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WWE Money In The Bank 2025 predictions roundtable: Who wins each MITB match?
Money in the Bank 2025, one of the most exciting and potentially landscape-altering events on the WWE calendar, takes place this Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The titular ladder matches — one for the men and one for the women — guarantees the winners a championship opportunity for one year following their victory. While there have been a handful of unsuccessful cash-ins, the match serves as one of the major star-making moments in WWE. Rather than climbing ladders to snag a briefcase, the Uncrowned Horsemen have gathered to make predictions and debate some of the hot topics surrounding WWE Money in the Bank 2025 and the four matches on the card, including a high-profile tag match pitting the team of Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena and Logan Paul against World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes. 1. Let's keep it simple: Who wins each MITB match? Riggs: With the final addition of Stephanie Vaquer to the women's match, I can't help but go with her simply because of the treatment she's received since joining WWE. However, I did like the tease this past Monday between her and Rhea Ripley, which was an ultra-specific feud I'd hoped to see when we closed out 2024. That gives me some pause, especially with all the other variables in this great lineup. Saturday's women's winner could — and should — be anyone but Ripley, and given the company's current love for prolonged stories, I could see Roxanne Perez or Naomi as the other most likely options. I just think WWE is all-in on Vaquer, as I am — and as they should be. We're strapping the rockets to "La Primera." Advertisement The men's side is a bit more perplexing now that the dust is settled. Count out both Seth Rollins and Solo Sikoa immediately, thanks to their ongoing situations with CM Punk and Jacob Fatu, respectively. This match could very well become an overbooked mess. Penta and Andrade feel like long shots — Penta's hot start has cooled, while Andrade has barely been used. LA Knight is the talk of the town, trying to make his third time the charm after back-to-back MITB failures. It should've been either of the past two years for Knight, and it'd still be the right move now, but I've lost a lot of faith. So yes, El Grande Americano is winning this thing — and probably winning at Worlds Collide too. I don't know how long the whole gimmick gets dragged out, but his involvement in the match alone has made me believe this is going to really be "a thing." Thankfully, there's still a way a loss can be done right for Knight, which is why I hesitate with confidence. It could fuel him to be the most aggressive version of himself yet, set on a warpath to get a world title by any means necessary. That could mean a heel turn, but it doesn't have to. There's an intriguing route to travel down if he loses, but it has to be something like that if he comes up short a third time in a row. Sulla-Heffinger: For the men, we have three realistic potential winners and three unrealistic. As great as Penta, Andrade and El Grande Americano are, there's a better chance of me becoming the next Knicks coach than them winning — and trust me, Helwani does not want that to happen. And while I hear what Drake is saying with the trio of Rollins, Knight and Sikoa, I am going to deviate slightly. Rather than paying off the Knight hype train, Rollins winning the MITB match instantly elevates him — and his stable — into a brand new level of threatening on "Raw." Also, in the interest of the 'fight forever' feud with CM Punk, wouldn't it be that much sweeter if Punk cost Rollins after he cashed in, leaving him with nothing? On the women's side, I am torn between Perez and Vaquer. That said, I am always going to argue that the MITB briefcase works better on a heel than a face, and Perez holding it creates even more tension within the Judgment Day, so that's my pick. Honestly, unlike the men, you could make an argument for any woman in this match to win and it works. I can very easily seeing this being the match of the night. Advertisement Dansby: The Men's MITB match has a lot of moving parts, but the most obvious choice for the briefcase is Seth Rollins. Giving him the case instantly boosts his new faction's credibility and makes them a constant threat to the champ. The Women's MITB field feels more wide open. I wouldn't be surprised if WWE uses it to catapult one of the newer call-ups. Perez and Vaquer had strong runs in NXT and could easily carry that momentum. Guilia, on the other hand, never quite found her groove — her NXT title run felt flat. Giving her the briefcase could be the reset she needs. Feels like it's time to heat her up. Advertisement Jackman: LA Knight should win the men's match, and not just because he's entering his third MITB match in as many years. In fact, I suspect some of the Knight fans aren't going to like my reasoning on this. So here it goes: The biggest thing in WWE right now is the Cena heel run (duh) and we all know it's been losing a lot of steam lately. So why not utilize LA Knight as a sacrificial babyface by having him win the briefcase and then embark on a failed cash-in against the champion? It's not the most complex or sophisticated angle admittedly, but it would blow the roof off the stadium when it happens and might actually get the fans booing John Cena for once... As for the ladies, I think Naomi is the pick here, and I certainly wouldn't complain about that outcome. After that slightly deflating loss to Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 41, she could do with a big win in order to pay justice to her heel turn, which has been more convincing than New Day and Cena's put together. My other pick (if that's allowed) would be Stephanie Vaquer. When was the last time we saw someone arrive on the main roster with so much momentum? Did you hear how the live crowd reacted on "Raw" when she had that brief staredown with Rhea Ripley? When you get these blue moon opportunities, you really don't want to be sleeping on them. Tiffany Stratton's cash-in proved to be a wise one. (WWE/Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 2. What's your ideal cash-in scenario? (Timing, face/heel, surprise or telegraphed — anything goes.) Dansby: I'm expecting one quick cash-in and one slow burn this year. Guilia, Roxanne, or Vaquer winning on the women's side sets up a nice long-term story arc. As for Rollins, imagine him cashing in during Saturday's tag match — he'd have the option of either champ, which would definitely shake things up. Advertisement Sulla-Heffinger: I love when the MITB briefcase creates a bit of prolonged uncertainty for the reigning champions, so I am mostly against any night-of cash-ins. For me, I point to Tiffany Stratton's cash-in on Nia Jax as an incredibly well-done iteration. As much as MITB can serve as an instant, star-making tool, it's also one of the best storytelling devices WWE has in its arsenal, so I appreciate when it's leveraged for a few months after the PLE. WWE tends to hit a bit of a lull in the fall/winter after SummerSlam and before Royal Rumble so a cash-in there is ideal, in my opinion, to generate buzz. Jackman: Like Anthony, I like it when they use the briefcase as a storytelling device before pulling the trigger a la Chekhov's gun. Last year's run-in with Tiffany Stratton was the perfect example of that, with that continual teasing of the 'will she, won't she?' tension getting us more invested in all those Tiffy segments. Having the coercive Nia Jax threaten her against cashing in was particularly good. It felt smarter and more nuanced than your typical wrestling angle. As for the actual cash-in, there's a tension here between trying to be original and unpredictable without making the briefcase holder look silly. If we're taking kayfabe