The Road to WrestleMania 42: Championship Shifts, Royal Rumble Victories, and Surprise Returns
A look at the pivotal events from January 2025 through February 2026 that set the stage for WWE’s biggest event of the year.
WWE Backlash 2026
May 9, 2026 | Tampa, Florida | Attendance: 15,215
Bron Breakker def. Seth Rollins via pinfall after a spear (21:45). Paul Heyman accompanied Breakker, with Logan Paul and Austin Theory interfering briefly.
Trick Williams def. Sami Zayn to retain the U.S. Championship (12:52). Lil Yachty accompanied Williams and struck Zayn with a kendo stick.
Danhausen and Minihausen def. The Miz and Kit Wilson (11:50). Multiple Minihausen clones emerged from a crate and assisted.
Iyo Sky def. Asuka via pinfall after Over The Moonsault (18:30). After the match, Asuka hugged Sky.
Roman Reigns def. Jacob Fatu to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (18:15). Reigns used the exposed turnbuckle. Post-match, Fatu attacked Reigns and officials with the Tongan Death Grip.
John Cena announced the John Cena Classic, a new tournament and championship where fans vote for the winner.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2026
February 28, 2026 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | Attendance: 19,346
Women's Elimination Chamber Match: Rhea Ripley won, earning a shot at the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 42. Participants included Tiffany Stratton, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Kiana James, and Raquel Rodriguez.
Elimination Order:
- Alexa Bliss eliminated by Kiana James (13:10)
- Asuka and Kiana James eliminated by Raquel Rodriguez (16:15)
- Raquel Rodriguez eliminated by Tiffany Stratton (20:30)
- Tiffany Stratton eliminated by Rhea Ripley (24:00)
Women's Intercontinental Championship Match: AJ Lee defeated Becky Lynch in 15:40 to win the Women's Intercontinental Championship. This marked Lee's first singles match in over a decade and her first title match in over eleven years. The match featured a referee bump and an exposed turnbuckle spot.
World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk defeated Finn Balor in 20:25 to retain. Punk wore Chicago Blackhawks-themed attire. Following the match, Punk and Balor shook hands, and AJ Lee joined Punk in celebration.
Men's Elimination Chamber Match: Randy Orton won, earning a shot at the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42. Participants included LA Knight, Cody Rhodes, Je'Von Evans, Trick Williams, and Logan Paul.
Elimination Order:
- Je'Von Evans eliminated by Logan Paul (16:00)
- LA Knight eliminated by Logan Paul (18:35)
- Trick Williams eliminated by Logan Paul (20:25)
- Logan Paul eliminated by Cody Rhodes (approx. 23:00) following an interference by Seth Rollins
- Cody Rhodes eliminated by Randy Orton (25:20) after interference from Drew McIntyre
Following Orton's victory, Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis announced that Drew McIntyre would defend the WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes on the upcoming Friday Smackdown episode.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026
January 31, 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Women's Royal Rumble Match: Liv Morgan won, earning a championship title match.
- Charlotte Flair entered at #1, Alexa Bliss at #2.
- Key Eliminations: Lash Legend eliminated Jordynne Grace, Brie & Nikki Bella, and Charlotte Flair. Liv Morgan eliminated Raquel Rodriguez and then Tiffany Stratton to win.
AJ Styles vs. GUNTHER (AJ Styles' Retirement Match): GUNTHER defeated AJ Styles, resulting in Styles' retirement. The match ended when the referee called for a stoppage after GUNTHER applied the Gojira Clutch. Following the match, AJ Styles acknowledged the crowd, removing and then replacing his gloves before throwing up his signature hand gesture as fans chanted his name.
Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Undisputed Men's Championship): Drew McIntyre retained via pinfall after a second Claymore. McIntyre executed a powerbomb on Zayn through the announce desk.
Men's Royal Rumble Match: Roman Reigns won, earning a championship title match.
- Oba Femi entered at #1, Bron Breakker at #2. Before Breakker could fully enter, a hooded individual attacked him, allowing Femi to quickly eliminate Breakker.
- Key Eliminations: Brock Lesnar eliminated Ilja Dragunov, Rey Fenix, and Oba Femi. Drew McIntyre eliminated Cody Rhodes. Roman Reigns eliminated Jacob Fatu, The Miz, Logan Paul, and Jey Uso.
- Final Four: Logan Paul, Randy Orton, GUNTHER, and Roman Reigns. Reigns eliminated Logan Paul. GUNTHER eliminated Randy Orton. Reigns eliminated GUNTHER to win.
WWE Smackdown (January 23, 2026 - Episode 1,379)
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Sami Zayn delivered a promo to his hometown crowd, discussing his momentum for the upcoming four-way match at Saturday Night's Main Event.
