Tag: wrestlemania 42

John Cena excited for ‘incredible group’ of WWE WrestleMania debuts

Posted on by Joseph Currier

John Cena — the host of WWE WrestleMania 42 — is excited to be in the building to experience several wrestlers’ first Mania.

In a tweet promoting WrestleMania tickets, Cena wrote that he’s looking forward to being in Las Vegas for the WrestleMania debuts of Lash Legend, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Oba Femi, and Stephanie Vaquer. Both Legend and Vaquer are entering the April 18-19 event as champions, while Evans and Williams will be challenging for gold. Femi is booked in one of the top matches on the show against Brock Lesnar.

“Since retirement I’ve met so many wonderful people who’ve shared with me that they saw my first WrestleMania match … and my last,” Cena tweeted. “I’m so excited to be able to say ‘I was there!’ for the WM debuts of this incredible group! @LashLegendWWE @WWEJeVonEvans @_trickwilliams @Obaofwwe @Steph_Vaquer”

Cena, who retired from the ring with a loss to Gunther in December 2025, now serves as an ambassador for WWE. Evans and Femi took part in undercard matches on Cena’s retirement show, with Cena aiming to spotlight some of the up-and-coming wrestlers in WWE. Evans and Femi were in NXT at the time but joined the main roster shortly after.

In addition to hosting WrestleMania, Cena is set to appear on a live recording of The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast at WWE World on April 18.

Here are all of the matches that have been officially confirmed for WrestleMania so far (nights to be determined):

WWE WrestleMania 42 (Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas) —

  • World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk defends against Roman Reigns
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Randy Orton
  • Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends against Liv Morgan
  • WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill defends against Rhea Ripley
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
  • Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
  • Unsanctioned match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee defends against Becky Lynch
  • United States Champion Sami Zayn defends against Trick Williams
  • Ladder match: Intercontinental Champion Penta defends against Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, Rusev, JD McDonagh
  • Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Lash Legend defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, The Bella Twins, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
  • Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio

The Miz praises new WWE talent, says WrestleMania spot is harder to secure

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

The Miz is impressed with the new talents on the WWE roster. The wrestlers who has been associated with the company for two decades commented on the progression of the WWE newcomers.

In an interview with Esteban Ramirez, The Miz talked about the stacked new additions to the roster that make securing a spot on the WrestleMania 42 match card difficult. He heaped praise on Oba Femi for receiving a positive reaction from the fans within his short time on the main roster.

“It’s harder than ever to literally try to be on the card of Wrestlemania 42. And the reason being is there are so many superstars, so many new and upcoming superstars that have just been blowing the roof off the place. Oba Femi, like it is not supposed to happen where a person walks into a WWE arena, whether it’s Raw or Smackdown, and everyone’s chanting your name right off the bat.” stated The Miz.

“That just doesn’t happen. It takes time to develop, but he’s developed so quickly and now he’s going up against Brock Lesnar and everyone’s excited about it. Everyone’s talking about it. I mean, you look at these new up and coming superstars. They are able to really lock in and do what we do on a fast pace. And it’s very difficult to do. And I’ve been excited. It brings a new lease, not a new lease on life, but like a new lease, a new excitement for me as a WWE superstar and being here for 20 years.”

Miz further added he was fascinated by Trick Williams’ interview skills, citing it as the best of his generation in WWE. 

“I was watching Trick’s interviews and I was like that takes time doing what we do in WWE. You practice at the Performance Center, they kind of show you the ropes. But to be able to go on television and media and be able to showcase your character, but also be likable to where people are like, I want to watch this guy. He does it better than most I’ve seen. Like it’s he’s done it the best I’ve seen in his generation, I guess you can say.” 

Femi relinquished the NXT Championship in December 2025 and made his main roster debut at the Royal Rumble this year. In the weeks that followed, he showed up on Raw and SmackDown to showcase his in-ring dominance before taking up Brock Lesnar’s open challenge for WrestleMania 42. 

