Sheamus lays in some stiff punches on Gunther, but Gunther quickly applies a sleeper hold. Sheamus lifts Gunther up, but Gunther slides off and viciously clubs him down. Gunther kicks him in the face and turns toward McIntyre, who is on the apron. Gunther quickly drives McIntyre into the ring post. Gunther kicks Sheamus in the face as he leans on the ropes. Gunther then viciously chops the chest and shouts at him. Gunther annihilates Sheamus’s lily-white chest with chops and lights him up with a vicious big boot to the face. Sheamus fights back and applies a side headlock. Gunther immediately fights back with a backbreaker and applies a Boston Crab. McIntyre gets in the ring and kicks Gunther in the face, but Gunther won’t release the hold. McIntyre slaps Gunther in the ear, so Gunther lets go of Sheamus. Gunther and McIntyre go back and forth with vicious chops to the chest. The cracks on their sternums are sickening. McIntyre comes out on top and chops The Ring General to the corner. Gunther drops to a knee in pain. Sheamus runs over McIntyre with an avalanche. Sheamus punches Gunther down before taking McIntyre down. Sheamus viciously attacks Gunther and uppercuts him. Sheamus’s chest is bleeding. All three are in the ring and laying in stiff shots on each other. Sheamus and McIntyre battle to get to Gunther. Gunther attacks them and hits a throat thrust on McIntyre. Gunther chops McIntyre’s chest and kicks Sheamus in the face. Sheamus rolls out of the ring to recover.
Sheamus climbs to the apron and hooks the Intercontinental Champion on the ropes. Sheamus starts up the 10 Beats of the Bodhran. On every other shot, McIntyre chops Gunther’s chest! They crush Gunther’s chest, and it is turning all different shades of colors. Sheamus and McIntyre go after each other. Sheamus ties McIntyre up in the ropes and hits 28 Beats of the Bodhran! 28, not a typo! McIntyre collapses on the apron.
Sheamus, bleeding from his chest, lifts McIntyre up for a Celtic Cross. Before he can hit it, Gunther boots Sheamus in the face. Gunther hits a German Suplex and follows up with a vicious lariat for a near fall. Gunther shouts in frustration. Gunther’s chest is all bruised up from the assault by Sheamus and McIntyre earlier. Gunther shouts for Sheamus to get up. Sheamus slowly gets to his feet, and Gunther takes his head off with a nasty lariat. Gunther covers, but Sheamus barely kicks out! All of a sudden, McIntyre floors Gunther with a clothesline off the top rope! Gunther quickly pops up and boots McIntyre back. McIntyre ducks a right hand and hits a neckbreaker on Gunther. Gunther is down in the corner. McIntyre grabs Sheamus and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex into the Intercontinental Champion. McIntyre drops Gunther with the Future Shock DDT before kipping up. McIntyre goes for a Claymore Kick, but Gunther moves. Gunther hits a vicious dropkick followed by a powerbomb for a near fall!
Gunther goes to the top rope, but Sheamus cuts him off with some nasty chops. Sheamus climbs to the second rope and hits the Ring General with a massive White Noise! Sheamus lifts Gunther up for the Celtic Cross and connects! Sheamus covers: 1… 2… Gunther kicks out! Sheamus is frustrated, but he gets up and applies the Cloverleaf to the Intercontinental Champion. Gunther grabs the bottom rope, but Sheamus won’t let go. There are no disqualifications in a triple-threat match. Sheamus pulls Gunther to the center of the ring. McIntyre quickly applies a sleeper hold to Sheamus. McIntyre goes for a Future Shock DDT, but Sheamus gets out and hits a nasty knee to the face. Sheamus follows up with a big knee to Gunther’s face. Sheamus gets fired up, and the crowd is firmly behind him. Sheamus absolutely clobbers Gunther with a Brogue Kick and covers, but McIntyre pulls him out of the ring! Sheamus is shocked.
