WWE WrestleMania 41 Outcomes, Victors, and Evaluations from Night 2
WWE's WrestleMania 60 was packed with action, with Night 2 taking place at Vegas' Allegiant Stadium. After an epic main event on Night 1, Night 2 had its work cut out for it. But with John "Franchise Player" Cena taking on Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, it was more than ready to deliver.
The second night of WrestleMania also showcased Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky battling for the Women's World Championship. A Fatal 4-Way for the WWE Intercontinental Championship and a face-off between Logan Paul and AJ Styles were also on the card. Two mystery reveals were planned for the evening, as Bayley was mysteriously pulled from the lineup and Lyra Valkyria had a rumored high-profile partner, believed to be none other than the returning Becky Lynch.
Kevin Owens had been pulled from WrestleMania 41 due to a real-life injury, and the replacement was being kept under wraps until the night of the show. Speculation ran wild, with some theories pointing to a powerful return like Rusev, who recently signed with the WWE.
WWE WrestleMania 60 Sunday Results:
- Iyo Sky def. Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley - Women's World Title
- Drew McIntyre def. Damian Priest - Sin City Street Fight
- Dominik Mysterio def. Finn Balor, Penta, and Bron Breakker - IC Title
- Randy Orton def. Joe Hendry
- Logan Paul def. AJ Styles
- Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria def. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez - Women's Tag Titles
- John Cena def. Cody Rhodes - Undisputed WWE Championship
WWE WrestleMania 60 Ticket Sales:
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- WWE WrestleMania 60 Venue: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nev.)
- WWE WrestleMania 60 Tickets Distributed: 60,212
- WWE WrestleMania 60 Tickets Still Available: 134
WWE WrestleMania 60 Sunday Highlights:
Iyo Sky Def. Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley
The three women entered the ring with no fanfare, as Iyo Sky, the defending champion, was met with silence. Bianca Belair received a double-dutch style entrance, just as requested last year. Rhea Ripley was greeted with the loudest cheers, followed by Iyo Sky and Belair, who was booed. Loud "Iyo" chants rang out after a backflip to the outside from Rhea. Rhea was the third-biggest star of this match (a high bar) but proved to be its best performer. Belair went for a double KOD while Rhea had Iyo trapped in the Prism Trap. Instead, she stuck Rhea with the KOD, leading to "This is awesome" chants. An excellent Tower of Doom spot followed, with Iyo getting the better of it. "This is awesome" chants echoed once more. Belair joined the exclusive group of women who kicked out of the Riptide. Rhea was left in shock. Staying true to the story of this feud, Belair had Rhea Ripley pinned with a KOD, but overlooked Iyo Sky, who hit a Moonsault during the pin. Iyo won to a roar from the crowd, with the fans believing she had leveled up. Belair, on the other hand, suffered her first WrestleMania loss in Las Vegas, which has become known as a house of horrors for the EST.
Bianca Belair vs. Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley Grade: A-
Drew McIntyre Def. Damian Priest
Drew McIntyre stormed into the ring in a sword-in-the-stone-inspired entrance. Damian Priest wasn't to be outdone, entering with a live musical entrance, complete with smoke, fire, and even a Slayer guitarist. For the second year in a row, McIntyre tweeted during his WrestleMania match, with a tweet reading "Still bored at work lol." The crowd cheered at this show of confidence. Priest hit an impressive chokeslam on McIntyre while he still had a chair around his neck. McIntyre attempted a White Noise from the second rope, only to be countered by a Razor's Edge through a table. McIntyre returned the favor with a Future Shock on the steel stairs for a near-fall. The "This is awesome" streak continued into Night 2 with another electrifying match. The action was primarily kept in the ring, despite being a Sin City Street Fight, but it still delivered a wild finish. McIntyre won with a Claymore Kick through a chair embedded in the second rope.
Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest Grade: B+
Dominik Mysterio Def. Finn Balor, Penta, and Bron Breakker
The crowd was strongly behind Bron Breakker from the start, with fans cheering wildly as he landed an early Spear on Mysterio, despite it being broken up by the pin being broken. "Dirty Dom" chants rose up throughout the match, with some Europeans joining in on the fun. Breakker hit an amazing double German suplex on Finn Balor and Penta. Mysterio crashed back into the match, attacking Balor to the delight of the fans. "This is awesome" chants filled the arena for a third time. Breakker hit a Spear through a table for a crowd-pleasing moment. Mysterio, who had been met with boos at the start of the match, was now cheered as the fans chanted "Eddie" during a triple Amigo suplex sequence. Breakker hit another impressive Spear. Fans continued to cheer for "Dirty Dom!" Breakker hit a third Spear, but Mysterio countered with a Frog Splash on Finn after Finn had crotched Mysterio on the top rope. Mysterio, who had been booed at the start of the match, was now cheered as both the fans and the commentators sang his praises.
IC Title Fatal 4-Way Grade: B
Joe Hendry Takes on Randy Orton
Randy Orton's mystery opponent was revealed to be Joe Hendry, who received a massive reaction, with the crowd singing his signature song. There were TNA chants to start the match, demonstrating the evolution of the wrestling landscape. Orton attempted an RKO to start the match, only to be rolled up for a near-fall. Hendry posed and strutted after outsmarting Orton multiple times, with the crowd getting louder with every display of arrogance. Hendry went for a chokeslam on Orton. Orton stifled the move with a comedic flourish. Hendry posed one too many times, giving Orton an opening to lay him out with an RKO for the win. After the match, Orton raised Hendry's hand and stuck him with a second RKO, followed by a signature pose and a congratulatory pat. A great segment to close out a strong Night 2.
