Cageside Seats - Previewing WrestleMania 34!Inside Pro Wrestlinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48257/CSS-Logo-fv.png2018-04-08T19:00:00-04:00http://www.cagesideseats.com/rss/stream/169394732018-04-08T19:00:00-04:002018-04-08T19:00:00-04:00WrestleMania 34 results, live match coverage
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<p id="pN1Xwv">WWE <em>WrestleMania 34 </em>is all set to pop off tonight (Sun., April 8, 2018) from Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana at 5:00 p.m. ET, live on the WWE Network. You may also be able to watch this on pay-per-view (PPV) if your cable provider is carrying the event.</p>
<p id="gpcyuX"><strong>CagesideSeats.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, match-by-match coverage of </strong><em><strong>WrestleMania 34 </strong></em><strong>below, beginning with the first match of the evening and right on through to the main event.</strong></p>
<p id="0FWF6A">Kick your off your shoes, relax, and enjoy all the action with your favorite pro wrestling website. And remember to keep refreshing! <strong>Note: To get in on the conversation on this show, visit our open thread </strong><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17175416/wrestlemania-34-live-results-wwe"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>
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<h4 id="1YrWcS">WWE <em>WRESTLEMANIA 34</em> QUICK RESULTS</h4>
<blockquote><p id="9Dc88c"><strong>Brock Lesnar</strong> def. Roman Reigns<br><strong>Braun Strowman & Nicholas</strong> def. Sheamus & Cesaro<br><strong>AJ Styles</strong> def. Shinsuke Nakamura<br><strong>Nia Jax</strong> def. Alexa Bliss<br><strong>Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon</strong> def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn<br><strong>Undertaker</strong> def. John Cena<br><strong>Bludgeon Brothers</strong> def. the Usos and The New Day<br><strong>Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle</strong> def. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H<br><strong>Jinder Mahal</strong> def. Randy Orton, Bobby Roode, and Rusev<br><strong>Charlotte Flair</strong> def. Asuka<br><strong>Seth Rollins</strong> def. The Miz and Finn Balor<br><strong>Naomi</strong> wins the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal<br><strong>Cedric Alexander</strong> def. Mustafa Ali<br><strong>Matt Hardy</strong> wins the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal</p></blockquote>
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<h4 id="J7Cbnj">WWE <em>WRESTLEMANIA 34 </em>LIVE BLOG & MATCH COVERAGE</h4>
<p id="fCmX0G">When I was born they looked at me and said, “What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.” And when you were born they looked at you and said, “What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl.” We’ve got these chains hanging ‘round our necks, people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath. Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same when temptation calls, we just look away. But me, I’m staring this here pro wrestling show down head-on so I can liveblog it for you, folks.</p>
<p id="VC40ey">The pre-show opens with Renee Young welcoming us to the show over a camera pan through the crowd, inside the arena and out of it. She introduces her panel, consisting of Booker T, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, and David Otunga and they give us a quick rundown of the card to start us off.</p>
<p id="W7MfdK">Our first match to be discussed is Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, complete with video package and discussion afterward. We go outside where Sam Roberts is hanging out with a bunch of Rusev fans before heading inside where we see John Cena in attendance as a fan, as promised. The next match they cover is the WWE Championship match (and Wrestle Kingdom 10 rematch) between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, again video package and discussion.</p>
<p id="1v1JfV">Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H is up next, again, video package and discussion. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship gets its package and discussion, during which Carmella rolls up with her Money in the Bank briefcase and complains that they’re not talking about her. She’s bored by their attempts to involve her in their discussion because she’s the only woman that matters and she’s going to win the battle royal.</p>
<p id="UsGkXb">Speaking of battle royals, it’s time!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="RPqKWD">
<h4 id="bJjoeP">Fifth Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in Memory of Andre the Giant</h4>
<p id="UtonVG">No entrances so bear with me here, folks, I’m not catching everybody. All-out chaos, Curt Hawkins nearly dumps Heath Slater, Goldust nearly dumps Matt Hardy, and Aiden English is dumped by Zack Ryder! Tye Dillinger beating on Dolph Ziggler, Slater ends up on the apron and someone is eliminated but I can’t tell who. Dolph barely survives, Konnor and Curt Hawkins are eliminated in short order.</p>
<p id="52x6zf">Hey, two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion R-Truth is back and he and Goldust have a moment, sharing a handshake... and Goldy dumps him and dabs! Ziggler trying to dump Sin Cara, blocked, Primo barely saves himself from being eliminated but the second try sees Mike Kanellis put him over the top! Heath trying to eliminate Viktor, no dice, Kanellis is out but Dolph again hangs on at the last moment. </p>
<p id="xN2bU3">Karl Anderson trading punches with Scott Dawson, Matt Hardy’s nearly dumped by the Miztourage, Fandango has Corbin hung up in the ropes but can’t quite get him over. Tyler Breeze to the apron... SHELTON BENJAMIN KNEES HIS FACE OFF TO ELIMINATE HIM! Ziggler again saves himself, Sin stops short but Rhyno eliminates Viktor! Dolph really showing off how well he can skin the cat today.</p>
<p id="A5SEEi">Dillinger and Cara getting into it, Broken Matt deletes Goldust’s head against the turnbuckles, Ryder sidesteps Ziggler, sets him up... MOJO POUNCES HIM OUT OF THE RING! Rolling koppo kick from Chad Gable takes Anderson out, Titus O’Neil and Luke Gallows are into it and Big Hoot gets eliminated with a boot!</p>
<p id="yqXhCP">The Revival take Apollo out with a back body drop! They get Shelton to the apron, but he stops himself short grabbing Dash Wilder for a German suplex off the apron... Dawson manages to stop him and knock him down! Rhyno out, Miztourage dump the Revival, and get dumped by Kane. Slater out, Baron Corbin eliminated Sin Cara at some point and now he’s squaring off against Kane. </p>
<p id="6cpZBy">Everyone else unites against the giants and beat on them! Ziggler takes Titus out, Goldust gets Tye up in the corner but he has to take Dolph out, sets him up as well... SHATTERED DREAMS! ZIGGLER COUNTERS HIS WITH A BACK BODY DROP TO ELIMINATE HIM! Hardy with a right hand, he has no idea who Dillinger is but he’s gonna delete him and we have a handsign- off... TWIST OF FATE! </p>
<p id="ocglRg">Thanks for playing, Tye. Kane with the big slicing right, he goozles Dolph, chokeslam denied, superkick lands home, Zig Zag but Kane dumps him! Baron dumps Kane! Broken Matt taking it to Corbin, Rawley attacks him from behind, fireman’s carry drop! The two SmackDown heels form an alliance, stomping, they go to dump him--</p>
<p id="I4na5D">(Wyatt noise.)</p>
<p id="TklStV">Bray Wyatt is in the ring! Sister Abigail clutch, he helps Matt dump Mojo but gets caught in End of Days! Baron gets dumped by his broken brilliance! </p>
<p id="EQUj76"><strong>Matt Hardy wins the Fifth Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in Memory of Andre the Giant, last eliminating Baron Corbin.</strong></p>
<p id="wppg45">After the match, Hardy thanks Wyatt and gives him a hand with the crowd. They shake hands and hug as John Cena looks on in shock.</p>
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<p id="YHp6Ok">Back to the panel, they shill for the WWE Network for those of you watching on YouTube or the other free streams before running down the card again and resetting the pre-show for the switch to the portion that will be broadcast on USA.</p>
<p id="f8MlNq">The panel changes, as well, with Peter Rosenberg subbing in for JBL. We toss to Sam Roberts in the crowd again before cutting over to DRAKE MAVERICK and the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, so it’s time for our second match.</p>
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<h4 id="Dh7ATz">Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali (WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Finals)</h4>
<p id="iQQA4M">Ali with a go-behind, standing switch into a takedown, Alexander holds onto the waistlock, Mustafa reverses to a side headlock, shot off, shoulder block, shoulder block, and Cedric is standing tall. Drop down, leapfrog, drop down, cartwheel, leapfrog, headscissors takeover! Collar and elbow, Ali turns it around in the corner, Alexander gets a front chancery and refere Rod Zapata has to force the break. </p>
<p id="HQigRO">Trading slaps, jawing at each other, rolling solebutt from Cedric! Whip, Ali wtih a boot, backflip Frankensteiner into a dropkick in return but Mustafa won’t go down that easy. Alexander grabs an armbar, whip across, big dropkick gets Ali back in, charging in, up and over to the apron and a gamengiri knocks the former Freelance Champion to the floor.</p>
<p id="OQBDtr">Tope con giro from Cedric! Back in for the cover... NOPE! Back to the waistlock, Mustafa out with back elbows but Alexander clocks him with a running uppercut! Hard whip, back body drop, setting up that Lumbar Check with back damage and he goes back to the waistlock. Elbows again, Cedric returns a knee, looking for a suplex, Ali floats over. Lariats, whip reversed, sidestep and a roundhouse kick connects.</p>
<p id="bGBGCW">Rolling thunder X-Factor follows... NOT ENOUGH! Cedric blocks a kick, hits a knee, tries to run the ropes but Ali stops him and nails him with a spinning wheel kick. Off the ropes... SPANISH FLY BUT CEDRIC CAN’T CAPITALIZE! Alexander blocks a tornado DDT and hangs him up on the ropes. Joining him, jockeying for position on the ropes, Mustafa with a hard chop, body blows... SPRINGBOARD SPANISH FLY!</p>