McIntyre and Sheamus brawl at ringside. The crowd chants, “This is awesome!” McIntyre gets in the ring. Sheamus is on the apron, so McIntyre hits a Glasgow Kiss to knock him to the floor. McIntyre then absolutely crushes Sheamus with a somersault senton. McIntyre gets in the corner and counts down for a Claymore Kick. McIntyre charges, but Sheamus cuts him off with a vicious Brogue Kick for a near fall! The crowd is in absolute disbelief and shows their appreciation for the brutality being displayed by these three competitors. McIntyre hits Sheamus with a Glasgow Kiss, and Sheamus responds with a big knee. McIntyre ducks a clothesline and hits a Claymore Kick for a near fall!
An exhausted McIntyre and Sheamus throw stiff right hands from their knees before slowly getting to their feet. They then get into a hockey fight. Sheamus and McIntyre club each other in the neck with stiff lariats. Neither has left their feet. Sheamus falls into the ropes and rebounds with a Brogue Kick. Both men are down. Sheamus slowly crawls over and covers, but Gunther breaks it up with a top rope splash! Gunther hits Sheamus with a powerbomb onto McIntyre! Gunther then crushes McIntyre with a powerbomb for the victory!
Winner by Pinfall and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Gunther
The long reign of Gunther as WWE Intercontinental Champion will continue. Gunther stands in the ring, his chest a sickening shade of black and blue, and poses with his title.
Video Package: Raw Women’s Championship
Asuka makes her entrance amidst a number of dancing Asukas. Asuka makes her way to the ring in her Kana makeup she popularized during her time in Japan.
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair’s entrance consists of a whole dance troupe of young women with Belair’s signature ponytail doing a nicely choreographed routine. One little girl who must be a contortionist does some really awesome twists. Bianca Belair comes out dancing and holds that little girl’s hand. These girls are the Divas of Compton.
Raw Women’s Championship
Asuka vs. Bianca Belair (c)
The bell rings, and Belair immediately floors Asuka with two dropkicks. Belair kips up and shoulders her in the corner. Asuka reverses a whip to the opposite corner, but Belair slingshots over her and dropkicks her back. Belair kips up and climbs to the second rope to do the 10 punches on The Empress of Tomorrow. Belair hits a suplex and rolls through for another, but Asuka gets out of it. Asuka then cuts off Belair’s momentum with a stiff kick to the head. Belair gets up and charges, but Asuka grabs a waistlock. Asuka absolutely levels her with a strike combo and a running bulldog. Asuka connects with a sliding knee for a two-count.
Asuka kicks away at Belair’s chest. Belair blocks one and sends her to the corner. Asuka kicks her in the midsection and goes to the second rope. Belair immediately cuts her off and climbs to the second rope. Asuka fights out of a superplex attempt and goes for a powerbomb. Belair fights her off, so Asuka goes for a German Suplex off the ropes. Belair backflips through it and lands on her feet. Belair slams her down with a spinebuster for a two-count. Belair goes for a handspring standing moonsault, but Asuka counters into a triangle choke. Belair quickly punches out of it, so Asuka goes for an armbar. Belair rolls her up for a two-count. Asuka quickly gets the Asuka Lock on, but she doesn’t have it totally locked in. Belair pulls herself out of the ring to escape the hold. Asuka signals that she will soon be champion. Belair elbows her in the face at ringside and charges. Asuka lifts her, but Belair counters with a suplex attempt on the floor. Asuka quickly gets out and takes her down for an armbar attempt. Belair fights out and hits a VICIOUS gutwrench sit-out powerbomb on the floor! Wow! Belair gets Asuka in the ring and covers, but Asuka kicks out!
Belair cannot believe it and charges Asuka in the corner, but she hits the ring post shoulder-first when Asuka moves. Asuka rolls her up for a two-count. Belair shoves Asuka away and goes for a double chicken-wing slam, but Asuka rolls through and goes for an ankle lock. Belair deadlifts her up and hits a back suplex. Asuka soon takes Belair down and applies an ankle lock to the E-S-T of WWE. Belair fights her off, but Asuka quickly regains momentum with a missile dropkick off the second rope for a near fall.
