Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

WWE: WrestleMania 33 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 20, 2017

Note: the analysis portions of this review were written live as WrestleMania aired on the WWE Network. Video, audio, and supplemental content reviews were written after viewing the Blu-ray upon its release.

WWE always seems to be billing its latest Pay-Per-View as the cream of the crop, the one to top them all, the most important in years, if not ever, and that particularly holds true for the company's flagship event, WrestleMania. The annual extravaganza, now in its 33rd year, is being billed as "The Ultimate Thrill Ride." "Best ever" or not is always up for debate, but "biggest ever" is certainly not out of the question. With an incredibly deep card, almost half of which could main event the night, and with nearly every title on the line from across both the RAW and SmackDown brands, there was no shortage of hardware up for grabs and superstars on display. Whether Lesnar-Goldberg, Owens-Jericho, Undertaker-Reigns, Orton-Wyatt, Triple H-Rollins, Styles-McMahon, or any of the night's impressive matches, even the evening's external razzle-dazzle -- all of the music, the sights, the sounds, even some of the surprises -- couldn't stop the train carrying what might be the most packed card in WWE history, so packed that even the Intercontinental Title match between Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin was moved to the pre-show and the über-popular New Day hosted rather than wrestled (and walked down the ramp in Final Fantasy cosplay). Could the event possibly live up to expectations?

Fear the...Viper.

33 began on a windy night with a chance of rain in Orlando, and this year's distinguishing feature was a massive second ring built high above the real ring, serving as, essentially, a wrestling-themed umbrella to protect against the wet Florida weather that, fortunately, never materialized. A super-long entrance ramp that only prolonged the intro music kept the event's pace slower than it needed to be. The night would begin with the two best matches of the evening featuring two of the WWE's top Superstars in AJ Styles and Kevin Owens facing off against the fan-favorite, risk-taking Shane McMahon and the veteran Chris Jericho, respectively. As the event progressed, matches seemed to get progressively shorter, and worse. The Hardy's surprise entry (and unsurprising victory) to the tag title match was one of the mid-event highlights, while Rollins-Triple H offered both enough offense and story intrigue to please. The title matches by-and-large disappointed in terms of quality and result, while the evening would end on a dour note for wrestling fans, seeing the end of a legend and another push for the man wrestling fans love to hate. The absence of Fin Balor and Samoa Joe was noticeable and held the event in check. Most of the outcomes proved predictable, and while the event was baseline entertaining, its best matches were soon a memory practically as distant as the area between backstage and the ring.

Below is a recap of each main show event, followed by a letter grade. Note that, as was the case with last year's WrestleMania Blu-ray release, the final match of the event can be found on disc two, so watching the program straight through, seamlessly as it was broadcast, is not possible.

AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon
With such a massive card, it's no surprise that the night kicked off with a bang and a matchup that could have -- and probably would have -- main event-ed any other Pay-Per-View. The phenomenal One, who was cheated out out of his earned Main Event appearance, and the SmackDown commissioner, who previously faced The Undertaker at 2016's Hell in a Cell and whom Styles blamed for losing his spot and retaliated against by shoving his head through a car window, delivered the expectedly high energy match. It featured plenty of blows, falls, spills out of the ring, counters, kick-outs, announce table destruction, a wounded ref, Styles rolling away from two of Shane's high-flying maneuvers, and some incredible ring post-to-ring post maneuvers involving a couple of garbage cans. The match had everything. Styles finally put down a battered Shane for the win. Grade: A+

United States Championship Match
Chris Jericho (Champion) vs. Kevin Owens
Once "best friends" and now sworn enemies after Kevin Owens blindsided his boyhood idol at the "Festival of Friendship," the match took shape quickly. Jericho locked in the walls early, setting a pace of high impact, high energy wrestling. Action frequently spilled outside of the ring, counters were commonplace, including Jericho countering out of his own finishing move. The match was terrific, unsurprisingly, with both leaving everything out in the Orlando twilight. In the end, it was Owens securing the title and, impressively for this early into his career, he has now held the US title, the Intercontinental title, and the Universal Championship. Grade: A

