WrestleMania 42 is live on ESPN and Netflix this weekend — here’s who’s going to win
I’ve been watching wrestling for nearly 3 decades, and there are very few things that have followed me from childhood into adulthood like professional wrestling.
WrestleMania weekend is the Super Bowl of wrestling, and this year the whole thing is streaming live on ESPN Unlimited in the US and Netflix internationally. Better yet, the first hour of Saturday and Sunday’s show will be free to air on ESPN2 to try and build excitement.
WrestleMania 42 Night 1 – Saturday April 18
Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight
Logan Paul at WrestleMania, love him or hate him, is just good television. I don’t think anyone who started watching wrestling in the 90s ever imagined they’d say that, but here we are. He always delivers on the big stage with some insane viral moment, and having IShowSpeed alongside him is exactly the kind of crossover moment WWE loves right now.
The Usos and LA Knight will get the crowd excited for this match to kickstart the weekend on free-to-air TV, and it should be a fun way to get everybody amped up. Logan will pull off a crazy stunt, get the pin, and post about it on social media for the next six months.
- Winner: Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed
Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre
This feud has been building since October, and an unsanctioned match is the perfect way to culminate it. It’s difficult to pick against my fellow Scot, Drew Mcintyre, especially after his stellar year as one of the top performers in the company.
That said, WWE will give the win to Jacob Fatu here in what should be one of the best matches of Night 1, as I fully expect him to go on to bigger things and challenge the winner of the main event for the WWE Championship in the following months.
Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer (c)
Liv Morgan deserves her moment at the top again and I think the 2026 Royal Rumble winner will achieve exactly that when she beats Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship on Saturday night.
This feud has been gaining heat over the last few weeks despite very little TV time and I think it could be one of many matches this weekend that outperforms the storyline that both wrestlers have had to work around.
Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee (c)
One last run for Becky Lynch before she sails off into potential retirement? Yep, I think so. On paper, this feud should’ve been amazing, but unfortunately, AJ’s 10 years away from the squared circle have shown in her promos, and neither woman has been able to really get me interested in this one.
Expect The Man to get the 1,2,3 and lift the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in a match you’ll have forgotten about come Sunday morning.
Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki & Brie Bella
This one could go in a few different directions, but I think whatever happens, there’s very little chance the champions retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship here. My pick is Bayley and Lyra because of their year-long storyline together and the fact that they should’ve won it last year.
- Winner: Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
There’s barely any storyline here, but who cares when it’s two of the best in-ring performers on the planet? In the past, some of the best WrestleMania matches of all time have been sleeper hits leading into the event itself, and because of that, I’m pumped for this one.
I think Gunther winning via interference by the returning Bron Breakker is the obvious result here, but if he’s not fit, then I’m genuinely unsure how this match will end. My prediction, however, is that this will be the best match of Night 1, and I can’t wait!
- Winner: Gunther via Bron Breakker interference
Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes (c)
Do I need to predict this match? Sigh. Pat McAfee was brought into this storyline to sell tickets to WrestleMania 42, and not only did it completely ruin the build to a match with over 20 years of history, but it has actively killed the hype for many fans for the event as a whole.
Randy Orton will win the Undisputed WWE Championship here, and I’m sure there will be McAfee shenanigans. Expect to see Jelly Roll, and expect a fairly quiet crowd after one of the worst WrestleMania storylines in history. Oh what could’ve been…
WrestleMania 42 Night 2 – Sunday April 19
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
This match is arguably the most hyped WrestleMania 42 bout, but if WWE don’t make the right choice here, it could go down as one of the worst in history.
Oba Femi needs to win this match, and if done correctly, a new star will be born in Las Vegas on Sunday night. Beating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania would give Oba a direct route to a world championship by the end of 2026, but if he loses, it could just ruin the whole of Sunday’s show.
Je’Von Evans vs. Penta (c) vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio
Ladder matches at WrestleMania are made for moments, and this one has the talent to deliver something genuinely memorable. Penta is a worthy champion, Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio will do things that make you question the laws of physics, and JD McDonagh will be absolutely insufferable in the best possible way.
But I think Je’Von Evans climbs down with the Intercontinental title. He’s young, he’s electric, and this feels like exactly the right stage for his breakthrough moment. This will be a crowning moment for the new Intercontinental Champion.
Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill (c)
Rhea Ripley needs to reclaim the SmackDown Women’s title at WrestleMania on Sunday night and this is one of the easiest predictions on the entire card. The crowd will be absolutely electric the moment her music hits, and the Jade Cargill experiment has ran out of steam.
Replace a mediocre champion with one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, don’t mess this up WWE.
“The Demon” Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio
Dominik has been excellent in his role and has genuinely become one of the most entertaining characters on the roster, but the entrance alone tells you the result before the bell even rings. Bálor gets his WrestleMania moment, the production team earns their money, and it’s going to look absolutely incredible.
- Winner: “The Demon” Finn Bálor
Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn (c)
Please put the United States Championship on Trick Williams! This guy is a star, and I want WrestleMania 42 to go down as the event where WWE invested in its future and let go of its past. Sami Zayn as a babyface is not working anymore, and Williams has the charisma and talent to shine under the brightest lights.
Come Sunday, Trick Williams wins the belt, alongside Lil Yachty (yes, the rapper).
CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns (c)
I’ve changed my mind on this more times than I’d like to admit. The storyline has not hit the heights that I think we all expected with two of the biggest superstars in the world, but I think Punk retains here.
I think there’s going to be interference, and maybe even an appearance from The Rock to build to next year’s main event against Roman. Punk has been on an incredible run and closing out WrestleMania 42 as World Heavyweight Champion feels like the right call for where the company is right now.
Ask me again on Saturday night and I might have completely changed my mind. That’s wrestling.
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