The 5 WWE Stars Who Could Realistically Headline WrestleMania 42 Match Card

WWE Royal Rumble will kick off the road to WrestleMania 42 in four months' time and give two competitors a chance to headline the two-night event.

The first premium live event of 2026 will offer us an early inkling of what the main events could be, as a new pair of challengers sets their sights on immortality. Then, WWE will return to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18-19 to host The Show of Shows.

That gives us plenty of time to speculate about the last quarter of 2025 and try to predict next year's challengers for the main titles.

As we wrap up the biggest storylines of the year, we may already have an idea of who will climb to the top of the card.

Straight away, it's a shame that it doesn't seem like we're any closer to another main event featuring the winner of the women's Royal Rumble match.

Hopefully, WWE will prove us wrong, but women haven't closed the iconic PLE since Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks created history in 2021 by becoming the first Black wrestlers to headline the event.

It's also a bit concerning that the matchups already seem so predictable, as the same Superstars have taken part in the closing match for the last few years.

Nevertheless, these are five names who could realistically earn top billing at The Showcase of the Immortals next spring.

Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is the most obvious pick as he holds the record for the most WrestleMania main event appearances. 

Since 2015, the second-generation star has competed in nine of the event's last 11 marquee matches. He closed both nights at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia last year to surpass Hulk Hogan's record of eight appearances.

WrestleMania 41 marked his sixth consecutive high-profile match on The Grandest Stage of Them All, raising his total to 10. At this rate, it's hard to imagine The Tribal Chief won't earn the top spot again in 2026 and even 2027. 

His ongoing feud with Seth Rollins suggests the former Shield teammates could clash in a highly anticipated one-on-one match in April. This outcome won't thrill fans hoping to see something new, but Reigns remains the most likely main eventer. 

Cody Rhodes

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Likewise, Cody Rhodes will likely headline Saturday or Sunday for the third consecutive year.

The undisputed WWE champion has been a constant at 'Mania since his return to the company in 2022. Rhodes reached rarefied air as the fourth back-to-back Royal Rumble winner and John Cena's final WrestleMania opponent.

It will be interesting to see how he can top those massive accomplishments in 2026, but there is at least one last prominent match left on the table.

After all, The American Nightmare and CM Punk have been circling each other since last year, and Las Vegas would be an ideal destination for their long-awaited showdown.

Considering their history together, it's an intriguing matchup for both men. Now that the timing is right, WWE must capitalize on it before the window closes.

The third installment of Rhodes vs. Reigns is also a realistic possibility.

CM Punk

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Next year could finally be the time CM Punk wins the men's Royal Rumble match and punches his ticket to WrestleMania 42 to challenge the champion of his choice. 

It's one of the few major accolades that The Second City Saint has yet to achieve. To that end, many of us assumed he would win this year before Jey Uso shocked the wrestling world at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Nonetheless, Rollins' Money in the Bank cash-in at SummerSlam makes him even more of a sentimental figure heading into the Rumble in January. The 2024 runner-up tore his tricep during his first appearance in the event in 10 years, and his rivalry with The Visionary has hindered his momentum all year. 

Viewers want him to move forward more than ever. It would be a nice swerve if he used his Rumble win to torment Rollins but challenge Rhodes instead. 

Rhea Ripley

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If any woman on the roster could realistically headline WrestleMania 42, it's Rhea Ripley.

During his interview with Ariel Helwani, Paul Heyman listed the Aussie alongside Bron Breakker and Jacob Fatu as a "guaranteed WrestleMania main eventer multiple times in the future if we find the right story and the right opponent for her in that capacity."

Ripley has the star power and name recognition among casual fans to justify a top spot on the card. All she needs is the right dance partner, and Bianca Belair or Iyo Sky could fit the bill with an adequate build.

The EST of WWE already has an impressive resume at The Show of Shows, including headlining WrestleMania 37.

Meanwhile, Sky is still one of the few opponents Ripley hasn't been able to defeat, which would be the perfect premise for a rematch on the grandest stage.

Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn is another favorite to win the 2026 men's Royal Rumble match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and eventually attain his first world title victory at WrestleMania 42.

WWE keeps drawing attention to the fact that he hasn't won the world championship, and that has to mean something, right? The 41-year-old has also gained some notable endorsements from Superstars such as Randy Orton.

His current run as the United States champion and statement win over John Cena also seem like an attempt to prove Zayn is ready for the biggest win of his career.

The Canadian also has unfinished business with Rollins following their confrontation earlier this year.

The fact that Zayn still hasn't tied up that loose end suggests he could reignite the feud next year. It would be a satisfying conclusion to their storyline because The Visionary tried to humiliate him after he turned heel in April.