Roman Reigns will not compete until night two of WrestleMania 39, but the first pillar of his empire crumbled on Saturday night. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens closed the first half of WrestleMania 39 with the undisputed tag team championships raised proudly over their heads, ending the record-setting reign of The Usos.
Zayn promised that SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles would serve as the battleground upon which The Bloodline would crumble. He and Owens did their part in accomplishing that by overcoming Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso in a thrilling tag team match. It was the culmination of months of storytelling detailing the rise and fall of Zayn as a ceremonial member of The Bloodline.
The first night of WrestleMania 39 also saw a new champion crowned as Rhea Ripley upended SmackDown women's champion Charlotte Flair to claim the title in a brutal match. The leader of Judgement Day reached the pinnacle after years of coming up short against her rival. Plus, legendary former champ John Cena made his return and Rey Mysterio battled his son Dominik Mysterio in a one-of-a-kind match.
CBS Sports was with you the whole way through the event, providing updates and highlights as the action went down in the live blog below.
2023 WWE WrestleMania 39 Night 1 results, grades
United States Championship -- John Cena vs. Austin Theory: The story of the match was Theory's youth and athleticism against Cena's experience and veteran savvy. Cena got in Theory's head early, outwrestling him with fundamentals despite his lack of activity in recent years. Theory took over the match as the pace quickened, somersaulting into a blockbuster and shotgun drop kick. Theory returned to the well one too many times and Cena capitalized. The challenger caught Theory's leg mid-roll and trapped him in an STF. Theory resorted to underhanded tactics to escape, biting Cena's hand.
Theory took over momentarily but his inexperience got him in more trouble. Theory tried to double up on a technique; Cena countered with an Attitude Adjustment, but Theory wiggled free. Cena was on the verge of victory after hoisting Theory up for another Attitude Adjustment. The referee took a spill after Theory's legs caught him in the face. Cene transitioned into an STF and forced a tap from Theory. Unfortunately, the referee was incapacitated and Cena let go of the hold thinking he had won. Theory capitalized, cracking Cena with A Town Down for the win.
WWE took the easiest approach to the conclusion, giving Theory a big win while protecting Cena. The match was solid considering it was Cena's first singles match since SummerSlam 2021, but it won't go down in history as one to remember. Theory def. Cena via pinfall to retain the United States Championship. Grade: B
Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy vs. The Viking Raiders (Men's Showcase): The tag team showcase was just that. Every superstar in the match showed off ridiculous feats of athleticism and strength. Gable executed a stunning roll through German suplex on Strowman, Ivar attempted a moonsault, Strowman landed a huge splash off the top rope and the entire field contributed to a sublime twist on the overplayed "Tower of Doom" spot.
Strowman steamrolled his opponents towards the end of the match, barrelling through foes on the outside with his Strowman Express spot. Strowman's train was derailed, however, when he ran into a Dawkins in wait. Ricochet blew the roof off the stadium with a springboard shooting star press on the outside of the ring. Ricochet landed a second Shooting Star Press in the ring for the victory, but Dawkins got the knees up. Dawkins held Ricochet in place for Ford to hit a big frosh splash to Ricochet's back. Dawkins subsequently rolled up Ricochet for the win.
The idea of a showcase match seemed like a total throwaway, but the superstars involved exceeded expectations by a mile. It was a fast-paced action match with no shortage of memorable moments. Everyone involved deserves praise for cramming so much good stuff into a relatively short spot. Street Profits def. Ricochet and Strowman, Alpha Academy and Viking Raiders via pinfall. Grade: A-
Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul: Rollins vs. Paul gave WrestleMania fans their first taste of elaborate entrances. Paul trolled the audience with an extremely annoying variation of Shawn Michaels' iconic WrestleMania XII entrance, ziplining to the stage while shouting into a wireless microphone. Paul was accompanied by a life-sized bottle of his Prime beverage. Rollins took inspiration from this year's ode to Hollywood, wearing an outfit resembling a red carpet while a conductor led the audience in chanting his theme song.
