[9.0] "Probably one of my personal favorite mania main events ever for what it represents, though the winner and ending does sour this for me, especially with romes subsequent reign of terror and obnoxious narcissism in interviews."
[10.0] "Top 3 WrestleMania Main Event ever. It was just incredible big money wrestling between two of the best wrestlers in the world who were operating in peak form, which led to one of our dream matches being delivered."
[10.0] "I still think this is one of the greatest WM matches of all time. It had me locked in the entire time after a some what dull WM match card. A great match put together by great wrestlers."
[9.0] "Fuck yeah man this was great and the only match of the two nights i would say will ever be worth rewatching. Imagine my shock they give us 34 minutes of uninterrupted wrestling between 2 of the best in the company and it is fucking great. Who ever would of thought that man. I really liked how grounded this match was with lots of striking based offence throughout the match. I liked how Punk had to fight from underneath for most of the match and he did that well and sold his ass off all match loved the blade job as well. I liked Punks short control segment until he got cocky on the top rope. Roman then took control power bombing him through the desk then hanging in the ring post to bust him open with the steps (funny how that was better than anything in the 2 no DQs). We then got a great stretch of Roman just beating the piss out of Punk including getting a near fall of a spear after sliding out of a GTS. Punk got back in control after countering Romans attempt at the GTS which was cool. Punk then went for the spear and Roman caught him in the guillotine and we got a great exchange between that an the anaconda vice which was peak. We then got more grounded striking until Punk used his wrist tape to distract the ref. He then hit a low blow and a GTS for a near fall (odd spot for a near fall to be honest). Punk then put Roman through the desk with an elbow drop which was great. I will be honest i wasn't the biggest fan of the finish. The first GTS good but everything after Roman fell back on him was so flat and underwhelming. Punk was spent and collapsed we then wasted the chance for them to throw desperation punches at each other on the mat. As Roman got up like it was nothing and hit 2 spears for the 3. Yeah fucking fair play man this was great. Punk was at his brilliant best (turns out he can still go to a level few can when he is not being an unbearable cunt). Might be my favourite singles match big Rome has ever had he put his working boots on and gave us 34 minutes of great graps not his normal "Cinema" shite so fairs. Only downside was how flat the finish was man but still a great match and probably the best maina main event in about a decade. (****3/4)"
[6.0] "As good as you're going to get from two plodding wrestlers who lack any bite or physicality to their offense. Punk still has very solid selling and psychology, and they both come off as stars at least, especially Roman. Still very formulaic structurally and the surprise of "no interference bullshit like every other main event match we've conditioned out audience to" doesn't land for me when, like, the entire history of wrestling exists to compare it to."
[9.0] "CM Punk is still at that "Best in the World" level to have main event epics. This match also made me wish that I enjoyed Roman this much because since this match I have had no interest in his title run. [****.75]"
[10.0] "One of the easiest 5* matches WWE's put out this year. These slower-paced WWE main events usually really have to work to win me over but this one had me hooked from the beginning thanks to the great character work from the get-go. Amazing spots throughout and Punk shows some of the best facial selling since Terry Funk (makes sense). Flawless match."
[10.0] "Given this joke that was this entire WrestleMania, Punk and Reigns really saved this show. This was just a pure professional wrestling match with two guys hating one another and fighting ! I loved everything is that bout, Punk just wanted to erase Roman till unleashing a low blow ! Reigns ultimately came back on the Head of the Table having the last word spearing a weak Punk to capture the WHC ! This is what a WrestleMania Main Event must be like, a pure classic fight with nothing more !"
[8.0] "This match was not bad but not amazing. Had a super confusing part in which Roman just blatantly hit Punk in the head with the steps. No DQ, no nothing... okay? Normally I wouldn't nitpick that, but it does kinda ruin what would've been the best spot of the match. Punk throwing his tape at Roman only to use that distraction to low blow Roman. Great spot! But if its already established that you can hit someone in the head with the steps, why do you need to distract the ref to hit a low blow? Great drama throughout especially with the two of them exchanging blows late in the match. Finish wasn't amazing, just felt very flat... didn't really build up to a great crescendo. Still though, a good match. Also, Punk coming out to Miseria Cantare was incredible and made me very happy."
