Tag: wwe wrestlemania 42

WWE WrestleMania 42 Saturday betting odds, preview & predictions

Posted on by Ian Carey

WWE WrestleMania 42 Saturday features a main event where the result is all but certain.

Headlining the first night of Mania this year is Cody Rhodes versus Randy Orton, with Orton having Pat McAfee in his corner. The build to this WrestleMania main event will be one of the most talked about for some time, no doubt about that.

What was once a storyline involving former mentor and mentee, the former leader of Legacy and one of his stablemates, has turned into the Pat McAfee show. From the second he showed up, he started telling his own story about how WWE sucks, and its business sucks, because of guys like Cody Rhodes.

It’s been a mind-blowing ride these last few weeks, but this is starting to become an annual tradition now in the TKO-led era of WWE.

Below are betting odds, previews, and predictions for each match on night one of WWE WrestleMania 42.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Randy Orton (w/ Pat McAfee)

Randy Orton is currently a -450 favorite against Cody Rhodes at +275 in the Undisputed WWE title match.

The stipulation that if Orton doesn’t win, Pat McAfee will never appear in WWE again makes it seem like Rhodes should be even more of a long shot, but some are evidently still giving him a chance.

It was noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, however, that Orton is said to be “hurting” and that the finish of the match was not a lock. That still seems suspect to me, though. I think it’s pretty much a guarantee that Orton wins.

Prediction: Randy Orton

Seth Rollins vs. Gunther

Gunther is a -700 favorite against Seth Rollins at +400.

I think I have to agree with the oddsmakers on this one, as they’ve put a lot of effort into building Gunther up as the guy who retires people. If the plan is for him to do that to Brock Lesnar later this year, they aren’t going to want him losing to Rollins at WrestleMania.

Prediction: Gunther

Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Lash Legend defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, The Bella Twins, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

Odds for the four-way women’s tag team title match have disappeared from some sportsbooks recently, which might have to do with the reports about Paige returning in the match and significant bets coming in on one team.

One sportsbook that still has the match listed, however, has Bayley and Lyra Valkyria as -200 favorites, followed by The Bella Twins at +110, Lash Legend and Nia Jax at +300, and Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair at +600.

If Paige is Nikki Bella’s replacement in the match, then I’m going with her and Brie.

Prediction: Brie Bella and Paige, even though that team isn’t technically entered into the match yet

Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee defends against Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch is currently a -600 favorite against AJ Lee at +350 in the Women’s Intercontinental title match.

I think Lynch is the likely winner here, but I don’t know if I’d call it as much of a lock as -600. Lynch can lose whenever and still come off as a big star. I don’t think she necessarily needs to regain the title here for this feud to continue, and I don’t even know that the feud is going to continue.

I’m taking Lee as my underdog pick here.

Prediction: AJ Lee

Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends against Liv Morgan

Liv Morgan is a -700 favorite against Stephanie Vaquer at +400.

Morgan’s comeback, then winning the Royal Rumble, seems to point to her winning the title as a lock, but I honestly don’t know. They are clearly all-in on Vaquer, and Morgan doesn’t necessarily need the title to remain a top heel.

Still, Morgan doing something dubious to steal the title seems the most likely outcome.

Prediction: Liv Morgan

Unsanctioned match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu (ESPN2)

Jacob Fatu is a -2000 favorite against Drew McIntyre at +700.

I’m not surprised Fatu is such a heavy favorite here. He is someone they are trying to make, while McIntyre is someone who has been wrestling in major matches and winning world titles for years now.

It makes all the sense in the world, if you’re trying to turn Fatu into a bigger star, to give him the win here. I think that’s exactly what happens.

Prediction: Jacob Fatu

Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight (ESPN2)

The Usos and LA Knight are -215 favorites against The Vision and iShowSpeed at +165.

I would rank them as even heavier favorites than that. Austin Theory is the most likely person to take the pin unless they find a fun or comedic way for iShowSpeed to do it. They’ve also teased that iShowSpeed doesn’t really want to be in the match, which could be the main story of it.