at all seriously, we have to assume that most wrestlers would look for the path of least resistance here — which means cashing in on an already beaten and bruised opponent, like we saw with Damian Priest back at WrestleMania 41 or Liv Morgan at MITB 2022. That said, it's nice to have some tension and suspense as to whether they are going to succeed or not. If the title change is too obvious, it dents my interest. Or, even worse, when it's obvious they're not going to cash in successfully (as was the case with Drew McIntyre last year, who was so evidently going to be screwed again by CM Punk). Advertisement Riggs: Let me tell you what I can't stand: The honorable "heads-up" cash-in when someone says they're going to have their match at a particular place and a specific date. The only instance where that was perfect was ECW One Night Stand for Rob Van Dam in 2006. Otherwise, I can do without it, because I have such a soft spot for the early incarnation of the concept. Moments like Edge and CM Punk's cash-ins are just the best. Even farther down the line with Carmella's and, as alluded to, Damian Priest's — they were unforgettable. Rollins' also goes without saying. Those advantageous types of cash-ins are the whole point of the concept. Sure, it's a pretty cheap cop-out in a lot of ways, but that's also the point — unless done right with someone and somewhere like "RVD" and ECW. John Cena and Logan Paul speak in the ring during "WWE SmackDown" on May 30, 2025 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Michael Owens/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 3. What's the most intriguing part of the Jey Uso/Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena/Logan Paul tag match? Dansby: Honestly? Not much. The match feels forced and disconnected from the current storylines. Where does Logan Paul go from here — a world title shot? Are Cena and Rhodes supposed to continue feuding over a title? If so, why? Cena has plenty of fresh matchups for his retirement run that would make more sense. Advertisement Riggs: This is a way more difficult question to answer than it should be because I don't give a damn about this match at all. It probably has to be how Logan Paul gets pinned, because I'll be absolutely stunned if the outcome of this match isn't with him taking the loss — or a DQ, of course. Always believe in Triple H booking a DQ. To provide a sliver of fantasy booking, I imagine Paul gets hit with a handful of Uso and Rhodes' finishers after Cena bails on him and walks out. It's either something similar to that, or Gunther might even interfere to ruin the match because he's facing Uso on the next "WWE Raw." All options suck. Jackman: My main interest is what the match tells us about the Cena-Rhodes storyline. We're all working from the assumption that we're heading for a rematch between the two (perhaps sooner rather than later), so it would be good to see something that gives their in-ring rivalry a bit more zing. The resounding message at WrestleMania 41 was that Rhodes only lost due to Cena's shenanigans, and we've also seen him take out the champ with a single Cross Rhodes more than once, so it would be good to see something which evens the score a little bit. To get a little nerdier, I find it interesting how these main roster tag matches have become elevated to PLE main events during the Triple H era. I'm thinking about the excellent Usos vs. Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa from MITB 2023 of course, but also the other big-ticket tag matches at Bad Blood (Reigns/Rhodes vs. Sikoa/Fatu) and also Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 (Rock/Reigns vs. Rhodes/Rollins). In all three of those cases, the multi-man match was used to tell a bigger storyline, and I hope that will be the case again here. Advertisement Sulla-Heffinger: Does Jey Uso need this rub? That's the intriguing question for me, because it really feels like his title reign has been a bit bland/overshadowed on 'Raw,' particularly with the Gunther rematch coming on June 9th. We know where we are going with Rhodes and Cena — an inevitable rematch of the WrestleMania 41 Night 2 main event— and Paul has become a kind of plug-and-play headliner. Uso's place in all of this is what feels wonky to me, so if you have the babyfaces win on Saturday and then Uso beats Gunther again on Monday (I'll address this later), it might solidify this World Heavyweight Championship run. Could Seth Rollins throw an immediate wrench in the title picture on Saturday? (Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 4. So, do we get a cash-in Saturday night? Jackman: I think there's enough going on already. Obviously you have the two men's champions in the main event, which in theory makes them ripe for the picking, but I can't see how a cash-in would work. And I mean that quite literally: How can you have someone cash-in during a tag match? It isn't like a singles match, which can just become a triple threat. Advertisement Going for a cash-in after the match would work, of course, but it might feel like overkill. Add to the fact they've been portentously mentioning the Uso vs. Gunther match on Monday's 'Raw' for weeks now (making that match the first candidate for a speedy cash-in) and I think it's really unlikely anyone cashes in on Saturday. Dansby: It could happen. The women's titles aren't on the card, so any immediate cash-in would have to come from the men's side. I could totally see Rollins and his crew storming the tag match, wrecking everyone, and then Rollins cashing in. Picture a few Bronson Reed Tsunamis followed by Rollins pinning whichever champ is left standing. Sulla-Heffinger: No, but I could see one happening on Monday night and setting up two major SummerSlam matches in the process. If Rollins wins, it opens the door for him to cash-in toward the end of the Uso-Gunther match on Monday night — a la his WrestleMania 31 coup. Rollins cashes in, Punk spoils it and Uso pins Gunther to escape. This protects everyone and sets up (another) Punk-Rollins clash and Gunther-Uso for MetLife in August. This goes against my ideal 'hold the briefcase' scenario, but I think it's what works best for WWE right now. Advertisement Riggs: This depends entirely on who wins the men's match, because neither Tiffany Stratton nor Iyo Sky is booked for this card at the time of writing. It would be a cool twist to have the winner call for the match that same night, despite the champion not even being set to compete. Unfortunately, expecting that level of creativity is a stretch. As for the men's side, and considering who I expect to win, I'm going to say yes — Americano will cash-in. This is the real vision, folks. Gather 'round: Grande Gable runs out to attack Cena with the briefcase as he's bailing on Paul in the closing moments of the main-event tag-team match, therefore giving Cena and Paul the win by DQ and starting Americano's own match with Cena. Meanwhile, Rollins, Breakker and Reed come out to pick through the scraps of Uso and Rhodes, which involuntarily saves Paul from further damage. Punk and Zayn probably show up too, just to even the numbers with Paul on the side of the heel trio. Despite having the upper hand with his attack on Cena, Americano falls short when Cena hits him with a low blow while the referee is distracted by the chaos outside the ring. Attitude Adjustment, 1-2-3. Mind you, that would mean WWE immediately clowns the new AAA World Champion. (But not technically because Gable wrestles El Hijo del Vikingo under his name.) I'm not going to make this my official prediction below because it's clearly a bit more extreme, but you cannot convince me it doesn't sound like a possible booking idea — especially for Cena's heel run — in the 2025 WWE. Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch settle their differences on Saturday. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 5. Who's more likely to elevate the Women's Intercontinental Championship coming out of MITB: Lyra Valkyria or Becky Lynch? Sulla-Heffinger: Lynch is an all-time great, but seeing Valkyria spread her wings — see what I did there — post-WrestleMania has been remarkable. She's always been an incredible in-ring talent, but what we've seen during this program with Lynch has shown she has the promo chops as well. I'm all about things feeling fresh, especially when you're talking about championships, and that's what we're getting with Valkyria being showcased as Women's Intercontinental Champion. She was the right pick to win the inaugural belt and remains the right pick to carry it through the summer. Advertisement Jackman: This feud has been the sleeper hit of the year hasn't it? While all of us Horsemen were smart enough to be singing Lyra's praises ages ago, I did spot some less savvy pundits questioning why Lynch vs. Valkyria was even on last month's WWE Backlash card in the first place. Well, the Irish lasses sure showed them, didn't they? As for what happens on Saturday, my reading is that this is a standard trilogy. Lynch will take home the title after a dusty finish, and Valkyria will have to grimace and acknowledge her superiority by raising her arm as per the stipulation. That gives two months to build up to the final part at SummerSlam, with Lyra Valkyria winning back her title (and maybe getting her arm raised in honor, like with Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes a couple of years ago). Riggs: My feelings haven't changed too much on this feud and what it's done for Valkyria's title. She's been tremendous and had me invested every step of the way, but that's thanks to Lynch. So, by default, Lynch has been the one elevating the title with her status, although she, in storyline, seemingly cares more about beating Valkyria than the belt. The same can't be said about the champion, who keeps acknowledging that Lynch hasn't beaten her. Advertisement The long-term answer is Valkyria, at least for now. She can really become something after this feud, and she deserves it. Lynch doesn't need the belt, and surely it can — and will — come later on, potentially with a revisit if Valkyria is still champ by then. WrestleMania 42, anyone? Too far away? OK, OK. Dansby: The feud with Lynch has already raised Valkyria's profile, but it's time for some real star power to carry that title. Heel Becky taking on the younger call-ups — like her NXT run a few years back — would be the perfect way to build up the Women's Intercontinental belt this summer. Predictions: Men's Money in the Bank ladder match: Seth Rollins (Dansby, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Andrade vs. Penta vs. El Grande Americano (Riggs) vs. LA Knight (Jackman) vs. Solo Sikoa Women's Money in the Bank ladder match: Stephanie Vaquer (Riggs) vs. Giulia (Dansby) vs. Naomi (Jackman) vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez (Sulla-Heffinger) Women's Intercontinental Championship match: Lyra Valkyria (Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Becky Lynch (Dansby, Jackman) Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena and Logan Paul (Jackman) vs. World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes (Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger), No winner (Dansby — DQ due to Rollins interference) 2025 standings
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19-04-2025
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WrestleMania 41 predictions roundtable: Who leaves Las Vegas weekend victorious?
Las Vegas is the center of the combat sports universe once again as WWE descends upon Allegiant Stadium and takes over Sin City tonight for the biggest event on the professional wrestling calendar: WrestleMania 41. Naturally, the Uncrowned Horsemen are locked in and ready to embark on their greatest ride since the inception of this vertical seven not-so-long months ago. All of which is to say, welcome to our WrestleMania 41 preview! Advertisement Kel Dansby, Robert Jackman, Drake Riggs and Anthony Sulla-Heffinger are answering five questions and a bonus 'Raw After 'Mania' prediction surrounding the latest installment of the 'Showcase of the Immortals.' What is our most anticipated match? Is it time for John Cena to break Ric Flair's vaunted world championship record? Find out what our expert panel thinks, followed by match-by-match predictions from the entire crew — with bragging rights on the line. It is Vegas, after all. Cody Rhodes once again takes center stage at WrestleMania 41. (Photos: WWE/Getty Images. Design: Bruno Roby, Yahoo Sports) 1. What is the match on the card you're most looking forward to? Riggs: Sheesh. We're starting with the toughest question right out of the gate? As much as I want to manifest Randy Orton vs. Nick Aldis with this entry, since it's not yet official, we'll go with the obvious Drake Riggs pick: A triple-threat match. Advertisement Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins has every element going for it and has been the most well-constructed storyline out of everything WrestleMania 41 has to offer. With that said, I could very well see some Paul Heyman shenanigans possibly overtake this match (especially with no DQs) or something silly. As we saw last year, overbooking nonsense can sometimes work beautifully, even masterfully. But there's nothing like a completely untouched, clean grap-fest for me. Therefore, I pick the Women's World Championship match between Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. That match will be incredible triple-threat brilliance, and we've already seen glimpses of it in any of their physical interactions. The story has been pretty trash, but as a match, it's bringing the house down on Night 2. (However, I still don't expect it to be 100% clean — because after Naomi beats Cargill the night before, she's going to either cost Belair the win or attack her post-win. That story needs to continue.) Anyway, I'll just throw it in for singles matches and say I've been most hyped for Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair, so I won't jump off that wagon now. Charlotte Flair enjoyed a big moment after winning the Women's Royal Rumble in February. (Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images) (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters) Sulla-Heffinger: You'd think with a dozen or so matches on the card, we'd find a way to not duplicate picks — but you'd be wrong. I'm following Drake's lead here and going with the Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair triple-threat match. I've already put Belair in a category by herself, naming her my women's WrestleMania GOAT, so I don't think I need to explain why I'm hyped for this match in that sense. Advertisement Aside from having the potential to be a show-stealing performance, this is one of those matches that truly does feel unpredictable heading into Night 2. You could make a compelling case for any one of these women walking out of Las Vegas with a victory and the Women's World Championship around her waist. We're going to get into predictions a little bit later, but I think Sky retains here, and we get a prolonged Belair-Ripley feud that can carry us through to SummerSlam — and potentially even Hell in a Cell. Jackman: It's an obvious answer, but the grand finale. It's a cliffhanger in its own right, of course, but it's also a huge turning point for the overall creative direction of WWE. So much of the near future depends on what happens in that match. Would a Cody Rhodes victory elevate him to the status of a wrestling superpower? And how would The Rock respond to that? If John Cena walks away with that belt, who is going to get it back? All those questions depend on what happens on Sunday. I'm the sort of wrestling mark who likes to look ahead as much as possible, and right now, there's a massive roadblock just sitting there