WrestleMania 40 kicked off on Saturday to a solid, if not spectacular, start. Night 1 saw a stacked card filled with championship clashes and returning legends. Overall, there was only one bad match on the card (if you’ve watched the show, you probably guessed it), two great title matches, and an amazingly overbooked main event that delivered. Let’s find out what happened on Saturday in this WrestleMania 40 review.
1. Women’s World Heavyweight Championship: Rhea Ripley [c] vs. Becky Lynch
Result: Rhea wins via pinfall
Star Rating: ****1/4 (4.25 stars)
This back-and-forth battle between Ripley and Lynch was a technical showcase. While Becky brought the fight, Rhea’s dominance ultimately secured her win.
2. WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: Judgment Day [c] vs. Awesome Truth vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller vs. DIY vs. New Catch Republic vs. New Day
Run Time: 17:21
Result: Austin Theory & Grayson Waller (SD) and Awesome Truth (RAW) retrieved the belts
Star Rating: ***3/4 (3.75 stars)
The Undisputed Tag Title Ladder Match was a chaotic scramble, but Theory & Waller and Miz & R-Truth walking away with separate titles for Raw and SmackDown was an interesting twist.
3. Andrade and Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar
Run Time: 11:02
Result: Andrade and Rey Mysterio win via pinfall
Star Rating: *** (3 stars)
This personal rivalry between Rey & Andrade against Dominik & Santos delivered a solid performance, but the shorter runtime limited its storytelling potential.
4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
Run Time: 11:07
Result: Jey Uso wins via pinfall
Star Rating: *1/2 (1.5 stars)
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso fell flat. While the storyline had promise, the match itself lacked the intensity needed for a personal feud.
5. Asuka, Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane vs. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi
Run Time: 11:07
Result: Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi win via pinfall
Star Rating: *** (3 stars)
The six-woman tag was a fast-paced display of athleticism, but none of the teams had enough time to truly shine.
6. WWE Intercontinental Championship: Gunther [c] vs. Sami Zayn
Run Time: 11:07
Result: Sami Zayn wins via pinfall
Star Rating: ****1/2 (4.5 stars)
Zayn vs. Gunther was a technical masterpiece. They pushed each other to the limit, making Sami’s upset victory a real crowd-pleaser.
7. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins vs. The Rock and Roman Reigns
Run Time: 44:29
Result: The Rock and Roman Reigns win via pinfall
Star Rating: **** (4 stars)
The main event lived up to the hype. The Rock’s return alongside Roman Reigns created a spectacle, but the lengthy match might feel overlong for some viewers.
The Bottom Line
WrestleMania 40 Night 1 delivered a decent showcase. Standout matches like Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch and Gunther vs. Sami Zayn showcased incredible in-ring talent. The chaotic Undisputed Tag Title Ladder Match offered a unique twist, while other encounters fell short of expectations. The Rock and Roman Reigns’ main event was an epic, overwhelming battle, but its length might test some viewers’ patience. Overall, Night 1 set the stage for a WrestleMania full of drama, high-flying action, and unforgettable moments.
Check back for Night 2’s review.
