Wrestlemania 33 Recap #WrestleMania

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

The Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment is finally here! It's Wrestlemania 33! The grand daddy of all WWE events was live at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, for the advertised Ultimate Thrill Ride! The New Day were the hosts of the show and promised humor and hijinks throughout the night. WWE Universal Champion Goldberg defended his title against "The Beast" Brock Lesnar. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Bray Wyatt defended his title against "The Viper" Randy Orton. Former best friends turned enemies, WWE United States Champion Chris Jericho defended his title against Kevin Owens. WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose defended his title against Baron Corbin. The self proclaimed King of the Cruiserweights Neville defended his WWE Cruiserweight Championship against "A Double" Austin Aries. WWE RAW Women's Champion Bayley defended her title against Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Nia Jax in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match. WWE Smackdown Live Women's Champion Alexa Bliss defended her title in a One Vs. All Match against every available Smackdown Live Women's Superstar Available. WWE RAW World Tag Team Champions Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson defended their titles against Enzo and Big Cass and Sheamus and Cesaro in a Triple Threat Ladder Match.

The Wrestlemania Icon, The Phenom, The Undertaker battled Roman Reigns in a one on one match. The 4th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal took place with the Andre the Giant Trophy on the line. The feud between Triple H and Seth Rollins finally came to a head as both men battled in a one on one Unsanctioned Match. The super couple of WWE, John Cena and Nikki Bella battled the Hollywood couple, The Miz and Maryse in a tag team match. "The Phenomenal One" AJ Styles battled Smackdown Live's Commissioner and prince of the McMahon family Shane McMahon. Celebrities and past wrestlers from all over the world were in attendance and ready for this year's party.

** Wrestlemania 33 Pre-Show **

- "WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match": Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries: The match closes out with Neville hitting back to back german suplexes on Aries for a near fall. Neville stomps on Aries and goes for the Rings of Saturn submission, but Aries counters into a near fall rollup. Aries and Neville trade shots that ends with Aries nailing the discus forearm sending Neville flying out to the floor. Aries brings Neville back into the ring, but eats a kick to the head by Neville. Neville goes for the Red Arrow, but Aries cuts Neville off on the top rope. Aries hits a hurricanrana on Neville off the ropes and then plants a charging forearm on Neville in the corner. Aries goes to the top rope, hits the 450 Splash on Neville and gets a near fall. Aries traps Neville in the Last Chancery submission and it looks like Neville is going to tap out. Neville, however, targets Aries' past eye injury and rakes his eyes to escape. Neville drops Aries to the mat as Aries can hardly see and is in pain. Neville goes to the top rope, hits the Red Arrow and scores the pinfall to retain his title.
Winner: Neville, by pinfall, to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

- 4th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: The match closes out with the final five coming down to Mojo Rawley, Sami Zayn, Titus O'Neil, Killian Dain and Jinder Mahal. Zayn and Titus trade blows until Zayn tosses Titus out for the elimination. Dain sneaks up behind Zayn and tosses Zayn out for the elimination. Mojo hits a splash on Dain in the corner and then clotheslines Mahal. Mahal sends Mojo outside and tosses him into the barricade right in front of the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski. Mahal tosses Gronk's drink in his face and talks trash. Gronk leaps the barricade, but WWE Security stop him. Gronk gets past security and gets in the ring. Gronk charges Mahal and runs him over with a football tackle. Mojo and Gronk hype each other up and then Mojo eliminates a charging Dain. Mahal charges Mojo, but gets tossed to the apron. Mahal tries to suplex Mojo to the floor, but Mojo counters and sends Mahal to the floor for the victory.
Winner: Mojo Rawley.

- Paul Heyman is in the Social Media Lounge and guarantees that Brock Lesnar will leave tonight the new WWE Universal Champion.

