It’s time for a WrestlePalooza! What is that? I don’t know! Apparently it’s a very underwhelming WWE Premium Live Event that fails to deliver on a single promise it made. All while continuing to brag about just how much money they’re making. Not knowing most of those profits are despite themselves.
WrestlePalooza was the first WWE Premium Live Event to be broadcast on ESPN’s new streaming service. Through a very convoluted and expensive process that WWE only barely bothered to half-explain about 24 hours before the show started. The show’s main goal was to be a huge spectacle that celebrated the new partnership and convinced ESPN viewers to become WWE viewers. And, on that front, they failed miserably.
Five matches that included a strong contender for worst match of the year, a few matches that were good but not great, and one admittedly excellent match. None of the big spectacle or surprises that were promised. But just what was that awful match? How about the really good one? Read below to find out, and see where everything else lands in between.
5. John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
Rating: 0/5
John Cena’s retirement run has, overall, been largely disappointing. With a sizable portion of it dedicated to a half-baked heel run culminating in disappointing to serviceable matches while notably good actor John Cena tries his best to sound mean. Then all of a sudden, he busted out a 5-star classic against Cody Rhodes, and things seemed to be back on track. Well, unfortunately, that track was very short.
I wish we didn’t have to see Brock Lesnar anymore
In all the time between Brock Lesnar attacking Cena at SummerSlam, and their match here, we never learned why Brock attacked in the first place. And the match was as unfortunately terrible as the build. As Brock soullessly dominated Cena for pretty much the entire match in an unnecessary callback to when he did the same thing at SummerSlam 2014. Except that style of Brock match has become extremely stale in the 11 years since then.
This match couldn’t escape the awkward and rotten stench following Brock Lesnar following the allegations levied against him. A sign in the crowd put it best: “You shouldn’t be here, and we all know why.” It didn’t help that Brock couldn’t be bothered to do anything interesting in the ring. Settling for the most basic of offense and taking a combined 4 bumps. A terrible waste of one of Cena’s last appearances.
4. The Usos vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed
Rating: 2.5/5
For some reason, this has been the main event feud on Monday Night Raw for months now. Despite being the third or fourth biggest feud on the show. A quite literal side quest to the top feud on the brand. With every single episode of Raw ending with some variation of Bron Breakker and/or Bronson Reed vs. Jey Uso and/or Jimmy Uso and/or LA Knight. Unsurprisingly, doing slightly different variations of the same match for months on end does not a big time PLE match make.
Jimmy, what letter does “Yeet” start with?
LA Knight was added as the Special Guest Referee last minute, probably in an attempt to make the match slightly more interesting. And the addition of a few weapons spots definitely freshened things up a bit. As did seeing The Usos do what they do best: Tag team wrestling. However, the match was severely weighed down by the fatigue of seeing these people fighting. And it was evident WWE is just spinning its wheels with this story until Roman Reigns is contractually obligated to come back. Furthermore, the finish may have been rushed or changed after Jey Uso severely busted himself open hitting someone else with a chair. Jon Moxley would be proud.
I don’t get WWE’s insistence on setting up their WarGames matches far enough in advance to the point that, when the match inevitably comes, we’re less excited for the match itself and more relieved the feud will finally be over. This feud, in some form or fashion, has been going since the night after WrestleMania with barely any progression.
3. CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
Rating: 3.5/5
The biggest story heading into WrestlePalooza (aside from the ESPN business) was that it was to feature the legendary AJ Lee’s first match since her “retirement” over 10 years ago. After her incredible return on SmackDown a few weeks prior to even the odds for her husband, CM Punk, against the other married duo of Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. And, understandably, it was the main focus of the match itself.
AJ Lee delivers Seth Rollins’ Stomp to Seth himself
WWE seems to think Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk is bigger than it is. As every single thing in this match felt dragged out to the extreme. Aside from the finish, weirdly enough. By the time AJ Lee finally gets the hot tag and enters the match, you’re mostly just glad the protracted CM Punk beat down spot is over. However, AJ lit things up in this match. Owning every moment like she never left, and showing all the new fans just why she’s 95% of the female roster’s favorite wrestler.
The finish was a little strange. With AJ securing the win not even two minutes after going through an announce table. But the match was fun regardless. Do yourself a favor and study up on AJ Lee if you’re unfamiliar. Wade Barrett put it best when he said “AJ Lee put the first cracks in the glass ceiling holding women back in WWE.” I can’t wait to see her flourish against all the amazing talent that have come in since her departure.
2. WWE Championship – Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
Rating: 3.75/5
This feud should feel a lot bigger than it does. Cody’s multi-week absence to both celebrate the birth of his second daughter and film Street Fighter is probably to blame. Though children are more important than wrestling. It also doesn’t help that Drew’s massively cooled down since his stellar feud against CM Punk last year. Spending most of 2025 stuck in a feud against Damian Priest, who you can’t pay me to care about.
Cody cuts Drew down
It was pretty obvious that this was not going to be a one-and-done feud. However, the match played out in a very strange way. Cody was still selling the effects of having his head smashed through the announce table, painting him as the underdog. But, through the course of the match, it got to a point where he was only in it because the ref kept bailing him out. First, he missed Drew’s three count because he left the ring. Then he stopped Drew from hitting a move that would’ve won him the match. Not a good look for the World Champion on a show focused on attracting new viewers.
The match was still solid, though. Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre are both incredible wrestlers, so that’s not a shock. But it was clear that this is far from the finale. And this hardly felt like a top level PLE main event. Hopefully they’re allowed to go all out whenever this feud eventually culminates. And hopefully it involves a 100% decreased focus on the referee’s shortcomings.
1. Vacant Women’s World Championship – IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
Rating: 4.25/5
Pretty much everyone knew this was going to be the best match on the show as soon as it was announced. And the women did not disappoint. Fighting over the Women’s World Championship after the former champion, Naomi, vacated it following her announcement that she was pregnant. With Stephanie Vaquer earning this match with her battle royal victory at Evolution. And IYO SKY earning this match because she’s IYO SKY.
Footage of the two women agreeing to steal the show
IYO and Stephanie are two of the best women’s wrestlers in the world at the moment, and they both put in a great performance. With IYO dominating the early stretches thanks to her veteran experience, while Stephanie slowly fought her way to an even contest with intelligent, focused offense. Weakening IYO’s legs, the base for most of her offense, to a point that she was able to snatch a clean win, and her first title on the main roster. Not only that, but her third title in WWE this year.
Stephanie Vaquer has been on an incredible run in her rookie year in WWE. She debuted in NXT on October 15th, 2024. And in just under a year has managed to win the NXT Women’s North American Championship, the NXT Women’s Championship, and the Women’s World Championship. A huge star in the making for sure. And the future of the women’s division is in great hands with people like her, Lyra Valkyria, Roxanne Perez, and Giulia at the helm.
