MR. TITO: Assessing Each Match of Wrestlemania 41 and What Should or Cound Happen
A few weeks ago, I was worrying about Wrestlemania 41. The show just lacked the excitement to be a Wrestlemania-level show and ticket sales stalling out validated my opinion. I just wasn’t crazy about Jey Uso becoming a World Champion (though I realize he’s not meant for me and I respect his work since 2020), a triple threat between Rollins/Reigns/Punk as I hate muli-person matches and consider it LAZY BOOKING, do not want Charlotte attempt # 28472005837 at making her Women’s Champion, and babyface vs. babyface Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena just wasn’t doing it for me. On the very latter point, I didn’t like what I was seeing with the older babyface John Cena who was trying the same schtick.
Now, however, following the excellent 2025 edition of WWE Elimination Chamber, the John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes main event match of Night #2 just became infinitely more interesting and presents many wild possibilities. That angle has stirred up the wrestling world and has injected Pro Wrestling into pop culture deeply with the video and stills being heavily memed. Crazy to see top sports and news channels making a deal of it, and Cena’s heel turn with the Rock and screwing Cody being memed as if it was the meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy at the White House along with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
At the very least, the Main Event of Wrestlemania 41 has been SAVED and often, the Main Event drives the majority of big shows. The rest of the card could just fall into place or come in with lower exceptions with the Main Event having the highest of expectations. Thus, several surprises could happen.
What I want to do today is speak about the Wrestlemania 41 official/rumored matches in detailed, discuss where they could go, and analyze how effective the matches could or could not be. Some will call this a “fantasy” column, but I’m just providing my advice as a wrestling fan for the last 36 years and a wrestling columnist who has pumped out over 5,000 columns for the past 26 years. That, and I’m an experienced professional who has worked to market products and services for general consumption for the past 20 years. Yeah, I’m old with a lot of mileage to speak and analyze on such pro wrestling topics and strategies.
As far as I know, here is the current Wrestlemania 41 card:
– Triple Threat: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk
– Tiffany Stratton(c) vs. Charlotte Flair
– Iyo Sky(c) vs. Bianca Belair
– Gunther(c) vs. Jey Uso
– Cody Rhodes(c) vs. John Cena
Let’s break down, match by match.
Triple Threat: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk
It is my opinion that the WWE could do better with its 2 biggest box office draws, CM Punk and Roman Reigns. That is NOT to degrade Seth Rollins, as his hard work should be rewarded, particularly from last year’s Wrestlemania 40 (maybe that’s what this match truly is?). But Triple Threats and Fatal 4 Ways equate to LAZY BOOKING and completely wastes anyone involved in the match. Why? Because 3 is a crowd, and 4 people in a match with a single pinfall is too much. Particularly with the matches usually being 2 wrestlers in the ring while the other 1-2 wrestlers are literally napping outside of the ring. At the very least, let it be Rollins vs. (Punk/Roman) and let one of the wrestlers free to work another SINGLES match. But nooooo, we have to pack in the 2 biggest draws in this match and completely away from any World Title match or headlining Night #2.
Now that my thoughts are known on the STUPID IDEAS known as Triple Threats or Fatal 4 Ways, matches of which the World Champion can lose their title by not getting pinned… UGH!
Let me discuss this match… Very clear that Rollins has issues with both CM Punk and Roman Reigns, with his issues stemming for over a decade of heat with both guys through 2014. Meanwhile, there’s some dislike, too, between CM Punk and Roman Reigns dating back to that timeframe too along with competitive juices and jealousy with each other as peers and alpha males. It’s a pretty good triangle of hatred and competition…
BUT heading into Wrestlemania 41, Seth Rollins is the focal point with Rollins injuring Roman at Royal Rumble 2025 and Rollins costing Punk his victory at Elimination Chamber.
HOWEVER, I believe that Seth Rollins will play the “Joker” role in trying to induce CM Punk and Roman Reigns to fight and then feud instead. It’s like the Joker in The Dark Knight who was trying to induce Harvey Dent to turn into a villain while using Batman as his pawn. Then afterward, Seth Rollins could possibly steal a pin at Wrestlemania after Roman hits a spear on CM Punk instead of himself to help Seth win the match. Then, it’s CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns for the summer, assuming Reigns will actually appear during the summer time with him receiving 4 straight months off last year between April’s Wrestlemania and August’s SummerSlam.
