Wrestlepalooza was supposed to be a new era for WWE, the first premium live event on ESPN’s new streaming service. Instead, it drew a collective shrug from fans and critics alike, who found the show underwhelming.
In a recap on ESPN’s website, combat sports writer Andreas Hale gave the event a C grade, writing:
“The excellent Vaquer vs. Sky match saved this show from being truly average. It was a phenomenal display inside the squared circle. Everything else was either underwhelming (the short Rhodes-McIntyre match) or a setup for a future match (Lesnar dominating Cena). For a card that promised to have epic moments, it fell a little short of expectations.”
The standout match was clearly Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky for the vacant Women’s World Title. According to our poll at Cageside Seats, 59% of readers named it Match of the Night. Hale gave it a B-plus, the highest grade of any match on the show.
Every other match received a C — except Cena vs. Lesnar, the heavily promoted opener, which got the lowest grade: a C-minus.
“Cena and Lesnar’s seventh WWE singles encounter felt more like a prelude to their next encounter than an actual match. It was a brief and dominant win for Lesnar, which served to extend this rivalry for at least one more PLE,” wrote Hale.
Despite criticism, the match arguably over-delivered — even as a squash.
At 48, both men worked a smart match. Cena, a part-timer in his final year as a wrestler, typically takes careful bumps due to outside commitments and lingering injuries, including a 2008 neck injury that sidelined him for months.
This was Lesnar’s first match in two years, and he looked as imposing as ever. Known for suplex-heavy offense, Lesnar hit only two German suplexes. After hitting him with the first, Lesnar grabbed a bear hug, giving Cena time to catch his bearings.
He followed with six F-5s — impactful but safe, face-first bumps that allowed Cena to protect himself.
As Hale noted, the match set the stage for a rematch — possibly Cena’s final hurdle before retirement. It also left an emotional impact on younger fans, several of whom were seen crying in the crowd.
Ultimately, the match told a story, advanced a feud, and physically protected Cena as much as possible.
Still, ESPN’s official review is hardly a glowing endorsement for a show that promised surprises and spectacle — but ended up feeling like any other WWE PLE.
WWE returns on Oct. 11 with Crown Jewel, streaming on ESPN’s new $29.99 monthly service.
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