WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Predictions: Gunther Wins, Rhodes Drops the Title
The time has finally arrived. World Wrestling Entertainment will hold WrestleMania 42 this weekend from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two-night extravaganza will feature 13 matches, and I’m going to try and correctly predict the outcomes for each of them. For reference, this is what I think will happen, not what I believe should happen.
With that in mind, here are my predictions for WrestleMania 42: Night 1:
The Usos and LA Knight vs. The Vision and iShowSpeed
A year ago, Jey Uso was wrestling for the World Heavyweight Championship. This year, he’s in a six-man tag with celebrity involvement. Woof. As for the match itself, weeks ago Danhausen cursed iShowSpeed on Raw, and I expect that to pay off here where he somehow costs Logan Paul or (more likely) Austin Theory the win. Winners: The Usos and LA Knight
Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu in an Unsanctioned Match
This has been among the better built matches for WrestleMania, though you wonder how McIntyre, who was WWE Champion in March, and Fatu feel about this spot. Either way, I fully expect a hard-hitting brawl from a couple of big men who can work. Reports indicate McIntyre is set to take time off to film a new Highlander movie, and this seems like the place to write him off TV. Winner: Jacob Fatu
Irresistible Forces (C) vs. Bella Twins vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Lyra Valkyria & Bayley: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
For a while, you could make an argument the Women’s tag team scene was the best-booked thing in pro wrestling. Not now. Taking the titles off Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky has led to an uninspired run from Nia Jax and Lash Legend, and there’s little more story to this match than there is for the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match on Night 2. Assuming Nikki Bella is healthy, she and "Brie Mode" get the belts. Winners: Bella Twins
A.J. Lee (C) vs. Becky Lynch (C): Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match
While I haven’t been a huge fan of Lee’s return, at least this match feels like it belongs on the big stage with its mix of star power and personal issues. Lee doesn’t appear very often, and it always felt like WWE wanted to get the belt on Lee just so they could name drop her in the future as a former Women’s I-C champ. I expect Lynch to regain the belt, and for Lee to quietly disappear for a while. Winner: Becky Lynch
Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
Between the ropes, this has the potential to be the best thing on Night 1. Sure, it looks like a consolation match for both men when injuries nixed Plan A (and maybe Plan B, too), but once the bell rings, that won’t matter. After retiring John Cena and AJ Styles, I can’t see WWE having Gunther lose here. I’ll say a returning Bron Breakker costs Rollins the match to jump-start that feud again while Gunther heads toward Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Winner: Gunther
Stephanie Vaquer (C) vs. Liv Morgan: Women’s World Championship Match
It’s hard to understand what WWE is doing with Vaquer, who was plugged in as champion when Naomi had to vacate the belt, and has been booked as a complete afterthought. Morgan gets the gold here to end the longest transitional reign in company history—and hopefully WWE puts Vaquer in a better position to succeed going forward. Winner: Liv Morgan
Cody Rhodes (C) vs. Randy Orton: WWE Championship Match
Almost all the buzz with this match surrounds Pat McAfee’s involvement, and little of that has been positive. Rather than leaning into the shared history of Rhodes and Orton, who brought the former into WWE as part of Legacy, we have McAfee talking about “saving the business” and Jelly Roll for…reasons. McAfee says he’ll leave wrestling if Rhodes retains, and all signs point to a Backlash main event of Rhodes and Jelly Roll versus Orton and McAfee. That would seem to portend Orton’s 15th title reign. Winner: Randy Orton
That’s it for WrestleMania 42: Night 1. Be sure to check out my predictions for Night 2.