Hanging in that balance is the “favor” that Paul Heyman still owes CM Punk for joining Roman’s Bloodline team at Survivor Series 2024. What could that favor be? I don’t know if that will eventually cause Heyman to turn on Roman Reigns or not, which again, Seth Rollins can be gleeful about because he helped plant the seeds of this all & out war between Roman and CM Punk at Wrestlemania 41.
That’s my expectation… Match will be portrayed as both Punk and Roman wanting a piece of Seth Rollins, but then Seth turns the tables and causes Punk and Roman to begin feuding instead.
*****
Tiffany Stratton(c) vs. Charlotte Flair
I’m just not hearing the reactions for Charlotte Flair unless they are massive boos, and not the “I want to hate this person” because they are a dastardly heel but the “I really hate this person or am tired of this person” kind of boos.
Charlotte Flair is totally over-exposed and by having her instantly win the Royal Rumble after a major reconstructive knee surgery is ridiculous. Shouldn’t there be some form of ring rust? Why does she get to move in front of the line of other superstars who have fought and clawed their way up the card in her absence?
What needs to happen is that Tiffany Stratton HUMBLES Charlotte Flair with a pretty convincing victory at Wrestlemania 41. Initially it appears that Charlotte can compete, but Tiffany is too strong and overwhelms Charlotte’s lighter and older frame Then, Tiffany takes over and completely dominates. Charlotte Flair should leave Wrestlemania 41 with her head held down and distraught over what just happened. And then begins a new character arc where Charlotte’s character becomes humble and begins to chase of trying to become her past great self but at an older age with various injuries and mileage piled up.
Another route WWE could take is making Charlotte Flair the “Corporate Champion” of the Rock. Rock’s “Corporation” or “Break a Wish Foundation”, whatever it will be called, will have Cena as the corporate male champion and Charlotte as the corporate female champion. That would work, as it’s a valid character change that is much needed for Charlotte Flair. That and it satisfies WWE desire to push Charlotte all of the time…
I think, though, that Charlotte needs to be rebuilt and revitalized from the ground up. She’s too entitled and honestly had it too easy because of her family lineage. That is NOT to say she isn’t deserving, as I’d argue she’s possibly the BEST in-ring female performer to grace this planet… But her characters are either poorly done, poorly motivated, or even done in bad taste. And her personal actions, which has caused some backstage issues (over Andrade, feuding with Becky, trying to leave WWE) are signs of her feeling entitled or invincible. With that sense of feeling, she’s lacked putting in the time to make her character improve its connections with the fans. Instead, they just groan when she receives yet another Women’s Title reign.
Female Randy Orton with 14 title reigns in 10 years. Title inflation at its worst, and often with Vince wanting to degrade a female opponent whom he was personally tired of as champion. “Just put it back on Charlotte” has been the tone of the women’s division for the past few years.
Let her get dominated at Wrestlemania 41 against Tiffany Stratton and then let her start from ground zero to re-climb that ladder to the top. THEN, she can regain the fans’ TRUST in her once again and a new character can be born and become champion again.
Tiffany Stratton is the real deal and having her job at Wrestlemania 41 for “business as usual” will hurt a young star this early in her career. A dominating clean win will make her blossom into an even bigger star. She’s talented enough to carry that title well and looks like a million bucks, too. She has the personality to draw as champion, which is the absolutely weakness of Charlotte whether she’s a heel or a face. Same personality for either character, as if she’s “above” wrestling in the ring or the fans. But often, Charlotte is the recipient of LAZY BOOKING where Creative just has zero patience with another female star and shoves the title back onto Charlotte.
*****
Iyo Sky(c) vs. Bianca Belair
After Bianca Belair won the Elimination Chamber match, I got excited because I thought “there’s no way WWE would blow a Bianca vs. Rhea Ripley match, right?”… And then after the match, we got to see Rhea and Bianca staring down each other… But then, Iyo Sky appears and I guess this was to prompt us to watch the Netflix RAW match on Monday. Surely, WWE wouldn’t fumble this match, right?
