Dylan jackson
No event in wrestling compares to WrestleMania when it comes to big moments. For 40 years, WrestleMania has produced moments that defined not only the direction of WWE, but also that of the industry as a whole.
Last weekend’s two nights of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia were no different. From Cody Rhodes’ crowning moment to R-Truth’s first-ever victory on the WrestleMania stage, the show had something for everyone. And, as always, the event’s biggest moments will shape WWE storylines for the next year.
Given the sheer number of “WrestleMania moments” on Saturday and Sunday, we sat down to look back at the event and determine the five best. Let’s take a look at our picks.
Cody Rhodes finishes the story
Every WrestleMania has what moment, the one that will define the event of that year for the rest of time. There is no doubt that the WrestleMania 40 moment is Cody Rhodes ending Roman Reigns’ 1,300+ world championship reign, finally “ending the story” of winning the Rhodes family the championship they never won.
The match itself wasn’t the biggest in WrestleMania history, but it also managed to provide a spectacle worthy of the years of preparation. Everyone knew Rhodes had the deck stacked against him with “Bloodline Rules” in effect, but Rhodes was rescued with the help of Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, John Cena and The Undertaker.
Rhodes’ long and unlikely journey to the top of the wrestling world is over. The stench of WWE not pulling the trigger on Rhodes defeating Reigns at WrestleMania 39 has disappeared and the real challenge now begins. It’s hard to create a babyface that the fans fully support, but it can be even harder to maintain the momentum when you do and that babyface finally defeats the dastardly heel champion.
Cody has the ball, now he has to run with it.
Honorable mention here for The Rock’s surreal return to the ring in Night 1’s main event, helping Reigns defeat Rhodes and Rollins, but to not just list multiple Rhodes and Reigns matches, we’re grouping it here.
Sami Zayn ends Gunther’s record run
WrestleMania 40 featured several feel-good moments over the two nights. One of them was Samil Zayn ending Gunther’s record run as Intercontinental Champion on Night 1. Gunther entered the match having held the Intercontinental Championship for 666 days, while Zayn’s story was one of needing to find the confidence to defeat the dominant champion.
Before the match, Zayn was shown talking to his wife and son before Chad Gable, who trained Zayn in the weeks leading up to the event, told him that he would not be coming to the ring to support him. It was time for Zayn to face Gunther alone and prove he could do the job. Zayn received one final boost before going through the curtain, with longtime friend Kevin Owens telling Zayn to go for it.
Zayn went through hell in the match, with Gunther brutalizing him with strikes, powerbombs and splashes, all while taunting Zayn’s wife. But Zayn couldn’t be contained, and after firing away, he delivered a series of Helluva Kicks (and a tension brainbuster, a move he hasn’t performed since joining WWE) and got the pin to win the Intercontinental Championship for the fourth time. in your career.
This time, Zayn holding the title feels different. His three previous reigns lasted a combined 172 days and were generally forgettable. Being given the spot as the man to take down Gunther should give Zayn the boost he’s been lacking in previous races and he has the opportunity to have a special race this time around.
Drew McIntyre’s ego cost him dearly
Drew McIntyre had just won a fantastic match against Seth Rollins to win the world heavyweight championship. McIntyre did exactly what he said he would do for weeks and won a world title in front of a packed stadium, unlike when he defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36 in an empty WWE Performance Center at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rollins gave McIntyre respect and told the new champion he deserved it. It should have been a great moment for McIntyre, but his ego didn’t allow him to celebrate his victory and move on. Instead, McIntyre went to the commentary table to insult CM Punk. McIntyre finally went too far and was knocked down by Punk, causing Damian Priest to run into the ring and deliver a blow with the Money in the Bank briefcase before redeeming his contract and hitting South of Heaven to end McIntyre’s reign literally minutes later to start. .
It wasn’t a deep, complex narrative – the best wrestling stories often aren’t – but McIntyre allowing his hatred of Punk to get in the way of his own success was the kind of story that only serves to improve his character and eventual matches with Punk in the future. .
Bayley has her moment at WrestleMania
Bayley has won WrestleMania matches in the past, but there’s a difference between winning a match on wrestling’s biggest stage and actually having a “WrestleMania moment.” On Sunday, Bayley finally had that moment where she defeated Iyo Sky to win the WWE Women’s Championship.
Bayley and Sky did everything they could to create a fantastic match that showcased what both women do so well. Although Bayley has spent most of the last few years as a heel, her return to the babyface side has been refreshing. Once upon a time, Bayley was labeled as someone who could never work in heels because she was a natural babyface. She has proven this time and time again, but she will always be stronger with her fans behind her.
By defeating Sky and getting revenge on the Damage CTRL group she created before throwing her to the curb, Bayley finally had her defining moment on the biggest stage of them all. That said, her problems with Damage CTRL are almost certainly far from over.
R-Truth and The Miz wrap up a fun ladder match
A six-pack ladder match for the undisputed WWE tag team titles was always a recipe for some entertaining chaos. The match provided plenty of crazy moments and big spots, as expected, but it was R-Truth and The Miz winning the Raw tag team titles that ended up being the standout moment.
Setting aside his 53 reigns as 24/7 Champion, Truth has held just one title since 2012, a 35-day run as United States Champion in 2019. Truth is a fan favorite and beloved in the locker room.
Throughout his time in WWE, Truth has only been in three non-battle royal WrestleMania matches in his career and has never raised his hand at the event. So for Truth to win a championship at WrestleMania in a wild match? This is a sneaky feel-good moment in a weekend full of them.