RAW Women's Championship Match
Bailey (Champion) vs. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax.
Charlotte formed an unlikely early alliance with rivals Sasha Banks and Bayley to take on the amazonian Nia Jax who dominated early despite the makeshift 3-on-1 handicap. Jax held her own for some time, rolling over all three women, but the trio ultimately proved too much for Jax to handle. Charlotte would eliminate Sasha to, unsurprisingly, set up a rematch of the previous Women's title. The women battled hard, with plenty of back-and-forth action. Charlotte would ultimately succumb to Bayley, marking her second PPV loss -- both to the "hugger" -- and keeping the title with the high-energy Bayley. Grade: B

RAW Tag Team Championship Ladder Match
Gallows & Anderson (Champions) vs. Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Enzo & Cass vs. Team Extreme
The match began with a surprise entrance from the Hardy Boyz, pioneers of the ladder match, making the match a fatal four-way, much to the delight and surprise of the WWE Universe. The match began in a frenzy, with punches and bodies flying inside the ring and out. For as much action as was in the match -- ladders crashing, bodies tumbling, arms reaching desperately for the prize -- it was unsurprisingly the last-minute entrants making the biggest splashes, including a leap off the top of a 20-foot-tall ladder to secure the opportunity to grab the titles. Grade: B+

Mixed Tag Team Match
John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Maryse
In the two months leading up to WrestleMania, real-life wedded couple The Miz and wife Maryse endlessly derided the WWE's power couple and star of Total Divas, real-life couple Cena and Bella, for what The Miz labeled a phony relationship, with Cena using Bella to expand his brand, culminating in Miz and Maryse playing make-believe in their own version of the reality television show. Things began in a cat-and-mouse style, with various tags and chases around the ring. Things eventually settled down with the men, each of whom has starred in the Marine franchise, taking center stage. The Miz dominated early, and frequently, but it was John and the future Mrs. Cena taking the match, which ended with the long-awaited in-ring proposal and one of the most unique moments in WrestleMania history. Unfortunately, the match proper was a wash. Grade: B-

Unsanctioned Match
Seth Rollins vs. Triple H
The long-awaited match between master and prodigy was oft delayed due to Rollins' various leg injuries. Rollins, who had previously appeared on RAW hobbled and on a crutch, unsurprisingly seemed completely healthy. The action almost immediately spilled into the crowd and onto the announce tables and would eventually see tables, chairs, and Triple H's trademark sledgehammer introduced. Rollins, fighting valiantly and often favoring his injured knee, would take plenty of abuse at the hands of the "Cerebral Assassin." The action would shift back and forth with several high-flying maneuvers and various near-falls along the way, as well as a great sequence in which each man countered a string of pedigree finishers. Ultimately, Triple H accidentally sent his own wife, Stephanie McMahon, through a table, opening up an avenue for Rollins to nail the pedigree for the win. Grade: A-

WWE Championship Match
Bray Wyatt (champion) vs. Randy Orton
Randy Orton, recently a member of the Wyatt family, stabbed The Eater of Worlds in the back after winning the Royal Rumble, declaring his unyielding faith and refusing to fight his master. But Orton would burn down Wyatt's compound and, with it, the mythical Sister Abigail, the "power behind Wyatt's throne," so to speak. The match would feature a unique projected image of maggots on the ring's surface early on, which was one of the only real highlights. The match seemed to play out in slow motion to a fairly uninvolved crowd. Randy Orton would hit the ubiquitous "RKO Outta Nowhere" to defeat Wyatt, whose title reign was cut far too short. Grade: C

Universal Championship Match
Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg (Champion)
Two part timers, legends of size and strength and wrestling greatness, but part-timers and, in Goldberg's case, a previously retired superstar who, in his brief time back, has humiliated "The Beast Incarnate" on several occasions with quick victories. The match began with furious intensity, with Lesnar hitting several Germans in quick succession and Goldberg responding with a number of spears, including a violent crash through the ringside barricade. But Goldberg's rally was short-lived. Lesnar again hit suplex after suplex to knock out the champ in relatively rapid fashion. It was a fast and relatively dull match despite its flurry of heavy hits and finishers, which is basically all either of these wrestlers bring to the table. WWE really needs to stop putting the belt on part-timers. Even Roman Reigns would be a better champ (author ducks); at least he shows up every week. Grade: C

SmackDown Women's Championship Match
Alexa Bliss (champion) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya vs. Mickie James vs. Carmella vs. Naomi
SmackDown's colorful Diva's roster was on full display, including Naomi's glow-in-the-dark entrance. The match would largely fizzle, with a few good moves but too many bodies and too little action to show for it. With the event already over four hours, it was a quick-draw victory for Naomi, who won by submission over champion Alexa Bliss. Grade: C-

No Holds Barred Match
Roman Reigns vs. The Undertaker (Disc Two)
The main event, as called by guest announcer Jim Ross, featured the man everyone wants to see against the man nobody wants to see, the phenom, the legend, the dead man against the man who may as well be dead to the WWE Universe. The match began to take shape back at Royal Rumble when Reigns eliminated The Undertaker from the match. In the meantime, the WWE allowed Reigns' growing rivalry with Braun Strowman to go practically nowhere in anticipation to his battle against the aging part-timer. The match seemed primed not to try to put Reigns over with the hardcore fan base but to cement his place as the most hated man in the industry. He unsurprisingly entered to another chorus of boos, Undertaker to cheers. The combatants traded blows, crashed through the German announce table when Roman speared the Undertaker through it, and Reigns hit several Superman punches. The Undertaker in turn nailed a Tombstone finisher, which Reigns kicked out of. Following a spear, The Undertaker countered the pinfall attempt and hit his Hell's Gate hold, which was not enough to take out the evening's antagonist. Reigns would recover to hit spear after spear and a Superman punch, wearing the Dead Man down until he could no longer kick out of a final spear and, with the Phenom leaving his gear in the ring, likely closing the final chapter of his illustrious saga. Grade: B

WWE: WrestleMania 33 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

WrestleMania 33's 1080i, 1.78:1-framed transfer suits the program nicely, and it's certainly a step up from the Network stream if only for stability. Colors are punchy as expected, offering a wide array of colorful ring attire, digital signage, crowd elements, and other bits scattered throughout the show. Details are largely sharp, showcasing skin textures, tattoos, and attire with expert definition, even at some distance and in quick action. Mild-to-moderate compression issues are largely reserved for distant background locations. Some aliasing is also present. The image is stable where it matters, both in sharpness and color reproduction. It's very typical of recent WWE "live" events; the quality satisfies even with its flaws.

WWE: WrestleMania 33 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

WrestleMania 33 arrives on Blu-ray with the WWE's usual Dolby Digital 5.1 sound offering. And it plays with the usual quality. Music is well spaced and clear, a bit varied based on the style and the way it filters through the open-air arena. It has a mild tinny-like texture to it, expected as it's being captured live rather than overlaid atop the program. Still, excellent spacing and solid general clarity are the norm, whether deep, bass-heavy beats like those heard during Styles' entrance or the more energetic sharp guitar riffs on Owens' intro. Crowd immersion is well defined. Cheers and boos and chants are heard clearly and filter nicely about the stage, though mostly up front. Various in-ring effects, like grunts and slams, are also well defined. Ringside commentary is clear and center-focused. It would be cool if, in the future, WWE included all of the various calls from around the world rather than only offering the basic English track; it's not like they should be hard to come by.

WWE: WrestleMania 33 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

WrestleMania 33's Blu-ray release contains bonus content on both Blu-ray discs. Oddly, and unfortunately, none of the pre-show matches (Neville vs. Austin Aries, The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and Dean Ambrose vs. Barron Corbin) are included.

Disc One Blu-ray Exclusive:

• The Miz & Maryse Mock "Total Bellas" (1.78:1, 1080i, DD 5.1, 6:34): Part of some of the funniest sketches the WWE has put on in some time, The Miz and Maryse dress up and pretend play as John Cena, Daniel Bryan, and the Bella twins.

Disc Two: Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (1.78:1, 1080i, DD 5.1, 3:41:29 total runtime)

• Meet the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame Class
• Diamond Dallas Page
• The Rock 'N' Roll Express
• "Ravishing" Rick Rude
• Beth Phoenix
• Eric LeGrand
• Teddy Long
• The 2017 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Inductees
• Kurt Angle

WWE: WrestleMania 33 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

WreslteMania 33 would go down in history as a middle-of-the-pack, enjoyable but forgettable entry were it not for that final match that will keep it in the minds and hearts of fans and certainly see it featured prominently in the history books. A controversial end to a beloved career is the takeaway here, but expect that retiree to show back up at WrestleMania for his Hall-of-Fame induction sooner rather than later. WWE Home Video's Blu-ray release of WrestleMania 33 offers typical video and audio qualities. The supplements, aside from the Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony, are skimpy, and the absence of the pre-show matches is disappointing. Recommend only to WWE Home Video collectors. Note that this release is also available in SteelBook packaging, exclusively at Best Buy.