Well… Iyo Sky defeated Rhea to win the Women’s Title and she is now set to defend against Bianca. Huh? Sky vs. Belair makes no sense and has nothing of meaning behind it.
That said, Rhea vs. Bianca, when it happens, is something that might be worthy of headlining Night #1 of a Wrestlemania. Thus, I think WWE is pocketing that “dream match” for next year and that may be appropriate in terms of maximizing that specific match-up. OK, I’ll play along…
But Iyo Sky?!?!?
The internet marks, who grew up with Iyo Sky wrestling in NXT and have appreciated her moving to the WWE, are the ones rooting her on but I just don’t see the drawing power from her. She’s a great worker, yes, but can she cut a promo, is she charismatic, and is she connecting with all fans and not just the ones lusting over her since NXT? But I’m probably just “old man Tito” on her, but as a man who studies statistics, I’m not seeing her move merchandise, pumping up quarter hours, having highly viewed YouTube or Social Media posts, etc. She’s someone that Triple H personally trusts as a prospect that he signed and groomed to make the WWE roster.
BUT I just don’t see the value with her as Women’s Champion and defending against Bianca Belair. Oh, I’m sure it will be a decent match, but there’s no “sense of urgency” or heat between their characters. None whatsoever.
In my mind, a talent like Liv Morgan has way more to offer this match-up than Iyo. Did you not see Liv and Bianca mixing it up? If I were WWE, I’d seriously consider having Liv Morgan either replace Iyo Sky as Women’s Champion or have her weasel her way into that match-up. Yes, Triple Threat matches are LAZY BOOKING, but Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair won’t be interesting by itself and badly needs, quoting Jim Ross, a “straw that stirs the drink”. Liv is that straw and will put tons of heat on this match-up.
Now, where I’ll agree that Rhea Ripley could have been a weak champion is that maybe Liv Morgan is the perfect opponent for her and we may have unfortunately witnessed the PEAK of her efforts, as a character, against Liv. That’s a serious possibility, as Rhea looked a tad lost as Champion since taking that title from Liv. That, or Liv’s heel character was so good that any other opponent, at the moment, is weaker by comparison.
This Iyo vs. Bianca match-up needs help and I wouldn’t doubt that LAZY BOOKING will make it a Triple Threat by adding Rhea to the match or maybe add a fourth with someone like Liv Morgan. Because GOOD LORD, this match needs help or it will just be a midcard match on Wrestlemania and being a risk of a “piss break” moment too for the fans live in attendance.
Jade Cargill is also a straw that could stir the drink here, as I think that it won’t be revealed that Bianca attacked Jade or set it up but maybe a heel like Liv either arranged it or helped persuade Jade to attack Naomi at Elimination Chamber? Either way, I think we’ll see Jade getting involved at Wrestlemania with Bianca in the match. Thus, I don’t see Bianca winning the Women’s Title here.
*****
Gunther(c) vs. Jey Uso
Look, I’m not going to totally rip Jey Uso as others have. I VALUE his work since September 2020 and onward, as he owns a piece of credit for making the Bloodline become a major deal. Furthermore, he was the perfect sympathetic babyface at the time to give the early heel Roman Reigns character some much needed credibility inside the ring.
I cannot deny how over he is with younger fans and how much merchandise is pushing out the doors. I like facts and I cannot deny these facts.
To me, he’s Daniel Bryan but with better charisma while Bryan had better in-ring skills. Same character for the most part and has a catchphrase that sticks and is easy to chant loudly in unison. There’s much stronger value in the CHASE rather than being champion, as with Daniel Bryan and others like him such as Kofi Kingston, Miz, Damian Priest, Jack Swagger, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, and a host of others. Once they became champion, they lacked the ability to appear “larger than life” to draw as champion and be convincing looking to carry themselves as a top star or toughest wrestler in the company.
BUT, I also think that Gunther is a WEAK World Champion. Beyond being a tough in-ring worker, there’s nothing else to him. He’s not particularly drawing interest as World Champion and appears to be an afterthought as champion compared to Cody. At least when Seth Rollins was World Heavyweight Champion, he carried the World Title well and you knew the impact of him being champion. I kind of miss Intercontinental Champion Gunther, as he was much more meaningful and impactful with that title rather than the disappointing World Heavyweight Title reign.
