Brock Lesnar Issues WrestleMania 42 Open Challenge

Three WWE Superstars who could answer the call

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Brock Lesnar has issued an open challenge for WrestleMania 42, and three WWE Superstars have been identified as potential opponents - LA Knight, Gunther, and Oba Femi. Lesnar is scheduled to appear on several episodes of Monday Night RAW leading up to the big event, setting the stage for a high-profile matchup.

Why it matters

Lesnar's open challenge presents an opportunity for a rising WWE Superstar to make a name for themselves by facing off against the veteran. A victory over Lesnar could provide a significant career boost, while a loss could also elevate the challenger's profile. The match also has the potential to be a highlight of WrestleMania 42.

The details

Lesnar made the surprise announcement on a recent episode of Monday Night RAW, reuniting with his longtime advocate Paul Heyman. The former WWE Champion claimed that no one in the RAW locker room was 'man enough' to challenge him, and proceeded to issue an open challenge for WrestleMania 42. Lesnar is scheduled to appear on several episodes of RAW leading up to the event, setting the stage for a potential showdown.

  • Lesnar issued the open challenge on the February 23, 2026 episode of Monday Night RAW.
  • Lesnar is scheduled to appear on the March 16, 23, and 30 episodes of RAW, as well as the April 6 and 13 episodes, leading up to WrestleMania 42 on April 13, 2026.

The players

Brock Lesnar

A veteran WWE Superstar and former multi-time WWE Champion, known for his dominant in-ring style and intimidating presence.

LA Knight

A rising WWE Superstar who has been tipped as a potential opponent for Lesnar, having recently been freed from his feud with The Vision faction.

Gunther

A dominant WWE Superstar who has earned the moniker of 'career killer' after defeating the likes of Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles, making him a potential challenger for Lesnar.

Oba Femi

A rising NXT Superstar who has impressed on the main roster, and could see this as an opportunity to make a name for himself by facing off against the veteran Lesnar.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody in the RAW locker room is man enough to challenge me.”

— Brock Lesnar (Monday Night RAW)

“Defeating Lesnar at WrestleMania could be a vital career-turning moment for 'The Career Killer'.”

— Shounak Chakrabarti, Author (Clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The WWE Universe will have to wait and see which Superstar steps up to answer Lesnar's open challenge, with the potential matchup set to be a highlight of WrestleMania 42.

The takeaway

Brock Lesnar's WrestleMania 42 open challenge presents a unique opportunity for a rising WWE Superstar to make a name for themselves by facing off against the veteran. The match has the potential to be a career-defining moment for the challenger, whether they emerge victorious or not.