Laracuente Ledger Pro Wrestling

Wrestlemania 34 Recap

Posted on Author Jeremy Laracuente Comment(1)

This year’s Wrestlemania was a solid show. As with every WWE “Pay Per View,” we had some highs and some lows. So let’s break down this year’s Show of Shows.

Kick-off Show

Andre “The Giant” Memorial Battle Royal

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟1/2

This match has been set up differently than the Royal Rumble as all the competitors began in the ring to start the match. The match was ok nothing spectacular happened throughout most of the match. That was until the end, we got the classic Bray Wyatt “Appear out of nowhere” vignette and Wyatt proceeded to help Matt Hardy go on to win the Andre “The Giant” Memorial Battle Royal.

Cruiserweight Championship

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

The Cruiserweight division did not have the success that was originally anticipated to have after the “Cruiserweight Classic” (CWC). The division floundered about on Monday Night RAW until securing their own show “205 Live” in the WWE Network. Triple H has now taken hold of creative control over the 205 Live product and it has seen drastic improvements since his takeover. This Cruiserweight Championship match last night showcased what made the CWC so special. A lot of genuine in-ring competition and storytelling coupled with “High-Spots” that make the crowd pop.

Before the Wrestlemania Women’s Battle Royal we got an interview with a fan from the crowd. That fans name was…John Cena.

Wrestlemania Women’s Battle Royal

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟

This match much like with the men, had all of the competitors in the ring to begin the contest. This match, also like the men, did not get interesting until the end. However, in this match, it was a betrayal, not a union that made it interesting. The tension between Bayley and Sasha Banks have reached confrontational proportions, and this time Bayley got the better of Sasha. They formed a slight pact in order to eliminate all competition, or so they thought. As Bayley tossed Sasha out, she symbolically also threw out their friendship. Smackdown Live’s Naomi had not been eliminated yet and promptly eliminated Bayley to win the first ever Wrestlemania Women’s Battle Royal.

Main Card

Intercontinental Championship

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This match was the perfect to start off the show. These three superstars came in on fire and the crowd was very involved and into the contest. There was a lot of back and forth action, some false finishes. These competitors pulled out all the stops, including the Miz hitting an Avalanche Skull Crushing Finale on Seth Rollins. Seth Rollins ultimately won the match and became the New Intercontinental Champion.

Smackdown Live Women’s Championship

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This match was absolutely incredible and stole the show in my opinion. One of only two five stars Laracuente Ledger rated for Wrestlemania 34. The match was intense and crisp, hard-hitting and technically sound. Both Charlotte Flair and Asuka played their roles, they sold the injuries and the pain. They sold the anguish and frustration. This contest was beautifully booked and produced.

And at the conclusion of this match, your Smackdown Live Women’s Champion is…..Charlotte Flair.

In between the two contest we got a glimpse of a referee telling something to John Cena and we will have the making of a wonderful meme set out of this gif.

US Championship Fatal Four Way

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟1/2

Honestly, I expected more from this match. Now that’s not to say the match was bad but just that it was not given a proper showcase. The four competitors making their entrances took longer than the match itself. This match should have been put on the Kick-off show and given more time. This match, unfortunately, was doomed from the start. But the unpredictable finish helped this match a little as Jinder Mahal became the New United States Champion.

Ronda Rousey’s Debut Match

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I must admit I was not expecting much from this match at all. I was expecting to see a very novice and green performer stumble her way through only a few spots in the match. I expected Ronda to be almost sheltered in this match. And boy was I wrong, Kurt Angle and Triple H started the match and quickly got out of the way. Making this match about Ronda and she delivered. Ronda was aggressive and moving quickly, her transitions were smooth. The knock on her leading up to this contest was about her facial expressions during the promo segments. But in the match itself, Ronda’s facial cues were spot on. I was absolutely pleasantly surprised with this match not just from Ronda but also Kurt Angle. As was pointed out to me and I subsequently pointed out to any of you who read the piece http://laracuenteledger.com/2018/03/14/figuring-out-the-wrestlemania-card/ Kurt can’t stand up straight because of his knees (Thanks again Eaton it’s all I notice from Kurt now). Both Kurt and Ronda impressed and delivered an awesome match.

Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship Triple Threat

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟

Again, another match on the card that should have been better but just wasn’t. Just like the US Championship match this match needed more time to get over and was, therefore, a lackluster match worth only one star. The Bludgeon Brothers became the New Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions.

