WrestleMania 41: Underwhelmed But Still Hopeful

by

In just a short while, we’ll be witnessing the two consecutive nights of WrestleMania 41. To be candid, my anticipation for the “Granddaddy of Them All” isn’t as high as usual due to the rather subdued build-up. However, I’m still eager to devote a significant portion of Easter weekend to cheering in front of the TV, indulging in excessive snacks, and enjoying some monumental WWE matches that have been recently featured. Despite this, I can’t help but feel that this year’s “WrestleMania Road” has been somewhat unexciting, if I may be frank.

I’m not raising an alarm just yet, given there are still lots of reasons to look forward to the upcoming two-night wrestling spectacular. For one, it will be CM Punk’s first time in a WrestleMania main event, which is quite exciting. Also, this is John Cena’s last WrestleMania before he retires, and that alone is worth watching. Moreover, the supporting matches have some potential standouts that could end up stealing the show.

Outside Of The Two Main Event Matches, This Year’s WrestleMania Build Has Been Lackluster

It’s exciting to note that the standout confrontations on the WrestleMania 41 schedule include Night 1’s triple threat match featuring CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins; followed by Night 2’s Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes battling it out with John Cena. These intense rivalries are particularly thrilling given their status as major attractions for the event. It was unimaginable to me that CM Punk would lead the headliner and that John Cena, after years, would adopt a heel role – events I previously thought unlikely. However, these developments have indeed come to pass, adding fuel to my anticipation for the show.

The main matches in the championship card lack appeal for several reasons, and here’s why: Tiffany Stratton versus Charlotte Flair’s Women’s Championship bout has been uneasy at best and terrible at worst to watch; the tension between Gunther and Jey Uso seems to have faded somewhat; and the triple threat match for the Women’s World Championship has not helped anyone, which is unfortunate. At this point, these matches would struggle to captivate audiences during a lesser WWE premium live event.

Some Of The Mid-Card Title Matches Have Me Extremely Optimistic, Though

Despite some lackluster performances in the Women’s World Championship, WWE Women’s Championship, and World Heavyweight Championship matches, I must admit that I’m quite hopeful about this year’s card, particularly the mid-card title matches. As of now, there’s no official word on the Women’s United States Championship or Women’s Intercontinental Title, but I genuinely think Chelsea Green should be a part of Mania for these titles. The two men’s belts in contention have me really excited about the event.

Initially, a match between Jacob Fatu and US Champion LA Knight could be an unforgettable spectacle due to Fatu’s impressive mix of strength, agility, and captivating charm. It seems this encounter might serve as a significant breakthrough for the Bloodline member and second-generation starlet. However, it’s essential to note that there’s no disrespect intended towards Knight in this assessment.

In this match, Bron Breakker is set to keep his Intercontinental Championship against Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor from Judgment Day, and the widely admired Penta. Given its unpredictability, the outcome could be anyone’s guess, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.

Plus, Jade Cargill And Naomi’s Singles Match Is Historic, And Could Steal The Show

Approximately a few months following an attack that sidelined Jade Cargill, it emerged that Naomi, her friend and WrestleMania 40 collaborator, was the culprit behind the incident. Presently, these two friends are embroiled in WWE’s most intense feud, one that could potentially outshine all others on either April 19 or 20 (the date of their match has yet to be disclosed). With Naomi showcasing exceptional wrestling abilities and Jade boasting an impressive physique and charisma, they possess the potential to demonstrate their worthiness for a title opportunity, and this could be the night they achieve new levels of success.

This upcoming wrestling match is particularly significant because for the first time ever at WrestleMania, two women will compete in a traditional one-on-one singles match without any specific stipulations attached. Previously, Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle had a one-on-one encounter at WM 22 in 2006, but that was classified as a “Playboy Pillow Fight.” Despite the delay in this milestone, it’s exciting to finally witness such high-profile talent showcased in this way.

WWE Has Done A Great Job Of Pulling It Together In Recent Years. Take WrestleMania 40 As An Example

40th WrestleMania, known for the absurdity of its main event as numerous individuals, even mothers, assisted Cody Rhodes in completing his narrative by defeating Roman Reigns, boasted an impressive build-up for its two headlining matches. While Sami Zayn’s rivalry with Gunther leading up to Philadelphia and the approach to Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins had their merits, the overall excitement outside of the Bloodline storyline was relatively low. However, it culminated in one of the greatest WrestleManias of all time.

I’ve been thinking that WWE has a knack for transforming shows with little hype into all-time greats, like WrestleMania 31 back in 2015, which is now regarded as one of the best WWE events from the past two decades. That’s why I’m trying not to fret too much about this year’s lackluster buildup. However, if things take a turn for the worse next weekend, I’d be more than happy to discuss it with you!

There’s No Way This Year Can Be Any Worse Than Some Of Those 2010s Manias, Right?

WWE started off the 2010s with a bang at Mania 26 where The Undertaker outmatched Shawn Michaels in a “Career vs. Streak” match, and there were several impressive shows over the decade such as WM 30 and 31, but sadly, not all events were winners. In fact, it seemed like there were more disappointments than successes due to Mania 32, 33, and 34. However, even though the 2019 event was fantastic, Mania 35 could have excelled by cutting short four or five matches instead.

Essentially, while there’s a bit of apprehension about WrestleMania 41 given its underwhelming lead-up, it’s unlikely to be as disappointing as some past events. With our strong track record in the 2020s (ignoring COVID-19 for the sake of this discussion), I’m optimistic that this positive trend will persist, even with the slower build-up.

The 41st edition of WrestleMania will be held in Las Vegas on both the 19th and 20th of April. Similar to other forthcoming WWE events, you can catch it by subscribing to Peacock.

Read More

2025-04-10 21:07