WWE WRESTLEPALOOZA Pro Wrestling Review

The show of Wrestlepalooza starts with a video package that just shows how mainstream WWE is. Celebrities and media appearances and all sorts of stuff rather than the actual wrestlers. After the video, Triple H thanks everyone for showing up. This is then followed by former Indianapolis Colts Kicker Pat McAfee showing up for commentary, which is pretty cool for the hometown crowd. I personally don't mind Pat on commentary, even if I know a lot of people can't stand him.

Match 1

Brock Lesnar vs John Cena

I am not going to be knocking or rating this match on a curve due to the real life controversies and negative press surrounding Brock Lesnar returning to WWE. I will be rating this match solely based off of the in-ring action and how well it ties into the story that they have been building on Raw and Smackdown.

Brock Lesnar has his normal entrance, with a great touch that the commentators were all afraid of him after what he did to Corey Graves on Smackdown.

Meanwhile John Cena comes out with a massive army of kids decked out in Cena gear getting to do his entrance with him.

I think I'm in the minority of people who loved Cena as a heel and wish it lasted longer, but scenes like this really feel special and awesome.

The story of this match is that this is Cena's retirement tour. He has a losing record against Lesnar, who is one of the only people who ever truly destroyed and squashed him in a match. This is also Cena attempting to earn his 100th PPV/PLE victory in his career, which would put him at the 2nd of all time just behind The Undetaker. I think that's pretty incredible considering just HOW LONG The Undertaker's career has been compared to Cena's.

During the ring introductions, Paul Heyman comes out to interrupt Alicia Tayloe which was an AWESOME moment. The crowd exploded and he truly made Lesnar and this match feel like a totally huge deal. And with Lesnar's reaction, I could believe that he wasn't told about it before hand. This really made this match feel huge and special.

The bell rings and it starts off hot and heavy. Lesnar pounds into Cena and throws him around. Slamming him into corners.

This feels like a real fight. This doesn't feel like wrestling, and I love it. It just feels like the two guys are trying to lay into each other. Cena gets a few punches in that have no effect, while Lesnar hits one single stiff Clothesline and takes Cena out.

Lesnar continues to dominate, beginning to hit his chain of German Suplexes. This is showing signs of being similar to their legendary Summerslam clash where Lesnar absolutely destroyed Cena. But in this match, Cena was showing signs of being able to fight out of it. Defending against the Suplexes. Cena even gets a chance to go for a sudden AA, but Lesnar slips out and lays out Cena. Lesnar hits a German Suplex and plays to the crowd.

Now the crowd is dead, and that is a shame. I understand them not picking up for this slow methodical pace with a guy they may have problems cheering for on top, but the match itself is telling a story that ties into their history together.

Cena finally gets a chance to be on top, sending Lesnar into the corner and hitting a bunch of Running Shoulder Tackles, needing 4 just to take him down. Cena then hit a Attitude Adujstment. Lesnar got right back on and into another one. Cena hit a 3rd and the crowd was going wild. Lesnar kicked out at 2 and the crowd went wild. Cena then went for a Five Knuckle Shuffle, but walked right into a F5. Cena got to his feet and Lesnar hit another one. Lesnar stood over Cena, forcing him back up for another F5. He planted Cena with it, but he didn't cover him. He just laughed and soaked up the boos while selling the pain he was in.

Lesnar finally hit yet another F5, but still didn't cover. After a minute or so, Lesnar hit another F5. Lesnar just lifted him right back up and hit another F5. 6 F5s and he finally goes for a cover, getting the quick and shocking victory.

Result: Brock Lesnar Wins

Star Rating: 1/5 Stars

The match itself really only had about 5 actual moves in total. German Suplex, F5, Attitude Adjustment, Five Knuckle Shuffle, Shoulder Tackles. That's not including the wild strikes and throwing people around.

But after the match, Brock Lesnar gets into the ring and hits the referee with an F5. He hits Cena with yet another F5 while children in the crowd are crying and fans are booing. Lesnar stands in the ring soaking in the boos as he finally leaves. The cameras cut to more stunned and shocked fans in the crowd, along with children crying their eyes out. The match itself wasn't great, but that is sort of WWE these days. They care more about the moments and headlines and shock value than actual in ring quality.

