Night One of WrestleMania 42 is in the books, and it was a night defined by “okay” wrestling and some massive, unpredictable swerves. I watched it from the couch with a pizza, and honestly? That was the right call. Here is the “Meat and Potatoes” recap from a fan who has seen them all since 1985.
The Gunther Problem: A 1980s Finisher in a 2026 World
The Seth Rollins and Gunther match started exactly how I wanted: a brawl. It was physical and intense. But I have to push back on Gunther’s finisher.
Putting people to sleep with a sleeper hold feels like a mid-match transition move from the 80s. When you have a guy with a world-class Powerbomb in his arsenal, why are we ending WrestleMania matches with a sleeper? It slowed the momentum of a match that otherwise had a great “fight” feel.
Surprises in the Women’s Division
The Women’s Intercontinental match between AJ Lee and Becky Lynch was… okay. You could tell the timing was off in a few spots, which kept it from being a classic.
However, the Women’s Tag Team Championship was the surprise of the night. Seeing Paige return and win alongside Brie Bella was a genuine swerve that I didn’t see coming. It was a nice nod to the history of the division while actually giving us something fresh.
The Rise of Jacob Fatu
If you aren’t watching Jacob Fatu, start now. He beat Drew McIntyre in a match that proved he has more charisma in his pinky than most of the roster. WWE needs to push this man to the moon—he is a “mint” talent that actually feels dangerous.
The Main Event: The Jelly Roll Factor and the Triple Swerve
The build for Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton was heavily weighted down by the Pat McAfee angle. It felt like the office knew it, too. That’s why Jelly Roll took McAfee out early with an elbow through the table.
Side note: Did you see that announce table? Usually, they are “break-away” props you can put back together. This one shattered and splintered into actual pieces. I had to laugh—there was no “resetting” that one.
The match itself was Randy vs. Cody 101. Because the Vegas crowd was rooting so hard for Orton, Cody leaned into a heel persona for a bit. Then, the chaos:
- McAfee gets back involved.
- It looks like he’s helping Orton, but it turns into a disadvantage.
- Cody Rhodes picks up the win.
The internet is already melting down because Cody kept the title, but I’m here for the unpredictability. That double (or triple) swerve made me smile. And that Punt to the head from Orton after the bell? This feud is nowhere near over.
The Verdict: Night One had its flaws, but the main event delivered the drama. I’m officially hooked for Night Two.
Spot on analysis.