The announcers are Scott Stanford, in his 4th PPV, Samoa Joe, broadcasting his 7th, and Paul Heyman, in his 21st WWE PPV as an announcer. The only men to broadcast more - Gorilla (29) Cornette (23) JR (66) Taz (22) Styles (40) Regal (24).
There are four dark matches, reflecting their absence for over a year.
Ricochet d. Shinsuke Nakamura
Gargano/Ciampa d. Dunne/Seven
Cole/O'Reilly d. Alexander/Tozawa d. Gable/Nemeth
Dark Ride Title: Walter d. Prince Devitt (Walter becomes the second 2 time Dark Ride Champion, the 14th Dark Ride title reign
The show opens in the inverse of the year prior - shots of empty arenas throughout the past year - darkness - and then cut to the sold out crowd - frenzied at the return of fans to the WWF, here at Wrestlemania 37.
We open with Jeremy Borash alone in the ring, WWF has had two primary ring announcers in the WM era, Howard Finkel and when he retired, Borash. Borash introduces tonight's special guest - President McMahon.
VKM comes down the ramp, the very popular 46th POTUS who led the country through the pandemic makes his return to his promotion after years away - he thanks the fans, thanks the country, says he's glad to be home - and oh, by the way, he brought a guest - see - the promotion for Mania was that President McMahon would be attending.
It didn't say President Vince McMahon.
Enter Stephanie - Skip --- and President Linda McMahon.
Linda, one of the more beloved figures in the world, fell into a coma after her inauguration, leading to her VP, Vince, becoming President - but now - Linda's alive again - her first appearance - grown men sobbing in the stands - hugely emotional moment for the country. Linda slowly makes her way to the ring. Crowd chants "you still got it" - Linda eventually croaks out "Welcome to Wrestlemania" and we're underway.
That probably wraps up Linda, wraps up the whole political storyline; as I mentioned when Trump was elected, the original plan for a few years was a Vince heel turn after he became President, but "cartoonishly evil fascist billionaire" was then a little on the nose. Life is long, it could be I'll circle back and find a way to turn Vince before one of us dies, but that's not currently on the booking sheet.
1. THE OPENING TAG: NO DQ: HOOLIGANS (McINTYRE/SHEAMUS) d. NITRO/MIZ
-Hooligans are wearing new "Kliq Killers" hockey jerseys; they go over their former partner Miz and Nitro in a spirited garbage match. Nitro's going to do some sort of program with Shelton and Harry Smith over the summer, then he's enhancement until leaving the territory.
2. ASUKA d. NATTY NEIDHART (w/Tyson Kidd/Davey Boy Smith, Jr.)
-Natty used the knux to go over Asuka at the Rumble, turning heel - Asuka fights through attempted interference from Kidd/Smith and gets her revenge.
3. CARNAGE LEGENDS MATCH: EDGE d. THE FIEND BRAY WYATT
-The Fiend was a creature of Covid, his matches being cinematic; that ends here, this match is in the ring, this match has to have a lot of smoke and mirrors (maybe literally, in fact, literally, let's have literal smoke and mirrors) some light changes, just a lot of nonsense, in the end Edge is going to, I dont know, set Wyatt on fire and hurl him into the abyss. Edge now absorbs some of The Fiend's mystical powers, he's known as The God of Carnage Edge and going forward moves a lot closer to an Undertaker like supernatural figure. Wyatt's going to put Orton over during the summer and leave the territory.
4. BIANCA BELAIR d. SHAYNA BASZLER
-Belair stays hot, beating the former women's champion Baszler, no postmatch beatdown, it's a full trumphant babyface Wrestlemania moment.
5. ROMAN REIGNS (w/Usos) d. BOBBY LASHLEY (w/Gable/Nemeth/Benjamin)
-End of the first half of the show - Roman cuts the first promo by a wrestler of the night as he hits the ring, does his "acknowledge me" stuff - says no one is on his level, not in the back, not in the sport, not in Tampa, not in 2021, and not in the ring tonight at Wrestlemania 37. He goes over Lashley here; the announce is really heavily pushing Reigns as having found an entirely new gear during the pandemic, Joe particularly effusive about Reigns' future, saying we may be looking at a future WWF Champion right now.
