Night 2
Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Matt Cardona vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tama Tonga vs. Rey Fenix: United States Title Ladder Match
To kick off the second night of WrestleMania, you have to start with a bang, and there is almost nothing that delivers quite like a ladder match. Each of these six competitors has a lot to prove, with the champion, Carmelo Hayes, at the very top of that list.
Ever since capturing the United States Title from Dragunov on the December 26, 2025, episode of SmackDown, Hayes has successfully defended the gold six times. His motive for his match is to prove to the fans that he truly is “HIM,” a champion capable of defending his belt against several opponents at once, rather than just a single challenger.
There is plenty of history between these competitors, from the rivalry between Hayes and Dragunov to the NJPW roots shared by Nakamura and Tama Tonga. Notably, this would be the first ladder match at WrestleMania since WrestleMania 32, a decade ago.
Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams
While there has been a lot of criticism regarding storytelling across several angles lately, the story between Sami Zayn and Trick Williams is one that is really resonating with fans.
Williams has criticized Sami for “not being able to get the job done,” and he has enjoyed better luck lately, having successfully qualified for the Elimination Chamber while Zayn fell short. The storytelling for a match between them is simple yet effective: Zayn can prove he still has what it takes by beating Trick and exposing him as a rookie, while Williams can show that Zayn isn’t just a failure, he’s a fraud.
AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Intercontinental Title Match (No Disqualification)
Following AJ Lee’s victory over Becky Lynch this past Saturday at Elimination Chamber, it feels inevitable that Lynch will seek a rematch, and she will likely be granted it. Lee has held the upper hand in this rivalry so far, having submitted Becky at WrestlePalooza, Survivor Series: WarGames, and now at Elimination Chamber.
Lee will likely lean into her flamboyant side given her history, while Lynch remains convinced that her three previous losses were only due to “cheating.” To settle the score, Lee will grant Lynch one final opportunity, defending her Intercontinental Championship in a No Disqualification match to ensure there are no excuses if Lynch falls short once again.