Prediction: The Usos and LA Knight

Roman Reigns teases WWE departure if he loses at WrestleMania

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Roman Reigns is, unofficially, raising the stakes for his match against CM Punk at WWE WrestleMania 42.

On its YouTube channel today, WWE uploaded an in-character interview with Reigns speaking with Michael Cole ahead of WrestleMania. Reigns addressed what will happen going forward depending on the result of the night two main event. If Reigns wins, he says it will help bring WWE back to relevancy. But if Reigns loses, he doesn’t see a place for himself in WWE anymore.

“If I lose to CM Punk at WrestleMania, I don’t belong in the WWE anymore,” Reigns said. “I think if I were to lose on Sunday, I’d say my work is done.”

It was stated last year that Reigns’ WWE contract was coming up soon after WrestleMania 42. But he recently said he still feels like he has a lot more to offer WWE, is feeling good physically at 40 years old, and plans to maximize his earnings potential in the company.

The World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line when Reigns challenges Punk on Sunday. A victory would give Reigns his first title reign in WWE since dropping the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40.

Report: Nikki Bella won’t be cleared for WWE WrestleMania 42

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

It’s being reported that the returning Paige could factor into WWE’s plans for the Women’s Tag Team title match with Nikki Bella unable to compete.

*********

The card for WWE WrestleMania 42 looks to have taken a hit with Nikki Bella unable to wrestle at the show.

PWInsider reports that Bella will not be cleared to compete at WrestleMania 42, where she and her twin sister Brie were scheduled to be part of a fatal four-way match for the Women’s Tag Team titles. The report does not say if WWE plans on adding a different team to the match or if it will proceed as a triple threat.

The match is scheduled for night one of WrestleMania this Saturday and was supposed to be Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Lash Legend defending against The Bellas, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria.

Bella suffered an ankle injury on the March 27 episode of SmackDown. Though she was initially optimistic about making it back in time for Mania, Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week that her status was still in question.

The Bellas — who are already WWE Hall of Famers — have never held the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles before. Winning the belts is one of their biggest goals before retirement, with Nikki & Brie planning to finish their in-ring careers when their current WWE contracts expire in 2027.

Triple H: Love him or hate him, Pat McAfee makes people talk

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Paul “Triple H” Levesque is happy that Pat McAfee has people talking heading into WrestleMania 42.

WWE’s Chief Content Officer stopped by ESPN’s First Take on Friday morning to preview this weekend’s show. While discussing the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton night one main event, Levesque teased that we could potentially see McAfee have some physical involvement with someone getting payback on him.

“There’s something on the horizon for this, for sure. You know, when you run your mouth as much as Pat does, eventually somebody is going to try to shut it,” Levesque said. “Really, as a WWE fan, what I’m really looking forward to is that moment — mentor-student, Cody Rhodes-Randy Orton, locking up over that WWE Championship. It’s just a moment that transcends a couple of generations to me, and that’s what’s really cool about it.”

McAfee will be in Orton’s corner for the Undisputed WWE Championship match. Though McAfee’s inclusion in the storyline has brought a lot of criticism from fans, Levesque thinks it’s always good when people are talking about the product.

Levesque was asked if he feels any added pressure when fans question his decisions.

“It’s always pressure, but the thing is — talk is good, right? People are talking,” he responded. “And that’s a good thing. Love him or hate him, Pat makes people talk. I think that’s what is important here, is people are talking. This is going to be an amazing show. This will be incredible, and it will deliver on all levels.”

Each night of WrestleMania 42 has a start time of 6 p.m. Eastern, streaming live on the ESPN app in the United States and on Netflix internationally this Saturday and Sunday.

Cam’ron says he’ll see Jey Uso at WWE WrestleMania 42 after altercation

Posted on by Ian Carey

Cam’ron says he’ll be at WrestleMania.

Jey Uso and the rapper got into an altercation on It Is What It Is on Thursday, although it is not clear if the scene was real or staged. Uso grabbed at Cam’ron and threw him to the ground on the show.

