Predicting WrestleMania 42 Night 2: Roman Reigns Faces CM Punk
While the conclusion of the Royal Rumble is traditionally viewed as the start of the “Road to WrestleMania,” there seems to be precious little certainty about where the card is headed two months out. With rumors circulating that parent company TKO is unhappy with ticket sales, putting anything and everything on the table to boost interest, it seems like a good time to try and guess where WWE is headed.
Before I start, I have a couple of notes for this exercise. First, this is more what I think WWE will do versus me fantasy booking. Obviously, there’s an element of the latter because we’re so far out from the event and Elimination Chamber has yet to take place, which could change things up. Also, I’m giving injured wrestlers the benefit of the doubt that they’ll return in time.
With those things in mind, let’s book WrestleMania 42: Night 2 for April 19:
Rhea Ripley and IO SKY (C) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. The Kabuki Warriors vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. The Bella Twins: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
You could make a strong case that last year’s Sunday opener between Ripley, SKY, and Bianca Belair was the best match of WrestleMania 41. Look for another potential show-stealer here. While I have this as five teams, I could see it reduced (dropping Bayley/Lyra and maybe even The Kabuki Warriors) or expanded (adding Lash Legend and Nia Jax). Wherever it lands, I expect the match to come down to the champions and the team of Flair and Bliss. Those four women simply carry another level of star power.
Randy Orton vs. Aleister Black
With all due respect to Black, it’s hard to believe this is the direction WWE is going with Orton. That’s what’s been teased, however, and there’s no obvious place for Orton elsewhere on the card. If this is indeed the match, the only intrigue would be whether Black can find a way to eat an RKO to rival Seth Rollins’ epic sell from years earlier.
Dominik Mysterio (C) vs. Je’Von Evans: WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
This is a tough one. I could see WWE having Judgment Day fall out with Finn Balor after he loses to CM Punk at Elimination Chamber, but I’m going to go with Evans, who earned a spot in the chamber this past Monday. I’m thinking Mysterio retains, and on his way back from the ring, his dad’s music hits, and we get some kind of moment between the two. Then, the next night, Dom and Liv Morgan celebrate being champions, and Raquel Rodriguez and Balor set themselves up as the new challengers as Judgment Day finally implodes.
Gunther vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
Initially, I had Gunther, the “Career Killer,” versus Orton, the “Legend Killer,” but it seems WWE is setting him up to end Mysterio’s career at Mania. The issue with that logic is that I haven’t seen anything about Mysterio wanting to retire. Still, if this is the match, there is zero chance that Gunther is losing.
Carmelo Hayes (C) vs. Trick Williams vs. Ilja Dragunov: WWE United States Championship Match
Based on the talent involved, this is another possible show-stealer. It’s also a chance to revive one of the best NXT feuds in recent memory—people may only remember the Hayes and Williams aspect, but Dragunov was frequently involved as well. If WWE pulls the trigger early on Balor and Mysterio, this is also a spot where Evans could be added for a Fatal Four-Way.
Jade Cargill (C) vs. Bianca Belair: WWE Women’s Championship Match
I don’t know what you do with Cargill, and given how little she’s wrestled since winning the belt, WWE doesn’t either. The natural storyline is facing her former tag team partner in Belair, but Bianca hasn’t wrestled in nearly a year after suffering a broken knuckle during that incredible three-way match with SKY and Ripley. If she can’t make it back, I guess it’s “Tiffy Time” as nobody else on SmackDown feels like a contender beyond Tiffany Stratton. If you want one wild card guess I’d say Sol Ruca.
CM Punk (C) vs. Roman Reigns: World Heavyweight Championship Match
The only match actually announced at this stage, Punk vs. Reigns is a lock to be the main event on Sunday. If you had any concerns about this pairing, their excellent back-and-forth promo when Reigns chose Punk should have answered them. With Punk now 47, this may not be the best bell-to-bell action, but both men are expert storytellers in the ring, and they know how to connect with the audience. After WrestleMania 41 ended with a complete dud, look for Reigns to stand tall as the champion after a memorable bout.
That’s it for WrestleMania 42: Night 2. If you missed it, be sure to check out my predictions for Night 1, which include an appearance from Bad Bunny, the reformation of the Lucha Bros, and a three-way match for the WWE Championship.