Greetings and salutations WWE fans. Welcome to the Pro Football & Sports Network’s WrestleMania 41 live blog for real-time updates from the Grandest Stage of Them All!
Live coverage here begins at 7E/4P on April 19 & 20. Stay tuned. WrestleMania 41 is streaming live on Peacock in the US and on Netflix globally.
We kick things off with America The Beautiful, followed by a beautiful cold open for WrestleMania 41 Night 1.
WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H makes his way out to the ring. The newest individual inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame welcomes everyone to Las Vegas for WrestleMania 41!
WrestleMania 41 Opening match: ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso vs Gunther (c) for the World Heavyweight Championship
Jey Uso makes his way to the ring through the WWE Universe. This one has to be the most elaborate entrances for Jey, ever. The entrance made me feel he turned WrestleMania into YEETMania!
Gunther makes his way to the ring with a stoic look on his face. This match has been all Gunther since the get go, with some bursts of energy and promise shown by Jey Uso. But it’s a long mountain to climb.
A clothesline stalemate between the two, Jey Uso prevails with a clothesline off the ropes. The #1 contender reversed a Sleeper Hold to a German Suplex. Gunther’s moves on the man himself. Poetic. He follows it up with a powerbomb and a super kick!
Uso is making a miraculous come back tonight. A spear from Uso, goes to the top for the Uso splash and connects. He isn’t done, a trifecta of Uso Splashes, and now a sleeper hold on The Ring General!
Gunther has tapped out!. The Ring General submits, Jey Uso is your NEW World Heavyweight Champion! The Main Event has done the unthinkable! Jey and Jimmy celebrate in the ring as the WWE Universe Yeets on!
JEY USO DID IT!
YEET! YEET! YEET!#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/KGJD5pejyd— WWE (@WWE)
It’s time for some tag team action next. The World Tag Team Champions, The War Raiders will defend their titles against The New Day.
PFSN Rating – 3.5/5
War Raiders vs The New Day – World Tag Team Championship
UP NEXT at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/d4VFAS44wU
— WWE (@WWE)
The War Raiders start strong against The New Day with some impressive power moves. However, The New Day put their expertise and experience to use. Match in control, Xavier Woods follows it up with a Ric Flair strut.
Woods and Kofi went for a Hardy Boyz-esque move, Erik stopped him in his tracks. Ivar gets tagged in, starts laying out Kofi Kingston. One way or another, New Day finds a way to make a come back.
The New Day were attempting a Day Break finisher, Erik interfered. A trouble in paradise for Erik, but Ivar returns. A Spinning Heel kick and now the big man goes to the top and hits a doomsday sault, but a Limit Break elbow from Woods saves the day, forcing Ivar to kick out instead.
AIR IVAR at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/UQ24pb3Eqt
— WWE (@WWE)
In the final stages of the match, Erik hit a devastating knee and went for their finisher. But Kofi Kingston interfered. A Daylight finisher from The New Day, and your boys are the new World Tag Team Champions. They are now 13-time Tag Team Champions. That’s all folks. No Big E return.
PFSN Rating – 2.5/5
3. Naomi vs Jade Cargill
Naomi wakes her way to the ring. She is ready, willing, and able to bring the fight. Jade Cargill gets a special entrance. A weather report styled intro for Cargill. The Storm has come to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Will she get her payback or will Naomi pick up the win?
It's time to WEATHER THE STORM at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/kqG7wUVSUl
— WWE (@WWE)
Cargill starts strong, power moves or two, a gorilla press slam and now the action has spilled to the outside. Cargill reverses the Irish whip, sending Naomi in the barricade. The referee’s count continues. Both women break it up.
Naomi rakes Cargill’s eyes, and a brutal X-factor on the floor off the apron. Cargill gets introduced to the steel steps, followed by a blockbuster off the steps and on the floor. The former Women’s Champion has made good use of the outer side of the ring.
Innovative submission move locked in, but Cargill powers out. Naomi thinks quick on her feet, hits Jade with a chop block. But despite being hurt, The Storm halted Naomi’s momentum with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. She is picking up speed now.
Another blockbuster attempt from Naomi off the top rope, caught by Jade Cargill and she converts it into a Jackhammer! Superhuman strength from Jade. The end seems near, Cargill heading to the second rope, Naomi following suit.
