TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Night one of WrestleMania 37 was held at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday after a rocky start with Florida storms.
World Wrestling Entertainment’s pinnacle event of the year will took place over two nights on Saturday and Sunday.
8 On Your Side’s Daisy Ruth is attending the event and will be live blogging the card as results come in.
LIVE RESULTS:
In the main event and a brutal battle, Belair was able to defeat Sasha Banks to capture the WWE SmackDown women’s title. After the women, Belair’s husband, fellow WWE Superstar Montez Ford, hit the ring to celebrate with his wife and the WWE Universe.
Stay tuned to WFLA.com and your free 8 On Your Side mobile app for the latest information about WrestleMania night two and impending weather.
In Saturday’s main event, challenge Bianca Belair will face off against WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks in hopes for capturing gold. The match is historic, as these women are the first two Black woman performers to compete in a main event WrestleMania match. They are also only the second main event women’s match in the event’s 37-year history.
Grammy-nominated rapper Bad Bunny and his WWE Superstar tag team partner Damian Priest might have stole the show during WrestleMania night one with their big win over John Morrison and The Miz. Priest told 8 On Your Side’s Daisy Ruth the rapper had been training hard with him in the months leading up to the event, but Bad Bunny showed up for the win Saturday night, hitting huge moves for his team.
There’s currently no word if the star will continue to tag with Priest in the months to come or if WrestleMania was a one-off appearance.
It was just announced in the press box of Raymond James Stadium that night one of WrestleMania was sold out with over 25,000 tickets.
According to a press release, 25,675 fans were in attendance for the first night of the two-night show.
Latin superstar rapper Bad Bunny is making his debut with WWE Superstar Damian Priest during WrestleMania on Saturday night.\
After the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, those inducted, including the Bella Twins, John Bradshaw Layfield, the British Bulldog and more were honored during WrestleMania night one.\
Tampa’s own Titus O’Neil was honored with the the “Warrior Award” for his work within the community.
A smaller 2021 class was honored as well, with those including Eric Bishoff and Rob Van Dam.
Braun Strowman defeated the boss’ son in Shane McMahon after throwing him off a steel cage during WrestleMania 37. WWE Legend Jerry “The King” Lawler” was a guest commentator for the match. As McMahon attempted the escape the cage, the “Monster Among Men” broke the cage wall itself to bring him back in to continue the battle, ultimately defeating McMahon for the pinfall.
USF’s own Omos and tag team partner AJ Styles have defeated the New Day to become the new WWE Raw Tag Team champions. “It’s one of the most incredible first time performances I’ve ever witnessed,” commentary says on the broadcast.
Next up, former USF basketball player Omos teams with wrestling legend and indie darling AJ Styles to take on reigning champs in the New Day. Omos has yet to be featured in a WWE main roster match, he makes his debut at WrestleMania tonight.
In a huge win, the first singles match of his career at WrestleMania, Cesaro swung opponent and former WWE Champion Seth Rollins for a loop. Cesaro used his signature “swing” move for a record 23 rotations to get the pin fall over his nemasis.
As of 9:30 p.m., the next match is former WWE Champion and new father Seth Rollins, taking on fellow WWE Raw star Caesaro.
And we have a pair of winners! Tamina Snuka and Natalya Neidhart will go on to compete for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships tomorrow night during night two of WrestleMania.
Our next match is the WWE women’s tag team turmoil match. Those competing in the multi-woman match are the teams of Carmella and Billie Kay, Lana and Naomi, Tamina Snuka and Natalya, Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott and Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke.
In the opening match, WWE Champion Bobby Lashley forces Tampa resident Drew McIntyre to pass out in a submission hold to retain his championship belt.
And we are officially underway after about a 40 minute delay to night one of WrestleMania. Tampa Bay’s own Drew McIntyre has hit the ring to try and reclaim his WWE Championship against currently title-holder Bobby Lashley.
WrestleMania is back underway just after 8:30 p.m. for the WWE Championship match between champion Bobby Lashley and challenger Drew McIntyre after the first lightning/weather delay in event history. Fans are beginning to stream back into the arena. Hosts Titus O’Neil, Tampa’s own and Clearwater resident Hulk Hogan are welcoming the crowd into the stadium.
WrestleMania is currently on a lightning delay for the first time in the event’s history after storms moved through the Tampa Bay area earlier this evening.
All fans in the arena have been asked to move to the concourse.
Before Bebe Rexha kicked off the show with a rendition of “American the Beautiful,” WWE Superstars took to the WrestleMania stage as WWE’s Vince McMahon himself welcomed fans back to the greatest spectacle of them all.
Here is the line up for night one of WrestleMania at the stadium:
Grammy-nominated artist Bebe Rexha will perform America the Beautiful prior to the event.
OPENING MATCH: Bobby Lashley (Champion) vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship in the first match in front of fans in a year plus. WINNER: WWE Champion Bobby Lashley retains the WWE Championship.
#1 Contender’s Tag Team Turmoil Match: Carmella and Billie Kay vs. Lana and Naomi vs. Tamina Snuka and Natalya vs. Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott vs. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke. The winners of this match will advance to face off against the tag team champions tomorrow. WINNERS: Natalya and Tamina Snuka, to go on to challenge for the women’s tag team titles Sunday night.
Monday Night Raw Tag Team Titles Match: USF graduate Omos and AJ Styles will face off again the champions, The New Day, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods Saturday night. WINNERS: Omos and AJ Styles have captured the tag gold.
The Miz and John Morrison vs. Bad Bunny and Damian Priest: International Latin rap Superstar Bad Bunny will make his debut in the WWE ring Saturday night with his friend Damian Priest to take on the villains of Monday Night Raw.
Braun Stroman vs. Shane McMahon in a steel cage match: The son of WWE owner Vince McMahon has taunted the “Monster Among Men,” calling him stupid for too long. At night one of WrestleMania, McMahon won’t be able to escape his wrath in a steel cage.
Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins: After being bested numerous times by Cesaro, formed champion and new father Seth Rollins looks to get his revenge on the first night of WrestleMania. WINNER: Cesaro bested Seth Rollins with some incredible moves to get the pinfall victory.
Main Event: SmackDown Women’s Title Match, Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks (champion): In a historic match of two Black women facing for a WWE title at WrestleMania, Belair looks to dethrone Banks for her title in the “Showcase of the Immortals.”
This story is a live blog and will be updated as WrestleMania Night One progresses. Stay tuned for live results!
