WrestleMania 42 is approaching fast, but WWE has yet to lock in most of the match card. As of Friday afternoon, only one match appears to be confirmed: Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
While creative plans are still coming together, it’s becoming clearer what the WWE Championship picture will look like heading into April — and once again, Cody Rhodes is at the center of the conversation.
WWE Title Scene Shifts After McIntyre’s Big Win
In a major shake-up on the January 9 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes to become the Undisputed WWE Champion. This unexpected win has changed the direction of WrestleMania season.
Originally, Rhodes was reportedly set to defend the championship against Roman Reigns in what would have been their third WrestleMania clash in four years. However, WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque made the call to scrap that plan entirely.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, Triple H decided to pivot away from Rhodes vs. Reigns and dropped all creative going in that direction. Meltzer also confirmed that a Cody Rhodes heel turn is off the table for now, despite earlier fan speculation.
Cody Rhodes Declares for the Royal Rumble
Though no longer champion, Cody Rhodes isn’t out of the picture. In fact, he’s still very much a key player heading into WrestleMania 42.
On SmackDown last Friday, Rhodes became the first Superstar to officially declare for the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, set to take place in Saudi Arabia next Saturday. A win would be historic — Rhodes would become only the second wrestler in WWE history to win three Royal Rumble matches, joining Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Rhodes vs. McIntyre Likely for WrestleMania 42
A new report from BodySlam.net indicates that WWE still sees Rhodes as the man to face McIntyre at WrestleMania. While Drew is expected to hold the title going into April, Cody is reportedly the frontrunner to challenge him for the championship in Las Vegas.
If Rhodes doesn’t win the Royal Rumble, he still has another route: winning the Elimination Chamber Match in Chicago next month, which will likely determine a No. 1 contender for WrestleMania.
So while nothing is officially announced yet, it’s clear that WWE is building toward a McIntyre vs. Rhodes rematch on the grandest stage.
What About Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn?
Triple H’s decision to change creative plans may leave fans wondering where this puts Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn in the WrestleMania picture.
- Roman Reigns, who many expected to face Rhodes again, now seems to be heading in a different direction. No confirmed opponent has been announced.
- Sami Zayn, a fan-favorite who many hope to see finally win the big one, is not expected to headline WrestleMania this year. However, he is still reportedly in line for a title match before WrestleMania, likely at one of the upcoming premium live events.
Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee: The First Locked Match
The only officially confirmed WrestleMania 42 match so far is a big one for the women’s division. Becky Lynch is set to defend her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against returning legend AJ Lee. The match is already generating buzz as fans look forward to AJ’s first WrestleMania match in years and Becky’s continued dominance.
