match. WWE has us (me?) conditioned to expect more out of the WrestleMania opener.

Happy Corbin (w/Madcap Moss) vs. Drew McIntyre

Bardon Corbin went from sad to happy, gained a friend in Madcap Moss, and now he’s got a WrestleMania showdown with 2-time WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. 

• Madcap Moss won the Andre The Royal Giant Memorial Battle Rumble (you’re welcome, PC), but then got knocked out from one punch later in the night. Finn Balor probably should have won that one. Granted, the majority of the prior winners aren’t even with the company, so…..
• Drew McIntyre is a millionaire, but can’t get a proper line-up on his beard. Definitely not a Maestro’s guy.
• Jessika Carr is your referee, and we’ll likely see her again tomorrow for Edge vs. AJ.
• Definitely not your normal WrestleMania match order tonight, at least compared to last year. We seem to be getting the undercard out of the way–although I would expect a “big match” to follow this one.
• I wonder if we will see the barrier screens stick around after WrestleMania–it’s nor uncommon for a WrestleMania upgrade to remain in place afterward.
• Obviously, I am highly engaged in this match.
• Doesn’t help that Baron Corbin Sucks.
• The action has been less than inspiring so far, but the crowd is still hot.
• RING GENERAL BARON CORBIN (slides out to avoid the Claymore)
• Great reaction for Shitty Beard’s dive.
• And I do believe Drew McIntyre is indeed the first person to EVER kick out of End Of Days.
• Crowd bought that one big time.
• Claymore connects and we are done here.
• Madcap teases getting involved and Angela cuts the ropes in half. That’s likely a WrestleMania moment.

Winner: Drew McIntyre (pinfall)

Not a bad affair at all, and the crowd was solidly engaged. Drew McIntyre is still insanely over, and if he is getting ready for a feud with Roman Reigns, he is in the perfect position to do so.

Rey Mysterio & Dominik Mysterio  vs. The Miz & Logan Paul

The first ever father and son tag team champions in WWE history–Rey & Dominik Mysterio–battle The Miz and mainstream social media star Logan Paul, who is making his in-ring debut.

• Don’t know if you’ve heard, but The Mix is the only two-time Grand Slam Champion in WWE history. Acknowledge him.
• Love the tandem stage entrances for the Mysterios
• Babyfaces out first, but there’s a celebrity on the heel side.
• Love the Mysterios paying homage to Los Gringos Locos–Eddie Guerrero & Art Barr
• Has The Miz ever gone with yellow/black gear before?
• Two straight matches with a female referee–might by a WrestleMania first.
• The Miz & Logan Paul = The Killer Bees.
• Logan Paul, so far, looks just as good as Bad Bunny. Acknowledge him.
• I love how Logan Paul swoops in to hook the leg–he already has signature movements. Credit: The Miz
• That was a BEAUTIFUL kick out of the Sunset Flip by Rey to Miz.
• Rey showing everyone who does the best tornado DDT in the family.
• Aside from a father/son tag team, this match is also basically trainer/trainee vs. trainer/trainee.
• Logan Paul and The Miz win–and clean, too. I really hope Logan Paul sticks around.
• WHAT?
• Shocked that Miz turns on Logan Paul right there–they made a great team.

Winners: Logan Paul & The Miz (Skull Crushing Finale on Rey)

Logan Paul looked every bit as good as Bad Bunny, and deserves as much recognition and respect. Shocked that The Miz turned–if Logan Paul is going to stay around, teaming with The Miz is the way to go. I expect them to have a match at Money In The Bank.

Gable Steveson appears on stage, and I (along with plenty of others) realize I have been spelling his name wrong.

Raw Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (champion) vs. Bianca Belair

Two pioneers battle for the Raw Women’s Championship in a match that could easily close either night of WrestleMania.

• Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch, the only two women to win a WrestleMania main event (show closing style).
• Becky Lynch legit enters and comes off as one of the biggest stars in the world.
• Big time entrances for BOTH women, love to see it.
• I hope Bianca Belair never stops being moved by the reaction she gets in stadiums.
• I LOVE THIS CROWD.
• Fantastic opening sequence, and they bought every bit of it.
• Becky went for the quick win, then tried to use the ropes. All the callbacks.
• Love Becky, the heel, being happy to potentially win via countout.
• Loved Becky not using the hurricanrana and turning it into a roll-up instead.
• Beautiful 450 Splash from the middle turnbuckle by Bianca, and another near fall that had the fans living and dying by the count.
• Bianca out of position there–takes a heel to the face.
• Good cover by Jimmy Smith with the Rolling Thunder Kick call, even if that wasn’t the spot.
• Bianca might have a broken orbital bone.
• THUNDEROUS KOD. Great finish, and given the reaction of the crowd, it was the right choice.

Winner and NEW Raw Women’s Champion: Bianca Belair (pinfall)

This was Bianca Belair’s best match to date, narrowly edging out her WrestleMania 37 showdown with Sasha Banks. Hell of a match that easily could have closed out either night of WrestleMania 38.

Superstars who have become NEW #WWERaw Women's Champion at #WrestleMania AND have become NEW #SmackDown Women's Champion at @WrestleMania:

– @BeckyLynchWWE
– @BiancaBelairWWE

— Wrestling Stats & Info (@WWEStats) April 3, 2022

Seth “Freakin'” Rollins vs ???

A storied Road to WrestleMania for the visionary, with rumors swirling regarding his potential nightmare of an opponent, hand selected by Vince McMahon.

• Jimmy Smith calling Seth the last one invited to the dance is wrong–Bobby Lashley vs. Omos was set up after.
• Was Sasha Banks hiding in that choir, too?
• Seth needs to refer his beard guy to Drew McIntyre.
• Notable is the lack of a distinguished “CODY! CODY!” chant by the crowd before he comes out.
• Hell of an entrance.

