5 Things WWE Raw’s Netflix Debut Told Us About WrestleMania 41 Season

By Jamie Kennedy / January 8, 2025

"If you want some, come get some".

That ballsy attitude from soon-to-retire hero John Cena will punctuate WWE's mindset throughout WrestleMania 41 season. Triple H and troops are in promote, promote and promote again mode due to the Netflix bow's eyeball grabbing, and why not? No wrestling company should be browbeaten for shouting about their own product. That's kinda the point. If they don't do it, who will?!

Raw's introductory episode on Netflix did drop some handy clues about 'Mania. It might not have been as satisfying a flagship as some hoped it would be, but The Rock's behaviour, Cena's speech, Rhea Ripley's title win and CM Punk finally vanquishing day one arch enemy Seth Rollins helped give people some cool hints about where Trips plans to take things heading through April.

Several blockbuster matches hang in the balance, a few top stars are in limbo, and it's pretty clear LA's masses didn't like Hulk Hogan. On that, WWE may fancy scrapping a bit of the nostalgia they've been hyping up recently amidst the return of Saturday Night's Main Event and this Netflix leap. Note the wording there. "A bit of". As in, not all of it. Nostalgia will always be a powerful drug for wrestling fans.

Technically, 'Mania season is already well underway, but it hasn't peaked yet. That's even true of the build towards the weekender itself. WWE still has to power through Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and at least one more TV special before reaching that apex.

Time to play detective.

5. Triple H Has To Trim Down Some Nostalgia

Admittedly, there was a bit of a clash between WWE touting a new era on Monday and the 'Retro Raw' they presented at some points. Select bits, like The Undertaker putting Rhea Ripley over as a fresh-faced hero honouring his "badass" vibes worked as a cool complement to modern-day stories. Others, like Hulk Hogan plugging his beer whilst being booed out of the building definitely did not.

One thing's obvious: WWE fans have had their fill of Hulkamania. That may sting for those who grew up idolising red and yellow (like this writer), but it's the truth. As Scott Carlson said in his 'Ups & Downs' for the show, Triple H should honestly think twice about putting Hulk in front of folks on upcoming specials like Saturday Night's Main Event (if that was the plan) or at 'Mania. It won't end well, and Raw showed why.

There's nothing beneficial to be gleaned from sticking Hogan and Jimmy Hart out there. People just don't want to see them anymore, especially when they're being used as shills for a product rather than as torch-passers for the new generation. Listen, if Hulk could be used like he was back in 2002 when putting over Brock Lesnar, then fine - but that's unlikely. The dude can barely walk in 2025, and he has little to offer.

If this is truly going to be a brand new era that looks to the future, then WWE should trim off some of the nostalgic fat here or there. Video packages are fine (Raw's opening was tremendous!), and so are cameos for the right reasons (Hall Of Fame), but Hulk's one was hollow and unpopular.

That shouldn't be something Triple H perseveres with during a period of the year he has to get spot on.

4. A Flair & Ripley Rematch Is Probably Incoming

Monday's Raw put a line underneath issues between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan. Rhea convincingly battered her chief tormentor, then ignored a Dominik Mysterio hug to put her former lover down with a Riptide (after booting him in the balls). Now, it'll be onto something new for Ripley, and presumably the end of Liv and Dom's union longer term. After all, there's nothing to tie them together now they're not warring with 'Mami'.

Someone sound the trumpets and roll out the red carpet, because a 'Queen' is about to return just in time. There's been a lot of talk online about Charlotte Flair's seemingly imminent return to action in time for WrestleMania. In fact, rumour has it she'll win the women's Royal Rumble then score a massive match on the bumper weekender as a result. If so, then Rhea would be the ideal opponent; new Women's Champ on the blue brand Tiffany Stratton is another option.

Both Rhea and Charlotte have history on the grand stage.

Flair beat Ripley to win the NXT Women's belt at the super-weird 'Mania 36 in 2020, then Rhea bagged revenge at 'Mania 39 by becoming then-SmackDown Women's Champ. That makes them one win apiece on the supercard of all supercards then, which probably means a tiebreaker is incoming...but only if Charlotte wins the Rumble and books her spot.

What else is there for Ripley to do if not? Nobody on the current full-time crew feels like a worthy rival for WrestleMania, so it makes more sense to believe she'll spin some wheels for a few months before the Charlotte feud reheats in time for Las Vegas.

