Depending on who you believe online, it is either a guaranteed lock that The Rock is facing Cody Rhodes at WWE WrestleMania 41 or he has absolutely no chance of attending that show. We know what happens if he is on the card, but how does WrestleMania 41 without The Rock even work? As the big date in Las Vegas draws near, things may become more apparent. As it stands today, though, there are some obvious paths forward to WrestleMania. Below are 12 matches, in no particular order, that will likely round out a Rock-less WrestleMania.
Trick Williams vs Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship
WHAT. A. MOMENT. @_trickwilliams has defeated @Carmelo_WWE in the main event of #StandAndDeliver!!! pic.twitter.com/vdqoW9Ipf6
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
When a legend bows out, the next generation can have their time to shine. Yes, the NXT title match should be at that weekend’s takeover. However, The NXT Women’s Championship can take center stage, and Shinsuke Nakamura’s United States Championship match could be a fun way to have the Main roster integrated into that show, too.
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams already have beef; one is already a top prospect, and the other is certainly destined to be one. They can and should have a big moment, regardless of who wins it.
Jade Cargill vs. Bianca Belair for the WWE Women’s Championship
We do not yet know who attacked Jade Cargill. One of the prime suspects, though, is Jade Cargill; the other is Bianca Belair. With Jade’s injury being part of a storyline, she can return at any time. As a late entrant in the Royal Rumble, say, to replace a mysteriously missing Naomi. She can win while Bianca wins back the Women’s WWE Championship that night.
This sets up a big-time main event and gives Jade an accolade in her second year: winner of the Royal Rumble. Her beating Belair’s streak at WrestleMania is less certain, but the match itself could earn a night one main event slot at WrestleMania 41 without The Rock.
Uncle Howdy vs. Xavier Woods in a “Return to the FunHouse” Match
transmission interruption. pic.twitter.com/AGgdyfSLGT
— Wyatt Sicks (@WyattSicks) September 15, 2024
Wyatt Sicks fans are still holding onto hope that Uncle Howdy’s band of misfits gets into something more substantial when WrestleMania comes around. They have really only had two feuds, and neither of them has featured on a premium event as of yet.
The issue, no disrespect to the talented Karrion Kross and Chad Gable, is who they are feuding with.
If the newly heel New Day ended up in the crosshairs of Uncle Howdy for their betrayal of Big E, then that match would warrant a Mania moment and a trip to Bray’s deserted and dilapidated funhouse.
John Cena vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship
John Cena’s last WrestleMania is this year, and so to be his last chance to break Ric Flair’s record. Flair isn’t getting any younger or less problematic from a public relations standpoint. Besides, the fun of a record is for somebody to break it.
Still, Gunther poses a legitimate threat to Cena. Likewise, John Cena is an icon most wrestlers can only dream of facing. Gunther losing to WWE’s GOAT doesn’t hurt him one bit. Most of his peers have done it, too; it is almost a rite of passage. This time, Cena needs this win for real.
Solo Sikoa vs. Roman Reigns in a Ula Fala Gauntlet Match
ACKNOWLEDGE HIM! 😤☝️#WWERaw on @netflix pic.twitter.com/Mzjd1zUDea
— WWE (@WWE) December 18, 2024
Despite losing decisively in most of their encounters, Solo Sikoa is still the Tribal Chief. There is only one semi-logical answer: he still wears the red Pandanus husks of the Ula Fala. Presuming their match on Netflix changes nothing; both sides should gather their forces for a Tag Team gauntlet-style match.
As people get eliminated, the next person runs out to save their partner. The last team standing wins. There are moments for Solo, Roman, and everyone else in this format, and the winner getting the Ula Fala at the end could offer some interesting character development to end this chapter of The Bloodline.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch for the WWE Women’s Heavyweight Championship
Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch are rumored to be on their way back to WWE. Their timing comes at the exact moment that the company’s two biggest women superstars could be tasked with selling out a WrestleMania 41 without The Rock.