Carmelo Hayes def. Ilja Dragunov (16:35) to retain the U.S. Championship. The Miz interfered, shoving Dragunov off the ropes, allowing Hayes to secure the pinfall.
Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga def. Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy (9:40) to win the WWE Tag Team Titles. Interference from Talla Tonga (returning with a lantern) and Solo Sikoa led to the title change.
Other Matches:
- Jade Cargill def. Chelsea Green in a non-title match (3:20)
- Nathan Frazer def. Johnny Gargano (10:05)
- Giulia and Kiana James def. Nia Jax and Lash Legend, and Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss in a triple threat match to earn a shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles (10:55)
- Main event between Damian Priest and Trick Williams ended without a conclusive result
WWE Smackdown (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - January 30, 2026)
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The show commenced with a promo from Cody Rhodes discussing Drew McIntyre's actions at Saturday Night's Main Event. The Vision, led by Paul Heyman, interrupted the segment, leading to a four-on-four match being made official.
Match Results:
- Carmelo Hayes def. Rey Fenix to retain the United States Championship
- Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss def. Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez
- Axiom def. Johnny Gargano (Axiom regained his mask with the win)
WWE Smackdown (Berlin, Germany - Post-Royal Rumble 2026)
Location: Berlin, Germany
Main Event: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre (Three Stages of Hell Match for WWE Title)
Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes to capture the WWE Title.
- Fall 1 (Standard Rules): McIntyre defeated Rhodes in 4 minutes. McIntyre delivered a low blow and followed with a Claymore for the pinfall.
- Fall 2 (Falls Count Anywhere): Rhodes defeated McIntyre in approximately 10 minutes. Cody delivered a CrossRhodes on the announce desk to secure the pinfall.
- Fall 3 (Steel Cage): McIntyre defeated Rhodes in approximately 16 minutes. A masked individual, later identified as Jacob Fatu, interfered by pulling the referee away and attacking both competitors. McIntyre escaped through the cage door to win the WWE Title.
Other Matches:
- Trick Williams def. Rey Fenix (approx. 10 minutes)
- Giulia def. Alexa Bliss to retain the U.S. Title (approx. 9 minutes)
- Solo Sikoa & The MFTS def. The Wyatt Sicks (10 minutes)
- Jordyn Grace def. Alba Fyre (2 minutes)
- Carmelo Hayes def. Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the U.S. Title (16 minutes)
NXT Championship Events
Lola Vice became the new Women's NXT Champion, defeating former champion Jacy Jayne and Kendal Grey in a triple-threat match. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid attempted to interfere, but Wren Sinclair prevented their involvement.
Other NXT Results:
- Tatum Paxley retained her championship against Blake Monroe
- Myles Borne retained his title against Johnny Gargano. Following the match, Dion Lennox attacked Myles Borne
- Sol Ruca defeated Zaria, utilizing three 'Sol Snatchers'
- Los Americanos were unsuccessful in their attempt to win the NXT Tag Team Championship
WWE Raw (February 23, 2026)
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Penta def. Dominik Mysterio (18 minutes) to become the new Intercontinental Champion.
Gunther def. Dragon Lee via submission
Jimmy Uso def. Austin Theory via disqualification (Logan Paul interfered)
The Original El Grande Americano def. Rayo Americano
Notable Segments:
- Paul Heyman, Logan Paul, and Austin Theory opened the show. Seth Rollins, disguised among several masked individuals, attacked Heyman with a steel chair and delivered The Stomp.
- Danhausen presented a list of demands to Adam Pearce and cursed Dominik Mysterio.
- Rhea Ripley, the Women's Elimination Chamber winner, affirmed her intention to challenge Jade Cargill for the Women's Championship at WrestleMania.
- Roman Reigns made his entrance, but CM Punk interrupted his address. The show concluded with Reigns staring down Punk following a verbal exchange.
WWE Smackdown (Pre-WrestleMania 42 - Championship Win)
Cody Rhodes secured the WWE Championship on Friday Night SmackDown, setting up a championship match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. Randy Orton had previously indicated his intent to pursue the title, citing his victory in the Elimination Chamber match.
During the main event, Drew McIntyre attempted to intervene but was prevented by Jacob Fatu. Cody Rhodes defeated the reigning champion by utilizing a Super Cutter and a Cross Rhodes maneuver, securing the championship.
Additional Segments:
- Rhea Ripley confronted Women's Champion Jade Cargill
- Carmelo Hayes successfully defended the United States Championship against El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
- A Tag Team Turmoil match determined Damian Priest and R-Truth as top contenders for the MFTs' tag team titles