WrestleMania 42 is airing from Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada, for the second year in a row. The event is held amid internal panic caused by low ticket sales, finding the cause behind them that is not ticket prices. The main event sees Cody Rhodes against Randy Orton. Many celebrities and WWE Superstars are also on the card. Read on to find out which ones and our picks to win.
Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight
What’s at stake
After a brief reunion, which culminated in an inconsequential title reign, The Usos are teaming with LA Knight in a celebrity match. Paul and Theory will have to show they can stand on their own after the injuries of more notorious Vision members, Bronson Reed and Bon Breakker.
Speed has the goodwill of fans as far as celebrities go, having shown a willingness to take bumps after he took a brutal spear by Breakker at the Royal Rumble, and taking part in comedy skits with fan-favourite Danhausen.
Pick
Logan Paul, Austin Theory and IShowSpeed win due to misunderstandings between The Usos and La Knight.
Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match)
What’s at stake
The Samoan werewolf has been involved with McIntyre for months now. McIntyre was the main suspect for the attack, after which Fatu lost some teeth and had to take a break—allegations he continues to deny. Fatu came back in the second SmackDown of the year, which took place in Berlin. Fatu interfered and inadvertently allowed McIntyre to win the world title belt, a decision said to shake things up, to add unpredictability. Things became predictable again, and the two are facing in a non-title, unsanctioned match.
Both performers will have a chip on their shoulder, having been considered for a multi-man title match with Cody at some point. Fatu has all it takes to be a big star in WWE—distinct look, feral mic skills, and outstanding athleticism. Fatu has to win this and use it as a springboard to get there.
Pick
Jacob Fatu wins
Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
What’s at stake
The build to this match has been low-key and efficient. It did not rely on worked shoots and is not involved in behind-the-scenes power struggles. It was two performers who both want the belt and are ready to kill each other for it. Morgan is said to be fine following her injury scare.
The problem with this match is that it feels too late for Morgan to get this crowning moment. She has been with WWE for a decade and is already a multi-time world champion. Her love triangle for Dominik Mysterio with Rhea Ripley made her one of the most popular women on the roster, but she was never booked strongly as champion, and it remains to be seen whether things are different this time.
Despite making a strong impression upon her main roster call-up, Roxanne Perez has lost her momentum and purpose and having her stay as Morgan’s protegée might not do her any favour.
Pick
Liv Morgan wins.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch
What’s at stake
Lynch wants her belt back. They tried their best to raise the stakes by making things personal with Lynch being envious that AJ is her daughter’s favourite wrestler, but things are just not clicking. It’s a recurring pattern for this Mania, but having veterans put over older (TV-wise) veterans is not the most compelling configuration. AJ Lee has the goodwill of fans and wrestlers, but her ring work is stale, and her promos unnatural.
Lynch is probably winning this one if only because she shows up on TV.
Pick
Becky Lynch wins.
Women’s Tag Team Championship: Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Nikki & Brie Bella
Apparently, the Bella Twins had to be on this card, so here they are. This marks a redemption arc for Bailey, who couldn’t be on the card last year, following an attack by the returning Becky Lynch, who took her spot in a tag team match with Valkyria. Bailey and Valkyria appear to be the strongest option to get the title from Jax and Legend. They are fresher than Flair and Bliss and not has-beens like the Bella Twins. Still, Jax and Legend seem to be in for the long run.
Pick
Nia Jax and Lash Legend retain.
Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
What’s at stake
This match came out of nowhere, but it could be worse. Gunther’s career-killer gimmick did not give him the boost he needed yet. A win against Rolling could right this wrong. By retiring legends like AJ Styles and Goldberg, Gunther should be higher on the card. He should be an unstoppable heel and not just a jobber to the stars. If Gunther is out of the title picture scene after this feud, he’s officially fumbled.
He has to achieve it without getting too involved with Paul Heyman. It’s great that Heyman is helping him behind the scenes, and Gunther with a manager is not the worst idea, but Heyman is not him. Heyman is already diluted by representing the Vision and Brock Lesnar— he doesn’t need more screentime.
Pick
Gunther wins.
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton
How do you mess up the build for this? Rhodes vs Orton was not the most exciting match-up for WrestleMania, but the story was there, and they have proven to have great chemistry in the ring. If there was one match that did not need anyone else involved in the storyline, it was this one.
A lot has already been said about the involvement of Pat McAfee, but let’s just discuss what happened beforehand for a moment. The feud was doomed from the first segment. What good is a heel turn that the babyface begged to happen? Why is Rhodes surprised afterwards? They could have played mind games until Mania, forcing the other to channel their inner demons, as Kevin Owens did with Rhodes.
What’s with WWE panicking over Orton being chhered? The crowd still sanfgCody’s entrance. Reactions would not have been as one-sided had they let them both engage in a natural back-and-forth.
Rhodes should have mentioned being the babysitter of Orton, making sure he doesn’t overdose to his face, not to that of WWE Hall of Famer Stephanie McMahon.
It was reported that the plan is for Orton to win, so we can get on the cycle of Orton, from all-time great to boring.
Pick
Randy Orton wins.