On SmackDown, Williams has fans on their feet and rooting for him whenever he enters an arena. He too made his main roster debut in January this year. Following the events on the March 27 edition of SmackDown, Williams will get his first WrestleMania opportunity by facing Sami Zayn for the United States Championship. 

Matt Hardy reacts to WWE Raw Tag Team title change

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Matt Hardy, a veteran of the tag team division, reacted to The Vision’s victory over The Usos on Raw. 

Hardy commented on Logan Paul and Austin Theory’s WWE Tag Team Title win while teasing a return for WrestleMania 42. He cited the fans would go wild if The Hardy Boyz targeted their titles at the Premium Live Event next month. 

“It’s a travesty to watch the @WWEUsos get beaten by @LoganPaul & @_Theory1 for the @WWE Tag Team Titles on #WWERAW. I bet the@WrestleMania 42 crowd would go CRAZY if The Hardy Boyz beat their ass & brought the titles back home to our home, the WWE.” tweeted Matt Hardy. 

Matt and Jeff Hardy’s surprise return at WrestleMania 33 is considered one of the best fan-favorite moments in WWE. They were a mystery tag team added at the last minute to the Raw Tag Team Championship ladder match. 

The brothers competed on NXT last year amid the brand’s partnership with TNA. They are in their fourth reign as TNA World Tag Team Champions. 

In WWE, The Vision were persistent in their pursuit of tag team gold backed by Paul Heyman. LA Knight was ringside at commentary during the Raw title match. 

Chaos erupted when Logan Paul’s mother handed him brass knuckles to use in the match but Knight prompted to stop him. IShowSpeed got involved when he fell over the barricade and accidentally knocked out Knight with the brass knuckles. Paul used the weapon against The Usos. And ultimately leading Theory to pin Jimmy Uso. 

Rhea Ripley recalls Bianca Belair’s WWE WrestleMania 41 injury

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Bianca Belair informed Rhea Ripley mid-match at WrestleMania 41 that she suspected a broken finger. 

Ripley was a guest on The Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show. She revealed Bianca Belair informed her during the match at WrestleMania 41 that she believed her finger was broken. When further questioned about how much of the match was left after the injury was discovered Ripley estimated it happening around halfway through. 

“I might’ve landed on it…You should’ve seen it in the match. We hit the ground and I see her turn around and she goes “I think I broke my finger”. And I’m like ‘Oh, that’s not good.'”

Ripley was asked about the atmosphere heading into her WrestleMania 42 match against Jade Cargill. She claimed there was a lot of hype and pressure given how this was labeled a dream rivalry by many. Ripley explained the need for her to surpass her previous performances at WrestleMania. 

“I do. I definitely do. I feel like this is a match that a lot of people have wanted for a long time. Especially at WrestleMania, there’s already so much pressure going into that day, and into that match. And also going off of last year, it was the same at WrestleMania 39 when I faced Charlotte. Then going into WrestleMania 40 I have to do just as well as I did the year before like I really have to.”

Ripley disclosed the added pressure that comes into effect when facing someone like Cargill who doesn’t have extensive experience in the industry. And the role she plays in making Cargill up her game in the match. 

“But now stepping in with someone that has only had limited experience within the wrestling industry compared to a lot of people on the show, I do have that pressure to kind of uplift her, and bring her to a different level. So, we can go out there and make magic just like everyone expects from us. We’ll see what happens, you know, it’s unpredictable, wrestling is so unpredictable. Anything can really happen but I know I’m going to go out there and give it 110%, and try and get her to try new things and level up her own game.”

This year, Ripley walks into her seventh consecutive WrestleMania match. At the event last year, she competed in a triple threat match featuring IYO Sky and Belair for the Women’s World Championship. Belair has been out of in-ring action since then. 

After winning the Elimination Chamber in February, Ripley earned the opportunity to challenge for the WWE Women’s Championship. However, an online dispute between her and Cargill made their rivalry personal. 

