WWE is coming off the back of, to use their own terminology, the biggest WrestleMania of all time, and fans are excited to see what is next.
The event over the weekend shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing event ever for the company, raking in millions of dollars and breaking all sorts of crowd and social media viewing figures.
Though the man himself is reluctant to brand it so, the Triple H era is well underway, with Vince McMahon far away from any control in the business and the franchise seemingly a happier place for it.
WrestleMania 40 was a raging success, but how can WWE follow it up? What is next for some of the major stars whose futures are unclear?
Here, Mail Sport has delved into the status of some of the stars of the WrestleMania programme, what is next for them, and when they are set to be back in WWE.
The Rock
Potentially still the biggest mainstream name in WWE today, The Rock, real name Dwayne Johnson, did wonders for the company and its WrestleMania build, his run culminating in an impressive performance in the main event of night one.
His heel turn seemed off-the-cuff following backlash for plans to see ‘The Great One’ face Reigns, but it helped form what has been suggested as his best character from his illustrious career.
The near-hour-long segment at the start of Raw and The Rock’s involvement seemed to suggest the ‘Final Boss’ character is here to stay, though we won’t be seeing it, or him, any time soon.
Johnson continues to get loud crowd reactions wherever he goes and whenever he appears, and he was serenaded by a rendition of Steam’s ‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye’ from the Philadelphia crowd when he revealed he had to step away from WWE.
His Hollywood career calls, with various projects on the go, but, asked in the post-night-one press conference if he would be back, a return down the line seems all but certain.
‘I have been lucky to have participated in some cool things,’ he said. ‘There is nothing like performing at WrestleMania in front of your fellow pro wrestlers and thousands of people.
‘There might be (more matches). I can’t elaborate that much on that but I love what I do. We will see.’
He told Rhodes on Raw that he would be coming for him in the future, suggesting the pair’s feud is far from over. Johnson looked like he had a lot of fun in his latest run and his words backed up that theory, so don’t be surprised if he’s back this year.
Verdict: To return potentially in the summer
John Cena
John Cena hadn’t been seen in WWE since November prior to WrestleMania, when he lost to Solo Sikoa before getting involved in Rhodes’ match with Reigns on Sunday.
The former face of WWE ran down and attacked Sikoa in the match, putting him through an announce table and attacking Reigns before being taken out by former rival, The Rock.
He had enjoyed a short run prior to his match with Sikoa, appearing on WWE TV pretty much weekly during the Hollywood strikes before going back to work.
Like The Rock, Cena is not expected to be seen in WWE any time soon – despite his appearance on Raw on Monday – due to filming, with Peacemaker season two in progress.
‘[It] will take us just about through Christmas and I’m crossing my fingers and toes and my heart that maybe, just maybe, I can tell the Hollywood world to pump the brakes for a while and come back to my family for one last run,’ Cena said on the Pat McAfee show over WrestleMania weekend.
He has spoken about retirement a lot lately, reinstating his desire to call it a day before he turns 50, though, at 46, has mentioned recently that he may bring the day he hangs up his boots forward.
Cena has 16 world titles to his name, the joint-most alongside now-AEW man Ric Flair. One wonders if he could be given a gift in that final run to make him the outright leader.
Verdict: Back early next year
Roman Reigns
Since signing his latest WWE contract 2022, Roman Reigns has been working on a reduced schedule despite being the premier champion and the face of the company.
Sometimes defending his title once every few months, fans were ready for his near-four-year reign to come to an end, and that happened on Sunday when Cody Rhodes dethroned the Tribal Chief.
There is however little doubt of Reigns’ value to the company, and officials will be keen for him to return sooner rather than later.
What comes next for him is important. He hasn’t really had a run as his latest character without a title, and some may have forgotten what it is like to see Reigns without one.
Reigns is expected to take a number of months away from programming, though shared a social media post on Tuesday with the caption: ‘Yesterday I mourned. Today is Day 1.’
