WWE WrestleMania 37 Night 2 - As It Happened
Another packed night of action
Apr 12, 2021
After an excellent Saturday night of action, WWE failed to immediately capitalise on Sunday as the company opened the show with a dud of a match between The Fiend and Randy Orton. The in-ring action improved from there, though, and every other match on the card ranged from good to excellent. Check out what happened inside Raymond James Stadium below:
The Fiend vs. Randy Orton
After another rendition of 'America The Beautiful', this time from Ashland Craft, Hulk Hogan and Titus O'Neil made their way to the stage dressed in pirate costumes and welcomed fans to night two of WrestleMania 37.
It was then time for less beautiful events as The Fiend went one on one with Randy Orton. Wyatt was no longer horrifically deformed as he repaired himself using some black magic wizardry. Alexa Bliss then made her way to the ring and wound up a giant Fiend In The Box.
The Fiend popped out a few moments later and launched himself at Randy Orton to start the match. The two-time Universal Champion then taunted Orton while the ring was bathed in the infamous red light. The Fiend went after Orton, but The Viper rolled to the outside. Wyatt followed, and Orton Back Dropped him onto the announce table. It failed to wound The Fiend, though, who locked in the Mandible Claw.
Orton managed to escape and he caught Wyatt with two Draped DDTs and sent him crashing into the giant box at ringside, but it still did little to harm Wyatt.
Orton managed to take control after surviving another onslaught from The Fiend and he put Wyatt on the mat with a third Draping DDT. He then set up for the RKO but The Fiend blocked it and locked in the Mandible Claw again. Wyatt was then about to connect with Sister Abigail, but fire suddenly shot out of the ring posts and Alexa Bliss reappeared on top of the giant box, this time wearing a black crown while black liquid dripped down her face.
This ultimately distracted The Fiend and Orton caught him with a lone RKO to score the victory.
Winner: Randy Orton
Orton hightailed it out of Raymond James Stadium after picking up the win. The Fiend then stared at Alexa Bliss and they disappeared after the lights went out while the fans in attendance booed.
Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax vs. Natalya & Tamina - Women's Tag Team Championship
Before the next match, we had a backstage segment with Titus O'Neil, Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff and Bayley during which they plugged the 83 Weeks podcast.
Once the match got underway, both teams battled back and forth during the opening minutes, but Natalya and Tamina took control after they managed to Back Body Drop Nia Jax and work over Shayna Baszler.
Nia took exception to being Back Body Dropped, though, and she pulled Tamina from the apron and Slammed her on the outside. This allowed Shayna Baszler to take control and she and Jax worked over Natalya's ankle.
After several minutes of working over the limb, Nia hit a One-Arm Powerbomb on The Queen Of Harts but Tamina suddenly recovered and broke up the pin. Natalya then made the hot tag to her partner and Tamina ran roughshod over the Women's Tag Team Champions. Tamina blocked a Kirifuda Clutch attempt from Baszler during this sequence and she connected with a Samoan Drop for a near fall.
She tried to follow up with a Superfly Splash, but Baszler countered with a Pele Kick. Nia Jax then capitalised with a Double Crossbody on Tamina and Natalya and she appeared to tweak her knee in the process.
Jax taunted Tamina shortly after but the veteran fired back with a Slap and Slammed The Irresistible Force for an incredibly close near fall. Tamina once again tried to follow up with the Superfly Splash but Jax rolled out of the way and Tamina crashed and burned.
Both women tagged in their partners and, for some reason, Natalya locked Jax in the Sharpshooter. Baszler, who was legal, just walked into the ring and locked in the Kirifuda Clutch. Seconds later, Natalya passed out.
Winners: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn headed to the ring and invited Logan Paul to the squared circle while boos reigned down on the YouTuber. Sami danced, though, so all was right with the world.
A fired-up Kevin Owens then headed to the ring and the longtime friends immediately clashed as Zayn charged at KO and was quickly decked with a Pop-Up Powerbomb. Owens couldn't make the cover, though, because Zayn managed to roll to the outside.
This did nothing to stop KO's onslaught and he connected with Cannonball in the ring after briefly battering Sami on the outside.
Zayn managed to hit some offence a few moments later, though, as he Suplexed KO on the apron. Zayn then followed up with a Blue Thunder Bomb and lambasted the official after Owens kicked out at two.
