The Showcase of Immortals-- Ranking the matches of WrestleMania 42

WrestleMania 42 was held on April 18 and 19th, hosting 13 total matches between the Saturday and Sunday shows. The overall event was polarizing, but the peaks of the show were largely agreed upon. The following article will rank all 13 matches, and provide comprehensive analysis on outstanding matches. 

13. Stephanie Vaquer v Liv Morgan

Stephanie Vaquer’s first WrestleMania match featured a Women’s World Title defense against the 2026 Royal Rumble winner, Liv Morgan. A match handicapped by its length, featured finishers coming in extremely early and Vaquer hampered by Judgement Day interferences. The distraction gave Morgan an opportunity to hit the Oblivion, pinning Vaquer to capture the championship.

Grade: C-

12. Women’s Tag Team Championships Fatal 4-way 

A largely forgettable match after a largely forgettable build, the two main highlights of this match were Paige’s return and Nikki Bella using a crutch as a battering ram. The match was filled with good wrestlers—Lyra and Bailey looked good in the short time they got to do anything— but the focus was mainly on Paige’s return and recapturing the championship rather than producing a competitive spectacle. 

Grade: C

11. The Usos & LA Knight v The Vision & IShowSpeed

I would’ve loved this match with a longer run time, but the superstars did well in the time they got. This match featured the debut of a new theme song for the Usos after the backlash of changing it from Jey’s iconic Main Event-ish.

The main story was The Vision—Austin Theory & Logan Paul—bullying their streamer friend IShowSpeed. Speed sold the act of a confused and overwhelmed competitor when they did this, but looked neither when performing his moves. Speed trained with Randy Orton in preparation for the match, and performed a beautiful hurricanrana and body slam on LA Knight. His top-tier athleticism was a fun sight. 

There was nothing to write home about besides that. Logan capitalizes on his heel heat, and loses to the opponents. The post-match events featured LA Knight & The Usos saving Speed from a vision beatdown, before Speed performed a splash from the heavens onto Paul through the commentary table.

Grade: B-

10. Trick Williams v Sami Zayn

A recurring theme, two very good in-ring competitors are once again handicapped by their match length and overshadowed by Trick’s entrance, clearly aiming to go viral. Williams was introduced by Lil Yachty, before walking out with a coat whose cape nearly covered the entire entrance ramp length. It rolled out like a Red Carpet, which was fitting for Hollywood Trick.

The match itself was nothing close to what it could have been, but the two still tried to make the best out of it, as Sami delivered a crazy brainbuster onto the apron. 

To end off the Mania’s mid-card title feuds, Trick won his first championship within the main roster with a Trickshot, celebrating with his parents and Yachty in a heartwarming sequence.

Grade: B-

9. AJ Lee v Becky Lynch

Since her return, AJ Lee has noticeably looked rusty. Both a matter of confidence and conditioning has held her back, leading to her relying mostly on the offense of her opponents. But the same could not be said for WrestleMania Night 1. The charismatic and fast-moving AJ Lee was back for her 3rd WrestleMania appearance, and put on a good match for the Intercontinental Championship. Her babyface antics and crowd-riling through moments such as her iconic Widow’s Pose on the rope contrasted well with Becky Lynch's heel persona. Becky continued to build heat, culminating in her confronting referee Jessika Carr.

In the end, Becky locked in the pin after a Manhandle Slam for the win, continuing her heel reign as a now 3-time Women’s Intercontinental Champion.

Grade: B-

8. Randy Orton v Cody Rhodes

The beginning Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll antics for this match are well known, so I won’t get into them too much, nor do I want to. However, the beginning also featured an amazing entrance for Rhodes, recounting the history and “legacy” of his WWE career through giant figures. Even Stardust got a cameo.

The match itself was pretty good, as expected from two behemoths of the industry. Both opponents performed the other’s finisher. Randy sold a back injury, and Cody sold a deranged, chains off and anger-filled avenger, furious about being betrayed by the man he considered a friend. He rubbed Randy’s blood on himself, and used numerous heel tactics which made a turn seem likely. However, it never came. Perhaps it was laying the foundations of a heel turn down the road.

