WrestleMania 42 officially took over Allegiant Stadium on Saturday night, delivering a high-stakes Night 1 that lived up to its “Showcase of the Immortals” billing. In a main event fueled by months of psychological warfare, Cody Rhodes successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against “The Viper” Randy Orton. While Rhodes walked away with the gold, the post-match fallout suggests that the war between these two former mentors and protégés is far from over.
The showdown between Rhodes and Orton was a masterclass in storytelling, further complicated by the presence of Pat McAfee in Orton’s corner. McAfee’s involvement nearly cost Rhodes the match when he attempted to count a fast pinfall while wearing a referee shirt. However, the plan backfired when Orton, seemingly fed up with the outside chaos, leveled McAfee with a thunderous RKO. This distraction allowed Rhodes to capitalize with a final Cross Rhodes to secure the victory. The celebration was short-lived, however, as a frustrated Orton blindsided Rhodes after the bell, delivering a brutal punt kick that left the champion motionless as the show went off the air.
Night 1 kicked off with a massive six-man tag team match featuring a heavy dose of star power. Logan Paul and Austin Theory teamed up with viral sensation IShowSpeed to take on The Usos and LA Knight. The match was a highlight reel of athleticism, particularly from IShowSpeed, who stunned the Las Vegas crowd with a top-rope frog splash through an announce table. Ultimately, the veteran presence of LA Knight and The Usos proved too much, securing the win with a BFT on Austin Theory.
Elsewhere on the card, new champions were crowned in a series of hard-hitting bouts. Liv Morgan completed her “revenge tour” by defeating Stephanie Vaquer to become the new Women’s World Champion. In the mid-card, Becky Lynch reclaimed her throne by defeating AJ Lee for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, while Gunther continued his dominant streak by defeating a returning Seth Rollins in a physical encounter that saw the surprise return of Bron Breakker.
With the momentum of Night 1 still surging, fans are turning their attention to the Sunday schedule. The WrestleMania 42 Night 2 match card is headlined by a collision over a decade in the making as CM Punk defends his World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns. Additionally, a powerhouse battle for the Women’s Championship between Jade Cargill and Rhea Ripley is expected to be a highlight of the evening. As Las Vegas prepares for the final curtain, the stakes have never been higher for the superstars of WWE.
