WrestleMania has always been one of the longer shows on the WWE schedule. WWE has since shifted its strategy to include “shorter” PLEs with 5-6 matches each. However, WrestleMania 41 is reportedly set for both nights to run nine hours from start to finish.
WrestleMania 41 will stream on Peacock on April 19 and 20. The app currently lists both nights at nine hours each. This potentially includes the preshow, which is typically one hour of commentary before the first match. In the past, the preshow included matches, but that was not always the case. No preshow matches for WrestleMania 41 have been announced at this time.
WWE has also done longer preshow presentations, typically to counterprogram against All Elite Wrestling. AEW does not have any events scheduled for that weekend other than AEW Collision which airs live on Saturday.
18 hours of WrestleMania and WWE still can’t find space for top names
Nine hours for two nights of WWE action is a steep hill to climb. Still, expect fans to plop themselves on the couch to watch the entire card. If no other matches are added to the event, then the split will be 6 matches for both nights. Expectations are that the night assignments will be revealed in the next week.
Still, fans are pointing out that several big names aren’t included on the show. Becky Lynch is reportedly signed to WWE, and one of the biggest names in WWE isn’t involved. The women’s midcard championships are not on the show, as aren’t the tag team titles.
One of the biggest complaints about Triple H’s creative direction is the lack of Black and Asian male performers getting opportunities to perform during PLEs. There are 19 men on the card, and zero Black men made the cut. That’s a glaring issue that fans are continuing to speak out about online. If this show is going to be 18 hours in total, how is it that Triple H could not book any Black men to appear on the card?
WrestleMania 41 will be an enjoyable two nights of sports entertainment. Fans expect to be in for long, but enjoyable nights of in-ring action and other shenanigans that are on par for WWE. Two nights at nine hours each gives plenty of time to close all of the biggest angles on the WWE main roster while building excitement for what is to come.