‍20. Pulling Back The Curtain

The Golden Era had larger-than-life athletes. The New Generation Era had cartoonish, over-the-top gimmicks. The Attitude Era had bloodied faces. The Ruthless Aggression Era had a profound focus on work rate. The PG Era had happy-go-lucky babyfaces and dull, lifeless heels. The Reality Era had the same, plus the occasional outstanding promo.

And now, this new era of WWE has an unfiltered, all-access key to the world of WWE.

WrestleMania 40 was hailed as the beginning of a new era - the Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque Era, to be precise - and that was displayed best at the end of the second night when, amidst his celebration as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Cody Rhodes requested Levesque and Bruce Prichard, WWE’s Chief Content Officer and Executive Director, respectively, join him in the ring; later, he shared a long hug with WWE President, Nick Khan.

Levesque aside, WWE rarely acknowledges their executive staffers on-air, especially in such the way Rhodes did. If anything was to establish a new era, it was this.

19. Maximising Their Minutes

Given just 8:35 to tell their story, The Pride and The Final Testament’s Philadelphia Street Fight was a prime example of knowing how to make the most of your allotted time. They knew, too, that not much was expected of their match but again, they used this to their advantage.

They meshed perfectly with the stipulation, as the Bobby Lashley and Karrion Kross-led trios went to the extreme with aplenty of kendo sticks and tables on offer, plus an insane, instantly GIFable corner somersault plancha by Montez Ford that saw ‘Tez almost land in the front row.

It wasn’t quite the ilk of a weapons-heavy plunder brawl that ECW was famous for, but it was much better than anyone expected.

18. The General Lack Of ECW

ECW tribute shows, reunions, and full-blown revivals have been done to death, so to see WWE hold off on falling down the barbed wire-covered rabbit hole and making WrestleMania 40 another One Night Stand was a welcomed move.

Outside of Paul Heyman entering to the promotion’s iconic theme and Kevin Owens wearing ECW purple, the only full-on acknowledgement of the little promotion that could came when Bubba Ray Dudley was revealed last minute as the Philadelphia Street Fight’s special guest referee. The eight-time ECW World Tag Team Champion aided The Pride in seeing off the Karrion Kross-led stable, helping with a Wassup headbutt and donning his signature glasses.

Well-executed, this did more to keep the memory of ECW alive than an on-stage roster reunion would have.

17. A Bruising Opener, Despite The Circumstances

This was the defining match Rhea Ripley needed to justify her year-long tyranny as Women’s World Champion. No title match of hers had exuded the aura that she carries but vs. Becky Lynch, ‘The Eradicator’ was at home, as was Lynch. Hitting hard and talking smack, Rhea and Becky delivered one of WrestleMania’s greatest opening contests.

That statement alone isn’t a shock - they’re two pioneers of the women’s revolution whose individual styles combine well for a psychologically great collision - but it’s surprising to learn that both were suffering going into the match. Becky Lynch had been dealing with strep throat, whereas Rhea Ripley revealed she was having a panic attack mere moments before stepping onto the stage (H/T WrestlingNews.co):

"I legit was having a straight-up panic attack for two hours before I walked through the curtain. I was like violently shaking, just nervous. If you don't get nervous before you go out, especially at WrestleMania, you obviously don't love it enough. That's the way I think about it. I'm glad that the nerves were there."

An incredible outing under such circumstances is exemplary of both champion and challenger. They earned their plaudits on this night.

16. Friendship

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are no longer an official WWE tag team; they haven’t been since Owens was traded to SmackDown in exchange for Jey Uso in October.

Typical WWE would translate that as meaning they now despise each other, despite them having shared a beautiful WrestleMania moment just twelve months ago. Instead, though, they still care deeply for one another. Owens greeted Zayn at Gorilla ahead of Sami’s Intercontinental Championship challenge vs. GUNTHER on night one, before Sami repeated the favour for KO the following night.

This was a delight to see and acts as a nod to the change in management noticeably differing how WWE Superstars interact with each other once they’re no longer officially aligned. Let’s hope it continues.

15. The Incredible Ladder Match

There have been better multi-team Ladder matches from WWE’s vault - even at WrestleMania - but this comes extremely close to cinching that accolade.

The Judgement Day, The Awesome Truth, The New Day, DIY, New Catch Republic, and A-Town Down Under worked hard to create a memorable ‘Mania moment for themselves, doing so while taking some of the most inhumane bumps you’ll ever see. From New Catch Republic’s stereo Moonsaults off a ladder to Tommaso Ciampa Air Raid Crashing Tyler Bate from the tippy top of another ladder to the interfering JD McDonagh being sent crashing through two tables, the match left its mark on the squared circle - plus a bruise or two.

This type of match isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but one must appreciate the brutality and danger all twelve men - thirteen if you include JD - put themselves through. Hats off to them.

