Mr. Tito’s PHAT WWE Wrestlemania 41 Night #2 Review with Match Ratings and Show Grade
Welcome to my Night #2 review of WWE’s Wrestlemania 41. In case you missed it, I already posted my Night #1 review which you can read by CLICKING HERE. Honestly, I come into Night #2 with high expectations for the John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes match with a curiosity on where it shall go, but very low expectations for the rest of the show. Hopefully, we get lots of surprises to make it feel more like a Wrestlemania, as really only the last match on Night #1 with the Paul Heyman turns made it feel like a big show.
Speaking of big shows, I laughed at the Wrestlemania 9 documentary. On just about everyone’s list, Wrestlemania 9 is voted the WORST Wrestlemania of all time and many rankings are out there to validate that opinion. Plus, it didn’t draw well in Vegas and they had to paper over the seats just to get 16,000 (if that) and Pay Per View buys for that show were poor. Show just lacked energy by being in the middle of the day, while the horrendous decision of going back to the Hulk Hogan well puts a stench on that show.
But that’s almost as funny as Dave Meltzer and other hipster marks thinking that the AAA acquisition was bigger news than an actual Wrestlemania. Only marks who are desperate enough to find an alternative to WWE would even know what the AAA promotion even is. The talent there will feud with NXT talent, not the main WWE roster. All you need to know about its relevance.
I also want to point a FINGER OF SHAME for anyone who said AEW’s recent shows, whether they were Pay Per Views or Dynamites, were “better than Night #1 of Wrestlemania”. Really? Because I didn’t see any of those AEW shows packing in 60,000 tickets and for absurd prices, too. Beating the crap out of each other for 12-15 matches of 25 minutes each doesn’t guarantee quality, as that’s QUANTITY of matches with no-selling and high risk moves that will injure someone. Sorry, but AEW isn’t even near the WWE right now in terms of quality and you AEW marks just need to get over that fact.
Mr. Tito’s PHAT Night #2 Review of WWE Wrestlemania 41
As it turns out, Samantha Irvin was pretty easy to replace by the WWE. The replacement announcer is just as good as her, but is probably more appreciative of a great gig too.
Stephanie McMahon starts Night #2, which continues my respect for Triple H on rebuilding his wife’s confidence. As HHH said, he’s really putting time into this task of marrying the daughter to get over. But it’s good to see her out there, as it was her Dad that did those horrible things to women in the offices and possibly locker rooms of WWE and not her.
Bianca Belair vs. Iyo Sky(c) vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s Title
Opening match of the night, and they can make a big mark here if they bring it. First and last matches are what truly matter for Wrestlemania and are mainly what people remember from each show. Iyo didn’t have much of an entrance, but Bianca had a bunch of kids having fun playing jump rope and having longer ponytails. By the entrance way, Minute Maid is sponsoring a group of people because it’s yet another dollar that WWE can grab. Xfinity is sponsoring the decibels of the crowd, too, as if we didn’t have enough corporate sponsorship on this show already. Rhea Ripley is a big star, period… Massive reaction for her. Just a shame that we couldn’t get Rhea vs. Bianca one-on-one, but I guess that is something that could headline Wrestlemania 42’s Night #1 possibly? At least with Iyo, Bianca and Rhea essentially get a night off because Iyo is light as a feather for both ladies to slam around the ring. By the way, all 3 ladies are wearing different colored tights. Take note, Charlotte and Tiffy who both wore pink last night. Loved those 3 suplexes in a row by Bianca, what an impressive athlete! Whoa, Rhea just did a Razor’s Edge and threw Iyo at Bianca. Never saw that before! All 3 ladies are working extremely well together, providing non-stop action compared to the usual Triple Threat of at least 1 person resting for minutes at a time. See, this is what we didn’t see in yesterday’s Triple Threat… While finishers are getting hit, at least the third person is there to break up the pins. Love the many counters, as they were creative such as Iyo’s many counters to the Riptide and then Iyo getting reversed out of a reverse Frankensteiner and getting slammed into the post. When we thought that it boiled down to Bianca vs. Rhea, Iyo Sky saw the opportunity to sneak in with a top rope and get the pin on Bianca who thought she won with the KOD. Excellent Women’s match and great way to start Night #2. ****3/4
Winner: Iyo Sky
Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest
Nice to see a follow-up on Wrestlemania to what happened during last year’s Wrestlemania. Coming into this match, I’m was expecting a physical battle… Kerry King of Slayer is out there to play Priest’s theme, but the crowd wouldn’t know that as 3 idiot camera men are huddled around him. Classic big man match with some brutal chair stuff mixed in, and a beautiful Razor’s Edge through the table. Lots of great hands traded, between chops and punches too. Priest took a hard bump through 2 tables, and then Drew’s kick with a chair. Ouch. Excellent match, gotta go ****1/4 for that one.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Penta vs. Bron Breakker(c) vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Finn Balor for the Intercontinental Title
Two great matches ahead of it which already did a bunch of weapons or table spots… We’ll see what these 4 can do together that’s unique versus the prior 2 strong matches. Judgment Day teams up on the other two, but damn, Bron Breakker is a beast. That double suplex was impressive. Finn and Dominik turn on each other, and then the match becomes more chaotic and even more so with Carlito getting involved. Carlito paid for it, as he got speared through the table by Bron! Fans are cheering for Dominik and as he tries to work on Bron, Finn Balor interferes. But Dominick laughs last, as he nails the Froggy Splash on Finn Balor after he hit his finisher on Bron. New Champ. Wow, what a fun match as we’re 3 for 3 on great matches tonight. Fans are proud of Dom, as they should be! ****
Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Dominik Mysterio
Randy Orton vs. ???
