WWE descended on Philly. Here are our favorite moments, from Jason Kelce to the return of The Rock to bonks South Street antics that could only happen here.
Jason Kelce celebrates in ring during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
Well, that was a weekend. WrestleMania came to Philly for the first time in 25 years and it did not disappoint. There were stars, a record-ending upset, Mummers, Snoop Dogg, and even Jason effing Kelce (because of course). The city responded in kind, going all-out-bonks with fans flooding everywhere from the Convention Center to South Street. Outdoor wrestling? Why not?! Here are the best moments from a very eventful WrestleMania 40.
Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson!
Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce surprising fans during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
Was this the biggest moment for WWE fans? Definitely not. But is it the moment that we at Philly Mag lost our collective minds about? One hundred percent.
Because, friends, on night one of WrestleMania, Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson returned to the Linc to rip shit up.
Donning luchador masks, they hopped into the ring to assist Rey Mysterio (in an Eagles-themed outfit) in his tag-team match against his own son, Dominik. Just as the younger Mysterio was about to hit his dad with a chair, the two Eagles emerged to help bring the advantage back to the elder Mysterio and his partner, Andrade.
Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce at WrestleMania 40 / Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
Kelce also wore a special WrestleMania shirt, designed by his brand Underdog, but that didn’t stay on for long. Johnson’s shirt shouted out Eagles security chief Big Dom DiSandro.
As the Inquirer reported, Kelce and Johnson, both big wrestling fans, trained at South Jersey’s Monster Factory with Bucks County-born pro-wrestler Luke DiSangro. I love everything about this story — give it a read.
Yet another in our stockpile of memorable Jason Kelce moments, confirming that despite retiring from the NFL, he’s not going anywhere.
The Rock Returns
The Rock at WrestleMania 40 / Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
The long-anticipated return of The Rock to WWE — his first match since 2016! — lived up to the hype. Night one saw him teaming up with superstar Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins.
The Rock at WrestleMania 40/ Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
Besides the star factor, this would end up setting the rules for Sunday night’s main event: a Reigns vs. Rhodes match for the universal heavyweight championship. “Bloodline Rules” would now be in place.
BLOODLINE. RULES.@TheRock just pinned @CodyRhodes at #WrestleMania XL and tomorrow night’s main event will be Bloodline Rules! pic.twitter.com/RbQPaGAUZF
— WWE (@WWE) April 7, 2024
(That advantage still didn’t end up helping Reigns, but more on that upset later.)
On night two, The Rock returned to help Reigns in his final showdown, but The Undertaker had other plans, delivering a chokeslam to turn the tides.
Rhea Ripley Defends Her Title
Rhea Ripley enters the ring during Night One of WrestleMania 40. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
Before the legendary Eagles-fueled tag-team match on night one, Rhea Ripley defeated Becky Lynch to retain her women’s world championship title.
And Scranton-based band Motionless in White accompanied her entrance!
Seth Rollins and the Mummers
Seth Rollins enters the ring with a Philadelphia Mummers string band during night two of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 7, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
Speaking of bands that hail from PA, night two saw Rollins roll into WrestleMania with Mummers from multiple string bands playing his entrance music. Rollins himself wore a Mummers-inspired outfit. He didn’t win his match, but he won the crowd’s hearts. Meanwhile, the WWE announcers attempted to understand and explain the Mummers to the national audience.
Swoop and Snoop (Dogg)
Snoop & Swoop! Snoop Dogg with the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders and Swoop announces the attendance record during night two of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 7th. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
On Sunday night, Eagles mascot Swoop arrived with the Eagles cheerleaders and … Snoop Dogg! What?! They were there to announce the attendance: 145,298 people over the two nights of WrestleMania, in case you were wondering. And they danced.
Snoop Dogg’s dance with the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders. This one knows. #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/YB8bnUfepS
— TopTrends90 (@TopTrends90) April 8, 2024
The New Day Channels Rocky
It’s a NEW DAY at #WrestleMania XL, yes it is! pic.twitter.com/1F1cKSSseX
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Of course, a Philly sports event on the national stage can’t go off without some kind of Rocky reference. Luckily, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of tag team The New Day came out on night one dressed as Rocky and Apollo Creed, checking that box off our bingo card. (We also spotted hundreds of wrestling fans lined up to take photos with the Rocky statue in front of the Art Museum on Sunday morning.)
Also, ladders.
The 6-Pack Ladder Match on night one of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
Cody Rhodes Defeats Roman Reigns, Ending His Epic … Reign
Cody Rhodes celebrates during night two of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
WrestleMania is always known for its unexpected twists and turns, shocking betrayals and dramatic endings and this year’s was no exception. Sunday night’s main event, the universal heavyweight championship, saw Roman Reigns face off against “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. Reigns had held the title for 1,316 days, and he’d have assists from The Bloodline, including The Rock.
Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
But Rhodes had John Cena …
ROCK. CENA.
WRESTLEMANIA. pic.twitter.com/3OHIA3wRWS— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2024
… and did we mention The Undertaker? We did, but let’s do that again.
Rhodes would end one the longest WWE reign (sorry) in the 21st century.
The Fans!
Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
Mania was on before the Linc even got started. The weekend saw all kinds of WrestleMania-adjacent events, from watch parties to WWE World at the Convention Center to WrestleCon.
Fans at WWE World and WrestleMania 40 / Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
Inside WrestleMania, fans brought the Philly vibes, with signs trashing everything from HitchBot to Santa.
best Philly sign at #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/SoaYnIX8c6
— Steve Braband (@stevebraband) April 7, 2024
Also, Wawa 4 Life. No arguments from me.
Outdoor Wrestling on South Street!
South Street’s Suplex Vintage Wrestling set up an outdoor ring in celebration of WrestleMania. / Photograph by Bradford Pearson
But the WrestleMania-adjacent event to rule them all was SuplexMania.
South Street’s vintage wrestling store Suplex took it outside with a block party featuring live wrestling in the street (plus pop-up shopping, a beer garden, food trucks, and more mayhem), and our features editor Bradford Pearson braved the crowds. He described it as “insane,” with dispatches like this sent over Teams:
South Street’s Suplex Vintage Wrestling set up outdoor ring in celebration of WrestleMania. / Photograph by Bradford Pearson
“It felt like the most diverse event I’ve ever been to in Philly, said Pearson. “People from all over the city and world, coming to South Street, to watch wrestling. There was a Black family next to us who came to watch the mom’s co-workers wrestle in a tag-team match, and then a father and son speaking German on the other side of us. It was just a really special day, one that I will actually never forget. And I don’t even watch wrestling!”
More Fireworks (and Some Literal Ones)
WrestleMania delivers a unique blend of athleticism, feats of strength, drama and star power, so let’s bask one last time and enjoy some more favorite moments.
Damian Priest reacts after winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. / Photograph by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
Triple H enters the ring during night one of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
Montez Ford in action against Akam and Rezar of Authors of Pain during night two of WrestleMania 40. / Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
The Rock, again! / Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
Photograph by WWE/Getty Images
Well done, Philly. We were on the national stage and we did not miss our moment.
WrestleMania 40 at the Linc / Photograph courtesy of the PHLCVB
Laura Swartz
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