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WWE WrestleMania 41 Night One preview and predictions
It's WWE's biggest weekend of the year as they take over Las Vegas for WrestleMania 41, the company's grandest stage of them all.
The event is spread across two nights at the Allegiant Stadium and features two stacked cards, with the first night headlined by the huge triple threat between CM Punk, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
DAZN News breaks down the card and makes predictions for WrestleMania Saturday.
War Raiders vs The New Day
WWE World Tag Team Championship
It’s a little surprising that it’s the Raw titles that have found their way onto the WrestleMania card, given the focus that the other tag straps have had on SmackDown, but it could be the best way to breathe life into the belts.
There’s a lot of love for the War Raiders and what they’ve overcome over the last eighteen months, but it feels like the time to give The New Day something to actually chew on.
Their heel turn has been well and truly underwhelming so far, so giving them the championships may put renewed focus on the team and stop Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston from treading water on Monday nights.
Winners: The New Day
Rey Mysterio vs El Grande Americano
Who’d have thought ‘Chad Gable’ in a mask would be one of the most entertaining stories going into Las Vegas this weekend? But props to whoever is behind the mask of El Grande Americano – because it’s working!
The match with Rey Mysterio seemed like a no-brainer, given the story that had been working on around Gable. However, there seems to be a little more legs in it yet, and the full reveal may be saved for a later date.
Therefore, El Grande to get the win on the grandest stage, perhaps with a little help from the American Made lot.
Winner: El Grande Americano
Jade Cargill vs Naomi
When it was revealed that Naomi was Cargill’s mystery attacker, I think it was a pretty good assumption that when the two met in the ring, it would be a nailed-on win for Jade.
However, since her turn to the cautionary side, Naomi has been one of the MVPS of the WrestleMania build, and few would begrudge her a win on the grandest stage.
Yet, WWE history tells us that Cargill's attack needs to be avenged, and in these types of angles, it’s usually the fan favourite who gets the last laugh – even if a large portion of fans could be rooting for her adversary, given her performances in the last few weeks.
Winner: Naomi
LA Knight vs Jacob Fatu
United States Championship
It’s good that WWE hasn’t gone the multi-man route for the US title match, and by pitting these two against each other, we’re getting a real spotlight on the belt.
Momentum is certainly with Fatu, whose stock is rising both in company terms and among the WWE Universe. However, Knight still remains one of the most consistently over talents.
A feud between Fatu and Bloodline cohort Solo Sikoa seems inevitable, and we reckon it starts here, with Sikoa somehow costing the Samoan Werewolf the title and setting up the final split in the Bloodline sphere.
Winner: Jacob Fatu by DQ, keeping the belt on LA Knight
WWE
Tiffany Stratton vs Charlotte Flair
WWE Women’s Championship
This feud was struggling to cook until the car crash of a segment two weeks ago on SmackDown, where both Stratton and Flair reportedly went off script.
However, the added spice has now given the match a much-needed injection of heat by blurring the lines between reality and what we’re seeing on screen.
Prior to that confrontation, it still made sense for Tiffany to go over the 14-time champion, but imagine the mega reaction ‘The Queen’ would get if she once again lifted yet another title in Vegas.
I still don’t think it will happen, but it seems much more likely now than it did at the start of this programme.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
Gunther vs Jey Uso
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
For a long time, this story suffered most from the longer time between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania year – especially as Jey’s intentions were made relatively soon after he won the Rumble back in February.
Yet, in the last few weeks, as the feud has gotten more personal and both men have upped their promo game, it’s become red hot ahead of their showdown in Vegas.
Gunther has shown his exceptional heel chops during the programme, but it feels like the match with the most obvious outcome over the weekend.
Expect the Allegiant Stadium to be Yeeting in celebration when Jey Uso completes his Rocky-like story to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Winner: Jey Uso
CM Punk vs Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins
It’s not everyone’s choice to main event the show, and the idea still feels like three men shoe-horned into a match, but there’s no denying the star power involved.
It’s Punk’s very first Mania main event – if we consider night 1 a proper main event – Roman Reigns’ 10th, while Seth Rollins will look to steal another WrestleMania moment.
Nothing is at stake in this bout – something it probably needs – but the story is firmly centred around Paul Heyman.
Reigns’ wiseman will be in the corner of old friend Punk, possibly putting the Tribal Chief off his game, while he’s also in debt to Rollins over another favour.
This has led to theories of a shock twist with Heyman screwing both his clients and forming a new alliance with Rollins and the Visionary getting the win.
He certainly would benefit from it the most, but there’s a nagging feeling that night one may go off the air with Punk finally getting his moment in the Mania sun.
Winner: CM Punk