WrestleMania Sunday was a whirlwind of title changes that reshaped the WWE terrain. Notable victories included Cody Rhodes and Bayley claiming championship wins as Royal Rumble winners. Drew McIntyre’s triumph over Seth “Freakin” Rollins marked the end of Rollins’ extensive reign, a moment celebrated with McIntyre’s wife at ringside.
However, McIntyre’s joy was short-lived as a confrontation with CM Punk led to Damian Priest rushing into the ring. In a stunning turn of events, Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract, swiftly pinning McIntyre in just 9 seconds to seize the World Heavyweight Championship. Dr. Chris Featherstone revealed that this decision was made on short notice.
Dr. Chris Featherstone’s insider report revealed backstage deliberations leading to Damian Priest’s coronation as the new champion, signaling a fresh era in WWE. WWE officials explored various ideas before settling on Priest’s cash-in at WrestleMania, demonstrating the fluidity of creative decisions in the wrestling world.
WrestleMania 40 and WWE Fans (Via WWE/Twitter)
Damian Priest’s successful cash-in marked only the second instance of a WWE Superstar seizing the opportunity on The Grandest Stage of Them All. The 41-year-old not only claimed the championship but also revitalized the Money in the Bank briefcase, previously mishandled by past holders like Otis, Austin Theory, and Baron Corbin.
During WrestleMania XL, Damian Priest suffered a setback by losing the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship in a six-pack ladder match on Saturday. The event saw the belts split, with Austin Theory and Grayson Waller securing the SmackDown title, and The Awesome Truth winning the RAW belts.
Despite facing disrespect from The Judgment Day, veteran R-Truth found redemption at WrestleMania, relishing a victorious moment and a comedic highlight at the Slammys post-show. Priest’s opportune cash-in against McIntyre solidified his position as the deserving champion, setting the stage for future challenges from formidable contenders like McIntyre, Rollins, CM Punk, and Bronson Reed, the winner of the 2024 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
