C’mon now. You knew I couldn’t let WrestleMania go by with out speaking about it, proper?
It’s as soon as once more that point of the yr for wrestling followers all around the world as WrestleMania season involves a head. Centered at Las Vegas this yr, WrestleMania 41 options an thrilling lineup of matches for each the hardcore wrestling followers like myself and the informal viewer.
As is customary, I’d prefer to take the time to make some predictions on this weekend’s card.
Major Occasion 1: Cody Rhodes (champ) v. John Cena: WWE Championship
Sunday’s principal occasion is slated to be reigning WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in opposition to the legendary John Cena. There’s no query that this match has essentially the most transferring elements in it, which ought to make it essentially the most thrilling.
Rhodes has been WWE Champion now for over a yr since defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. However his challenger is among the greatest to ever do it in John Cena.
Whereas Cena has been a part-time wrestler for a number of years now as a result of his Hollywood success, he introduced a number of months in the past that 2025 can be his final yr wrestling earlier than absolutely retiring for good. He vowed that one in all his objectives earlier than retiring can be to win his seventeenth world championship, which might break the all-time file in WWE.
However the fascinating catch about it’s that Cena isn’t doing this as his regular hero persona. No, this time, he’s the unhealthy man.
On the Elimination Chamber, fellow wrestler turned Hollywood star The Rock coerced Cena into turning on Cody Rhodes, turning Cena into a foul man for the primary time in 20 years. It was, no query, essentially the most stunning “heel flip” in wrestling historical past.
It’s been appalling to see Cena, who’s been WWE’s important “babyface” for therefore lengthy, lastly flip heel after years of followers clamoring for it. And I feel, finally, that’s what is going to make WWE pull the set off for Cena’s seventeenth world title reign.
Folks need to see extra of this model of Cena, and I feel that’s why he turns into the brand new file holder. Sorry Ric Aptitude.
Prediction: John Cena defeats Cody Rhodes to win his seventeenth world championship
Major Occasion 2: Roman Reigns v. CM Punk v. Seth Rollins
Saturday’s principal occasion is about three main-event guys who all simply despise one another.
First, you’ve received Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief of WWE, seeking to reclaim dominance over the corporate a yr faraway from shedding his WWE title. Then, you’ve received CM Punk, who’s been excellent since returning to the corporate after a decade-plus hiatus (minus the failed AEW run). And lastly, you’ve received Seth Rollins, a multi-time world champion who has been in a hunch in current months.
The story revolves round all three males eager to beat the residing crap out of one another.
Reigns and Rollins had been two of three members in a gaggle known as “The Protect” within the early 2010s. Ultimately, Rollins turned on Reigns, and the connection between the 2 hasn’t been the identical since. Across the similar time, Punk employed The Protect as mercenaries, earlier than that relationship blew up, too.
Since Punk’s return to WWE in 2023, he and Rollins have been at odds with one another. It’s a true degree of storyline hatred between these two that hasn’t been seen in a while.
The coil on this story is known supervisor Paul Heyman, Reigns’ wiseman and shut buddy of Punk. For this match, he’ll really be in Punk’s nook, because of a “repaid favor” from Survivor Sequence.
It’ll possible be right down to Heyman and the place his allegiances lie as to how this match will end up. However for now, my guess is that CM Punk will take the win, seeing as he lastly will get his dream in principal eventing WrestleMania.
Prediction: CM Punk defeats Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
Gunther (champ) v. Jey Uso: World Heavyweight Championship
Gunther has been one of the dominant champions in WWE historical past.
Contemporary off of a 667-day reign as Intercontinental Champion, it solely took him just a few months to develop into World Champion for the primary time. He’s been dominant ever since, exhibiting little signal of slowing down.
However his subsequent challenger may result in the demise of “The Ring Common”. His title? Jey Uso.
A protracted-time tag workforce competitor alongside his twin brother Jimmy, Jey has damaged out lately on his personal. He’s the most well-liked man in WWE by a rustic mile and is coming off a ton of momentum after successful the 2025 Royal Rumble.
There’s no query that WWE needs to capitalize off of Uso’s recognition, and it’s why I feel the title change is made.
Prediction: Jey Uso defeats Gunther to win the World Heavyweight Championship
Tiffany Stratton (champ) v. Charlotte Aptitude: WWE Girls’s Championship
To be sincere, neither of the primary ladies’s feuds this yr are transferring me.
Perhaps it’s as a result of AEW (the primary competitors) is placing on higher tales within the ladies’s division? Perhaps it’s as a result of the Cena-Rhodes story is so fascinating to me? I’m undecided. What I do know is that, whatever the feud, the match between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Aptitude needs to be a great one.
Stratton, simply 25 years previous, has been WWE’s greatest newcomer lately. She’s already claimed the WWE Girls’s Championship in his first yr on the primary roster and is now set to tackle 14-time world champion Charlotte Aptitude.
Aptitude, who is just not as beloved by crowds like her father, is seeking to play spoiler to Stratton after successful the 2025 Royal Rumble. Nevertheless, I feel this ends with the champ popping out on high.
Prediction: Tiffany Stratton defeats Charlotte Aptitude to retain the WWE Girls’s Championship
Remainder of slate:
WWE Girls’s World Championship: Bianca Belair defeats Iyo Sky (champ) and Rhea Ripley to develop into the brand new WWE Girls’s World Champion
Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio defeats Bron Breakker, PENTA and Finn Balor to develop into the brand new Intercontinental Champion
U.S. Championship: LA Knight defeats Jacob Fatu to retain the U.S. Championship
World Tag Workforce Championship: Struggle Raiders defeat The New Day to retain the World Tag Workforce Championship
Girls’s World Tag Workforce Championship: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez defeat Bayley and Lyra Valkyria to retain the Girls’s World Tag Workforce Championship
Rey Mysterio defeats El Grande Americano (Chad Gable)
Naomi defeats Jade Cargill
Drew McIntyre defeats Damian Priest
Logan Paul defeats AJ Types
Completely satisfied WrestleMania season to all who have fun!
Evan Newton is the managing editor of The Covington Information. He might be reached at enewton@covnews.com.