I’d make this match Main Event of Night #1 and give the fans what they want… It’s their merchandise sales, big pops at the entrances, and other interactions that told the WWE to let Jey Uso win the 2025 Royal Rumble. Thus, give the fans give them what they want.
BUT, those same fans will have to apologize and admit “Mr. Tito was right” when he isn’t as impactful as a fan favorite as World Heavyweight Champion.
HOWEVER, what Jey Uso did for the WWE company since 2020 does deserve a “lifetime achievement” reward because he’s been a solid contributor to WWE’s growth and the Bloodline. From that standpoint, I totally understand him becoming at World Champion at least once.
And at least it gets the belt off of Gunther, who is at least equal to or possibly worse than Damian Priest as World Champion. There’s just nothing there and some re-evaluations need to be performed to see if it was Gunther, himself, that sucked as champion or if the WWE Creative Team/Triple H botched it.
After all, Jey Uso looks like a FOOL for winning the Rumble and deciding to challenge Gunther rather than Cody for the legitimate WWE World Title. Gee, what would I rather have? The WWE Title that has lineages to the early days of WWE and the entire run of WCW, or the made-up title out-of-thin-air from just a few years ago? And Cody beat Roman for that title, which means a whole lot more than Gunther defeating Priest. Come on, WWE, don’t ever do that again. Rumble winner goes on to fight for the REAL WWE Title.
*****
Cody Rhodes(c) vs. John Cena
Someone wrote this on Social Media the other day, so my apologies in advance for lifting this… But damn, Cody Rhodes has been a major recipient of GREAT booking luck since he rejoined the WWE during 2022. First and foremost, WHY is he even in the WWE? He was an Executive Vice President for AEW and yet those ABSOLUTE MORONS thought it would be a better idea for Cody Rhodes to be the TNT Champion rather than AEW World Champion. Blows my mind how STUPID that is by Tony Khan, even if EVP Cody refused it. President/CEO should say “tough sh**, you’re going to be our champion”. AEW frustrates me and WWE is laughing their way to the bank by stealing both Cody Rhodes and CM Punk from them.
Anyway, I gotta admit, Cody is a good WWE Champion who carries himself well and is deserving of being up there at the top. Great booking luck, yes, but other wrestlers have had great booking luck, too (see names mentioned above in the previous match preview). I’m very happy for him, though I wish that he had better opponents as champion as that makes me worry that he’s peaked. NOW, however, he has the ULTIMATE OPPONENT with heel John Cena.
AND, he’ll Cody should get 100% to deliver a receipt to amateur hour Travis Scott for that stupid punch that Elimination Chamber. Triple H needs to tighten up the bolts a bit on celebrity involvement, as they aren’t trained wrestlers. Period. If he punches Scott, which I hope happens at Wrestlemania 41, then he’ll become an even greater babyface with the fans.
But wow oh wow at John Cena… That was a MAJOR heel turn, even if it was arguably 10-12 years too late. It worked because Cody Rhodes is an effective babyface and he BOLDLY rejected the Rock’s overture. On the other hand, because John Cena has NOT been a heel for freakin’ 22 years (he turned face during 2003 when he began getting over with the rapper gimmick), he had credibility of not turning and being trusted by fans to behave inside the ring with Rock and Cody. Cena played it up well, cheering Cody on as he was interacting with the Rock. Perfectly played by a great professional and now a great actor named John Cena.
Then, he turned… Even though you felt an inkling that he might turn, because WHY was John Cena still in the ring? You still believed in a babyface of 22 years and you knew that his past relationship with the Rock was a bit frosty. Yeah, that’s right, that credibility is there, too… Cody has been a great babyface since 2022 and champion since 2024, the Rock and Cena have past heat personally and on-screen (clearly get along now, in real life), and John Cena was a babyface and was undeterred from that for 22 years. THAT makes a great HEEL turn because you TRUSTED in John Cena not to turn and hence why it hurt so bad.
