25 Best Wrestling Shows EVER
21. WWE WrestleMania 40
More uneven than WrestleMania 39, in an equaliser, ‘Mania 40 delivered the happy ending.
Night one broke the two-night “era” trend, in that it wasn’t a blow-away great show. Jey Vs. Jimmy Uso, an infamous stinker, was a Paul Heyman layout without good moves. It was a slow duel of thrust-free superkicks.
Sami Zayn Vs. GUNTHER, conversely, was the rarest of matches: so well-worked that the fans were drawn into demanding the most unexpected outcome. Zayn shockingly ended the record 666-day reign, and finally unleashed the Brainbustaaaah! to do it. This was incredible - a sequence that sparked pure disbelief and jubilation, evidence that discipline is the best storytelling tool.
Paul Levesque hasn’t equalled his stellar booking of the women’s division on the main roster, but Rhea Ripley Vs. Becky Lynch and IYO SKY Vs. Bayley were both fantastic, the latter especially. IYO missing two moonsaults but flipping out of the Rose Plant was a majestic take on the intricate modern pro wrestling sequence.
The Rock & Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins ranged from interminable to undeniable. They got there in the end. The double Pedigree/double kick-out spot was the daft magic of WrestleMania, distilled.
One of the best Money In The Bank briefcase cash-ins ever happened on night two. CM Punk drove forward his awesome rivalry with a gloating, over-confident Drew McIntyre by screwing him out of the belt he’d just won. That match against Seth Rollins, contrary to Jey Vs. Jimmy, was a fantastic Paul Heyman layout.
Logan Paul Vs. Randy Orton Vs. Kevin Owens was a delight. Orton’s sublime “Whoops, sorry mate” expression when breaking up the temporary alliance he’d formed with Owens was hilarious.
Roman Vs. Cody Rhodes II wasn’t quite as strong as their hypnotic first match, and the big Avengers-inspired finish was effective and weird at the same time. WWE generated the desired pops, which is what ultimately matters, but didn’t you think Jon Moxley was coming out? Couldn’t Seth Rollins have hit one person with one move? And why wasn’t the Undertaker Steve Austin?!
Nonetheless, WWE delivered the happy ending. WrestleMania 40 marked the formal end of the ‘Vince McMahon Era’.
Finishing the story was a far more effective way of symbolising this than the Paul Levesque victory lap.