Wrestlemania 35: Becky Lynch steals the show, Kofi Kingston overcomes the odds

The 35^th edition of World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) flagship show Wrestlemania, held at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford New Jersey on Sunday lived up to all the expectations. It witnessed plenty of twists and turns, plenty of emotional moments and some results which were surprising. For the first time in the history of the World Wrestling Entertainment, Wrestlemania’s main event match was headlined by the women’s championship and it involved Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. The stipulation was that the winner would take both the Smackdown and Raw Women’s titles. Rousey held the Raw Women’s Championship while Flair held the Smackdown Women’s Championship and the match lived up to top billing. In a brutal encounter where fortunes fluctuated back and forth, Lynch demonstrated why she is labeled ‘The Man’ as she overcame both Rousey and Flair to become the undisputed Raw and Smackdown Women’s Champion.

However, the night also belonged to Kofi Kingston, who finally broke the glass ceiling and became new Smackdown Champion after pinning Daniel Bryan. The lead-up to Wrestlemania was tumultuous for Kingston, who had to undergo a gauntlet match and was consistently denied a chance by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, labeling him a B+ player. Before Wrestlemania, Kingston had to endure a brutal hour-long gauntlet where he defeated Sheamus, Cesaro, Samoa Joe and Randy Orton but he was pinned by Bryan.

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The New Day was given the chance to earn Kingston a chance at Wrestlemania and they defeated Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows and also beat Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura next. However, The Bar, featuring Sheamus and Cesaro gave them a lot of trouble and they also put Big E through a table after they lost the match. The Usos, however, decided to forfeit the match and New Day gave Kingston the chance to go to Wrestlemania, where he delivered and pinned Bryan to fulfill an 11-year promise.

Legend bows out, Lesnar tamed

Triple H, the 14-time World Champion, had never beaten Batista in three of their previous encounters. However, in a brutal falls count anywhere match, Triple H finally broke the hoodoo and with some assistance from the 16-time World Champion Ric Flair, Triple H finally pinned Batista and saved his in-ring career. The stipulation was that had Triple H lost, his in-ring career would be over.

There was another falls count anywhere match and it involved Shane McMahon and The Miz. The duo, who were once tag team partners, squared off in a brutal contest in which Shane McMahon managed to win. The Raw Men’s title was also up for grabs with Seth Rollins taking on the Beast Brock Lesnar. Rollins, who has had experience as WWE champion, got the better of Lesnar as he once again reclaimed the Raw Men’s title.

Kurt Angle, who is the only Olympic gold medalist to have competed in the WWE, wrestled in his last-ever match as he squared off against Baron Corbin. However, Corbin got the better of Angle and the Olympic Gold medalist, who has won every WWE title that is to be won, bowed out in grand style. In other events, Finn Balor, in his Demon Avatar, managed to win the Intercontinental Title by beating Bobby Lashley.

In another first, there was a fatal four-way encounter for the women’s tag team championship and the Ilconics emerged as the women’s champion. In the men’s section, The Usos were crowned the men’s tag team champion. In other results, AJ Styles got the better of Randy Orton while Samoa Joe was crowned the new US Champion by defeating Rey Mysterio. Roman Reigns defeated Drew McIntyre while Braun Strowman won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal by eliminating Colin Jost.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kofi Kingston defeated Daniel Bryan to become the new Smackdown Champion.
• Becky Lynch became the Raw and Smackdown Women's Champion.
• Triple H defeated Batista for the first time ever.