7 WWE Stars Living Up to the Hype on the Road to WrestleMania 42
On the road to WrestleMania 42, tension is at an all time high.
Superstars face pressure to deliver, to turn in their finest performances and prove that the trust WWE Creative had in them was justified and not without merit.
They are the men and women who will take on key roles in the build to the event and, in most cases, high-profile positions on the card once the annual Showcase of the Immortals kicks off.
Based on their performances to date, these are the Superstars who have embraced the pressure, delivering explosive performances and living up to the hype that comes with the arrival of WrestleMania season.
CM Punk
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The Best in the World has been tasked with carrying the World Heavyweight Championship match build on his back, making the most of the weeks when his WrestleMania 42 opponent, Roman Reigns, is around and keeping the story alive and relevant in the weeks that he is not.
In between, he has consistently delivered between the ropes, most recently against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber in what was clearly the best match of the show.
Arguably the best version of his Hall of Fame-worthy self, Punk has emerged as the MVP of WWE on this road back to Las Vegas and the 42nd Showcase of the Immortals.
Raquel Rodriguez
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Liv Morgan may have won the Royal Rumble to set up a Women's World Championship Match with Stephanie Vaquer at WrestleMania 42, but it is her Judgment Day teammate who is excelling on the road to Las Vegas.
Raquel Rodriguez has been the recipient of a push that has seen her dominate both the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches. In the former, she even eliminated Rhea Ripley, a callback to their long and storied rivalry. Inside the Chamber, she not only tossed her opponents around, but she simultaneously eliminated Asuka and Kiana James.
So impressive was her performance in Chicago that the fans booed her elimination, proof positive that Big Sexy's recent push is catching on.
Where that leaves her for WrestleMania is anyone's guess but the second-generation star has made the most of her increased exposure and should be one of the top stars to watch coming out of the biggest show of the year. The hype has been real and she has answered the call.
Roman Reigns
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The Tribal Chief is the biggest star on the active roster in WWE. His name is on the marquee of any show that he appears and, while his appearances these days are few and far between, he has made the most of them.
First, he dominated the initial back and forth with Punk on the mic, no small feat considering the world champ is the best talker in the business. He laid out his motivation and expressed his deep-seeded hatred and dismay for him.
Then, when it was time to show vulnerability, did just that, selling Punk's mind games, including a mention of his father, the late Wild Samoan Sika.
His ability to show up, deliver the necessary story beats, and create buzz for whatever he is involved with remains nearly unmatched.
Rhea Ripley
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Rhea Ripley is arguably the biggest star in the business, with crossover appeal that has landed her a line of merch in Hot Topic stores across the country and a series of cross-branded T-shirts featuring Art the Clown from the Terrifier series.
On WWE TV, she has only further solidified herself as the face of the women's division, first partnering with Iyo Sky to win the Women's Tag Team Championships, then rebounding from losing those belts by winning her second Elimination Chamber match to cash her ticket to a match at WrestleMania 42.
Now poised to challenge the still largely untested Jade Cargill in Las Vegas, Ripley has the task of delivering the champion her best match on the biggest stage. Given the Match of the Year contenders that Mami has provided fans at the show in recent years, do not be surprised if Ripley takes it upon herself to find another gear, take her performance to another level, and leave no doubt who the best overall performer in the company is.
Randy Orton
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In his 24th year as a main roster Superstar, no one would fault The Viper for resting on his laurels, doing the bare minimum, and getting by.
Instead, he continues to excel, as good between the ropes as ever and remaining dedicated to the small things that separate him from his peers.
Whether facial expressions, mannerisms, or a subtle look into the camera, Orton informs the audience of his thoughts and feelings without ever having to say a word. Look no further than his feud with Cody Rhodes over the Undisputed WWE Championship, which will culminate in one of this year's WrestleMania main events.
Two years in the making, it started with little hints that he wanted to regain the WWE title and win his 15th championship and now, he has the opportunity to do just that in what would be just the third WrestleMania main event of his legendary career.
Becky Lynch
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Big Time Bex is the greatest women's wrestler of all time, and plenty are saying it, with good reason.
Not only has her in-ring work been stellar, as evidenced by matches with Maxxine Dupri and AJ Lee, but her character work on the road to WrestleMania 42 has been second to none.
Lynch has bought into the ludicrous, over-the-top portrayal of an oblivious blow-hard and the result has been some of her finest work to date. Whether she is trying furiously on social media, claiming "lots of people are saying it," or touting conspiracy theories where they do not exist, there is something quite familiar about it, but effective nonetheless.
She was the best wrestler in the ring at Elimination Chamber, when she lost the Women's Intercontinental Championship to Lee, and is set up for a rematch of epic proportions against the future Hall of Famer in Las Vegas, where The Man will once again showcase her excellence in her latest dance on the WrestleMania stage.
Gunther
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Though his path to WrestleMania 42 is unclear at this point, few Superstars can claim to be in the midst of a career-defining run like The Ring General.
Gunther retired John Cena to close 2025, retired AJ Styles to kick off 2026, and has basked in the jeers and anger of the WWE Universe along the way. He is an old-school villain, a heel who is not afraid to get heat. Instead, he welcomes it, wearing it like a badge of honor. He even taunts the fans, demanding more, as if it is a life source.
He has also produced between the ropes, his in-ring work unmatched. Look no further than his most recent contest, a victory over Dragon Lee on Raw that had the fans invested in the potential upset but, ultimately re-signed to the inevitable as Gunther put the luchador to sleep.
Who knows what WrestleMania holds for the former world champion but few deliver as consistently, confidently, and at as high a level as Gunther.