<p id="LbAEPl">Ali slow to capitalize but he drags Alexander over, kick to the ribs, he heads up top for 054... CEDRIC SHOVES HIM TO THE FLOOR! Bringing him back in, cover made... NOPE! Ali on his knees, Alexander punts him and puts boots to him until referee Rod Zapata pulls him off! Back suplex clutch, Mustafa lands on his feet... POISON FRANKENSTEINER! SPRINGBOARD TORNADO DDT, ALI IS ROLLING!</p>
<p id="9X8wGm">Headed up top, 054 connects... ALEXANDER GOT HIS FOOT ON THE ROPES! Mustafa yells at him to stay down and puts boots to him, another 054 but nobody’s home! Cedric backs off to the opposite corner, they jaw at each other, Alexander with a pair of rolling back elbows, he’s had enough, another back elbow! Dragging him up...</p>
<p id="tRueEs"><strong>Cedric Alexander wins by pinfall with the Lumbar Check, winning the vacant WWE Cruiserweight Championship.</strong></p>
<p id="8Mwwwp">DRAKE MAVERICK presents the title to Alexander.</p>
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<p id="Ah0FQ1">Back to the panel, they discuss the excellent match we just saw before moving on to discuss the Intercontinental Championship match. We head to John Cena in the crowd and he’s stoked to be hanging out with Sign Guy. He shouts “WRESTLEMANIA!” a few times and we move on shortly after. The panel runs down the card once again and we go to ringside where Lillian Garcia introduces us to special guest commentator Beth Phoenix.</p>
<h4 id="inmjh1">WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal</h4>
<p id="liZJpb">Everybody gangs up on Carmella to start, hauling her bodily to the ropes and dumping her to the apron, where Sonya Deville knocks her to the floor! Dana Brooke isolated next... and she’s gone, too! The NXT women in the match go off on their main roster counterparts! They stand tall and lead an “NXT!” chant! Becky Lynch attacks Kavita Devi for wearing orange and we’re back on!</p>
<p id="v9X40g">Big slam, Lynch rolls under the bottom and Dakota Kai eliminates Mandy Rose! Going after Deville, the NXT women beat on her and hold her in place for Bianca BelAir, perched on top... 450 splash! SONYA’S GONE! NXT women isolated against Ruby Riott now as we take a break for a house ad.</p>
<p id="N3IPmD">Back to the match, Kairi Sane eliminated, she hit the elbow while we were away and then we see Lana eliminated. Kavita out next, and the Riott Squad takes Tayanara Conti out! Bianca and Becky square up... VICIOUS HAIR WHIP CRACKS OUT ACROSS THE ARENA! Lynch ducks a second, puts BelAir on the apron, smashes her face in and eliminates her! Dakota with a trademark boot for her and one for Naomi as well!</p>
<p id="BdXod4">Kai in the corner with Banks... and she gets dumped! Riott attacks the Boss from behind, Lynch eliminated out of nowhere, Mickie James has Ruby on the apron but gets tossed to the apron herself by Sarah Logan. Knee for Liv Morgan but Riott takes James out! Reverse roundhouse kicks from Peyton Royce, Logan hoist her up for a powerbomb but the Iconic one holds on until Morgan boots her to the floor!</p>
<p id="ebmtYS">Natalya and the Riott Squad putting boots to Sasha Banks and Bayley, Nattie celebrates and the Squad turn on her but she’s able to suplex Ruby and Sarah together! Delayed vertical suplex on Sasha but she and Bayley dump Neidhart and then Morgan in turn! Clubbing away at Riott, she gets dumped too! Logan fighting valiantly, but the Boss low-bridges her. Fireman’s carry, they struggle on the apron and Bayley eliminates Sarah!</p>
<p id="CEcQoU">It’s down to Bayley and Sasha! They square up, Banks extends a hand... AND BAYLEY DUMPS HER! But it’s not over, Naomi’s still in the match! REAR VIEW! </p>
<p id="xS1b0H"><strong>Naomi wins the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal, last eliminating Bayley.</strong></p>
<p id="wyLYEi">We get a video package recapping the UpUpDownDown WWE 2K18 tournament.</p>
<p id="PIa64h">One last panel discussion and video package, for the Universal Championship match between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="aL1CQB">
<p id="ew2ipY">The main show opens with our obligatory performance of America the Beautiful.</p>
<p id="uuwI1Q">From there we get a video package built around the idea that WrestleMania is all about enjoying life while you can.</p>
<h4 id="y1wYaw">Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins vs. the Miz (c) (WWE Intercontinental Championship)</h4>
<p id="miTGWa">Balor with a waistlock on, Miz, Seth from behind, arm drags from Finn, schoolboy from Seth, Finn grabs one on him, Miz grabs one on Balor and Rollins dumps the champion. Blackout denied, roll-through, low superkick, Finn dumps the Kingslayer... TOPE CON GIRO! He takes Miz back inside, gets cut off, whip reversed, sunset flip, roll through into the dropkick, only one!</p>
<p id="XCaS0h">Chops in the corner, up and over, Seth cuts him off with a springboard lariat! The A-Lister puts Rollins into the corner, off the ropes, boot on Finn... NOPE! Seth with boots for both guys, double blockbuster! Charging forearm, Falcon Arrow denied, Skull-Crushing Finale denied, a knee from Miz, Awesome Clothesline on Balor, diving double axehandle for Rollins, only two!</p>
<p id="g60oXi">Cobra clutch applied, he throws Rollins into Finn when he gets up, backbreaker / neckbreaker combo... NO GOOD! Back to the cobra clutch, on Balor this time, taking him down as he gets back up, knee lift to break before he can do damage but a charge sees Finn get a boot up. Rolling hot, forearms, double stomp to the chest connects! Whip across, enzuigiri in the corner and the A-Lister tumbles to the floor!</p>
<p id="b1sQSk">Sling Blade denied, off the ropes, Seth hits his own Sling Blade! Suicide dive follows, one for Miz as well. Back in, Rollins wipes Balor out with a superkick, Miz comes in to pick the bones, DDT on Seth! Charging in, catch the boot, kick the hamstring, spinning toehold, Rollins kicks him away, up and over to the apron, springboard... MIZ CUTS HIM OFF WITH A BOOT AND KNOCKS HIM TO THE FLOOR!</p>
<p id="xaTMd8">Charging over, catch a kick from Finn, dragon screw and now the figure four leglock is applied in the middle of the ring! Balor struggling, falling back, count of one, reaching for the ropes, trying to turn the hold over... ROLLINS WITH A FROG SPLASH! NOT ENOUGH! All three men to the floor, Seth limping over, he hooks Miz for the buckle bomb, Finn cuts him off with the penalty kick, Rollins catches it, goes for the powerbomb, Balor slips out and hits the Sling Blade! </p>
<p id="OAom1v">Shotgun dropkick sends both men into the timekeeper’s barricade! Taking Seth back in, inverted facelock, denied, trading strikes, ripcord knee blocked with a forearm, enzuigiri traded for Pele kick, inverted 1916... NOT GONNA DO IT! Headed up top, Miz comes from behind with clubbing blows to the back of the head! On the second, thinking superplex, Rollins gets under him... BUCKLE BOMB!</p>
<p id="K7OWMR">Headed back to Finn, superplex... COUNTERED INTO A SMALL PACKAGE BUT HE CAN’T BEAT HIM WITH IT! Miz runs over, Skull-Crushing Finale... SETH ROLLINS KICKS OUT! Miz going for it again, Finn throws him off, double stomp comes up empty, Skull-Crushing Finale reversed to a victory roll for a nearfall! Sidestep the charge, kick from the apron, Balor heads up top but the A-Lister recovers and crotches him!</p>
<p id="XrbPfu">Headed over, the welts visible on his ribs, Finn cuts the champion off, inverted facelock but Seth makes the save with an enzuigiri. MIZ GETS AN AVALANCHE BULLDOG ON ROLLINS! COUP DE GRACE! Balor lies in wait, Sling Blade, shotgun dropkick, headed up top again, Coup de Grace... ROLLINS FROM OUT OF NOWHERE WITH BLACKOUT! Tuning up the band, waiting for Miz to get into position...</p>
<p id="RWnVQs"><strong>Seth Rollins wins by pinfall with Blackout on Miz, winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship.</strong></p>
<p id="gEwEW3">Rollins celebrates with the title, windmilling it about his head and holding it high.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="nfdt95">
<p id="YVd8rX">We get a trailer for the upcoming Andre the Giant documentary. </p>
<p id="E9gK3o">We then see John Cena hanging out in the crowd once again.</p>
<h4 id="N14Vxr">Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair (c) (WWE SmackDown Womens Championship)</h4>
<p id="3rqqym">Collar and elbow, jockeying for position, Asuka with a wristlock, Flair reverses it, reversed again, roll through, kick to the midsection, cartwheel, Charlotte breaks with a chop and struts! Asuka with another kick, side headlock, shot off, drop down, leapfrog, drop down and Flair catches her leg, rolls through, countered to a pin! Sliding knee... NOPE!</p>
<p id="QnFXRP">In for the hip attack, blocked, changing gears, pin, no good, Flair with chops, backing her into the corner. A knee, whip reversed, Flair Flip, Asuka cuts her off in the ropes... hip attack puts the champion to the floor! Referee Jason Ayers checks on the Queen and the Empress of Tomorrow sees blood in Charlotte’s injured shoulder. Back in, kicks to the shoulder, takedown, looking for the Fujiwara armbar and she turns it into an armwinger!</p>
<p id="2ZNZRx">Kneeling armbar, Flair rolls through and throws a forearm to the face to break! Asuka returns a knee, charges in, STO backbreaker into the STO counters! Neckbreaker denied, Asuka has a sleeper hold, adds the bodyscissors but Charlotte hits a running backpack Stunner to break! Champion catches a boot, swings her around in the ropes, forearms to the kidney, hanging her up for a knee drop across the back of her neck!</p>
<p id="9kfa9z">Another one, up top for the moonsault... ASUKA CATCHES HER INTO A TRIANGLE CHOKE! Flair posts to her feet, levers the legs and turns it around into a Boston Crab! Countered into a victory roll, no good, cover in return, still can’t do it! Asuka throws some forearms and slides outside, yanking Charlotte’s arm over the ropes! Back in, pressing the attack, wristlock kicks to the face!</p>
<p id="llvEQN">Roundhouse kick, Flair catches one and shoves the Empress of Tomorrow to the mat for a breather. To the apron, Asuka off the ropes, hip attack dodged and Charlotte catches her with a boot! Drawing her up, going for a suplex, blocked, shove away, boot... ASUKA SUPLEXES HER TO THE FLOOR! Ayers counts, Asuka gets in at eight and Charlotte at nine! On their hands and knees, face to face, jawing, Asuka throwing heavy slaps and knocks hte champion to the mat!</p>
