9 Big Problems With WWE Heading Into WrestleMania 41

2. Building A Plane While In Flight

How else can you describe the feeling that surrounds the Undisputed WWE Championship title feud right now?

The Rock returned ahead of Elimination Chamber, threw a stick of dynamite into the ring, and then left. That’s not to say that the John Cena heel turn isn’t intriguing on multiple levels, but there’s an air of uncertainty around this feud, with Cody Rhodes forced to carry everything on his shoulders as Cena prattles and Rock looms in the background.

Cena/Rhodes should excel on the strength of its sheer magnitude – WWE is pitting its top star of the past 20 years against its biggest star these past three years. That alone justifies the hype and anticipation.

But the drama that enveloped the world title matches the past two years – with Cody trying to finish the story – feels entirely artificial, with Cena’s “I’m going to ruin wrestling by retiring with the title” being a forced attempt at raising the stakes. It’s not a terrible idea, but you’re closing WrestleMania on this and it feels like things are being written week to week rather than pulling from a story bible.

Worse, after Cena’s appearance this week, he isn’t scheduled to appear again until Mania, which means it’ll be up to Cody to bring things home on his own the last two weeks… unless Rock shows up, but that could create other issues as well.

There also is the very real question of how Cena will perform on the night. When was his last truly great singles match? Five or six years ago against AJ Styles? This could bomb on the night if everyone doesn’t show up and show out.