WrestleMania Saturday is the books and we’re only halfway home.
The WWE takes over Allegiant Stadium again on Sunday and this card feels more “WrestleMania” to me than Saturday did. Maybe it’s because both Royal Rumble winners are getting title shots as per the tradition dictates? Maybe it’s because the main event is a match between top stars that wasn’t saddled with a goon from ESPN. Maybe it’s just because it’s Sunday. After all, like the Super Bowl, Sunday has typically been the day for WrestleMania over the years. I’ll stop guessing, but whatever it is, this show feels like WrestleMania.
The main event
It starts with the main event. Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk is a top five match for WWE as we sit here near the beginning of 2026. Reigns vs. The Rock and The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes are bigger attractions, but not by much. Punk vs. Rhodes is a big one too.
So, because Reigns vs. Punk is such a premiere match, WWE was playing with house money during the build. It’s hard to mess up something between talents like Reigns and Punk, who are masters at the craft and cared deeply about by WWE fans.
“Challenge accepted.” They nearly did it. Reigns vs. Punk started off with a blistering promo that set an intriguing foundation, but then it devolved into meta-nonsense, dead parents, and old age. The feud lost it’s way.
Luckily, top talent wins out. The final promo exchange between Reigns and Punk was wonderful. Refreshing too. The meta was bounced out and both guys took the story to the place it always needed to go. Their hatred for one another and the championship.
Boom. It’s simple, but through their histories, they each let down their guard to highlight why winning was important. Who does win? After all CM Punk and WWE have been through together over the years, it’s wild to predict that Punk will get a win over the golden goose in the main event of the biggest show of the year. But, wild, I am. CM Punk is going to win this match. I expect some Usos shenanigans, but it’ll be Punk holding the belt Monday on Raw.
The ruler has to rule
Reigns vs. Punk will certainly be in the conversation for match of the night, but that honor is going to go to Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar. Fans of Femi are worried about the outcome to this one and I get it. Don’t fret.
Femi is on one of the hotter runs ever for an NXT call up. NXT is Triple H’s baby. When there’s a chance to put his system on a pedestal, he’s going to take it. Lesnar is Lesnar and he’s done strong business in building Femi up. The final piece of that business has to be the finish. Femi wins and it won’t be close.
The match matters
The marquee women’s match on WrestleMania 42 Sunday is Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s Championship. All the bright lights are on Cargill in this one. Ripley has already proved herself at WrestleMania and Cargill needs to. She has her best opportunity to do it against Ripley. The Cargill vs. Ripley build has left a lot to be desired, but it doesn’t really matter at this point. The match needs to be good and that’s all there is to it. Look for Cargill to retain.
WrestleMania 42 Sunday airs live on ESPN Unlimited and Netflix, internationally. The full card and full prediction show from The Takedown on SI is below.
WrestleMania 42 Sunday Full Match Card
CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns - WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley - WWE Women’s Championship Match
“The Demon” Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
Penta vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio vs. JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans - WWE Men’s Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams - WWE United States Championship Match
WrestleMania 42 Sunday Preview
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