Asuka kicks away at Belair. Belair blocks on, but Asuka still kicks her away. Belair gets Asuka on the apron and charges, but Asuka kicks her in the chest. Belair falls onto the apron. Belair is leaning against the ropes, and Asuka peppers the chest with kicks. Belair blocks a kick and punches her in the face. Asuka quickly responds with a dropkick into the ring post. Belair falls into the ring. Asuka stands on the bottom rope from the apron and reaches over to grab Belair. Asuka sets up for a suplex out of the ring onto the floor, but Belair fights out and drives Asuka into the ring post. Belair climbs to the second rope and reaches down to hook Asuka’s head from the apron. Belair then hits a deadlift superplex back into the ring! Wow! Belair crawls over and covers for a two-count.
They get to their feet throwing their right hands. Belair quickly rolls her up, and they begin trading pins for two-counts. Asuka kicks her in the head to take her down for another near fall. Asuka is showing signs of frustration. Asuka sets up for an Asuka Lock, but Belair rolls her up for a two-count. Dueling chants start up for both women. Belair counters a codebreaker and connects with a blockbuster. Belair hits a handspring standing moonsault for a near fall. Belair is getting frustrated now. Asuka elbows Belair back and knees her in the face. Belair then wipes her out with a desperate shoulder tackle.
Both women are down. Belair gets to her feet, positions Asuka near the corner, and stomps her. Belair goes to the top rope, but Asuka sweeps the feet. Asuka climbs the ropes and gets the crowd going. Belair counters and gets Asuka on her shoulders. Asuka fights out of whatever Belair was attempting. Belair clubs away at Asuka’s back. Asuka grabs the braid and pulls Belair down by the hair. Asuka connects with a codebreaker for a near fall. Asuka smiles and shakes her head. She sizes up Belair and charges, but Belair catches her and hits a vicious double chicken-wing slam into the corner turnbuckles. Belair shouts at Asuka to bring it. Asuka slowly gets to her feet. Belair sets up for a KOD, but Asuka holds the top rope. Asuka gets away, and the referee is nearly taken out. Asuka goes for the Blue Mist, but Belair ducks it! Belair attacks her and goes for a KOD, but Asuka slides off and takes her down for an armbar! The crowd is going wild. Belair powers Asuka up and connects with a massive KOD for the victory!
Winner by Pinfall and still Raw Women’s Champion: Bianca Belair
Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s Championship reign will move into one calendar year following this victory.
George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is back at ringside. Al Michaels, a legendary commentator, is also at ringside.
Replays are shown of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn ending the 600+ day Tag Team Title reign of The Usos on WrestleMania Saturday.
The Miz and Snoop Dogg are back in the ring. The Miz announces that 81,395 people are in attendance for WrestleMania Sunday. 161,892 people have attended WrestleMania over the past two nights. Miz has a bone to pick with Snoop Dogg. They’re supposed to be friends, but last night Snoop Dogg put Miz in a match with Pat McAfee while he was wearing a $10,000 suit. Snoop Dogg asks if he wants to do it again. The Miz says he wasn’t ready, and George Kittle made it a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. Snoop Dogg tried to embarrass him. Snoop Dogg says, “My bad.” Miz says that’s not a good enough apology. Miz doesn’t come to his studio and tell him how to rap. This is Miz’s city and WrestleMania. Snoop Dogg corrects him and says this is their city and WrestleMania. When he said, “My bad,” he meant “MY bad!”
Shane McMahon’s music hits! Shane McMahon makes his way to the ring to a MASSIVE pop. McMahon thanks the crowd. Snoop Dogg makes this match official.
The Miz vs. Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon takes it to The Miz with some quick rights and lefts. McMahon sends him into the ropes and does a leapfrog, but he legitimately blows out his knee! Miz stalls a bit. A WWE doctor gets in the ring and checks on McMahon. He is unable to get to his feet. This is the real deal.
Snoop Dogg quickly gets in the ring and punches Miz in the face. Snoop Dogg asks if McMahon is ok. Snoop Dogg punches Miz down and does a People’s Elbow. Snoop Dogg covers for a (sort of) victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Snoop Dogg
Video Package: Hell in a Cell
Candles are shown on graphics all throughout SoFi Stadium. A trailer for “The Pope’s Exorcist” is shown.
We go back into SoFi Stadium to see the Hell in a Cell structure, no longer the red abomination but the classic structure lowers over the ring. Russell Crowe narrates a video to pump up this match. The ritual is about to begin at WrestleMania!
