WWE WrestleMania 41: Rusev Returns And 5 Bold Predictions

Forbes

19-04-2025

Rusev is rumored to return at WrestleMania 41
Credit: WWE.com
WWE WrestleMania 41 airs live from Las Vegas starting with Night 1 tonight. Amid a polarizing build that was always destined to receive criticism when compared to WWE's flawless storytelling from last year, the WrestleMania 41 card is still set up for several possibles surprises, returns and even heel turns.
Kevin Owens, Randy Orton's original WrestleMania opponent, unfortunately went down with a neck injury. This left an opening that has now become one of the most intriguing mysteries of WrestleMania season, with many speculating that it could be WWE GM Nick Aldis. But with WWE leaving Orton's mystery opponent to the wild imagination of its ambitious fanbase, this open challenge almost has to be bigger than any full-time star on the roster.
That's why it (almost) has to be Rusev.
If WWE was to replace Owens with a familiar face like Sami Zayn or Aldis, I feel like this would have been announced on television so as not to allow fan anticipation to get out of control. With Orton only announcing an open challenge, Orton's mystery opponent is now built solely around anticipation. WWE aired a vignette for April 25, 2025, and many have speculated it to be the return of Aleister Black. Rusev has reportedly re-signed with WWE, and since Easter Sunday also happens to fall on Rusev Day, there's no better time for a Rusev resurfacing than this weekend.
Bianca Belair has done nothing wrong. Bianca Belair earned her way into WrestleMania 41 by winning a hard-fought Elimination Chamber Match. She was partisan in her support for both Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley ahead of Ripley's shocking loss to Sky on Raw. Despite Ripley failing to regain her world championship match, Rhea insisted on sticking around a match she had no business competing in. Rhea even absconded with a contract that did not have her name on it like a shady politician trying to overturn an election. Rhea got her wish, and fans cheered the Australian superstar all along the way, most notably for an entire month in Europe.
The 30-day rule mandates that it takes 30 days to form a habit. Form Friday, March 14 to Monday, March 31, WWE aired six television broadcasts in Europe. While this only spanned over the course of 16 days, the six broadcasts were more than enough time for fans worldwide to become accustomed to Belair being booed for no reason. Bianca's unearned heat carried into the states, similar to European-flavored chants ("Cody Rhodes! Cody, Cody Rhodes!") that had only been performed overseas.
Belair seems to have subtly leaned into her unprecedented turn by wearing black during recent shows. The Bianca boo-birds reached a fever pitch this past Friday on SmackDown when they booed her before she could even say a word. Fans even booed Bianca over Naomi, who is one of the biggest heels in all of WWE. With her WrestleMania undefeated streak in as much danger as ever, Belair may get desperate to keep this streak intact. A heel turn cannot be too far behind.
John Cena's heel turn has not been perfect. After two decades of fantasy booking, expectations were sky high when Cena finally pulled the trigger at Elimination Chamber. Cena's shocking low-blow on Cody Rhodes resulted in one of the greatest turns of all time, but the follow-up has been a mixed bag.
Cena has done a masterful job articulating his (kayfabe) disdain for fans. Cena's most recent SmackDown promo about his own peers who couldn't let go of the wrestling business was poignant and well-done. But the absence of The Rock—the catalyst of this entire turn—throughout the entire build of WrestleMania, mixed with the sporadic appearances from Cena, hurt the storytelling of what could have been a deeply complex villain. Cena seldom addressed why he specifically sold his soul for The Rock, and the possible 'Illuminati Trio' of Cena, The Rock and Travis Scott disappeared into thin air after March 1.
Questionable storytelling aside, one of John Cena's most effective lines has been his vow to become the 'last real world champion,' while threatening to leave the promotion with the WWE Championship upon retirement. This in and of itself will add more layers to the John Cena character. Cody Rhodes has gotten the better of Heel John Cena in both of their physical exchanges. With Cena on his retirement tour, WrestleMania is the only stage for the legend to break Ric Flair's record at the expense of Cody Rhodes.
Last year's GOAT'd WrestleMania main event featured a wild ending where wrestlers from WWE's past, present and future hit the ring like the final scene of an Avengers movie. When the dust cleared, Cody Rhodes stuck Seth Rollins with a Cross Rhodes and won his first WWE Championship in the most emotionally satisfying finish in WrestleMania history.
I expect a similar scene for Rhodes vs. Cena, except this time, Rhodes won't have the same luck. Bret 'the Hitman' Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker are all in town as they made appearances in WWE's marathon Hall of Fame last night. Nobody knows what's going on with The Rock, but an appearance from the People's Champion would be fitting, if not necessary, for the WrestleMania Sunday main event. This sets the stage for The Rock to take the first Stunner from Stone Cold Steve Austin since WrestleMania 19. If WWE goes off the air with the bad guys riding off into the sunset, doing so with some comfort food from the Attitude Era would soften the blow.
The WrestleMania Saturday main event once revolved around whether or not Paul Heyman was loyal to Roman Reigns or CM Punk. CM Punk is Paul's best friend. But Paul is also Roman Reigns' wiseman. Tensions exploded when Heyman revealed he'd be walking CM Punk to the ring as a favor he owed to the Second-City Saint. This bromance of a love triangle has since become messy. But I feel it's a misdirection for the actual finish when Paul Heyman helps Seth Rollins win, thereby becoming the Visionary's Visionary.
Heyman has made a career betraying his clients from Brock Lesnar (twice), to CM Punk. Roman is already claiming Heyman betrayed him, which makes a possible reunion with Reigns seem like a betrayal in and of itself because of how it would fracture Heyman's ties with Punk.
But the most intriguing finish—and the most on-brand level of treachery from Heyman—would be Paul stabbing both Roman and Punk in the back for Rollins. Rollins has been the star of this entire storyline. Rollins has carried this blockbuster Triple Threat Match with logically bulletproof promos. Despite being a top star near the level of Punk and Reigns, Rollins is a level below these two all-time greats. Not only would Rollins benefit from a win the most, doing so with the help of Paul Heyman would make for the biggest WrestleMania moment.