A WrestleMania week full of surprises
Caleb introduces the Squared Circle Report.
Welcome to the first edition of The Squared Circle Report. I started this column because London is the undisputed capital of wrestling. Our city has seen many modern greats walk its halls, from Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre to Will Ospreay and Gunther; wrestlers who were honed in local London Independent promotions like RevPro, Progress, and Hustle wrestling. We have the most loyal fans on the planet, and whether it’s a sold-out Wembley Stadium or an intimate indie show, London always shows up and shows out. The “Squared Circle” represents the four corners of the sacred ring, the mat where stories are told and dreams are actualized. Wrestling is a special form of entertainment, and through this column, I aim to capture its essence.
Beyond the local scene, I’ll be keeping you updated on the entire wrestling world. With All Elite Wrestling (AEW)’s annual “All In” returning to Wembley Stadium this August, RevPro hosting a massive anniversary show the day prior, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)’s European tour hitting London and Italy for Clash in Italy later in May, the eyes of the industry are on us. Professional wrestling has just passed its most vital period of the year: WrestleMania Week. As the industry’s biggest spectacle and WWE’s biggest show of the year, WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas (18th and 19th April) was expected to dominate the headlines.
The AEW Shockwave
Before we even hit the WrestleMania weekend, a huge surprise landed on the 15th April edition of AEW Dynamite: Spring Breakthru. A veteran of the London indie scene and AEW darling Darby Allin cashed in his title shot, earned at AEW Dynasty after defeating Andrade El Ídolo. He then shocked me and the world by beating Maxwell Jacob Friedman (a.k.a. MJF) for the AEW World Championship in a matter of minutes. After four brutal Coffin Drops, the crowd erupted as MJF’s amazing reign ended in an instant. While a massive moment, I can’t help but wonder if it was the right time. MJF was on a tear, beating icons like Kenny Omega and “Hangman” Adam Page. Does this dent his run? Maybe. But the path to All In at Wembley Stadium, AEW’s biggest show, just blew up. I have a feeling we’re now on a collision course for Kenny Omega vs. Essex’s very own Will Ospreay for the AEW world title this August.
WWE Hall of Fame
The weekend honoured the architects of the business. AJ Styles, a true legend who broke barriers from NJPW to TNA, and WWE, was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame. His impact on the industry is undeniable. Alongside him, Stephanie McMahon was inducted, a necessary move for a woman who was a staple of the Attitude Era and a massive advocate for the evolution of women’s wrestling.
WrestleMania 42: “Ad-Mania”
Night one of WrestleMania 42 struggled. Between pacing issues and what fans are calling “Ad-Mania”, nearly three hours of commercials in a four-hour show, it was a tough watch. The Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton night one main event also suffered from confusing storytelling, with Cody working like a heel and Randy as the face, when the story leading up to it was the opposite, ending in a flat finish that left the crowd scratching their heads. Thankfully, night two of WrestleMania saved the weekend. From Brock Lesnar putting over Oba Femi in a star-making match to the dazzling ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship.
The match that truly saved WrestleMania, however, was the World Heavyweight Championship. From Punk bringing back his Ring of Honor theme to Roman using his original music, the storytelling was elite. It was a hard-hitting war where both men threw everything they had until nothing was left. In the end, a weary Punk tried his signature “Go To Sleep” move one last time, but his body gave out. Roman capitalized with a spear to finish the job. This might be my favourite WrestleMania main event in WWE history. If there is one match you watch, make it this one!