Intermission - GDI cuts a promo - no matter what happens tonight - and they hope to see Old GDI win everything - Danielson, Black, Steen - they want to see Old GDI come out of Mania riding high -- no matter what happens they've seen their time come to an end. This place is not big enough for the both of us - and tomorrow night - on RAW - that's going to be made clear.
Intermission - Steve Regal comes to the ring; announces that this is his final year with WWF, thanks everyone, says as of January 1 he will be turning over Underground to the new director, who will take the development of future WWF wrestlers into the next era - his friend - Nigel McGuinness.
Nigel, making his return to WWF after being taken out in the Danielson/Dunne match comes down the ramp - shakes Regal's hand - waves to the people.
Video Package: Each tag champion as they walked down the aisle entering WM
I-Iron Sheik/Nikolai Volkoff
II-Tito Santana/Brutus Beefcake
III-Hart Foundation (Bret/Davey w/Anvil)
IV: Rougeau Brothers
V: The Brainbusters
VI: Jake Roberts/Roddy Piper
VII: Road Warriors
VIII: Money Inc
IX: Steiner Brothers
X: Rougeaus
XI: Davey Boy Smith/Bob Backlund
XII: Steve Austin/Dustin Rhodes
XIII: Hart Foundation (Owen/Anvil)
XIV: Cactus Jack/Terry Funk
XV: Nation of Domination (Rock/DLo)
XVI: Dudley Boys
XVII: Raven/Taz
XVIII: Chris Jericho/Lance Storm
XIX: Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin
XX: Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin
21: Spreekillers (Helms/Rhyno)
22: Booker T/Bradshaw
23: Sandman/Tommy Dreamer
24: HBK/HHH-M
26: Division One (Nemeth/Swagger)
27: Defiance (Orton/DiBiase, Jr.)
28: Defiance (Orton/Cody)
29: Empire (Barrett/Ryback)
30: The Shield (Black/Ambrose/Langston)
31: The Shield (Black/Ambrose)
32. New Day (Langston/Kingston/Woods)
33: Steen/Generico
33: Trash (Claudio/Neville)
34: Usos
35: Hooligans (Sheamus/McIntyre/Miz)
36: The Kliq (Edge/Nitro)
6. TAG TITLES: DEFIANCE (ORTON/CREWS/PRIEST) d. NEW DAY (LANGSTON/KINGSTON/WOODS)
The 112th WWF tag champs is Defiance, it's Randy Orton's 5th WWF Tag Title and first since 2012, that ties Orton with Tony Garea and Mr Fuji for the most WWF tag title championships in history, giving him claim as the greatest tag team wrestler of all time. Orton gets the fall on Kingston, who himself has been tag champ 4 times and that becomes the focus of this matchup - when you consider all their title reigns with multiple partners, Kingston and Orton might be at the top of tag team specialists ever. RKO - pinfall.
Video Package: The history of guest referees at Mania. Some are outside as opposed to actually counting falls.
I-Muhammad Ali
II-Pedro Morales
III-Pat Patterson
IV-Superstar Billy Graham
V-Dusty Rhodes
VI-Andre the Giant
VII-Andre the Giant
VIII-Lex Luger
IX: Jerry Lawler
X: Mr. Perfect
XI: Roddy Piper
XII: Jim Neidhart
XIII: Ken Shamrock
XIV: Mike Tyson
XV: Pete Rose
XVI: Bob Backlund
XVII: Hector Guerrero
XVIII: Brock Lesnar
XIX: Bill Goldberg
XX: Steve Austin
21: Dean Malenko
22: Dr Death Steve Williams
23: Steve Austin
24: Ric Flair
25: Jimmy Snuka
26: Ted DiBiase
27. Road Warrior Animal
28: Mick Foley
29: Bruno Sammartino
30: Jake Roberts
31: Dusty Rhodes
32: Edge
33: Kurt Angle
34. Rey Mysterio
35. Sami Zayn
Hunter then comes to the ring - special guest referee for the women's title match; the last time Hunter was involved as a wrestling personality he did a stretcher job for the Horsewomen, so given the Horsewomen's tendency to get involved, he's thought the right choice to maintain order.