These two are already closely linked. What can they do that is different now? Enter Ms. Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton. Putting the gifted Stratton character as a new champion, not against Nia Jax but caught between an irresistible force and an immovable object, could make for pretty good television.
Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley vs Finn Balor and Liv Morgan
Judgment Day is wearing on some people. The faction, though, has anchored large swaths of WWE programming for the last couple of years. A story as impactful as that doesn’t just end with a single match or even a series. One of the worst aspects of the Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan feud that is still ongoing was its Dominik-centered storyline.
If Liv aligns with Finn, the duo could finish off their feuds. If the Terror Twins of Ripley and Damian Preist win, Judgment Day is disbanded and barred from teaming together again. If Finn and Liv win, Finn will be the undisputed leader of the group, and both Rhea and Damian will have to rejoin under his orders. Then flip a coin backstage to pick a winner, I guess.
Drew McIntyre vs Goldberg
🚨 BREAKING: @Goldberg just announced that his retirement match will take place NEXT YEAR! 👀
🎥: @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/e5KtwfOGnY
— WWE (@WWE) November 2, 2024
Drew McIntyre will have a big match at WrestleMania. If WrestleMania 41 is without The Rock, that could make finding a reliable rival difficult. Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Roman Reigns all fit the bill, but not ideally, and they will need to make up for The Rock’s absence. Another name that could ironically fit the bill is Bill Goldberg.
If Rock makes the show, Goldberg probably has an angry Austrian penciled in as his retirement opponent. It could, though, be Big Drew who gets to do the honors. McIntyre would get a good match out of it. He may even get a better one than Gunther would.
Bron Breakker’s 15-Man Battle Royal for the Intercontinental Championship.
The shorter events make it hard to feature everyone. The memorial battle royals aren’t a prize worth fighting for, either. The Intercontinental Title is, and Bron Breaker would absolutely set an open challenge Battle Royal to test himself.
It can set up some returns for Iljia Dragunov or Pat McAfee, make space for some debuts, and give Dominik Mysterio his big moment. After Rey Mysterio eliminates Breakker, his son can toss him and win his first main roster title.
Seth Rollins vs CM Punk
“See you on the 6th!” 😤
We can’t wait! #WWERaw on @netflix is about to be a movie 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ulRzAGh3cO
— WWE (@WWE) December 18, 2024
Anyone who thinks we are getting a clean finish to this on Netflix should speak to me about some ocean-front property I’m selling in Arizona. CM Punk wants a WrestleMania main event, and Seth will give him one. I am sure he would prefer this to be a title match, which could happen. Assuming neither man takes the titles before this, their fight will have to be for something else.
It will need to be for pride or revenge. Even without a belt, there is no reason this couldn’t close either night. If Rock shows up, he will be in the last slot regardless of his title status. In a WrestleMania 41 without The Rock, CM Punk is arguably filling the same role.
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Titles Ladder Match
If you sign the stalwarts of the TNA X-division, you make them fight with ladders for you. DIY and Motor City Machine Guns will probably feud for a long time. They are all quite good and work well together.
With it being WrestleMania and without The Rock’s name, more than those two teams will lock up. Contenders like Pretty Deadly or Street Profits can take part in the fun, and the TNA original himself could enter the match with an unlikely partner to win the whole thing, perhaps a recently revitalized Kevin Owens.
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship
WrestleMania 41 without The Rock leaves Cody Rhodes all alone. It may be Dwayne Johnson’s packed schedule that has kept WWE from setting the one truly obvious match-up for Rhodes since his return, namely a fight with his rival and mentor Randy Orton.
Only in Orton can WWE salvage what should be a dramatic story with overacting and classic WWE style out of their Cody Rhodes spot on the card. The student vs. the master story is a simple throwback, which is both stars’ fortes. The match is hyped, just not at Rock levels.
People Will Watch WrestleMania 41 Without The Rock
This card is stacked and entirely plausible. No need for an MJF debut or Stone Cold return. With the talent on the roster right now, WWE has an incredible WrestleMania 41 card. It is better with The Rock, of course, but to have such an embarrassment of options on just one roster is a tremendous problem to have for WWE.
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