So woke up at 12.45 after 3 hours sleep and then just woken up from another 2.5 post "Wrestlemania Saturday". Honestly, with the exception of one single moment on the night, that was a very good show.
Good idea to open with Trips. It's felt all week like they were turning the page on Vince, and the proclamation of a new era probably did it officially.
Becky and Rhea was a very good match. In terms of mania openers a strong contender, for me, for a top 5 slot from the past 40 years. Set a strong tone for the rest of the night. 8/10
The tag title ladder six pack match was good. The pre match rundown from Pretty Deadly was entertaining and you have to question why they were given this role but not included in the match and a spotlight shone on them. They'd have made a good addition and hopefully post mania they will form part of a string tag division on Smackdown. I called the R-truth hot tag and pin (even put the pin attempt on my bingo card). Nice to see A-Town Downunder win the tag titles over on Smackdown. Think it's a reward for the consistency of both and how good a job they did in the Grayson Waller effect segment in Melbourne in getting Seth and Cody over as a team. They then pretty much sat out the rest of the match after Waller went through a ladder still celebrating. Kofi's trust fall was a visual treat but still something bugs me about a bunch of guys waiting to catch you. The spot that left me wincing the most was Ciampa's air rad crash off the top of a tall ladder, especially given his neck issues. Bate took it well. The crowd mega popped for truths win, which was lovely. I was surprised as how little Judgement Day seemed to matter in this, which worries me for night 2 and a possible cash in. Anyway 6.5/10
Rey and Andrade against Dominik and Santos Escobar. Okay. I have a big problem with this match. More specifically the ending. I felt of everyone, Andrade shone the most. You have to wonder why he didn't work at AEW and how TK let this talent slip through his fingers. His moonsault and explosive offence hits every time (running double knees a personal fave). But outside of Andrade this was...meh. very flat. The springboard was a good moment. But then the ending. Oh the ending. Having two Philadelphia eagles support at ringside would have made sense of we'd seen them already and earlier in the match there was some face off at ring side between Dom and them . Instead we got two giant luchadors, which was kind of exciting at first until McAfee started saying they look like legends. I'm not a big NFL follower so I had no idea who they were but for commentary. I guess for some fans in the arena they wouldn't have the commentary, so any non NFL following fans from outside US may have been like "who the hell is this?" Honestly feel like Escobar and Dom deserved a little better after such a strong year. 3/10
Jey Vs Jimmy felt a little flat. I have no idea why, but it was missing...something. a spark. It was possibly one of the matches with more emotion and history than any other match on the night. But...well...it was just functional. The YEET/NO YEET spot was good, but the match never really got going. Jey's spear was rushed and looked bad. Thought it was the right result but their interactions during the royal rumble match were way better. 5/10
Bianca, Naomi and Jade Vs Damage Ctrl I feel was slightly in the wrong spot. Should have gone before the main event to bring the crowd down a little bit more. But as a match felt it was solid. I was waiting for a Bianca / Jade foreboding spot but it didn't come. Made Jade look strong and hid her inexperience, slightly at the expense of Bianca and Naomi. 6/10
Sami Zayn Vs Gunther. Sami, Sami, Sami! What. An absolute journey this one was (and this is why I felt this needed to trade places with the six woman tag as we were so tired post this one). What a match. Sami truly is the ultimate underdog from the underground. He sells so well, but even if he didn't, Gunther is so strong and powerful everything he does looks like it kills you. I think it was good to show Gunther finally getting too cocky, taunting Sami's wife. It's been coming for a while and the ring general will have to admit to his cohorts in Imperium that he actually got something wrong. The finish was explosive, in the way only Zayn can come back from a beating. What a match. I think Gunther has to move on up the card for his inevitable title shot in August at Bash in Berlin. 10/10
Cody and Seth Vs Rock and Roman was a good match. It must have been nearly an hour long, right? The video hype package was playing at 4.10am and at 5.05am was wrapping up. The rock looked incredible but lost a bit of the explosiveness (but age does that to you). This one didn't get going until after they'd all been outside the ring. The timing on the miscommunication/ spear slot was great from all involved and Rock sold like he had been hit by a freight train. I thought the Rollins splash spot was great too. I was genuinely surprised that Rock went through a table. Not phoning in this return at all. The spear through the timekeepers barricade is a tired spot but effective at explaining why Seth wasn't around for the finish. The finish worked with an injustice and a visual of Cody being pinned could be a vision of what awaits tomorrow so was quite strong. I like all the stories and ramifications from this , with Seth battling a knee and back injury tomorrow for his match versus Drew and all the possibilities that a bloodlines rules match brings. Good match and capped off a strong mania night 1. 7.5/10
Overall an 8/10 night for me.