Both men battled on the top turnbuckle shortly after and Owens connected with a Frog Splash for a near fall. Sami managed to regain the upper hand and he went for the Helluva Kick but Owens dodged it and went for a Stunner, which Zayn reversed into another Blue Thunder Bomb. The Great Liberator then followed up with more Exploder Suplexes and a Brainbuster for a near fall.
Both men then slapped each other in the corner and Zayn caught Owens with a vicious Uppercut. They brawled on the top turnbuckle once again and Owens hit Zayn with a Fisherman Suplex this time. They then threw some more strikes at each other and as Owens ran to the corner, Zayn chased after him and connected with a Helluva Kick. He didn't make the cover, though, and Owens fired back with two Superkicks and a Stunner for the 1-2-3, while he told Zayn "you did this."
Winner: Kevin Owens
After the match, Logan Paul climbed into the ring, and he tried to talk to KO. This ultimately enraged Zayn, who got in Logan's face, but Paul pushed him to the floor. The YouTuber then raised KO's hand, but Owens was having none of it and he Stunnered Paul to a raucous reaction.
A backstage segment with Riddle, RVD and The Great Khali followed ahead of the United States Title match.
Riddle vs. Sheamus - United States Championship
Both men brawled back and forth during the opening minutes and Sheamus hit the first big move when he decked Riddle with 10 Beats Of The Bodhran. Riddle fired back with a Spanish Fly from the top rope and he followed up with repeated strikes, a Broton and a Jackhammer. Riddle lacked the destructive power of Goldberg, though, and Sheamus kicked out.
Riddle went for Bro Derek a few moments later, and after a few reversals, Sheamus connected with a Knee and an Alabama Slam for two close near falls. The Celtic Warrior then went for White Noise on the apron but Riddle countered into a German Suplex. The United States Champion followed up with a Corkscrew Moonsault to the floor and the Floating Bro in the ring for a close two count.
Later, Sheamus climbed to the top turnbuckle again, Riddle met him but the challenger caught the champion and went for White Noise. They fell to the mat, though, and Sheamus had to hit the move as normal. He then connected with Double Knees from the top rope for a near fall and tried to follow up with a Brogue Kick but Riddle dodged it.
Both men then reversed some more moves until Riddle went for a Moonsault from the middle rope and ate a Brogue Kick from out of nowhere for his trouble. This put The Original Bro out of commission and Sheamus pinned him to capture the United States Title.
Winner: Sheamus
Big E vs. Apollo Crews - Nigerian Drum Fight for the Intercontinental Championship
While nothing was known about the stipulation heading into the match, the bout was ultimately a No Disqualification match and the ring was surrounded by small drums, kendo sticks, tables and a metal gong.
Both men battered each other with kendo sticks to start the match and Big E tried to use the gong but Crews blocked it and fired back with more kendo stick shots. Moments later, Apollo found himself being Speared to the outside by the Intercontinental Champion, though. Big E dragged the steel steps along on the outside and this allowed Apollo to recover and connect with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Apollo then tried to murder Big E as he draped the champion's limp body across the steel steps and threw another set of steps at E, but the New Day man moved out of the way.
The action then made its way to the apron once again and Big E blocked a Crews charge and caught him with a Urinagi onto the steel steps. Big E tried to capitalise and he set up a table in the ring, but Apollo fired back with more Kendo Stick shots. Crews then draped E across the table and went for a Frog Splash but the New Day man rolled out of the way and followed up with the Big Ending.
Before the champion could make the cover, though, Babatunde/Dabba-Kato suddenly appeared from out of nowhere and Chokeslammed Big E. He then dragged Crews across the champion for the 1-2-3.
Reports from earlier today noted Babatunde was set to be repackaged as Commander Azeez, and he is seemingly Apollo Crews' enforcer.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Following the match, WWE welcomed the Hall Of Fame Class of 2021 onto the stage and Kane initiated an explosion of pyro.
Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley - Raw Women's Championship
After an initial feeling-out process, Rhea Ripley gained the upper hand and pulverised Asuka with some vicious strikes before she locked in a Gutwrench. She then repeatedly slapped and taunted the Raw Women's Champion but Asuka fired back with a Knee Bar. Ripley escaped by somehow rolling the move into an impressive German Suplex.
