WWE WrestleMania 34: 10 Most Insane Things That Happened!

7. THAT F*CKING Ronda Rousey Match

The Strowchild II
WWE.com

Holy sh*t: that was f*cking amazing.

The sort of match that compels you to swear involuntarily in a state of pure admiration, this - a match involving the shut-down Wrestling Machine Kurt Angle, non-wrestler executive Stephanie McMahon, nervous new inexperienced signing Ronda Rousey, and a man known to numb on the Grandest Stage, Triple H - this was perfect.

Expectations were cautiously optimistic. WWE shattered them.

Triple H sold, dynamically, like the great worker WWE lore posits him as, throwing himself around and out of the ring to portray the knackered Angle as halfway believable. Stephanie McMahon was outstanding in her facials, timing, and cowardice. The notion of her countering Rousey's armbar was absurd on the face of it, but the entire presentation was so magnificent that the goodwill helped to reconcile it. Of course that's what she was doing in the Performance Center all along.

Ronda entered what was by some distance the best celebrity match in 'Mania history. Her intensity, searing physical charisma, range of facial expressions and high-octane striking game was absolutely astonishing, given her level of experience and the nerves she could barely conceal throughout the televised build. She looked like the most deadly athlete on the planet last night - somehow, as much a natural as her famous fast learner of a tag partner. The entire presentation, bell-to-bell, submission tease to finisher kick-outs to that electric Ronda/Trips showdown, was a masterclass.

Angle told us this would happen. He was telling the d*mn truth.

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!