Keep up to date with BackstageOL.com, @BackstageOL, and @Fox26Houston with results and reactions to WWE’s “Showcase of the Immortals” WrestleMania 33.
We kick off with some in-ring action as Neville defends his Cruiserweight title against Austin Aries.
The HIGH RISK yields NO REWARD for #Cruiserweight Champion @WWENeville! Can @AustinAries take advantage? #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/Heuix9OAJD
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
The stars of WWE’s 205 get the still filing-in crowd, estimated to be at 75,000 tonight, with a strong display of athleticism with Aries giving a valiant effort in trying to win his first WWE championship. He even connected with a 450 splash!
WHAT a #450Splash by @AustinAries! #WrestleMania @WWENeville pic.twitter.com/4BleAEkXMX
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
Neville retains his championship with his patented Red Arrow finisher. Neville has not lost a one-on-one match since October 2016.
The world is about to shake with the likes of Big Show and Braun Strowman in Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. WWE Superstar Baron Corbin made a name for himself in this same match when he made his in-ring debut. Tonight he squares off against Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship.
The #AndreTheGiant Memorial Battle Royal is about to be streaming LIVE on the award-winning @WWENetwork! #WrestleMania @WWETheBigShow pic.twitter.com/PwmrVxUd8B
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) April 2, 2017
The weight of the bodies in the ring has dropped considerably as both the Big Show and Strowman have been eliminated!
WOW! @WWETheBigShow AND @BraunStrowman have been ELIMINATED from the #AndreTheGiant Memorial Battle Royal! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/bdLLCsuKrH
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2017
Dolph Ziggler must be a fan of The Who as he’s a Pinball Wizard when it comes to taking bumps inside the ring. Already eliminated R-Truth and Rhyno as he tries to stave off elimination.
With the ring cleared we were left with three competitors: Mojo Rawley, Jinder Mahal, and NXT’s Killian Dain. Mojo gets some assistance in the form of The Gronk! The New England Patriots star tight end takes out Dain!
With the assist from @RobGronkowski, @MojoRawleyWWE TAKES the #AndreTheGiant Memorial Battle Royal trophy! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/fRqTHR6iE5
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2017
And now it’s time to celebrate. No Lambeau Leaps required.
The celebration is ON for @RobGronkowski as @MojoRawleyWWE WINS the #AndreTheGiant Memorial Battle Royal at #WrestleMania Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/ifxyqZZYSt
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
Mojo Rawley continues his winning streak in WWE kickoff matches. SummerSlam 2016, No Mercy 2016, TLC 2016, Elimination Chamber 2017, and now WrestleMania 33. Way to go, Mojo!
One year ago, Baron Corbin made his WWE debut winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Tonight he challenges Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship!
Last summer, Dean Ambrose won the prestigious WWE Championship. Now he’s defending the Intercontinental Championship on the show before the “Show” at WrestleMania 33. Poor guy.
CRASH LANDING as @TheDeanAmbrose lands spine-first into the ring post, and @BaronCorbinWWE looks to take advantage! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/7XkZ8nBCVP
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
The “Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose looks to be getting his second wind against the “Lone Wolf” Baron Corbin. Ambrose knows a thing or two about taking a beating; he squared off against Brock Lesnar at last year’s WrestleMania!
This is what you call getting caught in MID-AIR as @BaronCorbinWWE looks to take the offensive! #WrestleMania #ICTitle @TheDeanAmbrose pic.twitter.com/pN4nMHPJ0e
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
How can you not love a face like this?
You'd HATE to be @TheDeanAmbrose's opponent when he gets THIS look in his eyes! #WrestleMania #ICTitle @BaronCorbinWWE pic.twitter.com/IKF2F9IP5N
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
After a hard, back and forth match, Dean Ambrose tranquilizes the “Lone Wolf” and retains his Intercontinental Title!
Let’s get this party started! All aboard the Ultimate Thrill Ride!