The Nightmare continued to dominate the action over the next few minutes but Asuka fought back with a Back Fist and followed up with a Missile Dropkick. She then connected with a Hip Attack for a near fall on the challenger.
More back and forth action followed and Asuka drilled Ripley with a DDT from the apron to the floor. Ripley managed to make it back into the ring before the count of 10 and Asuka continued to attack the challenger and caught her with a Running Knee. She went for a second one, but Ripley blocked it and stomped away at The Empress Of Tomorrow before she locked in the Prism Trap.
Asuka rolled through into an Armbar after a few moments and Ripley managed to escape by tossing the champion into the turnbuckle. Asuka managed to lock in the Armbar again soon after and she transitioned into the Asuka Lock, but Ripley countered into a pinning attempt. Asuka powered out and fired back with some Kicks, but Ripley ducked one final Kick attempt and decked the champion with Riptide to pick up the win.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
Following Ripley's celebrations and a recap of the opening match, Titus O'Neil and Hulk Hogan thanked the fans for attending WrestleMania. They were then interrupted by Bayley, but she was then interrupted herself by The Bella Twins. Bayley made a joke that John Cena wasn't there and The Bella Twins ended up taking out The Role Model. The four Hall Of Famers then danced their way off the stage and it was time for the main event.
WWE also confirmed the next pay-per-view will be WrestleMania Backlash on May 16.
Roman Reigns vs. Edge vs. Daniel Bryan - Universal Championship
It didn't take long for Jey Uso to interfere as he Superkicked Daniel Bryan on the outside and Superkicked Edge a few moments later. Uso found himself on his back soon after, though, after Edge Irish Whipped him into the steel steps. Edge then took out Roman Reigns and The Rated-R Superstar put Uso out of commission with an Edgecution on the steel steps. WWE's medical team rushed to ringside and Jey was guided backstage.
Bryan, Edge and Reigns then got back to their feet and they battled back and forth in the ring and on the outside for the next few minutes. Edge managed to hit the first big move as he decked Reigns with an Edgecution and set up for a Spear. Roman countered with a Superman Punch and set up for his own Spear, but Edge countered into a Sunset Flip for a near fall. Both men then got back to their feet and went for Spears at the same time, causing them both to crash and burn.
Daniel Bryan looked to capitalise with Diving Headbutts on Edge and Reigns. Yes Kicks followed but Reigns blocked and Edge ducked. Their blocks didn't matter, though, as Bryan came flying out of the blocks and decked The Rated-R Superstar with a Running Knee. Bryan then targeted Reigns and locked in the Yes Lock but the submission was broken up by Edge. Bryan simply turned his attention to Edge and locked in the submission on the 11-time world champion. Reigns then broke up the submission and pummelled Bryan with brutal strikes.
As 'Roman sucks' chants reigned down, Reigns placed steel steps next to the announce table and Powerbombed Daniel Bryan through it. Reigns then briefly celebrated but Edge suddenly Speared The Big Dog from out of nowhere. This brought the match down to Edge and Roman Reigns for the time being and after The Rated-R Superstar grabbed multiple chairs, he locked in the Crossface and used a piece of a steel chair for extra leverage.
Reigns was about to tap out but Daniel Bryan grabbed The Tribal Chief's hand and locked in the Yes Lock. While Reigns passed out, Daniel Bryan and Edge started headbutting each other and Bryan won the exchange and pummelled his opponent. Bryan then kicked away at Edge's head and set up for the Running Knee. He didn't manage to connect with the Knee, however, as the 11-time World Champion countered with a Spear. Roman Reigns then went for a Superman Punch on Edge but he ducked and hit another Spear on The Big Dog.
Edge had the match won as he covered Reigns and Charles Robinson was about to count to three but Daniel Bryan pulled the official out of the ring. A crazed Edge then collected even more steel chairs and battered his opponents with numerous steel chair shots. A Con-Chair-To to Bryan followed and Edge was about to hit another one on Reigns but Jey Uso suddenly appeared from out of nowhere. The Ultimate Opportunist once again got the better of 'main event', though, and he decked him with a Spear.
Uso's distraction gave Reigns enough time to recover, however, and he decked Edge with a Spear and followed up with a Con-Chair-To on The Rated-R Superstar. The Big Dog then dragged Edge over Bryan and pinned both men to retain the Universal Championship.
Winner: Roman Reigns