“South of Heaven” by Slayer plays. Brood Edge rises up from the stage wearing this wild skeleton head covered in mirrors. Brood Edge extends his arms, and the costume is of a bat. The music stops, and Edge’s regular theme starts. Edge makes his way to the ring looking extremely fired up for this Hell in a Cell match!
“The Demon” Finn Bálor is out next in his full Demon costume and makeup. The Demon is waving around purple smoke.
Hell in a Cell Match
Edge vs. “The Demon” Finn Bálor
The bell rings, and Edge stares at “The Demon” Finn Bálor. They approach each other in the center of the ring. Edge punches Bálor, but Bálor doesn’t feel it. Bálor punches him, but Edge absorbs it. Edge punches Bálor, but Bálor shoves him. They circle the ring before leaving. They immediately go for weapons. Edge pulls out a red steel chair, while Bálor pulls out a purple kendo stick. Edge hits Bálor in the spine with the chair, but Bálor doesn’t feel it. Bálor beats on Edge with the kendo stick before clotheslining him over the top rope. Edge bounces into the cell wall and falls to the floor. Bálor goes outside and drives Edge’s face into the cell wall. Bálor stomps him a few times before whipping him into the wall. Edge’s back already has welts on it from the kendo stick and cell wall attacks.
Bálor gets Edge in the ring, but Edge takes him down and punches away at him. Bálor gets away and rolls to the apron. Edge hits the ropes and knocks Bálor off the apron into the cell wall. Edge pulls out some red and purple kendo sticks. Edge jabs Bálor with the point of the kendo stick before smashing it off his back twice. Edge sends Bálor into the cell wall and grabs more kendo sticks. The crowd chants, “We want tables.” Edge hits Bálor and wedges the kendo sticks into the Hell in a Cell structure to trap Bálor upright in the corner at ringside. Edge comes off the apron with a missile dropkick to The Demon. Bálor yells in pain before a blank expression comes over his face. Edge takes a table out. It is painted purple. Edge leans it against the Hell in a Cell wall at ringside. Bálor breaks out of the kendo sticks and viciously punches away at Edge. Bálor grabs the Rated R Superstar and whips him hard into the steel steps.
Bálor pulls Edge to his feet and chops the chest a few times. Bálor gets him in the ring and charges, but Edge counters with a flapjack. Edge takes Bálor out with an Impaler DDT. Edge sets up for a Spear, but Bálor counters with a Sling Blade. Edge rolls to the apron and gets up, so Bálor dropkicks him off and into the cell wall. Bálor goes outside and hits a Woo Dropkick on Edge through the table that Edge set up earlier! An irate Bálor grabs some chairs from under the ring and throws them into Edge’s skull. Edge quickly responds with a big boot and puts Bálor in the ring. Edge connects with a Kill Switch, a tribute to his longtime tag team partner and storyline brother Christian. Edge sizes Bálor up and charges for a Spear, but Bálor kicks him in the face and executes an inside cradle for a two-count. Edge connects with an Edge-O-Matic, but Bálor kicks out at one.
Edge goes back under the ring and pulls out a ladder! Edge gets in the ring and throws the ladder into Bálor’s face! Edge leans the ladder in the corner. Bálor is absolutely busted open and is leaking plasma all over the ring. The referee is stopping this match in its tracks so medical personnel can tend to Bálor. The crowd is not happy about this. Edge looks like he cannot believe this.
Edge is furious and throws some kendo sticks into the ring and sets the ladder up. Bálor is finished with the medical personnel. The bleeding has stopped. Bálor takes Edge down and hits a double stomp. Bálor goes to the top rope for the Coup de Grâce, but Edge moves. Edge charges, but Bálor sends him into the ladder. They then wipe each other out with a double clothesline.
The crowd begins booing. The referee is putting gloves on. Edge pulls himself up, but The Demon takes him down with a Sling Blade. Bálor hits a Woo dropkick into the corner and goes to the top rope for the Coup de Grâce. Bálor covers, but Edge manages to kick out! Bálor goes over to the ladder and begins to climb. Edge cuts him off with a kendo stick shot to the head. Edge connects with an Impaler DDT off the ladder for a near fall! Edge cannot believe The Demon kicked out!
