WrestleMania 39 results: Powell’s live review of night one with Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles, Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the Smackdown Women’s Title, Austin Theory vs. John Cena for the U.S. Title, Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio, Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul – Pro Wrestling Dot Net

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE WrestleMania 39 Night One
Aired April 1, 2023 live on Peacock and pay-per-view
Inglewood, California at SoFi Stadium

There were no matches on the two-hour Kickoff show… Mike Rome introduced Becky G, who performed “America The Beautiful” while standing inside the ring… A pre-taped “WrestleMania Cold Open” video package hosted by Kevin Hart aired… Michael Cole welcomed viewers to the show…

WrestleMania host The Miz stood in the ring with Snoop Dogg. Miz compared his accolades to Snoop’s and said they are exactly the same. Snoop said it was about the fans tonight. Miz agreed and then listed some of the matches. “Let’s fire it up,” Snoop said to close the segment…

U.S. Champion Austin Theory made his entrance for the opening match. Michael Cole and Corey Graves checked in from ringside. Graves congratulated Cole for calling his 22nd WrestleMania event and noted that it was the most of any broadcast team member in the company’s history. Cole introduced the Spanish broadcast team, who checked in for a moment.

Cole noted that John Cena has delivered a record 600 Make-A-Wish wishes. A Make-A-Wish video aired. A group of Make-A-Wish kids stood on the stage and ring announcer Mike Rome said it was their dream to go to WrestleMania. Awesome.

John Cena made his entrance and greeted the kids on the stage. Cena slapped hands with them, told them to have fun, and said it was time to go to work…

1. Austin Theory vs. John Cena for the U.S. Championship. Cole noted that it was Cena’s 15th WrestleMania match. He said Cena kicked off WrestleMania in 2004 by beating Big Show to win the U.S. Championship. Cena knocked Theory down with a couple of early shoulder blocks.

Theory backed Cena into the corner and then bit his ear (Mike Tyson is smiling somewhere). Cena got upset and chased Theory out of the ring. Theory returned and hit Cena from behind while he was checking his ear. Theory suplexed Cena, who returned the favor with a suplex of his own.

Cena performed a Blockbuster style move and got a two count. Theory went to the ropes and played to the crow for heat. Theory rolled back into the ring into a dropkick and then covered Cena for another two count. Theory went for another rolling dropkick, but Cena dodged it and then hooked him in the STF. Theory bit Cena’s hand to break the hold.

Graves said referee Chad Patton was being lenient because it was a WrestleMania match. Theory put Cena down and then put one foot over him for a cocky cover that resulted in a two count. Theory went for a leaping boot, but Cena caught his foot. Cena powered up Theory for an Attitude Adjustment, but Theory slipped out of it and DDT’d Cena, which led to a two count.

Theory put Cena in a sleeper hold in the middle of the ring. Cena started to fade, then showed signs of life. Theory hopped onto the back of Cena, who fell to his knees. Cena powered up and backed Theory into the corner of the ring to break the hold.

Cena hit a couple of shoulder tackles and a side slam. Cena looked to the crowd and they roared. He bowed to express gratitude and then hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena went for the AA, but Theory grabbed the top rope. Theory’s legs hit the referee. REF BUMP!!!

Cena applied the STF. Theory tapped out. Cena released the hold and assumed he’d won the match. Cena spotted the referee down and then turned back to Theory, who hit him with a low blow. Theory hit the A-Town Down and pinned Cena…

Austin Theory defeated John Cena in 11:20 to retain the U.S. Championship.

Powell’s POV: An entertaining opener with the live crowd showing a lot of love for Cena. I don’t think Theory gained much by winning the match in cheap fashion. It obviously gives his character something to gloat about, but it was a pest heel win, not a star making win that puts him in a better place than he was before he worked with Cena.

Graves thanked The Weeknd for one of the WrestleMania 39 themes…

Ring announcer Samantha Irvin introduced Titus O’Neil, who was seated with the broadcast team and joined them on commentary for the next match… Entrances for the four-way tag team match took place…

2. Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis vs. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar in a four-way tag team showcase match. Graves said Dawkins was looking forward to exorcising some demons on behalf of his Cincinnati Bengals at Sofi Stadium. Titus picked the Profits to win, while Graves went with the Viking Raiders.