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#2 Kickoff show: Cedric Alexander def. Mustafa Ali (Cruiserweight Championship)
Match: It looked as though Mustafa Ali would get the win after landing a top-rope Spanish Fly and an 054 splash on Cedric Alexander. However, “The Entertainer” survived both high-flying moves and went on to win his first Cruiserweight title after hitting his ever-reliable Lumbar Check finisher on Ali.
Verdict: This back-and-forth contest wasn’t the best of the Cruiserweight Championship tournament, so it’s understandable that some fans expected a little more, but it was definitely a match worthy of the WrestleMania stage. Both men put in a performance they can be proud of (even John Cena was impressed at ringside!) and it was great to see genuine emotion from both guys after the match.
Grade: B
#3 Kickoff show: Naomi wins the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
Match: Bayley and Sasha Banks worked together to eliminate Natalya and The Riott Squad and it looked like the dysfunctional best friends were the last two women remaining. Sasha offered a handshake to Bayley, only to be eliminated by her friend. Then, with Bayley about to celebrate, Naomi (yet to be eliminated) returned to the ring and threw her over the top rope to win.
Verdict: Surprise entrants? Check. Surprise finish? Check. Surprise winner? Check. The Women’s Battle Royal couldn’t have gone much better! The NXT representation was great to see, with Dakota Kai and Bianca Belair looking especially impressive, and the latest chapter in the Sasha-Bayley story was told brilliantly. The only negative? Becky Lynch was eliminated far too easily.
Grade: B+
