WrestleMania 42 takes over Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for an exciting weekend. Although there could be last-minute additions, the official match card seems set in place. Furthermore, WWE has announced the breakdowns for Night One and Night Two, respectively.
The build to Mania this year has been pretty controversial and underwhelming. Many fans have taken issue with the unnecessary involvement of celebrities in key storylines. Moreover, there was plenty of uncertainty on the Road to WrestleMania. Several stars were without a clear direction, and WWE was changing plans on the go.
Injuries had an important say in the months leading up to the Show of Shows, prompting WWE to pivot. In other instances, a confused booking atmosphere led to the Creative team rewriting many Mania plans. As such, several matches that once looked very likely never made it to the WrestleMania card.
On that note, let’s look at 4 matches that never made it to the WrestleMania 42 card.
#4. Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov for the US Championship at WrestleMania 42
Initially, it felt as if we might have gotten a Ladder match for the United States Championship at WrestleMania. The introduction of the US Title open challenge has made the midcard division on SmackDown more competitive. Consequently, several worthy contenders had emerged for the belt, and it made sense to pit them against each other in a Ladder match.
However, WWE booked a 6-man Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship. The next-best option for the US Title was a one-on-one contest between Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov. Hayes and Dragunov had carried SmackDown’s midcard division for several months with their weekly open challenges.
After Hayes dethroned Dragunov on the last SmackDown of 2025, the Mad Dragon intentionally stepped out of the title scene. Melo repeatedly offered Dragunov a rematch, but the Russian star declined. Eventually, they did battle again, and Melo retained after an instant classic.
Given the story and their chemistry in the ring, Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov would have stolen the show at WrestleMania 42. Instead, WWE put the US Championship on Sami Zayn, and gradually pushed Melo into the background. Zayn will defend the title against Trick Williams at the Show of Shows.
#3. Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Bron Breakker Looked Like the Initial Plan for WrestleMania 42
WrestleMania season is the worst time to get injured, and many talented Superstars were forced to sit on the sidelines this year. Bron Breakker was being groomed for a massive Mania match with his former mentor, Seth “Freakin” Rollins. WWE had been running a “mystery assailant” storyline with Breakker, which would have led to Rollins’ return.
Unfortunately, the Unpredictable Badass suffered an untimely injury on the RAW after WWE Royal Rumble 2026. Eventually, Rollins returned to seek revenge on the Vision, but Breakker was still recovering from injury. WWE was hopeful that the former football player would be cleared in time for Mania.
However, it wasn’t meant to be, and Rollins entered a feud with Gunther. Triple H had put a lot of effort into the Vision, but we have yet to witness a payoff to the angle. Hopefully, Breakker could return soon after Mania to resume his storyline with the Visionary.
#2. Gunther vs. Rey Mysterio
After ending the careers of Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles, Gunther was without a clear direction for WrestleMania. The Career Killer entered a brief feud with Dragon Lee, Styles’ former Tag Team partner. The Ring General unmasked Lee, disrespecting the entire Luchador family.
Gunther’s recent liking for disrespecting legends made Rey Mysterio a logical target. Furthermore, ripping off Lee’s mask provided Mysterio with a reason to stand up to the Career Killer. Unfortunately, the Master of the 619 had been dealing with an injury. Mysterio returned in time for Mania, but it was too late for a match with Gunther.
The Ring General will face Seth “Freakin” Rollins at Mania. This is a departure from his current gimmick of ending veterans’ careers at the tail end of their careers. However, Gunther and Mysterio are likely to cross paths in the future.
#1. Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton vs. Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42
Leading into Elimination Chamber 2026, the WWE Championship scene was a mess. Then champion, Drew McIntyre, had done everything in his power to keep Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu away from the top prize in sports entertainment. McIntyre succeeded in his goal, but his meddling resulted in him facing Rhodes on SmackDown after Elimination Chamber.
Following a timely interference from Fatu, the American Nightmare defeated McIntyre to regain the WWE Title. As a result, Rhodes set up a dream match with Randy Orton, the Men’s Chamber winner, for Mania 42. However, many fans took issue with WWE’s decision to take the title away from McIntyre.
It didn’t help that the eventual build-up for Rhodes vs. Orton was pretty underwhelming. Fans have criticized the excessive involvement of celebrities, and much of the initial excitement is gone. The poor build has left many wondering if WWE was better off booking a Fatal Four-Way for the WWE Title.
McIntyre could have easily carried the title into the Show of Shows. He also had enough history with Rhodes and Fatu to warrant a Mania match. As for Orton, he had earned his place by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber.