Cody Rhodes reacts to WWE crowds cheering Randy Orton over him

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Cody Rhodes isn’t bothered by WWE crowds cheering for Randy Orton over him in their WrestleMania feud.

The Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line when Rhodes and Orton face off at WrestleMania 42. During the build to the match, Orton has turned heel and launched attacks on Rhodes, Matt Cardona, and even country music star Jelly Roll. The heel turn hasn’t exactly taken with fans, though, with them happy to see Orton return to his more aggressive persona.

Rhodes appeared on Busted Open Radio this morning and opened up about how the fans have been reacting.

“I don’t take it personally. I think maybe when I was younger I did. And certainly there’s no absolute in that, I’m sure some things kind of slip through the armor a bit and you feel it,” Rhodes said. “But my thought in terms of fans, today, more than ever, is that we are out there and whatever their emotional need is, if they need to cheer for you, if they need to cheer for him, if they need to yell at you — I can’t put a governor on that, and I will not. Tully Blanchard rules in terms of for me when he’d say, ‘The loudest, the longest [reaction].’

“I can’t be angry at them, whatever it is they need. If they’re cheering for Randy as he seeks [World title reign number] 15 even with the things he did, okay. I’m not there to try and tell you you’re wrong or right. There’s no wrong way to be a fan. So right now it hasn’t got to me. I’ll be honest, sometimes maybe it will. But right now? No.”

The Rhodes vs. Orton match is expected to headline WrestleMania 42 night one on Saturday, April 18. Rhodes told Busted Open that, despite all the history they have together, the matchup feels “very first-time” given how different he and Orton are now. Rhodes is looking to show Orton how much he’s leveled up as a wrestler since they were in Legacy together.

John Cena to host WWE WrestleMania 42

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

John Cena says he will be at WWE WrestleMania 42 as the host for the weekend.

The recently retired WWE star posted a video on X from Hollywood where he is currently filming for a Netflix movie. He said that Las Vegas is in close proximity to where WrestleMania will be held and since the show is in need of a host, it’s a role he’s looking forward to pursue.

“Ah, retired life in the sun. I’m kidding! Check out the backdrop. I’m shooting a movie for Netflix called ‘One Attempt Remaining’ which you can see when it comes out. I’m also on the road which is ironic cause there’s a road to WrestleMania going on. And, Hollywood is really close to Vegas. Rumor around this town is WrestleMania needs a host. Well, I’m already on that road so I will see you at WrestleMania,” he said.

The Netflix comedy film also features Jennifer Garner and is expected for release in October this year. 

Cena retired and competed in his final WWE match on December 13, 2025, following a year-long tour. He tapped out to Gunther before walking away for good. Shortly after, Paul “Triple H” Levesque said that while his in-ring duties were done, Cena would be involved with the company in a backstage capacity. 

WrestleMania 42 will take place on April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

From revenge quests to Attitude Era legends, who could be Gunther’s WrestleMania 42 opponent? | Opinion

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

His wrestling resume steadily growing after retiring John Cena and AJ Styles in back-to-back months, Gunther’s dominant streak has hit an abrupt halt since February.

He was not present for the past few episodes of Raw which has drawn concern from fans on what’s in store for him at WWE WrestleMania 42. 

There were reports of him hoping to add Rey Mysterio to the list of star careers to end at his hands. However, Mysterio’s rib injury altered those plans. 

Gunther has proven his spot among the top names of the WWE roster and it would be strange for him not to be part of WWE’s biggest shows of the year. So, let’s dive into a few fun potential opponents for the Ring General at The Grandest Stage of Them All. 

Dragon Lee fulfills his revenge quest against Gunther

Dragon Lee remains one of the most compelling options based on his storyline with Gunther, In February, Gunther showed no remorse when he attacked Lee and refused to let go of a sleeper hold. Lee was left unconscious in the ring despite Adam Pearce swooping out security to control the situation. 