Cam’ron addressed the incident to open his show on Friday, saying:

“I see a few people from the Bloodline that’s upset. Listen man, don’t be mad at the facts, be mad at the resume. And I’ll see you all this week at WrestleMania. I’m pulling up, I’ll be there.”

Cam’ron later addressed Uso, saying:

“I know I’m the biggest name that you had a fight with in a long time. I’m probably the biggest name that you ever had a fight with because you’re not your father. You’re not The Rock.”

“We’ll see what happens at WrestleMania. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen, but I will tell you that something is going to happen.”

The altercation between Uso and Cam’ron began early in Uso’s appearance on yesterday’s show. As Uso was discussing his family history, Cam’ron interjected to say Uso was not on the level of The Rock or his father Rikishi. Uso later appeared on Stephen A. Smith’s podcast and said that Cam’ron “had it coming,” while also joking about the rapper riding a scooter around Las Vegas casinos.

The full episode of It Is What It Is is available below. Cam’ron’s comments about Jey Uso begin at the start of the episode.

Nick Khan not worried about criticism of WWE WrestleMania 42 build

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Nick Khan isn’t worried about the criticism WWE’s build to WrestleMania 42 has faced.

Ahead of Allegiant Stadium hosting WrestleMania 42 this weekend, the Las Vegas Review-Journal published a feature story on Khan, a Vegas native who now serves as WWE’s president. He was asked to address fan complaints about the build to WrestleMania.

“Let’s see the reaction [when] the show is done,” Khan said. “I think a lot of times with WWE storylines, they take a moment to develop. We have the good fortune when we’re on the inside of knowing where we’re going. If you look at the two main events, there is real heat there and when the storylines are blurred between reality and pre-determined outcomes in WWE, we think that always delivers. And with the (Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton) especially with the addition of Pat McAfee, we think both will overdeliver.”

“Let’s see.”

McAfee’s insertion into the Rhodes vs. Orton storyline has been one of the main criticisms of the WrestleMania build, with fans feeling like it was not necessary given the 20-year history Rhodes and Orton have together. McAfee will be in Orton’s corner when Orton challenges Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship this Saturday.

Sunday’s main event will then see CM Punk defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns.

This is the second straight year WrestleMania has been held at Allegiant Stadium. Given that and high ticket prices for the event, attendance won’t be at the same level as it was in 2025, though WWE says it will still be among the biggest gates in company history.

Khan told the Review-Journal that the economic health of Las Vegas is important to WWE and its parent company TKO, especially with the city being UFC’s home.

“There’s no city that can handle big events greater than Las Vegas can,” Khan said. “It was a no-brainer to come back again. It motivated us further when we read that Vegas was in a bit of an economic downturn because we think big events like this can help stimulate an economy and that local economy matters to me and it matters to our business at TKO, especially with UFC headquartered in Las Vegas as well as Zuffa Boxing. We’re excited to have the event and fingers crossed on people leaving the event happy. We believe that will be the case.”

CM Punk responds to Roman Reigns WWE WrestleMania promo

Posted on by Joseph Currier

While appearing on ESPN’s Get Up this morning, CM Punk gave one last response to Roman Reigns ahead of their WWE WrestleMania 42 match.

Reigns posted a social media promo yesterday, calling out Punk for not being a fighting champion and saying Punk’s “not even a fighter.” Reigns said it blows his mind that Punk thinks they are equals — and he vowed to end Punk when they face off this Sunday.

The Reigns promo received a lot of praise from fans online. Punk seemed to have respect for it too, telling ESPN he wishes Reigns brought this kind of material when they were actually in the same building together.

“My response is: man, I wish he brought that energy the days he actually decided to show up on a couple of Mondays,” Punk said. “Look, I take nothing away from Roman. Tremendous superstar, he has the credentials. He’s a heavyweight. He’s going to be a tough out for me. But I am not looking to lose on Sunday. I’m sure he isn’t either. But this is about pro wrestling versus cinema.

