Roman Reigns’ final showdown with Brock Lesnar was an insane spectacle befitting their storied rivalry. After an absolutely bananas Last Man Standing match, which saw Theory cash in, Paul Heyman F5 through a table and the entire ring being taken over by a giant tractor, Reigns buried Lesnar under the announcer’s table and the steel steps. to be the last man standing and retain his WWE Universal Championship.
Halfway through Lesnar’s entrance, he began to climb the ramp again. He donned his farmer’s flannel and cowboy hat, then climbed into a giant tractor that drove to the ring. Lesnar was introduced from the top of the tractor, then started the match by jumping off the top onto Reigns. Incredible scenes.
Lesnar and Reigns immediately began brawling on the outside, making their way through the crowd and onto part of the stadium stage. On his way back to the ring, Lesnar set up a table that, after a distraction from Paul Heyman, Samoan Reigns let him through. This cut Lesnar’s back, who began to bleed. Reigns then set up another table and hit Lesnar with a Uranage.
Inside the ring, Reigns hit two Superman punches and a big Spear, the first of many Spears of the night, but that didn’t keep Lesnar down for long. Lesnar made his comeback, which after a few gnarly blows on the outside involved putting Reigns in the tractor front loader and throwing him into the ring. Again: amazing. After a few German Suplexes, Lesnar lands an F5, but Reigns gets up at 9.
Lesnar tried another F5, but Reigns countered into a guillotine. Lesnar powered down and locked in a guillotine of his own, from which Reigns briefly passed out. Lesnar had 9 more.
In perhaps the biggest moment of their illustrious feud, Lesnar got back on the tractor and repeatedly rammed it into the ring. He then used the tractor to grab the ring, causing Reigns to fall as if the ring was a steep slide. It was incredible.
The Usos hit the ring, but Lesnar quickly disposed of them both with Belly to Belly suplexes across the ring. Paul Heyman interfered again, so Lesnar F5ed him through a weird table. Reigns then blasted a distracted Lesnar with a spear.
Theory’s music hit and he ran to the ring, hitting Reigns with the Money in the Bank briefcase. However, before he could officially cash it in, Lesnar F5 put him in the briefcase. The Usos then clock Lesnar with a double Superkick, and Reigns hits a big Spear for another 9 count. Reigns gets Theory’s briefcase and hits Lesnar with it for another 9. Reigns grabs the Championship of WWE and blasted Lesnar with it, another 9 count.
Finally, Reigns grabs the Universal Championship and hits Lesnar with it. Then, with the referee still counting, he and The Usos pile the remains of the announcer’s table and the steel steps on top of Lesnar. Buried under everything, Lesnar couldn’t make the count.
It didn’t make sense for the ref to keep counting while Reigns and the Usos kept throwing things at Lesnar, but hey, I’ve got to keep the Beast down somehow. Reigns did a fantastic job in that final stretch – every time he took Lesnar down, he came off as if he was terrified Lesnar would get back up. Great drama, great match.
Rating: 4.75 stars. The WrestleMania 38 main event match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar was underwhelming. It’s a good thing, then, that these two have to have this match at SummerSlam. It’s definitely the best, and definitely the most spectacular.
Reigns and Lesnar have had an incredible rivalry for the past seven years; the best thing to say about this match is that it was a fitting end to what will undoubtedly be one of WWE’s most celebrated rivalries.