By Kyle Combs
WrestleMania 36 continued on Saturday, April 5th 2020 for night number two. Liv Morgan and Natalya wrestled in the kickoff show and they had a fun one. A lot of good old fashioned wrestling, Liv looked good, Natalya started with the handshake offer and she got a little cheeky with it and went right after Liv! Naughty, naughty Natalya! Liv came out on top with a solid in-ring performance and got the three count.
Night two kicked off hard with Charlotte Flair vs Rhea Ripley
One thing that I actually enjoy in these empty arenas is the banter between the wrestlers. Rhea and Charlotte were going at it from the rip and the banter was great. Charlotte promised to take Rhea to deep waters and she did early. Rhea ate a slap and landed a riptide and Charlotte kicked out at two. Charlotte slid back into the ring after retreating and left again, Rhea went after her and Charlotte quickly dove back into the ring and went after her again.
The physicality of this match met Becky vs Baszler from night one to a tee. The battle stayed outside for quite some time, the ref continued to count, Rhea brought Flair back inside the ring and delivered a drop kick. Rhea kept coming at her like a rabid badger. The physicality went up a notch while Rhea had the momentum and she locked in a body scissors and got another two count from it. Momentum shift to Flair.
Flair targeted the leg of Rhea, the same one she hurt a few weeks ago. The attack on the knee continued and Flair wanted it to be clear this was her kingdom. Rhea took over after what seemed like a prolonged beating. Her offense was creative and hard, knee strikes, dropkicks she did it all. Rhea played the pain on her knee, the two locked up and Rhea hit a train of clotheslines, maintaining the momentum. Rhea went to the air, Flair dodged and tossed Rhea to the apron, Flair kicked the knee again sending Rhea to the ground.
As Flair traversed the top rope, a move of desperation Rhea delivered a kick to the face and then slammed her into the mat face first for the closest two count of the match. This match kept going, these two collided over and over again. Flair landed a chop block from behind and kept destroying that left knee. Rhea did everything she could to protect her leg, she got on top and executed a standing clover leaf on Flair! Flair crawled to the bottom rope but Rhea pulled her back to the middle, Flair was able to escape and get back after the knee.
Flair got Rhea into a Boston crab in the middle, Rhea rolled through for a two count, Flair rolled for a two count, Rhea did again and so did Flair. Charlotte kept the offense going and Rhea did her best to answer as much as possible. Rhea took the match to the top rope and she went for the vertical suplex, Flair fought it off and threw Rhea off the rope, she went for a moonsault and took Rhea’s boots to her face, Flair bounced back and hit a vicious spear, leading to a two count. After a few exchanges, Flair finally locked in a figure four, Rhea scraped and clawed, Flair turned it into a figure eight. Rhea tapped out in the middle of the ring, too much damage on the knee. Charlotte Flair is the new NXT women’s champion, an incredible match.
Aleister Black vs Bobby Lashley
Well, this match existed for some reason. Aleister tried to wrestle Lashley which was not the best choice. Lashley was on the defense and over powered Aleister early. Lashley stayed in control, threw Alesiter into the rope but he caught the rope and tossed a charging Lashley out of the ring. Lashley quickly got back to his feet, caught Aleister from doing anything cute from the ring apron and absolutely slammed him into the shadow realm on the mats outside. On a six count, the match continued in the ring with Lashley in control.
Lashley kept the power going with a spear in the corner and led into a neck breaker. Aleister continued to get overpowered, little offense from him up to this point in the match. Lashley attempted a stalling suplex, Aleister blocked it in mid air, he tried again but Black got onto the apron and landed a nice head kick. Aleister gained momentum but just enough to land into the paws of Lashley and eat the powerslam.
Lashley kept control, Alesiter endured and mounted an offense, his offense. He landed strikes and hit the air with a moonsault. Just when he thought Lashley was getting worn down, he exploded back into the driver seat. Lashley picked him up for a slam, Lana loudly proclaimed that he spear him! Lashley did it to please his bride and that allowed Aleister to land a black mass to the face of Lashley. Lana was not happy. Honestly, this match was stupid on paper but you gotta hand it to these guys they did a great job. It was fun, but that’s about it. I am giving credit to them though, they made the most of it.