After the replay video goes for the match, we see John Cena struggling to even walk himself down the rampway. Looking absolutely defeated and weakened while the crowd chants "Thank You Cena" over and over again. He stops at the top of the stage, turning to look over the crowd one last time.

Before we go to the next match, we see a video of earlier in the day when The Usos and The Vision's Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed got into a scuffle backstage. This is shown to reveal that the match between them has been turned into a special guest referee match with LA Knight as the ref.

Match 2

Special Guest Referee Tag Team Match

The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) vs The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed)

Special Guest Referee: LA Knight

LA Knight has long been feuding with The Vision and their leader Seth Rollins. But at the same time, he has a long track record and history with The Usos when they were a part of The Bloodline. So Knight being the special guest referee isn't because he is going to be impartial by evenly being fair. He is going to be impartial by trying to screw over both teams and hating both of them. I am honestly quite intrigued to see how this goes.

Just like all of his entrances, Jey Uso takes a long time going through the crowd followed by running it back. I mean it definitely has the crowd hot and hyped which always helps.

We start off the match with Bronson Reed and Jey Uso. Bronson dominates and overpowers Jey for a bit until Jimmy gets tagged in. They only get a few seconds of double team offense and control before Reed flattens Jimmy. Bron tags in and they start to work over and beat down on Breakker, with special guest ref LA Knight not really doing too much to get them out of the corner and off of Jimmy.

Bron distracts LA briefly so Bronson can try to use a steel chair, but he is smart and turns around to catch them. When Jimmy steals the chair away, Knight just shrugs and turns around so Jimmy can use it and its not a DQ. The teams brawl onto the floor onto Jey hits a big dive off the top rope to take everybody out.

Reed and Breakker work over Jimmy on the floor, taking him out with some devastating offense. Breakker is so scary and impressively athletic. Reed and Breakker perform some more double team moves onto Jimmy, including a Splash from Reed with Breakker on his back.

A lot of the match is spent outside, just brawling and using weapons. Reed even blasts Jimmy with a steel chair and Knight doesn't call for a DQ. He is being fair in the sense that he isn't punishing either team, so I guess that's fair and impartial in that sense.

Reed throws two chairs into the ring and teases a table, but then pushes it back to loud boos. He sets up one chair in a corner before tagging in Breakker, where the two continue to beat up Jimmy and wear him down.

Jimmy nearly tags out but Breakker stops him with his terrifying speed and agility. Reed and Breakker hit a Electric Chair Bulldog just like his family the Steiner Brothers, which is always so cool to see. I love when thry do stuff like that. All I want to see now is Breakker hit a Steiner Screwdriver and we're set.

Reed goes for a Running Senton but Jimmy is finally able to avoid it and get some time to fight back. He sends Reed face first into the steel chair that he himself set up, allowing Jimmy to crawl to his brother Jey for a hot tag.

Jey gets tagged in at the same time as Bron Breakker, with Jey dominating a bit with the crowd loving everything he does. Jey is so extremely popular and loved by the crowd. Jey hits a Hip Attack in the corner, and something I have noticed for quite a while is that Jey looks like he doesn't hit his opponents at all. His back takes ALL of the force which I don't think can be good for him and his body. I understand not wanting to hurt your opponent, but come on.

The Usos get a table and put it in the ring, which leads to a pretty funny moment where Knight argues with Paul Heyman at ringisde and saying "Well I can't do anything about it. it's in the ring now." which was pretty funny.

Reed and Breakker get back on top, this somewhat turning into a tornado tag match for a bit. Breakker goes for a Spear, but Jey and Jimmy hit a bunch of Superkicks followed by a 1D to Breakker, which gets broken up by Reed.

Breakker hits a suoer impressive Frakensteiner, followed by Reed missing a Moonsault and getting hit with a Uso Splash from Jimmy. Breakker hits Jimmy with a nasty Spear, followed by Jey hitting Breakker with a Spear and an Uso Splash.

