With WrestleMania 41 officially wrapped up, I thought it would be fun to rank every match, nights 1 and 2 collectively. 

While there were certainly some highs and some lows (What the hell Dwayne!), some matches over-delivered while others fell short of the hype. 

To be clear, this ranking is based on my personal opinions of the matches. Some actors I considered included: in-ring performance, hype build and living up to those standards, memorable moments, and storytelling.

With all that being said, here is my ranking:

#14 – Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair

Let’s be honest, the chemistry between these two stars was tumultuous from the get-go, and their WrestleMania reflected this. What was supposed to be a match meant to elevate Tiffany Stratton by beating a former superstar like Charlotte Flair turned into a feud that had viral moments for all the wrong reasons. 

Professional wrestling is all about trust and chemistry, and throughout this match, it was clear there was a lack of both. Both had their moments, but the match felt stiff and Charlotte was clearly not there to make Tiffany look good. 

While the outcome was right, the match itself was slow and sloppy for two talented wrestlers like Tiffany and Charlotte. I would be interested to see where this goes from here. With the lack of chemistry between these two, I could see WWE pivoting Tiffany to have a feud with a different wrestler like Nia Jax. 

As for Charlotte, I have a feeling that the crowd heat may get to her and she could eventually make a move to retirement or AEW. She is still Charlotte Flair and could have an incredible run in AEW if she was willing to take a pay cut. If not, I am not sure how certain her future is with the business. 

#13 – New Day vs. War Raiders 

The tag team division has continued to struggle recently with no one tag team taking the spotlight right now. 

The New Day have an interesting story, but this match never really felt like a continuation of that story. Instead, it seems more like a pause to something bigger and this was a necessary win so that they can gain heat and attention. As for The War Raiders, they continue to show incredible athleticism given their size and injury history.

 With little build up to their WrestleMania showdown, the crowd’s reaction reflected that. At times, it felt like the crowd forgot the match was even happening. Overall, a match like this could be better but I am not sure WrestleMania was the stage for a lackluster story tag team match.

#12 – Jey Uso vs. Gunther 

Before you yell at me, I openly admit I am not a big Jey Uso fan. Recently, I have felt that his weak promo skills and being a one-trick pony have never been more obvious than his build-up match with Gunther. Whether it was his long pauses, his nervousness in interviews, or his weak delivery, there was never a moment where I felt like “this is a world champion”. 

Gunther, on the other hand, is the biggest heel in the company and is an incredible in-ring performer. Has he been accused of being a boring champion? Yes. Such is the life for the biggest superstars in WWE (See Cody Rhodes). However, I think we can all agree that Gunther came out on top in every promo that Jey Uso and Gunther had together building up to this match. 

By opening WrestleMania weekend, I was fully expecting Gunther to retain. Instead, WWE decided to put the belt on Jey Uso. This was not entirely unwarranted for a guy who has been waiting for his opportunity after 15 years, but his character and in-ring abilities don’t scream “Main Event” as much as he states he is. My opinion is that he should have had a longer and more detailed intercontinental title run before he was bumped up to the world champion level. 

Nonetheless, the match could have redeemed it. Instead, WWE took their biggest heel and made him look quite weak. After several chops and big moves like his signature powerbomb, Jey Uso hit Gunther with several superkicks and his own (albeit worse) version of a powerbomb. Then, he hit several flog splashes before using Gunther’s own rear-naked choke move. 

If you are a Jey Uso fan, this was probably a perfect ending for you. However, it will be difficult to see what happens with Gunther now. He just lost the title at WrestleMania and he tapped out. Can he really be expected to have the title slapped back on him now? Or is this setting up for a Royal Rumble win later down the line? 

#11 – Joe Hendry vs. Randy Orton

Joe Hendry vs Randy Orton was not on my bingo card when Wrestlemania night 2 happened. While I expected a star from another company to fight, I never guessed it would be the current TNA Champion Joe Hendry. 

This match was quite good overall and had some memorable moments. However, it was a relatively short match and meant more as a crowd pleaser than a big showdown. Plus, Randy Orton got his much deserving title match and likely a good bonus as well. The ending was also great although I wish Randy would have hit Hendry’s pose with more vigor. 