The #UltimateThrillRide @WrestleMania streams LIVE on @WWENetwork NEXT! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/wHp0VnOUty
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2017
Recording star Tinashe delivers a beautiful rendition of “America the Beautiful” in front of 75,000 fans of the WWE Universe!
WHAT a rendition of #AmericaTheBeautiful as @Tinashe kicks off the #UltimateThrillRide #WrestleMania, streaming LIVE on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/rnioYP4v9u
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) April 2, 2017
Our hosts of tonight’s WrestleMania, The New Day, have a Final Fantasy theme going on with their outfits. Maybe later they’ll level up with some Unicorn Power!
Our first match of the evening is a match of respect: Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles!
The “Face that Runs the Place” AJ Styles better not underestimate Shane McMahon. Shane O’ Mac has no fear when it comes to taking risks.
What a way to kick off WrestleMania!
Coast. To. Coast. #WrestleMania @shanemcmahon @AJStylesOrg pic.twitter.com/vyXTRwfrLq
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2017
Shane-O-Mac pulls out a play from Billy Kidman’s playbook in attempting a Shooting Star Press! As Joey Styles would say, “OH MY GOD!”
AJ Styles avoids the high-risk maneuver and picks up the win.
In the battle of besties, our next match of the evening is Chris Jericho defending his U.S. Title against Kevin Owens.
WWE Commentator Michael Cole gives the WWE Universe a history lesson by acknowledging this is Chris Jericho’s 14th WrestleMania match, tying him with Bret “Hitman” Hart for sixth all time!
It looks like Kevin Owens is sporting a sleeveless WrestleMania 2 T-shirt with the letters “KO” duct-taped on the front.
Tonight is a night of high-risk maneuvers and going all out. Already we’ve seen the 450 splash, Neville’s Red Arrow finisher, Shane-O-Mac deliver an elbow drop to AJ Styles through a table as well as go coast to coast (and miss a Shooting Star Press).
Not to be outdone, here’s Jericho getting Kevin Owens off the top turnbuckle.
At the #UltimateThrillRide, @IAmJericho is pulling out ALL the stops! #WrestleMania #USTitle @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/CEO9zPPYrk
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
Kevin Owens wins his first U.S. Championship after delivering a pop-up powerbomb to Chris Jericho on the apron!
Taking a break from the testosterone, the Raw Women’s Championship is about to be defended in a Fatal Four-Way match!
It looks like Women’s Champion Bayley is selling used cars at WrestleMania.
The @WrestleMania-sized #WackyWavingInflatableArmFlailingBayleyBuddies are LIVE on @WWENetwork! #WrestleMania @itsBayleyWWE pic.twitter.com/okq3cP48N2
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) April 3, 2017
How do you get rid of the dominating Nia Jax? With a triple powerbomb, of course.
THERE GOES @NiaJaxWWE! She's been eliminated after @MsCharlotteWWE @SashaBanksWWE & @itsBayleyWWE go to work! #WrestleMania #WomensTitle pic.twitter.com/CUTxNAfEgx
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
Bayley champions the late Randy Savage with his patented flying elbowdrop to defeat “The Queen” Charlotte Flair to retain her championship!
A lifelong dream for @itsBayleyWWE becomes a reality as she RETAINS the #RAW #WomensTitle! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/BkMVPG959x
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
“You Suck!” Only in WWE is this chant considered a sign of respect. Congratulations to Kurt Angle and the rest of the inductees to WWE’s Hall of Fame for 2017.
A special chant rains down upon @WWE Hall of Famer @RealKurtAngle at @CWStadium! #WrestleMania #WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/1uVD82z4pa
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
It must be moving day as ladders are set up around ringside for our next match.
The teams of Enzo and Big Cass, Cesaro and Sheamus, and Gallows and Anderson have a lot to live up to if they are to replicate the likes of Tables, Ladders, and Chairs with The Hardy Boyz, Edge & Christian, and the Dudleyz at WrestleMania X-7.