Breakker kicks out and the crowd goes while while Jey starts to argue with LA Knight over the count. Kight goes outside the ring to argue with Bronson Reed. Jey hits a Suicide Dive, with Knight getting out of the way but arguing with Jey thinking that he was targeting him.

Breakker tries to use a steel chair, but Jey hits him with a Superkick. Breakker dodges a strike and Jey stops himself from hitting Knight, leading to more tension between them. Jey is somehow busted open, I don't know from what, but he is bleeding a lot from his forehead. Breakker suddenly blasts Jey with a Spear and then hits a Spear that sends both Usos through the table leaning in the corner. Breakker tags Reed in, who hits a Tsunami and gets the Vision the victory.

Result: The Vision wins

Star Rating: 3.25/5 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this match. No it wasn't a in-ring classic or super technical, but it was full of drama and intrigue and fun. I thought it was a great continuation for multiple stories and feuds.

Match 3

WWE Women's World Championship

Stephanie Vaquer vs Iyo Sky

After Naomi had to relinquish the WWE Women's World Championship due to pregnancy, the title was vacated. This match is basically the two top women in the entire division fighting to see who will be the next champion.

And I really mean it. Stephanie Vaquer and Iyo Sky are the two best female wrestlers in the entire WWE. This match is sure to be a classic.

This match from the get go was treated like a big deal. The commentary was doing a great job of building up both women as living legends and saying how they have rarely ever crossed paths. Building up just how huge this is for wrestling, for WWE, for the WWE Women's World Championship.

The beginning of the match is incredibly technical. A lot of holds back and forth showing that these two women are just as technically skilled as they are athletic and able to fly around. This is the kind of wrestling that I adore the most, so I love watching this, The holds for holds, the pinfalls for pinfalls. It is what I love to see.

The crowd was pretty quiet though, which was a bit disappointing but didn't surprise me considering that this is a WWE crowd. The loudest they got in the beginning was when Vaquer teased the Devil's Kiss. Iyo then picked up the pace with some cartwheels and running around into a Dropkick, and only then did the crowd make some noise.

Both women were fighting it out and continued to show their skill. The match stayed slow and like a real fight. Even when there were big moves like Iyo hitting a big Backbreaker, the two women were already worn out and she couldn't cover. Iyo hits some Palm Strikes and then a Flapjack, trying to keep fighting. Vaquer goes after her but Iyo hit a beautiful Springboard Dropkick that only she can hit. Hers looks so unique and cool while the crowd lights up for her getting more exciting and high flying. Iyo hit a great Suicide Dive and the crowd stays loud for a little bit.

Vaquer gets the advantage with a nice looking knee drop on the apron using the ropes, and then hits a great Springboard Crossbody to the floor, which is a move that always looks scary considering how she lands. Both women are worn out and keep fighting with Vaquer doing her best to stay on top. Big moves like Suplexes and going for a Meteora in the corner, but Iyo dodges and hits a German Suplex. Now Iyo goes for a move in the corner, but Vaquer this time reverses with her own German Suplex.

They continue to trade moves until Vaquer once again goes for the Devil's Kiss. Iyo reverses with a great Victory Roll, and when Vaquer kicks out Iyo immediately locks in a Crossface. They are doing an incredible job building to the fan favorite move, which is always a great skill. Iyo thinks she can win it with the Moonsault, but Vaquer pulls her down and hits a WICKED Dragon Screw in the corner. Iyo sells the leg great. Even when Iyo is able to reverse the SVB and land on her feet, she can't attack due to her leg hurting. Iyo and Vaquer trade a few more moves with Iyo hitting a nasty kick, and us unable to cover due to her now hurt leg.

Iyo takes down Vaquer and goes for a Moonsault, but Vaquer gets her legs up just in time. Vaquer hits another big Dragon Screw that looked even nastier, trying to fully incapacitate Iyo. Vaquer finally is able to hit Devil's Kiss, with the crowd loving it and going wild.