- "WWE Intercontinental Championship Match": Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Baron Corbin: The match closes out with Ambrose countering a superplex and sending Corbin to the mat. Corbin counters Dirty Deeds, but gets tossed over the top rope. Ambrose goes for a suicide dive, but gets caught in mid air by Corbin. Ambrose dodges a Corbin charge and sends Corbin into the steel steps. Ambrose goes to the top rope and hits a flying elbow onto Corbin outside. Back in the ring, Ambrose and Corbin unload on each other, until Ambrose catches an elbow. Corbin hits a neck breaker on Ambrose and gets a near fall. Ambrose and Corbin trade counters until Corbin hits Deep Six and gets a near fall. Corbin unloads on Ambrose, but Ambrose hits the rebound clothesline. Corbin counters Dirty Deeds, slams Ambrose and gets a near fall. Corbin gets frustrated and talks trash to Ambrose. Ambrose counters End of Days and spikes Corbin with Dirty Deeds, scoring the pinfall and retaining his title.
Winner: Dean Ambrose, by pinfall, to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

** Wrestlemania 33 **

- Tinashe kicks off the show singing America the Beautiful.

- The New Day Promo: The hosts of Wrestlemania 33, The New Day, are in the ring dressed as Final Fantasy characters. The New Day crack jokes and dance before officially getting the show started by pulling the lever to the "Ultimate Thrill Ride".

- AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon: The match closes out with Shane and Styles in the corner where Styles lands a kick that hits Shane and takes the referee out. Styles hits a Pele Kick on Shane then grabs two garbage cans. Styles places Shane and a garbage can in the corner and attempts the Coast To Coast drop kick. Shane tosses the can at Styles in mid air and knocks Styles out. Shane places Styles and the second garbage can in the corner and then connects on his Coast To Coast drop kick. Shane tears apart the announcers table, drags Styles outside and then lays Styles on the table. Shane climbs the ropes and goes for the flying elbow off the top rope and onto Styles through the announcers table outside.

Styles moves at the last second and Shane crashes through the table solo. Styles drags Shane back into the ring and goes for the Phenomenal Forearm. Shane counters it in mid air and plants Styles into the mat with a DDT. Shane goes back to the top rope and goes for a Shooting Star Press on Styles. Styles again moves at the last second and Shane crashes on the mat. Styles hits the Phenomenal Forearm on Shane, covers and scores the pinfall.
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall.

- "WWE United States Championship Match": Chris Jericho (c) vs. Kevin Owens: The match closes out with Jericho countering a frog splash and Owens countering the Lionsault. Jericho next counters the Swanton, but Owens regains control. Jericho counters the Pop Up Power Bomb and hits Owens with the Lionsault for a near fall. Jericho kicks Owens in the ribs and then plants an uppercut on Owens. Owens traps Jericho in his own Walls of Jericho submission and nearly makes Jericho tap out. Owens sends Jericho into the corner, but misses the Cannonball. Jericho traps Owens in the Walls of Jericho submission. Owens barely makes it to the ropes to break the hold. Owens plants Jericho with the Pop Up Power Bomb and gets a near fall. Owens yells at Jericho and attempts another Pop Up Power Bomb, but Jericho counters it into a Code Breaker for a near fall. Owens takes the fight out onto the apron where Owens plants Jericho with an apron power bomb, scores the pinfall and wins the title.
Winner: Kevin Owens, by pinfall, to win the WWE United States Championship.

- "WWE RAW Women's Championship, Fatal Four Way Elimination Match": Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax:

** First Elimination: Bayley, Charlotte and Sasha join forces and triple team Nia. Charlotte plants a boot on Nia and Sasha and Bayley double suplex Nia. Nia tosses Bayley outside then unloads on Charlotte and Sasha. Nia tosses Charlotte into the corner and goes to the second rope. Bayley and Sasha rush over and help Charlotte triple power bomb Nia off the ropes and to the mat. All three ladies cover Nia and score the pinfall, eliminating Nia.