Cena’s Last Chance Part 1

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 1/2

Now let’s be clear this is about the first part of the Cena Mania Segment involving Elias. I loved this segment when the lights went out and then Elias appeared was absolute gold. Then when we taunted the crowd saying “Were you expecting someone else”? I popped. Elias then started to sing and got 5 Moves of Doomed.

Cena’s Last Chance Part 2

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟

Now came the anticipated contest with John Cena and The Undertaker. This match received a two-star rating simply out of respect for the superstars involved. As the match was short as expected but was very much one-sided. The Undertaker dominated the matchup making Cena look awful by comparison. Undertaker won the ” match”.

The next segment was the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony recap. Which the 2018 Hall of Fame Class was headlined by Goldberg.

Daniel Bryan’s Return

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This match came together quickly once Daniel Bryan was cleared to return to in-ring competition. Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan took on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, with Zayn and Owens fighting to get the jobs back with Smackdown Live. Daniel was taken out early and then Shane was getting demolished by Zayn and KO. Leading to the comeback of Bryan and subsequent victory. Bryan returning to New Orleans the exact site where “YES-ltemania was born made for an incredible,” Wrestlemania Moment”. And of course, we got our big PPV “High Spot” from Shane O’Mac.

The total attendance was then announced.

RAW Women’s Championship

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 1/2

The build for this match was perfectly done. The realism and attacking nature that perfectly suits Alexa Bliss and the vulnerability that Nia Jax showed made this contest feel incredibly real. The power displayed by Nia in conjunction with Alexa’s ragdoll selling ability was the ultimate payoff in the end. Bliss made her “Former” best friend look amazing in winning the RAW Women’s Championship.

WWE Heavyweight Championship

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The second of the two Five Star matches of the night for the Ledger was the Shinsuke Nakamura vs AJ Styles WWE Championship match. This match was highly anticipated by the IWC (Internet Wrestling Community) and it did not disappoint. Hard hitting intensity with both guys pulling out all the stops. Nothing I could say can truly capture the essence of this match. All I can say is definitely go watch it.

At the end of this classic AJ Styles retained his WWE Championship. And there was a great show of respect between the competitors. That was until….

RAW Tag Team Championship

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟 1/2

The only reason this match got two and a half stars is that I found it funny. Braun picked a 10-year-old fan named Nicholas out of the crowd to be his tag team partner. The match itself wasn’t really memorable though except for an Avalanche Swiss-ton Bomb. But another title change took place in this contest as Braun Strowman and Nicholas are now the RAW Tag Team Champions.

Main Event: WWE Universal Championship

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 1/2

For the fourth consecutive year, we were witness to another Roman Reigns Wrestlemania main event. This one however delivered where the last three could not. This match was as brutal and intense as you would expect. And Reigns was booked to “Look Strong” and kick out a ton just as you’d expect. And Lesnar suplexes Reigns a bunch of times as you’d expect. Brock would F-5 Reigns multiple times. For as much as this match was expectedly predictable, it gave us a refreshing feel. It also gave us some uncomfortable moments, like when Lesnar lawn darted Reigns face first into the commentary table. Or when Lesnar decided to remind everyone that he’s is a legitimate fighter and started elbowing Reigns in the head. Given the way the “Blood Packet incident went down. Seeing Reigns get busted open gave him credibility. Lesnar won and retained his WWE Universal Championship.

Final Verdict

All in all this Wrestlemania while it won’t go down as an all-time best was one of the more enjoyable in recent years. Though the 7-hour show had some lulls in the action the overall pace kept the action going and made for a good show. It will be interesting tuning into Monday Night RAW to see where things go from here.

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 1/2

Jeremy Laracuente

Related Articles
Laracuente Ledger MLB

Fake It Till You Make It

Posted on Author Jeremy Laracuente

The Teams Most Likely to Surprise in 2018 As we covered yesterday with our piece “Make It or Break It” The process of winning a championship in Major League Baseball is a very difficult one. Many things have to go well, a few things have to turn out great and you have to have a […]
Laracuente Ledger

Is It Time to Believe in the Angels Hype?

Posted on Author Jeremy Laracuente

The LA Angels have been battling and competing and winning games so far. Which begs the question, “is it tome to believe in the Angels hype?”
Laracuente Ledger

Ultimate 5-Tool Player from the 2023 Kansas City Royals

Posted on Author Jeremy Laracuente

An old Bleacher Report article crafted the Ultimate 5-Tool Player Thus this article will craft that using the 2023 Kansas City Royals.

One Reply to “Wrestlemania 34 Recap”

  1. Pingback: Laracuente Ledger's Top 18 PPV Wrestling Matches of 2018 Part 1 - Laracuente Ledger

Leave a Reply