Following his win at WWE Royal Rumble 2026, Roman Reigns has chosen CM Punk to face for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42.
With most fans assuming this will be the Mania Night Two main event, there are some questions surrounding what will be the Night One headliner.
Considering the major titles that will be at stake and heated rivalries set to culminate at the event, there could be some interesting plans for the WrestleMania 42 Night One show closer.
Here are seven potential options for the WWE WrestleMania 42 Night One main event.
7. Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu – Undisputed WWE Championship
On the January 9 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell Match to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.
This victory came as a result of the returning Jacob Fatu getting involved in the final fall of their match in a steel cage and attacking both competitors, leading to McIntyre escaping the cage to win.
In the weeks since then, fans have seen McIntyre, Rhodes and Fatu brawling and costing each other wins.
This seems to be setting the stage for a massive three-way main event at WrestleMania 42 where McIntyre will defend the top prize on SmackDown against both Rhodes and Fatu in Las Vegas.
Click the next page button below for more
6. Becky Lynch (c) vs. AJ Lee – WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Ever since making her return to WWE in September 2025, AJ Lee has made life a living hell for Becky Lynch.
After joining her husband CM Punk to defeat Lynch and her husband Seth Rollins at WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025, AJ cost Becky the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Maxxine Dupri on the November 17 WWE Raw.
However, Lynch won the title back on the January 5 Monday Night Raw and has now seen Lee make another return to challenge her for the gold at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026.
Despite this first time singles meeting happening in Chicago, fans could see this rivalry continuing into WrestleMania 42 where Becky and AJ could elevate the Women’s IC Title to the main event in Las Vegas.
Click the next page button below for more
5. Jade Cargill (c) vs. Bianca Belair – WWE Women’s Championship
When she first debuted in WWE back in 2024, Jade Cargill formed a partnership and friendship with Bianca Belair. Cargill and Belair made an unstoppable duo and went on to become two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
However, Naomi turned on both ladies and took out Cargill, injuring her for months, which caused a rift between all three.
Since then, Cargill has become the WWE Women’s Champion, while Belair has been sidelined for nearly a year with a broken knuckle injury.
With “The E.S.T. of WWE” expected to return to action at some point, Belair feels like the strongest candidate to make a comeback and challenge Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship in the main event at WrestleMania 42.
Click the next page button below for more
4. Jade Cargill (c) vs. Charlotte Flair – WWE Women’s Championship
Considering Bianca Belair has been out of action for so long, it is no guarantee she will be back in time for WrestleMania 42.
This opens the door for another competitor to step up to the plate to face Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship.
Looking at the SmackDown roster, Charlotte Flair is someone who has always been front and center at getting big opportunities within the women’s division.
After failing to win the WWE Women’s Championship against Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania 41, Flair could make her way back to the top and potentially headline her second Mania against Cargill for the same title that eluded her last year.
Click the next page button below for more
3. Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
At WWE Royal Rumble 2026, Oba Femi made his official main roster debut as the #1 entrant in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
Despite eliminating five competitors, the most memorable moment for Femi in the match might have been his confrontation with Brock Lesnar.
This has led to plenty of speculation in regards to Femi facing off with Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.
While “The Ruler” could make his WrestleMania debut, having a match against “The Beast Incarnate” could see Femi headlining the show to truly cement him as the newest top star in WWE.
Click the next page button below for more
2. Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan – WWE Women’s World Championship
At the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 premium live event, Liv Morgan won the Women’s Royal Rumble Match to punch her ticket for WrestleMania 42.
In the weeks since then, Morgan has been contemplating her decision on which champion she wants to challenge for the gold.
After laying out the WWE Women’s World Champion following her win over Raquel Rodriguez on the February 2 Monday Night Raw, it seems likely that Morgan will challenge Stephanie Vaquer for the title.
Vaquer defending against Morgan could be presented as the first WrestleMania main event for the women’s division since 2021 in Las Vegas this year.
Click the next page button below for more
1. Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton – Undisputed WWE Championship
While Drew McIntyre currently holds the Undisputed WWE Championship, this does not mean he will walk into WrestleMania 42 still holding the title.
Considering he was attacked by both Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu on the February 6 Friday Night SmackDown, it seems likely McIntyre will interfere and cost both men their Elimination Chamber qualifying match against Sami Zayn on the February 13 episode.
With no way to enter the Chamber on February 28, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis could announce the reported three-way match between McIntyre, Rhodes and Fatu for WWE Elimination Chamber 2026.
After regaining the WWE Championship, Cody Rhodes could go on to face his longtime friend and possible Elimination Chamber winner Randy Orton for the title in the WrestleMania 42 Night One main event instead.
To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!
Comments.
Loading comments…