Wrestlemania 41 Discussion Thread

[Kamran]

Night 2 started so much better than Night 1. 

The triple threat was excellent, all 3 looked great. 

The street fight was good, although Drew (like the Vikings) looked ridiculous; their cosplay attire looked so cheap, you would think they could afford something better, considering it's part of a sponsorship deal. 

The four-way was a lot of fun, Bron looked great and loved the ending moments with Dom. 

I was surprised to see Joe Hendry, I heard he was a possible opponent but I didn’t think he'd get much of a reaction. Fairplay though, the crowd seemed to like it, I’m glad they kept it short. As much as it's nice for the TNA champion to get a spotlight like this I do wonder if it’s worth it when he looks like a chump.  

The Paul/Styles match was OK but I never really got into it.

With all the rumours of Becky appearing it wasn't a surprise to see her, I used to like her but can't stand her any more. I didn't really pay attention to this, it seemed OK. 

Loved the video package before the main event but the match didn't deliver; it felt like everyone was waiting for The Rock to appear. I found it hilarious when Scott appeared, Cena had a big smile, as if Scott was going to be this big help to him. 

Overall, it was a mixed bag, there were only a few highlights and the ads/sponsorship have got to ridiculous levels now. They seem to be getting worse each year, next year I wouldn’t be surprised to see them get the wrestlers to plug a product mid-match.

Edited April 21, 2025 by Kamran

[TheBurningRed]

2 hours ago, Supremo said:

conveniently ignoring the fact that he’s a Wrestlemania choke artist

Except winning his first ‘Mania match.

[SaitoRyo]

Managed to watch bits of pieces of both nights over a busy easter weekend.

Jey Vs. Gunther didn't do too much for me. I don't rate Jey and am not into 'yeeting', while I really like Gunther so, yeah. Not much here for me to enjoy, even though they tried hard and Jey seemed slightly less awful than usual. 

Skipped the next three matches as I wasn't arsed about any of it, though I might go back and check them out in the next couple of days. I thought Fenix/Gable was fine, though it definitely felt like filler and not a proper 'Mania match. My kids were a bit gutted that Rey Mysterio was injured as he's their absolute favourite. 

Stratton/Flair was awkward, sloppy and it was hard to tell who was doing what at times due to their gear clash which, given her ways, I have to assume Charlotte did on purpose. She seems more than happy to cut her own nose off to spit her face. Her new face. 

Bret doing the eye roll at HHH's handshake during the HOF bit was my favourite part of the whole weekend. The Beefman still has it and managed to completely upstage Levesque in one second. That's what you get for giving the GOAT a jobber entrance, ya mark.

I did feel bad for HHH (who hates the spotlight) having to be out front and centre so much. 

Haven't watched the night one main but will at some point as I heard it was real good. Saw some clips and, fuck me, Heyman looks absolutely awful these days, doesn't he? If this was 2002 we'd have JR calling him a fat cunt every week in the Ross Report (and rightfully so).

Thought the women's triple threat to kick off night two was tremendous. A bit too choreographed at times, perhaps, but full of energy and inventive spots. Big contrast to Flair/Stratton, as well, as these three were on the same page and had very distinctive looks and styles and it made for a much better match. Would like to see them do it again at some point.  

Priest Vs. McIntyre was good fun and definitely benefitted from having Street Fight stips. 

The IC Title four way was a hoot, too, and everyone in it got to shine. Time for Breakker to step into the world title scene soon, you'd reckon. I really wish they still ran a full house show schedule as the likes of Breakker and Stratton would be improving so much faster than they already are, but it's a different business now, I suppose. 

The Hendry thing was cute and good for him for getting that big pop and hopefully a big payday to go with it. Orton's 2002 debut gear colour scheme was a nice callback, too. 

Speaking of gear, I haven't seen AJ/Logan Paul yet but from pics and clips they both had some nice gear on. Is the match worth watching? I'd imagine it's athletic and they do some stuff but I can't say I'm too arsed about it. 

