Roman Reigns Squanders Dreams, Bianca Belair Survives Asuka

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Wrestlemania is the grandest spectacle in sports entertainment, and this year it lived up to the name. Night One featured hard-hitting action and the crowning of a new Smackdown Women’s Champion. Night Two kept the energy going; some instant classics were put on tonight.

However, what will be most talked about regarding Wrestlemania 39 will without question be the ending of the main event. It’s a controversial decision that’s sure to generate discourse for years to come.

LOSER: Brock Lesnar Defeats Omos

Out of all singles matches on the Wrestlemania card, this one probably had the least amount of hype behind it. When the match was first announced, many fans assumed WWE was planning to swerve them and actually put on Brock Lesnar vs Bobby Lashley. Instead, we got the match as promised.

For the last few years, virtually every Brock Lesnar match has been the same; both men hit each other with finishing maneuvers and wrap things up within a few minutes. This match was exactly that.

The match served no purpose and only made it just a bit harder to take Omos seriously. If the Nigerian Giant had won, it would’ve been monumental for him. Instead, the match ended up being just another paycheck for Lesnar.

MEH: Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler Win Tag Team Showcase

This match didn’t have many stakes heading into it. You assume that the winner would get a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

The in-ring action was decent, Liv Morgan stood out, as she always does. Natalya also had some impressive spots, including a double sharpshooter on Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green.

The ending was incredibly anticlimactic; Rousey tapped out Shotzi to win the match for herself and Shayna Baszler. Ronda Rousey’s appeal ran dry long ago, and she has since only been very mediocre in the ring and on the mic. While she was, at one point, a draw for WWE, that time has long gone.

WINNER: Gunther Retains The Intercontinental Championship

A match between three of WWE’s heaviest hitters was bound to be good. In addition to the promise of great in-ring work, WWE also developed tension between Sheamus and Drew McIntyre to add another level of intrigue to the bout.

All three men ended the fight with red handprints on their chests. The bout was as physical as fans hoped it would be, showcasing a brutal mix of chops, strikes, kicks, and suplexes.

In the end, Gunther came out on top. He continues his reign of dominance in WWE as one of the company’s most imposing champions.

WINNER: Bianca Belair Survives Asuka

Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair has been the darling of WWE for the better part of the last two years, and for good reason. She’s stunning, charismatic, athletic, and strong as anything. Tonight, Bianca was in for the fight of her life against the wily WWE veteran Asuka.

Despite a lack of build on WWE’s part, this match was bound to deliver. Asuka pushed Bianca to her limits and nearly forced the champion to tap out, but Bianca used her raw power to outlast her opponent.

On one hand, it’s a shame that Asuka has to go another year without a win at Wrestlemania. But she didn’t go down without a fight and put on an incredible match, just another item in her long list of accolades.

LOSER: Shane McMahon Injures Himself

The Miz and Snoop Dogg stood in the ring. Snoop joked about the beating the Miz took last night from Pat McAfee and asked if he wanted to do it again. The Miz said no, but Snoop Dogg brought out none other than Shane McMahon to fight him.

Unfortunately, Shane immediately rolled his ankle and was unable to continue the match. If only someone could do something to save this segment...

WINNER: Snoop Dogg Saves The Show

Seeing that Shane McMahon was injured, Snoop Dogg jumped into action. He immediately hit the Miz with some forearms and then delivered his own take of the People’s Elbow. The crowd cheered and the segment was saved.

WINNER: Edge Exorcises The Demon

Halloween came early this year. This match featured a video package narrated by Russell Crowe to promote the actor’s upcoming movie, The Pope’s Exorcist. It’s a partnership out of left field, but it set a nice, spooky stage for the match.

Edge made his entrance in the style of the Brood, complete with giant bat wings. The Demon used his old, pre-Judgement Day music.

There was an odd snafu in the middle of the match as Finn Balor got cut open, presumably by the ladder Edge threw at his head. The match paused for a moment as medics checked on the Demon, but fortunately he was able to continue.

The match ended with a ConChairTo to the Demon’s head as Edge finally earned his revenge against Judgement Day for the months of torment he’s faced.

Winner: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes, The Match

Cody’s entrance was the pyro fest that fans expected, with the heartwarming surprise of Cody’s family and Brodie Lee Jr. waiting for the American Nightmare at ringside. Roman, on the other hand, had a team of pianists play his music. It was an elegant entrance that gave the match the feeling of a grand finale.

This was undoubtedly one of the best matches of Roman’s historic championship reign. He’s given us dozens of memorable moments over the last two years, including his bout against Drew McIntyre and his beatdown of Jey Uso at HIAC.

It featured interference from Solo Sikoa, who accompanied Roman to the ring and distracted both the referee and Cody Rhodes at multiple points in the match. The Usos also made an appearance and attacked Cody, but were chased off by the new Undisputed Tag Team Champions, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

LOSER: Roman's Reign Continues

This match not only rivaled Roman’s shining moments as champion but presented an emotional climax that blew all of those moments out of the water. WWE took that opportunity for a fairy tale ending and squashed it under their boot. Solo Sikoa hit Cody with a Samoan Spike behind the ref's back, allowing Roman to hit Cody with a spear and win the match, 1-2-3.

It's a gutsy move on WWE's end, but not one likely to pay off. This was your fairytale ending, presented on a silver platter. WWE has had several chances to make magic by crowning a new babyface champion; Drew McIntyre could have done it in Cardiff. Sami Zayn could have done it in Montreal. But both of them were passed up on, under the assumption that there would be a perfect, grandiose ending to the Bloodline's saga.

Wrestlemania was a perfect storm to dethrone the Tribal Chief; the crowd was ready for it, the Usos were ready for it, and Cody Rhodes was all but chomping at the bit to honor his father's legacy on the grandest stage of them all. But now fans are forced to ask, yet again, "if not him, then who?"

Fans will have to wait and see and hope that WWE's decision is worth it in the end.