100 thoughts on WrestleMania 42. WrestleMania predictions, hot takes

Matthew Berry is my favorite writer.

I love everything he does, but there's something about his writing that I can't get enough of. I started reading him for decades ago for fantasy football advice, and he's still my go-to guy for that, but that's not the main reason I always click on his content.

He is the main reason I always click on his content.

So I hope you don't mind, Mr. Berry, but I'm going to use one of your features for WrestleMania!

For the past week, I've heard a few complaints about WrestleMania because Pat McAfee is involved. I get that he's not a wrestler and people were looking forward to Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes but McAfee only enhances this match.

We will address these problems and all others as I give my 100 thoughts on WrestleMania.

Before you read, understand I'm not an insider. I don't know spoilers. I do interview wrestlers for stories from time to time, but I only write about them. I don't want to know what's happening backstage. I don't like knowing what's going to happen. I've been a pro wrestling fan since I saw Rocky 3, I'm just a guy who has watched it for decades and really enjoy it.

Here are my 100 thoughts on WrestleMania one week before the big show.

CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns

• Roman Reigns is my favorite wrestler. He has been the top guy for over a decade. He's also the best ever on the mic.
• CM Punk has outperformed Roman Reigns thus far. Both have been great, but Punk has been a little better.
• Punk's interview on Monday was better than his original pipebomb.
• Both of these guys are better as bad guys, and I hope one of them officially leaves WrestleMania as a bad guy.
• Unless it somehow puts Paul Heyman back with Roman Reigns and it reforms some sort of Bloodline with Roman, Heyman and most of the original group, I'm pulling for CM Punk to win. He deserves it and sets up more fun stuff. I'll be good with either winning, but I'm going against my guy in this one.
• I predict Punk will win, as well.

Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

• Randy Orton as a bad guy is always best. He has been great in this entire thing.
• Pat McAfee is a great get. I don't understand why people aren't on board. He's the most famous sportstalk host in the world, he is a massive WWE fan, he's not there for a payday, he's there because he loves it, and he's never been a bad character.
• McAfee's Smackdown promo was gold. McAfee only enhances this. He's one of the best talkers in anything.
• Despite his great work Friday, his best promo ever was when he was at the NFL Draft and wrecked the Tennessee Titans.
• Having Pat McAfee talk about WrestleMania every day on his show will generate so much buzz.
• Not only will WWE fans listen to his show more, non-WWE fans will learn about the show and might become WWE Fans.
• For the first time in a long time, I care about Cody Rhodes. Rhodes is a great talker, but was much better talking about McAfee.
• Jelly Roll does absolutely nothing for me. I know why he's there, I know people love him, but I don't care about him in the slightest. So far, he's the only part of this I don't like.
• I think Randy Orton wins, and that's who I want to see win.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan

• Stephanie Vaquer has been a great champion. She's had great matches and the fans are behind her.
• Liv Morgan could be the biggest star in pro wrestling. She seems to have everything it takes to be not a top star, but the top star, including the attitude.
• This is where Morgan becomes one of the faces of WWE, if she's not there already.
• Morgan is going to end up being a fan favorite.
• Expect a great match, Liv Morgan gets the win.
• Raquel Rodriguez will make a great first challenger.

Seth Rollins vs. Gunther

• This match came out of nowhere, and though it has little buildup, it could be the best match on the show. Both of these guys deserve to have a great opponent for the big show, so putting them together was surprising, but not unwelcomed.
• Seth Rollins is the new Mr. WrestleMania. He's never not awesome, but he always goes all out for the biggest show. Gunther is also a big-spot star, and WrestleMania is the biggest spot of them all.
• I'm hoping Seth Rollins wins because of how his great run got derailed. But I understand Gunther winning too.
• It's a coinflip, and that's the best kind of match. We'll go with Rollins winning.

AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch

• Becky Lynch can make anything must-see, and she's done it in every feud she has had. She was the one who made Lyra Valkyria a star on the main roster, she made Maxxine Dupree look great, and her mentally unstable politician gimmick is underrated.
• AJ Lee didn't need Becky Lynch to carrier her, even after the long layoff. Lee was her old self right from the star.
• How can someone take that much time off and look exactly the same in the ring?
• I'm surprised fans still boo Becky Lynch. Even though she does such a good job as a baddie, it's really hard to not like her.
• I'm siding with Becky Lynch to win, but it's 51-49. Can't go wrong either way.

Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. The Bella Twins

• This has been the best feud for months. I had no idea which way they were going at WrestleMania, and they really did a nice job creating tension between all four teams.
• This feud reminded me of ECW when they had the Eliminators, the Gangstas, Bruise Brothers and Samoan Gangsta Party feuding. Just a real nice job of getting everyone mad at each other.
• I miss ECW. The original one.
• I'd love to see three of the four teams win. I don't need the Bellas to hold WWE gold, but the other three teams all deserve it. I'm going with Charlotte and Alexa to win, but I wouldn't hate the champs retaining or Bayley and Lyra winning.
• I think Charlotte and Alexa could be fun champs until they turn on each other.
• It's time for most of these women to challenge for the world title.
• Nothing shows the depth of the women's division like this match.
• How would a Nia Jax vs. Lash LEgend feud look?

Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre

• These two men could have easily been added to the Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes match and I would have been happy.
• Both of these guys deserve to be at the very, very top of the card.
• Drew McIntyre has been the MVP of WWE for a while now.
• As great as he's been, WWE fans haven't seen the best of Jacob Fatu yet. They will.
• These guys are likely going to kill each other.
• Pulling for Jacob Fatu, but predict Drew McIntyre wins. He should be main eventing, he shouldn't lose.

Logan Paul, Austin Theory, IShowSpeed vs. The Usos, LA Knight

• I have no interest in IShowSpeed.
• I recognize he's not for me, and have no problem with him being there.
• As an old dude, I might not care about IShowSpeed, my nephews love him. He's there for a reason.
• The other five guys are awesome, and it will be fun to see this match on ESPN.
• I hope Bron Breakker returns here, but he might wait for Seth Rollins' match.
• LA Knight should be champion.
• Logan Paul will be champion.
• Jimmy Uso is underrated. So is his brother Jey. Fans who don't like him are crazy.
• The good guys have to win, and IShowSpeed should get pinned.

Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley

• This match might feature the two most physically gifted women's wrestlers on the roster.
• Rhea Ripley is the biggest female star in wrestling.
• Jade Cargill is underrated.
• You can't look at either of these wrestlers and not see a huge star.
• Jade Cargill had a good run with the title. And she should win it again.
• Rhea Ripley leaves Vegas as champ.

"The Demon" Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio

• Where would Finn Balor's career have gone if he didn't get hurt the night he beat Seth Rollins for the championship?
• Why hasn't he gotten another chance to carry the belt?
• Finn Balor doesn't have bad matches. I don't need him to be the demon, but whatever gets him the most TV time I support.
• Dominick Mysterio never disappoints. He's the best bad guy, which is funny because off camera, he seems like the best good guy.
• This will be the best match on the show. Demon wins, both guys leave better than they came.

Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams

• It's a joke that Carmello Hayes isn't involved in this match. It should be him vs. Ilja Dragunov, they made this title over the past year.
• Trick Williams will main event a WrestleMania.
• Sami Zayn will have a much bigger role next year, but this match won't disappoint.
• I get why fans are turning on Zayn. They want Carmello Hayes in this match. I do too.
• Trick Williams will whoop that Sami and bring home gold. Hopefully he goes on to feud with Carmello Hayes, they always crush it.
• I miss Kevin Owens.
• It will be very interesting where Zayn goes from here. Maybe a feud with Cody/Randy winner?

Penta vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio

• This match will have a lot of holy you know what moments.
• Penta has eleveated the IC championship. He's done far better than I expected since joining WWE.
• Je'Von Evans would be my pick to win this, but you can make a case for everyone.
• Dragon Lee, whenever he gets the opportunity, shines. Same for JD McDonagh.
• Rey Mysterio has the role of Ric Flair in the Money in the Bank match where Rob Van Dam won. Mysterio is a great get for this match, but he shouldn't win.
• Rusev will shine here. If he wins, I'd be happy.
• WrestleMania doesn't need a crazy match like this, but it will only help. There will be plenty of action in this one.

Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi

• This will be a spectacle.
• It probably won't last long, but it will be hard hitting and fun.
• Oba Femi is the next big thing. Brock Lesnar will help him get there.
• I wouldn't have done this match yet. Brock Lesnar smashed John Cena, ruined the Undertaker's streak, and has been the biggest monster in wrestling the past 25 years. If you beat him in your first WrestleMania match, where do you go from there?
• Oba Femi has to win. A loss here doesn't help him.
• Femi has looked like a star in every altercation with Lesnar.
• I want Lesnar to win, but I think it's Femi's time. I only want Lesnar to win because I worry what do you do next if he already beat the beast?
• This could be Brock Lesnar's last WrestleMania.
• After spending a lot of time not losing, Lesnar has helped elevate a lot of guys.

Non-match thoughts

• John Cena shouldn't be the host. That honor should go to the biggest superstar of all time.
• I'm talking about Danhausen. Danhsausen is my favorite thing right now. I've always liked him, but I actually think he's better in WWE than he was on the indies. And I loved him on the indies.
• How is Solo Sikoa not on the show? He produces in any role he's given. Put him in something meaningful!
• The Miz and New Day should also be on the show. But I can't find guys who shouldn't be on the show, so I get it.
• Every member of the 2026 hall of fame class is deserving. But the two I'm most happy about are Bad News Brown and Sid.
• I wish AJ Styles was still wrestling.
• It could be a gimmick, but Stephanie McMahon seems like a very nice person. Her speech will be fun.
• The only thing I liked about Demolition was their theme song. But I love Repo Man, Krusher Kruschev and you have no idea how worried I was when Hulk Hogan wrestled the Masked Superstar in his first WWE championshp defense at the Spectrum. I'm happy for both dudes.
• I don't care about Dennis Rodman. At all. He's a basketball player that I like, but he's not a wrestling hall of famer.
• Stone Cold Steve Austin will be at WrestleMania.
• So will the Rock.
• Joe Hendry had a match last year when he wasn't on the roster, but doesn't this year when he is on the roster. I ain't mad, he'll have plenty of WrestleMania moments, but it's funny how that worked out.
• Vegas is the wrong place to hold WrestleMania two years in a row. It should have been in Philly, and I say that as a biased Philly guy.
• I'm really looking forward to both nights. I don't see a bad much on the card, I'm excited about the storylines, and while Punk ROman is by far the match I want to see the most, I think we're going to get two nights of great action.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: WrestleMania predictions and 100 thoughts on WrestleMania 42