<p id="E9qD7D">Headed up top, missile dropkick connects... NOPE! Surfboard, stomps to the back, wrist control maintained as Asuka climbs to the second, kicking the shoulder on her way but Charlotte slips back and throws a series of chops! Up top... CHARLOTTE FLAIR HITS A SPANISH FLY! Slow to capitalize, Natural Selection... ASUKA COUNTERS INTO A GROUNDED OCTOPUS HOLD! </p>
<p id="3ayAAM">Flair rolls around, Asuka repositions, emphasizing the armbar, Charlotte slips out! Spinning toehold countered with kicks to the face, Flair throwing chops, Asuka with a fireman’s carry takeover and into the Asuka Lock but she can’t clasp her hands! Bodyscissors, she falls back, Charlotte turns it into a pin... NO GOOD! Asuka howling, off the ropes... SPEAR! ASUKA WON’T LET HER STREAK GO LIKE THAT!</p>
<p id="QUQs8A">Into the figure four, bridging back in the middle of the ring on one arm, blood spattering her other, Asuka has nowhere to go! IT’S OVER! THE STREAK IS BROKEN!</p>
<p id="XzbNVW"><strong>Charlotte Flair wins by submission with the Figure Eight, retaining the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship!</strong></p>
<p id="bcxU8C">Asuka gets on the mic and admits that Charlotte was ready for her! She congratulates the Queen and they embrace.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="ksdOVw">
<p id="ambN1J">REFEREE DAN ENGLER RUNS DOWN TO RINGSIDE TO TALK TO JOHN CENA! HE’S UP AND AT ‘EM AND RUNS TO THE BACK! IS THE UNDERTAKER HERE?!</p>
<h4 id="mFdkWS">Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton (c) vs. Rusev (WWE United States Championship)</h4>
<p id="jPeR0l">Early RKO blocked, Mahal and Orton dumped, Rusev hits a dropkick on Roode! Fired up, the Bulgarian Brute goes for a dive and gets cut off with a forearm! Returning the favor, he knocks Jinder down, senton atomico off the apron! Bobby with a schoolboy, no good, Rusev whips him into the corner, boot up, blockbuster, only a nearfall and Rusev rolls to the floor.</p>
<p id="MWDy9G">Mahal sandwiched between the Viper and Roode, taking punches, they dump him and Bobby throws chops. Whip across, duck a lariat, snap scoop powerslam catches him flush but can’t put him away! Jockeying for position, superplex... both other men break it up! Rusev in on Mahal, putting boots to him in the corner, English cheering him on and he follows with a swinging back suplex for a nearfall!</p>
<p id="CKV6yi">Headed outside, Randy blocks an attempt to put his face into the barricade and hits the back suplex into it himself. Jinder blindsides him, heads back in, eats the spinning spinebuster... only a nearfall! Calling for it, kick to the gut, countered with a back body drop into a folding press but Orton breaks it up and puts Roo into the post hard.</p>
<p id="UMtOpY">Dragging Rusev back in with a wristlock, denied on the rope-hung DDT and the Viper catches a few kicks ot the ribs. Shoulder thrust, off the ropes, spinning wheel kick and Orton ducks it! Rope-hung DDT connects and Orton starts going to that special place... RKO ON AIDEN ENGLISH! SIDESTEP THE MACHKA KICK, RKO FOR RUSEV! ONE FOR MAHAL... ROODE BREAKS IT UP!</p>
<p id="YcLTsf">Bobby dumps Rusev to the floor, turns around, blocks the RKO, Glorious DDT connects... JINDER BREAKS IT UP! Rusev in with the Machka Kick on Roode, roundhouse, Jinder with a schoolboy, no good and a second roundhouse puts him out! Looking for the Accolade, Sunil Singh runs interference...</p>
<p id="WOvpA0"><strong>Jinder Mahal wins by pinfall with Khallas on Rusev, winning the WWE United States Championship.</strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="lH1EXY">
<p id="bDbtiL">We get a Fashion Files segment with Mick Foley, who points out that Breezango aren’t even real cops. Fandango runs down his hair, his plaid flannel, and his sweatpants as charges and orders Tyler Breeze to write a ticket. Breeze says he can’t write it because he likes Mick’s style and the segment both turns out to be a Snickers commercial and ends with both men trying to force Dango to wear sweatpants.</p>
<h4 id="Oa9EYL">Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H (Mixed Tag Team Match)</h4>
<p id="mkFAeP">McMahon piefaces Rousey before the bell and comes back to yank her to the mat by her hair!</p>
<p id="jn1ZEh">The bell rings, Angle in on Hunter, right hands, whip to the corner, explode out with a lariat and he knocks HHH off his block. Putting boots to him, wristlock applied, arm wringer to a hammerlock, Ronda tries to come in and referee Drake Wuertz has to hold her back, giving Steph an opportunity to get involved. Triple puts Kurt into the steel steps and heads back inside to jaw at Rousey, and McMahon goes over and smashes Angle’s head into the steps!</p>
<p id="59KQ9b">Ronda rushes over, Drake forces her back and HHH suplexes Kurt back into the ring before clobbering him with mounted punches! Trading punches, whip reversed, spinning spinebuster gets Hunter a nearfall! Triple with a front chancery, blocking the tag while Ronda pleads for Angle to get to her, reaching out, so close, and H whips Kurt into his corner.</p>
<p id="cEFqvJ">Boot up on the charge, Angle slips out of the way and Hunter nearly wipes his wife out! Back suplex from the Olympic gold medalist, desperate for the tag, willing his body back into it, crawling over... AND STEPH PULLS ROUSEY OFF THE APRON! Underhooks, Pedigree reversed and Kurt throws Triple out of the ring, Ronda’s back up, crawling... TAG MADE!</p>
<p id="X1r9yq">Ronda in hot, snapmare over the ropes, duck a lariat, a lariat of her own! Back suplex connects, slap rush in the corner and a biel across the ring! CAPTURE SUPLEX! Stephanie begs off in the corner, modified monkey flip, into the armbar position, Rousey lets her think about it for a minute and goes for the cross armbar but McMahon keeps her hands clasped!</p>
<p id="YcjxGH">Pushing her back over, she can’t break the grip and Steph claws at her eyes for the break! Reaching for the tag but HHH is still down and out! Turning to Ronda, running knee, a DDT... NOPE! Running kick to the back, standing surfboard with a knee to the back, Rousey stands up but McMahon slams her to the mat! Disdainful kicks, tuning up the band, charging in... GOOZLE COUNTER!</p>
<p id="BE5KZK">Ronda stares her down, fireman’s carry... SWINGING SAMOAN DROP! TRIPLE H YANKS REFEREE DRAKE WUERTZ OUT OF THE RING BEFORE HE CAN FINISH THE COUNT! Rousey jaws at Hunter and he yanks her out of the ring! Angle comes around, righteous punches, smashing the Game’s face into the announce table, climbing atop it, waistlock, Triple blocks the German and throws Kurt onto the Spanish table!</p>
<p id="GN300v">Hunter goes and checks on his wife and Ronda’s back up! She’s ready to fight the Cerebral Assassin! HHH eyes her for a minute, Drake warns him off but H puts him in the corner and he’s gonna do it! Punches on punches, she backs HHH into the corner defenseless! Off the ropes, she catches a boot, STO, roll-through fireman’s carry but McMahon makes the save!</p>
<p id="hRLWSO">Big slap from Steph, she bails once she realizes what she did and Rousey chases her and puts her into the timekeeper’s barricade! Up on her shoulder, McMahon slips out and puts Ronda into the post! Back in the ring, Angle stalks Hunter, belly-to-belly suplexes, whip, caught into the facebreaker! Off the ropes, Angle back with a German suplex, he holds on and rolls through into three in total!</p>
<p id="DublIK">Waiting for him to get up, Angle Slam denied, Pedigree reversed, underhooks, reversed again, catapult into the turnbuckles, Angle Slam... TRIPLE H KICKS OUT! THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! Ankle lock applied, Steph comes from behind and slaps Kurt and proceeds to yell at him. Angle catches a kick and thinks about it while Drake warns him but the crowd wants it! </p>
<p id="wJmub1">ANKLE LOCK ON STEPHANIE! Hunter makes the save... PEDIGREE! RONDA BREAKS THE PIN UP! HHH pulls Rousey up, underhooks, shift to a powerbomb... FRANKENSTEINER REVERSAL INTO THE CROSS ARMBAR! RONDA’S GOT HIM TRAPPED! MCMAHON FROM BEHIND WITH A SLEEPER HOLD! SHE’S WRENCHING IT IN! Rousey posts to her feet, flips Steph off, grabs the armbar again but the hands are clasped!</p>
<p id="zTWCRv">Angle has the ankle lock on Hunter! Armbar extended, Hunter tries to save his wife and ends up kicking Kurt into Ronda! Triple throws Angle into the post, McMahon does the same to Ronda but her arm is hanging limp at her side from the armbar! Thinking stereo Pedigrees, both are reversed, the men spill to the floor and Rousey has the armbar again, trying to break the grip!</p>
<p id="UWhFLr">Shifting her position, using her shoulder to break her grip, changing it up...</p>
<p id="OQpyIZ"><strong>Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey win by submission with an armbar from Rousey on Stephanie McMahon.</strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="QsxUEM">
<h4 id="Cs8PQ8">Bludgeon Brothers (Harper & Rowan) vs. New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) vs. the Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) (c) (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship)</h4>
<p id="hdxwmt">New Day and Usos dropkick the Bludgeons off the apron at the bell! Trouble in Paradise but the Bludgeons pull Kofi out and beat him down! Jimmy Uso gets put into the apron and dropkicked into the steel steps! Running Big E over, they stare Xavier Woods down and Woods gets involved with a kick! Rowan hoists him up... POWERBOMB INTO THE POST! They put Kingston back in the ring, Rowan off the ropes, big splash!</p>
<p id="coYXNi">Jey up on his shoulders, tag to Harper and the big man just dumps Uso to the floor. Luke draws Kofi up, Jimmy comes in, throwing superkicks with abandon, thrown into a tag to Jey and they isolate Harper with stereo kicks! Tag back to Jimmy, diving splash... NOPE! E in, thinking Big Ending, denied, Usos with the superkick and stereo suicide dives! Double suplex on Erick! </p>
<p id="oKXYhP">Kofi tags in, Midnight Hour denied and Harper hits the Truck Stop! Up top, evil intentions for Kingston and Big makes the save before the Usos come back at him with the superkicks, joining him up top, E thinking tower of doom but Erick knocks the Usos down and clears house! Kofi runs over, Luke with a headbutt, Rowan with a release powerbomb, full nelson... AVALANCHE BRODIE BOMB!</p>
