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Five title changes at WrestleMania as heels reign supreme

Five title changes took place over the weekend during WrestleMania out of a possible eight which were on the line during the pay-per-view.

Apollo Crews, Sheamus, AJ Styles and Omos, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley all became new champs on Saturday and Sunday. Crews beat Big E in a Nigerian Drum fight to win the Intercontinental title and his first title in WWE career. Sheamus regained the United States title by beating Riddle in spectacular fashion. AJ Styles and Omos beat The New Day to become the new Raw Tag Team champions, putting Styles on the Grand Slam list and giving Omos his first title. Bianca Belair beat Sasha Banks in the main event of night one and won the Smackdown Women’s title, her first title with the promotion. And Rhea Ripley was ready for Asuka, winning the Raw Women’s title. This is her third title following the NXT UK Women’s and NXT Women’s titles.

Those who survived WrestleMania were Bobby Lashley, Roman Reigns, and the team of Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax. Lashley beat Drew McIntyre in the opening match of night one to retain the WWE title. Roman Reigns pinned both Edge and Daniel Bryan by stacking them on top of each other and retained the Universal title in the main event of night two. And Baszler and Jax beat Tamina and Natalya to retain their WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.

The only title not defended during WrestleMania was the Smackdown Tag Team one. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode did defend them on Friday in a fatal four-way tag team match on a broadcast promoted as WrestleMania Smackdown.

This was the first Mania since 34 that both the men’s major titles – the WWE championship and Universal championship – did not change hands. On that night in New Orleans, AJ Styles retained over Shinsuke Nakamura and Brock Lesnar retained over Roman Reigns.

It’s worth noting that seven out of the nine titles are held by heels, with only Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley considered faces.

Colin Vassallo
Colin Vassallohttps://www.wrestling-online.com
Colin Vassallo has been editor of Wrestling-Online since 1996. He is born and raised in Malta, follows professional wrestling and MMA, loves to travel, and is a big Apple fan!

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