The All Mighty Era might just be getting started.
Bobby Lashley toppled Drew McIntyre to retain the WWE Championship at Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in the first match in front of the WWE Universe in more than a year.
Lashley quickly imposed his will in the titanic tussle behind a deliberate pace, but The Scottish Warrior dug deep into his repertoire to battle back, busting out some uncharacteristic mat wrestling including several armbars and kimuras to target Lashley’s left arm.
MVP intervened for the first time when he helped pull Lashley out of harm’s way — and a potential Claymore attempt — but both were downed by McIntyre’s jaw-dropping senton to the outside.
When the action returned to the ring, MVP played a decisive role. With his distraction disrupting McIntyre’s cadence before a Claymore attempt, Lashley had time to dodge his challenger’s feared attack.
Lashley then applied the Hurt Lock after several earlier failed attempts. Despite spirited attempts to escape, McIntyre had nowhere to go and was rendered unconscious, prompting a referee stoppage.
With the most devastating hold in sports-entertainment, The All Mighty WWE Champion denied McIntyre the moment he had anticipated for more than a year and became only the second Superstar in nine years to successfully defend the WWE Title on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
