WWE WrestleMania 42 Opening Match

WWE created a lot of buzz for the WrestleMania 42 two-night event by announcing the first hour of the shows will air live on ESPN and ESPN 2.

This would mean that the opening matches of both nights of the PLE will be among the largest audiences to watch WWE all year long.

It makes choosing which match will open each night of Mania that much more important and significant based on what WWE will value to kick off their biggest show of the year.

Here are seven potential options for the WWE WrestleMania 42 opening match.

7. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship

After weeks of contemplating, 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan chose to challenge Stephanie Vaquer for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 42.

Since this challenge, things have gotten intense and heated between Vaquer and Morgan over the past few weeks.

While Morgan won the Rumble and should be deserving of a main event slot, it seems more likely that her match will kick off one of the nights of Mania.

‘The Show of Shows’ opening with Vaquer vs. Morgan would put a major spotlight on both women with the gold up for grabs in Las Vegas.

6. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio

On the March 9 episode of WWE Raw, The Judgment Day turned on Finn Balor with a four-on-one beatdown.

This culminated years of dissension and issues between Balor and Dominik Mysterio that have been simmering within the group.

Now, it seems like the stage has been set for Balor and Mysterio to clash in a grudge match at WrestleMania 42.

Balor and Mysterio getting the platform of ESPN to culminate their rivalry and story would be fitting for how much time WWE has invested in both men.

5. Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams

On the January 2 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Trick Williams made his official WWE main roster debut by interrupting a promo from Sami Zayn.

The two-time NXT Champion has since become one of the most popular stars on the SmackDown brand and has continued to taunt Zayn at every turn.

While Sami won a four-way number one contenders match against Williams, Damian Priest and Randy Orton at the January 24 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, it was Trick who advanced to the Men’s Elimination Chamber, while Zayn did not.

With Zayn displaying frustration and anger towards anyone around him after failing to beat Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2026, it seems like he will face Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42 and could make for an intriguing opening match.

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4. The Usos vs. The Vision for the World Tag Team Championship

On the March 23 episode of Monday Night Raw, The Vision’s Logan Paul and Austin Theory defeated The Usos via disqualification after Jey Uso decided to use brass knuckles on both men.

This has led to a rematch being announced for the World Tag Team Championship in a Street Fight on the March 30 WWE Raw from Madison Square Garden.

While this could go either way between these two duos, it seems like The Vision could walk out of New York City with the tag gold to set up another rematch at WrestleMania 42.

Paul and Theory defending against The Usos feels like a compelling opening match and a full circle moment considering Jey Uso kicked off Mania night one last year when he challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship against GUNTHER.

3. AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship

At WWE Elimination Chamber 2026, AJ Lee defeated Becky Lynch to win the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

Since then, Lee has tried to solidify herself as a fighting champion with her first defense against Bayley on the March 16 episode of WWE Raw, but Lynch returned and attacked the legendary star.

This led to Lee challenging Lynch for a rematch for the title at WrestleMania 42 on the March 23 Monday Night Raw, which was accepted.

While there might be a stipulation added to this bout in the weeks to come, AJ and Becky will be a major contest on the Mania card and feels worthy of opening either night of ‘The Showcase of the Immortals.’

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2. Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s Championship

At the WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 premium live event, Rhea Ripley defeated Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez, Kiana James, Asuka and Alexa Bliss to win the Women’s Elimination Chamber and punch her ticket for WrestleMania 42.

Thanks to her victory, Ripley will now challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship at ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All.’

On paper, this feels like a big time bout that could easily headline Mania and has seen tensions raised between the two women in the weeks since the Chamber.

Cargill vs. Ripley will be a clash of the titans that would catch a lot of eyes if they were to open WrestleMania 42 on ESPN or ESPN 2.

1. Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi

Heading into WrestleMania 42, Brock Lesnar issued an open challenge to anyone in the WWE locker room.

The open challenge was answered by Oba Femi, who laid out Lesnar with the Fall From Grace and placed his boot on Brock’s chest on the March 16 edition of Monday Night Raw.

Over the past two weeks, Femi and Lesnar have kicked off WWE Raw, placing them in a prominent position on the road to Mania.

Femi vs. Lesnar is a battle of behemoths of epic propositions that feels like the kind of massive matchup that could kick off ‘The Show of Shows’ this year.

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