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My refusal to subscribe to ESPN to watch a WWE Premium Live Event continued Saturday, as my wife and I went to our local AMC 18 at Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego for the opening night of WrestleMania 42.
Like my previous theater-going experiences, this had a communal feel. After we settled in, we struck up a conversation with a fan, which grew into a friendly group chat as more people arrived.
“So, do you guys all know each other?” the first patron asked.
“No, man,” I replied, before adding, “We’re just wrestling fans. And when we’re here, we’re family.”
Clearly, I must have been craving Olive Garden.
Before the action got underway, a mother surprised her son with a replica WrestleMania title. As she explained, they attended last year’s Mania in Vegas, but the belt her son wanted had sold out quickly. This year, she bought it in advance and waited to give it to him until this event at the AMC.
This was our first heartwarming moment of the night before Bianca Belair announced her pregnancy later in the show. It especially hit me in the feels, reminding me of when my own mother would go out of her way to surprise me, like keeping me home from school to see No Holds Barred.
“It’s memories,” the mother said.
Indeed it is, Mom. Well done.
Best of The Night
Easily, the match of the night went to Seth Rollins and Gunther. The theater was a madhouse as they tore into each other early. But when Rollins began his comeback, we couldn’t hear the announcers anymore. It was non-stop cheering through the final bell.
Normally, outside interference is a reason to groan. But when Bron Breakker arrived and speared Rollins, Auditorium 15 became the dog pound. Nearly everyone was barking. A “One more time” chant broke out after Breakker hit a second spear, which didn’t land as cleanly.
Gunther’s victory, though, was only well-received by me and the gentleman seated in front of me, who turned around to give me a high-five. My wife, who has developed into a huge Rollins stan, was less than thrilled.
“That was bullshit,” she said, trying to contain her disappointment.
The main event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, with Pat McAfee, played exactly as expected. The crowd heavily booed McAfee, erupting when Jelly Roll took him out early and again when Orton finished him off later. When Rhodes won with a Cross Rhodes, the theater roared, proving Codymania is still alive.
“I like Cody… his messaging and what he symbolizes for the federation, the company,” said lifelong wrestling fan Derrick Moore, 53.
When I asked about the recent backlash against “The American Nightmare,” especially after Rhodes was booed at Allegiant Stadium during the match, Moore said, “He’s very clean. Sometimes that gets a little boring.” Still, Moore remains what he called a “Cody Crybaby,” adding, “I like him, and I love his lineage.”
As for McAfee, his career in wrestling — by his own pre-match claims — should be over after Orton’s loss to Rhodes. If it was his last match, fan Angielee Elejorde told me, “I’m so glad he’s done.” She would, however, welcome him back strictly as an announcer alongside Michael Cole.
“I like him as an announcer better,” she said.
Wrestle-Meh-nia
As for Mrs. G0MEZ and me, the consensus was clear: we enjoyed hanging out with fellow fans. But the event itself?
Eh, not so much.
There was quite a bit of hooping and hollering going on, especially during entrances. Big spots, such as when Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu took turns putting each other through tables, also got strong reactions.
But there were long pockets of silence throughout. The Fatal 4-Way for the Women’s Tag Team Championship was mostly silent, except for the return of Paige, a few “Woos” for Charlotte, and the finish.
Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer had one of the hottest builds leading into Mania. But when the bell rang, the fire simply wasn’t there. After Mrs. G got up to stretch her legs, I texted my Cageside Colleagues, saying this felt like SmackDown-plus, just with no commercials between the matches.
Outside of the spots with McAfee, Rhodes’ victory, and Orton’s post-match beat down on Rhodes, the theater sat quiet for what was a main event with a methodical pace, to put it kindly.
Notably, as we were discussing WrestleMania with the group before the show, a common thread emerged: nearly all of the matches we wanted to see were on Sunday.
So much for that night being “ass,” eh, McAfee?
Faces lit up at the mention of Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi, while others were excited for the main event between Roman Reigns and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. Based on my informal polling, Sunday’s show at the same theater is shaping up to be pro-OTC, meaning my wife and I will be right at home celebrating a Reigns win.
However, Elejorde, who likes both wrestlers, made it clear that she was rooting for Punk. Though she didn’t like him bringing Reigns’ deceased father into their storyline, she said it did help give him an edge over Reigns.
Despite her rooting interest, she said, “I will acknowledge the Tribal Chief.”
Amen, sister. Amen.