Edge goes under the ring and grabs another table. Edge sets the table up in the ring, but Bálor quickly takes him down with some vicious kendo stick shots. Bálor puts Edge on the table and viciously smacks him in the chest a few times with a steel chair. Bálor heads to the top rope, but he jumps onto the cell wall and climbs to a small platform! Bálor goes for a Coup de Grâce, but Edge moves, and Bálor crashes through the table! Edge slowly gets to his feet and hits a Spear, but Bálor barely kicks out! Edge is in shock, but then a psychotic look comes over his face.
Edge smashes Bálor with the kendo stick before laying in some vicious chair shots to the back. Edge falls to his knees and puts the chair under Bálor’s head. Edge grabs a second red steel chair and hits The Demon with con-chair-to! Edge rolls an unconscious Bálor over and covers him for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Edge
Some highlights of the modern-day WrestleMania goes Hollywood commercials are shown.
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. Belair says this title means everything to her and puts Asuka over. The Divas of Compton come up and dance with her.
WWE Backlash is coming to Puerto Rico in May.
Video Package: Highlights from the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony this past Friday
Stacy Keibler, Andy Kaufman (represented by his family), The Great Muta (he lets out green mist), Tim White (Warrior Award recipient, represented by his brothers), and Rey Mysterio are introduced to the crowd as the WWE Hall of Fame: Class of 2023.
Rey Mysterio, fresh off teaching his son Dominik a lesson, gets a huge ovation from the crowd and sets off some pyro. Mysterio hugs Keibler and shows respect to The Great Muta. Mysterio shakes hands with Tim White’s family, as well as Andy Kaufman’s.
WrestleMania 40 is coming to Philadelphia in April 2024.
The Miz and Baron Corbin star in an advertisement for DraftKings.
Video Package: Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
“Wrestling has more than one royal family.”
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring to a huge ovation. Rhodes goes over to his family. His wife, Brandi, hands him their child. The child puts their head on Rhodes’s shoulder, and he looks emotional. Rhodes’s mother is also there. Rhodes then hands his weightlifting belt to Brodie Lee’s son, who is with Rhodes’s family. Amazing moment.
Six baby grand pianos are set up on stage. They play some awesome, complicated song that needs 12 hands to totally play it. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns soon makes his entrance, accompanied by “The Wise Man” Paul Heyman and “The Enforcer” Solo Sikoa.
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns (c) w/ Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa
The crowd is absolutely going wild with anticipation for this match. Roman Reigns holds a hand up to quiet them down, but they will not be silenced. Paul Heyman hands The Tribal Chief a microphone. Reigns says, “WrestleMania… acknowledge me!”
The bell rings, and all 81,395 people come to their feet as Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes go face-to-face. Reigns backs up, and they circle the ring. They lock up, and Rhodes hooks a side headlock before transitioning to a hammerlock. Reigns immediately grabs the ropes and wags a finger at Rhodes. Reigns is clearly not sweating The American Nightmare. They lock up again, and Rhodes hooks another side headlock. Reigns lifts Rhodes up, but Rhodes wiggles his legs and hits a headlock takeover on the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. The crowd loudly chants, “Cody.” Reigns gets to his feet and sends Rhodes into the ropes. Rhodes avoids a big boot and drops down for an uppercut. Reigns quickly gets out of the ring, adjusts his jaw, and goes to his Special Council. Heyman tells Reigns they all paid to see him against anybody. It just so happens to be against Cody Rhodes. Rhodes is here because of Reigns.
Reigns slowly gets back in the ring, rubs his hands, and circles the ring. Reigns applies a waistlock, but Rhodes does a standing switch. Reigns elbows him in the face before sending him into the ropes for a second back elbow to the mouth. The crowd loudly boos Reigns. Rhodes gets up in the corner, and Reigns starts to hit his clubbing blows in the corner. Reigns connects with ten of the clubs before hitting the ropes. Rhodes sidesteps Reigns and hits a dropkick for a one-count. Reigns was stunned by that dropkick. Rhodes works over the left arm of the champion. Rhodes wrenches the arm and goes for a Disaster Kick, but Reigns counters into a powerbomb for a two-count. Reigns gets Rhodes to his feet and knocks him back. Reigns chokes him on the middle rope. Reigns hits a snap vertical suplex for a one-count. Reigns has a scratch on his forehead and smiles at Rhodes’s fight.