Here come the Bond Brothers… #00Swiss & #00Fella. #Wrestlemania ARE YOU READY?!? pic.twitter.com/mR9B4zTB4b
— Sheamus (@WWESheamus) April 3, 2017
And the emcees of tonight’s show, The New Day, have announced a change for tonight’s three-way ladder match. THE HARDY BOYZ are back in WWE!
Chants of “Welcome Back!” greet Matt and Jeff Hardy. As Thomas Dolby would say, “It’s poetry in motion.”
Can you believe your eyes?! The #HardyBoyz are at the #UltimateThrillRide #WrestleMania, streaming LIVE on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/FdzLn3WDUE
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
This is the twelfth ladder match in WrestleMania history. The first occurred back at WrestleMania X and involved WWE legends Shawn Michaels and Scott Hall (aka Razor Ramon).
Check out this teamwork by Cesaro and Sheamus!
Has the teamwork between @WWECesaro and @WWESheamus EVER been this on point?! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/Nu0q8nnohe
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
While the duo may have been in sync, it was insanity that was victorious at the end as The Hardy Boyz win their seventh tag team championship!
I just love it when other WWE superstars mark out for surprise returns.
Yup! That just made me feel like a teenager again too! Ahhhhh! #HardyBoyz
— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) April 3, 2017
When you talk about the power of promos in establishing a match, look no further than our next match of the evening.
Not sure how I feel about special ring announcer Al Roker referring to himself as “Chocolate Thunder.” Perhaps he’ll form a tag team with “Sexual Chocolate” Mark Henry.
Now presiding is your special guest ring announcer @alroker! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/q9ncDPVN3A
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
John Cena channels the late Ultimate Warrior with his run to the ring. Hope he doesn’t get winded before the match starts.
A LONG RUN for @JohnCena and Nikki @BellaTwins, but the CHAMP IS FINALLY HERE! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/u362SbeJjM
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2017
Jerry Lawler in the broadcast booth for this match is comedy gold. His back and forth jawing with John Bradshaw Leyfield is great.
It would be a double five-knuckle shuffle that would silence The Miz and Maryse. But not to be outdone, John Cena gets the crowd back on his side (if only for a moment).
TALK ABOUT A #WrestleMania MOMENT! @JohnCena and Nikki @BellaTwins are officially ENGAGED! pic.twitter.com/RaUMfN75lT
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2017
Business is about to pick up as we move towards a no-sanctioned bout with Triple H and Seth Rollins.
I have come to kick ass and play the game. But I’m all out of quarters.
It's time to play the game, @WWERollins… #WrestleMania @TripleH @StephMcMahon pic.twitter.com/RCkLa4wypY
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2017
Triple H is entering his twenty-first WrestleMania. His first match was a squash against The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania XII. Triple is second all-time in WrestleMania appearances.
As good old JR used to say, “It looks like business is about to pick up.”
It didn't take long for #HHHvsRollins to spill into the @WWEUniverse! #WrestleMania @WWERollins @TripleH pic.twitter.com/NX3J1yaC81
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
I don’t think heads are supposed to bounce like this.
#TheGame @TripleH is QUICK to respond as he absolutely PLANTS @WWERollins on the announce table! #WrestleMania #HHHvsRollins pic.twitter.com/ysSkLVrwZf
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
What happens next can’t be good.
THIS? Not good for @WWERollins… #WrestleMania #HHHvsRollins @TripleH pic.twitter.com/bOrEFODpid
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
The last few minutes had more twists than a pretzel. But in the end the right man won.
The obligatory bathroom break this year isn’t for a women’s wrestling match but a mini music set of Pitbull and Flo Rida.
#MrWorldwide @pitbull is LIVE at the #UltimateThrillRide #WrestleMania! @stephenmarley pic.twitter.com/9582Q2ZUd9
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
Right now the WWE Championship is on the line with Bray Wyatt defending it against former Wyatt Family member Randy Orton!
The fireflies are buzzing as the 70,000+ crowd light up during Bray Wyatt’s entrance.