<p id="iDivyN"><strong>Bludgeon Brothers win by pinfall with an avalanche assisted Brodie Bomb on Kofi Kingston, winning the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.</strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="KT12PV">
<p id="m7tOF1">We get a hype reel for things that are coming to the WWE Network sometime soon.</p>
<p id="iBgSqA">John Cena makes his entrance. We have a match, apparently!</p>
<p id="AM6u0y">Referee Brian Nguyen hustles to the ring and talks to Cena, who grabs him by the shirt before letting go and looking on in disbelief.</p>
<p id="XYMiNC">Cena leaves the ring and slaps hands with folks when the lights go down! </p>
<p id="rT87E4">It’s... Elias?!</p>
<p id="Z3TR1x">He asks if we were expecting someone else and says that someone doesn’t possess his talent or charisma or soul and tells him to run off and go be a spectator while he makes history.</p>
<p id="uQ3HJs">He launches into his song, which is about how he mislead Cena and this is his night and that John sucks because he is like the fans.</p>
<p id="a8d9A4">This gets Cena to jump the rail, duck a lariat, shoulder block, shoulder block, fall-forward Blue Thunder Driver and the shirt is off! “You can’t see me!”, Five Knuckle Shuffle, fireman’s carry... ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!</p>
<p id="RVFsPV">The crowd still wants the Undertaker as Cena’s music plays. He takes his leave but his music stops halfway up the ramp and he hesitates. THE LIGHTS GO OUT! A BLUE SPOTLIGHT GOES UP IN THE RING AND TAKER’S HAT AND JACKET ARE LYING LIKE THEY WERE AT THE END OF WRESTLEMANIA! LIGHTNING STRIKES AND THEY’RE GONE!</p>
<p id="1k6hBV">DONG.</p>
<p id="IH5pgY">HE’S HERE!</p>
<h4 id="orlEq5">John Cena vs. the Undertaker</h4>
<p id="2VID8R">Taker right in with a boot, punches in the corner and he’s fired up! Whip reversed, boot up, off the ropes, leaping lariat! Arm wringer, short-arm shoulder thrust, arm wringer... OLD SCHOOL! Corner lariat, Snake Eyes, big boot, thinking about the chokeslam, Cena reverses to a back suplex! “You can’t see me!”, off the ropes, Taker sits up and Cena freaks out!</p>
<p id="g9sJhN">CHOKESLAM CONNECTS! The Deadman slashes his throat, gets him up for it...</p>
<p id="Nre1h1"><strong>The Undertaker wins by pinfall with the Tombstone piledriver.</strong></p>
<p id="ZceSbg">The Undertaker takes his leave and raises his fist on the stage.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="TZ4fVS">
<p id="OlmJyi">This is followed by the annual Hall of Fame montage and presentation of the new Hall of Famers on the stage.</p>
<h4 id="wNlDmt">Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn</h4>
<p id="L7gw0K">OWENS AND ZAYN BLINDSIDE THEM AFTER THEIR ENTRANCES! THEY BEAT SHANE UP IN FRONT OF HIS WIFE AND KIDS AND BRYAN TAKES THE HELLUVA KICK! APRON POWERBOMB!</p>
<p id="skvmVS">Referee Charles Robinson calls for trainers and referee Jason Ayers and a trainer come down to check on the American Dragon. Shane wants to start alone!</p>
<p id="kDrCka">Circling, he knocks Zayn off the apron, repeated punches to Owens in the corner, overhand blows and Kev is on the defensive! Off the ropes, leaping back elbow, duck a lariat from Sami, more jabs, a legsweep, a boot to the face, punches in the corner, rolling back elbow! Pump kick for KO, DDT for Zayn but Owens turns around and puts boots to him in the corner!</p>
<p id="eeilMw">EMTs have arrived with a stretcher as Kev attacks McMahon’s midsection. Sami in, punches, off the ropes, Shane tries to freight train him but Zayn wins the exchange and goes for a few covers that come up empty. Falling elbow, again just two, tag to Owens. Front kick, Shane in pain, Kev bringing the stomps and straight up stepping on his diverticulitis. He mocks Bryan for his comeback before heading back over to McMahon and beating on him some more.</p>
<p id="YM5KKY">Crossface strikes, crushing his head with his knee and stomping. Drawing him up, Zayn in, pressing the attack with boots in the corner, half nelson knee lifts into an exploder suplex for a nearfall! Punches to the head, backing Shane into their corner but he manages to get some punches, a kick, creating separation, right hand to KO but Sami comes from behind and hits the Blue Thunder Driver... NOPE!</p>
<p id="Bmauvu">In the corner, Helluva Kick comes up empty and Shane pops him up top for kidney strikes and into the Tree of Woe. Passing KO to the floor, McMahon sets up... COAST TO COAST! OWENS BREAKS IT UP WITH A SENTON! Up top... FROG SPLASH AND BRYAN BREAKS IT UP! Dan drags himself up the apron as Shane sidesteps the cannonball, reaching for the tag but Sami gets tagged in first and gets on him with a sleeper hold!</p>
<p id="C7wzNU">Clapping, willing the crowd to get behind his partner, McMahon posts to his feet and makes his way over... BUT ZAYN PULLS HIM BACK! Shane gets a back suplex in, both men down and out, Bryan ready for it, McMahon pulls himself along the ropes... THE AMERICAN DRAGON IS BACK! BLCOK A PUNCH, FIRE HIS OWN BACK, CLEAR OWENS FROM THE APRON, MORE PUNCHES IN THE CORNER, WHIP REVERSED, BACKFLIP UP AND OVER! OFF THE ROPES WITH THE LARIAT! </p>
<p id="QACo2e">BASEBALL SLIDE TAKES KO OUT... RUNNING KNEE OFF THE APRON! BRYAN HEADS UP TOP... MISSILE DROPKICK INTO A KIP-UP! Owens runs in, takes a back suplex, they’re set up... CORNER TO CORNER DROPKICKS! FIRED UP, ZAYN ISOLATED, ONE LAST DROPKICK! Dan sets him up top... AVALANCHE FRANKENSTEINER! Kev grabs his foot... HELLUVA KICK CAN’T PUT THE AMERICAN DRAGON AWAY!</p>
<p id="md9hIK">Owens tags in, a superkick takes Shane out right as he tries to get back in, he puts Bryan into the ropes, boots connect, duck a lariat... POP-UP POWERBOMB BUT DANIEL BRYAN WILL NOT LIE DOWN! McMahon with the low bridge and a lariat off the apron, Zayn is legal and circles Bryan, jawing at him and throwing forearms. Right hands continue, Dan circling and he straightens up, determination in his eyes! Palm strike, punches, slap rush, shades of Munenori Sawa!</p>
<p id="6N92do">Sami is on his knees... YES! KICKS! LINING THE BUZZSAW UP... AND IT CONNECTS! YES! LINING IT UP... BUSAIKU KNEE IN TO THE YES! LOCK! IT’S OVER!</p>
<p id="AJGOqJ"><strong>Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon win by submission with the Yes! Lock from Bryan on Sami Zayn, and so he and Kevin Owens remain fired from SmackDown.</strong></p>
<p id="p1OXgw">Bryan celebrates with Shane for a moment before hopping down to have a moment with Brie at ringside.</p>
<p id="5uo54p">Daniel Bryan is back, folks. It’s real.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="VshRUR">
<p id="T2yqy7">We get the sneak peak for Fighting With My Family here.</p>
<p id="FINY0k">WrestleMania 34’s attendance is announced as 78,133.</p>
<h4 id="u0Pen5">Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)</h4>
<p id="NbQrSS">NIA RIGHT IN TO FREIGHT TRAIN MICKIE JAMES AND TAKE HER OUT! Battering her between apron and announce table, bieling her down the aisle and swinging her into the barricade! Referees come to check on Mickie after Jax finishes up with her, and now she turns her attention to the champion and the bell rings. Bliss ducks her but Nia gets a handful of hair and stops her running!</p>
<p id="hUCSd9">Slap connects but doesn’t do as much as Bliss hoped, she tries to run but ends up bieled across the ring! Stinger splash, fireman’s carry, military press... SHE THROWS ALEXA ACROSS THE RING! Bliss rolls out of the ring and grabs the title belt... BUT NIA FREIGHT TRAINS HER AS SHE RUNS TO LEAVE! Throwing her back in the ring, Alexa seeks sanctuary in the ropes and referee Shawn Bennett does his best to back Jax off and leaves the champion an opportunity to thumb her eyes.</p>
<p id="wUXqla">Leg kicks, boots in the corner, Mafia kick ducked and Alexa stomps the back of Nia’s knee in! Dropkick, double jump double stomp off her back into repeated stomps to the back of the head and she goes back to the leg, posting the knee into the mat and dropping elbows into a leglock. Jax with a crossface shot, returned by a dropkick, Bliss going for the DDT but Nia turns it into a straight suplex!</p>
<p id="QJAZUW">Sidestep, Jax takes the post hard and Alexa heads up top as Bennett counts... TWISTED BLISS TO THE FLOOR! Back in the ring, shotgun dropkick to the Nia’s back, a handful of hair and a mock apology, DDT... JAX KICKS OUT! Bliss throws a fit and Nia fires up, slamming her and bieling her, Stinger splash, another biel, Stinger splash, off the ropes and she lays her out with a lariat!</p>
<p id="IkWOXy">Charging in, kick to the knee, slap to the face, Bliss pops up top, tries a Frankensteiner, reversed, reversed to a Yoshi Tonic that also gets reversed... ALABAMA SLAM INTO THE TURNBUCKLES! Alexa gets another eyepoke in but Nia gets the fireman’s carry. Countered with an eyepoke, looking for the DDT, blocked, fireman’s carry, ram into the turnbuckles... front fireman’s carry slam! </p>
<p id="i7ioAw">Jax tells Bliss she loved her, picks her up on her shoulders, climbs the turnbuckles, to the second... AVALANCHE SAMOAN DROP! IT’S OVER!</p>
<p id="QMPIBF"><strong>Nia Jax wins by pinfall with an avalanche Samoan drop, winning the Raw Women’s Championship.</strong></p>
<p id="XyIiPJ">Nia celebrates with her family at ringside before holding the title high on the ramp.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="kytX0C">
<p id="jyuaIc">This is followed by an advertisement for Backlash, our first new-era dual-branded pay-per-view.</p>
<h4 id="aDfmqT">AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Championship)</h4>
<p id="m9Lda0">Circling, feinting, immediate stalemate! Collar and elbow, Styles pushing Nakamura and vice-versa, to the corner, referee Mike Chioda insisting on the break and they go back to circling. AJ dodges a kick, another, catches a third and gets a waistlock takedown! Shinsuke with an upkick, running him into the corner, again a break forced and Nakamura does his trademark head-on-belly break and earns a slap to the face!</p>
<p id="Yv5KWb">Off the ropes, roll under, Nakamura lands a kick and follows it with a knee drop into a choke, thinking Good Vibrations but AJ blocks! O’Connor roll denied and Styles lays the King of Strong Style out with a running knee of his own! Forearms in the corner, snap suplex into a cover, no good, Shinsuke has his own forearms, off the ropes and he runs into a backbreaker!</p>
