After about 20 minutes of entrances which featured Batista tripping on the ropes as he entered the ring and Triple H on some Thunder Road ish, their street fight got nasty quick. The Evolution partners turned foes brawled to the outside quickly, where Big Dave threw Hunter over the announce desk right in front of their friend Shawn Michaels (who was on commentary). Shortly after that, Trips hit Batista with a tool box he found in the timekeeper’s area, then assaulted him with a steel chain. From there, it was the sadistic version of the Cerebral Assassin. Triple H produced several pairs of pliers, working over Batista’s fingers and then ripping his nose ring out! The Game was a little too pleased with himself after bloodying up his opponent’s face. Batista back dropped him onto the announcer table again, then whipped him into the barricade. Things continued at a slow but vicious looking pace (much as I love him, a problem which plagued the start of Dave’s last WWE run returned, as he looked out of breath from the jump), and eventually found its way back to the ring for traditional wrestling move and pinfall attempts which could have ended Triple H’s career. It looked like the end might come from the spot which Batista made famous during his initial run back in the aughts - the thumbs down powerbomb. But Triple H countered into a back drop onto a table that didn’t break. Then after a (Hall of Fame) D-X crotch chop, Hunter speared The Animal though an announce desk that did break. From there, Trips went for old faithful. But before he could swing the sledgehammer, Batista hit a spear. He couldn’t get a three count, but he did get the weapon away from The Game. And after a spinebuster and a Batista Bomb, it looked like that was a wrap for Hunter’s career. But he managed to kick out at 2.99, and the Animal was left looking for another solution. That was the steel steps, but that didn’t work out well for the Guardians of the Galaxy star. Hunter hit Batista with a spinebuster on the steps, and then a Pedigree. But Dave would not stay down, and the match continued. Batista returned the favor by spiking The Game onto the steps, but an old friend returned at that moment. The Animal attacked Ric Flair to get this whole thing started, and Naitch returned to make sure Triple H got the sledgehammer, and distracted his former friend to allow The Game to use it. A running hammer shot off the steps and a pedigree followed. Jokes about their edge and cardio are fine, but these guys beat the crap out of each other and told a good story - mostly because they love pro wrestling. Not a bad WrestleMania moment, if you ask me. Get complete WrestleMania 35 results and coverage of the entire card here.<doc-sep>Brock Lesnar lost his WWE Universal title to Seth Rollins on Sunday at WrestleMania 35. But does that mean he’ll soon be able to have a shot at a UFC heavyweight title? It sure seems like it. Lesnar’s return to the UFC has long been anticipated, ever since he ran into the Octagon after Daniel Cormier defeated Stipe Miocic last summer for the heavyweight title. Cormier has long been a WWE fan and would love nothing more than to fight Lesnar for the UFC heavyweight belt. He tweeted after Lesnar’s loss on Sunday: “Ha, Brock got beat up.” And fans loved it. Lesnar hasn’t fought in the Octagon since UFC 200 in 2016, a fight he won against Mark Hunt but later had it turned in to a no-contest due to a failed drug test. Now it seems like he could make the jump back to the UFC, as even his manager, Paul Heyman, said during WrestleMania that Lesnar is “getting on a jet to Las Vegas, where my client is ultimately appreciated.” Vegas, of course, is the home of the UFC. Also, notice how he used the word “ultiamtely”? Nicely done. Heyman: We're getting our business done. And we're getting on a jet to Las Vegas, where my client is ultimately appreciated. So let's get this nonsense over with. We're doing it right here, right now.#WrestleMania — Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) April 8, 2019 Brock Lesnar loses the WWE Universal title at #WresteMania35 – does that clear the way for his return to the UFC to face Daniel Cormier? We will probably know more soon but this definitely gives Lesnar a clearer path to another fight in the UFC. — Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) April 7, 2019 Brock Lesnar loses the WWE Universal title to Seth Rollins at #wrestlemania. Lesnar has been tied to a UFC heavyweight title fight vs. Daniel Cormier. Perhaps that has a greater chance of happening now. Have a feeling Lesnar will wrestle on WWE’s Saudi Arabia show first though. — Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) April 7, 2019 ‼️Brock Lesnar