WrestleMania Collection

‘WWE WRESTLEMANIA 37: NIGHT 2’ Rundown + Review – Reigns vs. Bryan vs. Edge, Owens vs. Zayn, FIEND LORE

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DATE: April 11, 2021
VENUE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock (Live)

WWE tries to top its excellent first night with a bevy of title matches, the return of The Fiend, and much more! 

CHAMPIONS 

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • WWE CHAMPION: “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Bianca Belair
  • RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Asuka
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Big E
  • WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: Riddle
  • RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles & Omos
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode)
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Nia Jax & Shayna Bazler

LINEUP

  • Randy Orton vs. The Fiend (*1/2)
  • Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler [c] vs. Natalya & Tamina for the WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/2)
  • Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (***)
  • Riddle [c] vs. Sheamus for the WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
  • NIGERIAN DRUM MATCH: Big E [c] vs. Apollo Crews for the WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
  • Asuka [c] vs. Rhea Ripley for the RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • Roman Reigns [c] vs. Edge vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP (****)

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‘WWE WRESTLEMANIA 37: NIGHT 1’ Rundown + Review – Banks vs. Belair, Bad Bunny for WWE Champion, FANS AGAIN

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DATE: April 10, 2021
VENUE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock (Live)

The first night of WrestleMania 37 features Sasha Banks defending the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair in the main event, Bad Bunny and Omos making their respective in-ring debuts, and Shane McMahon meeting his big ‘Mania bump quota for the year.

CHAMPIONS 

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • WWE CHAMPION: “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: “The Boss” Sasha Banks
  • RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Asuka
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Big E
  • WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: Riddle
  • RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston)
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode)
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Nia Jax & Shayna Bazler

LINEUP

  • Bobby Lashley [c] vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/4)
  • #1 Contenders Tag Team Turmoil – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (*)
  • Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins (***1/2)
  • The New Day [c] vs. AJ Styles & Omos for the RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***)
  • STEEL CAGE MATCH: Braun Strowman vs. Shane McMahon (**1/2)
  • Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs. The Miz & John Morrison (***3/4)
  • Sasha Banks [c] vs. Bianca Belair for the SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/4)

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‘WWF WRESTLEMANIA IX’ Recap + Review – Bret vs. Yoko, Mega Maniacs vs. Money Inc., Maybe I Don’t Hate Giant Gonzalez?

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DATE: April 4, 1993
VENUE: Caesar’s Palace (Las Vegas, NV)
COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Long regarded as one of the worst WrestleMania events of all-time, the 9th edition of the event really leaned into their Caesar’s Palace (parking lot) location from the graphics to mostly everyone being decked out in togas. It was an interesting experiment that many considered a failure. But was it? Was it really?

…

Okay kinda but I think I did end up liking the show a lot more than most people. Let’s run down the show and I’ll tell you why.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: Bret “The Hitman” Hart
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Money Inc. (“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster)

LINEUP (Personal Favorites in Bold)

  • Shawn Michaels [c] vs. Tatanka for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
  • The Steiner Brothers vs. The Headshrinkers
  • Crush vs. Doink The Clown
  • Bob Backlund vs. Razor Ramon
  • Money Inc. [c] vs. Mega Maniacs for the WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Mr. Perfect vs. Lex Luger
  • The Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzalez
  • Bret Hart [c] vs. Yokozuna for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP
  • A TOTALLY FINE AND NOT ALL CONTROVERSIAL SECOND MATCH I WON’T SPOIL HERE

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‘WWF WRESTLEMANIA 2’ Recap + Review – Hogan vs. Bundy, Dream Team vs. Bulldogs, 3 Venues in 3 Cities

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DATE: April 7, 1986 VENUE 1: Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, NY) VENUE 2: Rosemont Horizon (Rosemont, IL) VENUE 3: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles, CA) COMMENTATORS: Various After taking a big gamble with their first WrestleMania the year before, the WWF decided to ride their wave of popularity and one-up what they had done … Read more

[PPV Review] ‘WWE WrestleMania XXXV’ – Rousey vs. Flair vs. Lynch, Bryan vs. Kingston, Triple H vs. Batista

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Date: April 7, 2019
Venue: Metlife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Commentators: Various

WrestleMania XXXV has come and gone, and what a show it was. Did KofiMain run wild? Who came out victorious in the historic first-ever women’s main event? Read my rundown/review to find out.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE CHAMPION: ‘The New’ Daniel Bryan
  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Brock Lesnar
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Bobby Lashley
  • WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: Samoa Joe
  • WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: Buddy Murphy
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection (Bayley & Sasha Banks)
  • RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey
  • RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Charlotte Flair
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)

