WWE WrestleMania 35 Live Results, Highlights, and Grades

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WWE Championship Match: Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston

Then, in a manner of moments, WrestleMania became KofiMania. The crowd, 80,000 strong inside MetLife Stadium, began chanting “KOFI” as Kofi Kingston made his way to the ring with The New Day at his side. Daniel Bryan entered the arena moments later to a much different reaction and with a completely different attitude, bringing his somber superiority while the excitement from The New Day was palpable.

Daniel Bryan started the match slow by slapping on a headlock, but the crowd continued their support of Kingston who started with a serious of counters. The expertise of both men was clear, but Kofi Kingston took an early upperhand with a dropkick before flying out of the ring with a trust fall to knock down Bryan.

The champion slid back into the ring, escaping to the other side to regroup and speak to his insurance policy, Rowan, at ringside. Bryan slid back in, sending Kofi into the corner and delivering a series of stiff uppercuts. He then looked for a submission, getting the challenger in a picture perfect and surely painful surfboard stretch.

Kingston fought out of it, only for Bryan to push back with a series of forearms to the back of the neck a bit later. He went for a back suplex, but Kingston landed on his feet and knocked Bryan to the mat before hitting a boom drop. However, Bryan rolled to the apron to avoid a pinfall. Kingston hit a baseball slide that sent Bryan to the outside.

Kofi Kingston came flying out of the ring with a springboard, but Bryan dodged and Kofi went crashing into the announce table. This was where the complexion began to change, with Bryan taking control and wearing down Kofi Kingston with every action. Back in the ring, he dropped Kofi on the ropes and landed a diving knee from the top rope to the back of Kingston. Bryan attempted a pin, but only got a near fall.

Bryan took control with a waistlock, keeping it on for several minutes and squeezing on the mid-section of Kofi Kingston. Despite the damage, Kingston eventually fought out of it only to get dropped into the corner where Bryan followed up with several of his signature running dropkicks. We then saw a great counter sequence with Kofi rushing him and hitting a double stomp, but Bryan caught him and locked on a devastating Liontamer.

Kofi Kingston kept fighting back at every turn, but Daniel Bryan refused to give him much of a lengthy advantage. After a series of exchanges, Kofi finally hit a huge crossbody that took him to the mat. On his feet, a brawl led to Kofi attempting Trouble in Paradise, but it was blocked. A series of near falls led to Bryan attempting the Lebell Lock, but Kofi slipped out again and later dodged a running knee attempt to hit an SOS.

It was only enough for a near fall, but Kingston’s fight stayed alive. Bryan began hitting several kicks, but Kofi started enduring and fighting through every single one of them. Kofi fought back, hitting a huge reverse suplex that earned a near fall, but Bryan rolled to the outside again after. Rowan suddenly approached Kofi, but Woods came out of nowhere to attack Rowan.

Despite this, Rowan caught him and sent Woods over an announce table. He then took Big E down, but turned around to get a Trouble in Paradise from Kingston. Xavier Woods and Big E followed it by planting Rowan with Midnight Hour to neutralize Rowan for good. Back in the ring, Kofi went for Trouble in Paradise but missed.

Daniel Bryan followed up with a running knee moments later, going for the pinfall but Kofi Kingston still kicked out. Bryan started a serious of stomps and put on the Lebell Lock, but Kingston still fought out of it. He got a final wind, wailing on Bryan with strikes and stomps. Finally, Kofi looked ready. Bryan rose to his feet and turned to eat a huge Trouble in Paradise. Kofi Kingston covered him, got the pinfall, and won! KofiMania ends with a new WWE Champion!

After the match, Big E and Xavier Woods toss away Daniel Bryan’s custom championship, revealing a traditional WWE Championship with custom sideplates for Kofi already on it. They presented the title to Kingston, and the emotion from both the crowd and all three men was palpable. Kingston kids entered the ring to celebrate with their dad, and The New Day revealed a present with new merchandise celebrating the win. One of Kingston’s sons even grabbed a shirt, climbed the turnbuckle, and tossed a new shirt to the crowd. It was the perfect ending for all of this.

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Grade: A+++, Extra plus because of the emotion of this moment and the story. On its merits, this was already a fantastic match, but I was in tears seeing Kofi Kingston’s crowning moment and his kids celebrating with him. KofiMania, baby. KofiMania.