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Welcome to my live, ongoing blog from the press room high above Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Before we begin, I want to thank everyone I saw this weekend. It was a great trip.
The Stadium is super impressive.
There is actually seating in several sections of the entrance stage.
They have VIP lounges and coaches there as well.
They actually brought out several VIP ticket holders with Michael Cole and Wade Barrett and announced them by name. That's a hell if a perk but a pricey one.
Pat McAfee was last out to a big pop.
They are playing a video narrated by Dana White putting over Las Vegas and the return of Wrestlemania to Sin City.
Jellyroll is here singing God Bless America. We had reported earlier today in the Elite section that the word was he'd be appearing at Mania
VladimirThe Superfan and Ringside Charlie ARE in attendance..
Wrestlemania opens with Triple H in the ring. He put over that the world is watching Wrestlemania live across the globe. He welcomed everyone and blew up a ton of pyro.
Our opener is Jey Uso vs. GUNTHER.
Jey had cool new ring gear and a big intro and entrance with dancers. LOTS OF YEETING.
When GUNTHER's music began you could feel the energy shift in the stadium. Vegas loved them some Uso. The story was Jey using all of his momentum and fortitude to try and take down GUNTHER but the champ kept just drilling him down. They built well to a bodyslam of GUNTHER that the crowd popped for. Jey scored a nice nearfall after a spear, GUNTHER nailed a big superplex and a powerbomb for a close two count. The pop when Uso kicked out live was amazing. Lots of Yeet chants all over Allegiant.
Really good sequences with Jey almost scoring the pin. GUNTHER grabbed the title belt and smashed Jey with it as he went for a dive. GUNTHER splashed him off the top and when Jey kicked up, MADNESS live from the pop. GUNTHER cinched in the choke as everyone YEETED for Jey to survive. Jey struggled and survived as his foot went under the ropes. Let's go Uso chants live. Defiant. GUNTHER kept working over Jey, who was selling like someone half dead and trying to crawl out of a car wreck.
He kept fighting the good fight and escaping from the choke. Live, the story is very good. GUNTHER went for a powerbomb but Jey escaped, landed on his feet and nailed one of his own! He whipped out the superkicks and ascended to the top for the splash, then went back for another...and then another. He then CHOKED OUT GUNTHER. The knight has slayed the dragon. This was absolutely great live.
Jey Uso is the new World Champion, which is how the story needed to end. Anything else was sending Uso down a notch. Instead, he ascended to Mania immortality.
Jey celebrated and they shot a ton of pyro up. Jimmy ran down and embraces his brother, getting a massive pop live. Great moment. They went into the crowd to YEET and celebrate with the people. It was all a tremendous scene. Good for Jey. He earned the hell out of that spot.
Next up is The War Raiders vs. New Day! for the WWE World Tag Team Championship.
OK back and forth early on. You can tell Jey may have burnt out the audience live. New Day tried to pull out an old Hardy Boyz trick coming off Kofi's back but Erik caught and slammed Xavier down onto Kofi. Ivar hit a BIG backdrop on Kofi. Ivar hit a BIG moonsault on Kofi but Xavier broke up the pinfall. The Raiders' offense looked great, especially Eric kneeing Xavier. New Day came back with a double team double stomp, scoring the pin.
Two matches, two new sets of champs!
This was a good match but the crowd was too burnt to get into it in my opinion. I hope that's not a pattern that emerges here tonight.
Next up is Jade Cargill vs. Naomi.
This will be a do or die performance for Jade. I feel like she's been missing that big milestone moment here. Let's see if it happens. Naomi has been on a great roll since turning, so this should be a big match for her at this stage as well. Here we go!
Great entrance for Naomi. Her new direction and character has been great.
Jade had a big entrance playing off her bringing the "storm." She had great golden gear and looked like a superhero walking off the screen.
She attacked Naomi at the bell and worked her over on the mat and in the corner. Naomi fought back but was slammed off the top. They battled to the floor. Naomi was whipped hard into the barrier.
Very quiet audience live early on.
Naomi nailed several kicks and nailed an X-Factor on the floor. The crowd got into that. Naomi dropkicked her to the floor. Naomi continued to work over Jade, nailing a legdrop. She came off the top but was caught in mid-air and hit with a suplex into a jackhammer. Jade hit a nice superkick. Naomi came back and hit the split legged moonsault for a two count. Jade went for Jaded but Naomi rolled through and almost scored the pin.
Jade powerer Naomi up and tossed her into a powerbomb, then hit Jaded for the pin.
This was decent. You can see they gave them time and Jade has goitten stronmger as a performer. Was this the milestone? Not to me but it was a step on right direction for SURE and Naomi looked good in her role as the heel. They are onto something with her.
More on Page 2!
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