Rebooking WrestleMania 40 Without Seth Rollins, Okada in WWE, More Quick Takes

In the last week alone, the entire complexion of the WWE WrestleMania 40 card may have changed drastically.

Per Fightful Select, the belief within the company is that Seth Rollins suffered an MCL tear and a partially torn meniscus during his World Heavyweight Championship defense on the Jan. 15 edition of Raw.

The champ will provide an update on his status on Monday's Raw, but fans and officials should be prepared for the possibility that he won't be cleared to compete in time for WrestleMania and that his rumored match with CM Punk could be in jeopardy.

Days later, New Japan Pro-Wrestling formally announced that Kazuchika Okada will be departing the promotion when his contract expires at the end of the month, leaving fans to speculate what his future holds and where he'll decide to take his talents next.

WWE and All Elite Wrestling are the most obvious options, and as logical of a landing place as the latter would be for him, the former could end up being the more intriguing possibility.

This installment of Quick Takes will look at a potential path for Okada in WWE, Hook and Pete Dunne having impressive showings this past week, why Brock Lesnar is the wrong opponent for Gunther at WrestleMania, and more.

WWE Doesn't Have to Hit Panic Button Without Seth Rollins at WrestleMania

Oddly enough, Seth Rollins is no stranger to suffering an injury on the road to WrestleMania, and much like in 2017, there's a decent chance he'll be able to make it for The Show of Shows depending on its severity.

That would prevent WWE from changing course with the World Heavyweight Championship, which currently involves a planned program between Rollins and CM Punk that would clearly culminate in the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 40.

If the company isn't confident that marquee match is a lock—even if it means keeping Rollins out of action until 'Mania—then it won't have to hit the panic button and alter the card too much. That's how much depth there is between the two rosters right now.

The best bet would be to crown a new world heavyweight champion inside the Elimination Chamber on February 24, and to have the men's Royal Rumble winner—ideally Punk—choose to challenge them at WrestleMania.

Punk vs. Drew McIntyre would be an appealing attraction if Rollins is forced to miss the pay-per-view, while Cody Rhodes sets his sights on a rematch with Roman Reigns (assuming The Rock vs. Reigns is saved for another time).

Hook Ready for Next Level After Breakout Performance vs. Samoa Joe

Hook has largely been relegated to facing lower-level midcard competitors in the last two years and has excelled in his role, but he has long been ready for that next step.

And his AEW World Championship opportunity against Samoa Joe on Wednesday's Dynamite allowed him to have the breakout performance he needed.

The two had terrific chemistry and told a strong story, with Hook enduring everything Joe dished out, including kicking out of the veteran's signature Muscle Buster at a one-count.

The FTW champion gained more from that loss than he has from any victory he has scored up to this point.

The key now will be in the aftermath and how AEW intends to follow up on such a stellar showing from the 24-year-old, and having him enter the TNT Championship picture would make the most sense.

Christian Cage and Adam Copeland are currently waging war over that title, but once their rivalry runs its course and Christian still has the gold in this grasp, Hook stepping up to challenge him is the logical direction for him to follow.

The meaningless FTW title does nothing to add to Hook's aura, but he's proved he's capable of not only fighting for the TNT belt but also capturing it.

Brock Lesnar Is Wrong Opponent for Gunther at 'Mania

Brock Lesnar is due back on WWE TV any week now, and with the Royal Rumble approaching on Saturday, all signs point to that being where he makes his presence felt for the first time since SummerSlam.

Then it turns to the question of who WWE has in mind for him to face at WrestleMania 40, and Gunther leads the list for most fans. Beyond one brief interaction in last year's men's Rumble match, the two have never crossed paths before or gone one-on-one.

It would be an exciting addition to a 'Mania lineup that is shaping up to be seriously strong, but a feud between them may do more to hurt the intercontinental champ than help him.

The only way this war can deliver on fans' lofty expectations is if it's given the time it deserves and not booked as a four-minute hoss fight, which is the exact opposite of what Gunther has been known for since arriving on the main roster.

More importantly, it would be comical for Lesnar to be challenging for the intercontinental title, let alone winning it. Unless The Ring General drops the prestigious prize ahead of The Show of Shows, then now would be the wrong time to book this battle of the titans.

There are plenty of opponents who can step up to take on the Austrian at 'Mania and attempt to dethrone him. The event would be just fine if Lesnar wasn't a part of it, but if he is, there are any number of scenarios for him as well that don't involve the Intercontinental title.

Gunther would also need to defeat The Beast Incarnate, and that's far from a slam dunk at 'Mania, with Lesnar coming off two losses to Cody Rhodes last summer.

Projecting Pete Dunne's Long-Term Outlook on SmackDown

At long last, Pete Dunne has returned to his roots and ditched the Butch nonsense.

It's astounding that it took Triple H almost two years to switch him back to his previous moniker, but at least it's a sign that the English wrestler has a bright future ahead of him in his new role.

Dunne was extremely impressive throughout his time in NXT and NXT UK as The Bruiserweight, at one point holding the NXT UK Championship for nearly two years. He works just fine as a fan favorite, but his heel work is where he really shines.

That should be the eventual endgame for his pairing with Tyler Bate. They're a tremendous team, but Dunne can be even more valuable to SmackDown as a bad guy. The perfect way for him to turn would be for him to show no mercy in betraying his compatriot.

SmackDown has a slew of solid heels these days and Dunne won't ascend too high up the card for the time being, but he can be a top-tier player on either brand with the proper booking after the WWE draft.

Dunne's physical style, combined with his ruthless intensity, makes him a can't-miss prospect Triple H should be keen on spotlighting.

Kazuchika Okada Signing with WWE Is Worth the Risk

AEW fans are familiar with Kazuchika Okada, not only for the appearances he's made for the promotion since 2022 but also because of the decorated career he's had in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

The 36-year-old is regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world for a reason, and any company would be fortunate to secure his services in 2024.

The built-in exposure in AEW, along with the easier schedule and ability to remain based out of Japan, makes that the safe choice, but joining WWE would be that much bolder and potentially more rewarding in the long run.

Financially, Okada will be paid handsomely regardless of where he goes, but a run in WWE would provide him with the chance to showcase his skills to a larger audience on a grander scale.

There is a risk that comes with anyone putting pen to paper with WWE, especially given its track record with Japanese talent in the past, but the Triple H regime would go to great lengths to make a move there worthwhile for The Rainmaker.

The timing couldn't be better with WrestleMania 40 around the corner, as that could be where he's introduced in epic fashion. AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, two ex-NJPW stalwarts who were once in Okada's spot and have been very successful in WWE, would be fitting opponents for him and would ensure his stint get off to the strongest start possible.

Okada going to AEW is virtually guaranteed, but on the off-chance he chooses WWE, he's a big enough star that he'd exceed expectations with ease.

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Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.