WrestleMania XL
WrestleMania XL | |||
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Promotion WWE | | ||
Brand(s) | |||
Date | April 6–7, 2024 | ||
City | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ||
Venue | Lincoln Financial Field | ||
Attendance | |||
WWE Network event chronology | |||
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WrestleMania chronology | |||
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WrestleMania XL was a 2024
The card comprised a total of 14 matches, with seven on each night. In the main event for Night 1,
In the main event for Night 2, Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns in a Bloodline Rules match to win SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, ending the latter's world championship reign at 1,316 days.
This was the first WrestleMania held after WWE merged with the Endeavor subsidiary Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in September 2023, under the banner of TKO Group Holdings. It was the first WrestleMania under TKO and the first not directly under McMahon family control. It was also the final WrestleMania to livestream on the standalone WWE Network, which is set to close in any markets where the service is still available in January 2025, with WWE content moving to Netflix.
The event received highly positive reviews, with Night 2 being singled out for critical acclaim. Praise was given to all seven championship matches, with the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match garnering ubiquitous acclaim for its storytelling and satisfying conclusion.
Production
Background
On July 27, 2022, it was announced that
From January 2023, there had been speculation that WWE had been placed up for sale.
Broadcast outlets
WrestleMania XL was broadcast live on traditional pay-per-view worldwide. Additionally, it was available to livestream on Peacock in the United States, Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia, Disney+ in the Philippines, Binge in Australia, Abema in Japan, SonyLIV in India, and the WWE Network in all other countries.
Additionally, the event streamed live on Netflix in New Zealand, as a technical test for when the promotion's new contract with Netflix comes into effect in January 2025.[20] As a result of said contract, all WWE Network content will move to Netflix in all countries where the former is still available as a standalone service, making WrestleMania XL the final WrestleMania event to livestream on the WWE Network.[21]
Other WrestleMania week events
As part of the WrestleMania festivities, WWE held a number of events throughout the week. WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker presented his 1 deadMAN Show on Thursday, April 4 at The Fillmore Philadelphia.[22] From that same day through April 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, there was a fan convention called WWE World at WrestleMania. In partnership with Fanatics Events, the five-day event included interview panel sessions with WWE wrestlers, a WWE 2K24 gaming tournament, live podcast recordings, meet-and-greets with wrestlers, and a large merchandise store with various memorabilia honoring WrestleMania's 40-year history.[23] WWE World replaced the WrestleMania Fan Axxess event that had been held at each year's WrestleMania prior to WrestleMania 36 in 2020.[24] WWE commentator Pat McAfee also hosted a live edition of his eponymous ESPN afternoon show at WWE World on Friday, April 5.[25]
The night before WrestleMania XL on April 5, WWE kicked off WrestleMania Weekend with a
Between all of the WrestleMania Weekend events (SmackDown/HOF induction ceremony, Stand & Deliver, both nights of WrestleMania XL, and Raw), WWE announced a grand total attendance of 201,924.[28]
Celebrities
As is tradition at WrestleMania, celebrities from outside of wrestling participated at the event in various capacities, such as rapper and Philadelphia native Meek Mill, who narrated the cold open for the event on both nights.[29]
On Night 1,
On Night 2,
Storylines
The event included 14 matches, split evenly between both nights, that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[32][33] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[34]
Main event matches
After
Rhodes again won the Royal Rumble match in
A WrestleMania XL Kickoff media event was held on February 8 where Reigns and The Rock declared that they would face each other for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania XL. However, Rhodes appeared and asserted that since he won the Royal Rumble, he earned the right to decide the main event and announced that he had reversed his decision and would challenge Reigns for the title at WrestleMania. After bringing up each other's families, Rock claimed that he and Rhodes now had issues and he slapped Rhodes in the face, turning heel for the first time since 2003. In the ensuing brawl, Rollins backed Rhodes.[45]
On the following SmackDown, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H affirmed that the main event of WrestleMania XL Night 2 would be Reigns defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Rhodes.[46] On the February 12 episode of Raw, Rhodes claimed that it was because of the fans that he reversed his decision and decided to challenge Reigns. Rollins interrupted and stated that he understood Rhodes's decision and offered to be his backup due to Reigns always having his family in his corner.[47] In response on that week's SmackDown, The Rock officially joined The Bloodline and vowed that he would do everything in his power to ensure Rhodes did not finish his story.[48]
At
Undercard matches
