The time has lastly come! WWE Wrestlemania 39 is kicking off Night 1, full with seven scheduled matches, the return of the legendary John Cena, and the showdown between WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley.
GameSpot is inside SoFi Stadium for this yr’s Wrestlemania, bringing you outcomes and a assessment of the large present reside, because it occurs, mere ft from the ring. Unless you are in attendance, the one approach to catch Wrestlemania is on Peacock (or via conventional pay-per-view). While Peacock has a free tier, you won’t be able to observe the WWE occasion via that. You’ll want a Premium ($5 a month, with adverts) or Premium Plus Peacock ($10 a month, no adverts) account. Regardless of which tier you select, there might be a number of WWE-related adverts all through the present.
There are a number of methods to observe Peacock. Aside from watching it on cell units and on the PC, you may stream the service on Amazon Fire units, Android TV, Apple TV, LG Smart TVs, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xfinity, and extra. As for when you may watch (and will tune into our reside assessment, try the instances for Wrestlemania under.
Start time:
- 8 PM ET
- 7 PM CT
- 5 PM PT
- 1 AM BST (April 1, April 2)
- 10 AM AEST (April 1, April 2)
At present, there are 7 matches scheduled for Night 1 of Wrestlemania 39. Austin Theory’s protection of the WWE United States Championship towards John Cena will kick off the present. Take a have a look at the night time’s full card under.
Night 1 Match card:
- Austin Theory (c) vs. John Cena (WWE United States Championship)
- Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Logan Paul
- Trish Stratus, Lita, and Becky Lynch vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky)
- Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) in a Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match
- The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) (c) vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
- Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio
Results & Review:
Austin Theory (c) vs. John Cena (WWE United States Championship)
Winner: Austin Theory by way of pinfall
Honestly, having Theory and Cena kick issues off is smart. This is an ideal approach to kick open the door to Wrestlemania. The solely fault on this feud is that Cena solely made a single look to additional the feud. He’s a busy man, certain, however it could have been nice to have him extra concerned within the buildup.
Theory received clear after hitting a low blow and nailing Cena with A Town Down, which is strictly what ought to have occurred. Not solely do the shenanigans make a rematch wise, Theory simply bought the most important win of his profession and Cena loses nothing.
The solely difficulty is with the video manufacturing in that the video feeds within the stadium glitched out as Cena was about to hit an Attitude Adjustment. So these within the low-cost seats needed to squint fairly laborious to see what was taking place within the match. Still, does not take away from this being a superb opener. Nothing spectacular, only a good match.
Rating: 7.5/10
Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) in a Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match
Winner: The Street Profits by way of pinfall
It’s laborious to name a deadly four-way tag match “normal” however this match was principally that. Everyone bought in a few of their signature offense, there have been some distinctive high-flying moments, and even Braun Strowman went off the highest rope. The tower of doom spot was undoubtedly the spotlight of the match, and the gang was lots entertained. Two different standout moments have been Ricochet’s sundown flip to the surface and Angelo Dawkins derailing the Strowman Express. Naturally, the gang went wild for each.
If I had a critique it is that storyline-wise, it isn’t all that enthralling. There’s no actual stakes of non-public story to this explicit bout. Still, it is a showcase win for the Street Profits, who ought to have been the crew to dethrone the Usos.
Rating: 7/10
Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Logan Paul
Winner: Seth “Freakin” Rollins by way of pinfall
The Prime vitality drink mascot is strictly the form of nonsense one ought to count on from Logan Paul. It additionally gives a simple goal for an hilarious beating from Seth Rollins. Speaking of Rollins, his Wrestlemania drip is flat out incredible–worthy of such a particular night time.
Paul was surprisingly dominant early on, particularly when he bought round to throwing punches. It’s good to see him on Rollins’ degree on this match, as there’s been a lot invested in him as a most important participant in WWE. And having him nearly get the pin on Seth after a knockout punch was a unbelievable second. While Paul has mentioned his WWE deal is expiring, that is definitely taking part in out in such a approach to make him seem like a powerhouse–in victory or defeat.
Having considered one of Paul’s YouTube buddies (KSI) within the Prime costume was a superb twist, on condition that most individuals in all probability anticipated his brother Jake to be in there. Having Paul be the one to by accident put KSI via the desk, although? That was pure magic. Less magic is Paul persevering with to do finishers of AEW wrestlers with out them really ending the matches. First it was the Buckshot Lariat, now it is the GTS. Using well-known finishers as run-of-the-mill strikes is not the most effective look.
Rollins bought the win after a superkick and a stomp, although it does not actually damage Paul as he seemed like dynamite all through the match. There have been memorable moments, nice storytelling, and a wildly partaking match. This one was superior and I’m all for a rematch.
Rating: 9/10
Trish Stratus, Lita, and Becky Lynch vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky)
Winners: Trish Stratus, Lita, and Becky Lynch by pinfall
This is one of the best ways to make use of legends at Wrestlemania. Working them right into a match with top-level and rising stars makes for a superb combine. And at this level, Damage Ctrl may be a greater heel crew than the Bloodline. They’re so good at being the worst, isolating their opponents, dishonest their approach to a bonus, and simply being imply. They tore aside the Women’s Tag Team Champions Lita and Becky, which made for a reasonably unbelievable comeback by Trish.
Iyo Sky’s moonsault to the surface was clearly the spotlight of the match, although as soon as chaos took management and tagging out and in took a backseat, the motion was frenetic and tremendous enjoyable to observe. Everyone bought an opportunity to shine, and it was nice to see Trish and Lita get their signature offense in. Seriously, her Twist of Fate trumps any accomplished by a Hardy.