[9.0] "This certainly had that big fight feel to it definitely. I like how in the beginning it's not one-sided it's 50-50. The outside parts of the match are okay. One part of this match I hate was Roman using the steel steps. The excuse you're going with is oh it's the main event of mania and this is big money match stupid. Back and forth between them was good. I enjoy the in ring story that is punk trying to make Roman angry and lose his focus. I also enjoy punk selling off him bleeding and getting exhausted. The elbow from the top rope and onto the announced table. I think this was Roman best performance at mania."
[10.0] "This was probably Roman's best in-ring performance of his whole career. Definitely the match of the year with 2 of the best storytellers and in-ring performers ever. They went for 33 minutes and the pacing never slowed down and/or got tiring after a certain point. Definition of wrestling soulmates"
[9.0] "Match of the night and arguably match of the show. These two really have great chemistry. The match wasn't just a formulaic match you would think you would see between these two, I'm really glad they were able to go for 33 minutes. Punk getting busted open was a nice and necessary touch and I'm glad they included that. They had some close near falls and the cherry on top is that it was a clean match with no interference. I don't really care that the red allowed them to do some crazy stuff and it added to the match a lot."
[10.0] "One of the best WWE matches in recent memory. It was simply incredible.. a super intense and physical match with great selling + an electric crowd. Punk got busted open after Reigns hit him with the steel steps as his legs were trapped on the turnbuckles and he was hanging upside down. Towards the end Punk took off his wrist tape and threw it at Reigns, the ref goes to throw it away and Punk hit Reigns with a low blow and the GTS (would've been a fantastic finish btw) but Reigns kicked out at 2. Reigns falls into Punk's shoulders after a GTS, Punk attempts another one but collapses and Reigns hits him with 2 spears to win the title."
[6.0] "This is my second time writing this as I realized half way through that I'm not quite as positive as I thought I was and may have been tricked into thinking this was actually good because the rest of the card was so mediocre. I'm not gonna deny that this has a big fight feel, something that the previous night's main event was sorely lacking. Roman Reigns and CM Punk also had pretty good chemistry and built a match that felt worthy of a main event even if it wasn't to my taste. My issue is that the worst parts of the match is the bookends of each act and the best bits are cliches of what WWE thinks is a big dramatic main event. We're still somehow living in a post WrestleMania X7 world and there's no sign of getting out. The match kicks off and it's seconds before the boys get into a headlock for a quick chat, they just started and already need to have a discussion on where to go next. We get some big one upmanship between the two and some shit talking. It's all very believable but nothing we haven't seen from a Reigns match. The turning point of the match for the narrative and my feelings towards it come when Reigns hits Punk with the steel steps, busting him open. On one hand I'm happy that we got blood in WWE again but Reigns should've been disqualified here. I get that it's WrestleMania but this isn't NJPW and it sets a precedent for the rules of this company and their main events. The match admittedly cranks up in intensity and Punk and Reigns sell the fatigue really well which then leads into more cliche story beats. Finisher theft and near falls despite being effective feel so paint by the numbers at this point and it'd be fine but the connective tissue between these moments are so bare bones and melodramatic. Punk eventually hits a low blow on Reigns which was exciting but Punk wrestling like a heel should've been capitalized on more at this point instead we get a double knockdown, more finisher spam until Reigns hits one last Spear for the win. A flat ending to an otherwise flawed but entertaining match. I'm not gonna say this is a bad match because it was almost great but it's the embodiment of why WWE's main event scene is so uninteresting to me. This feels like actors being wrestlers, nothing feels unpredictable or improvised, it feels like it's checking off boxes. This isn't an exclusive problem for WWE but it's so much more common here and I cannot for the life of me see past this. Truthfully I think more people would think the same if the bar for this year's WrestleMania wasn't in the pits of hell."
[10.0] "This was a great match, I wasn't sure of what to expect from this pairing, but this turned out great. You could feel the hatred between the two."
