IYO SKY, Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair’s WrestleMania match has received high praise from fans and critics.
Opening night 2 of WrestleMania 41, SKY put her Women’s World Championship on the line against Ripley and Belair in a triple threat match. While the use of the multi-person match and convoluted storytelling became an issue for some fans heading into the show, the match overdelivered when all was said and done.
The 14 and a half minute bout was all action with the champion and challengers hitting big moves throughout. Additionally, many were surprised by the result as underdog IYO SKY pinned favourite Belair to retain the title when she was originally presented as the afterthought heading into the match.
The match was many fans’ pick for the match of the weekend, including Dave Meltzer. Reviewing the show in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer awarded the match 5*. Not only was this the highest rating across WrestleMania weekend and NXT Stand & Deliver, but this was also the first time that Meltzer has awarded a women’s match in WWE the 5* accolade. Meltzer described the match as “fast paced, great heat, creative and technically excellent.”
Meltzer was particularly complimentary of SKY in the match, describing her as “the best bell-to-bell wrestler in the WWE.”
IYO SKY Continues Reign As Women’s World Champion
When Belair won the Elimination Chamber back in March, many assumed that the Mania match would be then-Women’s Champion Ripley taking on The EST. However, on the next episode of Raw, SKY shocked the fans by pinning Ripley following a distraction from Belair at ringside.