3 Lessons WWE Must Learn from WrestleMania 41 Build

The main events for WrestleMania 41 are set, but the rest of the card hasn't come together as quickly as expected due to some missteps.

The Show of Shows is just two weeks away now, and there's plenty to look forward to. Still, it's hard to deny the build for this year's two-night event has been a bit underwhelming.

Yes, John Cena's heel turn created an unforgettable moment at Elimination Chamber, but the weekly programming isn't nearly as unpredictable and engaging as it was when The Rock was making regular appearances as The Final Boss in 2024.

Fortunately, Cena's recent exchange with Cody Rhodes gave their storyline the shot in the arm it desperately needed. Jey Uso and Gunther's rivalry is also back on track after an excellent after-match segment during Monday's Raw.

Nevertheless, expect WWE to announce more matches and attempt to gain interest in a few last-minute additions to the star-studded show.

These are three lessons the company must learn from this year's inconsistent build.

Improve the Underdeveloped Midcard

WWE excels at creating moments and maximizing high-profile matchups at WrestleMania.

No one does a better job delivering a spectacle with high production value and marquee matches worthy of The Grandest Stage of Them All. Lately, though, the company hasn't put enough effort into cultivating a strong midcard to support its main events.

WWE introduced two new secondary women's titles this year, but there's no sign that the division's tag team, United States or intercontinental belts will appear on this year's card yet.

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Even more, the men’s midcard will probably be relegated to multi-man matches, such as the rumored Fatal 4-Way for the intercontinental title featuring Bron Breakker, Finn Balor, Penta and Dominik Mysterio.

The Street Profits will likely defend the tag team titles in a similar match with an admittedly better storyline, which has been brewing since last year.

Nonetheless, it's a shame WWE hasn't devoted more time to these secondary title or non-title matches. Hopefully, the creative team will address this issue and create more opportunities by next year.

Reset the Premium Live Event Calendar

This year, Royal Rumble landed on the first Saturday in February, and WWE pushed WrestleMania 41 back two weeks.

We were all curious to see how this would affect the road to the company’s biggest premium live event of the year. As it turns out, the two events should probably be closer in proximity because the results of both Rumble matches lost steam sooner than expected.

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It's hard to tell how much of this was because of the superior response to Elimination Chamber or just the lack of a sustained focus on Jey Uso or Charlotte Flair. Regardless, there's some validity to the argument that it's hard to keep both winners interesting for over two months.

WWE should consider retooling the PLE calendar to capitalize on the outcome of its first event of the year and the use of stars with limited availability, like Cena, The Rock and Roman Reigns.

Slight changes could make a world of difference and keep the fans invested in the Royal Rumble winners.

Re-Emphasize the Royal Rumble Winners

Speaking of which, the most notable takeaway from the build to WrestleMania 41 has been how poorly both the men's and women's Rumble winners have been utilized.

Flair and Uso's wins feel more like a vehicle to advance other storylines instead of the main stories heading into the year's most anticipated event.

The Queen's latest accolade and claim to the title of the greatest of all time seems like a way to put her on a collision course with her most well-known rival, Becky Lynch.

Meanwhile, it's getting harder to deny Uso's win was likely a means to set up Cena's heel turn because WWE has done him and Gunther a bit of a disservice ever since. Their rivalry had undeniably taken a backseat in favor of Rhodes vs. Cena.

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In contrast, Rhodes' quest to finish his story was undoubtedly the central plot when he won the same event for two consecutive years. To add insult to injury, neither of this year's winners will compete in the main event, which lessens the appeal of the stipulation and its promise of immortality.

After all, the key selling point of winning the Royal Rumble match is earning the chance to headline WrestleMania. WWE must correct this next year because it makes it tough to invest in either winner when the achievement can be de-emphasized in favor of a more recognizable name or established star.

In the past, it was a way to reward the hottest stars and propel them to the next level or pay off the best storylines of the year. That's the best use of the concept, and we would like to see it return to prominence in 2026.