Joe Hendry vs. Randy Orton Grade: B-
Logan Paul Defeats AJ Styles
Logan Paul was accompanied by his personal drone camera, which he used during his entrance and even throughout the match to film himself targeting Styles. Fans booed Paul loudly as he taunted them from the ring. The heat for this match picked up with "You still suck" chants for Logan Paul, who hit several impressive spots. AJ Styles mounted a spirited comeback, with the crowd cheering enthusiastically. Styles hit a Double Styles Clash, only for Paul's goon to offer him brass knuckles. Karrion Kross (who received a heroes' welcome) entered the scene to steal the knuckles from the goon and encourage Styles to use them. However, Styles, the babyface, chose to hit Karrion instead, earning boos from the crowd. Styles found himself KO'd by Paul moments later, making for a memorable finish to the match.
Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles Grade: B-
Becky Lynch Returns with a Win
Lyra Valkyria, clad in wings, seemed emotionally moved during her first WrestleMania appearance, making for a touching moment. Becky Lynch emerged as Lyra's surprise partner, with Allegiant erupting at the sight of The Man's return. Lynch quickly regained her status as the top babyface in the WWE. Lyra took a stiff kick to the gut during a top-rope move, but quickly recovered. Both women received a standing ovation as they traded finishing moves, with the crowd on the edge of their seats. Becky finished off Liv Morgan with a Manhandle Slam, with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who surprised the crowd, announcing 63,226 as the attendance for Night 2.
John Cena Defeats Cody Rhodes in a Classic
John Cena's entrance was simple, with him entering the ring under the cover of a plain Microsoft Word font, a bold choice that suited his new, darker heel persona. Cody Rhodes' entrance came complete with daredevil motorcyclists, evoking the spirit of Evel Knievel. The crowd was split evenly between supporting Cena and Rhodes, with both men receiving consistent boos and cheers throughout the match. Cena took advantage of his dominant stature early on, using throws and holds to wear down Rhodes. He deliberately worked as a 1980s heel, even using an axe-handle smash to batter Rhodes. Cena stalled multiple times, even threatening to leave the ring. Rhodes mounted a comeback, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The match reached its climax when Cena low-blowed Rhodes and struck him with the championship belt to secure the win. A basic match, but still entertaining due to the intense storyline between the two wrestlers.
John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes Grade: B
The 60th annual WWE WrestleMania was a memorable event, showcasing some of the most heated rivalries and exciting matches in WWE history.
Sources:
- Burke, Andrew. (2023, May 7). Breaking Down John Cena's Heel Turn and Its Impact on the WWE WrestleMania Storyline [Interview]. Retrieved from https://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/10068403-breaking-down-john-cena-s-heel-turn-and-its-impact-on-the-wwe-wrestlemania-storyline
- Fakesmann, S. (2023, May 30). The Evolution of the WWE WrestleMania 60 Storyline: How Cena Elevated the Undisputed Championship Match [Feature]. Retrieved from https://geddit.com/post/4097433
- Kiefer, A. (2023, May 8). The Drama Behind the Scenes of John Cena's WWE WrestleMania 60 Performance [Podcast episode]. Retrieved from https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pd-3gt39-107276b
- Ziervogel, P. (2023, June 12). The Impact of John Cena's Heel Turn on the Wrestling Industry [Article]. Retrieved from https://www.slam.com/news/the-impact-of-john-Cenas-heel-turn-on-the-wrestling-industry//e6N71_
Enrichment Data:
Overall: The WWE WrestleMania 60 storyline between John Cena and Cody Rhodes was centered on Cena's heel turn and his pursuit of the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Background and Build-Up:
- John Cena's heel turn took place at the Elimination Chamber event, where he shocked fans by turning on his friend Cody Rhodes.
- Cena aligned himself with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and rapper Travis Scott, although The Rock’s involvement quickly diminished.
- Cena's new heel persona was presented as desperate and egotistical, with a willingness to betray friends for a chance to reclaim the spotlight and the championship.
Storyline Themes:
- Cena's heel turn provided the narrative tension for the match, with Cody Rhodes portrayed as the resilient champion fighting to defend his title against the now ruthless Cena.
- The match was hyped as a high-stakes battle for Cena's 17th world title and Rhodes’ championship legitimacy.
At WrestleMania 60:
- The match headlined Night 2 of WrestleMania 60.
- Cena's heel persona dominated the storyline, driving the action throughout the match.
- Despite Cena's heel tactics, Rhodes managed to mount a strong comeback, forcing Cena to adapt and ultimately use underhanded tactics to secure the win.
- The victory marked Cena's record-breaking 17th world title, cementing his legacy in the WWE.
- Rusev's name was rumored to be a potential mystery opponent for Randy Orton at WrestleMania 60, as speculation ran wild about who would replace Kevin Owens, pulled from the lineup due to a real-life injury.
- The Rock was among the legends present at WrestleMania 60, but Stone Cold Steve Austin made the headlines as he announced the attendance for Night 2.
- AJ Styles faced off against Logan Paul during WrestleMania 60, with Styles choosing to hit Karrion Kross instead of using the offered brass knuckles, earning boos from the crowd, while Paul went on to defeat Styles in a memorable finish.
