During a recent episode of WWE RAW, Brock Lesnar returned to the ring, joined by his advocate Paul Heyman, and announced an open challenge to decide his opponent for WrestleMania 42. This challenge has left fans and insiders eager to see who will face Lesnar in the upcoming marquee event in Las Vegas.
Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, writing for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, shared insights about the potential contender for Lesnar. Meltzer revealed that WWE is highly conscious of fan-supported calls for Oba Femi to be Lesnar’s opponent, citing the enthusiastic chants heard from the crowd on February 23 in Atlanta.
Fan Demand for Oba Femi Amid Suspected Storyline Caution
Meltzer noted the prominence of Oba Femi in fan reactions but highlighted that neither Paul Heyman nor Brock Lesnar acknowledged the chants during the segment. This silence appears intentional, likely to avoid spoiling any storyline developments related to the challenger announcement.
While Oba Femi has strong fan backing, Meltzer added that as of the Royal Rumble event, LA Knight was viewed as the leading contender for Lesnar’s WrestleMania opponent, with Femi considered a possibility for the future based on recent appearances.
“It’s very clear the crowd wants it to be Oba Femi. The only thing we know is that WWE is well aware of that, as the chants were obvious on 2/23 in Atlanta. But neither Paul Heyman nor Lesnar responded to the chants, which is more than likely not giving away the storyline before the confrontation if that is the direction.”
— Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
“As noted before, LA Knight was the direction as of the Royal Rumble, with Femi, based on how the Rumble went, clearly an idea for down the line.”
— Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Criticism Mounts Over Lack of WrestleMania Opponent Announcement
Former WWE writer Vince Russo voiced strong criticism regarding WWE’s handling of Lesnar’s open challenge. On his podcast The Brand, Russo expressed frustration that with WrestleMania just weeks away, Lesnar has yet to have a confirmed opponent or storyline leading into the event.
“How many weeks away is WrestleMania? … WrestleMania is five weeks away…whatever. Let’s give them eight weeks. Let’s give them two extra weeks. It doesn’t matter. Here we are, bro. And they don’t have an opponent for Brock Lesnar. He’s going to do the open challenge. When I hear open challenge, bro, and I’m a casual fan, here’s the first thing I’m saying. When I hear open challenge, the first thing in my mind is, ‘Oh bro, it’s going to be the goof that accepted Randy Orton’s open challenge… what’s his name again?’ Joe Hendry.”
— Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
“Well, the last time they did this, if I’m a casual fan and I’m tuning in, Joe Hendry answered the call. So they’re going back to that same well again. And any casual fan who saw the last time is sitting there saying, ‘Oh, who’s it going to be this time?’ They’re just absolutely clueless. Bro, if you don’t have an opponent and a program for Brock Lesnar going into WrestleMania, every single person in that freaking room needs to be fired.”
— Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
WrestleMania 42 Build-Up and Speculation Intensify
As the excitement builds toward WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, speculation continues about who will meet the returning Lesnar inside the ring. The event’s high-profile status combined with Lesnar’s reputation as a multi-discipline combat legend ensures that the challenger announcement will be closely watched and heavily scrutinized by fans and insiders alike.
Among names frequently discussed, Oba Femi’s rising popularity, LA Knight’s previous indication as a likely opponent, and backstage signals hinting at major WWE stars joining the title picture keep the narrative fluid. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding Lesnar’s competitor has created tension among WWE supporters and commentators who desire a clearly defined storyline heading into the event.
Fan Reactions and WWE’s Next Steps
The intense fan chants for Oba Femi and the silence from Lesnar and Heyman suggest WWE is carefully managing the storyline reveal to maintain suspense. Given the pressure to deliver a compelling WrestleMania match, the company’s choices will significantly influence fan reception and the overall buzz leading up to the event.
With the open challenge underway and only weeks remaining before WrestleMania 42, WWE faces mounting expectations to finalize and promote Lesnar’s opponent. How the organization resolves this will impact both the success of the pay-per-view and the direction of key WWE talent narratives going forward.
Dave Meltzer on Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania opponent:
“It’s very clear the crowd wants it to be Oba Femi. The only thing we know is that WWE is well aware of that, as the chants were obvious on 2/23 in Atlanta. But neither Paul Heyman nor Lesnar responded to the chants, which… pic.twitter.com/ptttgjRVh5
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) February 27, 2026