The #Fireflies are OUT in @CWStadium as @WWE Champion @WWEBrayWyatt heads to the ring… #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/Um3svAuoKa
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
Only at WrestleMania will you see images of maggots inside a wrestling ring. The Orlando crowd doesn’t know what to make of it. “That was freaky!”
WHAT kind of mind games has @WWEBrayWyatt brought to this #WWETitle match?! #WrestleMania @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/3V6Jz3kdYw
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
Bray Wyatt’s mind games were no match for Randy Orton’s RKO. He wins his 13th world championship!
So it would seem that The Undertaker and Roman Reigns is main-eventing WrestleMania 33. Because up next we have Bill vs. The Beast as Goldberg defends his WWE Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar. Hopefully it is better than their match thirteen years ago at WrestleMania XX and more recently at Survivor Series 2016.
Brock Lesnar thought he was going to make short order of Goldberg with a trip to Suplex City, but the champ counters with his patented spear. But several spears and his Jackhammer finisher is not enough to finish off Brock. Now Lesnar is in his element with multiple German suplexes!
Say “Goodnight, Irene.” F-5 finishes off Goldberg and Lesnar is your new WWE Universal Champion!
After 10 GERMAN SUPLEXES, @BrockLesnar is on top of #RAW as YOUR #UniversalChampion! #WrestleMania #LesnarvsGoldberg pic.twitter.com/CEHlgODOe3
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
One last time for the ladies of the WWE to have a WrestleMania moment as Alexa Bliss defends her title in a Six Pack Challenge.
This one is UNDERWAY at #WrestleMania! @AlexaBliss_WWE @NatbyNature @CarmellaWWE @BeckyLynchWWE @NaomiWWE @MickieJames #SDLive #WomensTitle pic.twitter.com/dW9ESQhvOb
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
Congratulations to Naomi who comes back to SmackDown Live to reclaim the women’s championship she had to relinquish. And to win at WrestleMania in front of her hometown, too.
IT'S ALL OVER! @NaomiWWE makes @AlexaBliss_WWE tap out to become a 2-TIME #SDLive #WomensChampion at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/sfQs9SEO1Y
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2017
The main event must be a “slobberknocker” as Jim Ross returns to the broadcast booth to call the No Holds Barred match between Roman Reigns and The Undertaker.
This is the third straight year Roman Reigns has main-evented WrestLeMania. His career record at the event is 3-1. The Undertaker has a career record of 23-1. This is his twenty-fifth match at WWE’s biggest show of the year.
The Deadman rises at #WrestleMania… #Undertaker pic.twitter.com/P4uApORaOL
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2017
Whenever I hear Roman Reigns proclaim, “It’s my time now,” I think he’s auditioning for The Goonies. Thankfully, The Undertaker tries to put him in his place.
There goes @WWERomanReigns into the steel steps as The #Undertaker continues to toss around #TheBigDog! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/fStAdWEyPd
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
Chokeslam on a chair and a Tombstone piledriver is not enough to put Roman Reigns away. The crowd is not happy. But as Jim Ross freely admits, Reigns is “tougher than a two dollar steak.”
Uh oh, a chair has found its way into the match.
SMACK DAB on the CHAIR goes @WWERomanReigns as The #Undertaker delivers another #Chokeslam! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/hzwsfHCj3R
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
The Undertaker has taken four Superman punches and multiple spears from Roman Reigns but he won’t be pinned! But the Deadman is moving slower and slower after each thunderous blow that Reigns delivers.
It looks like WWE has a new Big Dog. The ring is no longer The Undertaker’s yard.
SPEAR #4 puts The #Undertaker away as @WWERomanReigns does what only ONE other man has been able to do in nearly 3 decades! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/bUewcFLPet
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 3, 2017
We have witnessed the end of an era. A legacy that began at Survivor Series 1990 and culminates with WrestleMania 33.
Thank you, Taker!
Vintage #Undertaker as the lights go out at #WrestleMania… pic.twitter.com/CEV8rUIbMQ
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2017