The WWE Raw after WrestleMania is known for being filled with surprises throughout the night.
Serving as the start to the new year in WWE, this show usually featured returns and main roster callups during the evening.
There is a bunch of different things that could shape the remainder of the year that may just shock fans and send shockwaves throughout WWE coming out of the Raw following “The Show of Shows.”
Here are sixpotential surprises for WWE Raw After WrestleMania 42.
6. Sol Ruca Makes Her Raw Debut To challenge Becky Lynch For The WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship
WWE NXT’s Sol Ruca has set her sights on making it onto the card for next year’s WrestleMania 43 👀:
“I’m going to do everything in my power to be out there next year.”pic.twitter.com/fAyOgVEhSj
— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) April 18, 2026
Over the past few months, Sol Ruca has made her presence felt on the WWE main roster, while finishing out her run on the NXT brand.
From her spotlight win over Bayley on WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event to her impressive showing in the 2026 women’s Royal Rumble match, Ruca feels more than ready for the main roster stage.
Meanwhile, Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 42.
After vanquishing Lee for the first time to regain the Women’s IC Title at Mania, Becky could be confronted by the debuting Sol Ruca on the WWE Raw after WrestleMania 42 which could set up a fresh, new matchup.
5. Lyra Valkyria Snaps On Bayley
At WrestleMania 42, Brie Bella and the returning Paige won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, The Irresistible Forces, and Bayley and Lyra Valkyria.
Bayley and Lyra come out of Mania empty handed, failing to avenge what happened last year when Becky Lynch replaced Bayley.
With that in mind, fans could see a falling out with this fragile partnership between ‘The Role Model’ and Valkyria.
Despite Bayley always seemingly being on the verge of going off the deep end, it should be Lyra who snaps and turns on her friend after the WrestleMania 42 loss on WWE Raw.
4. Sheamus Is Back To Finally Win The Intercontinental Championship
Back in November 2025, Sheamus was sidelined with an apparent shoulder injury that required immediate surgery.
After being out of action for months, ‘The Celtic Warrior’ now finds himself on the outside looking in for WrestleMania 42.
Coming out of ‘The Showcase of the Immortals,’ Sheamus should return to the company looking to finally win the one title that has long eluded him.
Sheamus challenging Penta or whomever walks out of Mania with the WWE Intercontinental Championship could be interesting and possibly have that title bout on the April 20 episode of Raw.
3. Paul Heyman Betrays Brock Lesnar To Align With GUNTHER
Just last year at WrestleMania 41, Paul Heyman turned on Roman Reigns and CM Punk to align himself with Seth Rollins to help him get the win in the main event.
At WrestleMania 42, Heyman will be in the corner of Brock Lesnar for his match against Oba Femi. On the road to Mania, ‘The Ruler’ has had the number of Lesnar time and time again.
Meanwhile, Heyman’s problem with Seth Rollins were settled at the hands of GUNTHER, who beat him in a singles match at ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ after interference from another Paul Heyman protege in the returning Bron Breakker.
Coming out of ‘The Show of Shows,’ Heyman could choose to align himself with GUNTHER, who might want his guaranteed favor to be another legend in Lesnar to retire on the WWE Raw after WrestleMania 42.
2. Bron Breakker Attacks Seth Rollins Again
Following WWE Royal Rumble 2026, Bron Breakker suffered a hernia that required emergency surgery.
With Breakker sidelined, Seth Rollins has been making The Vision’s lives a living hell.
After attacking Paul Heyman on more than one occasion, Breakker was waiting in the wings at WrestleMania 42 and wrecked Rollins for his crimes, costing Rollins his match against GUNTHER.
Breakker showing up again on the WWE Raw after WrestleMania 42 should make for a memorable moment and set the stage for a major feud between the former stablesmates for the coming months.
1. Oba Femi Defeats Roman Reigns To Win The World Heavyweight Championship
Two of the biggest matches at WrestleMania 42 will be Roman Reigns challenging CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship and Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi in a battle of behemoths.
While Punk is going to be game and ready for the challenge from ‘The OTC,’ it feels like Roman’s time to resume his place at the mountaintop of WWE.
Femi is poised for the biggest win of his young career by conquering Lesnar in this high profile showdown on ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All.’
Coming out of Mania, Femi could immediately find himself as the next challenger for Reigns and might just beat ‘The OTC’ for the World Heavyweight Championship on the WWE Raw after WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
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