The main event of WWE WrestleMania 42 was originally set to feature World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk facing Roman Reigns, with Drew McIntyre battling Cody Rhodes, and Jacob Fatu possibly joining the latter match. However, these plans underwent multiple revisions due to injuries and booking decisions.
Initial Plans and Revised Matchups
Reported by Dave Meltzer from F4WOnline.com, the four top stars in WWE—Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Seth Rollins—were central to WrestleMania’s main event scene. The original idea was for Seth Rollins to defend the world title against Reigns, a bout that had been avoided since Rollins won a triple threat at last year’s WrestleMania and took Paul Heyman away from Reigns. Meanwhile, Rhodes was set to defend his title against Punk in a rare babyface versus babyface match, something the company had teased but not executed since Punk’s return.
Effects of Seth Rollins’ Shoulder Injury
When Rollins suffered a shoulder injury, WWE planned for Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes instead. This plan shifted again when WWE decided Drew McIntyre would defeat Rhodes for the WWE Championship, altering the anticipated matchups significantly.
Royal Rumble Winners and Booking Decisions
Before McIntyre’s title win, there was an intention to have Bron Breakker claim the Royal Rumble victory and then defeat CM Punk at WrestleMania. WWE ultimately chose to have Roman Reigns win the Royal Rumble, reshaping the event’s main storyline once more.
Impact on WrestleMania and WWE Storylines
The changes to WrestleMania 42’s main events highlight WWE’s efforts to adapt quickly to unforeseen injuries and storyline opportunities. The reshuffled matches will determine the face of the company’s wrestling scene, affecting future rivalries and title trajectories. Fans can expect the adjustments around Reigns, Punk, McIntyre, and Rhodes to play a significant role in WWE’s direction after WrestleMania.
“The basic idea is the four biggest stars in the company were and are Reigns, Punk, Rhodes and Seth Rollins. So the plan was for Rollins to defend the world title against Reigns, a match they’ve avoided since Rollins won the three-way at last year’s WrestleMania and took Paul Heyman from Reigns. Rhodes would then defend the world title against Punk in a babyface vs. babyface match which the company has avoided doing but teased multiple times since Punk’s return.”
?Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Insider