[5.0] "I can never, and will never, rate a match highly when a guy simply grabs an object and attacks his opponent IN FRONT OF THE REFEREE and absolutely nothing happens. Add to that the various situations where a count out should take place. I guess they did each other's finishers, though, and that should constitute a great match, right? Oh, they also went through tables. The best thing about this was the entrances, but I don't rate entrances."
[10.0] "Just rewatched this one recently and I have to say it's my favorite Wrestlemania main event of all time. CM Punk is so so good here it's insane. The wristtape spot might be the best low blow ever in terms of how realistic, how good it was, the timing also was perfection. I'm afraid crimson mask punk might be the best to ever do it. Roman had psychology on spot. Truly a masterpiece. I started having shivers down my spine when I heard Miseria Cantare and it didn't stop for the next 40 minutes, this was really really good"
[10.0] "Awesome match I can't stress that enough. Punk and Roman had remarkable chemistry with each other and made a WrestleMania main event that was super memorable. I'll be honest though, this didn't hit as hard on rewatch. I did think the match took too long to get going. The first two thirds were too slow for my taste. However that last third was peak and some of the best wrestling content I've seen in recent times. I'm giving this a 10 but I don't think this is WWE match of the year like a lot of people think it is. I still think Mask vs Mask and Styles vs Nakamura are better. With that being said absolute banger of a match. The build honestly wasn't very good but they more than made up for it with their stellar performances."
[10.0] "An absolute masterclass in in-ring psychology, to me the best match of the entire weekend, and a Mania all-timer. From the entrances, to the choice of music (with a great touch of Miseria Cantare), to the story told in ring this was ABSOLUTELY excellent. Roman wins cementing his legacy as truly one of WWEs all-time greats. Say what you want about him and his early days but since Mania 37 he's CONSTANTLY produced; Mania 37 (awesome triple threat), Mania 39 (great match with Cody), Mania 40 (All-timer with Cody), Mania 41 (Incredible triple threat), Mania 42 (All-timer with Punk). Roman's tribal chief character will go down as perhaps WWE's best, at least the best in the modern era. Excellent Main event that saved this Wrestlemania from being an all-time worst."
[10.0] "The match I looked most forward to and awaited with lots of excitement. It delivered up to those expectations, and may I say even surpassed it. Going into the match, it already had a very strong build, and even before the bell rang, the mannerisms and body language told a lot of the story. It reflected the mutual animosity and disdain shared between the two elite level competitors. Similar to the main event the night prior, there was finisher stealing as well, but here it was executed much properly and was more impactful too. An attempt to get under each others skin, mock, ridicule and disrespect their opponent. It was psychological warfare in the form of mind games. It was hardhitting and nasty as hell. The fistfight was bloody and in particular Punk recieved a heavier toll courtesy of this exchange. He dons a crimson mask, ultimately losing a lot of blood. He still continues the fight however and his ego and emotions do get the better of him at times. It is a must win to prove a point and also to inflict as much pain on their adversary even at exchange of their own well being. Examples to support this include Punk using a bust open head to headbutt Reigns even though it takes a lot out of his gas tank too and resorting to the low blow due to the fatigue as a last ditch attempt or move of desperation. The kick outs are perfectly timed, the intensity is palpable, the crowd energy is electric and the selling is top notch especially the part where it feels that Punk has it in the bag but collapses because his body can't take any more of the battering. Punk still doesn't give up refusing to stay down however two spine crushing spears finally seal the deal. Simply scintillating and just shy of a 5 star. There was something missing that stops me from awarding it the full 5 stars but honestly I can't put my finger on it. Regardless, this was a fiery banger. It deserves all the praise it gets. ****3/4"
[8.0] "Punk wrestled a perfect match, the atmosphere was great too, the best Mania main event since Taker vs HBK. The pacing was especially phenomenal, 34 minutes that flew by. Felt like a breathe of fresh air compared to the usual WWE style, the referee not DQing Roman was a nice touch too. My only pet peeve was the 50/50 approach to finishers that WWE has, which weakened the finish of the match in my opinion, with Roman coming out of the match not stronger than Punk, just younger. I'd be surprised if this doesn't end up as MOTY in WWE, for sure this is Roman's best match."