He will certainly be back this year. The King of the Ring show in Saudi Arabia at the end of May could be a target though speculative, and his next advertised TV appearance is the go-home show for SummerSlam, which will take place at the start of August.
He will likely be on the card, however, so don’t be surprised to see him before that.
Verdict: Back sooner rather than later
Seth Rollins
Arguably the workhorse of WWE in the build-up to WrestleMania, Seth Rollins is set for some well-deserved time off in the aftermath of the event.
He was visibly emotional on night two of ‘Mania, breaking down into tears after losing his world heavyweight title to Drew McIntyre in the opening match of the night and again when Rhodes beat Reigns.
Rollins played a key role in a number of storylines, from helping McIntyre’s next arc of his obsession with CM Punk to being the main part of one of the best storylines in recent times – his Shield teases causing Reigns to snap and lose his title.
Coming off the back of an injury too, it has been reported that Rollins may take up to a month off from programming.
Fans have been left worried that Rollins’ show of emotion is because he could be on his way out of WWE with his contract up in June and the 37-year-old yet to put pen to paper on a new deal, but he is expected to re-sign and pick up where he left off when he returns – potentially re-starting with a feud with Reigns.
Verdict: Back in a few weeks
Becky Lynch
Another true workhorse of WWE, Lynch was given her flowers after WrestleMania despite losing to Rhea Ripley in her own title match.
The real-life wife of Rollins, Lynch’s contract is too up in June but she is invaluable to the company and is arguably the top women’s star in the business. It is expected she will also re-sign.
She was absent from Raw on Monday but wrestled at ‘Mania with a fever and strep throat, so may have just missed due to illness. Like Rollins, however, she could be afforded longer off with no clear direction right now.
Though fans have also speculated Lynch could move on, there appears no reason for her to, potentially other than the fact there is nothing left for her to achieve.
Having helped elevate the next generation in her most-recent run, Lynch remains in extreme high-regard within WWE and shouldn’t be away too long.
Verdict: Back any time now
Drew McIntyre
Since his heel turn, Drew McIntyre has been completely re-invented and is one of the most interesting characters in WWE right now.
He finally won a world title in front of fans at WrestleMania – having won his first two belts during the Covid pandemic – though lost his belt moments later when Damian Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase against the Scot.
Mocking CM Punk, who was on commentary for McIntyre’s bout with Seth Rollins, he was caught off-guard, attacked by Punk and left laying for Priest to strike.
The 38-year-old was left somewhat on the shelf after his last title run, having to endure feuds against the likes of Jinder Mahal and Baron Corbin, though his heel turn has now given him new life.
On Raw on Monday, McIntyre is not going anywhere from WWE TV soon, but the concern comes in the fact his contract is up at the end of May and the two parties are yet to come to an agreement.
It is, like his colleagues, expected that McIntyre will re-sign, and his new role will give him rejuvenated hope that he is to be viewed as a main-event player in the company going forward.
Being CM Punk’s first feud back is a good start, and it’s likely he will have gold around his waist again sooner rather than later.
Verdict: Unlikely to go anywhere
Brock Lesnar
After being linked to Vince McMahon’s sex trafficking lawsuit, WWE shelved plans for Brock Lesnar to return at the start of this year and play a part in WrestleMania.
It seemed they were trying to erase him from history and his time with the company was over after a number of decades, though Triple H cast doubt on that when asked directly about ‘The Beast’ at WrestleMania.
‘At one point there was a conversation with Brock about Royal Rumble,’ HHH said. ‘Quite a long time ago. Right now Brock is at home being Brock. We will see where that leads to from here. His status is the same as it has been before. Brock is not gone from WWE. He is just home being Brock.’
He will unlikely be seen before there is a conclusion to the lawsuit. Though it doesn’t seem a return is completely out the question.
Verdict: Potentially never to be seen again