“I’m glad that he had four days to shower and think about what he would say to me in a rebuttal and did it in a car while I wasn’t around. But I’m going to be around and in his face on Sunday. I’m going to send him to the orthodontist. I’m going to make his orthodontist a very rich person.”

Punk vs. Reigns is headlining night two of WrestleMania 42 this weekend. They were also opponents last year at WrestleMania 41, losing a triple threat to Seth Rollins.

WrestleMania is back in Las Vegas again this year, which Punk does not mind even if business is down from 2025.

“We’ve run into a little bit of trouble running the same venue twice in a row,” Punk told Get Up. “But, logistically, for me, I’m selfish. It’s fun for me. I like Vegas. There’s great food. There’s great atmosphere. You can always do something at any time of day.

“But we want your sights focused on Saturday night and Sunday night, Allegiant Stadium, for WrestleMania. Because this is going to be our biggest show of the year. We always like to say it’s our Super Bowl. I like to say the Super Bowl is the NFL’s WrestleMania.”

Nick Khan says he has never read Twitter as it relates to WWE: ‘That is a vocal minority’

Posted on by Josh Nason

WWE president Nick Khan has remained consistent when it comes his views on social media when it comes to WWE and TKO at large as he claims he still doesn’t read it.

Speaking at Wednesday’s CAA World Congress of Sports ahead of this weekend’s WrestleMania 42, Khan was asked about any concerns about WWE bringing WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia next year — which he said is still happening.

“I have never read X or Twitter as it relates to our business and I’ve certainly never read it regarding me. That is a vocal minority,” he said (quotes from SportsBusinessJournal).

That is consistent with what Khan said just over a year ago ahead of last year’s WrestleMania:

“As much as we listen to our audience, we won’t listen to social media and respond. We think it’s a small percentage of voices who have a big microphone or megaphone in front of them. It’s a mistake to respond to your business based off of that. You’ve got to base it off your gut and the results.”

On Wednesday, Khan told moderator Abe Madkour that he is copied on every complaint that comes into “WWE’s personalized fan service” but his decisions are based on his three Rs: ratings, revenue and relevance which is something he has also said in previous talks.

“Some of the complaints are, ‘I didn’t like the match — you guys are pieces of shi*.’ And I go, ‘OK, I got it.’ Some are, ‘Hey, we had an obstructed view.’ OK — we’ll have you come to our next show. People are allowed to complain, but we don’t adjust our business based on complaints. We adjust based on ratings, revenue, relevancy,” he said.

Seth Rollins gives status update ahead of WWE WrestleMania 42

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Seth Rollins is ready to return to the ring at WrestleMania 42, even if he isn’t quite feeling 100 percent yet.

On Thursday, Rollins made multiple appearances on ESPN to help promote WrestleMania, telling First Take that he feels great after the shoulder injury he suffered in October 2025. But Rollins at least played up the idea that he’s not completely at full strength going into his match against Gunther.

“As for the shoulder, it feels great,” Rollins said. “I don’t know that it’s 100 percent, but maybe 80-90 percent. And I’ll tell you what, my 80-90 percent is pretty good. Good enough to get us in a position here where we’ve got a match at WrestleMania against Gunther.”

Rollins suffered the shoulder injury at Crown Jewel: Perth last year and has been out of action for six months after undergoing surgery. This match against Gunther is his first match back. It’s a bout that came together fairly late in the game, with Rollins and Bron Breakker both suffering injuries that affected WWE’s WrestleMania plans. Though Breakker has been cleared, WWE decided to go with Rollins vs. Gunther at Mania.

When Rollins’ injury happened, he had to vacate the World Heavyweight Championship. He kept kayfabe on ESPN’s Get Up this morning when asked if he feels like he deserves a shot at either CM Punk or Roman Reigns after WrestleMania. Rollins said he needs to prove he’s back in form and capable of delivering in the ring like he did pre-injury.

