Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 42 plans appear to have been overturned due to a significant change in WWE’s creative direction last week, leaving fans uncertain about his path to the main event in Las Vegas. This shift, directly impacting the much-discussed Roman Reigns WrestleMania 42 plans, follows Drew McIntyre’s unexpected championship victory on WWE SmackDown.
Major Plans Shift After Drew McIntyre’s Title Win
In the run-up to WrestleMania 42, speculation had mounted about another highly anticipated clash between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, with many expecting the Undisputed Championship to be at stake. WWE had seemed to be steering toward a trilogy match between the two marquee stars at the event set in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, that outlook changed dramatically after Drew McIntyre, also known as The Scottish Warrior, triumphed over Cody Rhodes—nicknamed The American Nightmare—during last week’s edition of WWE SmackDown, capturing the championship and shaking up all previous storylines.
The twist in the title picture was compounded by the return of Jacob Fatu, known in the wrestling world as the Samoan Werewolf. Fatu’s involvement in the match proved significant as an unintentional interference cost Rhodes the championship, pointing toward his potential role in upcoming WrestleMania narratives. Dave Meltzer, a longtime wrestling analyst from Wrestling Observer Radio, commented on how quickly and unexpectedly the original plans had been overturned by these developments.
“Well, this whole WrestleMania changed on Wednesday of last week, which was when they made the decision to go with McIntyre title win. So that wasn’t decided until Wednesday. And I don’t know what the new matches are, although they may be doing a three-way with McIntyre, Jacob Fatu, and Cody Rhodes. That may not necessarily be at Mania, but that’s kind of, I mean, and that’s not even 100%, but I was told that that’s kind of a possibility. But, you know, the Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns thing is probably not happening, but whatever it is, the ‘Mania plans were changed on Wednesday when they made the decision to change championship.”
The resulting uncertainty means a three-way showdown featuring McIntyre, Fatu, and Rhodes is now under discussion, though it is not confirmed that this match will be set for WrestleMania 42 itself. Fans who were hoping to see Roman Reigns face off against Cody Rhodes for a third time may be left disappointed, as WWE’s sudden pivot in storyline direction seems to have shelved that match for now.
Why WWE Made the Sudden Change
Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes are widely regarded as two of the biggest draws in WWE, making their prospective trilogy at WrestleMania 42 a hot ticket. However, WWE officials reportedly felt the predictability surrounding the main event was diminishing the show’s sense of excitement.
Dave Meltzer reported that WWE management decided they needed to “shake things up” on the road to WrestleMania 42 and that Drew McIntyre’s newfound status as champion offered both creative unpredictability and a chance to spotlight McIntyre in a major market—especially significant given his popularity in Europe.
“I think it was just one of those things where they just felt that they wanted to shake things up, that it was too predictable. And, Drew McIntyre, they wanted to get the championship on him. It kind of makes sense, being in Europe and everything, and just basically shake things up, get some surprises going, I’m going to guess.”
This adjustment, framed as a way to ignite new excitement and introduce unforeseen elements on the Road to WrestleMania, may also realign future storylines for top WWE events beyond Las Vegas. The shift not only alters the dynamics for Roman Reigns but injects suspense for Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre, as well as Cody Rhodes, all of whom now face an uncertain route to the grandest stage.
Outlook for Roman Reigns and WrestleMania 42
As of now, WWE has provided no confirmation of what the final card for WrestleMania 42 will look like, particularly regarding Roman Reigns. The shakeup has generated both intrigue and frustration among fans, who were anticipating a marquee showdown between Reigns and Rhodes. With Drew McIntyre’s victory and Jacob Fatu’s emerging presence, the event’s narrative is now wide open—setting the stage for multiple possibilities at Las Vegas’ premier wrestling spectacle.
As the build to WrestleMania 42 continues, all eyes are on WWE to see how they will resolve the plans for Roman Reigns and if the focus will remain on McIntyre as champion or pivot further to include new challengers such as Jacob Fatu or a returning Cody Rhodes. The ramifications of this change will likely shape not only the outcome in Las Vegas, Nevada, but also the broader direction of WWE’s leading storylines throughout the year.
