7 Match Star Ratings For WWE WrestleMania 38 Night 1

Who stole a truly magical WWE night: Charlotte Flair, Steve Austin (!), or...

by Michael Sidgwick
Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 38
WWE

Was the build to WrestleMania 38 Night 1 stupendous?

Was WWE not letting the detestable Logan Paul, who knows his way around a promo, not cut a proper heel promo stupendous? Was WWE running back Becky Lynch Vs. Bianca Belair, a very familiar 2021 pairing ran back so often that it no longer felt special stupendous? Was WWE programming Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey, an excruciating heel and an uncomfortable promo respectively, stupendous? Was having the Usos defend against an apathetic Shinsuke Nakamura and his guitarist pal, in a programme built with two minute matches between everybody involved stupendous?

Was Drew McIntyre spending much of his thirties working an angle with Happy Corbin, only to half-babyface Corbin before the finale stupendous? Was booking multi-time former World Champion in a last-chance angle throughout which he was beaten like a drum stupendous?

Was booking Ridge Holland, a danger to himself and others, and not elite pro wrestler Butch in his place stupendous?

"Stupendous" means "extremely impressive". What the f*ck is extremely impressive about Drew McIntyre Vs. Happy Corbin?

Was the show itself stupendous...?

You know what?

Yes it f*cking was.

7. The Usos Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs

Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 38
WWE.com

It feels weird, even mean-spirited, to analyse a match brought to a halt following two serious injuries suffered by one deeply unfortunate performer - to whom incidentally all at WhatCulture Wrestling extends their well wishes.

It wasn't really trending towards classic territory, realistically. It was a mid TV match that happened to be held in a stadium. They might have had some fun things planned that couldn't happen following Rick Boogs' injury. We'll never know.

It seems incredibly harsh to rate a match as disastrous as this. The improvisation was what it was - serviceable - but it was obviously a below average match. It was nobody's fault.

Just a bad time.

Star Rating: N/R

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!