LINEUP

  • Brock Lesnar [c] vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4)
  • AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton (***)
  • The Usos [c] vs. The Bar vs. Rusev & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black for the SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
  • FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE: The Miz vs. Shane McMahon (***1/4)
  • The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection [c] vs. The IIconics vs. Divas of Doom vs. Nia Jax & Tamina Snuka for the WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Daniel Bryan [c] vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE CHAMPIONSHIP (****3/4)
  • Samoa Joe [c] vs. Rey Mysterio for the WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP (NR)
  • Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre (**1/2)
  • NO HOLDS BARRED: Triple H vs. Batista (***)
  • Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin (*3/4)
  • Bobby Lashley [c] vs. Finn Balor for the WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Ronda Rousey [RAW] vs. Charlotte Flair [SMACKDOWN] vs. Becky Lynch for the RAW and SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS (****)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania VIII’ – Hogan vs. Sid, Savage vs. Flair, Piper vs. Hart

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Date: April 5, 1992
Venue: The Hoosier Dome (Indianapolis, IN)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan

WrestleMania VIII features a “double main event” as Ric Flair defends the WWF Championship against Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan takes on Sid Justice in Hogan’s “final match”. Lots of quotations going on here folks. Also on the show Roddy Piper defends the Intercontinental Championship against Bret Hart, a newly babyface Undertaker faces off against former friend Jake Roberts, and much more! I don’t think I’ve watched this since the live PPV and I was five back then, so let’s see how it holds up now.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Money Inc. (‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase & IRS)

LINEUP

  • Tito Santana vs. Shawn Michaels (***)
  • The Undertaker vs. Jake Roberts (*¼)
  • Roddy Piper [c] vs. Bret Hart for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (***¾)
  • Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Boss Man, & Virgil vs. The Mountie, Repo Man, & The Nasty Boys (*½)
  • Ric Flair [c] vs. Randy Savage for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
  • Tatanka vs. Rick Martel (**)
  • Money Inc. [c] vs. The Natural Disasters for the WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (¾*)
  • Owen Hart vs. Skinner (NR)
  • Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice (DUD)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania VII’ – Hogan vs. Slaughter, Warrior vs. Savage

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Date: March 24, 1991
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles, CA)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Various

The 7th annual WrestleMania features the FIGHT FOR AMERICA as Hulk Hogan challenges turncoat Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF Championship. Also on the show The Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage meet in a Retirement Match, Jake Roberts takes on Rick Martel in an infamous (for the wrong reasons) Blindfold Match, and also seven hundred other matches. It’s another beefy boi of a card, so strap in.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: Sgt. Slaughter
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Mr. Perfect
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Hart Foundation (Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart & Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart)

LINEUP

  • The Rockers vs. Haku & The Barbarian (***½)
  • Kerry Von Erich vs. Dino Bravo (*)
  • Davey Boy Smith vs. The Warlord (**)
  • The Hart Foundation [c] vs. The Nasty Boys for the WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**½)
  • BLINDFOLD MATCH: Jake Roberts vs. Rick Martel (*¾)
  • Jimmy Snuka vs. The Undertaker (*½)
  • RETIREMENT MATCH: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (****¼)
  • Genichiro Tenryu & Koji Kitao vs. Demolition (*)
  • Mr. Perfect [c] vs. The Big Boss Man for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Greg Valentine vs. Earthquake (*)
  • The Legion of Doom vs. Power & Glory (NR)
  • Virgil vs. Ted DiBiase (**)
  • Tito Santana vs. The Mountie (NR)
  • Sgt. Slaughter [c] vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (***)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania VI’ – The Ultimate Challenge

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Date: April 1, 1990
Venue: The Skydome (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura

I have watched WrestleMania VI more than any other show I had on VHS, and I’ve even reviewed it already a couple of times since I began writing about pro wrestling. So why am I doing it again? Nostalgia aside WrestleMania VI is an important show that shifts the WWF from its 80s heyday to the 90s with a stellar main event that is way better than it had any right to be. Also it’s WrestleMania season and I feel like it. Cool? Cool. Let’s gooooo.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: Hulk Hogan
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: The Ultimate Warrior
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Colossal Connection (Haku & Andre The Giant)