Vaquer followed it up with her finishing move the SVB, yet Iyo kicked out. The crowd reacted perfectly and the commentary was shocked. It was great everyone played along with the major moment.

Vaquer dragged Iyo to the corner and prepared for her special finishing move she only uses when she needs it, the Corkscrew Moonsault. Iyo was able ot block it, cimbing up the corner and fighting Vaquer for control. Iyo finally gets it and hits a big Spanish Fly off the top rope, grabbing her leg to sell while Vaquer rolls to the corner. Iyo finally covers, but too much time was wasted and Vaquer kicked out.

Iyo fights back with more brutal strikes, even pulling down her knee pads so her knee attacks did more damage. Despite the injured leg, Iyo gets momentum and prepares for a Moonsault. Vaquer rolled out of the way and Iyo landed HARD on the mat. Vaquer climbed the corner and hit her Corkscrew Moonsault to get the victory and win the championship to a massive ovation..

Result: Stephanie Vaquer wins the WWE Women's World Championship

Star Rating: 4.25/5 Stars

Match 4

Mixed Tag Team Match

CM Punk & AJ Lee vs The Vision (Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch)

AJ Lee's first wrestling match in about 10 years. The return of a legend as part of one of the best and longest running feuds in WWE today.

The matching gear between Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch was absolutely incredible. As was Punk's jacket that read "AJ's Husband" on it. Really from the entrances alone and the commentary, this feels like a huge deal. A once in a lifetime match because...well it is.

The match started off slow with teasing and stalling, but once the action kicked in, it was fast and furious. Rollins and Lynch working together to beat up Punk with the crowd going wild. Lee getting some revenge on Rollins was great and had the crowd cheering and laughing. Pun continued to beat up Rollins, hitting multiple Diving Axe Handles before Rollins caught him and went for a Pedigree, but Punk reversed and tried to go for a GTS. Lynch and Rollins have great chemistry together, able to sneak and cheak in the best way. Lynch got a whole lot of cheap shots in on Punk while AJ could do nothing but watch.

Rollins and Lynch continued to work over Punk, beating him down with the crowd chanting and cheering for him as best they could.

It was rather slow for a while, but something like this sort of has to be. AJ has been gone from in ring competition for over a decade. She can't exactly all of a sudden go full throttle or for a long time. Sure Punk sort of did that when he debuted in AEW, but even then it was slightly different.

Rollins is honestly on one of his best runs I can think of right now. His way of playing to the crowd and his psychology just feels like it's gotten a lot better recently. I still think my personal favorite gimmick of his was the early days of the religious figure right when the pandemic hit, but this is definitely up there.

Like even when Punk hits a Suplex and he prepares for a hot tag, Rollins doesn't tag in Lynch. He gets back on top of Punk to keep AJ from getting involved. He wants to keep taking down Punk. He can't tag out like he normally does. Punk gets up and inches closer and closer, where you then see Seth motion for Becky to get into the ring. The referee misses the tag and holds AJ back so Seth and Becky can attack Punk together. Seth even lifts Becky up and tries to use her as a weapon, leading to Punk moving and finally having a chance to get a hot tag to AJ.

But just in time, Becky pulls AJ off the apron and prevents the tag from happening. Rollins is able to get back in and hit a Falcon Arrow. Punk kicks out, but it really began to feel like maybe AJ won't even get tagged in.

Seth took time to play to the crowd, skipping around to mock AJ. But then he took too long, letting Punk recover and hit a quick GTS out of nowhere. Becky tried to get Rollins to wake up, but Punk pushed her away and tagged in AJ all while Becky was trying to pull him away.

The crowd erupted and just...my goodness AJ is so charismatic. She has great facial expressions and acting that the crowd just loves.

AJ takes Becky down with Lout Thesz Presses and punches followed by hair throws and stomps in the corner. It almost felt like she was wrestling the old Divas style, which maybe that was a purposeful thing or maybe it is just the style she knows. But when Becky went for a Powerbomb, AJ reversed with a Hurricanrana and a big Spin Kick. AJ moved like she didn't miss a step, wrestling just like she did 10 years ago.

