Night one of WrestleMania 42 was action-packed! It included three title changes, a couple of surprise returns, and even a pregnancy announcement. WrestleMania night one, per the usual, also left fans wondering what the fallout would be after all the chaos. Here are three questions to ponder following night one of mania.
AJ Lee dropped the Women’s Intercontinental Championship to Becky Lynch after a run that lasted just under 50 days. The two have essentially been feuding since Lee’s return to WWE back in September of last year. Some wonder if Lee will take another shot at Lynch for the IC title. Since the story has been going on for quite a while, however, it is probably time to move forward for now.
Lee could decide to take some time off following WrestleMania, but there are also at least a few stars she may be eager to work with. One of them, of course, would be her “wrestling daughter”, Roxanne Perez. There is also the possibility of working with someone that Lee is familiar with, Paige, who made her surprise return at night one of WrestleMania 42. Lee and Paige had numerous battles during 2014, going back and forth as the Divas Champion. The history is there, and fans would surely love to see that rivalry renewed.
Liv Morgan defeated Stephanie Vaquer to become the Women’s World Champion for the first time since January of 2025. While the moment was obviously a cause for celebration for Morgan, regaining the title also means you are now the target. Sometimes, the next challenger is right under a superstar’s nose, and this case could be the same.
It is no secret that Raquel Rodriguez wants another shot at the world title. The powerhouse was unsuccessful in multiple matches during Vaquer’s reign as champion. Rodriguez also failed to win the gauntlet match to become the number one contender for the IC title last month. Now, Morgan, who eliminated Rodriguez from the Royal Rumble back in January, once again has the gold. Deep down, that has to eat away at Rodriguez, and a rivalry could be on the horizon.
The main event of WrestleMania night one featured The Viper, Randy Orton, and The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, battling for the WWE Championship. Despite Orton being the heel, the crowd seemed to favor The Viper more as the bout went on. Rhodes received boos on multiple occasions during the match, and it feels like he leaned into it. There was an eye poke and a low blow by The American Nightmare, tactics typically employed by the villain. Rhodes would go on to retain the title after hitting Orton with a Cross Rhodes.
WWE planted the seeds of a Rhodes heel turn a few weeks ago. That is when Stephanie McMahon confronted Rhodes during his segment on Raw. McMahon told Rhodes that he needed to think like Orton and be willing to get down and dirty to retain the title. After slapping Rhodes in the face and attempting to walk away, The American Nightmare grabbed McMahon’s arm and thanked her. Perhaps this version of Rhodes was not just a one-time thing, and the WWE universe will see a darker side of Rhodes moving forward.
It was an exciting first night of WrestleMania, and hopefully, night two will feature more of the same. The action kicks off at 6:00 PM EST with a battle between powerhouses Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar. Night two also includes four title matches, with the main event being the highly anticipated World Heavyweight Championship match between Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Expect more twists and surprises that leave the WWE universe pondering what will happen next.
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