blocking my view. God only knows what's on the other side, but I look forward to finding out. Dansby: It has to be the Night 1 main event featuring Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Who turns heel? Who takes the pin?! Who moves on to challenge whoever leaves WrestleMania 41 as champion?!? Who wins Paul Heyman's affection?!?! Advertisement Despite not being a title match, it arguably carries the highest stakes on either card. This bout will likely shape the path for all three contenders over the next year. 2. How does WrestleMania 41's card compare to last year's? Will it be better, worse or about the same when all is said and done? Sulla-Heffinger: I am going to say it'll be about the same as WrestleMania 40. Between the Sami Zayn stunner over Gunther, Bayley getting her WrestleMania moment, and both nights' main events — especially Night 2 — it was always going to be difficult to top one of the best WrestleManias in recent history. Advertisement That said, there's some real potential for instant classics sprinkled throughout both nights this year, even beyond the Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins Night 1 main event and Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena to close out Night 2. (Looking at you, A.J. Styles and Logan Paul.) If we want to dive deeper, between the aforementioned Women's World Championship triple-threat match, Charlotte Flair vs. Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill vs. Naomi, we might be able to say this was the greatest WrestleMania ever from a women's standpoint — even if the Women's Intercontinental and United States Championships are MIA. Logan Paul could be poised for a big WrestleMania moment of his own this weekend. (Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images) (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters) Jackman: In terms of the talent, I'd say it's broadly equal. The big issue, though, has been the much weaker build-up to the prestige matches. I know we were spoiled over the past two years with the cinematic Bloodline stuff and the "finishing the story" arc, but I still think the big-picture stuff has been slightly anemic this year. Advertisement My overall criticism when you look at the Rhodes-Cena build is that it's been 99% promos — what we'd call monologues in the world of theater — and very little plot or action. Isn't that the most basic law in screenwriting? Show, don't tell! But instead we've had back-to-back segments of these meandering, navel-gazing talk segments, which haven't quite delivered on the huge expectations coming out of Elimination Chamber. It goes without saying that WWE knows perfectly well how to execute these things — look at the stellar segment with the Usos and Gunther in London — but sometimes they just fall short. Whether that's down to Cena's scheduling or just overconfidence on the part of the top team (i.e. assuming we're going to hang on the wrestlers' every word) isn't quite clear. Riggs: This is a very interesting question because it needs some dissection. WrestleMania 40 was almost entirely about Cody Rhodes and "finishing the story." Sure, there were some other very memorable moments, but that whole storyline literally took over both nights. WrestleMania 41 feels pretty clearly better on-paper when looking back at 40. Everything is spread out much better, and most matches in-ring are more compelling than what we had at 40. That's despite lacking some quality story depth. With that, 41 should top 40 from an overall perspective. However, I can't see any magnitude or moment possibly living up to that climax of Rhodes' win last year. Advertisement Dansby: Last year's card was dominated by the Bloodline. It all came together beautifully, delivering one of the greatest WrestleMania main events in history, but it focused heavily on a single storyline. This year's card doesn't have the same depth of build but offers far more unpredictability, which opens the door for major surprises. In Trips We Trust — to deliver a better overall experience than WrestleMania XL. John Cena's heel turn made for an indelible moment, but questions remain about where it can go from here. (Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images) (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters) Jackman: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say no. If this Cena-Rhodes feud has achieved anything, it's been to totally reinvigorate 'The American Nightmare' as a champion. After a year of so-so feuds that never really put the title in jeopardy, the WWE has made us emotionally invested in Cody Rhodes again. It's given him that conviction and purpose that made us root for him so much this time last year. Just look at that amazing video package they put out this past week. Advertisement The way Cody has been positioning himself as being on the side of the fans, and as the savior of professional wrestling, it just really resonates with me. Crucially, it would also make this victory feel like a genuine milestone for the champion, rather than just another routine title defense. Sulla-Heffinger: I am certainly inclined to agree with Scott. After being one of the truly stunning wrestling moments of the past 30 years, the Cena heel turn somehow feels on life-support already. Part of that is due to schedule, part of it is that Rhodes has an air of invincibility right now because he's far-and-away the biggest star in WWE. How do we revive it and set up something even bigger for the rest of 2025 and potentially WrestleMania 42? Have Cena win with the help of (at least) The Rock. Heel Cena breaks Ric Flair's record, ends Rhodes' storybook run and disappears until potentially SummerSlam, where he can then put Rhodes back over and let The Rock do his best Thanos impression and say, 'Fine, I'll do it myself,' after Reigns' and Cena's failures to fully snuff out "The American Nightmare." Advertisement Dansby: Cody Rhodes is as over as ever, and the best way to keep that momentum is to have him lose to a heel John Cena and chase him throughout 2025. It's tough for a babyface to hold a title long term without losing the sympathy that fuels crowd support. The storyline of Cena doing something he vowed never to do — turning heel and chasing Ric Flair's 16-title-reign record — alongside The Rock, is too compelling to pass up. Riggs: "Should" is a tricky one. I think it's a lot more interesting and compelling if Cena wins. A lot can be done with that, and we still need The Rock to come back into this because that's been the biggest problem with Cena's heel turn. The Rock, being a part of the whole thing, just disappeared. Interestingly enough, I'll bring him back up because possibilities can hinge on Orton. He has a great history with either guy, and programs with both should be musts before the year ends. Orton is the best rival of Cena's career and is still a readily available retirement match option — whether or not that's for the title. Advertisement Then he has his history with Rhodes, too. I'm not saying he will be or should be involved with what happens in the main event. But afterward, I think Orton getting involved with the champion is a "should." What makes sense in the fallout? It is indeed Cena — and what a role reversal it would be to have Cena as the heel and Orton the face this time. Tiffany Stratton's recent SmackDown promo adds a new wrinkle to her rivalry with Charlotte Flair. (Photo by Eric Johnson/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 4. Did the infamous Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair "SmackDown" promo help or hurt the build for their match? Dansby: There's no such thing as bad publicity. The match was treading water until that 'unscripted' in-ring exchange. Advertisement In 2025, it's rare for fans to genuinely question whether something is real or kayfabe. This segment blurred the lines perfectly and gave the feud a much-needed