Otis vs Dolph Ziggler
If you’ve read any of my Smackdown reviews you know how this match feels to me! Dolph made his way to the ring with Sonya by his side. Otis wasted no time getting to the ring and Dolph retreated immediately. Otis came out hard and whooped Dolph but he landed a super kick. Dolph stayed in control and almost jumped over Otis’ head with the dropkick, stellar kick to the chin. Dolph stayed on the offense, not letting up to let Otis take control.
Dolph continued to lay it on but the power of the belly started to show itself. Otis ate elbow after elbow, the adrenaline flowed through the veins of Otis like ham down his gullet. Otis fully took over, slammed Dolph down like Sami discarded the ham around Christmas on Smackdown. Otis threw Dolph around like he weighed nothing, Dolph getting punished being thrown from ring post to ring post.
Otis harnessed the belly and went for the caterpillar. Sonya distracted the reg, Dolph landed a kick to the giblets. Mandy showed up looking like a golden goddess and smacked the crap out of Sonya. She jumped into the ring and gave Dolph a low blow of her own. Otis got the three count after a caterpillar, Mandy ran into the ring, held his hand up and the two shared a kiss. Otis got his revenge and his peach. Otis carried his peach off, great moment. It looks like we have some serious feud potential to head into summerslam.
Edge vs Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing Match
Edge made his way out first, this is vital. Randy’s music hit and Edge watched the ramp intently. Randy attacked him from behind and hit and RKO. Randy was disguised as a camera man from ringside, true masterclass. Edge had to stand up and prove to the ref he was able to go. Randy hit another RKO and the ten count began. Edge got to his feet, Randy kept up the onslaught tossing him over the barrier, another ten count is kicked off, Edge got back to his feet, Randy was right there. This thing heads to the back.
This thing headed back to the gym area, Edge was down again, stood up at six. Randy tied him up by the neck and pounded on him, he let him drop another ten count began. Edge retaliated with a weight plate Randy was holding, Edge kicked it, knocking Randy down and the ten count on both men, they both regained their footing.
Edge finally started an offense of his own, he laid into Randy keeping him down for the ten count and allowed himself a breather. Edge was right there as Randy stood back up and slammed him face first into a table and followed up with several right hands. The brutality continued, Edge catapulted himself onto Randy, both men down. Edge charged from the leg sled, both men down again. The gym area was a warzone, the walls, the weights everything. Back and forth these guys went on each other. When Edge was down, Randy was looking around the room for more weapons.
Randy pushed a sled at a downed Edge who got away just in time, that would’ve been devastating. This match led to the production area after the gym. The red lights in the back looked like a fiend match, Randy ate a steel garage door and was down for a ten count. After he recovered they found themselves back by the ring. Randy’s mind never stopped working he was always looking for sadistic ways to inflict punishment. After Randy threw him into the barricade again, he barely made it to his feet at nine! Dramatic moment.
This sent Randy into a frenzy and he went on the attack again. They ended up in the medical area of the performance center. Edge looked a little better here, probably playing possum, he launched an assault of his own as this went into an office area of the performance center, Randy down for a ten count. Edge essentially helped Randy back up, he wasn’t done. Edge put him on the big conference table, climbed a cage on the ceiling and elbow dropped Randy, wow.
Now the match headed to the warehouse and they continued pummeling each other, ladders aplenty. Randy helped Edge up now, up to this point, I’m not lying Randy was beating the hell out of him. Edge down, Randy on the prowl for more weapons. Edge was in survival mode, he hadn’t been fully vertical for five or more minutes, he threw a howitzer of a right hand and took Randy down, ten count commenced.
