7 Match Star Ratings For WWE WrestleMania 38 Night 1

2. Charlotte Flair Vs. Ronda Rousey - SmackDown Women's Title Match

Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 38
WWE.com

Charlotte Flair Vs. Ronda Rousey, while almost very, very good, suffered from something of an identity crisis.

It was paced like every big WWE match you've ever seen, in a way that did little for the specific dynamic, and yet the work itself was often very well-crafted. The various submission escapes were executed with a smart and believable technical grappling approach, but something intangible just felt off. Did people just not give a sh*t about the story? Was the story too intricate to play well against a stadium backdrop that better rewards broad, highlight reel moments? Was the crowd exhausted from the double-barrel blast of Cody's monumental return following the WWE Match of the Year?

The pacing was jarring; Rousey is far better suited to shorter bursts of violent intensity. Both women grafted hard, but there was a flatness to the vibe that ultimately proved inescapable even before the TV-level finish. As far as ref bumps go, it was actually fairly creative - and inspired, of all acts, by the Young Bucks - but it reeked of laziness masquerading as shock value.

Pretext to rematch churn, this was simply not on the level of their blood-pumping, furious Survivor Series 2018 mini-masterpiece.

Star Rating: ★★★

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!