spark. Sulla-Heffinger: I believe that it helped, regardless of if you believe it was a shoot or a work. This has been a wonky build ever since Flair won the Royal Rumble in February, and her return pop faded very quickly in the aftermath. The fans have really let her have it since then, and Stratton has been able to benefit somewhat as she adjusted to the babyface-ish champion role — even if it isn't necessarily the best fit for her character. Stratton's words cut deep during her "SmackDown" promo a few weeks ago, exposing a vulnerability in Flair and adding a much-needed personal fire to the feud. The match was always going to be good considering the level of talent these two women have between the ropes, and this just added to the intensity outside of the ring. Jackman: Oh, it helped big time. Honestly, part of me suspects that this whole thing was scripted all along, and the WWE has fed us the whole 'going off script' thing to amp up the intrigue. It isn't like WWE doesn't have form on these things. Advertisement I was thinking the other day about immediately after Punk's return, when WWE was taking advantage of the chaos of the situation to try to convince us that Seth Rollins was genuinely furious about it. Blurring the lines between fiction and reality is something it does really well, and I suspect it's been up to its old tricks again here. Riggs: It didn't really do anything to sway me in any direction, personally. If anything, though, I'd be afraid that it hurt things, purely out of being cringeworthy and awkward, plus risking some Flair antics mid-match. But I have faith that she'll pull through and be professional, if the Becky Lynch rivalry was anything to go by. What role might Roman Reigns have to play during the main event of WrestleMania's Night 2? (Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images) (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters) 5. What are your all-in and longshot predictions for the event? Jackman: I'm going all-in on a Bianca Belair victory. She's been absent from the main title scene for a while, presumably to give other talents their moment in the sun, and WWE clearly made a conscious decision to propel her back to the top of the ticket with such an authoritative win at Elimination Chamber. Why do that if she isn't going to be standing tall at the end? Advertisement As for long shot, I'm tempted to repeat my Cody Rhodes hypothesis given that half of the internet seems to regard a Cena win as a foregone conclusion. My other long-shot prediction is that we will see a big win for El Grande Americano, which then rolls neatly into an ongoing storyline, potentially culminating at the long-awaited Mexico PLE. It's what we Brits would call a "Marmite" angle — as in "you either love or hate it" — but it looks like WWE is ready to invest its creative energies into it. Riggs: I'm really not sold on Aldis being Orton's opponent after last week's "WWE SmackDown," but man, I want it so incredibly bad. I'm trying to believe it's all a poorly crafted Triple H swerve. I just don't — and there's a longer shot possibility. Big E returns and costs The New Day a title win. These three love big WrestleMania moments and have been a part of plenty throughout their careers. Here comes another crazy, big reheat to the whole heel New Day angle. Let's party. Advertisement Sulla-Heffinger: I alluded to this earlier, but Sky retaining her championship feels like a slam-dunk prediction to me. Belair and Ripley can have a great feud without the title, and if you've been watching this build, their disregard for the 'Genius of the Sky' has been a central theme. As far as a long shot, I think we'll see Reigns get involved in the Night 2 main event. The Rock has famously counted to three during this story with Rhodes. We know Cena is the second man, so who is the third? Take a look on social media from earlier this week as Reigns lamented not putting a chokehold on WWE. It's just speculation, but what better way to do that than to align yourself even more closely with one of the most powerful men in both kayfabe and reality? Dansby: I'm all-in on Roman Reigns winning the Night 1 triple-threat match and helping John Cena defeat Cody Rhodes on Night 2. Reigns, Cena and The Rock standing tall together would form the most dominant faction in wrestling history — three generational icons closing WrestleMania 41. Can an all-in prediction also be a long shot? Just in case, here's another one: Becky Lynch returns to confront Charlotte Flair after her match with Tiffany Stratton. "The Man" has been gone long enough, and a comeback against a heel Flair feels perfectly timed. Could Trick Williams be poised for a move after reaching his limit in NXT? (Photo by Matt) (WWE via Getty Images) BONUS: Which star — from NXT or external — do you expect to debut at the Raw After 'Mania? Sulla-Heffinger: Matt Cardona. How awesome would it be for him to have arguably his biggest WWE moment on the 'Raw After 'Mania' all those years after he lost the Intercontinental title on the very same show? He's a ready-made talent who can slot in anywhere. Advertisement Jackman: This is a tricky one, as we've had Penta and Rey Fénix debuting already. We've also got what looks to be a teaser for Malakai Black, but that's been on 'SmackDown' rather than 'Raw.' If we're looking at NXT, I could see Ethan Page making the jump, given that his creative angles are largely wrapped up, and he's very much at the more experienced end of the roster. Dansby: Oba Femi is ready for the main roster, but it'll likely be Trick Williams making his debut. He's done all he can in NXT and could reunite with Carmelo Hayes to form a Shawn Michaels/Diesel-style duo on "SmackDown." Riggs: I really don't feel too strongly about any debutants emerging this year. Stephanie Vaquer would be lovely, but she's still holding gold, so that's a no-go. Debutant surprises are fake and don't exist in this era of wrestling anyway. So I'm staying salty and playing party-pooper. Nothing. We get nothing. Predictions: Night One: Triple-threat match: Seth Rollins (Jackman, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Roman Reigns (Dansby) vs. CM Punk (Riggs) World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther vs. Jey Uso (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) WWE Women's Championship: Tiffany Stratton (Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Charlotte Flair (Dansby) World Tag Team Championship: War Raiders vs. The New Day (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) United States Championship: LA Knight (Dansby, Riggs) vs. Jacob Fatu (Jackman, Sulla-Heffinger) Rey Mysterio (Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. El Grande Americano (Dansby, Jackman) Jade Cargill (Dansby, Jackman, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Naomi (Riggs) Advertisement Night Two:
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is John Cena's heel turn the greatest in wrestling history? Plus predicting where WWE goes from here
