AFTER two nights of “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” fans — this columnist included — were left not with satisfaction, but with suspicion. We scoured the aftermath, sifting through the spectacle in search of logic, clarity, answers. What we got were cliffhangers and question marks, as well as head-scratchers and head-turners.
Don’t misunderstand me. WrestleMania 41 wasn’t a disaster. In fact, on several occasions, it flirted with greatness. But as the follow-up to the cinematic, emotionally charged masterpiece that was WrestleMania 40, this year’s show simply couldn’t recapture that same lightning in a bottle.
Yet, there were flashes of brilliance — easy-to-spot five-star contenders. Night 1’s Triple Threat main event was a masterclass in storytelling and synergy among Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins. Three names, one ring, and infinite drama. Their chemistry was so electric that it could’ve powered Allegiant Stadium for the entire weekend. The crowd was unglued, the stakes felt biblical, and then came the swerve.
Paul Heyman — the wise man, the architect, the serpent in the garden —stabbed not one, but two of his former apostles in the back, aligning with Rollins in a move as shocking as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin shaking hands with devil himself, Mr. McMahon, at WrestleMania X-Seven. This time, it was “The Messiah” forming an unholy trinity with Heyman.
Night 2 answered with another Triple Threat masterpiece, this time in the Women’s division. Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley tore the house down, a battle of three titans where Japan’s “Genius of the Sky” soared once more, leaving with her Women’s World Title intact and her stock even higher.
There were highlights sprinkled throughout: Dominik Mysterio seizing the Intercontinental Championship in a banger of a bout with Bron Breakker, Finn Balor, and Penta, Jacob Fatu finally getting his coronation as United States Champion against LA Knight, and Drew McIntyre’s no-holds-barred war with Damian Priest.
But for every high, there was a low. Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Title win over Gunther didn’t land the emotional punch it aimed for. Tiffany Stratton’s clash with Charlotte Flair felt like a missed opportunity. And Logan Paul versus AJ Styles? A marquee match that didn’t quite justify its billing.
One of the most baffling booking decisions was having Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez — a tag team firing on all cylinders — drop the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to Lyra Valkyria and the returning Becky Lynch. The kicker? Bayley was pulled from the match without explanation. The locker room’s iron woman unceremoniously written off — and we still don’t know why.
Then there was the main event of Night 2 — the match that should’ve brought it all home. Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
On paper, this was the passing of the torch. The retiring hero versus the ascending icon. The match was solid — no doubt about that — but something was missing. Someone was missing. Where was The Rock? After all the build, the teases, the promise of confrontation? Absent. Instead, we got Travis Scott, opening the door for Cena to deck Rhodes with the title and walk away as champion to kickstart his farewell tour.
Look, I get it. We all crave resolution. WrestleMania is supposed to pay off the year-long drama. But sometimes, it’s about planting seeds, not just picking fruit. Triple H has proven time and again he plays the long game. He’s not just booking matches — he’s crafting sagas.
So maybe that’s what this was. A tease. A test. A tangle of emotions and expectations meant to keep us glued to our screens week after week. In 2025, that’s a masterstroke.
After all, who saw that RKO from Randy Orton to Joe Hendry coming? TNA’s golden boy getting flattened in WWE’s ring? That’s not just crossover — that’s chaos. And in today’s world of sports entertainment, chaos sells.
So buckle up. The story isn’t over. It’s only just beginning.
(For comments or questions, reach the author at nissi.icasiano@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nissi.icasiano.)