👏👏👏👏👏👏#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/2Adh3jf44y
— WWE (@WWE)
Naomi converts the top rope move into an avalanche bulldog, follows it up with a Split-legged moonsault but that doesn’t do it for the former Women’s Tag Team Champion.
Jade begs for more, gets a kick from Naomi. Jade attempts Jaded, rolled through by Naomi, kicks out. Kick ducked, Jade picks Naomi in the electric chair position, transitions it into a powerbomb and then seals the deal with a Jaded!
PFSN Rating – 3.25/5
Alright people, grab your popcorns, and get ready for some hard-hitting action. Because up next is Jacob Fatu vs LA Knight for the United States Championship
4. US Championship: LA Knight vs Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 41
LA Knight rolls into #WrestleMania in style!
YEAH! pic.twitter.com/oD3Yth7wiQ
— WWE (@WWE)
Jacob Fatu enters wearing a Werewolf mask alongside Solo Sikoa. But it seems like the former North American Champion isn’t accompanying Fatu at ringside. LA Knight makes his way to the ring in a Bugatti, a stark difference in their entrances.
Fatu is absolutely mauling LA Knight right now. Seems like The Megastar has no answer for the Samoan Werewolf. He is undefeated in WWE, and may just plough through the champ! Woah, but just as I type this, Knight fights back, drives him outside the ring with a running leg strike. The champion went for a move off the top rope, but Jacob just REVERSED IT into a powerslam. Incredible strength!
ALL GAS ✅
NO BRAKES ❌#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/drYUhO83cR— WWE (@WWE)
Some separation between both men after Knight reversed the Pop-up samoan drop into a crucifix bomb. Fatu misses Knight in the corner, hits the post and now the champion takes advantage. Fatu sent in the corner shoulder first twice, a strong clothesline, followed up with a Knight Elbow, but isn’t enough.
The Megastar stops Fatu from hitting a moonsault. Instead, hits him with a back suplex off the top. BFT attempt, but Fatu fights back. Devastating hip attacks in the corner, paying homage to WWE legends Rikishi and Umaga. A swanton bomb from Fatu, but Knight fights on.
Mamma mia! That looked ugly. Jacob Fatu went for a moonsault, LA Knight attempted to catch him in mid-air with a BFT. Not the best connection, honestly. Despite that, Fatu lives on by holding on the rope.
Jacob Fatu stops LA Knight’s momentum. Fits a Samoan Drop off the top rope, hits two back-to-back moonsaults to win the title! Jacob Fatu is your new WWE United States Champion. WWE Legend Haku comes out at ringside to congratulate Jacob. His first championship in WWE!
PFSN Rating – 3.75/5
JACOB FATU DID IT!#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/aziKskuJ1z
— WWE (@WWE)
It’s time for a legendary match. It’s time for El Grande Americano vs Rey Fenix at WrestleMania 41.
5. Lucha Libre Supremacy on the line at WrestleMania 41: El Grande Americano vs Rey Fenix
Rey Fenix caught Americano off guard there to start things off. We see some incredible mat wrestling from El Grande Americano, but Fenix’s lucha libre gets the better of him but not for long!
El Grande Americano used a Chad Gable-esque throw to get the momentum. No idea if this was innovation or not, but a 540 degree moonsault from Gable. I’m sorry, El Grande Americano. One can even call it a Moonsault senton.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/4WK8nf9ocU
— WWE (@WWE)
Americano brings out the metal plate again, he sneaks it into his mask near the forehead area. Fenix attempts to build some momentum, but may have injured his ankle doing so. Seems like Fenix kicked the metal plate inside Americano’s mask, and once again, Fenix on the back foot.
Fenix goes for a move off the second rope, but a head butt strikes and El Grande Americano is your winner! He is no fraud, he is a real luchador. Perhaps, he can join AAA now? Speaking of AAA, here’s Vikingo! He is out here to help his friend Fenix to the back. Who would’ve thought Vikingo would be at WrestleMania 41, that too, on-camera?
PFSN Rating – 3.5/5
EL GRANDE AMERICANO is victorious at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/FQcJQehIsl
— WWE (@WWE)
Mr. WrestleMania Shawn Michaels makes the official WrestleMania Night 1 attendance announcement. 61,467 are in attendance as per WWE in Las Vegas for the Grandest Stage of Them All today.
6. WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs Charlotte Flair
It’s Tiffy Time! The WWE Women’s Champion makes an impressive entrance on her WrestleMania debut in Las Vegas. A custom Barbie playbox entrance for Tiffany Stratton, courtesy of Mattel. It’s time for The Queen to enter!
All Hail The Queen! Charlotte Flair makes a royal entrance to the Allegiant Stadium. Making her way to the WrestleMania 41 stage in a Rolls Royce Phantom, she looks confident on winning her 15th World Championship.
The Queen arrives in style at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/O5pUpvBqUf
— WWE (@WWE)
Loud boos for Charlotte Flair, but a deafening pop for the Women’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton. The match starts off on the fourth gear! Quick, fast-paced action to kick things off. Punches, slaps and chops are the name of the game for now.
One misstep and Tiffany takes advantage. Charlotte set in a tree of woe position, and gets hit with a double stomp. Stratton tried to hit Flair’s legs on the ring post, but The Queen fought back.
Flair showing her experience now. A comeback in the blink of an eye, Flair sent Stratton to the barricade twice and is now using the ropes to wear the champion out.
Charlotte misses a big boot, Stratton takes advantage. A dropkick, followed by a handspring back elbow and a spine buster. A two count, but the Queen kicks out.
Stratton goes for the moonsault, but Flair moves out. Back and forth between the champion and challenger. This match is truly evenly matched. But now, The Queen seems in a mood to finish it all.
A painful powerbomb from Charlotte Flair to Tiffany. The 14-time Champion attempted to injure Stratton’s leg, but she moved out of the way. Champion and challenger back on the top rope, an endurance battle that ended with a Spinebuster, allowing both women to get things together.
Lateral press, close to winning, but Charlotte kicks out. TIffany Stratton sent to the outside, Charlotte went for the moonsault but the champion targets the surgically repaired knee of the challenger. Impressive ring awareness by Stratton, but momentum is still on the veteran’s side.
Charlotte does what Tiffany intended to earlier in the match. She smacked Stratton’s knee on the ring post. It’s time for the Figure 4, but Charlotte’s knee isn’t allowing her to bridge into the figure 8 leg lock. Tiffy takes advantage of that, attacking the knee to get Flair to break the hold.
she heard you, wade 😆#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/rpAJLaaHDi
— WWE (@WWE)
Stratton went for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Charlotte gets her knees up! A roll up, close call, but the champion kicked out at 2 and a half. The action now goes to the top rope, Flair manages to send Tiffany down. A Natural Selection off the top rope, but it isn’t enough!
Charlotte Flair hits a chop block on Tiffany, but the follow up doesn’t come through. Champion hits an Alabama Slam in the corner, followed by a Prettiest Moonsault Ever. She has done it! Tiffany has conquered The Queen. And still WWE Women’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton!
PFSN Rating – 3.75/5
WrestleMania 41 Night 1 main event: Seth Rollins vs CM Punk vs Roman Reigns
Seth Rollins makes his way out first, and it’s an entrance that’s literally setting it on fire! A flamethrower brought along by the Visionary, maybe to imply that’s how he will burn Punk and Reigns down tonight. This is Rollins’ 12th WrestleMania match, and his third WrestleMania main event.
Time to BURN IT DOWN! 🔥🔥🔥#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/8DRszu4VX5
— WWE (@WWE)
Woah, expected CM Punk to come out second. But its Roman Reigns! No fanfare, no elaborate entrance for the Original Tribal Chief. Reigns means business, and he’s locked in for his record 10th WrestleMania main event here at WrestleMania 41.
The OTC arrives alone at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/WBpkQ8IKqK
— WWE (@WWE)
Now a man who has yearned the WrestleMania main event for long. CM Punk walks out at the Grandest Stage of Them All for a match for the first time 12 years. The Best in the World isn’t alone, because Reigns’ wiseman, Paul Heyman, is in his corner.
You EARNED this, CM Punk! ❤️#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/xF5023iR6x
— WWE (@WWE)
Punk gets a special package highlighting his WWE journey- from day one in Ohio Valley Wrestling, to all the way in his current run. WWE has used his old theme song, This Fire Burns by Killswitch Engage for this. CM Punk voices the package saying, “Tonight is my main event.”
And there you go! The rumors were true, Live and in Living Color, the namesake band returns to perform Cult of Personality as CM Punk enters his first-ever WrestleMania main event.