<p id="sKtYGT">Kick to the back follows, off the ropes, knee drop, rear chinlock applied, shift to a reverse chinlock, taking Nakamura to the mat. Off the ropes, leapfrog, AJ nails a dropkick and Shinsuke rolls to the floor! Slingshot to the apron, Nakamura ducks a kick and trips Styles up on the apron! Back inside, AJ catches one leg and takes the other to the face, down and out as the King of Strong Style fights to his feet.</p>
<p id="hlCtFW">Jump kick out of the corner, Shinsuke demands more! Kick rush, wristlock, whip to the corner, running knee, setting him up top for the big corner knee, it connects! Gourdbuster follows, front chancery applied, dragging Styles up, thinking inverted exploder, countered into a back suplex facebuster! Corner lariat after a breather, sliding forearm... NOPE!</p>
<p id="zQ4Gd3">Fireman’s carry, Nakamura slips out, AJ with a pumphandle gutbuster for a nearfall! Calling for the Styles Clash, countered with a back body drop to the apron, elbow strike, Nakamura catches him coming in... LANDSLIDE! NOT ENOUGH! Drawing Styles up, setting him up in the corner, climbing to meet him, AJ slips under him, looking for a powerbomb but Shinsuke blocks with punches!</p>
<p id="lbY9oW">Throwing a kick, Styles catches it and sweeps Nakamura’s knee out from under him! Picking the leg, countered with an elbow, suplex attempt, AJ floats over and he’s got the Calf Killer locked on in the middle of the ring! Wrenching back, Shinsuke fighting to keep himself from giving up, crawling, Styles rolls him back into the middle of the ring! HE REVERSES INTO A TRIANGLE CHOKE! </p>
<p id="EoJnh5">Punches to the head, AJ posts to his feet and Shinsuke traps a leg to pull him back down! Back to his feet again, deadlift, Styles turns him around... NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB TO COUNTER! Duck the roundhouse kick, but the left connects and Nakamura tries to stomp some life back into his leg. He sets AJ up in the corner, the champion slips out and the knee hits the turnbuckle! </p>
<p id="3HTwqX">Springboard, Phenomenal Forearm... THE KING OF STRONG STYLE SURVIVES! Nakamura’s down and out, Styles heads to the apron... SPRINGBOARD 450 SPLASH BUT THE KNEES ARE UP AND SHINSUKE ALMOST WINS IT! Nakamura clutching his knee in pain, they go face to face, headbutt for headbutt, forearm for forearm! AJ pulls ahead, Shinsuke blocks the Styles Rush but the Pele kick connects! </p>
<p id="s0TIrJ">KINSHASA TO THE BACK OF THE NECK... AJ STYLES ISN’T LOSING THE TITLE AT WRESTLEMANIA LIKE THAT! Followup knees, disdainful slaps, the inverted exploder suplex connects! In the corner, calling for it, AJ COUNTERS, ROLLS THROUGH... STYLES CLASH! </p>
<p id="CrzDC4"><strong>AJ Styles wins by pinfall with the Styles Clash, retaining the WWE Championship.</strong></p>
<p id="9YIuK3">Post-match, AJ and Shinsuke embrace and Nakamura insists on presenting the WWE Championship to Styles... BEFORE HITTING A LOW BLOW! HE PUTS THE BOOTS TO AJ IN THE ROPES! Styles falls to the floor and Shinsuke heads out after him, waiting for him to get up... KINSHASA!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="6m1pui">
<p id="AxnLRU">We get an ad for the deluxe edition of WWE 2K18 and a hype reel for the Greatest Royal Rumble.</p>
<p id="Qtfrpi">This is followed by recap of the preshow action.</p>
<p id="YYDQ8K">The Raw Tag Team Championship is up now. The Bar make their entrance on a Mardi Gras float and Braun Strowman pushes it off the stage, just because he can! </p>
<p id="RVcQFK">Braun gets on the mic and says he knows everyone wants to know who his partner is, and that’s why he waited until now to tell us who he is. It’s not one person in the back, it’s someone in the crowd! He scans the crowd looking for someone to pick and heads around looking up close, heading out into the crowd and eventually settling on a child.</p>
<p id="1UVbqu">He introduces his partner, Nicholas, and asks the crowd to give it up for him!</p>
<h4 id="6sOFIF">Braun Strowman & Nicholas vs. the Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus) (c) (WWE Raw Tag Team Championship)</h4>
<p id="nEZdUY">Sheamus and Braun to start, Strowman manhandling him, throwing him out of the ring! Cesaro in, Braun runs him over.. CHOKESLAM! SHEAMUS BREAKS IT UP! Quick thinking teamwork, the Bar isolate Strowman, double suplex connects, Celtic Warrior off the top with a knee drop! Tag to Cesaro, jawing at Nicholas, standing on Sheamus’s shoulders for a senton atomico... NOT ENOUGH!</p>
<p id="Cgb4Dc">Putting boots to the monster among men, he catches the double kick, they duck a double lariat... DOUBLE CROSSBODY FROM BRAUN! Back body drop sends Sheamus to the floor, Strowman’s gasping, Nicholas is reaching for the tag... HE’S IN! TAG BACK, CESARO DUCKS A LARIAT! Springboard crossbody, Braun catches him...</p>
<p id="GcB2Fd"><strong>Braun Strowman & Nicholas win by pinfall with a running powerslam from Strowman on Cesaro, winning the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship.</strong></p>
<p id="nOgtcU">Braun and Nicholas celebrate with the tag titles and leave slapping hands! </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="GsJM0i">
<p id="if1F50">We get a hype video for next year’s WrestleMania in New York City.</p>
<h4 id="mWzw1N">Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (WWE Universal Championship)</h4>
<p id="yTg7mS">Brock taking to him, shoulders in the corner, Roman fights back with big right hands but Lesnar starts throwing German suplexes, three in total! SUPERMAN PUNCH STAGGERS THE BEAST! He rolls outside, the Big Dog follows, another Superman Punch! Back inside, a lariat sends Brock sprawling to the floor! Staggering around, Reigns comes off the steps... BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX COUNTER! </p>
<p id="tBvq3S">Breaking the count, Lesnar hits another belly-to-belly suplex on the floor! Brock dismantles an announce table and belly-to-belly suplexes him over another table! Back inside, another German suplex and Lesnar welcomes him to Suplex City! German suplex number five, a fourth belly-to-belly suplex and the Beast stalks over the Big Dog in the corner. </p>
<p id="Q3i6gD">Another belly-to-belly suplex and Roman spills to the floor! Brock heads out after and throws him into the timekeeper’s barricade, fireman’s carry, Reigns slips out and puts him into the post! SPEAR ONTO THE TABLE! Back inside, Superman Punch, a spear, Reigns lines him up, a second spear... LESNAR KICKS OUT! Disbelief on his face, trying to figure out what he needs to do to put the champion away, the Big Dog howls but Brock counters a third spear with a knee to the face!</p>
<p id="LzgMj9">Fireman’s carry, F-5... ROMAN REIGNS ISN’T GIVING UP THAT EASILY! Lesnar tells Reigns to stay down, picks him back up again, F-5... HE STILL CAN’T PUT THE BIG DOG AWAY! Primal scream, another fireman’s carry and another F-5 AND STILL REIGNS WILL NOT STAY DOWN! “Boring!” chants go up and Brock tosses Roman outside! Fireman’s carry... F-5 THROUGH THE TABLE!</p>
<p id="wkQ1P5">He drags Reigns back to the ring, German suplex number six connects and Brock takes his time, back to the fireman’s carry, F-5... NOPE! Lesnar goes to mounted punches... ROMAN’S WEARING THE CRIMSON MASK! Fireman’s carry, Reigns slips out, off the ropes... SPEAR! ANOTHER SPEAR! BROCK KICKS OUT! Off the ropes, Lesnar catches him...</p>
<p id="FXGURC"><strong>Brock Lesnar wins by pinfall with an F-5, retaining the WWE Universal Championship.</strong></p>
<p id="n5qSGk">Brock and Paul Heyman leave.</p>
<p id="Y6grDj">Medics tend to Roman Reigns.</p>
<p id="O7CG5L">We get a long series of recap music videos and cut back to Roman in the arena, staggered by his loss.</p>
<p id="MmmqrZ">He slowly makes his way out up the ramp.</p>
<p id="Tvubs7">That’s the show, folks.</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17177514/wrestlemania-34-results-live-streaming-matches-coverage-brock-lesnar-vs-roman-reigns-ronda-rouseyClaire Elizabeth2018-04-08T16:30:02-04:002018-04-08T16:30:02-04:00It’s time for Roman Reigns to superman punch Brock Lesnar back to UFC
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<p id="ngJ6kS">Three years ago, Vince McMahon was ready to usher in a new era for WWE. Brock Lesnar was going to skip town to head back to the UFC and Roman Reigns would be the man to send him on his way, as “The Beast” would fall to “The Big Dog” in the main event of <em>WrestleMania 31</em>, giving Reigns both the WWE championship and a new role as the face of the company.</p>
<p id="mPGm6l">Only Lesnar decided to sign a new three year deal and McMahon decided Seth Rollins would cash in his Money in the Bank contract to become the new champion.</p>
<p id="JMjImM">Everything that has happened in the meantime has been leading up to this.</p>
<h3 id="56OtUj">The match</h3>
<p id="24gUqJ">Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal championship in the main event of <em>WrestleMania 34</em> tonight (Sun., April 8, 2018) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.</p>
<h3 id="oXnj7w">The build</h3>
<p id="BSD0ft">In something of a repeat of a few years ago, Lesnar looks to be moving on from WWE and heading back to the UFC. That made it much easier to tell the story some within the company have likely always wanted to tell and one that mirrors reality, in a sense — Brock doesn’t care about professional wrestling. He did it because he’s good at it and could make himself a lot of money.</p>
<p id="0gRNf0">Pushing that message to the fans is a great way to get them to turn on him and, if done correctly, pledge their allegiance to Reigns, who is the exact opposite. Because while some can argue that he’s not their particular cup of tea, you cannot argue with his work ethic, with his passion, with his desire to be what fans would a top wrestler to be.</p>
<p id="1mrLyB">And he is just that. Whether a portion of the fan base wants to cop to it or not, he is unequivocally the top guy in the promotion and is absolutely the man for the job in this instance.</p>
<p id="kM0CLU">That’s the story they’ve told. Lesnar skipped out on multiple appearances he was scheduled for. Reigns demanded answers for it and was disciplined by Vince himself for his trouble. He was arrested at one point. He was savagely beaten with a chair while he was handcuffed.</p>
