WrestleMania 42 roundtable: Most anticipated matches, bold predictions

After weeks of storylines and anticipation, WrestleMania 42 is sort of right here. The 13-match card — that includes eight title matches — takes place over two nights from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (6 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited).

Night 1 is headlined by Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defending his title in opposition to Randy Orton, and Night 2 sees World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk squaring off in opposition to Roman Reigns.

Before we get to a weekend stuffed with wrestling, ESPN’s Andreas Hale, Marc Raimondi, Sach Chandan, Juliana Daddio and Joe Fortenbaugh share their ideas on the must-see matches, the primary eventer extra more likely to retain their title and one bold WrestleMania 42 prediction.

The Night 1 match you’re looking ahead to essentially the most is …

Hale: Seth Rollins vs. Gunther. In phrases of pure wrestling, Rollins and Gunther have a possibility to ship a show-stealing efficiency paying homage to the stellar Kurt Angle-Shawn Michaels match at WrestleMania 21 in 2005. Like Angle vs. Michaels, Rollins vs. Gunther has been subtly positioned at this yr’s ‘Mania with out the hype of the 2 important occasions. But Rollins and Gunther are arguably two of the easiest in-ring performers at present within the WWE and may take the chance to placed on a memorable match.

Rollins is establishing himself as this era’s “Mr. WrestleMania,” a title that Michaels earned by commanding the highlight regardless of the place he was on the cardboard. From cashing in his Money within the Bank briefcase to changing into WWE World Heavyweight champion at WrestleMania 31 in 2015 to beating CM Punk and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 41 final yr, Rollins at all times finds a solution to do one thing memorable. Gunther hasn’t been in WWE so long as Rollins, however he already has had a handful of fantastic matches between WWE and NXT and operates because the purest type of a heel. I’m nearly sure that by the top of the match, they are going to have earned a standing ovation.

Raimondi: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton. And the reason being pure schadenfreude. The buildup for this match has been so dreadful, I’m weirdly interested in how they try and tie issues along with Rhodes, Orton, Pat McAfee, Jelly Roll and whomever else will get concerned. Is there any solution to make this higher? Is it attainable to even make it make sense? I haven’t got a solution, however I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I did not wish to see the way it shakes out.

It did not should be this fashion. Rhodes and Orton have such a wealthy shared historical past. Pulling from that to develop an A-plus WrestleMania story wouldn’t have been overly tough. They are each additionally otherworldly performers. But right here we’re, in a program (progrum?!) that Rhodes himself has in comparison with the Gobbledy Gooker and Shockmaster. The match might attain a degree of so-bad-it’s-good that might make even Tommy Wiseau blush.

Chandan: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan. This feud has lived as much as the billing as one of many extra intense tales on the cardboard. It started with a blistering, emotionally charged takedown of Morgan, as Vaquer believed she needed to traverse the harder path to get to WWE. From there, the battle between the “Raw” Women’s champion and the 2026 Royal Rumble winner simply ramped up in depth, together with a number of brawls out and in of the ring.

Vaquer was the standout girls’s wrestler of 2025, however Morgan’s disrespect has pressured “La Primera” to slip right into a extra violent, intense facet. This feud has been a throwback to old school hatred between two opponents preventing for greater than a championship, to show who’s the higher girl wrestler … and neither can afford to lose.

Fortenbaugh: Seth Rollins vs. Gunther. Given the unbelievable in-ring expertise each wrestlers possess, I feel this matchup has a possibility to steal the present — even with solely two weeks to construct the story. Rollins is likely one of the WWE’s most versatile and constant performers who’s simply again from harm, and Gunther spent the previous 5 months sending each John Cena and AJ Styles into retirement. Also, do not low cost the Paul Heyman issue. His involvement brings a degree of treacherous intrigue to a showdown that would function a wild end.

Daddio: Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre. This seems like one of the crucial thrilling clashes of your complete weekend. They have been feuding for months now, and McIntyre brings veteran energy and massive‑battle presence, and Fatu delivers uncooked depth and unpredictable explosiveness. Their types collide in a manner that guarantees chaos, physicality and a real “fight feel.” Making this an unsanctioned match is a superb stipulation for these two and that dynamic alone makes it the match I’m most wanting ahead to on Night 1.

The Night 2 match you’re looking ahead to essentially the most is …

Hale: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar. This has nothing to do with the standard of the match and every part to do with WWE establishing what it desperately wants: a younger important occasion star. The buildup has been phenomenal, their respective bodily presences are simple and Lesnar, 48, is at a stage in his profession when he can move the torch and put Femi — who’ll flip 28 simply days after WrestleMania — on the quick monitor to changing into WWE champion. These two powerhouses ought to obliterate one another for so long as this match lasts, however relaxation assured, no end result is smart outdoors of Femi beating Lesnar. It has been a very long time since WWE had a can’t-miss star on its arms, and Femi checks each single field. The WWE is on the 1-yard line and had higher not fumble.

Raimondi: Six-pack ladder match. Iyo Sky vs. Asuka would have been my reply right here, however sadly, it appears as if that match, which was so nicely constructed between two premier performers, has been shelved regardless of having a transparent course.