Paul has impressed in all of his WWE matches to date and Saturday night was no different. Paul is quite athletic and has taken to wrestling very well. Saturday showed the development of his overall wrestling skills, employing a more well-rounded attack. The athleticism was certainly there as he landed a buckshot lariat, springboard attack and standing moonsault on his vastly more experienced opponent. His physical skills were complimented by more technical moves, such as a leg sweep and submission move.
It took a long time for Rollins to find a response to Paul's surprisingly effective offense. After dodging a top rope move, Rollins hit Paul with three consecutive suicide dives. Rollins set up for the pedigree but got clocked by Paul's right punch for a close two-count. Rollins responded quickly with a powerbomb for his own near fall. The Prime mascot yanked Paul out of the ring, revealing himself to be KSI. The social media stars sprawled Rollins across the announcer's table, but Rollins yanked KSI onto the table just as Paul launched off the top rope. A subsequent pedigree nearly clinched the match for Rollins, but Paul kicked out. Another near fall saw Paul hit Rollins with a GTS and a top rope frog splash. The match came to an end after Rollins hit Paul with a super kick coming off the top rope and a stomp.
Paul continues to play an incredible foil in every match he's in. He is by far the best celebrity-turned-superstar and is so sublimely dislikeable. Rollins was a wonderful ring general and seeing KSI get planted through a table was so satisfying. This might just be the match of the night. Rollins def. Paul via pinfall. Grade: A
Becky Lynch, Lita & Trish Stratus vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky): Damage CTRL were in rare form as irritating heels, endlessly mocking their Hall of Fame opponents. The trio cornered and bullied Lita for an extended period before Stratus got the tag and cleaned house. Stratus moved somewhat nimbly around the ring. Lita and Lynch launched Stratus into a handspring head scissors on the outside, tossing Kai into her allies ringside. The tag team champions also gave a nod to Team Xtreme, executing the Hardy Boyz's Poetry in Motion-Top Rope Leg Drop combo. Damage CTRL's biggest moment of the match saw Sky living up to her last name, clearing the field with a moonsault to the outside. The fan-favorites play their greatest hits en route to victory: Stratus hit a Chick Kick, Lita landed a moonsault and Lynch planted Bayley with a Man-Handle Slam off the top ropes for the win.
WWE was wise to position the match after the fatal four-way tag team and Rollins vs. Paul matches, two hot contests. The crowd needed a cooldown and this was definitely that. Lita and Stratus were a touch labored, particularly the former, which is completely understandable. The flow of the match didn't quite click for the most part, but it was an honest effort from all parties. Lita, Lynch and Stratus def. Damage CTRL. Grade: C
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio: Dominik Mysterio arrived handcuffed with police escorts, leaning into his hilarious gimmick as a prison-hardened convict. Dominik Mysterio took a swipe at his dad by wearing his father's famous Halloween Havoc mask. The legendary luchador one-upped his son, entering the arena accompanied by Snoop Dogg in a low-rider. The vehicle was a nod to Rey Mysterio's late friend, Eddie Guerrero, and was complimented with Guerrero's theme music.
Rey Mysterio toyed with his less talented son through the early portions of the match. The former WWE champion took off his belt and spanked his son with it, eliciting a loud and favorable crowd response. Dominik Mysterio only took control after distracting his dad. Dominik Mysterio tossed a drink in his sister's face ringside and attacked Rey Mysterio as the father tried to restrain his irate daughter. Dominik Mysterio returned ringside to antagonize his family and was promptly greeted by the palm of his mother's hand. Rey Mysterio hit the 619 and had the match in his grasp, but Judgement Day intervened. That led to the arrival of Legado del Fantasma, now rebranded as the Latin World Order to even the playing field.
Dominik Mysterio gave his father a receipt by landing his own 619 but was not able to get the three-count. Dominik Mysterio attempted to close out the show by hitting his father with a steel chain. Globally acclaimed musician Bad Bunny, sitting ringside, intervened by snatching the chain. That gave Rey Mysterio the opening to hit a 619 and top rope splash for the win.
