Title: WrestleMania 39
Producer: WWE
Running Time: 438 Minutes
Certificate: 12
Number Of Discs: 3
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: May 29 2023
(Thanks to Fetch Publicity for arranging this review.)
This is our DVD review for WrestleMania 39!
WrestleMania 39 Night 1 Under Card
Austin Theory’s win over John Cena comes in a slightly disappointing encounter, with Theory’s status not exactly skyrocketing thereafter. Much better is the four-way men’s tag team bout, a card-filler that exceeds expectations to almost become a show-stealer. Then, we get the ludicrously entertaining showdown between Seth Rollins and Logan Paul. Paul adapting to wrestling so well makes each of his matches must-see, his bout against the always-reliable Rollins emphasises this.
The six-woman tag bout is fairly entertaining, but it would have probably succeeded more on a lesser PPV event. Amongst a crowd of major contests, this one doesn’t quite leave a lasting impression. Conversely, Rey Mysterio vs. Dominic Mysterio is tons of fun, keeping things simple as fans laud Rey and loudly heckle Dom. In some ways, this bout perfectly summarises sports entertainment.
Main Events Of WrestleMania 39 Night 1
Rhea Ripley then battles Charlotte Flair in arguably the match of the night. Their battle for the SmackDown Women’s Championship isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but it s a terrific back-and-forth scrap. And it provides Rhea with the biggest moment of her career thus far. Meanwhile, Pat McAfee’s abrupt win over Mania co-host The Miz is as random as it sounds.
The first night ends with The Usos facing Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Their match had a year-long buildup, making it feel like a very significant contest. Now, I will say that I feel this match is slightly overrated due to an overindulgence of big moves. But it’s undeniable that the crowd loved it, and it is still a gripping spectacle. That it ends with Owens and Zayn dethroning The Usos means that night one finishes on a high note.
Night 2 Under Card
So, night two kicks off with Brock Lesnar facing Omos. Smarks derided this contest when it was announced, but I was quite looking forward to it. And it does match expectations due to the simple yet logical story of Lesnar trying to F5 Omos. Elsewhere, the four-women’s tag bout is instantly forgettable, and even given the injury circumstances, it’s a waste of Ronda Rousey.
Gunther vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre is one hell of a fight, and one of the weekend’s most memorable encounters. This is a must-watch, and refreshingly, it’s unlike any other match from either night. Bianca Belair vs. Asuka is less memorable but still a great effort from both. Then, we get the bizarre sight of Shane McMahon returning to face The Miz, only to suffer an immediate injury. Snoop Dogg’s improvisation helps to salvage things, but it’s by far the strangest segment of the weekend.
Main Events Of WrestleMania 39 Night 2
Edge vs. Finn Balor inside Hell In A Cell is a slight letdown. That’s partly due to a lack of time following Balor’s head injury that temporarily halts the contest. But it’s also because it just doesn’t quite feel like the massive showdown that it should have been. Add to that the strange Russell Crowe movie tie-ins, and this feels like a bit of a flop. Nevertheless, both Edge and Finn do give it their all despite the setbacks.
In the main event, Roman Reigns controversially defeats Cody Rhodes to remain the Undisputed Universal Champion. The match itself is terrific; my current choice for Match Of The Year for 2023. But the assumption that Cody would “finish the story” is misguided as Roman’s title run continues. Will Cody finally get his moment at WrestleMania 40? We will have to wait and see. The match is a blast, though.
Analysis
This year’s WrestleMania has a lot of highlights. The four-way men’s tag is well worth a watch, as is Rollins vs. Paul. Rey vs. Dom is a guilty pleasure, Charlotte vs. Rhea is excellent, and the main event tag culminates a major storyline. The IC Title three-way is fantastically brutal, and Roman vs. Cody is a truly outstanding piece of work. Furthermore, the movie awards-style set is spectacular, and SoFi Stadium itself looks terrific.
Nevertheless, I wouldn’t class this as one of the all-time great WrestleManias. It feels like it’s lacking in terms of the shenanigans that make Mania the over-the-top spectacle as it is. Despite some light relief, the weekend feels a bit too serious. And with fewer legend cameos than usual, it feels like a few familiar faces are noticeably absent.
WrestleMania 39 Summary
All in all, there’s plenty of great matches to warrant a rewatch on DVD. My issues with the event mean that it won’t challenge the truly iconic Manias from over the years. But otherwise, I would definitely recommend that you relive this year’s biggest wrestling event in DVD form.
