Punk, Reigns, Rollins Build Closes Strong, Iyo Sky Must Win, More WWE Raw Takes

WWE's top stars were out in force on the April 14 episode of Raw on Netflix just before WrestleMania 41 at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento.

Seth Rollins delivered the final shot before his Triple Threat main event with CM Punk and Roman Reigns, blasting The OTC with a steel chair.

Gunther and Jey Uso gave their thoughts ahead of a dramatic battle for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley prerecorded statements for each other before their clash at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas at the weekend.

AJ Styles took down Karrion Kross to build momentum for his match with Logan Paul, but The Maverick had the last laugh by laying out The Phenomenal One.

This was an important show for WWE, which mostly succeeded in setting the final stage for The Show of Shows.

CM Punk, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns Have Earned WrestleMania Main Event

Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins was always going to be one of WWE's biggest matches of the 'Mania weekend, but nothing has come close to matching this angle.

While Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena is the biggest contest on the card, this is the strongest story for 'Mania as well as the one with the highest likelihood to steal the show.

Even without adding stakes to the contest, these three men have sold their individual dynamics with one another as well as Paul Heyman's involvement.

At this stage, the result is completely up in the air. The future of three of WWE's top stars, as well as one of the all-time great managers, hangs in the balance.

While multiple championships could change hands at the weekend, it's hard to imagine anything feeling bigger on Saturday's Night 1 card than this Triple Threat.

This isn't simply a case of giving Punk the main event he craves. It's about putting out the best angle possible to close WrestleMania's opening night.

Looking Ahead to Gunther's Post-WrestleMania Path

Gunther has spent most of his career as a champion in WWE. His record speaks for itself since he debuted in WWE in January 2019.

He has 870 days as NXT UK champion, 666 days as intercontinental champion and over 250 days as world heavyweight champion to his name.

No one can match his consistency over these six years, which includes five total years with gold around his waist.

The Ring General is likely to see his latest title reign end at WrestleMania 41 since Jey Uso is on a meteoric rise to the top.

On the main roster, fans have so rarely seen the Austrian without gold.

Even after losing the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40 last year, he quickly rebounded with a King of the Ring victory that set the stage for him winning the World Heavyweight Championship.

In order to keep his momentum after a loss to Uso, he must find another way to stay relevant. This is the perfect time to explore who he can be without gold.

The Ring General facing CM Punk, Seth Rollins or Roman Reigns after their Triple Threat would be a huge story and test the waters of his main event longevity.

Punk feels like the best fit, though that is contingent on him staying out of the world title scene for a while longer.

Iyo Sky Must Defeat Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair at WrestleMania

Iyo Sky has been women's world champion for less than 50 days as she walks into WrestleMania 41 against two of WWE's most prolific female wrestlers.

In the build to The Showcase of the Immortals, Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair have mostly treated Sky as an obstacle to their long-awaited singles clash.

If The EST of WWE or Mami walk out with the gold, The Genius of the Sky will become an afterthought again as she was after her WWE Women's Championship reign.

She would hold the record for the shortest reign with the Women's World Championship in WWE history while Ripley vs. Belair moved on into the company's new season.

All this will be worth it if The Genius of the Sky walks out victorious, though. She will solidify her ability to work at the level of two of the top women in WWE.

It can set the stage for Sky to go on a run, showing her value against a variety of opponents and selling that she can stay in the main event scene long-term with or without the gold.

WWE Owes AJ Styles So Much More

AJ Styles was a late arrival to WWE, after spending 15 years in other promotions before he debuted for the company.

However, he has now worked for WWE for a decade. He has won the WWE Championship twice and earned the Grand Slam title.

This is a solid career for any wrestler, but The Phenomenal One is one of the greatest in-ring performers in wrestling history. His early world title reigns should not have been his last.

Injuries have slowed Styles in recent years, but he still has plenty left to give before his career is over. He proved that in his feud with Cody Rhodes last year.

After his story with Logan Paul ends at WrestleMania 41, Styles should move back into the title scene and get the opportunity to deliver big stories once again.

At 47 years old with his injury history, he may only have a couple years left. WWE should take advantage of what they have in The Phenomenal One and reward him with lasting moments in his final active years.