WWE confirmed the opening matches for both nights of WrestleMania 42 during Monday Night Raw, setting the stage for its biggest event of the year and highlighting the show’s availability on ESPN’s cable and streaming platforms.
WrestleMania Saturday (Night One) will open with a six-man tag team match, as LA Knight teams with The Usos against The Vision and IShowSpeed. The company announced the bout in the opening minutes of Raw.
WrestleMania Sunday (Night Two) begins with Brock Lesnar facing Oba Femi in a highly anticipated singles match. The showdown marks a major WrestleMania spotlight for Femi against the veteran Lesnar.
WrestleMania 42 is scheduled as a two-night premium live event, continuing the format WWE has used in recent years.
WrestleMania 42 on ESPN
WrestleMania 42 marks WWE’s biggest move yet into the ESPN ecosystem, with the show split between linear TV and streaming. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will host the two-night event on April 18 and 19, headlined by Cody Rhodes defending the undisputed WWE championship against Randy Orton on Night 1 and CM Punk defending the world heavyweight title against Roman Reigns on Night 2. Fans can also look forward to marquee women’s title bouts featuring Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan and Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley, plus special attractions like Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi and a stacked intercontinental ladder match.
For viewers, the ESPN deal means WrestleMania 42 will be easier to find across multiple platforms. Coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET both nights, with the first hour airing on ESPN2 on Saturday and ESPN on Sunday, while subscribers to the ESPN Unlimited plan can stream the full cards in the ESPN app and designated streaming hub. This setup gives casual sports fans a free taste on traditional ESPN channels, then funnels them to the streaming service for the rest of the action, backed by expanded coverage and features in ESPN’s dedicated WWE hub.