14. Splitting The Tag Team Titles

You were all but told that WWE was splitting the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania but still, what a refreshing sight it was.

A-Town Down Under’s Grayson Waller pulled down the blue brand’s doubles titles for him and Austin Theory before, a few minutes later, R-Truth yanked the Raw belts for him and The Miz, granting Truth his first ‘Mania victory in the process. WWE balanced the outcome perfectly here, giving audiences one set of Tag Team Champions to root for and another pair of champions to heckle to no end; Grayson Waller is about to be generational with WWE gold - well, silver - around his waist.

13. Surviving The Death Spot

GUNTHER vs. Sami Zayn on night one and IYO SKY vs. Bayley on the second were rivalries full of emotion and intensity, capping off two sagas that had been effortlessly built. Both had only one desirable outcome; the underdog babyfaces overcoming their tyrannical opposition to lift the gold and secure their WrestleMania moments.

So you can imagine fans’ fears when WWE placed both matches in the quote-unquote death spot. 

Luckily, both sets of opponents acknowledged this, working two very different matches that didn’t quite steal the show, but came within fingertips of doing so. The Intercontinental Championship bout, in particular, provided a brilliant underdog story that had GUNTHER batter Sami Zayn in front of Zayn’s wife before the fiery spirit of the Philadelphian audience spurred Sami towards championship glory.

That both matches managed to knock off the negative connotations associated with this spot on the card was impressive.

12. Finally, Bayley

Not only did Bayley vs. IYO SKY survive its dire card placement, it yielded the correct result, too.

Bayley’s nearly five-year odyssey back to being an uber-popular babyface was a neat ride, but its culmination only had one right end. Her toppling of ‘The Genius of the Sky’ received a raucous reaction from the crowd and she did so herself. No longer is Bayley hiding in the shadow of a Sasha Banks or an IYO SKY; she has her own WrestleMania moment.

We already know that Bayley is an incomparable babyface champion. Well-loved, charismatic, and excellent between the ropes, Bayley will carry on the legacy carved by SKY in the SmackDown women’s division, where the possibilities for her are endless. She’s earned this.

11. Main Event GUNTHER

Sami Zayn may have toppled GUNTHER, ending his 666-day grip on the Intercontinental Championship, but he didn’t have an easy time doing so. ‘The Ring General’ destroyed Sami, deconstructing him piece by piece. Sami’s euphoric comeback in the closing minutes of the match was a special, wholesome moment because of it; he all but fainted atop GUNTHER for the winning fall as opposed to a traditional cover.

The loss of the Intercontinental Championship now opens GUNTHER up for the next level. His presumed promotion to the main event scene in time for August 31’s Bash In Berlin will see the former WALTER return to European soil with as much pomp and circumstance as Bret Hart in Canada. This is his chance to prove that he can hang as the guy in WWE. Let’s see how high he soars.

10. BRAINBUSTAHHHHHHHHH

Though it was two beautiful Helluva Kicks that put GUNTHER down, preceding them was Sami Zayn digging deep into his bag of tricks as he pulled out a move he hadn’t done in over a decade; the Brainbuster atop the turnbuckles.

Zayn having to resort to this trauma-inducing gunshot of a super finisher of further ingrained the perception GUNTHER as this final boss of an Intercontinental Champion. He couldn’t be slain via normal means. That’s how you reinstate the prestige to a championship.

9. Welcome Back To The Queendom

Stephanie McMahon’s unannounced return to WWE brought with it a weird feeling, made even stranger following comments made by Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque during the post-WrestleMania media scrum (H/T WrestleZone):

“My wife looked good, right? She hasn’t lost a step. So great to have her back home, right? I get her home all the time. But to have her back here, to see the doubt leave her by being here for the last few days, to see her confidence come back and to know that this is her home…all of you, all of us, all this business, it’s her home. As much as anybody on the planet, she belongs here. Hopefully, she knows that now. So happy to have her back.”

Stephanie, who served briefly as Chairwoman and CEO of WWE before departing the business entirely in January 2023, appeared touched by the excitement shown from the crowd, with her sole purpose being to help ring in the Paul Levesque Era. What happens moving forward is tricky to forecast, given how rapidly WWE’s executive line-up has changed over the past two years, but it was great to see Stephanie McMahon, the person, back in a WWE ring.

8. The Rock - “I’m Not F**king Around”

Constant swearing in professional wrestling can harm a product - particularly one that is built primarily for a family-oriented audience - but when done right, it can be a piece of magic.

Just ask The Rock.

Rocky’s latest step across the strict PG line saw him, on night one, direct referee Chad Patton to not count out him and Seth Rollins. Threatening Patton with termination, The Rock stated that he wasn’t “f**king around” in an excellently-timed verbal bite that WWE’s production team failed to catch in time. The visceral snap with which The Rock directed orders at Patton was unlike any incarnation of ‘The People’s Champion’ we’ve ever seen; he has power and he’s not afraid to use it, which has helped him massively working as a heel for the first time since 2003.

