Huge John Cena change and Logan Paul shock – 13 major WrestleMania 41 moments that could shape next year of WWE on Netflix
After months of build-up, WrestleMania 41 is almost here as Netflix prepares to make broadcast history with WWE. After more than 30 years on linear broadcast television, the US rights to flagship WWE show Monday Night Raw were scooped up by the streamer in a $5bn deal beginning earlier this year. Thanks to Roman Reigns and other huge names,WWE With WrestleMania this weekend, Netflix makes similar history. For each of its 40 previous instalments, the show has been available to purchase in major markets on conventional pay-per-view, all the way back to the first edition in the mid-1980s. 2025 sees streaming dominate, with Netflix airing wrestling’s biggest annual show for the first time ever as part of a deal that gives the grappling entity exposure to the company’s 300 million global subscribers. To say WWE are making a big splash for the iconic occasion would be an understatement. The two-night card will be topped by John Cena’s quest to make his own history by winning a world title in WWE for a record-breaking 16th time as he steps up to Cody Rhodes to put the exclamation on a bitter feud. A stacked line-up across Saturday and Sunday sees Logan Paul, Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair and AJ Styles all feature to name just a handful. As well as showcasing WWE’s immense talent and popularity, WrestleMania serves another purpose, acting as the annual ‘reset’ point for storylines and drama for a company that has no off-season. So as much as WrestleMania 41 will be the end for some rivalries, it will equally be the ignition point for others. To that end, after all the smoke has settled on this weekend’s action, what comes next? Fortunately, talkSPORT will be taking in the action as the drama unfolds and, with one eye on the future of WWE, has highlighted 13 potential stand-out moments that could and maybe should happen at WrestleMania 41 to shape the next 12 months and beyond… John Cena wins 17th world title and flips the script Your time is up, his time is now. John Cena will beat Cody Rhodes to win his record-breaking 17th world championship on Sunday night, but the WWE legend certainly won’t be disappearing into the sunset. Heel Cena will stick around, and while he told fans last month they ‘didn’t deserve’ any new merchandise, or different entrance music to mark his shocking turn, he will in fact debut a new look at Raw after WrestleMania. Live on Netflix, Cena’s new theme will hit, and he will come out in brand new gear, strolling to the ring with the Undisputed WWE Championship in hand. Such has been the clamour for fresh merch, Cena’s new T-shirts, slogans and sweatbands will set records and make millions, proving that turning the long-time face into a bad guy truly was best for business. The war between Cena and Rhodes builds to a climax at WrestleMania this weekendGetty Gunther dominates Jey Uso to set up record-breaking run Plenty will argue that ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso has been disrespected in 2025 – and as Matty explains later in this piece – WrestleMania feels a must-win moment for him. Uso won the Royal Rumble in February, but he will not go on to main-event the Show of Shows, as has become custom for those victorious in the match. Instead, the World Heavyweight Championship bout is expected to open night one of WrestleMania. But the disrespect will continue when Uso steps in the ring to face Gunther. The imposing Austrian will squash his challenger on the Grandest Stage of Them All. It sounds harsh, and will draw the ire of many fans, but the dominant Gunther display will serve as an advertisement for the foreseeable future. He will have held the title for around 260 days heading into WrestleMania, and the 250lb star will show no signs of slowing down in the immediate aftermath. Seth Rollins’ current reign of 316 days is the longest for this recently-established belt, and Gunther will smash that with ease. He is on course to break that record in mid-June, soon after the Money in the Bank event. Who wins the briefcase likely won’t matter too much, because Gunther will chop down just about anybody who gets in his way, as he easily eclipses a year-long title reign and beyond. Gunther has proved his physical superiority over Uso, but will it be enough on Saturday night?WWE Becky Lynch makes shock return to shift landscape of women’s division Tiffany Stratton’s Women’s Championship bout against Charlotte Flair is already one of the most anticipated matches on the WrestleMania 41 card, amid off-script chaos. But WWE could blow the roof off Allegiant Stadium if they play their cards right and bring Becky Lynch back. ‘The Man’ has been away for 11 months, and during that time she has done little to suggest that a comeback is on the cards, with some even believing she has retired for good. Bu
After months of build-up, WrestleMania 41 is almost here as Netflix prepares to make broadcast history with WWE.
After more than 30 years on linear broadcast television, the US rights to flagship WWE show Monday Night Raw were scooped up by the streamer in a $5bn deal beginning earlier this year.
