9 Match Star Ratings For WWE WrestleMania 36 (Night Two)

3. Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match For The SmackDown Women's Championship

Bayley Naomi
WWE.com

One doesn't want to be cruel in this review, because WrestleMania 36 was a committed effort all across the board that, if nothing else, did succeed in its aim of creating new discourse for a few hours. It succeeded in more; it succeeded in conspiring to create two actual fabled WrestleMania Moments.

All that said, Tamina is not good.

Sorry.

She went on a pinning spree during her otherwise fine I guess hoss blitz, and she leaned on the top rope at one point when making a standing cover. The referee had to politely tell her to not do this, when really, that was the job of her decade-plus experience.

Bayley's approach to trash talk helped carry what was a slog of a duration - never has "go home" become more literal - but it bordered on the daft at points. Did she instruct that "dancing machine" Naomi to dance her way to the back, or have I just been driven insane?

Naomi's comebacks were creatively done and barely even contrived - she deserves a lot more - but the Bayley Vs. Lacey Evans phase went on for an eternity. Almost as long as it takes the lady herself to say her own last name.

Dissension was planted between Sasha Banks and Bayley at the (well done) finish, which created not rapt anticipation but a new meme: they're saving it 'til SummerSlam!

Star Rating: ★★½

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!