WWE WrestleMania 35 Final Rating: KofiMania Steals The Show And Everyone’s Hearts
WWE WrestleMania 35 is officially in the books in what has to be considered one of the wildest, most historic nights in WWE and WrestleMania history on a night the WWE universe will never forget.
In one of the wildest nights the WWE has seen in a long time, WWE WrestleMania 35 has to be considered one of the most satisfying WrestleMania’s in history, and even with a few hiccups here and there, this show delivered on what the WWE universe wanted going in.
WrestleMania 35 host Alexa Bliss opened up the show by introducing Hulk Hogan to help usher in the event, but they would be interrupted by Paul Heyman. Heyman said since Brock Lesnar isn’t going on last, they want the Universal Championship match with Seth Rollins to happen right now.
Lesnar came out, Rollins came out, and the two were set for battle. However, The Beast Incarnate attacked Rollins before the bell even rang.
But after the bell officially rang and Lesnar got in a few more suplexes, Rollins returned the favor to Lesnar’s pre-match attack by hitting him with a low blow before three stomps to get the shocking win.
This was one of the weirdest matches in WrestleMania history, but it was so weird that it turned out positively with The Architect mercifully dethroning The Beast Incarnate.
The showdown between AJ Styles and Randy Orton was next and these two all-time greats put on a solid match. It was a bit slow for some fans’ liking, but it was a match filled with impressive moves and moments. Styles even managed to kick out of an RKO, which set the stage for his eventual win after one final Phenomenal Forearm to take out The Viper.
The SmackDown Tag Team Championship was on the line next when The Usos defended against Aleister Black and Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev, and The Bar. This was a very good match that featured so many unique sequences and maneuvers. The action was fast-paced throughout much of it, but in the end, Jimmy and Jey managed to keep their titles after tandem offense put Sheamus away.
It was all about Falls Count Anywhere following that match when The Miz took on Shane McMahon in one of the most personal matches of the night. Shane had control early on and even lined up The Miz to put him through the announce table, but Miz’s father George got in the way to stop Shane.
This led to Shane ultimately attacking George in the ring after he tried to stand up for his son. This incensed Miz, and he took out his frustrations on Shane throughout the stadium.
They brawled throughout Metlife Stadium in an Attitude Era-like match, but the finish was what has everyone talking as The Miz suplexed Shane off of a huge structure in the middle of the arena.
However, it did a number to both men and Shane actually ended up laying on top of The Miz, resulting in a three count and the win in one of the craziest matches in a long time. These two definitely have more left in the tank in this feud.
The Women’s Tag Team Championship was now on the line when Sasha Banks and Bayley defended against Beth Phoenix and Natalya, The IIconics, and Nia Jax and Tamina in a Fatal 4-Way. This was a pretty good match, but it just couldn’t quite live up to some of the rest of the card. It was particularly surprising when The IIconics snuck in at the last minute and Billie Kay pinned Bayley to get the win after Phoenix did all the work taking out Bayley.
An 11-year odyssey came to a head next when The New Daniel Bryan defended the WWE Championship against Kofi Kingston in what will be remembered as one of the greatest stories and matches in WWE history.
This match could not have been handled any more perfect than it was, and in today’s WWE landscape, something being perfect is hard to find. Bryan and Kingston both had spectacular showings that helped benefit each other.
After finally overcoming The Planet’s Champion, Kofi hit him with a huge Trouble in Paradise which propelled Kofi to his first-ever WWE Championship win. The emotion involved in this match was off the charts, as was the post-match celebration with the rest of The New Day and Kofi’s children.
This was a moment that will stand in time forever, and one that the WWE universe will never forget as Kofi became the first-ever African-American WWE Champion.
Samoa Joe defended the United States Championship against Rey Mysterio next, and given Mysterio’s injury he took into WrestleMania, this match didn’t have a chance in the first place. It showed when Joe put Mysterio away in only a couple of minutes to retain his title.
This match didn’t even need to be on the card given Mysterio’s injury issue, but it was really put behind the 8-ball having to follow Bryan vs. Kingston.
Roman Reigns’ first one-on-one match in about six months followed when he took on Drew McIntyre. This was a pretty good match, but it felt more like a match you could watch on Raw. t ended a bit abruptly too when after an anti-climatic spear, Reigns got the win.
It was nice to see him get a big win at WrestleMania 35 after what he has gone through, but this felt like a good opportunity to give McIntyre a much-needed marquee win to push him into a main event light.
Elias’ performance followed by an epic appearance from John Cena as The Dr. of Thuganomics, but the next match on the card was Triple H vs. Batista in a No Holds Barred match.
This match was much more violent than most expected, starting with when Triple H tried to rip Batista’s fingers off with a pair of channel locks. It got taken even farther when The Game ripped out Batista’s nose ring with a pair of pliers in the ring.
However, despite all of that, The Animal rebounded.
Both men dished out their fair share of brutal offense, but in the end, Ric Flair’s appearance helped Triple H when Flair gave him a sledgehammer that was used on Batista. The Game then hit The Animal with one final pedigree to get the win.
This was a stellar No Holds Barred match, but it went a bit too long and was too slowly-paced for most fans. But given the circumstances around this match, it was far from a disappointment.
The final match of Kurt Angle’s career was up next when he took on Baron Corbin. This was honestly nothing more than a Raw match, which would have been fine had Angle won.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Corbin won and Angle gave his post-match address to the WWE universe in defeat. It’s a good win for Corbin’s career, but this just felt wrong having Angle lose his final match.
The Intercontinental Championship was on the line next when Bobby Lashley defended against The Demon Finn Balor. In The Demon’s first appearance in months, Balor made sure to make it count.
Even though Lashley did do some damage to The Demon, it wasn’t enough and Balor put Lashley away to win the match and the Intercontinental Championship. It wasn’t much, but it was just enough to be serviceable, and it gave Balor a WrestleMania moment.
History was made in the main event of WrestleMania 35 when Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair became the first women to main event WrestleMania in a winner take all match with both women’s titles on the line.
This match lived up to expectations by most accounts with all three women really showing out and impressing. This was a physical, hard-hitting match that brought out the best in each individual.
But despite the many positives surrounding this match, the finish was strange when Lynch countered Rousey’s attempt at a Piper’s Pit into a roll-up to get the abrupt win.
Rousey protested her shoulders weren’t down, but The Man still walked away with both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships held high in a moment nearly a year in the making.
Overall, this was a very good WrestleMania. There were a ton of positives to take away and it is one of the most satisfying shows, in terms of the winners, the WWE has had in a long time.
Rollins became the Universal Champion, Kofi won the WWE Championship, and Lynch won both women’s titles. That, in itself, makes the show a success. However, not everything was perfect.
A few matches were a bit on the subpar or average level, and that is never good for a WrestleMania. Not to mention, Angle losing his farewell match and the finish of the women’s Triple Threat Match left a lot to be desired.
Why couldn’t The Man have just definitively won and left no doubt? A questionable ending in a match of that caliber feels wrong, and it doesn’t do the circumstances surrounding the match any justice.
Also, the length of WrestleMania has to be addressed in the future. A main card that exceeds five hours is just too long and it tires out the fans in attendance and watching around the world.
The fans were emotionally drained after the Kofi win, which hurt the remaining matches because the crowd just wasn’t into them as much. From now on, the WWE needs to think about shortening these shows a bit and needs to be smarter in the placement of these matches on the card.
Despite those few shortcomings, WrestleMania 35 was still a loaded show that gave the WWE universe a little bit of everything.
Next. WWE WrestleMania 35 Results. dark