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John Cena vs Cody Rhodes headline a stacked card for WrestleMania 41

generic sport27 March 2025 09:30
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Cody Rhodes, John Cena ©️ WWE

WrestleMania 41, also promoted as WrestleMania Vegas, is an upcoming 2025 professional wrestling event produced by WWE.

It will be the 41st annual WrestleMania and will take place as a two-night event on Sunday, April 20, and Monday, April 21, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. 

This will be the first WrestleMania held during Easter weekend and the first WrestleMania to feature a match with CM Punk since WrestleMania 29. The event will also feature John Cena's final WrestleMania match due to his retirement from professional wrestling at the end of 2025. 

 

CODY RHODES vs JOHN CENA 

John Cena as we know him, is no more. At Elimination Chamber, the former Cenation leader shocked the world, selling out and aligning himself with The Rock and Travis Scott in one of the most shocking moments in WWE history.

The Greatest of All Time had just won the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match, guaranteeing himself a main event title opportunity against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41. But what followed was a stunning departure from Cena’s character, and shockwaves are still being felt.

Cena lured The American Nightmare in for a hug, then kicked him below the belt and launched a brutal assault on his WrestleMania opponent. This new persona will take on Rhodes at The Show of Shows.

Cena is seeking his 17th World Title, which would set the new record for most held in a career — a distinction previously held by 16-time World Champion Ric Flair. But standing in his way is The American Nightmare in the midst of his impressive first reign as WWE Champion.

These two Superstars have clashed almost 10 years ago, and much has changed since then.

Can Cena win his 17th World Title now that he’s embraced the dark side? Or will Rhodes be able to retain his title?

 

IYO SKY vs BIANCA BELAIR vs. RHEA RIPLEY 

In a stunning turn of events, the Women's World Championship will be decided in an epic Triple Threat Match when IYO SKY defends her title against Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania.

After returning from injury, Ripley regained the Women's World Title from Liv Morgan on the Netflix premiere of Raw and quickly reestablished herself as a dominant champion. Her WrestleMania challenger would be decided inside the Elimination Chamber, where Belair emerged victorious.  

Just when it seemed like that showdown was set, the unthinkable happened as SKY used commotion between Ripley and Belair to capture the Women's World Title from The Eradicator on Raw. Not only did The Genius of the Sky win the championship, but she was in line to replace Ripley in defending the title against The EST on The Grandest Stage of Them All. 

Outraged that Belair's presence had played a roll in her losing the title, Ripley attacked SKY and Belair and signed the contract. Nevertheless, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce refused to add Ripley to the title match at The Showcase of the Immortals. 

It was soon revealed, however, that Ripley had a rematch clause in her contract that would give her the opportunity to reclaim the title from SKY. In that matchup on Raw, Belair was named special guest referee, and she ruled their championship match a no-contest after being taken out by both competitors. 

With no options left, Pearce decided that the Superstars would square off in a Triple Threat Match for the Women's World Title at WrestleMania. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We&#39;ve got ourselves a TRIPLE THREAT match for the Women&#39;s World Championship at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WrestleMania?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WrestleMania</a>! <a href="https://t.co/zsZcnflHug">pic.twitter.com/zsZcnflHug</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1909399249470521371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

GUNTHER vs JEY USO 

Gunther is set to go to war against "Main Event" Jey Uso in a World Heavyweight Championship Match at WrestleMania.

Uso has become one of the most popular Superstars in WWE, YEET-ing through 29 other competitors to win the 2025 Royal Rumble Match. His victory earned him the right to challenge the World Champion of his choosing. When Gunther attacked him from behind on the Feb. 10 edition of Raw, Jey immediately announced that he would challenge The Ring General at The Show of Shows.

Walking out of WrestleMania with the title will be no small order. The dominant Gunther has held gold for the vast majority of his time with WWE, first as NXT UK Champion, then as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time, and finally as World Heavyweight Champion.

Moreover, he has already overcome Jey in World Title and Intercontinental Title Matches and has disrespectfully claimed that another win against Jey will add nothing to his resume.

Will Gunther's overconfidence be his undoing? Is Jey Uso destined to claim the World Heavyweight Championship at The Showcase of the Immortals? Or will the match cement the titleholder's legacy?

 

 

TIFFANY STRATTON vs CHARLOTTE FLAIR 

The WWE Women's Championship will be on the line when Tiffany Stratton defends her title against 2025 Royal Rumble winner Charlotte Flair.

Stratton cashed in her Money in the Bank contract against Nia Jax and defeated her to win the title on the Jan. 3 edition of SmackDown, ushering in the Prettiest Era Ever for The Blonde Bombshell.

The 14-time champion Flair returned from injury at the 2025 Royal Rumble and won the match, securing a championship opportunity of her choosing.

The Queen spoke with Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley and NXT Women's Champion Giulia before choosing to challenge Stratton on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

 

SETH ROLLINS vs CM PUNK vs ROMAN REIGNS

Las Vegas will play host to one of the biggest Triple Threat Matches in WWE history as Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins will battle at The Showcase of the Immortals.

Since returning to WWE, Punk has drawn ire from The Visionary, which has already led to several legendary battles.

After teaming with The Original Bloodline at Survivor Series WarGames, Punk eliminated Reigns and Rollins simultaneously from the 2025 Royal Rumble, incurring the wrath of Rollins, who assaulted The Original Tribal Chief and The Second City Saint.

When Punk and Rollins battled in Madison Square Garden inside of a Steel Cage, Reigns made his shocking return and pulled Rollins out of the cage before obliterating both Superstars.

All three Superstars met in Bologna, Italy, to discuss their differences, and it led to more chaos, forcing the need for an epic Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 41.