This match could also signify that Joe Hendry is on his way to the big leagues and will join WWE once his contract is up at the end of the year. 

#10 – John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes

Heel Cena has stated that his intent is to ruin wrestling. He might actually succeed on that promise. While this match was the clear main event for WrestleMania this year, it was far less exciting as it should have been. 

John Cena’s alliance with The Rock and Travis Scott was supposed to usher a new saga in Cody Rhodes’ story. However, it was clear from the get-go that John Cena is not the heel we want him to be. The crowd reaction said it all. John Cena will always be a legendary babyface and his larger than life persona can only ever hurt the current faces of the company. 

On top of that, The Rock made no appearance and instead Cody was beaten with the help of Travis Scott of all people. And the supposed receipt that Travis Scott was owed also didn’t make the impact people wanted. 

In the end, the match was slow and confusing as the crowd grappled with the tough reality that John Cena really really does not want to be well liked because . . . HE ISN’T SUPPOSED TO BE! Despite this, the crowd backed Cena and made Cody look like yesterday’s news. To be clear, Cody Rhodes is who the WWE want to move forward with. That’s why this main event match was supposed to elevate Cody Rhodes, not tear him down. 

After this lackluster main event, how will Triple H and the creative team repair the damage done? What excuse will The Rock have for not being at WrestleMania? Finally, at what point does WWE say f*ck it and make Cody a heel just so people stop asking for it?

#9 – El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) vs. Rey Fenix

This match was never supposed to happen, but Rey Mysterio’s injury forced WWE to pivot. That said, with as little hype as a WrestleMania match could have, the in-ring abilities of both competitors was clearly on full display.

While I wish this match would have been a mask-off stipulation instead of another victory for Chad Gable (or El Grande Americano if you are all in on the kayfabe), the match was good with what it had. 

Unfortunately, there just wasn’t enough to elevate this match into anything more than a fun and competitive clash of styles. It also helps that Chad Gable might be the best technical wrestler in the business right now.

#8 – Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch vs Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez

WIth another surprise appearance, the Man is back in WWE! This was an incredible surprise and one that left the audience stunned and on their feet. While the match itself was not the most exciting, Liv Morgan’s antics and the talent of Lyra and Becky were on full display. 

Becky did look a bit rusty at points but you can hardly fault her for that as she is returning from a year of being inactive. It will be interesting to see what comes out of this. Will they continue to be a tag team or will Becky and Lyra break off to tell a more compelling story? We will have to wait and see but I think this could turn into a great pairing. 

#7 – Jacob Fatu vs. LA Knight

These two wrestlers are some of the biggest up and comers in the company. Their match reflected as much when Jacob Fatu was able to bring home the gold. While this match didn’t have incredible moments, the chemistry between the two was on full display. 

Additionally, the match result was the correct one: Elevate Jacob Fatu. LA Knight definitely fits well with the United States Championship, but this was always going to be Jacob Fatu’s moment. He has the potential to be the next Umaga or even bigger. He certainly has the charisma and in-ring ability to do so.

As for LA Knight, I could see him winning the title back at some point. Like I said, he looks good with the title around him. He is also a big star in his own right and it would make sense to have these two feud again because of their natural chemistry. 

#6 – Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles

Is it time we start really considering that Logan Paul is going to be a WWE superstar for years to come? Probably. While he is a self-proclaimed part-timer, he has natural ability that can’t be denied. 

AJ Styles is still him as well and there was never really a doubt that this match was going to be an absolute slobber knocker. However, I was most impressed with the storytelling with Karrion Kross. 

While he has never been a big factor in the WWE, he is beginning to gain momentum and his character is at an all time high as the ultimate Devil’s Advocate. The mind games that he plays are not just compelling. They also cut deep at the root of the wrestler’s character. AJ’s babyface tendencies lost him this match even though he should have won. 

Will AJ Styles finally listen to Karrion Kross’ urging to “do the right thing” and protect wrestling from influencers and part-timers like Logan Paul? Post-Wrestlemania, this may be one of the most interesting stories being told right now and could have far-reaching implications. 

