WrestleMania 37 Night 1: Ranking and grading every match

WrestleMania Night One eventually was a success.
WrestleMania Night One eventually was a success.

WWE got through a stormy night in Tampa for Night One of WrestleMania 37. It took some time for the event to get going thanks to rain and thunder. But once it did, there was no stopping.

The first WWE event to have fans in attendance in over 13 months, Night One of the Show of Shows truly delivered on the hype. Right from the moment Vince McMahon welcomed the live crowd to WrestleMania with the entire roster on stage, you could tell tonight would be special.

Not even the first-ever wet delay in 'Mania history could stop it from soaring. Every match had something to offer, be it in-ring brilliance, celebrity fun, or a feel-good title victory.

It was a night of great action and better moments, setting the stage for an even more exciting Night Two on Sunday. Here's every match on Night One of WrestleMania graded and ranked, from worst to best. Which one was your favorite?


#7 Women's Tag Team Turmoil Match at WrestleMania

This was a solid match, but limited heat, it could only go so far. The only two-night story arc for WrestleMania featured multiple women, who duked it out for a shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship on Night Two.

Four matches were mashed into one, with The Riott Squad getting to shine the most. They entered third after Carmella and Billie Kay defeated Lana and Naomi. Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott did well with some double-team spots, tying the entire Tag Team Turmoil together.

They were the clear stars of the match who nearly went all the way. However, The Riott Squad fell at the final hurdle. Natalya and Tamina entered last, dominating their way to victory. They will take on Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler on Night Two of WrestleMania.

The match had its moments but also a couple of slip-ups. The action was a little sloppy, which keeps it rooted to the bottom of this list. Hopefully, the tag team title match tomorrow night will be better.

Grade: C

#6 The New Day vs. AJ Styles and Omos for the RAW Tag Team Championship

This entire match at WrestleMania was built for the in-ring debut of the 8-foot giant, Omos. He was on the apron for most of it, while Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods worked over AJ Styles. The New Day dominated proceedings, cutting the ring in half to isolate The Phenomenal One.

Styles eventually tagged Omos, as Woods was horrified. The Nigerian giant was unfazed by any offense, before destroying both New Day members. He looked impressive while single-handedly laying out the 11-time Tag Team Champions.

AJ Styles hit Woods with a Phenomenal Forearm off the shoulders of Omos, while the giant slammed Kingston and pinned him with one foot. While not the most technical encounter on WrestleMania Saturday, it established Omos as the most physically dominant Superstar in WWE currently.

Grade: B


#5 Shane McMahon vs. Braun Strowman in a Steel Cage Match at WrestleMania 37

While the buildup to this match was atrocious, Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon overachieved at WrestleMania. The two fought it out in a Steel Cage Match that picked up towards the end. The first half saw Shane gain the upper hand, thanks to a pre-match assault from Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

Strowman stayed in the match, despite his villainous opponent having a few more tricks up his sleeve. McMahon hit The Monster Among Men with a toolbox and climbed over the top of the cage. But the former Universal Champion came back and trapped his left hand against the cage, before peeling the cage open.

Braun Strowman then threw Shane McMahon on top of the cage, before finishing him off with a running powerslam. This was much better than what we expected, with Strowman looking more like his former self. He is now 3-0 on the main card of WrestleMania.

Grade: B

#4 The Miz and John Morrison vs. Damian Priest and Bad Bunny at WrestleMania

Speaking of matches overdelivering at WrestleMania, Bad Bunny had a fantastic showing in his WWE in-ring debut. He started off the match against The Miz and caught him off guard with some impressive punches and moves. The 15-year WWE veteran quickly took control of the match though.

He and John Morrison tried to dominate Bad Bunny, only for the Latin pop icon to continue surprising everyone with his perseverance. He hit The Miz with a Tornado DDT before tagging in Damian Priest. The Archer of Infamy ran through Miz and Morrison with his signature offense.

Priest and Bad Bunny then hit simultaneous falcon arrows. The Grammy winner jumped outside onto Morrison from the top rope before hitting him with a Canadian Destroyer. He then finished off The Miz with a crossbody after leaping from Priest's shoulders.

It was a great way to end such a thrilling match. The result may have been predictable, but Bad Bunny stunned everybody. This might have been the greatest celebrity match to ever take place at WrestleMania.

Grade: A-

#3 Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship; WrestleMania 37's first match

After a massive rain delay to kick-off WrestleMania, Drew McIntyre came out to a rapturous cheer. Then, he and Bobby Lashley slugged it out for the WWE Championship. Both Superstars brought their A-games in this opener.

This was a typically hard-hitting affair that has defined The Scottish Terminator in recent months. He withstood some impressive offense from The All-Mighty, digging deep into his arsenal throughout the contest.

There were suplexes and spinebusters galore before McIntyre hit three Future Shock DDTs. He pulled out all the stops at WrestleMania, including a dive to the outside on Lashley and MVP, as well as a Kimura. Could this be a foreshadowing of Brock Lesnar's return?

The action became increasingly violent, culminating in a shocking victory for Bobby Lashley, who made McIntyre pass out in the Hurt Lock. This was a great match between two powerhouses, who were not afraid to lay into each other at WrestleMania.

Grade: A-

#2 Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro at WrestleMania 37

One of the top moments on Night One of WrestleMania came when Seth Rollins took on Cesaro. He entered to a new theme song and some creative pyro, but it was The Swiss Superman who looked like the megastar. He put on the performance of a lifetime on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

Cesaro immediately caught Rollins with an uppercut upon the opening bell. From that point on, both Superstars went counter-for-counter. The action was flawless and innovative, wowing the live audience at WrestleMania. The Messiah took control of the match, showcasing his experience on the big stage.

However, Cesaro overcame him with excellent counters. He kicked out of a Pedigree, while Rollins kicked out of a Neutralizer. The Swiss Superman then countered the Stomp with a beautiful uppercut, before swinging his opponent in the UFO.

Then came the moment that WWE was building to. Cesaro swung Seth Rollins 23 times before putting him away with the Neutralizer. This is the biggest victory of Cesaro's career, and it stole the show at WrestleMania. The fans also gave him a fantastic applause.

Grade: A

#1 Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 37

History was made at the end of WrestleMania on Saturday, as Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks clashed in a monumental main event for the SmackDown Women's Championship. It was the first time two African-American women headlined the Show of Shows.

Both superstars were incredibly emotional as the bell rang, and the sold-out crowd of 25,675 made the moment bigger. The contest grew over time. Banks impressed early on, acting somewhat heelish in this match and incorporating trash talk into her game.

Belair used her power to fight back, overwhelming Banks with suplexes and powerbombs. The EST of WWE survived a Frog Splash and the Bank Statement, eventually getting the Champion down for a 450 Splash. It resulted in the closest near-fall at WrestleMania so far.

The two traded finisher attempts, with Banks using Belair's hair braid to escape the KOD. However, the EST whipped her with it before hitting the KOD for the victory. This was the perfect way to end Night One of WrestleMania.

With this victory, Belair has been established as a huge star in WWE. She was phenomenal, as was Sasha Banks. The former SmackDown Women's Champion proved her greatness too, shining in the spotlight at the main event of WrestleMania.

Grade: A+

Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE

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