The closing moments of the 2018 men’s match elevated it exponentially, with two generations of stars staring each other down and squaring off for the right to headline WrestleMania and challenge for the top championship in WWE.
On one side of the squared circle were John Cena, Randy Orton, and Rey Mysterio, three men who arrived at the dawn of the Ruthless Aggression Era and set the bar incredibly high for their peers to eclipse. They helped define that era, won countless championships, and established Hall of Fame careers.
On the other side of the ring were the stars of the modern era of WWE: Roman Reigns, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Finn Bálor.
The showdown between generations brought fans in Philadelphia to their feet until just two men remained: the predominant favorite to win the whole thing, Reigns, and the man the die-hard fans had selected, Nakamura.
They battled until The Artist managed to get the best of his opponent and toss him from the match, cashing his ticket to The Showcase of the Immortals and a showdown with his former New Japan Pro-Wrestling foe, AJ Styles for the WWE title.
A strong match with some great drama and memorable moments, including Mysterio’s return to the company, it was a crowd-pleasing match that only served to set the stage for the historic women’s match that headlined the night’s event.