WWE is facing a shake-up as plans for WrestleMania 40 undergo multiple changes. Recent controversies have cast a shadow over the buildup to WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 40, despite the road to WrestleMania kicking off at the Royal Rumble. The promotion is grappling with significant challenges just months ahead of the anticipated event.
Previously, the WrestleMania card promised blockbuster matchups, such as Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns, CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins, and Brock Lesnar vs. Gunther. However, at least two of these matches have been scrapped, causing major problems throughout the planned lineup.
On January 25, a lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon delivered the first blow, implicating unnamed parties, including a “WWE Superstar” alleged to be Brock Lesnar. It’s important to note that the lawsuit never mentioned Lesnar’s name. As a result, WWE pulled Lesnar from the Royal Rumble, replacing him with Bron Breakker. Also, CM Punk suffered a torn triceps during the Royal Rumble match, sidelining him from WrestleMania.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, these changes have significantly altered the WrestleMania card. Meltzer stated, “A lot of things have changed in the last… between the Punk injury, Lesnar being out – I was told, even before the Punk injury, just with Lesnar being out, it was not just that Lesnar’s match is (changed), but it’s like a domino effect that’s changed the whole card based on Lesnar being out. Whatever the original stuff was, a lot of it has changed because of Lesnar, and now again, another change because of Punk.”
With things being uncertain, WWE is coming up with different things as they plan WrestleMania 40.
Which WWE superstars won’t make WrestleMania 40?
It seems like fans might not get to see many top WWE superstars at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. This situation is reminiscent of WrestleMania 32 in 2016 when many stars were injured.
WrestleMania 40 is expected to be missing even more top stars. Brock Lesnar’s return has been delayed due to a lawsuit. Meanwhile, CM Punk announced that he would be missing this year’s WrestleMania due to his injury. Former WWE Champion Big E, who suffered a broken neck in 2022, recently reunited with his New Day groupmates. He also discussed a match for WrestleMania 40, but there’s no update on his return. John Cena also stated in an interview that he’s unsure if he’ll be available on that weekend.
In the women’s division, Alexa Bliss, who recently had a baby girl, hasn’t shown any signs of returning yet, which is understandable. Another top women’s superstar set to miss WrestleMania 40 is Charlotte Flair. Flair suffered a major injury on an episode of SmackDown, keeping her out of action in 2024. It seems like many top WWE superstars won’t be gracing the grandest stage of them all this year.
