WrestleMania 42 exit survey: Was this year a pass or fail for WWE?

WWE put a bow on WrestleMania 42 this Monday with the always eventful “Raw After ‘Mania,” but the crew here at Uncrowned isn’t quite finished discussing the “Showcase of the Immortals.”

After bringing you features, columns, previews, predictions, recaps and takeaways, the Uncrowned Horsemen are here with one last cherry atop the sundae pertaining to the “Grandaddy of Them All” — our WrestleMania 42 Exit Survey.

Let’s ride!

1. What is your grade for WrestleMania 42?

Anthony Sulla-Heffinger: I am going with a solid B here, with the majority of the heavy lifting coming on Night 2 — which was one of the best installments since WrestleMania shifted its format in 2020.

Night 1 had its bright spots — Seth Rollins vs. Gunther, Paige’s return and IShowSpeed’s splash — but it was ultimately overshadowed immediately as Night 2 started off with two show-stealing moments and matches: Oba Femi’s coronation (more on this later) and that incredible ladder match.

Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley exceeded all expectations and was a very strong WrestleMania match and then the main event from CM Punk and Roman Reigns was one of the best matches you’ll see this year, if not ever. The character work, physicality and storytelling were top-notch.

I think the two-night format really works against WWE when there’s an imbalance between the shows like there was this year, but it’s not like every other WrestleMania was 7-8 hours of non-stop greatness, it’s just magnified now.

Dansby: Hold on, I don’t want to get banned from covering events — is this a safe space?

All jokes aside, I’d give it a solid B-. I probably enjoyed Night 1 more than most, but the pacing across the weekend felt off. A lot of the matches could have used an extra five minutes to really hit another level.

Instead of dragging out those endless Hulk Hogan ads, that time could have easily been redistributed to the in-ring product. It’s a small fix that would have made a noticeable difference.

Riggs: A 5/10 score feels borderline perfect, given the two-night nature of WrestleMania in this day and age.

Night 1 was a disaster, and essentially a glorified episode of “Raw” or “SmackDown.” WrestleMania just didn't feel like WrestleMania — and that was the case leading up to it. Night 2, thankfully, helped balance things out, and I dare say pushed the score up with its backloaded heavy goods, in the form of the main event, ladder match and the opener, in particular. Any rating higher than a 6/10, though, is weighing far too heavily into Night 2's recovery from Saturday's wicked blunder.

Jackman: Like everyone else, I'm going to split the grade on this one: A "D" for night one, and a "B" for night two.

If you're going to insist on a single grade, I'll say "C-", which seems mean to CM Punk and Roman Reigns, but hey ho.

Roman Reigns (L) and CM Punk closed out the weekend with an instant classic.

(Ethan Miller via Getty Images)

2. What was the one thing from WrestleMania weekend you think we’ll be talking about for the longest time?

Dansby: The obvious answer is CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns, but I’ll go a different direction and say Oba Femi squashing Brock Lesnar.

Oba was already incredibly over with the crowd, but a dominant win over someone like Lesnar instantly elevates him to another level. That moment is going to live on in highlight packages for years. It’s the kind of win that defines a career.

Riggs: How can it be anything other than CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns? Like Kel said, yes, Oba Femi is that dude, and he deserves the shine. But Punk vs. Reigns was literally the only great match of WrestleMania 42.

OK, the only great singles match, because the ladder match was also excellent.

Funnily enough, both matches were fully expected to deliver and did.

Jackman: Ticket prices. We can sound like a broken record on those topics but it's been one of the standout themes of this WrestleMania, with the steep jump in seat prices becoming a lightning rod for antagonism for TKO.

That wouldn't have been so remarkable on its own, but the fact that WWE leaned into that in some of its promos in the run up to ‘Mania? That's one of those crazy mergers of backstage politics and entertainment that you occasionally see in pro-wrestling (for me it ranks alongside Schiavone referencing Mick Foley's title win during the Monday Night Wars, or Tony Khan airing the backstage brawl footage), and it’ll stick around in the imagination.

Sulla-Heffinger: It has to be CM Punk and Roman Reigns’ match. As I mentioned above, it was an absolute masterclass in all aspects of professional wrestling once the bell rang, but even the pomp and circumstance of their entrances made this feel like one of the biggest WrestleMania matches of all time. These two were at the top of their game and really brought home the show in a memorable way.

For better or worse, Pat McAfee was a central part of the build to WrestleMania 42 Night 1.

(WWE via Getty Images)

3. If you could change one outcome from WrestleMania 42, what would it be and why?

Jackman: I would’ve had Jade Cargill win.

Look, Rhea Ripley is a superstar. She practically drips money, wherever she goes, but she doesn't need the singles title right now. Cargill is a promising talent who had a terrible run as champion. My worry now is that there will be zero demand going forward to see her back in the world title picture, and she could end up withering on the vine a bit.

Dansby: A lot of titles changed hands, but I would’ve had Randy Orton defeat Cody Rhodes on Night 1.

Rhodes can start to feel a bit stale during long title reigns, and this felt like the perfect moment to flip things. Let Orton snap, win the title, and shift Rhodes back into the role of the chasing babyface. That dynamic has always worked for him.

It also would’ve opened the door to lean into their nearly 20 years of shared history, something that felt underutilized in the lead-up to WrestleMania.

Riggs: Everything about the Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes match was off — and that was the case as soon as Pat McAfee was shoehorned in. At that point, it was like ripping off a band-aid: Get it over with, I no longer care how.

Therefore, the answer here for me has to be Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer.

It was mind-blowing to me, seeing a woman in Vaquer who was so rightfully pushed to the moon, suffer defeat in her first 'Mania match (as champion, mind you) in less than seven minutes.

This was a world championship match. Yet it was the second-shortest of the night, behind Femi vs. Lesnar, and a complete disservice to not just Vaquer, but Morgan — who also has high investment from WWE creative — and the women's roster overall. Looking at this match in comparison to 2025’s Evolution PLE is insane. Why did it have to be this way? It sure as hell isn't how we get those excellent WrestleMania matches like Rhea Ripley's against Becky Lynch or Charlotte Flair — or even the triple threat match last year. Hell, Tiffany Stratton vs. Flair last year had similar levels of personal intensity, yet received nearly 20 minutes. What about Flair vs. Ronda Rousey? The list goes on and on.

Sulla-Heffinger: I would’ve had AJ Lee retain over Becky Lynch, really playing up the Jessika Carr angle more. My hope is that we get a match between Lynch and Carr at some point in the future, so to take it a step further, I would’ve had Lee drop the belt to Lynch on “Raw” last night — with a different referee — and continue to build the tension with Carr.

Plus, it would’ve been a cool moment for Lee to walk in and out of ‘Mania as a champion.

Is this truly the last we've seen of Brock Lesnar?

(Ethan Miller via Getty Images)

4. If this truly is Brock Lesnar’s final match in WWE, what is his legacy? Were you surprised to see his reaction/emotion after the match?

Sulla-Heffinger: The obvious complexities in his legacy aside, I think we saw Lesnar for what he really was on Sunday night. Aside from putting over Oba Femi, we saw raw emotion from “The Beast Incarnate” unlike anything we’ve ever seen during his nearly 25-year run in WWE. As he took off his gloves, unlaced his boots and embraced Paul Heyman, we saw him say goodbye — maybe for good — from a business and medium that he truly loved and kept coming back to.

As fans, we’ve seen glimpses of Lesnar’s genius when it came to the little things in pro wrestling — telling McIntyre to pick up the WWE Championship while standing over him, throwing small hints to Femi during their build — and we’ve started to hear other stories of how Lesnar helped talent backstage. What I think got lost for such a long time due to Lesnar’s unparalleled physical gifts was his understanding of how the little things can push moments over the top in professional wrestling.

There may not be another Lesnar for a long time, if ever. While he did pass the torch to Femi, Lesnar was from a bygone era and brought a different feel to WWE that will be incredibly hard to replicate.

Jackman: I was very surprised. Until that moment, everything had played out exactly like I had expected: A five-minute match with Oba Femi coming out on top pretty quickly. But the moment Lesnar started taking off his boots and gloves was the first time I sat bolt upright during that show. I think it's real too: Leaving the boots feels like the kind of gesture that wrestlers don't mess around with (a bit like a 10-bell salute).

As for his legacy, I think it's a rare occasion of the WWE hype being spot on. He's a world-class combat sports athlete who pretty much broke the mold in wrestling. There's a reason we talk about "the next Brock Lesnar" whenever someone like Oba Femi or Gunther/Walter comes along. He’s had some flop matches over the years of course, but he's still a bona fide giant of the industry.

Dansby: Brock Lesnar is one of the most gifted talents WWE and pro-wrestling have ever seen. His résumé stands out because of how legitimate it is, from his collegiate wrestling dominance to becoming a UFC heavyweight champion.

At the same time, his legacy is complicated. There have been controversies, including his name being tied to the Janelle Grant lawsuit involving Vince McMahon and WWE, along with past PED accusations and a failed test during his final UFC run.

That mix of dominance and controversy makes his legacy a layered one, which isn’t uncommon when you look at the history of elite combat sports athletes. As for his reaction after the match, it was a bit surprising. You don’t often see that level of emotion from him, which made the moment feel more real.

Riggs: Lesnar showing emotions that aren't overly aggressive is indeed a wild sight. As a pro-wrestler, he was undeniable. There's never been a specimen quite like him. He could do it all and was a natural from the jump. Question his mic skills all you want, when Lesnar wanted to speak — more so back in the day — he totally could.

As a person with the baggage Kel mentioned, it's complicated. Maybe not quite the same as Hulk Hogan, but it's completely worth mentioning. However, when you separate the art from the artist, his legacy conversation can't be ignored for its strength — literally and figuratively.

Oba Femi defeated Brock Lesnar in one of Night 2's standout moments.

(Ethan Miller via Getty Images)

5. Who had the biggest breakout performance of WrestleMania?

Dansby: Oba Femi. It’s Oba Femi. There’s really no debate.

He came into WrestleMania with his entrance already going viral and left as the man who took down “The Beast.” That’s a massive leap in a single night.

“The Ruler” is here.

Riggs: This question is pretty sad. Really, Femi is the only person who broke out at all. Let's say you didn't think he broke out that much — he was still the only one who even somewhat did. At all.

I'm firmly a Trick Williams guy. He and Femi are the lone risers who have "it" in my book right now. Both are young and uber-talented, and that's the only thing worth mentioning here. But Williams' match just didn't really reach the heights it could have — because of timing, or a lack thereof from WWE — and was much more of a foregone conclusion than Femi not only winning, but how he won.

Sulla-Heffinger: Drake and Kel already hit on Femi — the undeniable breakout star from WrestleMania — so in the interest of zigging when they zag, I am going to say Jade Cargill.

I wrote on Monday about why Cargill was one of the winners walking out of WrestleMania 42 despite dropping her title to Rhea Ripley, so I won’t rehash too much, but she was truly a standout performer on Sunday night and continues to grow at a rapid pace. The way she was booked for her championship run didn’t do her any favors, setting expectations relatively low heading into WrestleMania, yet she went toe-to-toe with one of the best women’s wrestlers in the history of WWE. There was a big-fight feel to the match, the action was clean and Cargill may be able to get a needed reset coming out of it.

Jackman: We know the obvious contenders on this one, but could I say a word about Jacob Fatu too? He's 34 years old and has been in the business for more than a decade, so is hardly a breakthrough star. But his performance on Night 1 still felt like a milestone for me, as well as a bit of a reset of his whole character. There was a huge amount of excitement around Fatu when he arrived in 2024, but his booking last year (and his absence) didn’t quite make the most of it. This weekend, he looked like a star again.

Is Jacob Fatu next for Roman Reigns?

(WWE via Getty Images)

6. What is the championship feud you want to see from Roman Reigns as we enter a new era on “Raw?”

Jackman: Without wanting to pull the curtain back and break journalism kayfabe, I'd actually planned to say Jacob Fatu. Then I sat down and watched "Raw" and it looks like that's exactly the direction they're going, so no complaints here

As for what comes after that, my broader hope is that they focus on new feuds for Reigns, rather than retreads from last time, including elevating some of the newer guys. One of the biggest positives coming out of this ‘Mania was WWE's willingness to pull the trigger on NXT call-ups. If they want to make stars of these men and women, they should be forceful about making that happen.

Dansby: Roman has been gone just long enough for a fresh group of main-event opponents to emerge.

Gunther feels like the most obvious choice, especially after his run of taking out legends and his big win over Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. That match practically sells itself.

But if you want something a little less expected, Jacob Fatu is a really interesting option. (I swear I wrote this before “Raw.”) There’s a natural tie to The Bloodline, but it doesn’t need to lean too heavily on that. Fatu has built himself into a legitimate main-event presence, and he’d bring a different kind of intensity to a feud with Roman.

Sulla-Heffinger: I am going to throw a curveball here and say Drew McIntyre. While there is no shortage of possibilities on “Raw,” McIntyre has been on this mission against The Bloodline for years now yet hasn’t met Reigns in a one-on-one match since their epic Clash at the Castle contest in 2022.

McIntyre has specialized in these fight-forever style rivalries with CM Punk and Damian Priest in recent years, so I think we could get a fun trilogy between the “Scottish Warrior“ and “Tribal Chief.”

Riggs: Femi. Femi. Femi.

It's obviously Jacob Fatu after Monday’s “Raw” after WrestleMania, which I disagree with for a specific reason noted during my “Raw” recap. That doesn't mean it will be bad. But Femi shouldn't have wasted any time reaching that new destroyer, Batista/Lesnar-type champion status after this past weekend. He’s a big dude who can do it all and reign for a long time, and he's already been booked that way. Don't cool it off whatsoever. Taking out Reigns does wonders for Femi and barely hurts Reigns at all. “The OTC” is bulletproof, and despite regaining a world title, he doesn't really need one. Plus, the build to a Femi vs. Reigns rematch with Femi crushing him in their first match works naturally.

If it can't be him, you know what to do, Paul. I've given up on LA Knight in my head, but not in my heart.