WrestleMania 41 is finally here. The card has 13 matches in a span of two nights, which should result in some darn good wrestling over the weekend. Let’s quickly get started with the first match.
Triple-threat match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs CM Punk
This match is a tricky one. I can see both Punk and Reigns winning. The former because I do think that we’ll get Cena vs. Punk one more time before Mr. Hustle, Loyalty, Respect retires.
The same thing can be said about Reigns. Seth Rollins is the least likely winner here, but at the same time, I can see how it’ll benefit him in the long term. WWE has been building two feuds with Rollins for a good while. The former WWE Champion has been acting a bit heelish lately and there could be a point where Rollins’ hatred for both men may have him do something so despicable that it ultimately turns him heel and gets him the victory.
Oh crap, I just talked myself into Rollins winning. I also expect Roman/Punk to branch out to a singles feud following WrestleMania 41. That would mean either Punk or Roman would have to win, especially with this favor involving Paul Heyman. Will it tear Paul and Roman’s partnership? I can see Punk doing things to cause a break-up such as forcing Heyman to hit Roman with a chair, or something of that nature.
I don’t know. This is perhaps the hardest match to predict on this card. I like the idea of Seth being so desperate to win that he’ll go against his morals to do so. But I feel Seth’s purpose is to take the pin. That’s it. Add in the notion that Punk reminded everyone that Seth and Roman have never beaten him without Dean Ambrose (aka Jon Moxley) then I feel there is one winner that will move the next chapter forward.
Winner: Roman Reigns
World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso
If this was January then I would’ve said Jey Uso. But the build to Gunther vs. Jey Uso hasn’t really done the latter much favors. Sure, the last three weeks have been great and maybe that matters, but Jey just doesn’t feel ready for a world title run. It also feels too soon for Gunther to drop the belt. Plus, there’s still big money matches with CM Punk or even Roman Reigns!
But given the story told, if Jey loses then it’ll be hard for fans to re-invest in him winning his first world title. He already lost to Gunther at Saturday’s Night Main Event. He’s been scared of the WWE World Heavyweight Champion throughout most of the build. He essentially looked like a wimp when paired against Gunther.
I think WWE is going to have that feel good moment for one world title match. And I think it’s obvious which heel is winning between the two big championship matches.
Winner: Jey Uso
WWE Women's Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
What a mess. But hopefully that mess turns into an incredible match. Nevertheless, I can see Charlotte winning the title here. WWE was tone deaf when it came to giving Flair her second Rumble win and thinking she would be cheered massively.
Plus, Tiffany has struggled somewhat as a babyface. She’s had some good weeks, but the build has highlighted how green she is. And that’s not her fault. It’s WWE’s odd booking of this feud and I’m not talking about the moments Flair and Stratton went off script.
Tiffany needs the win more as beating Flair clean establishes her as a top level act. Plus, there can be a good story of “The Queen” being knocked off her throne. Charlotte’s reaction to losing can create some interesting character development. There’s more upside with Tiffany retaining. Charlotte will always have great matches and she does belong in the upper card. But she doesn’t need the belt to be featured in high profile matches.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
World Tag Team Championship: War Raiders (c) vs. The New Day
It sucks that WWE hasn’t really capitalized off the incredible heat Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston received when they turned on Big E, but these two are the most interesting thing in the tag division right now. There’s fun stories you can tell with The New Day as champs. I like the War Raiders, but it would be genuinely shocking if they retained their belts here.
Winner: The New Day
United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
This has to be Jacob Fatu’s big moment. The guy is a star. WWE sees it. The fans see it. Hopefully, he’ll be able to elevate the United States title because this belt has been treated poorly since Austin Theory won it, and that isn’t on any of the champions. Realistically, I don’t know where Knight goes from here. The main event is busy right now, so I don’t see him winning either world title anytime soon. Knight’s journey after WrestleMania 41 will be interesting.
Winner: Jacob Fatu
Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano
I like Chad Gable El Grande Americano and Rey Mysterio are on the card. I don’t care for the silly way this match came about, but if these two are given a solid 10 - 15 minutes then this could easily be a sleeper match of the weekend. The Americano gimmick isn’t meant to be long term or serious, so I’m going with The WWE Hall of Famer here. Hopefully, next year, WWE writes Mysterio a serious and long term program as the guy deserves something more high profile than this. So does Chad Gable. It’s a shame they never went back to that Gunther program as it had so much potential to be more.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
Honestly, this is probably the best built feud for WrestleMania. I’m excited to see what these two can do. Naomi can go so I’m not concerned about her. Jade Cargill can as go well. I watched her entire run in AEW and though the green did show from time to time, she has several really good matches under her AEW run. Hopefully, that’s the case here.
