WrestleMania 42 predictions: Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk, Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton, full match card winner picks

On the heels of a turbulent era of storytelling -- inside and outside of the ring -- World Wrestling Entertainment will put on WrestleMania 42 this Saturday and Sunday.

For the second straight year, Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium will host the Grandaddy of Them All, the biggest show on the professional wrestling calendar.

This WrestleMania card has huge upside to entertain, despite the painful marketing lead-up for at least one of its biggest matches.

Somehow, I convinced Lindy's Sports to let me write about this annual spectacle of one of the "sports" world's favorite niches.

Keep scrolling for my picks on who will win at the 2026 WrestleMania, full match card lists, and how you can watch WM42.

JUMP TO: WM 42 match cards | WM 42 predictions | How to watch WrestleMania 2026

WrestleMania 42 matches this year

WrestleMania 2026 Night 1 match card

• Main Event: Cody Rhodes (champion) vs. Randy Orton (Undisputed WWE Championship)
• Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan (WWE Women's Universal Championship)
• A.J. Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship)
• Fatal 4-Way: Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. The Bella Twins (WWE Women's Tag Team Championship)
• GUNTHER vs. Seth Rollins
• Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu (Unsanctioned match)
• LA Knight & The Usos vs. The Vision (Logan Paul & Austin Theory) & IShowSpeed

This might be the better overall night, despite having one fewer match. WWE has taken to loading up the Night 1 undercard to balance the high stakes in the Night 2 -- a.k.a the real -- main event.

The two major championship matches have been strongly anticipated, but even the hastily thrown-together GUNTHER vs. Seth or the main-event-adjacent Drew vs. Fatu hullaballoo could just as easily steal the show based on work rate alone.

WrestleMania 2026 Night 2 match card

• Main Event: C.M. Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns (World Heavyweight Championship)
• Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (Women's World Heavyweight Championship)
• Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams (United States Championship)
• Ladder Match: Penta (c) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Rusev vs. Je'Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee (Intercontinental Championship)
• Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
• "The Demon" Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio

Night 2 carries not much less intrigue, though, with multi-person and gimmick matches padding three 1-on-1 title bouts, plus a Judgment Day grudge match and a matchup of two towering battering rams.

The main event of the full weekend is Punk vs. Reigns, with a spotlight also on Jade Cargill's first WrestleMania singles match.

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WrestleMania 42 Night 1 winner predictions

Cody Rhodes defeats Randy Orton to retain the WWE Universal Championship

Just as 'The Boys' ends its run on Amazon Prime Video, "Homelander" will be reborn in the most consequential match of the weekend (even more than Punk-Reigns).

Cody Rhodes is getting somewhat stale as champion, especially since the company has continued to ping-pong the title to him. Merch sales be damned; to reset the main-event scene, he has to beat down his former mentor by matching his mean streak.

Randy Orton had been putting out some of the best work of his career all on his own (more on recent developments soon) and deserves one more significant main-event run.

(Notice how long I've gone before feeling obligated to mention the shoehorning of Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll into this feud? Too bad WWE writers didn't have a choice to let a 20-year friendship tell its own "Mega Powers implode" story. Thanks, Ari Emanuel -- you know your company's base audience so well!)

As tempting as Randy Orton winning his 15th world title sounds, Night 1 has to end with a jaw-dropping, forward-looking development. The Viper winning with help from McAfee hardly qualifies and would fall flat, just like John Cena's dodgy WM 41 win with help from noted wrestling ace Travis Scott.

Will this match the level of the historic Bret Hart-Stone Cold Steve Austin double turn at 'Mania 13 or Rock and 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan's brilliant in-match, face-heel flip at X8? Unlikely, but their role reversals would mark a pivotal moment for the company with a "surprising" character shift. (Celebrities be damned.)

The devolution of Rhodes into a true delusional heel -- maybe via punting his best friend in the temple -- would set up the company for at least another WrestleMania cycle and complete a significant 180. He finished his story against Roman Reigns but now must start to pen a darker chapter.