 

AJ STYLES vs. LOGAN PAUL

WrestleMania 41 will play host to The Phenomenal One going toe-to-toe with The Maverick in what is sure to be an unforgettable match on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Since returning from injury, AJ Styles has not taken kindly to Logan Paul, leading to tense interactions between the high-level Superstars.

Paul loves being part of viral moments, but he was on the wrong side of a huge one when Styles got the last laugh alongside comedian Andrew Schulz.

After weeks of mockery and sneak attacks, the bitterness between Styles and Paul will culminate in a can’t-miss matchup at WrestleMania 41.

 

LA KNIGHT vs. JACOB FATU FOR THE US CHAMPIONSHIP

The Megastar LA Knight faces his greatest test yet as he’ll defend the United States Championship against the monstrous Jacob Fatu.

Since defeating Shinsuke Nakamura on the March 7 episode of SmackDown to win back the United States Title, Knight patiently waited for someone to step up and challenge him at WrestleMania 41.

It took a titanic No. 1 Contender's Last Man Standing Match between Fatu and Braun Strowman to determine Knight’s opponent, and when the carnage stopped and the dust settled, Fatu became No. 1 Contender.

Will Knight successfully defend his title or will Fatu leave Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as the new champion?

 

JADE CARGILL vs. NAOMI 

Jade Cargill and Naomi will settle their volatile rivalry on The Grandest Stage of Them All. 

Several months ago, then-WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Cargill was taken out of action in a mysterious parking lot attack. The assailant remained unknown until The Storm herself descended upon the Elimination Chamber minutes before the high-stakes Women's Match and launched a counter-attack on Naomi to take her out of contention. 

Naomi returned to SmackDown and admitted that she had, in fact, taken out Cargill and lit the fuse of a series of back-and-forth attacks between them in the weeks that followed.

The bedlam got so bad that SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis soon announced that th two Superstars would square off at The Showcase of the Immortals. 

 

REY MYSTERIO vs. EL GRANDE AMERICANO 

Rey Mysterio will go one-on-one with El Grande Americano inside Allegiant Stadium at WrestleMania 41. 

Since "debuting" on Monday Night Raw, El Grande Americano has impressed with his Lucha skills, but his attitude has drawn the ire of maybe the greatest luchador ever, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio.

El Grande Americano disrespected Mysterio's LWO partner Dragon Lee by unmasking him during a match. He also put a piece of metal in his mask and took out both Dragon Lee and Mysterio to win a Six-Man Tag Team Match against the LWO. 

Tired of the disrespect, Mysterio has challenged El Grande Americano to a match at WrestleMania 41. 

 

BRON BREAKKER vs. PENTA vs. FINN BALOR vs. DOMINIK MYSTERIO

At WrestleMania, the Intercontinental Championship will be defended in a Fatal 4-Way Match for the first time ever at The Showcase of the Immortals.

Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker will clash with Penta and The Judgement Day’s Finn Bálor and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio.

Breakker has earned singles victories against all three competitors and has retained the title against Penta and Bálor, but now he’s primed to defend his championship in what is sure to be a can’t-miss Fatal 4-Way Match.

Penta will compete at WrestleMania for the first time and has yet to be pinned or submitted since making his electric debut in January.

Bálor and Mysterio have been butting heads in recent weeks, leaving plenty of intrigue as to what will happen when each challenges for the Intercontinental Title in the same match.

Bálor is a two-time Intercontinental Champion, whereas Mysterio and Penta will be looking for their first Intercontinental Title reign.

Which man will walk out of Las Vegas with the Intercontinental Title?

 

DREW MCINTYRE vs. DAMIAN PRIEST - SIN CITY STREET FIGHT

Brace yourself! Damian Priest is set to clash with Drew McIntyre on The Grandest Stage of Them All in a Sin City Street Fight. 

A volatile showdown between the two Superstars has been a year in the making. Moments after McIntyre overcame Seth Rollins to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to take it away from him. 

Although CM Punk played a role in costing McIntyre the title, conflict between Priest and McIntyre was inevitable once Punk turned his focus to Rollins and Roman Reigns on The Road to WrestleMania. In recent weeks, animosity has reached a fever pitch, highlighted by their recent parking lot brawl where Priest smashed The Scottish Psychopath through a windshield.

To reestablish order, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis made the match for The Showcase of the Immortals, with it later being determined that the match would be a Sin City Street Fight. 

 

THE WAR RAIDERS vs. THE NEW DAY 

Sporting a vicious new mean streak that matches that of the team they’ll challenge at WrestleMania, The New Day are primed for a can’t-miss title showdown with The War Raiders.

Having not been tag team champions in more than two years, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are looking to earn gold after shockingly ejecting Big E from The New Day a few months ago.

Since they captured the championship from Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh late last year, The War Raiders have retained by taking down Dominik Mysterio and McDonagh as well as American Made in title defenses.

The New Day and War Raiders have clashed in the past in Viking Rules Matches and more, with Erik and Ivar getting disqualified in controversial fashion but retaining the World Tag Team Title in their most recent battle on the April 7 edition of Raw.

Can The New Day become tag team champions for the first time without Big E as a member of the group?

 

LIV MORGAN & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ vs. BAYEY & LYRA VALKYRIA 

Women's Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria and Bayley will team up to challenge Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the WWE Women's Tag Team Title. 

Valkyria and Bayley won a Gauntlet Match on the April 11 episode of Friday Night SmackDown to earn the right to challenge for the title.

Representing The Judgment Day, Morgan and Rodriguez are enjoying a dominant third run as champions, destroying anyone who dares to get in their way with their incredible numbers advantage.

Can Valkyria become a double champion along with her new partner, Bayley, or will The Judgment Day continue to reign supreme?

 

Source: WWE

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