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SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S TITLE CLOSES THE SHOW: LIVE WRESTLEMANIA THOUGHTS FROM TAMPA

We are live at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida for Wrestlemania 37!

It was quite the sight watching WWE's staff try and maintain the stadium during the downpour of the last few hours.  There were a LOT of people who never get publicly credited that were really going all OUT to get the stage, the ring, the ringside seats, the steel chair, etc. dry and possible when it appeared to be an impossible task.

No plexiglass around ringside.

The entire roster came out on the stage as the Stadium cheered them on and chanted "Welcome back" and "Wrestlemania."

Vince McMahon came out to welcome everyone back to WWE, saying that he wanted to thank them for supporting WWE during the pandemic but that they were missing an important element over the last year - the fans.  He thanked them on behalf of everyone in the company.  The Stadium popped again.  It really was a nice moment.

The opening video was awesome and funny and all was awesome AND THEN THEY ANNOUNCED bad weather is coming back and everyone get out of their seats.  SERIOUSLY GOD???  What a rib!!!!

WWE is doing some seriously fun, off the cuff promos to hold viewers over during the weather delay.  Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley were awesome and how insane is it how much better these promos are than most of the scripted fare???

It was insane to be sitting in a press booth watching the entirety of the audience dissipate and literally sit here looking at an empty building.  What a strange night this is.  You can't book this.  To their credit, WWE didn't skip a beat.  It reminded me of the night Impact has to evacuate live on PPV due to a fire in their soundstage at Universal Studios but on a much grander scale.

They just told the live crowd they can back to their seats.  They are playing the Lashley vs. Drew hype video.

They sent out Hulk Hogan and Titus O'Neil to stall for time as the fans get back to their seats.  There were some VERY noticeable boos for Hogan.

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre, 40 minutes later than usual, FINALLY hits the ring.  Drew's entrance was insane.  So was the pop.   Some massive explosions for those entrances.  They went back and forth and hearing the crowd reacting really was something to behold.  They had a nice back and forth match.  I liked the twist of Drew trying to use the cross armbreaker on Lashley the MMA guy.  Big overhead throw suplex by Drew.   Drew set up for the Claymore Kick and the crowd chanted his name.  Lashley muscled him into the corner and charged but was elbowed.  Drew nailed a nice Northern Lights suplex. 

The story was that these two were just pulverizing each other with big strikes and punches.  Lashley nearly got the pin with The Dominator.  Drew fought back and scored with the Alabama Slam,  Then Bob Holly ran it.  Just kidding.  The crowd was UP every time Drew set up for the Claymore.  This is a damn good opener.  The crowd is totally into it.  Drew finally went for the Claymore but Lashley rolled out of the ring.  Memphis heel 101.  Drew nailed a tope con hilo to the floor.  He is a big boy doing that and it's totally scary every time he does it.

Drew came off the top but was caught and almost put in the full nelson.  He broke free but Lashley locked him in again.  Drew broke free.  Lashley went for a spear but Drew snatched him in a Kimura and Bobby had to fight for the ropes.  Drew missed a dropkick and was drilled into the corner, then placed into the full nelson.  Drew almost went down but fought out of it like he was a 1980s babyface.  Lashley rolled through and locked him in again and Drew faded.  Lashley retains.

The first hour of this show was an insane but interesting journey that only pro wrestling can provide.   Really surprised to see Drew lose clean here.

The Tag Team Turmoil match was second.  No delay, so we are getting back on track!!!   Lana and Naomi were first eliminated.  Some cool Harley Quinn and Joker inspired gear from Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott.  They took out Carmella and Billie Kaye.  Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke were next.    Mandy tripped as she was coming down the ramp, the poor woman.  That had to suck.  This hasn't had the same magic as Drew and Bobby so far.    Dana hit a swanton on Liv but she reversed the pinfall.  The ring announcer said the wrong team was eliminated then corrected himself.  Next out to face The Riott Squad was Natalya and Tamina.  They battled back and forth.  In the end, Tamina hit one hell of a Superfly Splash and scored the pin.

Tamina and Natayla challenge Nia and Shayna tomorrow.  Good for the vets.  Riott Squad, to me, stood out the most of the teams.

Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins is next.  The Seth propaganda video knocking Cesaro was great as well his entrance with the funnels of twisting fire.    Cesaro attacked at the bell and went immediately for the Sharpshooter but Seth fought his way to the ropes to escape.  Some good work in this on.  Seth nailed a superplex into the standing Falcon Arrow for a two count.   Cesaro was selling his arm but still nailed a lariat.  He called for the big swing, which got a nice pop when he initially went for it.  The crowd was super into counting the rotations.  The crowd started chanting one more time.  Cesaro went for the Gotch piledriver but Seth escaped and nailed the flying knee strike.  He went to follow up with a twisting splash off the ropes but Cesaro kicked up at the last second.  Rollins was seething.  This was all solid.  The crowd clapped to rally Cesaro.  They had some nice sequences ending with Cesaro getting a nice pop for kicking out of the Pedigree.  The crowd was getting more and more behind Cesaro with every big offensive maneuver.  His Torture Race Whirybird got a massive pop.  The 22 rotations of the bug swing also got the crowd going.  Cesaro getting the clean win here felt meaningful.    He spent a lot of time thanking the crowd and going to all four sides to acknowledge them.  It was a nice, deserved moment.

More thoughts from Tampa on Page 2!

 

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