Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Rumored as WrestleMania 42 Main Event

The long-awaited match between the former Legacy stablemates could headline Saturday night of the two-night event.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 11:09pm

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According to reports, the main event for the Saturday night card of WrestleMania 42 is expected to be a WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. The two have a long history dating back to their time together in the Legacy faction, and fans have been anticipating this one-on-one showdown for years. With Rhodes recently regaining the title, the plan is for him to defend it against his former mentor Orton in the marquee match of the first night of WrestleMania.

Why it matters

This potential main event would be a highly anticipated clash between two of WWE's top stars with a deep personal history. Orton and Rhodes' rivalry dates back to the late 2000s when they were part of the same stable, and fans have been clamoring to see them face off in a high-profile singles match. The match also has major title implications, as the WWE Championship will be on the line.

The details

According to reports, the original plan was for Cody Rhodes to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship on the Saturday night of WrestleMania 42. However, with concerns over low ticket sales, the card has been adjusted. The new reported plan is for Rhodes to regain the WWE title from McIntyre on the final SmackDown before WrestleMania, setting up a title match between Rhodes and his former Legacy stablemate Orton as the main event for Saturday night.

  • Cody Rhodes is expected to defeat Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship on the final SmackDown before WrestleMania 42.
  • The Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton WWE Championship match is rumored to headline the Saturday night card of WrestleMania 42 on April 5, 2026.

The players

Cody Rhodes

A third-generation wrestler and former member of the Legacy faction, Cody Rhodes is a multi-time WWE Champion who recently returned to the company after a stint in AEW.

Randy Orton

A 14-time WWE Champion and one of the most decorated superstars in company history, Randy Orton was the leader of the Legacy faction that also included Cody Rhodes.

Drew McIntyre

The current WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre is a former two-time titleholder who has been one of the top stars in WWE over the past few years.

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What’s next

Cody Rhodes is expected to defeat Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship on the final SmackDown before WrestleMania 42, setting up the highly anticipated match between Rhodes and his former Legacy stablemate Randy Orton as the main event for the Saturday night card of the two-night event.

The takeaway

This potential WrestleMania 42 main event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton would be a long-awaited clash between two of WWE's top stars with deep personal history, adding even more intrigue and anticipation to the biggest event of the year.