The wait for WrestleMania normalcy, plus a weather delay, was well worth it as WWE delivered great wrestling, fun moments and memorable main event — and there is another night to go.
Bianca Belair sent a sell-out crowd of 25,675 fans at Raymond James Stadium home happy by defeating Sasha Banks for the SmackDown women’s championship to close Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 on Saturday. There were some bumps along the way, but there was much more to like. Here are six takeaways from the show:
The B-EST
It was Belair’s moment, and she and Sasha Banks absolutely crushed it together in a historic main event that saw two black women wrestle a singles match at WrestleMania for the first time. The two shared an emotional moment before the bell rung. It was a star-making performance for Belair, who looked like a complete powerhouse throughout. At one point, Belair rolled up Banks, who had just dived through the ropes, and picked her up over her head. She walked up the ring steps and dumped her in the ring. She delivered a standing shooting star press and a 450 splash on top of a bevy of power moves the looked like they hurt watching from the couch.
The snugness of the match was exactly what we’ve come to expect from women’s wrestling in WWE. Banks brought that, and the frustration on her face throughout put Belair over in a big way. She really was the perfect opponent. Using Belair’s braid to set up a Bank Statement was fun to see.
It was that same braid that finally did Banks in. Late in the match, Belair whipped Banks with the braid, the sound of which probably could be heard outside the Stadium, and it left a huge welt on Banks’ side. After a few counter attempts, Belair lifted up Banks and delivered the KOD (Kiss of Death) for the 1-2-3 and the biggest pop and moment of the night to win the SmackDown women’s championship. Tears came down Belair face as her parents went berserk ringside for the kind of moment that transcends wrestling. WWE has it new mega-star and a much-needed fresh face atop its women’s division.
It was all nearly ruined by announcer Michael Cole, who instead of reacting to Belair’s pin called a kick out by Banks multiple times until being corrected by Corey Graves. Cole went silent for a while before going to a championship call. WWE may have to change the audio on Peacock at some point, but nothing could spoil this for Belair on this night.
This One Hurt
Bobby Lashley is still your WWE champion in the biggest stunner of the night. The match opened the show, putting Drew McIntyre as the first WWE superstar back in front of fans like he deserved. That’s where the joy ended during the physical and believable roller-coaster ride.
The match script seemed to be exactly what McIntyre needed. Lashley looked like a monster as he completely manhandled McIntyre for most of the contest, short-circuiting rally after rally. It gave the Scotsman, who had the crowd behind him, an unbeatable opponent to try to overcome. Lashley kicked from three Future Shock DDTs and then slipped out of the ring, leading to McIntyre doing a rare dive over the ropes to the outside.
McIntyre later got Lashley in a kimura lock for a great high-drama spot thanks to the champion’s selling. With McIntyre set up to finally hit the Claymore, MVP yelled to distract him in a spot that felt very realistic. It opened the door for Lashley, after a failed attempt early, to put The Hurt Lock on. McIntyre tried to use the turnbuckle to flip and break the hold. Lashley held on and McIntyre passed out to end the match.
It’s certainly noble of WWE to keep Lashley as a monster and protect the Hurt Lock, but it makes more sense to give your fans a moment to explode to after more than a year away. Yes, McIntryre fought to the bitter end, got distracted and didn’t tap, but this was a big missed opportunity. Expect a rematch in which MVP can’t get involved. Also, why break up The Hurt Business if Lashley was going to win?
Swinging Good Time
It’s shouldn’t come as a surprise Cesaro and Seth Rollins stole the show. Rollins countered The Swing four times before Cesaro was able to put it on for nine turns. The counters probably should have gone on longer to create a bigger crowd pop, but it played into the story of the match with each guy countering and kicking out of every big move the other hit. Rollins landed a gorgeous corkscrew splash at one point, too.
Cesaro eventually put Rollins in a UFO spin, then 23 swings and a second Neutralizer for the 1-2-3. This was an excellent match and an even better moment for Cesaro to get a win in his first-ever singles match at WrestleMania. His raw emotions to the crowd added even more. It will be interesting to see what comes next. But a shot at the Universal championship should not be ruled out no matter who wins the triple-threat match on Night 2.
Backwards Booking
The Raw tag team championship match between The New Day and A.J. Styles and Omos was a strange one. Big E introduced Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods in a fun moment, and Omos wore a peacoat to the ring in one of the oddest attires you will see. It did work considering he is a bodyguard. But the psychology was completely backward in this one and only worked to some degree.
The narrative running through this one: New Day cut off the ring by controlling Styles like a good tag team would. It did have an odd feel seeing New Day working as heels, but it created anticipation for Omos to enter the match. The Tampa crowd rumbled when he finally got in, but then he proceeded to work as a heel big man and that enthusiasm died. Yes, you can say he was delivering a babyface-like payback for New Day’s treatment of Styles, but it didn’t feel right.
Omos treated New Day like rag dolls and had a cool moment when Styles jumped over his shoulder for a Phenomenal Forearm. The big man power-bombed Kingston and put one foot on his chest for the pin. WWE has itself a new monster and a formidable team. It just took a weird route to get there. Styles is also now the 15th grand slam champion in WWE history.
Beautiful Music
Bad Bunny, who entered on the top of a semi truck in one of the night’s best entrances, absolutely nailed his in-ring debut. At no point did he feel like a celebrity trying to wrestle, and that’s a big credit to him, his trainers and The Miz and Morrison, who certainly helped on a number of moves. The Grammy-winning artist hit the wrestling basics early, sold the beatdown he took in the middle and delivered all the big moves late. Those included a splash off the top rope to the outside, a Canadian (Bunny) Destroyer on the floor and a cross-body Doomsday device with partner Damian Priest to pin Miz to the crowd’s delight. This was a huge win for Bunny and WWE.
Weather or Not
After an emotional welcome back to fans from Vince McMahon, WrestleMania went into a 25-minute weather delay. WWE filled the time with backstage interviews. It was great to hear WWE talent deliver unscripted promos, and most of them nailed it. When the weather finally let up, hosts Hulk Hogan and Titus O’Neil did an open that felt too long. The WWE championship match participants didn’t get in the ring until 8:45 p.m. Bayley popped up throughout the night in different segments — it was great to see WWE use her in some way because she did not have a match.
Other matches
Natalya and Tamina win women’s tag team turmoil
This was pretty predictable, but made complete sense as Natalya and Tamina have had the most interaction with women’s tag team champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, whom they will face on Night 2. Natalya and Tamina were the last team in, and Tamina earned the pin after hitting the “Super Fly” splash in a nice moment.
Earlier in the match, Mandy Rose fell victim to the wet ramp, slipping on her way to the ring. The Riott Squad were the runners-up in the match, but won the wardrobe battle dressed as the Joker and Harley Quinn. The ring announcer also mistakenly said they were eliminated when Liv Morgan had rolled up Mandy Rose for the second fall. The Riott Squad’s time will come. But when?
Braun Strowman over Shane McMahon in a steel cage match
There were a ton of weapons involved in this to even the playing field for McMahon. Elias and Jaxson Ryker even attacked Strowman before the match. But we eventually got the big moment we expected from this match: Strowman ripped off a section of the cage to stop McMahon from hitting the floor and then proceeded to throw him off the top of the cage into the ring to finally bring the crowd into it. He climbed down, dedicated the match to anyone who was called “stupid” like he had been and gave McMahon the running power slam for the win. This match, despite a lackluster build, was everything it needed to be.
Biggest Winner: Bianca Belair
Biggest Loser: Drew McIntyre
Best entrance: Bad Bunny
Best match: Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks
Predictions: 5-2
Grade: B+