With WrestleMania this weekend, Netflix makes similar history. For each of its 40 previous instalments, the show has been available to purchase in major markets on conventional pay-per-view, all the way back to the first edition in the mid-1980s.
2025 sees streaming dominate, with Netflix airing wrestling’s biggest annual show for the first time ever as part of a deal that gives the grappling entity exposure to the company’s 300 million global subscribers.
To say WWE are making a big splash for the iconic occasion would be an understatement. The two-night card will be topped by John Cena’s quest to make his own history by winning a world title in WWE for a record-breaking 16th time as he steps up to Cody Rhodes to put the exclamation on a bitter feud.
A stacked line-up across Saturday and Sunday sees Logan Paul, Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair and AJ Styles all feature to name just a handful.
As well as showcasing WWE’s immense talent and popularity, WrestleMania serves another purpose, acting as the annual ‘reset’ point for storylines and drama for a company that has no off-season.
So as much as WrestleMania 41 will be the end for some rivalries, it will equally be the ignition point for others. To that end, after all the smoke has settled on this weekend’s action, what comes next?
Fortunately, talkSPORT will be taking in the action as the drama unfolds and, with one eye on the future of WWE, has highlighted 13 potential stand-out moments that could and maybe should happen at WrestleMania 41 to shape the next 12 months and beyond…
John Cena wins 17th world title and flips the script
Your time is up, his time is now.
John Cena will beat Cody Rhodes to win his record-breaking 17th world championship on Sunday night, but the WWE legend certainly won’t be disappearing into the sunset.
Heel Cena will stick around, and while he told fans last month they ‘didn’t deserve’ any new merchandise, or different entrance music to mark his shocking turn, he will in fact debut a new look at Raw after WrestleMania.
Live on Netflix, Cena’s new theme will hit, and he will come out in brand new gear, strolling to the ring with the Undisputed WWE Championship in hand.
Such has been the clamour for fresh merch, Cena’s new T-shirts, slogans and sweatbands will set records and make millions, proving that turning the long-time face into a bad guy truly was best for business.
Gunther dominates Jey Uso to set up record-breaking run
Plenty will argue that ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso has been disrespected in 2025 – and as Matty explains later in this piece – WrestleMania feels a must-win moment for him.
Uso won the Royal Rumble in February, but he will not go on to main-event the Show of Shows, as has become custom for those victorious in the match.
Instead, the World Heavyweight Championship bout is expected to open night one of WrestleMania.
But the disrespect will continue when Uso steps in the ring to face Gunther.
The imposing Austrian will squash his challenger on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
It sounds harsh, and will draw the ire of many fans, but the dominant Gunther display will serve as an advertisement for the foreseeable future.
He will have held the title for around 260 days heading into WrestleMania, and the 250lb star will show no signs of slowing down in the immediate aftermath.
Seth Rollins’ current reign of 316 days is the longest for this recently-established belt, and Gunther will smash that with ease.
He is on course to break that record in mid-June, soon after the Money in the Bank event.
Who wins the briefcase likely won’t matter too much, because Gunther will chop down just about anybody who gets in his way, as he easily eclipses a year-long title reign and beyond.
Becky Lynch makes shock return to shift landscape of women’s division
Tiffany Stratton’s Women’s Championship bout against Charlotte Flair is already one of the most anticipated matches on the WrestleMania 41 card, amid off-script chaos.
But WWE could blow the roof off Allegiant Stadium if they play their cards right and bring Becky Lynch back.
‘The Man’ has been away for 11 months, and during that time she has done little to suggest that a comeback is on the cards, with some even believing she has retired for good.
But if Lynch has been plotting a secret return, the moment her music hits would no doubt be an all-time WrestleMania moment.
Without their former world champion, the WWE women’s division has been a bit of a mixed bag of late.
Yes, there is plenty of needle around Stratton and Flair right now, but if Lynch returns to cost one or the other on the biggest stage, she could shift the landscape of the division overnight.
Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio shatter Judgement Day faction
It seems WWE have been planting the seeds for a Judgement Day implosion for weeks now.
There has been clear friction between Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor, and with the pair going toe-to-toe for the Intercontinental title on the big stage, the faction will finally come tumbling down.
While the duo will also have Penta and champion Bron Breakker to deal with in the Fatal Four-way, it won’t take long for ‘Dirty Dom’ and Finn to turn on each other.