The acting… Oh man, Cena went from joyous that Cody Rhodes turned down the Rock to a complete stone faced killer who violently attacked Cody. Loved that the Rolex watch fell off and Cena improvised to use it as knucks to punch into Cody. Attacking with the World Title was nice, too… And then the Rock cranking him with that leather belt.
But we need more… Speaking with my buddy Virtue from NoDQ, he makes a great point that John Cena interfered with the Rock’s attempts to interfere during Roman vs. Cody last year at Wrestlemania 40. So, what changed 1 year later? What are Cena’s motivations for turning heel?
With Hulk Hogan during 1996, you HEARD those motivations immediately after the heel turn. Hogan got on the mic and TORE into the fans like no other. Completely shredded and insulted them, hence why so much garbage was thrown into the ring. The fans were PISSED! Could you imagine that Hogan heel turn if Social Media existed back then? That turn went viral via word-of-mouth back then, but to see video of it replaying everywhere would have made WCW even bigger than it became. John Cena’s heel turn benefits because of the technological time that it occurred, along with the 22 years of trust with the fans as a babyface that would possibly NOT turn during his “retirement year”.
Isn’t that crazy? Cena launches his retirement tour and then sells out to the Rock on the same year. That sounds like somebody is just winging plans, but if planned, damn that’s impressive to create a shroud to completely fool fans.
However, I kind of don’t think that John Cena should win the WWE Title at Wrestlemania 41. There’s a way to “screw him” out of the title, but then let him defeat Cody 1 month later to milk a big match at Backlash or whatever the hell is next after Wrestlemania (nothing announced yet).
If I were the WWE, I’d hand Stone Cold Steve Austin a BIG check and have him save the day. Cody Rhodes and John Cena have a back & forth match, but then the Rock and Travis Scott get involved. Cody quickly disposes of Scott and hopefully with the biggest receipt ever to officially welcome that amateur to the wresting business. Then, however, Cody cannot overcome BOTH John Cena and the Rock.
And that’s when GLASS SHATTERS. Stone Cold comes down, the roof on that football arena blows off, and Austin comes down to neutralize the Rock and maybe even a KICK WHAM STUNNER (©Scott Keith) to John Cena. Cody retains the title and the fans are sent home happy. Then, at the next Pay Per View, Cody isn’t so lucky and a new shocking member of the Rock’s Corporation appears and helps John Cena become NEW WWE Champion. That’s #17 and the WWE-based World Title Record for John Cena to have.
Then, after that, maybe 1 more Cody match, but another Rock Corporation member is revealed… Cena and Rock’s group are growing in numbers, which pulls in babyfaces like CM Punk and Roman Reigns to begin feuding with them. Maybe the Solo Sikoa Bloodline with Jacob Fatu and the Haku brothers are the new members of this stable and hence it becomes more personal for Roman and begins to create that wedge with Rock and Roman Reigns to set-up Wrestlemania 42. That match needs to happen and more than 1 year from now, that’s the perfect place and Rock’s Corporation group are the perfect foils for Roman to chew up before getting the shot at the “final boss”.
What a ballsy decision by the WWE to turn John Cena heel. This has seriously turned my frown upside down for Wrestlemania 41.
What I need to see is the connective tissue of why John Cena chose to turn heel… He needs to cut a scathing promo where he indicates pushback from him ever getting a World Title shot and how sick he is of the fans. We need to hear indications of him LUSTING for that 17th title reign and that the Rock’s financial plan + Hollywood opportunities were the only ways to ensure that. He has to shred the fans and break their hearts even further… Then, brand new theme music, new tights, wearing expensive clothes during interview segments, and being completely smug like he reportedly can be, in real life, when he takes the character mask off that has been incredibly nice to fans.
Problem is that John Cena is filming on location in Africa for an upcoming movie. Oops.
But remember, we didn’t hear from Hogan until 2 weeks later on Nitro, but at the same time, we heard the scathing promo directly after he turned heel, too…
We need your reasons, John, to make your heel turn even better and to make Wrestlemania 41 even bigger.
Maybe have John Cena hanging out with Hulk Hogan…
Possibilities are endless and the Rock appearing in the WWE has made some serious major storylines happen for 2 straight years. Let’s make it 3 straight years to lead into Roman Reigns vs. the Rock, finally, at Wrestlemania 42.
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