- Iconic characters make return to ring for WWE showpiece event
- Roman Reigns’ three-year title streak ended in the main event
- Iconic moments ensure that event will be etched into WWE history
WWE icons The Rock, John Cena and The Undertaker all made returns to the ring at the two-day showpiece WWE Wrestlemania XL event, which was full of surprises.
In the headline bout on the second night of the weekend, Roman Reigns’ three-year title streak was ended by Cody Rhodes in the culmination of The Bloodline saga storyline – one of WWE’s biggest.
ROCK. CENA.
— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2024
WRESTLEMANIA. pic.twitter.com/3OHIA3wRWS
But that doesn’t tell anything like the whole story. The bout descended into chaos as legends interfered from early on. John Cena took out Rhodes, before The Rock appeared to face off against his old rival. The Rock performed a Rock Bottom on Cena, taking him out. Later, the lights in the arena went out, and when they came back up The Undertaker had appeared – sending the crowd wild – and took The Rock out with a chokeslam.
Rhodes eventually beat Reigns by pinfall to end his era as champion.
But there was drama beforehand as Reigns revealed he has ongoing treatment for leukaemia. He is taking oral chemotherapy, which he expects to remain on for the test of his life.
On the first night of Wrestlemania, Reigns and Rhodes were again pitched against each other, but this time as part of a tag-team. Rhodes was partnered by Seth Rollins, while Reigns was teamed with his cousin The Rock. The Rock – real name Dwayne Johnson – was making his comeback to the ring, having appeared in various episodes this year. The Rock and Reigns took the bout, eventually. It was The Rock’s first meaningful bout since 2013’s WrestleMania – and at the age of 51.
More than 72,000 people witnessed the events each night, which was held at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Field.