Reigns grabs Rhodes and hits a second snap vertical suplex. Reigns pulls Rhodes to his feet and throws him over the top rope. Reigns turns his back on him, so he doesn’t see Rhodes skin the cat. Rhodes grabs Reigns and sends him over the top rope. Rhodes gets on the apron and goes for a running kick, but Reigns blocks it and sweeps the feet. Reigns gets Rhodes to his feet and throws him up the ramp. Reigns grabs Rhodes and hits a scoop slam on the ramp. Reigns slowly saunters back to the ring and rolls in before exiting. This was done to reset the referee’s count. Reigns grabs Rhodes on the ramp and goes for another scoop slam, but Rhodes slides off. Rhodes then slams the Head of the Table onto the ramp! Reigns shakes in pain. Rhodes clubs Reigns around the ringside area. Reigns punches back, but Rhodes bounces him off the apron. Rhodes rolls into the ring and gets out to reset the referee’s count. Rhodes punches Reigns down at ringside. Solo Sikoa paces nearby. Rhodes puts Reigns in the ring and gets on the apron. Sikoa goes under the ring and grabs a steel chair. Sikoa jabs it into the ribs of Rhodes. The referee was tending to Reigns and didn’t see this. Reigns connects with a Drive By Dropkick on Rhodes, gets him in the ring, and covers for a near fall.
Reigns grabs Rhodes’s head and applies a neck vice. Rhodes manages to fight up and elbows out. Rhodes hits the ropes, but Sikoa grabs his ankles. Rhodes angrily looks at Sikoa before turning into a clothesline that turns him inside out. Reigns picks up a two-count. Reigns laughs at Rhodes and makes it look like this is just another easy night at the office. Reigns whips Rhodes hard into the corner, and Rhodes falls down to the mat holding his injured ribs. Reigns sends Rhodes out of the ring and follows him out. Reigns heads over to the commentary tables and takes his time clearing both of them off. Reigns grabs Rhodes and bounces him off the Spanish commentary table. Reigns gets in the ring to break the referee’s count and threatens him. Reigns gets on the table and puts one finger up in the air. The crowd, which has been buzzing throughout, boos him. Reigns goes for a powerbomb on Rhodes through the other table, but Rhodes fights it. Rhodes then hits a back body drop on Reigns through the commentary table!
Rhodes gets in the ring to break the count. Rhodes gets Reigns in the ring, but Reigns forearms him in the face. Reigns hits the ropes, but Rhodes follows him in and hits a forearm. Rhodes drops down and hits an uppercut. Rhodes slingshots over Reigns and hits a snap powerslam! Rhodes is fired up. Rhodes hits Reigns with the Cody Cutter and covers, but Reigns barely just gets a shoulder up! Rhodes cannot believe it and stomps Reigns out of the ring.
Rhodes hits the ropes and wipes Reigns out with a vicious suicide dive. Rhodes gets the champion back in the ring. The referee checks on Reigns. Sikoa takes advantage of the distraction to hit Rhodes with the weightlifting belt! The referee heard the smack and stares at Sikoa. The referee then ejects Sikoa from ringside, which gets a MASSIVE pop! Sikoa reluctantly goes to the back.
Reigns goes to ringside and grabs Rhodes’s weightlifting belt. The referee tries to grab the belt out of Reigns’s hands, but he won’t let go. Rhodes quickly superkicks Reigns and hits Cross Rhodes for a near fall! Wow!