Not arsed about Becky Lynch, either, but it was great seeing Steve Austin riding an ATV into the fucking barricade. Would have been all in good fun back in 2004 or whatever but you can't do that now (because of woke). I reckon Nick Khan will offer that lady who fell over AAA if she doesn't sue.

Haven't watched the main as I wasn't too bothered about it and likely won't after reading everyone's comments. Seems like an all-time disappointing Mania main event, which is a shame given who was involved and how consistent night two had been up to that point.   

[The King Of Swing]

Okay I finally broke my no WWE rule just to watch the woman's Title triple threat match, after seeing all the praise on here.

Yeah it was really good. Really liked the finish and I'll always be an Iyo mark, at heart. 

That's me done for another five years or so.

[wordsfromlee]

I hope that woman rinses them for every penny she can get. It's not the first time Austin has hit a woman while pissed.

[The Reverend]

I don't really follow the product anymore, but it's Wrestlemania and on Netflix so I thought I'd dip in and out. A few random thoughts (some of which have already been mentioned):

Pat Mcafee - his commentary just grates, and he seemed to have to shout everything. 

Cody Rhodes entrance - what was that all about? It was like the evil Cobra Kai in the 1984 Karate Kid turned up.

Cena vs Rhodes - it shows how knackered Cena must be with the huge stops and starts in this match. I really don't think he know hows to play the villain. The stupid faces he was pulling were just ridiculous. The tussel with the belt looked ridiculous. They should've had a rewatch of the bell segment at WMVIII between Piper/Hart to see how to get a bit of emotion in someones conflicted thoughts.

The whole Travis Scott thing has rightly been slated. One thing that drives me mad, and it was just like the Rumble, is that the action doesn't have to stop. It was a long, long entrance but there was no reason the match had to stop and Cena had to watch him walk down. It just ruins the momentum.

I know it's a business, but the adverts are getting silly. On the ring, on the apron, on the barriers and then cutting to them. It's just overkill. I can't believe in Rhodes' entrance they cut to a massive dancing ice cream cone 

[Supremo]

Remember when Brock broke The Streak at Wrestlemania 30 and there was that jolt of electricity when the ref’s hand hit three? A crazy rush of excitement, like you were suddenly transported to a different dimension and nothing felt real?

I got that same feeling when Cena won here. The monster pop. Cena doing the smug sniff. The coolest he’s looked in years. Real shades of returning at Royal Rumble 2008 or doing his entrance at One Night Stand 2006. For a split second, WWE felt white hot again, this was the biggest act imaginable and the sky was the limit.

Problem is that it only lasted a few seconds. That rush of excitement quickly subsided. I was instantly reminded that whilst there’s an absolutely incredible concept here - fucking heel John Cena just won the Title - it’s the best idea at the worst time. Worst time for the company creatively, since they’ve completely fallen off a cliff. Worst time for John Cena physically, because he looked washed as fuck out there.

I didn’t hate the match as everyone else. There was definitely a novelty to watching Cena play heel, but it was still a dull, plodding drag overall. This needed blood, bells and whistles and all we got was Travis Scott, whoever he is. I’m forty years old, guys!

Tell me if I’m being too cynical, but I think Dwayne and Gerwirtz might be full of shit and making everything up as they go along.

Really funny that they sent Travis Scott out there instead of The Rock. Fucking Gareth Keenan, Assistant to the Regional Manager. Similar physique. 

Finish made Cody look like an even bigger loser than his mask did. I mentioned it last week regarding the booking of Rhea, and it was more of the same here. Nothing is more indicative of how quickly their writing has nosedived than their sudden inability to write babyfaces anymore. Cody Rhodes, The American Nightmare, has spent the last three years proving himself to be the smartest, bravest man, with thousands of friends to back him up. Yet here, he was an idiot getting distracted by some streak of piss, with nobody willing to help him. I mean fucking hell, I understand Stone Cold was probably being questioned by lawyers after crashing into that lady, but where the fuck was everyone else? Even if we assume The Rock locked the locker room door after last year. They’d just spent eight hours showing us that every celebrity that has ever existed was in attendance. Why didn’t any of them help Cody? Mid-2010s as fuck, all of this. Stupid, loser, Billy No Mates babyface loses the big match because he’s stupid and has no mates.