The Rollins vs. Gunther match is part of the lineup for night one of WrestleMania 42 this Saturday.

Randy Orton ‘hurting’ heading into WWE WrestleMania 42

Posted on by Ian Carey

Randy Orton is said to be “hurting” just days out from WWE WrestleMania 42.

Dave Meltzer addressed Orton’s match against Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship in this week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Meltzer wrote that while the storyline involving Pat McAfee leaving WWE forever if Orton were to lose would seem to indicate Orton is winning, he was told the result is not a lock.

Meltzer was addressing McAfee’s promo from the 4/10 SmackDown and wrote:

“Perhaps most notable in the McAfee promo is that he said that if Randy Orton doesn’t beat Cody Rhodes for the title, that he will never do anything involving WWE again. Obviously that is not happening. In fact, the only result, given that promo, that was almost completely clear is Orton winning. We were told that Orton is hurting so there is a possibility that would change, as it would make no sense for Orton to win if he has to take time off, but McAfee’s statement came across like it’s as close to a lock as possible.”

Meltzer continued that the Jelly Roll and Cody Rhodes vs. Pat McAfee and Randy Orton match is still scheduled to headline the May 9 Backlash PLE next month, indicating that there are no plans for McAfee to leave WWE forever or for Orton to take time off in the near future.

Today’s full edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is available here for subscribers.

Nick Khan says WrestleMania 43 still planned for Saudi Arabia, addresses this year’s ticket sales

Posted on by Josh Nason

Despite the current war in the Middle East, WWE president Nick Khan is still planning on next year’s WrestleMania being held in Saudi Arabia.

Khan appeared at the SBJ CAA World Congress of Sports in Los Angeles on Wednesday where he brought up next year’s show, saying “We’re doing WrestleMania next year in Saudi. First time ever, WrestleMania will be outside the United States or Canada. We’ve had a big, fruitful partnership with them.”

He did not mention, nor was asked, about the next imminent WWE premium live event set for Saudi Arabia which was reported as being planned for June. It has yet to officially be announced but is one of three WWE PLEs set to take place there in 2026.

According to The Sporting Tribune who attended the event and provided the quotes found here, Khan “downplayed criticism surrounding WWE’s Saudi Arabia events, describing negative feedback as a ‘vocal minority’ and reiterating that company decisions are driven by ratings, revenue and relevancy” — a line he has used before.

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Khan alluded to this year’s WrestleMania 42 ticket sales at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium being slower than last year.

When asked about the sales, Khan said they are “feeling good” and said they think that after setting records the last two years, “we think it’s going to get close to that record, but fingers crossed.” He remained steadfast that all is well and that demand is strong, even on the secondary market.

From the Tribune:

“The marketplace dictates the ticket price,” Khan said, noting that even lower-priced tickets can quickly be resold at higher rates, underscoring continued consumer demand.

Daily Update: WrestleMania week media notes

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The most detailed look at  how the Pat McAfee angle developed, its goal, why so many in the company are unhappy with it, where it  is leading, addressing the biggest WrestleMania questions, what CM Punk aid, where Paul Levesque and Ari Emanuel fit in, as well as an update on WrestleMania tickets compared to last year, discount offers cutting price back and more
  • Preview to AEW Dynasty, matches and business notes as well as updates on Double or Nothing direction and business, as well as All In at Wembley Stadium.
  • Favorites for WrestleMania and Dynasty
  • Lots of business notes on WrestleMania
  • Callum Newman wins IWGP title and review of Sakura Genesis, what we learned, business, Best of the Super Juniors and Dontaku notes
  • NXT Stand & Deliver.  Match rundowns and stories as well as business notes on the show
  • Texts from Paul Levesque to Nick Khan released in discovery regarding Vince McMahon’s involvement in booking when talent was told McMahon was out and Levesques frustration at the time
  • A detailed look at TNA pulling  talent from advertised indie events that they had previously approved and a better way of handling it
  • A look at the career of 60s and 70s star Flying Fred Curry, one of the major stars of The Sheik’s heyday running Michigan and Ohio, son of Bull Curry and nine-time world tag team champion.
  • The arrest of Alberto el Patron, lots more details and his history, shows he’s been pulled from, an ironic aspect of this story n a reality show in Mexico late last year
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the television shows of the past week, with  comparisons with last week, last year, demos and other stats, male vs. female percentage
  • More stats regarding the audience at Arena Mexico shows as well as a look back on a major week last week.
  • Saya Kamtani has major goal for Stardom’s big show later this month
  • Japanese television in 1985 and who were the draws
  • Ric Flair upset over WWE costing him a major merchandise deal
  • How many times was Flair world champion
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Two more possible WrestleMania card changes
  • Janel Grant lawsuit thoughts

