RINGSIDE
BECKY LYNCH DEFEATED Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair to become the WWE Raw and Smackdown Women’s champion in the first female main event in Wrestle-Mania history. Kofi Kingston shattered another barrier by defeating Daniel Bryan to become WWE champion. Seth Rollins dethroned “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar for the Universal championship in a match whose official time was only 2½ minutes.
WrestleMania 35 was held on April 7 at MetLife Stadium in, as Michael Cole would say, “the shadows of New York City,” otherwise known as East Rutherford, New Jersey, in front of 82,265 spectators.
There were many other highlights: Finn Balor regaining the Intercontinental title, Baron Corbin whipping Kurt Angle in only six minutes in the Olympian’s farewell match, Ric Flair gaining vengeance in the 25-minute grinder between Triple H and Batista, Roman Reigns’ continuing comeback, and U.S. champion Samoa Joe stopping Rey Mysterio Jr. in one minute. Fans were physically and emotionally drained as the extravaganza wore on into the wee hours of Monday morning. (For details on each match, check out our “Winners & Losers” section on page 26.)
Among all the facilities throughout the New York area invaded by WWE, the most famous arena in the world was noticeably absent. Ring of