At SummerSlam in July 2022, Bayley made her return from injury alongside Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky with the trio dubbing themselves Damage CTRL.[52] Kairi Sane, who returned to WWE in November 2023 and who had previous issues with Bayley before her departure, forgave Bayley and joined with Damage CTRL, followed by Asuka joining the group, subsequently reuniting The Kabuki Warriors in the process.[53] The group would attain success on SmackDown, including multiple WWE Women's Tag Team Championship reigns, as well as Sky winning the WWE Women's Championship. Bayley then won the 2024 women's Royal Rumble match, thus earning a women's championship match of her choice at WrestleMania XL.[39] Bayley had previously said she would be going after Raw's women's championship so that Damage CTRL would hold all the women's titles of Raw and SmackDown;[54] however, on the February 2 episode of SmackDown, after Bayley overheard Sky, Asuka, and Sane talking behind her back, Bayley revealed she understood Japanese and how they made fun of her. Bayley was then kicked out of Damage CTRL after Asuka and Sane attacked her, turning face for the first time since 2019. After fighting off the rest of Damage CTRL, Bayley decided that she would challenge Sky for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania XL.[43] Kai was absent when Sky, Asuka, and Sane turned on Bayley and although she seemingly sided with Bayley the next week,[46] Kai also turned on her on the March 1 episode.[50] On April 1, the WWE Women's Championship match was confirmed for Night 2.[55]
Concurrent to their feud with Bayley, Damage CTRL (Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane) were also feuding with
As a result of both the men's and women's Royal Rumble match winners choosing to challenge for SmackDown's respective men's and women's world championships at WrestleMania XL, the challengers for Raw's respective men's and women's world championships at the event were decided by Elimination Chamber matches at Elimination Chamber: Perth.[57][46] Raw's Becky Lynch won the women's eponymous match to face Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship, while Raw's Drew McIntyre won the men's to face Seth "Freakin" Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship.[49] The Women's World Championship match was scheduled for Night 1,[55] with the World Heavyweight Championship match set for Night 2.[58] On the March 25 episode of Raw, it was announced that CM Punk, who had issues with both Rollins and McIntyre but had gotten legitimately injured at the Royal Rumble, would serve as a special guest commentator for the World Heavyweight Championship match.[59]
After several wrestlers declared their intentions to challenge
On the March 11 episode of Raw, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager
On the December 15, 2023, episode of SmackDown,
Prior to the summer of 2023, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) were a unit of their family's stable, The Bloodline, on SmackDown. However, due to the manipulations of its leader, Roman Reigns, The Usos left the group which eventually led to a "Bloodline Civil War" tag team match at Money in the Bank against Reigns and Solo Sikoa, in which The Usos won.[67][68] Jey then faced Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam that August, but Jimmy interfered and cost his brother the match.[69] On the following SmackDown, Jimmy explained that he cost Jey the match to keep him from gaining power and becoming corrupted like Reigns. Jey subsequently attacked Jimmy and "quit" WWE,[70] but was later reinstated as a member of the Raw roster.[71] Despite being on different shows, Jimmy, who rejoined The Bloodline, would often appear on Raw and attack Jey or cost him matches. The two would also face off in the men's Royal Rumble match in January 2024 as the first two entrants.[39] Jimmy then cost Jey a match for the Intercontinental Championship the following month.[72] On the March 11 episode of Raw, fed up with his brother's actions, Jey challenged Jimmy to a match at WrestleMania XL,[61] which Jimmy accepted on that week's SmackDown.[66] The match was later confirmed for Night 1.[55]
At the Royal Rumble, Logan Paul defeated
At
At
Cancelled matches
Brock Lesnar, who last appeared at SummerSlam in August 2023, was planned to return at the Royal Rumble and be featured in a match at WrestleMania XL, reportedly against Gunther. However, due to Lesnar being referenced in a sex trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon, Lesnar was pulled from the Royal Rumble and all planned storylines for him leading into WrestleMania were scrapped.[76]
CM Punk, who after nearly 10 years made his return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames in November 2023, legitimately tore his right triceps during the men's Royal Rumble match. It was reported that his planned WrestleMania XL match was to challenge Seth "Freakin" Rollins for Raw's World Heavyweight Championship, but due to his injury, plans were changed.[77]
Event
Night 1
Role | Name |
---|---|
English commentators | Michael Cole |
Corey Graves | |
Pat McAfee | |
Spanish commentators | Marcelo Rodriguez
|
Jerry Soto | |
Ring announcer | Samantha Irvin
|
Referees | Danilo Anfibio |
Jason Ayers | |
Shawn Bennett | |
Jessika Carr | |
Daphne Lashaunn | |
Eddie Orengo | |
Chad Patton | |
Rod Zapata | |
Interviewers | Kayla Braxton |
Cathy Kelley | |
Byron Saxton | |
Pre-show panel | Jackie Redmond |
CM Punk | |
Big E | |
Wade Barrett | |
Pre-show correspondents | Megan Morant |
Tom Rinaldi |
Preliminary matches