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Lola Vice vs. Jacy Jayne NXT Women’s Championship match from last night.
  • A video package aired on NXT spotlighting Kendal Grey and her road to pro wrestling stardom. 
  • Sports Business Journal gave an update on the timeline for when YouTube TV subscribers will get access to the ESPN app at no additional charge:
    • ESPN is set to air its first WrestleMania this weekend under the new pact with WWE, but sources tell SBJ that YouTube TV subscribers will still not be able to authenticate on the ESPN app in time for the event. Google is working through tech issues related to the authentication, sources added, and there remains an expectation that the problems should be solved ahead of SummerSlam.
  • ESPN announced its coverage schedule for the remainder of WrestleMania week:
    • Throughout WrestleMania week, ESPN will originate studio programming and live events from key locations across Las Vegas, including WWE World, Toshiba Plaza, Allegiant Stadium and Dolby Live at Park MGM. SportsCenter coverage will be led on site by Randy Scott, Gary Striewski, Treavor Scales and Joe Fortenbaugh, delivering live reporting, fan engagement and behind the scenes storytelling throughout the week. Scott, Striewski and Scales will explore WWE World and fan experiences across Las Vegas and will interview and talk with WWE Superstars on site, while Scales and Fortenbaugh will be positioned for post-match coverage and reaction throughout WrestleMania weekend. First Take will originate from Las Vegas as part of ESPN’s on-site coverage, featuring Shae Cornette, Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins live Friday, April 17, at 10 a.m. from Allegiant Stadium.
    • Coverage also includes No Contest Wrestling, hosted by O’Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson, airing Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m. on ESPN2 during WrestleMania week, alongside the WrestleMania 42 Kickoff Show, Countdown to WrestleMania 42, Nights 1 and 2 of WrestleMania and the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
  • Shannon Sharpe & Chad Ochocinco’s Nightcap podcast will be live on WrestleMania Radio Row at 2 p.m. Eastern tomorrow with Carmelo Hayes, Charlotte Flair, Jacob Fatu, Je’Von Evans, LA Knight, Nia Jax & Lash Legend, and more scheduled to appear.
  • On the Soder Podcast, Becky Lynch said that, when WWE wrestlers make outside appearances, people are surprised at how easygoing they are since wrestlers are not used to being catered to in WWE:
    • I mean this politely, we’re not catered to – at all. No. Maybe there’s a couple of folks, and as you get more into it, you put up with less sh*t. But we pay for our own gear, they’re not getting us gear. We buy our own gear. We buy our own rental cars. We buy our own hotels. We are in charge of booking those hotels and booking those rental cars. And I think that’s why, actually, when we go to work at other places, whether it be [Showtime show] ‘Billions’ or whatever, people are usually pleasantly surprised at how easygoing we are. Because we’re not used to being catered to. We don’t expect anything. We don’t expect anybody to look after us. Because we are standardly so self-sufficient.
  • Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, Rey Mysterio, Big E, and Jackie Redmond made appearances across ESPN to promote WrestleMania.
  • CM Punk & AJ Lee took part in a GOAT Talk video for Complex. In response to a question about celebrities he’d like to see in WWE, Punk said he’s changed his mind on celebrity involvement and is now more open to it:
    • Dave Bautista, John Cena – I just want my friends to come back to work.
    • I get a kick out of seeing celebrities cross over, because it’s either the most spectacular car crash disaster. And there was a time where I probably was the most ardent like, ‘No, the purity of the sport of pro wrestling, blah, blah, blah.’ And now I’ve shed all that and I realize there’s a time and there’s a place for a little bit of everything for everybody.
    • I think Bad Bunny was a spectacular professional wrestler. This is the biggest, most recognized global pop star in the world. And he’s a fan, and he doesn’t just want to come and goof around. He took it seriously and he did it.
  • CNN World Sport did a feature story on Oba Femi ahead of his WrestleMania debut.
  • SHAK Wrestling has an interview with Rhea Ripley, who discussed how much she’s looking forward to Bianca Belair’s eventual return:
    • Honestly, it’s not the same without Bianca there. I miss her. I hope that she comes back soon. But at the same time, I also hope she’s living her best life, not having to go to work for a little bit. She’s busted her ass for so long. They’ve literally made her do so much and work so much, she deserves the time off.
    • I wish it was under better a circumstance, because that finger be looking nasty. Like, it’s shocked me that she’s been out for nearly a year from a finger injury – something that seems so small is something that’s so big. I’ve seen the photos, she’s sent me the photos, so thank you, Bianca. They’re pretty gnarly looking.
    • I just really hope that she comes back soon. Like, I really do, but that finger, it’s so fat. It’s so swollen. She’s doing rehab every single day and I’m looking forward to the day that she does come back. I don’t know how long that’s going to be, unfortunately, because you need your finger to bend in wrestling. Otherwise, you’re going to break it again.
  • Je’Von Evans appeared on the Battleground Podcast.
  • Brie Bella uploaded a new vlog showing her training in the ring with husband Bryan Danielson as she prepares for WrestleMania.
  • Matches from WWE World will stream live on WWE’s YouTube channel tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Other Wrestling

