WrestleMania 41 Sparks Controversy as Another Year Passes Without Black Male Wrestlers in Singles Matches

As the full card for WrestleMania 41 becomes public, a troubling pattern has re-emerged—once again, not a single Black male wrestler has been booked in a one-on-one singles match on WWE’s biggest stage. And for many fans and wrestling observers, this is not just an isolated oversight—it’s a continuation of a troubling trend that has persisted for three straight years under Triple H’s creative leadership.

Since taking over as WWE’s Chief Content Officer in 2022, Paul “Triple H” Levesque has brought fresh energy, long-term storytelling, and a renewed focus on in-ring quality to WWE programming. But as accolades pour in for the creative direction, a major criticism continues to fester: the consistent lack of Black male representation in meaningful singles competition on Premium Live Events (PLEs), particularly at marquee shows like WrestleMania.

WrestleMania 41: A Closer Look at the Card

This year’s WrestleMania, split over two nights, features a stacked lineup that includes stars like Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, John Cena, AJ Styles, and Logan Paul. But a deeper look reveals a glaring absence: no Black male wrestler is scheduled for a one-on-one match.

• The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) are featured in a tag match against the War Raiders.

• Jey Uso is in a singles bout—but it’s part of a match against GUNTHER, a non-title midcard feud with minimal build.

• Jacob Fatu, while getting a singles opportunity, is a newcomer and not framed as a major solo player.

• Meanwhile, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill—both Black women—have strong representation on the card in prominent matches.

Despite these appearances, many fans note the difference in how Black men are consistently positioned as either part of tag teams or multi-man matches, but rarely given the spotlight of a one-on-one showcase.

Three Years, No Singles Matches

This marks the third consecutive year—since Triple H took over creative—that no Black male wrestler has had a featured singles match on a WWE Premium Live Event. Fans have pointed out that while stars like Bobby Lashley, Montez Ford, and Carmelo Hayes have consistently delivered in-ring and have star power, they’ve been relegated to side roles, tag teams, or left off PLE cards entirely.

The optics are hard to ignore: WWE, a global company that champions diversity and has proudly celebrated past champions like Kofi Kingston and Bobby Lashley, now finds itself in a creative era that appears to be overlooking Black male performers in critical spots.

Fan Backlash Grows

Social media has been vocal in response to the WrestleMania 41 card. Critics argue that Triple H’s era of “real wrestling” storytelling has been accompanied by a blind spot when it comes to racial representation—particularly for Black men. Some say the issue stems not from malicious intent but from a creative ecosystem that defaults to familiar archetypes and leaves others behind.

“Three years, zero singles matches for Black men. That’s not a coincidence anymore,” one fan wrote. “It’s a pattern.”

The Path Forward

WWE has no shortage of talented Black male wrestlers. From proven veterans like Lashley and Kingston to rising stars like Ford, Hayes, and Trick Williams, the depth is there. The challenge now falls on creative leadership to elevate those talents into featured singles roles—not just as tag team specialists or utility players.

If WWE wants to truly live up to its slogan of being “for everyone,” that representation must show up in its biggest moments. WrestleMania is more than a spectacle—it’s a statement. And right now, that statement is drawing criticism from fans who believe it’s time for more than just tag team spots and cameos.

WrestleMania 41 may deliver plenty of great matches. But until this issue is addressed, it’ll remain overshadowed by the talent that wasn’t given the spotlight they’ve long earned.