WrestleMania 42 mega-preview and predictions: 7 big questions for WWE's biggest show of the year

Somehow, though, that disparity feels even greater this year.

Saturday’s Night 1 starts with a needlessly celebrity-infused trios match and ends with the disastrously ruined Rhodes vs. Randy Orton and Pat McAfee feud. It doesn't matter how much of a show Rhodes and Orton deliver between the ropes for 20 minutes, it's almost certainly getting soured by overbooked garbage at the finish. There's some good potential for a few of the between-matches, and Rollins vs. Gunther is the likely night-stealer, but Night 2 is where the meat is. WWE didn't balance the weekend out at all.

So, when weighing everything, the pre-event hype goes to last year, but overall the answer to this question could end up being a case of "same, but different."

And sadly, not necessarily different in a good way.

Kel Dansby: I went back and rewatched last year’s WrestleMania, and honestly, I enjoyed it more than I expected. So this isn’t an easy bar to clear.

That said, this year feels like it has a better mix of technical wrestling, strong main-event stories, and the usual celebrity involvement.

The real deciding factor will be how CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns sticks the landing.

Last year’s Travis Scott involvement felt clunky and left a bad taste with fans. If this year delivers a clean, satisfying finish to a great Sunday closer, that alone could push it over the top.

Anthony Sulla-Heffinger: I am going to take the easy way out and say it’ll be about the same, because I tend to agree with Kel here that the bar is a little bit higher than many may think.

We had two all-time triple-threat matches to close out Night 1 and open Night 2 last year, as well as three major outcomes where championships changed hands — yes, I am including Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena here, regardless of the impact Travis Scott’s involvement had.

This year might be more about star-making moments than anything else, with Oba Femi, Je’Von Evans, Stephanie Vaquer and Lash Legend all making their WrestleMania debuts. For that reason alone, I think there’s a chance we see WrestleMania 42 equal last year’s event.

Robert Jackman: We talk a lot about the Travis Scott fiasco, but it wasn't like last year's ‘Mania was on track to be a classic before that anyway — particularly not the first half of the show. It wasn't just Jey Uso tapping out Gunther either, but a whole host of matches that just felt a bit meh and low energy. To be honest, I wasn't even that blown away by the triple-threat Night 1 main event, but I understand a lot of people loved it.

All of that is to say it isn't like WrestleMania 41 set a particularly high bar for them to clear this time around. Even so, I still think there are a few reasons to be hopeful about this year's show, rather than just hoping it isn't as bad as last time. Like everyone else, I'm really pleased to see the NXT call-ups getting their time to shine, but I'm also cautiously optimistic about some of the non-title matches — both Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu and Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio stand out as more exciting feuds than last year's filler matches.

Seth Rollins in action against Gunther during "WWE Raw" on April 6.

(WWE via Getty Images)

2. Which match on the card has the highest likelihood of stealing the show, and how long do you think we’ll be talking about it for?

Sulla-Heffinger: It has to be Seth Rollins vs. Gunther. Aside from the loose involvement of Paul Heyman, the build to this match has been about each man trying to prove they are better than the other in the ring. These are two of the best in the world right now at what they do, with contrasting physical styles and truly next-level ring IQ.

I would be shocked if this isn’t in the conversation for the best match of the weekend — and potentially even the year.

Jackman: I'm going to speak up for Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer here. Just because WWE has mishandled "La Primera" ever since her big win at Wrestlepalooza, that doesn't mean she isn't still a top-tier performer. If anyone can bring out the best in her, it has to be Liv Morgan. Let's just hope they can find that chemistry that could really bring that particular match to life.

I'm going to put my neck out here and make a (hopeful) comparison between Morgan vs. Vaquer and that excellent WrestleMania 39 match between Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair. When you look back at that year, it wasn't like they weren't firmly established as brilliant workers by that point. But somehow the match still caught us off-guard a bit, perhaps because everyone had been focusing on the Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns stuff. I could see Liv and Stephanie pulling off something similar this time around.

How long will we end up talking about it? Well, we still mention Ripley vs. Flair, don't we …

Riggs: I would love to say Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar is the clear answer, because it's generated the most interest. The match will just be — maybe — five minutes.

