WrestleMania 41: Has WWE Played Its Hand Wrong In Las Vegas?

Something feels off about the build to WrestleMania 41, and I’m here to figure out why. Some moments have been good, sure, but when it comes to WWE’s success in Las Vegas, good simply isn’t enough.

Jey Uso’s Lost Momentum

Jey Uso won the Royal Rumble by last eliminating John Cena, earning his spot at WrestleMania 41 to challenge Gunther. Despite that success, he’s been sidelined from the main event by Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena and the triple threat of Punk vs. Reigns vs. Rollins. This diminishes not only the importance of the World Heavyweight Championship but also the prestige of winning the Royal Rumble.

Some might argue this is justified. Jey Uso isn’t as big of a name, and the build with Gunther has been underwhelming. WWE dropped the ball with this feud, and bringing Jimmy Uso into the mix hasn’t done it any favors.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair

I don’t think Charlotte Flair winning the Women’s Rumble was the wrong choice, but the feud with Tiffany Stratton has failed to catch fire. Tiffany was far more comfortable as a heel and is still finding her footing as a babyface.

Facing Charlotte Flair, a natural heel, has only highlighted her weaknesses on the microphone. Out of her comfort zone and lacking the experience to match Flair’s presence, Tiffany often comes across as weak. They’ll likely have a strong match at WrestleMania 41, but the build will be quickly forgotten.

Women’s Championship Triple Threat Confusion

The triple threat between Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship is just bizarre. Where do I even begin? Rhea Ripley reclaimed her title from Liv Morgan after a long but solid rivalry, only to get distracted by Bianca Belair and lose it to Iyo Sky out of nowhere. It was completely out of character for Ripley, and WWE still hasn’t explained why.

Bianca Belair won the Elimination Chamber, but the real story was Jade Cargill’s return and Naomi revealing herself as the mystery attacker. Now, we’re left trying to figure out why Ripley is obsessing over Belair, why Belair’s story with Cargill and Naomi is on pause, and why Iyo Sky, the actual champion, is standing around demanding attention like a spoiled child.

It’s a mess. It almost feels like Iyo Sky shouldn’t have been part of this at all. WWE could have given Ripley a decisive WrestleMania showdown with Liv and Dominik’s involvement for maximum drama, while Belair focused on Cargill and Naomi. Instead, the title feels like an afterthought, and that’s why this match just isn’t working.

Punk vs. Reigns vs. Rollins: A Missed Opportunity?

CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins still has potential, but several factors have hurt it. Reigns took an extended break after the Royal Rumble, forcing the story to stall until his return. The most compelling aspect is the dynamic between Punk, Reigns, and Paul Heyman, which should have been the main focus. Unfortunately, Seth Rollins feels like a third wheel, dragging everything else down.

Imagine if this had simply been Punk vs. Reigns. That visual alone could have sold tickets. But for whatever reason, WWE decided Rollins had to be involved, just like last year with The Bloodline. The difference is, it made sense then. This time, it doesn’t. Rollins is only here because of his history with Reigns and Punk, with no further purpose. Everyone knows he’s there to take the pin so neither Punk nor Reigns has to look weak at WrestleMania 41.

And while WWE is billing this as a “main event,” what’s actually at stake? Does the winner get a future title shot? What is the point of this match?

Cena vs. Rhodes: Two Major Missteps

The reveal of Cena’s partnership with The Rock was a truly epic moment, and I’ve enjoyed what Cena has been doing since then. But there are two major missteps in this feud leading up to WrestleMania, one obvious and the other not so much.

Remember what John Cena did to Rhodes at the Elimination Chamber? He brutally assaulted him, and how did Cody respond? He smiled his way to the ring, got in Cena’s face, and told him that the real Cena better show up at WrestleMania or he would lose. Cody brushed off the attack like it was nothing. This has been the worst aspect of his title reign. He gets beaten within an inch of his life, and by the next week, he’s all smiles like it never happened. Imagine Stone Cold Steve Austin or The Undertaker reacting that way. Would they let those beatings slide? Hell no!

The more obvious misstep is the absence of The Rock. Not even a satellite appearance. He set this whole thing in motion, yet he isn’t around to emphasize how serious it is. Cena and Rhodes are doing what they can with the limited time left, but this story has always been about The Rock’s resentment. He hates Cody for interfering with his plans to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Cena wanting a respectful send-off on his retirement tour is admirable, but it pales in comparison to The Rock’s desire to crush Cody Rhodes’ spirit.

Conclusion

Much like other rivalries leading into WrestleMania 41, there is a lack of focus. Story elements are being left by the wayside, making the booking feel disjointed and incohesive. Unlike WrestleMania 40, where everything was clearly laid out, this year’s build has been unpredictable. While it has been fun to see the Road to WrestleMania take unexpected turns, the uncertainty has made it harder to sell those exorbitantly priced tickets.

It doesn’t feel anywhere near as grand and majestic as it could have been, and WWE likely won’t sell out in Vegas because it hasn’t gone all in with its hand. It feels like they rolled the dice and came up short, and you can’t do that in Vegas.

Do you think WWE has fallen short of expectations for this show? And is there still time to fix some of these builds before the weekend of April 19-20? Thanks for reading!

Also Read: Bray Wyatt’s Vision Is Pushing Wrestling To New Creative Heights

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