[10.0] "A solid main event and one for the ages because of how they executed two superstars and more about how they hated each other because of their egos. Old school CM Punk. [*****]"
[9.0] "Really great match, Roman is a very good worker especially when not leaning on run ins and other shenanigans. Obviously Punk is Punk, but this is one of the better Wrestlemania Main Events ever. A bar that actually used to be pretty low, but has had several good additions since 2021."
[8.0] "As a non WWE viewer, I still make time to watch Wrestlemania live every year. With that taken into account, I largely didn't care for most of this years event (both nights). Most of the matches were lackluster and unfulfilling to me. Too many commercials and not enough good wrestling. Everything about this years Wrestlemania just seemed super corporate, slow moving and uninspired. However, after two nights full of flat and lifeless "entertainment", we get to this gem of a match. What an amazing match. Punk and Reigns easily delivered not only the match of the night but arguably the best match of the year from WWE. Referencing the Punk/Shield relationship from back in the day added some great storytelling to this as well. My only detraction from this is that I know it's a world title match in the main event of the company's biggest show of the year, but Reigns hitting Punk with the steel steps in front of the referee should have been a disqualification. At least when Punk hit a low blow the ref had his back turned and didn't see any of it. But this was still a very entertaining match nonetheless."
[10.0] "Absolute Banger one of the best in ring wrestling matches of the year and in the Show's history.... They really redeemed themselves from an atrocious main event of the previous night but yet this is how you should deliver a WrestleMania Main Event thats all"
[10.0] "In terms of in-ring action, it may be the best Wrestlemania main event ever. It's certainly in contention for that accolade. Both of these guys are masters of the craft of the modern American style main event, and they execute it to damn near perfection. There's some disregarding of the rules that I would have preferred not to see, but some of that is just WWE main event style. Regardless, Punk getting to finish his Shield story with his first real Wrestlemania main event, while coming out to Misera Cantare, gets a full 5 stars from this old 2000s ROH fanboy regardless. I think it's barely not as good as the Moxley matches/story, but it's definitely better than the Seth matches and the atmosphere and gravitas of a Mania main event help lift it a fair amount. And thank god this match was so good, because the rest of this Mania was pretty rotten. *****"
[8.0] "Best match from WWE so far. I am not that high neither on Reigns or CM Punk, even tho I do believe that CM Punk is truly one of the best wrestlers that ever exist. And his ring experience here was an great key for that match works, it came into a point which Roman looked like he was just doing crtl C+crtl V to whatever he did, like some simple taunts and the pacing control. The blade job was good, can't blame them for the stupid cameraman that tried to find Punk doing it (and props to Roman for standing in front of). Well, I don't like the way finisher spam happens in WWE, it is always too slow and in a pace that bores me, but the rest of the match felt way too good."
[6.0] "I understand the appeal, and while it didn't entirely land for me I do commend them on putting together such a well received match after the absolute train wreck that was the build up to this match. Putting aside all the extreme weirdness and fumbled moments leading up to this, the basic story is sound and fans wanted to see it pay if off in the end. Personally I thought it was still way too long for what it was and more than a few awkward moments, and not the good kind where the fight feels real but the kind where you're like well, that didn't go the way they hoped. However the intensity of the fight was good and they let them go farther than I expected. LOL to Roman winning again but nobody ought to be surprised."
[7.0] "I'm not as high as others on this one, I truly don't get it. I found it a mostly normal WWE main event match ever since Triple GPT took over: big spots, stolen finishers, kick outs at one, the works. Almost banal in it's structure for a Wrestlemania main event. I guess they gotta thank the current product for being at such a low lever that a normal match like this is considered an oasis in the desert. When Roman Reigns asks Michael Hayes and Paul Heyman to put together for him a great match, they do it. And there the authorial injection by CM Punk, completing the "Shield Double GTS" trilogy with the final one that fails, proving he is old and confirming the story they're telling. Problem is, the story of a 40 year old man telling a 47 year old one that he is old was stupid to begin with."