WrestleMania Saturday began with WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H welcoming and hyping up the fans for the event.[78]
In the first match, Rhea Ripley defended the Women World's Championship against Becky Lynch. During the match, Lynch performed a leg drop on Ripley, sending her out of the ring and a Beck-sploder on Ripley at ringside. Lynch applied the Dis-arm-her on Ripley, who escaped by performing three sit-out powerbombs on Lynch for a nearfall. Lynch attempted another leg drop on Ripley, who countered into a Prison Trap submission maneuver, however, Lynch escaped. As Ripley attempted the Riptide, Lynch countered into a Manhandle Slam on Ripley for a nearfall. Ripley performed a Riptide on Lynch for a nearfall. Lynch applied the Dis-Arm-Her on Ripley, which sent both of the ring and Ripley a powerbomb on Lynch to escape. Ripley performed a frog splash on Lynch for a near fall. In the closing moments, as Lynch attempted a second Manhandle Slam, Ripley countered and performed two Riptides on Lynch to retain the title.[78]
Next, The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) defended the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship in a Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match against #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth), A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller), and New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) in which both sets of titles had to be retrieved for the match to end. During the match, Truth performed the Attitude Adjustment on Bálor and pinned him for a three count. Truth celebrated, thinking it was a traditional tag team match, however, Miz had informed Truth that they had to unhook the title belts down to win them. Truth then suggested that #DIY go after the Raw Tag Team Championship, while he and Miz go after the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. The two teams were then knocked down by A-Town Down Under, who climbed the ladder and retrieved the SmackDown titles to become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions. New Catch Republic then sent Waller crashing through ladders outside the ring. #DIY then set two tables next to each other at ringside. Judgment Day member JD McDonagh ascended the ladder to unhook the belts, however, The New Day tipped over the ladder, causing McDonagh to crash through the tables. In the end, Truth performed another Attitude Adjustment on Priest over the top rope to the floor. Truth then ascended the ladder and unhooked the Raw titles to win them, concluding the match as well as ending the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship with the two titles now separated. This made Truth the oldest Raw Tag Team Champion in the title's history and marked his first win at WrestleMania.[78]
After that, Rey Mysterio and Andrade (accompanied by Rey's LWO stablemates Carlito,
In the fourth match, Jey Uso faced his brother Jimmy Uso in only the third-ever real life brother vs. brother match at WrestleMania (after
Next, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair, and Naomi faced off against Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane) in a six-woman tag team match. In the end, Asuka accidentally spit mist in Sane's face, allowing Belair to whip Asuka with her ponytail and followed up with the KOD. Cargill then performed the Jaded on Kai to win the match.[78]
In the penultimate match, Gunther defended the Intercontinental Championship against Sami Zayn. As Zayn charged for the Helluva Kick, Gunther countered into a sleeper hold submission. Zayn escaped and attempted the Blue Thunder Bomb, but Gunther countered again and applied another sleeper hold. Gunther performed a dropkick and powerbomb on Zayn for a nearfall. Gunther executed multiple powerbombs, but Zayn kicked out. Gunther started mocking Zayn's wife, who was seated in the front row and performed multiple top rope splashes on Zayn. As Gunther climbed the top rope, Zayn performed a Helluva Kick and Brainbuster on Gunther on the top turnbuckle. Zayn then followed up with two consecutive Helluva Kicks and pinned Gunther to win the title for a fourth time, ending Gunther's 666 day reign as champion.[78]
Main event
In the main event of Night 1, The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns, accompanied by Paul Heyman) faced Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins in a match where if Rhodes and Rollins won, all members of The Bloodline would be barred from ringside during the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between Reigns and Rhodes on Night 2, but if Rock and Reigns won, then the championship match would be held under Bloodline Rules. While Rock and Rollins were fighting outside the ring, Rock warned referee Chad Patton that he would fire him if there was a countout. As Reigns tagged in Rock, Rock performed a
Night 2
Role | Name |
---|---|
English commentators | Michael Cole |
Corey Graves | |
Pat McAfee | |
CM Punk (opening match) | |
Snoop Dogg (Philadelphia Street Fight) | |
Spanish commentators | Marcelo Rodriguez
|
Jerry Soto | |
Ring announcer | Samantha Irvin
|
Referees | Danilo Anfibio |
Bubba Ray Dudley (Philadelphia Street Fight) | |
Dan Engler | |
Eddie Orengo | |
Charles Robinson | |
Ryan Tran | |
Rod Zapata | |
Interviewers | Kayla Braxton |
Cathy Kelley | |
Peter Rosenberg | |
Byron Saxton | |
Pre-show panel | Jackie Redmond |
Big E | |
Wade Barrett | |
John "Bradshaw" Layfield
| |
Pre-show correspondents | Megan Morant |
Tom Rinaldi |
Preliminary matches
WrestleMania Sunday began with a returning Stephanie McMahon hyping up the crowd for the event.[79]