3. Several Wrestlers Are In Limbo

Both Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins are working largely the same frustrations on opposite sides of the heel/babyface fence. Both lost big matches to major rivals on Raw's Netflix debut, and both had pretty puzzled facial expressions post match. If this is deliberate, and supposed to link them in time for WrestleMania 41, then fair enough. If not, then it represents something more concerning.

In other words, they're in creative limbo.

That's no place for guys as talented as Drew and Seth to be during the most important portion of 2025, especially when one of them just worked his best WWE match ever a few months ago. Naturally, there's time yet to find something worthwhile to do at 'Mania for both, but nothing is certain. Stars like John Cena, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER appear to have numerous ideas swirling around over their heads heading into WrestleMania season. McIntyre and Rollins do not, and that won't sit well with them if things persist the way they are.

Being left on the cutting room floor and forced to do something akin to Batista vs. Umaga at 'Mania XXIV wouldn't be all that satisfying for these guys. They've been important cogs in Triple H's machine for too long, and they deserve to have something to sink their teeth into once the bigger matches are handed out.

Here's the problem: Not everybody can squeeze into the top-line mix at 'Mania. Cena, Cody, Punk, GUNTHER, Roman Reigns and possibly even The Rock (more on that to come) mean it's busy up there in the clouds. There's no guarantee either Drew or Seth will be therein thereabouts in the main event pack.

2. John Cena Will Wrestle For A World Title

The. Champ. Is...throwing you off the scent, or trying to.

John Cena laced his promo on Raw with enough self-doubt to fill the script of a Rocky movie. This old warhorse told fans he didn't deserve to be World Champion last time, because he hasn't won a match in over 2,000 days. Then, the penny dropped, and 'Super Cena' screeched into view. With a twinkle in his eye, John realised he could line up a shot at one of the top prizes if he entered then won February's Royal Rumble.

Still, he maintained that the odds are too great and everything is stacked against him. This is epic storytelling, 'cause it's teasing a Cena Rumble win when someone like CM Punk is much more likely to get that 30-man nod next month. Will that wreck Cena's World Title hopes? Not at all - Elimination Chamber will offer one final chance to punch a 'Mania main event ticket vs. GUNTHER or Cody Rhodes.

WWE's storytelling is rarely too much of a challenge to figure out. That's not meant as a diss, by the way. It's just the way pro wrestling works. Watch enough of it and you start to spot what's going on and where the company is trying to steer your emotions. Of course, this is totally where Cena faces a returning Bull Buchanan at 'Mania and makes this writer look like a chump.

Seriously though, there's every chance John wrestles GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship in Vegas. He might not win the Rumble, but he'll probably be there come April anyway and win his 17th World Title belt as the confetti rains down and his retirement tour takes one hell of a turn.

1. WWE Doesn't Know The Rock's Status

'Will The Rock be in attendance for WrestleMania 41?'. That's 2025's first big question, and it's the kind that'd have a room full of philosophers pondering their navels for at least a few hours. Jokes aside, nobody outside Dwayne Johnson's head really seems to know for sure. His casting on Raw suggests not, but there's still time for things to change over the next three months.

That's surely what Triple H and other decision makers will be hanging their hats on for now. On Monday, Rock acted like a big ol' buddy to Cody Rhodes, put the ula fala on Roman Reigns and then drove off with a smile. Let's not talk about him drinking some tequila right before getting behind the wheel though; that might've been fake alcohol, or something. Either that or he didn't actually drive anywhere and stopped rolling as soon as someone yelled cut on the scene.

So, Cody vs. Rock looks to be off the table in 2025 unless something dramatic happens and this was all a ruse. Similarly, there wasn't much to Raw's Netflix debut that suggests Rocky vs. Roman is a goer for 'Mania either. Dwayne seemed to be in ambassador mode all night, and didn't seem intent on lining anything up as 'Final Boss'.

It's pretty clear WWE is in the dark with everyone else then. They're hedging their bets, but being careful not to put Rocky in any tease-heavy scenarios before knowing for sure if he'll be able to see things through. Being brutally honest, star power aside, that kinda rendered his appearance on Raw pointless.

The mystery continues.

How do you think WrestleMania 41 will shake out following WWE Raw's debut on Netflix? For more wrestling, check out 50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE Royal Rumble and 50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE WrestleMania!