The night featured several highly anticipated matches. The Women's World Championship was fiercely contested in a Triple Threat match, while the WWE Intercontinental Championship was on the line in a chaotic Fatal 4-Way. Additionally, social media sensation Logan Paul clashed with the veteran AJ Styles, and the WWE Universe eagerly awaited two mystery reveals that added an element of unpredictability to the evening.
Iyo Sky Ascends in Women's World Championship Clash
The opening contest saw Bianca Belair defend her Women's World Championship against Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky in a captivating Triple Threat encounter. Despite the crowd's strong support for Ripley and Sky, with Belair even receiving boos during her entrance, the match was a masterclass in storytelling and athleticism. The three competitors engaged in innovative offense, including a memorable Tower of Doom spot and near-falls that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
In a surprising turn of events that played into the established narrative of the feud, Belair had seemingly secured the victory over Ripley with her signature KOD. However, in a moment of opportunistic brilliance, Iyo Sky capitalized on the situation, delivering a decisive Moonsault during the pin attempt to capture the Women's World Championship. The victory garnered one of the loudest reactions of the entire weekend, solidifying Sky's ascent in the women's division and hinting at a compelling future rivalry between Belair and Ripley. This marked Belair's first WrestleMania loss in Las Vegas, a venue that is proving to be a challenging stage for "The EST of WWE."
Match Grade: A
Drew McIntyre Conquers Damian Priest in Sin City Street Fight#IYOSKY won in an absolutely blazing #WrestleMania opening match! pic.twitter.com/Tx7pPnebBq
— WWE (@WWE) April 20, 2025
The second match of the night was a brutal Sin City Street Fight for no title, pitting Drew McIntyre against Damian Priest. Both competitors delivered elaborate entrances, with McIntyre's sword-in-the-stone theme contrasting with Priest's live musical performance featuring the guitarist from the iconic band Slayer.
The match itself was a hard-hitting affair, utilizing the "street fight" stipulation to its fullest, though the majority of the action remained within the confines of the ring. McIntyre, who even found time to tweet mid-match for the second consecutive WrestleMania, showcased his resilience against Priest's aggressive offense, which included a chokeslam with a chair around his neck and a Razor's Edge through a table. The intense back-and-forth culminated in a dramatic finish, with McIntyre delivering a Claymore Kick through a chair wedged in the second rope to secure the victory. Despite the "Sin City Street Fight" moniker, the match's focus remained primarily on in-ring action, though it still provided a thrilling and physical encounter.
Match Grade: B+
Dominik Mysterio Emerges Victorious in Intercontinental Title Fatal 4-WayStill bored at work lol pic.twitter.com/1f0CB1zTqg
— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) April 20, 2025
The Fatal 4-Way match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship featured Dominik Mysterio defending against Finn Balor, Penta, and Bron Breakker. Breakker, in particular, received a strong initial reaction from the crowd, showcasing his power with early Spears and impressive suplexes.
However, the narrative of the match revolved around the polarizing figure of Dominik Mysterio. Despite being booed during his entrance, Mysterio surprisingly garnered cheers as the match progressed, even eliciting "Eddie" chants during his Three Amigo suplexes, a tribute to his legendary father. The match featured several high-impact moves, including a Spear through a table by Breakker. The finish saw Mysterio capitalize after Balor hit his Coup de Grace, with Mysterio delivering a Frog Splash for the win. In a stunning turn of events, Dominik Mysterio, who entered the match as a despised heel, received a curtain call after his victory, seemingly transitioning into a babyface role in the span of one match.
IC Title Fatal 4-Way Grade: B
Joe Hendry Answers Randy Orton's Challenge in Memorable SegmentDOM DOES IT!
— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2025
We have a NEW Intercontinental Champion at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/2Jz87Nzc7M
Randy Orton's mystery opponent turned out to be TNA Champion Joe Hendry, who received a significant reaction from the Las Vegas crowd, with fans enthusiastically singing his entrance song. The match saw Hendry hold his own against the veteran Orton, even garnering more crowd support at times. Despite a spirited effort, Hendry ultimately fell to Orton's signature RKO. However, the segment didn't end there. After the match, Orton raised Hendry's hand in a show of respect, only to deliver a second RKO, followed by Orton mimicking Hendry's signature camera pose. This unexpected and entertaining segment provided a memorable moment of cross-promotional interaction.
Joe Hendry vs. Randy Orton Grade: B
Logan Paul Defeats AJ Styles Amidst Interference and Intrigueoutta nowhere!#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/Cfq4cviUAH
— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2025
The match between Logan Paul and AJ Styles was marked by Paul's characteristic showmanship, including the use of his personal drone camera during his entrance. While Paul drew significant heat from the crowd for his taunts and athletic displays, the match's early stages lacked intense engagement. The action picked up as Styles mounted a spirited comeback, but the finish was marred by interference. One of Paul's associates provided him with brass knuckles. However, in a surprising twist, Karrion Kross made an unexpected appearance, stealing the weapon and offering it to Styles. In a moment of questionable decision-making, Styles tossed the knuckles aside, leading to a confrontation with Kross, allowing Paul to capitalize with a "Paulverizer" (KO punch) for the victory. The match, while featuring athletic spots, was ultimately defined by the chaotic finish and the intriguing involvement of Karrion Kross.
Logan Paul vs. Karrion Kross Grade: B-
Becky Lynch Returns to Claim Tag Team GoldWas the the right call?!#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/G5BTIUzn40
— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2025
The advertised mystery partner for Lyra Valkyria proved to be the returning Becky Lynch, sending the Allegiant Stadium crowd into a frenzy. Lynch, back as "The Man," teamed with Valkyria, who appeared visibly emotional during her WrestleMania debut. While the match itself experienced a lull in crowd reaction after Lynch's initial appearance, the anticipation for her tag-in was well-built.
Ultimately, Lynch secured the victory for her team, delivering a Manhandle Slam on Liv Morgan to capture the Women's Tag Team Championships. Following the match, WWE legend Stone Cold Steve Austin made a surprise appearance to announce the attendance for Night 2.THE MAN is BACK at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/IMDqYl7buv
— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2025
John Cena Captures 17th World Title in Controversial Main EventSWIG OF BEER for the #WrestleMania sold out attendance! 🍺 pic.twitter.com/4NcGFE04Fl
— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2025
The main event of WrestleMania Sunday saw John Cena challenge Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship. Cena's entrance, a minimalist display of his name in a Microsoft Word font, perfectly aligned with his current heel persona. In stark contrast, Rhodes' entrance was an elaborate spectacle featuring daredevil motorcyclists.
The match began with an intensely heated atmosphere, with the crowd vocally supporting and booing both competitors. Cena adopted a deliberate heel strategy, employing stalling tactics and a more aggressive offense. While the narrative aimed to build sympathy for Rhodes' comeback, a significant portion of the audience remained firmly in Cena's corner. The match featured several near-falls and callbacks to Cena's past, including the Super AA, the same move he used to win his 16th world title. The finish, however, was controversial. After a series of near-falls and counters, Cena removed the turnbuckle padding and used it to his advantage. A surprise appearance by Travis Scott was quickly neutralized by Rhodes. In the closing moments, as Cena seemingly begged for mercy, he delivered a low blow and struck Rhodes with the championship belt to secure the victory and his record-tying 17th world title. The match, while highly anticipated, ultimately concluded in a somewhat underwhelming and contentious manner.
John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes Grade: B-
Overall, WrestleMania Sunday delivered a night of significant moments, including a surprising Women's World Championship victory, the return of Becky Lynch, and a controversial conclusion to the main event. While some matches exceeded expectations, others left room for improvement. Nevertheless, the event provided the WWE Universe with plenty to talk about as the company moves forward.CROSS RHODES to TRAVIS SCOTT! 😲#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/sqdMmJYkpS
— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2025