Their failure to get along will end up costing both the title – I can only see Breakker successfully defending, or Penta picking up the win – and it will also spell the end of the Judgement Day.
Tensions between Mysterio and Balor will reach boiling point after the bout, and as they tee-off on each other, Carlito, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez will no doubt rush out to try and break things up.
But failure to win gold in the men’s division will be the final straw for the stable, and while Balor is the obvious member to kick, each star will soon go their separate ways.
Drew McIntyre puts on a clinic against Damien Priest and returns to where he belongs
The Scottish Warrior has spent the best part of 12 months reminding everyone he is criminally underrated and underutilized.
Few would disagree, given he hasn’t had a title match since June 2024, when he failed to beat Damien Priest in front of a hometown crowd in Glasgow, Scotland.
If you don’t count the five minutes and 46 seconds he was champion at WrestleMania 40, McIntyre hasn’t held meaningful gold since 2021.
That, simply, is far too long.
After decimating Priest to secure some long-awaited revenge against the man who ended his five-minute title reign, The Scottish Warrior will run through the roster until he can be ignored no more.
Title matches will follow in the coming weeks and months – against both my champions Cena and Gunther – establishing McIntyre back where he belongs, at the top of the card.
Don’t expect to see him de-throne either title holder just yet, though.
Regardless, McIntyre will build plenty of momentum, and by the time WrestleMania 42 rolls around in 2026, he might just be in a position to take his pick of the titles… perhaps by winning the Royal Rumble again?
Cody Rhodes disappears from WWE TV to plot revenge on Cena
Where there are winners, there are losers too, and at WrestleMania 41, Rhodes will find himself on the wrong side of history.
Losing the strap will be the ultimate disgrace to The American Nightmare, who has seen Cena spit in the face of everything he’s built since returning to WWE.
He will be forced into a self-imposed exile, and while the company won’t crumble in his absence, he will be missed by the fans as Heel Cena holds the title hostage on his farewell tour.
The WWE Universe will be desperate for Rhodes to return, and he will finally make his comeback ahead of a much-anticipated rematch for the belt at SummerSlam.
Whether he wins the title is a whole other question, but Cody will no doubt have some tricks up his sleeve after months away from the ring as he looks to silence Cena for good.
Jey Uso wins the big one – because he has to
Ollie’s sure there’s a world in which the sheer dominance of Gunther in WWE continues beyond this weekend. The Austrian himself said it on Raw this week: 80 percent of his time in WWE has been spent as a champion, so the idea of him retaining at Mania would be no massive shock.
Let’s be clear, though, such is the pedestal WWE have placed Jey Uso on in the last few months, he simply has to win.
The online wrestling community has been divided over the call to have Jey Uso win the Royal Rumble and earn this title opportunity so, to a degree, he has been swimming against the tide for some time. I think he has to push harder and then some, and leave Vegas with the gold, as the consequences don’t bare considering.
Uso is phenomenally popular in areas, where fans ‘Yeet’ along to his music, buy his merchandise and rally behind him. And yet, despite it all, there’s an underlying feeling that WWE haven’t totally done right by him since he won the Rumble.
Has he closed enough shows? Wrestled enough matches? Should he be in the main event? To say some title challengers have gone into ‘Mania with greater momentum would be an understatement but, for the sake of his run as one of WWE’s most popular stars over the next year, Jey has to win on Saturday.
Finally… The Rock has come back
Anyone remember The Rock? Miami guy, wrestled a bit, acted a bit, got a seat on the TKO Board?
Dwayne Johnson’s absence from the build to WrestleMania has stuck out like a sore thumb. Understandable though it is that WWE have gone ‘light’ on The Rock in recent weeks lest he not be available to appear on Sunday and fans are left disappointed, but we’re at a stage where the story between John Cena and Cody Rhodes really needs him.
There is, of course, one more episode of TV to come before we go to Mania – Friday’s SmackDown – but thus far, the big elephant in the room overshadowing Cena’s heel turn is why he did it at all.
Putting aside Cena’s explanation of having grown tired of WWE’s fanbase, The Rock was pivotal in pulling the trigger on it at all at Elimination Chamber. He’s barely been heard from since and, as one WWE ‘season’ fades into another with the passing of WrestleMania, it might just be time for him to pop by for a show or few.
Netflix flex keeps numbers high as streaming dominates
WWE has enjoyed a busy and at-times controversial time of it since their $5bn switch to the steaming giant at the outset of 2025.
