Entertainment
WrestleMania 40 Black Wrestler Report Card
You cannot discuss wrestling in 2024 without mentioning how Black wrestlers have taken over in extraordinary ways. Wrestling is deeply rooted in Black culture and vice versa. Just take a look at the indisputable fact that Lil Wayne and Meek Mill were the standout performers at WrestleMania 40 this weekend. 2 Chainz and Wale (as usual) were also at ringside. The culture loves WWE. In return, WWE has made quite a few strides in highlighting its black superstars. After all, we’re only a number of years away the primary Black WrestleMania-only important eventand since then, WWE has only done more to showcase Black talent on screen.
This weekend at WrestleMania, NXT featured a Black important event for the primary time, recent Black champions, The Rock’s return to the important event, and more. Andscape senior writers David Dennis Jr. and Martenzie Johnson, watched every minute of the weekend, dissecting black wrestlers, their performances and the way WWE used them. There was a time when these major events would make Black wrestling fans hold their breath in anticipation of the offensive, derogatory depiction, but for now, those days appear to be over – hopefully. Read how we’re celebrating Black Wrestling Weekend at WrestleMania 40.
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R-truth
Match: Sixpack tag team ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Summary: It was one of the uplifting moments at WrestleMania, considering R-Truth almost lost his leg to an infection a number of years ago. This was R-Truth’s first WrestleMania win and he did it with typical R-Truth comedy fashion. It was a ladder match – it ends with the team climbing the ladder to regain the championship belts – but R-Truth found a solution to turn it right into a tag match where he waited to be tagged in by his partner, The Miz. R-Truth also pulled out his John Cena imitation before finally expressing his approval by moving one in every of his opponents out of the ring and to the skin floor. The match was cinematic.
Grade: A
Kelani Jordan
Match: Six-team tag match
Summary: Kelani Jordan appeared a little bit later within the match, which was centered on Thea Hails’ confrontation along with her former friend, Jacy Jayne. However, Jordan is flexible. She has high flying skills that made her one in every of the standout figures on this event. Just look This AND This.
Once again, Jordan wasn’t the focal point, but for an event that had so many big moments, hers stood out. Give us more Kelani Jordan.
Grade: B
Oba Femi
Match: Triple threat for the NXT North American Championship
Summary: That’s not exactly what The New Day’s Big E meant when he said:big, meaty men slap the meat” because Oba Femi was the one muscular fighter within the fight, nevertheless it was still a very good match. Femi witnessed one man throw one other man out of the ring at him. But one way or the other he recovered enough to find a way to lift a person on his shoulders while that man was lifting one other man on his shoulders. Plus, although Dijak was the gang favorite within the match, NXT allowed Femi to retain the title, which is at all times a great thing.
Grade: A
Williams trick
Match: Singles match vs. Carmelo Hayes
Summary: This was an example of WWE’s long-term booking at its best. They began sowing the seeds for this feud a number of months ago and eventually managed to get it posted here. The results of the match never really mattered as Williams had 16,000 (mostly white) fans shouting in unison “oh what a trick”. Hayes made Williams look really good, and Williams can only construct on that going into other feuds. That being said, the ending might have been higher and more brutal for a feud/match orchestrated by Hayes beating Williams’ legs like Charlie Murphy.
Grade: B+
Carmelo Hayes
Match: Singles vs. Trick Williams
Summary: Carmelo Hayes is a textbook narcissistic villain. In a vignette for that game, Hayes said he built the inspiration for himself and his former friend Trick Williams, and Williams was just carrying the bricks. In this match, Hayes cheated, hit Williams with a low blow, and smirked at the gang with a heel move. Hayes seems primed for a run on the WWE important roster, so this was a pleasant swan song for somebody who fans are sure to hate at the subsequent level. He also gets extra points for making Williams seem like a megastar. Hayes was only a trick that fans desired to shout out.
Grade: A
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Scale
Match: Tag Team Match with Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins
Summary: Everything about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a giant deal. His input video it felt just like the opening credits of a Marvel movie. Upon entering The Rock, his iconic Brahma bull burst into flames. The match itself lasted well over 40 minutes and was the second longest important event in WrestleMania history. The Rock’s last full match was over 11 years ago, but you would not find a way to inform. He took shocks. He wasn’t out of breath. He took a spear from Roman Reigns. He also hit Cody Rhodes in the top with a weightlifting belt. WWE got the perfect return on investment they may get by bringing The Rock back for this match. WrestleMania Night 2 saw Rock turn into the ultimate boss and face John Cena and Undertaker. Each time, the non-existent roof fell off the stadium. The Rock played all of it perfectly, humbled himself and gave us an epic series of matches with Rhodes and Reigns.
Rating: A+
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Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi, the Big Three
Match: Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL
Summary: It was one of the amazing performances of your complete weekend. Naomi has made more WrestleMania appearances than some other woman. In the match, her job was to offer support while WWE built its two most assured stars, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Belair has headlined WrestleMania before and is further along in her journey. So the match was largely a solution to showcase Cargill.
Cargill has a license to print money and looked like one million bucks even in limited operation. It was enough to point out us her incredible strength, beauty and charisma. However, the match will likely be more defined by the entry of the Big Three, who featured the same wardrobe, elevated platform and star power. Who knows what the long run holds, nevertheless it could be a surprise if Belair and Cargill don’t face off for the title in three hundred and sixty five days.
Rating: A+++
New day
Match: A six-team tag match for the undisputed tag team championship
Summary: It appears New Day is biding his time until Big E – who broke his neck two years ago – hopefully returns from his injury. Xavier Woods reached the highest by performing an elbow drop from the highest rope onto his opponent, who was lying horizontally on a ladder. However, like DIY and New Catch Republic, The New Day were a filler band on this match and deserved more.
Grade: C
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Bobby Lashley and Street Profits
Match: The Final Testament (Karrion Kross & Authors of Pain) vs. Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) (Philadelphia Street Fight)
Summary: This match got here after the chaos that reigned on opening Sunday. I’m glad Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits made it to WrestleMania, but I can not help but think they might have been used for something more meaningful. The match was okay, with loads of seating and a pleasant ending because of Montez Ford’s acrobatics. My hope for the long run is that Lashley and The Street Profits have something to sink their teeth into that may lift everyone’s spirits, especially Ford, who appears like a solo superstar within the making.
Grade: B-
Samantha Irvin
Game: All
Summary: We cannot forget the weekend without recognizing that this WrestleMania cemented Samantha Irvin as among the finest ring announcers in skilled wrestling history. She screamed at the highest of her lungs, evoking emotion and exciting the gang and wrestlers with every introduction. There are many legendary ring announcers on the market, but Irvin is pretty much as good as any of them.
Rating: A+
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Snoop Dogg
Match: Commentary
Hey, Snoop Dogg is a Hall of Famer and pinned The Miz last yr at WrestleMania, so he counts. Snoop Dogg’s color commentary is value listening to. He lost his mind throughout the Final Testament match with Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits. I actually would not mind if WWE did a second screen broadcast with him as host. He’s an actual fan and will really add some spontaneity to the watch. Give us more!
Grade: B+