LAS VEGAS -- WrestleMania 42 Night Two was by far superior to Night One, with better in-ring action and a much louder crowd — especially during the main event.
Allegiant Stadium witnessed Roman Reigns capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the first time in his career. It was an electric main event that saw two warriors battle for the top spot in the company.
One of the biggest talking points from Night One was the match length, with most bouts not exceeding 15 minutes outside of the main event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
Sunday night followed a similar trend, with only the ladder match reaching the 15-minute mark while everything else came in at 13 minutes or less. Inside the stadium, though, the pacing made the show feel smooth. It seemed like fans watching from home had more complaints than those in attendance.
It was an electric Night Two of WrestleMania, and here are the grades for the event:
CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
There was an electricity to this match before it even started. It felt like a true 50/50 split inside Allegiant Stadium.
Reigns and Punk opened the match trading headlocks, Irish whips, and shoulder checks before getting in each other’s face and laughing. The crowd ate it up.
Once both superstars started exchanging strikes, the crowd was split — half cheering, half booing. This was a match that had the entire fanbase divided.
Punk gained control at one point with a crossbody from the turnbuckle, followed by a running knee and a bulldog. When he went for the GTS, Reigns countered and launched him into the turnbuckle.
Reigns thought he had control and set up for a spear, roaring in the corner. But Punk, ever the veteran, caught him mid-moment with a running knee, then hit him again.
These two had familiarity, having faced each other in a triple threat with Seth Rollins on Night One last year.
Punk placed Reigns on the announcers table and climbed to the top rope, but Reigns quickly recovered, rushed up, and knocked him off. Punk’s body dangled off the turnbuckle, and that’s when a more violent side of Reigns emerged. He hit Punk with two Superman Punches and then blasted him with the steel steps.
Reigns stayed on the attack, lifting Punk like in his Shield days and powerbombing him through the announcers table.
He got cocky and nearly paid for it when he went for a spear in the ring, but Punk countered with a GTS. As the referee’s hand came down, Reigns kicked out at the last second.
Punk went for a second GTS, but Reigns reversed it into a spear only for Punk to kick out just before three. Two incredibly close calls.
Reigns again got cocky, attempting to use the GTS himself, but Punk reversed it and landed a kick to the head for another near fall. Punk then shocked the crowd by hitting a Superman Punch of his own on Reigns for yet another near fall.
A disrespectful moment came when Punk grabbed the Ula Fala, put it on, and attempted a spear, but Reigns reversed it.
The two shared a tense stare-down before Punk removed his wrist tape and threw it at Reigns, distracting the referee. Punk dropped to his knees and delivered a low blow, then hit a GTS, but Reigns still kicked out at the last possible second.
Punk placed Reigns back on the announcers table, climbed to the top rope, and launched himself with an elbow, crashing through the table. The moment was met with loud “This is awesome” chants.
Reigns responded with a spear. Both men lay there, gasping for air, before Reigns hit the ropes twice and delivered one final spear to pin Punk and become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Highlight of the match: Punk launching himself off the top rope onto Reigns through the announcers table, sparking “This is awesome” chants.
Grade: A+
It felt only right that Roman Reigns reclaimed his place at the top of the WWE mountain. He is the Tribal Chief and the biggest star in WWE. Now, all eyes turn to what CM Punk will have to say on Monday Night Raw following the loss.
Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship
It was a slow-paced match to start, but it picked up once both competitors settled back into the ring.
It was definitely a pro-Ripley crowd in Vegas, with fans erupting after nearly every move she hit on Cargill.
The athleticism and strength that Cargill possesses are unique. Combined with her “No F***s Given” attitude, it truly makes her one-of-one. She power slammed Ripley multiple times and made it look effortless, as if Ripley weighed nothing.
Once Ripley started gaining the upper hand, B-Fab and Michin made their way out to distract the referee. The stadium began chanting for Iyo Sky, Ripley’s tag team partner, to come help her and when she finally did, the crowd erupted.
Ripley tried to set up a distracted Cargill for the Riptide, but Cargill countered and landed a vicious pump kick. She then set Ripley up for the Jaded, but Ripley managed to escape, hit the Riptide, and pinned Cargill to become a four-time WWE Women’s Champion.
Highlight of the match: The finishing sequence between Cargill and Ripley was great to watch.
Grade: C
Months of building Cargill as a dominant force, only for Ripley to win again, feels puzzling. That said, Ripley is the biggest female star on the roster. Fans are behind her no matter what, which likely played a role in management’s decision to have Cargill take the loss.