At WrestleMania 42, the feud could come full circle if Lee stands up to Gunther and they battle it out in a rematch to settle the score once and for all. 

Penta confronts Gunther and raises the stakes

If it’s not Lee, Intercontinental Champion Penta could face off against Gunther for what he did to his friend and ally instead.

While they have worked together on house shows, the two have never crossed paths on TV.

With Dominik Mysterio otherwise occupied with Finn Balor’s exit from the Judgment Day, a rematch between him and Penta for the IC Title at WrestleMania seems unlikely. 

Penta could raise the stakes for a Gunther match by putting the Intercontinental title on the line against Gunther. After all, Gunther does hold the record as the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion for 666 days which could add a way to get to the match that makes sense.

Joe Hendry capitalizes on WrestleMania 41 momentum 

After Kevin Owens was pulled from action due to serious neck surgery in April 2025, Randy Orton walked into WrestleMania 41 without knowing who would be his opponent.

Joe Hendry, then TNA World Champion, responded and got the shot against Orton, Despite the loss, the positive fan reaction helped his smooth transition to NXT.

Hendry became a viral star during his TNA tenure with this entrance song and the “Say his name and he appears” catchphrase of sorts. He competed on NXT since 2024 amid the brand’s crossover feud with TNA. 

In November 2025, Hendry officially put pen to paper in a deal with WWE. After Oba Femi relinquished the NXT Championship for his move to the main roster, Hendry won a seven man ladder match in February to win the title.

Hendry could appear at WrestleMania 42 in a showdown against Gunther to sustain momentum from last year’s show, maybe in another mystery opponent presentation. This would also further sow the seeds for a potential main roster feud someday. 

A “Stone Cold” Steve Austin standoff leads to Kevin Owens’ return

With Gunther targeting WWE legends to keep in line with his ‘career- iller’ persona, he could find himself standing opposite an icon from the Attitude Era, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Earlier this month, Austin commented on a potential WrestleMania 42 appearance, citing an interest in attending the event while hyping the current talent on the WWE roster.

If Gunther attempts a feud with Austin, Kevin Owens could step up and stand toe-to-toe with Gunther. The reports on his recovery suggest a return sometime this year after recovering from his neck surgery in 2025. He has also been spotted at the WWE Performance Center, signaling positive progress in his recovery.

Even if it doesn’t lead to a full-fledged in-ring return, an Owens appearance at WrestleMania 42 would elevate the moment. His alliance with Austin is solidified after their impromptu match at WrestleMania 38 with Owens using the Stunner as his signature move. 

If Owens has time, he would also have ample opportunity to reunite with Sami Zayn who is navigating a tough time on SmackDown.

The Rock might have more than CM Punk to worry about 

The Rock might already have his hands full with CM Punk following his remark about Sika Anoa’i. It further fuels their history from a little more than 12 years ago. 

Roman Reigns gave each member of his family free rein to take revenge on Punk for his comments. This statement was made after The Usos’ interference which begs the question: which other Anoa’i Family member might step up next? 

The Rock’s schedule around WrestleMania is uncertain in light of his movie filming and Hollywood commitments. 

However, if The Rock shows up at WrestleMania 42, Gunther might be tempted to provoke him into a match. After all, Gunther has built his reputation around retiring greats and what better name to add to that list than The Rock? 

Final thoughts

It is a tough call for WWE to make while considering a worthy opponent for Gunther especially with WrestleMania being the battlefield. Whether it’s a returning legend or an unexpected name from the current roster, the match has the potential to shape his next chapter in WWE. 

Either way, WrestleMania 42 remains the perfect stage for Gunther to continue defining his legacy. Perhaps we’ll find out on Monday’s Raw from Madison Square Garden who might help him get there.