#5 – Jade Cargill vs. Naomi

Early on in Night 1, this match had great story building and became the best undercard match of the night. On top of that, both Jade Cargill and Naomi are great in-ring performers and should get a push in the coming year. 

This story had jealousy, betrayal, and brutality that many storylines wish for but few are able to achieve. On top of that, the match was stellar from beginning to end. Jade winning the match was pretty much a given, but it did its job by elevating her to bigger and better things. Naomi also came out on top showing that she is an incredible heel with great in-ring ability as well. 

I wasn’t very invested in these two before this storyline, but I can affirmatively say that is no longer the case. That is the power of great WrestleMania matches and is why it is so important to these wrestlers to get an opportunity to compete on wrestling’s biggest stage. 

#4 – Drew McIntyre v. Damian Priest

Drew McIntyre just might be the most undervalued superstar on the roster. His mix of aggression and charisma have made him the perfect compliment to more hardcore style matches in the WWE. While street fights can be mixed, this one did not disappoint. 

Other than the awkward moment of Damian Priest telling the ref he couldn’t breathe (I get that it’s part of the kayfabe but dude . . . c’mon), the match had quite a few great spots. 

In the end, the right person won and did so in dramatic fashion. It is also undeniable that these two have great chemistry. 

Will the WWE continue to have these two matched against each other or is it time to have them go separate ways and match up with other talent on the roster? Personally, I think both of them are too talented not to be in main event matches but the roster is full of great talents like them. Hopefully this performance gets both into more important matches in the future. 

#3 – Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk

While I am sure that many people believe this was the best match of WrestleMania 41, I couldn’t help but feel like the actual match itself was very slow-paced and not much was very interesting until the final moments. 

That said, those final moments were absolute cinema and were the reasons why WrestleMania is the place to expect the unexpected. After Seth Rollins aligned with Paul Heyman, it felt like this is where the story was supposed to go all along. 

The match seemed more like a precursor to something much bigger and that’s okay. WrestleMania is normally the culmination of the end of a rivalry, but this was just the beginning and will likely be one of the biggest stories for the remainder of the year. 

#2 – Dominik Mysterio vs. Bron Breakker vs. Finn Balor vs. Penta

Anytime there are multiple challengers, especially in a fatal four way, you can expect some crazy turns. It was not necessarily a surprise that Dominik would betray Finn Balor or vice versa, but the fact that he actually won the match was a surprise. 

This was the perfect storytelling for The Judgment Day. Finn has placed himself as the head of the snake even though the stable is not supposed to have a true leader. On top of that, his biggest adversary was the one who he doubted the most.

Ultimately, this was the right result and could mean that The Judgment Day might transform once again. This seems natural and could be very interesting. Will Dominik Mysterio create his own stable of stars? 

My bold prediction is that Rey Fenix and Penta join up with Dominik Mysterio and Carlito to form their own heel version of the LWO. This would obviously have to be a long-term change and I don’t expect it to happen tomorrow and could very well not happen at all. But with this Wrestlemania win and the hype Dominik now has, would the WWE want to push and give him an even bigger role within the company?

#1 – IYO SKY vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley

Like it or not, Iyo is the most talented female wrestler in the company. This result reflected that belief. Do I suspect the belt stays on her long? No, not really. But this championship run is important to show that the most popular wrestlers don’t always win. 

That isn’t a knock on Bianca or Rhea. They are both talented in their own right, especially Bianca. But Iyo’s in-ring ability is next level and that has to play a role in the decision of who ultimately holds the belt. 

With all that said, the match itself was electric and should go down as one of the best matches in recent history. 

While a lot of fans wanted Rhea to win, that never made sense. To be clear, Rhea lost the title because she took her eye off the ball and underestimated Iyo. Bianca was always a contender to win because of her talent and charisma but she also made the mistake of overlooking Iyo. 

Because this was such a good match, I absolutely see future matches between the three at some points during the year. The talent and chemistry was undeniable and is what WrestleMania is all about.