WWE WrestleMania 38 is officially wrapped and, like any WrestleMania, there was no shortage of memorable moments over the two-night event.
WrestleMania saw great performances from full-time Superstars, part-time Superstars, legends and even celebrities as the Dallas, Texas showcase mostly delivered in the third two-night WrestleMania in WWE history.
WWE seems to be finding its groove with the two-night formula, which was initially forced upon the promotion as a response to COVID-19 and the empty-arena era. Previous WrestleManias ran too long, often lasting anywhere from six-to-eight hours. WWE simply tried to squeeze too much onto one show, not to mention being incentivized by hours consumed for the WWE Network, pre-Peacock. Fortunately, a two-night formula is the perfect compromise for having shorter shows while featuring as many stars as possible.
Top 7 WrestleMania Moments of the Weekend
7. Logan Paul Shines in WrestleMania Debut, Wears $6 Million Pokemon Card
Logan Paul was one of the surprise success stories from WrestleMania weekend. Fitting like a glove in the pro wrestling environment, Paul overachieved as a heel. He was effortlessly jeered by AT&T Stadium just as he was jeered by boxing fans eager to pay to see him lose.
Paul shows promise as a part-time wrestler who could continue to garner mainstream attention from WWE while hopefully connecting them with a younger audience. Paul wore a $5-$6 million Pokemon card that has received widespread mainstream coverage.
The Miz turning on Logan Paul suggests the two will have a match down the road, but hopefully WWE comes to its senses and makes Paul the heel.
6. Sami Zayn and Johnny Knoxville Have a Wildly Entertaining Anything Goes Match
Johnny Knoxville and Sami Zayn had one of the best matches on WrestleMania 38, Night 2. This was the perfect match for casual fans who don’t take their pro wrestling too seriously, an audience that largely abandoned WWE programming years ago.
As expected, the comedy match played to Knoxville’s strengths as a stunt-fest filled with pranks, including a giant mousetrap. The ultimate utility player, Sami Zayn was incredible as a heel. Fans also popped huge for various members of the Jackass crew, including Wee Man and Party Boy.
5. Triple H Kicks off WrestleMania 38
Triple H has been far more active in front of the camera as was a positive theme throughout WrestleMania weekend. Triple H made appearances at the WWE Hall of Fame on Friday, NXT Stand and Deliver on Saturday and The Game kicked off WrestleMania 38, Night 2 on Sunday.
After announcing his retirement, Triple H’s health will be his top priority moving forward. But it’s looking more and more like Triple H may be healthy enough to at least partially return to his role as a public-facing executive in WWE.
4. Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair Have An All-Time WrestleMania Match
Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair may have wrestled the greatest women’s match in WrestleMania history on Night 1. Fans were going crazy prior to the match even starting as Belair and Lynch wrestled an action-packed, roller-coaster-ride of a match.
With just two WrestleMania appearances, Bianca Belair is already on pace to build up an all-time resume as Mrs. WrestleMania, while Lynch had a masterful performance of her own. This match certainly stole the show as match of the night, and possibly match of the weekend.
3. Cody Rhodes Makes his WWE Return
Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 was perfectly done. Rhodes maintained his AEW entrance and persona, and AT&T Stadium ate it up. Rhodes projects to be WWE’s top babyface moving forward, and his promo on Raw After Mania should help the show do its best ratings of the year.
Rhodes very palpably comes off as a hot commodity in WWE, and it will be up to the promotion to cultivate that for as long as it can. WWE is fully capable of creating credible stars when it wants to, as has been the case with Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley and a few others. Rhodes needs to be added to that list if that hasn’t happened already.
2. Steve Austin’s In-Ring Return Return at WrestleMania 38, Night 1
Stone Cold Steve Austin lived past expectations in his return to the ring at WrestleMania 38. In what was only supposed to be a segment of “The KO Show,” Steve Austin and Kevin Owens was upgraded to an in impromptu match, main eventing WrestleMania 38.
Austin rode the wave of an emotionally charged AT&T Stadium to deliver a stellar performance his final match, for now. As great as Austin’s return match was, it might not have even been his best WrestleMania moment of the weekend.
1. McAfee Mania Runs Wild, Austin-Vince Reunion at WrestleMania 38, Night 2
From a crowd heat perspective, Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory felt like the WrestleMania 38 main event. McAfee was an overwhelmingly popular babyface as fans cheered in chanted for McAfee in ways no babyface on the current roster gets cheered. As loudly as fans were cheering McAfee, they were booing Theory, who performed admirably in his role as the upstart heel.
McAfee’s WrestleMania win was a feel-good moment that was almost ruined by Vince McMahon’s surprise return to the ring at Age 76. McMahon was in great shape, even wearing a vintage black tank top. And though Austin’s Stone Cold Stunner on McMahon was far from perfect, it was unforgettable as quite possibly their last.
