Roman Reigns is looking to assert his dominance in WWE, but CM Punk is proving to be quite the obstacle.
The main event on Sunday night for the World Heavyweight Championship has built a lot of anticipation as WrestleMania 42 approaches at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The outcomes could significantly influence the future storyline direction of WWE.
Sunday night appears to be the more predictable event among the two nights, and it seems there’s a clear logical path for WWE. It also presents a chance to further shape the company’s future with stars like Oba Femi, Jevon Evans, Trick Williams, and Jade Cargill. It’ll be interesting to see if Triple H and his team go that route.
Joseph Staszewski from the newspaper shares his insights on how night two is likely to unfold in “Sin City” (6 p.m., ESPN Unlimited; the first hour will be on ESPN).
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
Femi is emerging as a powerful presence, skillfully drawing in fans as he steps into the ring. He’s set to face Lesnar, which offers a unique opportunity to showcase talents that aren’t typically allowed against a figure like Lesnar. This match appears to be a crucial moment for Femi; WWE really can’t afford to mishandle this.
It’s a tough call to see Lesnar lose, but if Femi defeats someone of Lesnar’s celebrity status, it would have a massive effect on his career. If WWE decides to stretch this into a trilogy, allowing Lesnar to win their next encounter might make sense. It just feels like a pivotal night for Femi.
winner: Obafemi
Penta (c) vs. Jevon Evans vs. JD McDonough vs. Dragon Lee vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
Evans has been tantalizingly close to gold in both NXT and WWE, and it feels like now is his time. WWE has shown affection for Penta, potentially keeping recent momentum going. However, WrestleMania is often the time where a new champion emerges in ladder matches, and Evans should shine with his exciting, high-flying moves, making this match one of the evening’s highlights.
winner: Jevon Evans
Fiend Finn Balor vs. Dominic Mysterio
This rivalry unfolded beautifully, showing Mysterio’s transformation as he shifted his focus to personal success over his ties to Balor. After their ups and downs in Judgment Day, they’ve clearly gone from allies to foes.
Fans are eager for the return of The Demon, the persona that hasn’t been seen since a surprising loss to Edge at WrestleMania 39. Despite Judgment Day’s attempts to influence the outcome, it’s hard to imagine they can overcome Balor’s darker side.
A flashy entrance is expected, and if Balor wins, it could catapult him closer to a world title for the first time since 2016.
winner: Finn Balor
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams US Championship
Zayn recently captured the title by defeating Carmelo Hayes, which has sparked a narrative where Zayn seems less concerned about fan approval. This might frustrate the crowd since they didn’t want to see Hayes sidelined, especially given his strong performance on “SmackDown.”
Even as a heel, Williams carries an undeniable charisma, and the audience is clearly drawn to him. Hayes might try to interfere to prevent Williams from winning through underhanded means, but that could backfire, potentially leading to a title change. This could deepen Zayn’s heel persona if he embraces his failures more openly.
winner: Trick Williams
Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley WWE Women’s Championship Match
If WWE wants to establish Cargill as a top-tier star, defeating someone like Ripley at WrestleMania would certainly help. Just a few years back, Ripley was put under the spotlight by Charlotte Flair at this very event.
Despite some questionable build-up leading to this match, where factions and allegiances muddled narratives, there’s an opportunity to give Cargill a platform. Even with potential assistance from Iyo Sky, it seems unlikely she can avoid a loss against Ripley now.
winner: Jade Cargill.
CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns World Heavyweight Championship
After a two-year hiatus from the championship scene, Reigns is back, and it seems like the moment has arrived for him to reclaim his position. The Tribal Chief aims to revive WWE’s relevance through this victory, but isn’t there more that can be done with the Bloodline storyline right now? Punk could be Reigns’ primary rival due to Seth Rollins’ injury.
The buildup to this match has been compelling, with both wrestlers delving into their shared history. Reigns needs to prove he’s grown beyond being just “young” while Punk aims to reaffirm his standing in the industry, suggesting Reigns relied on his absence for success.
The real question is whether Reigns can actually win without his cousins, Jimmy and Jey Uso, coming to his aid. And if this rivalry continues, it might lead to Punk requiring assistance himself. Maybe he has a surprise in store for this weekend?
If Reigns scores a clean victory, this chapter might close for now unless it becomes clear that he and Randy Orton are collaborating for the parent company TKO, prompting Punk and Cody Rhodes to unite against them for Team WWE.
winner: Roman Reigns
