Another year means another WrestleMania, and with this year’s WrestleMania in the books, we are left with the aftershock and excitement of the Showcase of Immortals.
There are plenty of reasons to be excited following the stupendous weekend that was WrestleMania. From Edge’s new partnership with Damien Priest to Roman’s reign of dominance, here are five of the most shocking moments from WrestleMania 38.
5. Johnny Knoxville beats Sami Zayn with the help of the cast of Jackass
When it was announced that Sami Zayn and Johnny Knoxville were going to have an Anything Goes Match, the possibilities of what could happen were endless.
The two men synonymous with putting their bodies on the line for entertainment certainly did not disappoint. It was the perfect collaboration between WWE’s product and Jackass’s product; pure sports entertainment.
With the inclusion of bowling balls, the infamous Jackass giant hand, cattle prods, a table full of mouse traps, a Wee Man bodyslam, Party Boy doing questionable things and a pin using a mousetrap, this match surpassed all expectations and was the perfect representation of sports entertainment.
4. The Miz betrays Logan Paul
One of the less seen coming angles leading out of WrestleMania was the dissolution of the short-lived run between The Miz and Logan Paul.
Having been a team for around five weeks, the last thing on anyone’s mind was the pair splitting up, but that is what happened. After The Miz and Logan secured the victory against The Mysterios, The Miz hit Logan Paul with the Skull Crushing Finale and made his way up the ramp.
Logan Paul had an impressive showing at WrestleMania, and it is yet to be seen if he will be seeking revenge on former partner The Miz or if this is just another short-lived WWE run for the celebrity.
The Miz has spoken highly of Logan Paul, stating he has the ability to work in WWE full-time with Logan also, declaring his desire to do so. So, don’t be surprised if this storyline continues on WWE programming.
3. Cody Rhodes returns to WWE
Although it was one of the worst kept secrets in wrestling and everyone knew it was happening, Cody Rhodes returning to WWE is shocking nonetheless.
As the lights went out at a packed AT&T stadium, anticipation filled the air, “Cody” chants started to build, and a Cody amount of pyro later saw the return of Cody Rhodes in WWE after six years.
Rising out of the WrestleMania 38 stage, Cody was equipped with his infamous “Kingdom” theme music, American Nightmare logo, Homelander-esque attire and his ever-present neck tattoo.
He defeated Seth Rollins in an excellent showing and has been confirmed for the RAW after WrestleMania, where he will be stating his reasons for returning to WWE.
2. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin wrestles one last match
When Dallas, Texas, was announced as the location for WrestleMania 38, there were murmurs as too if and how Stone Cold should appear, but no one expected that the Rattlesnake would have a No Hold Barred match on the grandest stage of them all.
When confirmed that Kevin Owens and Stone Cold would be main eventing WrestleMania with the KO Show, the most people expected was a brief altercation, similar to The Rock at WrestleMania 32.
The match itself was everything it needed to be and more. Stone Cold taking bumps on concrete, Kevin Owens hitting himself with a chair, plenty of Stunners, plenty of beer and Byron Saxton getting hilariously embarrassed.
It was the perfect send-off match for one of WWE’s greatest ever superstars.
Vince McMahon wrestles, wins and gets physical with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
In the most sports entertaining of circumstances, WrestleMania 38 became the location for a Vince McMahon and Pat McAfee match, something no one saw coming, but what happened afterwards was somehow even more bizarre.
As Pat McAfee rolled up Austin Theory for his WrestleMania moment, Vince McMahon stood at ringside slowly undressing and prompted the referee to ring the bell as he and the SmackDown commentator squared off.
With much help from Austin Theory, McMahon defeated McAfee with help from an American football, the deadliest weapon in all of sports entertainment.
As Theory and McMahon basked in their victory, glass shattered, and the crowd erupted as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin made his way down the ramp. After one fantastic stunner to Theory, Stone Cold went over to McMahon, handed him a beer, waited, and proceeded to hit the most awkward stunner in wrestling history.
This segment was the epitome of sports entertainment. It was chaotic, baffling, hilarious and very shocking. If that’s the culmination of McMahon and Austin’s in-ring history, then what a way to go out.