Seth “Freakin'” Rollins vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes

• Amazing entrance for Cody Rhodes, keeping every bit of his AEW branding (kinda wish he used the past few weeks for tattoo removal).
• Cody looks emotionally torn–and I get it.
• The biggest way in which Cody has grown over the past six years is his in-ring storytelling.
• Cody Rhodes is a 16-year in-ring veteran, back in WWE, and it just feels right. Good for Cody.
• Great main event style match going on here, between two former ROH World Champions.
• BEARHUG!
• Is “Frickin'” an accepted alternative to “Freakin'”?
• Rando on Twitter doesn’t like my Tony Khan tweet.

Tony Khan does not make stupid tweets

— RIP Scott Hall (@xxSDCxx) April 3, 2022

• Urban Meyer lookalike in the crowd SHOCKED by the powerbomb to the barricade.
• CROSS RHODES AND SETH KICKS OUT!
• Top Rope Inverted Superplex!
• Cody kicks out of death like he’s still in AEW!
• Cody not quite in his usual ring shape, but that will change.
• PEDIGREE TEASE by Cody! Give that man a sledgehammer!
• CODY CUTTER!
• This match has had everything. What else do we get?
• Aaaaaaaaaaaand Cody kicks out of the Pedigree.
• 2 Cross Rhodes + Dusty Punches & Bionic Elbow + 1 last Cross Rhodes and we’re done.
• MAJOR PROPS to Vince for letting Cody go over clean.

Winner: Cody Rhodes (pinfall)

The match was fantastic, might end up being match of the night thanks to the emotion involved. Seth is still a notch above Cody as a performer, but Cody being the storyteller  he is, he comes in as a top guy in WWE. I think we’ll see this match again, this isn’t one and done.

Welcome home, Cody. You belong here.

WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair (champion)

Ronda Rousey had a meteoric rise in her first year in WWE, winning the Raw Women’s Championship, main eventing WrestleMania, and opening the door for many “outsiders” to continue to find their way in. Her first run included a match with Charlotte Flair at Survivor Series. Tonight, Ronda enters as the challenger, having won the Women’s Royal Rumble Match, and Charlotte Flair enters as a 13-time women’s champion.

• Nothing different about their entrances, but both are stars.
• I do wonder if New Day vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland (with Pete “Butch” Dunne) is getting bumped to tomorrow–possibly on the Kickoff.
• Ronda Rousey brings an element to the women’s division that no one else has (Sonya Deville is close, as is Shayna Baszler). She absolutely stands out–in a good way.
• Brutal battle early on, crowd has finally died down a little bit.
• Love the Top Rope Judo Throw by Ronda.
• Ronda’s unorthodox style is really bringing out different elements from Charlotte–who is really emerging as a ring general.
• I don’t want to say “like her Dad” because she stands on her own, but…like her Dad.
• Ronda winning with a leg lock would be interesting–since she promised to take her arm.
• After both escape the 10-count on the outside, it seems like we are pumping emotion into this match to match the brutality.
• Charles Robinson’s hand hit for 3, well after Charlotte’s leg hit the ropes.
• GREAT nearfall after the Natural Selection.
• I feel like Charlotte has to win here, but I have no clue how.
• And there’s the ref bump.
• Big Boot, and we’re out.

Winner, and STILL SmackDown Women’s Champion: Charlotte Flair (pinfall)

This was a brutal fight between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey. Both delivered on what was a unique contest, one I really enjoyed. I don’t think it played well on a big stadium, that’s a Chicago arena match.

The KO Show: Kevin Owens with special guest “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

Kevin Owens was going to be shut out of WrestleMania, but he laid down a big challenge–for an interview segment. But the man he called out, the highest grossing performer of all time, happens to be “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Owens found himself in a show closing segment.

• It does appear New Day vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland got bumped–here’s hoping we see it tomorrow.
• Kevin Owens is brilliant, drawing all kinds of heat.
• And that pop–THAT is why this is going on last.
• “I would have moved to Mexico–IT’S RIGHT THERE!”
• After the jokes and the crowd responses, Kevin Owens challenges Steve Austin to a match. A No Holds Barred Match…right here, right now!
• And after some prodding–he had his first match in Dallas, Texas, and he can have his last match in Dallas, Texas.
• A few “Hell Yeah”s later, we have a ref and a match.

No Holds Barred
Kevin Owens vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

• I have never heard such a pop for a bell ringing.
• We got our first beer early into the match–figured we’d save those for the end.
• Think we’ll see any other Texans?
• Austin tosses Owens to the outside, and now the real fun can begin.
• And now we are brawling in the crowd–it’s an Austin WrestleMania match!
• Suplex to the floor on Austin???
• How crazy would it be if Owens wins?
• Now we go for a little ATV ride up the ramp and battle it out on the stage. Austin is pleasing the crowd with everything here.
• STUNNER TO STONE COLD!
• Of course he kicked out!
• CHAIRSHOT, Stunner, and we’re out.
• Beers, Stunner to Owens again!
• Police–in cowboy hats–escort Owens out.
• Lots of beer everywhere.
• Toast and chug with the ref.
• STUNNER TO BYRON SAXTON!

Winner: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (pinfall)

Career highlight for Kevin Owens, and Steve Austin gets to go out in Texas. You have to wonder if we’ll get a Kevin Owens episode of Broken Skull Sessions in the coming months.

Now THAT'S a @steveaustinBSR entrance fit for #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/nKlJK37s50

— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2022

Some slow points to start the night off, but once the third match started, it was all killer and very little filler. A satisfying, exciting, enjoyable night of WrestleMania. And we still have another night to go!