AJ began to slap around Seth in what were admittedly pretty messy strikes, but it is what it is. She reverses a Manhandle Slam and uses Seth to hit a Tornado DDT onto Becky, as well as a pretty awesome Sliced Bread with assistance from Punk, hitting the move on Seth and landing hard on Becky.

This is followed up by Punk and Lee hitting duel Knees and Bulldogs like Punk followed by double Shining Wizards like AJ. Lee then goes for the Black Widow submission, but Becky tries to reverse into a Disarmher. The amount of technical reversal and stuff was pretty cool to see, then AJ finally gets ther Black Widow locked in. Rollins tries to break it up, but Punk stopes him and locks in a Sharpshooter. Punk got closer to AJ and Becky when Becky poked him in the eye to break up his hold, followed by Seth taking AJ off Becky, only to be locked into a Black Widow of his own. Becky takes AJ and hits a Becksploder Suplex, followed by Seth and Becky hitting Pedigress at the same time.

When they both pin, AJ and Punk both kick out.

Seth and Becky both teased going for GTS at the same time, but both Punk and AJ got out. AJ hit her own Becksploder onto Becky, followed by attemtping to go for a Curb Stomp. Seth stops her, but then Punk blasts Seth with his own Curb Stomp. The crowd was at a fever pitch while Becky began to slap Punk around. Punk caught a slap and caught a kick right after. The crowd was going wild as Punk tripped her and prepared for a Sharpshooter. Becky then took Punk down and locked in her own Sharpshooter on Punk. Punk was eventually able to reverse it and lock in his own Sharpshooter that made the crowd go wild.

Seth broke it up and hit Punk with a Pedigree, followed by a Curb Stomp. Seth pinned Punk, but then AJ hit him with a Stomp. Becky hit AJ with a Manhandle Slam and covered (wait, who's legal?) but AJ kicked out.

Things began to get messy and chaotic, everyone pairing off and brawling with the crowd going wild. The women fighting and the men fighting at the same time in the middle of the ring. Punk and AJ were left in the ring, going after their respective opponents and throwing them into the announce tables. AJ and Becky get on one table while Punk and Rollins get on another. They prepare to send them through, but Becky and Seth are able to fight out. Becky and Seth prepare for duel manhandle Slams, but Punk lifts Seth up onto his shoulders. In a very unique and creative spot I've never seen before, Becky threw AJ from one table to the other while Punk had Seth on his shoulders. The table broke and all three were taken down. Becky threw Lee into the ring and went for a Manhandle Slam, but Lee reversed straight into a Black Widow, making the WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion tap out.

Result: AJ Lee & CM Punk win

Star Rating: 4.75/5 Stars

Before we go to our final match of the night, we gotta have a legend cameo because of course.

The Undertaker comes out as the American Badass, and we see Stephanie McMahon in the front row. Taker goes to her and she seems to not know what is happening. He sits in a seat right next to her talking into the mic.

It felt really weird and awkward. Like they didn't plan it or script it at all. It just felt like friends just improving and talking about whatever while the fans were watching on.

This was all so Undertaker could officially announce that Stephanie McMahon was the first inductee into the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame. It was definitely a special and cool moment, just felt weird. Good for her though. She deserves it.

Match 5/Main Event

Undisputed WWE Championship Match

Cody Rhodes (c) vs Drew McIntyre

The top prize in all of WWE (and if you want to believe them, all of pro wrestling) is on the line.

The poster boy. The face of WWE Cody Rhodes defends against a man who was once his friend. Once his tag team partner. Heck, 15 years ago they were WWE Tag Team Champions. They both left WWE and went all around the world on the independent circuit. They became global superstars through hard work and determination. They made it so that eventually, WWE HAD to bring them back as the superstars they saw themselves as. Their paths have long mirrored each other, but haven't intersected in quite some time. It'll be very interesting to see how this one goes.

The match starts off with trash talking and taunting for a bit. Cody tries to keep things clean with old school wrestling. But the best part is Drew plays along just for a little bit. A clean break seems to get inside of Cody's head more than a cheap shot would've. Drew takes advantage with some strikes before he is the one to take it back to wrestling and rest holds. Keeping Cody down with his own skill and expertise.

