WrestleMania 38 took place over two nights at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium. Night one was full of major surprises, fantastic matches, and some stunning outfits.
Pat McAfee and Michal Cole proved why they are the best commentary team the WWE has. Their popularity with the fans along with their playful dynamic brings the best out of every match they call, and each other. But not everything was top-level, unfortunately, like with every great show there will always be a few misses and there was also one confirmed injury on the night.
So join us at Lace ‘Em Up as we tell you what went down at Night One of WrestleMania 38.
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match | Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs Vs The Usos
This match was a great opener marred by the unfortunate injury to Rick Boogs. It’s unfortunate that as the match truly got going this happened because it was shaping up to be one of the better opening matches in the WWE WrestleMania cannon. Despite this Nakamura pulled out a fantastic performance against The Usos.
We wish Rick Boogs a speedy recovery and hope to see him back in WWE when he is ready & healthy once again.
Winner via Pinfall: The Usos
Stars: ***
Singles Match | Drew McIntyre Vs Happy Corbin
Despite the talent of the two men in the ring, this match was only a solid mid-card bout, that probably could have been on TV instead. I am saying that as a fan of both McIntyre and Corbin, plus when something is disappointing it does make you wish for another championship match. This is a good match and both men give it their all but along with McIntyre winning, which was totally the right call, he did also kick out of The End Of Days. Definitely give this one a watch and make your own mind up.
Winner via Pinfall: Drew McIntyre
Stars: ***.5
Tag Team Match | The Miz & Logan Paul Vs Rey & Dominik Mysterio
Despite my absolute disdain for everything to do with Logan Paul, I, along with many fans were overly surprised by how good this match was. It was also the first absolute banger of the night. Along with Logan Paul, Dominik Mysterio pulled it out, putting on one of his best performances since his Summerslam match with Seth Rollins. The heels won but in a turn of events, The Miz hit Logan Paul with a Skull Crushing Fanailly and inadvertedly turn face in the process.
Winner via Pinfall: The Miz & Logan Paul
Stars: ****.5
RAW Women’s Championship Match | Becky Lynch Vs Bianca Belair
This could of main evented the night, had we not been treated to Steve Austin on night one, and honestly, this should have been higher up on the card. Both these women made a point to let everyone know that this is a main event level match, with Becky Lynch making her entrance out of a car, showing how far she has strayed away from her The Man persona. While Bianca Belair arrived in her homemade gear that had accents of red and her iconic lip icon. She was joined by the marching band of Texas’s own TSU’s.
This match started off fast and impactful with both women looking to end the match early.
Winner via Pinfall: Bianca Belair
Stars: *****
Seth Rollins Vs A Mystery Opponent
Seth Rollins came to the ring sporting a blue cloak very reminiscent of the great Ric Flair, this will prove to be a very important detail after his mystery opponent is revealed. Soon enough the lights go out and we hear, for the first time in WWE, “Wrestling Has More Than One Royal Family” and we see the American Nightmare emerge from below the stage. He is decked out in his red, white, and blue ring jacket, cause despite the fact he is the ‘American Nightmare’ he is also the son of the ‘American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes.
From the gear to the face heel dynamic to the little moments of pure nostalgia, this match is littered with references to one of Dusty’s more iconic feuds, that being with Ric Flair. This is also a contender for match of the night and truly a main event caliber match, but maybe we will get that at next year’s show of shows. and for a top championship for that matter.
Winner via Pinfall: Cody Rhodes
Stars: *****
SmackDown Women’s Championship Match | Charlotte Flair Vs Ronda Rousey
With a lackluster build and a lack of interest from the WWE Universe in this match, hopes weren’t very high. Charlotte Flair is the most decorated women’s wrestler in WWE history but even her reputation and in-ring skill wasn’t enough to save this match from the still very green and lackluster in-ring work of her opponent, Ronda Rousey. There were also shenanigans all over the place with the Queen coming out of WrestleMania still with her championship. This was the biggest down point of a truly fantastic night of action.
Winner via Pinfall: Charlotte Flair
Stars: **
The KO Show With Special Guest ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin
There have been rumors circulating for months that Kevin Owens would be having a match against the texas Rattlesnake, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. But going into the show of shows that didn’t seem like the case, this was marketed as a sit-down conversation after Owens went full ‘John Cena Midlife Crisis’ on us and decided to run down Texas and taunt the Bionic Redneck. After Austin turned up and joins Kevin Owens in the ring we are treated to some truly amazing verbal back and forth between two of the best talkers WWE has ever had.
What transpired next was one of the best comeback and retirement matches we could have asked for. Austin says he had his first match in Dallas, Texas, and now it’s time for his last one to take place in the same place. This is obviously pure nostalgia for those of us who grew up in the attitude era and remember trying to give our friends ‘Stone Cold’ Stunners in the playground. Some of us actually succeeded. This match being no-holds-barred was perfect for these two men, as Kevin Owens is one of the best and safest workers within the WWE who can make anyone look like a million bucks. For Austin this allowed him to be that guy again while also hiding any limitations he might have after 19 years away. Neither man held back and gave us the perfect way to close out night 1 of WrestleMania 38.
Winner via Pinfall: ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin
Stars: *****