WOR: AEW & WWE updates, UFC PPV discussion

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales are back on Wrestling Observer Radio discussing the major stories from today’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We talked about:

  • The passing of Dennis Condrey
  • Update on Josh Alexander
  • An early look at AEW All In ticket sales
  • WrestleMania tickets update
  • UFC PPVs buys

Click here to listen (subscription required) or watch on YouTube

Maxxine Dupri pitches her ‘dream’ addition to WWE WrestleMania 42 title match

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Maxxine Dupri wants to be added to the Women’s Intercontinental title match between AJ Lee and Becky Lynch at WWE WrestleMania 42, something she said is her dream. 

In an interview with Brad Gilmore on The Collection podcast, Dupri cited that if given the opportunity, she would make the title match at triple threat at next month’s two night event in Las Vegas.

“If I could write it right now, I would turn that Women’s Intercontinental championship match between AJ Lee and Becky Lynch into a triple threat. That would be my dream.”

Since her WWE return in 2025, Lee mentored and guided Dupri.

“To share the ring with AJ Lee would be unbelievable. She’s been such a wonderful mentor to me since returning to our locker room. It’s been so special. And, I have got a few hits I’d like to lay on Becky. I’ve got some pent-up aggression that I would like to unleash.”

Dupri defeated Lynch in November last year to win the Women’s Intercontinental title, but that wasn’t without help from Lee whose appearance was a distraction for Lynch. 

Lynch was the focal point for Lee’s return in September 2025, nearly a decade after her exit. At Elimination Chamber, Lee ended Lynch’s second reign as champion.

On the March 23 edition of Raw, Lee challenged for a rematch for the title at WrestleMania 42 as Lynch confessed it to be a part of her plan all along.

Update on WWE WrestleMania 42 ticket sales and discounts

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Dave Meltzer has an update on the ticket prices and discounts for WrestleMania 42. 

In today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE rolled out another sale with 25 percent off for Night 1 and 2 of Wrestlemania 42. The reasoning was to ensure Allegiant Stadium is packed for the event. 

The discount was also applicable for the Raw and SmackDown related to the event, and the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. 

Meltzer wrote: 

“WWE did another sale, this time 25 percent off sale for both nights of WrestleMania this past week in another attempt to boost sales and make sure the place is full, which it will be by the end. It was not only WrestleMania, but the Hall of Fame, Raw and Smackdown all getting a 25 percent off sale, coming a week after a 31.6 percent sale for all of those shows.”

“The 25 percent off also included the other events WWE is putting on that week, which are Smackdown at 5,810 tickets out which has to be a major disappointment and Raw at 7,305 at T-Mobile Arena, while the Hall of Fame, in a smaller setting, is at 2,183.” 

The ticket sales and discounts indicate that the ticket distribution is nearly 13.3 percent lower than it was for WrestleMania 41. 

Night 1 of WrestleMania 42, scheduled for April 18 is currently has around 39,800 tickets out. Night 2, taking place on April 19, has approximately 41,300 out. 

However, estimates suggest that attendance could still exceed 50,000 per night by the time WrestleMania 42 takes place. 

“Right now after the latest sale, WrestleMania in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium has 39,866 for 4/18 and 41,330 for 4/19. They are 13.3 percent behind last year, which is closer than the 18 percent behind they were doing before the two major sales. In the end, they’ll have 50,000 or more in and will announce a number that is about the same if not slightly bigger than last year.”

“The secondary market get in prices of $205 for the first night and $211 for the second night 23.8 percent down from the same period last year, so that’s probably a better measure of the ticket demand.” 

To provide fans with an exclusive experience, WWE also announced availability of seats on top of the WrestleMania 42 stage. A similar seating option was also offered for last year’s edition of the Premium Live Event. 

WrestleMania 42 will take place at Allegiant Stadium for the second time in a row. Roman Reigns challenges CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event. Randy Orton pursues his quest to win his 15th WWE World Title reign by defeating Cody Rhodes.

Check out the updated match card here.

