WrestleMania 42: Beyond the Ring – A Spectator’s Take on WWE’s Grandest Stage
WrestleMania, the Super Bowl of sports entertainment, has always been a spectacle. But this year, WrestleMania 42 feels different. Not just because it’s back in Las Vegas—a city that, frankly, seems to be losing its luster as a wrestling destination—but because the event itself is a fascinating study in contrasts. Slow ticket sales, questionable booking decisions, and the usual WWE drama have set the stage for a night that’s as much about the storylines outside the ring as those inside it.
The Vegas Factor: Why the Glitz Isn’t Glittering
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Las Vegas. Personally, I think the decision to return to Sin City for the second consecutive year was a misstep. WrestleMania is a destination event, a pilgrimage for fans worldwide. But who wants to make the same pilgrimage twice in a row? Especially when ticket prices are through the roof. What many people don’t realize is that WWE’s reliance on Vegas as a marquee location is starting to feel like a broken record. If you take a step back and think about it, the magic of WrestleMania lies in its ability to transform any city into a wrestling mecca. Vegas, for all its glitz, is starting to feel like a crutch.
Booking Blunders and Missed Opportunities
Now, let’s talk booking—because, in my opinion, this is where WrestleMania 42 is truly fascinating. The Pat McAfee saga in the Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes match is a perfect example of what happens when executives meddle in creative decisions. Ari Emanuel’s involvement feels like a Vince Russo-level blunder. What this really suggests is that WWE is still struggling to find its identity post-Vince McMahon. Worked shoots and meta commentary might work in smaller promotions, but at WrestleMania? It’s a risky gamble that’s unlikely to pay off.
One thing that immediately stands out is how some matches feel like afterthoughts. Take LA Knight and The Usos vs. The Vision, for instance. The addition of IShowSpeed screams desperation—a blatant attempt to capitalize on influencer culture. While I’m all for expanding WWE’s audience, this feels forced. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it highlights WWE’s ongoing identity crisis: is it a wrestling promotion or a content farm for TikTok?
The Matches: Where Storytelling Meets Spectacle
Let’s dive into the matches, shall we?
Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match)
This match is a powder keg. Fatu and McIntyre are two of the most physically imposing athletes in WWE, and their feud has been simmering since January. What many people don’t realize is that unsanctioned matches are WWE’s way of saying, ‘We’re going to break all the rules.’ Personally, I think this could steal the show. The brutality, the chaos, the sheer unpredictability—it’s everything wrestling should be. If you take a step back and think about it, this match is a microcosm of WWE’s best and worst tendencies: high-stakes storytelling paired with a lack of long-term planning.
Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Here’s a match that’s flying under the radar but could be a show-stealer. Liv Morgan, the Royal Rumble winner, is looking to dethrone Vaquer, who’s been a solid but unremarkable champion. What this really suggests is that WWE is still figuring out how to book its women’s division post-Evolution. Morgan’s win would be a feel-good moment, but it also raises a deeper question: is WWE ready to move on from the Judgement Day storyline? In my opinion, this match is as much about the future of the division as it is about the title.
Seth Rollins vs. Gunther
This is the match I’m most excited about. Rollins and Gunther are two of the best in-ring performers in WWE today, and their styles mesh perfectly. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it feels like a throwback to an older era of wrestling—a slow burn with a focus on technical prowess. Gunther’s old-school approach against Rollins’ high-flying style? Sign me up. If you take a step back and think about it, this match is a reminder of what WWE does best: letting two great wrestlers tell a story in the ring.
Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Championship)
And then there’s the main event. Orton vs. Rhodes should be a career-defining moment for both men. But the booking has been so convoluted that it’s hard to feel invested. Pat McAfee’s involvement feels like a distraction, and the rumored Jelly Roll appearance is just… odd. What this really suggests is that WWE is still struggling to balance nostalgia with innovation. Cody Rhodes needs to win here—not just for his character, but for the credibility of the title.
The Bigger Picture: WWE’s Identity Crisis
If there’s one thing WrestleMania 42 has made clear, it’s that WWE is at a crossroads. The company is trying to appeal to both die-hard fans and casual viewers, to honor its past while embracing its future. But in doing so, it’s losing sight of what makes wrestling great: compelling storytelling, memorable characters, and moments that leave you breathless.
From my perspective, WrestleMania 42 is a reflection of WWE’s current state—ambitious but unfocused, spectacular but scattered. It’s a reminder that even the grandest stage in sports entertainment isn’t immune to the challenges of change.
So, as I sit down to watch WrestleMania 42, I’m not just tuning in for the matches. I’m tuning in to see if WWE can find its way back to what made it great in the first place. Because, at the end of the day, that’s what really matters.
