Update: Results
Wait, is it WrestleMania already?! Yes, two nights of WrestleMania 41 are happening this weekend, and if the FRO Horsemen don’t talk about it, we might as well disband the group. So here we are: FRO Horsemen: WrestleMania 41 Thoughts & Predictions.
And while we’re as excited as ever to see WrestleMania 41, it’s reportedly gonna be nine hours per night. We already know there will be at least 13 matches across the weekend. So yeah, it’s a lot.
Let’s just focus on the big matches—and we’ll throw in some bonus predictions at the end too. Today, GQ-Blu, Saule Wright (Let’s all give him some grace this go around) and I are sharing our thoughts and predictions on WrestleMania 41. I’ll be back later to update this post with the results. ~ B-Easy
B-Easy – While I want John Cena to beat Cody for the Undisputed WWE Championship (I mean, who else is gonna do it?), I don’t think it’s happening. Do we even have enough Cena appearances left for him to win the title, defend it a few times, get disrespected by The Rock, and then turn face again? Probably not.
Cody’s gonna beat Cena—and it’s gonna involve some bullshit. Maybe we get a Cena redemption arc after that, but I don’t think he needs the belt for that to happen. Cody retains.
GQ-Blu – John Cena finally going heel is one of the most shocking moments of wrestling history. The one thing we never thought would happen did in the twilight of Cena’s career.
While the moment and the promos the Cenation leader has cut have been epic, the Faustian deal that Cena made with The Rock after Cody turned it down was been largely absent since Elimination Chamber. And it’s certainly been missing from this angle that feels like it would greatly help. WWE can always have a last minute run in the night of for a pop and swerve, but this feud would’ve been better served with input of the Great One and a more clear picture of what it meant for Cena to sell his soul.
Also Travis Scott still needs his ass beat for blacking Cody Luther Kang’s eye. Maybe Cody gets his get back, and the distraction leads to an attitude adjustment for the record breaking win?
Saule Wright – Cena HAS to win.
B-Easy – Seth Rollins wins—with help from Paul Heyman.
It can’t be Punk, right? He can’t get his big WrestleMania “main event” moment and win the match. That’s too neat. And does Roman really need it? No. A heel Seth Rollins makes the most sense here.
It never really made sense for Seth to be rocking all those loud ass outfits and still be a babyface. Go ahead and give us a Heel Drip God—but with a Drip God Wise Man this time.
GQ-Blu – Another match that’s getting weirder by the minute. Just in the last 48 hours Reigns went MAGA and Punk is being called out for wrestling for Trump’s favorite Fed.
As a conscience Black man it’s always been hard to balance my love of professional wrestling with all of its racist, xenophobic, sexist, misogynistic and homophobic tropes and narratives. None of this shit is new. Trump is a member of its Hall of Fame no less. As much as we try to escape into the awesome stories of good vs evil and overcoming obstacles there’s no denying how wildly problematic the medium is and continues to be.
That being said, this feud has had troubles finding its legs. The reveal of Punk’s favor being to main event WM was at least logical, but I feel like we all know that while this is the last match of the night, it’s night one, and the real true main event is the last match on Sunday. Making Paul Heyman the bad bitch Roman and Punk are fighting over also again makes storyline sense but the stakes feel overly manufactured.
I think there was hope that Punk would use that favor to parlay into a title match and something wild would happen night two. Maybe Paul turns on both and sides with Seth? Seth wins this one.
B-Easy – Yeah, I think Jey Uso is beating Gunther for the World Title. Outside of becoming Tribal Chief, winning the World Heavyweight Championship has been the whole point of Jey’s “Main Event”/Yeet storyline.
If Gunther loses, you can easily pivot him toward the Undisputed WWE Title. But if Jey loses… what’s next for him? You gotta pull the trigger. So yeah, Jey wins. (Obligatory Yeet!!!)
G-Blu – There’s nothing else WWE loves more than getting behind African American vernacular about a year too late. But Gahtdamn props to Jey for getting YEET to cereal status and becoming an undeniable fan favorite. Questions on in ring work rate aside, Uso’s rise has been as organic as any other in wrestling history.