Meanwhile, The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will be held on April 17 at the Dolby Live in Park MGM, Las Vegas. 

The full edition of this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter is available for subscribers here.

Triple H has already made his Godfather trilogy, and WrestleMania 42 is a Part IV no one wants

Posted on by Jake Skudder

If you want to understand where I think WWE creative sits right now, think about The Godfather trilogy. The first two films are widely regarded as among the greatest ever made and the third is considered a disappointing mess that tarnished the legacy of what came before it.

WrestleMania 39 and 40 were Godfather Parts I and II. WrestleMania 41 was Part III and because of how much of a mess that show was, 42 feels like the Part IV that nobody wanted, because ‘Mania 42 is arriving off the back of a year that fundamentally damaged confidence in Triple H’s longterm creative vision and ability to do anything meaningful beyond The Bloodline storyline that started while Vince McMahon was still in charge.

It’s worth remembering just how good 39 and 40 actually were, because the contrast with where we are now is really stark. Having Cody Rhodes not win at 39 was a genuinely bold creative decision, the kind of creative you only make when you know exactly where you’re going and you trust that you can keep an audience happy after years of terrible Vince McMahon stop-start booking decisions.

The payoff at 40 delivered. Roman Reigns, The Rock, John Cena all folded into the conclusion of the Cody story in a way that felt genuinely earned. For the first time in a long time, WWE felt like it had a vision and the conviction to actually see it through.

Then came 2025, and the wheels came off.

The John Cena Retirement Tour

The John Cena retirement tour should have been one of the easiest briefs in wrestling history. Book him against former rivals and use the platform to elevate some newer names. Give one of the greatest careers in WWE history a send-off that felt worthy of it, simple isn’t it? What we actually got felt like a week to week scramble from start to finish. Cena’s retirement tour felt like it was booked as a reactive, directionless mess that seemed to have no idea where it was going from one month to the next.

The Cena tour exposed something really glaring about creative that we already really knew…the ambition that drove 39 and 40 was largely built around one story and there’s nothing beyond that. Once that story was told at WrestleMania 40, there wasn’t a clear next chapter already in place. WrestleMania 41 became The Godfather Part III, so not just a disappointment in isolation, but something that tarnished beyond the sum of its parts.

Where the hell is Gunther?

Nothing illustrates where Triple H’s creative bankruptcy currently sits better than the Gunther situation heading into 42. The former World Heavyweight Champion has in very recent times retired AJ Styles, John Cena and Goldberg. These are three of the most significant names of the 90s, 00s and 2010s, all put to bed by the same man. By any reasonable measure, Gunther should be one of the marquee stories of WrestleMania 42.

He currently has nothing of significance for the show. Like how? How does that happen in a company that makes money based on writing stories?

That is not an injury problem. There is no bad luck excuse here. That is a creative team that handed themselves one of the most compelling narratives WWE has produced in years, gave him three genuinely historic moments, and then had absolutely no idea what to do with him next.

Part IV

Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton and CM Punk vs Roman Reigns are perfectly serviceable main events, but neither feels like the destination of a journey that began with genuine long term intent behind it. They feel like matches that were assembled because WrestleMania is on the calendar and something needed to fill the top of the card. Even with Randy and Cody having so much history, this feels like something cobbled together at the last minute. That’s almost impressive levels of dropping the ball.

Triple H’s Godfather trilogy is done. The problem is WWE still has to continue to produce shows every week, something that feature films don’t need to, and right now they’re doing it without the creative vision that made that trilogy, well, two thirds of it, genuinely so compelling in the first place. The blueprint from 2023 and 2024 still exists, the bones of something great are still there.

But until the creative team starts building stories with patience and destination again, rather than just reacting to whatever is in front of them week to week (or what fans are saying online) WrestleMania 42 is exactly what it looks like right now, a Part IV that exists because it has to, not because anyone had a great idea.

