It is great to hear the crowd's first chant in a stadium of CM Punk. Like your grandparents, wrestling fans never change (at least when it comes to the chants).
Also, Raymond James Stadium was like,
"Ay ay ay. Ay ay ay. Let it rain over me. Ay ay ay. Ay ay ay. Let it rain over me."
The first night of Wrestlemania 37 simply delivered. It was a night of fun matches and shocking yet fulfilling moments.
Images via WWE.com
Vinnie Mac himself welcomed everyone to Wrestlemania which was cool to see, not gonna lie.
Before the opening match began, the show had to be on pause for a rain delay.
So, they had to air some awkward backstage interviews with Sarah Schreiber.
That Shane McMahon interview was especially odd but bless her because her nervousness was clearly shown.
Titus O'Neil showed up before Hulk Hogan showed up (that sentence sounded funny to me).
I got a line for the Hulkster:
"I'm a real racist. Fighting for only the white man."
#F**kHulkHogan.
Drew McIntyre vs Bobby Lashley For The WWE Championship.
Their match at Backlash last year was really f'ing fun. So, was this match any better?
Not really but it was decent. McIntyre delivered not one, not two but three future shock DDTs to a near fall.
The Scotsmen then nailed a suicide dive on Bob Lashley (my man Drew be watching some NXT Takeover matches in preparation for this bout).
The match concluded with Lashley locking in the Full Nelson on Drew and that's how the Almighty retained the WWE title.
Well, that's a surprise but a welcome one nevertheless. Maybe this might lead to a dream match down the line between Lashley and Brocky Brock?
Bayley wanted to join the hosting duties alongside the racist and Titus O'Neil but they left the former Smackdown women's champion hanging. Well, that's just sad.
The Tag Team Turmoil Match With The Winner Getting The Women's Tag Team Championship Match Tomorrow Night.
Naomi and Lana as well as Billie Kay and Carmella started off the tag team turmoil match and somehow, Billie Kay led her partner Carmella to the first elimination of the night.
Unfortunately for Billie Kay and Carmella, they were eliminated by the Riott Squad.
Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke were up next and Rose falling down on the entrance ramp was the highlight of the match.
The blondes were eliminated via an inside cradle from Liv Morgan.
That match concluded with the final participants in Natalya and Tamina winning the turmoil match with the splash from Tamina to Ruby Riott.
*John Oliver's voice* Cool. This match ain't for me. It was a short match but throughout the match, I wasn't paying attention because it was. Bo. Ring
Cesaro vs Seth Rollins.
Seth Rollins has a new theme song and from what I've heard, it's fine.
This contest of two talented pro wrestlers absolutely ruled in my opinion. Rollins finally delivered a pedigree that didn't look sloppy (Who says that Wrestlemania miracles aren't real?).
Speaking of Rollins, that 360 frog splash was a thing of beauty. Cesaro picked up a BIG W with the neutralizer and honestly, I’m so happy
That man has been underutilized for what it feels like an eternity. So, it's really cool to see a talented performer getting big dubs like that at Wrestlemania.
What a match and what a finish.
The New Day vs AJ Styles And Omos For The RAW Tag Team Championship.
If you drank every time the commentators talked about Omos' size, you would be dead by now.
The New Day and AJ Styles did the heavy lifting which makes sense given that Omos is pretty inexperienced inside the squared circle (no sh*t, Omar).
Despite that, Omos did the double chokeslam to Kofi Kingston, pinned the guy with one leg and just like that, AJ Styles and Omos are the new tag team champions.
This match did its job of further building the persona that is Omos. The big man played his role perfectly.
A pre-built footage for WWE 2K22 has aired and it looked like 2k16 with better textures. I'm hoping this game is actually you know, GOODUH! Thank goodness I didn't waste my money on 2K20.
Braun Strowman vs Shane McMahon In A Steel Cage Match.
Michael Cole on commentary bringing up his match with Jerry Lawler on this very show a decade ago was the only time that I actually found the rivalry to be hilarious because looking back at that feud, it wasn't something to laugh about in my opinion.
The encounter was all Braun Strowman for the most part.
Strowman ripped off the cage wall after Shane tried to escape the cage which was impressive.
Braun them threw Shane McMahon from the top of the cage all the way to the ring (well, f**k).
Ba, ba, Braun nailed the running powerslam to win the match. A decent match, surprisingly.
Thank God this rivalry aired its final chapter because that build was trash.
Bayley interrupted Micheal Cole on commentary before Cole was going to introduce the video package regarding the Hall Of fame ceremony (Bayley is doing something on this show and I appreciate the effort at the very least).
A video promo had aired about next year's Wrestlemania being on AT&T stadium and it immediately gave me terrible flashbacks of *ugh* Wrestlemania 32.
Bad Bunny And Damian Priest vs The Miz And John Morrison.
The Miz and John Morrison came out with a bunch of bunnies (isn't it a little too late to celebrate Easter?). Side note, "Hey, hey. Hoo, hoo" still absolutely slaps.
Bad Bunny's entrance with him on top of a truck is pretty bada**.
Bunny was impressive even within the first few minutes of the match. His punches connected so well.
Did he take some training from Jeff Jarret on how to nail a right hand on the performance centre?
Bunny delivered a sweet looking tornado DDT. At this point, the match has been nothing but a banger.
Another great moment from Bad Bunny inside the ring was when he executed a Canadian destroyer on Morrison like the real wrestling fan that he is.
Thanks to a doomsday device from Bad Bunny to The Miz with the help of Damian Priest, the good guys prevailed in this tag team match.
The thing I love about the match wasn't just the moves Bunny executed but also the way he takes certain moves.
You can tell the man understands in-ring psychology.
God damn, I expected this match to be decent. I didn't expect the match to be THIS F**KING GOOD! Shout out to my man Bad Bunny!
Sasha Banks vs Bianca Belair For The SmackDown Women's Championship.
Both women were holding tears and I can't blame them. I know you've heard this statement many times but it's true. This is a historic moment.
The question is, did the match deliver? Yes.
At one point, Banks took a brutal looking slam from Belair which was followed by a 450 splash from Belair.
Sasha nailed a tornado DDT before the boss pulled off a series of kicks on the EST. After a back and forth action at the end, Belair delivered the KOD to become the Smackdown women's champion.
The only nitpick I have for this match is that it's a little too short (which is funny to say that given that Wrestlemania has always been too damn long). But, it was a fun main event bout between two fantastic personas. Congratulations to Belair indeed!
So, to recap for all of you slow mofos.
Like: Cesaro vs Seth Rollins, Bad Bunny and Damian Priest vs The Miz and John Morrison, The New Day vs AJ Styles And Omos, Sasha Banks vs Bianca Belair.
Didn't like: The tag team turmoil match.
Sound off in the comments below on what do you think about Wrestlemania 37 night 1? Follow the blog for honest pro wrestling opinions as well my Twitter @omartheplayaguy and my Facebook page Playard Wrestling Post. As Always, stay safe smarks
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