LINEUP

  • Koko B. Ware vs. Rick Martel (*3/4)
  • The Colossal Connection [c] vs. Demolition for the WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*3/4)
  • Hercules vs. Earthquake (**)
  • Brutus Beefcake vs. Mr. Perfect (**)
  • Roddy Piper vs. Bad News Brown (DUD)
  • The Hart Foundation vs. The Bolsheviks (NR)
  • Tito Santana vs. The Barbarian (**)
  • MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH: Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire vs. Randy Savage & Sensational Sherri (**1/4)
  • The Rockers vs. The Orient Express (**1/4)
  • Jim Duggan vs. Dino Bravo (*1/4)
  • Ted DiBiase [c] vs. Jake Roberts for the MILLION DOLLAR CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Big Boss Man vs. Akeem (NR)
  • Jimmy Snuka vs. Rick Rude (*1/2)
  • CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION: Hulk Hogan [World] vs. The Ultimate Warrior [Intercontinental] for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP & WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (****3/4)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania V’ – The Mega Powers Explode, Warrior vs. Rude

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Date: April 2, 1989
Venue: Atlantic City Convention Hall (Atlantic City, NJ)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura

At WrestleMania IV The Mega Powers combined. Now one year later at WrestleMania V The Mega Powers EXPLODE as the dastardly Randy Savage defends the WWF Championship against Hulk Hogan. Also on the show ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper returns to host an in-ring Piper’s Pit, Run DMC performs a WrestleMania Rap, and The Ultimate Warrior puts his Intercontinental Championship on the line against ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude. Fingers crossed this one is a lot more interesting.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: The Ultimate Warrior
  • WWF WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Rockin’ Robin
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Demolition (Ax & Smash)

LINEUP

  • Hercules vs. Haku (**1/4)
  • The Rockers vs. The Twin Towers (***)
  • Brutus Beefcake vs. Ted DiBiase (**)
  • The Bushwhackers vs. The Fabulous Rougeaus (*1/2)
  • The Blue Blazer vs. Mr. Perfect (**1/2)
  • Handicap Match: Demolition [c] vs. Mr. Fuji & The Powers of Pain for the WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/2)
  • Ronnie Garvin vs. Dino Bravo (**)
  • Strike Force vs. The Brain Busters (**1/2)
  • Jake Roberts vs. Andre The Giant (3/4*)
  • The Hart Foundation vs. The Honky Tonk Man & Greg Valentine (**1/4)
  • The Ultimate Warrior [c] vs. Rick Rude for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
  • Jim Duggan vs. Bad News Brown (1/4*)
  • The Red Rooster vs. Bobby Heenan (NR)
  • Randy Savage [c] vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/4)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania IV’ – WWF Title Tournament, Strike Force vs. Demolition

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Date: March 27, 1988
Venue: Trump Plaza (Atlantic City, NJ)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura

The fourth-annual WrestleMania features the first-ever (REAL) tournament to crown a new WWF Champion, after the belt was held up following Andre The Giant’s attempt to sell it to ‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase on an episode of The Main Event. Apparently WWF President Jack Tunney has morals, who knew? Anyway this is also the first of two WrestleManias in a row to be held at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, NJ beginning a long association with real estate loser turned reality show loser turned Presidential loser Donald Trump. Gross. Let’s watch this one anyway and get it over with.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: Vacant
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: The Honky Tonk Man
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Strike Force (Tito Santana & Rick Martel)

LINEUP

  • Battle Royal for a SUPER IMPORTANT TROPHY (**1/4)
  • WWF Title Tournament 1st Round: Jim Duggan vs. Ted DiBiase (**)
  • WWF Title Tournament 1st Round: Don Muraco vs. Dino Bravo (*3/4)
  • WWF Title Tournament 1st Round: Ricky Steamboat vs. Greg Valentine (***)
  • WWF Title Tournament 1st Round: Randy Savage vs. Butch Reed (**)
  • WWF Title Tournament 1st Round: Bam Bam Bigelow vs. One Man Gang (*)
  • WWF Title Tournament 1st Round: Jake Roberts vs. Rick Rude (1/4*)
  • The Ultimate Warrior vs. Hercules (*1/4)
  • WWF Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant (DUD)
  • WWF Title Tournament Quarterfinals (**1/2)
  • WWF Title Tournament Quarterfinals (**1/2)
  • The Honky Tonk Man [c] vs. Brutus Beefcake for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (*)
  • Koko B. Ware & The British Bulldogs vs. Bobby Heenan & The Islanders (*1/4)
  • WWF Title Tournament Semi-Finals (*3/4)
  • Strike Force [c] vs. Demolition for the WWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • WWF Title Tournament Finals (**1/2)

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