Alongside Cody’s long-desired heel turn, the revelation of the person from TKO’s board pulling Pat McAfee’s strings never came either. Randy lost to Cody and delivered an RKO to McAfee, signaling a turn on authority like 2014. But no authority figure arrived, and it’s strange that if WWE was planning on continuing this story, why wouldn't they introduce Orton’s newest foe at WrestleMania? If it’s someone with big name value—as a feud with Orton warrants—the omission is confusing. 

But then again, most of this feud was nothing but confusing. At least the in-ring action made up for it. So did the vicious Punt to Cody at the end.

Grade: B

7. Oba Femi v Brock Lesnar

The long-awaited Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar was a short brawl with Oba as the victor. This match could’ve used a longer all-out fight, with Oba barely beating Brock. The advantage of this is to deliver both an entertaining match and display that Lesnar can still wrestle with the best of them. It makes it a higher feat for Femi when a Lesnar that is at the top of his game and possesses drive to win is the one who loses. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that, but the match we did get featured some great storytelling in its short span.

Oba looked unfazed, and Brock looked a rare bit of nervous. Brock sells nerves so well, like vs Braun Strowman, or when Rey & Dominik Mysterio almost got one over him at Survivor Series 2019. They gave us a high-octane 5-minute matchup, with Oba instantly getting up after Brock’s strikes, but selling the damage. His Rampage Turnbuckle Clotheslines were delivered with less ferocity and speed as usual to convey the pain Brock caused him.

In the end, Oba delivered a Fall from Grace to down Lesnar for the 3 count and established himself as WWE’s Next Big Thing. Afterwards, Lesnar issued an emotional retirement segment, throwing up the X to let the world know it was for real. 

Thank you, Brock Lesnar. 

Grade: B

6. Jacob Fatu v Drew McIntyre

Jacob Fatu vs Drew McIntyre featured the culmination of the months-long blood feud, before McIntyre went off to film Highlander. It was an unsanctioned match with above average weapon spots, but ones that didn’t feel WrestleMania worthy. Still, it was a really good match. 

McIntyre used his brother’s phone to tweet and gloat during the match, following it up with using a toolkit to attack Fatu’s eye. There were some cool table spots, with Jacob being kicked off the top rope and falling through one using a beautiful senton.  The match concluded with Fatu executing a Moonsault on Drew through a table, picking up the win as he looks ready to be a WWE Championship contender in the upcoming months. 

Grade: B+

5. Dominik Mysterio v Finn Balor

The two best entrances of the night (besides Roman Reigns’) were followed by one of the best matches of the night. The in-ring action from both Dom and Balor delivered as expected, with a ton of neck-breaking speed based attacks. 

However, the character aspect of the match was mainly carried by Finn Balor. Finn’s demon theatrics were on point as always, but Dom’s facial expressions didn’t convey the fear The Demon King’s appearance warrants. Being a street fight, the contest also could have benefited from Dom scrambling to grab weapons and protect himself, portraying the fear and desperation the Demon King’s presence strikes.

Nevertheless, Finn delivered a Coup de Grace through a table for the victory. 

Grade: B+

4. Jade Cargill v Rhea Ripley

My favorite Jade Cargill performance in WWE thus far. For two competitors whom the rumor mill claimed did not like each other, they delivered the best Women’s match of WrestleMania Vegas II. Jade built heat as soon as she walked down the ramp, calling the crowd “Haters!” and getting them animated. It built good babyface momentum for Rhea Ripley, who received huge pops.

Both fighters sold extremely well for each other. B-Fab and Michin came out to assist Jade, but it didn’t end like the Steph vs Liv match. Iyo Sky received a massive pop as she came out to make the save with a gorgeous moonsault.

Rhea and Jade then went through 3 beautiful finisher reversals before the Riptide sealed the deal on Rhea’s 4th World Title reign.

