Fantasy Booking the Perfect WWE WrestleMania 42 Match Card
The road to WrestleMania 42 is upon us, and it is time for WWE to build a card that can get everyone on board.
This is the biggest show of the year, highlighting the most talent over two nights of any WWE show.
Currently, the usual hype for The Show of Shows is muted, highlighted most immediately by WWE's struggles to move tickets for the event.
According to WrestleVotes on Fightful Select, WWE is aware that current ticket sales are underwhelming and held an all departments meeting to address the issue.
This leaves everything under consideration, including a complete reshuffling of WrestleMania 42's card.
While no one knows yet what WWE may do to make 'Mania 42 feel special, there is no reason this show could not look and feel special.
Instead of asking what WWE will do, the following is a fantastical look at what WWE should do, creating the perfect 'Mania 42 card with the current roster.
Not Booked Due to Injury Concerns
1 of 8
Bianca Belair
The EST was likely going to face Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42 if she was healthy enough for it, but setbacks with her finger injury will almost certainly keep her off the card.
Seth Rollins
Is there a chance The Visionary is healthy enough to make WrestleMania? Yes. Are those chances high? No. At this point, the best bet is to assume he will return for revenge after The Show of Shows.
Bron Breakker
Breakker was supposed to be a key player at WrestleMania 42, but a hernia injury with an unknown recovery timeline puts any plans for him on hold.
Chelsea Green
While The Hot Mess remains a key part of WWE programming and would have found a way onto the WrestleMania card, a broken ankle will have Green sidelined for a while.
Important WrestleMania Weekend Events
2 of 8
WrestleMania weekend has often been an important time for wrestling, when many independent promotions host shows for traveling fans.
WWE has made a point of taking over the scene in recent years, and that is likely to continue.
It would not be surprising for WWE to have a Saturday and Sunday morning show for NXT and AAA this year to take up most of the weekend.
NXT Stand & Deliver
This should be a lock and a chance to celebrate the top stars of NXT. This event typically delivers some of the best NXT action all year.
NXT's direction is a bit undefined at this point, but it would not be surprising to see Joe Hendry vs. Ricky Saints and Jacy Jayne vs. Kendal Grey as the top matches.
AAA Worlds Collide: Las Vegas
WWE should feature AAA talent on the weekend, but it is likely that all of the talent will be relegated to a Worlds Collide-style event.
This could still be a great spot for certain highly anticipated clashes like El Grande Americano vs. El Grande Americano and Dominik Mysterio vs. El Hijo del Vikingo.
Night 1 Undercard
3 of 8
Intercontinental Championship - Ladder: Penta (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Finn Bálor vs. Dragon Lee vs. Je'Von Evans vs. Rey Mysterio
It would not be the first time WWE's answer to getting everyone on the WrestleMania card was a multi-man ladder match, and signs are pointing to this as another shot.
Penta will challenge Dominik soon for his Intercontinental Championship and should win to add more unpredictability to the road to WrestleMania.
This would then set up a variety of challengers hungry for opportunity. Luchadors aligning against The Judgment Day would set the stage for many in a high-flying setting.
Add to the chaos The Young OG, and this is a recipe for an ultimate spotfest that will have everyone on their feet, especially with the added drama of who will betray whom for glory.
Women's United States Championship: Giulia (c) vs. Iyo Sky
There is no easy answer for why Giulia is struggling on the main roster. She has the look and ability to thrive, yet WWE cannot seem to figure her out.
What better way to reintroduce her to the world than putting her against one of the best women's wrestlers in the world today?
These two have all the tools to steal the show in a match that will fully present the best version of The Beautiful Madness.
This is also the perfect spot to elevate the Women's United States Championship, showing how far these two great wrestlers are willing to go to capture it.
Women's Tag Team Championships No. 1 Contender Gauntlet: The Kabuki Warriors vs. Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. The Judgment Day vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. The Bella Twins
While Sky is busy going after singles gold, the women's tag team division should not be ignored.
Instead of defending the titles at WrestleMania, this can be a spotlight for the entire division, pitting the top teams against one another.
This guarantees that Charlotte, Asuka, Bayley, and more will have a strong match at The Show of Shows.
This is likely the final run for Nikki and Brie Bella, so they can come out of this Gauntlet with the victory and face Rhea Ripley and Sky at the next premium live event.
Night 1 Featured Matches
4 of 8
Undisputed WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. LA Knight
Most signs point to a McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes rematch, but that feud has run its course at this stage. Sami Zayn would be an interesting alternative, but he failed to qualify for the men's Elimination Chamber.
This leaves one strong fresh option that would test both champion and challenger.
Knight is a man desperate for his first world title. McIntyre is a desperate champion looking for any path to keep the gold he has long sought out.
Together, these two can build on that dynamic, complete with some lingering backstage heat to sell a dynamic of two men who need the gold more than anything.
Sin City Street Fight: Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu
While McIntyre defends against Knight, The American Nightmare should fully lock in on his growing rivalry with The Samoan Werewolf.
This is a huge spot for Fatu, working a grudge match against a former multiple-time world champion.
These two already have the story and just need to ramp up the intensity as they get in each other's way of fighting The Scottish Warrior.
If WWE is feeling truly bold, this is a spot to turn Rhodes heel, revealing he was the one who laid out Fatu in October.
