Sports Entertainment Review: "WWE Wrestlemania 36: Night Two" (2020)
Well, folks…it’s over with. We’ve seen our way through an unprecedented Wrestlemania in an unprecedented time in our modern recorded history. I don’t know about you, but I needed this in my life in 2020. It’s been a pretty fucked up year from the get-go, and Wrestlemania is my centering point. Was it a perfect show? Hell no! If you expected that, then you’re out of your damn mind. Still, I’m a firm believer in effort, and this show gets an A for effort and a B- for execution. Let’s dig into Night Two of Wrestlemania 36.
Charlotte Flair (Challenger) vs. Rhea Ripley (Champion) for the NXT Women’s Championship: In the best “between the ropes” wrestling match of the night, Charlotte and Rhea delivered in spades (sorry about that, Shayna!) This was a near 30-minute, classic wrestling match with all the hallmarks- targeting of weakened body parts, trash-talking, unexpected comebacks, and sheer physicality. Charlotte proved why she is just that much better than the rest of the women’s roster, and Rhea showed that she’s next in line. That’s how you open a show! Winner and NEW NXT Women’s Champion: Charlotte Flair…Rating: 4.5 stars
Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley: This was the first of many matches tonight that REALLY made me wish for a crowd in attendance. Aleister Black is a true enigma- he’s silently charismatic, highly skilled, and just draws the eye. Bobby Lashley is still a paradox; he’s got all the look and none of the goods. Black gets over as he should thanks to the expected Lana interference. Winner: Aleister Black…Rating: 2.5 stars
Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler: This was the 100% storyline match of the night where the action didn’t really matter but didn’t hurt the proceedings, either. Otis is just too much fun to watch. He’s got the “it factor” by the truckload, and Dolph is the consummate performer. I left this match with a smile on my face. It’s the perfect example of the kind of thing that WWE specializes in and AEW may never quite understand. Winner of the match AND the girl: Otis…Rating: 3.5 stars
Edge vs. Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing Match: I’m going to need a bit of, shall we say, leeway to process this one. Everyone knew that this match was the REAL main event of the entire show (and I say that with no offense intended to Drew, Braun, Charlotte, Bayley, or anyone else). Plain and simple: Edge is one of the most revered and beloved figures in WWE history, and Randy Orton is on the Mount Rushmore of heels. These two men engaged in a half-hour long slugfest that hit all the high spots. In the history of Last Man Standing matches (and there have been some good ones), this contest will easily make the Top 5 of All Time. I can’t help but think of the returning Shawn Michaels in 2002 when I watch Edge; you hold your breath every time he takes a bump. That being said, Edge and his longtime friend engaged in a physical war where they LITERALLY pulled no punches (watch the show…they’re kicking the shit out of each other). In the end, the story took the match where you’d expect. Those tears, though?! My God. I literally got weepy. I say that with no shame. Watching a pro actor and a pro wrestler do his thing is fucking sublime. I loved this match and where it stands in the history of Wrestlemania. Winner: Edge…Rating: 5 stars
Angel Garza and Austin Theory (Challengers) vs. The Street Profits (Champions) for the Raw Tag Team Championships: I don’t envy these men for having to follow Edge and Orton. They put on a solid and technically sound match that felt like it belonged on Monday Night Raw. All 4 men have bright futures to say the least, especially Angel Garza. Nice run-in props for Bianca Belair at the end of the match. She is one of the women leading the way into the future on NXT, and she’s deserving of the credit. Winners and STILL Raw Tag Team Champions: The Street Profits…Rating: 2.5 stars
Sasha Banks, Lacey Evans, Naomi, and Tamina Snuka (Challengers) vs. Bayley (Champion) in a Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship: I’m torn on this one. I didn’t think, going into it, that I would have wanted to see Lacey Evans win as badly as I did by the time it was all said and done. She’s got so much upside that it’s a little ridiculous. And still…Banks and Bayley are at the top of their game for a reason. This match was all about building a Summerslam match between the two that will tear the house down (i.e. a match with a live audience). I have zero complaints about the physicality, the story, or the execution here. In the end, Sasha always stabs everyone in the back. Winner and STILL Smackdown Women’s Champion: Bayley…Rating: 3.5 stars
John Cena vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Funhouse Match: There is no way to properly describe, break down, analyze, or critique this “match”. There was no actual match. If the Boneyard Match between AJ Styles and The Undertaker was classic WWE theatrics, then this match was what happens when LSD is introduced into the situation. I can honestly say that my whole damn family has never enjoyed a presentation this much. Ruthless Agression? nWo Cena? Saturday Night Main Event Cena? Wyatt Family mistakes? Oh dear God, this was a slice of fried gold on a level that I’ve never seen before. I can’t think of a better way to portray the anomaly that is pro wrestling and why I love it. Winner and STILL fans of the whole damn thing: US!!!…Rating: ON MY DAMN LEVEL!!
Drew McIntyre (Challenger) vs. Brock Lesnar (Champion): I think the whole story for this match is told by the face of Drew McIntyre as he heads to the ring…ditto for Brock Lesnar. This match was all about business. I’ve not seen a better example of a match that needed a crowd to sell. Everything they did was as it should be. It’s Drew’s time, and his story is a great one. Brock is a once-in-a-lifetime performer, and Drew has been given the reigns for now. Kudos to WWE for putting the strap on him and sticking with it. It would have been easy to let Brock keep the title and try to stretch it until Summerslam in hopes of an end to the pandemic. Let’s see what the dude can do; he’s a damn stud. Winner and NEW WWE Champion: Drew McIntyre
FINAL THOUGHTS: At the end of the day, this Wrestlemania will go down in history as one where the company and the performers had to perform under a steroidal version of unforseen circumstances. At the risk of sounding like a mark, I think they did a solid job overall. If you have the ability to put yourself in their shoes, then maybe you can imagine what a different animal this was. I’ve spent the not-inconsiderable amount of money to go to Wrestlemania twice in my life (X-7 in Houston and 32 in DFW), and I say with absolute pride as a proud pro-wrestling fan that it’s a hallmark of my year. There are millions who feel the same. Thank you, WWE, for soldiering on and giving us the best that you had. It was indeed a historic ‘Mania.
OVERALL RATING: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