Liv Morgan defeats Stephanie Vaquer to win the Women's World Championship

If WWE were smart, they would bookend the show with this match jerking the curtain, as this will be an enthralling match with two of the most popular superstars working today. It should get the honor of 20-plus minutes to kick off the weekend.

Liv Morgan's Royal Rumble win capped off an incredible run in the event; she finished as runner-up in each of the two preceding years before earning the 2026 honor. Despite her heel status, she's constantly cheered, even against the equally loved Vaquer.

While we won't get the honor of having Booker T exuberantly calling this match and Vaquer's "Devil's Kiss" signature move, it'll likely finish as one of the weekend's best matches.

The Chilean has been pushed to the moon since her arrival from Mexican wrestling and following a stint of NXT Women's Championship dominance. A loss to Morgan and likely interfering henchwomen Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez will not ding her too much; it'll offer a much-needed reset with a likely rematch down the road.

Alternatively, Raquel botching her interference and, in turn, allowing Stephanie to win would play into a long-term Liv-Raquel feud, a la Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel from the New Generation era.

AJ Lee defeats Becky Lynch to retain the Women's Intercontinental Championship

I could just as easily see Big Time Becks getting her win back, but this keeps open many paths to AJ "dream matches" for the women's workhorse strap.

We've already seen AJ Lee vs. Bayley but could envision a run that includes opponents like Asuka, Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley (more on this later), and of course, "wrestling daughter" prodigy Roxanne Perez.

As for Becky, she and hubby Seth Rollins will be in for a long weekend, with a double loss possibly playing into future storylines or allowing them to take a break together.

More WrestleMania 42 Night 1 match winner picks

• GUNTHER defeats Seth Rollins: I forgot the spoiler alert just now; my bad. Bron Breakker interference is possible. If the Badass Dog is healthy, they need to position this toward Seth vs. Bron at SummerSlam after Rollins runs the gauntlet of Vision members at events along the way.
• Jacob Fatu defeats Drew McIntyre: Coming out on top in this somewhat meaningless but likely brutal clash will still be a mark for the promising future of Fatu. Drew is soon rumored to be taking a leave to film the Highlander reboot movie, so he can give The Samoan Werewolf the rub on his way out.
• NiaJax & Lash Legend defeat Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, and The Bella Twins to retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. I almost went with Bayley-Lyra here, as that would be a fun babyface win, but WWE remains invested in the blossoming Lash Legend and likely will want to have her keep honing her craft in safer, tag team environments (safer, relatively so, with Jax). This could also sow seeds for a much-anticipated Charlotte-Alexa breakup.
• LA Knight & The Usos defeat The Vision (Logan Paul & Austin Theory) & IShowSpeed: The ultra-popular streamer Speed will switch sides and help the goodies score a pin over Theory. This one's for the sports entertainment noobs but should be fun. Maybe Knight will get that elusive world title shot at a Tier B PPV; after all, Sami Zayn got a huge push after doing the job for Johnny Knoxville and a Giant Hand (not Mae Young's child). This could also offer a spot for a celebrity appearance (see my special guests predictions below).

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WrestleMania 42 Night 2 winner predictions

CM Punk defeats Roman Reigns to retain the World Heavyweight Championship

Even while boasting arguably the best build of any storyline, a fine development for this heavyweight bout, this one still is a bit confusing.

Both participants in this late-blooming weekend main event has traded face and heel roles; cursed out the other's family (even with Punk dissing Roman's deceased real-life father Sika from the Wild Samoans); and brought backstage politics and storytelling onto the screen (Vince Russo loves it!).

I think we're supposed to root for Punk, though Roman has his contingent regardless of his character work.

Years after his 1,316-day reign as world champion ended, Reigns doesn't need the title again. He has more stories left to tell, possibly with a newer approach to his old Bloodline mates or with the rubber match with Cody Rhodes (brand switch?), falling to Oba Femi, or just going away for a long time once again.

This will be the defending champ's time to carry the Raw banner in a possible third installment of the Summer of Punk, as he looks to check off his own dream opponents before his career winds down.