[10.0] "Words cannot express how glad I am that 1. Roman regained a world title and 2. NO INTERFERENCE IN A MAIN EVENT. Roman and Punk lived up to the billing and had the best match of the year (in WWE). While some may be upset about the steel stair spot, you have to remember that this is the main event. Like their not gonna end this in a DQ. When Roman brought back his old theme from 2021-24, I knew it was over for Punk. This was a fantastic match, with the right winner (hopefully), and an amazing way to end an inconsistent Wrestlemania [5.25 Stars]"
[10.0] "This match was absolute cinema. The build for this match was really good with multiple different promos and segments that made the match even better. Not just the storytelling on the build-up, but the storytelling in the match was really great as well. The entire match was non-stop action that was just genuinely awesome. It was very unpredictable, making me feel like I'm on a roller coaster of professional wrestling. This truly was the deserving main event of WrestleMania and really made this WrestleMania better. Last year, WM 41 had a more lackluster main event that left a bad taste in my mouth, but this year's main event ended the show on a high note. It truly was one of the best matches that Roman has ever had, if not the best. It was also very relieving that there was no interference and was just a clean match. The elbow drop from Punk to Reigns on the table was my spot of the match which showed that Punk is still willing to put his body on the line in the biggest moments. This was one of the best WrestleMania matches I have ever seen and was pretty unforgettable. [*****]"
[10.0] "'CM Punk vs Roman Reigns' at WrestleMania 42 is the greatest match at this event to ever happen. The wrestling itself was back and forth; you could feel the chemistry between the competitors. Even though Roman has had so many main events this felt like the one that amounted to something outside of being another boring blockbuster with Brock. This also felt like the only match at the show that had a heated crowd that wanted a clear winner. The Shield entourage was definitely there, and it almost felt like they wanted to ruin CM Punk's main event moment just as they tried to ruin it with 'CM Punk vs Moxley' at All Out 2022, and it didn't work. Punk's fans were also in the building, and Punk is fueled by hatred and probably wrestled better because of it. The wrestling itself couldn't have been better in terms of telling a story. Both men are masters at this. The bumps, the selling and the level of exhaustion were unbelievable aspects from a spectator POV, but the result? Everyone will have a different opinion on the result, but this was unequivocally everything that a professional wrestling fan should EVER want out a high-level match."
"One of the greatest Wrestlemania main events from a in-ring action standpoint. Just a great match with no bells or whistles, just great characters with a great story and history wrestling."
[9.0] "This match was excellent, and the storyline and sequence of events were very strong and beautiful. Indeed, it was a storyline match, just as the book said, and Roman Reigns truly silenced everyone who said he can't wrestle"
[9.0] "This was fantastic. Actual wrestlers doing actual wrestling in an actual wrestling match. What a novel idea! Well paced, well worked and given some time to actually breathe! My only gripe and I feel it's a major one, was Roman blatantly using the steps as a weapon two feet away from the ref. It completely took me out of the match for a couple of minutes. A poor choice and I've knocked a point off because of it. Maybe tomorrow it'll bother me less, but right now it's a blemish on an otherwise near perfect match. That being said... this match was a certified banger. Legitimately the best match in WWE this year and probably since AJ retired."
[10.0] "This is my favourite match since Roman vs Cody. The pure unpredictability and star power just made me so excited all throughout the match and every time the match stepped up into another gear which it kept on doing the excitement grew. The ending was beautiful and in terms of actual in ring this is my favourite match I've ever watched live."
[10.0] "Fantastic main event. Starting from entrances, both guys delivered a masterpiece when it comes to psychological aspect. Punk mocking Roman, long list of devastating moves and back and forth action were really enjoyable to see. Truly a saviour of medicore Mania."
[10.0] "Punk finally got his main event, and it will be a true contender for best main event of all time. This is mean, this is ugly, this is grit. It's passion. It's so much, without ever becoming too much. CM Punk has had the best reign with the World Heavyweight Championship despite it being an eleventh hour injury call, and this felt like the perfect conclusion to the "Old Man Punk" story we've been getting throughout the run. Romans return the relevance feels perfect for shaking up the raw main event and presenting a bunch of matches which feel exciting for the next year. I feel truly speechless, this is currently my favorite mania match, and I'm hoping that magic doesn't fade anytime soon."
