Early WWE WrestleMania 42 Predictions for Announced Matches on the Card
If recent developments are any indication, who knows what WWE has in store for fans when it returns to Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium for WrestleMania 42?
The road to the annual extravaganza has been a bumpy one, with abrupt changes in creative direction, some disgruntled fans, a CM Punk pipebomb promo here, and an ESPN personality touting ticket discounts all occurring over the last two weeks.
The uncertainty surrounding the show has created buzz, but also made it less predictable than in recent memory.
Who leaves Sin City with their arms raised in victory, some with new championships in tow? Find out with these way-too-early predictions for each of the announced matches.
Saturday Undercard Predictions
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The Usos and LA Knight vs. Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and IShowSpeed
The Vision got the best of The Usos, thanks in large part to the inadvertent interference of IShowSpeed, and has dominated the rivalry with their WrestleMania opponents for months. It is long past time that The Usos and Knight get the big win and end this feud for good, and hopefully, those in charge know that, too.
Prediction: The Usos and Knight
Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. The Bella Twins vs. Nia Jax and Lash Legend
This would be the perfect opportunity to give the Bellas their big win and their first run as women's tag champions. With the status of Nikki's injured ankle mostly uncertain at this point, WWE could resist that option and hold off on that win for another show. If that is the case, and the company is not hellbent on a babyface team going over, this is the perfect opportunity to legitimize the champions.
Prediction: Jax and Legend retain
Unsanctioned Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre
One of the most intense rivalries in the company will come to a head in Las Vegas, in an Unsanctioned Match. McIntyre is scheduled to take some time off to film Highlander per BodySlam+, so this is WWE's chance to solidify The Samoan Werewolf as a main event attraction on a SmackDown brand that lacks them. Expect a big, wild brawl of a match.
Prediction: Fatu
Women's Intercontinental Championship Match: AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch
From the get-go, Lee's win in Chicago at Elimination Chamber felt like one destined to set up Lynch regaining the gold at WrestleMania, and nothing about the rivalry or the weeks of television since has changed that. The Man wins here, regains the title that has become synonymous with her in its brief existence, and continues what has been one of the best runs of her Hall of Fame-worthy career.
Prediction: Lynch regains the title
Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
The Ring General appears to have struck a deal with Paul Heyman, adding intrigue to a match that has very little other backstory. Gunther's attack on Seth Rollins on the March 30 episode of Raw set this one up, and since then, fans have had it circled as one of the showstealers of WrestleMania 42 weekend. Rollins does not need the win, Gunther should not lose, so this one is fairly straightforward.
Prediction: Gunther
Women's World Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan
Vaquer recently crossed 200 days as champion. Morgan is still riding the momentum following her victory in the 2026 Royal Rumble match. A remarkably physical rivalry that has seen La Primera and her No. 1 contender beat the hell out of each other on the road to Las Vegas, this feels like Morgan's coronation in what will be her first singles match at the Showcase of the Immortals.
Prediction: Morgan wins the title
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
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What should have been about a 20-year relationship that began as mentor and protege, then evolved into two championship-winning peers, instead has devolved into a mangled mess involving TKO meddling, Pat McAfee, ticket discounts, and Jelly Roll.
When the bell rings, it will still be The American Nightmare vs. The Viper, two future Hall of Famers battling with the top prize in the industry at stake. That should be enough to keep fans satisfied, even with the understanding that chicanery will reign supreme, there will be plenty of interference from outside forces, and the focus will only remain on the champion and his challenger for so long before the run-ins start.
For the story to progress as it currently stands, Orton has to defeat Rhodes and put him on the defensive. The babyface has to chase the title and never win it, for the foreseeable future. If the idea is that TKO is the puppet master and is putting obstacles in Rhodes' path, he has to lose to advance that story.
Look for plenty of overbooking late, with Orton besting Rhodes to win the title and embark on his 15th title reign, while WWE looks to rekindle the magic of the babyface's first championship chase.
Prediction: Orton wins the title
Sunday Undercard Predictions
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Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
A win for Femi and he is instantly established as a main event attraction, just four months into his main roster run. A loss, and many will wonder why so much effort from WWE Creative and Lesnar himself was put into making him look like a monster. Femi has dominated in the lead-up and while that would seem to point to a win for Lesnar, this will be the rare exception to the rule.
Prediction: Femi
Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship: Penta vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee vs. Je'Von Evans vs. Rusev vs. JD McDonagh
This has the makings of one of the most jaw-dropping matches in WrestleMania history. Mysterio getting one more big win on the stage that he has experienced so many career highlights would be nice, but he does not need that moment. Neither Lee nor Evans has enough momentum, and neither Rusev nor McDonagh has been built in any way that suggests they will win. The champion should be the favorite.
Prediction: Penta retains
United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams
Fans have lashed out at Zayn on this road to WrestleMania, no longer believing in the underdog story they have seen repeated time after time. Williams is flashier, more charismatic, and has a star aura in spades. With fans clearly behind the former NXT champion, it would seem like now is the time to pull the proverbial trigger. Not so fast, though. A heel turn by Zayn and an underhanded victory could spark a much-needed double-turn.
Prediction: Zayn retains
Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
This is as easy a pick as there is on this card. The Judgment Day explodes at WrestleMania, with former teammates and friends squaring off in a grudge match. Under normal circumstances, this is more difficult to predict. The return of "Demon" Balor makes this a one-sided affair that may end in short, succinct fashion.
Prediction: Balor
WWE Women's Championship Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill
The outcome of this feels rather predictable. What is not is the quality of the match itself. Cargill has not been tested at this level, against the biggest star in the division in Ripley, who has established a reputation as one of the best big-match performers on the roster. This will be physical, could be ugly at times, but Mami gets back to winning singles gold by vanquishing The Storm.
Prediction: Ripley wins the title
World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns
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The hottest match on the WrestleMania card was made even more so by Punk's pipebomb promo on the April 6 episode of Raw. The conviction with which he spoke, the insults he hurled toward his opponent, and the anger that painted his face endeared him to the crowd and has The Best in the World in position to be the crowd favorite in Las Vegas.
That may not matter.
Reigns has not been champion since losing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania and, with so much talk of turning the product back to "when it was great," one has to wonder if shenanigans that have encompassed the Rhodes-Orton feud will bleed over into this one.
Especially after Punk mentioned Pat McAfee and TKO CEO Ari Emanuel.
While that is a possibility, there is something to be said about the guy who will be around to make all of the TV tapings and keep the show rolling, retaining his title, and leaving WrestleMania with the gold.
Prediction: Punk retains