In the first match, Seth "Freakin" Rollins defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre, with CM Punk as a special guest commentator. Immediately at the beginning of the match, McIntyre performed the
After the match, McIntyre mocked Punk and gestured a crotch chop. Punk stood up and tripped McIntyre. Punk then removed the brace from his arm and hit McIntyre with it. 2023 Men's Money in the Bank winner Damian Priest then ran out to the ring with his briefcase and cashed in the contract. Priest immediately performed the South of Heaven on McIntyre and pinned him to win the title. This made him the first WWE world champion of Puerto Rican descent in over fifty years and only the second WWE world champion of Puerto Rican descent after Pedro Morales. This also made him the second person to cash in his briefcase at WrestleMania (after Rollins at WrestleMania 31 in 2015).[79]
Next, The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford, accompanied by B-Fab) faced The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar, accompanied by Scarlett and Paul Ellering) in a Philadelphia Street Fight match. WWE Hall of Famer and rapper Snoop Dogg was the special guest commentator for the match, and WWE Hall of Famer
After that, LA Knight faced AJ Styles. Before the match began, Knight and Styles ensued in a brawl. As Knight went for a superplex, Styles slipped under him and tripped him, causing Knight's head to hit the top turnbuckle pad. In the climax, Styles attempted the Phenomenal Forearm on Knight, who countered and performed the Blunt Force Trauma on Styles and pinned him to win his WrestleMania debut.[79]
In the next match, Logan Paul (accompanied by the Prime energy drink mascot) defended the United States Championship against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Throughout the match, Orton and Owens double-teamed Paul. As Orton and Owens attempted to pin Paul, both men traded punches to each other, giving Paul the opportunity to roll outside. Owens attempted the Stunner on Orton, only for the latter to counter into the RKO for a nearfall. Paul then hit Orton with his brass knuckles for a nearfall. Orton set up for the Punt Kick, but the Prime mascot pulled Paul outside the ring and revealed himself as IShowSpeed. Orton then performed the RKO on IShowSpeed through the announce table. Back in the ring, Orton countered Owens' Pop-Up Powerbomb attempt into the RKO. Paul then threw Orton out of the ring and performed the Frog Splash on Owens and pinned him to retain the title.[79]
In the penultimate match, Iyo Sky defended the WWE Women's Championship against Bayley. During the match, Sky performed two consecutive bridge suplexes on Bayley for a nearfall. Sky applied the
Main event
In the main event of Night 2, Roman Reigns (accompanied by Paul Heyman) defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a Bloodline Rules match against Cody Rhodes. During the match, Reigns and Rhodes fought into the crowd, where Rhodes
However, even after a Samoan Spike/Spear combination by Sikoa and Reigns, Rhodes kicked out.
Reception
The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes was universally praised.
Chris Mueller of Bleacher Report and Brent Brookhouse of CBS Sports called it "overbooked in the best way".[81] Brookhouse stated that there was a "plodding" beginning because "everyone knew the mess of interference" from The Bloodline would be coming, and that "Rhodes getting help from Jey Uso, Cena, Rollins and Undertaker was the kind of wild mess that only makes sense at WrestleMania".[82]
Philip Sledge of Cinemablend described the match, and the appearances by The Rock, John Cena, and The Undertaker, as being WWE's "Avengers: Endgame moment".[83]
Results
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times Bloodline Rules .Had Rhodes and Rollins won, all members of The Bloodline would have been barred from ringside during the championship match. 44:35 | | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times Undisputed WWE Universal Championship[96] | 33:25 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder Match SmackDown Qualifier Tournament (2024)
First round SmackDown (March 15) | Final SmackDown (March 29) | ||||||
Cruz Del Toro )
| 9:12[97] | ||||||
Legado Del Fantasma (Angel and Berto) | Pin | ||||||
Legado Del Fantasma (Angel and Berto) | 7:19[98] | ||||||
Bracket #1 | |||||||
New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) | Pin | ||||||
New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) | Pin | ||||||
Kit Wilson )
| 11:14[97] |
First round SmackDown (March 22) | Final SmackDown (March 29) | ||||||
A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) | Pin | ||||||
The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) | 7:19[99] | ||||||
A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) | Pin | ||||||
Bracket #2 | |||||||
Montez Ford )
| 6:20[98] | ||||||
Montez Ford )
| Pin | ||||||
) | 8:37[99] |
Notes
- ^ Specifically, under the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship banner, his reign with the WWE Universal Championship ended at 1,316 days while his WWE Championship reign ended at 735 days.
- Luke Gallows, Cruz Del Toro, Brutus Creed, Julius Creed, Omos, Joaquin Wilde, Cedric Alexander, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Ricochet, JD McDonagh, Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Ivar.
- ^ Speed had accompanied Logan Paul to the ring disguised as a Prime bottle; his identity was unveiled midway through the match.
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