<p id="3xroOt">The end result has been some more boos for Lesnar and some more cheers for Reigns, at least from the live audiences they’ve played this out in front of. How will the crowd in New Orleans react?</p>
<p id="uDFlwI">That’s hard to say.</p>
<p id="GZ4xqu">But the reality is it doesn’t matter.</p>
<p id="Wjcfvp">It’s time to turn the page; to close the book.</p>
<h3 id="J1zBk8">Who wins</h3>
<p id="nZWESv">Reigns, of course, but you can vote too.</p>
<div id="ne1GBb"><div data-anthem-component="poll:1005745"></div></div>
<p id="4cYUKR">Follow along with us here tonight!</p>
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https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17198910/roman-reigns-vs-brock-lesnar-full-match-preview-wwe-wrestlemania-34Geno Mrosko2018-04-08T15:00:02-04:002018-04-08T15:00:02-04:00Watch the WrestleMania 34 Kickoff show here
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<p id="wyg0lf"><em>WrestleMania 34</em> goes live on pay-per-view (PPV) and the WWE Network tonight (Sun., April 8, 2018) at 7 p.m. ET from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana but the promotion is also offering a free live stream of its Kickoff show starting at 5:00 p.m. ET.</p>
<p id="bnPzzh">This one will feature three matches: the first ever WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal, the fifth annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali in the finals of the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament.</p>
<p id="k58Ba0">There will also be previews of all the matches on the card, analysis, breaking news, and more. The pre-show panel of analysts, including Shawn Michaels and what the company is promoting as an “all star panel,” will join host Renee Young to break down all the action before the PPV goes live.</p>
<p id="o6S1rw">The show starts at 5:00 p.m. ET, so remember to come back and join us here for the live stream you see above!</p>
<p id="Pmc5Gc">Don’t forget to check out complete results and live match coverage of the entire <em>WrestleMania 34</em> event by clicking <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17177514/wrestlemania-34-results-live-streaming-matches-coverage-brock-lesnar-vs-roman-reigns-ronda-rousey">here</a>.</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17211796/wrestlemania-34-live-streaming-kickoff-show-womens-battle-royal-andre-the-giant-memorialGeno Mrosko2018-04-08T14:45:02-04:002018-04-08T14:45:02-04:00She’s here, and it’s time
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<p id="aZqS1o"><strong>Who</strong>: Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H</p>
<p id="5zqHlG"><strong>What</strong>: Mixed tag team match</p>
<p id="1COORq"><strong>When</strong>: Sun., April 8, 2018, at <em>WrestleMania 34</em></p>
<p id="aiI1va"><strong>Where</strong>: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana</p>
<p id="Zy0sf7"><strong>Preview</strong>: After flirting with pro wrestling for years, including a big angle at <em>WrestleMania 31</em>, former UFC star Ronda Rousey is finally signed and here to wrestle her very first pro wrestling match. Read a full preview <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17201536/wwe-wrestlemania-34-ronda-rousey-kurt-angle-stephanie-mcmahon-triple-h-full-match-preview">here</a>.</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17211672/ronda-rousey-kurt-angle-vs-stephanie-mcmahon-triple-h-full-match-video-preview-wrestlemania-34Geno Mrosko2018-04-08T14:30:02-04:002018-04-08T14:30:02-04:00Schrödinger’s match, or: John Cena’s long road to WrestleMania
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<p id="7Hnbh9">John Cena’s path to <em>WrestleMania</em> has been long and it has not been easy.</p>
<p id="mcVNpP">Now, we all know that if a sixteen-time world champion wants a match at <em>WrestleMania</em>, all he has to do is ask. You know that, I know that, people who don’t even follow wrestling know that.</p>
<p id="wPANwK">But the oft-frustrating thing about Cena is that he’s a noble man. He knows he could just take a spot, but that would mean someone else on the roster, and almost certainly someone not as well-established as he, would be in line to lose the spot he just took. To lose not just the exposure and glory of wrestling on the grandest stage of them all, but to lose that fat paycheck that comes with the opportunity, and John is not the kind of man to take that away from someone without earning it.</p>
<p id="V1MeAA">And so our story begins with John Cena’s return before the <em>Royal Rumble</em> this year. Business as usual, he declared his entry into the Royal Rumble match in hopes of earning a shot at the world-level title of his choosing... and came up short, eliminated by man that won the deal in the end, Shinsuke Nakamura. </p>
<p id="1W68K6">Okay. Not the first time Mr. Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect has stumbled on his first step. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back out there, right? <em>Elimination Chamber</em>’s next on the schedule, seven men vying for a chance to be #1 contender to Brock Lesnar’s WWE Universal Championship... and again, Cena came up empty, eliminated this time by Braun Strowman.</p>
<p id="3cYgeQ">Now the desperation started sinking in. With only one pay-per-view left on the Road to <em>WrestleMania</em>, John reached out with both hands and grabbed one of the opportunities SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon and general manager Daniel Bryan love handing out— if he could beat WWE Champion AJ Styles, his toughest rival in recent memory, he’d earn a spot in the title match at <em>Fastlane</em>.</p>
<p id="CFN3Ju">Lo and behold, Cena did it. He beat the Champ That Runs the Camp and earned himself a spot in what had burgeoned into being a six-pack challenge at <em>Fastlane</em>... and promptly came up short at the actual event. Despite his best efforts to come out hot and secure a <em>WrestleMania</em> match for himself as a seventeen-time world champion (beating WWE’s official record for Ric Flair’s number of reigns, although still a few short of the total number of possible reigns you can assign the Nature Boy), the chaos of a six-way match left John sitting in disbelief as Styles retained.</p>
<h3 id="UeVevX">The dream was over</h3>
<p id="8tiKdN">Through all of this, Cena insisted that he would not demand, he would not beg, he would not plead; he would simply earn opportunity after opportunity until he got to <em>WrestleMania</em>. And after <em>Fastlane</em>, with the door seemingly well and truly shut, he headed out to Raw one more time to declare his intent to go to WrestleMania with us, as a paying fan.</p>
<p id="3yfFEn">...except he couldn’t quite bring himself to go through with it. Through all the talk of earning a spot, going all the way back to last year’s <em>WrestleMania</em> build and beyond, the idea of a modern-day Cena match against the Undertaker has been tempting. And hey, if you’re calling the Deadman out in a time where he’s shown no inclination to return to the ring, are you really costing anybody else a spot?</p>
<p id="KCFLKm">And so he did, putting it to Taker that he isn’t as finished as he thinks he is and he’s the only one stopping another match from happening. The thing of it is, he’s not wrong. Yes, against Roman Reigns last year, the Undertaker looked old, tired, and out of step... but he still put up enough of a fight that it took over twenty minutes for the Big Dog to put the Deadman away.</p>
<p id="D2usKP">Age in pro wrestling is so often just a number. and the Undertaker is a relatively sprightly 53. 53 years old, after all, is the age at which Genichiro Tenryu introduced the snap brainbuster he’d use as a finishing maneuver through the remaining <em>twelve</em> active years of his career until his retirement in 2015 at the age of 65. Jushin Liger is currently 53 years old and remains performing at a high level, as his match against Will Ospreay at NJPW <em>Strong Style Evolved</em> recently proved.</p>
<p id="vIpcVb">Now, that’s not to say that the Undertaker isn’t broken down, because he is. He’s a big man in a big man’s business, and worse, a big man who spent years hurling himself around the ring and off the top rope. Age might just be a number, but the real accounting of a professional wrestler’s longevity is in his wear and tear, and Taker is worn and torn to be sure.</p>
<h3 id="tKotty">A done deal?</h3>
<p id="CasPdn">Now we come to the part that makes my job harder rather than easier, because the Undertaker has remained silent in the face of Cena calling him out. It got to the point where Cena demanded literally any sign, anything at all and... nothing.</p>
<p id="MCQsSc">Not one DONG of the gong, not one bolt of lightning, not a cryptic message on the video screen, not an eerie haze settling across the arena, no druids, not even a polite handwritten note declining the match, nothing. The closest thing we’ve had to a sign is the Undertaker’s brother, Kane, standing in John’s way as a roadblock, suggesting that his brother would prefer to rest at this time.</p>
<p id="T2yDkz">But... “no answer” isn’t necessarily a no. Sure, Cena’s proceeding under the assumption that he’ll be attending WrestleMania as a fan, but every wrestler worth their salt knows you always, always bring your gear.</p>
<h3 id="Tead9P">But if it happens...</h3>
<p id="D7QHiQ">This is the part of the preview where I usually like to try and talk about the stylistic aspects of a matchup and break it down, but here, assuming the match takes place, it seems not so much a question of if John Cena wins, but how long it takes him to defeat the Undertaker. But then...</p>
<p id="aDzOKm">We’re talking about the Undertaker. And not just “the Undertaker”, but <em>the Undertaker at WrestleMania</em>. The show where he’s racked up a record of 23-2 and beaten the likes of everyone from Kevin Nash to Randy Orton to CM Punk. </p>
<p id="McWhpS">There’s something about <em>WrestleMania</em> that puts the Deadman into another gear, and it always has. Sure, maybe he can’t stand up to forces of nature like Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, but given his failures on his way to <em>WrestleMania</em>, can you say with a straight face that John Cena is on that kind of roll?</p>
