Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
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.
ESPN BROADCAST
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.
ESPN UNLIMITED
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!!!! That show gave me back Luke Skywalker, it can do NO WRONG.
Next up, AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch for the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship. The band that does Becky's theme played her out. AJ had a troupe of young girls dressed like her skipping for her entrance and it was adorable. The match was fine early on but the live crowd was very subdued early on. You could hear small pockets of chants but nothing that caught on.
Lee caught Becky with the Octopus but Lynch slammed her into the buckles and hit The Bookend for a two count. Lynch gave Jessika Carr grief and shovced her. Jessika played Tommy Young and shoved her back, which Lynch lost her mind about. Lee snatched her in a Manhandle Slam for a two count. Becky worked over Lee, who caught her in the Octopus again. Lee escaped and pulled a turnbuckle off. Lee charged and Becky pulled Carr into the mix. When Carr moved, Becky sent Lee into the expoded Buckle, hit the ManhandleSlam and scored the pin. New champ!
This was solid. They will have to pay off Carr and Lynch one day.
GUNTHER vs. Seth is next. When GUNTHER'S music hit, the mood changed in the stadium, as if they knew a badass was here. Big pop for Seth and a LOT of fire. He had black contact lenses in to give him an evil feel.
GUNTHER attacked Rollins before the bell and powerbombed him. They went to the floor and brawled around the announcers' table. Good, this should be a fight. Rollins tossed a chair at him. They were separated and finally hit the ring for the official bout. They went back and forth attacking each other with big boots. GUNTHER got Rollins down and went foe the sleeper. Rollins landed on his feet during a suplex attempt and drilled GUNTHER. GUNTHER cut him off and controlled Rollins with hard stomps and chops. Rollins tried to fight back but was drilled back down, where GUNTHER stepped on him. Not a lot of crowd noise live, they are watching and waiitng for something big to happen.
Rollins escaped a superplex attempt and nailed the Bucklebomb. That woke the crowd up. GUNTHER avoided the stomp. He ate a German suplex but lariated Rollins. Rollins nailed him but was too spent to capitalize. The battle continued. GUNTHER backdropped Seth out of a pedigree attempt. They went for another but GUNTHER escaped. He couldn't escape a third and Seth came THISCLOSE to pinning GUNTHER after the stomp. The crowd popped huge for that moment.
GUNTHER finally trapped Seth in the same choke that ended several careers, The crowd rallied him and Seth fought his way out, nailing a right hand. GUNTHER clobbered him with a lariat. He went to the top but Seth met him and nailed a big superplex. Rollins caught him with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count and immediately put GUNTHER'S choke on him. The crowd LOVED that but GUNTHER draped his foot over the ropes to escape. This has evolved into a damn good match. Rollins nailed a series of dives but on the third was caught and powerbombed on the apron, THEN the announcer's table.
GUNTHER pulled him onto the table but Seth saved himself and nailed a Pedigree. The table didn't even budge. Ouch! He stomped him on the table. That was great. Out of nowhere, Bron Breakker hit ringside and KILLED Seth with a spear. The stadium was barking. He dumped Seth back in the ring. Rollins locked eyes with him but GUNTHER choked Rollins out and that was it.
Very well put together match that got better and better. They had to stitch a Frankenstein Monster together with the injuries and story but in the end, it worked out and now they can get back to Bron and Seth.
After the match, Bron sprinted down the aisle and speared Seth again. Paul Heyman came out and embraced Break
WWE honored the 2026 Hall of Fame Class.
Ted DiBiase Jr. is in the crowd.
It's time for Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan for the WWE Women's World Championship. Liv's entrance included the choreography for her new Trouble Trouble song. The dancers ripped her clothes off, revealing Morgan's ring gear. Vaquer had a great entrance as well with an explosion of roses raining down as she marched down the aisle. This felt like a big fight live.
They began brawling at the bell, went to the floor and returned to the ring, Vaquer drilled her with a big knee strike and went to the top, but it was too early as Liv attacked her and hit a sunset flip bomb for a two count. Morgan hit the Three Amigos and even did the Eddy Guerrero shimmy. Vaquer came baxk with Devil's Kiss, which Vegas went nuts for. They battled back and forth. It's been a good match thus far.
Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez came out and began to interfere. Stephanie hit a springboard dive to the outside on them. That allowed Liv to attack her and nail Oblivion for the pin. New Champion!
I think perhaps my hopes for this were too high. it was good and I enjoyed it, but felt this could have been longer and a little more dramatic. But, Liv deserves the moment and to be ascended into the position. Vaquer got her Wrestlemania debut and had a good match. I just wish it had been something a little more epic.
Dom came out and joined his girl as she celebrated. Lots of pyro for the win.
John Cena returned to the ring to say what an amazing event Wrestlemania has been so far. He announced an "official attendance of 50,816 people."
Bianca Belair's music hit and she made her way to the ring a year after she was injured at last year's Wrestlemania. HUGE POP in Vegas. Cena held the ropes for her so she could enter the ring. Such a gentleman. She thanked everyone for all their support from the bottom of her heart. She said you can't have Wrestlemania without a few surprises, so she thinks they need to have one more - and revealed she was pregnant. Great for her and Montez!
After a lot of talk and commercials, it was time for the main event.
Pat McAfee came out first. Vegas booed the helll out of him.
Orton had a great entrance with snake graphics that coiled around the set and the rest of the digital screens.
Cody's entrance showcased all the stages of his WWE career before he emerged wearing an American Nightmare mask. When his music hit, a big portion of the stadium screamed and sang. My nephew back home in NYC is also, surely, losing his mind right now.
Brandi & Liberty Rhodes were in the crowd.
The crowd is 100% up for this in a way they haven't been for the rest of the show.
McAfee did his best old school pro wrestling manager introduction for Randy Orton.
There were sizable boos for Cody during his ring introduction.
McAfee attacked Cody and they put the boots to him but he made a comeback and hit CrossRhodes on McAfee. The crowd was chanting "One More Time" but not super loud. McAfee was placed on a table, when Jelly Roll appeared and put McAafee through the table with an elbow. The crowd was chanting, "Don't come back." They popped when McAafee was placed on a stretcher and taken out.
Finally, a match!
They went back and forth with some nice action. Cody caught Randy with a powerslam but was cut off coming off. Randy cinched in a side chinlock. Cody escaped and backdropped Orton, who went to the floor to regroup. Cody followed. Orton tossed him back into the ring. Cody whipped him into the corner and Orton went back to the floor, selling his back. Cody worked over Orton for some time. The momentum really slowed down.
Cody went to the top but Randy took his legs out and Cody was crotched.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
| Daman Game | 55 club | vn168 | 92lottery | vn168 | 92lottery | Daman Game | 51 Game | Jai club | Jai club | Dost Win | Pinoy365 | Jai Club | Dostwin |
Bang On Casino
