Wrestlepalooza 2025 marked a turning point in WWE history: it was the very first Premium Live Event (PLE) streamed on the new ESPN app, and it didn't disappoint with big in-ring returns, emotional announcements and a new champion crowned.
We take a look at it all with a complete set of match grades (even a grade for the new ESPN app). Each match also gets a re-watchability score (1-10) based on how fun, exciting or historic it is — so if you missed any of the action live, you can decide what you'll go back and re-watch.
ESPN app performance
Grade: A+
Why: The ESPN app worked really well for the stream, with no lag at all. The video and audio were solid the whole time. One of the coolest features was the multi-view option, letting you switch between other ESPN events like college football. That was awesome for anyone wanting to catch multiple live games in the downtime. Overall, it was a great start for WWE moving their streaming over to ESPN. Let's hope the complete library follows soon.
Re-watchability: N/A
Stephanie McMahon Hall of Fame announcement
Grade: A
Why: Stephanie McMahon’s induction announcement for the 2026 class felt totally deserved and meaningful — and looked like it came as a legit shock, which is hard to do for someone as involved in the business as she is. Having the Undertaker do it felt authentic.
Re-watchability: 7/10
Match grades & re-watchability
Alright, let's get into the match grades for the full Wrestlepalooza 2025 main card. The grades are based on the storytelling, general in-ring action, crowd reactions and how worth it it is to go back and re-watch them.
Match | Grade | Re-watchability (1-10) |
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar | C- | 2/10 |
The Usos vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed | B | 6/10 |
Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer (Vacant Women’s World Championship) | A | 9/10 |
CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch (Mixed Tag) | A- | 8/10 |
Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre (Undisputed WWE Championship) | A | 9/10 |
Detailed match notes
1. John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
Grade: C-
Highlights: Lesnar’s dominance and Cena’s comebacks weren't compelling at all. The emotional aspect—Cena nearing the end of his in-ring career—did add stakes, but having Cena get basically squashed didn't really leave a good taste in our mouths.
Re-watchability: 2/10 — No need to re-live this one, just take our word for it.
2. The Usos vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed
Grade: B
Highlights: Good, solid tag team contest with four very capable workers. The crowd invested for a bit, which helped. Breakker & Reed are rising stars, and The Usos are as good as any Tag Team in WWE history, so the ingredients were there for a classic. We didn't quite get there, and the finish left some to be desired.
Re-watchability: 6/10 — If you plan on re-watching the show anyway, it doesn't hurt to watch this one, but you won't be missing much if you skip it.
3. Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer (Vacant Women’s World Championship)
Grade: A
Highlights: Living up to expectations. Both women worked really hard and the finish, while expected, still had that emotional feel to it, crowning a new champion. Stephanie Vaquer has a chance to now run with the strap; hopefully, she continues to evolve her character.
Re-watchability: 9/10 — title matches with new champions are evergreen.
4. CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch (Mixed Tag)
Grade: A-
Highlights: AJ Lee's return after more than ten years brings a lot of nostalgia. The chemistry among the four wrestlers was strong, and their promos and background stories contributed to that. There were some mistakes and slower moments, but the fans really connected emotionally. Punk finally prevailing over Rollins makes the victory feel more significant.
Re-watchability: 8/10 — Lots of nostalgia and some solid action. It might drag a little on a re-watch, but overall it’s still really good.
5. Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre (Undisputed WWE Championship)
Grade: A
Highlights: This was definitely one of the highlight matches. There was a lot of back-and-forth action, some close near-falls and the crowd was into it. Rhodes was holding his ground well while McIntyre was getting in his shots. It felt like there was a lot on the line for both of them. There weren't any huge mistakes, and the match totally felt like it deserved the main event spot. McIntyre sold his injury well, good storytelling throughout.
Re-watchability: 9/10 — Cody was in his bag and so was Drew. Title matches with big-name stars usually hold up over time.
Overall show grade & verdict
Overall Grade for Wrestlepalooza 2025: B+
Why: WWE really nailed the pre-show hype and build-up. The card also had a bunch of strong matches and some memorable moments, like a new champ and the Steph HOF announcement. The event had a smooth broadcast, too. Sure, there were a few mid-card matches that could've flowed better, but honestly, the good stuff totally outweighs the not-so-great parts.
Overall Re-watchability for the Card: 7/10 — There are definitely some matches that are worth checking out again, especially the Women’s title match and the main event.