We're going to see ridiculousness to the fullest in the ladder match, but to give the real home run answer, I don't see any way that Punk vs. Reigns doesn't deliver. Thankfully, its build has been largely clean and absent of nonsense, barring the brief Uso interactions, which do scare me a tad. Rollins getting involved always feels possible with either of these two, but he's been kept at a distance since his return. The only acceptable run-in would be Femi destroying the winner post-match to establish himself as "the guy" after smashing Lesnar earlier in the night. That would be the biggest rocket-strapping moment we'd have seen in ages.

Dansby: Rollins vs. Gunther has all the makings of a five-star match. It’s been a while since Seth Rollins has been able to just go out there and wrestle without being tied to a massive storyline, and this feels like that opportunity.

With Gunther’s physical style and Rollins’ versatility, this could feel like a throwback to a PWG-style match, something that reminds fans what pure pro-wrestling looks like at its best. If they hit, we’ll be talking about it well beyond WrestleMania weekend.

Pat McAfee's inclusion in the WrestleMania 42 build has not be welcomed by the fans.

(WWE via Getty Images)

3. Can Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton put together a match that overcomes the inclusion of Pat McAfee in their feud?

Jackman: Why do I have a bad feeling about this one?

It isn't that I don't rate them both as performers. I also refuse to believe that WWE hasn't at least learned some lessons from last year's pitiful Night 2 main event.

On the other hand, I can't help but feel nervous when I hear those rumors about this match being followed by a tag match at Backlash with Cody Rhodes and Jelly Roll against Randy Orton and Pat McAfee. That gets me seriously worried they're about to take this one in the complete wrong direction, focusing on the celebrity crossover stuff rather than the match itself.

Riggs: No. And I already teased my answer earlier, but it's a colossal no.

We'll get some fantastic wrestling between these two for, let's say, the first half of this match. But there's a less-than-zero chance that shenanigans don't ensue eventually. WWE has so strongly conditioned us to believe that at this point, that it would actually be disappointing if they didn't just follow through with this epic failure and get it over with.

And that's the excitement for this match at this point, which is oh-so-incredibly sad —we're more excited for it to be over than to sit through it.

Sulla-Heffinger: This feels so similar to what we saw last year with Rhodes and Cena at WrestleMania 41 that the answer almost certainly is no.

Will Rhodes and Orton entertain us for 20-30 minutes? Of course, they’re too good not to. But much like Scott’s run-in overshadowed last year’s match, the inevitable McAfee interference will be what we’re ultimately talking about and the key point in how this feud progresses through the year.

Again, to draw comparisons to the Rhodes-Cena rivalry in 2025, I think we get the real payoff at SummerSlam, where these two clash in Hell in a Cell — or at least this is how I would book it.

Dansby: Honestly, probably not. The Pat McAfee involvement doesn’t add much and risks feeling as out of place as Travis Scott did last year.

This feud already had everything it needed with nearly two decades of history between Cody and Orton. Instead, it feels overproduced, and now you’re adding McAfee, Jelly Roll, and potentially more. At this point, fans should just be glad it’s happening on Saturday and not closing the show on Sunday.

Jade Cargill defends her title against Rhea Ripley.

(WWE via Getty Images)

4. Does Jade Cargill need a reset at the top of the “SmackDown” women’s division? And is that best achieved with a win or a loss over Rhea Ripley this weekend?

Sulla-Heffinger: Cargill definitely needs a reset, but I don’t think she necessarily needs to lose in order to achieve that (despite what I will predict later on in this piece).

The lack of title defenses and addition of Michin and B-Fab to her mini-faction have both felt like major missteps in building up Cargill as a champion and, more specifically, the storyline leading into this match. If she can beat Ripley one-on-one — there should absolutely not be any interference here — it should serve as a springboard to have her stand alone and truly be the most dominant force in “SmackDown’s” women’s division.

The concern I have here is what happens if she loses?

Does the much-needed recalibration do too much damage to her persona in fans’ eyes? Ripley will essentially always be in the main-event picture — she doesn’t lose anything by putting Cargill over at WrestleMania. Cargill, on the other hand, may have a much harder time getting back to the mountaintop after a loss here.

Jackman: Let's not beat around the bush here: Cargill's title run has been a mess from start to finish. I still can't get over the fact that WWE let her go more than three months without a single title defense. And it wasn't like she was injured either — she had three televised singles matches in this time, just without putting the belt on the line. What on earth was the point in that?

