With WrestleMania 41 rapidly coming up, Cody Rhodes is going to be one of the guys who is expected to be the Undisputed WWE Champion going into the Show of Shows. Now the scene is getting a bit hotter because a few of the best contenders who may meet him in this event are getting bigger and stronger. Moreover, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and a new face have a good chance of sending a surprise challenge to the champion and thus making the route to WrestleMania extremely exciting.
Amidst the high stakes and the fierce competition, fans are waiting fervently to find out who will emerge as the victor in the fight for the right to get a shot at “The American Nightmare” on WWE’s biggest stage. A few of the best contenders who may be potential challengers are:
1. CM Punk
CM Punk is one of those people who have had a lot to do with wrestling. When he suddenly came back to WWE, many fans got interested to see Punk and Cody Rhodes go head to head. The kind of history both the stars share makes it for a compelling storyline down the line on the grandest stage of them all. Just before the Royal Rumble PPV the two were seen having a heated exchange of words which might set the foundation of their match.
This has not been the first time they have both been in the same ring together as they were also top faces during their time in AEW. But they have not yet officially face each other in the ring, thus making a WrestleMania show even more interesting. With Punk’s “Best in the World” stereotyping against Cody’s “American Nightmare” life story, it might be the best WrestleMania headliner ever.
2. Roman Reigns
Enmity is what sparked the long-standing conflict between the top WWE characters – Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. Both combatants have beaten the opposing side in previous WrestleManias—Cody first took down The Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 40, while Rhodes lost to Reigns at WrestleMania 39. If there is a trilogy fight at Mania 41, it could be the best match between them and would determine the final result of their rivalry.
The OTC never got a rematch after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship at Mania 40. Before the Royal Rumble he made it clear that he was going after the title that he had held for over three years. With both the stars now standing as babyfaces it would be an interesting match up.
3. The Rock
The Rock’s involvement in the main storylines has been a hot topic of discussion, especially since his comeback to the scene and his interactions with Cody Rhodes on RAW. If The Rock decides to aim for the title, the encounter between him and Cody would be hugely significant. Both Cody Rhodes and The Rock, being their archetypical characters, convey the image of a circumspect end of two eras and being a rise to a new one respectively.
While Cody is inflexible on “Finishing The Story,” The Rock is the one who upholds the unprecedented tradition of the Anoa’i family, he is their image, naturally. The clash between the two top stars from two different eras would be a perfect setup for a Torch passing moment between the two. The American Nightmare would benefit big time with the potential milestone match.
4. John Cena
After holding the world titles in WWE for a record 16 times, the legacy of John Cena has been stamped as one of the most illustrious superstars in WWE history. He shares the record for most world title reigns along with Ric Flair. The achievement of his speculated new 17th World Championship reign would serve as a prelude for the dream match with Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.
A fresh Cena and Cody Rhodes faceoff would signal end of one WWE era and the start of another, the old production being represented by The Cenation leader and the new one being the one with The American Nightmare. If the WWE decides to go ahead with this script, it will be one of the most outstanding main events in the history of WrestleMania.
5. Jey Uso
Jey Uso has come a long way in the WWE promotion, having started with his twin brothers to The Bloodline and having distinguished himself as a top-notch player. Besides his involvement with Roman Reigns, his back and forth with his brother Jimmy Uso, and the fact that he has just gained growing popularity among the WWE fans are enough to make him a legitimate candidate for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Behind Cody Rhodes’s back, a game Jey would be able to exhibit his progress from being labeled as a specialist in the tag team to a true star of the main events.
At WrestleMania 41, if Uso choses Rhodes, Jey would bring out a performance that would mark his career for the rest of his life. Even though reports suggest Uso facing GUNTHER, a match against the Undisputed WWE Champion won’t be a bad idea. All the names on the list make for a fun match up which the audience can buy into. The storyline of each challenger is a different interesting presentation of events and gives historical importance to the whole event thereby making it remarkable.
All About WrestleMania 41
WrestleMania 41 is a two-day extravaganza that has been scheduled on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be the second WrestleMania being hosted in the Las Vegas area and the first WrestleMania IX was in 1993. The event is exclusive to Peacock in the United States and Netflix in the United Kingdom, which require subscription for access.
Leading up to WrestleMania 41, WWE has announced a series of events to engage fans throughout the week. The schedule includes Friday Night SmackDown on April 18, NXT Stand & Deliver on April 19, and Monday Night Raw on April 21, which will all occur at the nearest T-Mobile Arena. Additionally, WWE in cooperation with Fanatics Evenwill, has the second yearly WWE World at WrestleMania, a five-day fan convention in Las Vegas, running from April 17 to April 21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This conference consists of interview panels, live podcast recordings, meet-and-greets with wrestlers, and a large merchandise store celebrating the 41-year history of WrestleMania.
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Sachin Singh