Cody got out of the hold and looked conflicted on his face. Drew was seeming to play it all clean and normal. A wrestling match. But Cody was the one starting to get aggressive. To bring the speed and fire.

But then Cody is starting to sell what I think is supposed to be a concussion or something. He has moments of stopping moves, squeezing his eyes shut, holding his head. I don't 100% know or understand what it is, but I'm curious to see how it plays out.

Cody sends Drew to the floor with a Disaster Kick followed by a Suicide Dive. Cody has some strange acting and facial expressions in this match as he goes for another Suicide Dive. But Drew atches him and just throws him around with his immense strength and power.

Drew began to take advantage, really laying in with his strength and power advantage, laying into Cody with some big chops. But Cody uses his intelligence, dodging an attack that sent Drew to the ring post.

Cody continues to stumble around a bit, not moving as smoothly as he normally would. Commentary keeps bringing it up but with no real idea of what could be the reason.

Drew takes Cody and hits him with a Reverse Alabama Slam onto the steel steps, but Cody kicks out of the pinfall attempt in the ring.

Cody is finally able to hit a Superplex, but he instantly goes to grab at his head. He is clearly selling some type of head injury, and the commentary still seems somewhat confused by it.

If it's the after effects of the devastating Claymore that Drew gave him a month or so ago to write him off, it's weird that it's only showing up now. In none of his promos did he ever show signs of it.

The two trade blows back and forth when Cody hits some running strikes and reversals, selling his head the entire time by grabbing it when he can. Strikes to the head don't seem to do much, but him performing moves does. I'm not sure what the exact injury or story is supposed to be.

Cody hits a Cody Cutter and prepares for a Cross Rhodes, but Drew is able to escape with. aknee right to the head. Cody only sells it briefly, but then Drew hits a Headbutt followed by putting Cody on the top rope and laying into his head with punches and biting.

Drew then hit a Avalanche White Noise (Air Raid Crash) but only got a 2 count. Which...if the whole thing is Cody selling some sort of head injury, should that not be like a killing blow? You're driving them (theoretically) right onto their head and neck.

Drew sets up for a Claymore Kick, but Cody catches him ina. weird looking Powerbomb. Drew kicks out and hits another Headbutt. Drew sets up for a Claymore, but Cody just steps back to avoid it and lock in a Figure Four.

I will say that dodging a move by just...taking a step back really made me laugh. I couldn't believe that was all he did. I found it hilarious.

Drew removed a turnbuckle pad and threw it out of the ring, trying to use it. The official got out of the ring to avoid getting crushed, butt his screwed Drew over as the referee couldn't count. Drew gets sent into the exposed steel and then hit with a Cross Rhodes, but kicks out just in time.

Drew gets the advantage after a bit and blasts Cody with a Claymore Kick, getting about 2.9 before Cody kicked out to a massive pop.

Drew's acting and desperation is incredible. He has always played that role perfectly over the past few years. His character sort of gets in his own way and is paranoid that the entire world is conspiring against him. Meanwhile this match is showing a new side of Cody of seemingly trying to fight back some sort of mental battle.

Drew sets up to Claymore Cody into the announce table like he did a month ago, but the referee stops him. Drew pushes him away and goes for it, but Cody moves and Drew slams his leg through the monitor. Once again, it seems like there is a conspiracy.

Drew sells like he can't even stand as he struggles back to the ring. Cody goes for a Disaster Kick, but Drew catches him with a Headbutt. Drew tries to go for a Claymore, but his injured leg gives out. Cody hits a Super Cody Cutter followed by a Cross Rhodes to retain the WWE Championship.

Result: Cody Rhodes retains the Undisputed WWE Championship

Star Rating: 4.25/5 Stars

The show ends with Cody Rhodes standing tall on the first ever WWE event to take place on the ESPN app. Standing tall like he often does as the face of the company. No surprises or anything after. I am quite interested to see who Cody's next challenger is going to be.

Overall Show Rating: 8/10