The build up for this match as been a little shaky, but I gotta believe you coronate Jey here and see what he can do with the rocket officially strapped to his back.
Saule Wright – I think you have to pull the trigger on this too. If for no other reason, Jey has really earned this and there is zero reason for this Gunther to remain champ.
AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul
Fuck what the internet says, Logan Paul is a very good wrestler. Him and AJ Styles should put on a banger—and make money. (Just don’t invest that money in CryptoZoo, please.) Extra points to WWE for putting Logan in there with someone agile and small enough for him to actually hit the “Paulverizer” on.
Fatal Four-Way for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio
Look, Finn Bálor is still one of my favorites and it’d be cool to see him holding singles gold again. And Penta and Bron Breakker are cool as hell. But let’s be real—I’ve been campaigning for Dominik Mysterio to win a world title all year. And we all know that winning the IC Title could be a stepping stone. Give Dom his flowers (and the belt).
Triple threat match for the Women’s World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley
The buildup to this match was kinda weird—Bianca got pulled away from the Jade Cargill/Naomi storyline, and Rhea’s been acting like a heelish sore loser—but honestly, it’s still better than most of the card’s build. Either way, this has the potential to be one of the best matches of the weekend. That’s not hard when you’ve got three of the best women’s wrestlers of all time in one ring.
As for the winner? Bianca and Rhea cancel each other out, so Iyo Sky retains. Now we just have to figure out… does that count against Bianca’s WrestleMania streak?
WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
This match is getting hyped for all the wrong reasons. Whether it’s Tiffany getting exposed as maybe not ready for prime time with her struggles to carry promos or Charlotte’s baggage taking more attention than her in ring ability, this has been more of a cluster than what I imagine should have been a coming out for Tiffy Time to be the next big women’s star.
Before this went left I would’ve said this an easy W to pencil in for Stratton, but with her recent struggles I think the move should be to have her drop the belt to Charlotte and let Tiffany chase the belt over the summer.
Naomi vs. Jade Cargill
First and foremost let me declare my undying love for Jade Cargill.
Now that that’s out the way I really hope this match gets some time to breathe. Naomi is doing some of her best character work in years. The story line is exciting AND easy to follow, which is not always the case in our favorite soap opera. And even though your opinion of Cargill’s in ring progress since jumping from AEW to WWE may vary, she is an undeniable star who oozes charisma.
This feud should not end at Mania and lead to some kind of high stakes gimmick match down the road. The fact that this is a straight up match and not a street fight or something tells me creative thinks so to. Naomi wins with some trickery.
WWE United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
It’s hard to think of the last time someone has come in with as much aura, presence and dominance as Jacob Fatu. I’m secure enough in my manhood to admit I wouldn’t wanna tussle with the Samoan Werewolf (although outside of kayfabe he seems like a pretty nice and goofy girl dad). WWE loves making heels chicken shits. It’s nice to see a truly dominant bad guy who legit looks like he’s murdering people in the ring.
There’s no reason for Knight to retain the title here. The crowd is 10000% ready to see Fatu elevated. This should actually be a savage beating where Knight is mauled. I wouldn’t be mad at an under 10 minute squash victory here.
WrestleMania 41 Saturday (Night 1)
- World Heavyweight Championship: Jey Uso defeated Gunther (c)
- World Tag Team Championship: The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) defeated The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (c)
- Jade Cargill defeated Naomi
- WWE United States Championship: Jacob Fatu defeated LA Knight (c)
- El Grande Americano defeated Rey Fénix
- WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) defeated Charlotte Flair
- Triple Threat Match: Seth Rollins defeated CM Punk (with Paul Heyman) and Roman Reigns
WrestleMania 41 Sunday (Night 2)
- Triple Threat Match for the Women’s World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) defeated Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley
- Sin City Street Fight: Drew McIntyre defeated Damian Priest
- Randy Orton defeated Joe Hendry
- Logan Paul defeated AJ Styles
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Lyra Valkyria & Becky Lynch defeated Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (c)
- Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena defeated Cody Rhodes (c)