WWE WrestleMania Night One Review. 19.4.2026.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

Lin Manuel Miranda Opening Hype Video.

This Hype Video did work, but i'm not the biggest of Lin, because he promised something, and didn't deliver on it. I'm still waiting for Dominik Mysterio the musical. Not cool Miranda, not cool.

John Cena Is Hour Host Of WrestleMania.

John Cena kicked off the show, as this years host of the two night affair, and as he made his way to the ring, it finally hit me that he has retired, because he walked to the ring, and didn't run, plus he was dressed like a best man at a wedding. John talked about how the build to this years Mania could be described as chaotic, and at that point my eyes rolled to the back of my head, just like The Deadman, because this sounded utterly tone def, and fake, but what did I expect, because Ari Emmanuel is John's agent. I didn't like this.

The Usos And LA Knight vs The Vision And Ishowspeed. 

From the outset I got the feeling that something was off, and it was due to the entrances. The Usos came through the crowd, and. LA Knight turned up in jacked up car. This couldn't be said about The Vision, and Ishowspeed, who came out to cut screens, and a Large cloth, that made me think of the band Thirty Seconds To Mars. The Usos, and. Knight looked good, whilst The Vision, and. Ishowspeed were made to look cheap. I've got to say it the Match wasn't for me. I felt that it failed to get over any form of urgentcy, and this is what you need from an opening Match on any card. I do get why this went on first, because of WWE's partnership with ESPN in North America, and given the fact that this could also bring in another audience that may not watch WWE, alongside Ishowspeeds following, this wasn't a strong outing, and if i'm being honest I was bored watching this. The Usos And LA Knight got the win, after a major mix up for Logan Paul And Ishowspeed. This caused Logan to eat an announcers table, after Ishow hit a frogsplash from the top Turnbuckle, going coast to coast. This was a cool way to end a dud of a Match.

Drew Mcintyre vs Jacob Fatu Unsanctioned Match.

From this point on the show got better. I liked all of this. From Jacob playing into the lore of the toolbox. Drew having fun with his brothers phone at ringside, fun referee moments including some belt spots that made me think how was his pants staying up, and the sparadic weapon spots that were woven into the story of the Match. This allowed for the Match to have time to breathe, as Jacob took home the win, after he hit Drew with a Moonsault through the table. The toolbox lore spots were the best part of this Match, as it took me back to the Mania 16, when HHH was terrified of Mick Foleys Barbwire two by four.

WWE Womens Tag Team Championship Fatal Four Way.

On Friday Evening, around 11pm UK time. I checked out reports on X, and it was being heavily rumored that Saraya Beavis aka Paige was in Las Vegas, this was then cooberated by Major Pro Wrestling news outlets. This was confirmed as true, when she took the place of Brie Bella, who wasn't medically cleared to compete, after she injured her ankle recently. Paige joined Nikki, as they beat. Team Blair. The Irrestible Forces, and. Bayley And Lyra Valkyria. To become the new WWE Womens Tag Team Champions. The Match played the way it should've done. The Matches within the Match were flash back from a by gone era, and it was nice to see, whilst the physicality didn't let up. I liked this, as the emotion was written all over Paige's face. A few years ago I met Saraya over AEW All In weekend, and she couldn't have been nicer, so im wishing her all the success in the world. Paige's first run with the WWE didn't exactly run smoothly, due to controversial incidents, which weren't all her fault, so i'm wishing her the best on this go around.

Becky Lynch vs AJ Lee WWE womens Intercontinental Championship.

I had high hopes going into this Match, and they were only just about met. Becky was walked by The Wonder Years who performed her entrance music as she came to the ring, whilst AJ skipped out aided by kids. The Match played into their rivalry's backstory. From using the same Referee Jessica Carr, as she tried to foil Becky's heel plan. This became the arc of the story of the Match which came into existance in it's final stages. Becky slammed AJ's head into an exposed turnbuckle, and hit her with a man handleslam for the win. We have a new WWE Womens Intercontinental Champion, and The Man is on top again. I liked this.

Gunther vs Seth Rollins.

I loved this, and it was by far my Match of the night. I get why some fans didn't get why this was on the card, due to it's build, but when you take a look at this, and how it played out. This was perfect to me. The main story of the Match focused on who's the best, and it worked. This was a physical tour de force, from Gunther suplexing Seth, and then chopping his chest to the point that it looked like roast ham, and both men fighting on the announcers table, and of course there's the return of Bron Breakker, who sphered Seth after running around the ring. The near falls, and submission attempts played into the drama of the Match, However Brons return gave Gunther the upperhand as he choked out Seth for the win. Bron then ran the length of the rampway, and tried to take out Seth.

HOF Class Of 2026.

AJ Styles was upstaged by Stephanie Mcmahon. I hated all of this. I'm convinced that the thank you Vince chants were piped in at the ceremony.

Stephanie Vaquer vs Liv Morgan WWE Womens Championship.

One of the biggest problems with this show, was how long the Matches were given. This Match lasted for just under 7 minutes. I don't have an issue with short Matches, because Pro Wrestling is something that needs to be treated through the eyes of the beholder, but I do get the complaints. From Liv Cosplaying as Britney Spears from her year 2000 stronger era, to this acting as a lofi affair, as both ladies scrambled to get their stuff in, as imitaion became the Matches backstory. This wasn't for me. Liv Got the win, and is our new WWE Womens Champion. I thought that this was a bit rushed.

John Cena Is Back.

John Cena told us that 50.816 were in attendance. Yeah I smell bs on this one, because if you look at Wrestletix on X Night 1 had sold 45.000 tickets roughly. So yeah, Ouch.

Bianca Belair Is Back And She's Going Away Again.

After John was done outcome Bianca Belair, who was decked head to toe in a blue dress. She then told the world that she and Montez Ford are expecting their first child together. This is amazing news, and I would just like to wish both of them the best of luck.

Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton WWE Undisputed Championship.

As the hype video was soundtracked by Black Veil Brides, this became the Backdrop as to what we were about to see. There entrances didn't just tell the story of a 20 year rivalry mixed in with friendship, it acted like a anthology that could have been created by Marvel or DC Comics. From Pat Mcafe getting booed out of the Stadium, and then getting taken out by Cody, and our savior JellyRoll, as he went through announcers table. To the Match needing to be what it was, it followed the template of what I wanted this Match to be, fun with added stench of blood. This did what it needed to do, as the dynamic of heel vs face was given time to breathe. Cody got the win, and retained. This was a lot of fun to watch at 3am in the morning. We had ref bumps, and Pat Mcafe in a refs costume complete with Comedy neck brace. In the aftermath of the Match Cody was smacked with the belt, and was then punted in the head by Randy Orton. It's been reported by the likes of Bryan Alvarez, and. Sean Ross Sapp, that Cody is now in WWE's concussion protocol after the move went wrong. The image of the heel standing tall is something that wasn't needed, but WWE can pull this around as the story is set to continue.

Overview Of WWE WrestleMania 42 Night 1.

With the opener put to oneside, this was an enjoyable evening of Pro Wrestling. The main event was solid. Seth and Gunther stole the show. Drew and Jacob was also excellent, and the focus on Womens Pro Wrestling wasn't just needed it was pivitol. This indeed was a great night.

WWE WrestleMania Night 42 1 Is a solid 8/10.