Sound the alarms, we have our first emergency gathering of the Uncrowned Horsemen! Unless you've been living under a Rock (see what we did there?), you know the WWE world was turned upside down on Saturday night, with John Cena doing the unthinkable and turning heel for the first time in his legendary career. If the Royal Rumble was the official kickoff to the Road to WrestleMania 41, Elimination Chamber and Cena's stunner put us on the highway doing about 90 in the left lane. So with it being safe to say that no one saw this coming, Robert Jackman, Drake Riggs and Anthony Sulla-Heffinger are here to make sense of the chaos and plot out where this craziness goes from here. Sulla-Heffinger: I think a lot of the placement and reaction to this will vary based on age, but I am going to slot this right in the middle of the Hulk Hogan turn at Bash at the Beach in 1996 and Seth Rollins betraying the Shield in June 2014. Hogan joining Scott Hall and Kevin Nash kicked off arguably the greatest storyline in the greatest era of professional wrestling and was about as unthinkable as anything up to that point in the history of the industry. It was a monumental risk that paid off better than anyone could've imagined at the time, so it'll almost always rank No. 1 on my list of shocking moments in wrestling history. As for Rollins' flip, while it was and always will be a monumental moment in WWE history, Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose (Jon Moxley) have accomplished so much more since that, so the June 2, 2014 episode of 'WWE Raw' is less of a defining moment than another highlight in careers filled with them. Considering how the industry has evolved over the past 20 years, Cena was probably as close to Hogan as you could get in terms of pure babyfaces in professional wrestling, and despite turns being teased and rumored for more than a decade, it seemed hard to believe WWE would pull the trigger with roughly three dozen dates remaining in the legend's career. Yet, here we are. Cena's turn also has the added benefit of the true presence of social media and instant meme culture to push it to new heights. Riggs: What a world we live in. John Cena turning still doesn't feel like a real thing to me, and I stand by it never happening if he was a full-timer. This was the perfect way to get away with it. The two biggest Hollywood converts from WWE history aligning out of selfish (soulless) desires? Not too bad at all, Triple H. Not too bad. This whole thing really hits home for me because Cena was my childhood as a wrestling fan. I grew up as one of the kids — to an extent — that everyone is talking about him abandoning with this move. Like most, I grew sick of him after so much time on top, hoping for a change in character. People should remember that Cena's Dr. of Thuganomics gimmick was essentially a heel character. He wasn't fully booked that way though, and the fans loved it, leading to that persona getting shed. Even when we saw little glimpses of it in recent years just for one-offs, it wasn't what happened at Elimination Chamber. Cena's heel turn is the pinnacle for me. My favorite and one that will always be my go-to reference is Batista turning on Evolution, but that was a face turn, and predictable. Nothing comes to mind that is as stunning as Cena. Where Stone Cold Steve Austin's turn peaks in shock value, it lacked in execution. That was also simply right before my time, so it would feel wrong to choose that. Thanks to the circumstances, Cena was heel for one night against Rob Van Dam at ECW One Night Stand. Outside of that, I never imagined a time like this coming down the pipeline so fittingly. Jackman: It is an absolutely massive twist. It's hard to think of a single play in modern wrestling that would feel bigger in terms of overturning everything we've learned over the years. Of course, John Cena is presented as the all-American good guy; that's just how things work, right? As far as where it ranks in heel turn infamy, I really think that Hollywood Hogan is the most apt comparison here. We've seen some shockers over the years with Seth Rollins and others, but they still made sense within the wider storyline, usually with someone turning on their old faction. This is a total rug-pull which basically tears up everything we thought we knew about John Cena as a human being, let alone a wrestler. I think the proof of its significance is the way it's being noticed by casual fans. I'm sure we've all seen the posts on social media of people showing texts from friends or relatives who haven't watched the product for years suddenly saying 'Wait, John Cena went heel?' That shows you what a seismic change this was. Jackman: This is the million dollar question. These sudden heel turns always hit hard in the moment, but they can fizzle out quickly if you don't book them correctly. Just look at the New Day twist, which felt like prestige television when it happened, but has lost steam ever since. I think the starting point is that this has to feel like a genuine evolution to Cena's character. We need to know what pushed him to this point. The best heel turns are those which have their roots in logic, rather than just being a cartoonish embrace of the dark side. I wonder if one idea would be to tie it to that longstanding losing streak which Cena himself referenced on the Netflix debut. Maybe he could cut some promos about how trying to please the fans only led to him losing, but by rediscovering his ruthless aggression he was able to win the Chamber. As for the retirement tour, I'll stick to the more conservative path here and say that Cena should not beat Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41. My reading of that particular situation is that it's about a longer-term play for Cody vs. The Rock at WrestleMania 42, after 'The Final Boss' decides that — having failed to defeat Rhodes by proxy for two years running — he is now throwing down the gauntlet himself. A 17th world title win still feels inevitable to me, but later in the year. If heel Cena is here to stay, then perhaps the most powerful option would be for him to beat Jey Uso (who would have to win at WrestleMania) for the World Heavyweight Championship. That also gives WWE a chance to go full circle with what happened at the Rumble, which they can present as the genesis of Cena's heel turn. Remember Cena's quizzical expression when his feet actually hit the floor? Perhaps that was the moment that something inside him finally snapped. Sulla-Heffinger: So I think there are a lot of people — including myself — who owe Dwayne Johnson a bit of an apology for doubting the creative direction of 'The Final Boss' since he demanded Cody Rhodes' soul two Fridays ago. This has worked incredibly and sets up one of the biggest years — not just WrestleManias — in recent memory. With CM Punk and Rollins seemingly on a path toward their own WrestleMania 41 clash, Jey Uso locked in his feud with World Heavyweight Champion Gunther and Sami Zayn on the mend, Rhodes is running out of allies against Cena and 'The Final Boss' quickly. The obvious answer here is that Reigns aligns himself with "The American Nightmare" and we get a tag-team match between all four at SummerSlam later this year. But I ask, where's the fun in predicting the obvious? Let's assume Reigns doesn't get involved until later in the year and instead injects himself into the Rollins-Punk feud to pay off the Royal Rumble tease. Rhodes can go into his WrestleMania match against Cena solo, and as he's inevitably getting beaten down by Cena and The Rock, Allegiant Stadium becomes illuminated in green and tens of thousands of fans erupt as we hear 'It's Time to Play the Game.' Triple H's in-ring career is over because of a medical issue, but he could don his leather jacket one more time, swing the sledgehammer a few times and hit a Pedigree to keep Rhodes as the face of WWE. Johnson has spoken — and practiced — straddling the line between kayfabe and reality in his dual roles as a TKO board member and on-screen character. Triple H can do the same — and honestly the poetry of Rhodes having destroyed Trips' throne and then needing his help to stay atop it is S-tier storytelling, if you ask me. Riggs: The possibilities couldn't be any more limitless, and it's hard for me to imagine Cena's heel run not going beyond 2025. Cena may not have to wrestle beyond this year, but he'll stay involved. Ultimately, the people against the authority is always a winning formula, and that's why this storyline can make for a quality, Hollywood anti-hero variation of the NWO. To swipe a reference from the series "The Boys," Cody Rhodes is the good guy in a sea of Homelanders, and from here, Cena and The Rock establish a complete takeover of the company. We're selling souls to make history here, folks. Cena makes history and defeats Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 with the help of The Rock and another wildly over individual right now, Jey Uso, who both Cena and The Rock help win the World Heavyweight Championship because Uso simply can't beat Gunther alone. Cena then becomes the new Brock Lesnar titleholder, showing up on television once a month and only to defend the belt, scraping by time after time. Eventually, the egos can no longer co-exist — The Rock wants that title. He wants the "Tribal Chief" status. He wants it all. Rock cuts Cena's legs out from under him at SummerSlam to take the throne, leading to CM Punk vs. the man who stole his WrestleMania main event all those years ago — The Rock vs. CM Punk across the marquee at WrestleMania 42. I like Anthony's usage of Triple H, and some injection of that into my booking makes plenty of sense too. But we're going far out of left field now, so we'll leave it there. Again, limitless possibilities.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WrestleMania 41 check-in: Is The Rock going to ruin it all? Plus grading the Rumble winners' picks