Perhaps worst of all, what the hell happened to the Money in the Bank 2011 idea that Cena was taking the belt and fucking off? Hardly anyone even mentioned it! Has it been dropped already? Has he ruined wrestling now? Do they even know themselves? It’s going to be the Summer of Punk all over again, isn’t it, where they write themselves into a corner they aren’t smart enough to figure out.

Raw opens with Cody sending Kevin Nash A TEXT.

Rest of the show was good though.

Edited April 21, 2025 by Supremo

[d-d-d-dAz]

[Doog]

Rubbish. Remember the last 10 minutes if WrestleMania last year, one of the greatest WrestleMania main events ever, crowd going mental, everything coming together (aside from the weird Undertaker bit). It was the best of times, was buzzing after.

Then this year, just a mess. Some decent bits but ending like it did just leaves a sour taste. Whatever goes on before if your event ends on such a shit note it sets the tone going forward.

The boom is well and truly over, this was WrestleMania 18 to last years 17.

Literally not even remotely interested in anything that might happen on RAW and that is insane coming out of WrestleMania. They've fucked it. Best but was Austin and the Karen. Was nowhere near her and wouldn't have made her fall like that, hilarious. Funnier how Austin did the token check but clearly wasn't arsed, top man.

But yeah, it's gone so far away than what professional wrestling is, only slight upside was that they didn't go silly with their match times, don't all need to be over 20 minutes, I prefer AEW overall but those long matches lose me. Can't see mu watching much WWE for the remainder of the year now.

[d-d-d-dAz]

To be fair to the lady who got hit, I thought on Saturdays show that when people got launched into the barricade it REALLY moved. It moved more than they usually do.

There's every chance she hurt her legs. Even if she didn't, probably good for them to learn to be a bit careful. Austin was hare arsing around the ring like an idiot.

[TheScarlettChad]

Americans are lawsuit happy so no doubt she'll sue because she stubbed her toe 

[DavidB6937]

7 minutes ago, Doog said:

But yeah, it's gone so far away than what professional wrestling is

Don't get me wrong, I thought the build up was pretty weak for most of it, and there were definitely things that could and should have been done a lot better on the nights but I'm not sure what you mean by this? Apart from the varying quality, they've not exactly reinvented the wheel. They're still WWE. They're still doing exactly what they've done for however many years now.

[Devon Malcolm]

17 minutes ago, Doog said:

Best but was Austin and the Karen. Was nowhere near her and wouldn't have made her fall like that, hilarious. Funnier how Austin did the token check but clearly wasn't arsed, top man.

Yeah, it probably wasn't serious enough to disown him if he was your mate.

[Doog]

3 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

Don't get me wrong, I thought the build up was pretty weak for most of it, and there were definitely things that could and should have been done a lot better on the nights but I'm not sure what you mean by this? Apart from the varying quality, they've not exactly reinvented the wheel. They're still WWE. They're still doing exactly what they've done for however many years now.

The increase in ads, the ring mat, the amount of celebrity involvement (I would normally excuse it for WrestleMania but its year round now). Travis Scott playing a part in your biggest main event of the year, imagine Fred Durst interfering in Austin/Rock at 17; I know it's not exactly that different from what they've been doing for years, but it's not for me and it's only going to get worse with the Netflix and TKO involvement.

I know everything evolves, but when there's another company that doesn't do all the above, at least to the extent that WWE does, then it does make it easier to zone out.

[SuperBacon]

4 minutes ago, Doog said:

imagine Fred Durst interfering in Austin/Rock at 17;

That would've been absolutely fantastic.