World Tag Team Championships: The Usos - Jey and Jimmy Uso (c) vs. The Vision - Bronson Reed and Logan Paul
The feud between The Usos and The Vision should only heat up on the road to WrestleMania 42.
While signs point to this match featuring Austin Theory and Reed as the tag team, there is no other easy spot for The Maverick on this card, and he adds more to this match in this setting.
Paul can push Theory aside as things intensify and potentially even win his first tag team championship on The Show of Shows.
Night 1 Main Event - Women's World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
5 of 8A women's match has not main evented WrestleMania since 'Mania 37 when Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair delivered one of the greatest women's matches of all time.
The bar is high for the next women's match that gets that main event spotlight to deliver the same spectacle in the ring, and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan can do that.
The story is beginning to come together for La Primera and Dominik Mysterio's Güerita that could genuinely headline The Show of Shows.
While Liv is currently the heel, Vaquer has grown more vindictive with her potential rival, selling that La Primera could turn heel by the time the bell rings at 'Mania.
Fans will buy into Vaquer vs. Liv all the more if La Primera leans into that heel side. In particular, this will be the story of WrestleMania 42 if Vaquer convinces Dirty Dom to turn against Liv.
This is a battle between two of WWE's top women. It should not focus primarily on Mysterio, who will also be in action separately on the night.
However, fans are invested in his relationship with Liv. The heartbreak of a turn would make Liv the top babyface in WWE, especially ending Night 1 holding the Women's World Championship.
Night 1 Undercard
6 of 8
Women's Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. AJ Lee vs. Maxxine Dupri vs. Nattie
Becky vs. AJ is an obvious match for WrestleMania, but is a rematch from Elimination Chamber going to be enough to stand out at The Show of Shows?
Instead, it might be best to get more wrestlers involved and wrap it up with another rivalry that has been connected to The Man in the past: Maxxine vs. Nattie.
Three veterans and a developing star in need of a spotlight can battle for the gold, and AJ can avenge a dirty loss in Chicago by capturing the title at 'Mania.
United States Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Trick Williams
There is no need to move off Melo as the United States champion, as he continues to steal the show time and again. Who is the best opponent for him at WrestleMania, though?
The answer comes down to returning to old rivalries. Melo and Ilja have already reestablished their contentious friendship on SmackDown, but they are missing the third man in their NXT rivalry.
Melo vs. Trick was one of the biggest stories in NXT in 2024. Two years later, they can fight again on The Show of Shows, adding in the incredible Dragunov to make sure this is a true showstealer.
WWE Tag Team Championships - Bloodline Rules: The MFTs - Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga (c) vs. The Wyatt Sicks - Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy
The stable warfare between The MFTs and The Wyatt Sicks has been moving at a snail's pace lately, but that does not have to last forever.
WrestleMania should feature the biggest matches possible, and intensifying this rivalry on the road to 'Mania could lead to plenty of exciting spots on SmackDown.
Make it Bloodline Rules to let both stables fight at full force, regardless of the technical pairs defending and fighting for the gold.
This can be a wild plunder match, highlighting the fearlessness of The Wyatt Sicks in the face of The MFTs' brutality.
Night 2 Featured Matches
7 of 8
WWE Women's Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Who is the one woman who can reliably deliver a great match with anyone? The WWE roster has a few potential answers, but no one else stands out quite like The Eradicator.
Cargill vs. Ripley is the biggest match WWE can deliver right now, and it is the one contest guaranteed to deliver.
The Storm has struggled to make a splash in the ring in her WWE run despite winning the top prize.
She needs an opponent like Ripley to not only give her a great match but make a spectacle of it all that fans will never forget. This would be the greatest match of Cargill's career.
Randy Orton vs. Gunther (Career Threatening Match)
The former Legend Killer steps up to The Career Killer. The story writes itself, and there is no better time to do it than right now.
WWE has a tendency to take too long on the biggest angles, and Orton vs. Gunther will lose steam the further we move past the John Cena and AJ Styles retirements.
These two may be on separate brands, but that has rarely stopped WWE from booking the best possible match.
The Viper may not be ready to retire, so this would likely end in an Orton win. That will allow The Ring General to get some comeuppance for his actions.
It should not hurt his heat though as nothing is bringing back Cena or Styles.
Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
The Beast Incarnate should not be in WWE much longer, so The Ruler should show that he is here to replace Lesnar.
Make this a dominant one-sided contest where The Beast Incarnate is finally laid low by a fellow powerhouse.
From this point on, Oba could cruise to singles gold on either brand while WWE can prepare Lesnar for his own official retirement later in the year.
Night 2 Main Event - World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns
8 of 8At this stage, it makes no sense to move off CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns as the Night 2 main event of WrestleMania 42.
In an ideal fantasy booking world, Seth Rollins or Bron Breakker is available to collide with The OTC, but both are hurt.
This may not have been the plan a year ago, when The Visionary stole the spotlight from both men in the Night 1 main event.
However, there is no world anymore where this is not the key draw for 'Mania 42.
Ideally though, Reigns needs to be on television weekly after Elimination Chamber to sell this story.
It is time to build a story that highlights why these two men have become such bitter rivals, perhaps even pushing one of the two heels before 'Mania.
A vindictive heel Punk is good business and could solidify this angle as must-see wrestling.
This will be the match that everyone is talking about, good or bad, where the weekend is over, so WWE needs to make sure this year's Night 2 main event lands.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
