Overall, the 4-hour event flew by, growing in quality as it moved along. While there were no outright bad contests on the card, some segments were obviously better than others. Which was the best match of WrestleMania 38 Saturday?
7 The Usus Vs Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs (SmackDown Tag Team Championships)
Unfortunately, WrestleMania 38 got off to an unlucky start as the opening match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships had to be cut short due to an injury. Following roughly five minutes of decent action, Rick Boogs tried to lift both of the Usos but buckled under the weight. Later on, WWE confirmed that Boogs suffered a torn quadriceps to patella tendon.
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Up until this point, the odds looked positive that Nakamura and Boogs were set to win the titles, but an audible was made to change the ending once the injury happened. Considering the situation, everyone in the match reacted quickly and handled it well.
6 Drew McIntyre Vs Happy Corbin
Despite having one of the longest builds leading up to WrestleMania 38, Drew McIntyre versus Happy Corbin never quite managed to build enough steam to feel like a big match. Nevertheless, the contest itself proved to be a serviceable undercard bout, with both wrestlers delivering professional performances that illustrate why they are so highly regarded by WWE.
Ultimately, this fight succeeded in making McIntyre look strong, as the Scottish wrestler even kicked out of Corbin’s End of Days. During the post-match, McIntyre used his sword to cut the ring ropes, a spot that eclipsed anything that happened during the preceding contest.
5 Charlotte Flair Vs. Ronda Rousey (SmackDown Women’s Championship)
Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey put on a physical battle that was undermined by some sloppy moments, a lack of heat, and a disappointing ending. The fact this match was squashed between three fantastic segments also did it no favors, especially in relation to the RAW Women’s Championship bout that took place earlier in the card.
Revolving mainly around submissions and strikes, Flair and Rousey did not hold much back in terms of viciousness, and they certainly produced a couple of exciting exchanges. However, the fight struggled to get out of second gear and to consistently keep the audience engaged, a potential side effect of both wrestlers having uneven characterization in recent months.
4 The Miz & Logan Paul Vs. The Mysterios
In a night with quite a few surprises, Logan Paul’s performance was perhaps the most unexpected. The YouTuber stole the show in a match that involved two veterans in Rey Mysterio and The Miz and an exciting up-and-comer in Dominik Mysterio, all of whom were on their game. A surprisingly even affair, this was a classic face versus heel tag team match, with the latter playing the crowd through their underhanded tricks and taunts.
The match’s highlight saw Logan Paul perform Eddie Guerrero’s three amigos and frog splash, an act delivered with all the smug arrogance of a seasoned WWE villain. The fact Logan Paul performed these moves well just made him that much more detestable (in a good way).
3 Kevin Owens Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
OK, this one is difficult to place. WrestleMania 38 concluded Night One with the Kevin Owens Show featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin, a segment that led to the Rattlesnake’s first match since WrestleMania 19. In terms of pure entertainment value, this segment was the best of the night; however, if analyzed in isolation, the match cannot quite compare to two earlier bouts.
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That said, the actual fight was a joy to watch. A throwback to the Attitude Era’s walk-and-brawl style matches, Owens and Austin punched their way through the arena as the audience cheered as loudly as they possibly could. Turning back the clock, Austin drank a lot of beer, took a surprisingly nasty bump on the concrete, and delivered a few stunners to send the crowd home happy. Sometimes, wrestling just needs to be fun.
2 Seth Rollins Vs. Cody Rhodes
Also, sometimes, wrestling just needs to be simple. Rather than throwing out an unwanted curveball, WWE delivered exactly what fans wanted when it came to Seth Rollins’ mystery opponent: Cody Rhodes. The first big defection from AEW to WWE, Rhodes showed up with his American Nightmare gimmick intact, including an over-the-top entrance and a finisher that rarely finishes matches.
As great as Rhodes’ return was, the moment would have fallen flat if it was followed by a lackluster match; thankfully, Rollins and Rhodes put on a clinic. Once they got over a nervy opening few minutes, the two wrestlers started to trade reversals, moves, and kick outs like the seasoned pros that they are. The ending was also top-notch and presented Rhodes as the big deal that he is.
1 Becky Lynch Vs. Bianca Belair (RAW Women’s Championship)
Although placed at the half-way point of the first night in a two-day card, Becky Lynch versus Bianca Belair felt like a main event. Paying off a build that dates back to SummerSlam, Lynch and Belair put on an all-time fantastic contest filled with convincing near falls, callbacks to their rivalry, and subtle moments of storytelling.
Right from the clever opening exchange inspired by the controversial “match” that launched this rivalry, Lynch and Belair maintained a relentless pace that permitted both wrestlers to show the full arsenal at their disposal. This was a WrestleMania worthy feud and match.
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