What WWE Got Wrong During WrestleMania 41 Weekend
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WrestleMania 41 and its surrounding festivities have officially wrapped, and as the dust settles, it’s time to dissect how WWE managed—or mismanaged—what should have been their most triumphant week of the year. From a lackluster build-up to questionable PR choices, WWE stumbled in key areas that undercut the potential of their flagship event.
A Flat Build & The Levesque Dilemma
The road to WrestleMania felt more like a detour. The creative build heading into the event was underwhelming at best, chaotic at worst. It wasn’t until John Cena’s shocking heel turn that WWE finally grabbed the world’s attention. For a brief moment, they had lightning in a bottle—and then fumbled it. Rather than capitalizing on the momentum, they waited nearly two weeks to follow up on the turn. By then, much of the buzz had evaporated.
To make matters worse, The Rock—whose presence was heavily teased leading up to WrestleMania—was mysteriously absent after Elimination Chamber. Fans are still left wondering what the long-term plan was for his involvement in Cena’s heel turn, if any plan even existed at all.
Then there’s the case of Jey Uso. While his entrance continues to draw massive crowd reactions, the bell-to-bell storytelling isn’t matching the hype. His match against Gunther on Night 1 was a prime example—flat, forgettable, and hardly the kind of performance you’d expect from someone once discussed as a potential main eventer.
And looming over all of this is Paul Levesque, aka Triple H. Despite his frequent claims that he wants to stay out of the spotlight, he was everywhere—culminating in a nearly hour-long speech at the Hall of Fame ceremony. It felt less like a celebration of legends and more like a showcase for Levesque himself.
The AEW Obsession
WWE’s fixation on AEW reached a bizarre fever pitch this WrestleMania week. Talent made snide remarks in promos, and AEW references popped up in interviews and commentary alike. Rather than feeling like confident jabs from the industry leader, it reeked of desperation—like WWE needed AEW’s name to generate conversation around an uninspired product.
In a twist of irony, Tony Khan became one of the most talked-about figures in WWE circles without lifting a finger. During a middling match between Ricky Saints and Ethan Page, crowds chanted “Tony Fumbled”—a reaction that unintentionally gave AEW more relevance during WWE’s biggest weekend of the year.
A PR Nightmare in the Making
Beyond creative misfires, WWE now faces growing concerns about the direction of its public image. Under the new TKO banner, there’s been an apparent push to attract UFC’s right-leaning fanbase—and it showed.
Paul Levesque, Roman Reigns, and others publicly flirted with praise for Donald Trump during WrestleMania week, signaling a potential political pivot. But it didn’t stop there. Paul Heyman, a figure often associated with sharp wit and storytelling, veered into controversy by making a deportation joke during a lighthearted appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
For a long time, WWE skirted overt political commentary—especially in recent years when its fanbase became younger, more diverse, and generally more left-leaning. But the increasing alignment with Trump and UFC’s overtly political tone suggests a dangerous gamble that could alienate large swaths of their modern audience.
Let’s not forget: Donald Trump has deep ties to WWE, having appeared at past WrestleManias and maintained a close relationship with Linda McMahon. But this is a different era, and WWE should tread carefully. Inviting Trump back to programming in today’s climate might excite some—but it’s just as likely to ignite backlash from a fanbase that may not align with this new direction.
WrestleMania 41 should have been a home run. Instead, it felt like a bloated, directionless showcase plagued by weak storytelling, overindulgence, and a creeping PR crisis. They had the attention of the world. And they let it slip through their fingers.
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