  • Before he challenges MJF for the AEW World Championship on Dynamite, Darby Allin sat down for an interview on Close Up with Renee Paquette.
  • New TNT Champion Kevin Knight spoke with The Takedown on SI about his title defense against Claudio Castagnoli on Dynamite:
    • To go against a guy like Claudio is an amazing time because I’ve never had him one-on-one, only in multi-mans. And I’ve actually had to support him a few times in Mexico, you know, ‘El Jet’ is a little bit different when you cross the border.
    • So I know Claudio pretty well, I think I have speed and youth on my side. Claudio is a well, well oiled machine, there’s nobody like Claudio, so I’m gonna have to be on my A-game, be on my A-game and Claudio won’t know what hit him.
  • Andrade El Idolo will face Richard Holliday for Awesome Championship Wrestling in Poughkeepsie, New York on May 16.
  • Ronda Rousey made an appearance on CBS Mornings to discuss her MMA return against Gina Carano.

Joe Jonas to perform national anthem at WWE WrestleMania 42 Sunday

Posted on by Ian Carey

Joe Jonas will be part of the second night of WrestleMania 42.

WWE announced on Wednesday that the recording artist will sing the national anthem to kick off the broadcast on Sunday’s show.

WWE wrote:

“Multi-platinum and grammy-nominated recording artist @joejonas will be performing the National Anthem to kick off WrestleMania 42 Sunday! 🎶”

Jonas joins “Mean” Gene Okerlund, Aretha Franklin, Jelly Roll, Willie Nelson, and Ray Charles among those who have performed either the national anthem or “God Bless America” at WrestleMania.

WWE WrestleMania 42 lineup:

Night one:

  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Randy Orton (w/ Pat McAfee)
  • Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends against Liv Morgan
  • Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee defends against Becky Lynch
  • Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Lash Legend defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, The Bella Twins, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
  • Unsanctioned match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu
  • Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight

Night two:

  • World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk defends against Roman Reigns
  • WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill defends against Rhea Ripley
  • “The Demon” Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • United States Champion Sami Zayn defends against Trick Williams
  • Ladder match: Intercontinental Champion Penta defends against Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, Rusev, JD McDonagh, and Rey Mysterio
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
  • Joe Jonas to perform the national anthem

WWE releases opening video for WrestleMania 42 night one

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With WrestleMania 42 set to kick off in just three days, WWE has released the opening video for night one of the show.

Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” fame voices the cold open, referencing some of the most memorable WrestleMania moments of all time and setting the stage for some of this year’s matches to take their own place in history:

  • It’s something you can’t really explain. That feeling when the lights come on, the crowd roars, and you realize there’s no bigger stage than this. No brighter lights. No higher stakes. No louder crowd. And no second takes. It happens once, and it’s forever. Because memories are made in this ring. And we — you and me, the fans — we get to be there for the moments we’ll never forget.
  • We were there when the Irresistible Force met the Immovable Object. We were there when it seemed impossible until it happened. When legends took their final bows. When Seth shocked the world. When Cody finished his story and made his dad proud. And years from now, decades from now, our kids will tell their kids that we were alive and we were there. When Punk fought Roman for the title. When La Primera confronted La Guerita. When the Voices tried to squash The Nightmare. When Jade and Rhea stood face-to-face. When Oba stepped onto the stage, the biggest stage of them all, for the very first time.
  • There’s no way to know exactly what drama lies ahead. But we know that we’re here for the pops and the surprises. The memories that will last a lifetime. We are here. We are alive. No second takes. Lights up. The curtain’s about to rise. Welcome to WrestleMania.

Miranda is a wrestling fan and a multi-time Emmy, Grammy, and Tony award winner. He also appeared in a WrestleMania promo video that WWE put out back in January.

Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is hosting WrestleMania 42 this Saturday and Sunday, with the show set to stream live on the ESPN app in the United States and on Netflix internationally. The start time for each night is 6 p.m. Eastern.

WWE WrestleMania 42 —

Night one:

  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Randy Orton (w/ Pat McAfee)
  • Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends against Liv Morgan
  • Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee defends against Becky Lynch
  • Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Lash Legend defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, The Bella Twins, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
  • Unsanctioned match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu
  • Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight

Night two:

  • World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk defends against Roman Reigns
  • WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill defends against Rhea Ripley
  • “The Demon” Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • United States Champion Sami Zayn defends against Trick Williams
  • Ladder match: Intercontinental Champion Penta defends against Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, Rusev, JD McDonagh, and Rey Mysterio
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi

WWE claims WrestleMania ticket sales have ‘surged’ in recent weeks

Posted on by Joseph Currier

While lower-than-expected ticket sales have become part of the on-screen build for WrestleMania 42, WWE says sales for the show have “surged” as of late.

Sports Business Journal published an article this week on the WrestleMania ticket situation, quoting from a USA Today story that said high prices were the biggest reason WWE has struggled to fill Allegiant Stadium. The SBJ piece included a quote from “a source close to WWE” downplaying the issue, saying that sales are up in recent weeks and the company still expects WrestleMania 42 to be among the largest gates in history:

A source close to WWE said ticket sales have surged in recent weeks and projected that the event remains headed toward one of the top gates in WWE history.

This is the second straight year that WWE has held WrestleMania in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. Last year’s two-night event was announced as the biggest gate WWE has ever drawn.

WrestleTix’s latest estimate has WrestleMania 42 at 42,715 tickets distributed for night one and 43,394 distributed for night two. At the start of April, those respective numbers were 38,381 and 40,003.

In last week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that ticket sales were down approximately 20 percent from this time last year, and there had been “no great run” on tickets since the angle where Pat McAfee was inserted into the build for the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton night one main event. McAfee has mentioned low ticket sales during the angle, saying he wants to save the business by helping get Orton back to the top of the card.

McAfee — who offered a discount on night one tickets last week — will be in Orton’s corner when he challenges Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship this Saturday. The night two main event will then see CM Punk defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns.