Our WWE Wrestlepalooza results for tonight include the Usos reuniting to battle The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, John Cena clashing with long-time rival “The Beast” Brock Lesnar, former Women’s World Champion IYO SKY taking on the number one contender Stephanie Vaquer for the vacant championship, and the returning AJ Lee team with her husband CM Punk against the Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch and her husband, the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
WWE Wrestlepalooza Card:
- Women’s World Championship Match: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
- John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
- The Usos vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
- Mixed Tag Team Match: AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins
- Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
WWE Wrestlepalooza Results:
Pat McAfee joins the commentary desk.
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
Before the ring announcer can announce Lesnar, Paul Heyman teleports to ringside. Lesnar has a massive smile on his face. Heyman and Lesnar high-five. Heyman does Lesnar’s intro and takes his place in Lesnar’s corner. As the bell rings, Cena and Lesnar charge into each other like two rhinos. Lesnar clubs Cena’s back. Cena tries to fire back, but Lesnar clubs Cena down to the mat. Lesnar works over Cena. Lesnar German suplexes Cena. Bearhug by Lesnar. Cena almost counters with an AA. Lesnar escapes and floors Cena with a lariat. German suplex by Lesnar. That’s number two.
Cena manages to send Lesnar into the post. Cena tries multiple shoulder blocks. After the fourth, Lesnar finally goes down. Cena hits three AAs in a row. Kick out by Lesnar. Cena calls for the five knuckle shuffle. Cena hits the ropes and eats two F5s in a row. Lesnar screams for Cena to get up. Another F5 by Lesnar. Lesnar German suplexes Cena. Bearhug by Lesnar. Cena almost counters with an AA. Lesnar escapes and floors Cena with a lariat. German suplex by Lesnar. That’s number two. Cena manages to send Lesnar into the post. Cena tries multiple shoulder blocks.
The Finish
After the fourth, Lesnar finally goes down. Cena hits three AAs in a row. Kick out by Lesnar. Cena calls for the five knuckle shuffle. Cena hits the ropes and eats two F5s in a row. Lesnar screams for Cena to get up. Another F5 by Lesnar. Another F5 by Lesnar. Cena is barely moving. Lesnar delivers ANOTHER F5. Lesnar gives Cena one more F5 for the win.
Winner- Brock Lesnar
Lesnar leaves and circles the ring. Lesnar rolls back in, F5s the referee, and F5s Cena again. The camera pans to a kid crying in the crowd. This was an impressive beatdown, but this writer can’t help but wonder what the point is. Is the endgame Cena’s last match against Lesnar? It’s not like Cena has never beaten Lesnar in the past, so that would be nonsensical… so that’s probably how this ends.
Grade: C+
This was an impressive beatdown, but this writer can’t help but wonder what the point is. Is the endgame Cena’s last match against Lesnar? It’s not like Cena has never beaten Lesnar in the past, so that would be nonsensical… so that’s probably how this ends.
The Usos vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed (Special Guest Referee LA Knight
The Usos double team Reed. Reed eventually runs over Jimmy with a back elbow. Breakker and Reed take turns working over Jimmy. Reed grabs a chair. Knight tells Reed not to use the chair. In the confusion, Jimmy kicks Reed in the gut and grabs the chair. Knight and Jimmy lock eyes. Knight shrugs and turns his back. Jimmy hits Reed with the chair. Jey lands a dive. Jimmy gets low bridged by Breakker, sending him out to the floor. Breakker destroys Jimmy with a running shoulder block.Reed hits Jimmy with a chair. Breakker and Reed continue their assault. Reed and Breakker hit the Steiner Bulldog. Jimmy kicks out. Jimmy manages to tag in Jey. Jey clears the ring and sets up a table. Before the Usos can hit the 1D, Reed breaks it up.
Read More: Report: Reaction To Cody Rhodes On The Set Of ‘Street Fighter’
The Usos land several superkicks and a 1D on Breakker. Reed breaks up the pin. Breakker lands a Breakkinsteiner. Reed misses a moonsault. Jimmy lands a swanton. Breakker Spears Jimmy. Jey Spears Breakker. Uso Splash by Jey. Breakker kicks out. Outside the ring, Reed and Knight argue. Jey lands a dive that almost takes out Knight as well. Jey and Knight argue. Breakker tries to hit Jey with a chair. Superkick by Jey. Jey almost hits Knight with the chair, but he pulls it at the last second. Jey tosses a chair into Reed’s face. Not sure when it happened, but Jey is busted open. Breakker Spears Jimmy and Jey through a table. Reed crushes Jey with a Tsunami! Reed pins Jey.
