Drew McIntyre’s recent elevation to Undisputed WWE Champion comes with strong backing from both McIntyre himself and former titleholder Cody Rhodes, who sought to provide fans with a fresh storyline as WrestleMania 42 approaches. On a recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, TNA’s Matt Hardy supported this direction by highlighting the potential for a reinvigorated world title scene before the major event.
Matt Hardy Advocates for a Fresh Main Event at WrestleMania
Reflecting on the possibilities for WrestleMania’s headline match, Hardy expressed his desire for an original and engaging championship contest.
“As a WrestleMania main event, I would prefer personally to have something fresh, a new big matchup,”
Hardy said.
“I think popping Drew McIntyre into that spot as the champion really freshens everything up, freshens the scene up, and it really makes people curious of who is going to be his challenger. Is he going to keep the title through then? Is Cody going to get his rematch? There’s a lot of possibilities and it freshens up everything. I think it’s good to do that every so often.”
Shifting Plans for the WWE Title Bout at WrestleMania
Although earlier reports had indicated a third clash between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship, these plans were altered in early January. Hardy viewed another Rhodess vs. Reigns main event as less compelling after two intense encounters. He remarked,
“We’ve had two of these main events of Cody versus Roman. I’m okay not having another one. They could have a rubber match at some other point and it could be advertised as a very important match on whatever kind of show, but I think it’s the main event of WrestleMania, it’s time to do something fresh.”
Upcoming Matches Leading to WrestleMania
As anticipation builds, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes are set to face off in the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble match. Meanwhile, Drew McIntyre will defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn at the Royal Rumble event, adding more excitement to the road toward WrestleMania.
Renewed Interest in WrestleMania’s Championship Landscape
The decision to place Drew McIntyre at the forefront signals WWE’s intent to introduce new storylines and unexpected challengers before WrestleMania, inviting speculation about future contenders. With key figures like McIntyre, Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Sami Zayn involved, fans can expect thrilling developments in the championship race. Whether Cody Rhodes will earn a rematch remains an open question, but the emphasis on fresh rivalries suggests WWE is eager to keep the WrestleMania WWE Title Match dynamic and unpredictable.
If using any quotes, credit should be given to The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy with a nod to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