20th Wrestlemania for Orton, holy cow. Joe Hendry is the fill-in opponent for Randy Orton, which is cool and allows any former AEW wrestlers who are about to return to the WWE to start off strong instead of putting over Orton. Orton looks a lot bigger than Joe… Hendry tries to get in some early offense, but Orton gets the upper hand with his trademark moves (quick slam and DDT between the ropes). Joe Hendry gets back on offense, but gets cocky when he does his turn around pose and smile, but Randy Orton was ready for it and hit the RKO out-of-no-where for the win. **, short match for the TNA champion. Well, we’re 3 for 4 tonight. Afterward, Orton shows good sportsmanship but then hits another RKO to bury TNA further. OUCH.
Winner: Randy Orton
Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles
Quite proud of how long AJ Styles has lasted in the WWE… Great high risk back and forth between the two, but man, interesting moment where Logan Paul took the drone he intercepted and then relaunched it. Whomever was controlling that drone did some amazing remote control because the camera work was fantastic. Beautiful Lionsault by Logan Paul… Good moves and great counters throughout this match. Paul hit a Styles Clash on AJ Styles, but then AJ Styles immediately got up and hit one on Logan. One of Logan’s flunkies tried to deliver brass knuckles to Logan, but Karrion Kross stopped him. AJ Styles refused to take the knucks himself, and punches out Kross. Styles gets back into the ring and Logan Paul takes advantage of that brief distraction to finish off Styles. Good match overall. ***1/2
Winner: Logan Paul
Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriquez(c) vs. Lyra Valkyria/??? For Women’s Tag Titles
Exactly why is Alexa Bliss not on this show? Most over female from Rumble, yet zero spots on this show. Instead, we have this tag team match which will be a “pisser match” for those live in attendance. Becky Lynch is the replacement wrestler for the “injured” Bayley. Valkyria played “face in peril” for most of the match and Becky gets the hot tag. And eventually, Bayley and Valkyria work well as a team and finish off the champs. OK match, though it lacked heat because it’s in the “death spot”. **3/4
Winners and NEW Champions: Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria
GLASS SHATTERS and Stone Cold Steve Austin comes out on a 4-wheeler and he wrecks into the wall nearby! Holy cow! Austin is here to announce 63,226 in attendance tonight, which is more than the first night. But the point is that Steve Austin is at the arena… Nick Khan seen consoling the woman who was knocked back by the 4-wheeler. Making a quick bribe not to pursue any legal action against the WWE.
John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes(c) for the WWE Title
Cena wearing the black tonight and looking pretty sharp… Cody has an entrance with dirt bike riders and I’m like “oh no”, keep them away from the crowd after seeing Steve Austin wreck his ATV. Match has a ton of crowd reaction, but I’m kind of hearing John Cena cheers for anything he does… Hmmm… Hearing some slight boos for when Cody gets on offense… Hmmmm… Feels like I called this, as I said Cody has been exposed without all of the booking following his story being “finished”. Boos are getting stronger and stronger against Cody… An error by the WWE, I believe, is that they didn’t give John any in-ring experience to work as a heel, as he’s still working as a babyface here aside from a few pokes to the eyes. Regular Attitude Adjustment, and then a top-rope AA… Sigh, what finishers pin anyone anymore? Ugh… Cody takes another AA and yet he’s full of energy when applied into the STFU submission. Can we try to sell finishers, WWE? Referee bump… As Cody checks on the referee, Cena removes a turnbuckle. Cody eats the exposed turnbuckle twice and then another AA, but 2 count only. Good lord. Travis Scott makes his way to the ring, carrying his WWE Shopzone title and he salutes John on the outside of the ring. Cody tried to swing at Scott, but it distracted Cena for a Cross-Rhodes but Travis Scott pulled the referee out of the ring before the 3 count. Travis Scott then enters the ring to confront Cody and Cody catches a punch and then hits Scott with the Cross-Rhodes. Cena tries to use the WWE Title as a foreign object, but Cody takes it from him, only for Cena to bet Cody not to use it. Cody falls for it and gets his balls kicked in by Cena. Cena then hits Cody in the face with the WWE Title and gets the win for world championship #17. Fans are largely cheering for Cena winning the title, too, which I’d think could spell the end of Cody’s big main event run. Match was OK, but we still don’t know why Cena turned or joined the Rock. **** Good match, but ending was a tad disappointing. Where the hell is the Rock?
Winner and NEW WWE Champion: John Cena
LAST WORD: Much better night than the first night of Wrestlemania 41. Mostly great matches from top to bottom and helps boost Wrestlemania 41’s overall value historically. I was hoping for a big angle to unleash itself tonight to complement the events of Wrestlemania 40, but we didn’t see it. Solid night #2 gives it a grade of [ A – ], which gives the overall grade for Wrestlemania 41 to being [ B+ ]. Hopefully, the RAW after Wrestlemania is reasonable and has much needed groundbreaking angles to spice up the WWE.