With just under a month to go until WrestleMania 42, the match card is finally locking into place. This past Monday on Raw, we saw Oba Femi answer Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania open challenge in dominant fashion, picking up “The Beast” and levelling him with his signature move, “The Fall From Grace.”
That opening was widely considered by fans online as the best start to an episode of Raw so far this year. Later in the broadcast, it was made official: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar is locked in for WrestleMania. It’s a collision of titans that many are calling the real-life Godzilla vs. King Kong.
With just five matches set so far, the road to “The Grandest Stage of Them All” is still unfolding. While Jacob Fatu faces Drew McIntyre tonight on SmackDown, many online speculate the match will end in a chaotic No Contest, ultimately setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch at the “Big Dance.”
While most of the online buzz centers on who will make the card, there is a growing conversation about those in danger of missing it. For any wrestler on the main roster, competing at the “Showcase of the Immortals” is the ultimate dream, making the possibility of being left off the year’s two biggest nights a tough reality to face.
This piece dives into five superstars from both the men’s and women’s divisions who are shockingly at risk of being left off the WrestleMania 42 card. We’ll also break down the potential pathways that could still land them a spot in Vegas. With the clock ticking, there are still a few creative “Hail Marys” for these competitors to ensure they don’t spend the biggest weekend of the year on the sidelines.
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Gunther
Starting things off is a truly surprising pick, especially considering the incredible run Gunther has been on. He has spent the last year operating as a literal “Career Killer,” having retired Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles. Yet, remarkably, the creative direction for the “Ring General” at WrestleMania 42 is still completely up in the air.
While reports indicated WWE was eyeing a legendary clash with Rey Mysterio further to solidify Gunther’s “Career Killer” reputation, those plans are now in jeopardy due to Mysterio’s recent rib fractures. With the Hall of Famer likely sidelined through April, WWE is reportedly scrambling to find a worthy alternative for one of its most dominant stars.
To solve this creative dilemma, WWE has a few intriguing options should Mysterio remain unavailable for the “Showcase of the Immortals.” The most poetic path would be to have him turn back the clock and chase the Intercontinental Championship, the very title he dominated for a historic 666-day reign, potentially within the chaotic environment of a multi-man ladder match.
The second option is a one-on-one bout against LA Knight, who is currently fighting his own battles to secure a spot on the card. Gunther could dismiss Knight as being “all talk and no substance,” setting the stage for a classic showdown billed as “The Talker vs. The Brawler.”
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IYO SKY
Next on our list is a name that will shock many, given both her incredible in-ring talent and her dominance over the past year. One thing that feels like a certainty for creative is that IYO SKY cannot miss this card, especially after the world-class performance she delivered in her match against Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair at last year’s show.
There are two intriguing pathways for IYO SKY to punch her ticket once again to Las Vegas. The first would see her follow her best friend, Rhea Ripley, to SmackDown to offer reinforcement against Jade Cargill. This move would likely put her on a direct collision course with the Women’s United States Champion, Giulia.
While it currently looks like Tiffany Stratton will be the one targeting the champion, adding SKY into this match would elevate it from being merely good to a match of the night, potentially.
The second option involves a high-stakes bout against Asuka, playing off the intense history the two have shared over the past year. This matchup could set the stage for an unforgettable WrestleMania moment if Kairi Sane finally turns on the “Empress of Tomorrow,” helping SKY secure a career-defining victory.
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Damian Priest
While last year Damian Priest was a shoo-in due to his marquee battle against Drew McIntyre, this year is a much bigger mystery as to whether or not he will be on the WrestleMania 42 card. Despite recent involvement in a newly-formed tag team with R-Truth, it remains to be seen if their pursuit of The MFTs and the Tag Team Championship will actually lead them to a spot in Las Vegas.
WWE has two intriguing directions for Priest. They can either pull the trigger on a massive WrestleMania moment for Priest and R-Truth by having them secure the Tag Team Championship if they don’t win them tonight against the MFT’s, or they could pivot to an even more unexpected scenario that changes his trajectory entirely.
Royce Keys has yet to have his first Raw or SmackDown appearance since his debut at the
Royal Rumble, leading many to question WWE’s creative direction for him. A compelling way to bring him into the mix would be to have him arrive on SmackDown as a powerhouse heel, costing Priest and R-Truth their tag team title opportunity and immediately challenging Priest to a high-stakes match at WrestleMania 42.
It’s important to note that Keys was the one who eliminated Priest during this year’s Royal Rumble, a move that historically carries heavy implications. We’ve already seen Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi turn their Rumble elimination into a confirmed WrestleMania showdown, so there’s no reason the same logic shouldn’t apply to a Priest and Keys grudge match.
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LA Knight
While he entered last year’s WrestleMania as the United States Champion for a high-profile clash with Jacob Fatu, this year, LA Knight’s road to “The Grandest Stage of Them All” feels uncomfortably quiet. With only weeks to go, one of WWE’s most popular stars is currently without a championship or a confirmed opponent, leaving fans wondering if he’ll have a significant role at all.
WWE could move forward with a blockbuster one-on-one match between LA Knight and Gunther, or they could opt for something far more unpredictable. Just like Gunther, Knight could join the speculated ladder match for the Intercontinental title. This stipulation would allow his personality to shine while putting him on a collision course with Penta.
Adding Knight to that potential matchup would provide a vital layer of intrigue. As a massive crowd favorite who is elite on the mic and a consistently reliable in-ring performer, his presence alone would elevate the stakes of the entire segment.
