Roman Reigns' Fumbled Babyface Turn Casts Shadow Over WWE WrestleMania 41

Behind the Scenes: WWE Fumbles the Build for WrestleMania 41

Headed into WrestleMania 41, the WWE universe isn’t buzzing like it usually does. And it’s not because fans have suddenly lost interest in pro wrestling—it’s the confusing way the company has handled some of its top stars. Roman Reigns, once the company's most compelling villain, is stumbling thanks to a botched babyface turn, and the promised big matches just haven’t materialized. If anything, people seem to be missing the fire that made WrestleMania 40 electric, pointing the finger squarely at creative decisions from Triple H and company.

Let’s break down what went wrong. Roman Reigns was on the run of his life as the ‘Tribal Chief’, making everyone in the ring with him more interesting—until the switch was flipped, and he was suddenly meant to be cheered. But here’s the thing: Reigns' pivot to a good guy happened with zero fresh villains for him to battle. It’s not like the WWE stacked the deck with hungry heels waiting for a shot. Instead, we got a character in limbo, struggling to win fans with nothing exciting to push against.

Then, you’ve got the absence of The Rock. WWE spent months teasing a blockbuster match with Reigns and The Rock, fueling massive speculation. Imagine the electricity that stampede would’ve generated in Las Vegas. But Hollywood priorities yanked The Rock away, leaving WWE scrambling to fill a huge main-event-shaped hole. So, what’s left is a card that feels like it was pieced together at the last minute, rather than built on months of anticipation.

Don’t forget Cody Rhodes. The guy chased the championship with everything he had, and the fans ate it up. But now that he’s got the belt, the spark’s gone. Rhodes feels less like a conquering hero and more like a placeholder champion, leaving people to wonder if WWE knows what comes next for him—or if he’s just keeping the title warm for someone else.

• Roman Reigns returned from a four-month hiatus with little explanation, no new story logic, and none of the momentum he once had.
• Cody Rhodes feels more compelling gunning for the title than holding it, making his reign seem stale.
• The Rock’s absence hangs over the entire event, especially after so much hype.

Storylines Without Payoff: Triple H Faces the Music

Fans live for those moments—big payoffs, shocking turns, and satisfying conclusions. Instead, WrestleMania 41 is saddled with plotlines that never really went anywhere. The long-awaited final chapters for Reigns, Rhodes, and The Rock feel lost in booking hell, and WWE just hasn't delivered a new hook to pull fans back in hard.

The big gripe: Triple H and WWE brass had one job—get The Rock in that ring, even for a one-off main event. Without it, everything else feels like a backup plan. Even worse, by not developing strong new antagonists for Reigns or giving fans a believable chase for Rhodes, they’ve left their biggest show without edge or direction. The stars that fans loved in 2024 look out of place in 2025, and nobody is sure who or what is supposed to excite them now.

Instead of fresh faces and explosive matches, we’re getting recycled drama and very little payoff. If WWE wants to recapture the magic from last year, they’ll need more than band-aid booking. Right now, the road to WrestleMania 41 feels more like a dead end than the grandest stage of them all.