WWE WrestleMania 33 Results: Highlights, Analysis and Grades

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AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon

Result: AJ Styles defeats Shane McMahon via pinfall.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

Our leadoff (kind of) match is Styles vs. McMahon. Interesting choice over the ladder match, which has taken this spot during the past two years.The talk around this has been Styles “not getting the opponent he deserves.”

The talk around this has been Styles “not getting the opponent he deserves.” While that’s not the worst argument, the guy can put on something great with just about anyone. Did he do that here with McMahon?

Remember all that criticism we just brought up? Well, Shane did some wrestling moves. He may not be able to punch to save his life, but he looked alright there.

For all the talk of McMahon not being able to keep up either, he played up a decent pace through the first half of the match. It may not have been going at a crazy pace, but it took a bit to build up to a proper story. This is a 46-year-old man we’re talking about here too, one that doesn’t compete often.

Not sure how to feel about McMahon kicking out of the Styles Clash. However, WWE made it clear a long time ago that the Phenomenal Forearm is the finisher for the former WWE Champion, so the move that made him dangerous in NJPW can be deemed secondary.

Man, was this match something or what? These two nearly died out there like 10 times (not really, but they went all out). This match exceeded expectations by a country mile, making for an amazing opener to WrestleMania 33.

No more criticism can come the way of this bout, which received its fair share. McMahon proved he had plenty in the tank and Styles did his usual, phenomenal thing. The right man won in Styles, who’s the full-time performer of the two, but Shane O’Mac held up his end of the bargain. Go back and watch this after the show.