WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 Review
- James Davie
- Sep 21
- 9 min read
With the huge ESPN-debuting PLE Wrestlepalooza all wrapped up, there's plenty to divulge as 5 heavy-hitting main event caliber matches were put on display. From the opener that saw The Beast Brock Lesnar square up against The Never Seen Seventeen John Cena, to the finale which pitted the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes against the Scottish Warrior Drew McIntyre, there was plenty of meat on Wrestlepalooza's flexing biceps. Did Wrestlepalooza do justice to ESPN's first PLE, or was it a shit-show where business trumps creativity and wrestling again?
While some of the matches on Wrestlepalooza's card lived up to their potential, unfortunately a couple did not. So let's dive into this colossal 5 card extravaganza and dip into the details regarding which matches delivered, and which ones whimpered.
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
Match Rating: 4/10
Stipulation | Singles Match |
|---|---|
Length | 8:50 |
Winner | Brock Lesnar |
John Cena may have come out with an army of children wearing his bright yellow t-shirt and jorts, but that didn't bolster his performance or lack thereof against Brock Lesnar. Lesnar punished Cena throughout the bout including powerful Irish Whips and a big Braun Strowman-like powerslam. Cena did eventually summon the power to hit three Attitude Adjustments on Lesnar, but Lesnar kicked out. Cena then decided to go for a Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Brock met him with an F5, which he repeated three more times and then Lesnar won.
The Vision vs. The Usos (With LA Knight As The Special Guest Referee)
Match Rating: 7/10
Stipulation | Tag Team Match |
|---|---|
Length | 17:12 |
Winners | The Vision |
After the sour taste which was the opener, we lean into tag-team action with The Usos versus The Vision. The extra wrinkle to this match-up is that LA Knight is the referee for the contest, and that raised questions about whether LA Knight would call the match right down the middle.
The Usos started strong with quick double-team maneuvers, but the tide changed once Bronson Reed hit a huge back elbow on Jimmy Uso. Bronson attempted to use chicanery on the outside by hitting Jimmy with a steal chair whilst LA Knight's back was turned, but LA Knight saw it and prevented this action from taking place. However, when Jimmy had the chair, LA Knight was totally fine with him using it on Bronson. Later on in the match, LA Knight reluctantly lets Bronson use the chair on Jimmy, so there's a strong attempt to maintain impartiality in this match.
When Jey is tagged in he is a house of fire, going after Breakker with flurries of offence, then Jey and Jimmy set up a table to use for later and hit Breakker with the 1D and before they could get the three count, Reed rolls onto the back of Jimmy to break it up. Bronson attempts a moonsault on Jey but misses, and then Jimmy dives onto Bronson with a Swanton Bomb to get rid of him right before he is met with a freakish Spear from Breakker - who is then hit with Jey's version of the Spear and Jey heads up to the top turnbuckle and hits an Uso Splash for a near fall.
LA Knight heads to the outside to have words with Bronson, then Jey dives onto Bronson - but Knight thinks that the dive was intended for him, so Knight and Jey have heated words. Back inside the ring Breakker has a steal chair, but is superkicked by Jey and Jey picks it up and tries to blast Breakker with it but almost catches Knight. Jey hits Breakker with the chair and throws it at Bronson, but as Jey was checking his crimson mask, Breakker hits him with a Spear. Jimmy crawls into the ring to check on Jey, but both of them get speared through the table by Breakker, and then Jey is crushed by Bronson's Tsunami and The Vision pick up the win.
A chaotic and enjoyable affair, The Vision vs. The Usos easily makes up for the deflating opening match. Seeing The Usos' tag team chemistry is as rhythmic and dynamic as ever, and watching the power of The Vision was great to see. Altogether this was a good tag team match, and although LA Knight's involvement as referee moved the story with him and Jey along, there was nothing interesting he added to the match besides building tension, so a bit more from Knight would've been nice.
Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer For The Women's World Championship
Match Rating: 8/10
Stipulation | Singles Match For The Women's World Championship |
|---|---|
Length | 20:11 |
Winner | Stephanie Vaquer |
The Women's World Championship is up for grabs after Naomi announced her pregnancy and vacated the title, so now the woman who Naomi beat for the title - Iyo Sky - squares off against the dangerous La Primera Stephanie Vaquer. The great respect these two superstars share for one enough is thrown out, as they tussle for supremacy over RAW's women's division.
The bout starts off with respectful chain wrestling between the two combatants, but this gradually builds into a gratifying game of one-upsmanship as both competitors try to outdo each other, including dives to the outside and a submission sequence with outstanding reversals. Vaquer performs a unique triangle armbar over the ropes, which does bother Iyo a little bit, but she still matches Vaquer blow-for-blow mostly. Iyo Sky does break the one-upsmanship with a double underhook back breaker, but just as she starts gaining an advantage, Vaquer is there to shut down her offence. The tide changes after Iyo tries going up to the turnbuckle, and after a brief exchange, Vaquer dragon screws Iyo's leg - which really bothers Iyo as the match continues.
Later on, Vaquer returns to the injured leg with another dragon screw, but Iyo still fights on valiantly. Iyo even kicks out of the SVB finisher (although it doesn't look like a finisher), which is the first time that's happened apparently.
At the climax of the bout, Iyo hits her Bullet Train attack with her knee pads on, then tries again with exposed knees, and finally hits a running knee. Iyo decides to cap off her knee assault with her finisher Over The Moonsault, but Vaquer moved out of the way, crashing Iyo's injured knees down hard into the canvas. Vaquer then ascends the top turnbuckle and hits a glorious Spiral Tap for the win and the Women's World Championship.
This Women's World Championship match was predictably excellent, with great chain wrestling, many exciting counters and drama involving Iyo's knees. Vaquer truly proved she belonged at the top of the division, and her offence was just as amazing to watch as Iyo's. If there's a ding to this bout, then it's that we didn't see The Kabuki Warriors turn up to drive their story with Iyo along, but then again seeing this match-up without interference was all good too.
CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
Match Rating: 9/10
Stipulation | Mixed Tag Team Match |
|---|---|
Length | 29:18 |
Winners | CM Punk & AJ Lee |
Welcome to the Match of the Night! This mixed tag team tussle is more memorable than Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch's entrance gear this time around! Seriously, they looked like a couple of Power Ranger villains.
The contest got underway with mind games from Becky Lynch, as initially she didn't want anything to do with AJ Lee, though after poking and toying with Punk, Becky did start against AJ Lee... and immediately left the ring. Becky runs from AJ and back into the ring to tag Seth, then the two have a smooch outside the ring before Punk dives into Seth and takes advantage until they get back in the ring, where Seth and Becky begin taking control. Both Punk and Rollins continue to battle and temporarily receive assists from their respective partners, and Seth does his best to keep Punk from tagging in AJ Lee. Becky distracts the referee while Punk tags AJ Lee, but seeing as the referee didn't see the tag, AJ Lee wasn't the legal competitor inside the ring. Seth and Becky beat down Punk, then Seth hoists Becky over his shoulders, but Seth hucks Becky to the canvas instead, granting Punk the opportunity to tag his partner in, right? Nope! Becky pulls AJ Lee off the apron and she's down and out. Seth capitalizes by beating down on Punk some more until he starts getting cocky by dancing outside and inside the ring. This showboating would lead to Seth getting hit with the GTS from Punk, and although Becky tried to stall Punk's progress by holding his leg, Punk finally makes the tag to AJ Lee.