It's fair to say the Ripley/Cargill feud hasn't exactly been television dynamite either. But I'd still say it's better than what came before it. Part of me hopes she wins this weekend, as I think she's been dealt a terrible hand over the past six months and I'd like to see her get a second chance. But if she does end up dropping the belt, I can't imagine there will be much clamor for her to get it back any time soon.

(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)

(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)

Dansby: Cargill doesn’t need a reset as much as she just needs more match time. The build to this has been strong, and WWE has done a great job keeping her and Rhea Ripley apart to make the matchup feel special.

I’d be surprised if these two haven’t been working on this match behind the scenes for weeks. This is about Cargill proving that her in-ring performance matches her outward star power. And honestly, she should win. There are too many big programs waiting for her as champion. A returning Naomi at SummerSlam makes sense, and then you build toward the inevitable clash with Bianca Belair at next year’s WrestleMania.

Riggs: She definitely needs a reset. WWE almost instantly lost the plot with Cargill as its champion by giving her nothing but squash matches after becoming a world champion. It's bad enough that we'd already seen plenty of that, but as the figurehead of her division, it instantly became her fighting downward. Then she was given nonsensical henchwomen with B-Fab and Michin. Cargill had been a standalone force throughout her whole career because that's exactly what she should be — until WWE didn't know how to progress her Ripley feud.

It just hasn't been working. Knock her off the perch to reset, while an established name who knows how to be champion carries the throne. Ideally, that comes with the return of Belair, who possibly even costs Cargill. Regardless, a Belair return to finish the story with Cargill makes for a perfect pivot post-reign. It could even align with Naomi's return down the line. That's a triple threat anyone should be able to get behind, especially at this point.

Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar are set for a massive meeting on Night 2.

(WWE via Getty Images)

5. Which first-time WrestleMania performer will stand out most?

Jackman: It's not the most original answer, but I'd say all signs are pointing firmly at Oba Femi right now. Don't get me wrong: I know there are a few obstacles to overcome, not least given that Brock Lesnar's work rate is so hit and miss these days. Let's not forget that his last WrestleMania match lasted less than five minutes, and featured a depressingly limited move set even by Lesnar standards.

That said, it's clear from space that Femi has a huge opportunity here. If he can really bring that big-match energy and get the better of "The Beast Incarnate," then this could be the sort of thing that ends up being shown for decades to come on WWE programming. You know those moments they put in the “Then … Now … Forever” video reel at the beginning? I can definitely see Femi giving us a new one of those before long.

Riggs: Stephanie Vaquer and Trick Williams are both in fantastic spots to shine and deliver with great 'Mania debut performances. However, Je'Von Evans and Femi's matches are both entirely designed to make them look like a million bucks. Momentum-wise, I'll lean towards Femi — he just cannot lose.

(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)

(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)

Dansby: This might be a bit of a cop-out, but there are two clear answers: Stephanie Vaquer and Je’Von Evans.

Evans feels tailor-made for a ladder match environment, and it’s easy to picture his highlights going viral the second the show ends. Vaquer, on the other hand, built her reputation on match quality before coming to WWE, and she hasn’t fully had the chance to showcase that on the main roster yet. Liv Morgan may not be the perfect opponent for a classic, but Vaquer feels like the type who will find a way to leave her mark regardless.

Sulla-Heffinger: I’m not going to go Oba Femi here because honestly, he’s been so good during this build that I think we’re all EXPECTING him to shine brightly on Night 2.

Femi aside, it has to be Je’Von Evans. Putting this man in a ladder match at WrestleMania is like the Homelander meme — “Perfect. Everything down to the last-minute details.”

Roman Reigns and CM Punk close out the show on Sunday.

(WWE via Getty Images)

6. Obviously both CM Punk and Roman Reigns bring a lot to the table for the Night 2 main event, but which star is the bigger draw for this feud heading into WrestleMania?

Sulla-Heffinger: Can I say both? There are no Uncrowned Horsemen bylaws, so I will.

For the more plugged-in fan, I think Punk is the bigger draw. I’ve written this a few times during WrestleMania week, but Punk’s past 18 months have been among the best of his career and he’s arguably WWE’s MVP over that time span. If you’re watching week-in and week-out, I think you’re more invested in the “Voice of the Voiceless” than the “Tribal Chief.”