7. Defeat, Again

Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins failed to beat Roman Reigns and The Rock on night one of WrestleMania 40, and WWE nailed the dismay in Rhodes’ character in the immediate aftermath. A simple shot of Cody sitting in the ring, The Bloodline blurry in the background, captured the realisation hitting Cody that his ability to finish the story had just dropped ever so slightly.

It was a poignant callback to last year’s WrestleMania and a striking reminder that WWE’s production is no longer a seizure-inducing rush of mindless cuts.

6. Samantha Irvin

Only on rare occasions has WWE inducted a broadcaster into its Hall of Fame. Immortality awaits those who have transcended the microphone and headset, with Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Howard Finkel, and ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund amongst those currently seated in the hallowed halls.

They’ll soon be joined by Samantha Irvin if WrestleMania 40 was any indication.

Irvin, as ever, announced each combatant to the ring with such glamour and prestige, doing so across each night of ‘Mania as she was trusted with ring announcing every single match. Heightened moments of the weekend were when she shone brightest; she could barely get the words out of her mouth to announce Cody Rhodes as the Undisputed Universal Champion and it wasn’t because of a hoarse throat. She’s immaculate at what she does. Long may she hold the golden mic.

5. Bianca Belair vs. Jade Cargill

Good on WWE for getting Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill onto the WrestleMania 40 card without rushing a program between the two. WWE can preserve this showdown until WrestleMania 41, where an explosive showdown will be better placed. Jade is still new to WWE; let’s see how she does in a sports entertainment singles match before thrusting her into a ‘Mania match with one of their most valued stars.

There was, however, a brief moment of tension after they and Naomi had defeated Damage CTRL. Coming face-to-face ever so briefly, it suggested there’s more to come between them, following on from an initial meeting in the Royal Rumble match. Holding off - for now... - will allow WWE to explore all possibilities with the rivalry later.

4. Drew McIntyre’s Broken Dreams

Drew McIntyre did not leave Philadelphia with ten pounds of additional luggage. His tenure as World Heavyweight Champion lasted all of five minutes as, after being knocked silly by CM Punk, he was successfully cashed in on by Money in the Bank contract holder Damian Priest - but doesn’t this make Drew’s entire journey more special?

This isn’t to say Drew McIntyre isn’t a fitting World Heavyweight Champion. He absolutely is. He acted as a pillar for the company that dragged WWE through the dreadful pandemic era and whose two previous reigns with a World Championship both began and ended in front of zero fans. He deserved to defeat Seth Rollins and defeat Seth Rollins he did, but Drew chasing the title into Clash At The Castle - due to be held from Glasgow, Scotland - is too good of a story not to tell.

Drew will have his moment, properly, on June 15 but for now, it’s Damian Priest’s time.

3. Avengers Assemble

It wasn’t quite Avengers: Endgame, but Cody Rhodes did indeed assemble his squadron to see to the external Bloodline interference. All in all, Jey Uso, John Cena, The Undertaker, and a Shield version of Seth Rollins stuck their noses into The Bloodline’s business, seeing off run-ins from Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and The Rock - and it was one of the best sequences in WWE history.

A common trope throughout Roman Reigns’ 1,316-day stint as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion was that his matches all contained the same Solo Sikoa interference spot. Now, it was Reigns and his family getting a taste of their own medicine in a superbly-booked and well-balanced instance of overbooking done right.

2. The Story? Completed It, Mate

Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns was a Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns match. It was slow-paced, largely dominated by Reigns, and saw an influx of near-falls as the match progressed before the big match-ending schmozz.

Such matches aren’t to everyone’s tastes, but if you watched this match, saw the result and subsequent reaction, and still weren’t sports entertained, then WWE is not the product for you.

Cody Rhodes losing at WrestleMania 39, where many believe was the right time to take the top prize off of Roman Reigns, was worth every agonising step of the way from the minute Charles Robinson’s hand hit the mat for a third time. Rhodes finishing his story and lifting the championship his father never got the chance to at the end of what was billed heavily as the biggest WrestleMania of all time told you enough about how much trust and value WWE sees in ‘The American Nightmare’.‍

1. “I Love Professional Wrestling”

This is the prevalent phrase coming away from WrestleMania 40 and was uttered by Michael Cole in the closing moments of night two.

Cole, who narrated a tear-jerking WrestleMania history video package in the build towards the 40th ‘Showcase of the Immortals’, was himself moved to tears by what he had witnessed between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. Sharing an emotional hug with Rhodes, the bond between the pair was paramount, as was the reality of what Cole was saying.

He truly loves professional wrestling and he’s inspired an entire generation to love it as well.