WWE WrestleMania 41 predictions, preview – NZPWI Roundtable

by NZPWI

April 20, 2025

WWE WrestleMania 41 predictions, preview – NZPWI Roundtable

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Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes headlines his third-straight WrestleMania against a same-look, new-attitude John Cena.

Cena, a 16-time world champion, is seeking an unprecedented 17th title reign at the expense of The American Nightmare. He secured his spot in the WrestleMania main event with a win inside the Elimination Chamber, after finishing as runner-up in the Royal Rumble.

Having begun what will be his final year as a WWE Superstar—Cena retires from the ring at the end of 2025—with a rocky start, Cena wasn’t initially confident of a WrestleMania win.

“In one moment, you changed all that with what you said to The Rock,” Cena told Rhodes on SmackDown.

“You see, kid, The Rock just gave you a choice. Do you wanna do what they [WWE fans] think is right? Or do you wanna win? And in the moment you made your choice not only did I think I could beat you, I realised [Monday] you don’t stand a chance. And that night all that was left for me to do was the one thing you couldn’t: prove to them [WWE fans] that they don’t matter.”

Buoyed by the audience for much of his career, Cena will finish his final year on his own. And now with the single-minded goal of claiming the Undisputed WWE Championship and solidifying his legacy as the Greatest of All-Time, it all comes to a head at WrestleMania.

WWE WrestleMania 41, Day 1 Card:

CM Punk w/ Paul Heyman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
World Heavyweight Championship:
Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso
WWE Women’s Championship:
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
United States Championship:
LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
El Grande Americano vs. Rey Mysterio
Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
World Tag Team Championship:
The War Raiders (c) vs. The New Day

WWE WrestleMania 41, Day 2 Card:

Undisputed WWE Championship:
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena
Women’s World Championship:
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley
AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul
Intercontinental Championship:
Bron Breakker (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Finn Balor vs. Penta
Sin City Street Fight:
Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre
Women’s Tag Team Championship:
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
Randy Orton vs. ???

NZPWI Roundtable: WWE WrestleMania 41 (Day 1)

CM Punk w/ Paul Heyman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

David Dunn (90% accurate for 2025):
CM Punk doesn’t have anything that Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins don’t—well, except for Paul Heyman—but he definitely wants this the most. Normally that wouldn’t mean much, but there’s something about WrestleMania that means it could be the deciding factor.
Winner: CM Punk

Grady Hooker (83% accurate for 2025):
I’m giving the edge to CM Punk, only because he has Paul Heyman in his corner and I think that is going to rattle Reigns just enough. Rollins is permanently rattled at this point.
Winner: CM Punk

Steve McCleary (83% accurate for 2025):
Punk’s holding all the cards in Vegas. He’s got his main event, he’s got his best friend by his side, and he’s got two opponents that also hate each other as much as they hate him. So, he’s got this. Next stop after winning? A rematch with John Cena has to have high odds.
Winner: CM Punk

AJ Murtagh (80% accurate for 2025):
I think the storybook ending would be for CM Punk to win this match clean. However I expect Paul Heyman to play a key role in this match. Heyman, now allegedly owes Rollins a favour, which I believe will be cashed in at WrestleMania; Rollins leaves the victor and possibly with Heyman in tow.
Winner: Seth Rollins

Sammy G (69% accurate for 2025):
Many have said this is a match with “no stakes” but the idea that this is the battle for the “Future of the Industry”, or for the “Soul of the WWE” does add some gravity to an already intense feud between these three. With Heyman’s loyalty also in the balance, this is a must-see match!
Winner: Seth Rollins

Picks Summary

CM Punk: David, Grady, Steve (60%)
Roman Reigns: – (0%)
Seth Rollins: AJ, Sammy (40%)

World Heavyweight Championship:
Jey Uso: David, Grady, Steve, AJ, Sammy (100%)
Gunther: – (0%)

WWE Women’s Championship:
Charlotte Flair: David (20%)
Tiffany Stratton: Grady, Steve, AJ, Sammy (80%)

United States Championship:
Jacob Fatu: David, Grady, Steve, AJ (80%)
LA Knight: Sammy (20%)

El Grande Americano: Steve, AJ, Sammy (60%)
Rey Mysterio: David, Grady (40%)

Jade Cargill: David, Grady, Steve, AJ, Sammy (100%)
Naomi: – (0%)

World Tag Team Championship:
The New Day: Grady, Steve, AJ, Sammy (80%)
The War Raiders: David (20%)

WWE WrestleMania 41 (Day 1)
Sunday, April 20
11am NZST (Countdown to WrestleMania from 8am)
Netflix (Countdown to WrestleMania on YouTube)

NZPWI Roundtable: WWE WrestleMania 41 (Day 2)

Undisputed WWE Championship:
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena

David:
The Rock, Elimination Chamber, all that aside, this is the last chance for John Cena. His self-imposed retirement deadline means it’s do or die. And whether he cares about the WWE Universe or not, John Cena never gives up.
Winner: John Cena

Grady:
We are seeing John Cena as a villain, something we never thought we would see, and he looks like it lifted something off his shoulders. We might get the John Cena of old back, the one that cannot be stopped, and the first step in that is championship number 17.
Winner: John Cena

Steve:
Cody’s made a career out of defying the odds, but he doesn’t always come through on his first attempt. Given he’s facing down the threat of an unbridled John Cena, who’s finally shaken off the chains holding him back for so long, and considering his alignment with The Rock, it’s likely Cody takes the L here.
Winner: John Cena

AJ:
I could go either way here. Cena seems focused and distracted at the same time and the bitterness inside may cost him. For his part Cody has shown great confidence in calling out and confronting Cena. Something in my gut though says Cena is getting his 17th world title 20 years after he won his first.
Winner: John Cena

Sammy:
Never did I ever think we would get “Dark-Side-Cena” but here we are, and it’s beautiful! With “Emperor Rock’s” presence hovering over WWE and in support of the challenger, a 17th reign as WWE Champion looks destined for John Cena!
Winner: John Cena