Sami Zayn delivered two of the match’s most spectacular moments. First, he launched himself through a ladder onto the pile of superstars at ringside, wiping everyone out . Not satisfied, he followed with a tornado DDT through the ropes onto Kevin Owens on the floor . Both spots drew huge reactions from the Dallas crowd.
When Zayn tried to climb the ladder, Sin Cara pulled him off. Zayn pushed the ladder, sending Sin Cara flying—but Cara turned it into a springboard moonsault onto the other competitors on the floor, another incredible athletic display .
The Superkick Party
Dolph Ziggler caught fire, delivering superkicks to Zayn at ringside, Miz in the ring, and Sin Cara in succession . He climbed the ladder, but Owens cut him off. In a brilliant moment, Ziggler and Owens simultaneously connected with superkicks, knocking each other down .
Stardust’s Tribute
Stardust brought out a special ladder decorated in black and yellow polka dots—a heartfelt tribute to his late father, the legendary Dusty Rhodes . The crowd responded with a loud “Dusty” chant as Stardust cleared house on Ryder, Ziggler, Sin Cara, and Zayn . The Miz cut him off with a Skull Crushing Finale onto the polka-dot ladder .
Owens Dominates
Kevin Owens delivered a massive frog splash onto Sami Zayn, who was lying prone on a ladder—a move that looked incredibly painful for both men . He followed with a Pop-Up Powerbomb on The Miz .
Zack Ryder climbed and delivered an elbow drop off the top of the ladder onto Miz—a move he called the “El-Bro Drop” .
The Final Sequence
As the match entered its climax, Ziggler and Ryder fought at the top of the ladder. Ziggler pulled Ryder off with a facebuster but immediately favored his injured knee . He limped up the ladder on one leg, but Owens grabbed him and delivered another Pop-Up Powerbomb .
Stardust hit his twisting neckbreaker on Owens but was kicked onto a ladder propped between the apron and barricade . Sin Cara climbed the main ladder, but Owens tipped it over—and Sin Cara turned his fall into a flying splash onto Stardust, bending the other ladder in half .
Owens and Zayn—the two rivals who started the match—found themselves alone at the top of the ladder, trading forearms and punches . Zayn dropped Owens face-first off the ladder, but Owens poked him in the eye. Zayn fell, but when Owens reached for the title, Zayn pulled him down and delivered an overhead suplex onto a ladder on the mat .
With the ring cleared, Zayn climbed. He was at the top, reaching for the title, when The Miz pushed the ladder over, sending Zayn crashing through the ropes to the outside .
Miz climbed slowly, grabbed the title, and began gloating, savoring his moment . He took too long.
🏆 The Shocking Conclusion
From out of nowhere, Zack Ryder—who had been forgotten at ringside—jumped up, shoved The Miz off the ladder, and grabbed the Intercontinental Championship for himself .
The AT&T Stadium erupted. Zack Ryder, the Long Island native who had spent years toiling in the undercard, who had been relegated to YouTube shows and jobber status, was the new Intercontinental Champion at WrestleMania .
After the match, Ryder’s father climbed into the ring and embraced his son in an emotional, unscripted moment. Ryder climbed back up the ladder, holding the title high as “WOO WOO WOO” chants filled the 100,000-seat stadium .
📊 Match Grade and Legacy
⭐ Aftermath and Significance
Zack Ryder’s victory stands as one of the biggest upset wins in WrestleMania history . For a performer who had spent years fighting for screen time, who had built his own fanbase through internet videos when WWE wouldn’t push him, this was the ultimate validation.
Unfortunately, the feel-good moment was short-lived. Ryder lost the Intercontinental Championship the very next night on Raw to The Miz, ending his reign at less than 24 hours . Critics and fans alike lamented the decision, but for one glorious night at WrestleMania 32, Zack Ryder was champion—and nobody could take that moment away from him.
The match itself succeeded in its primary goal: opening the five-hour extravaganza with non-stop excitement and leaving the massive Dallas crowd buzzing . It featured spectacular spots, heartfelt tributes, and a genuinely unpredictable finish—everything a great ladder match should be.