For the second consecutive year, Allegiant Stadium plays host to the Showcase of the Immortals, as WWE returns to the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World on April 18 and 19, 2026. With John Cena — the newly retired 17-time champion — stepping into the role of host, WrestleMania 42 promises to be every bit as electric as its predecessor. The card is stacked across both nights, but it’s Night 1 on Saturday that may be stealing all the headlines.
Headlining Saturday’s action is one of the most personal and hard-hitting rivalries in recent WWE memory: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defending his title against the Apex Predator himself, Randy Orton. What started as a feud between former allies has turned dark and ugly, with Orton — backed by Pat McAfee — unleashing a ruthless side not seen in years to stake his claim to a legacy-defining 15th world championship. Rhodes, never one to back down, has fired back at every turn, setting the stage for a main event that carries the weight of decades of shared history.
But the championship match is far from the only attraction Night 1 has to offer. Seth Rollins and Gunther collide in what figures to be an absolute war, while the long-simmering feud between former best friends AJ Lee and Becky Lynch finally reaches its boiling point with the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line. Stephanie Vaquer puts her Women’s World Title on the line against Liv Morgan, the Women’s Tag Team gold is up for grabs in a chaotic Fatal 4-Way, and Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu settle their months-long score in what has been officially declared an unsanctioned match — meaning anything goes and nobody is responsible for what happens.
Saturday night is loaded from top to bottom. WrestleMania 42’s Night 1 has every ingredient for an all-time show.
Undisputed WWE Championship
Randy Orton v Cody Rhodes (c)
This may have been the most mishandled main event in the history of WrestleMania since Hulk Hogan stole Bret Hart’s thunder in Caesars Palace. Cody Rhodes has heard the boos for months, exacerbated by a recent title change over a red hot Drew McIntyre. Cody’s path has become predictable, as Randy Orton was originally written to turn heel in this program. For reasons surrounding ticket sales, Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll have joined the fray as noise around the championship match.
The last two WrestleMania’s have been yawners for the Undisputed WWE Championship, as John Cena and Cody Rhodes both won as heavy favorites. There has not been an upset for this title since Cody Rhodes entered WrestleMania 39 a -550 favorite, only to see Roman Reigns retain as a large underdog.
The heavy prediction for WrestleMania weekend is a new corporate faction, shades of Randy Orton’s title run under “The Authority”. There has been cross-pollination between RAW and Smackdown, with both CM Punk and Roman Reigns acknowledging McAfee.
Before that shot in the dark can even come to fruition, Randy Orton must upset Cody Rhodes for the title. A future moment that has been as predictable as Rhodes run over the past year.
Pick: Randy Orton -275
Women’s Word Championship
Liv Morgan v Stephanie Vaquer (c)
One of the more surprising developments from the go-home Monday Night RAW was the inclusion of an injury report on an interviewer. Cathy Kelley was caught between the disruption of the two competitors in this match, as RAW updated the health of Kelley throughout the show. Why in the world would the WWE Universe care about an ankle injury to an interviewer?
Rumors persist that the Judgement Day is being reformed during the Monday Night RAW after WrestleMania, with indications of Roxanne Perez getting the boot. The odds favorite has won all four Women’s WWE or Heavyweight championships over the past two WrestleMania’s, as nothing in the script indicates Vaquer continues a lifeless title run.
Pick: Liv Morgan -450
Women’s Intercontinental Title
Becky Lynch v AJ Lee (c)
“The Man” Becky Lynch has not had a singles victory at WrestleMania since Triple H took over WWE Creative in early 2022. That includes World title match losses to Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 38 and Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40. The former WrestleMania Main Eventer is due for a moment, as the AJ Lee run has been subpar for consumers.
This is furthered by the previous wins Lee has had over Lynch in ESPN PLE Events. The “Trailblazer” defeated Lynch at both Survivor Series and Elimination Chamber, making this a De facto rubber match that should see a title change. Do not be surprised if Lynch drops this belt on the following RAW or at Backlash as an avenue to get back into the World title scene.
Pick: Becky Lynch -450
Gunther v Seth Rollins
The amount of injuries WWE has sustained over the past nine months has wreaked havoc in the path of several competitors. All members of The Vision suffered long term injuries including Rollins, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Reed is not expected back anytime soon with a bicep tear, but Breakker has been medically cleared.
Rollins and Gunther are going to produce a fantastic pro wrestling match, but all indications are outside interference from those loyal to Paul Heyman. There will be no surprise if Breakker shows up in this match, setting up a program with Rollins to culminate at SummerSlam later this year. The real deliverable from this match is a favor Heyman will owe Gunther, hopefully in the form of a retirement match with Brock Lesnar in Minneapolis during said SummerSlam.
Pick: Gunther -600
Jacob Fatu v Drew McIntyre
What could have been a WWE Undisputed Heavyweight Championship match to crown an emerging star, this now feels like a blowoff match to get both wrestlers on to new programs. McIntyre is set to film in Scotland for the upcoming “Highlander” movie that includes Batista, Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe. The rumors persist that McIntyre’s short championship run was written after filming for the Highlander movie was delayed.
Nonetheless, this is the spot for an outgoing WWE Superstar to put over a rising Superstar like Jacob Fatu. The more interesting path is Fatu, whether that is into a championship picture or directly involved in any new Bloodline stories around Reigns and Solo Sikoa.
Woman’s World Tag Team Championship
The Irresistible Forces v Bayley/Lyra Valkyria v Charlotte Flair/Alexa Bliss v The Bella Twins
A tough match to predict with the current injury to Nikki Bella. The Bella’s underdog number was completely in scope for investment, as WrestleMania generally favors crowd pleasing faces to win titles. The rumor is for the Kabuki Warriors to be used in the match in the change the Bellas are unable to perform.
There was an upset in this match a year ago, as Lyra Valkyria brought in Becky Lynch as a surprise partner to win as +250 underdogs. The investment is pending the status of the Bella’s, as their absence would pivot a wager on the champs retaining with a push off of these programs to Backlash.
Pick: The Bella Twins +150 (pending injury) OR The Irresistible Forces +365
The Uso’s and LA Knight v The Vision with IShowSpeed
This is the kickoff of Saturday night, as WWE continues to use high profile YouTuber’s and music stars to draw eyeballs instead of the action itself. IShowSpeed never wanted to be apart of the story or in an alliance with The Vision. While McAfee is taking a dip as a media personality being in a heel role, expect IShowSpeed to right his wrongs against LA Knight and be the reason the heavy favorites take victory.
Expect Jey Uso to need oxygen aduring the opening bell after YEET’ing the Vegas crowd for 20 minutes.
Pick: The Uso’s and LA Knight -800
