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The biggest night of wrestling went Hollywood… again!
WrestleMania 39, set for Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at SoFi Stadium, marked the pay per view’s second time coming to the Greater Los Angeles area. As you’ll recall, WrestleMania 21 took place at the Crypto.com arena (then known as the Staples Center) back in 2005.
Night 1 featured a stacked card, starting with Austin Theory defending his United States Championship against John Cena. The night also included The Judgement Day’s Rhea Ripley challenging Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Former honorary Bloodline member Sami Zayn teamed up with Kevin Owens to battle Jimmy and Jay of The Usos for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships. Speaking of family feuds, 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Rey Mysterio finally faced off against his son Dominik after months and months of feuding.
Meanwhile, Becky Lynch paired partnered with fellow Women’s Tag Team Champion Lita and Trish Stratus in a six-woman tag match against Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY of Damage CTRL. Oh, and Seth “Freakin” Rollins fought against Logan Paul in singles competition.
Plus, a WrestleMania showcase match featured Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy vs. The Viking Raiders.
Read on below for the results from WrestleMania Night 1, which will be updated in real time. Don’t forget to add your commentary below!
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United States Championship: John Cena vs. Austin Theory
Image Credit: WWE screenshot John Cena, who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most Make-A-Wish wishes granted, made his big entrance accompanied by a group of Make-A-Wish kids who dreamt of attending WrestleMania.
The opening match featured some highs and lows, like Theory biting Cena’s ear and Cena locking in the STF. Theory again bit Cena to break out of the signature move and taunted the crowd with a “You Can’t See Me” reference. One of Theory’s greatest assets is his ability to work a crowd and get fans to boo him.
Theory’s sleeper hold almost stopped Cena, but then Cena rebounded with a takedown followed by a “You Can’t See Me” taunt and a Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena even made Theory tap with an ankle lock but, unfortunately, the referee was knocked out. That gave Theory time to low-blow Cena, land the A-Town Down and make the pin to retain his United States title.
Winner: Austin Theory
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Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy vs. The Viking Raiders.
Image Credit: WWE screenshot Titus O’Neil (2020 Hall of Fame — Warrior Award inductee, former Tag Team Champion) joined the announcer’s table to add his commentary to this Fatal 4-Way tag team match.
This was wildly entertaining match in which big men proved they, too, could defy gravity.
Highlights: Chad Gable performing a rolling German suplex on Braun Stroman was a sight to see. Plus, Dawkins hit a Swanton Bomb, Ivar then performed a moonsault from the top rope, and that was followed by Strowman with a frog splash — also from the top rope. Otis even hit the World’s Strongest Suplex on Strowman.
Not to be outdone, Angelo Dawkins literally tackled Hanson, and Ricochet connected with a Shooting Star Press right in front of the announcer’s table. Ricochet then hit a moonsault, but landed on Dawkins’ knees. Montez connected with the belly splash from the top rope, allowing his partner Dawkins to get the pin.
Winners: The Street Profits
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Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins vs. Logan Paul
Image Credit: WWE screenshot Much like Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 12, Logan Paul came in from the rafters. Seth Rollins, meanwhile, brought out a live band including a conductor to lead the crowd in singing Rollins’ theme. The loud chorus rang throughout the stadium.
These two seemed evenly matched, each gaining momentum at different points. Paul leapt to the top rope and hit a moonsault that ultimately didn’t connect. Rollins, proving he should be in the main event, hit three consecutive suicide dives on Logan outside of the ring. The Architect then attempted a Pedigree, but Logan countered, and that led to back-to-back reversals. Paul hit Rollins in the jaw — seemingly injuring his right hand— and nearly got the pin, but Rollins kicked out at the last second.
Rollins also got a near-fall after executing a perfect Sit-Out Powerbomb. But then, Paul’s energy drink mascot (KSI in disguise) interfered, allowing Paul to gain the upper hand. Quick thinking from Rollins allowed him to move out of the way as Paul sent KSI through the announcer’s table, and Rollins hit the Pedigree for the pin. But Logan kicked out!
Paul hit Rollins with a GTS and then a frog splash from the top rope for yet another near-fall. The YouTuber then attempted a Coast-to-Coast, but Rollins connected with a super kick followed by his signature Curb Stomp to get the pin.
Winner: Seth Rollins
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Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus vs. Damage CTRL
Image Credit: WWE screenshot Some backstory: Becky Lynch and Lita defeated Damage CTRL to become the current Women’s Tag Team Champions, and even recruited Trish Stratus in their growing feud against Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY.
This match marked Dakota Kai and IYO SKY’s first WrestleMania appearance.
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Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio
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SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
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Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens — Main Event
Image Credit: WWE screenshot This is the first time a tag team match has served as the main event for WrestleMania and with good reason. The storyline leading up to it — Sami’s increasingly strained relationship with members of the Bloodline and eventually turning on them to stick up for his best friend Kevin Owens — really heightened the stakes.