Winners- Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
Grade: B-
This one started off like any standard TV tag match… then referee LA Knight decided to Kanye Shrug the rules, and this thing turned into complete chaos. This writer still isn’t sure at what point during this car crash Jey got busted open, but starting the ESPN area with a crimson mask is smart. This thing clearly isn’t over, but what happens next? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Women’s World Championship Match: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
Vaquer and SKY trade takedowns and submission holds. Neither woman can earn the advantage. SKY and Vaquer trade pin attempts, leading to a stalemate. Suplex by Vaquer. Vaquer calls for the Devil’s Kiss. SKY avoids it. After a backflip counter, SKY lands a basement dropkick. SKY works over Vaquer. Vaquer manages to trap SKY in a rope hang armbar. Leg drop by Vaquer. SKY kicks out. Straightjacket choke by Vaquer. SKY reverses it and locks Vaquer in the hold. Vaquer sends SKY flying with a rana to break the hold. Butterfly backbreaker by SKY. Both women are down.
Palm Strike followed by a flapjack by SKY. Missile dropkick by SKY. Vaquer rolls out. SKY does her Fortnite emote taunt before landing a dive. SKY tries a sunset flip powerbomb off the apron. Vaquer hooks the ropes to block the hold. Vaquer lands a nasty leaping knee strike to SKY’s throat. Springboard crossbody by Vaquer. Vaquer lands another in the ring. SKY avoids a meteroa by Vaquer and lands a German suplex. German suplex by Vaquer! Both women are down again. Vaquer and SKY trade strikes. Suplex by Vaquer.
Vaquer tries the Devil’s Kiss, but SKY counters with a double stomp. Crossface by SKY. SKY goes up top. Vaquer cuts SKY off and lands a nasty rope hang dragon Screw. SKY surprises Vaquer with a rana hold. Vaquer kicks out and eats a head kick. Bullet train attack by SKY. SKY tries the Over the Moonsault, but Vaquer gets her boots up. Vaquer hangs SKY up in the ropes and lands another nasty dragon screw. Devil’s Kiss by Vaquer! Vaquer hits the SVB, but SKY kicks out!
The Finish:
Vaquer goes up top. SKY cuts Vaquer off. Both women battle up top. SKY takes Vaquer off the top with a Spanish fly. Vaquer kicks out! SKY lands a bullet train attack. SKY pulls down her knee pads (despite having an injured knee) and lands another running knee. Vaquer is out. SKY tries the Over the Moonsault, but Vaquer moves! SKY hits the mat with a sickening thud. Vaquer goes up tomp and lands the Spiral Tap for the win!
Winner and NEW Women’s World Champion, Stephanie Vaquer!
Grade: -A
This one started off slow, but turned into a highly technical contest, the likes of which we don’t always see on a WWE PLE. SKY and Vaquer had their working boots on tonight, and incorporating SKY’s injured knee into the finish (the missed moonsault) was the chef’s kiss on what might have been the best women’s wrestling match on a WWE PLE this year.
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
Mixed Tag Team Match: AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins
AJ wants to start the match. Lynch refuses. Rollins tags out once Punk steps up. Lynch mockingly lands a few strikes to Punk. The crowd chants for a GTS. Punk tags in AJ. Lynch cheapshots Punk once he’s out on the apron. AJ chases Lynch. Lynch tags in Rollins. Rollins and Lynch are pretty proud of themselves. Punk surprises Rollins with a dive. Rollins and Punk fight in the crowd. Once the fight spills back into the ring. Rollins distracts the referee while Lynch chokes Punk in the corner. Punk drives Rollins into his corner.
AJ tries to scratch Rollins’ eyes out. Lynch is livid. After being sent out of the ring, Punk is pushed into the ring steps by Lynch. AJ tries to step up, but Rollins steps in the way. Rollins works over Punk. Lynch and AJ trade strikes. AJ lands a flurry of slaps. Rollins tries to break it up. AJ paint brushes him. AJ walks up Rollins as she tornado DDTs Lynch. After a slight miscommunication. Punk assists AJ with a sliced bread on Rollins into a splash on Lynch. Lynch kicks out. Lynch counters the Black Widow with the DisArmHer. Aj reverses that into the Black Widow. Rollins tries to break it up, but gets put in a sharpshooter by Punk. Lynch pokes Punk in the eye to break his Sharpshooter.
The Finish:
Punk and AJ do each other’s offense. Rollins pulls AJ off of Lynch, but Lynch locks Rollins in the Black Widow! Lynch breaks it up and suplexes AJ. Rollins and Lynch land stereo pedigrees. Punk and AJ kick out. Rollins and Lynch set up stereo GTS. Punk and AJ escape. Punk clotheslines Rollins out of the ring. AJ sets up in the corner. Rollins trips AJ. Punk catches Rollins with a Stomp. After a few reversals, Lynch puts Punk in the Sharpshooter. Punk reverses it into a Sharpshooter of his own.