For the more casual observer, Reigns is the bigger draw. With his links to The Rock and Hollywood, as well as his double-digit WrestleMania main events, it’s clear he’s a more recognizable figure for the general public. Even as a “part-timer,” Reigns is still next-level great at everything involved with being a WWE star, but he also unlocks a different part of the audience than Punk, in my opinion.

Dansby: It might sound strange, but right now it’s Punk.

This is the moment he’s been chasing for two decades, and he’s fully risen to it. Headlining WrestleMania against Roman Reigns, the face of the company for years, is exactly the kind of stage Punk thrives on. Roman is still a massive star, but his limited schedule has cooled some of the momentum he had at his peak. Punk feels like the driving force behind this feud.

Jackman: If we're talking about going into ‘Mania, then it has to be CM Punk. Not only is he the one wearing the belt, but this particular match feels like it's the culmination of his entire recent storyline as world champion. For all the praise heaped upon his match with Finn Bálor (the first one at least), the result always felt like a foregone conclusion, whereas this one is anything but.

Obviously, momentum could change massively on the night. While I hesitate to stir the pot too much, it's worth pointing out there is a non-zero chance that this match culminates in a staredown between Roman Reigns and The Rock, thus setting up a match for the ages in Riyadh next year. Is it likely? No. But we'd be silly to dismiss the possibility entirely, given the kind of sums that are likely coming out of the Saudi coffers for ‘Mania 43.

Riggs: I might be in the minority here, but Reigns doesn't feel like that big of a draw anymore. Why? Because of his "part-time-part-time" nature.

I state it that way because he's almost a part-time part-timer now. He appears just enough that it's not overly thrilling or fresh, but isn't on screen every week. It's a very bizarre and unique spot to be in, but it kind of kills his hype. You need time to miss something for the return to be effective. That isn't there anymore with Reigns' unique schedule. Punk, on the other hand, is a fixture as the champion, which is what we, as viewers, hope for. And he's done consistently great work whenever he’s in front of our eyes.

The answer to this question is probably pretty close in 2026, but I'll slightly edge the drawing ability to Punk because, in every sense, he has consistency on his side.

Iyo Sky (right) is a glaring absence in this year's WrestleMania lineup.

(WWE via Getty Images)

7. If you could make one change to the WrestleMania card, what would it be?

Riggs: I can't wait to see how many of my Uncrowned companions share this answer: Get rid of all celebrity involvement — most specifically, in world title programs.

Don't tell me I'm alone here, fellas.

Dansby: That’s a tough one because, despite a somewhat messy build, WWE has mostly delivered the matches fans wanted.

If I could add one thing, though, it would be the El Grande Americano mask vs. mask match. That feud has quietly become one of the most entertaining stories in wrestling. It makes sense for it to take place in front of the AAA crowd in Mexico, but selfishly, being in Las Vegas for WrestleMania, it’s hard not to wish it was part of this card.

Sulla-Heffinger: Iyo Sky and Asuka should have a match on this card. Throw it on Night 2 to give us seven matches on each night (the numerical balance alone is worth it!). Iyo Sky might be the best women’s wrestler on the planet and Asuka is, well, Asuka. These two deserve to be on WWE’s biggest stage every year they’re available to be.

Jackman: It's not a particularly imaginative answer, but I'd put Carmelo Hayes where he belongs — i.e. square in the middle of the U.S. title match. The guy has worked his ass off with all of those open challenge matches on “SmackDown,” saving the show from utter mediocrity more than once. To leave him back in catering after all that work just feels like such an injustice.

Predictions

Night 1

• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)
• Women's World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (Dansby) vs. Liv Morgan (Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)
• Women's Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Becky Lynch (Dansby, Jackman)
• Women's Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way: Irresistible Forces vs. Bella Twins (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria (Sulla-Heffinger)
• Seth Rollins vs. Gunther (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)
• Unsanctioned Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)
• Logan Paul, Austin Theory and iShowSpeed (Dansby) vs. The Usos and LA Knight (Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)

Night 2

• World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Roman Reigns (Dansby, Jackman)
• WWE Women's Championship: Jade Cargill (Dansby, Jackman) vs. Rhea Ripley (Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)
• United States Championship: Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)
• Finn Balor (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Dominik Mysterio
• Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Penta (Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Je’Von Evans (Dansby, Jackman) vs. Rusev vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rey Mysterio (Riggs)
• Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)