In this WrestleMania 38 Night 1 review, Steve Austin wrestles his first match since 2003, Cody Rhodes makes his much-anticipated return to WWE, and much more.
Let’s jump in!
- Show: WWE WrestleMania 38 Night One
- Date: April 2, 2022
- Location: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX
Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs vs. (c) The Usos – SmackDown Tag Team Titles
Not sure what I thought would open the show, but I suppose it really doesn’t matter given that it’s a two-night event. Boogs’ injury obviously sent this match off course. He clearly hurt his knee trying to pick up both Usos, and they had to improvise the finish. However, there was no way the Usos were losing this match. Pat McAfee was spectacular as always during the entrance, but that was pretty much the highlight of this one.
- Winner: The Usos via pinfall to retain at 6:55
Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin
This exceeded expectations. The feud itself has dragged out wayyyyy too long, but these two brought it in the match. It was by no means a classic, though the chemistry was there in the ring. McIntyre winning was the only choice, so they made the right decision on that. Now the question becomes, what’s next for McIntyre? Corbin and Madcap Moss will likely continue their pairing until Moss is pushed even higher up the card (he did win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, after all), but McIntyre’s next move will be crucial for his ascent back into the main event picture. It’s probably too early go to McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns. Then again, WWE doesn’t have many options for The Tribal Chief.
- Winner: Drew McIntyre via pinfall at 8:35
Rey and Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz and Logan Paul
Now this was a pleasant surprise. I had zero expectations for Logan Paul in this match. Zero. He’s been fine in the build, but as a wrestler? Didn’t think it would be enjoyable. I was wrong. As much as I don’t want to say it, he was the best thing about this match. And it was a good match. Again, I simply didn’t think I’d be saying that about Paul in a match that also included Rey Mysterio and The Miz. But Paul was fantastic as a heel, and mocking Rey with the Eddie Guerrero tribute was true heel heat that you rarely see in WWE.
Then came the post-match turn. Why have Miz turn on Paul, which would effectively make Paul the face and keep Miz the heel? Paul is a natural heel, so I don’t love that they tried to fix something that wasn’t broken. I assume this will lead to a match between the two at some point, which looks a lot better on paper than it would have entering this match. (***1/2, Recommended)
- Winner: The Miz and Logan Paul via pinfall at 11:15
Bianca Belair vs. (c) Becky Lynch – Raw Women’s Title
I hated the SummerSlam booking that kickstarted this feud. The follow-up storyline did nothing for anyone, either. But man did they make up for it with this match. They had plenty of time to tell the story they needed to tell, and both women did it flawlessly. It was just an enjoyable wrestling match with a clearly defined babyface and heel. I don’t care if there were a few botches. Something like that does not affect my enjoyment of the type of work that was on display, as it was more about the fight for Belair to win back her title, and the fight for Lynch to keep her title. This had a little something for everyone, so that variety also helped. Belair’s victory pushed the story full circle, which is what needed to happen on the biggest stage. One of my favorite WWE matches of the year thus far. (****1/2, Must-See)
- Winner: Bianca Belair via pinfall to win the title at 19:10
Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes
And Cody Rhodes is officially back in WWE. The worst kept secret in wrestling is no more, and what an insane pop he received from the Arlington crowd. The company bucked tradition by letting Cody come out as the Cody that left AEW (entrance, music, and all), which made a huge difference. They did not tweak his presentation, and the crowd rewarded them with a star reaction. The match itself was terrific, and this and the Belair/Lynch match have to rank near the top of the list of best back-to-back matches in WrestleMania history. The crowd’s response to Cody cannot be understated here, so how he’s booked moving forward will play a huge role. (****1/4, Must-See)
- Winner: Cody Rhodes via pinfall at 21:40
Ronda Rousey vs. (c) Charlotte Flair – SmackDown Women’s Title
Think about what we just talked about. A pair of back-to-back matches that will rival many in WrestleMania history. So, the match many expected to originally main event night one has to follow those two. Not ideal. I didn’t hate anything about Rousey and Flair’s work, but it was never going to meet the ridiculous expectations that were set by Belair/Lynch and Rollins/Cody. This was solid, but to be honest, it seemed like a cool-down match before the real main event. Again, that’s not ideal. Flair winning means the feud will continue, which isn’t much of a surprise.
- Winner: Charlotte Flair via pinfall to retain at 18:30
Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens – No Holds Barred Match
If you watched this match thinking about workrate, I don’t know what to tell you. This was a spectacle. A true spectacle. Everyone knew what was coming with the setup, but few could’ve predicted a match that featured Austin – who retired due to a back injury – doing a 14-minute match that featured him taking a suplex on the concrete, giving Owens multiple suplexes on the stage, and much more. It was truly a sight to see. The crowd reaction was everything, as they were into this from start to finish. You can make the criticism that WWE relies on far too many nostalgia acts year after year, but in no way am I gonna complain about this. The difference was that it was a unique moment that will never be replicated again. WWE could trot Austin out for a Legends Night Raw, but it will never be able to recreate the magic that was this match. It was awesome. (Must-See)
- Winner: Steve Austin via pinfall in 13:55
BLAKE’S TAKE ON WRESTLEMANIA NIGHT ONE
Top Matches
- Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch
- Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes
- Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens
- Rey and Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz and Logan Paul
Show MVPs: Austin, Owens, Rhodes, Rollins, Belair, Lynch, and Paul
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Thoughts: An awesome first night of action that was easily one of the best single-night editions of WrestleMania in many years. There was something for everyone, whether it be a classic women’s title match, the first wrestler to jump from AEW to WWE, or Austin’s first match in 19 years. Just a terrific show for wrestling fans.
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