WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42, took place this weekend in Las Vegas, and WWE had plenty to prove after the disappointment of WrestleMania 41.
While both nights had strong moments, Night Two was far better than Night One. The first night suffered from a flat crowd that only came alive for major surprise moments, while several matches felt too short to justify a WrestleMania spot.
Night One opened with a six-man tag featuring The Usos and LA Knight against Logan Paul, Austin Theory and online streamer IShowSpeed.
The match did exactly what it needed to do: quick energy, celebrity appeal and an easy way to engage the crowd early. The Usos and Knight picked up the win, while IShowSpeed put Paul through the announce table and gave one of the night’s biggest reactions. It was not a classic, but it served its purpose and earned a B-plus.
The unsanctioned match between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu was a solid no-disqualification match, but not strong enough for its stipulation.
These matches are supposed to feel deeply personal and reserved for WWE’s most heated rivalries. While tables, kendo sticks and chairs were all used, the match lacked the emotional weight needed to feel special. At just 14 minutes, the payoff to one of the most violent feuds heading into WrestleMania felt rushed. It earned a B-minus.
The women’s Intercontinental Championship match between AJ Lee and Becky Lynch lasted just eight minutes, which felt disappointing for a feud that had been building for six months.
Both wrestlers are too talented for a rushed finish on WWE’s biggest stage. Lynch winning the title was the right decision, but the lack of time made the moment feel smaller than it should have. It earned a C-plus.
The most frustrating booking decision of Night One was the women’s World Championship match between Stephanie Vaquer and Liv Morgan.
A world title match at WrestleMania lasting only seven minutes is a disservice to both the championship and the women’s division. One of the most anticipated matches on the card deserved far more time. It earned a D, standing for do better.
Night One’s main event saw Randy Orton challenge WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The feud started strong, but celebrity involvement from Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll weakened what should have been WWE’s biggest story.
WWE tried to position Orton as the villain, but the crowd rejected it, cheering for Orton and booing Rhodes instead. Rhodes retained after the usual WrestleMania chaos of low blows and referee replacements. Orton’s post-match punt kick was a strong ending to an uneven first night. The match earned an A-minus.
Night Two immediately felt stronger. The crowd had more energy, the pacing improved and the matches were given time to matter.
Oba Femi opened the night with a statement win over Brock Lesnar in a pure power match. Lesnar leaving his boots and gloves in the ring made it feel like a possible retirement moment. This match was short but did what it had to; it earned a B-minus.
The six-man ladder match for the men’s Intercontinental Championship was one of the best matches of the weekend. Defending champion Penta retained, and the chaos delivered exactly what fans wanted. It earned an A.
“The Demon” Finn Bálor against Dominik Mysterio in a street fight was my most anticipated match. After years of questionable booking, Bálor finally got the spotlight he deserved. His decisive win felt like long-overdue justice for one of WWE’s best performers, earning an A-plus.
The main event of Night Two featured World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk against Roman Reigns.
This was the best match of WrestleMania. From the buildup to the in-ring execution, it felt complete. The story was simple and effective: two men whose impact on WWE is undeniable, trying to prove who was better. Reigns defeating Punk was the perfect way to close WrestleMania Sunday. It earned an A-plus.
Overall, WrestleMania 42 was better than WrestleMania 41, but it still failed to deliver consistently in its buildup and in giving marquee matches the time they deserved.
Night Two saved the weekend, but too many major matches on Night One felt rushed or underdeveloped. Overall, WrestleMania 42 earns a B-minus. Better than last year, but WWE still needs to reassess its storytelling, pacing and how it treats its biggest stage.