Rollins breaks it up and lands a Stomp. AJ breaks up the pin with a Stomp to Rollins. Lynch manages to drop AJ with the Manhandle Slam. AJ kicks out. Everyone brawls. Punk and AJ clear the ring. AJ clears off the Spanish announce table, while Punk clears the other. Punk and AJ set up moves on the desk. Lynch eventually tosses AJ from one table to the other, into Punk, sending everyone (AJ, Rollins, and Punk) through the commentary desk. Lynch sends AJ into the ring. AJ counters the Manhandle Slam into the Black Widow! Lynch taps out!
Winners- CM Punk and AJ Lee
Grade: B
That was a well-done mixed tag match. The entire match was built around Lynch avoiding locking up with AJ. Everyone involved built to the eventual tag brilliantly. That’s what this is all about, making moments, and this match had several. AJ hasn’t had a match in WWE in over 10 years, so there was bound to be some rust. All things considered, and with a few more matches under her belt, she will be back to the AJ of old. With all that, she still looked good out there tonight. After tapping out a title holder, one would think that means she would be next in line for an IC title shot.
A familiar gong hits and The Undertaker rides out on his motorcycle. Taker spots Stephanie McMahon in the crowd. Taker sits next to Stephanie and tells her that she is being inducted into the class of 2026 Hall of Fame. Stephanie is elated. Taker and Stephanie embrace.
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
McIntyre jaws at Rhodes. Rhodes slaps McIntyre. Rhodes and McIntyre end up in the corner. McIntyre gives Rhodes a clean break. Rhodes eats an elbow from McIntyre. Rhodes seems to stumble a bit before landing a Cody cutter. McIntyre ends up on the apron. A kick from Rhodes sends McIntyre to the floor. Dive by Rhodes. Rhodes tries another, but gets caught and driven into the ring post. McIntyre yeets Rhodes over the commentary desk. McIntyre sends Rhodes into the ring steps with a reverse Alabama slam. Rhodes tries to get his hands up as McIntyre unloads with strikes.
Read More: Drew McIntyre Doesn’t Understand Why Bret Hart Loves CM Punk So Much
McIntyre goes up top. Rhodes cuts McIntyre off and hits a superplex. McIntyre and Rhodes trade strikes. Rhodes clutches at his head before landing a powerslam. Disaster kick by Rhodes. Rhodes seems to still be dealing with the effects of McIntyre’s assault a few weeks back. Rhodes goes up top. McIntyre cuts Rhodes off and headbutts him up top. Avalanche white noise by McIntyre. Rhodes kicks at two. McIntyre calls for the Claymore. Rhodes counters with a short powerbomb. McIntyre kicks out. McIntyre tries another kick, but Rhodes avoids it and locks in a figure four. Rhodes eats a right hand from McIntyre that breaks the hold.
The Finish:
McIntyre rips off the turnbuckle pad. McIntyre tries to push Rhodes into the referee. The referee hops out of the ring to avoid getting crushed. McIntyre rolls up Rhodes and gets what seems like a 10 count with no referee. As the referee slides in, Rhodes kicks out. Rhodes sends McIntyre into the exposed turnbuckle. Crossroads by Rhodes. McIntyre kicks out. Claymore by McIntyre. Rhodes kicks out. McIntyre lands a dive.
McIntyre sets up a Claymore through the commentary desk. The referee steps in the way. McIntyre decides to do it anyway, but Rhodes moves. The LED board and the front of the desk exploded. McIntyre screams in pain, clutching at his leg. McIntyre makes it back in the ring and drops Rhodes with a Glasgow Kiss. As McIntyre sets up a Claymore, his legs give out. Super Cody Cutter by Rhodes. Rhodes hits Crossroads for the win!
Winner and STILL Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes!
Grade: C+
This match had a good build to its finish, but felt like another SmackDown main event. This feud, despite the cool table spot, hasn’t had a lot going for it. Rhodes was gone for weeks, and McIntyre wasn’t precisely on TV much either. Having McIntyre win this would have given this feud some bite, but that clearly didn’t happen.
WWE Wrestlepalooza Review:
Tonight’s show was billed as a big deal, but besides a few bright spots, this was more like a Raw and SmackDown supershow. Watching Cena get manhandled and a main event that was just ok does not a big event make. The match of the night was the Women’s World title match. SKY and Vaquer kept this writer sane during what felt like a slog, with commercials to boot. What did you all think of the show? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: C+
WrestleZone features weekly audio and video content on Facebook, YouTube, and your favorite podcast apps like Apple, Spotify, and SoundCloud. Subscribe now for hours of exciting wrestling content, including exclusive interviews, previews, reviews, and more!
