The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy is headed to The Hardy Compound, and “Woken” Matt Hardy has Bray Wyatt of all people to thank for it.

In the first match of the WrestleMania 34 Kickoff, at the site of the very first Andre Battle Royal — the sold-out Mercedes-Benz Superdome — the Woken Superstar procured the prestigious prize by eliminating former trophy winner Baron Corbin to claim The Show of Shows’ annual over-the-top-rope fray.

With dozens of Raw and SmackDown Superstars eying the vaunted trophy, the victory was anything but easy. As soon as the opening bell rang, the field of competitors burst into action. Aiden English had the unenviable distinction of being the first man eliminated, a rough way to mark this particular Rusev Day. Dolph Ziggler doggedly avoided elimination at every turn, skinning the cat more than a fellmonger.

Golden Truth reunited briefly before Goldust double-crossed R-Truth and sent him flying (a feat that The Bizarre One topped off with a celebratory dab). As the pack continued to thin, Zack Ryder signaled for a Broski Boot on Ziggler but was cut off by a brutal pounce from another past Andre Battle Royal victor, Mojo Rawley, resulting in the elimination of his onetime Hype Bro teammate.

Eventually, the Battle Royal dwindled down to Hardy, Corbin and Rawley. Corbin and Rawley forged an unlikely alliance and put boots to Hardy. But just when things looked bleakest for The Woken One, Wyatt appeared seemingly out of thin air, marking his first time back in the ring since before Hardy defeated him in The Ultimate Deletion.

To the astonishment of everyone, especially Hardy, Wyatt’s arrival was a blessing in disguise. The New Face of Fear helped Hardy eliminate Mojo, but was almost immediately met by an End of Days from Corbin. With his attention diverted, Corbin stumbled into a waiting Hardy, who backdropped The Lone Wolf onto the floor for the win.

“Woken” Matt thanked Wyatt (as did the WWE Universe, with chants of “Thank you, Wyatt”), and the two twisted forces embraced.

With his challenge to The Undertaker still unanswered, John Cena sat among the WWE Universe with a stunned expression on his face. His reaction said it all. A new and confounding alliance has arrived in WWE.

Credit: WWE.com

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