7. WOMEN'S TITLE: RHEA RIPLEY (w/Shaffir/Duke) d. SASHA BANKS (Special Guest Referee: HHH-M)
The 13th modern WWF Women's Champ is Ripley; Hunter turns he misses some interference, fails to notice Ripley grab the tights, and when the Horsewomen attack postmatch, he just walks away smirking. Damn that Hunter (shakes fist).
Belair and Asuka run to the ring for the postmatch save - the babyfaces are just getting their foothold when Baszler runs down to make the Horsewomen complete - they've got 4x3 advantage until...
Charlotte Flair comes down the ramp - Flair gone for a year since a beating at the hands of the Horsewomen - she's changed her appearance - shaving off most of her long hair - it's a no nonsense angry Charlotte Flair - and she joins the babyfaces to beat back the Horsewomen.
Video Package: Each IC Champion as their hand was raised at the conclusion of the match
I-Roddy Piper
II-Randy Savage
III-Randy Savage
IV: Bret Hart
V: Rick Rude
VI: Bret Hart
VII: Bret Hart
VIII: Randy Savage
IX: Shawn Michaels
X: Razor Ramon
XI: Razor Ramon
XII: Vader
XIII: Cactus Jack
XV: Al Snow
XVI: Eddy Guerrero
XVII: Steve Austin
XVIII: Rob Van Dam
XIX: Rey Mysterio
XX: Eddy Guerrero
21: Edge
22: Fit Finlay
22: HHH-M
23: Randy Orton
24: MVP
25: Rey Mysterio
26: Matt Sydal
27: Sheamus
28: The Rock
29: Nick Nemeth
30: Nick Nemeth
31: Bray Wyatt
32: El Generico
33: Brock Lesnar
34: Shinsuke Nakamura
35: Ricochet
36. Angel Garza
8. IC: AJ STYLES d. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI/TYLER BLACK
This is a Triple Threat Match, one fall to a finish - AJ pins Claudio, regaining the IC to become the 77th IC Champ in WWF history. It's AJ's 3rd IC Title placing him just behind Michaels with 5. Black was looking for the Triple Crown here and his frustration at losing without getting pinned is evident. Another title switch here at Mania 37.
Video Package: Each WWF Title match just before the bell rings....
I-Ricky Steamboat v. Barry Windham
II-Ricky Steamboat v. Dynamite Kid
III-Dynamite Kid v. Ricky Steamboat
IV: Ricky Steamboat v. Dynamite Kid
V: Randy Savage v. Bret Hart
VI: Mr Perfect v. Randy Savage
VII: Mr. Perfect v. Randy Savage
VIII: Ric Flair v. Bret Hart
IX: Bret Hart v. Razor Ramon
X: Bret Hart v. Owen Hart
XI: Bret Hart v. Shawn Michaels
XII: Bret Hart v. Shawn Michaels
XIII: Bret Hart v. Steve Austin
XIV: Shawn Michaels v. Owen Hart
XV: Owen Hart v. Cactus Jack
XVI: Cactus Jack v. Chris Benoit
XVII: Chris Benoit v. Kurt Angle
XVIII: Kurt Angle v. Mr. Perfect
XIX: Kurt Angle v. Brock Lesnar
XX: Kurt Angle v. Chris Benoit
21: Eddy Guerrero v. Chris Benoit
22: Rey Mysterio v. Chris Benoit
23: Booker T v. Executioner Bobby Lashley
24: CM Punk v. Shelton Benjamin v. Johnny Nitro
25: Chris Jericho v. Shawn Michaels
26: Chris Jericho v. Steve Regal
27: Edge v. CM Punk
27: CM Punk v. Nick Nemeth
28: Bryan Danielson v. Chris Jericho
29: Bryan Danielson v. Brock Lesnar
30: Bryan Danielson v. Claudio Castagnoli
31: Brock Lesnar v. Claudio Castagnoli
32: AJ Styles v. Kevin Steen v. Dean Ambrose v. Nick Nemeth v. Brock Lesnar v. Kalisto
33: AJ Styles v. Austin Aries
34: Shinsuke Nakamura v. Brock Lesnar
35: Shinsuke Nakamura v. AJ Styles
35: AJ Styles v. Tyler Black
36. Tyler Black v. Brock Lesnar
The primary reason the Cell match is last is so we don't have to take it down, this Mania was sold as having a double main event - and so there's an atmospheric change before the next match.
