Wrestlemania 41 is now in the books. This year’s edition of the immortals took place in “Sin City,” at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada with over 124,000 in attendance.
The event was filled with first-evers like El Grande Americano, Penta and Rey Fénix all debuting at Wrestlemania. It was also CM Punk’s first ever main event at Wrestlemania of his career, a dream come true for the 46-year old. But with all these firsts, there was one last final performance: John Cena’s last Wrestlemania.
Wrestlemania 41 was filled with unforgettable moments, but missed the mark in other places. Let’s grade each match out of ten avocados before rating the entire card.
Night 1 started with seven matches and kicking off the show we were yeeting our souls out for “Main Event” Jey Uso vs.the World Heavyweight Champion, “The Ring General” Gunther.
World Heavyweight Championship: Jey Uso def. Gunther (c)
Every time Jey Uso’s theme song hits, one can’t help themselves but “yeet.” However, fans were understandably frustrated with the booking of this storyline as Jey defeated Gunther a week before winning the Royal Rumble.
In addition, the story they were trying to tell wasn’t interesting. With that being said, Gunther’s destruction of Jey’s twin brother, Jimmy Uso, on that episode of Raw was enticing.
The match itself was just decent and it felt more like a Raw Main Event than a Wrestlemania opener. The ending wasn’t great either. They made the Ring General tap out to his own finisher. To make things worse Gunther tapped out before Jey had the sleeper-hold locked in.
Verdict: 4/10 avocados
El Grande Americano def. Rey Fénix
This event was originally meant to be Rey Mysterio versus El Grande Americano. Mysterio was replaced by the freshly debuted Rey Fénix after Mysterio injured himself the night before on SmackDown. Despite this Fénix’s inexperience within WWE, he displayed great chemistry with El Grande Americano.
Rey’s athletic acrobatic lucha style with El Grande’s more grounded style with a hint of his new lucha style, made this match so entertaining to watch. El Grande Americano got the crowd on his feet after hitting a 450 Moonsault splash from the top row, just incredible.
Americano ended up beating Rey Fénix with his signature finisher, a loaded flying headbutt. It was very disappointing to see the character based on making fun of the art of lucha libre win this match and defeat one of the best luchadors. Despite the unreal athleticism displayed by both wrestlers, the result broke the hearts of every lucha libre fan.
Verdict: 4/10 avocados.
WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) def. Charlotte Flair
An infamous off-script shoot promo during SmackDown where the two exchanged personal insults made the build up for this match unlike any other. The most notable of them being Tiffy Straton’s comments on Charlotte’s marriages meant that anything could happen in this mania match.
The match was expectedly messy, but it was nice to see Tiffy retain her belt, as she was the only champion on Night 1 to do so. The match did take a more stiffer route in terms of the blows each of them were given each other. Tiffy had her tooth chipped off which made it a crazy scene to see when she lifted the belt, seeming as if she just fought a war with Charlotte.
Overall, it sucked to see how weak of a build this had given the shoot promo and it seems like Charlotte’s issues with working with others continues to grow. It was nice to see that WWE didn’t punish Tiffy for defending herself during the promo. It is commonplace to be punished for something like this, but that didn’t happen to the Barbie of WWE.
Verdict: 5/10 avocados
Seth Rollins def. Roman Reigns and CM Punk
The main event saved a lackluster Night 1. CM Punk’s first ever time main eventing Wrestlemania was also Roman’s first time in nearly four years heading into Wrestlemania without a belt around his waist. For Seth, we’ll insert evil Seth Rollins Laugh. This triple threat match was perfect, incredible everything it needed to be and by far the best match from both nights.
The story heading in here was very simple. Each wrestler hates each other for different reasons and the Paul Heyman variable made for perhaps the best Wrestlemania match and build in a long time. The match started off brilliantly with amazing entrances, especially CM Punk’s entrance with a beautiful video package before playing his old theme song, “Fire Burns” by KIllswitch Engage, was perfect.
Then, these three legendary performers went on to have an amazing match with many near falls and great spots all leading up to the grand finale. Throughout the whole match, fans were focused on Paul Heyman and whether he would help his tribal chief Roman Reigns or his best friend, CM Punk. When it came to it, Paul grabbed a steel chair and handed it to Punk. Roman looked distraught as his wiseman just turned on him.
Until, bam! Low blow from Paul to Punk, Paul drops to his knees in agony. Roman takes the chair and attacks a wounded Punk with the chair. Roman then turns his attention to Seth who was trying to get back up. This moment mirrors the time when Seth betrayed Roman and broke up the Shield a decade before. But before Roman can get his revenge.