What a great match. The entrances will live as some of the best in WrestleMania history, Dominik Mysterio got what was coming to him and the company can build to a tag team match featuring Mysterio and Bunny against Judgement Day. An ultra-rare match between father and son and one -- one blending elements of pro-wrestling present and past -- that delivered. Rey Mysterio def. Dominik Mysterio via pinfall. Grade: A
SmackDown Women's Championship -- Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley: Ripley's Royal Rumble revenge tour culminated in her coronation as champion at WrestleMania. Ripley had repeatedly fallen short against the more-established Flair throughout their careers but not on this night. Ripley's imposing combination of strength and smarts was too much for the now-former SmackDown women's champion to overcome. Flair had her moments but was generally outgunned by her ferocious and confident challenger. It appeared that Flair would sneak by with her title intact after countering Riptide into a spiked DDT, but Ripley endured.
A series of big moves and near-falls populated the back half of the SmackDown women's championship match. Ripley landed a terrifying German suplex that saw Flair land awkwardly on her head and face. Fortunately, she appeared alright. Flair hit a moonsault to the outside, but Ripley turned the tables in the ring with a headbutt and Riptide combo. Ripley dropped Flair face first into the corner post and hit a top rope Riptide for the win.
Ripley and Flair presented a solid match with dynamic attacks, creative counters and a pendulum of momentum. The match exceeded the lackluster build leading in and the right woman won. There wasn't much steam on Flair's latest title reign and there was an appetite to see Ripley elevated to champion. The match arguably went too long, but it was a strong and spirited showing from all involved. Ripley def. Flair to win the SmackDown women's championship. Grade: A
Pat McAfee vs. The Miz: The Miz and Snoop Dogg came to the ring after the women's match to hype up the crowd a bit more. Snoop told Miz the only thing better than the massive attendance would be if Miz had a match. Miz agreed, which led to Pat McAfee returning to accept Miz's challenge. Miz attempted to back out but the match was made official. McAfee took the fight to Miz quickly and hit some of his standard high spots, including the backflip to his feet from the top rope. As Corey Graves encouraged Miz, Miz tried to walk off but was booed by San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle at ringside. Miz shoved Kittle, leading Kittle to jump the guardrail and deliver a clothesline before McAfee hit a swanton from the top rope onto Miz on the outside. Miz was tossed back into the ring, allowing McAfee to hit a punt and score the pinfall in a fun little cooldown segment to allow the crowd to breathe between the women's title match and the main event. McAfee def. The Miz via pinfall. Grade: B
Undisputed tag team championships -- The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) (c) vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens: The main event immediately got into the emotional thick of things as Zayn and Jey Uso squared off. The crowd popped for Zayn's initial offensive output, but it did not take long for the ferocious champions to take the reins. The crowd came to life when Owens got the hot tag, laying out Jimmy Uso ringside and flattening Jey Uso with a frog splash. The red-hot crowd only got louder as the match went on. An apron brainbuster from Zayn to Jey Uso, a swanton bomb from Owens to Jimmy Uso and an Uso style splash from Zayn to Jimmy Uso had the audience in a frenzy.
The twin brothers removed Owens from the equation, at least temporarily, after slamming him through the announcers' table. They planted Zayn with a 1-D. Zayn's razor-thin kick out brought the crowd to its feet. A vindictive Jey Uso repeatedly slapped his estranged best friend in the face before walloping on him with forearm and open hand strikes. Another hot tag to Owens, who hit both brothers with pop-up powerbombs. A Helluva Kick to Jimmy Uso and a stunner to Jey Uso appeared to be the end, but Jey Uso remarkably kicked out. Fans showed their appreciation as chants of "This is Awesome'' rang through the arena. A carousel of super kicks set up yet another near-fall after The Usos hit Owens with their finisher. Owens hit a Fisherman's Buster off the top rope that served as the match's final pendulum swing. Zayn landed three consecutive Helluva Kicks to Jey Uso for the three count.
A WrestleMania headliner fitting of the build that preceded it. The rise and fall of Zayn as part of The Bloodline, as well as his tale of revenge, is some of the best storytelling WWE has done in over a decade. Congratulations to all involved for a memorable WrestleMania moment and a rare showcase of the tag team division on the grand stage. Zayn and Owens def. The Usos via pinfall to win the undisputed WWE tag team championships. Grade: A+