9. WWF TITLE: MATT RIDDLE (w/HBK) d. BRYAN DANIELSON
The 62nd WWF Champion is Riddle - the storyline here is a torch passing - Riddle's younger, more athletic and his shootfighting background really adds to his ability to grapple and strike with the veteran Dragon. Each time the announcers can sell the idea that this is not the young Danielson but instead a veteran who is recognizing his own wrestling mortality, that's the story to tell. Riddle is cool, I think is the best way to describe his character - he's not doing comedy, not doing goofy - but he's also not intense, he's able to grapple, strike, take the title belt from an inner circle Hall of Famer Danielson and feel an ease at doing it - that's a frustration for the Dragon, and as the match goes on - the frustration builds - Danielson tries every single heel trick he's cultivated for the past few years - and Riddle bats them away. Michaels has a spot - Danielson "inadvertantly" knocks him out on a dive, the same way he ended Nigel's run with the promotion - but later in the match, when Black sprints down the ramp with the aim of interfering - he's knocked dead cold with the superkick by goold ole' HBK. Riddle gets the pinfall and becomes WWF Champion.
Big Kliq celebration - everyone they can get returns - there's Scott, there's Kevin - etc...other than Christian/Billy, who are gone, and Edge, interestingly, they fill the ring - faces, heels, it's the full Kliq celebration for Matt Riddle - now carrying the torch for the family as WWF Champion.
Danielson has one more match - in May I will come back for a special War Games edition of Friday Night Fight Night, a show centered around two War Games matches that will wrap up...several wrestlers.
In Memorium (clips, stills of notables who have passes subsequent to last yrs WM)
Luke Harper
Road Warrior Animal
Kamala
Pat Patterson
Mr Wrestling II
Tracy Smothers
Bullet Bob Armstrong
Danny Hodge
Hana Kimura
Howard Finkel
Rollerball Rocco
Shad Gaspard
Tiny Lister
Tracy Smothers
Zavier
Barry O
The Natural Butch Reed
Jim Crockett Jr
The video packages allow for the Cell to be put up; Steen/Zayn is a long, long, long program and this is the blowoff - so there can be a sizeable video package.
10. HELL IN A CELL: SAMI ZAYN d. KEVIN STEEN
It's just the 4th Cell match ever - Cactus/Shamrock; Jericho/Christian; Edge/Matt - those last two being the blowoffs to long, bitterly personal feuds and that's this. It's a match literally years in the making and a can't miss for anyone invested in these two guys. They proverbially leave it all in the ring, as many callbacks to their entire history together as is possible - three specific spots - there has to be the big bump, both guys take it - it's as big a bump as they can manage. Three - Zayn has to get super violent, Steen's premise was El Generico didn't have enough angry, not enough mean to go to the next level - tha'ts been increasingly coming out of Zayn - and that's what will allow him to turn the tide of this match; Zayn has to be vicious in the way that Generico wasn't, giving Steen the ability to say that he was right all along. Three- the finish will involve Zayn pulling the Generico mask from his tights, putting it on - it's El Generico who gets the pinfall to end the feud.
Mania ends with El Generico climbing to the top of the cage - standing on top of the cage - El Generico - blooding running freely through the mask - El Generico standing on top of the world of wrestling as the show ends.
3 part build to Summer Slam starts next month with the War Games special.
