WWE is heading into the biggest show of the year with WrestleMania 41. Eyes are on every match of the card, as there are important stakes to build upon in both the immediate and long-term futures. Looking at the card, here are three performers who must walk out of the PLE with the win.
Jade Cargill must defeat Naomi
Jade Cargill should be the easy favorite to defeat Naomi. While the latter is a former champion, and an important member of the WWE roster, Cargill was brought in to be a superstar. She’s so important that this match is the first women’s singles match without a championship in nearly 20 years. This match is happening because of the potential star power WWE sees in Jade Cargill. That can’t be undercut by seeing her take a defeat during this match.
Plus, there’s a bigger opportunity down the line when (not if) WWE pairs Cargill against Bianca Belair. She will play a part in this angle when the time is right and that match will be even bigger.
Tiffany Stratton must defeat Charlotte Flair
Tiffany Stratton versus Charlotte Flair had the makings to be not only a major match for WrestleMania 41 but a match that helped set the tone for the future of the WWE Women’s Division. Stratton burst into WWE and immediately caught the support of fans. While she is technically a “heel” she was cheered along the way, especially after debuting on the main roster. That momentum carried her to the championship and now a title defense against at the biggest annual PLE.
However, that momentum has also put her firmly in the crosshairs of Charlotte Flair. Flair has been the woman who has devastated that same type of momentum for so many performers in the past. She was used to cut the legs out from under Asuka. She did the same to Rhea Ripley who was at a similar position in her career but was thankfully able to rise beyond it. She and Mercedes Mone, then Sasha Banks, had several back-and-forth battles with Flair typically coming out on top.
That trend should not continue here, however. Fans are tired of Flair being at the top of the division, which led to the harsh response she faced after winning the Royal Rumble. WWE can’t seem to book her outside the title, but with Tiffany Stratton and several other young stars on the rise, it’s time they learn how to do it.
John Cena must defeat Cody Rhodes
John Cena’s retirement tour is in full swing. He will hang up the jorts in December and head off to Hollywood for good. Before that happens, it looks like he’s trying to capture that elusive 17th World Championship which would put him at the top of record books. For that to happen, he needs to defeat Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 and this is something that must happen.
John Cena has value to WWE whether he’s a champion or not. However, he has more value during this retirement run as a champion up until the end. He should be booked to defeat Rhodes, then go on to face others like Randy Orton in title defenses. Set the stage for someone to defeat him for the championship in his retirement match – getting the most out of that moment. For all that to happen, Cody Rhodes must drop that title to him at the biggest PLE of the year.
There’s going to be a lot of action to talk about at WrestleMania 41. When all is said and done, these are the men and women who need to have their hands raised the most.