[9.0] "Without a doubt, this is one of the best matches WWE has produced recently. The pacing and storytelling are undeniably top-notch; in fact, they were enough to salvage the increasingly tedious promo battles between the two wrestlers. Generally, I find Roman Reigns' wrestling style slow and bland, but in this match, I must say he acted outside his usual norms. Punk's in-ring intelligence was truly impressive, especially the move designed to deceive the referee, which was executed very well. However, there was one crucial point where I believe the match was lacking: the disqualification issue. Roman Reigns' use of the steel stairs in front of the referee creates a mental confusion for the viewer, and then Punk's subsequent move, however ingenious, seems pointless since there was no possibility of disqualification in the match anyway. Because of this (and the way several moves were executed), I think the match was very close to perfect, but didn't quite reach that level."
[10.0] "Wow, just wow --this was such a good match--one of the best I have seen, and one of the best in WrestleMania history. CM Punk is such a good storyteller; the match was structured so well, and it was given the time it needed."
[6.0] "I just think it was satisfactory not more, in any other company the same match would not be rated more than 8, it being more than 9 just because it was the first time in very long they let wrestlers wrestle for 30 minutes without interferences is insane. Was slow and boring imo."
[4.0] "This match just is not laid out the best. It feels like they knew a few spots they wanted to hit and want over it with one pass to make them make sense, without actually considering whether they did. Roman gets admonished by the ref for doing moves on Punk in the ropes but it's allowed to continue. The ref begins to do a count-out on Roman but then just kinda ... stops? The ref later watches Punk's arm up Roman's crotch after the lowblow and does nothing about it, doesn't even react. The action itself was plodding and slow, a bit boring."
[10.0] "This main event had nothing in common with the one from night one. This is how you book a WrestleMania main event : with a well-written story built from the very beginning between two men who genuinely hate each other and prove it in this legendary confrontation. Both men gave absolutely everything in terms of storytelling because that may be one of their greatest strengths : they know how to tell a story. After two years away from a world title, Roman Reigns will once again be able to reign over a division that has changed significantly since his departure and is now full of challengers ready to test him."
[10.0] "I absolutely love this match even with Punk losing. Everything about it was a reminder to me why I love professional wrestling (mainly commenting so I can rate matches in a week)"
[10.0] "love him or hate him, CM Punk knows how to work a match. i have always had the firm opinion that Roman is often only as good as his opponent, but unlike some wrestlers who fall into that camp because all they can do is "mirror" their opponent, Roman does manage to generally add something to those matches, and he does that here - he is a perfectly suitable foe for Punk. Punk clearly dictates the pace and style of this match. it's intently paced and largely exists to tell his story as an aging veteran who still WANTS to go and who still WANTS to be the cocky showboat he's always been even if his body betrays him - something that i think they wanted to do for Cody and Orton the night before but utterly failed at then. showcase for how good of an in-ring storyteller Punk is at this stage in his career and somehow managed to turn this match's mediocre build (Roman saying "you're old") into an angle that drove the match. really impressive."
[5.0] "Wow, what a wonderful match. They really played to the strength of both of the competitors by making the match a slow, plodding affair. CM Punk is great at the wrestling bit but has some problems with his stamina, so they really gave him time to relax between moves. Roman looks great but is a bit below average when it comes to the wrestling bit so they have him do the some three or four moves quite well. I had fun watching this match, it reminds me of watching old cannon movies where you are entertained by the sheer incompetence (though those movies have non-stop over the top action that makes them fun to watch in other ways too.)."
[9.0] "Well at first I really wanted to lose however, this match made Roman prove himself to me. The only problem with this match is the pacing of it but besides that it was amazing. From bringing back Roman's older theme to Punk using the superman punch, to even having roman win clean. Honestly this is one of my favorite matches from Roman Reigns probably ever and they both delivered on this match. 9/10"
[8.0] "The storytelling was pretty good and Punk's performance was his best in a while. It felt kinda underwhelming, and I'm still not exactly sure why. But despite that it was still a great match. Them going through the announce table was awesome, the superman punch with punk hanging from the corner was a cool spot, and punk being so worn out he couldn't hit the gts was a good ending. also no DQ?"
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