LAS VEGAS -- WrestleMania 42 Night Two was by far superior to Night One, with better in-ring action and a much louder crowd — especially during the main event.
Allegiant Stadium witnessed Roman Reigns capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the first time in his career. It was an electric main event that saw two warriors battle for the top spot in the company.
One of the biggest talking points from Night One was the match length, with most bouts not exceeding 15 minutes outside of the main event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
Sunday night followed a similar trend, with only the ladder match reaching the 15-minute mark while everything else came in at 13 minutes or less. Inside the stadium, though, the pacing made the show feel smooth. It seemed like fans watching from home had more complaints than those in attendance.
It was an electric Night Two of WrestleMania, and here are the grades for the event:
CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
There was an electricity to this match before it even started. It felt like a true 50/50 split inside Allegiant Stadium.
Reigns and Punk opened the match trading headlocks, Irish whips, and shoulder checks before getting in each other’s face and laughing. The crowd ate it up.
Once both superstars started exchanging strikes, the crowd was split — half cheering, half booing. This was a match that had the entire fanbase divided.
Punk gained control at one point with a crossbody from the turnbuckle, followed by a running knee and a bulldog. When he went for the GTS, Reigns countered and launched him into the turnbuckle.
Reigns thought he had control and set up for a spear, roaring in the corner. But Punk, ever the veteran, caught him mid-moment with a running knee, then hit him again.
These two had familiarity, having faced each other in a triple threat with Seth Rollins on Night One last year.
Punk placed Reigns on the announcers table and climbed to the top rope, but Reigns quickly recovered, rushed up, and knocked him off. Punk’s body dangled off the turnbuckle, and that’s when a more violent side of Reigns emerged. He hit Punk with two Superman Punches and then blasted him with the steel steps.
Reigns stayed on the attack, lifting Punk like in his Shield days and powerbombing him through the announcers table.
He got cocky and nearly paid for it when he went for a spear in the ring, but Punk countered with a GTS. As the referee’s hand came down, Reigns kicked out at the last second.
Punk went for a second GTS, but Reigns reversed it into a spear only for Punk to kick out just before three. Two incredibly close calls.
Reigns again got cocky, attempting to use the GTS himself, but Punk reversed it and landed a kick to the head for another near fall. Punk then shocked the crowd by hitting a Superman Punch of his own on Reigns for yet another near fall.
A disrespectful moment came when Punk grabbed the Ula Fala, put it on, and attempted a spear, but Reigns reversed it.
The two shared a tense stare-down before Punk removed his wrist tape and threw it at Reigns, distracting the referee. Punk dropped to his knees and delivered a low blow, then hit a GTS, but Reigns still kicked out at the last possible second.
Punk placed Reigns back on the announcers table, climbed to the top rope, and launched himself with an elbow, crashing through the table. The moment was met with loud “This is awesome” chants.