** Second Elimination: Sasha and Bayley trade shots outside until Charlotte hits a twisting moonsault taking both ladies out. Back in the ring, Sasha counters Natural Selection and traps Charlotte in the Banks Statement submission. Charlotte escapes and then trades back and forth offense with Sasha.
Charlotte kicks Sasha into the corner where Sasha cracks the back of her head on the slightly exposed turnbuckle pad. Charlotte covers Sasha and scores the pinfall, eliminating Sasha.

** Final Elimination: Charlotte traps Bayley in the Figure Eight submission and Bayley nearly taps out, but just escapes. Bayley is put in the tree of woe where Charlotte stomps on Bayley's knee. Bayley finally escapes and back drops Charlotte off the ropes. Charlotte gets back up, charges and misses, hitting the exposed turnbuckle. Charlotte lays knocked out as Bayley hits an elbow drop off the top rope, scores the pinfall and retains her title.
Winner: Bayley, by pinfall, to retain the WWE RAW Women's Championship.

- The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 are introduced.

- "WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship, Triple Threat Ladder Match: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson (c) vs. Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Enzo and Big Cass: Before the match begins, The New Day imterrupt and announce that this match will now be a Fatal Four Way match, but who is the fourth team?? The New Day introduce............The Hardy Boys!! The match closes out with Enzo almost grabbing the titles, but Gallows and Sheamus make the save. Sheamus and Gallows toss Cass into a ladder in the corner. Sheamus gets tossed outside as Anderson stops Enzo from grabbing the titles.

Anderson and Enzo trade punches until Cesaro runs the ladder and uppercuts Enzo. Sheamus and Cesaro attempt to double team Anderson, but Gallows makes the save. The Club hit the Magic Killer on Cesaro and Matt Hardy hits a Twist of Fate on Gallows. Anderson climbs the ladder, but Matt meets him up top. Matt hits a Super Twist of Fate on Anderson off the ladder. Jeff Hardy climbs a ladder and hits a Swanton Bomb off the ladder on Cesaro who was laying on a bridged ladder. Matt climbs the ladder, grabs the titles and claims the victory.
Winners: The Hardy Boys, to win the WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship.

- Jimmy Fallon is spotted in the crowd

- John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Maryse: Al Roker is the special guest ring announcer. The match closes out with Miz in control of Cena as Maryse stops Nikki from being able to make a tag. Miz connects with a neck breaker on Cena for a near fall. Cena goes for the AA, but Miz counters out and plants Cena with a DDT for a near fall. Miz mocks Daniel Bryan by delivering Yes Kicks to Cena. Cena gets back to his feet and trades offense with Miz. Nikki finally hot tags in and spears Maryse into the mat. Miz gets taken out by Nikki as she charges at Maryse on the floor. Back in the ring, Nikki unloads on Maryse. Cena and Nikki hit double Five Knuckle Shuffles on Miz and Maryse. Cena hits the AA on Miz as Nikki hits Rack Attack 2.0 on Maryse. Cena and Nikki both cover Miz and Maryse and score the pinfall. After the match, Cena says he's proud of Nikki with everything she's been through and finally proposes to her. Nikki says yes and puts on the ring.
Winners: John Cena and Nikki Bella, by pinfall.

- "Non-Sanctioned Match": Triple H vs. Seth Rollins: The match closes out with Rollins landing a kick on Triple H, but Triple H comes back with a clothesline. Triple H grabs his sledgehammer, but eats a kick from Rollins, sending Triple H and the sledgehammer flying. Rollins grabs the sledgehammer, but Stephanie McMahon jumps on the apron and grabs it from Rollins. Triple H hits the Pedigree on Rollins during the distraction and gets a near fall. Rollins comes back and hits a Phoenix Splash on Triple H for a near fall. Rollins tries a Pedigree, but Triple H counters with a kick. Rollins counters a Pedigree, Triple H also counters a Pedigree and back body drops Rollins right on his bad leg. Rollins counters another Pedigree and tries a Pedigree of his own, but again gets the knee taken out by Triple H. Stephanie gets on the apron where Rollins super kicks Triple H right into her. Stephanie flies off the apron and crashes through a table. Rollins hits the Pedigree on Triple H and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall.

- Pitbull, Flo Rida, Stephen Marley and LunchMoney Lewis perform the Wrestlemania theme song.

- "WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match": Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Randy Orton: The match closes out with Orton countering Sister Abigail and gets a near fall rollup. Bray hits a clothesline, sending Orton outside. Orton hits a drop kick on Bray outside. Bray comes back and tosses Orton back first into the LED board. Bray hits Orton with Sister Abigail right into the barricade. Bray runs around the ring and goes for a clothesline on Orton. Orton counters and drops Bray with an RKO on the floor. Orton tosses Bray back into the ring and gets a near fall.

Orton goes for the punt kick on Bray, but Bray dodges it and goes for Sister Abigail. Orton counters and lands a back breaker on Bray. Orton hits a DDT on Bray and goes for the RKO. Bray counters, hits Sister Abigail on Orton and gets a near fall. Bray does the spider walk towards Orton and waits. Orton suddenly pops up and drills Bray with the RKO to score the pinfall and win the title.
Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall, to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

>- "WWE Universal Championship Match": Goldberg (c) vs. Brock Lesnar: Lesnar lands three quick german suplexes then gets speared out of the ring by Goldberg. Goldberg follows and spears Lesnar through the barricade. Back in the ring, Goldberg counters the F5 and spears Lesnar again. Goldberg hits the Jackhammer on Lesnar for a near fall. Lesnar dodges a Goldberg charge, lands three more german suplexes and follows that with four more. Lesnar picks up Goldberg, hits the F5, scores the pinfall and wins the title.
Winner: Brock Lesnar, by pinfall, to win the WWE Universal Championship.

- "WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship, One vs. All Match": Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Naomi vs. Mickie James vs. Carmella vs. Nattie Neidhart: The match closes out with Mickie hitting a Senton on Becky for a near fall. Alexa tosses Mickie outside as Naomi attacks Nattie. Nattie gets a double sharpshooter applied on Carmella and Alexa. Carmella escapes and plants Mickie until Naomi hits the Rear View on her. Naomi hits a suicide dive and takes everyone out on the floor. Naomi with a springboard, but Alexa lands a punch, dropping Naomi. Naomi catches Alexa in a submission hold and forces Alexa to tap out to win the title.
Winner: Naomi, by submission, to win the WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship.

- The New Day arrive to announce that this year's Wrestlemania brought in 75,245 people in attendance and thank the fans.

- "No Holds Barred Match": The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns: The match closes out with Reigns hitting two Superman Punches on Taker and tries a third. Taker counters and chokeslams Reigns on top of a steel chair for a near fall. Taker scoops Reigns and hits the Tombstone for another near fall. Reigns comes back, hits a Superman Punch and gets a near fall. Reigns hits the spear on Taker, but Taker counters it into the Hell's Gate submission. Reigns fights for his life trapped in the submission and somehow is able to break the hold. Reigns grabs a steel chair away from Taker and unloads chair shots. Reigns backs off and drills Taker with a spear and gets a near fall. Reigns hits another spear on Taker as he gets up and gets another near fall. Reigns measures up Taker and connects with the Superman Punch.

Reigns watches as Taker sits up and slowly gets back up again. Taker talks trash to Reigns as Reigns unloads punches. Reigns runs the ropes and drills Taker with all his momentum on a spear and finally puts Taker away for the pinfall. After the match, Taker finally sits back up and places his gloves, hat and trench coat in the middle of the ring as the fans chant "Thank You Taker". Taker meets his wife Michelle McCool at ringside and the rest of the family before leaving. The camera zooms in on Taker's ring gear, his gong erupts with lightning and the lights go out to end Wrestlemania.
Winner: Roman Reigns, by pinfall.