could returning to the UFC after his loss at #Wrestlemania35 🗣️Earlier rumours suggested the UFC were looking to book Daniel Cormier and Brock Lesnar in August 👀Looks like there could be truth to those rumours. pic.twitter.com/zA9YARFmis — fightsketch (@fightsketch) April 7, 2019 this will be a day long remembered, it has seen the end of #brocklesnar from #WWE it will soon see the end of lesnar in #UFC. — Afi Keita James (@uniqueshaqfan) April 7, 2019 Thank god #brocklesnar's career is over, now it's time for my boy #danielcormier to finally finish you off in UFC. — Afi Keita James (@uniqueshaqfan) April 7, 2019 Seth Rollins lived up to the BEAST SLAYER name and just defeated Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. Question is: How soon before Brock's off to the UFC? #Wrestlemania35 pic.twitter.com/TaMuH1lXZd — Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 7, 2019 Knew that was happening, Brock Lesnar is going back to UFC, Brock V DC in August #WresteMania35 — Joe (@Joey54HD) April 7, 2019 Brock Lesnar must be returning to UFC — Abraham MUFC 442 🌺 (@AttaAbraham) April 7, 2019<doc-sep>WWE.com With Wrestlemania 35 bringing us endless hype and excitement, there was bound to be some bittersweet moments in the celebration of WWE's past, its present, and its future. The pinnacle of these moments came when, after a fight between Batista and Triple H, the Guardians of the Galaxy star revealed this would be his last match, announcing his official wrestling retirement via Twitter. The man retired in style, having an all-out No Holds Barred bout involving chains, pliers, and more steel stairs than some wrestlers face in their entire careers. While the match was not an official careers match, Batista has spoken for some time about his wish to return to the WWE ring for one final round, and so - in true Animal fashion - it's clear he intended to go all out for it. Advertisement Complete with some classic sledgehammers, the match memorialised the skill and talent Batista grew to fame for, making for a fitting tribute to his career. While Kurt Angle's retirement may have overshadowed this match for many, it's undeniable that Batista's serves as an example of the best way a wrestler can retire.<doc-sep>
The first bout of WrestleMania to begin the festivities has always been considered among the most significant because it sets the tone for the rest of the evening for the biggest event of the year. The opening match of WrestleMania 35 inside MetLife Stadium on Sunday set quite the tone we won't forget for years to come as Seth Rollins stunned Brock Lesnar to make good on his promise of slaying the beast and capturing the universal championship. WrestleMania 35 results, highlights Prior to the bout kicking off WrestleMania on Sunday, Paul Heyman -- Lesnar's on-screen advocate -- came to the ring and proclaimed that if his client couldn't be in the actual main event to close the show, then they may as well get business over with early so Lesnar can head back to Las Vegas where "he is ultimately appreciated." Lesnar pounced on Rollins before the challenger could even enter the ring, obliterating him continuously on the outside. The bell did eventually ring to officially start the universal title match, and Lesnar was able to inflict some more damage by taking Rollins to Suplex City. With the referee incapacitated, though, Rollins gained the advantage with a low blow to the champion. Following up with three devastating Curb Stomps, Rollins did what many deemed as the impossible by earning the 1-2-3 to claim the universal championship -- again, as he promised. The clean loss here on the WrestleMania 35 stage marks just the second defeat for Lesnar since the stunning Survivor Series squash at the hands of Goldberg in November 2016. The other man to hold a victory over Lesnar since that time is, of course, Roman Reigns, who beat Lesnar at SummerSlam 2018 to also win the universal title. Rollins is the first WWE superstar below 250 pounds to beat Lesnar via pinfall or submission since Eddie Guerrero in 2004. With Lesnar dropping the title to open WrestleMania, the attention now turns to his future. With rumors swirling of late that the "Beast Incarnate" is headed back to UFC for a showdown with reigning heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier this August, the door is now much more open for Lesnar to head back to the MMA ranks in an attempt to reclaim the UFC heavyweight championship that he was held as one of the biggest draws the promotion has ever seen. Check out our audio instant analysis of WrestleMania 35 from the State of Combat with Brian Campbell podcast below. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get podcasts.