With the WWE Royal Rumble — and the subsequent winners' selections — in the rear-view mirror, and the Elimination Chamber looming this Saturday, it's about time the Uncrowned Horsemen did a WrestleMania 41 check-in. Last time we convened to discuss the Showcase of the Immortals, we became enamored with the power of the pencil, fantasy booking the main events of both nights, John Cena's final 'Mania match and more. For this second draft, we're examining the Rumble winners' choices, revisiting the Cena question, figuring out what presence the diminished Bloodline will have on the card and making sense of The Rock's utterly bizarre overture to Cody Rhodes. Anthony Sulla-Heffinger (excitement level 6/10): Gunther made the most sense for Uso, given you probably don't want your top two babyfaces going against each other at the Showcase of the Immortals. I think Uso has done a phenomenal job in reinventing himself as a solo star, and outside of Roman Reigns, no Bloodline-related figure has benefited more from his involvement in this generation of professional wrestling's defining story. That said, I wrote in my Feb. 10 'Raw' recap that Uso needs to show he's more than just an entrance over the next two months ahead of WrestleMania 41. So far, Uso, Gunther and WWE are laying great groundwork, so I expect the anticipation to ratchet up over the next few weeks. Robert Jackman (excitement level 7/10): If we're accepting the premise that Uso was the right choice for the Royal Rumble, then yes, this match makes way more sense than the alternative. Why pit Uso against his former tag-team partner and the man who personally invested political capital in bringing him to 'Raw' in the first place? I won't say I was immediately hyped for this match, but I think this past Monday night was a good sign in terms of where it will go. Everyone knows 'Main Event Jey' is the biggest crowd-pleaser in WWE right now, and I think Gunther will have a lot of heel-ish fun in trying to burst that bubble and torment the fans. We've seen a lot of smart, new angles in recent years, but sometimes the simple stuff works best. This one is the most basic angle in pro wrestling — 'I'm the heel and I'm going to hurt the guy you like' — and these two have the talent and momentum to do it perfectly. Kel Dansby (excitement level 5/10): My excitement for Gunther vs. Uso sits at a very mid level. The memory of Jey and Jimmy Uso laying an egg at WrestleMania 40 is hard to forget. While it's difficult to have a mediocre match with Gunther — and the two recently put on a banger — there's always a chance we've already seen Uso's best. That said, the idea of Gunther crushing Uso's dream and leaving the fans devastated after dismantling Mr. Yeet on Night One is intriguing. Drake Riggs (excitement level 2/10): As our readers may know by now, I wouldn't say I'm "anti-Jey Uso," but he doesn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, that sucks. I wish he did. Cody Rhodes would've been a significantly more compelling choice from every angle. I don't think that's even a debate. However, he wouldn't have been the right choice simply because of how many more intriguing options there are to challenge him at the big show (not Paul Wight, I promise). So with that in mind, Gunther was the guy for Uso, and because of how we arrived here, I don't see a world where Uso doesn't get strapped up and pull off the upset. This is entirely for the sake of the moment, and again, I absolutely love a massive, unforgettable crowd explosion of euphoria. I just don't care about this one and don't have high expectations for it to deliver. You know what the beauty of that is though? I've set the bar so low, I'm in a prime position to have this exceed expectations and enjoy it. There are occasional perks to being a contrarian, guys. Riggs (excitement level 9/10): Yes, yes, and yes some more. Obviously there's history between Flair and Rhea Ripley to play off of. That isn't going anywhere though, and Ripley doesn't need it right now. She has fresh options to take care of (like hopefully something significant with Iyo Sky). Sadly, the Elimination Chamber only has two real intriguing potential opponents in it for her: Roxanne Perez and Alexa Bliss. But back to Stratton — the contrast between past and present is enough of a story with her and Flair. They're the golden girls of WWE, and ultimately, this is a wrestling showcase match because the action between the ropes could easily steal WrestleMania weekend. Stratton is still somewhat of a heel too; she's just receiving the cheers she's rightfully earned. It's fresh and will only help further launch her to the heights she's destined for — as long as she doesn't lose to Flair. That would put a massive stain on all of this. Until then, I'm amped. Sulla-Heffinger (excitement level 8/10): One hundred percent, yes. We know the history between Ripley and Flair, and that a trilogy WrestleMania match between the two should happen at some point in the near future, but there's an excellent opportunity for storytelling with Flair here. As much of a non-surprise as Flair's Royal Rumble win was in some circles, I don't believe it's a foregone conclusion that the clock runs out on "Tiffy Time" in Las Vegas. Stratton represents the best of a new generation of female talent in WWE — one inspired, in part, by Flair herself. A win over Flair won't only cement Stratton's superstar status, it'll show the competition has caught up to "The Queen" and she'll need to reinvent herself as a vicious heel in a way we haven't seen before. Dansby (excitement level 8/10): It's Tiffy Time! Has any NXT talent in the past three to four years had a better main roster call-up than Tiffany Stratton? Her entitled gimmick mirrors a heel Flair, making this matchup an exciting prospect. The excitement would be even higher if Flair had fully committed to a heel turn instead of the forced babyface role they briefly teased upon her return. Stratton's ability as a babyface remains unproven, but if given enough time, these two can tell an incredible in-ring story. Jackman (excitement level 7/10): Absolutely. I don't think I've seriously heard anyone suggest otherwise on this one. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it will be as good an in-ring spectacle as everyone is hoping. In terms of the storyline dynamics, we're still very much in the dark on that front. Flair's long absence prior to her Rumble win means she's very much starting fresh. Not to mention the fact that I don't think she and Stratton had ever appeared on the same show until this month. The lukewarm reaction to Flair's return promo wasn't great, but I'm sure things will be stepping up a gear before long. Sulla-Heffinger: It feels odd saying this, especially considering WWE 2K25 is going all-in on The Bloodline, but I think the story is just about finished. Assuming we get there, Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa should be entertaining enough and both will hover around the main event picture for the foreseeable future, but I don't see the faction patching everything up afterward. The OG Bloodline members should all be in major matches — Jey Uso vs. Gunther, Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk, and possibly Jimmy Uso in a United States Championship scrum. As far as The Rock, I'm not sure where we're going with the whole Shang Tsung impersonation against Rhodes, but I don't see how he can naturally fit into WrestleMania 41 in a way that doesn't feel rushed or disjointed like his bizarre promo last week. Jackman: The interesting thing about this question is how different our answers would have been six months ago. Back then, there was a firm consensus that The Rock was the one pulling the strings in The Bloodline realignment — hence his cryptic gesture at Bad Blood — in order to build up to a mega-money match with Roman or Rhodes at WrestleMania 41. Even after Friday's appearance from The Rock, I don't think anyone thinks that's on the cards anymore —at least not this year. While it may pale in comparison with last year's debacle ('I'm coming for you, Roman, but not at WrestleMania'), it's another reminder of how WWE's entire creative direction can turn full circle depending on The Rock's availability. Riggs: At this point, I lean more toward somehow getting The Rock vs. Rhodes rather than John Cena involved with them. I'd like to believe WWE won't abandon that tease between them after WrestleMania 40, but who knows? Right now, I think "The Final Boss" sits this one out. With The Bloodline overall, it looks like they're finally going to take that break I've been looking for. There's been some dissension looming between Sikoa and Fatu — I mean, Sikoa practically cost Fatu the win in his Elimination Chamber qualifier match. Have them collide at WrestleMania 41 as this year's version of the Uso Civil War. (Just better, hopefully.) Dansby: All signs point toward Sikoa vs. Fatu at WrestleMania 41. The continued dissolution of The Bloodline is crucial to The Rock's long-term involvement in the story. Sometimes brothers fight, but it takes a "Final Boss" to bring them back together. Meanwhile, The Rock's offer to Rhodes to become his Corporate Champion gives him a storyline beyond the Bloodline. If Rhodes rejects the proposal at Elimination Chamber, someone like CM Punk or Reigns could take his place. This setup allows The Rock to appear at WrestleMania 41 without having to prepare for an actual match. Dansby: Cena shouldn't get his title opportunity until December 2025. WWE should take the full year to build his climb toward breaking Ric Flair's championship record. For WrestleMania 41, this may be an unpopular opinion, but Cena vs. Logan Paul makes a lot of sense. Paul could generate nuclear heat with a shocking pin over Cena in the Elimination Chamber, setting up a fun match with lower stakes for part-timer Cena. This scenario also offers Cena the chance to win his final WrestleMania match in a way that doesn't involve a title chase. Sulla-Heffinger: After the Royal Rumble, when Cena announced himself for the Elimination Chamber and his pursuit of world title No. 17, he said it was because it was what is best for business. Part of that was kayfabe, but there's also plenty of truth in his statement. So what's best for business when it comes to WrestleMania 41? Cena vs. Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. With all due respect to the other Elimination Chamber match on Saturday, there's only one more shot for Cena to main event WWE's biggest show. And while Rhodes doesn't need the rub, he could be solidified as the next great face of WWE. It's what needs to happen. Jackman: I can see the arguments on both sides here, but I have to side with Kel. 'Big Match John' shouldn't get a major world title shot this soon in his retirement tour. I think the seeds of this whole angle were sown back in October 2023, when Cena delivered that heartfelt promo suggesting that he was close to throwing in the towel. (Crowd: 'You've still got it!' Cena: 'But what if I don't?') To state the obvious, the fans hate the idea of Cena giving up, and the WWE will milk that for all it's worth. That's why I'm expecting a few more bumps in the road for Cena just yet, including a defeat in the Elimination Chamber in Toronto. Riggs: Well, this question hasn't gotten any easier. My hopes of a triple threat match against Rhodes and The Rock have almost entirely faded. Even just Cena vs. Rhodes would be fun, but I'm going to let logic prevail. We've seen Cena show no qualms about putting guys over since he became a part-timer. I can't possibly imagine Cena wins whatever match he gets for his final sendoff. One of his biggest rivals would be perfect, but that means Edge for me, and obviously the man currently known as Cope is out of the picture as he pursues the AEW World Championship. Randy Orton? WWE won't just pretend like his Kevin Owens shenanigans didn't happen. JBL? I mean, I would love that too, but I'm surely pretty alone on that one. CM Punk or AJ Styles are also out there, but maybe even more unrealistic than those other names. So to circle back to putting guys over who need it — just give it to Joe Hendry, Hunter. Riggs: I came up with this question, and you're about to find out why. You know what I miss? The Money In the Bank Ladder match at WrestleMania. That was perfect — and I get why it became its own event. It was a smart move, but I can still feel how I feel, OK? But this is the year and the WrestleMania where WWE has the opportunity to do one of the coolest things in professional wrestling history. TNA is officially a part of the fold now, right? Let's get wild: An Ultimate X match for the Intercontinental Championship. The current champion Bron Breakker defending against Sheamus, Penta, whoever the TNA X Division champion is at the time (currently Moose), and obviously, the "Phenomenal" former six-time TNA X Division champion and its inaugural champion: AJ Styles. The perfect consolation prize to WrestleMania's Money In the Bank does exist, folks. Let's party. Jackman: I am in awe of Drake's answer here. I think an Ultimate X match would be a genuine 'wow' moment for the vast majority of current WWE fans who won't be familiar with much of TNA's product. I'm going with something more basic. Remember how those 'showcase' four-way tag matches were a surprise hit at WrestleMania 39? I think there's an obvious opening to do something similar, utilizing the likes of DIY, The Street Profits, MCMG and Pretty Deadly on the men's side, and then some of the NXT teams (Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson; Sol Ruca and Zaria) on the women's. Sulla-Heffinger: Let's get the celebrity aspect back into the mix at WrestleMania 41. I want to see a Mask vs. Hair match tag-team match between Penta and Chad Gable. Gable has been on this mission to learn how to beat luchadors, so we'll see who WWE drums up as his partner as he puts his hair on the line in this completely hypothetical match. On the other side, let's get The People's Tight End, San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle, into the ring. Penta needs a big moment in his first 'Mania and this would interject some fun into the equation. Dansby: With such a deep roster, WrestleMania 41 is the perfect time to bring back the Intercontinental or United States Championship ladder match. These multi-man matches have always delivered, creating moments like Zack Ryder's shocking title victory. The seeds are already being planted for Shinsuke Nakamura to defend his title in a ladder match. A field featuring Nakamura, Andrade, LA Knight, Carmelo Hayes, The Miz, and a rumored returning Aleister Black could steal the show and blow the roof off Allegiant Stadium.
