WWE WrestleMania Night 1 Thoughts: The Main Event alone had some bold choices

WrestleMania 41 Night 1 is in the books and you can say that the Main Event alone had some bold choices. Love it or hate it, it was not something that alot of people saw coming as it didn’t make sense when you first saw it.

But once you dig deep and chew on it, it is some brilliant storytelling that adds new layers to everything.

If you haven’t read yet or too busy with Easter, Seth Rollins defeated CM Punk and Roman Reigns in the main event. After Paul Heyman betrayed Punk with a low blow and helping Roman bash him with a steel chair, Heyman than did the unthinkable.

As Roman was ready to hit Rollins in the back with a chair, Heyman delivered a low blow to his “Tribal Chief”.

Anybody who saw this scenario play out is lying as everyone had either Punk winning or Reigns winning. Rollins became the third wheel in this whole scenario by default in the eyes of the fans.

But Heyman turning on both men and aligning with Rollins allows a variety of things to play out.

It gives Rollins some new life in a heel turn that a lot of people have wanted for a while. At his peak, Rollins is a great villain from the Shield, champion for the Authority, and the Visionary. He understands how to be devious, vicious, persuasive and charismatic.

Meanwhile the Heyman betrayal to both men is perfect as it tears at the human connection between all parties. Heyman was the uncle who always looked out for him, believed in him and was there when Punk needed guidance or just a friendly ear. Punk has talked about how he has viewed Heyman as his guardian angel who stood by him when others told him to “fire him”.

Roman was the guy who “brought back” Heyman after Lesnar left and has the family ties with Heyman. For the last 4 years, Heyman and Reigns have been inseparable. Its helped elevate Roman to the level he is at now so seeing Heyman turn on him just adds fuel to that fire.

And Paul Heyman’s facial reactions and delivery were gold.

Its why no matter what you think about pro wrestling needing to be about “real wrestling”, when you have drama and tension and guys who know how to tell a personal story, the action is secondary.

But enough with my rambling as its time to get to some thoughts from Night 1 and this weekend.

WWE BUYS AAA:

We will have to wait to see who has the full power because the ink hasn’t dried yet on the contract but good for all parties for making this happen.

Its been well known that WWE has tried to tap into the Latino market for decades ever since Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio were doing great things back in early 2000’s.

And while only Rey has truly broken out since then, under Paul Levesque we have seen a bigger push with guys like Dominik Mysterio, Penta, Rey Fenix, Santos Escobar and Stephanie Vaquer.

Meanwhile AAA has been the flagship bearer for Lucha Libre but the last few years have fallen on tough times. From COVID restrictions to the failed partnership with AEW to just the economy, the company wasn’t what it was at its height.

What this does is allow WWE to send talent down to Mexico that either needs live crowd training or can be draws because of the name value. The roster is brimming with over 225 members and growing and there is simply not enough room for all parties.

It allows AAA to get access to bigger stars than they had before while also using TKO as a conduit to get on the global TV market. Look at what TKO has done for TNA for proof of how that company can open up doors and help with popularity. Imagine of Rey Mysterio is allowed to wrestle next year at TripleMania as part of his “Retirement Tour”.

CHRIS BEY WALKS OUT TO THE CROW AT TNA UNBREAKABLE.

In a world and even industry where tribalism exists, wrestling divide is great and people can’t agree on anything I feel confident with this statement.

Mr. Tito, myself, Aaron Rift and even TKW were all elated when Chris Bey walked out to the crowd on his own and got to soak in the moment.

Ever since his accident last year at the TNA tapings in Detroit, the wrestling community rallied around him in support. He suffered a broken neck and was paralyzed from the waist down and doctors gave him only a 10-20 percent chance of walking.

Forget about wrestling, just imagine not being able to walk anywhere or go to the bathroom without help.

Imagine just not being able to go to the fridge and crab a snack without a wheelchair or assistance.

Listening to his interview at the TNA PLE brought chills as he talked about how there were moments he went to a dark place. We talk about how wrestling is “fake” and how the moves are scripted and choreographed to where nobody gets hurt.

The truth is that this “industry” puts your body in a car crash and just one miscalculation can lead to possible death or being crippled.

Bey was open about how he was scared about his future but also embarrassed about not being able to finish the match. Its statements like that that should make us appreciate what these men and women go through to do what they do.

