WWE WrestleMania 41 PLE Results: 4-19-25
(3) NAOMI vs. JADE CARGILL
Naomi charged at Jade Cargill to begin the match. Cargill dropped her immediately with a Spinebuster. She punched Naomi into the northwest corner, then tossed her across the ring. Naomi stumbled to the opposing corner. Jade wasted no time closing the gap, driving her shoulder into Naomi’s mid-section. The referee broke it up quickly. Naomi used the opportunity to slide to the outside. Cargill followed, tossing Naomi violently against the ringside barrier. Jade rolled back in the ring to break the count. Naomi leapt onto the apron and caught Cargill with a thumb to the eye. She pulled Jade through the ropes and gave her a Facebuster onto the floor.
“This is a top level superstar who is about to smash Jade Cargill,” Wade said of Naomi. She continued to slam Jade off the ring and ring steps. “I do this for fun!’ she told the crowd. Naomi returned her opponent to the ring and slammed her into the mat with her thighs for a cover and two count just before 3:30. The crowd seemed restless. Naomi kneed Jade in the face, then gave her a standing leg drop for a cover and another two count. McAfee noted that Naomi had been able to maintain total control since Cargill’s initial offense. Naomi cut out Jade’s leg at the back of the knee, then hit the ropes. Cargill sprang to life, delivering a tilt-a-whirl Backbreaker. Jade shook out her leg, then challenged Naomi to attack. He dropped her with a couple of quick clotheslines, then a splash in the corner.
After catching Cargill with a boot, Naomi hoisted herself to the middle rope and dove at her opponent. Cargill picked her out of the air, spun her vertically and slammed her. Jade followed up with a bicycle boot. Naomi hooked herself along the bottom rope, ensuring a break when Cargill tried to attack. Naomi went to the middle rope again, looking for another cross body. Jade caught her a second time and transitioned into a Fallaway Slam. Cargill stepped on Naomi en route to the middle rope. She took too long and Naomi recovered to meet her. She executed a wheelbarrow bulldog off the top rope, followed by a big split-legged Moonsault for a leg hook and near fall at 7:40.
Naomi caught Cargill with a Superkick to follow up. She covered for another two count, then immediately transitioned into a Rings of Saturn submission. Cargill struggled initially, but powered to her feet with the hold still locked in. She shook Naomi off. Naomi went for a spin kick, but Jade ducked. She hoisted Naomi into an Electric Chair, then spun her around into a crunching Powerbomb. She immediately followed up with Jaded for a cover and three count.
WINNER: Jade Cargill in 9:22
(This was certainly one of Cargill’s best matches to date. Naomi was incredibly motivated and impressive here, busting out some fresh offense and creating tons of movement for Jade. Cargill continues to impress physically, and is finally showing some improvement in the nuts and bolts composition of the match, but there was still some of that usual nervous energy present – you can almost see her working through her spots as they come. I think the ceiling for Jade is decidedly lower than I used to think, but there’s still something there. This, to me, was exactly what it needed to be.)
(4) LA KNIGHT (c) vs. JACOB FATU – WWE United States Championship match
Jacob Fatu stared blankly across the ring at LA Knight as the bell rang. Fatu threw a quick punch, but Knight ducked it and backed his opponent into the southwest corner. They traded punches until the referee broke them up. Knight whipped Fatu to the opposing corner, charged, and dropped him with a quick neckbreaker. As Fatu tried to stand, Knight went for the B.F.T., but Jacob just shrugged him off. Knight’s eyes grew wide. Fatu just stared at him and snarled. He gave Knight a huge pop-up Samoan Drop, then a flying back elbow.
Cole talked about Fatu’s history in prison and his commitment to bettering his life through combat sport. Fatu gave Knight a headbutt, then a legdrop and covered him for a two count. Barrett said the frenzied energy that LA Knight brought with him has all been subdued by the Samoan Werewolf. Fatu shot Knight off the ropes, but the U.S. Champion fought back with a dropkick to the knee. He sent Jacob careening to the outside, in front of the announce desks. Knight dove through the middle rope, legs first for another kick. Fatu crumbled against the desks, but recovered quickly. Back in the ring, Knight tried to catch his challenger with a dive off the middle rope, but Fatu caught him and gave him a belly-to-belly Suplex.
Fatu tried to follow up with a running Senton splash, but Knight got his knees up. Fatu shook it off and looked for another Pop-up Samoan Drop. Knight countered and delivered a Crucifix Driver. Both men struggled to stand as the match crossed 5:00. Fatu charged, but Knight sidestepped the overzealous challenger and downed him in the corner. He stomped a mud-hole, then hit a running knee. Knight followed up with a leaping clothesline and a leaping elbow off the middle rope for a cover and near fall. Fatu fought to his feet and kicked Knight in the gut. He tried to ascend the southwest corner, but the champion cut him off. Knight tried to hook Jacob on the top rope. He was thwarted initially, but was able to catch him with a release German Suplex off the top on the second attempt.
Knight looked for the B.F.T. again, but Fatu threw him away. He kicked Knight into the corner and delivered three consecutive running hip checks in the corner. He followed up with a Swanton Bomb and cover for a near fall at 8:15. A small “Fatu” broke out. Barrett said Fatu should’ve had Knight, but, “the megastar grows into the brightest of spotlights.” Fatu controlled the pace with short headbutts. He leapt to the top rope, looking for a Moonsault. Knight popped up at the last moment and caught him with a B.F.T. out of nowhere. Knight hooked the leg, but Fatu grabbed the bottom rope at the last moment.
The champion began climbing the northwest turnbuckles, trying to capitalize. Fatu rose to meet him. He kicked Knight in the ribs, then threw his body haphazardly in a Senton-like move, further impacting Knight’s ribs. He threw Knight to the mat, then hit two consecutive Moonsaults off the top rope for a cover and three count.
WINNER: Jacob Fatu in 10:38 to win the WWE United States Championship
(Really good match. Fatu is undeniable. He possesses so much charisma and so many star-like qualities, and it stood out tonight on the biggest stage. Knight brought his A-game. These two definitely benefited from working together so frequently in recent months – there was an obvious chemistry and confidence in their demeanor. I would’ve loved to see this one get an extra few minutes, but they made the absolute most of what they had. Fatu’s reign as U.S. Champion has a chance to be a lot of fun.)
