Top 20 Matches of WrestleMania 35 Week (Part I)
WrestleMania 35 slugged through seven hours in an intriguing fury, producing the last great Mania of the decade. It was great though, maybe uneven and exhausting but there's no denying the pageantry of the whole spectacle.
It helps that the gargantuan parade that WrestleMania is, comes after a host of other shows above all else NXT Takeover that allows the Wrestling fan to enjoy some real action before the spectacle.
WrestleMania becomes the showpiece of a wrestling carnival for the week when the city such as New York gets taken over by a host of promotions selling their wares. This obviously includes the scintillating NJPW/ROH led G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden.
Unfortunately, if reports are true then this is the last time fans taking the pilgrimage to a 'Mania host city will get the chance to see Independent scene's greatest just before the big night. WWE has come to terms with Florida's officials next year to prevent any outside promotions taking advantage of their one big night.
If that is the case then this year went out with a bang like no other.As such to celebrate possibly the last true WrestleMania week, here are the top 20 matches that absolutely stole the show including a certain historic main event to close out the celebrations.
Also don't worry, unlike WWE we won't make you slog through a whole set of explosive matches at a go, instead enjoy part 1 on this 2 part look back at WrestleMania 35 week.
Honorable Mentions:
Before we do get to the main event of this piece, we have to look at the simmering undercard that just couldn't make the top twenty cut, so here goes;
(For the Smackdown Tag Team Championships) The Usos (c) vs. Ricochet/Aleister Black vs. Shinsuke Nakamura/Rusev vs. The Bar, WrestleMania 35: A fast-paced burst of energy just at the right point for a card that seems to grow from strength to strength only to end matches in questionable fashion. This one lit the crowd on fire after WWE's lighting went haywire.
Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr, WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow 2019: Forced to improvise after some delays and organization issues, the Lucha Brothers put on a show for the audiences with a stellar match. They could have played it easy with the big hits, but instead went all out for paying fans and that's fearless.
(For the IWGP Heavyweight and ROH Tag Team Championships) Guerillas of Destiny (c) vs. Brody King/PCO (c) vs. EVIL/Sanada vs. Briscoe Brothers, NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard @MSG: Nearly undone by some horrible post-match shenanigans from ROH booker Delirious. This match was just as much of ballistic action as its WrestleMania counterpart, stealing the show with a mad PCO bump and some great guerilla action.
(For the NXT Women's Championship) Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Io Shirai vs. Bianca BeLair vs. Kairi Sane, NXT Takeover New York: Pushed out by a few mistimed spots, this was a thrilling sprint match on a card just to exceptional to top. Even then another Takeover stellar showing in the box for a growing women's division.
#20 Suzuki Gun (Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr) vs. Will Ospreay and Hiroshi Tanahashi, RevPro Live in NYC
A non-title match (Suzuki Gun being RevPro Tag Team Champions), to act as a preview for Sabre's battle against Tanahashi at Madison Square Garden for the RevPro Heavyweight Title.
This one saw a stirring contest between two teams so well oiled especially in the case of Ospreay and Tanahashi. They're a better team than the Dream power unit of Okada and Tanahashi.
The match's centerpiece is Zack wisening up after his loss to Tanahashi in the New Japan Cup, targetting his weak legs like he hadn't before.
At the same time, the animosity spills in exciting fashion to Ospreay and Suzuki with the Suzuki gun leader chopping Will to bits. A key sequence sees Will bring the first to Suzuki, only to find out no one can put down the King.
Eventually, despite the focus on the upcoming singles match, this became another showcase for the well-developed story through the week of Ospreay's challenge to heavyweights and changing of his methods.
Forced to use high-flying moves after failing to match the Suzuki Gun team at their respective games, Ospreay breaks up a double submission attempt as well as tries hard for storm breaker only to fall to Sabre Jr.
Result: Zack Sabre Jr. blocks a stormbreaker and takes out Will Ospreay with a pin and a win for Suzuki Gun