Did Roman Reigns subtly tease The Rock’s return at WrestleMania 42? | Opinion

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Roman Reigns might have a trick or two up his sleeve, especially after dealing with CM Punk’s antics ever since Reigns chose him as his WWE WrestleMania 42 opponent. With tensions already at their peak, I think the situation could potentially draw in another member of Reigns’ family. 

The heart of the matter

On the March 16 edition of WWE Raw, Reigns bumped into The Usos backstage, a week after they confronted Punk about his statement about Reigns’ deceased father. Reigns acknowledged their efforts and that they were right in their course of action.

The OTC then looked into the camera and issued a message saying that everyone in the Bloodline should take offense to Punk’s remark about Sika Anoa’i. 

“At the end of the day if you run your mouth, there’s gotta be consequences. As a matter of fact, to all my family, all the Bloodline, cousins, you should be offended at what CM Punk said about my father, your Uncle. But here’s the thing, you got before and you have after WrestleMania, but on that weekend CM Punk is mine,” said Reigns.

Given Reigns’ demeanor for anyone to step up, there is one other person from his family whom we all know has long-term issues with Punk: The Rock. 

Why The Rock could return to be in Roman Reigns’ corner again

The WWE veteran showed solidarity with Reigns at WrestleMania XL against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. However, the original motive behind his move was to initiate a feud with Reigns for WrestleMania. That was met with backlash from the WWE fanbase who instantly rallied behind Rhodes (#WeWantCody) who won the Royal Rumble and rightfully carved his path for WrestleMania.

Last year, The Rock influenced John Cena’s shocking turn heel at Elimination Chamber with Rhodes being the victim again. While Rhodes is feuding with Randy Orton on SmackDown, The Rock might be tempted to drop by and ensure he doesn’t get the win at WrestleMania 42.  

The Rock’s history with CM Punk

The Rock and Punk go a long way back. When Raw celebrated its 1000th episode in July 2012, The Rock returned as a special guest on the program while Punk and John Cena were battling it out for the WWE Championship. Big Show interrupted and attacked Cena, forcing Rock to rush out to even the odds.

Punk was already infuriated when The Rock dismissed him earlier that evening which shaped his decision to attack Rock with a GTS, instigating their rivalry further.

In January 2013, The Rock faced off with Punk and challenged him for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. This was also where Punk’s signature “Your arms are too short to box with God” promo was used. 

It’s important to note that during this time, The Shield were running rampant in WWE. The stable (Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose) made their debut at Survivor Series 2012 and interfered in Punk’s match against Ryback.

At the 2013 Royal Rumble, The Rock and CM Punk collided in a WWE Championship match. The bout carried the stipulation that if The Shield got involved in any manner, he would be stripped of the title. 

Final thoughts

Thirteen years later, it seems Punk’s sentiments towards The Rock may have toned down considering he mentioned his respect for everyone in The Anoa’i family except for Sika. 

With Reigns now standing as one of the biggest names in the industry, let alone the WWE roster, he possesses the influence to shift the dynamic power play on his side and urge The Rock to return. 

If that scenario unfolds, The Rock’s appearance on the road to/or at WrestleMania 42 could amplify the momentum for Reigns and Punk’s rivalry.

Tiffany Stratton on rumored WWE WrestleMania 42 plans: ‘I hope there’s a championship involved’

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Tiffany Stratton has addressed rumors surrounding WWE’s plans for her at WrestleMania 42.

During an appearance at NASCAR All Access, Stratton was interviewed by combat sports personality The Schmo. Amid a series of rapid fire questions, she was asked rumors of her facing Giulia for the Women’s United States Championship.

“Yeah, I have heard those rumors, too, and I feel like they’re just rumors because I haven’t really been told anything that I’m on WrestleMania, but we’ll have to wait and see. I hope there’s a championship involved,” she said.

Stratton is currently feuding with Kiana James and Giulia on SmackDown, laying the foundation for the potential title match.

