WrestleMania 42 Night 1 kicks off Saturday, April 18, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with eight matches on the card, headlined by Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton. The event streams live at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on ESPN in the United States and Netflix internationally.
Key Points
- Main Event: Cody Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton, with Pat McAfee banned from wrestling forever if Orton fails to win.
- Dream Match: Seth Rollins meets GUNTHER in a non-title showdown that could steal the show.
- Surprise Return: Paige is expected to compete in the Women's Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way, substituting for an injured Nikki Bella.
- How to Watch: Live on ESPN (US) and Netflix (international), Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT from Allegiant Stadium.
WrestleMania 42 Night 1 at a Glance
Night 1 features four championship matches, one unsanctioned brawl, and a six-man celebrity tag that will air during the first hour of the broadcast. John Cena returns to WWE as the official host of the weekend, making his first appearance since retiring from in-ring competition in December 2025.
Full Match Card
| Match | Stipulation |
|---|---|
| Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton (w/ Pat McAfee) | Undisputed WWE Championship |
| Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan | Women's World Championship |
| AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch | Women's Intercontinental Championship |
| Irresistible Forces (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Paige & Brie Bella | Women's Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way |
| Seth Rollins vs. GUNTHER | Singles Match |
| Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu | Unsanctioned Match |
| Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight | Six-Man Tag Team Match |
Match Previews
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton
This match carries nearly two decades of history. Rhodes and Orton were stablemates in Legacy alongside Ted DiBiase Jr. starting in 2008, with Rhodes crediting Orton as a formative influence on his early career. Now they collide with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line.
Orton earned his title shot by winning an Elimination Chamber match that included Rhodes, with the help of an interfering Drew McIntyre. Rhodes would go on to defeat McIntyre for the title on SmackDown before this WrestleMania rematch was set. The feud took a sharp turn when Orton revealed Pat McAfee as his mystery advisor, a former NFL punter and ESPN personality who aligned with Orton under the banner of bringing back the "Attitude Era." McAfee and Orton subsequently attacked Rhodes on SmackDown and stole the championship belt, before Rhodes stormed McAfee's television set and reclaimed it earlier this week.
The stakes are elevated by an additional stipulation: if Orton fails to win tonight, McAfee will be permanently banned from the wrestling business. Rhodes told ESPN's First Take he is focused on Orton above all else, calling McAfee "the garnish" and Orton "the steak," while also confirming he has a plan of his own to deal with any outside interference. For more on this feud, see our coverage of John Cena's prediction for this match.
Women's World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
Stephanie Vaquer puts the Women's World Championship on the line against Liv Morgan, who earned this title shot by winning the 2026 Women's Royal Rumble. Vaquer enters as champion looking to hold off one of the most driven challengers on the roster.
Women's Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch
AJ Lee defends the Women's Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch in what is expected to be one of the most technically polished matches of the night. Lynch is a former holder of the title, adding a layer of personal stakes to the showdown. For more on Lynch heading into WrestleMania, see her recent comments on fan criticism.
Seth Rollins vs. GUNTHER
This match was put together on short notice after injuries derailed original plans on both sides. GUNTHER's scheduled WrestleMania opponent Rey Mysterio suffered a rib injury, while Rollins lost his planned opponent Bron Breakker to hernia surgery. The match became official on the March 30 episode of Raw at Madison Square Garden, when GUNTHER made a surprise return and put Rollins to sleep with a Sleeper Hold while The Visionary was in the process of attacking Paul Heyman.
GUNTHER arrives on a historic run that includes retiring Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles. Rollins, a six-time world champion, has been in a prolonged feud with Paul Heyman and the Vision faction since returning at Elimination Chamber. Despite the abbreviated build, this is one of the most anticipated in-ring performances on the card. For background on how this matchup came together, see our story on WWE's scrapped WrestleMania 42 plans.
Women's Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way: Irresistible Forces (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Paige & Brie Bella
Champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend defend the Women's Tag Team titles against three challengers in a fatal four-way. Per PWInsider, Paige has signed with WWE and will compete in this match as a surprise return, stepping in for Nikki Bella who was not cleared from an ankle injury suffered on SmackDown. For the full details on that development, see our story on Paige's return.
Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu (Unsanctioned Match)
This one is scheduled to air in the opening hour of Night 1 and carries no rules, no officials with authority to stop it, and no disqualifications. The unsanctioned stipulation reflects the depth of hostility between McIntyre and Fatu heading into Las Vegas.
Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight
Also airing in the first hour, this six-man tag brings a celebrity crossover element to Night 1. YouTube and streaming personality IShowSpeed teams with Logan Paul and Austin Theory against the combination of Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, and LA Knight.
How to Watch WrestleMania 42 Night 1
- Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
- Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
- United States: ESPN (first hour also on ESPN2)
- International: Netflix
Don't Miss SEScoops Coverage
Stay tuned to SEScoops.com for live results, match recaps, and post-event fallout from WrestleMania 42 Night 1.
