WWE’s plans for WrestleMania 42 have shifted following Drew McIntyre’s recent Undisputed WWE Championship victory, impacting anticipated matchups and storylines going into the event. The change arose after McIntyre dethroned Cody Rhodes on the January 9 edition of SmackDown, prompting speculation about new directions for WrestleMania 42 plans.
Surprise Title Change Alters Path to WrestleMania 42
Leading up to WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, rumors strongly indicated a headline clash between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. However, Drew McIntyre’s championship win—achieved by defeating Rhodes—caught many by surprise and left fans questioning WWE’s revised approach to the “Grandest Stage of Them All.” The unexpected result raised new questions about which main event bouts could take place at the highly-anticipated show.
Inside WWE’s Changed Plans According to Reports
Updates discussed on Wrestling Observer Radio indicated that WWE’s WrestleMania 42 plans were altered when executives decided, as of Wednesday, January 7, to have McIntyre claim the title. Although the exact details of the new matches remain uncertain, one combination has started generating buzz: a possible triple threat involving Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, and Jacob Fatu. The idea of this matchup has not yet been confirmed and may not even happen at WrestleMania, but it is considered within the realm of possibility.
“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, and that’s not even 100% but I was told that it’s a possibility.”
– Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
Jacob Fatu’s Return Impacts the Title Picture
Jacob Fatu played a pivotal role in the outcome of the championship match on SmackDown. Making his return from injury, the wrestler known as the “Samoan Werewolf” intervened by attacking McIntyre. This led to a confrontation with Cody Rhodes, which gave the Scottish contender an opening to escape the steel cage and secure the championship victory. Fatu’s actions not only shifted the title scene but injected even more uncertainty into the main event landscape heading toward WrestleMania 42.
Roman Reigns Versus Cody Rhodes Plans Now Uncertain
Regarding the previously suggested WrestleMania showdown between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, Dave Meltzer provided further insight, indicating that the once-anticipated singles match now appears off the table. He attributed these changes directly to McIntyre’s title win and said:
“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 the championship.”
– Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
What the Shift Means for WWE WrestleMania 42
WWE had seemingly teased a third singles match in the past four years between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, particularly after their tense face-off at the end of the Survivor Series Men’s WarGames Match. However, with McIntyre’s victory and Fatu’s involvement, fans should expect the WrestleMania 42 plans to feature fresh storylines and perhaps new rivalries on wrestling’s biggest stage.
With these recent developments involving Drew McIntyre’s WrestleMania 42 plans, the event’s top matches and overall direction now remain in flux. WWE’s next steps are eagerly anticipated by wrestling fans, as the company adapts its creative vision for Las Vegas this spring.