Jade Cargill defeats Rhea Ripley to retain the WWE Women's Championship

An Iyo Sky protection gone wrong will cost Rhea against Jade and her Baddies (Michin and B-Fab). They're playing up the Rhiyo love fest too much to have a smooth ending for the dynamic duo, who could enter a program toward a stipulation match at SummerSlam with Rhea turning heel.

Jade also needs the push and a major victory against a legendary opponent to sustain her growth. She couldn't ask for a better dance leader among the women to help her achieve her Mania moment.

Alternatively, I could envision a returning Bianca Belair costing Jade the title by helping Rhea even the odds, to start a run with Cargill for SummerSlam. Then again, I would also love to see the title put on the line (and maybe a Naomi appearance) in that one, given the history, so maybe she returns after Jade has already won the match to prevent a beatdown of Ripley and/or Sky.

Oba Femi defeats Brock Lesnar

Though not for gold, this one is highly anticipated and could open the Night 2 (especially to let Brock leave the event early, as is tradition).

In a quick, banger, five-minute match resembling the better Lesnar-Goldberg matchup from WrestleMania 33, the Beast likely will pass the monster torch to The Ruler. WWE gains nothing from a Femi loss, and Lesnar likely will duck out for a while under his typical part-timer schedule (and to dodge further attention directed his way from the Janel Grant case).

More WrestleMania 42 Night 2 match winner picks

• Sami Zayn defeats Trick Williams to retain the United States Championship: This feels like a dual crowning moment with another former NXT star, but Zayn's heel turn just cemented itself, and having him lose to Trick -- outside of a hot-potato situation where he gets it back in a few weeks -- feels like too quick a journey to build both competitors. This one may drag on for a few shows.
• Je'Von Evans defeats Penta, Rey Mysterio, Rusev, JD McDonagh and Dragon Lee to win the Intercontinental Championship: The electric Young OG will once again display his aerial skills on the way to his first main-roster title.
• "The Demon" Finn Bálor defeats Dominik Mysterio: Balor will get revenge and put another black mark on the Judgment Day. Maybe this will put him on track to another world championship shot in the coming months, perhaps as the ultimate choice to conquer Homelander Cody.

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More WrestleMania event predictions 2026: Special guests, added matches, skits

• The Hall of Fame inductees may bring many noted personalities out of the woodwork. AJ Styles' enshrinement could see several colleagues make appearances, and maybe Stephanie McMahon's ceremony could have Shane McMahon earn some camera time. Former NBA rebounds king and nWo wild card Dennis Rodman is a sleeper to watch; 'The Worm' could make things weird.
• "Stone Cold" Steve Austin resides at his Broken Skull Ranch in Nevada, located about seven hours from Allegiant Stadium. The success of any appearance can rank somewhere between his excellent retirement match vs. Kevin Owens and when he nearly ran over a fan with his quad ATV.
• Raiders minority owner and NFL GOAT QB Tom Brady could get involved to hurt Logan Paul while helping LA Knight and The Usos defeat The Vision and IShowSpeed.
• Injured Pacers star and noted wrestling obsessive Tyrese Haliburton could show up in the crowd now that Indiana has long been eliminated from playoff contention -- even before Haliburton could've returned from his torn Achilles suffered in Game 7 of the 2024-2025 NBA Finals.
• UFC president Dana White and many of his fighters might make an appearance to help out their TKO overlords.
• Newly beloved sensation Danhausen likely will defeat Kit Wilson and The Miz in a 1-on-2 handicap match, with help from his patented curses.

How to watch WWE WrestleMania in 2026

When will WrestleMania 42 start and end?

The two-night event, which marks WWE's annual pinnacle show, will grace the airwaves across two nights: Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19.

Night 1 and Night 2 will both start at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT, with an extended preshow that begins at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.

Where is WrestleMania 42 taking place?

Both nights will be hosted by Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, home of the NFL's Raiders.

Which apps will be streaming WrestleMania 42?

United States-based WWE fans can watch WrestleMania through ESPN+ (ESPN Unlimited).

International viewers can watch via Netflix.

The preshows also will be streamed for free on WWE's YouTube channel.

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 7:19 AM.