Though fans in the UK in particular have benefited from less advertising on Netflix compared to predecessor broadcasters, viewers have been treated to a few less bells and whistles since that glitzy, cutting-edge opening night at the Intuit Dome in January.
If there’s a night Netflix can hit the reset button on that and really put down a marker for how it sees its future with WWE in the coming year and beyond, it’s WrestleMania.
How easy that’s made for them by the logistics of the enormous Allegiant Stadium remains to be seen, but with more casual eyes bound to be on the product over the coming weekend, it might suit Netflix to delve into their bag of tricks to help retain a few beyond the adventure in Vegas.
Bianca Belair embraces her heel side and becomes a villain for the ages
Well, isn’t Bianca Belair emerging as quite the bad guy? A heel, in wrestling terms.
The EST remains hugely popular with large portions of the WWE fanbase, there’ s no doubting that she’s begun to withdraw from some of the characteristics that have enabled her to stand out as one of the brightest, shiniest stars on the roster.
In a promo on Raw this week she referred to feeling out of sorts and ‘in my own head’ as of late and the seeds of a full heel turn are seemingly planted.
Gone, too, are some of the insanely colourful outfits that comprise her ring-wear, in favour of darker, dare I say it, shadier tones.
Is Bianca Belair embracing the wonderful world of wrestling villainy ahead of her title challenge against Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley on Sunday? I for one am absolutely here for it and could see her dominating the women’s division for the next 12 months if she does. This weekend might be the time for her to go full badass.
Logan Paul starts to keep his 2025 promise to be The Guy
Logan Paul does a lot of talking. While it’s easy to drown in the absolute word soup that is the impressive influencer turned grappler, it would have been hard to miss his declaration in 2024 that this – 2025 – would be his defining year as a wrestler.
He said he told his boss, WWE Head of Creative Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, that he wanted to be ‘the guy’ in 2025 with designs on ruling the wrestling world by fully investing in all the industry has to offer.
Well, we’re almost a quarter of the way through the year and The Maverick has, as yet, done very little.
He’ll no doubt shine in a match with the impeccable AJ Styles this weekend and, if there’s any many on the entire roster who can finally jettison Logan Paul on to the ‘bigger things’ to which he he seems so destined, it’s the Phenomenal One.
Paul’s 2025, we were told, was to be one we couldn’t miss – I fancy the same can be said for his clash with AJ at WrestleMania.
Lyra Valkyria becomes the MVP of WWE’s women’s roster
Whisper it quietly, but Irish sensation Lyra Valkyria is slowly climbing the proverbial ladder to being something special in WWE.
Valkyria is highly thought of, that much is clear. She pushed Nia Jax all the way in the Queen of the Ring finals last year and worked multiple live event matches with then-Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan.
In January she became the first Women’s Intercontinental Champion and, although WWE have been slow in developing that reign, there are further signs she’s flourishing in her position, having seen off Bayley in a recent title defence.
The fact she’s in a tag team title match at WrestleMania despite holding a singles championship herself is a little uneven, but one school of thought is that she’ll turn heel on partner Bayley at the show of shows to further flesh out what would be a very, very watchable rivalry indeed.
As a heel or a babyface, though, Valkyria looks to have a high of an upside of any other WWE star as we head into the next phase of the company’s year following Mania.
It finally happens for Chad Gable
It has to happen, surely? To say WWE have fumbled Chad Gable since Triple H assumed the creative mantle would be utter madness – that dubious honour goes to Vince McMahon, Shorty Gable et al, surely?
But now has to be the time for the company to light a fire on the insanely talented grappler and let him loose.
After all, The Game himself said he wants Gable to stay with WWE ‘forever.‘
He works against Rey Mysterio this weekend as El Grande Americano (stop it – he does) in a low-key candidate for Match of the Night on Saturday.
Quite whether Gable is finally unmasked as the roguish El Grande at WrestleMania or whether that storyline has further to run seems irrelevant; Gable will be working under his own steam again soon enough, and he has to make it to the big time.
It was right, in the end, for Gable to not be the one that dethroned Gunther as Intercontinental Champion when the duo were battering one another back-and-forth, but even Triple H can’t keep allowing the former Olympic wrestler to fall just short.
Let’s have him win at the Show of Shows and kick on from there…
WrestleMania 41 airs live from Las Vegas on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20.