“Demon” Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio in a Street Fight
The camera panned to Mysterio as Balor walked in as The Demon, and he looked terrified.
It was a match in which not many fans were choosing Mysterio because Balor rarely loses as The Demon. The last time he lost as The Demon was to Edge at WrestleMania 39.
Mysterio later hit a 619 with a chair on Balor’s throat, then followed it up with a Frog Splash, but even with all of that, he could not put him away.
The younger Mysterio was able to look strong in the match as he controlled much of it, but Balor stood up late, put a chair on Mysterio’s neck, and double-kicked him into the turnbuckle. Balor then put him through a table that the 29-year-old had set up and hit him with a Coup de Grâce to pin Mysterio.
Highlight of the match: Definitely the double kick into the turnbuckle with the chair on Mysterio’s neck.
Grade: B-
Balor got the victory while Mysterio still looked strong. I definitely think there should not be a rubber match, and I’m glad there was no interference. Balor should be sent to SmackDown so he can be the star he rightfully is, while Mysterio needs to start moving into the main event scene.
Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams for the United States Title
It has been a couple of years since Zayn has been booed, and he felt it on Sunday. From his entrance, it was pouring in.
During the match, he was booed heavily when he knocked out rapper Lil Yachty and threw him against the barricade.
Williams is so loved by the WWE Universe that when he beat a 10-count, the stadium erupted with cheers.
Lil Yachty got his revenge later when Zayn was setting up Williams for the Helluva Kick. The rapper saw the referee distracted, grabbed Zayn, and pulled him down so that his neck hit the rope. Williams then hit him with a kick and went for the pin, but Zayn kicked out.
Later in the match, Zayn tried to set Williams up again, but Williams countered with a Trick Shot and pinned him to become the new United States Champion. Allegiant Stadium went crazy and started chanting “Whoop That Trick” as the new champion went over to hug his family at ringside.
Highlight of the match: When Williams hit Zayn with the final Trick Shot because the stadium knew what was coming.
Grade: B+
Zayn was able to play the heel during the match, with fans turning on him after backing him for years. It was the right call for Williams to win, especially with how much momentum he has had since being called up from NXT. It was time.
Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match featuring Penta vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio
The match started with all three luchadores teaming up and taking out Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh right away. Then the three of them looked at each other and started going at it, but Rusev spoiled the moment by taking out Rey Mysterio.
There were several highlights in the match, so here they are: Evans jumping from the top rope to clothesline McDonagh off a ladder. Mysterio hitting a 619 while a wrestler had a ladder around his neck. Penta throwing Mysterio into a seated senton on Rusev, breaking a ladder.
McDonagh also hit a springboard moonsault with Dragon Lee off the top of the ladder. Penta followed that with a Mexican Destroyer off a ladder and onto another ladder on McDonagh.
After Evans hit the OG Cutter, he ran into a Mexican Destroyer from Penta, who did some parkour off the ladder into the move.
Penta then climbed the ladder and retrieved his championship.
Highlight of the match: Evans jumping from the top turnbuckle all the way to the middle of the ring and hitting Rusev with an OG Cutter.
Grade: A
This match stole the show, plain and simple. There was a lot of action, and every superstar looked great coming out of it. The crowd went crazy when Penta retained and even chanted “Zero Miedo” with him.
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
Femi looked really strong at the beginning, with Lesnar trying to clothesline him three times and failing each time. Femi then shoved Lesnar to the ground.
The fact that Lesnar showed frustration at one point was a smart touch because Femi is the up-and-coming monster, while the monster of the last 15 years, especially after returning from his UFC career, feels like he is on his way out.
Lesnar was able to get Femi up for an F-5 pretty easily, which was followed by a close near fall.
The crowd went nuts when Femi popped right back up, chokeslammed Lesnar, then followed it up with a Fall From Grace and pinned him for his first WrestleMania victory.
After the match, Lesnar sat in the ring crying as he took off his gloves and shoes, leaving them in the middle of the ring. He shared a moment with his advocate, Paul Heyman, and then walked to the back to “Thank you, Brock” chants.
Highlight of the match: Oba Femi getting Lesnar up seamlessly for the powerbomb. Holy smokes, he is powerful.
Grade: A-
The reason I give this match an A- is because both wrestlers looked strong, with Femi looking nearly unstoppable. I also gave it that grade because, if it was Lesnar’s last match though, I think it was his last WrestleMania, not his last match, he took the loss for a rising star. Kudos.