Bey then thanked TNA, Detroit Medical Staff, Rehab PT and OT staff, wrestlers, family and others for being there to help him. His friendship with Ace Austin has transformed from more than just a friend but as family without blood ties.

During Easter today, everyone should watch that interview with Bey and tell yourself that even with life being what it is… there are still times when we as people can come together to help people in need.

WWE HALL OF FAME FEATURES LEX LUGER WALKING.

Let it be known that Diamond Dallas Page deserves to be considered a saint because what he has done for a lot of people is remarkable.

Ever since launching his DDP Yoga, Page has helped save wrestlers from addiction, health issues to even just mentally being there for him. We have seen it with Jake Roberts, Scott Hall, Chris Jericho, DDP, Big Bill and Buff Bagwell either physically and/or mentally. Page genuinely cares about helping people out and being someone who uses positivity to help accomplish this.

At the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2025, Lex Luger was able to walk to the podium and stand while he gave his induction speech.

Two years ago you would have thought that was impossible as Luger was wheelchair bound by a spinal infarction that caused temporary paralysis at one point.

Luger has alot of issues and his past has caused him at one point to be a pariah. Just look back at his relationship with Miss Elizabeth and her untimely death due to drugs and you can understand. And for anyone saying that we shouldn’t forget that, your right and its a longer discussion that can be had another day.

But the Hall of Fame ceremony was more than just Luger but also about DDP making a difference and trying to better peoples lives.

It’s another example of a guy being unselfish during selfish times and like the Bey moment, something to cherish and give us hope.

Mickie James’s WWE LFG statement on “Cheeks hanging out”

I like Mickie James as she is someone who has done everything in her power to help women’s wrestling and by all accounts is a wonderful woman.

I understand and respect her position as she wants wrestlers to be taken seriously, not be objectified and to not resort to a bygone era. And she is right in that stance and 100% agree with her.

I also understand that sex sells, curves are money and as tennis great Andre Agassi once said “Image is everything.”

Its not just pro wrestling but sports, Hollywood, Music Industry and even politics to an extent that looks and sex appeal matter. Look at all the big action movie stars and tell me one ugly or dumpy person. Or notice how in every music video, that you still have women flaunting their assets.

WWE has a 60% male audience that at the end of the day want to see a woman who turns them on. Its also why WWE female wrestlers make more money than a vast of their female athlete contemporaries.
Sex sells and curves matter.

Mickie gets it and right now she is trying to have the best of both worlds which is simply not possible. You can’t reinvent the wheel and you can’t change the fact that the curves helped make you a much bigger deal than you might have been if you didn’t dress like that.

Again, I respect Mickie for what she has accomplished and what she has overcome and understand her reasoning. But the fact is that this is the equivalent of complaining about a way of wrestling that has made a lot of people a ton of money.

CHELSEA GREEN AND STREET PROFITS BEING LEFT OFF MANIA

For all the fans chanting unfair and that WWE is dropping the ball, here is my argument with you; who do you take off the card then?

WWE right now has an embarrassment of riches on the card and way too many stars and mouths to feed. Again this roster is at 120 combines between RAW and Smackdown so unfortunately people are bound to be left off the card.

Regarding Chelsea, the problem is that you can’t argue for her over any of the current wrestlers on the Mania card heading into Friday. Its unfortunate but when you look at all the matches that don’t involve titles, there still wasn’t room for Chelsea to be added.

The problem fans don’t want to address is that for Chelsea or Street Profits to rise, WWE is going to either be forced do two things.

Options 1) Add a fourth show during the week which doesn’t seem to be feasible logistically or financially right now.

Option 2) Make hard cuts to the roster that will get people upset. I am not talking releasing people who are fringe players or NXT kids but established veterans and stars who take up TV time.

Wrestlers like Bayley, Sami Zayn, Naomi, Finn Balor or LA Knight who command TV time because their characters are popular. Wrestlers who have passionate fanbases that fans also want on TV.

There isn’t a perfect or ideal scenario that is realistic and unfortunately, this is part of life. As a fan of the Street Profits I am hoping that this year finally allows them to become the stars that they could have been earlier.

The trick is to find room which as both Chelsea and the Profits can attest to, easier said than done..

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