The plans for WrestleMania 42 have reportedly changed after Drew McIntyre beat Cody Rhodes last Friday on SmackDown. McIntyre outlasted Rhodes in a 3 Stages of Hell match to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, the initial plans to hold Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns III at WrestleMania 42 have been “probably” scrapped. Reigns is the current favorite to win the Royal Rumble, so it was natural to think that a trilogy against Rhodes was on the cards.
However, once the company decided that McIntyre would beat The American Nightmare last Friday in Berlin, Germany, there would be a new planned main event for the biggest event of the year.
One potential plan is a triple threat match for the Undisputed WWE Championship, with McIntyre defending his title against Rhodes and Jacob Fatu. Meltzer noted that this match is “on the table,” but it could also happen on the Road to WrestleMania.
Fatu Helped McIntyre Beat Rhodes
The triple threat match involving Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu has a lot of potential. Fatu inserted himself into the feud last Friday when he prevented McIntyre from exiting the steel cage through the door in the third and final stage of the 3 Stages of Hell match.
The Samoan Werewolf was out for more than two months after getting attacked backstage last October. McIntyre was the presumed suspect, so Fatu began throwing punches and kicks at him.
But when Rhodes tried to take advantage of Fatu’s assault, the former United States began attacking the then-Undisputed WWE Champion. It allowed The Scottish Psychopath to take advantage of the situation and crawl out of the door to win the title.
Fatu hasn’t explained his actions yet, so it will be very interesting to see if McIntyre or Rhodes attacked him more than a couple of months ago.
There have been rumors about “Homelander” Cody, but Cory Hays of BodySlam.com reported that a heel turn isn’t in the works. However, there would be a “character shift” for The American Nightmare.
Possible WrestleMania 42 Plans for Becky Lynch
On a recent edition of Fightful Select Answers, Sean Ross Sapp was asked about the plans for Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 42. SRS hasn’t heard what WWE has for Lynch in the biggest show of the year, but the expectation backstage is a showdown with AJ Lee.
The three-time Divas Champion has made Lynch tap out twice, at Wrestlepalooza in their mixed tag team match and at Survivor Series inside WarGames. Lee also cost The Man the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the November 17, 2025 episode of RAW, helping Maxxine Dupri take home her first title.
But since then, Lynch has regained the Women’s Intercontinental Title from Dupri. She defeated the Alpha Academy muse last week on RAW after grabbing onto the ropes.
Big Time Becks has granted a rematch to Dupri on the January 19 edition of RAW in Dublin, Ireland. She’ll have the homecourt advantage since she’s from Ireland. She was born and raised in Limerick, a two-hour drive from Dublin.
Huge Triple Threat Match Planned for WrestleMania 42: Report