WrestleMania 42 is set to electrify Las Vegas this weekend, as the annual spectacle returns to Allegiant Stadium for an unprecedented back-to-back run. The show, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, 2026, marks only the second time in history that the same venue has hosted consecutive WrestleMania events. The last time this happened, fans packed the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall for WrestleManias IV and V in New Jersey—a testament to just how rare this moment is for wrestling’s grandest stage, according to ESPN.
As anticipation builds, the two-night extravaganza promises a stacked lineup: thirteen matches, eight of which are championship bouts, and a parade of WWE’s biggest stars. Saturday’s action kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with the main event featuring Cody Rhodes versus Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship. After the first hour, coverage shifts to ESPN Unlimited. Sunday’s headline match sees CM Punk clash with Roman Reigns, beginning at the same time on ESPN before also moving to ESPN Unlimited. It’s a double-header that’s got fans buzzing from coast to coast.
Randy Orton’s appearance on Saturday is historic in its own right. The Viper will be stepping into his 21st WrestleMania match, a milestone surpassed only by The Undertaker (27) and Triple H (23). Orton’s journey at WrestleMania began in 2004, teaming up with Evolution to defeat The Rock and Mick Foley, and his most recent outing saw him topple Joe Hendry at WrestleMania 41. This weekend, he’s eyeing his 15th world championship—a feat that would push him past Triple H and put him just behind Ric Flair (16) and John Cena (17) in the record books.
His opponent, Cody Rhodes, faces a daunting challenge. Since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Rhodes has endured a four-match losing streak at premium live events. His last victory came at Wrestlepalooza in September 2025 against Drew McIntyre. But if there’s one thing wrestling history teaches, it’s that streaks are made to be broken—and Rhodes will be fighting to do just that on Saturday night.
The women’s division is no less compelling. Liv Morgan is set for her first singles match on a WrestleMania main card after four previous tag team losses. She squares off against Stephanie Vaquer, who’s riding a five-match winning streak at premium live events since July 2025. Morgan’s only prior WrestleMania win came on the WrestleMania 36 preshow, but history may be on her side: more than half of the women’s Royal Rumble winners since 2018 have left WrestleMania as champions, notes ESPN.
AJ Lee’s return is another major storyline. After an 11-year absence—her last WrestleMania appearance was in 2015—Lee steps back into the spotlight to challenge Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Lynch, meanwhile, will tie Naomi for the second-most WrestleMania matches in the women’s division with her tenth appearance. Only Natalya, with eleven, has more. Lynch’s career arc is a testament to persistence: after starting with three straight WrestleMania losses, she’s rebounded to post a 4-2 record since her landmark win in the first women’s WrestleMania main event at WrestleMania 35.
The tag team scene is equally fierce, with Nia Jax & Lash Legend, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, and the Bella Twins all vying for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Since their debut in 2019, these titles have changed hands at four of the last five WrestleManias. Charlotte Flair leads the field in experience, racking up her ninth appearance this weekend.
One of the most intriguing contests on Saturday is the unsanctioned match between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre. It’s a rare stipulation—only the second of its kind at WrestleMania, following Seth Rollins’ victory over Triple H at WrestleMania 33 in 2017. Fatu’s last premium live event win came at WWE Backlash in May 2025, when he defeated McIntyre, Damian Priest, and LA Knight to retain the United States Championship at WrestleMania 41.
Seth Rollins, a perennial fan favorite, aims to extend his WrestleMania winning streak when he faces Gunther. Although they’ve never met one-on-one at WrestleMania, their only televised singles match came on "Raw" in 2019, when Gunther was known as Walter. Gunther, who made a splash by winning the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 39, is looking to rebound after back-to-back WrestleMania losses.
Saturday’s card also features a star-studded six-man tag: The Usos & LA Knight versus Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and IShowSpeed. Jey Uso, after a hot streak from 2024 to 2025, is now hoping to avoid a fifth straight premium live event loss, while LA Knight is desperate to snap an eight-match losing streak.
Sunday’s action is headlined by a clash for the ages: CM Punk versus Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. Reigns enters his record 11th WrestleMania main event, surpassing even Hulk Hogan’s legendary run. Punk and Reigns have faced off many times, but this will be only their second one-on-one televised encounter—the first took place on January 6, 2014, with Reigns emerging victorious. Since his return, Punk is undefeated in 2026, having successfully defended his title against Bron Breakker, AJ Styles, and Finn Bálor (twice). Reigns, however, is on a rare two-match WrestleMania losing streak, but holds an impressive 9-4 overall record at the event, as reported by USA Today.
The women’s spotlight shines on Jade Cargill, who defends her WWE Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley. Cargill is undefeated in televised matches since September 2025, boasting a 7-0 streak. Ripley, with a 3-3 WrestleMania record, has competed for a championship in every one of her six appearances. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
The Intercontinental Championship will be decided in a high-flying ladder match featuring Penta, Rey Mysterio, Je’Von Evans, JD McDonagh, Dragon Lee, and Rusev. Ladder matches have a storied legacy at WrestleMania, dating back to Razor Ramon’s iconic victory over Shawn Michaels in 1994. For Evans, McDonagh, and Lee, this will be their first taste of WrestleMania’s unique chaos.
Other matches round out a jam-packed card: Sami Zayn defends the United States Championship against Trick Williams, with Zayn chasing his third straight WrestleMania win. Brock Lesnar, a mainstay since his 2003 main event debut, faces rising star Oba Femi. Lesnar’s career has been defined by big moments, including his shocking end to The Undertaker’s 21-match WrestleMania streak in 2014. Finn Bálor, expected to revive his Demon persona for the first time in three years, takes on Dominik Mysterio, who’s riding a five-match winning streak at premium live events.
As WrestleMania 42 approaches, the stakes, the history, and the personal rivalries are all converging in Las Vegas. For fans and performers alike, it’s a weekend where legends can be born—or broken—in the glare of the world’s brightest wrestling spotlight.