WWE: WrestleMania 35 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

WWE: WrestleMania 35 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 23, 2019

WrestleMania is WWE's annual extravaganza and, these days, the only event that's big enough for the company to bother putting out on Blu-ray. WWE has long since abandoned the high definition format; its last non-WrestleMania Blu-ray release dates all the way back to 2017's Fight Owens Fight. The company's home video releases still thrive on DVD, what with its undoubtedly cheaper production costs, a wider buyer base, and lower price points at the point of sale. There's also the whole WWE Network factor in play, another point of reference for the company's likely and eventual (though hopefully not immediate) transition to all-digital. Still, WWE has crafted a well-rounded Blu-ray that splits the program across two discs but does leave the WWE Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony, heretofore a staple on disc two, to the digital realm.

This was the first WrestleMania headlined by a women's match; the Triple Threat Match between Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch closed the evening, a very long evening that clocked in at well over seven full hours, from the first pre-show bout to Lynch raising the belts. That's a lot of wrestling and probably too much pomp and circumstance getting in the way of the action's flow. As with most 'Mania events, there were highlights and lowlights, moments that got huge crowd reactions and some that fell flat. The show did begin with a bang, pitting "The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar against Seth Rollins, followed immediately by two of the best in the business, AJ Styles and Randy Orton, in what might be the night's best technical and purely enjoyable match. The night also featured a fun matchup between Shane McMahon and The Miz, a match putting Triple H's in-ring career on the line, Kurt Angle's farewell match, and a WWE championship match featuring Daniel Bryan against Kofi Kingston, the latter finally raising a well-deserved WWE Championship belt.

The following matches comprise WrestleMania 35:

Disc One:

• Universal Championship Match: Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins.
• WrestleMania Match: AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton.
• Fatal 4-Way Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The Usos vs. The Bar vs. Rusev & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black.
• Falls Count Anywhere Match: The Miz vs. Shane McMahon.
• Fatal 4-Way Match for the Women's Tag Team Championship: Bailey & Sasha Banks vs. Natalya & Beth Phoenix vs. The The IIconics vs. Nia Jax & Tamina.
• WWE Championship Match: "The New" Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston.
• United States Championship Match: Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio.
• WrestleMania Match: Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre.
• No Holds Barred Match: If Triple H Loses, He Must Retire from In-Ring Competition: Triple H vs. Batista.
• Kurt Angle's Farewell Match: Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin.

Disc Two:

• Intercontinental Championship Match: Bobby Lashley vs. "The Demon" Finn Balor.
• Triple Threat Match for the RAW & SmackDown Women's Championship: Winner Take All: Ronda Rousey. vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch.

WWE: WrestleMania 35 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

WrestleMania 35's 1080i, 1.78:1-framed Blu-ray presentation is of typical WWE BD quality. The home video version's benefits are greater stability over the streaming version, particularly compared to when it was streamed live (and especially for those with slower Internet connections). Compression artifacts appear in some quantity but are often unobtrusive, hovering in backgrounds away from the action. Wrestling action enjoys quality details, showcasing wrestler sweat beads, some blood, pores, costume textures, and the mat itself all with impressive complexity and clarity. Colors are bold across a wide spectrum which includes digital signage around the arena, hand-made signs in the crowds, and wrestler attire and tattoos. Skin tones appear neutral and black levels up into the darker portions of the crowd are fine. The image handles the material well; fans are going to get exactly what they would expect.

WWE: WrestleMania 35 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

WrestleMania 35's Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack lacks prominent intensity but handles core duties well enough. Ringside commentary is the most prominent element. Clarity is fine and placement remains grounded in the center. In-ring mic talk is likewise detailed, while sounds of action -- grunts, slams on the mat, referee orders -- come through clearly, particularly when the crowd doesn't seem to be into the match, such as during the Reigns-McIntyre clash. Intro music is appropriately aggressive but doesn't really fill the stage with the dominant intensity and total immersion as is the case when attending live. The track is very front-heavy overall and handles core duties well enough but isn't particularly interesting.

WWE: WrestleMania 35 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

WrestleMania 35 contains an ample supply of bonus content on disc two (which also houses part of the event). Extras are broken down into "Special Features" and "Blu-ray Exclusives," the former of which includes all of the pre-show matches. The RAW episode does not fit into either category and receives its own menu tab. The bundled digital code includes the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. A Topps trading card is included loose in the case (depicting Ronda Rousey). This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

Special Features:

• WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match (1080i, 12:06): Buddy Murphy vs. Tony Nese. From the WrestleMania kickoff show.
• The 2019 WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal (1080i, 14:22): 17 women battle it out in the ring. From the WrestleMania kickoff show.
• RAW Tag Team Championship Match (1080i, 16:18): The Revival vs. Curt Hawkins & Zach Ryder. From the WrestleMania kickoff show.
• The 2019 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (1080i, 14:11): 30 men battle it out in the ring. From the WrestleMania kickoff show.

Monday Night RAW (1080i, 2:05:43 total runtime): Includes the following chapter stops from the April 8, 2019 show:

• Winner Take All?
• RAW Tag Team Championship Match: Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder vs. The Revival.
• Baron Corbin Celebrates His WrestleMania Victory
• Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss
• "The Man" Meets "The Lady"
• Seth Rollins Warns Kofi Kingston to Bring His "A-Game"
• Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. Bobby Roode & Chad Gable
• No One Will Interrupt Elias Tonight
• Dean Ambrose's Last Match in WWE: Dean Ambrose vs. Bobby Lashley.
• Where Has Mojo Rawley Been?
• Intercontinental Championship Match: Finn Balor vs. Samy Zayn.
• Dana Brooke Is Ready to Seize the Moment
• Elias Warns That Next Person Who Interrupts Him Is a "Dead Man"
• Winner Take All Match: Kofi Kingston vs. Seth Rollins.
• Kofi Kingston & Seth Rollins vs. The Bar

Blu-ray Exclusives:

• Dean Ambrose's Farewell Address (1080i, 10:58): From Monday Night RAW -- April 8, 2019.

WWE: WrestleMania 35 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

1080i video and lossy audio are the norm for the practically defunct WWE Blu-ray landscape, and the rare release that is WrestleMania 35 maintains the A/V status quo. It's a basic release insofar as that it recreates the event, including the pre-show matches and all of the various interludes, including a Snickers commercial. The event was fine and mostly fun. It was terribly overlong and is spread across two discs as a result. The disc-based version is really only for those who want a hard copy and don't have the WWE Network, which is where the future for this company, anyway, is headed, if it is not practically already there.