<p id="bIIkg0">And further, all signs point to the idea that the Undertaker will not be coming out as the undead wizard we know and love. Kid Rock’s entry to the WWE Hall of Fame, Taker’s own reluctance to show his face, the ending of <em>WrestleMania 33</em> where he left his hat and coat in the ring... The American Badass, Big Evil, call him what you will, it’s time. </p>
<p id="jXVhgG">And take it from me, Cagesiders, there’s nothing like a change of image to lift you out of a pit and fill you with energy you never thought you’d have again. It might just be the thing that pushes Taker across the finish line for the 1-2-3.</p>
<p id="CHozAZ"><strong>Assuming the match even happens, Is John Cena the “3” in 23-3 or will the Undertaker keep on rollin’ to his 24th WrestleMania victory?</strong></p>
<div id="0r8DWA"><div data-anthem-component="poll:1000208"></div></div>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17184560/wwe-wrestlemania-34-john-cena-undertaker-full-match-previewClaire Elizabeth2018-04-08T14:00:02-04:002018-04-08T14:00:02-04:00WrestleMania 34 viewing guide
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<p id="7qtRzy">The time has finally arrived! WWE <em>WrestleMania 34 </em>is TONIGHT (Sun., April 8, 2018) live on the WWE Network beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. CT broadcasting from Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana and it will feature a plenty of (potentially) exciting matches.</p>
<p id="L1usum">Brock Lesnar defends the Universal championship against Roman Reigns, Ronda Rousey teams up with Kurt Angle to take on Stephanie McMahon and Triple H, AJ Styles battles Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE title, and so much more.</p>
<p id="m8kRjR">To watch every second of the event, you'll need to <a href="http://www.wwe.com/shows/howtowatch">contact your local cable or satellite provider</a> to get the big show via traditional pay-per-view (PPV) means. If you're just looking for a local watering hole showing the event, click <a href="http://www.wwe.com/shows/howtowatch">here</a>.</p>
<p id="6Zh8If">Your best bet, however, is to simply order the WWE Network and stream it via whatever device you have available, such as your laptop, your entertainment system (PS4 or Xbox One), Roku, or any other device compatible with the Network. Click <a href="http://wwenetwork.com/">here</a> to order if you haven't already.</p>
<p id="SVW8oX">But if you aren't able to check out the show live for whatever reason, Cageside Seats will deliver up-to-the-second results and live coverage of <em>WrestleMania 34 </em>before, during, and after the event <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17177514/wrestlemania-34-results-live-streaming-matches-coverage-brock-lesnar-vs-roman-reigns-ronda-rousey"><strong>RIGHT HERE</strong></a>.</p>
<p id="qKuAJv">Here's the announced line-up:</p>
<blockquote><p id="MpCMza">Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns<br>AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura<br>Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H<br>John Cena vs. Undertaker<br>Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn<br>Charlotte vs. Asuka<br>Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax<br>The Miz vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins<br>Randy Orton vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Rusev<br>Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Braun Strowman & Mystery Partner<br>The Usos vs. The New Day vs. The Bludgeon Brothers<br>Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali<br>WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal<br>Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal</p></blockquote>
<p id="AANXfK">Enjoy the show tonight, no matter how you end up watching it.</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17177612/wrestlemania-34-live-stream-how-to-watch-online-wwe-network-brock-lesnar-roman-reigns-undertakerGeno Mrosko2018-04-08T13:45:02-04:002018-04-08T13:45:02-04:00People who might boo Roman Reigns tonight explain why
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<p id="Cxdb0h">Okay, not everyone we talked to Axxess on <em>WrestleMania</em> weekend is a Roman hater. But they’ll probably at least be sitting near someone who will boo The Big Dog on Sun., April 8 in New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome. So who better to explain the issues they see with our likely future Universal Champion?</p>
<p id="2cCk0j">Click play and give our latest from <a href="https://twitter.com/marc_raimondi?lang=en">Marc Raimondi</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/cynthiavance">Cythnia Vance</a> a watch. You’ll hear some arguments you’ve heard before, and maybe a few new ones, too.</p>
<p id="dpaKCq">And <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRB3iArUr2OQ3WT3zRRZ0w"><strong>subscribe to our YouTube channel</strong></a> to see what fans think after The Showcase of The Immortals (and catch up on a lot of great work we’ve been putting out there)!</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17212622/wrestlemania-axxess-video-why-roman-reigns-so-devisive-fan-answersSean Rueter2018-04-08T13:00:02-04:002018-04-08T13:00:02-04:00It’s ok if Nia Jax loses at WrestleMania
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<figcaption><a href="http://www.wwe.com/">WWE.com</a></figcaption>
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<p id="w41Zo7">For the last week I’ve read many different people emphatically state that the story between Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss is only a good one if Nia Jax wins at <em>WrestleMania</em>. The complete evaluation of their story hinges on the result of that match. Pat WWE on the back if Nia wins, condemn WWE entirely if Nia loses. I’ve seen this take so many times that I needed to write about why it is so ridiculous.</p>
<p id="RXawbr">First off, I want to explain why I watch pro wrestling. I watch pro wrestling for exciting action, compelling characters, and interesting stories. My favorite wrestling memories, matches, and moments usually intertwine all three of these elements. </p>
<p id="RncZy5">It’s really hard for me to get invested in a character or story if the match that is being built to is one that I have low expectations for. That’s the most important element to me. If the actual match is one that I have good reason to believe won’t appeal to me, then all the buildup just seems like wasted opportunity.</p>
<p id="Vv94pM">This is the main reason I could never get into Mark Henry’s Hall of Pain run in 2011 or Braun Strowman’s current run. I saw a ton of Mark Henry matches from 1996 through 2010 and they rarely ever impressed me. Many of them flat out sucked. His Hall of Pain matches on pay-per-view (PPV) in 2011 with Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Big Show were mostly no different, with the exception of the ring breaking fight with Big Show at <em>Vengeance 2011</em>, which I thought was a pretty good match even before that spot. The other matches ranged from poor (vs. Big Show at <em>Money in the Bank 2011</em>, <em>Survivor Series 2011</em>, and <em>TLC 2011</em>, vs. Sheamus at <em>SummerSlam 2011</em>) to somewhere in the neighborhood of average (vs. Orton at <em>Hell in a Cell 2011</em> and <em>Night of Champions 2011</em>). I knew very well what Mark Henry did in the ring, and it consistently underwhelmed me. Therefore it was much more difficult for me to care when WWE suddenly gave him a massive push in 2011. I watched those PPV matches anyway, and it turned out they were just more of the same. It just never clicked for me. </p>
<p id="LC7p98">Braun Strowman and Nia Jax are two current roster members who I view this way too, essentially. I’ve watched enough matches from both to know that what they do in the ring rarely entertains me. Therefore when I see WWE sink so much time into Strowman and push him so hard, it frustrates the hell out of me, because I know there is a pretty good chance that the content of the matches that come from it will probably end up not appealing to me, thus detracting from my enjoyment of the show.</p>
<p id="mIdTEC">I haven’t enjoyed too much of Nia’s work in the ring either. So I was rolling my eyes pretty hard when the rumors arose of Alexa Bliss defending her title at <em>WrestleMania 34</em> versus Nia Jax, while Bayley and Sasha wouldn’t get their own singles match. The idea of a Sasha versus Bayley match sounded way more appealing to me and would most likely deliver the kind of performance in the ring that I wanted to see.</p>
<p id="5QLJAf">But then something suddenly changed all that. On the March 5 episode of <em>Raw</em>, Nia Jax lost a tough match against Asuka. Alexa Bliss found Nia hurting backstage and used her strong bond with her to exploit all of Nia’s vulnerabilities, essentially reinforcing all of Nia’s insecurities. Alexa said the most awful things to Nia under the guise of a friendly pep talk. I was glued to the TV watching this. Alexa Bliss was simply the worst best friend ever and a truly awful person; I wanted more of this. </p>
<p id="mUv09V">This was a story that compelled me. I was also a little uncomfortable watching it. I was suddenly much more interested in both Alexa and Nia’s characters and really wanted to see how this new wrinkle would affect their friendship. The heartbreaking moment of Nia actually overhearing Mickie and Alexa verbally tearing her down would come later, and that was what finally opened Nia’s eyes. That was great too, but for me, Alexa’s twisted sit-down pep talk with Nia was the critical piece that set this story on its current path. </p>
<p id="iebvF5">Those two segments combined were wonderful enough to overcome my stubborn jadedness as a longtime wrestling fan who is very particular about the type of ring work that appeals to me. I don’t feel too disappointed anymore about Sasha and Bayley being in the <em>WrestleMania</em> Women’s Battle Royal (though I’ve enjoyed their story too) because I really want to see what happens when Nia Jax finally gets her hands on Alexa Bliss at <em>WrestleMania</em>. That’s why this is a good story, regardless of the outcome. The story completely hooked its teeth into me and now I want to watch a match that my brain is telling me is probably not going to be any good. But I don’t care about that anymore, because the story has me totally invested in seeing what happens.</p>
