Superstars Guaranteed to Lose at WWE WrestleMania 42

Despite a disappointing build to WrestleMania 42, Triple H and the WWE creative team have the chance to salvage the premium live event's perception by booking the right outcomes in its most marquee matches.

It's not all the WWE chief content officer's fault that the Road to WrestleMania has underwhelmed, as some of the company's top names have come up short in the ring and on the mic, but those performers should lose at The Show of Shows to ensure balance moving into the rest of 2026.

Here are the Superstars who are guaranteed to lose at WrestleMania 42.

CM Punk

During the build to WrestleMania, one of the biggest letdowns has been CM Punk's lackluster mic work in his battle against Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Since returning to WWE in November 2023, The Best in the World has been heralded as one of the company's top assets, winning a world title and being handed main event spots.

While Punk has shone in moments, he has been embarrassed by Reigns in every facet of their feud so far.

From The OTC's Royal Rumble victory, which gave the group unstoppable momentum, to the repeated beatdowns Punk has suffered on the road to the event, everything suggests the champion is being positioned as a defiant figure who ultimately cannot stop the challenger.

Add in the looming presence of The Bloodline and WWE's tendency to use WrestleMania for legacy-building wins, and all signs point to Punk's reign being set up to end on the grandest stage of them all.

AJ Lee

There may not be anyone on the roster closer to a sure loss at WrestleMania 42 than AJ Lee when she again challenges Becky Lynch for the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship.

While the return of Lee generated genuine excitement around her character, there is a complete lack of substance to her promos and her in-ring work has not yet reached the level of today's top stars.

She may have been a star during her time, but she is now more of a name WWE can prop up opposite a true centerpiece in Lynch.

With Lee likely not sticking around for the long term, letting a workhorse such as The Man beat the legend would not only ensure she is viewed as a top star, but it would also add legitimacy to the women's IC title.

Lee was brought back to WWE to elevate the division, create a marquee match and pass momentum to the present era.

At WrestleMania, Lynch will defeat Lee and create an iconic moment that fans will embrace.

Rhea Ripley

Rhea Ripley is one of the most popular performers in WWE, with the company trusting her to carry the workload in the ring and on the mic in a storyline with Jade Cargill over the WWE Women's Championship.

While Triple H and company want Ripley to carry the feud, they are likely to have her take the loss and put over The Storm.

A successful title defense for Cargill will create a career-defining moment for the fresh face, while adversity for the Australian will give her character a new edge.

Cargill's new stable has been a big asset for her, but it's the focus on Ripley that has been the main reason this matchup was made. While the storyline has lacked clear stakes and consistency, the challenger has done her best to carry the load when asked.

Of all the matches on the card, few Superstars need the marquee win more than Cargill. At the same time, a loss would only add to the respect for Ripley from fans and provide her with the fresh start she has needed for the past year.

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