By Steve Ward
WrestleMania 41 emanated from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada with a seven match card for night one to kick off the weekend. Among the bouts, four titles were contested with a triple threat affair featuring Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins headlining the show.
World Heavyweight Championship
Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso
Winner: Jey Uso via submission
Following Jey Uso’s win at this year’s Royal Rumble, he elected to challenge “The Ring General” Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at the Showcase of the Immortals. This bout was a hard-hitting slugfest from bell to bell as both men pulled out every move in their playbooks and even hit each other’s finishers on one another. In the end, it took three consecutive Uso Splashes followed by a rear naked choke to earn the submission victory.
World Tag Team Championship
The War Raiders (c) vs. The New Day
Winners: The New Day via pinfall
The War Raiders seemed poised to retain their titles as they manhandled The New Day for a majority of the match. In the final moments, Xavier Woods was being set up to receive the War Machine until Ivar was pulled through the ropes to the arena floor by Kingston as Woods drew the referee’s attention. The New Day then executed Daylight to steal the titles.
Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
Winner: Jade Cargill via pinfall
After it was revealed at the Elimination Chamber last month that Naomi, and not Liv and Raquel, took Jade out of action in November following a brutal attack in the parking garage, the two have entered a bitter rivalry that would come to a head tonight. At the conclusion of this beatdown, Jade achieved her measure of revenge as she hit a vicious power bomb and immediately followed it with Jaded to earn the pinfall victory.
WWE United States Championship
LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
Winner: Jacob Fatu via pinfall
Despite LA Knight’s attempts to mount offense, his efforts had little effect on Fatu as he at many times seemed impervious to pain. In the end, Fatu hit back to back moonsaults to claim victory and his first WWE gold.
El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) vs. Rey Fénix
Winner: El Grande Americano via pinfall
For months, Chad Gable found himself tormented with his inability to defeat any luchadors. This prompted Gable to take a trek to Mexico where he purchased a mysterious box from an old man with unknown contents. Coincidentally, a “new” luchador named El Grande Americano debuted shortly thereafter and immediately targeted Rey Mysterio and the LWO. Rey Mysterio was originally scheduled to compete until he was injured on Friday and was not cleared to compete. This opened the door for Rey Fénix to make his WrestleMania debut. The two competitors put forth a very entertaining high-flying effort. Late in the contest, El Grande Americano slipped a metal plate into his mask which would prove to be the swinging factor in the bout. First, Fénix injured his foot after walking the ropes and kicking Americano in the face. Moments later, Fénix dove from the top rope, however, Americano sidestepped and head butt Fénix. Finally, Americano ascended to the top turnbuckle and delivered a flying headbutt to cement his victory.
WWE Women’s Championship
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
Winner: Tiffany Stratton via pinfall
Charlotte Flair made her return from a serious knee injury and the Royal Rumble and was able to claim victory and punch her ticket to WrestleMania. Flair elected to square off with Tiffany Stratton who has drawn many comparisons to Flair throughout her early career. In a sadly sloppy affair, Tiffany Stratton shockingly retained her title after she landed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever in the final moments of the match.
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk w/ Paul Heyman vs. Seth Rollins
Winner: Seth Rollins via pinfall
Back at Survivor Series, CM Punk agreed to join Roman Reigns’ team in exchange for a favor from Paul Heyman. Punk recently cashed in that favor and said that he wanted Paul Heyman in his corner for WrestleMania - which Heyman obliged. That brings us to tonight. This match appeared to be anyone’s fight until the final minutes when Paul Heyman finally made his presence felt. With all three men incapacitated, Heyman slid a steel chair to Punk who was face to face with Reigns. Heyman then climbed into the ring behind Punk and as Punk rose the chair to strike Reigns, Heyman struck Punk between the uprights. The Wiseman then delivered the chair to Reigns for use on Seth Rollins. As Reigns raised the chair up set to strike, Heyman delivered yet another low blow this time to The Tribal Chief. Heyman handed the chair off one last time to Seth Rollins who delivered a vicious chair shot to Reigns followed by the Stomp to seal his victory.
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