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THE DEMON VS. THE KING, DOES SAMI GET TRICKED?, LADDERS GALORE, A RETIREMENT? , OBA SMASH: MIKE'S LIVE, ONGOING WWE WRESTLEMANIA 42 NIGHT TWO 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!

If you are looking for my Night One Blog, click here.

I have been given the impression there may be some longer matches tonight.

The graphics and logo have a blue background tonight.  I think someone may have been inspired by Disney's Tron: Legacy!

DJ Valentino Khan is playing songs.  Last night he mixed the NWO theme with Bon Jovi's Living on A Prayer!

The Danhausen Blimphausen is floating around.

Sadly, no sign of The Mandolorian and Grogu.  If they show in the press box, I'll update.  

They have a drumset in the ring for Joe Jonas.

Alicia Taylor came to the ring.  She introduced the announcing teams.

Joe Jonas did a great rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

ESPN

I am so old I remember the AWA and Legends of World Class on ESPN...

Lin-Manuel Miranda was back for another great video feature.

John Cena came to the ring to officially welcome everyone to Night Two.  It's sort of weird to NOT see Cena run to the ring, but hey, he is retired.  He said he feels the energy and the stage is set for Night Two.  He plugged that it's live on ESPN.  The crowd booed!   So, they are starting with something big.   

Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar with Paul Heyman is kicking us off.  Oba is out first.  Nice reaction live.  Lesnar gets a monstrous response.  They lock up and neither mad budges.  Brock tries to mahandle Oba but gets shoved down and backs out of the ring.  He is not a happy Brock.  Oba tries to pull him back in but is naild and pulled out.  LESNAR SMASH!  Oba sent into ring post and steps.  Suplex city.  Oba fought back.  Broick snatched him in the F5 but Oba got up and chokeslammed him, powerbombed and pinned Lesnar.  

They set out to make a star and they succeeded tonight (as long as they don't blow the followup) as this made Oba look like a true monster star.    

Oba got a massive reaction leaving.  Everyone involved here did a great job of ascending him.

Lesnar sat in the ring and took off his gloves and boots, which the crowd went, "WHOA" over live.  He hesitated and then took them off as he sat there.   There was a monstrous "Thank you Brock" chant.   Paul Heyman got in the ring and hugged Lesnar.  He raised Lesnar's hand and the crowd applauded.  Lesnar waved as of he was saying goodbye and stood on the ropes for a long time, looking at the crowd.  Lesnar knelt down on the mat, and kissed it before walking out.  He was slapping hands with fans on the way out.  Huge "Thank you Lesnar" as he went up the aisle, waving at fans.  Retirement?  Ruse?  A little of both?  I guess we will see.

Next up is the WWE Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match.  Je'Von Evans had some nice Kofi Kingston inspired gear.  Penta's gear and entrance was based on Mortal Kombat character Shao Kahn.  All madness early.  Evans hit a big dive.  Rusev sent JD crashing down on a ladder, which elicited a biug RUSEV Day CHANT.  Rusev and Penta battled atop the ladder.  Evans was spotlighted a lot early with big spots and bumps.  Dragon Lee was trapped in between a ladder and Rey hit the ladder with a 619.  Lots of craziness!

Penta sent Rey flying over the ropes, where he sit a seated senton on Rusev, sending him off the apron and crashing through a bridged ladder.   Rey nailed a 619 on Penta and scrambled up the ladder, where Lee met him.  Lee nailed Styles Clash on Rey but was stopped by JD from getting the belt.  JD hit a Spanish Fly off ladder.  JD and Penta battled on top.  JD went for a suplex but was kicked down and hit with a Destroyer off the ladder onto another bridged ladder.  Vegas lost their minds for this and chanted, "Holy sh**!"

With everyone down, Evans returned to the scene and climbed up the ladder.  Rusev shoved the ladder over, leaving Evans hanging off the belt.  Rusev climbed the ladder but Evans hit a springboard cutter to take him down.  Penta nailed a Destroyer on Evans, then retrieved the title.  Penta is still champion.

This was a hell of an entertaining spectacle.

This first hour felt more like Wrestlemania than most of last night did.

ESPN UNLIMITED

Next up is WWE United States Champion Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams.  It sounded like Zayn was more booed than cheered coming out to the ring.  

Li Yachty introduced Williams, who got a big reaction.

Zayn was in control and soundly booed early on.  Williams gained control.  He showed nice poise in the ring.  Lots of chant for him live.  He scored a two count with a sideslam.  When Zayn made a comeback, the crowd went mild.  Zayn attacked Lil Yachty on the floor and tossed him into the guard rail.    Zayn nailed a brainbuster on the apron on Williams.  Willaims was out on the floor and fought to get back to his feet.  Zayn hit a helluva kick right in front of Wiliams' parents.  Williams barely made it back but did before the 10 count.  Are they going for a double turn here?  We will see soon enough.    Yachty interfered to set up Wlliams almost scoring the pin.  Williams was caught and hit with an exploder into the buckles.  Sami charged but was drilled with a running knee and pinned.  NEW CHAMPION.

The match was fine and obviously designed to ascend Williams to the next level.  That seems to be the theme of the night so far, getting the next generation to where the company needs them to be - Evans, Oba and now Williams.  

Williams embraced his parents in the front row.

Next up is The Demon Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio in what Adam Pearce declared was now a Street Fight earlier tonight.

Dom was billed as the King of the Luchadors and came out with scores of masked men, including a scene where did a mosh pit stage dive onto some of them.  Then, the Demon emerged with Balor having a great entrance with streamers raining down.  Absolute great production on this.

Dom was nervous stepping into the ring ans Balor took the fight right to him.  He takes Dom to the floor and works him over with a Singapore Cane.   Big pop for a table being pulled out but Dom took out Balor before he could be put to use and lit him up with the cane.  Dom tossed some chairs in the ring and began using them on Finn.  He tried to suplex Finn through them but it was reversed and Dom ate the chairs.  Dom came back with a 619 and a frog splash but Finn kicked out.  The crowd reacted to the near fall.

A table was set up in the corner.  They battled and finally Dom sent Finn through it.  He whacked him with the chair, then wrapped it around Balor's head.  Dom hit a 619 into the chair, then a frog splash for another two count.  Dom cracked him with chairs again and again, then set up another table but was shocked The Demon was back to life.  Balor wailed away with chairs to the back.  He wrapped a chair around Dom's head, hit a shotgun dropkick and double stomped him through a table the pin.  Balor wins.

This was a solid, good hardcore style match with the fans loving Balor's return as the Demon and being really into all of Dom's deal.  

They plugged Summerslam for Minneapolis.

Next up is Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley, which is the biggest test of Jade's career to date.

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