WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Kicks Off Tonight in Las Vegas

Find out the start time, match card, and how to watch the first night of WWE's biggest event.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a WWE wrestling match, with the wrestlers' bodies and the ring itself broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, conveying the dynamic action and intensity of the event.The geometric, fragmented style of Cubist art captures the raw energy and kinetic movement of a high-stakes WrestleMania match.Las Vegas Today

WrestleMania 42, WWE's premier annual event, is taking place over two nights this weekend, with Night 1 kicking off tonight in Las Vegas. The first night of the show begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, with the first two matches airing on ESPN2 and ESPN's streaming service before the pay-per-view portion starts.

Why it matters

WrestleMania is the biggest event in professional wrestling, drawing millions of viewers worldwide. This year's 42nd edition features an exciting card with several highly anticipated matchups, making it a must-watch event for wrestling fans.

The details

The WrestleMania 42 Night 1 card includes five matches on the pay-per-view portion of the show, following the first two matches that will air on ESPN. WWE's new spooky wrestler is not scheduled to compete on either night of the event, but is expected to make an appearance in some capacity.

  • WrestleMania 42 Night 1 begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • The first two matches will air on ESPN2 and ESPN's streaming service starting at 3 p.m. ET.

The players

WWE

The professional wrestling promotion that organizes and hosts WrestleMania, its biggest annual event.

Allegiant Stadium

The home stadium of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, which is hosting WrestleMania 42.

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What they’re saying

“After months of build up, WrestleMania 42 is taking place over two nights this weekend.”

— Dan Kadar, Author

The takeaway

WrestleMania 42 promises to be an exciting and highly anticipated event for wrestling fans, with a stacked card of matches and the potential for surprise appearances from WWE's newest spooky wrestler. The first night's action kicks off tonight in Las Vegas, with the early matches airing on ESPN before the pay-per-view portion begins.