<p id="mLXC5y">Here’s another thing that I embrace and wish WWE took more risks with - heeling that make me uncomfortable. I want to sometimes feel uncomfortable when I watch pro wrestling. I don’t want pro wrestling to be a safe fantasy world where good always triumphs over evil. That’s not realistic, and it also sounds rather boring. In real life, sometimes really bad people do end up winning. That’s just how things occasionally work out. </p>
<p id="lSVg0N">That’s one reason why this claim that WWE has only set up a good story here if Nia wins is complete nonsense. Why is it being assumed that something truly compelling cannot come from a Nia loss in this match? Nia seemed pretty damn confident and strong to me on that go-home episode of <em>Raw</em> in both her sit-down interview as well as when she chased Alexa away. A win at <em>WrestleMania</em> for Nia would just reinforce that. </p>
<p id="0uwnYw">But what if she loses at <em>WrestleMania</em>? How will that loss eat into her psyche going forward? How will it prey on her insecurities? What struggles will she endure as a result of that failure, and will she eventually give in to whatever demons may arise from that, or will she fight like hell to overcome it in a cathartic moment down the line? This sounds like a way more interesting path to be explored than Nia simply winning at <em>WrestleMania 34</em> and ending the story.</p>
<p id="nQd5XW">Her direct issues with Alexa only began on March 5, so I strongly disagree that this <em>WrestleMania</em> match needs to be the big payoff. It’s their first match! Why is there so much unanimity in the belief that this is the culmination? Because it is at <em>WrestleMania</em>? The assumption that stories must end at <em>WrestleMania</em> doesn’t reflect reality. Maybe for the matches with part-timers that is often true, because the part-timers go away after <em>WrestleMania</em>. </p>
<p id="bonmqK">But I’m looking back at matches on recent <em>WrestleMania</em> cards and I see all sorts of feuds that continued on past <em>WrestleMania</em>. This includes Orton vs. Wyatt, Owens vs. Jericho, Neville vs. Aries, Jericho vs. Styles, Kalisto vs. Ryback, Rollins vs Orton, Cena vs. Rusev, Cena vs. Wyatt, Del Rio vs. Swagger, Miz vs. Barrett, Triple H vs. Lesnar, Jericho vs. Fandango, Jericho vs. Punk, Bryan vs. Sheamus, Kane vs. Orton, Rhodes vs. Big Show, Cena vs. Miz, Punk vs. Orton, and so forth. </p>
<p id="JAx6zN">Sometimes stories end at <em>WrestleMania</em>, sometimes stories don’t end at <em>WrestleMania</em>. It’s not some mandate from the wrestling gods that all stories need to end at <em>WrestleMania</em>. That’s not how it works. It’s certainly not some unforgivable sin of storytelling if Nia Jax loses the first match to the despicable heel at <em>WrestleMania</em>. This conflict just started one month ago and now it’s a given that WWE is awful at storytelling if they don’t have the babyface immediately triumph in her very first opportunity? That sounds like a potentially shallow story and totally bogus logic to me.</p>
<p id="Yigbrc">I think the reason why this logic has been embraced by so many is because the idea of Alexa Bliss winning this match, considering what horrible things she has said, makes people feel uncomfortable. I think that’s a good thing. I think people should feel uncomfortable sometimes when watching pro wrestling. I would love to have more uncomfortable moments like CM Punk coming out and ruining a 9 year old girl’s birthday in a sick, creepy, and demented fashion. I want to see more segments like Seth Rollins having Edge’s neck under his foot ready to snap it if the hero doesn’t do exactly what he says. I want to see more villains do what Alexa Bliss did and sit down with their best friend and just prey on all her weaknesses in a soft soothing voice. These are the moments that make heels truly despicable and worth caring about.</p>
<p id="54Chm9">I look at the current landscape of WWE heels and it is a wasteland. The top full-time heels on <em>Raw</em> right now are the Miz, Bliss, and...I think that’s it. It’s a steep drop down from them to Elias. <em>Raw</em> desperately needs a heel like Samoa Joe who will go out there and make me super uncomfortable while he whispers in Paul Heyman’s ear all the horrible things he is going to feel as he chokes the life out of him. The calmness behind that delivery is sick, horrifying, and completely captivating. With that in mind, I think an argument can be made that Alexa Bliss is the top heel on <em>Raw</em> right now, based on her standing in the women’s division and the way she has treated Nia Jax.</p>
<p id="ElYGW3">The top heels on <em>SmackDown</em> are Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. What they did to Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan in recent weeks was brutally sadistic. What Kevin Owens did one year ago to Chris Jericho at the Festival of Friendship was borderline psychotic. I am much more intrigued by villains who will stoop to this inhumane depth. After Owens and Zayn, who is next in the heel pecking order? Maybe Jinder Mahal? Unlike Alexa Bliss on <em>Raw</em>, I don’t see any top heel females in the mix here. It’s an extremely steep drop down from Owens and Zayn.</p>
<p id="TLoBUf">There are six major matches at <em>WrestleMania 34</em>. Three of these matches are babyface versus babyface (Flair vs. Asuka, Styles vs. Nakamura, Cena vs. Undertaker). Two of these matches have part-timers on the heel side (Lesnar, Stephanie/HHH), leaving just one major match with any full-time heels (Owens/Zayn vs. Bryan/Shane). That’s a huge problem. WWE has had a significant problem for years with building credible top level heels. Maybe Alexa Bliss can become that kind of heel, and if so, this is the kind of story that can be told to get her there if her awfulness allows her to keep thriving at Nia’s expense. It might make some people feel uncomfortable, but it can certainly be a good story.</p>
<p id="RpkTKb">This story is extremely effective and doing a damn fine job of presenting Bliss as an awful person who almost everyone is rooting against. Are the same people who are demanding that Nia Jax wins this match also demanding that Shane McMahon wins his match at <em>WrestleMania</em>? Look at the personal hell that Kevin Owens has put Shane through for over half a year, and Shane has never gotten his revenge. Does that mean it’s a terrible story and that Shane should have immediately won at <em>Hell in a Cell</em> <em>2017</em> because the villain was awful enough to attack and draw blood on his 72-year-old father? </p>
<p id="L5UP0T">I don’t hear any outcry that the storytelling for Shane vs. Owens is only good if Shane wins. So attacking a 72-year-old man is an acceptable heel tactic but what Alexa said about Nia is crossing the line of acceptable heel behavior? It doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s just different forms of uncomfortable heeling. Kevin Owens remains elevated because he mostly gets away with being awful. That’s how heels need to be booked to remain at the top of the card. It’s ok for heels to get away with being awful, and it’s ok if that makes the audience feel uncomfortable.</p>
<p id="vtKk9w">Do you remember how WWE followed up on that segment from March 2010 where CM Punk ruined the birthday of Rey Mysterio’s daughter? CM Punk lost a 6 minute match to Mysterio at <em>WrestleMania 26</em>. WWE took the safe route of the babyface immediately going over. Two months later Punk was having his head shaved after losing to Rey again, in a match where Rey would have to face the sickening fate of joining the Straight Edge Society if Punk prevailed. The latter scenario sounded way more interesting to explore, both for Rey and Punk as characters, but it never happened. WWE threw away all the great potential for a marvelous heel run for Punk right there. He could have been a truly despicable villain who actually got away with his terrible impulses for a long time before paying the price, but instead he was rendered ineffective right away and his Straight Edge Society went on to losing throwaway matches with Big Show afterwards and going out with a whimper.</p>
<p id="vNrvCW">Do you remember how WWE followed up on Bray Wyatt brainwashing Daniel Bryan and controlling him early in 2014? Daniel Bryan was completely back to normal two weeks later and letting us know that Wyatt never had him under his spell. So much for Bray Wyatt’s magnetism luring others in to his arms. Do you remember Bray Wyatt trying to get into Cena’s head in their <em>WrestleMania</em> story to get him to go strike Wyatt down with that chair? Instead Cena strikes down Rowan and then pins Wyatt anyway. Bray Wyatt’s effectiveness as a heel was crippled.</p>
<p id="kYN9qm">It’s up to WWE to decide which wrestlers are going to make the most money for the company and then push the hell out of those wrestlers. If new information becomes available to change their mind about certain wrestlers, then adjust accordingly. That’s probably why Cena and Bryan made Wyatt look like a fool in 2014, and it can easily be argued that WWE made the right call there, even if it cost WWE a chance to elevate Wyatt to a top level heel.</p>
<p id="55uM2m">But enough heels have been rendered hapless by WWE in recent years that we are stuck in this current situation where there is barely any representation from full-time heels in top positions on <em>WrestleMania</em> cards. We have to go back to <em>WrestleMania 30</em> to find a full-time heel in the main event, and to <em>WrestleMania 27</em> before that. The full-time bad guys in WWE lose too often in important moments, they don’t get away with their awfulness long enough, and so they aren’t taken seriously in top spots. Maybe Alexa Bliss can be that kind of heel. Some may scoff at that idea, and that’s fine, but demanding that heels lose right away when they resort to making the audience feel uncomfortable is only going to continue this disappointing trend going forward.</p>
<p id="2pDldx">Heels doing awful things, getting away with it, and thriving as a result of it can make for truly compelling stories. WWE hasn’t told enough of these stories in recent years. That’s why it’s totally fine if Nia Jax loses at <em>WrestleMania 34</em>.</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/4/8/17211888/wrestlemania-34-its-ok-nia-jax-loss-uncomfortable-heelCain A. Knight