Rhodes grabs Reigns, but Reigns catches him with a jawbreaker. Reigns head-butts him and hits some vicious elbows to the back of the neck. Paul Heyman is seen taking a nervous big gulp at ringside. Reigns sends Rhodes over the top rope, but Rhodes holds on with one arm. Rhodes tries to skin the cat, but Reigns catches him. Reigns connects with a uranage that Michael Cole calls the Rock Bottom for a near fall. Reigns raises his eyebrows in incredulity. Reigns gets to his feet and slowly walks to the corner. Reigns talks to the crowd before dropping down. Rhodes avoids a Superman Punch and hits a Pedigree for a near fall! Paul Heyman puts his face in his hands at how close that was. Rhodes screams to get himself psyched up. Rhodes pulls Reigns up, but Reigns shoves him off. Rhodes goes for a Disaster Kick, but Reigns connects with a vicious Superman Punch from out of midair for a near fall! Paul Heyman was counting it like it was over and couldn’t believe Rhodes kicked out.
Reigns is down in the corner with his head in his hands and shaking his head in disbelief. The crowd starts to chant, “This is awesome.” Heyman shouts that Rhodes is ready to be beaten. Reigns goes for a Spear, but Rhodes hits a sunset flip for a near fall. Rhodes immediately grabs the legs and applies a Figure Four Leglock, one of his father’s signature moves (and also the signature move of one of his father’s greatest rivals, Ric Flair). Reigns screams in pain, but he manages to roll over onto his stomach to reverse the pressure back onto Rhodes. Rhodes quickly gets to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Rhodes is up on the apron, and Reigns lays in a right hand. Rhodes punches him back, and they begin trading punches. Rhodes hits a body shot and a punch to the head before snapping Reigns off the top rope. Rhodes goes to the top rope and jumps over Reigns. Rhodes hits the ropes, but Reigns splits him in half with a Spear for a near fall! Reigns once again holds his head in disbelief and doubt. Reigns gets to his feet and confirms the count with the referee. Reigns is irate and mounts Rhodes before laying in some vicious punches and elbows. The crowd is vociferously booing Reigns. Reigns gets to his feet and signals for the end. Reigns hooks Rhodes’s head and applies the guillotine, which Reigns has used to put so many competitors away throughout this two-and-a-half-year title run. Rhodes won’t fade away and holds an arm up when the referee checks. Reigns instead applies a body scissor and really cinches the guillotine in! The crowd chants, “Cody.” Rhodes somehow manages to dig his fingernails into Reigns’s elbow and breaks the hold! Rhodes punches away at Reigns. Rhodes goes for a running big boot, but Reigns moves, and the referee is taken out. Reigns hits a Superman Punch, but Rhodes bounces off the ropes. They then take each other out with a double clothesline!
After taking a few moments to recover, Rhodes gets to his feet. Rhodes grabs the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and sets up for a Cross Rhodes, but The Usos all of a sudden hit the ring and sandwich Rhodes with a double superkick! The Usos roll their cousin, the Tribal Chief, out of the way and hit Rhodes with a 1D! All of a sudden, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn run down and clear the ring of The Usos! Owens hits Reigns with a Stunner. Reigns gets up in the corner, and Zayn rearranges his face with a Helluva Kick! Owens and Zayn brawl with The Usos into the crowd.
The referee slowly crawls back into the ring. Rhodes puts an arm over Reigns. 1… 2… REIGNS GETS A SHOULDER UP! UNBELIEVABLE!
Rhodes looks up to the heavens and looks like he’s trying to summon something else. Reigns and Rhodes trade punches from their knees. Rhodes rocks Reigns with a right hand and kicks him back. Reigns answers with a kick to the injured ribs. They lay in some punches and uppercuts. Rhodes avoids a Superman Punch and starts doing the Dusty Rhodes jabs! Rhodes connects with his father’s Bionic Elbow followed by his brother’s uppercut! Rhodes hits a Cross Rhodes before lifting Reigns up for a second Cross Rhodes! Paul Heyman quickly distracts the referee. Solo Sikoa all of a sudden sneaks back to ringside and hits Rhodes with the Samoan Spike! Reigns hits the ropes and connects with a Spear to turn Rhodes’s American Dream into an American Nightmare!
Winner by Pinfall and still Undisputed WWE Universal Champion: Roman Reigns
For the third time in this title reign, Roman Reigns enters WrestleMania as the champion and leaves with the title. Reigns poses with the belts as fireworks go off. A dejected Cody Rhodes sits in the ring and looks heartbroken.