After Edge’s new found energy he wasn’t happy with Randy being down, he stayed on the attacked and he found a ladder, so why not climb it? Edge got on top of the storage area and landed a flying elbow drop putting Randy through a table. That was an insane moment in this match, Edge is a warrior. After both men got to their feet they kept fighting. Randy started to falter, he was going from hunt mode to survival mode. A conveniently placed pickup truck allowed Randy to slam Edge into the downed tailgate twice, ten count was off and Edge got back to his feet at eight with a stalking viper right behind him ready to slam his face into the tailgate again, over and over again.
They get to the top of the pickup truck, it has a covered bed, Randy had a sadistic look on his face and DDT’d Edge onto the truck, Randy told the ref “I’ll tell you when to count”, both guys down, wow. Edge shook his head no, he wasn’t ready to give in. Edge climbed boxes, Randy still laid on the pickup, Edge found himself on top of a semi trailer. Edge climbed the semi trailer and Randy made his way up there as well.
Randy stood on the other end of the trailer, stalked Edge, ran after him and took a spear he was in pain! Randy stood up at nine, Edge went for spear number two and got caught with the RKO, holy crap this was another of the many dramatic moments and Edge made it to his feet at nine, this was sheer insanity. Randy climbed down, the top of that semi is no place to be. Edge stayed up top, Randy went on the hunt and got a chair, climbed to the top of the semi, told Edge, “This is it. You will go back to your girls, you have to go back.”
Randy laid his head on a chair and went to smash him, Edge stood up and choked Randy to submission, Randy was out on top of the semi. Edge stopped the ref’s count and he got emotional as Randy laid there motionless. Edge got payback, conchairto of his own. Edge won, ref counted to ten, this match was over. Edge was the last man standing, an unbelievable match that was another crazy production.
Street Profits vs Angel Garza and Austin Theory for the Raw Tag Team Championships
This match started quick with the street profits on fire, they have great experience. Garza and Theory had to regroup, the double team efforts by the street profits is second to none. After getting the action to the outside Theory and Garza were able to get it together and steel control from the street profits. Dawkins was getting whooped up and down the ring but made a lunging tag to Ford and a huge momentum shift.
Ford came in on fire and took it to Garza. Theory broke up a pinfall attempt, Dawkins ran in but ate a solid punch by Theory. Ford took out Theory and his own partner Dawkins. Garza landed a moonsault perfectly on both the street profits, momentum shift. Garza landed another moonsault after getting Ford back in the ring and got a near fall at two. Ford got a tag out of desperation, he laid into Garza but was blasted with a kick by the legal man, Theory. Dawkins was down and almost pinned by Theory, Ford landed a serious splash onto the back of Theory, allowing Dawkins to roll over and get the three count. Quick match, fun and high flying.
Post match, Garza decided to get extra curricular as he and Theory started beating down the street profits. Even Zelina got involved and blasted Ford in the face and out of nowhere came Bianca Belair! She wore out Zelina! Wow.
Fatal 5-way Elimination Match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship Match
Sasha, Lacey, Tamina, Naomi and then Bayley came out. Sasha and Bayley go right after Tamina, she discarded them, Lacey and Naomi tried the same. Tamina fought off all four of them at once. Tamina was the early target, which made perfect sense. Sasha and Bayley landed tandem basement dropkicks on Tamina. Tamina out of the ring, Lacey took on Bayley and Sasha took on Naomi. The alliance between Sasha and Bayley was in question from the get go but they worked together.
Naomi got involved again, her and Lacey formed an alliance taking on Sasha and Bayley, all five women still in at this point. Tamina came in and all alliances didn’t equal crap at that point, she cleaned house. Tamina continued to wreck all of them, but the numbers game was too much. Tamina was pinned by all four, Tamina was the first out.
Naomi hit a killer spot with a double sunset flip on Bayley and Sasha and got a two count on both of them. Naomi had a killer burst and looked awesome, she hit some of the coolest spots of the match. Sasha hit a backbreaker and rolled into the banks statement forcing Naomi to tap. Three remained, Sasha, Bayley and Lacey.
