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BIG RETURN, JACOB AND DREW BRAWL, iSHOWSPEED BECOMES WWE'S MIKEY WHIPWRECK: MIKE'S LIVE, ONGOING WRESTLEMANIA 42 NIGHT ONE BLOG FROM LAS VEGAS

Hey everyone and welcome to my live, ongoing blog from high above Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas inside the press room for Wrestlemania 42!

While Richard will be handling the broadcast version of the show in his usual excellent ways, I'll be writing thoughts all night. 

This is actually the 25th year in a row I've covered Wrestlemania since having this gig, so first and foremost, thank you for your support of PWInsider.com, our team and myself personally.  I saw a LOT of you this weekend in airports, Wrestlecon, WWE World and at live shows, and I can't thank you enough for that kindness.

Right now, DJ Valentino Khan is spinning music as the crowd enters.

There is a Danhausen blip flying around inside.

One change from the last year here is the stage seems to be a little more forward in terms of how it is set up compared to placement last year.

The digital signs behind it are massive.

Mark Long from MTV's The Challenge is here.

There is a walking mascot for Drumstick ice cream wandering.

They introduced Alicia Taylor.

The Spanish Announcing team is Jerry Soto and Marcelo Rodriguez.

Michael Cole received a big pop coming out live.  He accompanied several On Location fans who received an entrance as part of their package.

Corey Graves did a similar entrance.

The Las Vegas Mass choir sang God Bless America and it sounded amazing.

As we go on the air, there's absolutely lots of seats open.  We'll see if they fill up as the night goes on.

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The opening with Lin-Manuel Miranda was awesome.  if you would have told me the first time I saw him play Usnavi in In The Heights, it would lead to him being the cheerleader opening this show, I'd have never believed it.  He's a good dude who has made so many dreams come true, so if this was a dream for him as a wrestling fans, hell yeah, good for you Lin.    He can come talk wrestling with us anytime.  Can't wait for his version of The Warriors to hit Broadway.

John Cena came to the ring as the host of the festivities.  Makes sense to get him in front of ESPN eyeballls.  John was in a full suit and tie.  I guess the Peacemaker garb was at the cleaners.  Massive pop.  He said the road to Mania has been polarizing but the time to deliver is now.

The Usos & LA Knight vs. iShowSpeed & Logan Paul & Austin Theory were first.  Usos came out on their own to a big Yeeting entrance through the crowd.  Massive pop for Knight when he came out.  Speed came out with a red cape.    The Vision got laid out, leaving with with Speed, who looked scared.  He grabbed Knight in a headlock and Knight spun him around.  Speed went for a moonsault and landed on his feet, only to get clotheslined to death.  That was funny.   

Logan tagged in but the babyfaces controlled him.  Theory slid in and dropkicked one of the Usos.  That turned the tide and allowed the champs to work him over.   Speed tagged in.  His facial expressions are absolutely great.  He tried a suplex but it was immediately reversed.  The poor SOB.  He's basically Mikey Whipwreck, not able to hit an offensive maneuver and being wiped out.  If you know me, you know that's a compliment as I think the world of Mikey.

 Paul tagged back in.  The story was Speed didn't really want to cheat and be involved with that and when The Voice tried to get him to do so, it backfired and he nailed Theory.  Knight then pinned Theory.  Logan Paul laid out Speed after.  He tossed him to the floor and put him on a table for a flying elbow.  The Usos and Knight made the save and laid out Logan.  Knight woke up Speed and the babyface encouraged him to go to the top and take out Logan.  Vegas popped for this and chanted for Speed.  Speed soaked it in and hit a splash through the table from the top of the ring post.  Big pop live.    The babyfaces celebrated for a long time with Speed.  A nice spectacle.

Opener was fine.  Speed's story was the center-piece and he was enjoyable.  We will see if he sticks around!

George Kittle was shown as ringside, as was Tyrese Haliburton.  Stephen A. Smith is ringside.

Alicia Taylor said that since this was unsanctioned WWE was not taking responsibility for damages.  So, now they are every promotion from the territory era?

Next up is Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu. 

Jacob Fatu had a fun entrance with fire dancers.  Drew had a gothic entrance complete with sword and gear that reminded me of one of the looks of a recent Dracula movie from a few years back.

They brawled all over ringside and weapons were tossed in the ring.  Am in South Vegas or South Philadelphia?  Jacob pulled out Drew's old enemy the the toolbox! Uh oh.  Drew better run.  Drew was able to cut off Jacob, throw him against the exposed ring and hit a slinghot, snapping Fatu into the underside of the ring.  The crowd chanted for tables.  Jacob fought off Drew and hit a running splash, headbutts and a hip attack.  He smashed Drew with a big Samoan Drop.  Nice pop for that live.Drew wedged a chair between the buckles but Jacob attacked before he could use it.  Fatu went for running move but Drew moved and jacob hit the top of the ring post.   Drew pulled out a big tope con hilp to the floor.  He called for The Claymore kick but Jacob moved.  No water in the pool! Drew was sent into the wedged chair and nailed with a moonsault for a close two count.    Drew came back to maul Jacob with a wrench.

Drew slammed Jacob through two chairs.  Drew pulled a belt off the referee but before he could use it, Jacob drilled him with a superkick.  He began smashing Drew with a chair.  McIntyre was lashed over and over with the belt.    The crowd chanted for Fatu.  Fatu grabbed the toolbox but Drew Claymore kicked it.  He scored a two count with that.  They slugged it out and Jacob began smashing Drew down with headbutts,  A table was pulled in.    Jacob placed him on top and drilled Drew with a chair.  Fatu ascended to the top but Drew flung a chair at Fatu, Sabu style.  He knocked Fatu off the top through a table on the floor.

That's two matches so far, two broken tables.  Maybe I am in Philly!

Fatu smashed Drew with the toolbox.  Drew fell onto the table.  Jacob nailed the moonsault and pinned Drew on the remnants of the broken table.  Good match!

They told a good physical story and the crowd live was into it all the way.

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The first match on the PPV side of the show is the Fatal Four Way for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.

They said one member will be legal for each time at the same time.

Alexa Bliss had an entrance paying tribute to Bray Wyatt's fireflies.  Charlotte had a butterfly inspired robe.  Nice pyro and a big pop for their entrance.

Next out were Bayley and Lyra Valkyria.  After last year's mess, Bayley made it!  

Next up were The WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend, who paid tribute to Demolition with their gear.  Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow were shown at ringside.

The Bellas came out.  Nikki announced she wasn't cleared and called in an old friend. Out came the returning Paige to a big reaction.  Michael Cole said no one knew she was going to be at Wrestlemania.  Yeah, OK there buddy.

it was a frenzied match.  Paige got a big pop when she faced off with Nia and again with Flair.  She looked good in the ring.   Nikki hit Flair with her crutch on the floor.  Paige hit Rampaige on Bliss and scored the pin.  Brie and Paige are the new champions.

This was more of a backdrop for Paige's return and for that, it was a really wonderful moment - something that looked impossible in 2018 when she was DQ'd from competing.  Good for her for making it happen.  She looked very emotional celebrating with the Bellas.

They showed The Mandolorian and Grogu at ringside, the best Mania moment of ALL TIME.

 

 

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