WWE WrestleMania 42 Predictions for CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns and Top Matches

WrestleMania 42 is just days and one televised WWE show away. With the build to this year's Showcase of the Immortals all but done, it's the right time for some late predictions on how it's all going to shake out.

Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed belt against Randy Orton on Saturday night's headliner in Las Vegas. Twenty four hours later, CM Punk will put the World Heavyweight Championship on the line in a heated rivalry with Roman Reigns.

Read on for a rundown of how it could go at the Allegiant Stadium.

Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton (w/ Pat McAffe)

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Oh boy.

Cody Rhodes taking on Randy Orton for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42 sounds amazing on paper. Two future Hall of Famers, born into iconic wrestling families, with 20 years of history to fall back on. No need to overcomplicate things, the build takes care of itself, right?

The build did not take care of itself.

WWE's insistence on forcing Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll into this situation is not the biggest issue. Celebrities have interfered with WM since the showcase's inception. The company is clearly placing deliberate heat on McAfee, and in turn Orton, possibly because many fans loved The Viper battering Rhodes a couple of weeks prior. A good way of detracting from Randy's support is to align him with someone whose mere presence stirs up anger.

McAfee is excellent at being profoundly annoying, but the content of his promos just isn't working, and a good heel should make you want to watch the match more. That hasn't happened on the road to WrestleMania 42. 

WWE using him as a mouthpiece to communicate lower ticket prices is also irritating because these issues impact fans in the real world. It's all too on the nose. Having Pat shun the product and basically beg for tickets to be bought in the same breath is painful to watch.

The comical face McAfee hit when Jelly Roll laid hands on him sums this build up pretty succintly. We have two of the best wrestlers in history relegated to sideline characters in their own stories. Instead, a cartoon villain and a country singer are the main topic of debate (sidenote: Jelly Roll actually deserves a little praise for his delivery on some pretty corny exchanges with Cody).

Anyway, a wrestling match will ensue. 

Orton has to win so that WWE can begin to pave the way back to the championship for Rhodes. Fans are tired of the American Nightmare constantly sitting atop the mountain, and a hungry Cody chasing the title is more exciting than the ceaseless dominance we've seen over the last year. 

Whatever happens, please, PLEASE, don't keep this Pat stuff going until Backlash. Or worse yet…Summerslam. They couldn't, could they?

Prediction: Orton wins

Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar

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It's scary to think WWE might fumble this one. Oba Femi must beat Brock Lesnar. The Ruler is a formidable in-ring performer and excellent on the mic. He's been made to look unstoppable in the build to WM42. WWE must see it through and push Oba into the main event scene quickly.

However, there's plenty of signs to suggest it won't happen. Oba has generally got the better of Brock in the past few weeks. During Monday's episode of Raw, Paul Heyman even made a grand speech suggesting he will help the Nigerian back up again when Lesnar takes him out. Oba is being made to look legitimate even in defeat.

Then, we have the Gunther situation. The Ring General has made it clear he's handling Seth Rollins for Heyman, and will expect a favor in return. There has to be a good chance that favor is the opportunity to retire Brock Lesnar at Summerslam. Will WWE really allow The Beast to lose back-to-back matches on its biggest two PLEs?

Much has been made of aging stars still leading the company. Oba is right there, even if we have to will it into existence.

Prediction: Oba wins

World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns

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CM Punk got truthful with Roman Reigns this past week on Raw, an angle that slowed a ferocious build down before the carnage of Sunday's main event. 

Punk may be jealous of his opponent for being born into a wrestling dynasty and having a family around him, but there's a good chance he won't be jealous of the final result when this is all said and done. 

Old Phil lost his first official WM main event last year in the triple threat with Reigns and Rollins. It would feel mighty harsh if he lost his first singles main event on the grandest stage of them all, especially after the solid work he's put in as champion. 

Reigns' schedule may also help push things Punk's way. WWE can't afford to have the belt on the OTC for long if he's not going to appear on weekly programming more than he has. There's numerous ways to protect Roman in defeat, with potential Jey Uso/Bloodline interference teased a few weeks back.

Plenty of exciting talent are also waiting for a shot at Punk. Rollins or Gunther could head that way, and hell, the winner of Brock or Oba could have a big night on Raw after Mania if creative wants to mix things up.

Prediction: Punk wins