AJ Lee lays a whooping on Becky, enacting her vengeance on her in an exacting and crazed way. Neat spots abound as AJ uses Seth's chest to deliver a Tornado DDT to Becky, and Punk lifts AJ's leg to give Seth a sliced bread while landing on Becky with a Moonsault. In stereo moves were incorporated too such as double shining wizards by Punk and AJ, as well as double Pedigrees by Seth and Becky. Curb stomps were utilized by Punk and AJ too, and the two did try to perform their rivals' finishers on both the announce tables, but they were countered, and as Punk tried to GTS Seth on the announce table table, Becky threw AJ into Punk and Seth through the table. Becky and AJ got back in the ring where AJ wrapped up Becky in her Black Widow submission hold and Becky submits.
An amazing mixed tag team match with unique offense throughout and excellent chemistry between all superstars. The match might've been better if Seth and Becky's titles were on the line, but we know Punk wouldn't take Seth's World Heavyweight Championship. As stated at the top, this match is Match of the Night, and thoroughly deserves the honour.
Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre For The Undisputed WWE Championship
Match Rating: 6/10
Stipulation | Singles Match For The Undisputed WWE Championship |
|---|---|
Length | 17:17 |
Winner | Cody Rhodes |
Whether it's mind games or not, Drew touched the WWE Championship gold whilst it was held aloft by the referee, then started the match by holding his palms outwards and laughing at Cody. Cody quickly slapped the smile off Drew's smug face though, and so the two get down to the business of wrestling.
Cody starts off like a spark plug as he overwhelms Drew with offence including a Cody Cutter and a dive to the outside to wipe Drew out. However, when Cody launches through the ropes at Drew again, he grabs Cody and piles him into the ring post, then proceeds to throw him over the announcer table. Back in the ring Drew performs two huge belly-to-belly overhead suplexes, then while Cody's on the apron, he grabs Cody's foot and throws it back until Cody lands hard on the edge of the ring apron. Drew then carries Cody's motionless body and performs a reverse Alabama Slam to him on the steal steps. Most of the action from here was back and forth, with both Drew and Cody getting their offence in crisply, including some top-turnbuckle moves such as a superplex and a super Celtic Cross.
Cody counters a Claymore attempt into a Figure Four Leglock, but Drew punches him to release the hold. Drew then has the cunning plan to expose the top turnbuckle and use it as he pleases, but as Drew was countering a Cross Rhodes and stacking Cody up for a pin and a nearfall, Drew becomes impatient and rushes Cody, sending him into the exposed steel and ripe for a Cross Rhodes that connects this time - but doesn't put Drew away. After Cody unsuccessfully attempts a Cody Cutter and is dumped to the canvas forcing him to the outside, Drew charges at Cody with a Swanton-like move over the top rope, and immediately afterwards Drew tosses Cody into the ring and connects with a Claymore kick for a near fall.
Frustrated again, Drew follows Cody to the outside and plans to Claymore Cody through the front side of the commentary desk (like he did on SmackDown several weeks earlier that temporarily put Cody out of commission), but Cody gets out of harm's way and Drew's leg crashes into the front of the announcer's table instead, and injures it too. After Cody's failed Disaster Kick attempt was met with a Glasgow Kiss, Drew sets up another Claymore attempt, but this time his knee buckles and this leads to Cody performing a super Cody Cutter and hitting Cross Rhodes for the victory.
While this main event had some good moves and a good story, it felt a bit hollow. Drew once again fails to become WWE Champion, all because he let his destructive tendencies get the better of him. He wanted to wreck Cody again and it failed, which lead to his knee injury. First it's Iyo Sky's knee, now it's Drew's - but Drew really kneeded this win... sorry about that! Anyway, it felt like a typical and plain Cody Rhodes match without the crying and the bleeding, which is fine - but definitely not an epic or a war that's worth of a main event championship match.
Overall Show Rating
Wrestlepalooza 2025 gets a 7/10 rating from me. What was your favorite match? Let us know by voting in the poll below!
What Was The Best Match At WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025?
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
The Usos vs. The Vision
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky
CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch