WWE WrestleMania 35 review: Highlights, takeaways and projections

Triple H vs. Batista (no holds barred, with Triple H’s career on the line)

Following a ridiculous, hilarious segment that saw John Cena return as the Dr. of Thuganomics to interrupt Elias’ musical segment, Batista and Triple H renewed their rivalry in a rematch from WrestleMania 21. Speaking of hilarious, it was good to see that Batista could laugh at himself after getting himself tripped up in the ropes during his entrance and falling into the ring. And, of course, we got a crazy entrance from The Game, which is normal for WrestleMania.

With Triple H’s career on the line, this no holds barred match went on too long but it still had its entertaining moments. With a combined age of 99 years, these two did get after it, so give them credit for that. Batista hasn’t been in the ring for nearly five years, but he looked solid enough and took significant punishment. Those chain whips he took looked especially brutal and things got a little crazy with the pliers crushing his hand and then a little weird with Triple H ripping out Batista’s nose ring with needle-nose pliers . Hey, it’s pro wrestling.

The real winners of this match might have been the announce tables. We don’t know how many they were supposed to break but it took a while to get there. Batista slammed Triple H onto one with no break and then The Animal took a big backdrop onto the middle table, and that one didn’t budge either. Trips hit a big spear and they finally got one to break. Exhausting.

The sledgehammers (yes, plural) eventually made their way into the match and the ring steps found their way into the ring as well, all to be used as weapons. A few big bumps and a Ric Flair sighting later (handing Triple H one of the aforementioned sledgehammers to indirectly exact revenge for Batista beating him up on his 70th birthday), Triple H finally got the pin and his win over Batista.

What’s next: Nothing. This was a one-off. It’s doubtless that Triple H will have another match or two during the year but it won’t be against Batista, as The Animal has made it official that he’s now retired from pro wrestling.