The good guys received and the villains have been vanquished, however I would not be shocked to see some variation of those wrestlers in one other match quickly sufficient. The chemistry between this group is partaking, and Becky and Lita nonetheless have the Women’s Tag Team Championships to defend.
Rating: 7/10
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio
Winner: Rey Mysterio by way of pinfall
Dominik having a prison-themed entrance is pure artwork and you may by no means persuade me in any other case. Having him carrying a dressing up pseudo impressed by his dad’s iconic Halloween Havoc gear, although? That’s the cherry on high. I do not fairly perceive why Rey got here out with an Eddie Guerrero entrance, although. He’s not Eddie’s son, Dominik is.
Dear WWE, please have company mascots at ringside for each match. The press field went wild after we realized the Cinnamon Toast Crunch mascot was leaping round at ringside like a maniac.
This is the second sponsored match of the night time and the visuals listed here are rather more entertaining than the one which was branded as delivered to you by TurboTax earlier within the night. Eating cereal is means higher than doing all your taxes.
Enough in regards to the shenanigans earlier than the match, we must always contact on the shenanigans within the match. Rey actually whipped Dom together with his belt within the ring and it was hilarious, as was Dom throwing a drink in his sister’s face. Judgement Day is the most effective factor that would have ever occurred to Dominik Mysterio because it made him a way more entertaining and well-rounded character. It’s additionally nice for Rey, who has his first actually significant feud in ages towards a son all of us need to see him beat the snot out of.
I actually love how even-handed the offense was between the 2, because the precedence right here needs to be constructing Dom right into a plausible competitor, even when he wants his Judgement Day household to safe the win. While followers like to hate him, we have additionally gotten to observe him grow to be a reasonably good wrestler.
The interferences by Judgement Day and Legando Del Fantasma (or are they the LWO now, since they’ve the shirts?) added a superb quantity of fast-paced motion to the match. Rey bought the win, which needs to be the anticipated final result for many after Dom made Rey’s life depressing for therefore lengthy.
This was nice storytelling, superior motion, and a contented ending to a feud that is been occurring for months. What’s to not love?
Rating: 8.5/10
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship)
Winner: Rhea Ripley by way of pinfall
This is an attention-grabbing match as a result of, on one aspect you have got Rhea Ripley, who’s firing on all cylinders, probably the most partaking she’s ever been, and is clearly the way forward for this division. On the opposite, you have got Charlotte Flair. She’s nonetheless rehashing her dad’s music, strikes, and catchphrases. She’s basically been doing the identical gimmick her complete profession on the primary roster, by no means actually evolving. Her character and presentation really feel dated in a means Rhea completely does not. That’s not to remove from Flair’s expertise, which she has loads of. But she’s felt stale for a few years now and did not hassle reinventing herself in any respect after her most up-to-date absence.
These two traded some laborious hits and glorious counters all through the match, with Charlotte turning Ripley’s Riptide right into a DDT incomes an enormous response from the press field. Seriously, when you missed that exact sequence, return and discover it. While you are at it, additionally rewatch Rhea’s big German superplex a few instances. These two pulled out all of the stops.
The look on Rhea’s face after Charlotte kicked out of the Riptide informed your complete story of this match. This is so a lot better than their earlier Wrestlemania bout, which fits to point out how far Rhea has come since her NXT days. Even Charlotte has a hearth in her that we do not see all that a lot. I’d wish to humbly request we see this aspect of her means extra usually.
Rhea gave Charlotte actually the whole lot she had and ultimately it was sufficient, after a high rope Riptide. It’s laborious to think about this not being the match of the night time, which I might not have anticipated stepping into. Rhea has been on the rise for some time, however Charlotte actually stepped up right here to present Ripley a wonderful star-making match.
Rating: 10/10
The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) (c) vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
Winners: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens by way of pinfall
I actually cannot consider the primary occasion began with a Turbo Tax industrial set to “Safety Dance.” I haven’t got any touch upon it as a result of I simply do not perceive it. But even that, plus a efficiency by Lil Uzi Vert, and an impromptu “match” between The Miz and Pat McAfee aren’t sufficient of a buffer between the primary occasion and Ripley/Flair. The crowd was on fireplace for entrances nevertheless it felt like they have been getting drained because the match rolled on.
That mentioned, this match was nonetheless a blast and, with the extremely private story concerned, simple to get invested in. We’ve all been ready for the Bloodline to be humbled. And whereas Roman might lose his titles to Cody Rhodes tomorrow night time, this was the primary brick to fall.
Let’s discuss standout moments, although. Sami hitting Jey with a brainbuster on the apron was vicious, as was hit touchdown an Uso splash on Jimmy. That’s actually what this match was about, Sami standing as much as his former household. Hell, even Michael Cole referenced El Generico through the match, a beloved masked wrestler that appears lots like Zayn however retired to run an orphanage in Mexico proper across the time Sami signed with WWE. So a lot of the Bloodline story is the story of Sami Zayn and that was on full show right here. It’s clear that he nonetheless has love for the Usos (properly, Jey anyway), even when he has to destroy them to set them free from Roman. It’s such a unbelievable story that is been informed during the last yr.
In the tip, Sami and Kevin went over and, even higher, it occurred when Sami toppled Jey. This units the stage for some critical Bloodline turmoil shifting ahead and it is the primary time Zayn and Owens have received the tag titles in WWE. Just fantastic. This wasn’t pretty much as good as Charlotte vs. Rhea however this was masterful storytelling.
Rating: 9.5/10
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