As for the match, this seems to be a spotlight moment for Cargill, though Naomi has done such a wonderful job as a heel that there’s some question on whether she’ll get some type of cheap win, especially since Cargill is no longer undefeated. I can see this feud going past WrestleMania, but it’s important that Cargill wins her first huge WrestleMana match. I like to think that WWE knows this as well.
Winner: Jade Cargill
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena
John Cena has to win, right? WWE technically set up several matches already (Randy Orton and CM Punk called him out); Plus, the dynamic with heel John Cena makes the title scene fresh again. Hopefully, a lot of the younger talent gets sprinkled in Cena’s title reign. If he does win, of course.
Now it is possible for Cody to retain. Surprisingly, he hasn't had his rematch with Reigns yet. He’s also destined for a feud with Randy Orton. I do think it’s best that Cody drops the belt because he’s in the danger zone of being a stale character. Cena just turned heel, so it’s doubtful that Cody will do the same. More likely, Cody will win back the championship around Survivor Series. The feud has been far from perfect. In fact, it really peaked at Elimination Chamber, but John Cena has done a great job with his promos.
The booking of this match should be interesting, especially since Cena can’t rely on his usual babyface tactics in his matches these days.
Winner: John Cena
Triple Threat match for the WWE Women's World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair
What an odd build. Rhea Ripley randomly turned heel as she’s been completely unlikeable throughout this story. And Iyo Sky has been disrespected and made to feel like a transitional champion. Given the story, Iyo has to win. She’s looked the worst coming in since both Rhea and Bianca don’t take her seriously. Rhea doesn’t particularly need the belt. But Bianca Belair has the undefeated streak and they did mention it on the recent video package.
This bout does scream a Bianca Belair win, but it’s a triple threat match and Rhea Ripley can take the pin here. I guess we’re going into wishful thinking territory as Iyo needs the win more than Belair and Rhea. She should be considered a top star in the same vein as those two, and a clean win here would solidify that. Sky wins, though I wouldn’t bet my house on that.
Winner: Iyo Sky
Women's Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriquez. This was a last minute match with the challengers being a completely random team that didn’t exist four weeks ago. This should be a fun match, but it would be shocking if the titles change hands here.
Winner: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez
Fatal 4-Way match for the Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta vs. Finn Bálor
I assume Breakker will finally move up into the main event scene if he drops the belt. Even if it isn’t immediately, it feels that his time as the Intercontinental Champion is coming to a close. Penta is here as a showcase. It’s possible that he wins, but Dom and Balor have the story.
Given that Finn has been frustrated with Prison Dom in the past month (or 2 years, however long this Judgment Day break-up tease has gone), the next chapter should be that Dominick wins. It wouldn’t be a surprise if that’s because of Liv Morgan.
Or, maybe Liv and Finn have been secretly hooking up. Remember, Finn did take the hotel key back when this whole Liv/Dom relationship was brewing. That could be a fun twist, but that would also mean that Dominick would become a babyface. That intrigues me. He really hasn’t done much since the Rhea story wrapped up, so maybe it’s time. The potential of a dom heel IC title run can be fun if done correctly, but WWE’s mid-card has been less than stellar in recent months. Still, I imagine the company has no plans on turning Dom face soon.
Winner: Dominick Mysterio
Sin City Street Fight: Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre
The story has seen Damian Priest get the upper hand on McIntyre since WrestleMania 40. I don't know where either man will go from here. John Cena vs. Damian Priest would be the likely direction if Cena wins. But Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes would also be the next direction if the third generation star wins. Cena/McIntyre is a strong possiblity too. They wouldn't even need to change much of Drew's character. I wouldn’t be surprised if heel shenanigans happen here, and though I think Cena is winning, this feels like Drew’s night after his tremendous 2024.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul
I don’t know where Logan Paul goes from here. There’s no way that a Paul vs. Cena match will happen. But a world title match against Jey is a strong possibility. But so is AJ Styles vs. John Cena, and I loved their matches in 2016. Paul needs the win more as he’s lacked momentum since losing the U.S. title to Knight at Summerslam. Styles can always get his win back at a later date. Though I wouldn’t be upset if I was wrong here.
Winner: Logan Paul