The match is underway. All three men eye each other, and then Punk slides out of the ring. Punk heads over to Heyman and it seems like both are strategizing. Reigns and Rollins take a glance and start the fight against each other. Punk follows suit.
A couple of leaping clotheslines from Reigns for both men. Punk sent to the outside, Rollins in position, Reigns hits him with a Drive-by. Now sets his sights back on CM Punk. The OTC bounced Punk’s head off the apron and looked at Heyman with disgust.
Amid all this, Rollins intervened with a Suicide Dive, followed by sending Roman Reigns into the steel steps. Now its Punk vs Rollins and the Best in the World sends him in the WWE Universe. The action has spilled into the crowd at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Rollins uses an object to target Punk’s thigh and follows it up with a trash can smack right on the head. Trash can assault continues, but Punk with a reversal- Rollins goes back first on the trash can thanks to the suplex from Punk.
Roman Reigns flies in outta nowhere! Reigns gets the better of both men and has full control of the match. Action back in the ring, Reigns looks good, but his momentum comes to a halt after a neckbreaker from Punk. Running knees for Rollins & Reigns, Punk has full control.
We've got a flying OTC at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/KmAyJvzdc7
— WWE (@WWE)
A DDT and Inverted DDT combo on Rollins and Reigns. The Best in the World looks in good touch here at WrestleMania 41. Las Vegas is on its feet right now.
CM Punk locks in the Anaconda Vice on Roman Reigns. The OTC is in trouble, but Rollins comes in with a Frog Splash outta nowhere! Rollins went for a pedigree on Punk, reversed into the GTS position. But wait a minute, a SPEAR outta nowhere!
Deja vu! 😲#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/QCsTPVtdq8
— WWE (@WWE)
Roman went for the spear again, but Rollins counters with a pedigree. A stomp on Reigns, Punk sent out of the ring, but the OTC is still alive! Three-way chaos now, spear on Rollins, GTS to Reigns, but the match still continues.
All three men are showing massive signs of wear and tear. Rollins tries to talk sense to Roman Reigns. He is explaining to Reigns that Punk is the outsider and has to be taken out. Rollins begins to clear the table, Reigns reluctantly follows. But will they work together?
Reigns gave the carrot to Rollins, but sucker punched him. A powerbomb through the table for Punk first and then for Rollins. The Tribal Chief is destroying everything. Action gets back to the ring, Reigns hits a spear on Rollins, but the former World Heavyweight Champion will not stay down!
Seth Rollins is out the way, now CM Punk is helpless in the middle of the ring. Roman locks in the Guillotine Choke, Punk uses his ring IQ to get out of it and reverses into the Anaconda Vice again. Rollins comes back, locking in a sharpshooter on Punk.
Reigns comes in and locks a Guillotine on Seth Rollins. Rollins reverses it into a suplex, but Reigns continues to tighten his grip. Punk comes out of nowhere and hits a stomp on the former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. But the stomp isn’t enough to pick the win.
The former WWE Champion hits a GTS on Seth Rollins, a spear from Reigns to Punk, and a stomp from Rollins to Reigns – all three men are down! And Paul Heyman has just picked up a chair. Who will he pass it to? CM Punk or Roman Reigns? He passes it to Punk.
But oh my god, what just happened? Heyman just betrayed CM Punk, just as Punk went to strike Reigns with the steel chair, the Wiseman low-blowed him. He then reminded Reigns Rollins is his for the taking. But Heyman did the unthinkable – he betrayed Reigns too!
Paul Heyman hit a low-blow on Roman Reigns while Rollins’ back was turned. He then handed him the steel chair, and sat in the corner of the ring watching on as The Architect hit the chair on Roman’s back again.
In the end, Seth Rollins hit a stomp to seal the deal and win the main event of WrestleMania 41 night 1. The unholy alliance is now a reality. Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins are now together.
PFSN Rating – 5/5
That’s a wrap for WrestleMania 41 Night 1 live blog coverage from Las Vegas. Overall, the show was excellent in terms of in-ring action. However, the stories seemed predictable and some finishes felt rushed. Let’s see what Triple H has in store for fans with Night 2 from the Allegiant Stadium.
Pro Football and Sports Network will return with the live blog for WrestleMania 41 Night 2, live 7E/4P onwards.