You know who would not have a transparent course? Just about everybody on this ladder match. WWE has dropped the ball with Penta after a red-hot begin. He ought to have his personal story as Intercontinental champ heading into ‘Mania. With that mentioned, I am unable to complain an excessive amount of. I’m a sucker for a superb ladder match. And guys equivalent to Penta, Je’Von Evans, JD McDonough and Dragon Lee are locks to do some ludicrous stuff.

Chandan: Six-pack ladder match: I agree with Marc. I really like myself a superb chaotic, online game match, with six wrestlers who every deliver totally different talent units to this ladder match. Add in another weapons (tables?), and this might be the non-main occasion match that I keep in mind most.

Some intriguing storylines heading into WrestleMania embody a possible final hurrah for Mysterio, a primary championship for Evans and intrigue over how the others will work collectively to cease Rusev … if they’ll. Penta and Dragon Lee have emerged as two of WWE’s largest standouts this previous yr. I count on one in all them to climb the ladder and unhook the Intercontinental Championship, however I’m excited to see the jaw-dropping strikes on the best way there.

Fortenbaugh: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar. There isn’t any different acceptable reply as a result of no different match on the cardboard — Night 1 or Night 2 — has had a greater construct. Lesnar, “The Beast Incarnate,” the person who ended The Undertaker’s legendary WrestleMania profitable streak, is moving into the squared circle close to the top of his illustrious profession in opposition to the person set to take his place as essentially the most terrifying wrestler within the sport. Femi’s entrance and each males’s mixed uncooked energy alone makes this definitely worth the value of admission. Think of it like this: When was the final time there was this a lot hype round a match with a construct that featured so few phrases spoken by both combatant? This has been a grasp class in storytelling.

Daddio: “The Demon” Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio. The story is fueled by betrayal and transformation. After being turned on by Judgment Day, Bálor brings again his demon persona for the primary time in years — the second followers have been ready for. Bálor’s alter ego immediately raises the match’s depth and drama. The feud turns into a mentor‑vs-student showdown, as Bálor, who helped form Dominik’s “Dirty Dom” identification, returns in his darkest kind to finish him.

Which champion is extra more likely to stroll out retaining the title: Cody Rhodes or CM Punk?

Hale: CM Punk. Forget about how clunky the buildup to Rhodes vs. Orton has been for a second. Instead, take into account the place Rhodes is and the way followers are responding to him. Before Pat McAfee’s involvement, Randy Orton had drawn a powerful babyface response as he approached the chance to develop into a world champion for the fifteenth time. As a lot as that speaks to followers’ assist of “The Viper,” it additionally speaks to the staleness of Rhodes as champion. It’s not Rhodes’ fault, as he desperately wants a powerful contingent of heels to feed off of. Not to say that his story is considerably extra attention-grabbing chasing the title than being chased. Orton deserves one other second within the solar, which might put him third all time in WWE World Championship reigns behind Cena (17) and Ric Flair (16).

As for Roman Reigns, except he plans to be round extra typically, there’s actually no motive to take the title away from the extra energetic CM Punk. Not to say that Reigns has received his fair proportion of WrestleMania important occasions. Punk deserves to depart Las Vegas as champion with a win in the primary occasion.

Raimondi: Probably CM Punk. It would not appear as if the Rhodes-Orton program will finish this weekend. Maybe it really works higher with Rhodes giving chase because the challenger? How’s that for a success of copium? Punk works higher as a champion for sensible causes. Reigns isn’t round, and the Undisputed WWE title was created as a result of he was constantly absent whereas holding the opposite world title. Reigns will certainly develop into champion once more in some unspecified time in the future; he stays WWE’s largest star. Perhaps one other disappointing WrestleMania will power his character to be extra introspective and at last acknowledge (pun meant) the function of his household in all of his success.

Chandan: Cody Rhodes. Rhodes has usually been capable of vanquish the largest foes in his path, however regardless of that, he is solely 1-2 in WWE Championship matches at WrestleMania. I count on interference from Jelly Roll, Pat McAfee and others in his important occasion match with Randy Orton. Despite this, I count on Rhodes to be extra more likely to prevail and proceed his championship reign.

Fortenbaugh: CM Punk, though I feel he and Rhodes each go down of their respective matches. I’m undecided how Rhodes will get by this reincarnation of 2009 Randy Orton, particularly now that Pat McAfee has inserted himself into the story and guaranteed the world that he’ll by no means be heard from once more on the earth of wrestling if “The Viper” comes up quick. The one factor holding me up about backing Reigns over Punk is Reigns’ penchant for inactivity. The fan base likes a preventing champion, and that is precisely what Punk has been since claiming the throne. What occurs if Reigns regains the title he misplaced at WrestleMania XL two years in the past in Philadelphia? I’m very to search out out.

Daddio: CM Punk. After shedding ultimately yr’s WrestleMania, that is his second to shine in the primary occasion in opposition to Reigns and show why he’s the “Best in the World.” Punk is a preventing champion, and Reigns is seen as an element‑timer. The solely actual concern is potential interference from The Bloodline, whom Punk insulted, and will price him the title.