Two Huge WrestleMania 41 Matches Being Discussed (WWE News)
These major matches have been discussed for WWE WrestleMania 41.
With WWE Royal Rumble now just one week away, that means we'll soon be - if we're not already - on the patented Road to WrestleMania. And on that front, there's word on two major matches that could well take place at this year's Showcase of the Immortals.
As per Fightful Select, there have been discussions for WrestleMania 41 to feature Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair, and Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair.
Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair
Where Ripley and Belair are concerned, many fans have long viewed that as a future WrestleMania match, with the pair likewise having expressed strong interest in facing each other at 'Mania at some point down the line. In terms of a singles match, the Eradicator and the EST last went one-on-one back at NXT TakeOver: Portland back in 2020. While Rhea was scheduled to challenge for Bianca's Raw Women's Championship at WWE Money in the Bank 2022, Ripley was pulled from that match due to injury, being replaced by Carmella.
These days, Rhea Ripley finds herself as the WWE Women's World Champion, having defeated Liv Morgan to reclaim that prize on Raw's Netflix premiere. As for Biana Belair, she's one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions and is technically a SmackDown talent. Of course, there are multiple ways that WWE could get around the issue of these two stars currently being on separate brands, be that utilising the ongoing transfer window, having Bianca win the Royal Rumble, or even having Belair win the Elimination Chamber to set up this match. As for the Women's Tag Team Titles, one has to imagine Bianca Belair may not be in possession of that gold by the time WrestleMania 41 rolls around, particularly with how things play out with the mystery of who attacked Jade Cargill.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair
Whereas Rhea Ripley defending the WWE Women's World Title against Bianca Belair is a little bit of a left-field suggestion right now - many fans thinking IYO SKY may be in the challenger shot for Raw's top women's prize at WrestleMania 41 - the prospect of Tiffany Stratton against Charlotte Flair is one many fans have been predicting for 'Mania.
Stratton has previously stated in various interviews how she'd love to face Charlotte, how she'd love to do so at a WrestleMania, and even cited the Queen as her inspiration for getting into the pro wrestling business. As for Flair, the past few weeks have seen vignettes air to promote her impending return to the ring; a return we now know will take place at the Royal Rumble next weekend.
Charlotte has been out of action since December 2023, suffering a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus during a SmackDown match against Asuka. In that time, Tiffany Stratton has been on quite the rise up the ranks, making her main roster debut in last year's women's Royal Rumble before formally joining the SmackDown brand in February. Of course, nowadays Tiffy finds herself atop the blue brand's female ranks after cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase on Nia Jax to become the WWE Women's Champion earlier this month.
It's worth noting that Ripley vs. Belair and Stratton vs. Flair are not locked in for WWE WrestleMania 41 at this stage, but that both matches have been discussed for the Granddaddy of Them All. And if they were to take place at WrestleMania 41, either of those matches have plenty of potential to steal the show across WrestleMania Weekend.