Grade: B+

3. Intercontinental Championship 6-man Ladder Match

6 gritty competitors. A ton of gasp-inducing spots. A pop-up senton to the outside through a ladder. An OG Cutter from Je’von to a falling Rusev. A Mexican Destroyer off of a batch of steel onto another batch of steel. This match was high-octane fun all around, and ended with Penta retaining as he continues what has been a great WWE journey. 

Grade: A-

2. Seth Rollins v Gunther

Most people predicted Seth Rollins vs Gunther to tear the house down and steal the show for Night 1. To get the negatives out the way, it did the latter, but only halfway did the first. Unfortunately, a blockbuster match of this caliber only received a 15 minute runtime. Given a longer run, I have no doubt this match would have been higher up on the list of greatest WrestleMania matches ever.

That’s not to take away from what was showcased. It’s insanely impressive that despite the timing, these competitors performed the amount of moves they did. No second was wasted, as Gunther attacked Seth before the match began and Seth retaliated by launching a fury of punches and kicks. The Architect’s usual composed match structure was in disarray as he looked disorganized and overcome by rage, and it was a great touch in showing how overwhelming of a competitor Gunther can be.  

The two went to war with vicious shoot-style strikes and chops. The only real flaw I have about the action itself was that Seth sold more for Gunther than vice versa. There were a few times Gunther—despite otherwise fantastic selling—could’ve stumbled around to sell Seth’s offense, like when he got up after Seth’s curb stomp.  

To conclude the contest, Bron Breakker returned and speared Seth Rollins while the referee was distracted, before feeding him to Gunther for the win.

Breakker and Seth’s rivalry will continue, while Gunther will presumably move up the title rankings (a title match vs Roman is rumored). I can only hope that one day these two will receive a full-length rematch without interference, and with a clean finish. That’ll truly burn the house down.  

Grade: A

1. CM Punk v Roman Reigns

The main event of Night 2 held a grueling and gritty battlefield of two men with egos a mile long, and a will to win that's even longer. Roman Reigns came out to a live performance of a rendition of his Head of the Table theme, before the actual theme returned. Roman looked every bit the star, and looked completely unfazed. 

CM Punk, in his first singles match at a WrestleMania main event (Congratulations! Much deserved), came out to his old Ring of Honor theme song, Miseria Cantare. The music stopped, and he shouted his signature “It’s clobberin’” before stopping just short of the final word, letting the crowd fill in the gap and yell “Time!” Truly a beautiful moment, showcasing the passion of the fans for this match, and the beauty of pro wrestling; which is to entertain and emotionally involve the viewers like no other sport, as evident by the 50,000 people rushing to shout the last word.

Punk walked down with every bit of confidence and self-affirmation. He did it, he finally fulfilled his dream of main eventing Mania in a singles match. But Punk instantly got into character mode, putting on a nervous look to contrast Roman’s calm demeanor. They shared words, and then went to absolute war. 

Talking about the action in this match wouldn’t do it justice. There weren’t insane spots, but just hard hitting strikes delivered at a fast pace that looked like they wanted to take the other’s head off.

There was blood, there was tweening, there was a low blow, there were numerous false finishes. But the best part of this match was the psychology. 

Punk dissed Roman’s family throughout the buildup, making it personal. On the go-home show, he admitted it came due to insecurity. Punk wished he was born inside of a royal family, that he had the machine luxury and job security Roman was given. Hence, his over the top actions in this match are perfectly in character. 

Punk put up Roman’s OTC1 finger, telling the crowd to Acknowledge him. Landing Roman’s signature Superman Punch, the antics did not stop there. Punk picked up a fan’s Ula Fala, before doing Roman’s signature OOOH-AAA chant and attempting his finishing Spear. All of it beautifully came along as an insecure man mocking the things he wished he had. A life that would’ve made his path easier.

Roman retaliated by showcasing unrivaled anger. Whether it was risking a disqualification and the title to hit Punk with the steel steps, or dribbling Punk’s bloodied head off the mat, Roman reacted perfectly to Punk’s antics and showcased his fury.

In this case, fury would prevail over mind games. The OTC regained his seat at the head of WWE’s table, as he captured his second World Title win at a WrestleMania in one of the greatest wrestling matches ever put forward. 

Grade: S