Bam! Paul low blows Roman as well and sides with Seth. Seth beats Roman with the chair and pins Roman. It was perfect.
Verdict: 10/10 avocados.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio def. Bron Breakker (c), Finn Bálor and Penta
The fatal four-way for the intercontinental championship was so fun and saw Dominick Mysterio win the Intercontinental Championship like his father Eddie Guerrero did. The main story heading into this match was if the Judgement Day (Finn Bálor and Dominick Mysterio’s faction) would work together or break apart.
It was the main factor in the story as it was very important for the finish. After some interference from the Judgement Day to wear down the dog, Bron Breakker, and take out Penta, who was making his Wrestlemania debut. This left just Bron, Finn and Dom; Finn hit Bron with his signature “Coup de Grace” and it seemed like he was gonna win it until from the top rope, the best frog splash in the history of pro-wrestling was hit by Dom onto Finn and Bron for the pinfall win. Although Penta’s first ever Mania match was overshadowed with the main Judgement Day story, the match was fun and finished with a sweet ending.
Verdict: 8/10 avocados
Randy Orton def. Joe Hendry
When the build for Wrestlemania began, fans were excited to see how WWE would book Kevin Owens versus Randy Orton. Unfortunately, the tragic news of Kevin Owens’s neck surgery prevented a potential instant classic. This all led up to Orton’s “open challenge” with the mystery being who would step up.
After the Viper slithered into the ring, the WWE world heard the words, “Say His Name And He Appears.” The stadium erupted as they saw the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling World Champion, Joe Hendry answer the call. This match was quick, got a pop from the crowd and it was a fun little watch with a beautiful RKO at the end to get Randy Orton his mania win. The match didn’t go too long, but given the circumstances, it was solid.
Verdict: 5/10 avocados
Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena def. Cody Rhodes (c)
Many WWE fans today got into professional wrestling because of one person: John Cena. It made his impending retirement announcement during the 2024 Money in the Bank extra emotional. Still looking for John Cena’s record-breaking seventeenth World Championship, fans lost hope after Jey Uso won the Royal Rumble. But just one month later, Cena’s chamber match victory at Elimination Chamber set up an Undisputed WWE Championship bout with Cody Rhodes.
Speaking of Cody, he had a big decision to make that same night. Either sell his soul to the “The Final Boss,” The Rock, or not. Cody would choose the latter as Cena shockingly did himself. Cena’s first and only heel turn of his 22-year career.
The whole world talked about Cena’s unpredictable heel turn. Building the anticipation for this match to another level. The match started slow, but picked up after a ref bump. The crowd held their breath as Cody hit Cena with his signature cross-rhodes. He got the visual pin on Cena, but there was no ref to count. This gave Cena a chance to recover and throw Cody into an exposed turnbuckle.
He hit Cody with his fourth attitude adjustment, but the champion managed to kick out at two. With both wrestlers exhausted and on the mat, surely now The Final Boss would make an appearance. Instead, Travis Scott made his way to the ring as his song, “FE!N” echoed around Allegiant Stadium.
With his Target Hardcore WWE Title replica, Travis attempted to help Cena, but failed as Cody hit Cena with another cross-rhodes. Cody pinned Cena, but Travis pulled the ref out of the ring before he made the three-count.
Travis then eats a cross-rhodes himself, but the sacrifice was enough of a distraction for Cena to capitalize. Cena grabs the belt to attack Cody, but the American Nightmare is able to snatch the belt back from Cena. Cody thinks about hitting Cena with the belt, but his morals won’t allow him. Cena takes advantage of Cody’s hesitation and hits him with a low-blow and then some more with the belt for good measure. He pins Cody to win the Undisputed WWE Championship and stands alone as the first ever 17-time WWE Champion.
Verdict: 17/10 avocados
Final Thoughts
Overall, Wrestlemania 41 was average at best. Night 2 was most definitely better than Night 1, but Night 1 did have the better main event if we are being honest. Joe Hendry and Becky Lynch’s surprise appearances were nice, yet the event was really missing one person, The Rock. Night 2’s main event was fully built around him, but fans got nothing in the build or actual match. Instead they got Travis Scott. Putting all the behind the scenes rumors and reports coming out as to why he didn’t show up, fans were left with a somewhat unsatisfied ending to a story they were invested in.
Besides that, Paul and Seth’s alliance is super cool, especially now that there is a faction being built in the aftermath of Wrestlemania. Jey Uso winning the world title was cool and the women’s triple threat match was amazing. Wrestlemania 41 was fun, but it was underwhelming in too many areas. Though, it will be exciting to see how these storylines develop and what new ones come out of it.
Verdict: 6/10 avocados