Lacey was taunted back into the ring by Bayley and Sasha, she got wailed on. Bayley demanded, “If you know what’s good for you, stay down!” The double team on Lacey was strong, she kicked out of a double pin attempt by Bayley and Sasha! Sasha held Lacey in the corner, Bayley made a running knee attempt, Lacey got out of the way and Sasha took the knee by Bayley to the side of the head. Lacey rolled for a quick pin attempt, Bayley kicked out, they went back and forth for pin attempts.
Bayley went to town on Lacey, Sasha got herself back in the ring, pulled Bayley off Lacey and was livid. Lacey took advantage of them arguing and blasted Sasha with a woman’s right and got the three count on Sasha. Now two remained, Bayley and Lacey.
Not a beat was skipped, Bayley and Lacey went at it. The first huge moment came when Bayley slammed Lacey’s shoulder into the ring post. Another big moment, Bayley tied Lacey’s right hand up with the rope around the turnbuckle pad. Lacey freed herself and the champ was in trouble. Lacey landed a moonsault for the closest two count of the match, Bayley was still alive, this was a pivotal moment, Lacey’s right hand had been compromised, Sasha was still ringside and hit Lacey with a backstabber. Bayley followed that up with a three count. I see a rivalry brewing, Sasha wants that belt, she put it around Bayley’s waist and held her hand up. Sasha gave her the moment and left the ring.
Firefly Funhouse Match John Cena vs The Fiend
John Cena said this match would be weird and that’s exactly what it was. John ended up at the Funhouse and walked through the door under the direction of ramblin’ rabbit. Puppet Vince showed up in the darkness and told John if he didn’t have enough ruthless aggression to beat the Fiend then he was fired. John Cena was teleported to a different dimension and wore his ruthless aggression gear to the ring. I don’t even know where to go with this.
Bray Wyatt put John Cena’s brain through the ringer. The match hadn’t begun at this point and Bray put John through a weird trip down memory lane as they cut several promos and promos of wrestling past. At the end of that, the Dr. of Thugonomics showed up again, Bray promised John would face his hardest opponent yet, himself. Honestly, you need to watch this. This took a weird trip down the past of Bray and John Cena, incredible.
Bray gave John the chair, got on his knees, he told John to fix it. John swung the chair, Bray vanished. Bray did a stellar impression of Bischoff from the NWO days. John came to the ring acting like Hollywood Hogan, he speared Bray and started throwing hands from up top with a vicious ground and pound, it turned out he was beating up Huskus the pig boy, the fiend stood behind John.
The Fiend hits a mandible claw taking John down and nailed him with a sister Abigail right back into the mandible claw again. Bray counted to three with the fiend on top. I hope I did that justice, it was actually a brilliant move by creative. The only issue being the fact Bruan squashed Goldberg on night one, but the Fiend got his mystique back. Well done.
Brock Lesnar vs Drew McIntyre
Drew has gone from being a Shane McMahon lackey to wrestling Brock Lesnar for the WWE title. Brock came out hard, several charges in the corner on Drew. Drew fought him off and nailed a claymore, Brock kicked out! This led Drew right into suplex city.
Brock was on him, nonstop and he hit an F5. Drew, after taking serious punishment kicked out at one! F5 number two, Drew kicked out at two, Brock looked distraught. Brock stalked Drew, gave him a false sense of comfort and hit another F5, he kicked out at two again. Brock looked to Heyman for council. Heyman said, “He’s good, he’s really good, do it again. Do it all night long.” Brock with a sadistic laugh, all night long he was going to hit that F5.
The fourth F5, Drew got out and hit a claymore, Drew ordered Brock to stand so he could hit him again and he did. Claymore number four connected hard, and Drew McIntyre won with the three count. Outstanding match, not long but damn it was great. He had an awesome moment taking that belt. Let’s hope Drew has a long reign, he’s the champ we need when the arenas are running again. Drew looked at the camera and said “Thank you!” Awesome moment.
Well this WrestleMania was so damn cool it was weird and just awesome. I hope if you haven’t watched it, you do so. Fantastic!