Who needs to get a win at WWE WrestleMania 42? | Opinion
It is finally WrestleMania week as WWE takes over Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
While nearly every WrestleMania 42 match carries some kind of significance, some outcomes will have a far greater impact than others. Here’s who I think needs a win the most on this year’s back-to-back cards.
Liv Morgan over Stephanie Vaquer for the WWE Women’s World Championship
Morgan’s rivalry with Vaquer has evolved into one of the most personal feuds on the card.
Morgan’s women’s Royal Rumble victory was widely viewed as overdue recognition for her contributions to the women’s division. Her eventual decision to challenge Vaquer, after being questioned about her work ethic, added a layer to the storyline.
Vaquer moved up to the main roster and won the title at Evolution last year. She initially drew fans’ support, but the limited title defenses and lack of engaging storylines became stale.
A WrestleMania victory would not only validate Morgan’s resurgence but also solidify her third reign as Women’s World Champion.
Randy Orton achieves his goal of a 15th World title
For Randy Orton, the mission is simple: win world title No. 15.
After falling short against John Cena last year, he now finds himself across the ring from Cody Rhodes—his former protege and friend. Their shared history has added depth to the build, particularly following Orton’s brutal contract signing attack.
Rhodes’ reign has been successful, but a bit formulaic. Orton winning here would not only achieve that goal, but would freshen up the main event scene and hopefully Rhodes afterward.
Oba Femi destroys Brock Lesnar
Femi vacated his NXT Championship in December 2025, and made his main roster debut at the Royal Rumble. He demonstrated dominance over the next few weeks on Raw and SmackDown and then responded to Brock Lesnar’s open challenge for WrestleMania 42.
Getting a win over someone of Lesnar’s stature at a platform like WrestleMania 42 in a dominant fashion would really accelerate Femi’s WWE career and help him become part of wrestling history.
‘The Demon’ teaches Dominik Mysterio a lesson
From a familial bond to becoming enemies in the ring, the tension between Finn Balor and Mysterio had been brewing for a long while now with Mysterio’s constant critic of Balor’s inability to win the World Title as a big part of it.
The return of his iconic entrance theme and presentation associated with the Demon moniker has elevated the hype. The last time the character made an appearance was at WrestleMania 39 for his Hell in a Cell match against Edge and a lot has happened to both men since then.
During his time in the Judgment Day, it felt as though his run was being muffled. A win at WrestleMania 42 will hopefully revert him back to the destined push/opportunities he missed out in recent years.
Seth Rollins ends Gunther’s streak as the ‘career killer’
The unexpected buildup for Gunther and Seth Rollins for WrestleMania may have felt a bit rushed storyline-wise, but both stars are prominent enough to warrant a spot on the WrestleMania card. The two have a brief history when they collided in the semifinals for the World Heavyweight Championship in 2023.
A victory for Rollins at Mania, especially with odds stacked against him and Gunther’s possible alliance with Heyman, would make for a compelling outcome.
Rhea Ripley dominates the championship picture again in 2026
Since winning the the WWE Women’s title in November 2025, Cargill has defended it just once, that being in February. This led to concern from some fans regarding her in-ring capabilities and future as champion.
Going into their feud at WrestleMania, Ripley has earned the fans’ sympathy and support, especially with Cargill’s new alliance with B-Fab and Michin. Although she has IYO SKY in her corner, it might not be enough for Ripley to counter the numbers advantage for ‘Mania.
But Ripley winning the title and officially moving to the SmackDown brand would re-establish her dominance, and shift her back into the singles spotlight. It would also prove beneficial for Sky’s future as a singles competitor after their tag team run.
Jacob Fatu sustains momentum
Fatu witnessed a rapid ascent since walking away from Solo Sikoa’s side of the Bloodline fence and on his own.
In January, he interrupted Drew McIntyre’s WWE Title match with Cody Rhodes which cost him the championship. McIntyre vowed revenge ever since and the two have continued their feud which only escalated in March, hence the unsanctioned match this weekend.
Fatu is being cemented as a top tier star in WWE. A marquee win over someone credible as McIntyre would benefit his career while a loss would weaken the dominant presentation WWE has been building up for Fatu.
On the other hand, for McIntyre, a talent who has competed in consistent main events in his career, a potential loss would serve as a catalyst for a character evolution. It could also push for a more unhinged and unpredictable direction.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.