WWE Stars Removed From WrestleMania 42

With WrestleMania 42 on the horizon, there are quite a few names on the WWE roster who will be missing out on ‘The Show of Shows.’

This year has seen several stars miss out on the show due to being removed after plans had been discussed for matches on the Mania card.

From former champions to established main roster acts, these talents were moved off the lineup for ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ for a variety of different reasons.

Here are ten WWE stars who were removed from WrestleMania 42.

10. IYO SKY

Back at WrestleMania 41, IYO SKY defeated Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley to retain the WWE Women’s World Championship.

After stealing the show, SKY went on to prove herself as one of the most popular stars on the entire WWE roster.

‘The Genius of the Sky’ has been discussed to face her former senpai Asuka in a singles match on the WrestleMania 42 card.

However, it seems like IYO will miss out on Mania despite being one of the best in-ring performers in the entire company over the past year.

9. Asuka

Speaking of IYO SKY, Asuka has had her focus set on her former protege over the past year.

After returning to WWE in 2025, it looked like ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ wanted to reunite with her former Damage CTRL stablemates IYO and Kairi Sane.

However, SKY’s success and friendship with Rhea Ripley led to Asuka’s jealousy coming to the surface and betraying her former protege.

Now all these months later, it seemed like Asuka and IYO were on a collision course at WrestleMania 42, but WWE has not announced the match and seems like they will leave the two former champions off the card in Las Vegas.

8. The Original El Grande Americano & El Grande Americano

At WWE Royal Rumble 2026, The Original El Grande Americano made his return to the company as an entrant in the Royal Rumble ,atch.

The masked “luchador” has since been embroiled in a feud against the other El Grande Americano in both WWE and Lucha Libre AAA.

Despite their battles in WWE, it is in Mexico for AAA where this battle of El Grandes has shined brightest. This led to rumors that there would be a final match between the two masked men at WrestleMania 42.

With their Mask vs. Mask match announced for the May 30 AAA Noche De Los Grandes event, it seems both El Grande Americanos will not take part in the WrestleMania 42 two-night event.

7. The MFTs (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga & JC Mateo)

For much of 2025 into 2026, The MFTs have been one of the most featured acts on WWE TV.

From Solo Sikoa’s rivalry with Jacob Fatu to their runs as United States Champion and WWE Tag Team Champions, The MFTs have stood front and center on Friday Night SmackDown.

Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga and JC Mateo have been a prominent group that always garner some of the spotlight.

Despite their months-long war with The Wyatt Sicks, it looks like The MFTs will blow off this rivalry on the SmackDown before WrestleMania 42, instead of ‘The Show of Shows.’

6. The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy)

Speaking of The MFTs, The Wyatt Sicks have been highlighted consistently on Friday Night SmackDown over the past year.

Returning to WWE in 2025, the Uncle Howdy-led group have captured gold and the attention of the fanbase in many ways.

Starting in October, The Wyatt Sicks stepped up to The MFTs for a showdown of two of the most powerful factions in WWE.

After several months of battles, things will culminate between The MFTs and The Wyatt Sicks on the April 17 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, which should leave both stables off of the WrestleMania 42 card.

5. Carmelo Hayes

To start 2026, Carmelo Hayes was riding a wave of momentum as the reigning United States Champion.

Adopting the US Title Open Challenge, Hayes picked up victory after victory against the likes of TNA’s Leon Slater, AAA’s El Hijo de Dr Wagner Jr and Rey Fenix.

However, this reign came to an end at the hands of Sami Zayn when he defeated Hayes on the March 27 episode of Friday Night SmackDown.

With Zayn set to defend the US Title against Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42 and an apparent knee injury, it looks like Melo has found himself removed from the Mania card this year.

4. Ilja Dragunov

Another former United States Champion who will find themselves on the outside looking in is Ilja Dragunov.

‘The Mad Dragon’ returned to WWE and instantly defeated Sami Zayn to become the new United States Champion in October 2025.

For over two months, Dragunov proved himself to be a fighting champion and has fought with all of his heart to get back the title from Carmelo Hayes through a series of battles in 2026.

While it looked like this competitive rivalry would culminate at ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ just a month ago, it now looks like Dragunov will miss out on WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.

3. Bron Breakker

Over the past year, it felt like Bron Breakker was WWE’s next breakout star who would reach the apex of the company.

Joining forces with Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman in The Vision, Breakker was prominently featured on Monday Night Raw and looked to be breaking the glass ceiling into the main event picture.

However, Breakker would suffer an injury that required emergency hernia surgery and has kept him out of action for months following WWE Royal Rumble 2026.

While it looked like the second generation star was destined to collide with his former Vision leader Rollins at WrestleMania 42, Breakker will now have to watch ‘The Visionary’ square off with GUNTHER in Las Vegas this year.

2. Giulia

When WrestleMania comes around, it always seems like having a championship should guarantee a WWE star a spot on the card.

Despite being a two-time WWE Women’s United States Champion, this has never seemed like a certainty for Giulia.

‘The Beautiful Madness’ arrived in WWE back in September 2025 and seemed poised to become a top star in the women’s division.

Considering she had these high expectations and a rivalry brewing with Tiffany Stratton, it is surprising that Giulia will not compete on ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’ at WrestleMania 42.

1. Tiffany Stratton

Back at WrestleMania 41, Tiffany Stratton walked out WWE Women’s Champion after picking up the biggest win of her career against Charlotte Flair.

Holding the top prize for the SmackDown women’s division for 302 days, Stratton proved that she could sit at the mountaintop and take down a who’s who of challengers.

However, Jade Cargill put an end to Tiffy’s reign and put her on the sidelines in the process.

Despite returning at WWE Royal Rumble 2026 and being featured on the WrestleMania 42 all-women’s poster, Stratton will be missing out on ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ this year, which seems like a letdown for her many fans.

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