Stratton was reminded of her WrestleMania 41 match against Charlotte Flair for the WWE Women’s Championship and her seemingly breaking a tooth. However, she said that wasn’t the case.

“I did not have a tooth knocked out. Everyone thinks that, but I did not have a tooth knocked out. It was blood. Okay. It was just blood. There was no tooth knocked out,” she explained.

After her Money in the Bank win last year, Stratton cashed in the contract to begin her first reign as WWE Women’s Champion. She held the title for 301 days before a knee injury that kept her out of in-ring action for the latter part of 2025.

Stratton returned at the Royal Rumble this year and also competed in the Elimination Chamber which Rhea Ripley won.

‘Kill Tony’ comedy show added to WWE WrestleMania 42 weekend

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE and Tony Hinchcliffe are teaming up for another WrestleMania weekend comedy show.

The company announced today that “Kill Tony: WrestleMania” will take place in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 18 following night one of WrestleMania 42. It’s being held at Dolby Live in Vegas and will include appearances by Hinchcliffe, current WWE stars and legends, other comedians, and surprise guests.

Tickets for the comedy show are going on sale tomorrow (March 24) at 10 a.m. Pacific. A pre-sale begins today at that same time.

The start time for the comedy show is 9 p.m. Pacific (midnight Eastern), and WWE notes that there will be plenty of time for fans to get there after the first night of Mania.

“KILL TONY: WrestleMania will begin after the conclusion of WrestleMania Saturday, allowing ample time for fans to get from Allegiant Stadium to Dolby Live,” WWE wrote.

Hinchliffe hosts the “Kill Tony” podcast, where aspiring comedians are chosen at random and get the chance to perform in front of established comedy veterans and have their set critiqued. The 41-year-old Hinchcliffe is a wrestling fan and has developed a relationship with WWE, which included him hosting The Roast of WrestleMania in Vegas last year. He was supposed to host a similar comedy show surrounding SummerSlam 2025, but that ended up being canceled.

Though the Roast of WrestleMania did not air anywhere and was not supposed to be filmed, audio of the show got out. It drew controversy for remarks that were made about Charlotte Flair.

Dolby Live is also set to host the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, April 17. Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, Demolition, and basketball legend Dennis Rodman have been confirmed for the class so far.

Tom Brady WWE WrestleMania 42 status update

Posted on by Joseph Currier

An appearance by NFL legend Tom Brady sounds possible for WWE WrestleMania 42, but there’s been no deal agreed to yet.

Brady and Logan Paul have been going back and forth the past few weeks to help promote the Fanatics Flag Football Classic that took place over the weekend. In the process, Brady took repeated shots at WWE, calling pro wrestling “cute and scripted.” That led to multiple WWE wrestlers joining in and responding to Brady.

There have been rumors that this is all leading to Brady appearing in some form at WrestleMania 42. Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE and Brady are in negotiations but nothing has been agreed to yet.

“From what I have been told, they are in negotiations with Tom Brady — but there is absolutely not a deal at this point for Tom Brady,” Meltzer said. “So it could happen. Obviously, Logan Paul and Tom Brady are working. I mean, everyone knows they’re working the angle, I think people have seen that coming in. But there could be something in some form at WrestleMania, it would not be a surprise.

“And what they did in the football game was clearly to build it. Just as all the talk of, you know, Tom Brady cutting down pro wrestlers and the wrestlers all responding — that is all storyline. That is not like Tom Brady’s a d**k and he doesn’t respect pro wrestling.”

WrestleVotes first reported earlier this month that WWE and Brady had discussed a possible Mania appearance, and there were departments in WWE working on things like logos, speciality merchandise, and branding for Brady.

A WrestleMania role would make sense for Brady given that he is part-owner of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. Allegiant Stadium in Vegas, where the Raiders play their home games, is hosting the event on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19. It’s the second straight year that WrestleMania has been held at the stadium.