WWE Wrestlepalooza Review (9/20/25) (w/ Match Rating)

WWE Wrestlepalooza marks a historic night for World Wrestling Entertainment. Not only did they dip into the vault to pull out an ECW classic PLE, but this marks the first show with ESPN in the fold. It’s a huge deal for WWE to be partnering with one of the largest sports networks in the world.

WWE needs to make sure they hit it out of the park at Wrestlepalooza, and they have stacked the deck in their favor. The card for this PLE is fantastic and has all the potential in the world to be an all-time great. However, until the lights come up, no one knows how well Wrestlepalooza will be received. Luckily, we have the preeminent review below. Let’s see if WWE and ESPN’s first big show pans out. Here’s a WWE Wrestlepalooza review.

John Cena vs Brock Lesnar (1/5)

To kick off this WWE Wrestlepalooza review, rumors had been flying that this was going to be the choice to open the show. It’s a massive move by WWE to open with a match many thought would main event the evening. It was a hot start that was compounded by the great introductions of both Brock Lesnar and John Cena.

Introductions aside, this match was a huge disappointment. Brock Lesnar was always going to dominate the contest, but to have him essentially squash John Cena didn’t make any sense. Cena got little offense in and looked like a chump. It would have been nice to see John Cena receive some better offense. Having Brock Lesnar go over was not a huge shock, but one that should have been handled better.

Still, it would have been better for John Cena to win. He has sacrificed so much for WWE, and they could have done him a better service here.

The Usos vs The Vision (w/ Special Referee LA Knight) (3/5)

The string of great intros continues with The Usos producing a striking visual as they made their way to the ring. Breakker and Reed looked great with matching leather jackets, and they looked as dangerous as they ever have.

This was a fun tag team match. LA Knight was a great addition as the special guest referee, and he allowed this match to devolve into chaos. The moments with the steel chair and Knight were a great addition to the contest. On top of that, there was some great action with each man getting his chance to shine.

A ton of excellent back and forth was taking place during the match, and it was a shock to see Jey Uso get himself a little color nearing the end. Nothing took place that would push this into great territory, but it was a good match that had the right team walking away the winners.

Women’s World Heavyweight Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer vs Iyo Sky (4.25/5)

It took longer than expected, and against a different opponent, but Stephanie Vaquer finally got her shot. Her entrance is always a spectacle, and IYO SKY was no slouch at all. WWE is always on point with its production value.

There were high hopes heading into this match, and both women were up to the task. This was a fantastic wrestling match, with both women showcasing their incredible talent. It started with great chain wrestling and then cranked it into another gear with both women hitting some great high-risk moves. It was especially lovely to see Vaquer’s working of SKY’s knee keep coming up. It’s that type of continuity that turns a good match great.

The only slight drawback was the clunkiness that followed the first half of the match. The strikes weren’t as flush as they should have been, but that’s a minor gripe in what was an otherwise fantastic match. WWE, you need to put these two in the ring forever.

Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch vs CM Punk & AJ Lee (3.25/5)

The great entrances move on with an over-the-top one worthy of Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. That was followed by the usual entrance for Punk and AJ Lee, but with the bonus of Punk’s “AJ’s Husband” jacket. It was a nice touch.

The beginning of this tag match was a masterclass in storytelling. Seth Rollins and CM Punk did the heavy lifting, but Becky Lynch and AJ Lee worked their characters beautifully. There was a ton of involvement from the women while not being in the match, and it was great in getting the crowd pumped for the match.

It’s worth noting here, as well, that it’s fantastic having AJ Lee back. Her facial expressions alone made the match worth watching, and she looks like she hasn’t lost a step in the ring.

The table spot leading to the finish was fun and unexpected, but it came too late. The latter portions of the match dragged on too long. This match would have benefited from 5 minutes being shaved off. Still, it was one of the best mixed tag matches in company history.