The main event picture for WrestleMania 42 is internally locked in, featuring the third highly anticipated chapter in the storied rivalry between Roman Reigns and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
This direction, however, was not the original plan and only came into clear focus following a series of creative discussions and the influence of The Tribal Chief himself.
According to Self Made Pro, WWE’s creative team was juggling multiple scenarios for the biggest event of 2026. For an extended period, the company’s long-term intention was for Cody Rhodes to face CM Punk, while Roman Reigns was slated for a singles match, initially against Seth Rollins (who got injured), and later against rising star Bron Breakker.
Specifically, the fallback plan involved Reigns versus Breakker and Punk versus Rhodes for the two world championships at WrestleMania 42.
However, there was one more option on the table and some WWE officials were into this plan more, and The OTC himself liked it as well: CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker for the World Heavyweight Championship and Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns III for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
According to the new creative consensus reached after a necessary high-level agreement, the path for this main event will run straight through the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble match. In a significant character decision, Reigns is reportedly slated to enter and win the match as a babyface, framing his victory as a “redemption story” to justify challenging Rhodes for the championship that ended his historic title reign at WrestleMania 40.
This will set the stage for Reigns to pursue what he sees as vindication and reclaim his title in the third WrestleMania encounter between the two men.
The intense stare-down between Reigns and Rhodes at Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 served as the definitive on-screen signal, confirming the “endgame” was set for WrestleMania 42.
On last night’s RAW, WWE announced Punk vs. Breakker for the World Heavyweight Title on the January 5, 2026, episode of RAW, which will be the one-year Netflix anniversary episode.
Also Read: Top SmackDown Star Expected To Return In A Few Weeks
